A funny little thing

So I was out and about the other night and came across a gentleman who asked what I did for a living. Normally, if they react at all, most people will say, "Cool," or "What do you want to do for a career when you grow up, then?" This guy asked me why I chose baseball.

For a minute, I thought he was the type of douche who a) didn't think women could possibly understand sports or b) didn't think my job was a "real" job, so I blew him off. But he kept asking, so I finally unloaded on him.

Yes, he was pretty drunk, but in the end I made him cry. "That's beautiful," he said. "I wish I could love what I do that much."

Very random, but still kinda cool.

Anyway, today was the first day of full-squad workouts. There were only three guys yet to show, one of them being Carlos Pena, so we talked to him after workouts. He, too, is someone who appears to genuinely love what he does. He's always smiling and laughing and joking around, and is a very friendly guy. I've never seen him have a bad day and the first day of spring makes him extra happy apparently, because he was bouncing around the complex like a kid waiting to go to a birthday party. It was pretty neat.

While we waited for Pena I also spoke with Rafael Soriano, the new closer, and Willy Aybar. It was shaping up to be an all-Dominican day until I saw Sean Rodriguez at his locker and slipped over to say hello. He came from the Angels in the Kazmir trade and is in contention for the second base job, but he's also a friend of Shane's from their Triple-A days which means he has to be an OK guy and somebody I wanted to go out of my way to say hey to. I didn't need anything for my notebook so we just b.s.ed for a minute before I took off to work on my stories. Busy, busy day, but fun all around.

I'm kind of looking forward to next week when things die down a bit, I'm starting to get delusional (I can't tell you how many times I've written 'Alfonso' instead of 'Rafael') so it'll be nice to spend a whole day being lazy sometime soon...I'm trying to time the day off to coincide with our next warm-weather front, so I can sit outside somewhere and enjoy life.

I'm going to enjoy sleeping in tomorrow (today); I've got a softball game to cover tomorrow night and I'm beat so I thought maybe I'd skip S.T. in the morning, but I won't be able to go Friday because that'll make that day a double, too, and then I'll be by myself the weekend. It's hard to pace myself early on because it's so much fun, but I know if I'm at the ballpark all day and doing preps all night I'm going to have a mental breakdown about March 3.

Plus, I need to get out to Lakeland at least twice this Spring to watch the Tigers play at gorgeous Joker Marchant. I'm not much for hopeless romantics, but there's something about sitting on the left-field berm when it's sunny and 70 and you're watching the team you've loved all your life that just makes me happy in a way no one could ever understand. I wish my dad were here to come with me. :)

Speaking of Detroit, I thought maybe today would be the day I could finally talk about the Granderson/Damon Tigers ordeal, but it's still too soon. I saw a bunch of pictures from Yankees camp that have Grandy dressed in pinstripes and it makes me sick to my stomach. Maybe tomorrow, heh.

Things probably won't get too exciting until games start since there aren't many position battles, but I'll try harder tomorrow. Maybe.

Nite, loves.

-Sportsgal