The Redbird Aviator's Musings

Prepare Yourself

2011-03-11T17:55:00.002-06:00

It is a sad state of affairs that I was forced to rack my brain to come up with the password to gain access to my own blog...

Yesterday, my employer subjected me to an FAA required "Duties and Responsibilities" class. The purpose of this class was to prepare me to be an airline captain. The class was a monumental waste of time, as it concerned almost exclusively the proper completion of paperwork, as well as several warnings not to say anything to anyone that might be considered offensive. Yes, our overly litigious society rears it's ugly head once more...

It occurs to me today that only one time yesterday was the nature of my future responsibility addressed. It also occurs to me how silly that is.

Come May, American Eagle Airlines will begin handing me a 65 million dollar airplane, hopefully full of 65 passengers. They will issue me no small amount of paperwork, and I will proceed to take the aircraft and its contents into the skies in search of some place too far away to drive to. To my right will be a first officer. He (or she) will most likely assume that since I am Captain I know everything, and make no mistakes. That will be a poor assumption on his part.

For the past seven years I have sat at the controls of some regional jet or another, looked to my left, and seen the person in command of the aircraft. Soon, I will look to my left only to see my own reflection in the cockpit side window. The pilot to my right and the two flight attendants and 65 passengers behind me will trust me to be able to handle any situation, make the right decision, and deliver them safely to their destination.

The gravity of this situation struck me today. I must prepare diligently if I am to justify the trust of the people aboard my aircraft. Long ago I promised myself that every person who boarded my airplane would deplane safely. I no longer share that self-imposed commitment with the person on my left.

As the FAA states the situation:

"The Pilot in Command is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to the operation of that aircraft."

The Riot

2010-12-01T22:45:00.003-06:00

Welcome to St. Louis, Ryan Theriot. With the arrival of the Cardinals' newest infielder it appears the days of Brendan Ryan have ended. While I certainly won't miss watching Brendan repeatedly lick his shoulder during at-bats, his glove is another story entirely...

Pitching coach Dave Duncan believes that any pitcher can have success with a solid sinking fastball that produces ground balls. This has been the Cardinal way since LaRussa and Duncan arrived on the scene in 1996. The ingredient that makes a ground ball pitching staff an elite pitching staff is, of course, defense.

Remember those dominant days of the early 00 decade when it seemed as though the Cardinals could do no wrong? Is it any surprise that 3/4 of the infield was composed of Gold Glove Award winners? The trio of Albert Pujols, Edgar Renteria, and Scott Rolen sucked up any ball in their vicinity. Toss in the steady if not spectacular defensive efforts of Mark Grudzielanek and David Eckstein and you've got what was for the most part an air-tight interior 4.

Now fast forward to the current Cardinal team. Pujols is still an elite first baseman, and Brendan Ryan is the best defensive shortstop in baseball. However, Skip Schumacker's second season as second baseman was actually a step backward, and who knows what to expect from David Freese and his two bad ankles. Now remove B Ryan's glove and insert Ryan T's at shortstop...

Theriot has mostly been compared to David Eckstein in the media. In fact, they use all the same words: "Gritty," "Hard-working," "Gutsy." The comparison is accurate as it pertains to the fielding aspects of both player's games. Both shortstops commit few errors. Both shortstops make all the routine plays. Neither shortstop has much range, however. Neither has a strong arm. Neither will consistently make that spectacular play that B Ryan makes all the time. Eckstein had the luxury of hiding behind the rangy Rolen, thus limiting his exposure on balls hit deep in the whole on the left side. Theriot will not have that luxury. Toss in Schumacker's well below average defense at second base and we have the makings of a mediocre at best infield.

Does this spell certain doom for the Cardinals in 2011? That depends. Without Brendan Ryan the Birds are certain to surrender more runs next season. But remember that B Ryan was perhaps the least productive Major League hitter of all last season. Ryan T is certainly an upgrade offensively, but is it enough to cancel the difference?

Not yet. The Cardinals have taken a first step towards addressing their offensive woes by adding a player who (when he's at his best) will get on base consistently and steal a few bases. Theriot could very well be the solution to the "no one is on base ahead of Pujols and Holliday," problem. However, that problem remains secondary to the "no one drives in Pujols and Holliday," issue. The Cardinals continue to lack a dependable hitter in the 5 spot in the order. Someone who has some power, hits in the .280 range, and does not crumble under the runners in scoring position spotlight. Colby Rasmus isn't that guy yet. Neither is David Freese. Neither is Allen Craig. Replacing Brendan Ryan with Ryan Theriot makes sense only if the Cardinals are able to find that dependable number 5 hitter (his name used to be Ryan Ludwick.)

It's still early in the offseason, and General Manager John Mozeliak's moves until now have been shrewd ones. He hasn't broken the bank yet and retains some payroll flexibility. He also has a few trading chips to shop around with. For the time being, he's headed in the right direction. Let's hope he doesn't take any detours.

Stimulation

2010-11-22T17:34:00.003-06:00

Walking into the simulator this morning for my annual torture session I couldn't help but draw rather a strange comparison.

Flying real airplanes rocks. The feelings are amazing, the view is amazing, the fulfillment is amazing. Flying the simulator doesn't quite rock. The feelings are artificial and even the good landings don't quite satisfy.

Is flying the simulator just like life on Earth, and is actually flying more like Heaven?

The simulator is, after all, nothing but a training tool. Lessons are taught. Mistakes are made, retrained, and hopefully corrected. The focus is on achieving a high enough level of competence which will then translate to flying the real thing. Necessarily, the simulator is full of challenges. Engines fail or catch fire. Important systems break at the worst times. The worst possible scenarios play out over and over again. Only the most patient and proficient are able to master the lessons needed...

Actually flying the airplane is never as crazy as the sim. The airplane (for the most part) behaves as its supposed to. The skies are clear and calm. And the landings satisfy.

It's an interesting symbolism isn't it?

From the Airwaves

2010-11-22T03:53:00.002-06:00

Recently heard on Fort Worth ground control:

Controller: "United 1234 to San Francisco, taxi to one eight left via the bridge route."

United: "One eight left, bridge route for United 1234. Too bad about your Rangers."

Controller: "Too bad about your expect departure clearance time."

Quote of the Week

2010-10-25T17:49:00.001-05:00

"If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin."
Samuel Adams, 1776

Dunc! What's next?

2010-10-25T17:19:00.002-05:00

Today the Cardinals announced the return of Dave Duncan as pitching coach, and Cardinal Nation breathed a huge sigh of relief. Duncan is, in my opinion, the most important piece of the puzzle in the Cardinal dugout. Yes, more important than Tony LaRussa even. Duncan's ability to take cast off pitchers and turn them into 200 inning, #2 or 3 type pitchers is legendary, and it helps in several ways. First, the quality of the pitching speaks for itself. Second, the money saved in payroll flexibility by signing Duncan reclamation projects has allowed the team to upgrade in other areas. Lets not forget the work Duncan does with our superstar pitchers either. Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright are never short of praise for their taskmaster.

With Duncan's return we can all rest easy about our pitching next year. We can still, however, have heartburn over what pieces must be added in order to improve a disappointing 2010 team. The Cardinals were hamstrung all year by a thin middle infield, starting with Skip Schumacker. Let me be clear: I love Skip Schumacker. Unfortunately, Skip did not take the expected step forward as a second baseman, and his offense suffered a significant step backwards. I can live with a defensively mediocre second baseman who hits .300 with a .400 on base percentage. I can't live with a defensively mediocre second baseman who hits .250 with a .310 on base percentage. Especially not when that second baseman leads off. Can Skip return to his .300 + average form we knew before 2010? Nobody knows, but Cardinal GM John Mozeliak has already stated a need to upgrade the middle infield. The other half of that middle infield problem is Brendan Ryan, who couldn't put it together at the plate for the entirety of 2010. Ryan's dismal .220 average when combined with Schumacker's .250 mark makes for awfully poor production from the double play combo. In Ryan's case, the lack of offense is mitigated by sparkling defense. Ryan is one of the top 2 or 3 defensive shortstops in baseball. Also, Ryan's pricetag ($500,000) is relatively cheap. Schumacker, on the other hand, will make $2.7 million next year. Mozeliak would be wise to pursue a trade of Schumacker to a team that needs a plus outfielder with offensive upside, freeing up Skip's chunk of the payroll pie to try to find that elusive second baseman who can not only hit lead off, but can also field his position. Brendan Ryan gives the team enough defensively that he is worth hanging on to at his relatively low cost.

