Beau playing ball again!

This is a follow up on a blog I wrote a few days ago about one of my favorite minor league baseball players Beau Torbert. Beau was an All-Star in 2006 at Salem in the Carolina League and in 2007 in the Texas League at Corpus Christi. Torbert also played last year in AAA Round Rock. My earlier blog stated Beau had been released by the Astros organization.

Beau will continue to play ball, signing April 1st with Sioux Falls Canaries of the independent American Association league. Here is a link to the news from the Canaries website. No, it is not the major leagues which Beau inched closer too last year moving thru AA and into AAA. AAA being the last stop before the Majors. The move is not into organizational ball and is probably a step or two down from where he was playing last year. However, it is a job playing the game he loves to play. The chance still exist someone in organized ball will pick him up. His dream is still alive. He gets to play and stay in baseball shape. Beau also gets a chance to prove to people he can play!

The issue isn't Beau can't play the Astros admitted he can. They just didn't have a place for him. The signing of Reggie Abercrombie, who has some major league experience I believe and Yordany Ramirez who is on the 40 man roster didn't leave much room in Round Rock. Victor Diaz and Nick Gorneault filling in as the other two outfielders in Round Rock. In AA Corpus Christi the Astros needed to move up prospects Mitch Einertson, last years Carolina League MVP and highly regard Eli Iorg. Hopefully, a spot will open up for Beau with an organization which gives Beau a chance to play.

RE: Jayhawks Champions, Hockey Playoffs

Congrats to the Kansas Jayhawks for winning the Men's NCAA Basketball Championship game in Overtime against the Memphis Tigers. A great game between two great teams.

So what's up next in sports? Well there is the Woman's NCAA Basketball Championship game tonight featuring the powerful Tennessee Volunteers against the Stanford Cardinal.

The NHL Playoff seeding is set! The Montreal Canadians are the top seed in the East and they will face the Boston Bruins in the first round. The Pittsburgh Penguins are the second seed and they will face the Ottawa Senators in the first round. The Washington Capitals are back in the playoffs, as the Southeastern Division Champs they will face the Philadelphia Flyers. The New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers will face off as well. A lot of great rivals meeting in the East in the playoffs. Only 10 points separate the 8 teams in the East so the playoffs should be wide open.

In the west, the Detroit Red Wings will face the Nashville Predators, the San Jose Sharks will meet the Calgary Flames, the Minnesota Wild will meet the Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks will face the Dallas Stars.

The NBA will soon conclude it's season. 12 of the 16 playoff spots are taken and four remain open as the NBA season goes down the stretch.

RE: The Dance Ends Tonight

The "Big Dance" Ends tonight, with the 2008 NCAA Men's Championship game between the Memphis Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks. This should be a great match up and a game I hope to get to watch. The tip off is a little late starting at 9:21PM.

You can read my preview and prediction here.

Hopefully my prediction is better than the predictions I had for the Final Four. Needless to say my brackets were finally busted. However, at least I predicted the Final Four correctly. This year's Dance was pretty exciting with Davidson reaching the Final Four and knocking off Gonzaga, Georgetown, Michigan State and Wisconsin along the way. That is what makes March Madness the best, when little teams no one expects pulls off the big upsets. Who would think Memphis would go 38-1 and the Conference USA Champions would be playing for the National Title? I'm sure the Memphis Tigers fans did. You can't argue the Tigers belong, they had a lot of quality wins and they backed it up in the tourney.

Tonight is college basketball's big night, if your a fan enjoy it.

RE:Favorite Minor Leaguer Released

The Houston Astros released Beau Torbert(Wallace Torbert). Beau was an outfielder who saw action at Corpus Christi (AA) and Round Rock (AAA) last year. I met Beau when he was playing for the Lexington Legends. I was having breakfast with my family and Hunter Pence. Hunter asked if Beau could come with us and we said yes. The rest was history, we would have a meal with Hunter and Beau anytime Lexington was in town. Of course Beau and Hunter made me feel real short, Hunter is 6'5 and Beau is is tall too. My stepson would always give Beau a hug after the games. Beau was a great guy( still is we just haven't seen him for around since he was playing in Texas).

I'm sure it was bad news to his ears when he was cut. We saw Hunter at Spring training and he said Beau had added a lot of muscle. I'm sure he had put in a lot of work getting ready for the season. Hopefully someone will pick Beau up. Hopefully a team which will let him play everyday. He is so much better when he plays regularly, there is a huge difference.

I know baseball is business and they had no room for him. Someone else is getting a shot. It is just a bad break for a friend. Adding a little John Fogerty to the youtube section in honor of baseball season starting, put me in coach I'm ready to play.

RE:Fishing Trip Lost

Tuesday, I was supposed to go deep sea fishing with my Dad. I was going to take him on a head boat (party boat) out of Saint Augustine, Florida. Reservations were made. I was happy about the chance to catch some snappers, groupers, red fish and cobia. Spending time on the water with my dad would be nice too. Going through the waters he probably passed through on his Navy days. I was ready to go. Had it all planned out, figured we would grill our catch in my Dad's backyard. Monday, I got the call. A cold front had gone through the area and the boat was not going out on Tuesday.

Some day I might get another chance. I'll probably wait a month or so and take a trip out on the bay. However, spot and croaker won't quite be the same.

RE: Spring

The rain storms have passed, blue skies have returned! I'll be heading south for a little while, going to Florida. It will go by quick and we are driving. So the R&R part might not be that great. I'm trying to work out some plans to make the trip pretty fun. However, I'm not going to mention them since I don't want to jinx it. I'm driving since I'm a family of 4 now and it should be more economical then flying. This may not be the case for long as gas prices keep going up and up!

RE: Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Today is the day everyone loves to drink green beer. I'm sure Guinness sales are up across the world today. I prefer Smithwick's. Today is the day everyone is a little Irish. Shamrocks are in today! Wearing green is for self defense so you don't get pinched. Everyone has the luck of the Irish today. Notre Dame has more fans today.

U2, the Corrs, the Cranberries are the music on the radio. Maybe all these things are just an illusion.

However, Happy St. Patty's day to all!