Seven ways a player can legally reach first without a hit?

taking a base on balls (a walk) ... batter hit by a pitch, passed ball, catcher interference, catcher drops third strike, fielder's choice, and being designated as a pinch-runner.

That's a fun one.

Manny Ramirez' catch/high five

Ok, figured a baseball post should grace this page for the first time, and Man-Ram's goofy catch/high-five/double-the-guy-off-first web gem seems appropriate. If I was more technologically proficient, I'd post the you-tube highlight, but . . . someday, my friend. . . .someday. For now, go to you tube and search "manny ramirez catch" and check it out. A baseball first, as far as I know (pretty confident actually that, since there hasn't been a crazyier goof than Man Ram with that type of talent in baseball history, nobody's ever done anything like that).

Getting this blogging thing a bit more now

Of course, I'm just talking to myself now, since nobody knows this blog even exists, but I must admit I'm kind of digging it. I guess this would be the "blathering" referenced in the blog title. Ordered a new blog design from a pro, so this blog site should be actual soon. Just uploaded my book cover and bio/pic to the blog. That seems awfully hubris-laden, but I guess that's what a blog really is.