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Results tagged ' Boston Red Sox '
Rangers' Anthony Ranaudo tweets interest in pitching for Team Italy in response to prayer to Saint Anthony
One should never underestimate the power of prayer. Saint Anthony has miraculously helped believers find lost things and people when all else has failed. So when the Texas Rangers selected 6-foot-7 right-hander Anthony Ranaudo out of New Jersey's Saint Rose High School in the 11th round of the 2007 draft and failed to sign the promising Italian American pitcher, they looked to Saint Anthony to bring him to Arlington. After eight years of intensive prayer, the Rangers acquired Ranaudo in January from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for lefty pitcher Robbie Ross. The miracle worker Saint Anthony was once again called upon over two years ago when prayers went out for divine intervention for Team Italy prior to the start of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. When hitting coach Mike Piazza had successfully recruited Cubs' slugger Anthony Rizzo to join la squadra azzurri, it was time to pray to the great Saint Anthony to find the "missing" Anthonys to complete the Italian roster.
A simple tweet exchange two years ago could very well be a blessing to Team Italy from Saint Anthony should Major League Baseball allow franchise players to participate in the 2015 Premier 12 Tournament in Japan and Taiwan. With Ranaudo's positive response echoing his desire to pitch for underdog Italy, Italian MLB Academy director and Team Italy pitching coach Bill Holmberg can possibly bolster his pitching arsenal alongside Braves' All-Star reliever Jason Grilli, Blue Jays prospect Tiago Da Silva, Diamondbacks prospect Tim Crabbe and former Cubs' minor leaguer Alessandro Maestri. Coach Holmberg deserves credit for Team Italy's upset victories over Mexico and Canada in the 2013 WBC. By keeping some of MLB's finest hitters guessing what was coming their way next when calling for a slew of off-speed pitches from the dugout, many big names including Adam Jones (.167), Carlos Beltran (.143), Alex Rios (.125), Giancarlo Stanton and Joey Votto (.000) never felt comfortable at the plate.
Patience has always been a virtue for Ranaudo. Instead of signing with the Rangers out of high school in 2007, he played baseball at Louisiana State University, where he was third in NCAA strikeouts and led the LSU Tigers to become 2009 National Champs. Four years after being chosen by Boston as a supplemental first-round pick in the 2010 draft, he made his MLB debut with the Red Sox last year and won four games with a 4.81 ERA in seven starts. Ranaudo started the 2014 season at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he compiled a 14-4 record and was voted the International League's Most Valuable Pitcher. Anthony is currently competing at Rangers Spring Training Camp in Arizona for an Opening Day roster spot as their number five starter.
Game Over: France manager and former All-Star closer Eric Gagne weighs in on the Dodgers, Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza and European Baseball
#GameOver: pic.twitter.com/3xSRTfgIcE
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 5, 2014
On the Dodgers chances in the playoffs: "They can win it all with their starting pitchers they got. I mean they have got a lot of guys, especially with Kershaw. He goes out there, it's pretty much lights out every time. You know in the playoffs you need two starters…they have six! They are going to be good. Their bullpen was a little shaky for a while, but they pitched a lot of innings. I think they've made some good moves. I think the Dodgers are the favorite team for me. Of course, they are my favorite. I played so many years in the Dodgers minor leagues, and I was only in Boston for four months. I was good in LA and never got a ring. But I was terrible in Boston, and I got a ring. So I can't complain. I was lucky."
On Derek Jeter's retirement: Number 2!!! That's pretty simple. He's done everything in the game you can think of. A lot of people were wondering five years ago if he was done. Just to have him around in the clubhouse and having his attitude is amazing. He's done so much for the game. Everybody knows it. If you go to France, people know Jeter. There's over 10,000 people playing so it's really, really good. He's the Jordan and the Gretzsky of the sport. It's cool to see a guy like him. It's not like he just hits home runs. He's just a winner, and he's won everywhere he went. It's good to see him retire on top. It's awesome to see him go out with the Yankees."
Team #France coach Éric Gagné wants French kids to get excited about baseball. @France24_en's full web report Monday pic.twitter.com/8cwXPg74eX
— Joseph Bamat (@josephbamat) September 5, 2014
On growing the game in Europe along with Team Italy coach Mike Piazza: "It's in our blood. We certainly aren't doing it for the money…that's for sure. It's just fun. It's fun to watch guys get better, listen and learn. For us that's what I guarantee Mike loves about it. The kids learn…you can tell and see improvement every day, every single at-bat. It's very rewarding and for us baseball is our life. For me it is, and I'm sure it is for him too. He's a catcher. They are aware. They love to control the game and stuff like this. And I love baseball."
Exclusive Interview: Former Team Italy/MLB pitcher Dan Serafini at home in the Bullpen
While pitching for Team Italy in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, lefty Dan Serafini began his 22nd season playing as a pro in America, Canada, Japan, and Mexico. With 104 MLB appearances for the Twins, Cubs, Pirates, Padres, Reds, and Rockies under his belt, the bullpen has always been a second home for the Twins' first-round draft pick of 1992. So when when it came time for the San Francisco-born Serafini to choose an appropriate name for his new sports bar located close to the family home at 5215 Vista Blvd. in Sparks, Nevada, it was simply a case of serendipity that he call it The Bullpen at Aspen Glen.
The bullpen at aspen glen come drink kids pic.twitter.com/RxiOO0c8GJ
— Danny serafini (@dannyserafini) June 16, 2013
Dan Serafini has been one of the Bay Area's hometown heroes since the early nineties. In his senior year at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, the southpaw pitcher was on every MLB scout's radar after going nearly perfect (11 wins and 1 loss) and setting a single-season school record of 149 strikeouts. In his two seasons playing varsity for the Padres, he went 20-2 with a 1.70 ERA and 271 strikeouts. Perhaps the most appropriate way to leave a legacy that overshadows the numerous accolades that other notable Serra alumni have achieved during their high school campaign, Serafini was named to every All-Star team conceivable including: AII- WCAL, AII- County, All Peninsula, and All Northern California.
He was the 1992 WCAL, County and Peninsula Co-Player of the Year in addition to being named the San Mateo Times County Athlete of the Year.
Roberto: San Mateo's Junipero Serra High School has been known to produce their share of athletes including Barry Bonds and many sports legends. While covering the Australian Baseball League, I learned that Brisbane Bandits' Chuck Lofgren pitched at Serra High School. Having also played there, how does it feel being surrounded by a strong Bay Area professional athlete fraternity at Serra?
Dan Serafini: Serra High School is a great baseball facility and just a great school to go to. We had a lot of great players: Jim Fregosi, Dan Frisella…even some football players: Lynn Swann, Tom Brady. We have quite an athletic history. Some really good baseball players like Gregg Jeffries have come out of my school.
Roberto: Team Italy slugger Chris Colabello followed the same minor league path to MLB playing for Double-A New Britain RockCats. While you played there, you were named to the 1995 Eastern League All-Star team after going 12-9 with a 3.37 ERA.
Dan Serafini: That was a long time ago. I can barely even remember that. At New Britain, Chris got to play in the new stadium. I played in the old Beehive Stadium, which was more like a high school stadium with a trailer park locker room. I had a good year that year, and it got me a call up to Triple-A before the season was over.
Dan Serafini: It was not an easy team to pitch against for my first time playing in the big leagues, but it was a great memory. It was kind of funny.
The Twins wouldn't let me into the locker room before the game. They didn't want any animosity in the locker room because they hadn't sent anyone down (to Triple-A) yet. I had to stay in a hotel and then on game day I got to show up right before the game started so that I could get ready to play. It wasn't the greatest experience, but it was still a good experience. I got to the big leagues!
Roberto: At least it was a home game when you had to face the intimidating New York Yankees.
Dan Serafini: Although it was a home game in Minnesota, it was still intimidating. It was the New York Yankees—no matter where you are playing them, they are intimidating. Crowd factor definitely helped. I had the crowd on my side. I loved Minnesota. It was very supportive. I had a great time.
Roberto: You also had some more playing time with the Twins in 1997 and 1998. Was it rewarding for you?
Dan Serafini: It was. I got a very brief opportunity with the Twins. You know, going back from starting to the bullpen and starting and bullpen. I was never really able to fill my niche with the Twins. It was fun. It was rewarding. I'm a Major League Baseball player. There is nothing more rewarding than that.
Roberto: The Chicago Cubs bought your contract from the Twins on March 31, 1999. You made four starts for the Cubbies and put together a 3-2 record in 42 appearances with a 6.93 ERA.
Dan Serafini: The ERA was kind of high, but in my defense I actually pitched really well until the all-star break. I think I only had a 3 or 3.50 ERA up until the all-star break. Then my big
league pitching coach, Marty DeMerritt, wanted me to become a left-handed specialist and drop down sidearm and start pitching sidearm only. So I did that, and it completely screwed up the whole rest of my season. I was walking everybody, giving up all kinds of hits and just all kind of happened. I can't blame him. He was just trying to help me out, but to change your pitching mechanics in the middle of the season… It's really hard to make an adjustment to big league hitters. It hurt me pretty good.
Roberto: In the 1999 offseason you were traded to the San Diego Padres and pitched in three games in 2000. How did it feel to come back to your native California to play pro ball?
Dan Serafini: I was there for a long time. I didn't get many opportunities.
I was mostly like a chess pawn. I just kind of sat in the dugout. I'd go a week straight without pitching in a game.
