tkeith

They're stockpiling those upper-middle-of-the-road OFs. I think Abreu is the best one they've gone after, yet, though. You think there's any chance Rivera would see some time at 1B?

It's a tie -- Billy Mitchell, J & B and Slam both from This Is Billy Mitchell. Oh YEAH, man!

Bobby Hutcherson's NOW, track SLOW CHANGE or HELLO TO THE WIND

Pops was not just a fan, but actually made his living busking.

To some extent, I think that happens anyway. I'm not sure the BFT needs and extended formal process. I'll only speak for me, but one of the reasons I like the BFT is that it is laid back; it's a relaxing experience where I can just listen and see what I recognize. If I, the participant, wish to turn it into an information quest, I can do that, or I can just listen and make my guesses. Either way, it won't affect the way I approach the BFT, but the Libertarian side of me starts to get concerned when something simple starts to become needlessly formalized.

It's possible that Henry's share was $380-million, but 700 is always the number I've heard.

My bad -- we'll make sure to talk about second division teams, too, from now on.

I'm in, but I'll wait for the digital version. Thanks for making it a one-disc affair -- I totally agree with your logic on this.

Much as I love 'Tek, I hope it's a cheap contract. Thanks for posting some Hot Stove news, Zen... refreshing. Now back to the previously scheduled mudslinging.

I guess few careers ever fell apart as quickly as Steve Blass's, and other hitters have just lost it too at an early age too, but this one seems more mysterious than some of the others. Probably just because it's the latest, though recalling that baby face of his when he homered in the World Series as a kid is part of it too. I hope he figures it out, but he has so far to go just to be plain old awful right now. Agreed. He was such a dominating force of natural talent when he arrived, you really hate to see it come to this. It'd be nice to see him figure it out.

Don't look at Rice's grounded into double numbers then. Right-handed power-hitters tend to hit into a lot of double plays. Particularly in a park with short infield grass.

Back atcha. Evans had an overrated arm. Very strong, but his accuracy was suspect (note the throw to 1B in game 6, 1975). I saw him do that more times than I can mention here. I like Dewey, but people who rave about his arm are looking at the numbers, not the games. Rice did *not* have a good arm, but that prompted people to run on him, and when they did, he could cut them down with accuracy. He didn't get lucky like Manny, he actually could hit a target.

Cerone was with Toronto when Munson died. I believe it was Jerry Narron who did that. I'm on the fence about Munson; he falls into that Garvey category for me. But I'd have no objection if he were in.

*THAT* is a tremendous travesty. Both Hawk and Murph belong, but that vote total is a real slap in the face.

Hmmm... there was 1980/81, when they had all but locked up Dave Winfield, only to have him leave the dinner and be the victim of racial epithets in the streets of Hotlanta, which irked him enough to choose the Skankees. I'm liking the look of the crimson hose. I'll like them even more when the Saltalamacchia deal gets done! Zen, I worry that your thoughts on Lugo may be correct, but I'm seriously hoping not. Lugo would make a spectacular utility player, and an abysmal starting SS.

I agree with you Jim, though nobody is trying to deify Guaraldi the way they do with Evans. As for the dinner party, I'm not allowed to choose the music anymore. Even when I choose rock stuff for a party, I get accused of playing it too loud. However, the last time I programmed a "jazz dinner party" set, I went heavy on the Dick Griffin (Now Is The Time and The Eighth Wonder) and Pharoah Sanders (Journey To The One), carefully selecting the non-wild stuff. Evidently, my opinion of what constitutes that description differs greatly from the rest of the free world.

I guess thats good especially if he can bounce back from this surgery ....BUT what we really need is a catcher and a 4th outfielder!!!!! My guess is that Smoltz would take over Masterson's spot, and JM would return to the rotation. This frees up Buchholz for the Saltalamacchia trade. Saw this morning that they're in talks with Rocco Baldelli, which addresses the 4th OF spot nicely, IMHO.

Wow. Somebody should send that guy the links to Hans Groiner!

It might have been this one. Jim Wohlford batting cleanup and Joe Strain batting sixth... hard to believe Philly could pull that one out.

Mike Hargrove... the human rain delay. By comparison, Nomar was in a hurry to get in the box.

Just a couple of notes. Typically I begin all of my guesses with the disclaimer that I haven't read any of the responses, and/or that they are ear guesses, not researched guesses. I rarely (I can think of only once) ever research the guesses as I'm listening, that would take the fun out of the BFT for me. Pretty sure I'm not alone in that regard.

Prediction: Alex and I never hang out and listen to music.

