Feeling Brilliant; Feeling Foolish: It Really Is A Fine FINE Line To Travel Upon…

…And Of That There Can Be Little Debate.

Granted, There Are People Whom Can AND Will Debate Anything AND Everything.

To Those People, Honestly, I Say…

“More Power To Ya.”

To The Rest Of Us Whom Teeter-Totter On The Edge Of  The Before Mentioned “Feeling Brilliant” AND “Feeling Foolish” There Really Isn’t Much To Say Other Than…

“It’s Called LIFE. Deal With It. If You Don’t Get One Outcome, You’re ALMOST Assured To Get The Other. It’s Called LIFE.”

2013, Now More Than Half Over, Has Been A Year Filled With BOTH Feelings/Mindsets.

I Do Admit To Having A Few Truly Brilliant Moments, This Year.

True, They May Have Been Situations Where I Was Confident In The Outcome Ahead Of Time AND Was Thus Proved Correct.

But, Honestly, That Feels A Touch Beside The Point.

At Least, For Now. 😉

Sadly, However, 2013 Has Felt More And More AND MORE Like A Year Of Foolishness On My Part.

Family Issues.

Friend Issues.

Relationship Issues.

Personal Issues.

You Name It, Chances Are I Can Equate Whatever It Is Into Yet Another Foolish Moment For Yours Truly.

But, And I’m Curious About This In Many Respects, What Truly Is The Fine Line Between “Brilliance” And “Foolishness”???

Sadly, I Keep Coming Back To The Same One-Word Answer…

“SUCCESS”

Period.

If Something Is A Winner, Chances Are You’ll Be Overtly Contented.

You’ll Be Feeling The Wondrous Side Of A Success, Regardless Of What It Is.

You’ll Most Likely Even Feel A Flash Of “Brilliance” Wash Over You.

But…

…What If You Fail???

What If There Is No Real Success In Whatever It Is You’ve Attempted???

You’ll Be Feeling The Vile Side Of A Lost Chance At A Success…

…And Of That, I Sincerely Have No Doubts.

You Won’t Feel Any Waves Of “Brilliance” Afterward.

No, You’ll Be Feeling As I Do Most Of The Time.

You’ll Be Feeling Like A “Fool” And Feeling Listless In Wonder As To Where You Went Wrong.

I Think That’s Why I Love Baseball So Very Very Much.

It Truly Is More About Failure And Loss.

At Least, More So Than Anything Else.

Winning Is WONDERFUL!

Losing SUCKS ASS!

But, You Don’t Learn Much From Winning, Other Than The Elation Of The Actual Win.

You Do, On The Other Hand, Learn So So SO Much More From Defeat.

Now, I Know You’re All Waiting For Me To Divulge Some Of Said “Foolish” Moments, But I Don’t Really Think I Can.

Not Without Getting Myself, Or Others, In Trouble…

…With Someone…

…Somewhere…

…Be They Person, Or Entity.

Honestly, The Moment I’m Going To Briefly Mention Is A Combo Of BOTH “Brilliance” AND “Foolishness” Like You Wouldn’t Believe.

You See, My Peeps My Friends The Kiddies, I’ve Been Living Through A Self-Imposed EXILE For Almost A Month, Now.

It’s Honestly Killing Me.

I’ve Never EVER Felt So Alone In My Life.

Hell, I Spent A Couple Months In Boot-Camp, Which Was About The Loneliest Time In My Life…

…Until Now.

I Feel So Alone Because I’ve Simply Been Toooooooooooooo Damned Embarrassed To Be Around Other People.

Period.

Other Than My Immediate Family, Only ONE PERSON Has Seen Me AND Spent Time With Me While I’m In This Condition.

For Those Of You Whom Don’t Know…

…I FINALLY GOT MY ORAL SURGERY!

I Got It Last Month.

I’m Literally About Two-Weeks Away From Having A Perfect Smile, Again!

I Couldn’t Be Happier About That Part.

It’s The Waiting In-Between PHASE I And PHASE II That’s The Killer.

I Do Feel Brilliant For Finally Pulling The Trigger, Plunking Down The Money I Can’t Afford To Burn In Any Way, And Getting ALL Of My Teeth Fixed.