I didn't get as many opportunities as
I would have liked to become a better player than I am today. San Diego is beautiful, and I'm from California–even though it's Northern California where I'm from. Southern California is a beautiful place. I guess I had more fun there off the field than on the field.
Roberto: After being traded to Pittsburgh and playing for the Nashville Sound, you had a 4-3 record with a 2.60 ERA before the call up to the Pirates on August 5, 2000 to make 11 starts.
Dan Serafini: After getting traded from San Diego, I had a really good month or so in Nashville before getting called up.
I made my first start against the San Francisco Giants and won. That could have been probably my favorite time in the big leagues–to be going back home to my hometown and beating San Francisco in San Francisco. I had a pretty good season with Pittsburgh. They were struggling and in last place. I threw well for Pittsburgh. I just didn't fit in their books.
Roberto: Signing with San Francisco must have been a dream come true?
Dan Serafini: I didn't get to stay with San Francisco too long. They signed me as a big league player, but they didn't have a roster spot. I went to Triple-A for a little bit. I was making a substantial amount of money for a Triple-A player so when they couldn't find a spot for me I got released about a month after
I signed. So I really didn't get much of an opportunity with San Francisco.
Roberto: You quickly signed with the Mets and played for the 2001 Triple-A Norfolk Tides, where you posted 5-2 record with a 3.31 ERA in 31 games.
Dan Serafini: I didn't waste anytime—maybe two days later signed with the Mets. Went to Triple-A and played there a little bit. I pitched pretty well, but got into an altercation with the GM. I ended up getting released and walking on over to the other clubhouse and signed up with Milwaukee that same day.
Roberto: You finished off the 2001 season pitching for the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate Indianapolis Indians and posted a 2-2 record with a 5.96 ERA. However,
you chose to move on from Milwaukee
and were granted free agency in October, 2001. This opened the door for other opportunities, and you ended up signing a minor league deal with the Anaheim Angels. Was that another short-term engagement by design or a matter of being released? Please clear up all the misconceptions and incorrect information the media has picked up on to make you have to stand up for yourself and clarify.
Dan Serafini: Well you know the thing is…the media–they always say you were released, you were released, you were released. But for a lot of those teams I've actually picked the option for my release.
I didn't get released. They would option me down to Triple-A, and I felt that I didn't deserve to go to Triple-A. So for a lot of those assignments I chose not to go.
Roberto: After opting out of your contract with the Angels, you tried to make a comeback in late 2002 when you signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. You began at Triple-A Memphis, but then on April 21, 2003 you were released.
Dan Serafini: I knew what was going to happen because during the offseason I signed for such a high contract to go to Triple-A. I knew they were using me to fill a spot. So I knew as soon as no one came down from the big leagues or something that I was going to get released.
Roberto: So you expected it?
Dan Serafini: I had signed for a substantial amount of money to go and play in Triple-A. Within the first month when Kevin Ohme was sent down from St. Louis, they got rid of me the next day. I pitched okay there, but it was really hard because I have always been a starter my whole career and I kept bouncing back and forth. I was going from bullpen to starting to bullpen and starting and never got into a rhythm. So for all these teams I played for, I had really a tough time coming out of the bullpen and learning my routine and learning to play. Unfortunately, I didn't really prove myself that well as well.
Roberto: It sounds like the experiment on the big league level of being a sidearm specialist coming out of the bullpen went terribly wrong. It was not exactly the best training ground for trying something new.
Dan Serafini: No. The only chance I had to experiment was on the big stage, which is really difficult if you are not physically or mentally prepared for those things. I wasn't…I was only 21 or 22 at the time. It was a difficult road for me–that's for sure!
Roberto: Did being disillusioned with American pro ball inspire you to head south to Mexico?
Dan Serafini: Yes, I played my first year in 2002. It was winter ball for Mazatlan. I had a great manager and a really fun time there. And they said if I ever had a problem in summer that I was more than welcome to play in Mexico. So after that St. Louis series, I went in 2003 to go play summer ball in Mexico.
Roberto: The Cincinnati Reds noticed and purchased your contract on August 25, 2003.
Dan Serafini: I ended up winning the ERA title. I set the record for the most wins in a row that season. I was a starter. I got back in the my swing of things. I got my mechanics back and pitched really well. I got called up and went straight to the big leagues in Cincinnati.
Roberto: On August 26, 2003, you started against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Dan Serafini: I believe I also started in a game versus St. Louis. Then I went back to the bullpen after I told the GM
I wouldn't go to the bullpen and that I would only start. Because I had already 130 innings pitched in Mexico, I was tired and said I didn't want to get up and down every day out of the bullpen. After I said I only wanted to start, the GM said that was exactly what I was summoned there to do–to start for Danny Graves because he got hurt.
So I went there, got two starts and they stuck me in the bullpen. It was a disappointment. I know it's a business, and I just need to man up and do it. It was just hard. I talked to Bobby Valentine in 2004, and he asked me to go down to Vegas and throw a bullpen for somebody to try out for the team he managed in Japan. I went out there and tried out for the Chiba Lotte Marines. I was hurt at the time. I had a broken collar bone because
I crashed on a motorcycle messing around with my friends. Despite being injured, I still got a good enough report from the try out to go to Japan.
Julio Zuleta charged Dan Serafini on the mound after a ball nearly hit him in Japan in 2004 .
Roberto:: After being granted free agency and playing for Bobby Valentine's Chiba Lotte Marines in 2004 and 2005 as well as the Orix Buffaloes in 2006 and 2007, were you treated with a little bit more respect in Japan?
Dan Serafini: It was really rewarding because I actually got treated like a player that I was. Japan did nothing but give me the highest respect. Bobby Valentine did nothing but give me the highest respect. He kept me on a routine for the full season, and I had a really good career in Japan. I still talk to Bobby off and on the internet. I was happy to see him as an Ambassador for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Bobby Valentine throws out the first pitch of the 2013 WBC game between China and Japan.
Roberto: Did you follow all the drama that surrounded Bobby Valentine last year when he managed the Boston Red Sox?
Dan Serafini: I did. In fact, before the season began I called him and asked him for a job to see if I could get a Triple-A job or a coaching/ player job. His hands were tied. He said that he couldn't make any moves. But I followed him and saw all the disappointing articles about him and stuff from players that couldn't handle his attitude. I thought it was ridiculous. He's the smartest guy in baseball–hands down. He may want a little more attention than he deserves, but that's his character.
If people don't like it, they try to crucify him. He's a very good man!
Roberto: It's too bad he was the scapegoat for the Red Sox.
Dan Serafini: It really was. I know he's done some things in his past that has rubbed people the wrong way–and we all have. It's just the way different personalities go–especially when you have a bunch of superstars in the one locker room. It's almost like you have to walk on eggshells around these people because they're more sensitive than most people that are not superstars.
Roberto: When a player digs into the batter's box and gives you a long grimacing stare, is your best response and message to the hitter simply the delivery of your next pitch?
Dan Serafini: Yes, definitely–without a doubt. There's got to be respect both ways. For me, I've always been tired of being called a cheater or having a dismal career by what some reporters have said. I feel like I have fought the longest just like Bobby Valentine did to get my career to where it is right now.
Roberto: You signed a deal with the Colorado Rockies in 2007 and pitched on September 7th against the San Francisco Giants.
Dan Serafini: It was a great feeling. I was excited. It was tough because I had just come back from Japan. I broke my hand in Japan, and they decided to release me at the last quarter of the season just because they were not going to use me anymore and had no chance of the playoffs. So they sent me home, and
I signed with Colorado. I got called up to the big leagues a couple weeks later and after four years of not having seen a major league game got to pitch to my first batter–Barry Bonds!
Roberto: What were the odds of you facing one of baseball's most feared hitters in your MLB comeback attempt?
Dan Serafini: It was pretty interesting. I had some butterflies.
Roberto: How did you sustain your hand injury overseas?
Dan Serafini: That happened at a game in Japan. I was pitching and lost my footing in the bullpen. It was on my glove hand.
I kind of slipped and fell over. I used my hand to stabilize myself from falling over, and I broke my ring finger, pinky and a couple bones in the middle of my hand.
Roberto: In Japan you also sustained an achilles injury which required medication to help with the healing process and eventually led to a positive test for MLB banned substances when you signed with the Rockies in 2007.
Dan Serafini: I actually got a serious injury and had surgery on my achilles. When I came back from Chiba Lotte, I tore my achilles tendon in the year we won the championship. I signed a two-year contract with the Orix Buffaloes for a substantial amount. My leg with in a cast for four months so they were shooting it up all year long trying to get it balanced back.
After my first year at Orix, I wasn't throwing very well because my body was so out of balance that it started hurting my shoulder and back. So they told me to just take the rest of the year off and come back for 2007. I was still having problems with my leg and the way my muscles were firing in 2007. So again a doctor was giving me a medication that I didn't think much of because I passed all of my drug tests and Olympic testing in Japan. So I didn't even think twice about it. And that's what it was when I got tested on the last day of the season with Colorado. It was still in my system, and I got busted for it.
Roberto: It looks like MLB used you as a scapegoat to fill their 2007 quota and deter players from using banned substances.
Dan Serafini: Yes, I think so. I mean because I tried to fight it.
