Top 5 TV Theme Songs
1. Hawaii Five-O
2. Barney Miller
3. Rockford Files
4. Cheers
5. (tie) Bonanza (tie) Rawhide
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Peggy Noonan on Hillary Clinton
Peggy Noonan discusses Hillary's inevitable run for the President in 2008 with insight that is unparalleled.
Peggy Noonan discusses Hillary's inevitable run for the President in 2008 with insight that is unparalleled.
Why does she want to get to Mr. Bush's right on these issues?I wish Peggy Noonan would run for President in 2008 because she would have my vote (unless Victor Davis Hanson decided to run).
Three reasons. The first is that she knows another attack on American soil is inevitable and wants to position herself politically as The Wise One Who Warned Us.
Second, she knows that a woman perceived as a liberal has no chance at winning the presidency while a woman perceived as a tough, pragmatic moderate does. So she is tough where Mr. Compassionate Conservative is soft (immigration), or is vulnerable, after a coming attack, to charges that he was soft (homeland security). She can't lose on this one. Security can always be better, and after America is attacked again anger and finger pointing will be widespread.
Third, Mrs. Clinton knows the Democratic Party as a whole is to the left of the electorate. She is used to this. It is the story of her life. The electorate in Arkansas were always more moderate than Gov. and Mrs. Clinton, and President and Mrs. Clinton for that matter. She knows how to operate in such conditions. She does not intend to go down in flames as a leftist when she runs for president. This will take guile. She has guile.
Beat Writers vs. Blog Writers
Interesting post over at Dodger Thoughts (found via Off Wing Opinion). LA Times writer Bill Shaiken discusses the differences between newspaper coverage and blog coverage. Good stuff:
Small point but one thing Shaiken does not address is the fact that many bloggers come from different areas of expertise (lawyers, technical wizards, etc.). Many times it is these diverse areas of experience and points of view that do the most to supplement the often narrow points of view that adds the most to discussion.
Interesting post over at Dodger Thoughts (found via Off Wing Opinion). LA Times writer Bill Shaiken discusses the differences between newspaper coverage and blog coverage. Good stuff:
The strength of baseball blogging, then, is that it expands a fan’s options beyond moaning about the newspaper coverage or calling a talk show and waiting on hold to deliver a 30-second opinion. Write your own analysis. Use the blessing of unlimited space. I might get four paragraphs to discuss which free-agent pitchers the Dodgers or Angels are pursuing, with room for nothing beyond names and stats, certainly not for the analysis that the best blogs provide.This of course begs the question - why doesn't the LA Times just give Shaiken and writers like him the space on their web site to do these expanded notes and stories that don't fit into the page constraints of the paper? The paper could make extra money off web advertising and increase brand loyalty. The writer could make a little more cake and expand his name recognition. Classic win-win.
Small point but one thing Shaiken does not address is the fact that many bloggers come from different areas of expertise (lawyers, technical wizards, etc.). Many times it is these diverse areas of experience and points of view that do the most to supplement the often narrow points of view that adds the most to discussion.
Bill James - What the hell were you thinking?
Bill James has a "post" up over at The Hardball Times. To say I'm disappointed in this offering from Bill James would be a gross understatement. Normally James' pieces are full of facts and humor to back up his point of view. This piece is just drivel. His basic point seems to be that if you are attacking Barry Bonds you are a racist.
Get a grip Bill. This piece is an embarrassment.
Bill James has a "post" up over at The Hardball Times. To say I'm disappointed in this offering from Bill James would be a gross understatement. Normally James' pieces are full of facts and humor to back up his point of view. This piece is just drivel. His basic point seems to be that if you are attacking Barry Bonds you are a racist.
Get a grip Bill. This piece is an embarrassment.
Javier Vazquez - Looking Back
I happened to see recently what I had written when the Yankees first traded for Vazquez. I think I was pretty much on target. What do you think?
I happened to see recently what I had written when the Yankees first traded for Vazquez. I think I was pretty much on target. What do you think?
Frank Costanza, "How could you trade Jay Buhner?"Bonus observation:
George Costanza (10 years from now), "How could you trade Nick Johnson?"
