#ThrowbackThursday Mets Fan at the Phillies

We love baseball in our family and we love the Mets! With my daughter being in school in Philly, however, it was sometimes easier to go down there to see a game than head to Shea. This is one of those trips. If you ask me, the Phillies Fanatic doesn’t look too pleased to see us in our Mets gear! LOL.

Phillies and Mets

#ThrowbackThursday The Philly Fanatic

Hubby and I went to school right outside of Philadelphia and as it turned out, our daughter chose a college in Philadelphia as well! The first parent’s weekend, we went out for the festivities and who was there: None other than the Philly Fanatic, the mascot for the Phillies baseball team.

This is my daughter with the Fanatic and my hubby photobombing them!
samfanatic

#WriteWed The Boys of Summer & Jersey Girls

I love baseball which is what led me to write two baseball-themed books that you’ll see later in the year as part of the Jersey Girls Contemporary Romance series. I love the strategy of the game. I love that you can be any height or size to play. I love the uniforms, especially on cuties like David Wright.

Last night I got to go to the Mets-Phillies game with my daughter and here are some photos for you! But before I go – It’s also the release day for the Jersey Girls Contemporary Romance Series #1. If you like sensual and emotional stories, I think you’ll like these novels with sexy heroes, smart women, and a glimpse of some very different parts of New Jersey! You can order the box set here:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/JrzGrlAMZUS
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/JrzGrlAMZUK
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/JrzGrlAMZCA
Nook: http://bit.ly/BNJerseyGirl
Kobo: http://bit.ly/JrzGrlKOBO
iBooks: http://apple.co/1DUcYmh

And now, the Boys of Summer, including a live shot of Monday’s Man Candy – Grady Sizemore!

David Wright
David Wright

Grady Sizemore
Grady Sizemore
Matt Harvey
Matt Harvey
My Daughter, me & the 1969 World Series Trophy
My Daughter, me & the 1969 World Series Trophy

More photos you can see at my Facebook Fan Page!

Mets v. Phillies Matt Harvey pitching

Posted by Caridad Pineiro on Wednesday, April 15, 2015

More Mets and Phillies photos

Posted by Caridad Pineiro on Wednesday, April 15, 2015

#ManCandyMonday Grady Sizemore

It’s that time of year when a young woman’s mind turns to thoughts of sexy men in tight baseball uniforms! LOL! Yes, it’s baseball season and my Mets are at .500. Hoping for that and more this year!

Today’s Man Candy is one of the boys of summer: Grady Sizemore. Grady started his MLB career for the Cleveland Indians, but was signed by the Phillies for the 2015 season. Grady is a three-time All-Star choice, has won two Golden Gloves, and a Silver Slugger award.

What do you think? Isn’t he a cutie?

Sizemore_crop
Photo Credit: By cropped and color balanced by KV5 (Talk • Phils)TorynHill (Original version)Killervogel5 (Crop) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Guilty Pleasure Monday – Cole Hamels

I think you guys know I so love baseball and although I’m a long suffering Mets fan, you’ve got to appreciate good players, and hotness, even if it’s on the opposing team.

So today’s Guilty Pleasure Monday is Cole Hamels, the 2008 National League Championship Series and World Series MVP. Cole posted a 4-0 record over the two series and helped the Phillies win the 2008 World Series.

Go Phillies! Yep, when I’m not rooting for the Mets, I root for the National League East team and lately they seem to always be in first.

I’m also thinking of offering you guys a baseball romance that I had written for Kensington, but which didn’t get published because the line for which I was writing folded. What do you think of that idea? Would you like a story about a sexy rookie player and an older female trainer? I’d love to hear from you about that.

Also, the winner of the Summer Giveaway Hop is Anne R. Anne, please send me your postal address so I can ship your LOST T-shirt and a copy of STRONGER THAN SIN.

For night owls, come play with me tonight at Linda Mooney’s Other World of Romance Blog Talk Radio where we’ll be talking about THE LOST. You can click here for the station!

Photo Credit: Matthew [email protected]

Guilty Pleasure Cliff Lee

It’s that time of year when a girl’s fancy turns to . . .

Baseball! So today’s Guilty Pleasure Monday is one of my favorite baseball players, Philadelphia Phillie Cliff Lee. I had so been hoping that the Mets would be able to acquire him, but with their financial issues, Cliff went to the Phillies. Don’t even think the Mets were even in the running to get him, although they sure could use some strong starting pitchers.

How about you? Do you have any other baseball favorites you’d like to share? Like David Wright? Or Jason Werth? How about Mr. Utley?

Photo Credit: © Rubenstein, photographer Martyna Borkowski

Fun Friday – Baseball, the Blues and a Guest Blog!

Doing the Friday Happy Dance even though it’s dark, cold and rainy in New York City. But I’ve got some fun things to chase away the blues today, including some fun talk about baseball and a guest blog (with some giveaways)!

Come visit with me at the wonderful Sia McKye’s Over Coffee blog and let me know if you believe in miracles and the power of love. I sure do!

For regulars to the blog, you know I’m a sad sack fan of the Mets and baseball lover so today’s guest blogger is a special treat for me because of that and because she is a dear friend and this is her DEBUT novel!!

So please welcome Ronnie Norpel who will be telling us about her new book, Baseball Karma & the Constitution Blues. Share the love by leaving a comment on this blog or Sia‘s by midnight EST Sunday, November 7th and you could win a STRONGER THAN SIN T-shirt and copy of any one of my earlier releases – you can choose your own prize!

