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My 2014 National League Predictions

Posted by Jeff White on March 19, 2014 in Baseball

Continuing with my March assignment for the United Cardinals Bloggers, it’s my National League Predictions blog. The NL is much more exciting this year than the American League in my opinion.

I think the National League East could be a mess. I am not sure what way to go here so educated guess is my choice.

NL East:
Washington Nationals
Atlanta Braves
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Miami Marlins

The Nationals have a lot of pitching. They have a good offense and defense but pitching wins championships. The Braves surprise a few people after recovering from some injuries. The Mets are fueled by their GM’s prediction of a 90 win season but fall about 10 games short. The Phillies need to rebuild. There is a lot of drama in Philadelphia. Those poor Marlins fans.

The National League West should be the toughest division in baseball. Lots of what ifs here.

NL West:
San Francisco Giants
Los Angeles Dodgers (WC)
San Diego Padres (WC)
Arizona Diamondbacks
Colorado Rockies

I do not like the team makeup in Los Angeles. Too many chiefs and not enough indians. Dodgers are good enough to get the top Wild Card though. Giants win this with pitching and luck. The Padres are my surprise team this year. They are the anti-Dodgers with lots of team chemistry and a desire to win. I see quite a few walk off wins in their year ahead. Arizona will be a .500 team but that is not good enough in the West. Rockies will excite early and then fall late.

Ah, last but not least, My Cardinals and the NL Central. Many believe that the Cardinals have improved while the Pirates and Reds got worse. I tend to agree.

NL Central:
St. Louis Cardinals
Milwaukee Brewers
Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates
Chicago Cubs

The Cardinals breeze their way into the playoffs. They may be the only team over .500 in the division. They could win it by 10 games, easily. The Brewers hover around that .500 mark all year. Reds get grit with the Skippy addition but it’s not enough as Cueto or someone else does something stupid. Pittsburgh is Gerrit Cole and Andrew McCutcheon and not much else. I have become an Anthony Rizzo fan, but come on, it’s the Cubs.

I will do a separate blog on post season predictions later this week.

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My 2014 American League Predictions

Posted by Jeff White on March 17, 2014 in Baseball

Once again, baseball season is upon us. Since I will be on vacation next week, I am doing my predictions blogs this week as part of this year’s March assignment for the United Cardinals Bloggers. I am starting with the American League, later will be the National League, and then postseason and awards.

The AL East should be a bit different this year. The defending World Series Champions reside here. I am not sure they can repeat, but I am impressed with what the Baltimore Orioles have done in the offseason. Here’s what I think.

AL East:
Boston Red Sox
Baltimore Orioles
Tama Bay Rays
New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays

Boston has enough talent to repeat as division champions. Baltimore has not improved enough to make the playoffs but they come close. Rays go and start selling off talent after they realize they are out. The Yankees have the market cornered on 2B and back up SS but with not enough pitching, they too will fall. Toronto just doesn’t impress me.

The AL Central is again my favorite division in the American League. I root for these teams when they aren’t playing each other. I have friends who are fans of these teams.

AL Central:
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals (WC)
Cleveland Indians (WC)
Chicago White Sox
Minnesota Twins

The excitement in this division is fun to me. Detroit has a great combo of pitching and offense; enough to hold off a tough division. Kansas City is my team that makes a big jump this year. Yes you do see two wild card teams coming from the Central.

The AL West is the almost division. I find this the hardest division to pick, so I am going sentimental. There will be a lot of injuries in the west this year.

AL West:
Oakland Athletics
Texas Rangers
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Seattle Mariners
Houston Astros

The winner of this division will be the only team from here to make the playoffs. Just a few games over .500 will win this. Texas and Anaheim get the injury bug or they would be up top. Seattle is disappointed with its offense but they will have talented pitchers. I hope Houston does enough to pay attention.

