Author: Jo Redd

LET’S GO YANKEES

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With the Tampa Bay series’ conclusion, the Yankees have extended their lead, and they head for Boston with the chance to continue their winning streak. Winning against the Twins is expected, but this series with Tampa could have ended with us looking up at them in the top spot.

The second half of the season has been especially rough on Yankees fans, and it is a sign of hope to see them take this series. The Yankees need to continue to roll. I’m not sure if the front office has it in them to thoroughly shake things up, but if they were up to snuff, they would DFA Hicks once Hader is ready to go. I think the administration and the manager have made it clear that they see no value in him. It would have been nice for them to have come to this conclusion before the beginning of the season, but hindsight is 20/20. While Hicks has been struggling, I worry that an abrupt departure could potentially derail the team yet again.

As a lifelong fan, I am used to the roller coaster of emotions that a season can elicit, but this year has been particularly tough. Last year the team was just plain awful. It was easy to see that they would spiral and sputter up until the last game, which is exactly what happened. This year started at such a booming pace that it felt like things would never change. I thought they would look at a season with over 110 wins, but we’ll be lucky to pull out a hundred.

The trade deadline ruined the Yankees.

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Unlike most fans, I always dread the annual trade deadline. Every year there seem to be significant misplays by the front office of the Yankees, and this year has been no exception.

Yes, we are less than a week past that deadline, but the pulse of the team seems to have weakened. The trade of Montgomery to the Cardinals seems to have shaken this team to its core. There is plenty of time for them to return, but this current team is sad to watch. They have been slumping since before the deadline, and the new faces have not seemed to change anything. Sure, the Yankees still have the lead in the AL East, but how much longer can that last with a 5 game-losing streak looming?

Ipsy products for everyone

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Sign up now using my code and look at all the fantastic products they offer. I love the quiz that Ipsy has you take before compiling your first bag. It is always personalized for the products I’m interested in, and I love that you can skip a month if you’re overwhelmed by everything they send out.

A beautiful night sky.

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Early this morning, I was able to catch a lovely picture of the sky. Usually, I get an image of real crap quality, and the moon is this fuzzy-looking orb in the sky. Today’s photo finally feels like it captures the intensity of the night sky.

. Sometimes the view you’re greeted by is worth the early morning shift.

I also have this short video clip. I love when the weather warms up, and I can enjoy nature for longer than thirty seconds.

Stop messing with Baseball.

/ Jo Redd / 1 Comment

As we continue slogging through this lockout, the players have gotten the bright idea that if the postseason is expanded to 14 teams, then at some point, a team (possibly multiple teams) should be able to start off 1-0 in their series. It’s been coined as a “ghost win,” and I think it is one of the stupidest proposals either side has come up with. I was on the player’s side, but I wonder if either side takes this seriously as time drags on. How does that do anything to help the game? Where is the excitement in a postseason that gives out “wins” that aren’t earned?

As a lifelong fan of baseball, I just want to see the game played like it was when I was a child. I’m not ancient, but I do remember a time when there were no seven-inning doubleheaders, and extra innings were seen as a treat, not a punishment. It was thrilling to watch a pitcher or a batter stall at the plate because of an aggressive at-bat; Bunting and base stealing were necessary to win a game.

I don’t care if a pitcher throws to check the runner twenty times in the first inning. If you don’t like the length of a baseball game, then you should not be watching baseball. I have watched football games that last just as long as baseball, and I don’t see nearly any complaints about that sport. The length of playtime is perfect and can add to the drama. MLB should not continue trying to implement a pitch clock. And, on a somewhat unrelated note, I’m still irritated that they now require relief pitchers to face a minimum of three batters. Again, some of the flashiest moments have come from seeing a pitcher specifically picked for one player. It is always thrilling to see if that pitcher can be successful in striking the batter out.

I don’t really care that owners spend a ton of money on the best players. If you own a team and you want it to be profitable, it is in your best interest to go out and spend the money to make that happen. Teams should not be in the business of tanking.