Now, how about one more power bat... David Freese's season ending injury coupled with Ryan Ludwick's mid-season trade sapped the Cardinal lineup of some much needed pop. While Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday continue to show us that they are the best 3-4 tandem in baseball, they need some help. A healthy David Freese would be an excellent first step, and Colby Rasmus enjoyed a successful, yet streaky year. If Rasmus continues to take steps forward, he will be a major cog in the Cardinal offense next year. Still, the need for one more veteran bat in the lineup is glaring, and few impact players are available in this year's free agent class. Early reports indicate that the Padres may non-tender Ryan Ludwick, making him a free agent. Could a reunion be in order? Ludwick is the perfect bat to hit behind the Cardinal's big sluggers, but his price tag may keep him out of range.

It will no doubt be an interesting offseason. Lets hope it comes filled with more high hopes and celebration than gnashing of teeth.

Quote Of The Week

2010-10-10T23:12:00.002-05:00

"Lord you made me. Lord you made my feelings. Lord you made these people around me. Lord you are in control." - Tonight's Priest

Fightin's and not...

2010-10-10T22:56:00.003-05:00

Congrats to the Philadelphia Phillies for sweeping away the filthy stench of the Cincinnati Reds. And thank you for doing baseball the favor of removing Brandon "The Tool" Phillips and Johnny "Cheap Shot" Cueto from the postseason.

Normally, I'm not a negative baseball fan. In this case, however, I can't help it. Phillips' loud, Terrel Owens like mouth is a blight on the baseball community, and we would all be better served if it were sewn shut forever. Cueto ended a man's career by kicking him in the head with his cleats. Neither one deserves to play big league baseball. If these two embody what it means to be a Cincinnati Red, then the organization clearly has no class, and belongs back in the perpetual baseball dumpster from which they arose this season to reach the playoffs.

Let us hope that the influence of good guys like Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, and Walt Jockety can overcome the classless filth of Phillips and Cueto, and help the Reds remember their proud history. Cincinnati is a great baseball town with a great baseball tradition, and I for one do not want to see that tradition trashed by the antics of a few players who are no higher that common street trash.

There is no Joy in Mudville

2010-09-26T20:02:00.002-05:00

The once mighty Redbirds are looking way up at the Reds with but one week left to play. What happened???

The Cardinals have two MVP caliber hitters, two Cy Young caliber pitchers, a Rookie of the Year candidate, Gold Glovers at catcher, first base, and short stop, and are just 5 games over .500. Is Tony LaRussa washed up? Has he lost his ability to keep his teams focused for the entire marathon baseball season? Was Mark McGwire's debut as hitting coach an unqualified disaster?

Here is my opinion: The 2010 Cardinals were deep sixed by the injuries to third baseman David Freese. Before his multiple ankle maladies Freese was batting .296, and had driven in 36 runs to go with a respectable .404 slugging percentage. Depending upon the matchup, the right-handed Freese occupied the 6th or 7th spot in the order. Those are both important spots for a lineup that features two high on base percentage sluggers in the middle of its order. When Albert Pujols or Matt Holliday hit doubles, it was often David Freese who drove them in. When Freese was lost for the season after ankle surgery, the Cardinals were forced to start Felipe Lopez at third for most of the rest of the season. With Lopez pressed into full time duty, there was no longer an oppurtunity to platoon him with struggling middle infielders Skip Schumacker and Brendan Ryan. Also, Lopez scuffled at the plate himself upon assuming the full time third base job, a job which he was defensively unprepared for. The Cardinals were left fielding a 3rd baseman who hit .230, a shortstop who hit .220, and a second baseman who hit .260. That's fully one third of the lineup. Toss in the pitcher and nearly half of the Cardinal's offense was marginally to completely ineffective.

Not long after Freese's injury the Cardinals traded slugging outfielder Ryan Ludwick for starter Jake Westbrook, and there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth in Cardinal Nation. Ultimately, though, GM John Mozeliak likely made the right move. The best case scenario would have involved the Cardinals finding a quality middle infielder who could provide some stability and production in the first or second spot in the order, thus giving Pujols and Holliday men on base in front of them. No such player was available, so the Redbirds choose to try to shore up their pitching and hope that they could prevail in enough low-scoring contests to contend for a playoff spot.

It's not Mozeliak's fault. It's David Freese's ankle's fault.

Multo Facile

2010-09-23T20:42:00.003-05:00

You would think that a blog would be easy. A few lines every now and then. It's not as complicated as brain surgery, or even shaving. The simple fact, however, is that something makes keeping up with this blog incredibly difficult for me. Take, for example, my 4 + month hiatus from this page. It's not because I'm so busy I don't have the time. Realistically, I spend an amazing amount of my month sitting idle in my hotel room. It's not because I don't have anything to say either. Those of you who know me know that my opinions are as strong as ever. And it's not for lack of inspiration. Those days I don't spend amazed by my wife I spend admiring creation from on high.

So what's the deal? A few months ago, in an effort to rehabilitate this blog as well as my waistline, I started blogging about my workout routine. The reason I stopped blogging, by the way, is not because I spend an ever increasing amount of time in the gym...

What else is wrong? You'll find that several of the most "recent" entries on this site contain excuses of one kind or another for my lack of blogging. These vary between lack of time (see above) to my wife (again, see above) to my work (yup, look again.)

Today, somewhere over Kentucky, it came to me: I have managed to fill up my free time with video games and television and other such trivial things. A natural casualty of my habits was this blog. So, rather than stimulating my brain (and perhaps yours? Maybe???) I've been rotting it with mundane distractions.

I make no promises as to the future of this blog. Especially not since Halo: Reach just came out, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 comes out next month, and the month after that, it's Modern Warfare: Black Ops. (Yes, I am at heart a violent person.)

Hopefully, though, just maybe, I'll find the time to remember to use my words...

Progress

2010-05-16T16:18:00.002-05:00

Due to illness I skipped two workouts this week. However, my return to the gym showed few repercussions. My 20 minutes of treadmill time yesterday, coupled with an hours worth of strength workouts today were on par with where I left off.
Unfortunately, I have gained weight since last week. I wonder if Mother's day last weekend coupled with my birthday this weekend might have something to do with it. All of the good celebratory food is probably having its effect. However, I could also be building muscle... I suppose a combination of both factors is most likely.

Current Weight: 154 lbs
Weight Loss to Date: 1 lb
Weight Loss Goal: 15 lbs

Out of the Gate

2010-05-09T22:13:00.002-05:00

Workout Day 7:
One week down. I feel stronger and have more energy already. Jeremy the Tank thinks I have made good progress. I breezed through today's 20 minutes of treadmill time no problem. Am I starting to enjoy myself? Probably not. But I do like the results so far.

Week 2 Weight: 153 lbs
Weight loss to date: 2 lbs
Weight loss goal: 15 lbs

Mind Over Matter

2010-05-08T15:54:00.002-05:00

Workout Day 6:
Back at home and back to the gym. Jeremy the Tank awaits...
Today he has several strength exercises to throw at me. I realize that after each exercise my recovery time is considerably faster than last week. While this is a sign of progress, it also means that Jeremy the Tank is able to force me into more work. The workout is more intense and painful, but I no longer collapse after each task. The Tank tells me I'm doing better.

During today's workout Jeremy gives me two dumbbells and asks me to crawl on all fours, each time lifting the weight as high as possible. This is difficult. I also wonder if Jeremy is simply having me do this so he can laugh at how ridiculous I look.

Week one is over. Check back tomorrow for week two's starting weight...

No Rest for the Fatty

2010-05-08T15:49:00.002-05:00

Workout Day 5:
So I took my first day off on Thursday. The flying schedule was not conducive, and the crew wanted to hang out at the hotel bar in the evening. It's all good, Jeremy the Tank told me I could have a day off. Friday it was back to 20 minutes of treadmill work. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the hotel workout room both treadmills were in use. I hopped on an exercise bike instead and banged out 10 minutes until a treadmill opened up, and I was able to finish the workout by jogging. I would just like to mention here that I officially hate the treadmill. No amount of enthusiasm pumped through my Ipod is going to change this opinion. I am noticing, however, that I am beginning to have more energy, and it takes less time to recover from my workouts... Progress, thy name is Dan.

