Some Memes You May Enyoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- Only a few will probably get this (Via)

- Funny because its true!

- Baseball can be funny.

- And now I want one of these

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

If the Democrats wanted to dump Joe Biden in favor of Kamala Harris but didn't want to get their hands dirty trying to suggest the 25th Amendment themselves - the easiest way would be to have Biden sign a bunch of un-Constitutional gun control Executive Orders and see the Republicans get outraged. Just saying... It would be funny if a number of Atlanta Braves players sued MLB and Rob Manfred for creating a hostile work environment. What could Rob Manfred possibly say in response? Cha-ching! Cash in boys!... Why is it the media and the "experts" always seem to be so wrong... Wonder if it's possible for a State like Texas or Florida to tax YouTube - say at $.01 per video view in the state - and then use those funds for a favorite cause like fighting homelessness or providing broadband to low income families. What would be to stop a tax like that? They delete videos that go against the grain of their political aims and the Republican Governors tax their asses. Seems fair... John Kerry has always been a frigging idiot... 

MLB Gives Georgia the Middle Finger

MLB has announced they are moving the 2021 All-Star game from Atlanta because of their new voting law. This is a big mistake in my opinion. You can never be "woke" enough for some people and once you give in to this sort of social justice blackmail you are marked as a sucker and the woke demands will never stop.

Voting rights is also an ironic issue for MLB to tackle - especially in relation to the All-Star game. MLB allows anyone to vote for the All-Star game up to 35 TIMES. No "one person one vote" for MLB. Nosireee Bob. Also MLB was more than happy to play games n Castro's Cuba but not Atlanta? Really? How are the voting rights in Havana? 

Also when it comes to racism MLB has a lot to answer for itself before it tries to take the mote out of another's eye. When American hero Jackie Robinson was first on the Hall of Fame ballot - 22% of the Baseball Writers eligible to vote did not vote for Robinson. This was clearly racism. 100%. Yet MLB is still in bed with the Baseball Writers of America. 

Why haven't these racist baseball writers been identified and shamed? Why Rob Manfred? Why? Oh because the Baseball Writers voting is separate from MLB - but so is the voting laws of the State of Georgia but that didn't stop you there. Oh that was in the past and you're only concern is the present? Oh well then I can expect MLB to shortly denounce the human rights abuses by the Chinese and renounce MLB's partnership with the Chinese Communists - right? Why the "no comment" Mr. Manfred? You hypocritical sack of shit.   

The easiest prediction I've ever made is that this year's All-Star game will have the lowest TV ratings in history. There is also bound to be a backlash and a boycott of any sponsor who advertises during the game. Baseball used to be neutral ground but no longer. Rob Manfred has just made it political and he'll learn the hard way that there's much truth to the phrase "Go Woke Go Broke."

The only silver lining I can see is that now it is clear that all sports is open game for political stances it makes any argument against NOT boycotting the Beijing Olymics moot.  

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Cool - real-life Iron Man suit

- Let's not forget flying cars - Larry Paige of Google is quietly amassing a flying car empire

- Heh Heh

- This is why Tom Brady is so great

- Indeed! Worst umpire call ever!

- Could there be any more conflicts of interest in this case?

- This photo of Ron Gant from 1993 is easily on of my favorite baseball photos.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I just know somehow some Eagles players are going to blame the White House "disinvite" on the New England Patriots... If it's true that less than 10 Eagles players planned to attend the White House ceremony then I don't blame the President for revoking the invitation. And how can Eagles players complain about being disinvited if none of them planned on attending anyway?... Still say that when it comes time for September call-ups the Atlanta Braves should add "The Freeze" to the roster as a pinch runner... It must be cool to be able to see America through the child-like wonder of the Greek Freak... Also still say that if people in the South really want to get rid of the statues of Confederate Generals there should be a Kickstarter to replace those statues with ones of Gregg Allman... If you see this quote from Tom Brady on NBA refs circulating on the Interwebs just know it's 100% made-up...  Rest in peace Dwight Clark. Visiting your restaurant Clark's By the Bay was a highlight of a trip my fiancee and I took to San Fran in 1989 (though the restaurant wasn't easy to get to)...

