Leo Gomez, 1991 Fleer Ultra #16

Before Leo Gomez settled on his customary uniform number 10, he wore #11 briefly with the Orioles. In an awkward segue, 11 is also the number of chemotherapy treatments that my wife Janet has remaining. Two days ago, she had her first treatment of the second round of chemo drugs - Taxol, in this case. So far, the side effects are significantly less harsh than they were with the first combo of A-C meds (Adriamycin and Cytoxan). So hopefully she won't face too many additional hardships as we prepare for the birth of our child and those intensive early weeks of parenthood. There has been one excellent piece of news in the meantime: at Janet's pre-chemo checkup on Friday, the physician's assistant couldn't find any traces of the tumor in her breast by touch. We are winning this fight.

It's been about two and a half months since Janet was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, and I'm still trying to take stock of everything. I poured out a great deal of my thoughts in a post over at Janet's blog, and if you'd like to read that sort of thing, you can do so here. Thanks once again for your support, prayers, and positive thoughts and words.

Leo Gomez, 1991 Studio #3

Leo Gomez Fun Fact No. 62: In the Orioles' clubhouse, the locker next to Leo Gomez was reserved for his eyeglasses.

Leo Gomez, 1992 Pinnacle Team 2000 #52

Leo Gomez was part of an 80-card insert set in 1992 Pinnacle that touted young players who were expected to be stars in (you guessed it) the year 2000. He did post an .880 OPS with 27 homers in Y2K, but he did it in Japan. Besides, he's not even the biggest miss in the O's team set. Luis Mercedes, anyone? That guy played his last major league game in 1993 (.190/.286/.242 in 70 career games), and was out of baseball altogether by 1997. At least they got it right with Mike Mussina.

Leo Gomez, 1990 CMC Minors #311

Snazzy glasses there, Leo Gomez. I'm pretty sure that my dad had a pair just like them. In my hazy memories, there were maybe three or four sets of frames for glasses in the 1980s. You didn't have much of a choice, so you usually got stuck with a pair that swallowed up half of your face. It was not a good time to have vision problems. I'm just grateful that my eyes tolerate contact lenses, so I don't have to worry about these fashion faux pas...any more. There are pictures from my childhood and adolescence that I need to go bury in the bottom of a deep, dark hole.

Leo Gomez, 1995 Collector's Choice #332

Leo Gomez had much better success once he learned to use his bat for its intended purpose, rather than as a walking stick.

Leo Gomez, 1993 Leaf #155

Today just d-r-a-g-g-e-d. It was 27 degrees when I sat my frozen tuchus behind the wheel of my car this morning, just so I could drive to work at my half-empty office. One of my contact lenses must have had some extra dirt or debris on it, because my right eye was bothering me all day, but I never did succeed in dislodging the offending particle. (Update: I was wearing the lens inside-out. That'll do it.) It wasn't a bad day, it wasn't a good day, it was just there, and it stayed there well past the sell-by date. I need something to snap me out of these winter doldrums...

...A Leo Gomez card should do the trick! Hey, stop laughing and look at Leo's ass. Whoops, I mean his back left pocket. It looks like he's got a glove tucked in there. However, he's wearing his batting gloves. So what's the extra glove for? Baserunning only? I mean, it takes the right kind of gear to go 4-for-14 on attempted steals for your career.

Jokes about Leo Gomez's rear end don't do it for you? I'm just trying to make something out of a dull situation.

Leo Gomez, 1995 Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion #255

Well, I am exhausted, but for the right reasons. I took a day off of work to drive down to Kings Dominion with my sister, my cousin, and my cousin's boyfriend. Lest you question my sanity too much, rest assured that the trip was planned before this triple-digit heatwave slammed the Mid-Atlantic. That said, we spent a few brutal hours in the early afternoon sweating buckets as we knocked out all of the roller coasters: the Anaconda, the Volcano, the Shock Wave, and of course the Intimidator 305, the Dale Earnhardt-themed coaster that climbs to 305 feet in the air before dropping at an 85 degree angle. (I would question the propriety of the ride's theme, considering Earnhardt's gruesome death in a high-impact collision during a NASCAR race, but what do I know?)

The most enjoyable part of the day was the few hours we spent on the water rides. I made the conscious decision to just wear my shirt and shorts as I got thoroughly drenched on water slides, and I was much more comfortable spending the rest of the day walking the park in soggy clothes than you would probably imagine. Driving two and a half hours home was another story.

