Billy goes Gollum

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

A Boys of Summer editorial from a long-time A's junkie.

“Precious…”

Come late October/early November, Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane will look at himself and think: “So this is the end of a ill/well-spent season…or perhaps era.” With the acquisition of Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, Beane has once again set the baseball world on fire. Talk about all in.

Just one month ago Beane traded away the teams top two farm prospects in short stop Russell Addison and outfielder Billy McKinney for the Cubs Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Outsiders who have claimed to understand Moneyball or the inner workings of Beane’s mind were once again tossed aside this morning with the shocking trade of clubhouse and fan favorite Cespedes. When the A’s were seriously drawn into the Lester conversation yesterday, my response was that Beane was merely driving up the price to make sure whomever landed him paid a hefty price. Turned out that was Beane.

Over his tenure, Beane has stockpiled picks for later at times (trading away big names like Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder or budding superstar Carlos Gonzalez) and made plays for bigger names at other times (Milton Bradley, Frank Thomas and Matt Holiday). This year is an all out push. This is the ring or bust. After consecutive post-season losses to the Tigers, largely at the hands of pitchers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, Beane has decided he won’t be fooled again.

The line to consider is whether or not Beane has gone too far, given too much for what amounts to a short-term rental of Lester (he’s only signed through the end of the year) and the best shot the A’s have had at a ring in decades. While the starting rotation of Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, Jon Lester and Jeff Samardjia is positively devastating, the smoking hole created in left field by Cespedes departure and the clubhouse is worthy of conversation. There are those who have long said Cespedes is more thunder than lightning – his value increased by the ROY, All-Star and home run derby titles and occasional highlight reel throws from the outfield. His numbers at the plate over his three years with the A’s are good but not great 2012: .292/.356/.505/.861 2013: .240/.294/.442/.737 2014: .256/.303/.464/.767.  

My knee jerk reaction was “oh no”. That had largely to do with my fan-side that loves the guys in green and gold and sees them as part of the family. Cespedes was an exciting part of this crew over the last couple of years. But if pitching wins championships, if you believe in closing windows of opportunity (with several contracts coming up in the next two years) and the ring is the only thing that really matters, then Beane has made yet another bold and brilliant move. The high-wire part about it, of course, is that it’s really only bold and brilliant if the A’s win it all.

Beane has long been a subject of fascination for baseball GM’s, fans and commentators. He’s tough, bold and devastatingly sharp – that blade cuts both ways. While the A’s have been competitive nearly every year he’s been at the helm, they’ve never even sniffed a World Series. Without a ring, rightly or wrongly, many people will forever question Beane’s true efficacy as a GM. This is his moment – to shine or flame. Is he a genius or a buffoon? Come late October/early November, the rapidly eroding middle ground will be gone.

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

Window of Opportunity

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

Our beloved Oakland A's pulled off a huge trade on Friday, landing two top-tier starting pitchers for the elite price of two top prospects and a pitcher who has started for the A's this year, but, by most accounts, was falling out of favor. Why give up these top two prospects, though - one of whom is considered top-10 in all of Major League Baseball? Because the time to win is now.

Next question: what does this have to do with Parkinson's Disease and the Boys of Summer? The time for my dad to maximize his health is now, too. We're running parallel in that regard with our favorite team. Their are windows of opportunity in life that one has to accomplish certain goals. Those windows do not remain open forever. There are costs for passing through them. It can be painful, expensive and frightening as what's on the other side is not guaranteed. But neither is what's on the other side. Change is a constant.

The A's have had a great run over the last three years, winning the AL West in dramatic and exciting fashion. They have the best club in baseball, via their record, coming into the All-Star Break. It doesn't matter, as the prize is the ring in October. My dad has, by most accounts we have seen, stayed ahead of the curve in regard to managing his PD. He's done lots of interesting and out-of-the box treatments during his 13 years of being diagnosed -- but never something this intensive. Why now? Because he was falling behind and we knew it.