Vazquez is a stud pitcher and at this moment he is the Yankees ace. However, there are a couple of considerations to think about:
1. Being in the AL and facing a DH instead of pitchers will naturally drive up his ERA. Having the Yankees' porous defense behind him will also drive up his ERA. Being a flyball pitcher in a park with a short right field porch may also drive up his ERA.
2. Vazquez' numbers (with the exception of strikeouts) are very similar to what Weaver's numbers were for the year and a half prior to Weaver joining the Yankees. There is no guarantee that Vazquez will not be overwhelmed by playing in NYC and the special pressure of playing for the Yankees.
3. Power pitchers like Vazquez often are prone to injury at about this stage in their careers. Just saying.
4. The Red Sox filled a need without giving up much when they acquired Schilling. The Yankees created another hole (back-up 1st base and DH) when they traded for Vazquez. They may have been putting too much hope on Giambi's bone on bone knees.
The Yankees will be lucky if Vazquez is able to replace Clemen’s productivity (all indications are that this should not be a problem). As a Red Sox fan I also keep in mind that as good as Vazquez was last year – he wasn’t even the ace of the staff. That was Livan Hernandez. Vazquez has never been the staff ace. First he was behind Colon and then Hernandez. Now he has to go to Yankee Stadium and be the man? Good luck with all that.
The other day David Pinto from www.baseballmusings.com (one of my favorite web sites) mentioned that Vazquez might actually be the baseball player’s name worth the most Scrabble points in history. Normally I’m not this anal but the question bothered me because I believe Yastrzemski is the true Scrabble baseball name champion because in Scrabble there is only one “Z” tile (so you would have to use a blank for the second “Z”). Thus Yaz would be worth 32 points and Vazquez only 27 points. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
John Lennon (Oct. 9, 1940-Dec. 8, 1980)
Gerald Van der Leun at American Digest has a excellent piece about where he was and what he was doing 24 years ago today - the day John Lennon was shot and killed in New York.
For the record - I can recall seeing the news from ABC but can't recall much else (including whether I was in 8th grade or a freshman in high school).
Gerald Van der Leun at American Digest has a excellent piece about where he was and what he was doing 24 years ago today - the day John Lennon was shot and killed in New York.
For the record - I can recall seeing the news from ABC but can't recall much else (including whether I was in 8th grade or a freshman in high school).
Scots Win at Elephant Polo
Scotland can finally declare itself a sporting heavyweight after winning the Elephant Polo World Championship in Nepal.
The Scots snared the 2004 title after a week-long tournament in the Himalayan kingdom's Royal Chitwan National Park, attended by crowds of up to 5,000 people.
"It's fantastic for Scotland - we don't normally win a huge number of tournaments these days," team captain the Duke of Argyll told Reuters on Tuesday.
The Scots beat local favorites National Parks of Nepal, 12-6 last Friday, winning back a crown they held in 2001.
Elephant polo is similar to normal polo but the field is smaller and the four competitors on each side play two 10-minute "chukkas."
Elephants are controlled by "mahouts" or drivers, while the polo players wield long bamboo sticks to hit the ball. A foul is declared if an elephant picks up the ball with its trunk.
Pig Sex and Pro Athletes
Denny Neagle was arrested for soliciting a pig.
Kris Benson married the moral equivalent of a pig.
David Beckham's ex-girlfriend beat-off a pig.
Denny Neagle was arrested for soliciting a pig.
Kris Benson married the moral equivalent of a pig.
David Beckham's ex-girlfriend beat-off a pig.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
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Non-Tenders - Shea Hillenbrand and Josh Fogg
Peter Gammons speculates that Shea Hillenbrand and Josh Fogg may be among the players that are non-tendered (not offered arbitration) by their current ball clubs. These two players intrigue me.
Hillenbrand used to be a member of the Red Sox but was traded for Byung-Hyun Kim. Hillenbrand's trade opened up third base for Bill Mueller who ended up winning the batting title as a result. Third (and first) base are all set for the Red Sox but I could see a couple of teams having interest in Hillenbrand.
The Dodgers would be a good fit if Adrian Beltre moves on. Hillenbrand would not be able to fully replace Beltre's production but has shown some pop when playing at Dodger Stadium (.938 OPS in 68 AB). Hillenbrand could be signed for 3-years for less than what Beltre would be looking for just one.