Carry On...

2010-05-08T15:45:00.002-05:00

Workout Day 4:
I started a trip on workout day 4. How's this for dedication: I commuted to Chicago, did a Philly turn, and wound up in DC for my overnight. We stepped into the hotel at midnight, and by 12:15am I was in the workout room. Jeremy the Tank instructed me to perform 20 minutes of treadmill work. I put in the effort, finished off my 20 minutes, and headed off to sleep. So far, no sign of a receding waistline...

Change is Painful

2010-05-04T14:37:00.002-05:00

Workout Day 3:
Jeremy smiled widely today when he saw me. I took this as a bad sign. I was right. The day began with a short warm up, after which I was already nearly out of breath. We then proceeded towards a particularly vile machine set up to work both your legs and your arms. As I worked the machine, Jeremy added weight. At some point during the work out I asked him if many people told him how much they hated him. He laughed and said no. I have my doubts. The training day involved push ups with Jeremy literally pushing down on my back as well as triceps exercises with Jeremy literally pushing down on my arm. I told him this wasn't fair. He laughed and pushed harder. There were two distinct occasions when I felt like I might vomit.

I'm not dead yet, which I suppose is victory unto itself. I am, however, sore and tired. Tomorrow I go to work with instructions from Jeremy to perform 20 minutes of cardio exercise. Wish me luck.

The New Me

2010-05-04T10:48:00.002-05:00

Owing to a bulging midsection and a lack of energy, I have joined a gym. At this gym, I have contracted the services of a personal trainer. In order to try to keep myself on track, I've decided to blog my workout experience. I started a few days ago, so here goes:

Workout Day 1:
It took a considerable amount of effort to actually go to the gym. It was as if the considerable weight of my belly knew it was at risk and made every attempt to hold me down. My wife, who fully supports my proposed transformation, went with me. Her will overrides the will of my belly.

Upon arrival at the gym I was greeted by a man named Jeremy who is built like an Abrams tank. It would not be ridiculous to imagine him using cliche phrases in a German accent. I realize quickly that I'm in trouble. Jeremy sits me down at his desk and asks me about my goals. I tell him I'm tired of buying new and larger pants, waking up tired, and general weakness. I also tell him I hate exercise. His smirk tells me my opinion is unlikely to change. Jeremy proceeds to stand me up in order to measure me. He somehow manages not to laugh at my pitifully small biceps and pitifully large waist. He weighs me, and then places an electronic body fat meter in my hands. The meter, in all it's cruelty, informs me that 25% of my body is, in fact, fat. I have been weighed, I have been measured, and I have certainly been found wanting...

"Let's start our workout," Jeremy says. The feeling of dread that has been developing in my stomach matures into full-fledged terror. For a warm up Jeremy starts me doing jumping jacks. (It takes me about 4 tries to remember how to do them.) Soon my breath becomes labored. Jeremy runs me through a series of jogging in place exercises, and then asks me if I know how to perform a lunge. He then teaches me how to perform a lunge. It is perhaps the most painful thing my legs have done in a great long while. As though not satisfied, Jeremy proceeds to place pressure on my fists, telling me to push upwards while in the lunge position. This goes poorly. Undeterred, Jeremy soon has my back up against the wall in the squatting position. The pain is enormous. Again, he asks me to push up against his downward hand pressure. It is becoming clear that Jeremy the tank could just as easily destroy me as he could say hello.

"Scale of 1-10, 1 you feel great, 10 you're gonna puke, how do you feel?" "8," I rasp through ragged breaths. My body aches, my muscles refuse to perform their requested functions, and I feel as though I've been through a full day's physical punishment. It has been 15 minutes of actual exercise. After a shot cool down and stretch, Jeremy takes me on a tour of the various brand new and very modern torture devices at the gym. I regret that I have paid an entire year's worth of membership up front.

Week 1 weight: 155 lbs.
Weight loss to date: 0 lbs.
Weight loss goal: 15 lbs.

Workout Day 2:
Jeremy instructed me yesterday to return to the gym in order to, "do some cardio on the treadmill." I told him I hate running. He smiled, and I realized he doesn't care what I do and don't hate. I am told to punish myself on the treadmill for a period of 45 minutes, during which I must include at least 5 periods of running, lasting 3-4 minutes per period. I bring my Ipod and proceed to jog for a song, and then walk for a song until my 45 minutes expires. It is mind-numbing, painful work, but I get through it. Sometime during the last part of my workout while I am pondering quiting, it dawns on me that the devil hates me being in shape, and is encouraging me to fail. This angers me, and fuels the rest of my workout. Jeremy calls later in the day to ask how it went. I tell him it was, "flipping hard." He doesn't seem to mind. "Drink lots of water, take some Aleve tonight, and I'll see you tomorrow," he says. "Great," I think to myself, "I'm so looking forward to it."

Best Intentions

2009-11-30T18:51:00.002-06:00

It has, again, been a while. In September I came back to the blog in the hopes that I would continue it indefinitely. Instead it was nothing more than a brief visit. Granted, November was a busy hectic month. Perhaps now that training is mercifully behind me, I can return to the written word with renewed vigor.

I must warn you however: I am toying with the idea of writting a book. Whether that project spurs me to write more in the blog or exhausts me of my words has yet to be seen.

Would any of you actually read a book written by yours truly?

Quote of the Week

2009-11-30T18:48:00.002-06:00

"...I'm still going to be a Cardinal for two more years and hopefully for 15 more years if I can play that long and retire as a Cardinal." - Albert Pujols

The Winter of our Discontent

2009-10-12T11:19:00.002-05:00

So my beloved Redbirds crashed and burned magnificently in the earliest possible days of October. In times like these, I prefer not to look at our recent failures, but instead to gaze for a moment towards the offseason. Like any other fan whose season ends prematurely, I take comfort in planning for the future. Therefore, here is my assessment of the 2009/2010 offseason for the Cardinals.

What We Know

1. This house is built on stone.

Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols, and Yadier Molina will all be back in 2010. This quartet represents the backbone of the St. Louis Cardinals, and provides the Strong core required in order to build a winner. Carpenter and Wainwright combined for more wins and a lower ERA than any other 1-2 starter combination in the major leagues. Albert Pujols is the best player in all of baseball, perhaps the greatest player of all time, and Yadier Molina is the glue that keeps this group together with his excellent defense, clutch hitting, and pure toughness. As long as these four players wear the Birds on the Bat, the Cardinals will have a good chance.

2. Those kids can play.

While Carpenter, Wainwright, Pujols and Molina provide critical veteran leadership, the Cardinals boast an excellent mix of fine young talent that is beginning to make its mark on the team. Brendan Ryan, Skip Schumacker, and Colby Rasmus were key contributors in the Cardinal's NL Central championship. For Schumacker, it was his second season as an everyday contributor, after switching from the outfield to second base. His offense never skipped (no pun intended) a beat, and by the end of the year he was a better than average second baseman. Brendan Ryan finally showed us that he could achieve his potential. He went from a borderline bench player to the finest everyday defensive shortstop in the league while batting .292. Rasmus displayed glimpses of spectacular defense while also teasing us with some periods of scorching hotness at the plate. Altogether, his rookie season was a successful, if not spectacular one. His continued progression will be key to at least the next 5 years of Cardinal baseball.

3. No fluke.

Ryan Ludwick's breakout 2008 season was not an aberration. Despite being sidelined for a month with an injury, and then returning too soon to the playing field (according to Tony LaRussa) Ludwick still blasted 22 homers and drove in 97 runs. His production is not in question, and neither is his defense.

4. Still the best fans.

Despite the state of our economy and soaring unemployment, the Cardinals once again drew over 3 million fans to Busch Stadium. The support of the fanbase was credited by both the front office and Tony LaRussa for bringing in the talent we needed via midseason trades. St. Louis still does, and always will, bleed Cardinal red.