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

CNN's rating were down 25% in May compared to May last year. Just saying but if CNN ran reruns of Larry King from their archives their rating would probably improve... Cardinals TE Jermaine Gresham seems like a cool guy... Is there anything dumber than a website asking you to turn off your ad blocker so that they can autoplay a video commercial every time you visit their site? Dumbass that's why I got an ad blocker in the first place... Normally not a fan of gimmicks but I really love The Freeze at Atlanta Braves games... Happy birthday to the Celtics Al Horford who was the team MVP this season... 17 secrets to living a life without regrets... Just a reminder - you're not required to have an opinion on everything...

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I predict that the Celtics' Danny Ainge signs free agent Gordon Haywood AND trades for Paul George BUT also somehow does not win NBA Executive of the Year... The Yellowstone Super Volcano still undergoing a swarm of earthquakes (and still scaring the bejeezus out of me)... Isaac the Bartender from The Love Boat is my spirit animal... Cool new plane (but what would it be used for - doesn't look like it's built for passengers)... I love these... Just as a reminder - "Britney Spears" is an anagram for "Presbyterians"... This is impressive... In September call-ups the Atlanta Braves should add "the Freeze" to the roster as a pinch runner. What a great way to support his Olympic sprinting dream (and sell a shit ton of his jerseys)...

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

April 16th really should be a holiday in the New England states. The anniversary of Tom Brady being drafted by the Patriots and Bill Belichick's birthday. Easily could be a holiday...  If David Ortiz finished the season with 104 RBI - he will have passed Ernie Banks for 29th place on the All-Time RBI list... Climate science is a religion "belief is strong where evidence is weak"... Strange but true - Dan Uggla (who plays for the Nationals) is the highest paid player on the Braves payroll. Atlanta is paying Uggla $12.6 million not to play for them this season... Cool flying squirrel suit video... If David Ortiz finishes the season with 30 HR - he'll have 498 for his career. That would be good for 27th place on the All-Time list just ahead of Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff... Donuts in space!!... Idea for smaller towns - vehicles that are half ambulance and half ice cream truck... Seven things you might not know about Calvin and Hobbes... Someone should republish the Encyclopedia Brown books but replace his sidekick Sally Kimball with Courtney Love... I'm hoping the Red Sox can trade some really good coupons for Cole Hamels... Vinnie Testeverde Private Eye would be a show I'd watch on TV... If I had a bar in Boston or Worcester this photo of Bob Cousy would definitely be hanging on the wall... You know fans at all the Colts road games will be holding up signs that say "GO FOR 9!"...

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- One of the many reasons to like Terry Francona (and good sport Don Orsillo)

- The Evan Gattis story keeps getting cooler and cooler

- Speaking of cool stories - it doesn't get much better than Chris Colabella's finally making it to the Big Show

- Heh Heh

- Searching for Dwight Howard. I've long held that Dwight Howard is the most over-rated player in the NBA. Whoever signs him will come to regret the decision.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I am so happy that Opening Day is finally here. Wicked excited... Coolest pool table ever!...  I have not seen the video of Kevin Ware's injury and God willing - I hope I never will... Yesterday I re-ordered HBO because I didn't want to miss the new season of Game of Thrones. I cancelled HBO when last season of GoT ended and will do so once again this year... Please don't get an erection! Please don't get an erection!... Jackie Bradley Jr. will be the youngest starting left fielder for the Red Sox since Yaz started in left back in 1961... Are the people in Atlanta really calling the Braves outfield, "Up, Up and a Hey"? That's pretty clever... Love language stuff like this - British words and phrases that don't translate for Americans and vice versa... Alec Baldwin has basically morphed into Leslie Neilsen at this point - hasn't he?... Metal Debris would be a good name for a band... A good reminder for a Monday morning, "If you don't know what your top three priorities are, you don't have priorities" - Donald Rumsfeld... I know one of my priorities for today is to watch the Red Sox / Yankees game...

Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens

I thought Tommy Hanson and Jair Jerrjens would become the cornerstones of the Braves starting staff. Today neither player is even on Atlanta's roster. Hanson was traded to the Angels for reliever Jordan Walden. Meanwhile Jurrjens was simply released.

I know the Braves are pitching rich but it seems like they got very little in return for players who just two years ago would have garnered at least top prospects. I know that both players have struggled with injuries but it still seems strange.