I had to do a lot of things for my defense. I had to get the doctor from Japan to come and fly to New York to testify for me in court. He wanted $500,000 to do it because it would give Japan a bad name since I never failed a test in Japan. So I said, 'Screw it, I'll take the 50-game suspension and wear it for now.' I didn't think that it would be that bad, but Colorado didn't sign me back. The GM at the time, Dan O'Dowd, didn't give me my National League Championship ring. They gave me my playoff share because I was there for a short time, but they didn't give me a ring because they were disgraced by the fact that I was a cheater and stuff like that. It was just bad. An unnamed journalist tried to say that I was trying to respark my dismal career. My response was like: 'What's so dismal about making over 10 million dollars?' I don't think that's too dismal…
Roberto: If a man can't look at me in the eye and share his theory to my face without the facts in hand—and instead choose to hide behind a computer desk in favor of meeting publishing deadlines, then it's not news worthy in my book.
Dan Serafini: Exactly. You know it's like so many people just wrote stories about me that never even asked me the details or took the details out. Even Tom Verducci and things he wrote in my
article. I said so many things to balance and justify the difference between cheating and other kinds of uses of certain PEDs or whatever. And they don't want to listen to that, but everybody wants to be negative and listen in to CNN nowadays.
Roberto: Not a lot of players want to comment in fear of being blackballed. But you are not afraid to speak your mind and represent Team Italia in the World Baseball Classic. It's your time to shine and be heard.
Dan Serafini: Yes, it is. If people want to call me a jerk, whatever but you know what… I've been around this game for 22 years now. And I know that 90% of the people I have played with have said: 'If I had a chance to use it and make myself better, then I would have too…' You know, that's what we're here for.
Roberto: I don't blame you for having headed south to pitch for the Monterrey Sultanes after all that nonsense.
Dan Serafini: They were a great organization. I played with them for a while and just kept bouncing back and forth. I pitched
well in Monterrey, got to the playoffs a few times and then I got traded.
Roberto: You spent 2008 and 2009 in Mexico before heading to the East Coast to play for the Bridgeport Bluefish in the Atlantic Independent League.
Dan Serafini: Yes, I did that just for a little bit so that I could get a job back in the states. I wanted more people to see me pitch, but nothing came of it.
Roberto: Yet Mexico loved you and you represented the country in several Caribbean Series.
Dan Serafini: Yes, I believe I played three Caribbean Series for Mexico–all during winter ball because the Sultanes play during the summer. In the winter I played for Yaquis de Obregón in
the 2008 Caribbean Series and then again in 2010 and 2011
I played for Mexico in the Caribbean Series.
Roberto: What's the difference between baseball played
abroad and in the U.S.?
Dan Serafini: For one, the United States has the best players in the world in the major leagues. So it's kind of hard to represent the United States because it has so many great players. Mexico and Italy have a lot of great players that have been overlooked by United States. It's hard. With me representing Mexico, I am one of the better players in Mexico because that's just where I am playing at the time. With my experience and talent, I can make those teams and play for those teams. I could possibly pitch for Team USA but that team has so many Americans from all over the country to pick from. So it's really hard to make that team.
Roberto: How were you recruited to pitch for Team Italia?
Dan Serafini: Actually they called me in 2009 and found out
that I was Italian through my agent. After they got the background information about my Italian ancestry, they said that they would love for me to come and try out. I came down, tried out and they said that they could definitely use me as a starter or reliever because of 'my good arm.' So the rest is history as far as that.
Roberto: It must have a been a major personal victory for you when Team Italia upset Mexico in the 2013 WBC.
Dan Serafini: Almost everyone on Team Mexico I either played with them or against them. Team Italy asked me to write a
scouting report on the whole team, which I did and gave to the coaches. They watched a few of their games during their exhibition games and said it was 'spot on' as far as the scouting report. That's what we used, and it actually came out well. We pitched well against them. We played great defense against them, and we came out victors.
Roberto: Once Team Italia's manager Marco Mazzieri gave me his cell phone number, I felt compelled to do the same and gave him a scouting report on Team Canada. We all had to do our part.
Dan Serafini: Well, that's it…exactly! We're here to win. Right
now, I'm not an American. I'm an Italian, and I'm here to beat Team USA today. I was there to beat Canada yesterday, and I was there the day before to beat Mexico. Granted I have friends from every team from all over the world, but right now I'm just Italian. I'm here to walk all over every other team.
Roberto: How proud are you to be Italian?
Dan Serafini: I am very proud to be Italian. It's unfortunate because I have always had a strong Italian family growing up, but Italian heritage or history was never really taught. I never learned Italian even though my father speaks Italian and both of my grandparents only spoke Italian. I just wasn't brought up that way. Now doing more research about Italy and possibly thinking later in my career to maybe going to play in Italy for a little bit. I'm really interested in the Italian culture and to visit all around Europe. I'm looking forward to it. Italians are a well-educated culture to begin with. Everyone on our team speaks perfect English and perfect Italian. Some speak Spanish, Italian and English. I think they are just educated people. Unfortunately
when you move to another country and are unable to speak their language fluently, you tend to get away from your native language.
I know when I played in Mexico my whole team spoke English. I didn't have a chance to learn Spanish because people talked to me in English. So it's not as diverse as you think. It's a lot harder, even my wife can tell you it's a lot harder to go there and learn a language because everyone is polite to you and tries to talk to you in your language to make you feel more comfortable. So we have a tendency to get lazy
and not try. But right now I listen to Italian tapes every night because
I want to try to learn Italian.
Roberto: That's because everyone is trying to be hospitable
and speak your native tongue?
Dan Serafini: Yes. I mean the Italians come right over here, and they all speak English right out of the gate. They don't even try to speak Italian. They're like: 'No, we're in America now–we're speaking English.' That's what they do.
Roberto: How does having a coaching staff that includes future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza affect your approach to the game?
Dan Serafini: Mike is a great guy. Look at his story–coming from the 62nd round as a favor to his godfather Tommy Lasorda! Something ridiculous like that and becoming the best
offensive catcher of all time…whatever his statistics are.
Being blessed enough to play against him and talk to him,
it's a great experience. Just because we have one more
person with a ton of experience on our team. He has been
in the spotlight for what…16 seasons! You know, I've been
in the spotlight for seven. Grilli has been the spotlight for
eight. So it's like we have plenty of experience. It's nice to
have someone of that magnitude on our team helping us out.
Roberto: Mike Piazza could be doing something else with his time,
but his heart and soul are committed to Team Italia.
Dan Serafini: You're right. It is…and we appreciate that! He could
be doing anything with his time, and a lot of us could be but we're all here together to represent Italy. We're going to represent the right way this time.
Roberto: Thank you for your time today. I'm sure this story will be continued next time we get together to talk.
Dan Serafini: Yes, definitely…I'm looking forward to continuing it. I will answer any question that needs to be answered. It's nice to be able to explain myself for a change, and hopefully one day people will look at me differently.
Rizzo lifts spirits of believers in beating the odds
and quite possibly Rome as members of the Baseball Hall of Fame in both America and Italy.
Although Rizzo may have a long road ahead to attain the internationally recognized status that Piazza has already garnered, it isn't the first time that the 23-year-old has had to beat the odds. While a prospect in
the Red Sox organization during early 2008, Rizzo was diagnosed with limited state classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Boston front office as well as Red Sox pitching ace
Jon Lester, a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor, were supportive of Rizzo in his battle against cancer. By beating this life-threatening disease, the sky was the limit
for this young man's future. Now a cancer survivor himself, Rizzo is an inspirational role model who helps cancer patients and their families through the ongoing efforts of
the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation.
Tuesday #Cubs Anthony Rizzo made a surprise pregame visit to H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. twitter.com/LurieChildrens… #CancerSurvivor
— Roberto Angotti (@ABLblogger) April 21, 2013
We're thrilled to partner with the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation for our 3 "Meet the Team" parties this season,… fb.me/JbEwE5Ba
— Kane County Cougars (@KCCougars) April 8, 2013
Andre Dawson joined Anthony Rizzo at the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation's Walk Off For Cancer 5K this morning: twitter.com/Cubs/status/27…
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) December 9, 2012
We're proud supporters of the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. Check out Anthony's story and foundation here bit.ly/ScGxre.
— Marucci(@MarucciSports) November 20, 2012
Hey #Cubs fans, I've got a new page for everyone to go like! Check out the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation page on… fb.me/WgBvfxqe
— Between the Vines (@CubsStories) October 1, 2012
Initially interested in playing for Team USA but eclipsed by the stacked MLB All-Star calibre roster, Anthony Rizzo was intrigued by Mike Piazza's guarantee for a prime time slot in the lineup as Team Italia's slugger. "He's just a great kid, and I think it's just wonderful he chose to play with our team," said Piazza. "As soon as we saw him walk through the door at spring training we exhaled." However, if the opportunity arose to play for Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Rizzo has publicly stated that he doesn't know which jersey he would wear–which is an encouraging sign for all believers. Piazza, who in many ways serves as his Sicilian baseball mentor, prays that he will stick with his roots and play for Italy. "It is important to have an impact guy like that with not only huge size, but status to play for Italy," Piazza said. "If he's finally able to reign in and stay healthy and maintain discipline and hit to all fields in Chicago, there's no doubt he's going to be a very productive major league hitter. I think he's going to be big time for many years to come."
