Seattle's Day of Silence

It's July 31. Today in baseball land is know annually as the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline. It's when playoff contenders find the missing ingrediant for their championships. It's when losing teams shed their hefty veteran contracts, and trade for younger, cheaper lottery tickets that may save their futures. Teams run well will use this day to do something to better themselves. We in Seattle traditionally celebrate this day as those in Bali celebrate their New Year, by doing nothing.

New Year's Day in Bali is called "Nyepi Day", the Balinese day of Silence, which falls on the day following the dark moon of the spring equinox (obviously), and opens a new year of the Saka Hindu era. On Nyepi, people do nothing. Not even speak. It is a symbolic day showing one's control over themselves and the forces in the world. Nyepi is meant to be a day of self introspection to decide on values, humanity, love, patience, kindness, that should kept forever.

I was in Bali about eight years ago on Nyepi. We were left boxed meals at our hotel in the morning, and told not to leave the premises. We sat by the pool and saw NO ONE all day. People are urged to not even play their radios loudly. It wasn't an eerie silence, like in a horror flick right before the tourists get hacked to pieced with a chain saw, but a peaceful silence. Bali oozes a wonderful Hindu peacefulness on most days, but on Nyepi, it is truly magical.

Bali is the only place on the planet where Nyepi is celebrated, and it truly makes them special. So today in Seattle I urge you, do not get angry on this day of nothingness, when others may be celebrating. Take this chance to reflect on how special this day in Seattle has become, and how it makes us unique. A day to simply do nothing. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

Baseball Owies

I have noticed that baseball players from other cultures often don't get the public relations side of baseball. Early in the season, Dice-K Matsuzaka (you know him, the overrated $100MM man from Japan?) explained his recent struggles on poor sleeping conditions while on the road.

Matsuzaka told reporters he may have come up with a solution for the next road trip. He did not wish to share it, Japanese reporters said, because he preferred not to have people wondering or imagining how he looked while he slept.

Now all I can do is picture Daisuke in his PJ's. OK, right now, I want you to NOT think about a white elephant. OK, go.

This story reminded me though of the "Fat Pussy Toad" Hideki Irabu who missed a start due to "straining his arm while washing his hair". A side not on Irabu-san. When Steinbrenner called him the "Fat Pussy Toad", the middle word actually rhymed with "fussy", and meant "full of puss", and did NOT refer to the female genetalia.

This was also reminicent of Seattle closer Kazuhiro Sasaki who went on the DL when he strained his neck while carrying his luggage. These guys are just too honorable to lie like their American counterparts who would have strained their neck from "lifting weights" or "being in a bar fight."

These guys should take a lesson from Jeff Kent or Aaron Boone. When you do something stupid, and hurt yourself, think long and hard about your reasons. Talk to your publicist, lawyer, and confidants. There is no room for the honest truth there. No you didn't hurt your knee while trying out your Evil Knievel impersonation on your motorcycle during Spring Training (thus obviously voiding your player contract with the Giants), you accidentally slipped off a step ladder while washing your pickup. And no Aaron, you didn't fall in the shower, you hurt your ankle while playing pickup hoops (thus oviously voiding your player contract. OK, maybe a bad example. At least pickup hoops sounds better).

In all fairness to the men from Nippon though, their stupid sounding injuries probably don't even crack the top 20 in "all time stupid injuries by baseball players" list. Last year Clint Barmes of the Rockies missed half the season for falling while carrying deer meat for god's sake. And, maybe the best, Glenallen Hill of the Bluejays once tumbled out of bed and crashed into a glass table while having a nightmare about being covered in spiders.

Those Aren't Candidates

[A special thanks to B-logjammin blogger for this scoop]

July 13 (Bloomberg) -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is running for re-election virtually unopposed, more popular than ever, after admitting to having an affair with a top aide's wife and entering an alcohol-treatment program. Newsom, whose approval ratings are running close to 80 percent, said he expects a credible candidate to emerge eventually. So far, challengers include a street-performing clown, a homeless man, an advocate for nudism, and a candidate who pledges to wear a camera so voters can monitor his performance in office.

I'm not sure why the article doesn't just say Gavin is running against "Jason Whiting". It's a bit repetitive the way their story reads now. Speaking of Gavin vs. Whiting, I am SURE Whiting was mistaken for Gavin at some point during his old SF days when he was out in his Lawyer suit. Each are like slightly pudgier versions of the other. It's uncanny.

This (hot) week in Sea Town

All that whining you heard coming from the Pacific Northwest this week wasn't about Brian Roberts booting a JJ Putz-induced grounder and ruining JJ's All Star Game save opportunity, it was the heat. I have to admit that at 98 Degrees all over the city this week, I was complaining a bit too. When the cave gets above 60, you know things are getting un poco caliente in the out-cave world.

But not to worry everyone, all of those Seattleite tears must have had an impact because we will be back to rain this weekend.

Ichiro Update

Speaking of hot. Holy crap, have you seen what Ichiro is doing this year? Just to make his point, he decided to go 3-3 in the All Star Game (he actually had the AL's first TWO hits of the game, to show not only that he is a good hitter, but also a better hitter than the other All Stars). If that wasn't enough, his third hit was the first inside-the-park Home Run in All Star history. Thank you Ken Griffey Jr. for misplaying his double into a Home Run. Ken, we can hear you loud and clear, you are a Seattle Fan, and you want back. Bavasi, are you listening too?

For his efforts, Ichiro was awarded the All Star MVP award by Bud Selig. Did you hear the post-game award ceremony? Selig was talking to Ichrio slowly and loudly like Ricky's Mom in Better Off Dead talking to the hot French Exchange student, "ICHIRO. YOU WENT 3 FOR 3 (IN CASE YOU CANT FOLLOW AMERICAN SCORING) AND HIT AN INSIDE THE PARK HOME RUN..." I am surprised Bud didn't grab Ichiro's mouth and help him sound the words out as he spoke.

If that wasn't enough HUGE news this week for Ichiro fans, all signs point toward a $100+ Million 5-year contract coming soon for Suzuki San. I have run the numbers people. He is actually worth the $20 million a year.

Speaking of $20 million a year, that's roughly what Rashard will be making ($113 million over 6 years) with the Orlando Magic starting... NOW. This is the next critical step in Same Presti's "Create a TERRIBLE low-cost Sonics team and stockpile lottery pick players to start fresh in Kansas City in 2009" plan. No Ray, no Rashard, no WAY the Kevin Durant era starts well.

On a related note, Scott Boras announced this week that A-Rod will make AT LEAST $30 million per year when he re-signs somewhere. Hell, the desperate Yankees just might give him 150 over 5 years. That wouldn't be out of character at all...