On the Move

by Tyler Bleszinski on Mar 15, 2007 4:40 PM PDT in News Comment 70 comments

I'm going to continue to try and temper my excitement about King Richard. I mean, that dude could strike out God right about now. If only he wasn't as easily broken as that UPS package in the opening of Ace Ventura.

But instead of chatting about meaningless spring training Ks, I wanted to make a bit of a personal announcement here as I think of AN as my online family (hmmm...does make Nico the weird "handsy" uncle?). But my wife and I have decided to make a major move. We're uprooting our lives in No Cal to the head for the land of beach balls and thundersticks at baseball games. Yes, fellow ANers, I'm moving to Orange County, California.

To make a long story short, we've wanted to move to Southern California since our daughter was born back in January of 2005. My mother lives there, my wife's parents live there and pretty much 80 percent of my daughter's aunts, uncles and cousins all live there, and it's extremely important to us that our daughter grow up close to her family. We want her to be able to have a special bond with her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Since I'm a miserable failure at selling people on the concept of moving their family to Sacramento, we've decided to make the move while our daughter was young and hadn't really developed an attachment to this area.

I'm extremely excited about this move, not merely because our daughter gets to see her family daily and weekly instead of every couple of months, but also because believe it or not, I'm going to be able to actually watch a lot more A's games now. I know, it doesn't make much sense, but between MLB.TV and Extra Innings, I'll be able to see a lot more games on television. Sacramento is in this weird place whereas we don't get KICU, yet they blackout any telecasts on MLB.TV and EI because we're supposedly "in market." It's archaic, it's ridiculous and it's 100 percent MLB logic. Only with MLB can you move 400 more miles away and actually get to see your favorite team a lot more frequently. I will also be flying up to Oakland quite a bit for my interviews and attending games. And of course, I'll be coming up for AN Day.

Yeah, I'll be in the midst of Angel fans, but I just look at it as though I can help lead a contingent of A's fans to Angel games to represent our Green and Gold. Chief amonst those fans? None other than baseballgirl herself. So Cal, brace yourself, you're about to embrace one of the biggest A's fans on the planet. Athletics Nation is everywhere.

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whoa

just stay away from the HH folks.

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Mar 15, 2007 4:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

no kidding, good influence on them or not.

Bud Selig is the bravest, kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

by ak_A on Mar 15, 2007 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you don't stay away, Blez

be sure to bring us back some "panther" t-shirts.

by mikeA on Mar 15, 2007 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

cool!

said with red baseball cap on backwards, rolled up sleeves and arm pumped with fist.....and goes out to rev car engine up to menace neighbors while flipping them off.

Bud Selig is the bravest, kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

by ak_A on Mar 15, 2007 7:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

rev

no pun intended

www.????????????.com...the "launch" is coming soon...or grand opening in brick-and-mortar terms...I'll be all over the DLD the day it's ready.

by Cutthemullet on Mar 15, 2007 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly, just

serendipitous.

Bud Selig is the bravest, kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

by ak_A on Mar 15, 2007 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will pray for you

lost among the heathen. J/K - good luck with the move. Be sure to spread some sabremetric love to Bill Plaschke for us.

"Incidentally, this sort of helps confirm my belief that Mark Kotsay is the perfect "average" player." - FJM

by doctorK on Mar 15, 2007 5:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

socal love

hey, if i can live in socal and rep the huddy jersey at angels games, you can too. welcome to SoCal.

60% of the time, it works every time.

by meaningfuljargon on Mar 15, 2007 5:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I live in Ventura

And will be attending the A's Angels sunday game april 8th. GO A'S!

"E-Lo pitched a whale of a ballgame," A's manager Ken Macha said.

by niallmack on Mar 15, 2007 5:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh ya

And good luck on the move.

"E-Lo pitched a whale of a ballgame," A's manager Ken Macha said.

by niallmack on Mar 15, 2007 5:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good decision

My husband and I have large extended families that all live in Washington State. We visited a few times a year when our girls were growing up and my parents always visited us a few times a year too..but our daughters missed out on so much. Not moving back there is a life regret of mine. Glad to see that you and your family are not making the same mistake.

Good luck but don't go all plastic Halo fan on us ok?

by IM4Oakgal on Mar 15, 2007 5:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

welcome to LA...home of 2nd place LA Angels

Go A's

by As Fan in LA on Mar 15, 2007 5:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

the move makes total sense family-wise

by OaklandSi on Mar 15, 2007 5:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I live in Tempe

and go to ASU, but almost all of my family lives in Union City and Fremont, while my wife's family lives in San Jose. I'm graduating this semester, so we will most likely move back to the bay area so our two year old son can see more of his extended family. I'm looking forward to watching more than 5 A's games per year. By the way, how's the commute in the bay area anyway?

by Steve on Mar 15, 2007 6:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

sucks

by OaklandSi on Mar 15, 2007 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Depends on where you go, what time you go there

"Everyone knows about it, but nobody's heard of it. Oh, it exists." ~ Dan Johnson

by Poppy on Mar 15, 2007 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ASU

Nice to see another ASU guy here! I'm actually moving back down to Arizona in the near future, I actually miss the heat! Hope you've enjoyed your time at ASU as I enjoyed mine there. Do you make it out to many Sun Devil baseball games?