5. Mo Money.

The task of assembling the 2010 Cardinals falls to General Manager John Mozeliak, better known as "Mo." And he's got plenty of money to spend. The contracts of Troy Glaus, Rick Ankiel, Khalil Greene and Todd Wellemeyer all come off the books, and all four were subpar or worse performers in 2009. Gone forever are the dead weight contracts of Adam Kennedy and Juan Encarnacion. Still, the task before Mozeliak is daunting. Joel Piniero, John Smoltz, Matt Holliday and Mark DeRosa are all free agents. It is unlikely the Cardinals can bring all of them back, and that fact leads us into our next section:

What we don't know

1. Put me in, coach.

Most of the 2009 coaching staff, including Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan, are at the end of their contracts. The front office has already announced that as long as Tony wants to manage, he is welcome in St. Louis. The question is, does Tony want to manage? LaRussa has his own methods by which he judges whether or not he wishes to return, and it will likely be a month or so before we know what his decision is. In Dave Duncan's case, it becomes a little more complicated. Duncan expressed a great deal of anger following the trade of his son Chris to the Red Sox this season. His ire was directed both at the front office for getting rid of the younger Duncan, as well as the fans and media for their poor treatment of the left fielder. The question of Dave Duncan's return as pitching coach may be the most important one of all. It was Duncan who turned Joel Piniero into a groundball machine. Duncan took journeyman Kyle Lohse and made him a viable number 2 or 3 starter. Duncan's successful list of projects includes names like Eckersley, Bottenfield, Weaver, and Kile. Dave Duncan is the heart and soul of Cardinal pitching, and if he doesn't want to come back, he leaves a gaping black hole in his wake.

2. The Cardinal's favorite Holliday.

Albert Pujols is the hitting machine that makes the St. Louis offense go. During the second half of 2009, Matt Holliday was the oil for that machine. The price the Cardinals payed for Holliday's services was high, as top prospects Brett Wallace, Christ Mortensen, and Shane Peterson were swapped to Oakland in return for the slugger. Now, the true test comes. Holliday will be the most wanted offensive weapon available this offseason, and his suitors will be many and deep-pocketed. The jury is still out on whether GM John Mozeliak did the right thing with this trade. If Holliday chooses to stay in St. Louis and signs a long term contract, Mo will be a hero and the Cardinals will have the best middle of the order in baseball. If Holliday signs elsewhere, Mo is the goat. Should the worst happen and Holliday leaves the Cardinals, there will be precious few options. Jason Bay, Vladimir Guerrero, and Carl Crawford round out the sub-Holliday tier of free agent outfielders.

3. Who's on third?

While Troy Glaus missed nearly the entire season with a serious of physical ailments the Cardinals were forced to mix and match at the hot corner until a midseason trade for Mark DeRosa. DeRosa promptly suffered a wrist injury that will require offseason surgery. Allow me to say this: That DeRosa played through the injury for the entire second half of the season speaks volumes about his grit and character. However, wrist surgeries are the boogieman to big league hitters. DeRosa has been vocal about his desire to stay in St. Louis, but should the Cardinals choose to sign him they will be taking a risk. Wrist surgery for hitters is like shoulder surgery for pitchers. My gut feeling is that DeRosa is worth the risk, however, other options exist as well. Prospect David Freese showed potential in a September cup of coffee with the team. With the departure of Brett Wallace, Freese becomes the number one option should the Cardinals choose to look inside the organization. The free agent market for thirdbasemen is a lean one, as only Joe Crede and Melvin Mora deserve more than a passing glance.

4. Bringing up the rear.

With Carpenter, Wainwright, and Kyle Lohse under contract for 2010, only 2 rotation spots remain open. Todd Wellemeyer, Joel Piniero, and John Smoltz are all free agents, and Mitchell Boggs and Blake Hawksworth are the top prospects from within. It is highly unlikely that the Cardinals will choose to spend a large amount of money on their starting pitching this off season, considering the top three spots are taken, and the need to sign one or two big bats. Therefore, look for Todd Wellemeyer to walk, while the team tries to decide whether John Smoltz or Joel Piniero is a better fit. Signing both is likely out of the question monetarily. The final spot in the rotation will go to either Boggs or Hawksworth. I tend to think that John Smoltz will come cheaper and with less commitment than Piniero, who is coming off a career year. Smoltz provides yet another veteran presence, and will likely only sign a one or two year deal. This allows the Cardinals to progress their young starters into the big leagues with great mentors and an excellent time frame.

So that's what we know and what we don't know. I'll finish with some bold predictions:

Matt Holliday will sign with the Cardinals, and for a lot of money. As a result of Holliday's price tag, the Cardinals part ways with Ankiel, Wellemeyer, and Piniero. John Smoltz remains a Cardinal, and Blake Hawksworth wins the fifth and final spot in the starting rotation. Third base is a toss up. Hopefully DeRosa accepts a one year deal with incentives. If not, look for David Freese to take the reigns at third.

Andy Fletcher

2009-09-12T11:13:00.002-05:00

Andy Fletcher is the name of the man who cost the Redbirds a victory last night. Fletcher, the home plate umpire for yesterday's game against the Braves, made a mockery of his profession as well as the game of baseball.

From the first inning it was apparent that the blue-clad bumbler had slept through Major League Baseball's training on exactly where the strike zone was. Pitch after pitch that was clearly a foot outside became strike three, and several players (on both teams) had gripes with Fletcher's cross-eyed pitch calling. He was so bad at the plate, the first base umpire actually had to overrule him, correcting a call on a pitch that was clearly fouled at the plate. (Matt Holliday was batting...)

Fletcher's worst transgression, however, came in a pivotal moment in the 6th inning with the Cardinals trailing 1-0. With one out, Colby Rasmus came to bat. Ryan Ludwick was on first, Holliday on second. Rasmus rapped a single through the right side of the infield, and Holliday was waved home by third base coach Jose Oquendo. A strong throw by Ryan Church arrived at home plate just late, as Holliday clearly slid around the tag. He looked safe from my seats at the game. He looked safe on live television. Instant replay confirmed that, not only was he safe, IT WASN'T EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE. Fletcher's call: Out. I can comfortably say without any reservation, this was the worst call I've ever seen in any baseball game ever.

Fletcher's horrendous umpiring in this game makes one wonder if he was drunk, stoned, or mentally handicapped. Sports should be decided by the play of the athletes on the field, not the ineptitude of one man whose incompetence was so clearly on display.

Andy Fletcher, please retire. The game of baseball would be better without you. You are an embarrassment to every honest, hardworking umpire in the league. You are an embarrassment to baseball itself.

Quote of the Week

2009-09-09T21:22:00.002-05:00

"That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong."
- William J.H. Boetcker

Never Too Late

2009-09-08T23:49:00.002-05:00

Good evening, and welcome back to the Redbird Aviator's Musings.

It has been 354 days since last I posted anything in this blog. Many things have changed, most important among them is my beautiful wife. Love is indeed a many-splendored thing, and marriage greatly enhances those splendors.

To say that my wife is my dream come true would be a great injustice. No dream I have ever enjoyed could live up to my wife. Clearly my imagination was simply not up to the challenge when tasked with considering my future spouse. There was never a day or an hour when I had envisioned being so blessed...

Blessed is indeed the word. My wife is my greatest blessing, my answered prayer. She is so much better than my dream come true.

11 and 1/2 months I have neglected this blog. Tonight, I make my return. My musings will once again be set free upon the internet, for better or for worse...

Quote of the Week

2008-09-20T00:20:00.002-05:00

"You believe because you have seen. Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet believe." - Jesus Christ

Gastronomy

2008-09-20T00:20:00.000-05:00

Today I'd like to provide you, my faithful readers, with a useful list. I wish to inform you of the best foods available in this world (as far as I know), that your culinary adventures might be more fruitful. Here then, is a list of where to find the best food in each listed category. I got rather specific, as I don't believe in stamping my approval on an establishment as a whole. (Every restaurant in the world has a dish I would hate... Pizza was an exception to this rule) Don't forget your appetite!

Best Sandwiches:

1) The Legend Club - LeGrand's Deli, St. Louis, MO

This tasty pile of freshly sliced Boar's Head meats, combined with pepperjack cheese, garlic cream cheese, and pepper spread is a not-too-spicy delight. Without a doubt, the best meal between two pieces of bread ever conceived.

2) Cuban Sandwich - La Carreta, Miami, FL

Ham, sliced pork, swiss cheese, pickles, mustard and mayo on Cuban bread. You can't beat that with a stick...

3) Prosciutto con Tomate - Bella Vento, Rome, Italy

Ultra thinly sliced prosciutto, tomato slices, mozzarella cheese, onions, oregano, and olive oil. It's worth flying to Italy just for this sandwich, but you should stay and see the Vatican while you're there...

