Happy belated birthday to me, happy belated birthday to me, happy belated birthday from Gabe Kapler, happy belated birthday to meeeeeee.
Last Monday was my birthday, and Gabe Kapler, my favorite baseball player of all time, unknowingly gave me a birthday gift. How? Because on that day, without much fanfare, Kapler signed with the defending American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays. I wasn’t sure if he would stay in baseball this year, so his signing with the Rays is a mighty fine birthday present.
The Rays added Kapler as insurance for center fielder BJ Upton, who some sportswriters speculate may not be ready for Opening Day due to his recovery from shoulder surgery. Kapler signed a one year, one million dollar contract with the Rays.
This is a great move for multiple reasons. One, because the Rays are a divisional opponent and thus will play the Boston Red Sox multiple times. Red Sox outfielder and my favorite Canadian baseball player Jason Bay and Gabe Kapler on the field at Fenway at the same time? That might be too much for me to handle. You will literally see my brain on favorite baseball player overload. Sparks may actually shoot from my ears.
Additionally, the move allows Kapler, who is a California native, to play in a warm climate. While he coached in a warm weather climate with Greenville in 2007, he hasn’t played in a warm weather climate for several years.
Will this allow for more shirtless photo ops, by chance?
Either way, this move by Kapler means that I will have to add to my ever-growing “Gabe Kapler T-Shirt Collection.”
My Gabe Kapler T-Shirt Collection. I'll soon add a Rays shirt to the mix.
I really think my fiance is sick of buying me a new Kapler shirt every year. (Truth be told, I bought the first one myself.) Although, it does mean he doesn’t have to think that hard about an anniversary gift.
See, this is a win-win-win situation for all involved: Kapler extends his career for another year and gets to play someplace where he won’t worry about games in 40 degree weather. I get more opportunities to see Kapler play. And my fiance has his anniversary gift to me predetermined for another year.
I bought my first Gabe Kapler tshirt this October in Milwaukee. I was there for the Phillies/Brewers game and thought, it’s about time I pony up and get a shirt of us. I’ve only screamed at him from right field at Yankee Stadium for years when he with the Rangers and Red Sox.
As a Yankee fan, I don’t know if I could buy a Rays shirt. I know I can’t buy a Red Sox shirt.
Hey… happy belated! Let’s see if the Terriers can get you a nice present by FINALLY beating UNH at Agganis on Friday.