It’s April 1st and I start my new job today. As has been the case for most of my professional life, I’ll be watching baseball. Only this time I’ll be watching every game.
How cool is that?
We haven’t even begun. What’s even cooler is that you can watch it with me. For free.
The good folks at MLB.com and Yahoo! have created something called “MLB Full Count” and have kindly asked me to be a part of it. It’s live every day. It streams online and is also available as a free app (find it in iTunes store as “Full Count.” No app for Android, yet).
All you have to do is tune in. We’ll show up-to-the-minute highlights, recaps, standings and take you around MLB for live look-ins of close games, dramatic finishes, historic performances and the like.
We have a team of producers, writers, on-air talent and access to every single MLB broadcast everyday. It’s awesome.
Anyway, consider it an open invitation to join me this summer. I’m getting settled today and Tuesday, but will jump in on Wednesday night for all the fun.
You’ll also find me at events like the All-Star Game, World Series and all kinds of other exciting places. I’ll try to keep you updated on my whereabouts.
THANKS
It would be impossible to adequately express my gratitude to all of you who have been so supportive and kind during my six months of — umm — free agency.
Your good humor, perspectives and supporting words helped smooth over those occasional bumpy moments.
I should mention the food, too. I also owe a lot of lunches to my buddies in the business. Too many to count.
OPENING DAY HISTORY
I read about the Astros opening-day victory over the Rangers this morning. Pretty wild that it also happened to be the 4000th win in the franchise’s history.
In 51 years of National League play — 3999 wins.
As an American League club — a perfect 1-0. What an amazing sport.
More amazing is the fact that the Astros switch to the American League is the first time a team has left the National League — for any reason — since 1899.
Teams have joined the NL over the decades, but none have departed. The Astros move on Sunday was foundation-shaking history.
Like the Cleveland Spiders in 1899.
The Spiders lost 101 road games (NL teams refused to travel to Cleveland to play a team which chose to field a pitifully depleted roster at the expense of attendance). Driven by a bold and creative business plan, Spiders’ owners Frank and Stanley Robison shifted their stars and payroll to other teams. Eventual Hall of Famers like Cy Young and Jesse Burkett (and many others) went from Cleveland to the Robisons’ new team in St. Louis.
The Spiders posted a jaw-dropping 20-134 record in 1899 and that was the end of NL baseball in Cleveland.
Four other NL fanchises folded that offseason. From that chaos was born the Senior Circuit we’ve known since. Expansion periodically bolstered the 8-team league beginning in the 1960s and the Milwaukee Brewers snuck in 1998.
Since the Spiders of 1899, however, the only team to walk away from the NL did so on Sunday night.
I’m sure most fans hope that it’s the last similarity among the Astros and Spiders.
Everybody Reads Raymond 
Dave……good things happen to good people and you are GREAT people! Heartfelt congratulations!
Dave congrats on the new job. Sounds like it should be loads of fun. One comment on your post about Astros “walking away” from National League. I would not call it walking away I’d say the Astros were the first franchise “railroaded” out of the National league – all for the cause of the “greater good” for MLB. U.S. Major league baseball is not really two leagues any more it is one “MLB”. maybe for teh long term good of the sport – but teh blending and mixing starting with interleague play and working all the way through marketing as certainly taken some of team adn league identity away. It won’t be long before everyone is palying with a DH! ~ saddened realist but still a fan.
Thanks. I hear you…not a DH fan either.
Congratulations, Dave! I’ll be checking in online and hoping for an android app soon! Altho the last few months have been difficult for you and your family, it might seem now that the Astros’ disregard for your talents has worked out in your favor, since this new opportunity will give you a much, much bigger “field of play.” I wish you all the best, and hope that you’ll still have time for your blog!
Dave,
Do you believe the Astros “walked away” from the NL? I’ve been believing the story that they had no real choice in the matter…you may have some better info.
Always a little more complicated, but they negotiated an “agreement.”
Great news my friend. Could not happen to a better guy! I’ll be watching and reading. Best luck!
Played bridge with your mom today and she shared your wonderful news. You will be so good at this! Mark forwarded your blog tonight. Love that baseball! Kw
I’m very happy for you Dave. Good luck with the new venture. I’m sure you’ll make it a huge success.
LORD…..we miss you a Brett on the radio! We don’t get to “hear” the games after dark, and we can’t *SEE* them either 😦 😦 😦 The new guys (Sparks/ the other guy??) are so DANG DULL!!!
I’m thrilled that you have hooked up with MLB again! Still, my friend we miss your sparkling voice
on the radio. Keep us up dated on yourself! Thanks! Becky:)
Thanks, Becky! Check out our schedule and tune us in every now an then. It’s fun show: http://sports.yahoo.com/full-count/ We’re usually go live at 7:30pm Central. Anyway, thanks again! -Dave
I miss you not being on the radio here in Houston. I loved the game that you broadcast against the Phillies when you realized that Miss America that you interviewed used to be your neighbor and would pet sit for your family on vacations. Best of luck in your new ventures. You are too good to be away for long.