The Mariners and Rockies both need a third baseman. Hillenbrand hasn't shown much as far as production at Coors but I'm sure he'd adapt and if the Rockies signed him I'd be willing to bet that he posts better numbers than what Vinnie Castillo will come up with in Washington. The Mariners are rumored to be in on both Troy Glaus and Beltre but it wouldn't surprise me if they went with the cheaper Hillenbrand instead.
Hillenbrand would cost the Diamondbacks about $3.5 million if they gave him arbitration and that may be too much (especially if they really plan on trying to keep Richie Sexson). Anyone interested in Corey Koskie should be interested in Hillenbrand as well.
I should note that in Boston, Hillenbrand was a favorite of both Johnny Pesky and Manny Ramirez. That says something about him as a teammate (although I'm not really clear on what it says).
Josh Fogg is originally from Lynn, MA (Lynn, Lynn - the city of sin, you never come out the way you went in).
Fogg only cost the Pirates $340,000 last year so I'd be really surprised if he wasn't offered arbitration. (Sometimes Gammons throws stuff like this against the wall to see if it sticks.)
Fogg's numbers are really nothing special but you have to like the idea that he's managed a winning record (33-31) while pitching for the Pirates the last 3-years. He easily could be a 200 inning, 17 win guy for an American League team and he would cost a fraction of guys like Kris Benson.
Peter Gammons speculates that Shea Hillenbrand and Josh Fogg may be among the players that are non-tendered (not offered arbitration) by their current ball clubs. These two players intrigue me.
Hillenbrand used to be a member of the Red Sox but was traded for Byung-Hyun Kim. Hillenbrand's trade opened up third base for Bill Mueller who ended up winning the batting title as a result. Third (and first) base are all set for the Red Sox but I could see a couple of teams having interest in Hillenbrand.
The Dodgers would be a good fit if Adrian Beltre moves on. Hillenbrand would not be able to fully replace Beltre's production but has shown some pop when playing at Dodger Stadium (.938 OPS in 68 AB). Hillenbrand could be signed for 3-years for less than what Beltre would be looking for just one.
The Mariners and Rockies both need a third baseman. Hillenbrand hasn't shown much as far as production at Coors but I'm sure he'd adapt and if the Rockies signed him I'd be willing to bet that he posts better numbers than what Vinnie Castillo will come up with in Washington. The Mariners are rumored to be in on both Troy Glaus and Beltre but it wouldn't surprise me if they went with the cheaper Hillenbrand instead.
Hillenbrand would cost the Diamondbacks about $3.5 million if they gave him arbitration and that may be too much (especially if they really plan on trying to keep Richie Sexson). Anyone interested in Corey Koskie should be interested in Hillenbrand as well.
I should note that in Boston, Hillenbrand was a favorite of both Johnny Pesky and Manny Ramirez. That says something about him as a teammate (although I'm not really clear on what it says).
Josh Fogg is originally from Lynn, MA (Lynn, Lynn - the city of sin, you never come out the way you went in).
Fogg only cost the Pirates $340,000 last year so I'd be really surprised if he wasn't offered arbitration. (Sometimes Gammons throws stuff like this against the wall to see if it sticks.)
Fogg's numbers are really nothing special but you have to like the idea that he's managed a winning record (33-31) while pitching for the Pirates the last 3-years. He easily could be a 200 inning, 17 win guy for an American League team and he would cost a fraction of guys like Kris Benson.
Arbitration Day
Today is the deadline for teams to offer their free agents arbitration. I would expect the Red Sox to offer all four of their top free agents arbitration. This four includes Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek, Derek Lowe and Orlando Cabrera.
Best case for the Sox would be for all four to accept arbitration but that's not going to happen. If the Red Sox don't sign these players at least now they will get draft picks in compensation if another team signs them.
Arbitration day is important because a team may be hesitant to both pay a player a big contract and give up draft picks. Arbitration day helps set the true market for the free agents. It is also interesting to see what players are and are not offered arbitration. Not getting arbitration from your current team is like getting a huge sign that says "don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."
