I’m in Tucson, and we were out at dinner with the family, so I didn’t get to watch all of opening day. The restaurant had a bar with a TV, and the game was on, so I watched parts of it, and followed the game from the dinner table on my Pearl otherwise. Glavine and the Mets took the opener from Carpenter and the Cardinals, 6-1. They have the best record in the majors, 1-0, but will be tied with a lot of teams for that record tomorrow. Glavine needs 9 more wins for 300.

Here’s me and Evan watching the game. The situation: Bases loaded, 1 out, Rolen up for the Cards. Heilman relieves Joe Smith.

He induced a 4-6-3 doubleplay groundball.

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So, I signed up for mlb.tv because Cox is giving it to me for free. I have in the past tried to get it (and MLB gameday audio) to work in linux, without good results. I decided I’d try again now, and… success!

I deleted any trace of mplayer-plugin from my computer, and installed MediaPlayerConnectivity instead. Combined with mplayer (or totem, xine, vlc…), I can actually watch the games! It doesn’t work exactly right, as the video doesn’t get embedded in my browser window, but this actually works out better for me.

I’m now watching the Mets/Cardinals in spring training… nine days until opening day!

Also, wfan.com has changed their streaming setup, and it’s now just a flash streaming application, so I can listen to WFAN in Linux, too!

Now if I could just get all of this to stream to my Pearl…

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(Though really, with how my internet connection’s been, it’s more like Cox -3, MLB 0)

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Last weekend, I actually went back to Chumash to play some poker, and made some money. Did I write up a nice report? Of course not. Not that there’s much to write besides boring some hand histories, and how nice it is to have music (on my Pearl) at places I don’t bring my iPod. I played 5/10 NL ($300-$500), thinking it was 3/5 NL (but still $300-$500) when I sat down, but staying anyway. Was up almost $700 at one point (photoblog image), but finished up $405. I really need to get back into the habit of actually going there from time to time.

I’ve been messing around with the data that comes out of Frames, which has basically every game I’ve bowled for over two years now. Early results are here, which at the moment just has every series listed, but eventually I want to make it filterable/sortable/searchable. With cool charts and pocket/spare/pinfall details. Why? Why not. This week wasn’t quite as good as last week, but still solid with an 855 (4), 613, and 611 series.

I’ve been playing MLB2K7 on the Xbox 360 a lot lately. It’s a fun game, and has me more than ready for baseball season to actually start again. Last night, I played my first few games online, against Ryan. He hasn’t played much, and the hitting takes a lot of getting used to. I beat him the first game, but he won the second. In my defense, I played the second game as the Royals. Mets (road) opener: 18 days!

I got an R4DS for my DS Lite. It’s nice. Now, I have all 8 games that I own on a single (free after rebate!) 1GB MicroSD card. Sadly, I had to resort to downloading the ROMs from eDonkey, because I have no way to get them off of the DS game cards, and I lost my save games, but it’s worth it. Combined with the BSE skin, I just throw the DS in my bag, and don’t need a case for any accessories or anything. I can just throw the charger in my cable stable, and I’m all set.

Tomorrow, assuming the weather cooperates, I’m flying to NJ. Evan’s first birthday is Saturday. I leave Santa Barbara at around 6:30 tomorrow night, and get in Saturday morning at around 6:30. Then I leave Sunday night at 6 and get in around midnight. 18 hours of traveling, and I’ll be there a half hour short of 36 hours. Fun! It’s worth it, though, cause.. well, this.

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Dear best customers,

Screw you.

Love,
MLB

http://www.salon.com/sports/col/kaufman/2007/02/09/friday/?source=rss

And, no, I’m not switching to DirecTV: HD Local Channels: High-definition (HD) local channels from DIRECTV are not available in your area at this time.

Also: Chan Ho Park? WTF!

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I have no excuse for why I haven’t really posted anything here for a while. As usual, a bunch of stuff to say, no motivation to do it.

First, I have started off my BlackBerry programming with two applications for the Pearl: AutoLock, which automatically activates the keyguard when the display idle timer kicks in to turn off the screen, and SoftReset which simply provides an easy way to reset the device without requiring a battery pull. They’re both free (but I take donations!) and can be found here: BlackBerry Software. Now that I’ve got things figured out, I’m definitely going to get started on some poker results tracking software soon.

Second… I have soft water at home! It rules. No more calcium deposits in the shower, in the sink, on the dishes, and shaving is soooo much more comfortable. Photoblog image here.

Third: 6 days until Pitchers and Molinas (er.. catchers)! 8 days before the Mets staff has to report.

