____________________________________________________________________________________

Brethren,

Happy New Year from management and staff at From the Bullpen.  Thanks to Linda for her annual renovation of our website home page. 

This year’s first edition of From the Bullpen will be short.  First of all, the final standings from 2010 season, as a prelude to our crowning of the 2010 Champion, Brother Possum, which is set for this Friday night. 

WINTER MEETING

As you know, our Winter Meeting will take place on Friday night at the UNO hockey game against Bemidji State at the Qwest.  Brother Tricko has lined up tickets and has made arrangements for us to gather for a pre-match meal.  It looks like we should be at or near full attendance, which is a testament to our admiration, love and respect for Possum.  Or the free buffet meal.  Anyway, I look forward to seeing you all for the Winter Meeting. 

DRAFT DAY

Draft Day will take place on Saturday, March 26, the final Saturday before Opening Day of the 2011 season, which is Thursday, March 31.  At this time, I am not sure if we will be drafting in sunny Arizona or gray and gloomy Omaha, or whether we will draft in the morning or afternoon.  For now, please block off the entire weekend so that you can be present wherever and whenever the Draft is held. 

BOOK REPORT:

9 Innings:  The anatomy of a baseball game

Finally, although I don’t have the time to do a full book review for you, I want to commend to you an excellent baseball book that I finished reading last fall, entitled 9 Innings:  The anatomy of a baseball game, authored by the seasoned baseball scribe, Daniel Okrent.  The entire book is centered around a single baseball game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Baltimore Orioles which took place in June 1982.  There are lots of great excerpts from this book, some of which I may share with you later when time allows, but my favorite story is about the Orioles' crusty manager, the Earl of Baltimore, Earl Weaver, as follows: 

Weaver drank a lot, and managed to disarm his critics by acknowledging his frailty and by managing to issue the perfect response in the most embarrassing situations.  At his most recent arrest, which resulted in the suspension of his driver’s license, the arresting officer had asked if Weaver had any physical disabilities.  “Only Jim Palmer,” he said, referring to the cranky nonpareil of the Baltimore pitching staff. 

Great stuff.  Do yourself a favor and read this great book. 

This will close out the first issue of From the Bullpen.  Looking forward to a great season with all of you. 

                                                                   Skipper