Today is the deadline for teams to offer their free agents arbitration. I would expect the Red Sox to offer all four of their top free agents arbitration. This four includes Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek, Derek Lowe and Orlando Cabrera.
Best case for the Sox would be for all four to accept arbitration but that's not going to happen. If the Red Sox don't sign these players at least now they will get draft picks in compensation if another team signs them.
Arbitration day is important because a team may be hesitant to both pay a player a big contract and give up draft picks. Arbitration day helps set the true market for the free agents. It is also interesting to see what players are and are not offered arbitration. Not getting arbitration from your current team is like getting a huge sign that says "don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."
Remembering Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941 - the United States was attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. This site has a very interesting timeline of the attack - click on the multimedia map and timeline.
The United States has a hard time remembering days like this because in essence we are a forward looking people who doesn't dwell on the good or bad in our history. I find it sad that if you gave a pop quiz to most high school seniors - over 50% probably couldn't tell you the significance of today's date.
Like I said - it's sad but I understand.
On December 7, 1941 - the United States was attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. This site has a very interesting timeline of the attack - click on the multimedia map and timeline.
The United States has a hard time remembering days like this because in essence we are a forward looking people who doesn't dwell on the good or bad in our history. I find it sad that if you gave a pop quiz to most high school seniors - over 50% probably couldn't tell you the significance of today's date.
Like I said - it's sad but I understand.
Monday, December 06, 2004
More Steven Wright
Too cool for school - I had to add a few more from the birthday boy:
A cop stopped me for speeding. He said, "Why were you going so fast?" I said, "See this thing my foot is on? It's called an accelerator. When you push down on it, it sends more gas to the engine. The whole car just takes right off. And see this thing? This steers it."
A friend of mine is into Voodoo Acupuncture. You don't have to go. You'll just be walking down the street, and... Ooooohhhhhh, that's much better...
I can remember the first time I had to go to sleep. Mom said, "Steven, time to go to sleep." I said, "But I don't know how." She said, "It's real easy. Just go down to the end of tired and hang a left." So I went down to the end of tired, and just out of curiosity I hung a right. My mother was there, and she said "I thought I told you to go to sleep."
When I woke up this morning my girlfriend asked me, "Did you sleep good?" I said, "No, I made a few mistakes."
When I was little, my grandfather used to make me stand in a closet for five minutes without moving. He said it was elevator practice.
On the other hand... You have different fingers.
I was watching the Superbowl with my 92 year old grandfather. The team scored a touchdown. They showed the instant replay. He thought they scored another one. I was gonna tell him, but I figured the game *he* was watching was better.
Too cool for school - I had to add a few more from the birthday boy:
A cop stopped me for speeding. He said, "Why were you going so fast?" I said, "See this thing my foot is on? It's called an accelerator. When you push down on it, it sends more gas to the engine. The whole car just takes right off. And see this thing? This steers it."
A friend of mine is into Voodoo Acupuncture. You don't have to go. You'll just be walking down the street, and... Ooooohhhhhh, that's much better...
I can remember the first time I had to go to sleep. Mom said, "Steven, time to go to sleep." I said, "But I don't know how." She said, "It's real easy. Just go down to the end of tired and hang a left." So I went down to the end of tired, and just out of curiosity I hung a right. My mother was there, and she said "I thought I told you to go to sleep."
When I woke up this morning my girlfriend asked me, "Did you sleep good?" I said, "No, I made a few mistakes."
When I was little, my grandfather used to make me stand in a closet for five minutes without moving. He said it was elevator practice.
On the other hand... You have different fingers.
I was watching the Superbowl with my 92 year old grandfather. The team scored a touchdown. They showed the instant replay. He thought they scored another one. I was gonna tell him, but I figured the game *he* was watching was better.
Happy Birthday Steven Wright
He turns 49 today - here are a few of his gems:
I've been doing a lot of abstract painting lately, extremely abstract. No brush, no paint, no canvas, I just think about it.
I was once walking through the forest alone. A tree fell right in front of me -- and I didn't hear it.
I have a map of the United States... Actual size. It says, "Scale: 1 mile = 1 mile." I spent last summer folding it. I also have a full-size map of the world. I hardly ever unroll it. People ask me where I live, and I say, "E6".
