Major league baseball is upon us, and it’s time to pay homage to one of our own, Erubiel Durazo of Hermosillo.
Durazo, 6-3, 240, a lefthander, will see duty this season with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a first baseman, rightfielder and pinch hitter deluxe.
The 26 year old was a steal for the Diamondbacks. He went undrafted when he played for Pima College in Tucson. December 1998 his contract was purchased from the Monterrey Sultans of the Mexican League.
His first year in the Arizona organization found him hitting .403 for AA El Paso, .407 for AAA Tucson and .329 in 67 games with the Diamondbacks.
Last year his progress was hampered mightily by a wrist injury which required surgery.
But last winter he tested his wrist by playing for the Hermosillo Najaneros.
His team played in the Caribbean World Series, losing in the finals to the Dominican Republic.
Erubiel was named Series MVP, hitting .455.
Now, how do I, an American visitor to Mexico, get away with calling Durazo “one of our own?”
Like many Americans, Mexico is my Country, No. 2. And, like many American baseball fans, Erubiel is my favorite player, No. 1.
“Go Ruby!”
I hope you were paying attention to your clock last New Year’s Day. At one minute and one second after 1 AM on January 1st, the numbers read 01:01:01, 0/1, 0/1, 0/1.
You say you missed it? Not to worry. You can catch it next time it happens, in, say, 1,000 years.
I received a letter from one of my three faithful readers, Toad, asking why there are two high tides in a 24-hour day.
I’m certainly glad he asked. I will now quote from an article in the Boston Globe:
“The key to understanding high tides is to realize that the force of gravity caused by an object decreases away from that object. Suppose you were floating near the moon, with your feet pointing toward it. The force of gravity on your feet would be a little stronger than on your head. You’d actually get stretched a little.
Earth’s rock and water, too, get stretched to different degrees, with parts closer to the moon being pulled more. On the side facing the moon and on the side facing away, the easily deformed water will be deeper than average, corresponding to where there is a high tide. As the Earth turns, the moon won’t move much and points on the Earth get to be both on the side close to the moon and on the side far away, giving two high tides.”
To Toad: Don’t be confused. I’ll allow you to use the answer I gave my 10 year old granddaughter when she asked me the same thing.
“Just cause.”
Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck was asked the difference between rock-and-roll and Jazz.
He answer. “Fifty-four chords.”
Persons, with more knowledge on the subject than I, use the word “cynical.”
My concern is for the well being of mesquite and palo verde trees in northern Mexico and southern Arizona which are being decimated by mistletoe.
And while we’re on the subject please explain to me in the scheme of things, “Whyfore mistletoe?”
This parasite attaches itself to the host and draws its nutrients from the host. The result? The host dies. And so does the mistletoe.
All I know is that numerous drives from Phoenix to Rocky Point (and return) are all but ruined by viewing the large dark clumps of mistletoe which are bringing down the spectacular mesquite and palo verde trees which adorn our Southwest scenery.
Somehow it doesn’t seem right.
Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace. Albert Schweitzer.
Posted by www.rptimes.com