4) Sandwiche de Lomo - Pastry, Buenos Aires, Argentina

The most simple sandwich you can imagine: A half inch cut of filet, cooked to your taste and served with tomato between fresh french bread. No one knows meat like Argentines!

Best BBQ

1) Parrillada - Rodizio, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Like I said, no one knows meat like Argentines! A parrillada is a mixed grill filled with several cuts of beef, as well as rib tips, chorizo, sweet bread, blood sausage, etc. At Rodizio it is brought to you on a platter which rests atop hot coals. The finest cow ever prepared anywhere on earth.

2) Pork Ribs - Rendezvous, Memphis, TN

In a dark, secluded alley just across the street from the famous Peabody hotel, Rendezvous serves up the finest baby back ribs known to man. Whether your fancy is Carolina dry rub or Memphis Vinegar, you'll find ribs you can pull apart by hand.

3) Pulled Pork Sandwich - Michelbob's, Naples, FL

Michelbob's serves up some of the best American style bbq around, but the pulled pork sandwich stands out. Not overly sauced like at most bbq joints, just perfectly cooked and flavored meat served on a hoagie roll.

Seafood

1) Shrimp Scampi - Legal Seafood, Boston, MA

The only chain restaurant you'll find on this list, Legal Seafood serves up the finest shrimp scampi you'll ever know. The garlic and butter combination is intoxicating, and the end of your meal is gloriously slurped up with the two pieces of garlic toast that accompany the shrimp.

2) Dungeneous Crab - Eliot's Oyster House, Seattle, WA

It's whole, it's steamed, and it's delicious. Fresh out of Puget Sound, Eliot's Oyster House steams you up the best dungenous crab you'll ever taste, with a beautiful view to boot.

3) Clam Chowder - Bristol's, St. Louis, MO

Bristols can't compete with coastal restaurants when it comes to seafood freshness (although they come close) but when it comes to clam chowder, they've got the goods. I have no idea why theirs tastes so much better than anyone else's, but it ain't no lie.

Steak

1)Bife de Lomo - Rodizio, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Meat is a way of life in Argentina, as you all are discovering. This exquisite filet is cooked to perfection on a traditional Argentine brick grill. It doesn't need steak sauce or butter or a piece of bacon wrapped around it in order to taste good. Such trifles are left up to far lesser steak houses...

2) Bife de Chorizo - La Chacra, Buenos Aires, Argentina

At the entrance to La Chacra there is a stuffed cow to great you. The restaurant inside might as well be a shrine to beef. Bife de Chorizo is a cut found only in Argentina, and that alone is worth a journey south.

3) Filet Mignon - Hereford House, Kansas City, MO

The Hereford House is a Kansas City institution. A marvelous wine list compliments the finest cuts of meat west of the Mississippi, and the filet is certainly the king. Dessert was mildly disappointing, but with dead cow like this, who cares?

4) New York Strip - Flemmings, Richmond, VA

A tender, moist, cooked to perfection strip is a thing of beauty, and I haven't found a place that does it better than Flemmings. The ranch garlic mashed potatoes are an excellent add to a fantastic beef experience!

Pasta

1) Tortellini a la panna - Mom and Pop joint, Florence, Italy

After wandering around the town for about 30 minutes in search of lunch, some friends of mine and I stumbled onto what was literally a mom and pop restaurant with two tables, and only two things on the menu. Tortellini, and salad. It was, beyond any doubt, the finest Italian pasta meal I'd ever eaten. Alas, there's no way I could ever find the place again...

2) Linguini Tutto Mare - Ristorante La Lanterna, Sorrento, Italy

The Linguini is hand made on location, and the fish and clams used for the white wine sauce are yanked from the ocean that very day. 'Nuff said.

3) Spaghetti Bolognese - Il Convivio, Rome, Italy

Three straight Italian restaurants in the pasta section. Hmmm... Coincidence? Il Convivio has a great atmosphere, friendly staff, and the best bolognese sauce I've ever tasted.

4) Cannelloni - Gianfabio's, St. Louis, MO

Gotta show the locals some love here. Gianfabio's is by far St. Louis's (and perhaps the midwest's?) best tasting Italian restaurant. The Cannelloni are veal stuffed and served under a cream and meat sauce mix. Yummy!

Pizza (listed by best pizza joints, not individual types)

1) Los Inmortales - Buenos Aires, Argentina

Yes folks, Argentina has the best food on the planet. I've been all over the US, Canada, South America, and Italy, and the fact is, no where yet has the food been so consistently good over so many categories. Pizza is no different, as Los Inmortales serves up fresh mozzarella and toppings to your heart's content.

2) Lou Malnato's - Chicago, IL

Giordano's is more popular, but Lou Malnatos is a better pie hands down. Deep dish lovers revel in front of a pizza you have no choice but to eat with a fork and knife.

3) La Gallina Bianca - Rome, Italy

It's the thick but light crust that makes this Rome's best pizza. If you don't parle Italiano, just point at what you want. They'll hack you off a slice big enough to be a meal, and you'll be a happy camper for sure.

4) Imo's - St. Louis, MO

If you're into super thin crust pizza (and I certainly am!) then Imo's is the place. It's a locally famous chain, and the only delivery place to make the list.

Well folks, you're welcome to argue with me all you want, but I'm sticking to my guns on this one. If you have additions, suggestions or just something mean to say to me, feel free to comment. I certainly hope for your sake that one day you'll visit one or two of these fine establishments. If you do, please let me know how you liked it!

Quote of the Week

2008-08-28T12:43:00.001-05:00

"Nothing brings out the worst in our country like an election year."

Quote of the Week

2008-08-11T01:53:00.004-05:00

"There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Where Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio?

2008-08-11T01:49:00.002-05:00

July 19th since my last addition to this blog. Such is the state of my life right now that I cannot find even the time to muse aloud in this medium...

Truth be told, the drain on my time is entirely the result of my very happy and fulfilling relationship. She is, without a doubt, the answer to my prayers. I can only hope to be the man she deserves...

So while I turn my attention to bettering myself for her benefit, there will surely be more future periods of blog neglect. I suppose you folks will just have to deal with it. Really, you don't have a choice...

Quote of the Week

2008-07-19T10:53:00.003-05:00

"Those who face that which is actually before them, unburdened by the past, undistracted by the future, these are they who live, who make the best use of their lives; these are those who have found the secret of contentment." - Alban Goodier

Righteous Anger

2008-07-13T00:29:00.002-05:00

Despite the overall goodness of my life right now, the present moment finds me quite irate. My anger is centered around the fact that a very close friend of mine has been deceived, lied to, and ultimately jerked around in the worst sense of the phrase.

The truth of the matter is that the injustice suffered by my friend has absolutely no effect on me, other than the fact that it pisses me off. I will not lose sleep over it, it will have no physical or mental effect on me, and my life will continue uninterrupted. However, (to borrow a phrase from "Gladiator") I am terribly vexed. I suppose when all is said and done I'd like for my friends to at least be treated with respect. Especially by the people they trust.

Sometimes circumstances create a situation when there's simply nothing you can do. Other times a person chooses to do what is easy, because they are too immature or because doing what is right might take some effort on their part.

My friend, being a strong, resilient, faithful young man, will get over it. It would likely have hurt one way or the other. While that may be true, the fact remains that there was a right way and a wrong way to go about this matter, and clearly the wrong way was chosen.

That vexes me. I am terribly vexed.

Quote of the Week

2008-07-12T00:30:00.002-05:00

"To love deeply in one direction makes us more loving in all others." - Anne-Sophie Swetchine

Quote of the Week

2008-07-03T16:09:00.001-05:00

"I want to touch the light, the heat I see in your eyes." - Peter Gabriel

From the Airwaves

2008-06-29T11:39:00.003-05:00

Recently heard on O'Hare tower frequency:

Controller: "United 1234, fly that two twenty heading and contact departure on one two seven point four."

United 1234: "Two twenty heading, twenty seven four, United 1234, GO CUBS!"

Unidentified Voice: "GO CARDINALS!"

Controller: "Who's the Cardinals fan that's not getting off this airport today?"

Unidentified Voice: "Don't be jealous because we win more than every hundred years"

Short moment of silence

Different Unindentified Voice: "He's got you there..."

