Sensory Overload - Sports - Some Important Information

Saturday==>There is no other way to express what yesterday was to your favorite Sunshine State blogger other than ... SENSORY OVERLOAD ... caused, of course, by watching four excellent baseball games. The first began at 12:30pm and the final out of the 4th game was around 1:00am.

I did take about an hour break in the early evening to do a brief walk and wander session. This, with my usual walking regime during the games resulted in recording==>5.13 miles, which ain’t bad, IMHO.

So ... we will begin this abbreviated posting ... abbreviated because today will be another sports day, college football and baseball ... with a brief summary of what went down in the baseball world ...

12:30pm==>ALDS - Rangers/Blue Jays, won by the Rangers 6-4 in 14-innings. The win put the Rangers up 2-0. The crucial third game will be on Sunday at 8:10pm. The Blue Jays are in a ton of trouble.

3:30pm==>ALDS - Astros/Royals, won by the Royals 5-4, to even the series 1-1. The next game will be on Sunday at 4:10pm.

6:30pm==>NLDS - Cubs/Cards, won by the Cards 4-0 on a stellar performance from starter John Lackey and the bullpen.

The next game is today at 5:30pm, carried on TBS. On the mound for the Cubs (0-1) will be Kyle Hendricks (8-7) vs, Jaimes Garcia (10-6) for the Cards (1-0).

9:30pm==>NLDS - Mets/Dodgers, won by the Mets 3-1 as the Mets Jacob deGrom and Dodgers Clayton Kershaw were in an AWESOME pitching duel. 

The next game is tonight at 9:00pm, carried on TBS. On the mound for the Mets (1-0) will be Noah Syndergaard (9-7) vs Zack Greinke (19-3) for the Dodgers (0-1).

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers these were four excellent games, particularly if you are an avid baseball fan like moi.

Moving on ...

My plans for today will be to remain in front of my 42” flat screen TV in my cool and comfortable Winter Park apartment watching sports ... college football and baseball ... all leading up to the highlight ... tada ...

Gators/Missouri at 7:30pm from Columbia, Missouri, carried on SECN.

This is Mizzou’s Homecoming game, making our chances for a win even tougher ... but ... Billi Pod’s gut tells him that his Gators will hang tough for the entire game, winning  24-17.

OK, we will close this out with something that all of you out there in the morass known as cyberspace need to read and understand ... drum roll ... read it all ... and don’t be prudish ... read it all ... 

You are to very welcum.

So ... now let’s just keep ... 

KICKING CANCER’S ASS!!

GO GATORS!!

Yesterday’s mileage==>5.13 miles (or, 11,214 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>1,139.73 miles (average 4.04 miles per day)

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Sorry For Not Posting - Post Season Baseball - Something For Parents

Friday==>Yeah, I know, your favorite Sunshine State blogger failed to post yesterday. Sorry. My bad.

Have no real excuse(s) other than: (1) the weather was great and I did some major walking and wandering plus walking during my ball games, recording ... tada ..... 6.05 miles; (2) I finally got around to preparing and filing my 2014 tax return. Yeah, I always get an extension and then keep pushing back the filing. The deadline is October 15th; and, (3) I had two post-season baseball games to watch in the afternoon and then the evening.

So ... please forgive Billi Pod for these transgressions.

Today will approach sensory overload in the baseball department because there are 4 games scheduled ...

12:30pm==>ALDS - Rangers/Blue Jays, carried on MLB. 

On the mound for the Rangers will be Cole Hamels (13-8) vs. Marcus Stroman (4-0) for the Blue Jays.

3:30pm==>ALDS - Astros/Royals, carried on FS1. 

On the mound for the Astros will be Johnny Cueto (11-13) vs. Scott Kazmer (7-11) for the Royals.

6:30pm==>NLDS - Cubs/Cards, carried on TBS. 

On the mound for the Cubs will be Jon Lester (11-12) vs. John Lackey (13-10) for the Cards.

9:30pm==>NLDS - Mets/Dodgers, carried on TBS. 