There was a man named John Trudeau we met in Detroit during our 2004 Boys of Summer journey. He was incredibly kind to us, offering us a place to stay and allowing us to interview him for the film, despite his body being racked with pain from Parkinson's and Lymphadema. One of the most striking things he said to my dad, he said when the cameras stopped rolling: "Don't let the disease eat you." My dad has taken that to heart and we've talked about that quite a bit. This year, he felt the disease was starting to eat him. So he's gone all in with this treatment with Dr. DeMartino. He's made significant changes in his diet, added lots of specific supplements and had four treatments a week over the last two months, living in Las Vegas for six weeks straight now. Why all this effort and sacrifice for something that is as unknown as what he's doing (and know that "a cure" has been taken off the table - the World Series ring here is pain reduction and a boost in quality of life)? Because my dad has decided he wants to live - and what he was sliding into back in the spring was feeling less and less like any kind of life he wanted.

So go A's - go all in, Billy Beane (Oakland A's General Manager). This is our year. Thankfully, you're not fool enough to think the A's will just keep winning and giving themselves a chance. Change is much too constant a bitch. We're all in, too, and we'll be measuring our success alongside our beloved Green and Gold.

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!

Taking responsibility

This blog continues its path, sharing the inside details of the follow up to the award-winning documentary, "Boys of Summer". For more details, to watch the film or contribute to the sequel, please click here.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference.”

The more often I come back to that prayer, the more interesting, impressive and vexing it is. Within health, we all must take responsibility for ourselves. Health, as discussed many times before on these pages and thousands of others, is a slippery term to say the least. I asked my dad today what he’s taken responsibility for and what he hasn’t within his Parkinson’s Disease. At first, he thought he’d done pretty well with it. When I asked him to expand on what that meant or offer specific examples, he was slow to the draw. My mom, sitting off-frame from the camera shot I’d arranged of my dad and me, whispered in full voice: “working out!” It was one of those moments where we needed at least one more camera to capture the beautiful, unstoppable force that is Paulette Cochrane when it comes to conversations. My dad stared at her for a few moments, then deadpanned, “My wife thinks I do a good job working out.”

He went on to acknowledge that he doesn’t speak up as well as he could. I asked him if that went beyond the literal volume of his voice to asking for help. He said that was probably true. My dad’s a proud man. He doesn’t want special attention. He’s hesitant to use his walking sticks even though they help because he loses the use of his hands to carry things. This is going to continue to be a struggle as naturally, Parkinson’s or no Parkinson’s, he’s getting older. He turns 70 in a week. That’s a big number. He’s going to have to be responsible for that, as are we all. Health is communal whether we want it to be or not.

In baseball terms, there was a “big” incident last weekend (or series of incidents) involving a player from the Baltimore Orioles named Manny Machado. I bring this up to tie back to baseball, something I always want to do as it’s part of our foundation in the Boys of Summer journey and as his behavior is a perfect example of not taking responsibility. In brief, Machado is a talented young third basemen who is back from a severe knee injury that he’s apparently still sensitive about. On a rather routine ground ball to Oakland A’s third basemen Josh Donaldson, Machado ran from second on contact, figuring Donaldson would go to first base for the third and final out. Seeing easy pickings, Donaldson did the less traditional thing and tagged out Machado. Machado tried to dance out of the way and in so doing, tripped, fell on his rear and looked foolish. He took offense to Donaldson’s untraditional play and let him know. Silly, but no big deal. The problem is, cooler heads did not prevail. Responsibility, which started and ended solely with Machado, was never taken. The incident, therefore spiraled, due in part to baseball’s oft-written about unwritten rules, leading to pitchers throwing at batters, Machado hitting A’s catcher Derek Norris with a pair of long back swings and then losing control of his bat and hurtling it all the way up the third baseline. All because of a lack of taking responsibility.