*****

It is a thrill for me to guest on Caridad’s blog today. She has witnessed and supported my transformation from wannabe to published author—thanks, Caridad!

And, hi, everybody! Caridad assures me that among her avid romance readers are a multitude of chick baseball fans. My book is for them – YOU!

Baseball Karma & the Constitution Blues (Three Rooms Press) is a girl’s tale of love, luck and superstition, and it will keep you warm through the long winter without baseball. I worked for my hometown Phillies for seven seasons and so this story is “steeped in authenticity.” Whereas we could have slotted it under Sports/Philosophy, in a nod to James Frey, my publisher (the terrific Kathi Georges) and I settled on our own category: ficto-memoir.

A big theme of my book is how superstitions are all in our heads, but we perform rituals to try to relieve them anyway. A couple of baseball superstitions I touch on in the book include:

1. Pre-game Routines (p. 24):

The idea behind pre-game routines is to over-control the Ordinary in anticipation of handling the Extraordinary. Just as Einstein’s daily “uniform” of white shirtsleeves and black trousers dispensed with the Ordinary, availing his mind of the Extraordinary, so batting champ Larry Walker’s uniform number 33 paced his playing days: he would set his alarm for 3 past the hour, shower at the 3rd nozzle, and take 3 swings before each at-bat. Their embroidered vestments elevate our big leaguers to priestly status, even as they superstitiously covet their own jersey numbers: Mr. Clemens thought his 21 worth a Rolex, and Rickey H gave Turner Ward 25G for 24. (While John Kruk accepted two cases of brew from Mitch Williams for 29.) Culinary habits are also controlled: Wade Boggs ate chicken before every game. From arriving at the yard at the same time and parking in the same spot every day to wearing the same dirty jockstrap, if that’s what the Church of Baseball dictates, these guys’ll do it. On faith.

2. Adjusting Equipment (p. 125):

Meanwhile, post-game, Blues manager Teddy Mack stood in the middle of the visitors’ clubhouse as the players peeled off their muddy uniforms.

“Fellas, you really stunk it up tonight! I see no concentration in the field or at the plate, and every time we get close, we blow it! Would anyone care to explain this for me?”

Problem is, when you’re losing, there is no real explanation. But they were willing to try.

“Well, Skip, I switched brands of dip when we left on the road trip,” Mark offers.

Mack stared at Ridley.

Jack Black attempted a more traditional guise.

“What he meant to say, Coach, is that we have a young team.”

“We have to make a few adjustments, that’s all.” Doug added analysis straight from the Sports pages, those ‘few adjustments.’

“These guys just have to adjust to the bigs. They’ll be all right,” Tommy said.

“They seem like they’re adjusting just fine, Gunner.” Mack looked at Doug.

“They certainly haven’t been making curfew!”

Doug turned back to his locker.

“Sorry, Skip,” Bobby said, “I got a late call from the coast last night…”

Mack rolled his eyes, when will these boys ever learn?

“…from my mom, she found my old glove! It should be at the stadium tomorrow.”

“As should my order of new bats,” said Jack.

“Don’t forget to spit on ‘em, JB,” Moss muttered under his breath. Moss was a spitter.

“Fellas! I don’t think it’s an equipment problem. Please get your heads into the game!”

3. No Hitter Talk (p. 142):

In the Blues conference room, the front office staff sat in silent vigil sipping coffee. Hugh Sargent contemplated periodic ophthalmia and its effect on batting averages. Blake and Whitley straggled in just ahead of Lloyd Preston.

“I imagine you’ve all read today’s Sports.”

He held up a copy of the Daily View. The headline blared: “FULL MOON FULL GAINER; FULL LOSERS,” and a pair of photos showed the fan in mid-fall and then being stretchered into the ambulance.

The staffers shifted in their seats. Preston went on.

“The suggestion box is officially opens, folks. I’m not throwing in the towel, but we have a real bear on our hands, and at this point, anything goes. Let’s brainstorm.”

Whitley whispered to Blake in the corner.

“I just hope that guy makes it.”

“Shut up, Whitley,” Blake whispered back. “That’s no hitter talk.”

“What do you mean?”

“Will you NEVER get it? It’s like a no hitter in the making: you can hope for it, but whatever you do, don’t talk about it!”

She still looked confused, so Blake paraphrased.

“We ALL hope he makes it.”

***

Now, speaking of No Hitters, it was quite exciting as a Phillies fan to see Roy Halladay throw his no-no against the Reds in the Division Series. But, alas, my Phils did not get their rematch against the Yankees in the World Series this year. That said, I lifted the curse at the beginning of the 2007 season, so it’s only fair some other team got in this year! I gave the edge to the Giants – what with their timely Halloween-colored uniforms. And then there’s that young Tim Lincecum – he’s cute! AND he can pitch!

If you worship at the Church of Baseball and would like to get an insider’s peek – from a female perspective, you will enjoy my book. You can go to www.constitutionblues.com to order an autographed copy (PayPal).

Cheers!
Ronnie Norpel
Visit www.constitutionblues.com to order an autographed copy
or you can click here to order Baseball Karma & the Constitution Blues

Photo Credit: Thanks to Heather’s Animations for the Dancing Girl Gif.