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I Think I Am Ready For Vacation

Posted by Jeff White on July 25, 2013 in Life

Technically my vacation started yesterday when I got off work. My wife and I went to the Cardinals game last night and watched the Birds beat the Phillies. Today is about getting stuff done. Errands, packing and whatever before we drive up to Green Lake Wisconsin in the morning for Northern Pines (1).

Green Lake, Wisconsin

Green Lake, Wisconsin

This year’s vacation is going to be different. This may be our last time at Northern Pines for a few years. This is prime sports time for high school. Josh is already missing a football camp this year by going to Northern Pines. Next year there will be football camp and also he will still be playing baseball thru the end of July. In light of this, we are planning a spring break Disneyworld vacation and our budget just does not fit both.

Another reason this vacation is going to be different is that some of the friends we have made over the years are not going to be there. Some just couldn’t get it in their budget this year due to other trips and a few ended up going first week. I will miss playing with some of the kids in the water and hanging with the adults. We will be headed up tomorrow (Friday) to help with the transition weekend so we will get to see a few familiar faces there for a short bit.

I know that the extended family that originally invited us there will still be there. I know some of our other friends will be there. I know that we will make new friends. It just feels different.

I hope we enjoy this vacation. I pray that God will use the speakers to refresh us and to get us ready for this adventure with Josh called High School. I also pray that his baseball situation will get all figured out while we are gone.

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Inside My Cardinals Hall of Fame

Posted by Jeff White on June 28, 2013 in Baseball

My June project for the United Cardinal Bloggers is to talk about what I would want to put in the Cardinals Hall of Fame. You see, with the someday opening of Ballpark Village outside Busch Stadium, they are planning on installing a Cardinals Hall of Fame there. I am kind of excited for this. I am curious to see what they put in there. I am not going to state the obvious in what should be in there, so I will go with a bit more obscure, but hopefully not too much for a good Cardinals fan.

What happens after a tarp hits Vince Coleman

What happens after a tarp hits Vince Coleman

First thing I thought of was the tarp from 1985. Please tell me I don’t have to explain this to you. But for those of you who don’t remember, Vince Coleman got caught in the tarp and hurt his ankle before the fourth game of the National League Championship Series and was not available to play for the rest of the playoffs. The Cardinals would have probably had a World Series Championship that year if he had played.

BroccaPop by Vess

BroccaPop by Vess

The next items I thought about revolve around one of my favorite Cardinals, Lou Brock. Where would my childhood be without Broccapop or Brockabrella? I used to drink a Broccapop every chance I could get as a kid. Vess soda was the rage at Grandma’s house. I wish they still made it. Was there a better red cream soda? The Brockabrella was an umbrella hat. It was genius. Plain marketing genius.
Lou Brock wearing the Brockabrella recently

Lou Brock wearing the Brockabrella recently

Budweiser Clock

Budweiser Clock

I would also like to see some sort of Anheuser-Busch tribute area. The company owned the team from 1953 to 1996. The stadium is Busch Stadium III. The family and company did a lot for baseball in the Midwest. Busch Memorial Stadium (Busch II) was paid for and built by the brewery and lasted from 1966-2005. I would like to see a Budweiser can and beer stein tribute area to go along with this. Just think of how many AB products have had a Cardinals logo on them at some point.

I could go on and on about the things I would want in the hall of fame, but I think the Cardinals will cover most of them. Tried to think a little outside the box here and what I think of when I think St. Louis Cardinals baseball.

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My 2013 All Star Ballot

Posted by Jeff White on June 20, 2013 in Baseball

stlappleA couple of years ago when Bud Selig decided to make the All-Star game ‘count’ I thought this might be a cool idea. See baseball’s biggest stars fight for which league will get home field advantage in the World Series. I can say this probably helped the Cardinals win, so I have grown used to it. I don’t understand why there has to be one member from every team now. If it really counts, put in the best players. The Cardinals announcers were having a contest to try to figure out which Cub will get to the All-Star game. The Cardinals have 6 or so All-Stars. They may not all make it. Either put the best team out there or put it back so the game doesn’t count. If the Cardinals were out of it, I may vote for the best players in each league since my team wouldn’t make the playoffs. But, the Cardinals are in it. They have the best record in baseball so my All-Star ballot is slightly different since I want the National League to win and I am a huge Cardinals fan.

