Mai Channel

broderic on August 23, 2020

Although she’s all but graduated, Shiriaishi Mai has started a YouTube channel!

Hooray!

Her first video was a livestream last Thursday on her birthday. It was filled with lots of technical difficulties. Also, I didn’t understand anything considering that it was all in Japanese. I did sing along as we sang her a happy birthday.

This is her first video, and it’s well produced. Almost like the Nogizaka management spent some time and money into making this video. It definitely isn’t all in her hands. I hope this continues.

Maiyan was a softball player in middle school. She bats left and throws right. We are treated to ponytail Maiyan and sweaty Maiyan. She’s still beautiful though. I wonder if she practiced a bit more would she have been making better contact. I laughed when she was supposed to hit the 110 kmh pitch, but found out the setting was for 130 kmh. Fast! Too fast!

Anyhow, it’s a cute video. You should smash the like button and subscribe. You know I am.

The New Oriole Way

broderic on July 28, 2019

Friday night I buy Pico Iyer’s Autumn Light. Imagine my surprise to see that I already had it unread on the stack of books on my table.

Saturday I receive a message from my good buddy mentioning that the Baltimore Orioles minor league system has been ranked number 8 by baseball writers.

Sunday I exchange Autumn Light for Astroball: The New Way to Win It All by Ben Reiter.

I mentioned that the one metric to judge the Baltimore Orioles baseball organization is by how their minor league ranks amongst the baseball pundits. If they can be ranked at least 7th for 5 or 6 years, then they may be heading in the right direction. As for now, 8th is a nice one. Let’s hope it adds up.

Suzuki No. 1

broderic on March 21, 2019

My favorite baseball player not an Oriole, Ichiro Suzuki, has retired.

I am gonna miss that guy.

The only jersey I still wear if I wasn’t fat. I would’ve done it today. And I almost did because I knew the Mariners were playing in Japan. But fat.

So glad that I have seen him play.

ありがと、鈴木さん。

Bandwagon Driver 2023

broderic on January 17, 2019

Did I re-up for the 2019 season? Yes. Yes, I did.

Why? No idea. What other thing is there to do?

Will I use those tickets? Eh. Maybe. Last year I went to 3 games. I let most of them lie fallow. Even when I was committed to going to a game did I not go. I couldn’t bear to watch. Plus it rained a lot last year.

Will I enjoy them? Eh. Maybe. I am a sucker for the under dog, and this organization is the under doggiest of all under dogs.

I’ve got 2. Who wants to join me?

Link of the Day [10.27.18]

broderic on October 27, 2018

Go, Carp, Go!

The Baltimore Orioles may be in a dismal situation, but checking in on my team in the Nippon Baseball League, Hiroshima Toya Carp, I find they made it back to the Japan Series.  It’s like their World Series.  This is the second time in three years.  They haven’t won it, yet, and it’s been since 1984 that they have won it.

I wonder if Carp fans in Japan were ever thinking if they would ever win the championship again since that time.

As an Orioles fan who hasn’t seen them win since 1983, I know how it goes.

One day.  Maybe.  One day.

http://www.carp.co.jp/en/

Wet Paper Bag

broderic on April 22, 2018

Was at the game this afternoon. A perfect afternoon spoiled. Orioles could not punch their way out of a wet paper bag. It is despair time in Birdland. It reminds me of the 2011 Orioles team. Nothing they do is correct. Still a long season.

When you look at their lineup today, they had 3 starters batting less than .200. Given that one of those guys was just called up, but still what professional hitters are on this team? Or are they pros at the strike out which is luck because they only struck out 3 times. This team is terrible.

A W on A BDay

broderic on June 1, 2017

For my baseball partner in crime, Orioles get a W against the hated Yanks and Adam Jones hits an Earl Weaver special. He did it just as we were doing FaceTime.

It’s been a long time since we’ve talked. There is the 12 hour time difference, and I could barely hear a word she said. Yet, we had some fun.

Yeah for a W!

Even better as nice present to my good pal, Marge! Happy birthday!

Link of the Day [10.29.16]

broderic on October 30, 2016

Carp. So close. They almost could’ve done it. But they play National League style ball. And the Fighters have that Kaibutsu, Otani.

I would’ve loved to have seen a win for Hiroshima. I wanted to see Himetan in Carp red. I wanted to see Maaya cheering, too. I’ll have to settle for fresh Lemon, Miorin, and her dejected cheers.

Hopefully, they’ll be there again next year.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/30/baseball/japanese-baseball/fighters-wrap-japan-series-title-dramatic-eighth-inning-fireworks/

“Hell, I haven’t read a comic strip ever since I realized Beetle Bailey wasn’t actually going to shoot anybody.”

broderic on September 18, 2016

Baseball, Brooks, and Broderic

norman rockwell - brooks robinson

Here’s where baseball, Orioles, and I start.

Thirty-nine years ago on a blazing, bright Sunday, my family and I caught the ‘Brooks Robinson Thanks Brooks Day‘ at Memorial Stadium. I woke up that Sunday and instead of going to church, we jumped up the station wagon and headed to 33rd Street for a baseball game. It was packed. We ended up in the right field bleachers. I could not understand a thing happening during the ceremony. I thought it was a special day because it was my birthday but it was special because of Brooks Robinson. Thinking back, I’m sure this is why he turned out to be my favorite Oriole.

It is the first time I can associate things with baseball. I’m sure we went to a few games before that day, but this one I clearly remember as baseball. The others were just a game.

“No, Dave, it isn’t odd, it is reality, and you’d better buckle your seatbelt, because reality SUCKS!”

broderic on September 5, 2016

After Win Tonal

I haven’t talked about the Baltimore Orioles in a while.

I went to last Friday’s game against the hated Yankees. We won. But it felt like too little too late.

I have no confidence in the team making it into the post season. I didn’t reserve post season tickets. They were available to season ticket holders a week ago and will still be there until mid-week. I’m not wanting to buy because it will mean believing in the team. I haven’t believed since the all star break. I would love to but…

So they kept winning through this weekend and won again today. They are making a play for the division as the season wanes. I’m still questioning my decision.

Let’s go Orioles!