Silent autumn
near perfect day. Sunshine and seventy five degrees. Tribe advances to 2007 American League Championship series by way of hardscrabble Bronx Indian trail. Ball yard in the Bronx good for one last postseason pennant chase in 2008, then reduced to a sad rubble pile as new New York stadium opens in 2009.
Victor Martinez hit the game winning home run in the 2007 all star game and with the AL victory in this event comes the home team advantage in the 2007 World Series.
A best of seven series between the Tribe and the talented and dangerous Boston Red Sox will determine the AL Champs and who will progress to the West in the 2008 World Series chase. Boston's two aces in Beckett and Schilling match up well with the Tribe's Sabathia and Carmona. Boston the edge on paper with a powerful offense, and recent WS rings.
Tribe batters no slouches in postseason run production however, and look for relief pitching and managerial capability from both teams to factor in the ALCS outcome. Hunch it will go the full seven games and be some damn exiting baseball. High time for Victor Martinez and his Tribe to claim the 2008 World Series home field advantage by claiming this tater prize.
Go Tribe!
Hey Cookman!
Hard to believe the weather up here on the south shore of Lake Erie in early October. A veritable unseasonal heat wave. Tomatoes planted on Memorial Day still giving ripe fruit, and a great way to serve these heirloom tomatoes is in a bit more sophisticated version of a shrimp cocktail.
1. Procure two pounds of fresh not frozen 10 - 16 to a pound wild , not farm raised shrimp and steam them in one cup white vinegar, a shot of Tabasco or commercial hot sauce , and one cup fresh cold tap water with a good measure of commercial crab or shrimp boiling spices , until done , about three to five minutes.Rachel Carson along with Aldo Leopold did more to raise the postwar ecological conscientious in these United States of America than any other citizens. Both served early alarm warnings concerning the human impact on Natures realm, and the inherent consequences of our collective actions.
2. Drain, peel, devain and chill the shrimp, leaving tails intact.
3. Easiest choice for spices is to grab a can of Old Bay Seasoning.
4. Dice or quarter your fresh tomatoes and combine with a generous amount of horseradish, to taste, and yet another shot of hot sauce.
5. Drape chilled shrimp in a fancy fashion over the edges of a crystal or glass serving bowl placing the tomato and horseradish sauce in the bowl, shrimp with their tails at the ready for the greedy food snappin' fingers that will follow.
6. Serve with ripe haas avocado sections, celery spears, oyster crackers, lemon wedges, hot sauce, and more horseradish to taste.
7. Serve with a cold beverage, close your eyes, and feel summer creep back into a silent early autumn day.
When I spot an American Eagle wild in nature around these south Lake Erie shores we can thank Rachel Carson in her ground breaking SILENT SPRING, for her examination of the use of pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides and their effect on the fabric of species of flora, fauna, avian, and all other natures living web of life that an industrial society can interact with.
A decrease in the domestic usage of ddt allowed the American Eagle Deb and I spotted this spring in an old growth tree on the north side of Euclid Avenue across from the Cleveland Clinic to fly around this urban street corner looking to establish a rookery.
Having never viewed an Eagle in the wild in the southern Lake Erie region until well into the 1980's, and being familiar with their form from viewing them in California and the American west I can now offer this advice.
Look up sometimes while near a body of water and you might be fortunate to spot this reestablished white cowled avian wonder. Symbol of our National pride, viewed while perched or hunting is always a good omen.
Perhaps we should rename the Cleveland American League baseball team THE CLEVELAND EAGLES, sure sounds a whole lot sexier than gnats, Tribe, Naps, or Spiders!
Send your suggestions!
A tip of the fedora to all the bald eagles out there , John , Kim, and Slim , and a good night blessing to my recently deceased friend Harry Barber, a true gentleman of the old school, wisecracker of jokes , trencherman with a prodigious appetites for meats and potatoes, veteran of world war two, Dear Father of my lifelong friend Cindy Barber, all around good egg and sport.
You are missed Harry, and in our thoughts daily!
Labels: Baseball, Cleveland Ohio
posted by Mark Stueve @ 8:49 PM
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