BERIGAN

1. He wasn't just pitching against "the NL" last year. Due to the uneven schedule, something like 12 of his 19 starts came against NL Central foes, all or most of whom, if I am not mistaken, ranked in the lower half of the league in offense. 2. His fastball is not what it once was. That has been remarked upon by many a scout. Now, it has not declined the way Mike Mussina's fastball has, but it is still not the blow-em away fastball it once was. 3. No pitcher, far fewer crappy hitting catchers and second basemen to feast on, plus a DH who in some cases is the best hitter on the field. 4. He's a walking injury risk, and the biggest one this side of Eric Gagne. The chances he does not make a trip to the DL are virtually nil. I will be shocked if Clemens is a sub-4.00 ERA in the DH league. After all, his last two years with the Yankees he had an ERA of 4.2 and 3.9 if I remember correctly, and that was four years ago. .... It's true, his fastball is not what it once was, but I still saw a lot of dead red fastball hitters like Jeff Francoeur swing and miss a lot of 94 MPH pitches that looked "hittable" If those scouts are saying his fastball this year is not what it once was, it's still spring training for him! He will hit 94 on the outside corner, which only folks like Vlad can hit.... No crappy second basemen perhaps, though having to face SS Lugo's .213 and Coco's .224 must be some sort of compensation! Sure, he will miss a start or two,(Or do the John Smoltz thing, and just push starts back 2-3 days) but I bet won't be on the DL unless something tears. Granted, Nolan Ryan had a better fastball than Clemens when he joined the Rangers after many years in the gianormous Astrodome, but Ryan at 41 had a 3.52 Era his last year there, then went to work in the hitter friendly Arlington Stadium(and had to deal with the DH again) and lowered it to 3.20 at the age of 42. I also think that having to pitch on a team that couldn't score a run to save it's life probably made Roger an even better than before. Like I said, the first year in the NL should have been his best since most of the hitters hadn't seen him before. And like I mentioned before, it dropped from 3.91 in his last AL year, to 2.98 in '04. But then he managed to get it even lower the next year, 1.87!!! How'd that happen? The Cards won the division with 100 wins, so the offense couldn't have been as bad as it was last year, where he slumped to 2.30 ERA. And hey, if the NL, and the central in particular were so terrible last year, why did Pettite have a 4.20 ERA for the 'stros last year, and a 3.11 for the Yankees this year? and how about these apples? I saw on www.mlbtraderumors.com that Steve Trachsel has a 3.82 ERA pitching in the AL East! He of the 4.97 ERA last year for the Mets, they didn't want anything to do with him!!! How the fuck can a BP guy like him have an ERA under 4 in the AL??? Perhaps Leo Mazzone really is a miracle worker! So, I expect him to struggle some for the next month, and then IF healthy, to be their best pitcher. Bet money on it!

Or how about Julian Tavarez, Boston's number 5? 6 IP, 6 Hits, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K's Needed 11 fewer pitches, too. Yankee fans can take what they want from this, but most scouts in attendance saw a mediocre pitcher who wouldn't have made it out of the fifth inning against decent AL teams. I'm guessing that he'll switch places with his boyfriend, Pettite in order to face the Diamondbacks on Thursday instead of the Mets on Friday. No reason not to let him miss another decent offense. Guys, I know the NL by and large is not as good as the AL, but....IF Roger doesn't deal with too many injuries this year, he will be pretty darn good. This was only his 4th start of the year, how many folks after 4 spring training starts would be up to mid season form? I know, he was pitching before those Minor league starts, but it still ain't the same thing. Like most power pitchers who reach 40 and haven't had a lot of shoulder problems,(Ryan, Smoltz, Shilling, Seaver) he still has a very good fastball. And no one has better control than he does when has a few starts under his belt. He was still 91 to 94 last year, and I expect he will be back to that in a few more starts. I have heard so many so called experts say he won't be like he used to be, and I say why not? If he had pitched for just about any other team than the Astros the last 3 seasons, he'd have about 370 wins right now. Even with the press he has gotten the last few late start seasons, he doesn't get the props he really should have. He was 18-4 with a 2.98 ERA his first year in the NL, then, after NL folks had a chance to see him, he lowered his ERA to 1.87 the next year!!!! He was the best starter in the NL in 2005 and 2006. He was only 7-6 last year, but had a 2.30 ERA in a fairly small home park.(A combined 20-14 over '05, 06 with a ERA of only 2.14!!!!) Except for his first and last season with Boston, he has never given up more than a hit per inning. Still strikes out about one guy per inning. If his ERA goes up 1.5 runs per 9 innings over last year, his ERA will be 3.80. Even if he continues to give up 3 runs per 6, that will be just fine with the Yankees I am sure. If he stays healthy, he will win 12-14 games for them this year. It is almost comical how everyone, I mean EVERYONE(Yeah, me included) thought there was no way the Yankees could even have a chance at the Wild card, let alone the Division. Didn't everyone say the very same thing last year? Love them, or hate them, they don't give up. I'd still say the Red Sox have a lock on the division, but I bet a lot of folks thought that back in 1978! How far back were the Yankess that year?????