Everyone, Cubs fan or not, should support The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. Check out his site at rizzo44.com. Thanks!Plz RT
— Anthony Rizzo-Holics (@AnthonyRi44o) September 17, 2012
After Team Italy defeated Mexico and Canada to advance from WBC Pool D play in Phoenix with Team USA to the next round at Marlins Park in Miami, Rizzo spoke proudly in defense of his team and chastised those who didn't believe Italy would compete in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He said,
"No one scripted us to be where we are. But we had a lead in every game we played in this tournament. Every-one has written us off–we shouldn't be here, this and that. I think we've earned the respect that we didn't get at all in this tournament." Rizzo conceded that he didn't have the greatest of expectations for Team Italy, nor did he have any idea that his experience playing for Italia would be the most cherished of his career. "To be honest, I got over here, played the first couple exhibition games and thought, 'We have good hitters, decent lineup, guys who do their job,' and Mexico was the game of my life that I've ever played. It was so much fun and energetic. It was crazy." The drama began in the ninth inning when Rizzo hit a two-run double off Mexico's closer Sergio Romo to give Italy a 6-5 lead and ended when Italy's closer Jason Grilli got Jorge Cantu to ground out to second with bases loaded.
Not only was Team Italy victorious on more than one occasion with their come-from-behind 6-5 thriller over Mexico and their Mercy rule 14-4 clobbering of Canada, but the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation were also big winners. Many of the Cubs personnel pledged $500 each to the nonprofit if Italy won at least one game. Chicago manager Dale Sveum joked with Rizzo saying that it was only $50, but the team has the morning meeting and friendly wager on video. All winning proceeds collected by the young Cubbie went to the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. "I made sure to text everyone with dollar signs to get their checkbooks ready," Rizzo said. Once again Rizzo had beat the odds, but this time it benefited his charitable organization and the many families of cancer patients it serves. There was greater good than a game of baseball here. The lives affected by the good fortune of Rizzo and Team Italy far exceeded the box scores. The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation's race for a cure to combat this deadly disease coupled with the genetic makeup and clubhouse chemistry among Italian players and coaches made for a winning combination second to none as Team Italy moved on to round two of WBC play along with Team USA at Marlins Park in Miami.
Italy took an early 4-0 lead against the 2013 WBC Champion Dominican Republic. Rizzo contributed offensively with a walk and run scored, but the Italians fell short in a heartbreaking
5-4 loss. Facing elimination versus WBC runner-up Puerto Rico, the left-handed slugger drove a three-run double into the right center field gap to put the Italians up 3-0 in the fifth inning, but Puerto Rico came back to lead 4-3. Rizzo walked in the top of the ninth to represent the game-tying run, but he would be left stranded. Team Italy made Italian baseball history by advancing to the World Baseball Classic second round where they nearly upset the 2013 WBC Champion and Runner-Up. Baseball fans and family in Italy could not be more proud of Team Italia's performance in front of an international audience. The Rizzo family is originally from Ciminna, which about 30 miles southeast of the capital of Palermo in Sicily. Anthony Rizzo's great grandfather, Vito, came over from Italy in 1905 on
the Prince Albert and went through Ellis Island. Rizzo's father, John, remained in contact with his brother's brother-in-law in Sicily throughout the WBC tourney. John Rizzo said, "They have a small core of baseball fans. It's like a cult thing." It won't be a cult for long as baseball continues to be gain popularity among Italy's youth. Having won back-to-back European Baseball Championships, the Italian national team has attracted the country's finest athletes. Analogous to Chinese hero Yao Ming and Jeremy Lin's contributions to the growth of basketball in China, Italian-born Alex Liddi and Anthony Rizzo are now baseball icons in Europe.
With every Team Italy win came its fanaticism. It was no coincidence that the merchandise booths at Phoenix's Chase Field had sold out of of t-shirts and jerseys before Italy's game against Team USA. The onslaught of Italian youth sporting RIZZO proudly on their back has only begun. Just as he has become of the face of the Chicago Cubs franchise, Anthony Rizzo has become the backbone of the Italian baseball revolution supported by Mike Piazza. When the 12-time MLB All-Star catcher becomes the first Italian American to be inducted into both the American and Italian Baseball Hall of Fame, the stakes for Anthony Rizzo to repeat history will set the tone for a Team Italia reunion.
Top 40 Americans in the ABL (#31-40)
The Australian Baseball League's 2012-13 season did not disappoint the sleep-deprived stateside fans and families of American ballplayers who stayed up all hours of the night to watch a slew of talent with MLB potential. MLBblogger salutes the many American volunteers that worked tirelessly behind the scenes long before the start of the ABL season so that Aussie baseball could prosper.
In addition to showcasing last season's Top 20 Americans in the ABL, we have previously announced many of the 2012-13 Top 40 Americans in the ABL. Click on the highlighted player's name to access the Top 40 American in the ABL feature article: #40 Dustin Loggins, RHP Canberra Cavalry; #39 Caleb Cuevas, RHP Sydney Blue Sox; #38 Greg Van Sickler, RHP Perth Heat; #37 Chuck Lofgren, LHP Brisbane Bandits; #36 Kevin Reese, RHP Melbourne Aces; #35 Gabriel Suarez, OF/INF Adelaide Bite; #34 Chris Motta, RHP Canberra Cavalry.
#33 Jack Frawley of the Perth Heat was the winning pitcher in last year's 13-inning marathon ABL Championship title victory over the Melbourne Aces. He hopes to help the Heat go down in Aussie baseball history with a never seen before three-peat in the ABL Championship Series against the top-seeded Canberra Cavalry. The 27-year-old once again came through in the clutch on the regular season's final day to clinch the Heat's third straight ABL postseason berth. Making his first start and fifth overall appearance this season (3-1, 1.21 ERA), the Cleveland-born right-hander earned ABL Round 13 Pitcher of the Week honors by throwing eight shutout innings and limiting the Melbourne Aces to just three hits.
A 24th-round draftee by the Colorado Rockies in 2005, #32 Sean Toler was signed by Canberra after playing with Cavalry teammates Steven Kent, Brian Grening and Dustin Loggins on the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball's Kansas City T-Bones in 2012. The Missouri State baseball star was one of seven Cavalry players represented in the 2012 ABL All-Star game. Recently voted iiNet relief pitcher of the year, the 26-year-old Canberra closer was also named ABL Pitcher of the Week for Round Six play. Toler (2-0, 2.84 ERA) was second in the ABL with 11 saves. The six-foot-five hurler loves closing games out for a team he believes could be the next ABL champion. "Yeah, I think we can (win the title)," Toler said with confidence.#31 Ryan Khoury of the Perth Heat spent two seasons playing shortstop for AAA Pawtucket in the Boston Red Sox organization before being released at the age of 27. Allowing Canadian Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Carter Bell to move over to his usual third base position, Khoury rounds out an experienced Heat infield which includes MLB's Luke Hughes. Showing signs of life after Major League Baseball with 37 stolen bases and only 12 errors committed at shortstop through 103 games for the Indy American Association's Wichita Wingnuts last year, the 2006 Red Sox 12th-round draft pick still possesses plenty of speed and athleticism. The Utah native has made the most of his limited action in the ABL (19 games, 67 AB, .224 BA)–including a towering right field home run blast in his first Heat plate appearance. While contributing at the bottom of the line-up, the 28-year-old also solidified Perth's defense.
Last day in Perth. Thanks to @perthheat fans and especially my teammates for welcoming me to Australia. Gonna miss my Aussie family.
— Ryan Khoury (@RyKhoury) February 12, 2013
Trout, Harper, Brown, Jennings, Revere, Fuentes…
Although half of MLB.com Jonathan Mayo's 2011 Top 10 Outfield Prospects have made their splash into Major League Baseball, the remaining five prospects–including former Boston Red Sox 2009 first-round draft pick and current Padres AA-affiliate San Antonio Missions leadoff hitter Reymond Fuentes–have yet to make their grandiose MLB debut despite possessing the five-tools necessary to become successful in the big leagues.Considered the "other" prospect San Diego received packaged with right-handed pitcher Casey Kelly, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, and a player to be named later (Eric Patterson) in exchange for trading Adrian Gonzalez to Boston in December 2010, the speedy 21-year-old Reymond Fuentes has the genetic makeup to break into the Bigs. Just ask his cousin, seven-time MLB All-Star/Puerto Rican philanthropist and baseball advocate Carlos Beltran. "I'm very proud of him," Beltran said. "I believe he's going to make it to the big leagues. I told him, 'As hard as you've worked so far, you're going to have to work double to get where you want to go.'" Upon hearing the news of Reymond being shipped out west, Beltran was concerned about his cousin's reaction and called him immediately. He said, "Sometimes when you're young and a team trades you, they think they don't like him. So I told him, 'Man, the best thing that happened to you was being able to get traded to San Diego because that organization is an organization that doesn't have players on long-term deals. And if you put up a good year, you play hard, you can play in the big leagues as soon as possible.'"
Chosen to represent San Diego as a member of the World Team at the 2011 All-Star Futures Game as well as lead off for the Puerto Rican national team in the 2011 World Cup and Pan American Games, six-foot Reymond Fuentes is looked up to by many aspiring Caribbean ballplayers with the same dream. Having built the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in his native Puerto Rico to educate and nurture young athletes, cousin Carlos Beltran in the spirit of legend Roberto Clemente gives back generously to his people–especially when it comes to family. Carlos said, "I'm going to do everything I can to help him out. I work out with him in Puerto Rico, and I invite him to my house, and he's there way early–so he's hungry. For being so young, that really impressed me the most–more than his talent. Hopefully he lives up to that, and I can watch him play in the big leagues and maybe play against him one day."