    National League

C – Yadier Molina – St. Louis Cardinals. Quite possibly the best all around player in baseball right now on the best team. There should not be any debate here.

1B – Allen Craig – St. Louis Cardinals. A little of a homer pick here but all he does is drive in runs. He has 53 RBIs as I am writing this and he is batting fourth on the best team in baseball.

2B – Matt Carpenter – St. Louis Cardinals. His manager called him the best second baseman in the league, so who am I to argue with Mike Matheny.

SS – Troy Tulowitzki – Colorado Rockies. Normally I would not vote for someone on the DL but his numbers are way over any other SS in the NL. .347 AVG 16 HR 51 RBI

3B – David Wright – New York Mets. There is no way that Captain America will not start the All-Star Game in his home park.

OF – Carlos Beltran – St. Louis Cardinals. Having another career year as he is thriving in St. Louis.

OF – Carlos Gonzalez – Colorado Rockies. Big numbers, nice guy. Carrying the Rockies now that Tulo is hurt.

OF – Matt Holliday – St. Louis Cardinals. He hits the ball really hard. He normally gets hot at All-Star Game time, so it just makes sense.

    American League

C – Jose Molina – Tampa Bay Rays. All I hear around this town is vote Molina. So I did.

1B – Brett Wallace – Houston Astros. Former Cardinal having a terrible season. Not even sure he’s still in baseball. Perfect pick.

2B – Chris Getz – Kansas City Royals. .216 AVG 1 HR 12 RBIs. Need I say more?

SS – Brendan Ryan – Seattle Mariners. Some of us in St. Louis thought he would be an All Star at one point, so why not vote him as one?

3B – Mike Moustakas – Kansas City Royals. Wanna see if the chants in New York would be booooo or Moooo.

OF – Curtis Granderson – New York Yankees. Hasn’t played much so seems like he’d be perfect for this team. .250 AVG 1 HR 1 RBI.

OF – Kelly Johnson – Tampa Bay Rays. Feel he doesn’t get the attention he deserves in the Majors. Having a good year on a good team. That’s why I voted for him.

OF – Josh Reddick – Oakland A’s. I just want to see if he will shave his beard for the game. I could also work in a Duck Dynasty tie-in here.

Is my ballot not what you expected? I want the National League to win so my St. Louis Cardinals will get home field advantage. Then we can go to the World Series Parade together, deal?

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So, My Dad Died

Posted by Jeff White on May 30, 2013 in Life

On Saturday May 25th I get a text from my sister saying ‘Just an FYI, dad is dying’. I tell her thanks. I get a text the next day saying ‘Dad passed away this morning’ I say thank u and she asks me if I want to know funeral arrangements and I say please. She says ‘Ok will let you know when I find out’.

Yesterday my wife saw my sister’s post on Facebook that said she was enjoying Lion’s Choice. My wife asked if she was in town and she said ‘We are here for my dad’s funeral tomorrow’. That is today.

I haven’t talked to my father since I was in high school. I don’t remember the date but I know it was at a choir concert that I was in, and the fire alarm was pulled right before it started and he drove up while we were standing outside. If there was no fire alarm, he would have missed part of my performance.

My parents were divorced when I was like four or five. I never remember them married. I know it took a few years for my elementary school to realize it. I was raised by my mother with the help of my grandparents. We lived right by them throughout my childhood. My dad still owes my mom thousands of dollars in back child support. Back then it was only $35 a week before I was 16, then $50 a week from age 16 til I joined the Marines. So it took a while for that to add up. I don’t know the amount of money that he owed my grandparents for medical bills, but I know it was a lot.

The only things I knew I got from my dad were my singing and my bad shoulder. He owned a square dance record and calling company in his third marriage and I got to mess around with calling. I thought I was pretty good.

My Men’s Fraternity group would call this ‘the Father Wound’. I call it I have moved on and I don’t let the actions of one person affect me. I learned from my Grandpa and others the best I could.

I am 16 years younger than my sister. The only way we talk is thru the occasional text or Facebook comment. She recently divorced my brother-in-law because of things I am not aware of. They were married 25 years or so. It was the second marriage for both of them. So let’s not say we are close. I have written before how I don’t talk to my brother and mother.

But please, do not feel sorry for me. Just be happy with the family you have. I have a kindred spirit that I jokingly call my sister, she is part of a family that is there for me, besides my wife and son. Thank you Barb, I am blessed.