We can be considered David, David knocks out Goliath. -Eric Chavez PT-42

by norcaldevilasu on Mar 15, 2007 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good luck on the move Blez!

And yay for all the frequent flier miles you are going to get while flying back and forth to Oakland! :)

Best of luck to your family on an uneventful move and an easy transition!

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Mar 15, 2007 6:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

take heed lest thou dost bow down to Baal or ..

.. the Heathen Halo gods .. {g} .. j/k hope the move works out ..

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Mar 15, 2007 6:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The Internet Will Set You Free

Your fandom is not limited by geography, Blez. Who knows, maybe now you can finally see the A's on TV or on MLB.TV outside the geographical restrictions?

We know you will keep up the good work from Southern Cal, and hope you still make AN Day 4. Good luck.

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Mar 15, 2007 6:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think that's what paragraph four...

...was all about. :)

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Mar 15, 2007 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Will this be on the test?

Reading comprehension? What?

More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/

by louismg on Mar 15, 2007 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My family is spread out all over

so not being around family is normal for me. I used to visit my Grandma in West Virginia every year, and my Gandmother in Washington before they died.

I have family in Washington DC, Illinois, Washington, and more whom I don't even know scattered everywhere. But mostly in Washington. And I will say this, I think its probably a good thing that my parents didn't stay in Washington after all.

by Zonis on Mar 15, 2007 6:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good luck with the move!

To you and your family.

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Mar 15, 2007 7:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

American Legends

How bitter are you guys about the loss of Zito to a team just across the Bay?

by JMEnglish on Mar 15, 2007 7:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: American Legends

I mean, I bet you guys can't wait for the Bay Series to rock him!

http://www.americanlegends.blogspot.com

by JMEnglish on Mar 15, 2007 7:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BarryZ will probably get polite applause ..

.. from A's fans when he appears in interleague games. Most A's fans aren't barbarians like Yankees fans .. {g} .. and we remember the good times Zito gave us. Also, King Richard if he remains healthy will help us forget about our pitching loss in Zito .. {g} ..

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Mar 15, 2007 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

good luck

good luck on the move. What city in Orange County are you moving to? Do you have something picked out already or are you going to be making the search when you get down here?
Housing market is pretty tough around here right now.

by apilgrim on Mar 15, 2007 7:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If you need a hand with the move,

just ask old "Handsy". What, my reputation isn't sullied enough that you have to call me "Handsy"? Now I'm feeling a bit sheepish. Eh, what else is new?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Mar 15, 2007 9:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I kid because I love

by Tyler Bleszinski on Mar 15, 2007 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I grope because I have boundary issues

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Mar 15, 2007 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I won't bother to list all the

other issues here.

Bud Selig is the bravest, kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

by ak_A on Mar 15, 2007 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, that's big news!

I grew up with very geographically limited contact with my (large) extended family; now I wouldn't know any of my cousins if they passed me on the street. So, as much as I detest SoCal, I think you're making a really good decision and Maya will thrive on it. Good luck! :)

"Everyone knows about it, but nobody's heard of it. Oh, it exists." ~ Dan Johnson

by Poppy on Mar 15, 2007 9:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I passed one them on the street

up here the other day.

Bud Selig is the bravest, kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

by ak_A on Mar 15, 2007 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey

I'll still be No Cal at heart ;-)

by Tyler Bleszinski on Mar 15, 2007 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to judge grammar

but it's NorCal. At least for me. I grew up in Stockton and it's always been NorCal as far as I know. Maybe NoCal is a Bay Area thing.

Hope the move goes well. I came down here five years ago (for music - Stockton's music scene is not exactly thriving) and dig on it alot more than I thought I would. Best of luck to you.

by Scottbass on Mar 16, 2007 12:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

can't say I've heard NoCal either

and nowadays NorCal seems to be tied to those played out stars that people either stick on their car's windows or get tattooed on themselves. I don't know that they're all necessarily proud to be from Northern California, but many of them do enjoy being trendy sheep.

death to myspace!

by malikot on Mar 16, 2007 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

People I've known always call it No Cal

But I guess Nor Cal is friendlier.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Mar 16, 2007 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

When is AN Day? Can I come?