Part of Team World's outfield with current MLB players Dayan Viciedo (Chicago White Sox) and Starling Marte (Pittsburgh Pirates) in the 2011 All-Star Futures Game, Reymond Fuentes was one of two prospects selected from the San Diego Padres organization. Named the Friar's #13 prospect by MLB.com and rated the franchise's best baserunner by Baseball America following a successful 2011 at Single-A Advanced Lake Elsinore with 41 stolen bases, Fuentes has been the spark plug for the 2012 AA San Antonio Missions.
We caught up with Fuentes recently in San Antonio at Wolff Stadium after the post-game fireworks, which the youthful Reymond kindly requested to watch before conducting the interview.
Roberto: You look good having put on 15 pounds of muscle during the offseason for additional power without compromising your lightning speed. With teammate Dean Anna having a great 2012 season and sometimes leading off, Missions' manager John Gibbons has switched up the line-up and placed you in different slots. Do you care where you are placed in the line-up?
Reymond Fuentes: Anything that
can help with the team win–I will just
do it. Just follow orders from my manager and just play the game that I love and know how to do.
Roberto: As the Missions' team leader for stolen bases on par for 30-plus in 2012, do you enjoy making the opposing pitcher worry about you when you are on the base paths?
Reymond Fuentes: Why not?
I mean I do my role then they have
to do their role.
Roberto: Having an eagle eye vantage point of all the action on the field, do you like playing center field?
Reymond Fuentes: Center field is awesome. My speed and my range help me a lot. It's fun just to run down balls and get those hits off the other team. And get them angry a little bit…you know what I mean. It's a lot of fun tracking balls and making those diving catches is the best! So I love center field, and I wouldn't change it for anything else.
Roberto: After being involved in the trade that allowed Boston to acquire Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego, was there any love lost when you had to say goodbye to Fenway?
Reymond Fuentes: You know it
was really tough not to see my old teammates from Boston, but I mean being traded for Adrian is a huge step for me. I mean Adrian is an All-Star. He's a great player. I think it's a real honor to get traded for him and just join this team, play the game with the same attitude and effort in Boston here.
Roberto: Please tell me about your deep family connections to Major League Baseball.
Reymond Fuentes: Carlos Beltran is my mom's cousin. We work out in the offseason everyday–hitting, fielding, throwing, catching. He's a great guy. He taught me a lot on the field and off the field. He's taught me a lot of stuff about life so I have to thank him. My dad used to play too. He's been there since I was four years old. He was the first one who gave a bat to me and saw me swing. So I have to thank my dad for staying with me all this time and help me get where I am right now.
Roberto: How influential was the legendary Roberto Clemente growing up in Puerto Rico?
Reymond Fuentes: Roberto Clemente, God rest his soul, was a terrific, all-time I don't even know how to describe…he was a great player! A lot of little kids including me looked up to him because the way he played ball, the love he had for the game. It was unexplainable. I love to read his articles because I didn't get to see him play. But everything I read about him is awesome, and he's the best of Puerto Rico right now. I used to wear (Clemente's) number 21 when I was a little kid. Then I couldn't use it because of some rules in Puerto Rico when they retired his number. So I just decided to go with (number) 15 that Carlos used to wear. So I'm staying right there and just keeping everything within family, you know.
Roberto: With reggaeton blowing up in Puerto Rico, I was surprised that you have a different genre represented in your walk-up song.
Reymond Fuentes: Reggaeton is big in Puerto Rico, but right now I have a salsa—that's old school music in Puerto Rico. I got this walk-up song from my dad. It's my dad's favorite song, and I'm using it right now. I think I'm going back to reggaeton because I mean it makes me move walking up to the plate and just makes me happy.
Roberto: It be long before you make your MLB debut for the SD Padres.
Reymond Fuentes: Thank you. That would be awesome. I'm looking forward to that every single day.
Roberto: Would you like to be called up to MLB next month when the roster expands to 40?
Reymond Fuentes: I would love that. I mean that's my dream ever since I was a little kid.
I just can't do anything else, but play my best ball here and just wait for that call.
Roberto: Are you looking forward to facing cousin Carlos Beltran and the St. Louis Cardinals?
Reymond Fuentes: You know what? If I face Carlos, I just want to rob two hits out of him with diving catches in center field. I would just call him the next day and say 'Hey, you can't hit it over there.'
Roberto: Thanks for taking time out for us today. Let's chat again at PETCO in San Diego.
Reymond Fuentes: Absolutely, I mean. It's a great pleasure to speak with MLBforLife.com and I'll do it anytime when I can.
MLBforLife.com named #8 MLB.com Fan Website
The March 2012 results are in for the MLB.com Top 50 Fan Sites, and MLBblogger was named the number eight website. We believe this is a result of our continued coverage of baseball worldwide, and our international readers quest for accurate information on their favorite players. In the last six months, MLBblogger has produced original and engaging stories on the Asia Series, Taiwan All-Star Series, Australian Baseball League All-Star Game, Arizona Fall League, Chinese Professional Baseball League, Korea Baseball Organization, Nippon Professional Baseball League, Australian Baseball League, Italian Baseball League, Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball, Major League Baseball, MLB Italian Baseball Academy, MLB Fan Cave, Minor League Baseball, College Baseball, High School Baseball, Cactus League Spring Training and the Japan Opening Series. Thanks for the support!
Feeling so blessed to be associated with the great number eight and knowing that baseball is a game of numbers and statistics, we thought that it would be of great interest to dig a little deeper into the number's historical and cultural significance. The Chinese view the number eight (ba 八) as the most auspicious number because its pronunciation, particularly in southern dialects, is very similar to "prosper" or "wealth" (fa cai 发财). Based on a #8 Hong Kong license plate fetching a handsome $640,000 recently and home street addresses containing multiple number eights still in high feng shui demand, one would believe that property with the number eight is valued greatly in China. It's no coincidence that the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summer Olympics began promptly at 8:08:08 p.m. For many people, eight is the symbol of harmony and balance. The number symbolizes the ability to make decisions as well as abundance and power. The Pythagoreans called the number eight "Ogdoad" and considered it the "little holy number". Jews consider eight symbolic of an entity that is one step above the natural order and its limitation, which is why Chanukah lasts eight days. Baseball Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Bill Dickey, Cal Ripken, Jr., Carl Yastrzemski, Willie Stargell, Joe Morgan, and Gary Carter wore the number eight. It's quite possible that a couple 2012 MLB players donning the #8 silks will soon join these legends–including: Ryan Braun (Brewers), Shane Victorino (Phillies), Jason Bartlett (Padres), Yorvit Torrealba (Rangers), Kurt Suzuki (A's), David Ross (Braves), Kendrys Morales (Angels), Gerardo Parra (D-Backs), Chris Coghlan (Marlins), Danny Espinosa (Nationals), Desmond Jennings (Rays), Ben Francisco (Jays), Mike Moustakas (Royals), and Jamey Carroll (Twins).
So who will win the 2012 Major League Baseball World Series?
If you like the number eight, then there are three possible live candidates. Last month's Vegas.com future odds to win it all had the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at 8-to-1 odds. Then again you could spend all your money on a license plate… Good luck wherever you invest!
Chinese Taipei & Red Sox prospect Che-Hsuan Lin earns respect of MLB in Taiwan All-Star Series
We could see the writing on the wall back in 2008 at iconic Yankee Stadium when 19-year-old Taiwanese-born Che-Hsuan Lin came off the bench as a defensive replacement to play center field in the sixth inning of the Futures Game between his World team and host United States. Best known for flashing his lightening quick agility and speed, it made perfect sense for World Manager Tino Marinez to insert Lin to protect his slim 1-0 lead late in the contest. However, it was Che-Hsuan Lin's bat that would break this game wide open for the visiting World team. Never considered a power-hitting threat, Lin drove the first pitch he saw in the seventh inning–a 94 mph fastball from Colorado Rockies righthander Ryan Mattheus–over the left field wall for a two-run home run. Che-Hsuan Lin would also hit a single in the ninth and later celebrate receiving the Larry Doby Award as the game's Most Valuable Player in the World team's 3-0 victory. This was deja vu as Lin's heroics were prevalent back in 2000 when belting a grand-slam homer to catapult his Tai-Nan Chinese Taipei team to a twelve and under PONY Baseball Bronco League World Championship in Monterey, California.Ranked eight in the 2008 Boston Red Sox prospects list, Che-Hsuan Lin played for the Chinese Taipei baseball squad in the Olympics. Working his way up the ladder to the Major League level, Lin has been chosen as the Boston Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Year(2008 & 2010) as well as the Eastern League's Best Defensive Outfielder(2010). By leading all Eastern League outfielders with a .991 fielding percentage and ranking second with 15 assists entering the 2010 season, Baseball America rated Lin as being the Best Defensive Outfielder and having the Best Defensive Arm in Boston's farm system. Most recently in the 2011 Taiwan All-Star Series as a member of the Chinese Taipei national team, 23-year-old Che-Hsuan Lin once again demonstrated with his throwing arm that he is a force to be reckoned with in MLB's future. MLB All-Stars outfielder Josh Reddick spoke candidly about his former Red Sox Minor League teammate, "He's got the best arm I've ever seen." Reddick elaborated, "The accuracy is not 100 percent there yet, but I've seen him make throws from the warning track to third on one hop and throw a guy out at second, so it's pretty unreal to see what he can do." Asked about Lin's offensive ability, Reddick enthusiastically responded: "He's also a great leadoff hitter, he can steal bases, he can hit for contact, so once he learns to develop a little bit of power, I think that's the only step he needs. But he runs like a deer out in the outfield and is so smooth." In the 2011 Taiwan All-Star Series, Che-Hsuan Lin led the Chinese Taipei national team in hitting with a .417 batting average (5 for 12), including two doubles and two runs batted in. Bets are on that Lin and Reddick will soon reunite as teammates at Fenway Park in Boston…


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Ibiza Trance 2012 - Volume Two
- Artists Tritonal, Beat Service, Mike Danis, Falcon, Suncatcher, David Broaders, Hazem Beltagui, Sequentia, LTN, Ost & Meyer, Karanda, Maor Levi, Tritonal, Jeza, Ferry Tayle, Daniel Kandi, Will Holland, Right Face, Adam Szabo, Willem De Roo, Johnny Yono, LTN, Atlantis Ocean, Juventa, Eximinds, Kaeno, Store N Forward, Gecko, Ram, Adam Seller, Bushi, C-Systems, Estiva, Tania Zygar, Sebastian Weikum, Genix, Binary Finary, Norin & Rad, Mike Danis, Sandra Passero, Fredda.L, Audien, Digital X, Matt Bukovski, Vast Vision, Fisher, Ilan Bluestone, Fast Distance, Karanda, Julie Thompson, Ignas, Robert Nickson, RNX
- Release Date 2012-08-27
- Labels Enhanced Music
- Catalog ENHANCEDMC014
Following Ibiza Trance 2012 Volume One, Enhanced Music delivers a massive 30 of the biggest Ibiza trance tracks that have been heard across the White Isle this summer, with 'Ibiza Trance 2012 - Volume Two' - the must have Ibiza album of the summer!
