This won’t be a long post. Its a few minutes after 6 and I have to get into the shower soon. A virus forze up my lap top last week and was unable to write.

I was exhauted everyday I got home after football practice. Our Classic-sort of a dress rehersal- went well and I sense the coaches were pleased. The freshmen and JV squads get games this week. Luckily they’re at home. The opener is Friday against a local rival. It should prove to be quite the civic event.

My classes are smaller, less likley to act up. I’ve noticed a difference in atmosphere. Its been awhile since They were this small – range from 20 to 24.

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The Mets got nothing more than a career AAA player for Billy Wagner thus making it even more clear it was about the money. The Red Sox picked up the remainder of Wagner’s salary and shaved some commitments to payroll while letting go the opportunity to draft highly regarded talent next June. This fact, coupled with the news that the Mets paid out the least amount of bonuses in baseball further demonstrates just how much trouble the Mets are in financially. Only if the Mets show they will spend to bring in a legitimate number two starter and a power bat this off season will they be able to assure their loyal fan base they are serious about winning.

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Its been a nice long summer – one of benefit in its personal renewal. I don’t quite have a handle on what exactly is different though, but maybe the long experinec of another school year will provide answers.

We have a community kick-off today at our stadium. Some Pop Warner teams will play followed my four middle schools. Our three teams – varsity, JV and freshmen will play this evening after being introduced. The band and cheerleders will be there, too. Small town football is a community event.

Like most teachers I didn’t get totally ready for the week. But the first couple of days will be administrative passing out textbook and workbooks, going over my syllabus, etc. The online gradebook system hasn’t been updated enough so I couldn’t do my seating chart yet. Thats best done the first day to help create a learning environment. Hopefully it will be up over the weekend. I might even go in for a little while tomorrow.

My son starts college Monday at a little Methodist school in Tennessee. He’s made himself into quite a good bowler and will do so there. His mom and step dad are taking him there today. Not being part of his life has been a regretful, lonely burden but I’m extremely grateful my ex-wife has done so much to foster our relationship.

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Matt Cerrone offers a fair speculative update on where Jose Reyes is with his hamstring.

My own thoughts are as follows: Like Cerrone I understand Reyes hesitancy. Tom Mckenna once said to always give your athletes the benefit of the doubt. While admittedly hard at times, I will be so with Reyes.

Several reports indicate that Reyes has scar tissue built up in his hamstring. This is both a difficult thing to treat and perform with. I have a player currently dealing with the same from a hamstring injury he sustained last spring. It limits stride and explosive power. A player of Reyes skill set and abilities is significantly limited when such symptoms are present. Everybody is different and some are more likley to develop such scaring than others. The time that is taken Reyes to return is unfortunate but not at all unprecedented.

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With the startling news that the Mets were last in the amount paid out in bonuses to draftees in June, its easy to imagine that moving Billy Wagner will be a financial decision. Will it be that they just let waivers expire and the claiming team just take Wagner and his remaining salary and commitments? No talent in return? Another Alex Rios?

If they end up not moving Wagner, it will be a signal that they may want to keep him. Knowing that Wagner will be on the club next year is an early slotting of salary to a total that by all reports will come down significantly.

What did or did not happen with Gary Sheffield is puzzling when compared to Billy Wagner’s situation. On one hand, its clear that a plan to attempt to move Wagner has been in place for some time. The organization has been on the same page all along. Why put Sheffield on waivers at all if you have no idea what plans you have for him? It must be that the Mets do not have a blueprint for the future because of questions about what will be happening with its top people.

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If I can keep this up, I know I’ll lose count. I think I’ll start counting weekend days as during the summer I forget how much of a lifestyle switch this is. I dream it, too.

Kids have been coming by my classroom to visit all week. Yup, its kept me from getting things done, but I’ve always felt that giving myself is one of those things I need to do. You never really get caught up anyhow. An anal retentive perfectionist would struggle as a teacher.

