Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City."

We have a current temperature of 50° under cloudy skies, which are forecast to morph into isolated T-storms later this a.m., with an 80% probability. Later, once the high temperature reaches its zenith of 61°, the skies will remain cloudy and those T-storms will become more widespread. The sun will rise into those cloudy skies @ 6:20 a.m. and depart those stormy skies @ 9:02 p.m.

We had a great day yesterday. I played chef in Mary's kitchen as I prepared my latest batch of vegan Italian meatballs and a hammish. Four of the meatballs became part of our luncheon meal along with some of the vegan Irish stew that was thawed after a short stay in our freezer. Both were excellent, if I do have to say so myself. Mary mostly stayed out of the way as I worked. She was busy listening to the latest bad news from our nation's capital.

Later, before we ran some errands and picked up the newly bound carpet for the mudroom. we rolled up the old carpet and Mary washed the floor. I like the look of the custom-made carpet in our newly painted mudroom.

John came by after we came home and had dinner of the hammish and Cole slaw to help Mary lay the new carpet. I was upstairs watching baseball. Surprise, as "Baseball is life!"

Speaking of baseball, the 25 - 15, 1st in the NL Central Cubs fell to the 19 - 24, last place in the NL Central Reds, 5 - 6 in 10 innings. Starting RHP Yu Darvish, threw what is probably his best game as a Cub, recording 11 Ks and no walks. Sadly, he didn't get the win, but fortunately he didn't get the loss, as that "honor" went to RHP Brad Brach in relief. The lone bright spot was the 2 run homer by Addison Russell. Tonight's game against the Reds will commence @ 6:40 p.m. EDT as LHP Jose Quintana takes the mound against the Reds RHP Luis Castillo. Backup catcher Victor Caratini may be activated from the DL today too.

My beloved 23 - 20, 3rd place in the AL East Red Sox fared better, as they slipped past the 20 - 22. 4th place in the NL West Rockies, 6 - 5 on the strength of rookie Michael Chavis' 1st walk-off game winner that plated the X man, Xavier Bogaerts, with the winning run. Chavis has been playing 2nd base while regular 2nd baseman, Dustin Pedroia, has been on the DL. When Pedroia returns, Chavis will be relegated to another role, but where? He is too hot at the plate since his call-up and that is going to make a decision for Sox manager, Alex Cora, very difficult.

The Sox got a great start from RHP Brandon Workman for the win and hung the loss on LHP Chad Bettis for the Rockies. The Sox and the Rockies play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m. as RHP Rick Porcello takes the hill for the Sox against the Rockies own RHP Gerritt Cole.

The 18 - 23, 4th place in the AL Central Tigers, are looking  like the team we expected, as they fell to the 29 - 15, 1st place in the AL West Astros, 1 - 5. RHP Justin Verlander, 7 - 1, was victorious over the Tigers rookie LHP, Gregory Soto, 0 - 2. How long will Soto last in the big-leagues? That depends on how well the Tigers other pitchers recover from their various injuries. The Tigers and the Astros play again tonight @ 7:10p.m., as RHP Spencer Turnbull, takes the ball against the Astros RHP Chris Bassitt.

The 16 - 21, 6th in the MWL East, Caps, just can't get it going, as they lost once again to the 17 - 21, 5th place Lansing Lugnuts, 6 - 7. The Caps are home @ the Fifth/Third Ballpark tonight to face the 21 - 14, 1st place in the MWL East, Great Lakes Loons @ 6:05 p.m.

Today our plans call for us to stay in until our chiropractic appointment this afternoon. I want to get in some time with the girls and also do some coloring and/or drawing. I will probably do some indoor chores too. We also have to make some hotel reservations for an upcoming trip. Ciao.