My 2018 MLB Predictions

With the 2018 baseball season underway, I give you my predictions for this season. Naturally, this cannot predict injuries, trades, or other extenuating circumstances, so keep that in mind. Here we go with Mark Kristl's 2018 MLB predictions.

AL East
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox-wild card
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Rays

AL Central
1. Cleveland Indians
2. Minnesota Twins-wild card
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Chicago White Sox

AL West
1. Houston Astros
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Texas Rangers
5. Oakland A's

NL East
1. Washington Nationals
2. New York Mets
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Miami Marlins

NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs
2. St. Louis Cardinals-wild card
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Colorado Rockies-wild card
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Francisco Giants
5. San Diego Padres

AL Wild Card: Boston over Minnesota
NL Wild Card: St. Louis over Colorado

ALDS: Houston over Boston & New York over Cleveland
NLDS: Los Angeles over St. Louis & Washington over Chicago

ALCS: Houston over New York
NLCS: Washington over Los Angeles

World Series: Houston Astros win back-to-back World Series championships by defeating the Washington Nationals

Jeb Burton & #26 BK Racing Team

In The Hunger Games series, there is a repeated line. “May the odds be ever in your favor.” While that line is proclaimed in regards to the tributes that fight to the death within The Hunger Games, it applies to young NASCAR driver Jeb Burton. Whom the odds repeatedly fall in his favor. There are many similarities between Jeb Burton & Parker Kligerman. Of course, having read, “Hang With ‘Em Parker Kligerman, Hang with ‘Em,” you know Kligerman’s story. Allow me then the opportunity to share the similarities between Kligerman & Jeb Burton.

Both began their careers in the NASCAR Truck Series. Both won a race. Both race Toyotas in the NASCAR Cup Series. Each has driven for a team no longer in business. Both race for one of the lower-tier NASCAR Cup Series teams. Here is the main difference. Burton so far has found himself in a driver’s seat continuously throughout his career.

In 2013, he drove for Turner Scott Motorsports & finished the season 5th in points with a victory at Texas. Unfortunately, shortly before the 2014 season began, his primary sponsor, Arrowhead Cigarettes, defaulted on its payments & Turner Scott Motorsports folded #4 team due to the lack of sponsorship. Burton landed on his feet. He signed a one-race deal with ThorSport Racing, & his sponsor Estes Express Lines upgraded Burton to a full schedule. He finished the season 8th in points but bad luck again beset him in early 2015. Estes Express Lines announced they were unable to reach a deal & subsequently Burton again was out of a job. Recently, BK Racing added Burton to its driver lineup & he is running for the 2015 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year Award.

A young talent, stable sponsorship with BK Racing’s relationship with Burger King, Jeb Burton appears to have landed on his feet & be able to stand up straight. Moreover, he can drive without fear of his sponsor costing him his job at the end of the season. It is an opportunity for Burton to grow & become the leader of BK Racing. At the minimum in this economy, it is a job. Go get ‘em Jeb Burton, you deserve this. After all, you have landed on your feet once again. It is a new season; clean track ready for rubber from both teams with consistent lineups & new teams ready to prove their worth. Lastly, teams changed personnel in hopes of a good season. An example? Jeb Burton & #26 BK Racing team

It is my first souvenir in Philadelphia

Doing a year of service will not make me wealthy monetarily. Frankly, it will not even get me out of my debt. As we began community night this evening, we entered a store full of antique & neat knick-knacks. Older books, Coke bottles, a 1903 geologic map of the United States, & odd items I was told would look great in my room. Looking at the Coke bottles, mason jars, mason jar lids, & other old pop bottles, one caught my attention. A 1953 Presidential Inauguration bottle, with the US Capitol & some text on the front & a list of the presidents up to that time on the back. Based off the label, my deduction is that it contained some sort of alcohol, fine liquors as it is officially stated. Costing only $8. I held onto it, browsing through the other items, nearly making a mess in the process. The realization occurred to me of the notion, for only $8, I can own a new piece of history, at least a conversational peace, & I am in Philadelphia, one of the top historical cities in the world. Therefore, I purchased it. I doubt it is worth much. Certainly not Pawn Stars-worthy. Most than likely there were thousands of bottles. Yet who truly knows? Imagination could tell you the newly elected president & his wife drank from this bottle. Perhaps an underage person drank from it, a juicy story for the tabloids. Regardless, I own it now. It is my first souvenir in Philadelphia.

