Untitled.
Ten years ago today, Amar’e Stoudemire was preparing for the following day’s matchup against the Mavericks (a club his Suns would eventually oust in the playoffs), after which he would make the first All-Star Game appearance of his career, at age 22.
It also turns out, I figured out today, that 10 years ago was the last time I’ve been as clobbered by the flu as I am right now. The day I finally got past this crud that time in 2005, I wrote about the Rangers signing Pedro Astacio.
Pedro Astacio.
Guess I should be grateful it’s been that long.
Sorry I haven’t written in a few days, and it may be a couple more. If I were feeling even a little better than this, I’d have written a virtually useless history of my ability to watch newest Rangers camp invite Jamey Wright pitch. So maybe you’re better off that I’m sick. High five.
Jamey Wright and Pedro Astacio were teammates for three years.
In the ’90s.
And with that I’ll say farewell for the night, but hopefully not the week. Amar’e Stoudemire is apparently a Dallas Maverick, based on a report tweeted out minutes ago by RealGM, and I don’t remember when he made that first All-Star Team and backed vote-leader Yao Ming up in the game, but I now remember all too well what those chills and sweats and all that other stuff felt like back then, and I’d probably trade it for another 2-8, 6.04 season out of Pedro Astacio.
Probably.
On Wright, I will say this, since a few of you have reminded me of those entries in 2007 when I admitted to having a very difficult time watching him pitch: I turned it around in 2008. (May 5 of that season: “Wright, with all his moving parts, seems to be a great example of a guy who appears to be monumentally better out of the stretch, mechanically.”)
Two months later, minutes after Josh Hamilton had walked one off against the Angels, I sent a quick report out, no longer than this one, and wrote this caption — “That look on Jamey Wright’s face is frozen on mine. Still.” — underneath this photo:
That walkoff look Wright is sporting is about a 180 from the flu look I’m throwing down right now.
I’d finish this one with a reminder that we’re four sleeps away from baseball, but I’m gonna do my best to get in about a dozen between now and Friday.
Catch you again soon.
