Well, to the surprise of absolutely no one, the Oilers have tanked since the loss of Ryan Smyth.  Aside from a reaction not unlike a nuclear bomb, the damage to the team has been done, and Kevin Lowe must be thinking about how big of an ass he must look like.  From what I hear, in Edmonton, the fans will come up to the players at dinner or whatever and talk about the games and the team.  I wonder if Lowe is riding around in a black SUV with tinted windows and the Canadian equivalent of the CIA riding around with him.  I wouldn’t want to be him.

Oilers fans, I feel your pain.  I can’t say I have really exerienced it as you are right now, but I feel for you.  Take comfort in the fact that you were right. 

This is where I sit for the show while here in Ft. Myers, FL. At least it is cool up here. Not quite hockey weather, but still not bad. That would be the Rangers game on. Life as a touring stagehand. It could be worse.

I have been muttering that phrase in one way or another all day. Spring training opened yesterday for the baseball season, and as coincidence would have it, I happen to be in the same city as the excitement. I say coincidence because I am not a baseball fan. I really am not. I don’t search out the game, don’t watch on TV, and rarely go to see one live. The most baseball I have watched is from when I had two broken arms. I would sit at home at night, during the hockey offseason, and watch the Orioles who were playing a few blocks from where I was staying at the time. MegMegMeg would get home and ask about my night, and I would fill her in on what happened in the game. But that is usually the extent of it, at least with baseball.

Today, I was a Red Sox fan. Sox versus the Toronto Blue Jays, in a preseason, split squad game (I have no idea what a split squad game is). I had a great time, regardless of the score. I even got some photos from my camera phone. Here:

This is where the Sox play for spring training:

A nice small ballpark. And we had great seats.

A great day for baseball, a sport played, oddly enough, outdoors. It was about 91 degrees for most of the game

That would be, from left to right: MegMegMeg, my dad (who lives in Naples, FL), and your intrepid writer. I am only here for research. I am certainly not enjoying myself (right).

I even got a ball (I just bought it, but it is pretty cool). It can go with the puck collection.

Overall, a pretty good day. But I do like hockey better. Still, a pretty good day for some baseball.

Let’s go, Sox!