My Jewish Baseball All-Star Team

When I lived in Philadelphia, I toured a large part of the city.  One museum I never toured was the Jewish-American Museum.  In downtown Philly one time, I saw an advertisement promoting Jewish baseball players.  Interest piqued, I walked in.  I learned most of the exhibit cost far more money than I wanted to pay, yet on the first floor was some free displays.  I told the woman I would look around the first floor & if I was still interested, I would pay for the full exhibit.  Although I fibbed, I enjoyed the first-floor display.  One part of that was an interactive screen where you could choose your Jewish MLB All-Star Team.  Curious, I chose my team, & the lineup is displayed below.  The only player I have never heard of is Louis Brower, although I presume Thelma Eisen played in the all-girls league highlighted in A League of Their Own.  As a baseball fan, I would gladly take this lineup.

Leadoff: Hank Greenberg, 1B for Detroit Tigers
2^nd: Ian Kinsler, 2B for Detroit Tigers
3^rd: Kevin Youkilis, 3B for Boston Red Sox
4^th: Brad Ausmus, C for Houston Astros
5^th: Thelma Eisen, OF for Grand Rapids Chicks
6^th: Sam Fuld, OF for Chicago Cubs
7^th: Shawn Green, OF for Los Angeles Dodgers
8^th: Sandy Koufax, P for Los Angeles Dodgers
9^th: Louis Brower, SS for Oklahoma City Indians

Like Leonard & Penny, beer & TV shows are more similar than you think

This week begins the fall TV schedule. Two of my TV shows, The Odd Couple & Duck Dynasty, ended recently, & while I was prepared to begin watching Last Man Standing, ABC axed it. TV shows are like beer. Ignore the critics; there is no right or wrong one. They are all different tastes, from different places, & available at different times. Some you enjoy more than others, yet they are an inseparable part of American culture. Some people dislike Friends, a classic American sitcom, & some dislike Bud Light. Personally, I never cared for How I Met Your Mother or Everybody Loves Raymond. While Leinenkugel rapidly gains fans, there remain skeptics. Below I will tell y’all which shows I watch & give you my opinion about each of them. So, sit back, grab a snack, & keep reading.

Tuesdays consist of three hours being watched or recorded via DVR. I began watching NCIS when I moved to Philly because a coworker enjoyed watching it. Thanks to USA Network & living in Kensington, I successfully binged many episodes, & thus I learned the timeline & history of the show, despite starting with Season 13. When I returned home, Dad joined me in watching, & on occasion Mom watches also. While Season 14 saw the addition of three new fulltime characters & Season 15 marks the departure of Jennifer Esposito & the addition of Maria Bello, NCIS continually captivates audiences. My only concern with the show is not about its stamina; the change of actors provided fresh blood to show. Instead, I worry the show added too many new characters. Keep in mind the fact the show must have some crime or significant storyline, so the agents are at the forefront. This pushes Ducky, Jimmy Palmer, Abby, & Director Vance to the background. If I were in charge, the show would not have replaced Esposito fulltime. Instead, create a character such as Ned Dorneget, a supporting agent, & use them in an episode or so. Or, incorporate Fornell, Tony DiNozzo Sr., & Delilah McGee, especially now that the McGees will welcome a baby into the world. Another option would be to focus on families & friends, such as Vance’s children, Jimmy’s family, McGee’s sister, Mike Franks’ family, or Gibbs’ therapist or doctor played by Jon Cryer. Each of those characters can add a different element to each episode, allowing viewers the opportunity to see the reactions of our beloved characters, such as a Gibbs head slap when Torres doubts Fornell or Abby working with Gibbs’ therapist to help him come out of his shell. Esposito’s departure could have led to more screen time for each character with longer secondary storylines. Not to belittle Maria Bello but such a large fulltime cast reduces the spotlight in an hour-long show.

At 9 pm Central premiers NCIS: New Orleans. The series debuted with NCIS Season 13, so I have seen every episode. Although last season featured several long story arcs, I am glad they all came to an end. One question mark for the show will be the fallout from Dwayne Prides’ actions. Yes, he saved the city, but he went rogue, & there should be repercussions. Personally, I would appoint Chris LaSalle as the lead agent, & allow that time for Pride to mentor Sebastian, spend time with his daughter, & enjoy life. Too often he is overwhelmed with responsibility. For LaSalle, it could be a neat growth moment, where he leans on Sonja Percy & Tammy Gregorio for support in being the team lead in The Big Easy. I look forward to how the show grows in its fourth season. Back in the land of reality, when my family & I went on our last cruise, our port city in the US was New Orleans, & so on our return day, we walked to where the main character Dwayne Pride’s bar is based, Dad & I took a picture, & we shared a drink there. Upon my return home from Philly, I successfully hooked Dad into watching both shows with me, & he loves the NCIS: New Orleans theme song so much it is now his ringtone. For you curious folks, it is “Boom Boom” by Big Head Todd & the Monsters, admittedly quite catchy.

