CO-D CO-D

This is mostly a sports post so those of you who hate or just don't follow sports can hit next blog button and you won't hurt my feelings. However it is also a story about redemption so I hope you stay around.

I have previously said what a big Florida Marlin baseball fan I am . It is hard to be a Marlin fan sometimes. The Marlins have a very small budget so all they can basically afford are rookies who are ineligible to arbitrate their salaries.

These unproven young men are content to play for the minimum in the big leagues and for fun. Even with a plate overloaded with rookies and a low budget, we have still managed to win two world championships in our short history.

What makes it hard to be a Marlin fan is that as soon as the rookies get good and can demand more money, we trade them off to other teams. When we won the world series, it was a fire sale to get rid of our players. I barely recognized our team the next year.

Sometimes I feel we are the farm team for Major League Baseball. I'm sorry but I get attached to my boys. Winning is fun but not vital. I just like to see the youngsters do their best and not get hurt. I don't have children but do have a strong “mommy “gene.

I wrote earlier this year about my favorite player, Cody Ross. Cody is a superb center fielder who can hit the ball out of the park with ease. He is small for a player, only 5'10” and is bald as a cue ball. I never minded bald, it is come overs that get me. He does have a killer grin which makes one forget all about hair.

Cody had played with us for several years and was actually making a decent salary. He was a fan favorite and a team favorite. His teammates really liked him. Whenever he came to bat, the crowd would chant, “Co-D Co-D. “ I would also chant that on the couch much to my pets dismay. They weren't fond of Cody at all. He interrupted many a peaceful snooze.

Well towards the end of the season, the Marlins knew that Cody could ask a pretty good price after the year and they had a rookie they could plug into his position for a fraction of his salary. So they put him on waivers which meant any team could pick him up just to pay his salary.

He was picked up by the San Francisco Giants, not because they wanted him but just so their rivals, the Padres could not get him. First your team doesn't want you then the team that gets you doesn't really want you either, they were just playing “keep away”. Personally, that would have sunk me.

As long as my team was still playing, I lost track of Cody but I missed him. Then when the Marlins did not make the playoffs, I scouted teams that had the most former Marlin players to root for till the end of the season. Most major league teams have at least one former Marlin player on their roster. We trained them well. Cody's adopted team, the Giants won their division and made the playoffs though he did not get to play regularly. I mean they really didn't need them did they?

Well he did what he was asked and then some, never griping about more playing time. The other night, I got to watch the Giants play the Phillies in the play offs for the National League championships. Cody got the start since he had kept proving his value, bit by bit when ever he got a chance.

First at bat in the Phillies game, Cody hit a home run to give the Giants the lead. This was against the best pitcher in the league, Roy Halladay who has all ready pitched a perfect game plus a no hitter this year.

Pretty sure they heard me yell “Co-D”. All right----old lady fist pump !!! Was that enough? Naw, second time up, he hit another home run. Two in one game. Not bad for an unwanted guy. Now everyone is talking about Cody Ross.

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Here he is after the game with all the sports writers wanting his words. Man of the hour.

Possibly the best thing to happen to him career wise was being dumped by the Marlins. There he was definitely not a house hold name for the team was not an important one. Now on the big stage, people are looking at him like he has just been discovered. What is that about " one door closing and another opens".

Persevere, ignore rejection and you can succeed. Pay attention little leaguers. Fine example Cody Ross and am glad you are getting the attention you deserve. Bring home a championship ring and flash it in the Marlin's faces.

Had I raised the boy myself, I couldn't have been more proud.