Friday, March 25, 2011

Can the Reds Repeat?

Here it is, on the eve of a new baseball season, my picks.  Feel free to use these in Vegas if you wish.  Zero commission--my treat.

American League
The teams to beat are the Red Sox and Yankees as usual, in addition to the Angels and White Sox.  The central division is the hardest to pick as the Tigers and Twins will also push for the top.  Toss up.  The team to watch and may surprise is the A's.  This team has young pitching in a division that is rather weak.  The Mariners are probably the weakest team in the league which also helps the A's.  It's hard not to take the Red Sox as the AL World Series participant.

National League
I think the senior circuit division races will be crazy this year.  I think each division could have multiple challengers.  My picks are the Phillies, Braves, Giants and Reds.  Most "experts" are picking the Phillies but the Braves are every bit as good.  In the central, the Brewers look the best on paper but with a new "first time" manager and new pitchers with heightened expectations...I have my doubts.  I think the total disaster team this year won't be the Pirates, for a change.  The Mets will be brutal!

Conclusion
Baseball has a lot of parody these days.  Once the playoff teams are set, who knows?  The season basically comes down to two factors, 1) pitching and 2) injuries.  If you can increase #1 and minimize #2 then you got a shot.  So, can the Reds repeat and make it to the Series?  I don't know.  Shrug.

Go Braves!

George [Steinbrenner] thinks that money makes everything right.  But money is the root of all evil.  It's harder to get a rich man into heaven than it is to get a camel through the eye of a needle, and I didn't make that up. --Reggie Jackson

Friday, March 11, 2011

Outlook & Perspective

Imagine being thrown in prison for just having a message and delivering it.  Talking it up real big, not holding back.  Publicly expressing beliefs and ideas isn't a crime.  Sure, feelings are hurt and offense is given, but it's not murder.  How would you respond if this was your situation?  Would you feel rage at being accused?  Would it not be expected behavior to snarl and glare at the jailer?  Bad mouthing the administration would be an understandable response.

Speaking for myself, I can imagine how I would react to such an injustice.  Complaining, bitterness, resentment, holding a grudge, disrespectfully loud, and maybe even aggression would be my response.  Sadly.

The missionary and tent maker, Paul, writer of the letter to the Philippians, responds with much more control.  He writes this letter from prison without the slightest suggestion of injustice.  In fact, Paul writes as if to say "no big deal, this is the stuff perseverance is made of."  Paul has learned the secret of contentment.  I think that "secret" is his focus on the mission and his hope in the future.  Paul couldn't dwell on the lousy present because he was looking intently to the future.  Christ's return and resurrection of the dead causes Paul to consider these troubles as contributions to the advance of the message.  Paul is hopeful, not discouraged, cynical or enraged.  He can't help but encourage the Philippians knowing the struggles of the church are for its benefit.  Perseverance keeps our eyes on the prize.  Seeing God finish what he started;  now that's something to push toward.

To be content is to see the big picture and committing to being "all in" to that result.  Regardless of circumstance or opposition the work of God through Christ continues and will be completed.  That is Paul's message to the Philippians.  And to me.
...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.  (2:12 NIV)