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Angel On The Outside

Posted by Jeff White on March 11, 2014 in Poetry/Lyrics

When I decided to add some of my poetry and song lyrics to my blog, I wasn’t sure if I would start with the 100 plus that I wrote in high school or ones that I wrote since. I decided on one I wrote after high school because it is one of my favorites. It was partially inspired by a friend of mine I used to work with about 15 years ago. I just texted her to let her know I would be using it. Our families very much still keep in touch about as much as we can. Here’s to you Deb.

Angel on The Outside

When you walk up to her
You will never see the signs,
You can’t see it on her face
You can’t read between the lines.
It’s never expected
But it’s so easy to see,
She caught me in her sight
And now there’s nothing left of me.

Chorus
She’s an angel on the outside,
And a devil within.
She’ll get you from the inside
And she’ll make you see sin.
I thought I could get around it
And I thought I could see.
But she’s done it to everyone,
And now, she’s done it to me.

I never thought I could
Get caught up in her trance.
I was blinded by her eyes
And the way that they dance.
Why couldn’t I see it
I just wanted her love.
And it came down and got me
Right from up above.

Chorus

Never in a million years
And never to me.
Never would I think
That I could ever see.

Chorus

She’ll do it to you but now,
She’s doing it to me.

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Give Up Every Day

Posted by Jeff White on March 4, 2014 in Life

I am an Evangelical Christian. I am not Catholic. I do not participate in the practice of 40 days of Lent giving something up. I don’t understand this practice. Why does Lent have to be the time that you give something up? Why can’t it be September? Shouldn’t as practicing Christians we be trying to give up the ‘bad’ things in our lives year round?

I remember when I gave up smoking. It was because of a girl. Nine months later, the girl and I were broken up and I started chewing tobacco. I gave that up some six years later when my wife was pregnant with my son. I have battled with those urges ever since and have I been 100% without them? No. I enjoy an occasional sweet cigar especially while playing golf. Last year I tried a shredded beef jerky that looked like chewing tobacco. It was nasty.

We all have vices. We all either drink too much soda, eat too much candy, or have something that you could do without. I admire the people that try to give something up. But does it matter what time of year it is? I get the sacrifice of trying something like Jesus’s trials and his 40 days of desolation. Isn’t this something a Christian should practice every day? Aren’t we all trying to be more Christlike?

I suck at giving things up. I know this. Do you know why? I am a human. I am not perfect. I want to be more Christlike. I want to be able to avoid all the evils in this world but it is hard. I have a wife that supports me but she is human too.

I try every day to give things up. I want to be a better person. Shouldn’t we all try to be a better person? I mean every day. Not just during the 40 days of Lent.

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Announcement Time

Posted by Jeff White on February 28, 2014 in Life

20140228-154634.jpg

You all know I never promised you a regular blog before. I am not a normal blogger. But then again what is normal? Winter has been very busy for me work wise. The weather conditions affect my job as well as VIPs who want to pay you a visit. Ok, enough with the excuses. You may be wondering ‘what is the big announcement you hyped on Born Bleeding’s Facebook page?’ Well, I am going to try to guarantee a weekly blog. That means I will not go seven days without writing a new blog. How can you do that Jeff? You may ask. Well, I will tell you.

I have not always been a blogger. Really? You don’t believe me? No one even knew what the heck blogging probably was in the late 80’s. I always enjoyed writing or being creative at some point. So it may be no shock to some that I have written over 125 poems and lyrics so far in my life. Yeah a lot of them were bad and sappy about some high school crush I had, but hey, they were my works of art. So since I have many of those already transferred electronically, I figured I could share them on the blog. I look forward to your comments on them.

I also hope this year to share some more under the cooking section also. I love food. I don’t know of anyone who really doesn’t love food, so why not give you more food.

I am saying this now, at the end of February and I know I am going on vacation in three weeks to Disneyworld. I know that Josh starts High School Baseball games the 1st of April and his American National team plays about 45 games in two months starting about my birthday. So all I can say, I will do my best to stick to this promise of a weekly blog guarantee, but it is something I enjoy doing, so I don’t see the issue. I also ask for all of those who read this blog to please comment, share, and ask me questions about anything posted. I want to be more interactive.

