RMJ 143 July 8

TUESDAY, JULY 8 ● Houston ● All-Star break

More golf at BraeBurn Country Club today, with sportscaster Bill Worrell. I hit the ball pretty well, and I putted beautifully. A couple of snap-hooks kept me out of the 70s, but I’m getting close.

Julia was home when I got back from the course. She has moved into an apartment and is getting ready for the fall semester at the University of Houston. She has given up her low-paying lifeguard job in favor of waitressing. I guess the tips beat the tan — especially since I’m playing hardball with her on the car again.

When she wrecked her car, I gave her my truck. Now she doesn’t like the truck, and she wants to trade it for something more practical. This will cost a few extra bucks. She proposes that we pay the difference.

Maybe I should get her a Hummer. At least she wouldn’t be able to total it so easily.

 

Tom Schmitt used to direct our games when we were on channel 26. When the channel lost the games, he went into business for himself, and he eventually moved to Austin. He came to the house this evening after he edited some commercials.  

Pat Murphy is the cigar-smoking computer whiz in our baseball office. He came by to help set up our PC in the game room, arriving at the same time as Tom. Five minutes later, the plumber showed up to fix a leak. I thought it must be the eighth inning, with all of these things happening at the same time.  

I’m splitting time between the pipes and the bytes, and visiting with Tom in between. We finally got settled and watched the All-Star game.  

I gave Murph a Fuentes Hemingway for his help. It’s a $15 cigar, which is a lot for a smoke, but a pittance for the computer assistance. I think he deems it appropriate, however, because this cigar is hard to come by at any price.

 

The American League won a pitchers’ duel 3-1 at a hitter’s ballpark, Jacobs Field in Cleveland. Fittingly, Sandy Alomar Jr. hit a game-winning homer in his home ballpark.  

I was disappointed that D.K. didn’t get a chance to pitch. I think he lost out because Biggio and Bagwell started and played most of the game. They both had some good swings, but they didn’t get any hits.

Tomorrow I am playing golf with Jim Heine. I was planning to rest up over the break, and it seems I will end up like a lot of folks — they have to get back to work to get some rest.

 

One thing I have to do tonight is start my player evaluations. I never had a manager who did evaluations.  It’s something I think may help, because a lot of times, players (mostly bench players) don’t know where they stand.

I don’t think it’s so important for me to evaluate them, but I think it’s a way for me to get closer to the players. I can’t hug them like Tommy Lasorda does. 

I have reconsidered my method, and I decided to talk to the players at the ballpark. If I schedule them to come to my hotel room, a problem could arise if one guy was late and the other one was early. At the park, I can just call them in as they have free time. It might take a few more days this way, but I think it will be more natural for everyone.

Maybe I’ll start with the pitchers. I’m sure The Perfessor will help me with the interviews.