what an outpouring of support! pity support? or legitimate love?

because unstadt appreciated the phrase "dirty bird," i'd like to introduce other phrases that are used in the world of baseball (this list is far from exclusive):

"the ass" - short for "the red ass" - in human terms, it means that someone is angry...i.e. "the clubby didn't dry smith's uniform completely, and now smith's got the ass/the red ass"

"clubby" - clubhouse manager; the guy in charge of pregame spreads, laundry, etc. charges dues (i believe $30/players paycheck) and also receives handsome tips. our clubby made about $13,000 last summer.

"horseshit" - baseball's eternal word of complaint

"hangwiffem" - i think that's how it's spelled. it's baseballese for "hang with them," which is to say "perservere, friend." hawk harrelson uses it all the time. an example: smith: 'dammit...we're getting back from our road trip at 4 a.m., and we've got to be at the ballpark at 1:00 p.m.' johnson: 'tough league. hangwiffem.'

a previous trainer had a bad alternate version...he'd say, 'have you met my friend hank? yeah. hank-wiffem.' made no sense.

"bull" - my redneck manager's version of 'pal' or 'friend' or 'buddy' or 'jerkface' i.e. "how's it going, bull?" or "you got everything you need, bull?" or "hey bull...you got those stats?"

"bussy" - bus drivers don't have a name. they're simply 'bussy' or 'bussie' or 'the bussy' or 'the bussie'

i can't think of any others right now...perhaps i will at some point. "the ass" and "hangwiffem" are oddly universal.

oh, wait, i thought of another one...
[mom - look away at this one...i'm embarrassed by it, but it's a good one]

"team punching bag" - an awful, dirty, sleazy approximation of the term "groupie"

[mom - you can look again]

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we had a game-winning grand slam in the top of the ninth on sunday...it was totally bitchin', though my call sort of sucked.

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i'm trying to parlay a previous connection into some triple-a work for a few games later this summer. we've got the all-star break, and the triple-a club is home, and i know one of the triple-a front office staff people from my past in this league.

my instinct is that it will work out, and that i'll get to add 'triple-a' to my resume, which would be a big boost professionally and for my confidence. (not that i'm not confident...but a chance like that would be validation of some sort.)

the returned email from my past colleague said 'i think it will be a good deal for both of you [me and the triple-a main guy],' and the triple-a main guy has had a backup/'number two' in the past but not this year. i'm hopeful and optimistic a) that i'll get the chance and b) that they'll be impressed and c) that this opportunity will help me dirctly (i.e. full-time with them this or next season) or indirectly (i'll sufficiently impress someone else and they'll make a run at me...)

wish me luck (mid-june's when i'm looking)

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i just got to listen to patandronapalooza on wgn...the cubs suck.