Of Matthew and Baseball

I can't figure out Matthew. He seems to want nothing to do with baseball, mostly because that's Will's sport. I'm ok with that. He went to a Braves game just to hang out with Will's friends, but wanted to go to Tooner Field and the Coke bottle, so we did.

Last night on America's Home Makeover, a kid's room was done with all this Cincinnati Reds stuff, including what looked like a bunch of historical caps. There was a framed jersey of the kid's favorite player, Bronson Arroyo, he of the fancy leg kick. There was a personalized Reds jersey for the kid, who later got to throw out the first pitch at a game. And Bronson himself made an appearance...in full uniform! But he didn't hang around long...he came in, said his hellos, and then left. It could've been a rerun on TVLand...the kids love it, and I had just returned from work.

Matthew was watching it, and said he wanted a room like that...except for the Braves. His and Will's room isn't too far off (though this weekend I returned the red Francoeur jersey to the closet. Halfway through the year I realized it was in the closet, instead of "on display" outside the closet door. Figuring that was why Frenchy was having such a poor year, I brought it out. Did you read the similar back page article in SI?). Perhaps next season I'll display Matthew's little Chipper jersey.

Also a good SI article on the Rays manager.

I'm forwarding Reid's story below about Mazzone...he hates Cox.

Heard Mazzony tell a story about how he and Cox were together in the dugout. Smoltz was pitching in the 9th with a 5 to 3 lead with 2 men on. Cox asked Leo what he would do and Leo replied "leave him in". After several times of asking the same question, Cox strides out to the mound to take Smoltz out. Leo pulled his hat off, and started scratching his head. Cox came back mad but didn't say anything. After the game Cox called Leo into his office and closed the door. Cox said "don't you ever pull your hat off and scratch your head while I'm pulling a pitcher". Leo tried to explain that it was not intential and that his head really did itch. He said Cox never bought it, and he never did it again.