I am not at my dad’s funeral. I am here just doing the best I can.

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Call Me What You Will

Posted by Jeff White on May 16, 2013 in Life

Recently I was called a redneck. More specifically I was told I was a ‘small town, redneck hick who is uneducated, has low self esteem and had an unpleasant upbringing.’ I think this person was trying to offend me. Nah, not me. Not the guy who doesn’t want to be normal. I kind of laughed at it.

Just a bit of history first. I was born in Creve Coeur, Missouri. I grew up in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Have any of you been to Creve Coeur? It was, and still is, in the middle of suburbia in St. Louis County. I currently live a couple of miles from where I grew up. While I was growing up my area had a diverse group of people in it. My school district, Parkway, participated in the desegregation program so we had everyone at our school including some great city kids to children of doctors and lawyers. In fact, would you believe the first person I met in elementary school, who is still my friend on Facebook, commented on my redneck thoughts a few days ago when I posted them on there? He said he was called ‘The Redneck Rabbi’ because someone saw him attending a car show.

I kind of wish I was more redneck at times. Ah…the life. Think about it. Living by open land where I could have a baseball field on my property. I could teach my son the art of shooting a can off a fence without the neighbors yelling at me. Heck, Jeff Foxworthy has made a lot of money being a redneck. I have always thought of myself as more of the Bill Engvall type though. I’m smart enough to know how to do something but stupid enough to try it anyways. I would also love to give people their stupid signs.

I wear muscle shirts when it is hot outside. I am naturally warm, so the less clothes the better. Redneck maybe, but this just seems smart to me. I am usually seen outside of work or our house wearing a baseball cap. I have made change in the offering plate, I watch NASCAR, and I met my wife at a country bar in Southern California. I know how to boot scoot, tush push, and won awards for line dancing back in the day. I love sweet tea and good BBQ. I believe that if it’s not at Wal-Mart, you don’t need it. You might want it, but you really don’t need it. I will flip you ‘the Bull’ if you ask me to.

Sure, I may not have gone to college much. I really don’t care too much about art or theatre. I know I come from divorced parents and my single mom did the best she thought she could. Hey, my life is far from perfect. Oh well. What matters is that I am me. Call me redneck, call me a city boy, call me whatever. It really doesn’t matter to me. I have a quote on my wall at work that says ‘What they think doesn’t define who I am.’ I don’t know where I got it from, but it fits when I get called something that might be thought of as derogatory by other people.

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St. Louis Sports Observations

Posted by Jeff White on May 3, 2013 in Baseball, Life

St. Louis Sports

St. Louis Sports

Been kind of quiet with my views on Twitter, so I thought I would share some of my thoughts on sports and more specifically St. Louis Sports. This is an exciting time for sports here in St. Louis.

Gotta start with the NHL Playoffs and the St. Louis Blues. Today, they are up 2 games to 0 over the defending Stanley Cup Champions Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs. Goalie Brian Elliott has been playing his butt off. Alexander Steen scored all the Blues needed in the first game and Barrett Jackman scored with under a minute left to secure game 2. At the beginning of this strike shortened season, I believed that Jaden Schwartz was going to be the better hockey player than Valdimir Tarasenko. Schwartz has shown thru the first two games against the Kings that he has what it takes to be a great player. He has been stars in both games. I hope the Blues can continue this run. They worry me when they will go up against the more offensive minded teams.

Ok, St. Louis Rams time. I did not watch the NFL Draft. I will leave that boring TV to the experts. I did follow the Rams picks on Twitter and know they traded up when they wanted someone and got some teammates that will help Sam Bradford at Wide Receiver. What I read on these players though has made me believe that the Rams have gone away from their ‘Five Pillars’ philosophy and have gone with just the best players. I am also happy that the Rams did not get Justin Blackmon in a previous year’s draft.

Well how about them St. Louis Cardinals. No Chris Carpenter. Who knows when we will see Jason Motte. Just this week Scrabble and Boggs get sent down to AAA. David Freese hasn’t hit worth a darn after hurting his back. Allen Craig hasn’t hit a ball out of the park. Yet, the Cardinals are leading their division. Something they have done on May 1st every year since 2008. Jake Westbrook is leading the league with a 1.08 ERA. Adam Wainwright is showing he is the Ace. Matt Carpenter is leading the league in runs scored and playing a great 2B when he is allowed. Yadier Molina is clearly the team MVP. He’s batting .327 currently! Carlos Beltran is playing well. Matt Adams was shining on the days he played before his injury. Craig, despite no home runs, is in the top ten in RBIs. Wainwright and Lynn are tied for the league lead in wins and among the top ten in strikeouts.

