happy birthday to john buck (the all-star himself).

july 7, 1980, kemmerer, wyoming - greatness was born. and here we are, 30 years later, and greatness is traveling to his first all-star game.

let's be completely honest - none of us saw this coming. even the most devout fans had not considered mr. incredible to be a serious all-star game candidate. even when he was a member of the "we send one player because every team gets to send one player" royals.

who knew that when the royals traded him away to toronto he would receive the 3rd most votes among american league catchers? and sure, he's only getting to play because victor martinez is hurt and the AL needed a replacement. but the reality is that John Buck is traveling to Anaheim this weekend to play in the all-star game. the ALL-STAR GAME. WHAT.

can i add his American League jersey to my wedding registry? or can i start taking up donations so that i can get it? or you could just go buy it for me here? i simply must own it.

back on march 31, i put together a quick blog comparing buck and jason kendall's spring training statistics. for the most part, john was making kendall look like a joke (coincidentally his initials are JK - interesting). kendall was batting .139 to buck's .304. you can read more here.

lets look at their halfway point stats:

buck - .269 avg, .502 slg, 13 hr, 40 rbi.
kendall - .267 avg, .319 slg, 0 hr, 29 rbi.

not even a contest. also, can we look at my season predictions for JB?!

.268 avg, .524 slg, 18 hr, 84 rbi

could he be anymore on pace to NAIL those numbers? i mean literally, do i know my favorite player or what?!

also there are only two catchers on the AL roster. joe mauer and john buck. good company for sure - here's to hoping that john comes in for mauer for some late inning heroics. perhaps a walk-off dinger?! all-star mvp?! ooooooo man - the possibilities! i'll be tuning in for sure.*

enjoy your birthday john. hope your trip to anaheim didn't spoil any vacation plans you had for your birthday weekend. hopefully they added to the festivities.

-ap.

and ps: wikipedia has it listed that buck throws....switch!? i'm researching this

* - i can say things like this now that i have directv. holler.

minimalist star wars posters.

i'm obsessed with these minimalist star wars planet posters.



i will be decorating my new house with these eventually. too bad the size i want are $37.78 a print. but my birthday is next weekend, so if anyone is looking for a good idea...just saying.

-apc.

wall clock.

this is freaking genius. and i want it. too bad it's selling for $2,338. maybe i can make it myself. maybe nick can make it for me for my birthday. nudge.

-ap.

happy john buck day.

happy #29 to johnny b.

the royals are expected to get him back in the line up for his big day. probably a good decision seeing that he has a history of late inning heroics on his birthday.

so here's to you, mr. incredible. may your day be filled with much joy and playing time.

-ap.

EDIT: buck didn't play. consequently, the royals lost on his birthday for the first time in 4 years.

the number 23.

my birthday falls on the best day of the year: march 14. you can argue all you like, but it's the truth. here are just four of the reasons:

1. pi day - ever since i learned how to calculate circumference my birthday has been celebrated in childish math classrooms all over. it's celebrated with cute activities involving circular pies which ultimately result in a delicious key lime snack.


2. spring break - falls nearly every year on my birthday. i have spent more birthdays traveling than i have spent birthdays at home (1 in chicago, 3 in monterrey, 1 in guatemala, and about 12 in oklahoma.) i used to think that i really wanted to have school on my birthday so that i could bring funfetti cupcakes for everyone to enjoy. i was so jealous of everyone else who got to bring treats for the class on their big day. but then i finally had school on the 14th for the first two years of college and was presented with a combined 5 exams, 1 presentation, 1 paper and 1 course project. i quickly realized that not bringing cupcakes was just fine. besides, i didn't have to share them this way.

3. a week after MLB tickets go on sale - the perfect amount of time to buy a ticket package, slap a bow on it and give it as a gift a week later. the royals might as well just post "get adam a 9 game pack for his birthday next week" because what else are people getting gifts for this time of year? easter? spring break? pi day? no. those are not gift exchanging holidays. it is only for people like me who have the good fortune of celebrating their birth with 9 royals games of their choice. (there is no need to rush to the K for me...it's already been done.)


4. conference tournaments/first round of the ncaa tournament - depending on the year. this year the conference championships fall on my birthday. in past years it has been the first round. either way, the hype surrounding college basketball reaches its first of many climaxes on my big day. btw: did you guys SEE that game last night?! if you have to ask what game then the answer is no. one of the best college basketball games of all time. goodness.

also it's my birthday. so i turn 23 tomorrow, and it's good to know that while birthdays become increasingly less exciting as one gets older, there isn't a chance mine can ever flounder. that's a combination for a great day every single year.

-ap.