Enough with the counting. Bowling has continued to go fairly well for me this year, though I did have a few off nights (503 over three games, 701 over four games), last night I had another good series:

Two months, two 700s. I’ll take that. Still looking for another honor score (298, 299, 300, 800, or 11 in a row), though. Also, had this a few weeks ago:

I don’t often throw 900 over four games, though I’m sure I’ve done it a few times in the past. Very happy about it. The Palm Z22 is holding up very well for recording my bowling scores with Frames. The lower resolution doesn’t bother me at all for what I’m using it for, and the battery life is terrific. This week I plugged it in for the first time since I started using it at the bowling alley. That’s almost a month without a recharge.

I want an LED mooninite. I may have to resort to making my own. Might be fun. I’ll leave off with this video of a government agency trying to track down the mooninite terrorists:

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…will be at Citi Field. I can’t wait for the inevitable “Shitty Field” references. They really couldn’t come up with a better name? Hell, CitiBank Stadium would be better.

Also, the Mets signed Jose Valentin to a one year deal. Why? I would have liked an upgrade at second.

Red Sox won the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka, so he’s out. Looks like it’s Zito or Schmidt, as the Marlins apparently don’t like Milledge, so Dontrelle Willis is out.

Relying on John Maine, Mike Pelfry, and Oliver Perez might not be the end of the world. Anyone heard anything about Brian Bannister lately?

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It’s been hard to not post about some of this stuff, but I couldn’t ruin the surprise party for my brother. His wife would have killed me. Today is my brother’s birthday, and we had a party for him on Sunday. He didn’t even know I was going to be on the east coast. Of course, if not for the damn Cardinals, I’d still be there now, instead of back at work. A few minutes ago, I had to send these back to StubHub so I can get my money back:

His birthday present from me (besides actually being there) was going to be a World Series ticket on his birthday. I’ve been planning this since before Trevor Hoffman blew the all-star game. I was rooting for the AL, there. It came *SO* close to working out. Instead, he got a card about how everyone said how much I spent on his present was crazy, so I returned them. Dammit.

Looking towards next year, I think we’ll overpay Zito (but he’ll be pretty good), and find some non-Soriano replacement for second base. I hope we resign (dammit, re-sign, not resign) Bradford and Oliver, and Oliver Perez ends up being a competent fifth starter. It’d be great if he could be the ace Pittsburgh was hoping he would be. Pedro will be out the first half of the season, and I don’t expect anything from him next year. Trachsel should be gone. I hope Glavine will be back. Maybe we can reuinte Glavine and Maddux.

Meh. I wanted to go to the World Series. There’s always next year.

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Wow, I got over that a whole lot faster than I expected to.

I really hate rooting for the AL team, but I want a quick and painful exit for the Cardinals.

And I hope Yadier Molina goes 0-WS. That might get his postseason average back down to .216.

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5:24 PM: I don’t know if I’m going to be able to watch the whole game, as I may have to go play softball. Perez, which may be featured on sites such as 카지노사이트, is off to a good start, should be out of the inning if not for an error by Delgado. Gets Encarnacion to pop out to Green to end the inning.

5:26 PM: Unfortunately, for some reason my regular Fox is working fine, but Fox HD is just a blank screen. At least I can still watch. I think I’m gonna skip softball no matter what happens.

5:34 PM: Carlos Beltran with a double. There goes Rob Neyer’s “double no-hitter” prediction.

5:37 PM: Delgado walks, time for David Wright to start his Damon-like game 7.

5:38 PM: Wright hits a little flare to just the right place! Beltran scores, 1-0 Mets!

5:40 PM: Green was right on the pitch, but lined out right to Rolen.

5:41 PM: Fox HD is back!

5:43 PM: Edmonds gets the Cardinals first hit, a leadoff single on the first pitch in the 2nd.

5:44 PM: Rolen pops up the second pitch to Beltran, one out.

5:46 PM: Perez is throwing strikes out there, 0-2 count on Molina. Good pitch, but he flares it into left field. Edmonds goes first to third.

5:48 PM: Belliard puts down a safety squeeze bunt, 1-1 game.

5:50 PM: Suppan strikes out looking. Inning over.

5:54 PM: Valentin pops up for the first out of the bottom of the 2nd.

5:56 PM: Endy Chavez grounds out to first, and then Oliver Perez lines it right at the left fielder. Mets go down 1-2-3.

6:01 PM: Eckstein leads off the third with a double. Time to get the bullpen going.

6:03 PM: Strikeout swinging for Preston Wilson. One out.

6:04 PM: Intentional walk to Albert Pujols, first and second, one out.

6:07 PM: Encarnacion grounds into a double play! Inning over.

6:11 PM: Reyes and Lo Duca go quickly in the third. Beltran up. And Beltran out, on a pop up.

6:17 PM: Edmonds flies out to Chavez on an 0-2 pitch to start the fourth.

6:20 PM: After two loooooooong foul balls, Rolen fouls out to Wright at third. My brother just pointed out that this liveblog could very well be illegal. Accounts and descriptions of this game may not be disseminated without the express written consent of Major League Baseball. Oops.

