The First Sign of Spring.........

I woke up this morning with this strange hankering for a steamed hot dog stuck in a steamed bun covered in mustard.........wrapped in a tin foil sleeve. There was a hum in my head too that sounded like cheering or something. All of a sudden I recognized the tune........sung with whole hearts in unison in ballparks across this continent.................7th inning stretch...............cold beer......warm sun.................buy me some peanuts and cracker jack.......

Spring training starts today. The Jays' pitching line-up on paper look unbeatable for the first time in years. And while they limber up and merge as a working team way down in Dunedin, I will ignore the cold blasting wind outside today and the frozen snowy tundra and think of upcoming games against the Red Sox, the Yanks and the Orioles...........cheering them on......remembering the rules and signs and sights of my favourite sport.......Baseball.


Batter up!..........................

John Fogerty sang it best.................

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We’re born again, there’s new grass on the field.
A-roundin’ third, and headed for home,
it’s a brown-eyed handsome man;
Anyone can understand the way I feel.

Oh, put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Look at me,
I can be centerfield.

Well, I spent some time in the mudville nine,
watchin’ it from the bench;
You know I took some lumps when the mighty casey struck out.
So say hey willie, tell ty cobb and joe dimaggio;
Don’t say it ain’t so, you know the time is now.

Oh, put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Look at me,
I can be centerfield.


Yeah! I got it, I got it!

Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and brand-new pair of shoes;
You know I think it’s time to give this game a ride.
Just to hit the ball and touch ’em all - a moment in the sun;
(pop) it’s gone and you can tell that one goodbye!

Oh, put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Look at me,
I can be centerfield.

Yeah!