It also makes me think that maybe the Red Sox look at Hanson and Jurrjens and think Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester.

EDIT: It looks like Red Sox GM is "open-minded" about trading Lester.

Player Comparison

Here's a player comparison I was curious about.

Player A: .254 BA/ .337 OBP/ .486 SLG/ .823 OPS/ 111 OPS+
Player B: .303 BA/ .401 OBP/ .529 SLG/ .930 OPS/ 141 OPS+

How about career totals?

Player A: 1204 R/ 434 HR/ 1289 RBI/ 3690 TB
Player B: 1619 R/ 468 HR/ 1623 RBI/ 4755 TB

Obviously Player B was the better hitter but Player A was a 10-time Gold Glove Player. Player B is Chipper Jones who will be elected into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot while Player A is Andruw Jones who will probably receive the Dwight Evans treatment from Hall voters.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I watched the first half of last night's game at one bar and the second half of the game at another. The one thing the patrons at each place had in common was the opinion that the replacement refs in the Patriots / Ravens game were awful... So let me get this straight - Elizabeth Warren is technically only an Indian and a licensed lawyer in her own mind. Well OK then... Did blowing into Nintendo cartridges actually help? I admit to blowing on the connectors. I think it helped no matter what studies say... Ronald Reagan thought that unemployment was a major problem in 1976 when 7.5 million Americans were out of a job. You have to wonder what he'd say today when that number is at 23 million (and growing)... The son of the most interesting man in the world... If I'm ever in a relationship with a woman who keeps Moet et Chandon in a cabinet - I'm pretty sure I'm going to bail. Thanks Queen's Lyrics for the dating advice... Awesome photo of the space shuttle Endeavor.. The Jetsons was set in 2062. I don't think we should have to wait that long for flying cars or robot maids... If I had unlimited cash - I'd buy the Atlanta Braves just so I could rename Turner Field to Hank Aaron Field. That's a wrong that's been waiting to be righted for too long... Mitt Romney made less money last year than Jon Stewart but the Daily Show will keep poking fun at Romney as the rich guy...

Player Comparison

Let's compare the career numbers for these two young pitchers:

Player A: 50-35 / 3.53 ERA / 119 GS / 115 ERA+

Player B: 36-25 / 3.84 ERA / 79 GS / 117 ERA+

Player A is 26-year old Jair Jurrjens of the Braves who was just sent down to the minors because he has been ineffective so far this season going 0-2 with a 9.37 ERA in 4 starts. Player B is Clay Buchholz of the Red Sox who at 27-years old is less seasoned than Jurrjens but who is having an equally bad season with a 1-1 record, 9.00 ERA in 3 starts.

The comparison of the players maybe brings out more of a comparison of the organizations. Jurrjens was hurting the team and so was demoted. Buchholz is hurting the team but will anyone even broach the subject of sending him to Pawtucket? This is an option that has to be considered especially with the prospect of losing Aaron Cook (3-0 with 1.33 ERA in 4 starts) if he isn't brought up to the big club soon.

EDIT: I should have mentioned that I know that Jurrjens isn't the same player because of his knee issues but the same can be said of Buchholz and his back issues. The difference is the Red Sox have control over Buchholz until at least 2015 (with a 2016 option). That should be even more reason to send him down to make sure he's operating at 100%.

Player Comparison

Here's a player comparison I found interesting:

Player A - 49 R/ 12 HR/ 58 RBI/ .276 BA/ .889 OPS
Player B - 39 R/ 13 HR/ 42 RBI/ .279 BA/ .826 OPS

Player A is Kevin Youkilis while Player B is Freddy Freeman of the Atlanta Braves. I don't make the comparison to try and say one player is better than another instead I was struck by how similar the numbers were. Trust me - comparing a rookie player to Kevin Youkilis coming from me is high praise.

Flotsam and Jetsam Rapture Edition

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations on the day of the Rapture.

