Friday, July 28, 2023

Swinging For The Fences

Thursday: left work at 5:30. Dropped my car at the shop and put my keys in the after hours slot. Then I realized I'd locked my backpack and laptop in the car. Ugh.

Ate at the Taqueria in Chamblee. Long line like other Taquerias. Chamblee is kinda closer, and a more relaxing drive through Dunwoody on back roads. But for all the trouble getting there and back I guess we should go to Cheshire or Howell Mill. C ordered a taco and "I am want rice and I want beans". She was disappointed to get the usual taco basket with the little cup of half rice and half beans. I ordered a brisket enchilada and rice and beans, so I received the plate with rice and beans there on the plate – not in cups (above). I offered to share, but C said she had plenty.

The Cardinals / Cubs game had just started on the TVs. With two out in the top of the first Chicago's Ian Happ took a long swing, letting the bat go with his top hand. The bat continued around in a long arc and smacked catcher Willson Contreras in the head – knocking him out of the game. It was right when we were leaving, but I was interested because Happ had needlessly swung like the Braves Marcell Ozuna often does.

Ozuna has hit catchers with his bat several times this season. An all or nothing hitter, Marcell is an all or nothing hitter, home run or strikeout. For much of the season it has been nothing for Ozuna. I'm not a fan of Ozuna's swing from the heels approach, which finishes with his weight leaning back. When he swings and misses, which is quite often, Ozuna swings so hard that his top hand comes off the bat, and the weapon arcing far around. If he were to hit the umpire instead of the catcher, he might get thrown out of the game. Give me a Rod Carew or Tony Gwynn any day.

So we left the restaurant and forgot all about the game. Two pitches later Cardinal pitcher Miles Mikolas drilled Happ with a pitch in retaliation – and was thrown out of the game. Sure Happ didn't club Contreras on purpose, but its something that is happening more and more often.

Back home we watched episode 3 of King of the Land. Very good. With no laptop I gave it my full attention. I had planned on playing golf this morning, but had to swing by the shop to retrieve my backpack instead. So I lifted weights at the gym. 

DENISON ON UFOs: nothing in the Bible denies or confirms the existence of intelligent life beyond our planet. God knows, since if such life does exist he would have been the one to create it. However, it's simply not a question that God cared to answer. If an alien were to land on your street, would it shake your faith in God? How much? Why?

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