The hot, dry summer of 2009 is on its way out and a rainy (woohoo–no complaints here!) September brings the last series against the Buccos for the 2009 season. It comes a little early in the month to have the usual Aaaaarrrrgghh!! reference, so rather than ignore the significance of the day, I will give you a little insight as to what September 11th means to me.
Friday, September 11, 7:05 p.m.
Charlie Morton, RHP (3-7, 5.43) vs Bud Norris, RHP (4-3, 6.05)
Morton has been shelved a few extra days to give his groin time to rest. That’s what those late night rum parties with the wenches can do to you. Norris began his major league career with a Bang! Bang! Bang! 3 win start then went Dud! Dud! Dud! before his last start Sunday against the Phillies.
Saturday, September 12, 6:05 p.m.
Ross Ohlendorf, RHP (11-9, 3.97) vs Brian Moehler, RHP (8-10, 5.10)
Ohlendork has had a measurable turnaround since the All Star Break this year– 7 an 7 with a 4.64 ERA before to 4 and 2 with a 2.70 ERA after. Unfortunately in his last start, despite pitching 8 innings without giving up an earned run, he did not earn a win (wonderful Pirate run support shoots another pitcher in the foot groin). Moehler is 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA in his last four starts, but the Bucs have been his nemesis this year, presenting him with a Jolly Roger in 2 of his three starts against them.
Sunday, September 13, 1:05 p.m.
Paul Maholm, LHP (7-8, 4.72) vs. Felipe Paulino, RHP (2-8, 6.34)
Maholm hopes to become the third Pirate pitcher to reach 10 wins this year, but would have to pretty much win all of his last starts to get there. If history repeats itself, he may have a good start because he is 7-4 with a 4.44 ERA in 12 career starts against the Good Guys. Paulino risks becoming Chris Holt: his last two games were quality starts where he earned loses because the Astros didn’t score a dadgum run while he was in the game.
Promotions, Promotions, Promotions! Get your ass to the ballpark! Get your ass to the game! Buy lots of peanuts and crackerjacks! We don’t care what as long as you spend your jack! McLane roots, roots, roots for more AIS Don’t worry if you don’t know what that means! Its all about the one, two, three bucks you spend At the old ball game!FRIDAY–Price Matters Days $10 gets you a ticket, hot dog and soda! Coke Value Night! Friday Night Fireworks ! 9/11HeroesNight! and if that isn’t enough—–this Fabulous Patriotic Cap!
Young Professionals Pack
Baseball Tomorrow Fund Equipment Drive
Valverde Bobblehead
SUNDAY–Price Matters Days! Scout Parade 2! $1 Drumsticks! and……..
a Replica Minute Maid Park!
What September 11 means to me…..
Well, I was home to see the attacks on the World Trade Center on that day. A day I should have been at work. Teaching chemistry. But I wasn’t . I was home. In bed. I got a call and turned on the TV. It is a little fuzzy, but I remember.
What I don’t remember alot of is August 31, 2001. The day I had a stroke.
At the ripe old age of 33. Yep 33.
I remember fixing breakfast for my son. Oatmeal. I remember slurring my words. Then my right foot slipping out of my slipper and my back slowly sliding down the doors of my double oven and ending up on the floor. I kept trying to get up, but felt more like a roach wagging its feet in the air. My son went and tried to wake up his dad saying, “Mom fell and she can’t get up.” He just rolled over and snored. A few minutes later my son ran back in the bedroom and yelled at him “She STILL CAN’T GET UP!!” My husband groggily came into the kitchen and said, “Gimme your hand”, to which I responded, “I did”. This alarmed him, because my left arm did not move. He then said, “Smile.” Then, “Oh my God!” and he immediately called 911.
By the time the ambulance got there, I had completely gained control of my left side again, but they strapped me down and took me to the hospital anyway. (I did NOT want to go, of course) The initial CAT scan showed no bleed, but since it was Labor Day weekend and no one works on that entire weekend in a hospital, they kept me there until Tuesday before doing an MRI. Which showed a bleed. A small one, but a bleed. Then they decided I needed every test in the book to see why an otherwise healthy 33 year old with no family history of stroke had indeed, had one. Ever had dye pumped in every artery in your brain? I have. It ain’t no fun. (ok, we are gonna run this tube from your groin to your shoulder, then we are gonna pump this warm liquid into your brain and it is gonna hurt, but you CANNOT, you CANNOT blink, breathe, or move even the slightest because you could DIE. Ok, RELAX. Here we go!)
After millions of tests costing trillions of dollars. the medical gurus decided I was special. SPECIAL. That one in three million. Yeah, if you read that insert that comes with the birth control pills, it tells you that one in 3 million or so could have a stroke, with no other apparent cause. No more BCP for me!
So, because I was so special, I was able to sit and watch the horrors that unfolded on my television screen, that September 11th morning, and be thankful that I was just alive……….. to see them.