I would celebrate the Rapture every May 21st if it came with an airing of grievances and cake... The core of the Rangers team can really be traced to trade of Mark Teixeira to the Braves which netted Texas Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, and Matt Harrison plus Jarrod Saltalamacchia which I still don't understand why they let him go. Can you imagine how much of a powerhouse Atlanta would be if they still had those players?... I feel bad for any police offices working missing persons bureaus tomorrow. You know the urge to write "raptured" on any new reports will be strong... Before going to Washington, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should have went to Mexico City first and demanded that America return to its pre-1846 borders. It would have been funny to see how President Obama would react (though Obama hasn't shown a real grasp of history so it is doubtful he'd even understand the significance of 1846)... Thanks to Peter Gammons for pointing out the silver lining to today's Rapture, "if the world ends today, the Red Sox are the wild card"... If you were a Priest or Minister and the Rapture turned out to be real and you were left behind - wouldn't you have a lot of explaining to do?

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- The Vancouver Aquarium's holiday card is awesome

- Very Cool. Snowflakes under an electron microscope

- If you are in a technology industry you might find this amusing

- This is why teachers drink As an aside - when I hear the word "Forex" I think condom - so to me Forex Mom = Condom Mom.

- Is Chipper Jones a Hall of Famer? I think so.

- Jason Whitlock on Sexy Ryan. I agree with Whitlock 100% - Ryan has to stop being a clown and start being a coach. I'd take it one step forward - he should step up and own the foot fetish story. If he goes to the podium and says, "Yes that is me and my wife in the videos. I love my wife. I love her feet, I love everything about her. Some men are leg men, some men like breasts best - I like feet. This has nothing to do with our preparations for this Sunday's game so I will not be answering any other questions about it."

Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones came in second in the 1995 NL ROY voting to Hideo Nomo. Nobody in the top 10 in voting from that year in the NL is still in the bigs though Jason Isringhausen could make a comeback. The AL ROY that year went to Marty Cordoba of the Twins. Only Andy Pettite and Garrett Anderson from the top 10 in votes for 1995 AL ROY are still active and Anderson just barely.

Jones could retire tomorrow and in my mind he's a first ballot Hall of Fame guy. He's already in the top 50 all-time in on base percentage (46th), slugging percent (41st), OPS (30th), and home runs (37th). Chipper needs 18 more RBI to tie Mickey Mantle for 50th on that list.

Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones came in second in the 1995 NL ROY voting to Hideo Nomo. Nobody in the top 10 in voting from that year in the NL is still in the bigs though Jason Isringhausen could make a comeback. The AL ROY that year went to Marty Cordoba of the Twins. Only Andy Pettite and Garrett Anderson from the top 10 in votes for 1995 AL ROY are still active and Anderson just barely.

Jones could retire tomorrow and in my mind he's a first ballot Hall of Fame guy. He's already in the top 50 all-time in on base percentage (45th), slugging percent (40th), OPS (29th), and home runs (39th). Chipper needs 62 more total bases to crack the top 50 in that category and he needs 42 more RBI to tie Mickey Mantle for 50th on that list.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The over has gone 11-1-2 in the first 14 MLB games of the season. Each year I tell myself that I'm going to take the underdogs in each game of the NCAA Men's basketball tournament and the over in each game on Opening Day. Each year I fail to do so and leave money on the table... This would have been better than the real movie... The Braves Jason Heyward's nickname should be Hot Damn! Combines Hotlanta and what you say every time he's at bat. Jay Hey Kid just doesn't do it for me... So Marc Bulger's wife gives birth to a baby girl on Sunday and he wakes up feeling good on Monday because it's his birthday and then BAM! he gets cut by the Rams. Couldn't the Rams have waited a day so as to not cut a guy on his birthday?... Marlin is still the plural of Marlin (i.e "I caught several marlin") - right? Then why do people call them the Marlins?... Omar Vizquel needs one hit to reach 2,673 and tie Luis Aparicio for 2nd most hits by a shortstop in history (Jeter is 1st with 2,731 and counting). You would think that Cal Ripken would be in the top 3 but he spent his last few seasons as a 3rd baseman... Silver lining for Cleveland fans; even though Mark Buehrle dominated your team yesterday the Indians are still the only AL team Buehrle has a losing career record against (12-14)... People who make me immediately change the channel; Rick Reilly, Dan Shaughnessy and Colin Cowherd... When the Patriots traded Matt Cassell people were upset they didn't net a higher draft pick but New England got the 34th pick of the draft while the Eagles just got the 37th in exchange for Donovan McNabb. Not sure if this says something about the Patriots or about Donovan McNabb or both... The most interesting man in the world circa 1900...