Ramble On ... Get Ready for some Baseball?

News Item: USA Baseball Issues List of Players Interesting in Participating in the World Baseball Classic:

MLB.com's Barry Bloom filed a story to list the players 'interested' in participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Looks like a very interesting list of players and a formidable team for the USA. However, the beauty of the tournament will be showcased when fans from Puerto Rico and The Dominican Republic show their passion for the game and the support of their national teams. Here's Bloom's take on the US roster:

Team USA roster taking shape
Peavy, Lackey, Oswalt lining up in rotation for '09 Classic
Barry Bloom / MLB.com
Team USA's roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic started last month with Derek Jeter of the Yankees as the starting shortstop and Davey Johnson as the manager.
Now with provisional 45-man rosters due in a week, the remainder of the tentative roster is starting to take shape, with San Diego's Jake Peavy returning as a starting pitcher from USA's 2006 Classic team, joined on the staff by the Angels' John Lackey and Houston's Roy Oswalt. Jeter, the Angels' Brian Fuentes and Scot Shields, the Braves' Chipper Jones and the Twins' Joe Nathan are also returnees. American League MVP Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox is the starting second baseman.

On Friday, USA Baseball announced 22 players who have made commitments to play in the second running of the tournament, which begins in Tokyo Dome on March 5 and ends at Dodger Stadium on March 23. In addition, Reggie Smith will be the batting coach and Marcel Lachemann will serve as the pitching coach.

"The excitement shown by the players to participate in this event has been incredible," said Paul Seiler, the executive director and chief executive of USA Baseball. "This is still far from a completed process, but we're thrilled with the commitments to date."

Jeter said last month that early doubt changed to exhilaration as the 2006 tournament went on.

"I think when the World Baseball Classic first started there was a lot of skepticism, especially on behalf of the players," he said. "No one knew if it was going to work and no one knew if they wanted to play and if it would take away from the season and Spring Training.

"Then when we had the opportunity to get on the field, every player to a man was so excited to represent that country. Obviously, I have not had an opportunity to represent our team in the Olympics and this is the closest I'll ever get. But there is a lot of pride there."

Jeter and the rest of what could be a 28-man roster will report as a squad under Johnson on March 2 in Clearwater, Fla., the spring home of the defending World Series champion Phillies. The Americans' first game in the tournament is March 7 against Canada at Toronto's Rogers Centre. They play in Pool C along with Venezuela and Italy.

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Allman Brothers announced a set of dates for their 2009 concert series at the Beacon Theatre. March at the Beacon is the best. I hope to get to at least one show. The 2008 set was cancelled as Gregg Allman fought off Hepatitis C. Back to the Beacon for the ABB and one of my favorites, Derek Trucks.

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News item: The Pandora's Box of issuing credentials opens again....

This item ran on The NY Times site on Friday:
Three bloggers who had sued New York City after the Police Department denied them press credentials because they work for online or nontraditional news outlets were issued credentials on Friday after the police relented, the bloggers’ lawyer, Norman Siegel, said.

The three men — Rafael Martínez Alequin, Ralph E. Smith and David Wallis — filed a federal lawsuit in November asserting that they were denied press credentials in 2007 “with little explanation or opportunity for appeal.” They argued that the system for issuing press credentials was “inconsistent and constitutionally flawed.”

Mr. Siegel walked out of 1 Police Plaza on Friday morning with the three men, who were issued press identification cards, one of the types of press credentials issued by the Police Department. Mr. Siegel sad he was delighted with the outcome, but he vowed to continue the lawsuit, saying further reforms were needed.

TL View: Just where do you draw the line on issuing working media credentials and/or access? Many of the bloggers are legit but there comes a time and place where working conditions and working space for media is limited and organizations must limit the number of people who have access. Alternative ways to provide access, such as teleconference calls or video calls provides some relief but it does not aaddress every situation.

Whether it is the White House briefing room, an NBA All-Star or playoff interview room or normal day-to-day access at a local police department, there has to be some system or limitation for access. The argument of "inconsistency" seems to be issue to focus upon as I am not sure the US Constitution can be the barometer to decide access for The Huffington Post, TrueHoop or The Boston Sports Guy or some first time blogger.

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News item: Honoring the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday:

President-elect Obama is calling for US citizens to celebrate the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday by honoring Dr. King and their community with a day of service.

From Saturday's Washington Post:

"With the holiday falling the day before his Jan. 20 inauguration, Obama is seeking widespread volunteer initiatives across the country, such as serving meals to the homeless, cleaning schools and neighborhoods, or helping disadvantaged youths and the elderly.

Colin L. Powell, an honorary chairman of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, announced the "Renew America Together" initiative yesterday. He said he hopes the enthusiasm surrounding Obama's election victory will inspire Americans to finally meet the holiday's promise.

The federal holiday, first observed 23 years ago, has never settled into American traditions, such as parades on the Fourth of July or family dinners on Thanksgiving. In 1994, Congress designated it as a National Day of Service and even created a federal agency to oversee it. But the service day -- tied to King's birthday, Jan. 15, and inspired by his words that "everybody can be great because anybody can serve" -- never quite caught on.

Obama, who will become the nation's first African American president, plans to take part in Washington area activities along with his family, although details were not announced. Powell, who made history himself as the first African American secretary of state, has long promoted volunteerism."

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News item: First Lady in Good Hands.

I was very happy to see this appointment and have nothing but good things in the file about Ms. Johnston:

Camille Johnston, who was the Dodgers' spokeswoman from 2005 to '07, recently was named special assistant to President-elect Barack Obama and director of communications for the incoming first lady, Michelle Obama.

-- Bill Shaikin