30 global trance records tried and tested by the likes of Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Paul van Dyk, Markus Schulz, Gareth Emery to name a few!
This glorious balearic album host tracks and remixes by the likes of the hottest producers around including Tritonal, Daniel Kandi, Beat Service, Will Holland, Mike Danis, Ferry Tayle, Store N Forward, C-Systems, Suncatcher, Maor Levi, Eximinds, Estiva, Tania Zygar and many, many more, making this the only album to Enhance your summer!

subset: commoncrawl


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Yield: 12 servings 12 5 oz. Tyson Ready-to-Cook Cross-Fires Grill Marked Smoked Chicken Breast Filets, frozen (#9247), thawed* Vegetable oil, as needed Maple Dijon Glaze: 1/2 cup maple syrup 1/4 cup Honey Dijon salad dressing, commercially prepared 1/2 tsp. garlic pepper seasoning blend, commercially prepared Maple glazed pecans: 11/2 cups pecan pieces 2 Tbsps. maple syrup 1 Tbsp. butter, melted 2 Tbsps. brown sugar, packed 48 peach wedges, fresh 6 cups cornbread dressing, commercially ...
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Day of Action in Honor of Elijah Sharma
peta2 was heartbroken to learn that Elijah Sharma, a fearless animal rights activist and peta2 Street Teamer, passed away in late November. He was 22.
"I am proud to say I'm vegan! I am vegan simply because I do not understand why it is acceptable to exploit other animals like ourselves for our own luxury." —Elijah Sharma
In addition to being a vegan, Elijah promoted compassion for most of his life by teaching others that the best way to help animals is to stop eating them. He earned a Star Street Teamer Award from peta2 when he was in high school. Some of his efforts included campaigning to end dissection at his school, passing out thousands of leaflets, and talking to hundreds of people every day about going vegan when he worked on the Animal Liberation Project as a peta2 intern in Washington, D.C.
In his honor, peta2 is launching a day of action on December 4 and asking people to go vegan to honor Elijah's spirit and his efforts to save animals.
Elijah's spirit, compassion, and dedication was unique and he will be missed, but we can all do our part to honor Elijah's passion for animal rights by taking action and inspiring others to join his fight.
Join Elijah's fight to end cruelty to animals by pledging to go vegan.


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Steinway Musical Instruments enlists financial communications help in "bidding war" as it claims to have a "superior" takeover proposal from an unnamed investment firm.
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Get updates on Amnesty's work to protect human rights in Europe.
Human rights defender Uktam Pardaev was given a three year conditional sentence on 11 January which heavily restricts his movements and activities. He spent eight weeks in pre-trial detention in degrading conditions and is now under constant surveillance.
Support human rights with a donation to Amnesty today.
Muhammad Bekzhanov has spent 16 years in prison following an unfair trial which sentenced him on the basis of a confession he gave under torture. Will the US help -- or turn a blind eye?


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Fusion Learning Center (FLC) new features and content
By Richard Lefebvre - Oracle-Oracle on May 07, 2012
Here are the highlights of recently added content to the Fusion Learning Center (FLC):
- Sales Positioning webinars have been updated with content from CRM
- Functional TOIs, Demo, and Update documents are published across all families spanning Releases 2 and 3. These are available from within the Functional section on the Fusion Learning Center.
- Release Content Documents: What's New have been published on My Oracle Support for customer consumption in addition on the FLC. These are new documents highlighting What is New in the releases post V1.0 (Releases 2,3 and 4).
- Data Sheets are published and available on oracle.com for V1.0. 42 Data Sheets been published across all families.
- Two documents covering Licensing information have been added to the Pricing and Licensing section:
o Oracle Fusion Applications Licensing Information
o Oracle Fusion Applications Cloud Service and Cloud Service Options Licensing Information


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By Gabriel Monte: CNJ staff writer
A Bailey County Commissioner said he thinks it is time for the county to rethink its status as a dry county.
Juan Chavez said he is circulating a petition to allow the sale of packaged liquor, beer and wine in hopes of getting the proposal on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. He said the county is losing revenue to other counties where alcohol sales are permitted.
Chavez said surrounding counties such as Hale, Lamb and Cochran recently have voted in alcohol sales.
"It would keep all revenues in this county," he said. "Most of the people go to Dimmitt or Littlefield or Clovis (to buy alcohol)."
To get the proposal on the ballot, Bailey County Clerk Paula Benton said a little more than 800 signatures are needed, which is 35 percent of voters in the last gubernatorial election.
Benton said Chavez has until September to collect the signatures. She said Bailey County has been a dry county since 1948 when it ceded from Castro County.
Two community leaders believe allowing alcohol sales in the county would increase alcoholism and influence underage drinking.
Stacy Conner, pastor of First Baptist Church and president of the Bailey County Ministerial Alliance, said the revenue from alcohol sales will not make up for the social impact of bringing alcohol into the county.
"I think it's ruse to offer a economical argument for the sale of alcohol because of the cost you incur on the back end in the loss of stability in homes, alcoholism and the cost that that brings to society," he said. "I think any economic gain you have through sales tax revenue you lose through social care."
Conner said his church nor the alliance has no formal stance on the petition as it has not been discussed by members.
Muleshoe Independent School District Superintendent Gene Sheets also hopes the petition doesn't make it to the general election ballots.
"It's my hope that we would keep it where it's not as available (to children)," he said. "As superintendent of schools, I think that's a high priority."
Chavez circulated a petition in 1993 to allow alcohol in his commission district only. That petition made it to the general election, but he said it was voted down by about 40 votes.
"I had always been thinking about trying it again, and when I started hearing all these counties surrounding us go for it, and passing it (I decided to start it again)," Chavez said.


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My name not on the list submitted by supp — Chin
KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui has confirmed that his name was not on the list of candidates submitted by the party to the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership.
"Component parties have submitted their lists and in the list, especially by SUPP, my name is not there," Chin who is also the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister said during a press conference at the 15th Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference 2013 here.
Chin, 67, has been the Member of Parliament for Miri since 1986 and in the 2008 general election won the seat by 5,216-vote majority against DAP candidate, Fong Pau Teck.
SUPP, which is the oldest political party in Sarawak, won six of the seven parliamentary constituencies in the 12th general election held in 2008. — Bernama


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text: Bristol's legendary club the Dug Out witnessed two historic events during its colourful existence. In 1944 a black American GI was killed in a riot outside; and in 1974 an IRA bomb exploded near by. Like a heavy session at the night spot — which until it closed in 1986 was a hotbed of musical experimentation — Amanda Whittington's play is blurrily enjoyable. Characters weave in and out of focus; the plot meanders before coming to an abrupt end, in much the same way as striplights snap on as day breaks and revellers emerge, blinking, to stumble home. The writing is as


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Mirsadraee, Majid MD*; Shafahie, Ahmad MD†; Reza Khakzad, Mohammad MSc‡,§; Sankian, Mojtaba PhD§
*Department of Internal Medicine, 22 Bahman Hospital, Islamic Azad University—Mashhad Branch
‡Department of Immunology and Zakaria Research Center, Medical School of Islamic Azad University—Mashhad Branch
§Immunology Research Center, Buali Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad
†Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
M.M.: designed the research/study, collected data, analyzed data, and wrote the paper; A.S.: collected data and wrote the paper; M.R.K.: performed the research/study and contributed important reagents; M.S.: performed the research/study and contributed important reagents.
This research was conducted in Zakaria Research Center under the supervision and financial support of the deputy of research of the Islamic Azad University, Mashhad branch.
Disclosure: There is no conflict of interest or other disclosures.
Reprints: Majid Mirsadraee, MD, No 80, 15th Kosar, Kosar Ave., Vakilabad Blvd, Mashhad, 91786, Iran (e-mails: email@example.com; email@example.com).
Received October 23, 2013
Accepted February 18, 2014
Background: Anthracofibrosis is the black discoloration of the bronchial mucosa with deformity and obstruction. Association of this disease with tuberculosis (TB) was approved. The objective of this study was to find the additional benefit of assessment of TB by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.
