Shuffle #7 (May 31, 2014)

I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith

Swallowed By The Cracks – David & David

Devil With A Blue Dress On / Good Golly Miss Molly – Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels

My Life – Billy Joel

Good Golly Miss Molly – Little Richard

Think – James Brown

Wooden Ships – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Tragedy – The Fleetwoods

Mrs. Robinson -- Booker T. & The MG’s

Shuffle #6 (May 30, 2014)

Rain Delay – Marah

Howling Wind – Graham Parker

Save It For Later – The English Beat

Come On, Let’s Go – Ritchie Valens

Thin Line Between Love And Hate – The Pretenders

Hard Times – Emmylou Harris

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Gil Scott-Heron

May 26, 2014 – Marlins 3, Nationals 2 – Nationals Park

Nothing but frustration

Umpires: HP: Fieldin Culbreth. 1B: Seth Buckminster. 2B: Jim Reynolds. 3B: Brian Knight.

Weather: 84 degrees, sunny.Wind: 3 mph, In from LF.

T: 2:46.

Att: 33,677.

With Adam LaRoche returning from the disabled list the previous day, when the Nats salvaged the finale of a 4-game set in Pittsburgh, the rest of the team apparently decided that they could let the first baseman single-handedly take care of the slumping offense. LaRoche did his part with a two-run homer in the sixth after a Jayson Werth single to bring the team within a run, but the lethargic lineup managed only one other hit during the afternoon.

Tanner Roark lasted seven innings and deserved a better fate. As usual, slugging Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton was their kryptonite, as he doubled and scored in the first and hit a massive shot to center two innings later with Derek Dietrich on first to complete the Miami scoring.

This was actually the first game all year in our regular (shady and windy) upper-deck seats that I didn’t bring a jacket – nothing at all to complain about weather-wise. The Cubano sandwich from the Taste of the Majors stand was excellent as usual, as were the cinnamon pretzel bites (once they finally made a fresh batch). The drive down was unexpectedly quick, as the reported backups near Arlington Cemetery had cleared up. Due to circumstances not entirely beyond my control (I got into the wrong lane on Washington Ave.), I took the alternate route back, getting on the eastbound freeway, and then 295 up to the Beltway. Less scenic, more of a rat race, and longer mileage-wise, but still only took just over 45 minutes, which is similar to what the return trip usually takes on the GW Parkway with the postgame traffic.

Shuffle #5 (May 26, 2014)

No Ordinary Love – Sade

Welcome To The Boomtown – David & David

Let’s Play Two – Gin Blossoms

Looking For Nothing – Aimee Mann

Pretty Persuasion – R.E.M.

Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing – Stevie Wonder

Burn Down The Mission – Elton John

Shuffle #4 (May 25, 2014)

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – Sly & The Family Stone

Mercy Street – Peter Gabriel

The Wanderer – Dion

Talkin’ ‘Bout My Love – James Hunter

Walk Away From Love – David Ruffin

Storm Warning – Bonnie Raitt

Man In The Mirror – Michael Jackson

Green Onions – Booker T. & The MG’s

Shuffle #3 (May 24, 2014)

The Little Things – Colbie Caillat

Get On The Good Foot – James Brown

Traces – Classics IV

Remember The Time – Michael Jackson

Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You – Wilson Pickett

Stoned Soul Picnic – Laura Nyro

There She Goes Again – Marshall Crenshaw

The Gentle Rain – George Benson

#57 New York's A Lonely Town -- The Tradewinds (1965)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRSe9fbzbFc

The ultimate surfing song for East Coasters (in the lyrics, the song title is followed by “… when you’re the only surfer boy around”), and the best surfing-related song ever not done by the Beach Boys. Feel free to search for deeper meanings about dislocation if you must.

#58 Levi Stubbs' Tears -- Billy Bragg (1986)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbdJ8OGYtzM

Another WHFS favorite from the 1980s, this one from British punk/folk singer/songwriter/activist Billy Bragg (who, unlike many UK performers, definitely does NOT lose his accent when singing). I suppose the redemptive part of this song is the power of music to get people through tough times, but be warned that it’s considerably bleaker than, say, “Rock And Roll Lullabye”.