We seem to be getting a little better everyday at practice. We lost a DT yesterday to a hamstring strain. A very talented back-up quarterback has developed a throwing shoulder problem that I’m concerened about. It bothered him some during the spring and is flaring up now. His sister played soccer for me so his mom is somebody I already know. I left a message for her to call me last night. The back-up center with the sprained ankle has progressed to walking.

We have a two hour faculty meeting today that I’ll miss some of to take care of my injured players this morning. A Science Department Meeting will take place at noon. Not much time to work in my classroom. My back is starting to hurt and I’m grateful for some of the cheerleaders and JROTC cadets for doing all my heavy lifting.

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I’m getting better at getting up in the morning, having put on my pot of coffee at 445.

Tropical Storm Caludette proved to be ,much ado about nothing and provided little rain during the day and a nice breez throughout the afternoon. It was another pleasant day for our 5pm practice. I really like what we are doing by getting kids acclimated to what will prove to be significantly more heat at 230 when school begins next week. Our head coach is really good about getting done by 5 on school days so kids can get home for homework and to be with their families in the evening.

Two of our starting OLs returned yesterday to practice one from heta illness another a bruised shoulder. Getting them the time they needed made all the difference in the world.

We had one classic ATF Grade One sprain where a golf ball immediately appeared over the outside of the ankle right above the bone. If we were making a textbook, it would have been a good one for a photo opportunity. The player’s older brother played her too, so talking to his dad on the phone fairly straight forward. The familiarity that trainer’s have with the families of kids is unique and something that’s not paralleled in health care. High school trainers see their kids everyday. Some like me are also teachers and have additional avenues to establish realationships.

Just the varsity will lift weights in the morning. The rest of the day I’ll have the chance to work in my classroom. I’m trying to rearrange furniture this morning along with getting used to all the new paperwork they’ve decided to give us.

I’ll be teaching just Biology I to freshmen again. Most of my kids will be average to below average learners as advanced freshmen has signed up for Honors Biology, an intensive Biology for medical professionals or an AP Environmental class.

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From Metsblog.

Alex Cora’s a freeking gamer.

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Tropical Storm Claudette didn’t wake me up during the night, but we have a windy, rainy and yes, dark morning. We don’t take these things lightly, but we’ve grown accustomed. School was closed for almost two weeks after Hurricane Ivan in 2004. I welcome the day as someone a warm sunny day doesn’t seem appropriate the first day teachers have to be back.

It’s been a nice long summer and its time to go back. I’ve enjoyed my little life of leisure and being able to spend so much time with my blogging. I really want to continue this and I’ll have to budget time for it somehow. When the JV and Freshman teams starts playing I’ll be getting home later two nights a week in addition to the traditional Fridays. Much of my waking time is taken grading papers and entering items into my online grading system. But it wouldn’t be a diary if I didn’t commit to it.

We’ll get one of our starting OL back today after his heat illness issues. Maybe another one whom bagged up his shoulder on Thursday. I’ll have to pad it first though. I’m putting on two groin wraps right now and everytime I do so, I can’t help but think that its likely to be similar hip pathology of players like Carlos Delgado. Most kids are wearing ankle braces these days and I have yet to tape one. That sure won’t last.

Another rain shower just came through. I wonder what it will be like at 5pm.

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The decision to disable David Wright appears to be universally accepted by Met fans as just the right thing to do. With the season being perhaps the most tragic, David Wright has been the one constant, the one officer left standing at Arhnem Bridge. Wounded at the end, the overwhelming desire is to move the warrior to the rear.

And it is the right thing to do. There will be another year for the man who has now become the face of the franchise and the one fans most want to associate with a championship. Just not this one.

Yes, if he is completely cleared of symptoms after his first Grade I concussion, we can see some at-bats be the end of the season. And I think we will. But now it is time to be prudent – both for Wright, the team and in an odd little way, the fans.

UPDATE: Metsgrrl is just one example

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