Methods: Bronchoscopy was performed on 103 subjects (54 anthracofibrosis and 49 control subjects) who required bronchoscopy for their pulmonary problems. According to bronchoscopic findings, participants were classified to anthracofibrosis and nonanthracotic groups. They were examined for TB with traditional methods such as direct smear (Ziehl-Neelsen staining), Löwenstein-Jensen culture, and histopathology and the new method "PCR" for Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome (IS6110).
Results: Age, sex, smoking, and clinical findings were not significantly different in the TB and the non-TB groups. Acid-fast bacilli could be detected by a direct smear in 12 (25%) of the anthracofibrosis subjects, and adding the results of culture and histopathology traditional tests indicated TB in 27 (31%) of the cases. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was diagnosed by PCR in 18 (33%) patients, but the difference was not significant. Detection of acid-fast bacilli in control nonanthracosis subjects was significantly lower (3, 6%), but PCR (20, 40%) and accumulation of results from all traditional methods (22, 44%) showed a nonsignificant difference.
Conclusions: The PCR method showed a result equal to traditional methods including accumulation of smear, culture, and histopathology.
Bronchial anthracofibrosis (BAF) of the lung is the black discoloration of the bronchial mucosa that causes bronchial obstruction and chronic lung disease.1 The association between tuberculosis (TB) and BAF was reported in one fifth2 to more than half3 of BAF subjects, which is significantly higher than patients who required bronchoscopy. These findings usually force the pulmonologist to obtain enough samples for evaluation of TB when BAF is detected during bronchoscopy. Direct smear for acid-fast bacilli (AFB), Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures, and histopathology are commonly used for diagnosing TB. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used as a faster and more sensitive method for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis; however, this method has been used in only 1 study of BAF subjects.4
The objective of this study was to determine the additional benefits of the PCR method for diagnosing TB in patients who demonstrate BAF with a prospective controlled study design.
One hundred three subjects requiring flexible bronchoscopy for various indications in 2 university hospitals during the years 2006 to 2008 were enrolled in this prospective case-control study. Demographic data, history of exposure to smoke, and important clinical findings were recorded. During bronchoscopy, subjects with black discoloration that causes deformity or stenosis of the bronchus were classified as BAF. The control group consisted of the subjects mentioned above, but without any black discoloration in their bronchial tree. TB was detected by bronchoscopy with different methods. Bronchial lavage was collected in all subjects for Ziehl-Neelsen staining and Löwenstein-Jensen culture. Two samples of bronchial tissue from BAF patients were sent for PCR analysis. A histopathology examination was performed when infiltration into the bronchial surface was observed. The accuracy of different methods was compared between subjects detected to suffer from TB in the BAF and the control groups.
Two samples of bronchial tissue obtained by bronchial biopsy were used for PCR evaluation. Bronchial washing was not used due to possible contamination of the bronchial washing with the remaining material in the bronchoscope and oropharyngeal secretions. The lung tissue was homogenized completely by a tissue homogenizer, and proteinase K was added. DNA was extracted by the PrimePrep genomic DNA isolation kit (Genet Bio Company). The CinnaGen kit was used to amplify the IS6110 target using PCR amplification primers and conditions. The presence of 163-bp fragments compared with DNA size markers indicates a positive test (Fig. 1).
The Ethical Committee of the Medical School of Islamic Azad University—Mashhad Branch approved this study, and all patients gave their written consent.
The sample size was calculated according to the prevalence of anthracofibrosis in our region (11%).1 A positive culture of bronchial lavage and or a histopathology consistent with TB was the gold standard for the diagnosis of TB. The χ2 test and 95% confidence level were used to evaluate the differential significance between groups. EPI INFO 2003 and SPSS 16 software were used for statistical analysis. Significance was accepted at P<0.05.
The mean age of BAF subjects (70.5±10.4 y) was significantly higher than that of the control group (t=6.64, P=0.0001). The comparison of demographic data (Table 1) including the sex ratio, occupation, and bread baking in a rustic household oven did not show a significant difference between the BAF and the control groups and TB and non-TB subjects, but the frequency of cigarette smoking in the BAF group (18%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (45%) (χ2=8.3; P=0.004; odd ratio=0.26; 95% confidence level, 0.1-0.67). Coughing (74%) and dyspnea (66%) were the most frequent clinical findings in BAF and TB subjects, which did not show a significant difference from the control group (Table 1). Upper lobe localization was also more frequent in both BAF and TB groups, but the differences were not significant (Table 1).
According to the results of culture, histopathology, and PCR, TB was detected in 49 subjects, 27 of whom suffered from BAF (55%), and 22 (45%) belonged to the control group (Table 2).
Traditional laboratory examinations of TB in BAF subjects showed positive results for AFB in 25% (12) of the patients, 11% (10) for culture, and 32% (6) for histopathology (Table 3). Accumulating these results of traditional methods confirmed the diagnosis of TB in 31% of the patients, which was not significantly different from that determined by the PCR method (33%).
Although evaluating the accuracy of the diagnostic method, the PCR method showed the highest sensitivity in BAF subjects (66%), followed by the histopathology method. However, in evaluating the accuracy by the likelihood ratio method, the highest result was shown with an accumulation of traditional methods (Table 2), although the comparison of PCR and the accumulation of traditional methods was not significant (18 positive subjects in comparison with 20, respectively).
In this prospective study, the result of the PCR method for diagnosing TB was compared with traditional TB tests. PCR was able to diagnosis TB better than traditional tests, but the difference between PCR and the accumulation of traditional methods was not significant. PCR, as the most sensitive test in this study, could increase the yield of TB diagnosis in the BAF group, but the benefit of this test was more significant in the control group (from 4% to 20%), and it showed that TB was more frequent in the control group than in BAF subjects, although the difference was not significant. Therefore, a complete profile of traditional TB tests including AFB, culture, and histopathology had results comparable to those of PCR in BAF subjects.
The benefit of the PCR method compared with the traditional method could be explained in 2 ways: (1) it is less operator dependent than traditional methods (compared with the direct smear test), and (2) it is less time consuming (compared with the culture) with minimum tissue obtained. Obtaining a biopsy for histopathology is also difficult as it may cause severe bleeding; therefore, this may limit the number of specimens that is needed for detecting granoluma.3 Nevertheless, the result of this study showed that traditional methods are able to detect TB as well as the PCR method and without additional cost. In this regard, choosing the PCR method should be individualized according to the expertise of the laboratory staff in traditional methods.
Na et al4 reported the frequency of positive PCR for TB in anthracofibrosis patients to be at 37%, which is higher than that evaluated by the traditional method in that study (30%).
The most important methods for detecting mycobacterium TB in BAF patients were different in previous studies. Towhidi et al5 detected TB by the direct smear for AFB in 96% of patients and Törün et al6 detected TB by culture in 100% of patients. In contrast, in some studies, histopathologic evaluation was the mainstay for the diagnosis of TB.7,8 Ghanei et al9 reported cavitary lesion, a positive PPD test, and a high sedimentation rate as the most helpful ancillary paraclinical tests for the diagnosis of TB in anthracosis patients. In the present study, a fluctuation in the frequency of TB over time was seen. It seems that this frequency has been affected by the TB frequency in their community.
In conclusion, PCR could replace traditional methods if the experience of the staff with traditional methods showed unsatisfactory results or due to bleeding if the tissue obtained for histopathologic evaluation is not sufficient. Otherwise, traditional methods still are reliable methods for detecting TB.
anthracosis; anthracofibrosis; tuberculosis; polymerized chain reaction; acid-fast bacilli
© 2014 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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HP Envy DV7-7240US Laptop Computer, Intel Core i5-3210M, 8 GB Memory, 750GB Hard Drive, 17.3"
by HP | Item #: 33004 | Model #: 3376301 |
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A group of Madison Fire Department recruits will train with two burning structures on the city's west side Wednesday.
The fire training is scheduled for between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the 3700 block of Junction Road near Mineral Point Road.
The recruits will be trained on when it is no longer safe to enter a burning structure and when they should exit if they're inside.
Recruits will also learn about predicting how a fire will progress.
Neighbors are invited to watch from a safe distance.


text:
Osi Umenyiora's officially out of contractSeveral teams will be looking into signing Osi Umenyiora this spring. Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora has expressed an interest in returning to the team in 2013, but he'll have a chance to talk to any other team in the league before making any decision… (more)Source: profootballtalk.com
Free Agency: Osi Could Have Many SuitorsSeveral teams will be looking into signing Osi Umenyiora this spring. In fact, there could be more than a few. The goal for most teams is to average a minimum of two sacks per game on defense (32 sacks). Last season, the Giants were just above that with…Source: giantsfootballblog.com


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Follow @DaytimeRoyalty
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|B&B: May Discussion
|Tweet Topic Started: May 3 2014, 09:05 AM (5,393 Views)
|May 19 2014, 03:32 PM Post #41
Please, I'm so damn sick of her!! She almost killed him today, again, and I wish he would have pressed charges because this is her 2nd murder attempt on him. She's sick in the head and needs immediate help and some very strong psychotic meds. Hurry and get them Quinn. Don't walk, run, and FAST!!!!
|May 19 2014, 03:37 PM Post #42
You got that right, she's totally done lost it!! Thankfully Weanie tells Hope but he should be telling the police. What's Hope going to do, keep the secret for Weanie again? I love Hope but I'm not sure I trust her to do the right thing where his sick in the head mother is concerned.
|May 19 2014, 04:19 PM Post #43
Hope has really failed in that department Meow. This is one change I don't like in Hope. When Bill did all those things to keep her and Liam apart she didn't stand for it and confronted him. With Quinn it is different. It is like she is getting a free pass where Hope is concerned. If this was Bill doing all of this Hope would have hit the roof.