Nothing insightful here tonight. I just grabbed this card because I noticed the reflection of Leo Gomez's flip-up shades peeking out on the shoudler of his jersey, and thought it was a cool effect. You can also make out his number 10 written in black ink on white tape on the band of the shades.

Leo Gomez, 1992 Upper Deck #161

Congratulations to Leo Gomez, who was named the manager of the Aberdeen IronBirds yesterday. The IronBirds, of course, are Baltimore's short-season low-A affiliate in the New York-Penn League. The club is owned by the Ripkens and briefly employed yours truly as an unpaid marketing intern (and eventually a temporary "consultant") in the fall of 2004. Other former Orioles who have managed the IronBirds include Don Buford and Andy Etchebarren. No word on whether Leo will bring those sweet Rec Specs to Ripken Stadium with him.

Leo Gomez, 1993 Pinnacle #351

You can tell from the long-sleeved undershirts being worn by Leo Gomez and the Tigers players in the visiting dugout that this photograph was taken at a cold-weather game. But I can safely say that I would gladly take an overcast, chilly April day right about now. For the past few days, it's been turribly cold in Baltimore. Cold enough that I am unable to think in complete sentences while outdoors, to borrow a bit from comedian Lewis Black. When I got up for work at six this morning, it was nine degrees. Nine. I don't like being able to count the temperature on my fingers. While I am grateful for the little things, like the fact that my ancient car is still starting up on the first try, or that my house has heat, it doesn't make it easier to hoist oneself out from under the warmth of a feather comforter while it's still dark outside. I have lost my admittedly small reserve of patience for winter, and would love nothing more than to make a fleeting escape to San Diego to visit friends. Unfortunately said friends are booked solid for the rest of the winter. Maybe I should plan a Spring Training excursion to Sarasota for February or March. Whaddaya say?

Leo Gomez, 1993 Studio #99

When I thumb through my cards and come across Leo Gomez, in my mind I hear Jon Miller's stentorian bass announcing, "LAY-o Gomez". It sounded a little ridiculous, but it just rolled so fluidly off of his tongue...he made it work. My formative years as a baseball fan were spent listening to the avuncular, rotund Miller on WBAL. If I had known that he would be walking out the door after the 1996 season, bound for San Francisco, I might have listened more often and more closely. Instead, I have to settle for hearing him work the mic once a week - Sunday nights on ESPN. Usually that means that I also have to choke on the insipid burbling of Joe Morgan. But that's the kind of risk that I'm willing to take to listen to Jon Miller.

Today, Jon was selected as this year's recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award for his achievements in baseball broadcasting. On July 25, he will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. He will join several golden-throated greats who have previously received the honor, including the late, great Chuck Thompson, one of his former partners at WBAL. I can't think of anyone more deserving, and I can't wait to hear his speech.

Leo Gomez, 1995 Fleer Ultra #255

Sometimes, things happen when I'm not paying attention. According to this, former O's third baseman Leo Gomez is the bench coach for Baltimore's rookie-level Appalachian League team in Bluefield. It's an interesting full-circle deal, as he first set foot in Bluefield, WV as a 20-year-old in 1986 and hit .352 with seven home runs in the first 27 games of his pro career.

You know it's a slow offseason when I keep blogging about ex-Orioles who are coaching in the minors. But I'm a sucker for the good old names from my childhood and adolescence.

Leo Gomez, 1993 Donruss #31

AAAAHHHHHH! LOOK OUT, LADY! The ball is coming right for you! And so is Leo Gomez! At least you've got your extra-large round shades to protect your eyes. Not to mention the fact that you're wearing your Sunday finest...hmmm...I wonder if there's a Mrs. Leo Gomez? If so, don't worry. The world is your oyster. Maybe you can hook up with the photographer down in the camera well. His Red Sox hat, white shirt with rolled up sleeves, and light purple shorts tell me that he's dressed for success. Oh yeah.

Leo Gomez, 1995 Fleer Flair #3

Last night, I got waylaid with some sort of stomach virus. Since I've barely budged from my couch today, I needed to find a card that spoke for itself. God bless Fleer Flair, with its veritable orgy of etched foil and fancy script initials. I also love this card for the old-school flip-up sunglasses and the white tape with Leo's uniform number written on it.