Thanks again for reading.

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My Mini Winter Warm-Up Preview

Posted by Jeff White on January 17, 2014 in Baseball, Life

My Winter Warm-Up Hat

My Winter Warm-Up Hat


It’s Winter Warm-Up time! You obviously have no clue what this is unless you are at least a more than casual St. Louis Cardinals fan. This year Cardinals Care, (1) the charitable foundation of the St. Louis Cardinals, is putting on the 18th annual event to benefit kids in the community. Kind of fitting that the Cardinals big news right before the warm-up is to extend old number 18, Mike Shannon for three more years in the Cardinals radio broadcast booth. The event takes place January 18-20 at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch.

I am proud to be a volunteer with Cardinals Care. I have been helping them and the Redbird Rookies for about 10 years now. I have worked many Warm-Ups in the past but this will be my first year working all three days. I enjoyed it so much over the years and got a good feeling helping people that I decided to go for all three days. In theory next year since you have to be 16 to volunteer, I may be able to get the whole family to help at least a day.

Fans are excited this offseason. This Cardinals team made it to the World Series last year. With the smaller additions and changes that were made by the club and the lack of additions by the rest of the National League Central, this could be a fun year to be a Cardinals fan.

I am excited for the next three days. I will try to write something up after the event to give you my perspective. I know some other members of the United Cardinal Bloggers (2) will be reporting throughout the days. The Cardinals are also doing a new Bonfyre (3) ongoing chat. My views are always a bit different than most others and especially this year when I will be dead on my feet on Monday afternoon. The hat in the picture is what I will be wearing all weekend. If you see a guy that looks like me in a volunteer’s shirt, stop me and say hello. I’d love to chat with my fellow Cardinals fans.

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Why Can’t We All Be Happy, Happy, Happy?

Posted by Jeff White on December 19, 2013 in Life, Whatever

My shirt

My shirt


Yeah, I am going there. Please hit the X button in the upper right corner if you do not want to know my thoughts on Phil Robertson and A&E.

Background: I am a Christian. I am not perfect. I am a sinner. I am saved by grace. I struggle with sin every day but I do not flaunt it in front of everyone. I keep a cross on my desk at work that has the following words on it: ‘God bless those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.’ James 1:12.

I have had close friends who are gay. We just kind of ignored the fact that we didn’t get along religiously because we got along every other way. Since we have moved from California, I have not talked to Becky and Gail. I hope they are doing well.

Anyway… Phil has a right to say what he wants and A&E has a right to work with who they want. My issue with this is that you knew what you were getting into A&E. He preached on his values back in 2010. He denounced abortion, homosexuality, big government, and animal activist. He mentions how people are supposed to be fruitful and multiply.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

This is the point I believe Phil is trying to make. People will sin. If they continue to sin and not try to repent they will not inherit God’s kingdom. Repent from your sin. Do it today or do it later but just do it. Do not flaunt it in front of others. Do not say you will never change. I want everyone I know to make it to heaven. I want people to repent for their sins. I want to be around sinners saved by grace.

I will do my best to show Christian love towards all human beings on this earth. I will fail miserably. I will try to learn more. I have a friend at work that I bounce thoughts off of her knowing that she will basically disagree with my religious beliefs but agree with my belief that I just want everyone happy.

You can do what you want. This is just my opinion. I try my best to be respectful of others. I am not your judge. I will leave that to God Almighty. If you sin and want to repent, I will do my best to share the gospel with you. I am not a good Bible verse memorizer. I am not perfect. I just want everyone to be happy, happy, happy.

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Cookie Party

Posted by Jeff White on December 14, 2013 in Cooking, Life

Cookie Party Preview!

Cookie Party Preview!


