Nephew Noah recently pointed out that I need to change the description of my blog because I no longer make any baseball references. It has been a while, I'll admit. I guess being sent to Iraq will do that to a guy. Either that, or having the Cubs swept out of the play-offs in 3 games by the barely above .500 Dodgers in '08 and D'backs in '07.
I will not be defeated, however. The following is a lame attempt to make a baseball analogy out of my current situation . . .
Call me Mark DeRosa. Derosa played for the Cubs the last two seasons. He was an atypical "utility" man. Most baseball utility men play multiple defensive positions but rarely contribute offensively to any significant degree.
DeRosa was different; he played second base because no one else could. He played third base when Aramis Ramirez's back flared up. He played left field when Alfonso Soriano messed up his calf doing his stupid little hop when he catches fly balls. Mark played right field when Kosuke Fokudome stopped hitting American pitching after May. Hell, Mark even played a game at short and a few games at first. He did all this while hitting .285 with 21 homers and 87 RBI. He got my vote as Cubs MVP last season. On top of all that, he was an Ivy League quarterback at Penn.
I describe Mark's situation because I am in similar position, albeit the military staff version. The boss finally told me my role. I get to be the author of a report describing all the events before and after a tragic electrocution death of a soldier here in Iraq while he was showering. I can't go into details, but it's a big deal regarding who's at fault and what we're doing about it so it doesn't happen again.
That will be my primary job (a la DeRosa playing 2nd base). I also have to fill in for the primary staff members here at HQ when they are away on other duties or need extra help (a la 3B, LF, RF, and even a little first and short). I'm actually kinda' pumped about it. The secondbase job was not what I expected, but it's good work and should keep me busy for half the season. The other half of my time here will be spent in various different positions. I just hope I can hit like DeRosa.
Of course, the Cubs general manager just traded DeRosa to Cleveland. Cleveland!? Not sure how I should feel about that analogy. My next assignment is in the hands of the personnel "specialists" in San Antonio. I asked for Colorado, so we're planning for Ohio. Not Cleveland, but close enough.
There - are you happy, Noah?
150 days to go
2 comments:
Yes. Thank you.
I am glad you take my constructive criticism. It makes it feel like we are a real family.
I like the Cubs recent moves. Trade a character guy like DeRosa and sign Bradley.
Don't sell the Cubs short -- they also let their closer go and replaced him with a Marlin scrub. No big loss, he was just the face of the franchise and did everything they asked of him.
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