Quote of the Week

2008-06-26T19:05:00.001-05:00

"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed." - Carl Jung

Band of Brothers

2008-06-25T13:23:00.002-05:00

This dream of aviation comes not without its nightmares. Those nightmares usually arrive in the form of shrinking companies, shrinking paychecks, and layoffs. Such is the state of the industry today.

To my brothers and sisters who will find themselves unemployed later this year from Eagle, know that you will be prayed for. Despite inexperience, little rest, and demanding working conditions you still operated safely. Good luck, and God bless.

And the rest of us who remain in this difficult time must remember: despite our low moral and disappointment with these events, the people we carry are loved. They have families and friends who anxiously await their safe return. They look forward to hugs from their children, parents, and grandparents, and handshakes from their coworkers after a job well done. It remains our most heavy responsibility to care for them in their travels, and bring them safely home.

Join me then, all of you who read this blog, in praying for those who have or will be layed off, and also for the safety of the traveling public who remain in our care.

From the Airwaves

2008-06-23T01:37:00.002-05:00

Recently heard on O'Hare ground control frequency:

O'Hare Ground Controller - "Eagle flight 1234, double back at echo, alpha, hotel, papa, alpha bridge, at alpha 16 transition to bravo to your gate."

Eagle Flight 1234 - "Over the river and through the woods, Eagle 1234."

LC

2008-06-22T03:11:00.001-05:00

"I don't know what you mean to me,
but I want to turn you on, turn you up, figure you out.
I want to take you on." - REM

Bundled

2008-06-19T18:36:00.002-05:00

The range of human emotion is an astounding thing, but what grabs me most this week is the capacity for more than one emotion to bubble over and overwhelm you.

This particular week brings with it a mix that is almost certainly very common: the crashing together of excitement and anxiety. I had almost forgotten what it was like to have these two somewhat similar yet diametrically opposed emotions yanking you in different directions. Perhaps the good Lord designed them to go hand in hand as often as possible. The forward-looking optimism of pure excitement is tempered by the anxiety telling you the ground will fall out from underneath you any minute.

The end result is a handful of lessons the Lord intends for us to learn. The first, I believe, is to turn to him with our hopes and concerns. The second is to trust in his divine plan. The third, I imagine, is simple patience. Our questions will eventually be answered.

Onward then, for life does not live itself.

Glad Tidings

2008-06-18T11:08:00.000-05:00

What a great week!!!

Quote of the Week

2008-06-18T10:55:00.001-05:00

"Small oppurtunities are often the beginning of great enterprises." - Demosthenes

Epilogue

2008-06-12T22:18:00.002-05:00

So, after talking about the power of thunderstorms briefly earlier tonight, the power was displayed to me fully. I spent over an hour in the lobby of my hotel in Wichita, KS waiting out a tornado warning. Good thing scheduling agreed to delay our show time in the morning, 'cause that 5am van time probably wasn't going to happen...

Rumble thy Bellyful

2008-06-12T17:41:00.004-05:00

At 35,000 feet the thunderstorm looks huge. Your mind is simply not capable of wrapping itself around the fact that the swirling mass of moisture and energy just off your right wing is the size of a small nation. It's so big you feel like you might drag your wingtip through it, even though you're twenty miles away.

It looks so serene from the outside, like a giant marshmellow. Big, white, fluffy, peaceful. We know better. Inside of it, roaring like a wild beast, lies the power to rip your insignificant machine to pieces.

We are so small upon this world, and the awesome power the Lord manifested in a simple thunderstorm is merely the tip of the iceberg.

Lest we forget how truly great he is, or how truly insignificant we are.

Quote of the Week

2008-06-09T23:56:00.002-05:00

"Chance is always powerful. Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish." - Ovid

Quote of the Week

2008-05-28T10:32:00.002-05:00

"But my heroes are the unknown, unheralded airline pilots who fly without incident or accident, making decisions, stopping potential disasters before they happened, flying all night to see dawn through scratchy tired eyes; fighting bad weather in all seasons from ice to thunderstorms; away from home and family at least half of every month... They have taken thousands of people safely from one place to another, across continents and oceans, but few know of them or bestow on them the laurels they deserve - these are my heroes." - Bob Buck

Spanning the Globe

2008-05-21T21:23:00.002-05:00

Today when I arrived in Chicago on my way to the crew room I came upon something very interesting. There was a crowd of people gathered around the outside of Chilis restaurant, all watching the TV. What was so enthralling to everyone was a sporting event. Not a baseball game, or NBA or NHL playoffs, mind you. Instead, everyone was riveted to the final few moments of the UEFA Champions League Final, which would crown the greatest club soccer team in Europe. Being a soccer fan myself, I maneuvered myself towards the TV to watch as well. What struck me most was the diversity of the crowd. There were, as expected several Englishmen (there are, of course, lots of flights between O'Hare and London), but also gathered 'round were Americans, Hispanics, an Irishman, two Germans, and a handful of Japanese. No other single sporting contest could possibly draw that kind of international audience, I'm sure. As Manchester United defeated Chelsea in penalty kicks, a roar went up from the crowd, and a smile crept across my face.

The Cardinals may be my first love, but there will always be a place in my heart for futbol...

Quote of the Week

2008-05-21T13:07:00.001-05:00

"I met a young woman who's body was burning. But I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow.
And I met one man who was wounded in Love." - Bob Dylan

Quote of the Week

2008-05-13T17:46:00.002-05:00

"A person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called an old man for the first time." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

A Many Splendored Thing

2008-05-13T17:45:00.002-05:00

Halfway through May and my Redbirds are battling atop the Central Division. (Would it be rude to ask the experts how their crow tastes?)

I love this game...

Hello Again

2008-05-11T17:00:00.002-05:00

It's a pleasure to be with you all again after my too brief, yet very fulfilling journey to Europe. Italy was, as expected, amazing. I would tell you about the trip, but I simply don't have the time or the energy. Besides, you don't have the time or the energy to read that much anyway. Just know that the Pope was very close to me, and I spent nearly 3 whole days at St. Peter's Basilica. Oh, and by the way, I ate gelato every single day...

Quote of the Week

2008-04-25T20:28:00.001-05:00

"Pray as if everything depended upon God and work as if everything depended upon man." - Francis Cardinal Spellman

Let the Games Begin

2008-04-21T00:46:00.002-05:00

Monday evening brings with it the beginning of softball season. It is a time I particularly enjoy. Competitive sports have long since become a part of my history, as age and inactivity have taken their toll on my body. Now, coed recreational softball is as close as I can get.

My inability to compete at a high level in soccer or rugby make playing either of those sports tedious at best these days. The rolling of the soccer ball especially is merely a reminder that my best days have long since past me by. But softball is different.

In softball, the game itself is enough. I enjoy the thrill of swinging the bat, and the anticipation of playing defense. My horrendous performance aside, the softball diamond still puts a smile on my face where the soccer pitch has now failed me.

Take me out to the ballgame!

Quote of the Week

2008-04-15T23:25:00.002-05:00

"The greatness comes not when things go always good for you. But the greatness comes when you're really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes. Because only if you've been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain." - Richard Nixon

Losing Streak

2008-04-09T23:53:00.002-05:00

Sometimes in life it feels like you can't win. Like a baseball player slumping, all you can do is grit your teeth, drag yourself to the ballpark every day, and keep swinging.

Sooner or later you'll replace your strikeouts with basehits.

Then maybe you can replace your basehits with homers.

Then again, some ballplayers should recognize when it's time to hang up their spikes...

Moments

2008-04-08T23:39:00.001-05:00

I've once, then often searched for peace
and found it lay not on the ground,
but high amidst an azure sky
lit brightly by the light of dreams
borne forth from children's eyes...

Quote of the Week

2008-04-08T23:21:00.001-05:00

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - E. E. Cummings

Riddles in the Dark

2008-04-07T23:29:00.002-05:00

Some of life's riddles are perhaps unanswerable. Others, however, require a certain amount of bravado.

It's a bravado I am apparently lacking, as three friends of mine so kindly reminded me this evening. Fear of failure, and loss, and rejection all rob me of any bravery I may have had. All in all, I suppose I am simply not as adventurous a person as I would like to think I am.

Or maybe I just need to be pushed in the right direction...

See ya soon!

2008-04-03T00:58:00.001-05:00

I'm leaving the country tomorrow and won't return until next week Tuesday. Hope everyone does well in my absence.