There’s a metaphor in Machado’s lack of maturity – and it’s not just that he’s young. Machado’s actions and subsequent lack of genuine apology (capped by his appeal to a suspension) are representative of individuals and organizations who don’t take responsibility for themselves. We all pay the price for this. But where to draw that line? Oh the vexing serenity prayer.

So it goes with my dad. I offered my frustration that he hadn’t put more emphasis into meditation, even with all of the logical (the greatest appeal method to him) information I’ve offered him on how it could positively affect his Parkinson’s. He acknowledged the validity of my argument and that was it. And so the wisdom says to me I’ve done my part, he knows as much as he needs to know and he will do with it what he will. I’m not a doctor. But even within the ranks of doctors there is plenty of room for question of intent. What is a doctor? Dr. DeMartino openly questions doctors who are unwilling to change in the face of overwhelming evidence that new (or new/old) treatments work for patients. He finds pharmaceutical companies criminal for not being held responsible for the number of deaths they cause in America (fourth highest cause of death according to this Harvard article). He mentioned a Chinese doctor being executed by its government for being responsible for five deaths due to pharmaceutical mistakes. Is that too much? Where’s the line? What’s the value of a human life in the face of some of the largest profits in the world?

When it comes to responsibility with health, I believe we all must acknowledge we are at once individually responsible and societally affective. Have fun with that.   

On the road...again

The Boys of Summer - Second Base, sequel to the award-winning first documentary, began principal photography on March 13, 2014. We need your help. Please visit our kickstarter page and share it with your friends and family.

 
Traveling back to the Bay Area is cathartic, scary and soul-enriching all at once. This weekend my family took its longest road-trip to date, from Las Vegas to Walnut Creek, CA and did brilliantly.

It's honestly hard to quantify all that we packed into this weekend+, but I'll list a few things that are resonating in my tired head as I ponder sleeping in the bed in the room I grew up in for one more night -- for now.

*Arriving at 1am and being greeted by my very tired but grateful parents.
*Spending the day in San Francisco on our first day here. My son eating clam chowder out of a sourdough bread bowl, as he'd only imagined was possible. Visiting Baker Beach, holding hands with my wife as we looked at the Golden Gate and felt the sand between our toes. Watching our son play in the sand and say, "I really like the beach".
*Shooting the new poster for the Boys of Summer sequel. I'll post more on this later as I need some votes and opinions as to which should be the photo to go with.
*Watching an A's game with my good friend Jonathan Okanes at a local dive bar. The A's won in dramatic, walk-off fashion and Coco Crisp got a pie in the face from Josh Reddick (Pie-derman!).
*Having lunch at an old favorite restaurant in Concord and hearing our son declare that Concord, as a whole, was a boring city.
*Daring a downpour to get to an A's game. Fighting for credentials, a good parking spot and eventually our way into the stadium and down onto the field as the rain stopped and we prepared for a brilliant night. Listening to the boos explode from the crowd about a half hour after the game was supposed to start when the PA announcer declared the game was cancelled due to poor field conditions.
*Seeing a group of great friends and some of their kids at a local park.
*Visiting with my dear Aunt, Uncle and Cousin for precious few minutes in my parents backyard.
*Attending a Hall of Fame dinner for the 1987 Ygnacio Valley basketball team I was a part of -- a team that shocked the world and somehow played for the state championship.
*Lying on the couch with my wife, watching some familiar reruns of Modern Family and feeling time slip away from this beautiful experience.

Baseball is a vehicle. It's part of what brought us here. I'm pulling at the metaphor as it's not all that brought us here, but it was enough to ensure the "necessity" of the trip -- in other words, the motivation that got us to go from idea to execution. That bridge is not to be underestimated. How many ideas, some we swear to be remarkable, never make it past the gatekeepers in our mind or the conversations of fancy with friends, co-workers and loved ones?

