Lewis and Clark discover pipes

The Haus was on 710ESPN today shortly before noon. The first Mariners broadcast of the season crackled alive with the Hall of Famer creating theater of the mind. Or as the late Chick Hearn once called it “painting word pictures”. I miss that man. I guess I’m like everyone I really enjoy somebody who is on his game. And Dave Niehaus and Rick Rizz came ready with the call yesterday. It’s professionalism and I suspect Griffey’s influence. Remember these two announcers watched KGJ grow from a pup to the most feared hitter in baseball. Haus went so far as to tell the Go to Guy a couple of weeks ago that the M’S needed to get Jr. done. Published it. Haus has onions. I was in the car during a mist storm when he cranked into a Lefebre tale relating to Griffey. I was a believer. Then he reminded us of Griffeys first two big league at bats on the road then at home…a double on the road and a homer against Dave Stewart in the GrayDome. Then an update on the Padres. Heath Bell will close for the departed Trevor Hoffman. Hells Bells in Milwaukee? Haus says “Bell has a big pair of…(long pause…crowd murmur peanut guy selling bottled water) shoes to fill as the Padres closer this year”. Rizz as usual pro’s pro perfect compliment to Haus. No ego total passion for the game…vastly underrated…gets his licks in around the 3rd inning. He rat a tat tats the lineup with a bit of insider stuff for each one. One down, how many to go…it stretchs a long way out there. Stay in the moment one at a time. Welcome back fellas. From someone who knows how tough it can be. Take care of the pipes.

It occurs to me a play by play guy listening to Niehaus must be like a musician listening to Miles Davis. “Kind of Blue” or “Bitches Brew”…no matter how many times you hear it there is a nuance you pick up and say..”man, how’d he do that.”

So about this blog thing. I’m thrilled that some of you have responded. I had previously thought of the blog thang as nothing more than a sixth grade girls electronic version of those little diaries with pink pages, a unicorn binder and cheap gold lock. Only I realize this thang is actually going to be seen by a whole bunch of judgmental people sitting in their basements. So from now on I will diligently wash my spelling and grammerr. But I would suggest to you that reading Lewis and Clark’s journal is far more enjoyable when reading the actual text. Try it.