6:22 PM: Molina flies out to Shawn Green, that’s the inning.

6:28 PM: Delgado walks to leadoff the bottom of the inning.

6:30 PM: Wright grounded into a FC, he’s at first with one out. Shawn Green at the plate.

6:32 PM: Green strikes out on a changeup. Valentin coming to the plate.

6:36 PM: Weird. Valentin was HBP… after the ball hit the ground and bounced up into his face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. First and second, two down. Endy Chavez at the plate. And he pops out, to end the inning.

6:40 PM: Dammit, Belliard leads off with a basehit. Suppan makes a perfect bunt to move him to second.

6:44 PM: Chavez almost makes a great catch on a foul ball, and David Eckstein gets HBP on the next pitch.

6:45 PM: Preston Wilson strikes out for the third time tonight! Albert Pujols up with two on, two down.

6:47 PM: POO HOLES POPS IT UP! INNING OVER!

6:51 PM: Perez again lines out hard to left, to lead off the bottom of the 5th. Looks like he’s coming in for the 6th.

6:52 PM: COME ON! IT’S JEFF FUCKING SUPPAN! Reyes pops out.

6:55 PM: Lo Duca just misses one, and flies out to the track. Wilson and Edmonds collide as Wilson makes the catch.

6:57 PM: SHUT UP JOE BUCK!

6:59 PM: Encarnacion grounds out to third to start the 6th.

7:03 PM: Edmonds finally works out a walk against Perez after a good AB.

7:05 PM: HOLY SHIT! Randolph leaves Perez in there, who promptly serves up what shoulda been a homer to Rolen. Endy Chavez brought it back, and turned it into a double play, getting Edmonds out at first! Web Gem of the YEAR!

7:09 PM: Beltran grounds out to Suppan for the first out in the 6th.

7:12 PM: Delgado takes his third walk of the game. Wright up.

7:14 PM: Wright grounds to Rolen, who airmails the ball over first. Second and third, one out. That non-homerun must still be in his mind. Shawn Green is getting an intentional walk to get to Jose Valentin.

7:20 PM: Valentin strikes out with the bases loaded. Now two down, and they need a hit. Endy Chavez coming up. And pops up the first pitch. ARGH!!!

7:28 PM: Molina having a good AB against Bradford, finally flies out to Endy in left.

7:29 PM: Belliard grounds out to second, on a nice play by Valentin.

7:30 PM: Suppan grounds out to Reyes to end the inning. He was running it out, and Reyes didn’t put much on the throw, but barely got him.

7:36 PM: Michael Tucker, pinch hitting for Bradford, fouled a ball off his foot. He’s finally back in the box after walking it off for a long time.

7:38 PM: Tucker finally flies out to center. One out, bases empty for JOSE JOSE.

7:40 PM: Reyes grounds out hard to Pujols.

7:41 PM: Lo Duca grounds out to Eckstein. We go to the 8th, still tied at 1.

7:45 PM: Heilman gets Eckstein to ground out to first to lead off the game.

7:47 PM: SHUT UP JOE BUCK!

7:49 PM: Spiezio strikes out looking, and he knew it. Two down for Pujols. Pujols “unintentionally” walked, Encarnacion up.

7:51 PM: Dammit, my Fox HD is looking like a weak signal, getting all choppy. 0-2 on Encarnacion.

7:53 PM: Got him swinging! Bottom of the 8th, coming up.

7:57 PM: Leadoff walk to Beltran! The big man, Delgado, coming up.

8:06 PM: Delgado strikes out swinging, dammit.

8:10 PM: Fuck. Wright was walked, but the 3-1 pitch was called a strike. Wright strikes out on the next pitch. Shawn Green coming up.

8:11 PM: Fuck. Green grounds out HARD to Pujols. I think Billy Wagner is coming in in a tie game. Not good.

8:15 PM: Heilman still in, strikes out Edmonds to start the 9th.

8:19 PM: Rolen shoulda been struck out on a pitch closer to the strike zone than the strike two call to Wright, and finally gets a single.

8:21 PM: FUCK. Yadier Molina! with a two run homer. 3-1 Cards. Belliard follows with a groundout.

8:24 PM: Rodriguez grounds out, Wainwright coming in for the bottom of the Mets lineup.

8:29 PM: Valentin with the Mets first hit since the first inning. Endy Chavez up.

8:31 PM: Basehit Chavez! Cliff Floyd up for his bad-leg Kirk Gibson moment!

8:35 PM: Fuck, struck him out looking with a breaking ball. Reyes coming up, one out.

8:38 PM: Reyes was RIGHT ON IT, but lined it right at Edmonds.

8:41 PM: Lo Duca walks, Cardinal killer Carlos Beltran up with the bases loaded and two down.

8:57 PM: FUCK.

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