The Morning Offering - April 14, 2005

Written by The Fool on April 14, 2005

The Fool’s life is a whirlwind of birthday parties, tax returns, broken coffee grinders, bachelor party planning, work . . . and baseball.

That’s right – baseball hits the Nation’s Capital in a big way today, with the Washington Nationals playing their first home game in D.C. against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The District’s first season of baseball in 33 years has already been wild and a tad surreal – especially for those of us media types – but tonight it literally hits home. RFK Stadium – best known as the rockin’ home of the Redskins – has been revamped and spruced up, and The Fool will be able to give you a first-hand review next week after a couple visits (Sunday, for a birthday gift game against the Snakes and next Thursday for another matchup against my Braves).

Fumble
Speaking of the Redskins, the NFL schedule was announced yesterday. And while most folks were analyzing how their team would do next season, well, The Fool is a Redskins fan. And after years of getting rightfully laughed out of the room on prediction day, I’m taking a year off to bitch about the schedule itself – not opponents, but when the games are being played. Christmas Eve? A full slate of games. New Year’s Day? Another full slate. Those aren’t NFL days, those are family, fun and in the case of New Year’s, COLLEGE football days. Bad move on the NFL’s part, but of course no one asked The Fool.

The league is even playing a regular season game in Mexico. Too bad the NFL, long known as the No Fun League, still has no sense of humor. If it did, instead of the 49ers and Cardinals playing in Mexico City on Oct. 2, it would be Ron Mexico and the Atlanta Falcons. Funny side note: they’re already calling Michael Vick’s little brother, Marcus, “New Mexico.” If you have no idea what on earth The Fool is rapping about. . . visit www.TheSmokingGun.com.

Things you learn from watching the Food Network
In 1995, the potato became the first vegetable grown in space.

Oh yeah, back to baseball
The Fool is quickly becoming The Prospect Guy around Rotogod Land, but hey, someone’s got to do it. How else would you learn about someone like Terry Tiffee, who hopped a plane to Minneapolis and hit a home run, a double and knocked in three runs last night? Hmmmmm?

If you own Justin Morneau, whose latest ailment, dizziness and headaches resulting from a beaning, landed him on the DL, you should pick up Tiffee. He landed in the Twins cleanup spot against the Tigers and had as good a night as anyone in the American League. He was rated by Baseball America as the 19th prospect in the Twins’ system, but that was mainly because of his glovework; they project him as major league backup. But the kid can obviously hit, and will get the opportunity to produce while Morneau recovers.

And finally . . .
Break up the Brewers? They’re in first place in the National League Central, they’re winning at home and on the road, and they have a gackle of youngsters ready to go in the minors. The franchise is apparently in great shape . . . and there are no longer any Seligs involved. Coincidence? The Fool thinks not.

-- Written by The Fool on April 14, 2005