Good luck with your family and plans. When is AN Day? I would like to come. Are we sitting in a group? Where?

by eriklovestheathletics on Mar 15, 2007 9:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sure, you can come!

But your tickets will cost $299.99 ;)

(j/k)

AN Day is usually a weekend game during the summer... hasn't been announced yet this year, but we'll get lots of notice when it's on...

"Everyone knows about it, but nobody's heard of it. Oh, it exists." ~ Dan Johnson

by Poppy on Mar 15, 2007 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

good luck blez & family

fandom-wise, seems like you are heading into the lion's den of halo faithfuls...but i admire the reason behind it: kid/family's sake.

re harden, a couple of spring training seasons ago (I think 05?) he led the cactus league in most Ks. i think 29 Ks or so? ffwd the real season...he was injured and pitched only like 130 or so innings.

i would temper my excitement on rich. he is bad-ass, but until he can suit up pain-free a whole season i would classify him as wood&prior-esque.

by arch on Mar 15, 2007 9:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

not exactly Prior-esque

He's not being demoted to AAA after losing out on the 5th starter spot to Komine and Windsor...that would be Prior-esque.

www.????????????.com...the "launch" is coming soon...or grand opening in brick-and-mortar terms...I'll be all over the DLD the day it's ready.

by Cutthemullet on Mar 16, 2007 1:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

...

(Kennedy would be the 4th starter in that scenario...)

www.????????????.com...the "launch" is coming soon...or grand opening in brick-and-mortar terms...I'll be all over the DLD the day it's ready.

by Cutthemullet on Mar 16, 2007 1:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good luck with the move

Just don't let your daughter become an angels fan

by Cheezombie on Mar 15, 2007 9:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

here's something to ponder

would you rather have your kid grow up to be an Angels' fan, or to not be a baseball fan at all?

I really wouldn't want want Maya to be weeping and muttering "I wish I had never been born" the first time she enters Cisco Field wearing an Angels' hat...

www.????????????.com...the "launch" is coming soon...or grand opening in brick-and-mortar terms...I'll be all over the DLD the day it's ready.

by Cutthemullet on Mar 16, 2007 1:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

welcome!

I live in the OC, too! I just moved here a couple of months ago from Sacramento! representin' the 916 in OC! :)

it's not fun dealing with Angels fans and stuff everywhere, but there are a couple of A's fans here and there. plus the A's come to Anaheim, so there are much worse locations to be. and Oakland is a short flight away!

good luck with your move. sounds like it should be a smooth transition with you already having family here to help, but moving is always stressful.

"Dick Cheney sitting down with Fox News is like Mrs. Butterworth sitting down with the Pancake Channel." -Jimmy Kimmel. (TRADE HARDEN FOR KAZMIR IN '07!)

by Christine on Mar 15, 2007 10:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I/we put up with this for a while...

but I think now's a good time for me to kindly ask that you remove the last part of your sig, heh

www.????????????.com...the "launch" is coming soon...or grand opening in brick-and-mortar terms...I'll be all over the DLD the day it's ready.

by Cutthemullet on Mar 16, 2007 1:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeh we love King Richard - Also ..

.. kindly suggest to apply the Fairness Doctrine to the first part of her sig, heh -- gosh we are really nitpicking here -- j/k j/k folks .. {g} ..

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Mar 16, 2007 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

put up with it?

wow.

"Dick Cheney sitting down with Fox News is like Mrs. Butterworth sitting down with the Pancake Channel." -Jimmy Kimmel. (TRADE HARDEN FOR KAZMIR IN '07!)

by Christine on Mar 16, 2007 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

uh...

yeah. I was kind of joking...

www.????????????.com...the "launch" is coming soon...or grand opening in brick-and-mortar terms...I'll be all over the DLD the day it's ready.

by Cutthemullet on Mar 16, 2007 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

me too

.. hope no one take offense ..

.. the Athletics may be small-market but they have BIG-heart! ..

by Randy Bell on Mar 16, 2007 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to SoCal

Will you now be the Sacramento Blez's of Orange County at Santa Ana?

Or the Bay Area Blez's of Los Angeles at Anaheim?

All things to consider when it comes time to make return address labels.

by ChucklesSD on Mar 15, 2007 10:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Welcome down to the dark side!

from Oakland to San Diego here, the weather is great, the fans suck but it is oh so fun to root for the A's down here! Good luck with the move!

by norcalfan on Mar 15, 2007 10:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to SoCal

Looks like the SoCal meetup just got another member. It'll be good to have another loyal A's fan down here to support the cause.

I like Aloysius Szymanski

by gojohn10 on Mar 15, 2007 10:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

WELCOME TO LA BABY!!!!!

