The ALDS and NLDS begin next week ~ Take me out to the ball game!

Seeing as though I spend a lot of time traveling, I'm excited about the MLB post-season.  Specifically, I'm anxiously awaiting to "final" ALDS and NLDS match-ups so I can determine where I want to go and how much time (i.e. if any) I want to take off of work.  It's been a long time since I've been in a city where there's post-season baseball.  Lately, I've been spending a lot of time in Minneapolis, and I'm excited to head to Target Field for game 1 of the Minneapolis Twins series.  From what I can see, Game 1 of the ALDS is Wednesday, October 6.  I cannot wait.

Moreover, as an Ohio girl, I'm thrilled to see the Cincinnati Reds are in the NLDS hunt. I haven't been to the new ballpark in Cincinnati yet, but I have fond memories of going to the old Riverfront Coliseum as a kid and listening to "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang while fireworks peppered the sky (i.e. if the Reds won).  When I was younger, my mom was strict.  Now I'm older, but let's face it ~ she's still strict.  She's so strict that she wouldn't let me watch the Cincinnati Reds when they were playing the Oakland A's in the 1990 World Series.  I was forced to listen to the games on the radio!  On the radio!  Yes, RADIO!!!  I couldn't believe it...  LOL.

Regardless, I bet a classmate of mine (i.e. Aaron Howard) that Oakland would win.  I couldn't believe he'd picked Cincinnati to win it all, considering the Reds were the underdogs.  Needless to say, I lost my bet.

Years ago, I ran into Pete Rose in Las Vegas.  He was more than gracious and knew exactly what I was talking about when I told him where I was from.  Scandal aside, I found him to be a reasonable guy to chat with as he autographed a photo for me and posed for pictures.  I know he's in Las Vegas often.  Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Keep the jokes to yourself.  I'm from Ohio.  Pete Rose will always be special to me, and if I had a vote, I'd use it to vote him into the Hall of Fame.  If you ask me, he belongs in Cooperstown.  He's the "Hit King".

Well, mom.  I'm a BIG kid now, and you better believe that schedule permitting I'm going to be at a game or games this MLB post-season...  But I must admit, there's nothing like listening to the games on the radio... 

If you're curious and want to see the current MLB post-season schedule, here's a link: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp?y=10

For those of you Reds fans that want to re-live the good old days.  Here you go.

THE WIRK