back in jail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the full 45 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

man, wouldn't it be sweet if somehow Paris would have to go back to prison??? A man can dream, can't he??? L.A. City Attorney "Extremely Troubled" by Paris Decision Posted Jun 7th 2007 4:48PM by TMZ Staff Filed under: Celebrity Justice Another official is blasting the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department over the decision to reassign Paris Hilton to house arrest. In a statement to TMZ, Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo said: "Today I was extremely troubled to learn that the Sheriff's Department has decided to release Ms. Hilton from custody just three days after she was admitted to county jail. My office was not advised of this action. We learned of it this morning through news reports, just like everyone else. Had we been provided with the proper notification, we would have opposed the decision on legal grounds. News reports indicate that the Sheriff's Department released Ms. Hilton to house arrest due to a medical condition. This explanation is puzzling. Los Angeles county jail medical facilities are well-equipped to deal with medical situations involving inmates. I am also concerned that the judicial process may have been improperly circumvented in this case. Ms. Hilton was incarcerated as a condition of her probation. As a result, the judge retained jurisdiction over her case and only the judge has the power to modify these conditions of probation. If Ms. Hilton's medical condition truly warranted a change in her circumstances, what should have happened is the following: Ms. Hilton's legal counsel should have filed an emergency application with the court and provided my office with the opportunity to respond, and then the court could have held a hearing on the matter to consider whether there was sufficient justification to change the terms of his original order. I have directed my criminal branch to immediately explore all possible legal options to ensure that the law is being applied equally and justly in this case. If law enforcement officials are to enjoy the respect of those we are charged with protecting, we cannot tolerate a two-tiered jail system where the rich and powerful receive special treatment. We must ensure that in our city, in our nation, and under our Constitution, justice remains blind." Comments [449]SHARE IT: Digg it | Del.icio.us | My Yahoo | Permalink | EmailIf You're Pissed Over Paris, Don't Blame the Judge! Posted Jun 7th 2007 4:32PM by TMZ Staff Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Paris Hilton The decision to move Paris Hilton to house arrest was made entirely by the L.A. Sheriff's Department. TMZ has confirmed that Judge Michael T. Sauer was informed of the Sheriff's decision before Hilton was reassigned to house arrest, but the Judge only responded by reaffirming the terms he imposed on May 4. We spoke to Allan Parachini, Public Information Officer for the Los Angeles County Courts, who advises that "All decisions on incarceration are made by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department once a sentence is imposed." So don't tell it to the judge. UPDATE: Allan Parchini addressed the media outside of a Los Angeles County Courthouse regarding Paris Hilton's early release today, and reiterated that the court did not sanction the early release of Miss Hilton. He added that the Sheriff's Department contacted Judge Sauer on June 6 and asked him to change his sentence to allow electronic monitoring for Hilton. He declined, sticking by his original sentence, which clearly nixed that type of punishment. http://www.tmz.com/

Is Paris Hilton still supposed to play Mother Teresa in a movie? If she couldn't handle 23 days in prison....somehow I don't see her able to withstand a long shoot in Calcutta. Plus, she'd have to wear the same outfit day after day....poor dear child.

her head looks so tiny. Sarah's, or Paris'????