Mi Buenos Aires querido...

Quote of the Week

2008-03-30T01:47:00.001-05:00

"I am not bound to please thee with my answers." - William Shakespeare

Almost Upon Us

2008-03-24T12:45:00.002-05:00

The sounds and smells and sights are like distant recollections. They are old friends I haven't seen in too long. Soon, I will no longer need to reach back into my memory to gain some comfort from them. Soon, we will be together again.

This year the winter has been longer and colder than years past. The energy seemed sapped from the frigid air as though it was stolen and carried away in the night. In most cases, we never even got to say, "goodbye."

Ah, but winter's long bitter grasp is faltering... The ravaging cold darkness is giving way...

Very soon we will hear the first hints of their return. There will be a solid, thundering crack, and all who hear it will say, "That sounds like my old friend..." A hint of freshly prepared frank will begin to wisp into the air, and all who smell it will look around themselves to find the source. And then they will see it.

There it will be, just as it was when we left it, nestled amid the cold concrete and steel. The warm, red brick jewel box of summer with it's renewed emerald gem basking in the sunlight!

In just seven days, baseball will be with us once again. And all will be right with the world.

Quote of the Week

2008-03-24T12:43:00.001-05:00

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." - Rogers Hornsby

Just a Little Higher...

2008-03-18T19:43:00.002-05:00

On the ground everything is gray. The tarmac, the terminal building, the sky, the horizon. A cold drizzle falls. Such is the state of this Chicago afternoon. Number six in line for departure, all checklists complete, waiting for our turn to blast off into the murk. Just another day.

"Eagle flight 436, runway three two left, tango ten, clear for takeoff, turn right heading zero four zero."

Before takeoff checklist complete, thrust set. The gray world outside accelerates past the cockpit as drops of water race each other towards the top of my windshield.

"Vee one. Rotate"

The sound of the tires on the pavement ceases, and almost as quickly, the once prominent gray surrounds us with its impenetrable shroud.

We accelerate. We climb. We are blind. Only the light of a computer screen hints at our progress. Our focus is directed solely upon that screen as though every other thing in the world has ceased to exist. With the blind faith of zealots we follow as the screen leads us deeper into the gray nothing. We accelerate. We climb.

There is little warning. Only a brief silvering of the once impenetrable gray alerts us just before we burst forth.

Light! Glorious, drenching, warm sunlight! The enveloping gray is powerless! Below us is a pearled white landscape, and above us is the clearest blue sky imaginable, stretching out as though it has no end in the universe. Just like that, the gray is forgotten...

If ever you are in search of joy, you need only accelerate, and climb.

It is always a beautiful day above the clouds.

No Rest

2008-03-10T23:18:00.001-05:00

They say there is no rest for the weary.

When I am no longer weary, and therefore able to get some rest, I will devote more time to this blog.

Quote of the Week

2008-02-27T23:57:00.002-06:00

"The great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Healthy At Last!

2008-02-27T23:53:00.003-06:00

The bug that's been going around got to me last week. To put it as mildly as possible, I was homebound and miserable for 5 straight days.

We as human beings think we're so smart and so powerful. It must be to God's great amusement that the tiniest of creatures wield such enormous sway over us...

The joke is most likely on us I imagine. But no matter, I feel human once again, and I'm off to work tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Quote of the Week

2008-02-20T19:28:00.002-06:00

"Between the wish and the thing life lies waiting." - Unknown

Quote of the Week

2008-02-13T10:43:00.001-06:00

"To follow, without halt, one aim: there's the secret to success." - Anna Pavlova

Does it get any Better?

2008-02-08T23:15:00.000-06:00

The last couple of months at work have been at times highly challenging. Weather and maintainance problems have conspired to make the job unpredictable, and things have not been smooth. It is interesting however, that I find myself thrilled to be where I am despite these recent difficulties.

The entire experience of this career is remarkable. Take these two contrasting examples for instance:

The peace and tranquility of gliding through a moonlit night is nearly unimaginable. The snow-covered ground slips by underneath you as the multitude of stars keeps silent watch above. Only a few quiet lights in the cockpit serve to remind you of your duties, keeping you from loosing yourself entirely in the beauty surrounding you.

The exhileration of bursting out of the clouds mere seconds from touching down on a runway your instruments promised was there is intoxicating. The roar of the wind screaming past your landing gear fills the cockpit as you refocus your eyes to the outside world. Suddenly, almost magically, the grey nothingness has given way to grey runway, complete with bright flashing lights of all kinds. It is almost as though you can feel and hear nothing. All that exists is the adrenaline in your veins, the aircraft, and the pavement just a few feet away.

I am so truely blessed.

What Gives?

2008-02-07T22:56:00.000-06:00

Tonight I received the strangest proposition I've ever received in my life.

The dynamic between men and women is perhaps the strangest part of this human existance. It is at all times intoxicating, confusing, and completely non-sensicle. I suspect that no one has ever truely figured it out. Some people are just better at getting used to it than others.

Unfortunately, learning how to get used to it is about as easy as taking a boot to the stones. Very often it feels the same way too...

Quote of the Week

2008-02-03T20:55:00.000-06:00

"I am wealthy in my friends." - William Shakespeare

Grasping at Air

2008-01-28T18:10:00.000-06:00

When you've dreamed about something for your whole life it's hard to explain the feeling of almost being able to touch it. I say almost, because sometimes it just happens to be there, on the horizon, beckoning you. You can almost feel it in your grasp, and your imagination begins running wild at the thought of being on the cusp of something great.

Time slows down to an impossible crawl once you've spotted your goals on that horizon, and the harder you stretch, the longer it seems to take...

Quote of the Week

2008-01-25T00:08:00.000-06:00

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." - United States Declaration of Independence

Silent Night

2008-01-19T00:55:00.000-06:00

Tonight as we flew from Chicago to Moline, I had a moment. The moon lit the earth with a dim, gray light, and the snow-covered upper midwest reflected the pearled luminesence towards the sky. From twenty six thousand feet, with the sky slipping silently past my window, I knew what peace and beauty were really meant to be.

I love my job.

Riddles in the Dark...

2008-01-09T01:48:00.000-06:00

Life often has more questions than it has answers. It is interesting to ponder whether the search for those answers is what drives us. Unfortunately, I feel as though the search for answers may often drive us down a road we would be better off avoiding.

If we had all the answers life would be boring indeed, and some questions are better left unanswered anyway.

The truth may be out there, but do you really want to know?

Quote of the Week

2008-01-08T01:24:00.000-06:00

"Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults." - Socrates

Quote of the Week

2007-12-30T00:30:00.000-06:00

"While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior." - Henry C. Link

Yule!

2007-12-25T14:31:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

Quote of the Week

2007-12-20T23:10:00.000-06:00

"People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs." - Anonymous

Reunions

2007-12-20T00:05:00.000-06:00

Tonight as I arrived home from work I witnessed something special. I was exiting security on my way to the Metrolink along with a crowd of passengers, when the young lady in front of me threw her arms up and ran towards what appeared to be her parents. "Welcome home," her mother exclaimed.

I wonder how many times scenes like these play out in airports across the world. How many grandchildren have run out of security to leap into their grandparents' arms? How many service men and women have come home to their loved ones? How many happy reunions does aviation make possible?

The best part: I get to be a part of making these moments happen.

Paradise Lost

2007-12-14T11:54:00.000-06:00

My career was dealt quite a blow today.

President Bush signed into law an edict proclaiming that airline pilots would be allowed to fly until they turn 65. Prior to this ruling, the mandatory retirement age in the industry was 60. With no mandatory retirements for the next 5 years, the upward mobility of my career has all but been frozen.

This dream of flight comes not without its nightmares...

Quote of the Week

2007-12-14T11:49:00.000-06:00

"To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act." - Anatole France

A Sigh of Relief

2007-12-14T11:35:00.000-06:00

As the revelation of the Mitchell Steriod Report loomed yesterday morning, rumors were rampant that All Star and all around good guy Albert Pujols would be implicated. St. Louis, already gun-shy after Mark McGwire's awful testimony on Capitol Hill, braced for impact...

Over 70 names were divulged in the report, along with details regarding their purchase and use of various performance enhancing substances. El Hombre was not among them, and Redbird Nation released the collective breath it had been holding.

