I’m as confused as you are so just bear with me
by BMcCarthy
I don’t know what this is yet, so please don’t ask me. Right now it’s just a place where I can ramble about whatever comes to mind baseball related or not. There shan’t be a schedule for updating this because I’m quite lazy and forgetful. Honestly, if anyone does read this, then I think it might work best where you guys supply the post topics and I can do my best to answer them. Or if your suggestions are mean and unfunny, then I’ll just go back to my original intention of making this a fan blog dedicated to Richard Marx’s song ‘Hazard’.
BMcCarthyThoughts 
Using a larger sized font would be nice.
As I recall, and I’m a Seattle boy, born and raise, love baseball, etc., BoMel doesn’t get run from a lot of games. He tends to be relatively calm, so even though I didn’t see the play, that, plus a quick search turned up stories that all backed the notion it was a shit call, I don’t doubt you got jobbed. And yes, Laz is a shit umpire. You know what? Well all get shitheads to deal with in other jobs, too. We don’t usually do our jobs in front of thousands of fans (although, as a lawyer who tries a bunch of criminal cases, having the fate of a person’s life and liberty in your care isn’t exactly an insomnia cure either). You have to learn to live with, work around if possible, and generally accept that some people shouldn’t even been allowed to sort cans at the recycling plant, let alone whatever they are doing. It sucks, but the fact is, we’re all at the mercy of incomptent assholes in many aspects of our lives. If you don’t believe it, just spend a day driving up and down I-5, while listening to the news in your car.
Figure out a way to argue with him, insult him, whatever next time that doesn’t spike your blood pressure, but makes him feel stupid or lost. Quote Shakespeare. Quote Monty Python movie lines. Find something to pick at that gets under his skin…but calmly, like you are letting him know he’s an incompetent asshole, and you’re intentionally talking over his head. You may still get tossed, but you’ll enjoy it more and have a laugh later. And maybe he’ll stop doing stupid shit when you’re pitching, just out of fear you’re going to throw some more shit at him he won’t understand. It may take a while, but if you can get inside his head, maybe it will start crowding out the ability to make shitty calls a bit.
What is this?
Exactly
How much of your initial reaction towards Diaz is a result from the culture of baseball? One consistently sees blowups immediately after blown calls, or calls that do not go in one’s favor. It is part of baseball to get in an umpires face and scream and curse at him. As I watched you react, I wasn’t surprised as I see players pissed and screaming at umps all the time, yet if that happened in some “regular” job, someone would have probably intervened and “calmed the fire” quickly. Correct me if I’m wrong here, but I don’t see players getting in the faces of any other referees in football, basketball, and hockey. Soccer might be one of the only sports where it can sometimes get heated, but for the most part, the players are trying to persuade the ref to see it their way.
Enjoyed reading and your insights. Hope to read more soon.
I’ll bet I can count on one hand the number of professional baseball players who have used the contraction “shan’t,” much less use it correctly in a sentence. Well played, sir!
I’m an A’s fan for a number of years. I really enjoyed your performance last season, and am enjoying what you’re doing so far this season. I’m also following you and your wife on Twitter – generally pretty amusing, but does it occur to or bother your wife that so many of her posts revolve around when, where, what, and how much she will drink? I’m guessing that when y’all get to be my age (50+), you may not be so proud of some of that.
But anyway, please keep up the good work, on and off the mound!
it’s all very tongue in cheek. She really doesn’t drink very much at all.
I applaud your decision to start a blog, however frequently you decide to add to it. I have both a ‘professional’ and personal blog, but in my case I keep the content independent. In your case, the line is a bit more blurred.
As a baseball an from about 5 years old and an Athletics fan since they moved to Oakland in 1968, I appreciate the opportunity to potentially hear what goes ion inside the head of one of the premiere pitchers in the game presently.
And thanks (to you AND @Mrs_McCarthy!) for keeping it real on Twitter- for me that means keeping it NOT real- after all what kind of person can say what they REALLY are thinking in 140 characters? XD
My mother came to Hazard when I was just seven. Even then the folks in town said with prejudiced eyes that boy’s not right….
Why this song instead of Right Here Waiting or Should’ve Known Better?
I’d like to hear your thoughts on the recent epidemic of “plunking” the batter. Do you agree that it’s just old-fashioned baseball, as one pitcher stated?
Brandon, I’m a big fan of your interviews and such but not a big A’s fan, sorry. But my buddy, Kevin Lea, is the biggest A’s fan there is. He thinks he knows everything about everything and tries to convince all his friends of how great the Oakland A’s are. Any way you could throw in a shout out my friend? Your wife is smoking hot. I suppose you already know that though. Good work on the blog. Sorry you got hose by Laz, terrible call.
In the song “Hazard” I feel that the river is symbolic for the unchangable force of life. Like a river, life will take a certain path that cannot be changed. It may not go the way we want it to. It may even carry us away, or somebody we love. And I haven’t even touched on the fact that most Nebraska rivers tend to be very cold much like the judgement the protaganist is feeling. I could talk for days about that.
Asshole? No way. I too screamed obscenities at Laz last night. At least you had the sense to speak to him directly…. I yelled at a television which elicted zero response.
I think maybe I’m the asshole.
My eyes, God , this background hurts my eyes1
Branching off on something you touched upon, I would like to hear your perspective on the lack of evolution in baseball. Topics could include replay, home plate collisions, intentionally throwing at someone or any of the many unwritten rules.
This is so cool. I have always liked the A’s and baseball, but this season I’m really getting into it. After reading the article in the ESPN magazine about your career, and watching you so far this season, you’re my favorite pitcher. This will be really neat to get an insight to your thoughts & opinions.
Why don’t you have a great nickname? Or any nickname…
I read once that “Cy” got his nickname because after throwing baseballs at fences, it looked like a cyclone had hit them. Maybe you should try that? Although, I’m not sure how good of a nickname “Near Mint-Condition Chain Link Fence” will be.
Just kidding…you could probably strike me out.
Wait, I’m confused, did Melvin call Laz a c***sucker? He musta called Laz a c***sucker.