On the mound for the Mets will be Jacob deGrom (14-8) vs. Clayton Kershaw (16-7) for the Dodgers. Note - Kershaw is a 3-time NL Cy Young Award winner.

Yeah, I will be in the comfortable confines of my Winter Park apartment to watch each game. Hey ... back off ... remember ... even though his Yankees crapped out, Billi Pod is still an avid baseball fan and these are each going to be very exciting games ... so ... just cool it ... OK?

Moving on, for you, Marty ...

Now that the NL wild card has been decided Billi Pod can give you loyal and faithful readers and followers his NL predictions ... drum roll ... 

National League Division Series

Cubs/Cardinals. Winner==>Cardinals

Mets/Dodgers. Winner==>Mets

National League Championship Series

Cardinals/Mets. Winner==>Cardinals

World Series

Blue Jays/Cardinals. Winner in 7 games==>Cardinals

You are so very welcome.

Moving on ...

The mental countdown has begun for Saturday’s Gator/Missouri game at 7:30pm from Columbia, Missouri, carried on SECN.

The Gators are currently listed as 5-point favorites. Not so sure about that.

IMHO this game will answer the question of whether the Gators are in fact real contenders to win the SEC East.

In closing==>my internet research found something that I need to share with those of my loyal and faithful readers and followers who have children who are active on the internet ...

You are so very welcome.

KICKING CANCER’S ASS!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!! 

Wednesday’s mileage==>5.32 miles (or, 11,644 steps)

Thursday’s mileage==>6.05 miles (or, 13,234 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>1,134.60 miles (average 4.04 miles per day)

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

The Fat Lady Sings - Dinner with Stumpy & Routledge - Baseball Predictions

Wednesday==>As legend has it, IT AIN’T OVER ‘TIL THE FAT LADY SINGS! 

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, last night at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, the fat lady sang, loud and clear, as the Houston Astros beat the Yankees 3-0 on a stellar outing from Dallas Keuchel and the long-ball from Colby Rasmus and Carlos Gomez.

The Yankees were held to 3 hits and only 5 base runners as we were totally dominated by Astros pitching. Frankly, after the second inning we were never in the game. It was almost as if we were sleep-walking. Our bats were D E A D.

Yep, our 2015 season ended, not with a bang but with a whimper.

For Yankee fans it was an extremely frustrating way for our post-season hopes to end and the sold-out stadium was rocked with boos in the later innings.

With the win the Astros move on to the ALDS against the Kansas City Royals, in KC on Thursday.

Now that the AL schedule is settled, Bill Pod will share with you his predictions ...

American League Division Series ...

Astros/Royals. Winner==>Royals

Rangers/Blue Jays. Winner==>Blue Jays

American League Championship Series ...

Royals/Blue Jays. Winner==>Blue Jays

That’s it for the AL. When the NL wild card is settled tonight I will then share with you my predictions for the NL and the World Series.

You are so very welcome.

Moving on ...

Had a wonderful time last night with my fraternity brother Stumpy Harris and his son Routledge, who is in the 6th grade. Yes, that is the correct spelling.

They picked me up and then we went to the Vietnamese restaurant, Little Saigon, located on E. Colonial Drive in Orlando.

As I wrote yesterday, this was my first visit to a Vietnamese restaurant, but I was in good hands because Stumpy is a longtime patron of this particular place.

Stumpy and I had Tom Xao Toi (garlic shrimp with white rice). I also had two Goi Coun (summer rolls - shrimp, pork and vegetables, with peanut sauce).

Routledge had only Goi Coun.

The food was delicious and very filling.

We spent a lot of time doing some catching up and also talking ... tada ... sports. Routledge is a very knowledgeable sports fan and is already an avid Florida Gator.

On the way back to the apartment we stopped by Krispy Kreme for some of those evil chocolate glazed donuts.

They had me back at the apartment in time for the first pitch of the Yankee/Astros game.

So ... Stumpy and Routledge, it was great being with you.

Moving on ...