I love cookies! I love Christmas! So it would make a lot of sense that I love Christmas cookies. I am not sure what makes a cookie a Christmas cookie to you but I know what it means to me. Christmas cookies are cookies that are special because family or friends share them with you around the holidays. The idea came to me to host a cookie party. I know that some cookie parties mean you come over to someone’s house and make cookies there and share stories and fellowship with them. I can’t do that. Have you seen my kitchen? Wife, son, two dogs and I barely fit in there as it is. So as an alternative, I thought it would be cool to have everyone just bring their own cookies over to share and we would provide milk and other cookie and non cookie related beverages.

So I want to share my cookie stories here with you all. I did not make cookies that involve icing, a press, or anything fancy, just ones that mean something to me. Looking at the attached picture I am going to start in the upper left and work my way around clockwise. If you guessed that means I am starting with a peanut butter cookie, you would be correct. Peanut butter cookies seem to be a St. Louis staple. Each year my mom and sister would make these cookies. To me they are some of the best things my sister ever made. I know she made some other good things like buckeyes and many sweets, but these were my favorite. I remember dunking peanut butter cookies at my sister’s house on New Year’s Eve.

Next is a cookie my wife got from a friend of ours from church. They are even flourless. Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. Earlier this year the St. Louis area was hit with a tornado. We found out that part of our friend’s neighborhood was hit so we went out to the St. Charles area and asked to help. We ended up mostly at another friend’s house and did a lot of limb and tree removal. At the end of the day they shared some cookies, and these are our version of these cookies. My wife calls them one of her favorites.

Next is a cookie my Grandma taught me how to make. My mother actually made them more. Have you ever had a cookie with vinegar in it? I suggest you try these Imperial butter cookies. They are supposed to be made with Imperial margarine but any butter will do. They are thin, crispy, sugary, buttery goodness. These are some of my favorite cookies ever. Yummy dunked in milk or by themselves.

Going full circle on the plate are cookies I never thought I would like. Some years ago a friend of ours in our church small group made them for some reason. She wouldn’t give me the recipe so later I asked her to make them again. Then she told me that they were just Cindy McCain’s Oatmeal Butterscotch cookies. See when each party gets their nominee for President the wives make a competing cookie to raise money for charity. Who knew? These are great cookies and I even keep them in the freezer so they are extra crunchy.

I know that all of you are not going to be able to come over and enjoy these cookies, but at least now you will know the stories behind mine. I would like to thank my sister, mother, grandma, Dana, and Jennifer for the inspirations behind this year’s cookies. Merry Christmas to all!

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My Movember

Posted by Jeff White on November 8, 2013 in Life

Well, I did the furlough fuzz, the playoff patch, so why not try this no shave November or Movember thing? What is no shave November you ask? Simply it is the annual tradition when men don’t shave for the entire month of November, growing facial hair in the name of raising awareness of men’s prostate health, to promote manliness, or just because. Women can also participate by not shaving their legs and/or armpits. Ladies, I recommend you just watch the scruffiness. But to each their own. I am more a fan of Movember. Movember is the international version in which men grow mustaches in the month of November to promote prostate cancer awareness. Movember, however, allows participants to shave their beard and trim their mustache, where No Shave November doesn’t allow shaving of any sort. If you remember the furlough fuzz, my beard doesn’t fully grow in. Also, my face kind of has turns to it and not trimming my mustache would be nearly impossible. I hope that all the men reading this will join me.

My Movember Mustache as of 11/8/13

My Movember Mustache as of 11/8/13

November also contains some very important holidays. None more important to the fabric of this nation then Veteran’s Day. Everyone in the United States of America is either a veteran, related to one, or knows one. I fall in all three categories. For those who do not know I was in the United States Marine Corps from September of 1989 to September of 1993. That includes some time over in the first Gulf War or Operation Desert Shield/Storm. A shout out to all my veteran friends in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard also.

Happy Birthday Marines!