The best place EVER!!! You're going to have a ball, and yes, you'll see WAY more A's games than Sac folk...AND you'll get to come to the SoCal AN days you've been missing!!!!

Now we have 6 or 7 months to enjoy, to cheer, cry, and scream both in frustration and happiness. ~china bob

by baseballgirl on Mar 15, 2007 10:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of which

we need a SoCal AN Day! Who's in?

Now we have 6 or 7 months to enjoy, to cheer, cry, and scream both in frustration and happiness. ~china bob

by baseballgirl on Mar 16, 2007 12:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In like Flynn.

That was the funnest game I've ever been to. And the A's lost; hell, they got swept. Oh yeah, they had also just clinched the WEST.

"robots with way too much intelligence, this chick, a healthy Eric Gagne..." ~cutthemullet

by LAXile on Mar 16, 2007 6:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

two-fer...

And now I get to see both/all of you on my trips to lala..anaheim!! Let's get those September tickets now!!

Don't fall in love or divorce in March or September

by LongTimeFan on Mar 16, 2007 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea SoCal

Nothing against my beloved NorCal. I'm reppin OC from UC Irvine.

The suggestion of an AN day down here is somewhat in the realm of genious. The games here with Baseball Girl last year were awesome (and the card stunts!).

Mr. Garrison: "Does anybody know what a canned food drive is?" Cartman: "Where they cut open the chick to get the baby out."

by GOakland on Mar 16, 2007 1:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

can't say welcome to SoCal

but welcome to life as an NRAF, that I can say...I don't know though, Sacramento's kind of borderline NRAF territory anyway, no?

www.????????????.com...the "launch" is coming soon...or grand opening in brick-and-mortar terms...I'll be all over the DLD the day it's ready.

by Cutthemullet on Mar 16, 2007 1:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sacramentans... Sacramentoans... people in Sacto

are ARAFs (Abused Resident A's Fans). Close enough to be able to drive to an occasional game, but not as many as they want to, and far enough away that they can't get TV broadcast games, but close enough that they can't get mlb.tv webcasts, either.

"Everyone knows about it, but nobody's heard of it. Oh, it exists." ~ Dan Johnson

by Poppy on Mar 16, 2007 6:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's Sacramentans. ;)

And that's a great quote!

by AsGirl on Mar 16, 2007 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

but...

admit it, Blez, now you're wishing the A's moved to Vegas, haha.

www.????????????.com...the "launch" is coming soon...or grand opening in brick-and-mortar terms...I'll be all over the DLD the day it's ready.

by Cutthemullet on Mar 16, 2007 1:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

And Rex Huddler makes you want to pluck your eyeballs out of their sockets with ice tongs. Remember while watching on FSN to turn the sound off. Maybe even somehow get your computer to speak the AN gamethreads out loud with that creepy computerized voice. And don't believe the anti-SoCal bias that NorCalers spout: it's only 67% true! And having family around means more babysitting so you can enjoy the 33% that is really cool about what news announcers (and nobody else) call "the Southland."

"robots with way too much intelligence, this chick, a healthy Eric Gagne..." ~cutthemullet

by LAXile on Mar 16, 2007 7:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

good luck Blez, and carry forth the mission!

I hope you and your family have a successful move down south - I really like parts of Orange County, and I hope you do too.

And I also wish you success in converting as many of those Angels fans as you can.

by nickolai on Mar 16, 2007 8:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good Luck!

Blez, I hope the move is quick and painless. Best wishes to you and to your family. Keep up the great work, and wear that green and gold with pride! It's fun being a out of place fan. We'll have to get together sometime and compare notes since I'm a Lakers fan living here in the bay area.

P.S. I am a big Sharks fan too, but if my boys can't win the Cup, I hope to see Brodeur hold it high one last time.

death to myspace!

by malikot on Mar 16, 2007 8:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My hat's in the ring too

I moved to Dana Point about a month ago. I'm definitely looking forward to getting together w/ some A's fans for games down here. Are there any really good sports bars around? Dana Point doesn't have anything besides hennessy's - which I've been to about a million times already

I'll try not to swear.

by Tony on Mar 16, 2007 10:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Press Pass

It will be a great day when you have a Press Pass to Angel Stadium, and you can look up at REV and smile.

Spreading A's Mojo to the south is a good thing.

by Colorado Fan on Mar 16, 2007 11:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Take care

Blez -

My kids have had the wonderful experience of growing up thus far with grandparents and aunts/uncles/cousins extremely close by, and extended family is a big part of their lives. It's been really nice for them, for me, and for all involved, and I bet it will be terrific for Maya and make you guys happy too.

I hope you'll come up here for AN day 4 though!

Take care,
D

Nothing says fun like Premium Meat!

by lurkerD on Mar 16, 2007 4:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs