The Tao of Worms

Baseball: Juan Nicasio Fights On

taoofworms — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:47:32 +0000

A few weeks ago as I checked the sports news, I came upon a story about a not-so-well-known Rockies pitcher. Juan Nicasio, a 25-year-old right-handed starting pitcher from the baseball haven of San Pedro de Macoris, was somewhat a late bloomer. After several years in the minors, the Rockies called him up this season from the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, where he was 5-1 with a solid 2.22 ERA and 10.0 K/9. Replacing the injured Jorge de la Rosa, Nicasio had quite an impressive first start, earning a win while allowing six hits and one unearned run from the offense-rich Cardinals. Through his first 13 starts, he went 4-4 with a 4.14 ERA. On July 1st, he pitched eight shutout innings against the relatively strong offense of the Kansas City Royals. On July 31st against San Diego, he reached another milestone, striking out 10 over seven innings.

Then came tragedy.

Nicasio started against the Washington Nationals on August 5th. After a rough two-run first inning, a line drive from Ian Desmond struck Nicasio in the head. He fell to the mound and fractured his neck at the C-1 vertebra.

Such a fracture – an injury reportedly unprecedented in baseball history – might have ended his just budding career. Yet despite suffering this paralyzing injury, Juan Nicasio has made an incredible recovery. After neck surgery from the Denver Health Medical Center and plenty of rest, he was able to walk again independently and arrived at Coors Field on August 17th (with his mother – see photo below). He now will remarkably have the opportunity to join the rotation this coming season.

This story is not only one of Juan’s physical resilience – more importantly, it is one of his great mental resilience. He has shown great determination and stamina in the face of this injury. According to Rockies athletic trainer Keith Dugger, he had a baseball in his hands just weeks after surgery. He is ready to face hitters again after suffering one of the worst baseball injuries to a line drive. He claims that after the surgery he dreamt that he “‘won 20 games. I won 19, and the last game we were in Philadelphia and I won.’”

I may be a Phillies fan and a resident of Philadelphia, but I hope Juan does win 20 games and at least one against one of the greatest rotations in baseball. He deserves this reward for his great determination. The Rockies not only have another healthy starter – they have a pitcher with a winning mindset.

Source:
Major League Baseball/MLB.com
Baseball-Reference.com

Photo Credit: AP/Denver Post

Articles:

“Juan Nicasio determined in face of neck fracture,” August 16, 2011, MLB.com.

“Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio ready to take big step in recovery from broken vertebra,” January 19, 2012, MLB.com.

Groundbreaking: Cincinnati Streetcar Project

taoofworms — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:19:16 +0000

After more than five years of planning, the Cincinnati streetcar project is now making a significant step forward. On February 17, 2012 at 1:00 pm, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, and other dignitaries will break ground on the Cincinnati streetcar in Over-the-Rhine, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. After two ballot initiatives, loss of state funding, and countless other hurdles, this transit project is officially moving forward. There are still more challenges nonetheless, with Duke Energy responsible for the latest round of obstructionist tactics – arguing over utility relocation. This interestingly comes at the same time as Cincinnati is working on an electricity aggregation deal that would power the city through entirely renewable sources – making Cincinnati the largest city nationally to do so. Perhaps this development has irked the folks at Duke.

This also represents a major milestone for me – I have followed this project since high school, when I first learned about the history of rail transit projects in Cincinnati. This represents one more step towards the new, more progressive Cincinnati, already emerging with the election of 2011 (in which Cincinnati voted out four conservative incumbent city council members and once again defeated a proposed anti-rail charter amendment). Hopefully this will be the core of a new age of not only transportation but also urban development in the Queen City – in which the urban core once again gains vibrance and energy through renewed economic investment and residential growth. The streetcar will make it less expensive to live and work in Over-the-Rhine and Downtown, and will hopefully attract more investment to the heart of the Tri-State. Even here in Philadelphia, I am proud to see my hometown building itself up and investing in a powerful new form of transportation.

As proud as I am to hear of this development, I know that the battle is not over. This project has faced countless obstacles in its six years of planning – a hostile governor, hostile media, ignorant attacks from suburbia, and current issues with utility relocation. Supporters of the streetcar project and of transit in Cincinnati must continue their efforts to make this project a reality.

Cincinnati modern streetcar in Over-the-Rhine (rendering)

Image credit: UrbanCincy

Sources:
Cincinnati Enquirer
UrbanCincy

Poem: Clemente

taoofworms — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:58:33 +0000

I guess I best remember the time

When your bat so sweetly kissed the ball,

Sending you and three teammates home

To win the game

Without even leaving the park

Or maybe when the Pirates beat those

“Amazing” Orioles in ’71

And you hit .414,

Three Rivers Stadium cheering,

A sea of yellow and black

But I’ll always remember your spirit

So generous,

Longing to help those who lost their only fruits

To the earthquake

Unafraid

As you, the harbinger of hope, of a cornucopia,

Plunged from the sky

Into the deep blue

New book: The Iron Horse, American Railroads, and the Queen City

taoofworms — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:17:25 +0000

I am so happy that after several years of writing, research, and editing, I have finished my book. It all started as a handout with the Cincinnati Museum Center, but it grew into something much larger. It took a lot of work but it was definitely worth it. I should also thank my parents for all their help throughout the process (and now with publishing it).

First post

taoofworms — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:10:11 +0000

This is my first post! Oh wow – I am breaking ground on the blog. Let’s cut the ribbon and shovel the dirt.

I mean – let’s get the worlds flowing.

Anyway, this will be an outlet for my thoughts as a scientist, baseball fan, student, transit enthusiast, avid music listener, and computer junkie. Yes – I am all of these things, and hopefully in some way I can get these things to all synchronize. I am definitely eclectic – even in my heritage, combining influences of the West and East (Minnesota and the Middle East). Add to this Cincinnati, the not-to-small and not-to-big city that was my former home, which led me to follow the road less traveled upon. To pursue the obscure but delicious. Cincinnati is a hidden gem, an acquired taste – I had to look deeper into its history (or perhaps just to look into its history) to find its magic. And so I found many cultural artifacts under the radar, like this Hugh Masekela composition:

So this is a little bit about me – and a good start to the blog. I love to find diamonds in the rough, or, moreover, to appreciate the rough and under-appreciated parts of life and science.