Monday, January 01, 2007

The Future Has Arrived

Now batting...ing...ing....for the Yankees..ees...ees..ees....

Numbah eleven..ven...ven...ven....

Hiroto Plugh....ooo..ooo....ooo


This morning (New Years Day in Japan) my wife and I were blessed with the arrival of our first child, a son. There are no words to describe this experience, but indeed I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.

Hiroto (HEE-roh-toh) Plugh (Ploo) is 7 pounds, 5 ounces and 20 inches long, born at 7:42am on the first day of 2007, year of the boar. His wingspan is absolutely ridiculous. He's all arms and legs like his daddy was, way back when.

My wife is a lefty so I'm hoping the free agent market for pitchers hasn't dried up by the time his rookie contract with the Bombers is up sometimes around 2036. At any rate, his lullaby has been "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" since he was conceived and he heard it for the first time this morning as a member of the air-breathing world. He smiled.

Play ball Hiroto!!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

let me be the first bronx banterer to say congrats. truly awesome.

...

say, does the kid have an agent yet?

Anonymous said...

just wan't to say congrats. The cubs will offer 100M over 10 years.

Anonymous said...

Nice job on the baby.

Although he can never be president of the United States, he can be governor of California, so be proud, daddy.

Mike Plugh said...

Actually Chris, I believe as long as he lives in the US for the 14 years leading up to his run for office, he is eligible.

He's a dual citizen of Japan and the US now, with the only decision he's required to make 18 years away in Japan. The US currently recognizes dual citizenship.

I think he can give up his Japanese citizenship, live in the US for 14 years leading up to his run for office, and become president. John McCain was born to American parents in the Panama Canal Zone, for example.

The weird little wrinkle is that his mother is not and will never be a US citizen. The rules have never been clarified, so unless he attempts to run one day, we won't know for sure.

I'd rather see him become a Yankee player than President. He can make more money and actually enjoy his life. ;)

Mike Plugh said...

Thanks to all of you for stopping by with your congratulations and well wishes. It means a lot.

Happy New Year.

Anonymous said...

Hey Congratulations Mike on your new baby!! Cute baby. Maybe some day he'll be wearing pin-stripes.

I believe your baby is under the year of the DOG, because the Chinese zodiac calendar is different than that of a normal calender. (Chinese New Year starts in February)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_%28zodiac%29

Anyway, Happy New Year!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! What a blessing to become a Dad on New Year Day!!

Mike Plugh said...

yonsame....you may be right, but in Japan it seems they start the new calendar right away. People are already celebrating the year of the boar....

Anonymous said...

Yeah. You're right Mike. My wife is Japanese and she said the same thing about how in Japan it's the first day of the New Year. It's always good to know. Maybe one day you'd wanna see what your son's fortune is in the Chinese horoscope. Congrats again. Maybe one day soon I'll be joining your ranks as a father. Hopefully a boy too(fingers crossed).

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Mike!

Mike A said...

Congrats Mike!

Simone said...

Mike, Hiroto is simply the cutest thing. Your future Yankee lefty is adorable. Congrats again to you and Mrs. Plugh who did all the hard work!

Mike Plugh said...

Thanks Simone and company. I think he's cute too, but I'm biased. One interesting note, is that his eyes appear outwardly Asian, but may be steel blue. It's VERY hard to say after 48 hours, and they may well end up kind of light brown, but my wife and I both agree that they appear steel right now.

Wild.

Mike Plugh said...

Yonsame,

Funny how that was decided by the Japanese, huh? The Chinese zodiac has existed for millenia, but to suit the modern world the calendar was shifted to coincide with the modern dates.

I need to find out why that happened. Kore kara yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

jake said...

Would you have named him Daisuke if the Yanks made the high bid?

Mike Plugh said...

Ha. Good one Jake. I never considered it actually, because Daisuke looks too much like Die Suck to westerners. Kids can be cruel. I thought the potential for Hiroto to be shortened to Hiro was good. Especially, if he proves himself capable of great "hiroics" in the Bronx. ;)

Mr. Faded Glory said...

Hey Mike, congratulations to you and your wife.

jake said...

And the name Hiro is getting some good publicity now because of the show "Heroes". Congrats.

Now make sure hes lefty and develops a changeup.

Anonymous said...

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thanks