Happy Birthday Marines!

November 10th marks the birthday of The United States Marine Corps. If you know a Marine like myself, wish us a happy birthday. No cards or gifts required. Semper Fi!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I am ready to start baking cookies for Christmas. We have started a folder for Christmas card pictures. The first snowflake is in the forecast here in St. Louis. I hope I get a chance to see all of my local friends this holiday season and for the other holidays too. Send me a message for my number. I am never more than a text or a call away.

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My Take On #cardsplaneproblems

Posted by Jeff White on October 29, 2013 in Baseball, Life

Giving credit where credit is due, United Cardinal Bloggers founder and head honcho Daniel Shoptaw Cardinal70 ‏@C70 game up with the Twitter hashtag #cardsplaneproblems. From there it blew up. You all knew Middlebrooksing would get involved (see picture credit Joe Sports Fan).

Middlebrooksing plane courtesy of Joe Sports Fan

Middlebrooksing plane courtesy of Joe Sports Fan


Cardinals players are playing along with Jon Axford posting pictures, David Freese joking about Imo’s, Joe Kelly having a standoff with Delta or trying to get Adam Wainwright to dance. How could you not love this team?

The following are the tweets I contributed to this phenomenon. They may not all be funny, but oh well:

The Cardinals are still waiting for Holliday’s homerun to land from the Dodgers series so they can take off. #cardsplaneproblems
Fozzie Bear got stuck in security at Lambert. #cardsplaneproblems #WachaWachaWacha
The Cardinals plane is stuck behind the eight ball. #cardsplaneproblems
John Mozeliak’s suitcase full of bow ties caused the plane to be overweight. #cardsplaneproblems
Mike Shannon is trying to drink a few more cold frosty ones before takeoff. #cardsplaneproblems
Freese just realized there’s no Imo’s in Boston #cardsplaneproblems
Cards are waiting for FoxSports 1 to finish post game show. #cardsplaneproblems
DannyMacTV tried to sneak on board. #cardsplaneproblems
Had to wait for ESPN Scorecenter to report the plane was ready for takeoff. #cardsplaneproblems
The phone on the plane broke. #cardsplaneproblems #oldskool
Fredbird took his head off and security was called. #cardsplaneproblems
Kolten Wong slipped. #cardsplaneproblems
The keys for the plane are stuck in Mike Napoli’s beard. #cardsplaneproblems
With Winnipeg in town all Jets are required to stay in St. Louis tonight. #cardsplaneproblems #NHL
Kevin Millar’s wardrobe got spilled on the Tarmac and the pilot was blinded. @IntentionalTalk #cardsplaneproblems
Adam Wainwright decided to give his own motivational speech. #cardsplaneproblems
They can’t find the rally squirrel. #cardsplaneproblems
With all the giraffe pictures on Facebook, everyone thought Joe Kelly was missing. #cardsplaneproblems
The Cardinals are trying to figure what the fox said. #cardsplaneproblems
Shelby Miller dressed in a Michael Wacha costume can’t get thru security. #cardsplaneproblems
Hey @Tsunamy27 Duane Wade called and wants his clothes back. #cardsplaneproblems
Mike Matheny still trying to figure out flight itenerary. #cardsplaneproblems
After @dfreese23 ordered Imo’s they realized they were out if bacon.. #cardsplaneproblems
Michael Wacha took off on an earlier flight. Team can’t get off ground without him. #cardsplaneproblems
Airline just realized Capt Phillips is a boat pilot. #cardsplaneproblems
Some of my favorite ones were done by fellow bloggers; Marilyn Green ‏@Marilyncolor tweeted: The plane tried to run on Yadier Molina. #cardsplaneproblems and Cardinal70 ‏@C70 tweeted: During the regular season, it was the Cubs official plane. So it doesn’t work in October. #cardsplaneproblems
Thank you all for the time of laughter and smile today Cardinals Nation. Go Cardinals!

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