http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/bob_ryan_blog/


Ryan is wrong on Danny Vinik. He had every right to tip the ball away from an enemy fielder, as long as the ball was in the stands.



http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/index-flash.html


Excellent piece on the coming financial apocalypse.

Things are worth what someone is willing to pay for them. When no one knows what something is worth or what someone is willing to pay for them, nothing good can ensue.
Another excellent point is that the growing inequality in society and the gnawing insecurity so many of us feel are directly linked.

You know what would be cool? If I could have an interaction with my beloved that didn't involve hostility?

Abbe Raven, CEO of A+E:

"It's also important for people to know that you can still have a family and be in business."

No. No, you can't. You're either a good employee or a good parent. The two are mutually exclusive, and I don't know anyone who doesn't feel that way. Business does not want its employees to be happy, it wants them to shut up and work. Period.

"Johnny, Are You Worried Yet?"

Brilliant segment....I love the BS Report.

Well, its game one tonight. Time to find out what we're made of. In the meantime, another day of running errands and reading about Napoleon.

Nonsensical graffito I saw this week in a public restroom:



"Dirty (ethnic group) can't hold my (part of the male anatomy) while I suck the chrome off your hood."



That isn't really dirty, but only because it doesn't make any sense.

Fast still going strong.

(I held on until sundown, but barely. Fasting sucks. )

http://interfaithfast.org/


I'm going to try to do this today. Wish me luck, because I'm hungry already.

Today's disturbing note, courtesy Lee Sinins' Around the Majors report:

Paul Splittorff is 61 years old.

So that's it. Seven innings from the Big Schill, homers from Papi and the Bad Man, and we're into the ALCS. The Angels were just too banged up to make this much of a series, but we won it, and now we can get rested up.

The Yankees won, so they are still alive, even losing Clemens in the third to some sort of injury. The fan of drama in me wants to see them come back and win so we can smoke their asses, but the realist knows that, to some extent, Cleveland is easier pickings.

Apparently, Steinbrenner has all but said he will fire Torre if the team doesn't win the series. I can understand both points of view-his performance, given all the tools you should need, has been lacking.

Then again, the devastating slate of injuries wasn't his fault, and he did a pretty good job getting them back into it.

Then again again, how much brilliance does it really take to keep writing D. Jeter and A. Rodriguez on the lineup card?

Manny.

Manuel Aristides Ramirez y Onelcida.

Manny Ramirez, left fielder for the Boston Red Sox. Manny Ramirez, whose defense, and indeed, attitude towards life, can best be described as casual. Manny. Slow afoot, and with 2007 statistics that, though fine for most of baseballkind, did not live up to his own, Cooperstownian, standards.

Manny, who missed nearly a month as the Red Sox stumbled and slid to the division title, shook off the rust of seeing few hittable pitches, and took to the dish against Francisco (K Rod) Rodriguez last night with two men on and two out in a tie game. After a leadoff single by Julio Lugo and an intentional walk to David Ortiz, Rodriguez faced Ramirez. Rodriguez is one of the best relievers in the game, with a 95+ MPH fastball and a hard, vicious breaking ball.

He got a hard fastball, inside, and Manny jacked it.

He crushed it. He slammed it, pulverized it, nailed it. He punched its ticket. He gave it a few quarters and sent it onto the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Manny hit a long, arching, no doubt about it, soul crushing, spine tingling, back breaking 3 run homer deep into the warm night, winning the game and pushing Anaheim to the brink of elimination, going back to the Coast down 0-2 in games.

Manny put both hands straight into the air, an act which is somewhat bush, I must admit, but I can't entirely blame him for, before beginning his home run trot. He better stay loose in the batter's box in game three.

Manny did it. Manny being Manny.

Manny.

The Pirates fire Jim Tracy? Yeah, that'll help.

Ninfth

Great catch by Ellsbury, then a groundout.

Beckett against Vlad to end it......base hit to center.

Flyout to center.....it's over.

Absolute, skull crushing dominance by Beckett. Wow. Nice win.

8th

These shutouts go quick, don't dey?

Kotchman grounds out, 3-1. First pitch swinging? If you say so, guys......

Weak single by Kendrick off of a hook.

Fielder's choice. 2 down. Just looking for outs now.

CALLED STRIKE THREE. Yeah, baby.

Youk flies out to right.

Santana is dealing.

Ortiz flies out to center.

Manny fouls out.

Seben

Cabrera grounds out.

Rollin, rollin, rollin.....

I got the trivia right. Yay, me!

Vlad couldn't have hit Beckett's last curve with a canoe paddle.

But Vlad rips a ball into short left for their SECOND hit of the day.

Popup to third.

Fielder's choice, three outs. Wow. Beckett is sharp as hell.

Ervin Santana pitching. Crisp pops out.

Santana whipped our asses once during his rookie year.

1-2-3 inning for Santana.