Trust Me, Kids, Years And Years AND YEARS Of Acid Erosion Can Be Dentally Devastating.

I’m A Living, Breathing Poster-Board For It.

Sadly, I Also Am Feeling Very VERY Foolish.

Foolish Because I Have, More Or Less, Gone Into Total Hiding.

I Don’t Go Anywhere ((save my morning walks)).

I Don’t Meet Other People.

I Stay As Totally Off The Social Grid As Possible.

I’m Sad, Yes.

I’m Lonely, Yes.

I’m Going Out Of My Mind In The Want/Need To Spend Time With Those Other People I Care Deeply For.

But, As Foolish As This Exile Has Been…

…For Me, Personally Personally, It Has Been Bordering On Brilliant.

I’ve Looked Bad In The Past…

…But I Really Don’t Want People Seeing Me At My Absolute Worst.

I’m Far Toooooo Self-Conscious For That.

So, By Adding The Pains Of Loneliness…

…Sadness…

…And Racing Thoughts…

…It Adds Up To A Bit Of The “Foolish Factor” Feeling.

BUT, By Removing The Pains Of Embarrassment…

…And Extreme Paranoia Due To The Overt Self-Conscious Issues…

…I’m Experiencing A Touch Of The Ole “Brilliance Factor” Feeling, Also.

😀

Sooooooooooooo…

…What Do You Think?

Am I Just Being Foolish??

Or, Is There Even A Hint Of Brilliance To It???

Do YOU Often Feel Like This????

--Yeah. You. In The Back. Pretending Not To Be Reading Over The Other Person's Shoulder.--

Do YOU Often Feel Like This, My Peeps?????

My Curiosity Abounds!

😀       😉       😀

So... Are YOU Jivin Me -questionmark-

“My Motto Was ALWAYS To Keep Swinging. Whether I Was In A Slump, Or Feeling Badly, Or Having Trouble Off-The-Field, The Only Thing To Do Was Keep Swinging.” — HENRY “HANK” AARON

HENRY “HANK” AARONMVP Player, Perennial ALL-STAR, BATTING CHAMPION, WORLD SERIES CHAMPION, 755 Career Homers, HALL Of FAME Player

“Show Me Someone That Doesn’t Mind Losing, And I’ll Show You A Loser.” — PETE VUCKOVICH

PETE VUCKOVICH (1952-Present) Was (mainly) A Starting-Pitcher In The Major-Leagues From 1975-1986, Playing For The CHICAGO WHITE SOX, The TORONTO BLUE JAYS, The ST. LOUIS CARDINALS, and The MILWAUKEE BREWERS. He Would Start Game 7 Of The 1982 World Series For The BREWERS Against The CARDINALS.

VUCKOVICH Would Notch 32W-10L For MILWAUKEE From 1981-1982, But His BREWERS Would LOSE Game 7 Of The WORLD SERIES That October To The CARDINALS. VUCKOVICH Would Go 8-16 For The BREWERS Over His Next 3 Seasons, Before Retiring In 1986.

“If It Wasn’t For Baseball, I’d Be In Either The Penitentiary Or The Cemetery.” — BABE RUTH

George Herman “BABE” Ruth, Jr. (1895-1948) Honestly, If You Don’t Know Who He Is, You Ain’t Tryin’ Very Hard! 😉

“If A Man Can Beat You, Walk Him.” — SATCHEL PAIGE

LEROY ROBERT “SATCHEL” PAIGE (1906-1982) Possibly The Greatest Pitcher Of ALL-TIME, Tho That Shall Always Remain A Major-League “????” However, By ALL Accounts, He WAS Amazing. PERIOD.

The 1992 PITTSBURGH PIRATES Starting-Rotation: A True Guilty Pleasure, Fo Sho!!!

For The 1992 Pittsburgh Pirates

…Their Starting-Rotation Eventually Consisted Of…

…SIX (6) Quality Starting-Pitchers.

The Funny Part…

…To ME, Anyway…

…Is They Were Truly Betrayed…

…By One Of The WEAKEST-Bullpens…

…For A FIRST- PLACE-Team.

BUT BUT BUT, My Peeps…

I Promise I’m Not Here To Belittle Their Relief-Corps.

