BALTIMORE, Maryland August 8, 2014 - Some sage wit once said that the human never ceases to learn. Smarter still are those who realize that and open their minds to the possibilities.
Recently - within the last year or so - these are some of the things I've learned. Some of this is embarassing; in other words, they are things I probably should have already known but didn't. For instance, I never knew about the tale, in Genesis, about the Nephilim. I've read most of the Bible over the years, but I've never made a comprehensive effort to read it from beginning to end. I figured I'd read or listened to to it being read so often that I'd heard most of it. Then one night I stumbled over Genesis 6. What is that? It is hard for a Christian to believe that is just there as filler. Why is it there? Once I read it (and read it again and again to make sure I read it right the first time) I began looking around for explanations. There are few that are based on certainty. I was flabbergasted and taken totally aback to discover Danielle Trussoni's nover, Angelology, within a month of stumbling over Genesis 6. The reason was that I had purchased Trussoni's first book, a memoir, which was gritty and wonderful and showed tons of talent as a writer. You don't expect a novel like Angelology from a writer like that. But, on the other hand, it gave that book a lot credulity in my mind. I raced through it and then scooped up Angelopolis as soon as it was published. And if you read those books your curiosity, as a Christian, is piqued. Next I read about John Dee, a close adviser to Elizabeth I of England. And to think I went through all those years without knowing anything about these topics.
Nor did I know anything at all about the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Christians have been making that trek for 1,000 years, give or take. What is at Santiago de Compostela? The grave of Saint James. Whereas in the past some years would pass and only a dozen or so brave souls would make the journey, nowadays, upwards of 200,000 persons per year make the trip. A German "personality" wrote a book about the trip and interest in it in Germany has skyrocketed. These days, most of the pilgrims are German. I was vaguely aware that St. James was buried in Spain. I was vaguely aware that pilgrims, on their way to the Holy Land during the time of the Crusades and before and after, would sometimes stop there on their way. Now, the place is an end to itself. The German magazine, der Spiegel, has a feature story on the pilgrimage and its impact on people in the current on-line edition. If your German isn't as good as those souls born there, der Spiegel has an English version for the clicking. The place to click is above the headlines and across the top of the front page. Click "English."
I could go on and on. In another column I probably will...
The Orioles beat the Blue Jays in Toronto last night in a victory that defines this team and its current hold on first place in the American League East Even as many Baltimoreans were watching the Ravens play the 49ers in the first exhibition game for both teams (see below, the Ravens won easily in case you missed it), the Orioles were out-pitched - or were they? - and out-hit (sort of), but in the Toronto ball park, the Baltimore team won for the second time in the three game series. They now lead the division by five games over both the Blue Jays and Yankees, who also won their key series against the Tigers, two games to one. The Orioles had two decent hits the whole game. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, they came in the same half inning and earned the Orioles two runs. J.J. Hardy doubled and Caleb Joseph, for the fourth time in a row in games he has started, hit a home run, The only game in the last five that Joseph didn't start was the game the Blue Jays won, 1-0. In the other four of five, he did start, he did homer, and the Orioles did win. Miguel Gonzalez improved to 6-6 with six strong innings of four-hit baseball. After six, he turned the game over to the Orioles' simply outstanding bullpen. Three relief pitchers, no hits, no runs, one measly walk. It doesn't get much better than that. Now the Cardinals come to Baltimore for three interesting games. St. Louis is one game over .500 on the road this season. They are coming off of a home series against the Red Sox that saw them take two out of three. Baltimore has announced that Ubaldo Jimenez will be activated to make the start on Saturday. It's not the way the Orioles wanted to do things but Jimenez, as was his contractual right, forced their hand. Oriole Management wanted Jimenez to extend his rehab, but he declined. So the Orioles, which forked over a ton of money to the former Indian last winter, chose to activate him rather than release him. We'll find out whether he is indeed ready on Saturday. Chris Tillman pitches tonight. Here are the up-to-the-minute-standings:
American League East Standings
1. Baltimore Orioles: 65 wins, 49 losses, .570 pct., v. St. Louis Cardinals, 7:05 pm*
2. New York Yankees: 60 wins, 54 losses, .526 pct., 5 games behind, v. Cleve., 7:05 pm
3. Toronto Blue Jays: 61 wins, 55 losses, .525 pct., 5 games behind, v. Det., 7:07 pm
4. Tampa Bay Rays: 55 wins, 59 losses, .482 pct., 10 games behind, @ Chi. Cubs, 4:05 pm
5. Boston Red Sox: 50 wins, 64 losses, .439 pct., 15 games behind, @ L.A.Ang., 10:05 pm
Offense Shines Under Kubiak as Ravens Rout 49'ers, 23-3 in preseason opener: Although the 49'ers moved the ball during the one season their first string offense was on the field, with the drive ending in the only points San Francisco put on the board throughout the game, the Ravens had lots to be happy about during last night's preseason opener. After that one drive, the defense, substitutes and all, settled down to blank the west coast squad from the first drive onward. And even the first drive did not get into the endzone. Instead, Kapernik and company had to take a FG for a brief lead. The Ravens offense came right back with a length of the field drive for a TD. Joe Flacco was 4-5 during the drive, for 52 yards. The new Kubiak offense includes a pass-catching FB, who the Ravens happen to have in Harvard graduate Kyle Juszczyk. A seond year man who played almost exclusively on the special teams last season, Juszczyk caught three passes last night during his one-half of playing time, good for 28 yards. After Flacco's one series, Tyrod Taylor took over. Going the entire game save for that first series, Taylor was 13 of 21 doe 115 yards and one touchdown, a seven yard pass to undrafted rookie Jeremy Butler. He also threw one interception. Asa Jackson had an interception for the Ravens. After sitting out much of last season on league suspension, Jackson is pushing hard for playing time and, barring injury, may well get lots of it.
No comments:
Post a Comment