May 22, 2014 – Myrtle Beach Pelicans 4, Frederick Keys 3 – Harry Grove Stadium (Frederick)

2 + 2 > 3

Umpires: HP: Adam Beck. 1B: Drew Freed.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy.

Wind: 14 mph, L to R.

T: 2:38.

Att: 4,308. (Most appeared to be disguised as empty seats, although a lot of kids were there for “History Day”.)

Section 203, Row I, Seat 1 – The early forecasts for the day were iffy in terms of possible thunderstorms, so I held off on getting a ticket until Thursday morning, when the outlook had improved. The highest aisle seat I could get in my favorite section was four rows from the top, which unlike the top couple rows is not in the shade. It was a warmish morning/afternoon out in the sun, but very comfortable in the shaded part of the concourse. Fortunately, the threatened showers didn’t materialize, at least during the game. Considering that almost everyone in the section was either in the back row or the front couple rows, I thought I might have an excellent opportunity to get a baseball, but no luck; one of the two balls that found its way into the section bounced quickly to the front of the section, while the other went to an usher in the opposite aisle.

Grilled chicken sandwiches were cheap at $5.50 – I’m on the fence whether having them on pretzel rolls is a good idea or not. Bottles (20 oz.) of Orange Crush and other soda were $3.75.

The game itself was pretty uneventful. The Keys are largely bereft of actual major league prospects this year, and slugging third baseman Joey Gallo didn’t play for Myrtle Beach after being lifted early the night before. (Never found any explanation, but I suspect a minor tweak.) Top catching prospect Jorge Alfaro did play, but at first base. Only three half-innings saw any scoring. The Pelicans took a 2-run lead in the top of the third (single, triple, single), but the Keys fought back in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out, three-run homer by second baseman Sammie Starr. Former top prospect Matt Hobgood, who was the fifth pick overall in the 2009 draft, came on in relief of starter Mark Blackmar and retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh, but Lex Rutledge entered in the eighth to walk the leadoff batter and then surrender a two-run homer by designated hitter Preston Beck.

The Keys lineup also featured another familiar name in former Nationals minor league outfielder Michael Burgess, who the Nats drafted in the supplemental first round of the 2007 draft and traded to the Cubs in the January 2011 Tom Gorzelanny deal. The Pelicans pitching staff included former Phillies prospect Jason Knapp, went to the Indians 7/29/2009 as part of the Cliff Lee trade.

Proofreaders Needed note – the “How to Keep Score” instructions in the Frederick game program indicate that 3B stands for “Tripple”.

May 18, 2014 – Nationals 6, Mets 3 – Nationals Park

Buffalo dreams

Umpires: HP: Jon Byrne. 1B: Lance Barrett. 2B: Dana DeMuth. 3B: Ed Hickox.

Weather: 64 degrees, sunny.

Wind: 5 mph, In from LF.

T: 2:45.

Att: 36,965.

When Wilson Ramos (aka “Buffalo” by some) was announced in the Nats starting lineup after catching Saturday’s 4:05 game, I was joking with Terry that the team was making sure they got their money’s worth from him after his previous DL stint. Turns out that that he had talked himself into the lineup – fortunately for the home team, since he sparked the Nats offense with a two-run double in the third and a two-run double in the fifth.

Pitching-wise, Jordan Zimmermann wasn’t as sharp as usual, but had a decent outing, yielding a run in the second (which was matched by a Desmond HR in the bottom half), and in the top of the sixth giving back the two runs the Nats had just scored to extend their lead. Fortunately, the Nats bullpen (Storen, Clippard, Soriano) retired all 9 batters they faced in the final three innings to nail down the victory.

Bolstered by a swarm of little leaguers, there was a nice crowd for the third straight game of the series. Interestingly enough, the Friday night Wilson Ramos bobblehead giveaway had the smallest paid attendance of the three games, although I’m sure the team isn’t complaining about any of the 34,000+ crowds.

Nice day weather-wise as well, although chilly in our shady upper-deck wind tunnel, and traffic was pretty smooth despite the crowd. Made a detour to Subway after arriving at The Lot Formerly Known As HH for a Black Forest Ham sub.