Mike O'Connell

No surprises.

That was my reaction when reading the vote total of every single former major leaguer on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. I know it’s easy to say now, but I assure you each player was within a percentage point or two of where I thought he would be. Maddux, Glavine, and Frank Thomas were all well-deserved locks. No surprises. Steriod-plagued candidates such as Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds? Not even close. No surprises. The fact that Craig Biggio was close but didn’t quite make it? No surprise. Biggio’s a Hall of Famer for sure. He’s just not a first ballot Hall of Famer. Sound strange? Well, that’s just how the Hall of Fame operates. No surprises.

Baseball lost one of its great men Sunday when Jerry Coleman passed away at age 89. Coleman was a player, manager, announcer, and combat pilot who saw action in both World War II and Korea. This quote from Bug Selig says it all: Jerry Coleman was a hero and a role model to myself and countless others in the game of Baseball. He had a memorable, multifaceted career in the National Pastime — as an All-Star during the great Yankees’ dynasty from 1949-1953, a manager and, for more than a half-century, a beloved broadcaster, including as an exemplary ambassador for the San Diego Padres. But above all, Jerry’s decorated service to our country in both World War II and Korea made him an integral part of the Greatest Generation.

Full obituary here: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/nyy/san-diego-padres-announcer-jerry-coleman-dies-at-89?ymd=20140105&content_id=66332642&vkey=news_nyy.

Made it!

My public performances are somewhat rare, but this weekend you’ve got the opportunity to see me live and in person in Waterford, Virginia. I’ll be playing at 8 Chains North winery from 2-5 p.m. this Sunday, mostly standards with a few Christmas carols thrown in as well. 8 Chains has just finished some major remodeling and is a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon. So come one, come all, and check out the calendar on this site for some more insider information.

When I was a kid I used to call this day Christmas Eve Eve. Since 1997 it has officially been “Festivus,” the holiday for the rest of us. So gather ’round the aluminum pole, everyone, and get ready to air you grievances; feats of strength will test you this fine Festivus Day.