Change Can Be a Good Thing

Our "Before" Picture

Every once and a while, we get a little bored of our look. Not looking to do anything drastic, it is good to mix it up a little, so that is why we made a few changes to our Chicks Who Love Baseball blog. Here is a list of the things we did:

• We changed our color scheme - We moved away from the basic white title and blog text and replaced the colors with ones that give a little more contrast and that are not as brash to look at against the baseball background. Keeping with our "chicks" theme, we gave pink a try with our titles and gray with our text.
• We've accented the date stamp with another contrasting color. The lavender seems to really compliment the other colors and it is nice to be able to distinguish the date stamp from the other content.
• Fonts that all browsers love -  When viewing our page on various browsers, we noticed that the artistic creativity was not coming through as we intended, so the fonts were changed to accommodate all browsers.



Our "After" Picture

• Other baseball blogs - When this blog was first created, we looked to follow other blogs that followed us.  In an effort to stay more in tune with our baseball theme, we've decided to follow other baseball and baseball related blogs. We will add more to the list and review the list on a quarterly basis to ensure that the sites we are promoting are relevant and still functioning. 

Like a good haircut and a new color, we really do hope you like the changes we have made. If you see anything that could be improved, please drop us a line or add a comment.

Thank you!

Ways in Which MLB Honors Their Fallen

It is not often that you come across someone who can touch the lives of so many with nothing more than your personality and a smile. On September 25, 2016, a bright light to so many who knew the kind of exuberance and excitement that Jose Fernandez brought to everything he did, was extinguished. According to online reports published by the Miami Herald, Fernandez' and two other occupants on his boat, died when the boat hit a jetty just outside of Miami Beach, FL.

In the days following the accident, teammates and fans gathered in front of the stadium to leave notes of gratitude and thanks, and to comfort one another, all desperately trying to make sense of how someone so full of life and who had a child on the way, could have his taken so suddenly. Within the rank and file in the media corp who closely followed Jose Fernandez and the Miami Marlins, group talk was starting on how MLB could best honor Fernandez, a 2013 National League Rookie of the Year winner and Cy Young Award nominee, and the 2016 Miami Marlins leader in the number of strikeouts in one season. According to Ken Rosenthal, the addition of Jose Fernandez Spirit Award was mentioned among members of the media, but that the actuality of it happening was slim because of interest. As Rosenthal points out, MLB already has difficulty in drumming up support for other awards such as the Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente awards. How could MLB market this award and drum up interest?

What MLB fails to recognize is that the awards that are handed out are not only for the players but for the fans as well. Right now, the friends, family, and fans in Miami need a shining light to help them heal. A light as bright as the life of Jose Fernandez that filled the clubhouse, the lives of those who knew him, and those who could see the passion he had for baseball. If MLB's answer to this request is "Sorry, we cannot fulfill your request because as it is, there is not enough support for the other awards" then someone in the MLB front office is not doing their job.

What is being proposed is a Spirit Award. This award can be granted to a nominee and presented to them at each All-Star Game, just before the Home Run Derby takes place. Like the honor given to those who are elected to participate in the All-Star Game, nominations can be proposed by the fans and by players and coaches within the league. The award can be presented each year by a member of the Miami Marlins to the winner.

MLB needs to rally around the Marlins, the fans, and the family of Jose Fernandez. In a time where there is so much negativity around every corner, this could be the start of something bright and beautiful, much like the spirit of Jose Fernandez.

Day 4 of the 2016 Season...

It is Day 4 of the 2016 MLB season and for the last few nights, I have found myself sitting in front of the television yelling at the players as if it were the last game of the season and a win would send the team into the playoffs or back to the locker room to begin packing for the official start of their offseason. The Rangers seemed to have found their groove late in the season which helped carry them into the playoffs. Crowned American League West Champions last season, the Rangers once again, find themselves trying to prove to all of the naysayers, that they do have a place at the top.

