Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Playing Golf Won't Ruin Your Baseball Swing

During the baseball off-season, many players and fans undergo a variety of workout regimens designed to keep the body in shape prior to the rigors of Spring, Summer and Fall ball.

With snow on the ground and temperatures not conducive to most outdoors activities, heading down to the the Southern states is probably the best way to avoid winter blues and get some low-stress exercise while enjoying a warmer climate.

There's a contention that swinging a golf club will damage one's baseball swing, but there's no scientific evidence to back up the claim, and, in fact, hitting a stationary golf ball off a tee is the perfect alternative to keep hand-eye coordination at a maximum level.

For the sheer enjoyment of the game (why not have some fun while staying in shape?) try some premium golf balls that will play better than what most of us usually use, and maybe, for the home-run hitter in all of us, pick up some specialty distance golf balls and get some real bang out of that driver.

There's no need to be concerned about your baseball swing. A few rounds - or even a couple dozen - isn't going to affect your plate approach, any more than playing squash or racquetball in the off-season would impair a tennis swing.

Be sure not to go by cart unless it's mandated by the course. Walking 18 holes is good low-impact exercise in its own right and the contemplative nature of wandering down a lush fairway is also good for clearing the mind.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Stylish Scrubs a Change for Better

Hospital and medical workers seeking a change from the dull, drab blues that dominate the wearables in their field might do well to point their browsers at the scrubs store operated by fashion-forward Blue Sky Scrubs, the company that is transforming everyday hospital wear into a trendy, stylish fashion segment with work clothes that are attention-getting, comfortable and functional.

Some of the company's latest offerings include scrub hats in a wide variety of custom patterns including florals, polka dots, and geometrical designs and urban cell scrubs in a choice of colors with shirt pockets designed to keep cell phones handy and available for immediate use.

The company offers - on it's easily-navigable, eye-catching website, a complete line of scrubs in a wide variety of styles which can be accessed by following the link below:

http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/

Blue Sky Scrubs offerings of shirts, pants, lab coats, hats and accessories - for both men and women - are not only transforming the look of hospital and medical workers, but are also adding an element of individualism and an escape from the ordinary that is both a fashion statement and morale booster.

Workers feel better when they are comfortable in what they wear, and diversity in the normally sterile, drab hospital environment should be of benefit to patients used to seeing their nurses, doctors and orderlies in the same clothing day in and day out. The time has come for the addition of color, fashion and individuality to the medical scene. It is an improvement sure to evolve into a better workplace.

Monday, December 12, 2011

histories mysteries


This guest post from Lewis Beck

The largest pyramid in Egypt actually lies on the direct center point of the land mass on earth. It lies on top of the intersection of the lines of longitude and latitude. Also, all four sides of the pyramid lines up with the compass- North, South, East, and West. Historians insist that there is no way that ancient Egyptians knew anything about the compass then. History’s mysteries I guess, we will never actually know how ancient people built such wonders. I just hope that it wasn’t aliens!

When Will St. Louis be Competitive Again?

As a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals (as a kid my favorite player was the unstoppable base-stealer, Lou Brock), I was thrilled to see the Cardinals win the World Series.

It was vintage Tony LaRussa managemant, pulling all the right moves at just the right times, and, of course, David Freese had a once-in-a-lifetime Fall Classic, but, now hat LaRussa has gone to retirement and Albert Pujols is headed to the LA Angels, one wonders just how long it will be until the Cards are actually competitive again.

With LaRussa running the show, Cardinals' fans were treated to the very best in on-field management. Tony got the best out of his players and knew how to motivate even marginal guys to heights of greatness. Filling those shoes will be a difficult task for recently-named manager Mike Matheny, currently the youngest manager in the majors.

By hiring the inexperienced Matheny, St. Louis brass is signaling that the Cardinals will be in rebuilding mode, top to bottom, from the scouting staff to the minor leagues. The hiring of Matheny was a dead giveaway that the Cardinals were not serious about paying Pujols $25 million a year.

As it was, winning the 2011 World Series was a season-long struggle and a testament to LaRussa and some of the grittier guys on the team, like Chris Carpenter, Lance Berkman and Yadier Molina. Getting into the playoffs is not going to be easy for the next three t four years, and that's a hopeful prognosis.

The Cards have to find a first baseman, a shortstop and will probably be looking for another catcher to give Molina some rest. Matt Holliday and Berkman may not be around much longer, especially if the team struggles. It goes even deeper: talent-wise, outside of the pitching staff (which will welcome back Adam Wainwright with open arms), the only solid position is third base, where Freese has the look of a perennial top 30 player.

Beyond that, the Cardinals will have to build from the bottom up, make smart trades and hopefully give Matheny some leeway in his managerial style, allowing him to grow into the position.

It looks like the Cardinals won't really be competitive for a few seasons, though at least they play in one of the weaker divisions - the NL Central - and can probably be better than the Cubs and Astros in 2012. Beyond that, it will take exceptional trades, coaching and a large dose of good fortune to get back to the playoffs any time before say, 2015.