Baseball is a vehicle. I don't know where we're headed with this year's venture. We have three days left in our kickstarter and have raised only $200 of the $10,000 we need. It's not likely we're going to raise what we need to make that go - I get that. But I won't quit. I'm scared. I'm disappointed. I'm frustrated. But I'm a long way from quitting. I don't know how to quit. I don't want to. As I told my dad tonight at the Hall of Fame dinner, "We'll make it by hook or crook". Whatever it takes.

Spring Training - Cactus '14 (part one)

The Boys of Summer - Second Base, sequel to the award-winning first documentary, began principal photography on March 13, 2014. We need your help. Please visit our kickstarter page and share it with your friends and family.

 Simply making the trip to Phoenix was a big deal. For anyone who's ever been on a family road trip, particularly from the parental side, or if you've seen National Lampoon's Vacation, you know what I mean. We loaded up our metallic green Town & Country minivan to the hilt, strapped in the kids (no Aunt Edna), and headed south. I got us there, but thankfully the rest of the car was sleeping or they would have to endure and, worse, probably would have questioned my unintentional scenic route that added roughly an hour to a journey that didn't need it. For the record, my wife only suggested we should ask for directions once. I, of course, said no.

It's the small things that make family road trips so great. When we arrived at our first night shanty - and that's being polite - we convinced the kids to go back to sleep so they could have waffles tomorrow morning at the "Continental Breakfast"! The name sounded just regal enough to put them back to sleep with a smile. The next morning, my four year old, Giuseppe whispered me awake with the repeated word: "Waffle? Waffle?"

We did. The joy he got out of sitting in the lobby and picking out his own yogurt, pouring an orange juice out of a machine ("so cool!") and having a perfectly round, hot golden waffle put him firmly in hog heaven.

We moved on to our next hotel, where the Nine Baseball Conference would be held. The hotel was a significant upgrade. The pool immediately had the kids jumping out of their shorts. Grandma and Grandpa's flight arrived and we went to lunch. That night, I was part of a three-person documentary film panel about baseball. It was an excellent discussion.

That night, I had a hard time sleeping. I was very nervous about the next day. I had a press credential to be in the clubhouse of my beloved Oakland A's. I had a plan to talk to certain players who I thought might have an inherent relationship to Boys of Summer. Would they talk to me? What was the proper etiquette for the clubhouse? What if I struck out in my attempts? Would this be a wasted effort? How was my dad feeling? Would my wife be okay with the kids?

Worry, worry, worry. So it goes in the mind of a father, son, and independent filmmaker in a high stakes poker game.

Baseball - my first love

The Boys of Summer - Second Base, sequel to the award-winning first documentary, begins principal photography on March 13, 2014. We need your help. Please visit our kickstarter page and share it with your friends and family.

Legendary sports announcer Jack Buck wrote a great poem about the eternal nature of baseball called “365”. It’s worth clicking on the link for a quick, great read before reading on here.

It’s been a long time since I’ve loved baseball the way Jack suggests he does in this poem. There have been moments – flashes when the game meant everything. I was a “superfan” in the 80’s when baseball represented freedom to me and my friend Jonathan Okanes. That wasn’t just about my beloved A’s being a great team, which they became in the late ‘80’s and early 90’s. No, I watched with every bit of passion those middling teams of the mid-80’s who were led by guys like Dave Kingman, Curt Young and Jay Howell.

How could I love such a bunch of average champs? They were mine. And I saw them at a place that felt like home and freedom all at once. My adopted family of misfit fans lived in left center, back when there were actually bleachers in an Oakland Coliseum that favored an ivy-filled patch over the monstrosity that is Mt. Davis. I listened to Bill King and Lon Simmons call baseball games covertly in my high school classes via a transistor radio with an early, makeshift ear bud run up a long-sleeved shirt.

They were mine. It was young love. The truth of the relationship mattered little to me. The visceral feeling was everything. They were the only of my teams I was a fan of that I actually lived in the same town. The Broncos and Sonics were deeply beloved, but in an age before the Internet, that meant at a deeper distance than most today could likely understand. I grew up with the A’s at my fingertips.