The show have really turned Quinn into a cartoon character. This is the problem if there is only one main villain on the show. That person have to do everything. I cannot wait for Deacon to return but I am also afraid to what these writers will do to him.
|May 19 2014, 09:19 PM Post #44
What was the point of locking Liam in? Just to scare him? Quinn's so stupid and cartoonish and I love it.
Wyatt tries to fit in so hard as a spencer it's annoying. Calling bill his old pops was a little too much. I hate when soap writers make it seem like soap relatives that have only known each other for a year are so close. Speaking of a year, I just realized Wyatt's storyline has had the same storyline with no movement for a year now. Same [!@#$%^&*], another day.
I'm loving brooke and bill. Ridge is so annoying.
Good episode today although I'm missing throne, taylor, aly, and oliver.
|May 19 2014, 10:09 PM Post #45
She's failed big time sadly!! I don't like that change in Hope either which is why I mentioned it. She has let her get away with everything which has only enabled Quinn to think it's OK to do the shyt she does. Hope needs to fire her ass once and for all and quit enabling her. The wicked witch needs to know that her bad behavior has consequences!!
|May 19 2014, 10:17 PM Post #46
Her point of locking him in was to warn him to leave Hope alone so her precious baby boy and her can keep their jobs!! IKR about Weanie trying too hard to fit in. If he'd have made even the slightest attempt to get close to Bill this last yr it could have been somewhat believable but he didn't make even one attempt.
I love Brill and have from the beginning, they're so hot and sexy together and he's so good to her. Ridge needs to sit his ass down and STFU. Gawd how I hate him!! I hope he falls out of the helicopter and either drowns or dies, IDC which!!
|May 23 2014, 06:25 PM Post #47
X-Files-Mulder & Scully
Spoken for the truth yet again, there is over 20 years of transcripts and/or footage with Brooke skanking it up in LA. Noboyd is off limits to Brooke, not even family members through marriage. Now her daughter is following in her footsteps by getting involve with two half brothers because she just can't decide who to choose. ;) She got both tongue with both brohers, I think she wants to create reality tv show that called wife's husbands, where she has a harrem of husbands that strokes her gigantic and massive ego.
Edited by Dakota, May 23 2014, 06:27 PM.
|May 24 2014, 03:14 PM Post #48
Liam almost dies because of Quinn and yet he forgets to mention this to Hope? He should have told this to Hope and then ask her if she is willing to put up with this kind of behavior for the rest of her life if she marries Wyatt.
I am sick of Ridge too. He is emotionally abusive.
Edited by SoapSis, May 24 2014, 03:15 PM.
|May 24 2014, 10:00 PM Post #49
She does not. :bs:
|May 24 2014, 10:03 PM Post #50
OMG, very much so!! ITA about Hope. I've wondered before if she'd really want that psycho for a MIL!!
Ridge is a whack job IMO. He needs help.
|May 24 2014, 10:38 PM Post #51
I'm over Ridge's hypocrisy and emotional abuse in regards to every woman he's been with especially Brooke. He made his choice to be with Katie he needs to grow a pair and own it. You don't see Bill going on about not wanting Ridge around Will or Katie for that matter. The Ridge character has serious juvenile arrested development regardless of who is playing him. "Oh I love you Logan I know you haven't forgotten that but I can't stop caring about you and you are only doing this to get back at me", what a egomaniac! Katie can have him, I just hope his disappearance doesn't make Brooke fill guilty and filled with regret of having left L.A. with Bill because that would be so insulting truly. Time for Brill to have their life. Kridge can have theirs.
Edited by Fafokahw, May 24 2014, 10:39 PM.
|May 24 2014, 11:42 PM Post #52
Sorry you are the one that has rose colored glasses in regards to Brooke and Hope. Take them off and you see the truth right in front of your face. YT and SOC showcased both their histories and it not as peaches and cream as some think.
So keep the bs comments to yourself. I must remind you that Hope was conceived by Deacon who was married to Bridget, and not let forget that she banged Oliver at Hope graduation party thinking that it was Ridge, she couldn't even tell his body from an 18 year old boy. Seriously only a skank like Brooke would have sex with her man during at her daughter graduation party.
|May 25 2014, 08:19 AM Post #53
I think that there is hate towards Brooke and Hope and no matter what they do there will always be someone trashing them. Brooke and Hope could be perfect and still there would be some complaints. I hate how they have Hope wanting Liam back after we saw her so happy with Wyatt and not giving Liam another thought. I guess Bell didnt like that and he chooses to ruin her character by having her date both brothers and she will look like a complete fool to take Liam back. But i can see they would do that just to piss me off.
I hate what is being done to Brooke she is my favorite character and reason for watching but i cant support her at all. I hate her with Bill. I didnt like her with Ridge but i loved to hate them as a couple. Now they have her with her sister husband and Katie going with Ridge i just dont get them at all.
I dont think she sees them with rose colored glasses as you say. People see what they want to see and some will hate on Brooke and some wont. Or they will be like me hate her choices but still like her.
|May 25 2014, 02:37 PM Post #54
ICAM, Brooke has spent way too much time feeling guilty about Bill as it is. She just needs to marry him already and be happy and Ridge needs to sit down somewhere and shut his big mouth!!
|May 25 2014, 02:43 PM Post #55
I stand by my BS comment thank u very much because that's what it is!! Haters do not know Hope and Brooke and I'm not the one wearing rose colored glasses. You have yr opinion and I have mine!! :eatme: Oliver was a case of mistaken identity as portrayed by the show.
Edited by Meow, May 25 2014, 02:45 PM.
|May 25 2014, 02:56 PM Post #56
Thank you!! ITA about Hope and Brooke and how some will always hate them and that's fine because everyone is allowed their opinion. Bell isn't doing that to Hope to make us mad, he's doing it to make it OK for her to be with Liam again because he did the same thing with that skank Steffy. Hope is now no better than he is and she can't not be with him for the Skanky reason anymore. I don't like it either but now Lope can be together without the Skanky reason. I can't wait until she dumps Weanie. That will be so much fun to watch!!
Edited by Meow, May 25 2014, 02:59 PM.
|May 25 2014, 04:25 PM Post #57
Sorry, only a skank would think that her man wanted to have sex with her at her daughter high school graduation. She knew Ridge does not have the body of an twenty something Oliver, but it didn't stop her from doing the deed. Hope is the same way, she chided Liam for waffling between her and Steffy, but now she thinks it okay. Bell is writing Hope into Brooke 2.0 and her fans need to accept it. Both Brooke and Hope are wolves in sheep clothing, they will use you to their advantage and don't care about the collateral damages it cost in the long run.
Been watching B&B for twenty years, so don't call my comments BS.
It clear you cannot handle constructive criticism, so through as much BS my way and the truth will destroy it before it hits the fan. :cheer:
|May 25 2014, 06:35 PM Post #58
|Sorry, but I am loving this :popcorn: You guys are way more fun than the show... :cheers:
|May 25 2014, 07:56 PM Post #59
Again I have a right to my BS opinion and stand by it. Apparently I'm not the one who had a problem with constructive criticism!! It doesn't matter what we think about Oliver and Brooke. The show portrayed it as a case of mistaken identity and that's the only thing that counts. :cheer: I know the truth when I see it and that ain't it!! :eyeroll:
Edited by Meow, May 25 2014, 08:01 PM.
|May 25 2014, 07:58 PM Post #60
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Members of the 2011-12 El Dorado County Youth Commission are (in no particular order): Camille Holland-Cooper, Jana Johnston, Spencer Jones, Girdikhia Kaur, Dakota Keeton, Ashish Nag, Vineetha Ramesh, Jonas Rogers, Nathan Somavarapu and Zachary Somers. Courtesy photo
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By Mellany Armstrong 5:45am, October 4, 2012A Newark family looks at the big picture when their baby is born with a rare condition.
At just eight weeks old, Jocelyn Cash had a urinary tract infection with a high fever, and was diagnosed with kidney reflux.
"Her bladder was forcing all of her urine back up into her kidneys, causing major swelling in the kidneys, and damaging her right kidney," Jocelyn's mother, Judy Cash, said.
Judy had to leave her job to care for Jocelyn, which included catheterizing her every four hours.
"I went online, I was looking for any kind of answers as to why this was happening to her, and there was very, very little information on her conditions," she said.
Judy and her husband Jamaine soon learned of the National Kidney Foundation and have been raising money and awareness for the last four years.
"I wanted to change the face of kidney disease, I wanted to put a pediatric spin on it. And I'm hoping to do that, and finally our story is starting to get out there," Judy said.
So far they have raised nearly $10,000, and the family will walk again for Jocelyn in the 2012 Wilmington Kidney Walk October 14th at the riverfront.
"I'm hoping that she can start kindergarten as normal next year. That's our hope," Judy said.
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Mission Statement
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization and was named one of "America's 100 Best Charities" by Worth magazine. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) in partnership with more than 1,100 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. In 2015, the Online Hotline expanded to offer services in Spanish at rainn.org/es. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.
Learn more about RAINN's programs and expertise.