Ok enough stats. Let’s just say that it is exciting time to be a St. Louis Sports fan. I wish you were all here to enjoy it with us because who needs the NBA

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Support

Posted by Jeff White on April 30, 2013 in Life

Yeah I know I haven’t written anything in a while. Life gets in the way. I also never write about asking for help. There are things that go on daily in our lives where we require the support of others. Not very often do we thank those that give us that support. I did this today in an email to my colleagues/friends that I have worked with in the past thanking them for their support of me. I asked them for their continued support of me in the near future.

Today, the job I have been acting in for the past nine months has been announced so that I can apply for it. This has been a long painstaking process that my boss has worked very hard behind the scenes to get done. She has been a great boss, mentor, and friend to me over the years. I wish you all were so lucky to have someone like her in your life both personally and professionally.

This job was done by someone previously at a much higher grade level than I currently am. When they left for a higher job, I was left as the only employee in St. Louis in my function. I don’t know what it took to convince the higher ups to let me act in the position. I know it took me more work with no more pay. Just experience is all I was guaranteed. I am a loyalist to the people I work for and care about, so I said ok. Over the past six plus months I have faced many challenges, thought I screwed up majorly a couple of times, but all in all I showed myself and apparently others that I can do this job.

I remember being asked in the past how I can try to be nice to everyone. Sometimes I fail at it miserably. But I have learned one important thing in life. You never know whose support you are going to need. Think I might have even mentioned that in the blog before. This is a time I guess I may need the support.

Support

Support

I’d like to take this time to thank all that have supported me in the past and ask that you keep praying and/or keeping good thoughts coming my way as I prepare my application, my colleagues edit it, Personnel reviews it, and those selecting make their decision.

I am not done asking for support. A few weeks ago, a lifelong friend of mine was hit by a car at his job. David Van Dyk has been battling brain issues since then. He has been in a doctor’s monitored coma since the accident and they are trying to find ways to keep his brain pressure low. David needs your prayers way more than I do. He is battling for his life. His parents are by his bedside and there are people all over this world praying for him. Please help and pray for DVD. David is one year younger than me and I have known him for over 25 years. He has been to many s’mores nights at my house and has been in my Men’s Fraternity small group. Prayer has been powerful for him and his family since the accident so I ask for your help.

Many others have faced battles recently. Do what your heart desires for them. Keep your good thoughts going, support them, or pray. You never know how your goodness will affect people.

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2013 MLB Playoff Predictions and Awards

Posted by Jeff White on March 29, 2013 in Baseball

My third blog in one week!  Continuing my United Cardinals Bloggers Predictions assignment I have taken my predictions thread to another level.  Here are my award and playoff predictions.

AL Cy Young:  Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners.  No one player does more for their team as a pitcher.  He helps lead his team to the playoffs as baseballs only 20 game winner.

AL Most Valuable Player:  Yeah this one is tough.  My gut says Chris Young from the Orioles will have a breakout year but Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers edges him out.  Mike Trout comes in third as his team fades in the standings.

AL Rookie of the Year:  I will be honest, I have no clue.  Somebody from Toronto or Seattle will step up and claim it.  Haven’t seen much on rookies this spring.

AL Comeback Player of the Year:  John Lackey, Boston Red Sox.  I think Lackey does almost enough to get Boston back to the playoffs.  A 15 plus win season is a good thing again for him.

NL Cy Young:  Ian Kennedy, Arizona Diamondbacks.  Yeah, no one else may pick him but I am.  Who would have picked R. A. Dickey before last year?  Kennedy takes the next step and is the ace of the best staff in the NL.

NL Most Valuable Player:  Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals.  He is the best offensive player on the best offensive team in the league.  I hope Adam LaRoche and Stephen Strasburg don’t steal any votes from him.  Adrian Gonzalez, Ryan Howard, and Matt Holliday round out the contenders.

NL Rookie of the Year:  Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals.  He will win 15 games for the Cardinals and edge out someone no one has heard of yet.

NL Comeback Player of the Year:  Heath Bell, Arizona Diamondbacks.  He will take over the closer job in Arizona at some point and be the pitcher he once was.

