Before the first pitch of tonight's Major League Baseball playoffs, I thought I'd take a shot at predicting the winner of each first-round series.
American League:
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers
The Rays are thrilled just to be here. A month ago, the Rays being in the playoffs seemed highly unlikely; it took an historic collapse by the Boston Red Sox for the Rays to get in.
The Rangers have been strong since the first game of the season. Texas has solid pitching, something it's seldom had, and strong hitting.
Pick: Texas Rangers
The Rays are a solid team. They've got momentum. But the Rangers are a strong team in all areas.
Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees
The Tigers started slowly and caught fire. They blew away the rest of the AL Central.
The Yankees are the Yankees. They pay lots of money and have lots of big-name players.
Pick: New York Yankees
Call it playoff experience or maybe just on reputation, but I think the Yankees have enough to hold off the Tigers. Were the Tigers to win the series, however, I would not be surprised.
National League:
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies
The Cardinals didn't expect to be here a month ago. In mid-summer, there was talk that Tony LaRussa had lost this team's attention.
The Phillies have been the favorite all year.
Pick: Philadelphia Phillies
The Cards will play hard and give the Phillies all they've got. But the Phils are the winningest team in the majors because of outstanding pitching (Hallady, Lee, Hamles, Oswalt) and effective hitting (Howard, Utley, Rollins, Pence). The favorite doesn't always win. I think they will in this series.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Seriously, how many Diamondbacks can you name? They were supposed to be terrible this season. Their success is totally unexpected.
The Brewers play in a small market and don't get much national TV airplay. Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are big-time players. Adding Zack Greinke to the rotation was a major addition.
Pick: I would love it if the D-Backs were to advance. Who doesn't love an underdog, come-from-nowhere story? But the Brewers are here because they're a good team; plus they need to win now because Prince Fielder is leaving for bigger money as soon as he can.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Great Quote Thursday
We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort- Jesse Owens
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Don't Be Stupid- The One Talent Guy
I'm currently teaching through a series in our young marrieds' Bible Fellowship class called "Don't Be Stupid- Stupid People in the New Testament". The concept is that it is often easy to look back in Scripture and see where people made "stupid" decisions or choices while at the same time overlooking our own poor choices. Rather than judging, our goal should be to use Godly wisdom and learn from the mistakes of others.
In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus tells the story of a master who went away for a time. He left talents (a monetary amount) with some of his servants. One servant received 5 talents; another received 2 talents and another servant received 1.
When the master returned from his journey, he asked what each servant had done with what was given him. The servant with 5 talents had earned 5 more and the master was pleased. The servant with 2 talents had earned 2 more; this also pleased the master. However, the servant with the lone talent had buried his talent so as not to lose it and this greatly displeased the master.
Here's The Point: God wants more from us than playing it safe and doing little or nothing of value with what He has given us. He desires the kind of service and effort that produces results.
No employer ever hired an employee just to be. There is always a role, a function. There is work to be done.
We've each been given talents (skills, abilities, aptitudes) that are an area of specialty for us. Things we're good at. Because God allows us to be good at it; He gave us the talent. Don't be stupid. Don't waste your talent. Whatever you have has value.
A couple of weeks ago, a group from our young marrieds ministry helped with a clean-up day at a local high school. One guy came around 9:00 AM. I asked what time he'd gotten off the night before. "Midnight", he replied. Learning that, I was surprised he'd come at all. Later that morning as we talked, I asked if he was off on Saturday. "No", he said, "I go back in at 2:00. But I love doing this kind of stuff". Impressive. He used what he had on that day. The Master would be pleased.
Don't be stupid. Use what you've been given.
In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus tells the story of a master who went away for a time. He left talents (a monetary amount) with some of his servants. One servant received 5 talents; another received 2 talents and another servant received 1.
When the master returned from his journey, he asked what each servant had done with what was given him. The servant with 5 talents had earned 5 more and the master was pleased. The servant with 2 talents had earned 2 more; this also pleased the master. However, the servant with the lone talent had buried his talent so as not to lose it and this greatly displeased the master.
