Major London Baseball

Major League Baseball is in talks with London, England officials, considering a regular season series being hosted there in 2017. Baseball is the only large American sport that hasn't had a series played across the pond in the past few years; the NFL and NBA have had games played there recently. If the plan were to fall in place, the games would most likely take place at Olympic Stadium in London. This stadium was originally built to house the 2012 Summer Games and is now being converted to the home of the West Ham Football Club. While there are other cities/countries that are more immersed in the game of baseball that could host the series, I think London is a great choice for the MLB to seek out. I know that the people of London love their sports, and I think introducing them to baseball firsthand would be wonderful. If MLB and London do strike a deal, I would personally love to see the games in London live in person. London is at the top of my list of places I want to visit and adding baseball to the itinerary only makes me want to go more. Some say that playing regular season games in another country is unfair to players, because of jet lag and unfamiliarity with the venue, but I feel that the fact that another country will be introduced to baseball is important to acknowledge as well. It also helps baseball fans in the U.S. to discover other stadiums and places around the world. We don't know for sure yet if MLB and London will come to an agreement, but I truly hope they do.

I guess I better start saving up for my 2017 trip to London now...
(if I'm not living there already by then... hint hint Niall Horan)

By the way, I may be a little biased considering my favorite band performed at the Closing Ceremonies for the Summer Games at Olympic Stadium in 2012... Maybe. ;)


Photos: BBC
             The Mirror UK

600 Chris Denorfia Bobbleheads Mysteriously Left on San Diego Resident's Doorstep

If I woke up to 600 bobbleheads on my doorstep, I wouldn't question it, I would just add them to my
collection. Yet I know, this would not be the case for everyone, including Philip Jia. When he and his roommates walked outside to hundreds of mysterious boxes piled along their doorstep, they immediately contacted police. Turns out it was only 600 Chris Denorfia Padres bobbleheads. The SDPD said it was definitely the strangest call they had ever received. Nobody knows who dropped off the bobbleheads or why. Jia and his roommates had never even heard of Chris Denorfia, but they are now his biggest fans. They are now using the bobbleheads for dog toys, stacking them along their condo walls, gifting them as Halloween party favors, and giving them away to friends. They have considered selling them, but they don't go for much on eBay, considering Denorfia now plays for the Chicago Cubs.

I am curious about Chris Denorfia's thoughts on this whole debacle. Hey, maybe he was the one who dropped them off? Maybe he was cleaning out his garage and thought that perhaps having 600 of his own bobblehead was a bit excessive? Who knows... We may never know who Bobblehead Santa is... My only peeve about this whole situation--- Why do I have to wait in line for two/three hours for ONE bobblehead, yet these people who don't even like baseball get 600 DELIVERED RIGHT TO THEIR DOORSTEP?! Life can be so unfair sometimes...

News Video of Bobbleheadgate:
http://bcove.me/30x79njn

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Why-Did-600-Padres-Bobbleheads-Appear-Near-a-Residents-Doorstep-347279632.html

Photo: NBC San Diego

Mark Kotsay Returns to A's as Bench Coach

I remember Mark Kotsay being one of my favorite A's players back when I was in elementary school. Such a great player, with a great baseball mentality, and fantastic leadership skills. I always predicted that he would become a coach in the MLB someday. It was announced yesterday that he will be Bob Melvin's bench coach next season. He spent last year as the San Diego Padres hitting coach, so this will be an important promotion in Kotsay's career. He and Bob Melvin simply had lunch in Jack London Square last week, talked about their philosophies and approaches (which were similar) and decided Kotsay would be a good fit to come back to Oakland. 

This last season for the A's was disappointing to say the least, especially after the past few years they have had, winning the AL West and Wild Card. The only way they are going to improve is if some positive changes are made. The World Series just finished recently, so the hot stove is just getting warm, but I think bringing back Kotsay to improve the coaching staff is the first step in the right direction for the A's. 

I am personally very excited to see Kotsay in the bench coach role for the A's. The changes to the coaching staff were kind of a shock when Mike Gallego and Tye Waller were fired, but at least the front office and Bob Melvin are trying to get the team back to their winning ways. I feel confident with the decision to move Mike Aldrete from bench coach to first, and love Ron Washington at third, like I always have. Between Wash on third, Curt Young as pitching coach, and Kotsay back in the dugout, the 2016 season is going to feel like I'm watching my beloved 2006 A's team all over again.... That means 2016 is 10 years since the 2006 A's won the division and made it to the ALCS... I am getting old. 

My hope is that Kotsay's fun spirit, baseball knowledge, and leadership skills can lead the A's to be just as good, if not better than that 2006 team. 

Photos: SF Gate

P.S. Quick shameless plug... One Direction's new album "Made In The AM" came out today! (Which I listened to the entire time I wrote this). Highly recommend that you check it out. If you don't think you like One Direction's music, listen to this album & I guarantee you will change your mind. Their vocals on this album are the best out of the 5, & the songs the boys wrote are absolutely phenomenal.

https://open.spotify.com/album/1gMxiQQSg5zeu4htBosASY

https://itun.es/us/S-7_9