So when I listened on opening day, claiming the pennant for the green and gold, it was tangible. Summers were glorious in the Bay, hot enough to do all of the wonderful things summer-heat implores us to do, but not so hot as to be too miserable not to do it. And sure, the game gave way in fall, to football. My visceral was caught up with my personal insomuch as having played and been deeply impacted by football and basketball, where I left my playing days of baseball behind me in the 7^th grade.

It took a spell longer than Christmastime to get the summer magic back. But when it came back, yes, hot dogs for dinner with nachos for my graduation party and we were all amazed by small hits – some as small and insignificant as one by Carney Lansford that drove in Bruce Bochte for an A’s win that was inconsequential and completely forgettable, most likely, to everyone except me and my pal Jon. We can still do Lon Simmons’ call today – but don’t ask us unless you want to see us laugh and be left, yourself, staring at us wondering why we’re laughing so hard.

The A’s were mine. And it was love. It still is today.

The Boys of Summer - Second Base, sequel to the award-winning first documentary, begins principal photography on March 13, 2014. We need your help. Please visit our kickstarter page and share it with your friends and family.

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #147

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

March 28, 2006 - Bob

Scottsdale, AZ

and the beat goes on...

My head is spinning a bit -- just to catch up with itself. I got up this morning and went to the excellent gym here at the Valley Ho (which I just can't say enough good things about -- the place rocks). I get a great workout in and, as I'm feeling the adrenaline rush and blood flow, the ideas come with. 

I had thought, months ago, that adding some theatricality to the presentation could be in order. Specifically, I thought about adding vendors before the movie and having some baseball stadium themed music playing as people arrived. After seeing the space last night another thought came to mind that I really love -- let's have someone sing the Star Spangled Banner before the show. BAM! The massive curtains open, the Bro n 'Stine logo comes up and away we go. 

I pitched it to some of the people involved here and got wonderful responses. The screening continues to grow. We've moved from the apathetic Buffalo Wild Wings to the classy-but-fun Abuelo's across the parking lot from the theater. 

I walked into the theater tonight and saw big lines getting ready to go see the movies and I just about burst with excitement. I ran back and got my camera to shoot some of the pre-film buzz. I began to imagine what it will be like for Boys of Summer of Thursday. I get goose bumps even typing it. 

We've been told 200 tickets have been sold (as of last night). We had a great day at the A's game today -- A's wiped out the Rangers 8-3. We got to sit up in the press booth in the box next to Ken Macha. Dad and I both met him and he was very nice. We also met an hysterical man who was the father of the groundskeeper at Phoenix Municipal. He had great stories and I was very happy to pass along a copy of the movie to him. 

We met with the PR rep for the Phoenix Film Festival, Erica. She is lining up several interviews for us, including a TV spot tomorrow. She's working on the Sports Radio guys. We'll keep the phone on in case we get an early morning producer ready to give us some minutes. 

We saw a great documentary at the fest tonight -- the Day After Tomorrow. It was a piece about the original cast kids from Annie and how they had dealt with post-star life. Funny, sad and a lot of great memories as Annie was the first musical I saw as an 8-year-old. How lucky to get to see Broadway at that age -- many thanks to my mom and dad.

We're back at the Valley Ho now -- I'm going to take a quick dip in the hot tub and wait to hear from Annamaria and Mom as to how the screening in Oakland went tonight. 

More to come... 

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #146

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 


Monday, March 27 - Bob

Scottsdale, AZ

Get up and get to the gym -- their gym here is spectacular by the way; no broom closet with a belt-driven bike by Jack LaLanne and two mismatched dumb bells -- no siree, me. 

We head off to the A's game in Tucson. 

And...then...we...hit...trrrrrrrr.....aaaaaa......ffff.....iii....cccccc.....

