Nice to get that out of the way...

Sorry I have been absent the last few days, but I have been busy enjoying some baseball.  If you follow my beloved Daytona Cubbies, you know they got off to a slow start.  Opening Night was an away game at our sister/rival Brevard County Manatees park.  There was a great turn out, the place was packed.  We always love going to Space Coast Stadium.  The staff does an amazing job and we really feel at home there.

The team played well, and made only a couple of missteps, but baseball is a game of inches.  The Cubs outhit the Manatees, but the bats just didn't seem to connect at the needed times.The Cubs lost by one run. 

Game two was the home opener.  I think that it's my favorite night of the year.  The Jack was at capacity.  A sold out crowd.  Before the game they had the presentation of the 2013 Championship trophy. The team owner, Andy Raburn,  was in town as he always is for opening day.

 I got to see many people I haven't seen since September and even saw our close friend Jerry Hale, former Florida State League official photographer.  It was great catching up with him and remembering many players, staff and fans that we have know through the years.

Again, the team played well, but fell by one run.  They seemed to be just a bit off sync, but again no major issues.  Still, it's tough starting the season out 0-2.

The 3rd game was back in Brevard.  A nice crowd, but not as full as the opener.  At this point I want to take a side journey and introduce you to some special friends.  In 2012, the couple who seat in our box section, Tammy and Joey (wonderful people!) gave me a Cubs garden Gnome for my birthday.  I knew we had to find the right name for him and after several worthy suggestions, another friend our ours, Lynne Knowles, came up with the perfect fit.  He was named GNomar.  Last season Gnomar became a regular at the ballpark and the team seemed to play better when he was there.  It wasn't long before he was joined by Gwen's traveling companion, Rufus, the monkey.  When the two of them were in attendance, the team was nearly unstoppable.  I believe they went 30 for 37 at one point in the second half.  Now back to game 3.

While Gnomar was at the home opener, when Rufus joined him for game 3, we knew the magic was back.  The starting pitcher was Tayler Scott, the first South African to be drafted into professional baseball.  He pitched an amazing game, taking a no hitter into the 7th inning.  The bats were definitely alive as well. They D'Cubs combined for 21 hits and 9 runs.  1st rounder Albert Almora went 5 for 6 and Pin-Chien Chen went 3 for 5 with 3 doubles and 3 runs 

We left the ballpark with the knowledge that this is a very special team with explosive talent.  Also with the commitment that Gnomar and Rufus will be at the ballpark as often as we can humanly get them there!

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