AL Playoffs:  Cleveland beats Seattle in a great one game playoff for the wild card.  Texas edges Toronto and Cleveland takes Detroit to the limit but loses the Division Series.  Texas beats Detroit in six games to reach the World Series.

NL Playoffs:  Los Angeles over Philadelphia in a good pitching beats good hitting game.  St. Louis edges Arizona and Washington sweeps the Dodgers in the Divisional Series.  Washington beats St. Louis in 6 games to avenge last year’s playoffs on the road to the World Series.

World Series:  Washington is clearly the better team and proves it.  More people learn about Adam LaRoche as he wins World Series MVP.  People in Montreal and our nation’s capital rejoice.  Once again Texas should be just happy they got there.  Davey Johnson announces his retirement celebrating in the clubhouse.

Part of me wants me to be totally wrong.  Part of me wants the unexpected to happen because that is what happens in baseball.    Here’s to a fun 2013!

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2013 National League Predictions Time

Posted by Jeff White on March 27, 2013 in Baseball

The March assignment for the United Cardinals Bloggers is to do a MLB predictions blog.  Today is my second post this week! Wow, a blogger who posts regularly!  

I think the National League East could be one of the toughest divisions in baseball.  There are three teams that could win it depending on injuries and performance. 

NL East:

Washington Nationals

Philadelphia Phillies (WC)

Atlanta Braves

New York Mets

Miami Marlins 

The Phillies are back.  Not all the way but they gel as a team and stay healthy enough to get a Wild Card berth as Washington runs away with the division,  I love the Braves but they need a setback to be a better team in the long run.  The Mets and the Marlins are just going to be bad. 

The Dodgers have spent, the Giants just won, and this is the wild NL West. 

NL West:

Arizona Diamondbacks

Los Angeles Dodgers (WC)

San Francisco Giants

ColoradoRockies

San Diego Padres 

I almost could pick the West 6 different ways.  I don’t think the Padres did enough to get closer to the other teams.  A lot is riding on the Dodgers to make the playoffs and they just barely succeed.  I just like that Kirk Gibson managed squad in the desert.  

Ah, last but not least, My Cardinals and the NL Central.  Injuries are already in effect here, there is one less team, and the only thing for sure is the Cubs are still bad. 

NL Central:

St. Louis Cardinals

Milwaukee Brewers

Cincinnati Reds

Pittsburgh Pirates

Chicago Cubs 

The Cardinals edge their way into the playoffs.  I believe the Reds will fall apart.  The Brewers have done a good job retooling and I think they win it if the Cardinals have too many injuries.  I think the Cardinals get hot in late in August and edge the Brewers by two games with maybe 87 wins.  Gonna be a mediocre division compared to the other two in the league.  I love Andrew McCutcheon and A. J. Burnett in Pittsburgh but it is just not enough for them.  Like I said, the Cubs are bad.  Anthony Rizzo has a great year for them though. 

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

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2013 American League Predictions Time

Posted by Jeff White on March 26, 2013 in Baseball

This years  March assignment for the United Cardinals Bloggers is to do a MLB predictions blog.  I am going to try to write three blogs on this in a week.  Yeah, that’s kind of unheard of from me, but let’s see where this goes.  Today will be the American League,  later will be the National League,  and then postseason and awards.  

The AL East should be interesting this year.  I am excited to see what happens there.  I have a soft spot in my heart for the Baltimore Orioles.  Here’s what I think: 

AL East:

Toronto Blue Jays

Baltimore Orioles

Boston Red Sox

New York Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays

I just think Toronto has done enough to win what seems to have become baseballs weakest division.  It will be fun for me to see the Yankees struggle even though I am a huge Kevin Youkilis fan.  

The AL Central is 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

Cleveland Indians (WC)

Kansas City Royals

Chicago White Sox

Minnesota Twins 

This is exactly my same predicted finish as last year for the Central.  I think the Royals and Indians will push Detroit all year.   

The AL West did not get any more interesting with the addition of the Houston Astros.  I think there are other factors.  

AL West:

Texas Rangers

Seattle Mariners (WC)

Oakland Athletics

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Houston Astros 

Seattle is my surprise team this year.  ‘King’ Felix will dominate.  Angels will be struck by many many injuries and Mike Trout cannot carry the team himself.  The Seattle Oakland wildcard race will go down to the last day.

Stayed tuned later this week for my other prediction blogs…

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