Here's The Point: God wants more from us than playing it safe and doing little or nothing of value with what He has given us. He desires the kind of service and effort that produces results.
No employer ever hired an employee just to be. There is always a role, a function. There is work to be done.
We've each been given talents (skills, abilities, aptitudes) that are an area of specialty for us. Things we're good at. Because God allows us to be good at it; He gave us the talent. Don't be stupid. Don't waste your talent. Whatever you have has value.
A couple of weeks ago, a group from our young marrieds ministry helped with a clean-up day at a local high school. One guy came around 9:00 AM. I asked what time he'd gotten off the night before. "Midnight", he replied. Learning that, I was surprised he'd come at all. Later that morning as we talked, I asked if he was off on Saturday. "No", he said, "I go back in at 2:00. But I love doing this kind of stuff". Impressive. He used what he had on that day. The Master would be pleased.
Don't be stupid. Use what you've been given.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Fun on Friday- More Turnerisms
My youngest son, Turner, recently turned 4 years old. The combination of a developing sense of his world, an expanding vocabulary and a creative young mind have led to what we affectionately refer to as Turnerisms. Here are a couple more:
"I want a wallet so I can buy some money".
Wanting to test the new battery in his Thomas the Tank Engine mini-lantern: "I want to take my light to a very dark place". (There's a deep Biblical principle there.)
After his 4 year old check-up at the pediatrician's office: "If I keep eating healthy foods, I'll be 6 foot 1".
"I want a wallet so I can buy some money".
Wanting to test the new battery in his Thomas the Tank Engine mini-lantern: "I want to take my light to a very dark place". (There's a deep Biblical principle there.)
After his 4 year old check-up at the pediatrician's office: "If I keep eating healthy foods, I'll be 6 foot 1".
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Great Quote Thursday
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen- Winston Churchill
Friday, September 2, 2011
Fun on Friday
Ever flown Allegiant Air?
They have some really great prices for flights from Knoxville to several Florida destinations as well as to Myrtle Beach, SC. But there are some aspects of flying Allegiant Air that make it a bit different from the major airlines:
When they say "Welcome Aboard", it doesn't always sound as if they really mean it.
The seating on an Allegiant plane is 2-3, with 2 seats on the right of the aisle and 3 seats on the left side. The seat assignments are AC on the right and DEF on the left. So I wonder what happened to seat B?
Speaking of seating assignments, unless you reserve your seat (for a slight extra fee) which allows you to board the plane first, you are allowed to board in a sort of general admission, first-come, first-serve boarding arrangement. It's uncomfortable to watch people push to the front of the line to board first and then try to get seats together. It's worth the $10 to sit together, peacefully.
It was a little unsettling to look out the window and see hail damage on the wing.
Before you land at your destination, you are reminded by the flight crew to keep your window shades closed once you land to help maintain a comfortable cabin temperature. But telling you that the "metal tube" you're riding in (yes, they called the plane a metal tube) seems an awkward way to describe the aircraft.
But would we fly Allegiant again? You bet we would.
They have some really great prices for flights from Knoxville to several Florida destinations as well as to Myrtle Beach, SC. But there are some aspects of flying Allegiant Air that make it a bit different from the major airlines:
When they say "Welcome Aboard", it doesn't always sound as if they really mean it.
The seating on an Allegiant plane is 2-3, with 2 seats on the right of the aisle and 3 seats on the left side. The seat assignments are AC on the right and DEF on the left. So I wonder what happened to seat B?
Speaking of seating assignments, unless you reserve your seat (for a slight extra fee) which allows you to board the plane first, you are allowed to board in a sort of general admission, first-come, first-serve boarding arrangement. It's uncomfortable to watch people push to the front of the line to board first and then try to get seats together. It's worth the $10 to sit together, peacefully.
It was a little unsettling to look out the window and see hail damage on the wing.
Before you land at your destination, you are reminded by the flight crew to keep your window shades closed once you land to help maintain a comfortable cabin temperature. But telling you that the "metal tube" you're riding in (yes, they called the plane a metal tube) seems an awkward way to describe the aircraft.
But would we fly Allegiant again? You bet we would.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
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