Tag Archives: syracuse chiefs

be careful what you wish for and how you pose for a picture

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and the results are in – mark and i have guest posted on each other’s sites, as the end of our friendly wager –

the final tally in the biggest bloggers baseball wager ever is syracuse chiefs 5 games won, toledo mud hens 3 games won.

after a two-week stretch fraught with tight nerves, generous volleys of good-humored trash-talking and on-field triple-a baseball that went down to game eight before a 9-3 chiefs victory in toledo’s fifth third field clinched the title, i have learned a bit.

my last bit of gloat shall come in the accompanying photo. It was taken during my dear wife karen and i’s trip to watch game two of the series at the chief’s nbt bank stadium. truth be told, i came with two other signs: one in case the mud hens won the series, and one in case of a 4-4 deadlock.

I had fun following the results, posting jokes, parrying with beth, and our regular readers and friends who comment on both of our blogs.

so what did i take away from this foray into inter-blogal diamond doings?

triple-a baseball is fun, inexpensive, good for its communities, and played at a high level of talent. oh, i knew that going in, but the reminder is always nice.

i actually like the toledo mud hens, particularly pitcher kyle lobstein, third baseman mike hessman and mascot jim flealand.

i was correct in suggesting this little experiment to beth. when i saw her post about attending the outdoor hockey game and love of the detroit red wings, and comments about the tigers and the teams of her alma mater michigan, i knew i had found a kindred sports fan as well as somebody who appreciates aiming an eye at the vagaries and curiosities of life in general. indeed.

and so i typed this in beth style, sans capital letters, in homage to e.e. cummings i do believe, but perhaps because she has a balky shift key on her main typing keyboard.

i heartily invite you regular readers of i didn’t have my glasses on to hop over to markbialczak.com to check out what beth cross-posted on my blog today about this little escapade. if you happen to spot a headline that interests you on my sidebar, please do click and read. follow, if you wish. come back daily. i’d love to talk.

speaking of the future … my alma mater, maryland, joins the big ten come fall. my terps will be playing beth’s wolverines. there may be some more trash-talking ahead.

Have you ever made a friendly wager and then felt a little bad about settling up? Are you a comfortable trash-talker? Do you despise me even a little bit for the sign I’m holding in the picture?

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so close, and yet so farr…

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thanks jamie farr, for supporting our mud hens

as they pulled it off in the ninth inning last night.

tonight we can tie up this epic series in the final game,

and show writer/rival mark

who’s who in this minor league showdown in toledo.

and i’ll be there to cheer them on.

 http://markbialczak.com/2014/05/01/chiefs-vs-mud-hens-and-theres-going-to-be-some-sort-of-sign/

and the baseball battle continues…perhaps with a tie?

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and my toledo mudhens got wet yesterday and we lost the game,

but there is always today and always tomorrow.

and i will be there to cheer them on in person tomorrow night.

and i will be there to settle a friendly bet with blog writer friend, mark.

he is crowing all over the place about his believed chiefs from syracuse,

but we shall see, we shall see….

http://markbialczak.com/2014/05/01/chiefs-vs-mud-hens-and-theres-going-to-be-some-sort-of-sign/

If you cannot catch a bird of paradise, better take a wet hen.
Nikita Khrushchev

the hens hit it out of the house!

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as some of you know, new york blogger/friend/sports/movie/life stories writer, mark (http://markbialczak.com) and i are engaged in a major friendly minor league baseball battle. his beloved syracuse chiefs have played my toledo mud hens for 4 games in his town, (with mixed results and home field advantage). and luckily they’ve made their way back and hens have come home to roost for a 4-game home stand.  see the results of yesterday’s game one below! the hens and chiefs will take to the field again this morning and we shall see who indeed rules the farm in the end)

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http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140513&content_id=75360256&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t512

GO HENS!

 

 

more than one way to win a series…

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for those of you who follow sports and all that goes with them, i have a bit of a rivalry/wager going with syracuse writer and friend mark, over at http://markbialczak.com. we are both minor league baseball fans, and his syracuse chiefs, (who knows who they are?), will be up against my toledo mud hens (detroit tigers farm team), in an upcoming epic battle. there will games played at both stadiums, for a chance to show their stuff and to quiet one of us down. let’s start with our mascots, after looking at our roster, those chiefs don’t stand a chance!

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MUDDY
Birthday: July 6
Muddy the Mud Hen has been entertaining fans of all ages for years. He can be found roaming the concourse and dancing on the dugouts during all home games at Fifth Third Field. Muddy also loves posing for pitcures, so bring your camera when you come to a game!
He has received national recognition in such publications as: Sports Illustrated, Baseball Weekly, the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News. A celebrity in his own right, from parades to parties, Muddy is everyone’s buddy.
MUDDONNA
Birthday: April 29
The original ‘Material Bird’ made her debut as Toledo’s second mascot in April of 2003. She loves to dance and loves baseball.
Muddonna can be seen at home games in her signature pinstripe dress. Her best Hen-Friend is Muddy.

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JIM FLEALAND (based upon retired detroit tigers manager, jim l)

Debut: May 22, 2008

About: Jim is a major league runner who always manages to pester his competition. His racing style has a biting edge which makes him a tough itch to scratch. Cheer on Jim as he smokes the competition!

Favorite Major League Baseball Team: Detroit Tigers
KITTY HOLMES (based up toledo native, katie holmes)
Debut: May 22, 2008
About: Kitty is a racing feline phenomenon who relies on her cat-like reflexes to help claw her way to victory… sometimes just by a whisker. This little lady is nothing to meow at. Cheer her on as she tries to Cruise to victory!
Favorite TV Show: Clawson’s Creek
JAMIE FARRMADILLO (based upon toledo native, jamie farr)
Debut: May 22, 2008
About: This sprinting soldier with the armor shell is always out to M*A*S*H* his competition. He’ll take it the Max, Klinging to the lead until the very end. Cheer on Jamie as he rolls to a win!
Enjoys: LPGA Golf

and we have backup:

MUDDEVIOUS
Debut: June 8, 2007
Standing 9 feet tall, this bouncing bird hatched from an outer space egg sent to Fifth Third Field in the spring of 2007.
Muddevious, who is more than a little mischievous, finds ways to create fun by pulling pranks and playfully interacting with fans at Fifth Third Field.
He’s full of energy and has some out-of-this-world dance moves.
MUDDIVA
Debut: June 8, 2007
Muddiva arrived via space egg, with cohort Muddevious, in the spring of 2007.
This dynamic (and demanding) damsel hits all the high notes when it comes to entertaining Mud Hens fans.
Muddiva is a sinister songstress who enjoys greeting her public at Fifth Third Field… and causing a little bit of trouble along the way. 

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syracuse mascots, scooch and pops

(we’re not really too worried)

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i have a good feeling about this one, fire up hens!

and mark has begun the trash talk early, as you can see in his post from yesterday :

 http://markbialczak.com/2014/05/01/chiefs-vs-mud-hens-and-theres-going-to-be-some-sort-of-sign/