If there will be expanded playoffs, there need to be additional teams in the running for the postseason. There are a few places where a new professional team could really take off, and it’s about the only palatable option if the postseason is going to be manipulated even more.

What a wild week.

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The world has been watching for the past week as Russia encroaches on Ukrainian territory, and it has been a wild ride. First, we got to listen to a speech given by Putin where he opted to revise history, then we watched as “peacekeeping forces” were sent into the region and troops were drawn to the border on both sides. It all culminated in the Russian forces surging into the countryside, where they found multiple pockets of resistance.

It seems surreal. I feel like the news has the conflict plastered front and center for all segments, yet many other issues still need to be focused on. Is anyone else drowning due to inflation? I can’t seem to stop spending at least $70 every time I pop into the grocery store. Milk is up almost two dollars from a year and a half ago. Meat prices are astronomical. Let’s not forget that gas is bound to skyrocket once the full effect of this Eastern European conflict is felt around the world. Meanwhile, the people in power just keep spending more money on everything they can think of.

Covid has been placed on the backburner. We just watched Canada trample citizens over the issue of Covid vaccine mandates, and yet the threat of war has caused a fog to settle on this issue. The medical industry is still shedding employees due to burnout and requiring a vaccine that might prevent severe symptoms.

Hopefully, something slows down. We need cooler heads to prevail in these matters, and we need to remember that war is something we do not need to be involved in.

Jumping back into a customer service job.

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I have officially been hired on with Casey’s and I am just thrilled at having found a source of income. One of the best perks is that it is literally up the road from where I live, so once the weather warms up I will be able to walk up there. With gas prices jumping up, with no end in sight, I love the idea of cutting back on that expense significantly.

People always joke about the convenience store closest to their house being a place where everyone has seen them at their worst, and I am no exception. This has been my regular haunt for four-plus years, it is about time I finally became a part of the team.

Don’t forget, MLBtv auto-renews on March 1st.

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Since the lockout is dragging on potentially into March, this is your friendly reminder that MLBtv usually auto-renews on March 1st. Less than a week ago, I heard the owners debate that players in the minor league should not be paid for Spring Training, they also argued in defense of cutting a ton of jobs, and we were blessed with the idea of expanding the playoffs. Baseball is becoming a joke, and I am not letting that organization take my money, considering the season is likely to be delayed.

The owners are making a ton of money. Every year prices increase when it comes to food, drinks, ticket prices, and this year you can bet a trip to the stadium will cost a pretty penny. That’s assuming that there is a reason to go to the stadium. 2022 is giving off serious 2020 vibes, and I’m not about to fall for that trick again. I ponied up the money to watch a short season because there was a worldwide pandemic occurring, but there is no excuse this year.

The only silver lining I can find in this situation is that the lockout has allowed the Yankees to pretend like they were ever going to sign a big-name player. The organization showed the fans their true colors with the rehiring of Boone as manager. Before the lockout, there were no movements with any true significance, and I have no hope that the period after the lockout will be any different.

How can the players get an extension done before the (theoretical) season gets started if Spring Training is already delayed? This is a serious question that I have not seen many people bring up on social media. We all act as though the pen will start flying and that all these gigantic contacts will spring out of the front office, but why would that be the case? These owners will retaliate if they come out on the losing end.

I realize that a lot of this is just rambling to people who do not follow baseball, but it’s something that is more than a little aggravating, given that most fans just want to feel like things are back to normal. The idea of not being able to watch baseball is depressing, and I really do hope the two sides can come together and agree.

Amazon has a bargain on thumbtacks.

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I’m getting ready to hang a large corkboard so my son and I can put up pictures, and work on projects, and I just found an absolute steal on thumbtacks. I am also looking for something to use for hanging up some lighter blankets and a couple wall hangings. I knew that I would be able to find something on Amazon.

As long as you’re not worried about the color, Amazon currently has a 400 count of yellow thumbtacks for under $6. You can find the deal here. Not sure how long this will be in place, but it is definitely worth it if you find yourself hanging up a bunch of stuff.