Top Baseball Hotties

Okay, if you are one of those folks who get their knickers in a bundle over even a whiff of sexism, stop reading here. I am going to save everyone some time and cut to the chase: I love baseball, many baseball men are hot, and some of them are reason enough to endure the duration of the season. Yep, it’s terrible, and I’m going to hell for doing this, but some of these guys deserve to help sell some tickets this season and if I can facilitate that, then so be it. You will notice I skew toward Latinos, don’t hate, they are far more democratic in their appreciation of women. All right then….drumroll, please, and let’s give a shout out to the amount of effort it takes to maintain 5% body fat. Caveat: I am not totally sure that all these positions or stats are credible, I did minimal research and picked most of these guys off the top of my head (yes, literally) so feel free to berate me. I have minimal left-coast team stats knowledge and I know baseball folks are definitely stat-centric. If you are left of Ohio I probably pay little attention to you, your team or your division or hotness ratio, whatever it is.

Hottie Roll Call:

Alex Avila: C, Detroit Tigers: so adorable, baseball royalty, great interviews, articulate and an all-around good guy

Pat Burrell: LF, SF. We hate SF as a city but Pat is still hawt. We should recruit him for Det, not that we need a LF. Still, eye candy

Johnny Damon: LF, Tampa Bay. I don’t care who you play for or what you do, I miss you in Detroit and you are hot although the wife is a PR nightmare. Ditch her for me. I’m good for you. Really

Mark DeRosa: 2B/OF, San Francisco Giants

Ian Desmond: SS, Washington Nationals

Andre Ethier: RF, Dodgers. He is hot, but he plays for the Dodgers. What can I say?

Armando Gallaraga, P, Arizona Diamondbacks. Proved he is the classiest guy in the majors last season after a blown call spiked his chance for a perfect game. Tigers should NOT have traded him.

Jerry Hairston, Jr: 2B, Washington Nationals; a class act and an outstanding interview; many players should study his media-savvy skills; so articulate he makes most baseball players look clueless; baseball royalty

Cole Hamels: P, Philadelphia Phillies. Cheering for them is discouraged at all times

J.J. Hardy: SS, Baltimore Orioles. Hot but I feel sorry for him for playing for the O’s. Love the stadium, tho

Austin Jackson: CF, Detroit Tigers; hot, articulate, interesting. Keeper

Derek Jeter: 2B, NY Yankees. Loses points for wearing the poisonous pinstripes, but a class act, role model and true gentleman. Your parents are proud and I’m happy for them, you deserve everything you have achieved. Shows up and works hard, need more like you. Xoxo! PS: I heard rumors you were coming to Detroit. True? False? Don’t care, we’d love to have you. Or…me, personally. Okay, I’m selfish, I’d LOVE to have you…

Matt Kemp: CF, LAD

Paul Konerko: 1B, CWS. We hate CWS, but I still heart you

Ian Kinsler: 2B, Texas. Sigh. Sorry

Evan Longoria: 3B, Tampa Bay Rays; outstanding bat, sweet @ss, like OMG sweet

Nick Markakis: 1B, Baltimore. Love Camden Yards but feel pain for anyone who plays for the O’s

Victor Martinez: DH, Detroit Tigers. Came from Boston so sketchy credentials but still hot

Joe Mauer: C, Minnesota Twins. They always beat the Tigers so we hate them although Mauer is worship-worthy from a baseball perspective and he is clearly raking in the $ from The Show* ka-ching!

Nyjer Morgan: CF, Washington Nationals, super-fast, fab bat, and a nice guy all around, awesome smile and accessible—nice guy, amazing eyes

Michael Morse: RF, Washington Nationals, hot glove

Jhonny Peralta, SS, Detroit Tigers, super sweet, accessible. Stalk-worthy

Rick Porcello: P, Detroit Tigers; adorable, but like 12 years old. Not worth doing jail time. Cute like a Lab puppy

Albert Pujols: 1B, St. Louis Cardinals: Albert, Albert, Albert; love you, love the Cards but this crazy cash grab has me put off. Massive bat, sweet @ss, I so don’t want to have to demote you to my Points Lost list but you are on the fence

Will Rhymes: 2B Detroit Tigers, nice bat, articulate, educated, amazing eyes, musician, burrito fan. What is not to love? Oh, he went to William and Mary, making him a snob. Knocking off points…demotion, but not voted off the island just yet

Ivan Rodriguez: C, Washington Nats. Hot. Kind, gracious, funny, adorable, articulate, looks amazing in big-boy clothes. Come back to Detroit!