In between the two naval shows stars Michael Weatherly, formerly known as Tony DiNozzo but now winning juries as Dr. Jason Bull in Bull. Fresh off its first season, there are some areas for improvement, but all in all a solid show, which again Dad & I tuned into weekly. There are two avenues the show should explore. First, while Dr. Bull is outstanding at his job, he is not perfect, & if he lost a case, it certainly would be neat to see his reaction corresponding to how his team picks up the pieces. Perhaps the team falters for a bit, maybe they accept the loss as a part of the judicial system, or instead they strive to learn from their loss. The other option for the show, & these two could work together, is to have a case over the course of at least two episodes. Each case featured a new opposition to Dr. Bull & his team. Allow viewers the opportunity to see the adjustments the opposition makes in a court appeal, or create a large-scale case where information continues to be discovered, only for that information to be the dagger to the heart for Bull’s case. Either way, I look forward to the way Dr. Bull views people, the storylines are captivating, & I enjoy the chemistry of Dr. Bull’s team.

Next up is Chicago PD. Yes, the show bears the name of the major city about 30 minutes away from me, but I did not start watching this show from day one. No, I do not remember when I started watching alongside Mom & Dad. Thankfully, USA Network announced it will air reruns of the show, so over time I shall catch up. Like NCIS, this cast may be too large, but the show does not feature nearly as predominate secondary storylines. The biggest challenge is screen time for all characters. For Trudy Platt, that may be an issue because there no longer is a fulltime beat police officer; all other fulltime characters work in Intelligence. Fortunately, the show makes up for by brilliantly handling issues relevant to the city such as distrust of police, shootings, robberies, & teenagers involved more in shady dealings than in school, etc. The crossover between Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, & Chicago Justice last season was phenomenal. Rather than three separate shows dealing with one storyline, it was a three-hour episode containing characters from all three shows.

My last TV love is The Big Bang Theory. Without revealing spoilers, last season’s finale left fans with a massive cliffhanger. Last season also showed the growth of each character in significant ways. Penny & Leonard married in front of their families & friends, Bernadette & Howard became parents, Raj stopped relying on his parents’ money, & Sheldon & Amy are now living together. Several seasons ago, when Sheldon left aboard a train, the show gained an opportunity to truly develop characters. Unfortunately, I felt the show stunted that growth, allowing Sheldon to continue to act childish & everyone accepted his behavior. This approach harmed the Hofstadter’s relationship & delayed the maturation of Amy & Sheldon’s relationship. While Amy attempted to move on, Penny & Leonard bicker & are not the couple I grew fond of. Last season finally took a turn in the right direction. My main issue with Sheldon is his arrogance over the others & their acceptance. Amy broke up with him because of his refusal to change, but the others, outside of perhaps Bernadette, still allow him to criticize them. Hopefully the development from the season finale will continue Sheldon’s maturity.

Additionally, Leonard & Penny need to change. He continually comments he does not deserve her & she accepts that. Neither are perfect, but their strengths balance their weaknesses. He is loving, compassionate, & willing to grow with her. She loves him for who he is & knows he keeps her on the mature path. They complete each other. On a minor note, it would be nice for Stuart to have a thriving comic book store & more of a storyline than simply mooching off the Wolowitzs. Lastly, Raj needs to continue to live on his own finances. As the show is often compared to Friends, I see Raj as the Joey of the show. Forever single, but an outstanding friend. Like Joey, he will not be the star of his career field, but an accomplishment for Raj affects Sheldon as their two fields are similar. Finally, compliments to the show for its terrific minor characters. Everyone’s parents, Barry Kripke, the famed Stephen Hawking, Bert, Leslie Winkle, & even Ramona Nowitzki provide interesting insights into the characters. Who does not love the hilarious Kripke voice, the Christian Mrs. Cooper, the deadpan Dr. Mrs. Hofstadter, & the friendly aloof Bert? They continue to add comedy, allowing the regular cast serious moments. The 90’s are known for Friends, the 2010’s will be known for The Big Bang Theory.

