This was quite the exciting game.  I must admit that when the runs started to go around and around and around I turned to the Food Network.  However, I did see the great stop by Brian Roberts in the 8th, and the incredible catch by Nick Markakis in the 9th. . . then there was George.  You just never know.  However, he pitched what the O's needed, and got the job done.  Good job, George!

Yippee!  I finally finished my brother-in-law's 2008 Christmas Presents :)

Yippee!  The O's weren't shut out.  Holy cow! 

I have to give props where props are due.  The Rays pitcher, Shields, did an incredible job, and the Rays hitting definitely controlled the O's pitching staff.  How many home runs by the Rays (4?)  I didn't think the O's players all of a sudden became little league hitters . . . the Rays pitcher was just incredible.

Also, I thought the play be Chad Moeller would turn the game around.  It was such an incredible out at home plate.  However, the O's batting continued to struggle against Shields. 

Onward to Texas!

I didn't know which made me cringe more:  When I found out Jeremy Guthrie was not coming back out to pitch, or when I saw later in the game that Jaime Walker was.  Maybe he's better than last year, but  . . . I still don't know why Jeremy couldn't pitch longer.  His command was still very good, and the defense was backing him up.  He's such a good defensive player; that out at home was very cool.  The double play with Izturis, Roberts, and Huff was also very cool, as they threw on the off beat. It's like when a catch is thrown it's usually after a breath, but they threw within the same breath as when the ball was caught.  Nice focus, O's! 

Chris Ray . . . never saw him pitch before, and the announcers were saying to give him time.  Well, he pitches over 90 MPH, and he struck out 3 batters in the last inning.  I think he's doing ok:)

I knitted a lot today starting at my knitting group, then through the Angels/Red Sox game, and then through the O's/Rays game.  I was able to knit and watch the game at the same time, so I guess I hit my stride.  It didn't take as long as I thought.  Today I knitted the heel turn, heel flap, gusset, and I'm on the foot.  I can't wait to finish this, and then start on something else. Oi!

Nice grand slam, Melvin! 

I was very inspired by Baez.  I'm surprised he was removed so quickly as he struck quite a few out.  I hope he gets a chance to play longer.  I wasn't very comfortable with how Dave Trembley managed the pitching last year, and if he's going to remove a good pitcher so quickly, then he's up to his old tricks.

Sherrill at the mound is the time to stop knitting because I can't concentrate.  It is definitely a time when I can't do two things at the same time.  He can be so good or not so good.  I Completed about 14 rows during the game.  The last row, the one completed in the bottom 8th/top 9th was the one out of over 100 rows so far n the sock that contained an error I didn't take the time to fix.  Why is that?  Because knitting became background noise to this baseball game.  I was too stressed, man!

I think Greg Zaun is my favorite player this year.  He is quick, and he is fun to watch.  The pitchers can trust him, and I think the other players can trust him especially with respect to his offense and defense.

It would be really cool to see if Brian Roberts becomes more competitive on the stealing bases front with Izturis on the team.  During the time when Izturis was on 2nd, and Brian was on 1st it was pretty cool.  From what the announcers were saying they are both quick stealers, and it should be quite the treat when they are both on base.  Screw with the mind of the other team's pitcher, eh?  Team spirit.  At the same time, who could out steal the other one.  Competitive spirit :)

I was only able to hear the game at work, and it got a little surreal.  I had to slap my hand, or drink lots of coffee to remind myself that this was one game.  This wasn't an entire season.  In fact, this wasn't last season . . .

Last season was the first time I followed baseball all the way through in my 40 years.  Under my skin the only course my blood knows is the losing O's. 

BUT, we'll see.  Let's Go O's!

I definitely have to ease into the season.  I can't knit and watch baseball as the sound and visuals are too distracting.  I can either watch the TV, and mute the voices, or listen to the radiocast, and not watch visuals.  By the end of the season, baseball will be relegated to background noise, but I'm still getting used to the new season.

Good game, odd last inning as always.  I knitted about 2 rows on a sock - my brother-in-law's 2008 Christmas Present . . . we'll get there.  I already have one sock finished.

I knew I missed the season, but I didn't realize how much.  It was such a joy to listen to Fred and Joe on the radiocast while I was at work yesterday.  I'm really excited about this team!  So many of the good players are still there, and there are some new spices to the cake mix, you know. 

I'm in more of a destashing mode this year, so I don't know how many socks I'll knit.  I'm also working on scarves, sweaters, and blankets. 

What a long strange trip this will be, eh?

Gee, BRob, I hope your leg is ok!  Man, that must have hurt!  The game ended for me once Brian Roberts was out of the game. 

This has been a long strange trip of a season.  At the same time it seems like I just started this blog yesterday.  Much has happened.  At the beginning of the season I was baking biscotti and listening to Pearl Jam bootlegs.  I would post on a baseball game, and include notes on the Pearl Jam bootleg and the biscotti recipe.  That didn't last because it was just too much work. 

Then I started to knit socks, and I got in my groove in this blog while doing that. 

This is the first seaon that I have watched from beginning to end, and I'm 40!  Since BRob's not in the World Series I'm not interested in those games by any stretch of the imagination. 

I can see why people become couch potatoes during baseball season.  Watching the season progress gives them something to do in the evening.  I finally bought cable for the first time in my adult life so that I can watch the games (and the Food Network :D.)  Quite the mind expanding experience.

Good luck, and good night!

I took the blankets into the dry cleaners on Wednesday, and staff said they would be available Friday.  I went into the same dry cleaners on Thursday for other stuff, and the blankets were already done.  I sent the blankets same day Thursday from the post office, and the Project Linus coordinator just emailed me that she had received them.  Wow!  That's great!  What a quick turnaround.  It's like the stars were in alignment with these blankets . . . and, it all started August 10th when Brian Roberts had 4 hits in one game.  Good job, BRob! :D

Congratulations to Brian Roberts for not only hitting 50 doubles, but exceeding 50!  Now, it's time for Aubrey and Nick to step up to the plate and get a new record going, eh? 

I just finished the red blanket with a chevron pattern.  I started it August 30th.  I thought I was going to knit 3 blankets for Project Linus, but I'll save the rose colored yarn until later or maybe make something else with it.  After knitting two blankets I realized, again, that they take a long time.  I'm attending classes on how to knit sweaters and entrelac so I don't have the time to devote to a third blanket.  Instead of waiting until I make a third blanket, I'm just going to dry clean, send these two, and call it a day.

The blue blanket is 26"x46", and the red is 33"x40".  I discussed the blue one in an earlier post.  The red is made with Debbie Bliss yarn, 100% pure cotton.  Very soft.  I was disappointed with the number of knots within a skein, and at that time I didn't know to unknit a row when a knot comes at me.  I just found out that technique in sweater class.  Simple solution, but I just wasn't thinking about it.  Who'd knew. 

I'm happy with them.  They are both soft even though one is wool and one is cotton.  A girl or a boy could like either.  I hope it puts a smile on a child's face, and gives someone something soft to cuddle up with - along with stuffed animals of course.  After my hospital stays it was all about counting the stuffed animals I received, and giving them a special place on my bedroom chair :D