The accomplishments of Albert Pujols are not Ruthian. They are not comparable to Mays, or Mantle, or Cobb. The accomplishments of Albert Pujols cannot be compared to anything in the history of the game because they have never been seen before. No one in the history of the game of baseball has begun their career with 7 seasons of .300 / 30 / 100 production. Not Musial, or Williams, or Aaron.

I hope no one ever again compares Albert's accomplishments to those of Barry Bonds.

From the Airwaves

2007-12-08T16:08:00.000-06:00

Recently heard on Chicago Center's frequency:

Controller - "American 1234 increase speed to 310 or better."

No Response

Controller - "American 1234 increase speed to 310 or better please."

No Response

Controller - "American 1234 how do you hear this radio?"

No Response

Controller - "American 1234 how do you read?"

American 1234 - "From left to right sir, how 'bout you?"

Quote of the Week

2007-12-06T23:12:00.000-06:00

"Wise men say, 'only fools rush in.'" - UB40

No, this is not a fake picture...

2007-12-05T01:31:00.000-06:00

From the "It could be worse" department:

Quote of the Week

2007-11-29T20:42:00.000-06:00

"I have seen the future and it doesn't work." - Robert Fulford

What an industry

2007-11-29T20:38:00.000-06:00

Yesterday my employer was put up for sale.

It's an interesting feeling to have absolutely no idea what the future of your career might be. Just 24 hours ago everything seemed very stable. Now it's anyone's best guess...

The same thing happened to Continental Express, and it didn't work out so well for them...

ReRun

2007-11-22T19:55:00.000-06:00

It is yet another holiday, and yet again, I am alone in a hotel room, far from family and friends. I suppose I'm starting to get used to this feeling. However, the fact that tonight's Thanksgiving dinner was comprised of chex mix didn't help matters. The only thing open nearby was a sports bar. Go figure.

Still, I have many things to be thankful for. Not least of which is the fact that I continue to live my dream of flying airplanes for a living.

In order to achieve your dreams you must make sacrifices...

Quote of the Week

2007-11-22T00:22:00.000-06:00

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." Verbil Kent (from The Usual Suspects)

From the Airwaves

2007-11-22T00:14:00.000-06:00

Recently heard on Jacksonville Center's frequency:

Virgin 1234 "Jax center, Virgin 1234 heavy checking in with you at 360"
Jax Center "Virgin 1234 heavy, roger."
Unidentified voice "Perhaps if you weren't so heavy you wouldn't be a virgin..."

Thanx to Russell for this contribution!

Quote of the Week

2007-11-12T22:30:00.000-06:00

"Son, in 35 years of religious study I have come up with only two hard, incontrovertable facts: There is a God, and I'm not him." - Fr. Cavanaugh (From "Rudy")

Send the Volley Cheer on High

2007-11-12T16:20:00.000-06:00

The mystique of the University of Notre Dame is something that has always captured my imagination. I have never been a student there, or even seen the school in person until Saturday. Somehow though, through a combination of the almost mythical football program and my Catholic disposition, I have always felt a fondness for the Golden Dome.

Back to Saturday. Thanks to the generosity of my good friend Caroline Cole, I was able to purchase two tickets for the Notre Dame vs Air Force game at Southbend this weekend. Needless to say, I was extremely excited. The anticipation of the event had been building now for several months, as I had never been to a college football game of any kind, nor been to the campus of Notre Dame. The day came, and it did not disappoint...

I worked until Friday afternoon and then spent the night in Chicago at my buddy Jim's house. Jim, an Irish Catholic, had at least a passing interest in the game, but perhaps a greater interest in seeing the school itself. We drove to South Bend on Saturday morning and ventured into the campus, where we met Caroline. She proved to be a mediocre at best tour guide... However, we were shown around part of the campus as well as inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Basilica was a busy place, no doubt due to the well documented struggles of the Fighting Irish...

Despite a miserable season, Notre Dame Stadium was packed full for the game. Most fans in attendance left disappointed... The team, as has become habit this year, played poorly and lost by a rather large margin. The experience, however, was incredible. Our seats were right behind the student section, and watching nearly the entire student population act as one cheering on their Irish was reason enough to be entertained.

After the game, Caroline escorted us to the dining hall where a "candlelit" dinner was served to all students and anyone else willing to pay for the meal. The dining hall and the food were imaculate, making the food I ate in college look as though it came from a dumpster...

Well there is a rather straightforward description of my one and only Notre Dame experience. I still haven't figured out a good way to put into words my emotions and feelings during the visit. The Basilica, the Grotto, the stadium... Perhaps I was on sensory overload. There, in a place where some of the finest thought from some of the finest Catholic minds is produced, I simply could not take it all in.

Many thanx to Jim for his hospitality, generosity, and willingness to drive.

Many thanx to Caroline, who made this small dream possible.

Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame!
Wake up the echoes cheering her name!
Send the volley cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky!

What though the odds be, great or small,
Old Notre Dame will win over all,
While her loyal sons are marching onward to victory!

I Should Have Called in Sick

2007-11-08T01:04:00.000-06:00

So day two...

Two more airplane swaps due to maintenance, and we fell so far behind that I lost my Memphis overnight. So instead, I hustled over to United for the last flight home, and here I am. I guess I can't complain too much, I do get to sleep in my own bed.

Tomorrow of course, I have to be absolutely certain I'm at work on time... Just so I can go to Marquette, Michigan.

Livin' the dream...

Cold Bucket of Water

2007-11-07T00:04:00.000-06:00

This was my first day back to work from vacation, and it was not exactly a triumphant return. The day started with a maintenance problem which led to an airplane swap. Later, we went to JFK, which was, as always, challenging. (New Yorkers! Ugh!) Then there was holding into Cleveland thanx to freezing rain, low visibility, and obscenely high winds. Toss in a 2 hour and 35 minute delay to O'Hare, and you've got a day served straight from hell. Great way to get welcomed back to work huh?

As I descended through the clouds and torrents of rain into Cleveland, with the wind whipping about at over 40 MPH and the adrenaline coursing through my veins, I knew there was nowhere I would rather be...

Back to Work

2007-11-05T23:06:00.000-06:00

Vacation is over.

More's the pity...

Quote of the Week

2007-11-05T23:01:00.001-06:00

"Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder, treason and plot.
I know of no reason the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot." - Lancelot Andrewes

Renewal

2007-10-31T01:03:00.001-05:00

Tonight I returned to the field.

Two goals and an assist later, our team walked away with a 5-2 victory.

I played a slow game, but I suppose it was effective. There were, of course, several occasions when I lost my temper.

Two goals should have been 4...

Culture

2007-10-29T00:37:00.001-05:00

On Friday night I attended the finest concert of my life. A friend of mine invited me to the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, and it was wonderful. Most of you would probably not have pegged me to be a great fan of classical music, and you'd be right; It is not a passion of mine. However, the music, coupled with the conduction of the orchestra and the musicians created an amazing visual and audial experience.

It was quite amazing to watch Maestro Slatkin conduct the symphony. The level of coordination and complexity would boggle the mind of even the greatest football coach. The individuality of each musician was also quite intriguing. Beyond the obvious differences between the instruments each musician wielded, there were other, more subtle intricacies. Some of the protagonists where extremely animated in their seats, bobbing and gyrating along with the music. Others sat almost motionless aside from whatever actions were absolutely necessary to manipulate their instruments. The precision, detail, and teamwork required to produce the beautiful melodies was astounding, and the fact that it came from a large group of diverse individuals made it even more impressive.

I have decided that I will make a concerted (pun intended) effort to attend the symphony on a more regular basis.

Who wants to join me?

Quote of the Week

2007-10-29T00:33:00.000-05:00

"When you're part of a team, you stand up for your teammates. Your loyalty is to them. You protect them through good and bad, because they'd do the same for you." - Yogi Berra

Goatee

2007-10-21T11:37:00.000-05:00

I'm sporting a goatee these days, much to the consternation of my 8 year old niece. Basically, I'm on vacation and don't feel like shaving my chin. Therefore, I'm not going to. I'll have no choice but to remove the hair when I return to work, but such is life. In the meantime, I get to be lazy. The sacrifice is I don't get kisses from my niece...

Quote of the Week

2007-10-16T23:49:00.000-05:00

"No more important duty can be urged upon those who are entering the great theater of life than simple loyalty to their best convictions." - Edwin Hubbel Chapin