Cody Ross: SF Giants. ADORABLE!! Fantastic smile, articulate, fun, amazing guy, great interviews and hello, the Giants listed your salary right on the roster. Earn your $14m this season, honey. You are too cute! I would actually marry him but not under any circumstances live in SF. A true class act, they are so lucky to have him. I xoxox him. Did I say I xoxo him? Oh, delish

Johann Santana: LHP, Mets. The Mets are based in NY and cheering for them vs. the Yankees is encouraged

Ramon Santiago: SS, Detroit Tigers, Dominican, gorgeous; I’d like to roll him in sugar and have him for dessert; I’d go to jail to tango w/ this yumminess. Going out on a limb to say maybe one of the best looking baseball players of all times (lo siento, Ramon, pero es la verdad, y lo siento y tu la esposa tambien pero yo creo que usted es azucar y la mas fantastico y adorable de todo del MLB) Sorry. personal message there

Grady Sizemore: CF, Cleveland Indians. Have you seen the Cleveland team logo? They are disgustingly racist. Have a great season, you are still a hottie. Xoxo! Trade as soon as you can, racist teams are no bueno

Nick Swisher: RF, NY Yankees. Sorry

Chase Utley: 2B, Philly. We never encourage cheering for Philly but have at it

Justin Verlander: Pitcher, Detroit Tigers. Funny, articulate, amazing. I think he is from Norfolk, VA so he got extra points from me, if I’m wrong we’ll demote him

Honorable Mentions:

Dave Winfield: met him in Toronto eons ago and he was a total class act, true gentleman and was gracious to my mom. ‘Nuf said.

Points Lost:

Bronson Arroyo, for looking like he just walked off the set of a Creed video. What year is this?

Jacoby Ellsbury: it pains me to acknowledge any Red Sox player for any reason whatsoever, but the guy is in fact a decent dude and awfully cute, but…he plays for the Sox. VOTED OFF THE ISLAND.

Alex Rodriguez, for being a classless, clueless a-hole

Jayson Werth, for looking like a hippie; have respect for the league or get out

If I missed anyone on the hottie roll call, please let me know. Again, most of this is off the top of my head and I don’t mean to disrespect or leave anyone off that deserves a shout out. Please let me know, I certainly don’t mean to offend or disappoint anyone. I admit I am pitiful.

Spring is Upon Us!

The weather here in Detroit is beautiful, perfect for running, and just in time. I knocked out 5 miles yesterday along the gorgeous river downtown and tomorrow have a half marathon slated for bright and early. It takes place on Grosse Ile and supports Cystic Fibrosis. I am dreading and looking forward to it at the same time...really, not ready for 13 but we'll see how this goes. Baseball starts in just a few weeks and I am SO excited for my Tigers to be back in town! :)

Baseball is HERE!

Every year I look forward to attending spring training in Lakeland, FL. It's a great time of year; I get to hang out with my family, my college roomie and her fam, and we get to enjoy the intimate setting of Joker Marchant stadium in Lakeland, FL. My sister's bday corresponds so it all works out for a great celebration and generally, decent weather. There is nothing quite like seeing your baseball heroes up close and personal, reclining on the berm, playing with the kids and having a cold beer on a gorgeous spring day. Well, for a number of reasons I won't be in attendance this year, and I feel like my baseball season is not off on the right foot. I didn't really plan to go down this year; I had been underemployed for so long and could really not justify the expense (last year fiance and I spent $1000 just in airfare; we also had meals, rental car, and hotel rooms to pay for). So, for those of you lucky enough to be enjoying sunny Florida, take pics, get autographs, report back in full and....ENJOY! Hopefully I will be down again next year.

Bird Geeks Unite

Came across this article from Associated Press in Alaska. Apparently they found an eagle who had managed to survive 25 years in Alaska's wild which met an untimely demise on a power wire. Poor thing. It has been banded, which was how they determined age. I think that sounds like one tough eagle. Its a shame it took mankind to do it in. According to the article, "A band attached to its leg showed the bird to be the second-oldest bald eagle documented in Alaska and one of the oldest in the country."

SNOPACALYPSE!!

Hunkered down here in Ferndale awaiting our foot and change of snow. Luckily I have a fabulously stocked cupboard. Happy Black History Month! And happy Groundhog Day. I am thinking Phil is not seeing his shadow tomorrow based purely on the snowfall indicator map. Heck, if winter was only six more weeks I'd be thrilled. I am thinking more like 12 more weeks.

Lazy, hazy, buzy dayzies

Hey, sorry no posts, the world is spinning and I can't keep up right now. Too much going on. Anyhoo, via Twitter I ran across this really fun, funky, positive Detroit vid that I HAD to share. In other news, a buddy of mine came to Detroit from DC (former colleagues) to check out the auto show. I don't think he has missed a show in like 16 years. And he drives here! Now THAT, people, is dedication. How is it he is willing to make the commitment but the folks that live here can't? Riddle me that, folks. Manana fiance and I make the annual trip to Tiger Fest. He wants autographs, I want to drool over the man-candy. Can you say 5% body fat? ROWR.

Eight Mile, and not the movie

Sorry to be so boring, posting from the comfort of my couch. I worked at Ford Field all day yesterday for the Monster Jam event (super loud; super smelly) so did not get home until late yet again, then got up today and ran 6+ miles in 19 degree weather (heat wave!) so I'm a little off my game. What I learned today: at 8 mile and Woodward near the State Fairgrounds is Michigan's first ever-three-point intersection. I didn't make this up, there is an actual historic marker there. If you are driving on Woodward you can go up and over 8 mile, avoiding that interesection, or you can continue on Woodward or turn to 8 mile. Apparently in the 1950's it was such a busy intersection that the overpass was developed to help ease congestion. Pretty cool! What else I learned: drivers on Woodward will in fact give you your entire own lane if you are running in the street. Thank you, drivers! The sidewalks are still treachery with ice and snow. I certainly appreciate the kindness as it probably saved me from a broken something or other.