No joke. After about 15 minutes of it, I say to dad how 'bout we scrap it and go catch a game up in Phoenix? He's cool with it, so across the median we roll and northbound we are. I have a pee-panic moment -- you ever get that where you have to urinate INCREDIBLY BADLY and you're driving and there should be a McDonalds or a Starbucks but there isn't and...thankfully there's construction all over Phoenix and that means port-a-potties (Or KIBO's for you Iowans)? 

So anywho, we get to the game and our ol' pal from Houston, Rudy Wrabel, is here. It was a pleasure to see him and his brother, Stephen. We also met Rudy's friend Scott, with whom he'll be making his own 30-ballpark trip this summer. Very cool. 

The game is fun but ends in a 4-4 tie after the Cubbies rallied from a 4-2 defecit in the bottom of the 9th. After the big rally the umps left the field. I guess that's pretty much that. The Cubs fans declared since they scored the last runs they won. The White Sox fans begged to differ. Good stuff. 

We went up to Frasher's Steakhouse in Scottsdale after the game which was kind enough to let us pin up a couple of posters for the screening. I had an awesome veggie burger -- I know that sounds odd to you meat-eaters but it really was delicious. 

Then it was off to the film festival. They were thrilled to see us -- took pictures, got us our passes and all that. Dad and I went into an independent film from Puerto Rico. It was pretty good -- Dad's first experience in a film festival (not including Boys of Summer). 

The festival director took me into the theater we're going to screen in on Thursday -- whoa. Talk about goose pimples. 580 seats. Biggest screen in all of Arizona. We work out some party details for Thursday -- it looks great. 

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #110

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

September 16, 2004 - Bob
Las Vegas, NV

Near disaster. Panic. Overwhelmed. I’m not sure if what I’m doing makes sense anymore. I’m going to make a call tomorrow and find out.

Basically, I’m pushing myself like a madman to get this documentary ready for the Sundance deadline (next Thursday, due next Friday). In the interim, I’m going to be back up in the Bay Area Friday through Sunday for my grandfather’s birthday. That leaves me five days to cut the rest of this thing. I must be insane. I...I just really want this film to debut at Sundance this January. What happens if I don’t make the deadline? Is the film hurt? No. Could I hurt myself by trying to edit this way? Yes. I already have in many ways. So why do this? Because it’s what I sometimes do  when I get in too deep.

Tonight, as I was clearing storage space on the external hard drive, the folder with my project files disappeared -- a solid 24 hours of work with no time to make it up. I about cried. I just had a breakthrough today where I finally felt like I began to edit the project with a bit of rhythm.

Then I get a call (it’s 12:30 p.m. and nobody calls with good news at 12:30 p.m., right?). On top of that, I’m worried because Annamaria’s Grandma is in the hospital after major surgery today...

Turns out to be someone just interested in Las Vegas Link, our casting breakdown service. Whew...and kind of weird. She said she thought she’d just get a recording. I wish I would have let the call go through so she would have.

At any rate, my heart’s a bit calmer now as I found that folder and all my files. I’m not going to edit anymore tonight -- just log in some more footage then go to bed.

I need a deep breath and a reevaluation of what I’m doing here...

Oakland 5, Texas 4 (salvaging a split of their 4-game series)
WP: R. Harden (10-6)   LP: K. Rogers (16-8)

I take a breath and remind myself: this too shall pass...
 

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #109

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

100% proceeds go to the Michael J Fox Foundation. 

September 1, 2004 - Bob
Las Vegas, NV

I've begun to look at footage and it is a mixed bag for me. Some things make me happy, some sad. It's always this way in post. There are the memories of the things done well, the opportunities missed, the great times in between, the "didn't we shoot that?" (which, of course, we didn't) and many more. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my shoots that I see something in my eye and assume it’s on tape or film somewhere. When someone develops that system send me an e-mail (please mark it urgent).

The difference for me here is to remember my “gold” is in the story. We'll have plenty of footage from B-Roll sources (the city's convention centers have been great, sending shots to help us setup our introductions to each place we go).

