Random Baseball Thoughts

Yesterday Twins DH Jim Thome launched his 600th home run at Detroit's Comerica Park without any fanfare, and he likes that. Who were the players before Thome that scored 600 home runs? A-Rod, Aaron, Bonds, Griffey, Ruth, Sosa and Mays. Well, Thome connected on 600 without the benefit of steroids or any performance enhancing drugs; instead it was a tireless work ethic that paid off for Thome, who had successful years with the Indians, Phillies, White Sox and Twins in a 20-year career.

The playoffs may only be seven weeks away but the races have heated up. As of this writing, the Yankees and Red Sox are in the tightest race for the AL East title, while Detroit and Cleveland are battling in the AL Central. Over in the AL West, the defending pennant winners Texas Rangers and perennial contenders the LA Angels are in a tight spot for winning the division. If the ALDS began, both the Sox and the Yankees may end up in the postseason either as a Wildcard entry or as division champions. The same can be said in the NL East, where Philadelphia and Atlanta are battling for the top spot. Again either may end up in the Wildcard or win the division if the NLDS began. The NL Central is a toss-up between the Brewers, seeking its first division title since 1982, and perennial playoff contenders the Cardinals. And in the NL West, Arizona and defending World Series champs San Francisco are locked in a close war for the division title.

In June, the feel-good stories belong to the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates have never had a winning season since Bush 41's presidency, while the Nats seek a winning season for the first time since moving to DC six years earlier. And I mean over .500 ball, not at .500 ball. However, the Pirates are back in a slump, while old Davey J had destroyed the Nats chemistry since taking over from resigned manager Jim Riggleman. And speaking of old men, Jack McKeon of the Marlins isn't changing his team's fortunes at all. Obviously, you can't win games with great-granny managers anymore, except if you're Casey Stengel, but that was long before Twitter came. And speaking of issues, the Dodgers' debt issues, the Mariners' lengthy losing streak, the Astros' new management and Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano's freefall isn't making any good at all for their respective organizations. However, the Dan Uggla 33-game hitting streak and Jorge Posada's vengeful return from the doghouse make up for it.

Obviously, I'm for the Red Sox but the World Series winner isn't clear just yet. Can't wait for September to end.

Thesis

This past Tuesday, I was able to submit my thesis with an intention to defend it two weeks from now. My thesis is a 96-page screenplay about a fictional famous rock musician who suffered injuries from an automobile accident and seeks to regain his career and life through not only an arduous rehabilitation, but also a journey into sobriety and a stranger who eventually fell in love with him. I spent the entire summer break writing the first draft, and spent much of the term editing it. At first I found it tiring and difficult to finish editing the drafts, but I eventually grew comfortable, even if I exhausted myself doing them. I was able to finish them last week, and then printed and ring-bound four copies of the screenplay. By Tuesday it was all ready to be submitted, which I did.

Also this past Tuesday, some of my other majors mates submitted their thesis, composing of children's books, coffeetable books and screenplays. This week, my other majors mates are submitting their thesis composing of music videos, short films, documentaries, TV programs, and photo essays. Good luck with them, and we're also looking forward to the defense proper on August 24. We can't wait to graduate.

What Might Have Been (Part Three)

The final stop on my 'What Might Have Been' tour heads to Espana, in UST. So I applied for that school and scheduled an entrance exam in early December 2007. The exam was easy, believe me, but the timing wasn't right. When the results came I only ended up waitlisted, then I realized that a lot of students took the entrance exam earlier than I did. Thus, to Taft Avenue I went; after receiving the letter, I was informed that I passed the DLSUCET.

Imagine what happened had I passed UST. If I chose a course related to the Liberal Arts courses, it would be much shorter and more manageable, and I might have a chance to graduate in March 2012. But UST, being a conservative university, requires students to wear a uniform depending on their course. Thus my possibility of studying in the country's oldest university was taken out of the equation, even if they celebrate their quadricentennial on my senior year.

So the road I took was within Taft Avenue, and not in Katipunan, Espana or in Diliman. Had I ended up in the latter three, it might have been much longer for me to endure my college education. However, I was about to turn 18 at the time, and most of my batchmates were around 15 or 16 years old, so the destination is to a university where I can finish a degree in a shorter period of time, and to find work at a much younger age than I expect.

To De La Salle I went, and the rest is history.

What Might Have Been (Part Two)

The next stop on my 'What Might Have Been' tour took me across Katipunan Avenue. Obviously, I'm talking about Ateneo. After all, I used to be a fan of the Blue Eagles since they won the basketball title in 2002. But when I took the simulation test in a review center, it became clear that the school wasn't going to be my destined playground. Answering the ACET in the shortest amount of time really bothered me. Ateneo has a high expectation rate for passing, that is why they expect students to answer the ACET in the shortest period of time. But I was unable to keep up. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try when I submitted my application for the ACET.

On the day of the ACET, I feel nervous. I don't know how will I feel if I answer the test. Nevertheless, I tried to keep my head up. During the exam itself, it became clear that I couldn't keep up. Time is not on my side after all. And when I finished the exam, I gave myself a C- overall.