I bought my brother some gift-wrap for Christmas. I took it to the Gift Wrap Department and told them to wrap it, but in a different print so he would know when to stop unwrapping.
For my birthday I got a humidifier and a de-humidifier... I put them in the same room and let them fight it out. Then I filled my humidifier with wax, and now my room is all shiny.
In my house there's this light switch that doesn't do anything. Every so often I would flick it on and off just to check. Yesterday, I got a call from a woman in Germany. She said, "Cut it out."
He turns 49 today - here are a few of his gems:
I've been doing a lot of abstract painting lately, extremely abstract. No brush, no paint, no canvas, I just think about it.
I was once walking through the forest alone. A tree fell right in front of me -- and I didn't hear it.
I have a map of the United States... Actual size. It says, "Scale: 1 mile = 1 mile." I spent last summer folding it. I also have a full-size map of the world. I hardly ever unroll it. People ask me where I live, and I say, "E6".
I bought my brother some gift-wrap for Christmas. I took it to the Gift Wrap Department and told them to wrap it, but in a different print so he would know when to stop unwrapping.
For my birthday I got a humidifier and a de-humidifier... I put them in the same room and let them fight it out. Then I filled my humidifier with wax, and now my room is all shiny.
In my house there's this light switch that doesn't do anything. Every so often I would flick it on and off just to check. Yesterday, I got a call from a woman in Germany. She said, "Cut it out."
Flotsam and Jetsam
Sorry for the light blogging lately - preoccupied I guess. Here are some of the random thoughts that have been floating around my head:
- I think Martin Sheen's dentures look like they are about to fall out any time that he smiles on The West Wing. Somebody send him some Pepsodent or Polygrip or whatever it is that people use to keep their dentures in.
- Speaking of The West Wing - one of the major plot lines a couple of seasons ago was Bartlett not disclosing he had MS while running for President. Just a reminder - John Kerry never released his medical forms when he was running for President. Kerry is a cancer survivor and with all the attention that has been paid to Cheney's heart condition - you would think the press would demand equal scrutiny of the man running for President. However, the MSM completely let Kerry slide on the matter (and on his 180 form as well).
- Have you seen the commercials for Cialis? I'm not 100% sure but I think that none of the actors in the commercial wear a wedding ring. This bothers me for some reason - I'm not a prude - it just bothers me that the commercials go by too quick for me to tell if the people who do wear a ring are wearing it on the correct hand/finger.
- Not sure about you but I'm not missing the NHL at all. Of course up here we have the Patriots, the Red Sox hot stove and some of the best college hockey in the country (plus the Celtics). The NHL is all done in the South. They'll end up folding those franchises within 5 years. Bettman's an idiot.
Sorry for the light blogging lately - preoccupied I guess. Here are some of the random thoughts that have been floating around my head:
- I think Martin Sheen's dentures look like they are about to fall out any time that he smiles on The West Wing. Somebody send him some Pepsodent or Polygrip or whatever it is that people use to keep their dentures in.
- Speaking of The West Wing - one of the major plot lines a couple of seasons ago was Bartlett not disclosing he had MS while running for President. Just a reminder - John Kerry never released his medical forms when he was running for President. Kerry is a cancer survivor and with all the attention that has been paid to Cheney's heart condition - you would think the press would demand equal scrutiny of the man running for President. However, the MSM completely let Kerry slide on the matter (and on his 180 form as well).
- Have you seen the commercials for Cialis? I'm not 100% sure but I think that none of the actors in the commercial wear a wedding ring. This bothers me for some reason - I'm not a prude - it just bothers me that the commercials go by too quick for me to tell if the people who do wear a ring are wearing it on the correct hand/finger.
- Not sure about you but I'm not missing the NHL at all. Of course up here we have the Patriots, the Red Sox hot stove and some of the best college hockey in the country (plus the Celtics). The NHL is all done in the South. They'll end up folding those franchises within 5 years. Bettman's an idiot.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
More Thoughts on Barry Bonds
Some more thoughts and observations on Barry Bonds and the steroids scandal:
- The thing I'm most curious about is the timing of the Giambi / Bonds revelations. Who benefitted from this timing? Well ABC clearly benefited as it coincided very nicely with the 20/20 episode featuring BALCO's Victor Conte. Funny how that worked out - heh? Is bribing someone to reveal confidential Grand Jury testimony a crime? Should 20/20 and ABC be investigated? I say - YES!