I have an interview set up for today with an indie film magazine -- I'm very excited about that. Today is the 1st of Sept. -- whoo. I better get back to editing this bad boy to make Sundance’s September 24th deadline (crazy).

Chicago White Sox 5, Oakland 4
WP: S. Takatsu (6-3)   LP: J. Duchscherer (5-5)

September 6, 2004 - Bob
Las Vegas, NV

Almost through the tapes now. There is about 50 hours of footage, all told. Today (hopefully) I will begin dropping the footage into the hard drive. That'll give me just under two weeks to edit a rough cut. It's insane, I know, but I have this feeling...it could be insanity I'm feeling. Hmmm...you may be right, I may be...

At any rate, I'm going forward with this for now. It will be what it will be.

The B-Roll from other cities is fitting in quite nicely, accenting what I've already got (fly overs and helicopter shots were difficult to come by during the trip, ya dig?).

Also, I have an interview with the Michael J. Fox foundation set up for the New York trip we’ll be making at the end of this month. The two Stephen King short films I did, “Luckey Quarter” and “Roland Meets Brown” are going to be part of the first-ever Dollar Baby Film Festival in Orono, Maine at King’s alma mater. I'm still working on interviews with both Stephen and Ken Burns. We'll see...

Boston 8, Oakland 3
WP: B. Arroyo (8-9)   LP: B. Zito (10-10)

Tonight’s loss (above score) burned my ass like almost no other this season. The Sox rivalry is heated from our side for sure because we’re getting our heads kicked in by the Beantowners. Tonight, though, after the stupid ump (Brian Knight, I believe?) missed the fact that Manny Ramirez CLEARLY trapped a crucial hit by Mark Kotsay and instead called him out, the flood gates opened wide.

Now, I know enough to know that a good team gets past plays like that and certainly finds a way to win games like that. Right now, though, I’m not sure if the A’s are a good team. I love these boys and they’re breaking my heart...right on cue.
 

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #106

You can see the complete film "Boys of Summer" for free by clicking here. 

Aug. 20, 2004 - Dad 

San Francisco, CA 

We are off on our last leg of our tour, the 850 mile return trip to the Bay Area. We allow two days so it's not too strenuous.

Our last ball game is in San Francisco at SBC Park. A beautiful park in a beautiful city. We had a small group which I think reflected the amount of energy we had left. But all of a sudden it was over. I was very tired and a bit disoriented and happy to have someone as young and energetic as Bob to complete the project.

Bob, I don't think I have ever thanked you for the experience of a life time. It was great to watch you grow and to just spend time with you. I thank you and I love you very much.

Aug. 20, 2004 - Bob

San Francisco, CA

SBC is beautiful. We parked in one of the lots across the footbridge and were able to tailgate with a good group of friends. It was weird being home in a way. Very matter of fact. Very much a feeling of, “well of course you made it” when so many times on the road it felt like anything BUT matter of fact. 

But here we are. Game #30.

We got interviewed by the local NBC affiliate’s, Vernon Glenn (“Mr. Involvement”). At one point after we’d reeled off answers we’d gotten quite used to answering, he said, “You guys really know what you’re doing.” After twenty-nine other parks and a good deal of media (and we were thankful for every last question!), yeah, we did have an idea of what we were doing. It was nice for me to see how comfortable dad had become in front of the camera. In Phoenix, at our first MLB game Dad was quite up tight. But now, he’s an “old” pro. 

It was great to share the game and the stadium with my Bella as she’d never been to a game at SBC. Dad and I had both been before, but not together. As we looked over the Bay, I was reminded of the beauty and the majesty of the place I am fortunate enough to call home, even though I haven’t lived here for quite some time. 

Park Number 30 (of 30), PacBell Park

San Francisco 7, New York Mets 3

 WP: N. Lowry (3-0)   LP: S. Trachsel (10-10) 

Oakland 9, Tampa Bay 5