Photo courtesy of ESPN.com

One person, that I am excited to see make his way up the Rangers organization, is relief pitcher Matt Bush. Yep -THAT Matt Bush, drafted #1 by the Padres back in 2004. He has had to overcome a lot to
get to where he is now, and I am hopeful that he finds inspiration to stay focused and on the straight and narrow.

Well, here is to hoping that the Rangers can carry their brand of excitement and energy for another 158 games. Let's Go Rangers! #NeverEverQuit

New to baseball???

Hello, potential baseball fans! My love of baseball began when I was 3 years old and living in Los Angeles. "My team" was the Los Angeles Dodgers and to me, they were the guys who were bigger than life and made the trips to Dodger Stadium, so eventful. Finding a team to follow can be time-consuming, however, once you find "your team" you will find yourself interested in learning more and more about that team and in baseball. Each team has a personality. You will find that some teams strike you as having the personality that you can relate to, or in some cases, the personality that you just cannot stand. Yes - there are teams that will rub you the wrong way. Here are some tips in trying to find "your team":

1. Keep an open mind when selecting a team to root for. Do they really need to have won a World Series trophy in order for you to root for them? Case in point - the Chicago Cubs came a LONG way this season. Are they REALLY cursed? Look into that story. ;)
   
2. What are your favorite colors? Yes. I had to go there. Some people may choose to follow a team because of their team colors. It really isn't just a "chick thing", either.
   
3. Check out the 40-man roster of the team. I guarantee that you'll see something there that strikes a cord with you and will help you decide "this is my team".

Right now, we are in the winter offseason. While each team is scrambling to find the funds in their organization to sign the next big player, this is your opportunity to look around and pick a team. For a complete listing of all of the Major League Baseball teams, visit www.mlb.com for the latest information on trades and other winter offseason rumors.

Catch the Chicks Who Love Baseball Podcast

KC Royals #Crowned 2015 MLB World Series Champions

It was starting to look like the Mets were going to take Game 5, but just like in previous games this season, the Royals rolled up their sleeves, put on their rally caps, and pulled off another nail-biting 12-inning win. With the 7-2 win, the Royals were crowned the 2015 MLB World Series Champions. 

Kansas City Royals - 2015 World Series Champions (Photo courtesy of MLB.com)

It was hard not to root for this group of underdogs. The Royals 2014 season seemed to have lady luck on their side. Things just clicked for them at the right time and before you knew it, they had a spot in the World Series. Facing the San Francisco Giants, the Royals took the series all the way to Game 7 but came up short in the end. Could they repeat their run and make it to the World Series again? Despite the commentary from every television or radio show analyst saying otherwise, the Royals made each and every one of these guys eat their words. Not even the Mets Daniel "The Amazin' Murph" Murphy and his record-setting post-season play could save his team from what was certainly a quick exit.

So, now that the season is over, it is time to think about what is in store for us in 2016, and what the winter trades during the off-season will bring us. The anticipation is much like that of a child waiting to see what Santa brings. 

Happy offseason, y'all! 

Can the Royals #TakeTheCrown Tonight?

It has been a whirlwind of a season, and last night's rally by KC to get the win over the Mets 5 to 3, shows just how badly the Royals want to close out tonight's game with a win. I am a bit surprised to see Edinson Volquez pitching in tonight's game, having just lost his father 4 days ago. I understand his rationale for getting on the mound, though.

Photo courtesy of Baseball Tonight (https://twitter.com/BBTN)

Two weeks ago, I lost my father. It was sudden and totally unexpected. Having just received a clean bill of health at the VA the week prior, my dad went peacefully in his sleep early Saturday morning. The overwhelming grief you feel is too much to bear, so you look for something to help you deal with the situation, to get your mind off of the loss, pain, heartbreak, and at times, anger. That escape is work.
I am rooting for you, Edinson, both professionally, and personally. #TakeTheCrown, #EDDIE. We are all with you.