Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 4:35 a.m. in "The City".

The current temperature, which is also our overnight low temperature, is 36° under cloudy skies. There is a brisk wind once again blowing out of the northwest @ 13 mph which makes it feel more like a 28°. 

We still have a Small Craft Advisory in effect along the shores of Lake Michigan from St. Joseph to Manistee, with wind speeds from 15 to 25 knots and wave heights up to five feet. In short, an average sprinter day here in West Michigan. 

Today's high temperature will reach 42° with an overnight low of 31°. In between, the skies will be partly sunny with only a 5% chance of precipitation. Thursday looks like we'll once again touch the lower 50s, but we still have not seen a forecast from the NWS that is consistently predicting the 60s and above. Oh well, that's life in Michigan and since Mary and Ginger like to walk long distances, the cooler temperatures increase their range as long as it isn't raining. The NWS is reporting a current barometric pressure of 30.31" of Hg and rising, while my own DTWS is displaying 29.65: of Hg and falling. 

Today, the sun will rise @ 6:44 a.m. and set tonight @ 8:41 p.m.

I always say that "Baseball Is life!". It is, but right now, my teams are on life support. Yesterday was another 0 - for, as all four of my teams fell to their opponents. 

The 7 - 10 Cubs looked lifeless as they reported that starting RHP Marcus Stroman had a "Quality Start." What the heck does that mean, a "Quality Start?" To me, a "Quality Start" is one that ends up with a W, not one in which the Cubs lost. Of course, the Cubs get 21 runs in a game one day and then their bats fall asleep and they score only one run in support of their starting pitcher another day. I guess that Marcus Stroman would have to be the next coming of Cy Young, under those circumstances, to do much. But, these guys are being paid way too much to be at best mediocre. Either you can or you can't.

At any rate, the Cubs fell 1 - 3 to the 8 - 10 Braves last night. Tonight's game begins @ 7:20 p.m. EDT when RHP Mark Leiter jr., 0 - 1, takes the hill for the struggling Cubs.

My beloved 7 - 11 Red Sox took 10 innings, to fall to the 12 - 6 Bluejays, 5 - 6. At least the Sox had some life in their bats. Tonight's game versus those same Bluejays begins promptly @ 7:07 p.m. in Toronto as RHP Michael Wacha, 1 - 0, takes the mound for the beloved.

The 6 - 10 Tigers and field manager A. J. Hinch actually had the lead going into the bottom of the ninth, but the Tigers' defense imploded as errant throws and bone-headed moves by the fielders led to a 4 - 5 loss to the 9 - 8 Twins. Tonight's game will be played beginning @ 7:40 p.m. when RHP Michael Pineda, 1 - 0, throws for the Tigers.

The 7 - 9 Caps fell to the 6 - 10 Great Lakes Loons last night, 5 - 8. Today's game begins @ 12:05 p.m.

Mary tried out that recipe I gave her for the Amish white bread and I think it turned out great. Typical of all great chefs. she thought it could have been better, with a longer rise. To Mary, it was just basic white bread. But the taste is great, the texture is just fine, and so it made great sandwiches for dinner last evening. She plans to tinker with the recipe a bit and add some whole wheat flour. Fine with me, but I like it the way it is, so I hope she doesn't tinker too much. 

Today looks like another good day for walking with our fur children. I have some indoor chores to do and Mary will be stitching and ear reading. We are both still listening to The Lighthouse Keepers Daughter during meals. I like it a lot. Ciao.