At the moment my plans for the evening are to remain in the comfortable confines of my apartment to watch ... tada ... baseball ...

8:00pm==>Cubs/Pirates,  NL wild card game, from Pittsburgh, carried on TBS.

On the mound for the Cubs will be Jake Arrieta (22-6) vs. Gerrit Cole (19-8) for the Pirates.

Billi Pod will be pulling for the Cubs.

In closing==>the cooler weather has permitted me to do more walking and wandering. At 1:30pm it is 83º and partly cloudy so I will do a major walking session as soon as I finish this posting.

So ... let’s just ...

KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!! 

Yesterday’s mileage==>5.08 miles (or, 11,115 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>1,123.23 miles (average 4.03 miles per day)

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Jessie Eisenberg - Stumpy and Routledge - The Yankees and CC

Tuesday==>Good afternoon to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

Yesterday was basically nothing more than an errands and chores day for your favorite Sunshine State blogger. Boring ... but ... I got everything done, including the weekly re-stocking visit to the mammoth Publix across the street in Winter Park Village.

In yesterday’s posting I commented that for the evening I would probably catch a movie, either HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 or STONEWALL, both playing at the Regal Cinema in Winter Park Village.

Well, when the time came I just wasn’t in the mood for a movie, so, instead I turned off the background music and settled on the couch to do something I haven’t done in a very long time ... read a book.

Yep, this is what I began to read ...

BREAM GIVES ME HICCUPS by Jesse Eisenberg - “Taking its title from a group of stories that begin the book, Bream Gives Me Hiccups moves from contemporary L.A. to the dorm rooms of an American college to ancient Pompeii, throwing the reader into a universe of social misfits, reimagined scenes from history, and ridiculous overreactions.”

“United by Eisenberg’s gift for humor and character, and grouped into chapters that each open with an illustration by award-winning cartoonist Jean Jullien, the witty pieces explore the various insanity's of the modern world, and mark the arrival of a fantastically funny, self-ironic, and original voice.”

Eisenberg is an Academy Award-nominated actor, playwright and contributor to the New Yorker. His acting credits include: The Social Network, Now You See Me, The Squid and the Whale, The End of the Tour, and the upcoming Batman v. Superman.

The book has received generally very favorable reviews.

I am a huge fan and during my long tenure in New York City I actually had the opportunity to talk with him on several occasions. He's really a nice guy.

I am about 3/4s of the way thorough the book and I am totally loving it.

It currently is available on Amazon.com

Moving on ... 

Tonight I am having an early dinner with my fraternity brother and dear friend Stumpy Harris and his son Routledge (yes, that is the correct spelling).

They will pick me up around 6:00pm and then we will head out to a Vietnamese restaurant, Little Saigon, located on E. Colonial Drive in Orlando.

This will be two firsts for me. One, meeting Routledge and, two, eating at a Vietnamese restaurant. Should be fun.

Stumpy has promised that they will have me back at the apartment in time for ...

8:00pm==>Yankees vs. Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, for the one-game wild card play-off.

On the mound for the Yankees (87-75) will be our titular ace Masahiro Tanaka (12-7) vs. Dallas Keuchel (20-8) the ace of the staff, for the Astros (86-76).

Keuchel, who is a major contender for the AL Cy Young Award, will be pitching on three days’ rest, which, hopefully, will be a factor in the game.

Folks, this should be a nail-biter and I predict the winning margin will be only one run.

The winner of this game will advance to the ALDS against the Kansas City Royals, in KC on Thursday.

The Yankee Universe was stunned to learn this morning that our former ace CC Sabathia will spend the post-season in alcohol rehab, following a weekend-long bender in Baltimore.

The early comments from Yankee management have been highly supportive.

Billi Pod says==>best of luck CC ... one day at a time.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... will post this and finish up the Eisenberg book.

KICK CANCER’S ASS!!

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!! 

Yesterday’s mileage==>4.76 miles (or, 9,321 steps)

Total mileage for 2015==>1,118.15 miles (average 4.02 miles per day)

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”