I’m Here…

…In ALL Honesty AND Sincerity…

…To Shed Some Light On A Rotation…

…That TRULY Had…

…ALL THE POTENTIAL IN THE WORLD…

…To Simply GO FOR IT!!!

Sooo…

…Let Us Begin At The Top…

…With…

…THE PIRATES’ ACE-Of-ACES…

DOUG DRABEK

Doug Drabek went 15-11, with a 2.77ERA, 10CG & 4SHO in 1992!!!

Doug Drabek would Win 92 Games for Pittsburgh Overall, and was The 1990 NL-CY, going 22-6, with a 2.76ERA!!!

😀

Shall I Continue?

Good.

I Was Hoping You’d Say That.

Next-Up…

RANDY TOMLIN

Randy Tomlin went 14-9, with a 3.41ERA in 1992, but only Pitched for 5 Seasons in The Majors!!!

🙂

I Know, I Know…

…I’m Not Even To The Fun Stuff, Yet.

Our 3rd Starter Of Mention, Is…

ZANE SMITH

Zane Smith was only 8-8 in His 22 Starts during The 1992 Campaign, but Finished with a 3.06ERA, 4CG & 3SHO!!!

😀

The 4th Starter Was A Personal-Favorite…

…Of MY FATHER’s…

BOB “THE FOSSIL” WALK

Bob Walk (aka “The Fossil” as My Father ALWAYS Called Him) was 10-6, with a 3.20ERA in 1992, Notching 1CG & 2SV!!!

Bob Walk would Notch 82 Wins for Pittsburgh, before hanging it up following the 1993 Season… and YES, My Father DOES OWN THAT PIRATES CAP… and STILL Sports His ‘stache!!!

😀

Coming-In At #5 On This Little List…

…Is A Name MOST Of Y’all…

…Who Grew-Up As BASEBALL FANS…

…In The 1980s & 1990s…

…Should EASILY Recall…

DANNY JACKSON

Danny Jackson was only brought to The Pirates for The 2nd-Half of The 1992 Season. He’d Go 4-4 in 15-Starts, with a 3.36ERA!!!

When I think about Danny Jackson, however, THIS is How I Prefer to Remember Him. He had His Best Season For KC in 1985, the Year The Royals WON The World Series, though His Personal-Best-Season came in 1988 while with The Cincy Reds!!!

And…

…Last, But TOTALLY Not LEAST…

…Is Someone Who Hasn’t Been Retired Very Long.

He Was THE PIRATES…

…ROOKIE Pitching PHENOM In 1992…

…And He’s Got A DAMN-FINE…

…KNUCKLE-BALL.

Sound Familiar???

He Should.

He’s None-Other-Than…

TIM WAKEFIELD

Tim Wakefield was a “Rookie Phenom” in Pittsburgh following His call-up to The Majors in 1992. He would make 13-Starts, going 8-1, with a 2.15ERA, and tossing 4CG & 1SHO!!!

Tim Wakefield Followed-Up His BRILLIANT 1992 Campaign with a HORRID 1993 Campaign. He Didn’t Pitch PERIOD in 1994, then landed in Boston in 1995 (and was named The Red Sox Pitcher Of The Year for 1995, going 16-8 with a 2.95ERA) and he remained in Boston thereafter. He Notched His 200th Overall-Victory in 2011!!!

Yeah…

…Well…

…What More Can I Say, My Peeps?!?

The 1992 PITTSBURGH PIRATES

…Were Honestly AND Truly

A Fine Team

With A Fine Rotation

…And…

…Were A TON-O-FUN To Watch.

Sadly…

…In The End…

…They’re Mainly Remembered As Being…

…The FINAL-GASP Of A Storied Franchise…

…That Hasn’t Had A Winning Season SINCE.

THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES

—(((Amended On October 3rd, 2013: Well, Okay, Until Now. Congrats To THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES For Snapping 20+Years Of Hard-Times For Themselves AND Their Fans! Of Course, You Know I’ll Be Rooting For The Cardinals, But If The Bucs Beat St. Louis, I’ll Be Rooting For Them To Go The Rest Of The Way. 😉 teehehe)))—