By February it was obvious that Ateneo was out of the question. But there are more reasons other than the exam itself. I took the ACET in an open-air classroom, without air conditioning. The school is so outdated even if they have modernized their facilities. It was like grade school all over again, with the summer heat sapping the energy out of me. Then the size and altitude of the school itself presents a challenge. Ateneo is situated in the foothills of the Marikina Valley, so the climb definitely presents a lot of bumps along the way. To go to and from various buildings, a tricycle is provided to you, if you're not in the mood to walk. The cost, however, is much more staggering than the IKOT-TOKI jeeps of UP. Finally it was the school's passing rate that digs in. Like UP, Ateneo has a low passing rate, also at around 20%. So my chances were also at a long shot.

I never regretted about not passing the ACET. It did present a challenge for me back in senior high to perform better in the next two entrance exams. Even after Ateneo won three straight UAAP Basketball titles from the next year until now, I still feel proud. My 'What Might Have Been' tour takes me to Espana, next.

What Might Have Been (Part One)

Tomorrow is the second day of the UPCAT, for the high school seniors aspiring to enter the University of the Philippines. Today is Day 1, and looking back at what might have been, had I entered UP, I would've followed my elder cousins who ended up studying in the vast tree-laden campus in Diliman. Instead I realized that UP was too big for me.

I thought about applying for the UPCAT during summer vacation in 2007. I thought long and hard, then I realized I don't want to apply for the UPCAT because of these reasons. First off, a not-so realistic passing chance. UPCAT is taken up by so many HS seniors every year, but only around 20% would pass the test. So I found out that my chances are a long shot. During my time at the review school, I realized how hard is the UPCAT when I took the simulation test. Next up is the location. UP after all isn't only located in Diliman, but is also located in Los Banos, Manila, Baguio and in various other locations in the Philippines. If I passed, that doesn't mean I would take my talents to Diliman, the lead dog among UP campuses. And then, had I ended up in the Diliman campus, I would have a lot of trouble keeping pace with the college schedule that UP offers. The cost, of course, really bothers me. Going to various campuses with either the IKOT or the TOKI jeep would cost me a fortune. Finally, I didn't apply for UP because their basketball team is so mediocre. Taking account the 0-14 campaign they had in 2007, it really feels humiliated for me if I ended up in UP.

So with UP out of the question, the next trip of my 'what might have been' tour will head across Katipunan Avenue.

Where Was I?

So it's been almost a month since I last blogged. First of all, I was so busy about my thesis that I seem to forget about blogging right now. The thing is, my thesis work is the most meticulous thing I've ever done. My mentor seems to demand a lot from me, from the scenes that fit the film all the way to the roles of a particular character. That explains why, that I had to focus more and more on my thesis because of my extremely demanding thesis mentor.

Now that I'm close to finishing my thesis work, I found some time to reflect on the three years and a term that college has offered to me. First of all, I failed three subjects in all my college life. Two have been made up, and I'm taking one more, with the hope of finally making it all up. As a result, I was a late enrollee from late in frosh year onwards. Then, I found out that befriending unfamiliar people was tough in the beginning, but I eventually overcame the dilemma. It was reminiscent of high school, where it was tough love at the beginning, but eventually tender loving care in the end. Next came my encounters with the toughest teachers of your life, my professors. Some professors were easygoing, some are brutal and demanding, but no matter who they are, they are here to help ease the burden and make a student stronger. Finally, the best part of college life is the free cut. There are some dates where the professors wakes up sick or just decides to postpone a class for an important function. No matter the purpose, a free cut is always a student's best friend. It makes you get out free and take your act somewhere else, either for school work or just the bums.

Now where was I? Here I am, my final term, the final few, giant steps towards finishing college. After all, anything is indeed, possible.

It's Not An Obsession, It's A Passion

I've been a Red Sox fan since they won the World Series in 2004, the year I graduated from grad school, and I've always dreamed about getting a piece of that Red Sox history. Just this afternoon I passed by the Akt!v store in Greenbelt and they do sell a lot of New Era caps. Aside from the regular baseball caps, they also sell NBA, Filipino and Muhammad Ali caps, but the one that grabbed my attention was the navy cap with a red 'B' on it, obviously the Red Sox cap. I was able to see the Yankees, Tigers, White Sox, Braves, Dodgers and Phillies (my other favorite team) caps, but I really wanted the Red Sox cap because of my passion of cheering for the men in Fenway. So I churned up all my money and used it just for the cap. Eventually I bought it, but by the time I went home I'm barely emptyhanded. Still it was all worth it.

No wonder why I'm so much loving Boston sports, especially the Celtics and the Red Sox. I may not get any Bruins souvenirs, but the best I could do will be yellow laces on my black sneakers.

As for my savings, I need to get them all back within three weeks. The plan is, I'm not consuming on late afternoon snacks in order to save money. Good luck with my money plans.