Fun stuff. I liked much of it, some of it, less so. 1 - No clue. Not my bag, baby. 2 - Disney Theme (When You Wish Upon A Star). No idea who, maybe Frank Morgan. 3 - John Lewis' Django. No idea who this is. I want to like it, but it bugs me. 4 - Know the tune, but can't put a name to it. Shit... I know this recording -- I have this. Shades of Hank Jones, maybe, but I'm leaning towards Vince Guiraldi. If I don't have it, I want it! Why doesn't anybody play like this anymore? 5 - Don't know the tune or the players. I like it as a one off, but not sure I could listen to a whole album of this. This would be fun to see out in a social venue. 6 - No idea, not my t'ing. 7 - If it isn't Billy Bang or Michael White, I'm not likely to get a violin player! I say this isn't my bag, but I used to run into a guy at a lot of jam sessions who played this sort of thing, and I was always happy to see and hear him. Again, very good for a social setting, but can't see hitting the basement and cranking this to chill. 8 - Sounds like Buddy Tate to me, but the ideas seem a level below Buddy's. Maybe when Buddy was older or somebody trying to play like him. The recording sounds newer (electric bass, if I'm not mistaken -- listening on laptop). No guesses on the other players. Trumpet sounds like someone shooting for a Ruby Braff sort of sound, but with a Armstrongish feel. 9 - I appreciate this more than the last (or the first) because it's authentic. Not just the recording, the sound of the music itself. I'd never spin this, but I respect it. 10 - Heheheheh. I can't help it, this amuses me. "...a composition by my worthy constituent, Mr. Dizzy Gilespie..." It's not authentic to either period, but I like the fact that they're thinking outside the case on this one. I liked the trumpet players, but the sax players sound very stiff to me. 11 - Tom & Jerry... oh, wait. Tune is The Sheik of Araby. I don't know players of this era, but I always like to listen to this sort of thing. I'd throw out a guess that it might Fatha Hines, as he sounds kind of heavy handed. (Hey man, why couldn't all BFTs be like the first one I tried, where I knew most of the guys!?!?!?) 12 - Solitude. Sounds like Ron Carter to me, based on the 'thrumping' slides to some of the notes and the sketchy intonation. No idea of anyone else. 13 - Sounds like maybe Kenny Barron on piano. Not sure of the drummer... could be Victor Lewis if I'm right about KB, which I don't think I am. Perhaps one of the guys who came after KB like Geoff Keezer. I like the lines of the alto player, but he's under-executing them, almost like alto isn't his main horn. 14 - I know the tune, but can't name it. At times I was thinking Kenny Drew on piano, but it's not him. 15 - There's A Song In My Heart. Modern recording. Billy Pierce on ts. I'll guess Alan Dawson on drums, because it's flawless and I'm totally not diggin' him. Don't know the trumpet player. Sounds like James Williams on piano (but I could be biased by the association with BP). 16 - My Love is Here to Stay. No idea, but I have to wonder if it's two women a friend of mine sent me a video of. They were both about 30 and absolutely shredded. I'll say it's a modern recording with modern personnel. 17 - Evidence. (or as I heard Clifford Jordan describe it, "I've heard it called 'Just You, Just Me,' ... then somebody called it 'Justice'. I'm thinking somebody modern, like George Colligan or Ben Walzer. Drumming reminds me of Eric McPherson -- busy but inspired. 18 - No idea. Modern recording, lacks the authenticity. 19 - ???

The Youk deal will play out -- they're just bidding on the idea that the economy will suffer. He likes it here and they'll time the deal right (not when he's pissed because they just offered the farm to a comparable player). That said, expect something in the 5-6 year range, for probably $12-15-mil, which is too much, but they did it to themselves. Would have made more sense to get the Youk deal done BEFORE the Teix play. Lowell will be fine, it's Papi I'm concerned about. I think they're banking on the chance that Lars Anderson can be Papi's replacement if necessary. Still, I'm feeling good about this team. Next year? Well, that's a ways away now, isn't it.

Strangely enough, even with all the signings, I don't think the Yankees have improved all that much from last year. Well, IF CC and Burnett are healthy, their starting pitching must be better. Tex is a much better fielder than anyone they had there last year. Has more power than Abreu. And now they have tons of outfielders to trade off for relief pitching. It seems to me that the key is going to be Burnett, if he can come up big, he could put the Yankees over the top. As I said before, I don't see CC equaling Mussina's win total in 2009, and there is still the need for a quality three starter. Furthermore, it will be interesting to see what kind of effect on the team the move to a new park will have, maybe none, but you never know. I gotta ask, why does Wang get no respect? He was the #2 starter for a couple of years and was reliable in that role. He could easily be the #3 guy (I mean, he has records of 8-5, 19-6, 19-7, 8-2 over his four years in MLB, and he gets no love) on *any* staff. What's funny is, I had to talk my brother-in-law in off the ledge. He was all set to give up and convert to Yankee nation (okay, he's a bit of a fool to begin with, but basically harmless). We ran down both rosters, position-by-position. Skanks got the edge for SS, 3B* (when we talked intangibles, this was a push at best, as Lowell is a god; given his injury, we gave it to PayRod), and C, assuming the Sox *don't* pull the trigger on Buchholz-for-Saltalamacchia. 1B is not a given, but I'd give them the nod there. Pitching: Sabathia-Beckett is a push, and it's less likely that Beckett will eat himself out of the league. Burnett-Lester is a no-contest -- Lester wins. Wang-Matsuzaka I'd call a push, but most would say Matsuzaka; he's definitely more of a power pitcher, where Wang is all about finesse. #4 starter is open for both teams, #5 starter will be a young guy on both teams. Sox have a stronger bullpen for middle relief, and closer is a push. Mo is great, so is Paps. These two teams are really well matched. One of them will have a $190-million+ payroll with marginal flexibility (their economy of scale is likely to change in the current economic crisis, and if it doesn't, MLB *will* get a salary cap). One of these teams was, as it sits, a playoff team last year. The other will need time to gel. I'll say it again, now -- The Skankees do NOT intimidate me, at all. I predict they'll make the playoffs, but I also predict they're out in the first round.