Why I love Sarah Silverman!!!! http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b3e_1180945325

Sorry to hear this. When I hear the name Boyer, being from St. Louis, I immediately think of his brother the late Kenny Boyer. A very good player, and a manager of the Cards for 3 seasons. Just looked him up, he died in 1982!!!

A someone stale question for the Red Sox nation on this board....If it had been A-Rod instead of Lowe head and shoulder butting a slight 2nd baseman, would you all be saying, hell of a play A-Rod?

Looks a bit graphic, but it does not end the way it looks like it has to, trust me!!!! http://www.writingcave.com/a-herd-of-buffa...onely-crocodile

I have to laugh at the uproar over what A-Rod did!!! If someone read a book that had someone like Honus Wagner, or Ty Cobb doing this, people would laugh. I think knocking down a hitter after he, or the player before him hit a home run is bush league/sandlot......

Ahhhh, quit yer whining. At least you're closer to .500 than my stink-hole of a team. You guys are even closer to .500 than my sentimental faves, the Cubs. I bet Tom Hicks is looking for a way to take Benitez off your hands. And before anyone says, "Only a fool would do such a thing," remember who we're talking about here. That's right: you read it here first. I saw the end of that game(cuz it ran into, and over baseball tonight that I recorded, GRRR!) and Benitez clearly has arm problems. 88, 89 mph to start, all the way up to 91??? Come on!!!

I remember when this show was on in prime time (1972 or so). It was mildly entertaining for the time, but with all the animated series that have come since I'm not so sure it has aged well. It might be interesting as a reflection of social/political topics (and stereotypes) of that period, but I really don't remember it being that good. I am interested in some of the other 70s TV shows, not so much this one. I thought I'd seen at least an episode or two of almost every obscure H-B cartoon series in existence, but I'd never even heard of this one before. Like everyone else, I was glued to the tv as a kid, and I must admit, I've never heard of it either. Same here....

Nearly four hours of misery. Damn, and I will never see this!

What's sad is that the decision is probably made easier by the few good roles for older actors these days..... Guy, see at least see Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid!

I was just looking through a catalog last night that showed this on DVD http://www.amazon.com/Best-Match-Game-DVD-...n/dp/B000J3EB8K

As if I needed further incentive to avoid Starbucks... Indeed. You guys ever browse in say a mall music store like FYE? Rap at about 90 decibel's? I'd take whatever lite crap plays in Starbucks any day over that shit......

Barrett Deems drum solo from 1951-so help me, even though he played with Joe Venuti, and Jimmy Dorsey, I have never heard of him!!!!

2 clips of Spiegle Willcox , the trombonist from Goldkette Orchestra, talking about his time in the band back 1980's. Playing a little as well! Hard to hear, have to really turn up.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgO-QGN3dd0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXPxKRYB5tA&NR=1

I recorded this short a few years back that has both Berigan and Jimmy Dorsey with Freddie Rich orch. Wish I was smart enough to transfer stuff from Disc to youtube, but, appearently I am not! http://imdb.com/title/tt0204487/

Dan!! You know!!! Never, ever liked really big hamburgers(think they were 10 oz) except there. Remember all the big biker looking dudes cooking? I swore they must have killed the cows in back to get hamburgers that tasted so good....Antique store upstairs as well. When we visited St. Louis after moving away in 83, our first stop was O'Connell's. Last time we went back in the late 90's, it didn't seem to be as good. When did you stop in? Are they still around?

I just read this article on Dukes a few weeks ago, which makes what's happened even more sad....Peter Gammons was just raving about him as a person earlier this year as well.... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2823398

Well, it looks like Elijah Dukes is going to throw his career and life away..... http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/23/Tampabay..._wife__He.shtml

Oh Man, Roger Freed, is that name ever a blast from the past!!! Any old timey Cards fans remember him? Quincy? He became a bit of a cult hero back in the late 70's, with his best year being 1977, when in only 83 at bats he hit 5 Homers, drove in 21 and hit .398. This was back when the Cards hit no home runs outside of Ted Simmons.(He hit 21 that year, 4 more than anyone else!) Can you imagine today having a pitch hitter in the NL hit nearly .400 and only getting him 83 AB's??? He died back in 1996 at the age of 49.....