When I turned 21, I loved Yuengling. Later I discovered my love of Redd’s Apple Ale. I dislike Miller & will drink Coors if nothing else is available. My relationship with TV shows is similar. I loved Duck Dynasty. I now love NCIS & its counterpart NCIS: New Orleans. Mom is to TV for me as Coors is to alcohol. I will enjoy both if they are available. I look forward to the premiere of Young Sheldon much like I anticipated the taste of Redd’s Green Apple Ale. As I walk down the beer aisle at Meijer, I see numerous new beers. While my wallet is light, I will keep an eye open & an ear listening to find my next delicious drink. Who knows what show I will stumble upon next? Until then, you know my thoughts about my favorite TV shows. What are yours?

That darn wristband

As my watch is currently not working, I have one item on my wrist. It is my camouflage wristband. It says, “So others may live Douglas Fortune.” Even with the lack of sunlight, there is still a tan line on my arm from it. The only time I take it off is when I am at work. As with many other things in my life, there is a story behind it. It was first semester of my freshman year during finals week. On Sunday or Monday, I received a phone call saying Douglas was in the hospital, but he would be ok. At some point in the week, I received another call where I learned things were not going well & that I should pray for him. Friday came & I was done with one semester of college! Papa had driven through massive snowstorm in Louisville area, my phone was not working right, & little did I know things were not going well at all. Papa arrived upset, both at my lack of communication & about Douglas’ health. He told me things were going horribly for Douglas. We drove home & first words Mom said to me I will never forget. Douglas passed away. What a start to Christmas Break. We talked about it, but I was in shock. Why would God take someone so young away? We went to his memorial service in Milwaukee & we were given those wristbands. I put mine on right away. Although service honored Douglas in a top-notch manner, I was in shock. Douglas was close to me in age, he was a kind loving fellow, he was healthy, bright, and smart as he had a future with wind turbines like ones on I65 between West Lafayette & Indy. Why did he receive call to heaven? After service, other things happened, Christmas Break concluded, & back to UD came I. Still wearing that wristband. At first Marycrest Mass, I spoke with David Weickert about Douglas. I never received an answer of, “Why did Douglas die?” I kept wearing that wristband. Now, it reminds me of Douglas yes but something else as well. To quote Hitch, “Begin each day as if it were on purpose.” It reminds me that life is beautiful. It is ALWAYS worth living. It is precious. Additionally, each day holds possibility to be a good day. So, when I get off work at Marycrest, what is first thing I put on? That darn wristband

I fished my bike out of the lake

One of my favorite summer activities is to go for a bike ride. Countless times Papa & I rode our bikes together. Whether we flew down the hills in Colorado, rode to lunch at Taco Bell, or dodged traffic on our way to Zarlengo’s, our rides usually are eventful. Among all our rides, two stand out, & both times, I got wet. This writing discusses a particular ride in Gobles.

After breakfast one morning, Papa & I went for a ride somewhere. On our return to the Brandywine, we turned left to Public Access for our customary dip the front tire in the lake stop. Although we previously dipped our bikes front tires in the lake many times, little did I know this instance would be different. As we approached the incline, Papa told me to slow down. I pedaled backwards; nothing happened. I pedaled backwards faster yet the bike did not stop. In the blink of an eye, I rode the whole bike into the lake! Papa, incredulous of what just happened, asked, “Are you alright? Why didn’t you stop? Did you lose the bike?” I responded, “I’m soaked & surprised but I’m fine. I pedaled backwards. I do not know why it did not stop. While I’m not on the bike, I feel it (Public Access initial depth is not deep).” Unfortunately, while I felt it, I could not pull it out by simply bending down into the water. One plunge underwater later & the bike & I surfaced.

Luckily, I did not lose my glasses in this whole endeavor. As we inspected if the bike received any damage, Papa realized the root of my brake failure. This bike had handlebar brakes; pedaling backwards would not stop the bike! Obviously, I never rode a bike with hand brakes before. How I successfully stopped before remains a mystery. Fortunately, the only change to the bike was its dryness. Both the bike & I were soaked. Thankfully, the temperature was rising, the sun was out, & the distance between Public Access & the cottage was not far. Getting back on our bikes, Papa & I finished our ride back. When we arrived, Mom saw us & immediately asked why my red shorts were dripping wet. Upon coming closer, she saw how wet the bike & I were, & Papa & I laughed. After hearing my explanation, Mom shook her head with a look of “Awww jeez.” I went inside, dried off, changed, hung my wet clothes on the clothesline, & placed the bike in a sunny spot to dry. Every time Papa & I dipped our front tires into the lake afterwards, Papa & I chuckle about that memory. I have successfully braked every time since then. On Brandywine Lake, most people swim, tube, waterski, drink, talk, etc. I fished my bike out of the lake.