- Baseball also benefitted from the timing. Giambi, Bonds and others on steroids was clear to anyone who follows or is involved in the game. The truth had to come out sometime and now was probably the best time. The original free agent period has passed, there is still some time unil teams announce what players will be getting arbitrations, this is basically a "dead" period of time for baseball. MLB wouldn't want the revelations of steroids use to take away from some major free agent signing or drag into Spring Training. Now is the best time to come clean (so to speak) and get this crap out of the way.
- I'm sure MLB has done some polling and that the polls said that the average fan thinks Bonds and others were on steroids. I bet the poll also probably said that the average fan doesn't care so much (with the possible exception of Bonds breaking Aaron's record). More reason to believe MLB was involved in the timing of all this.
- In a strange way another person who may benefit from all these revelations is Jim Rice. His Hall of Fame candidacy has been hurt because of the inflated numbers of the 80's and 90's make his look almost pedestrian. However, voters may now take another look at the hitter who was the most dangerous hitter in the AL for almost a decade. Good luck Jim!
- If they make a movie about BALCO - I hope they get Gilbert Godfried to play Victor Conte.
- The Feds were wise to offer Jeremy and Jason Giambi immunity. First off - we're not talking about the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree here. It would be easier to manipulate the Giambi's than a smarter player. Also the Feds probably played one brother off against another - "tell the truth or we send your brother to jail".
- It is impossible to put an asterix against these players numbers because steroids technically weren't illegal as far as baseball was concerned plus who's to say definitively who was on steroids? If you take away an MVP award to give it to another player - who's to say that player wasn't also juicing? Baseball can survive this steroid problem but I don't think it could survive taking away Jose Canseco's MVP to give it to Mike Greenwell (oh - the horror! The horror!).
Some more thoughts and observations on Barry Bonds and the steroids scandal:
- The thing I'm most curious about is the timing of the Giambi / Bonds revelations. Who benefitted from this timing? Well ABC clearly benefited as it coincided very nicely with the 20/20 episode featuring BALCO's Victor Conte. Funny how that worked out - heh? Is bribing someone to reveal confidential Grand Jury testimony a crime? Should 20/20 and ABC be investigated? I say - YES!
- Baseball also benefitted from the timing. Giambi, Bonds and others on steroids was clear to anyone who follows or is involved in the game. The truth had to come out sometime and now was probably the best time. The original free agent period has passed, there is still some time unil teams announce what players will be getting arbitrations, this is basically a "dead" period of time for baseball. MLB wouldn't want the revelations of steroids use to take away from some major free agent signing or drag into Spring Training. Now is the best time to come clean (so to speak) and get this crap out of the way.
- I'm sure MLB has done some polling and that the polls said that the average fan thinks Bonds and others were on steroids. I bet the poll also probably said that the average fan doesn't care so much (with the possible exception of Bonds breaking Aaron's record). More reason to believe MLB was involved in the timing of all this.
- In a strange way another person who may benefit from all these revelations is Jim Rice. His Hall of Fame candidacy has been hurt because of the inflated numbers of the 80's and 90's make his look almost pedestrian. However, voters may now take another look at the hitter who was the most dangerous hitter in the AL for almost a decade. Good luck Jim!
- If they make a movie about BALCO - I hope they get Gilbert Godfried to play Victor Conte.
- The Feds were wise to offer Jeremy and Jason Giambi immunity. First off - we're not talking about the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree here. It would be easier to manipulate the Giambi's than a smarter player. Also the Feds probably played one brother off against another - "tell the truth or we send your brother to jail".
- It is impossible to put an asterix against these players numbers because steroids technically weren't illegal as far as baseball was concerned plus who's to say definitively who was on steroids? If you take away an MVP award to give it to another player - who's to say that player wasn't also juicing? Baseball can survive this steroid problem but I don't think it could survive taking away Jose Canseco's MVP to give it to Mike Greenwell (oh - the horror! The horror!).
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