Patrick

until a few minutes ago, ...in Cleveland

Happiness!!!

Happy Birthday Bertrand! Are you planning on catching Wayne at UMD in late September? [...I know, obvious question.]

Happy BirthRay!!

Happy Birthday Bill--hope it is/was/will be a fun one!!

http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...27682&st=15

anyone found Ray Allen yet? Just wonderin'.

Fine Tyner performance last night, a real pleasure. McCoy isn't pounding the keys as hard as he used to but if anything he's more thoughtful and lyrical these days. His stamina seemed fine too and the band (Eric Gravatt in particular - astonishing) gelled nicely. Shame about the boominess of the acoustics in The Forum though (old art-deco theatre). Acoustics worthy of Dean Benedetti ! Glad to hear that McCoy delivered. Maybe that UK air agrees with him!

I saw the Moran piece in Washington DC (second performance after it debuted in North Carolina). Hoppy T Frog and I discussed it here: http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...02&hl=Moran I've also seen Tyner a few times recently. He is getting really old. Don't be surprised if he lasts only 40 minutes. Go for Lovano, Gravatt etc.

Gotta join the crowd calling this test bogus. I grew up in Cleveland, got schooled in Chicago, and now live in Northern Virginia. None of these places is too Dixie (even NoVA). I hit most or all of the Great Lakes items on test, yet scored a 55% (barely Dixie).

Happy Birthday B3er! Hope it's a beautiful day with the beautiful family.

What did SS1 do to the plane!!!?

Buccholz last fall.

Happy Birthday Mr. Nessa!!

Sadly, the pens on both teams are showing some shortcomings so far. Boy that ballpark in Cincy is real small. Cliff Lee came back to earth a bit and the Tribe got swept. Ouch. Brandon Phillips still finding motivation by his stay in Cleveland. [Let's remember that trade one more time: Bartolo Colon rental and used fungo bats in exchange for Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, and Brandon Phillips. Wow.] Rumors about Indians trading for Matt Holliday?? Congrats to Lester. Couldn't happen to a guy with a better comeback story.

The search and rescue team finally located Paul Pierce. They can now redouble their efforts on Ray Allen. With Gibson out, Cavs needed a solid game from another outside shooter. Wally Szczerbiak, Sasha Pavlovic, and Damon Jones did not deliver. With essentially no help, LeBron had the Cavs down 1 with 2:20 to go. Could have really used Carlos Boozer... And how about some of those wild bounces off the rim that fell through for Celts? Red Auerbach was definitely helping out. If Pistons are alert and paying attention (not coasting), I think they will take Boston in 5 or 6, even with more games in Boston.

Part of the Mussina success may be due to the fact that two of his wins have come against the anemic Indian offense (facing Byrd and Laffey). The NY/Cle season series is now over. His other wins have been against TB (twice!), CWS, and Seattle.

A streak continues (i.e. no earned runs from the Tribe starter): May 15. Aaron Laffey, 7 IP, 0 ER, 5H, 1BB, 6K, beat Oakland 4-2. Laffey throwing error generated an unearned run in the second, so maybe he really "earned" it. Kobayashi wild pitched home one of the three baserunners (!) Betancourt put on in the ninth, but then fanned Sweeneys Mike and Ryan to earn his second save in as many chances. Too bad Borowski will be back soon, and will be given the closer job. Hopefully some colossal flameouts will ensue and Wedgie will go with someone else. If only it were that easy! And Travis Hafner stole a base! Next 3 at Reds and 3 at WSox.

Holy smokes, another complete game Tribe shutout! Worth recapping the last turn through the rotation: May 10. Aaron Laffey, 7 IP, 0 ER, 6H, 1BB, 2K, beat Toronto 12-0 May 12. Fausto Carmona, 9 IP, 0 ER, 5H, 4BB, 2K, beat Toronto 3-0 May 12. Cliff Lee, 9 IP, 0 ER, 7H, 2BB, 5K, lose to Toronto 3-0 in 10 innings (thanks Betancourt!) May 13. Paul Byrd, 7.1 IP, 0 ER, 5H, 0BB, 7K (!), beat Oakland 4-0 May 14. CC Sabathia, 9 IP, 0 ER, 5H, 2 BB, 11K, beat Oakland 2-0 Haven't yet seen any highlights or discussion about how recently something like this has happened. Some will point out that Toronto is in last place and recently lost Wells. This is still pretty damn impressive. Even with Laffey and Byrd perhaps over achieving this week, I think this rotation can hang with just about anybody (and Jake Westbrook is on the shelf right now). If only they could reliably score a few runs...

Joseph Heller Helen Keller Bob Feller

I think Jason Michaels may still be available, but not Jason Tyner...

I did as well. My local store wasn't quite as pathetic as others have described but they are definitely moving in that direction. Has anyone recently used one of these coupons more than once?

I don't believe I'm typing this, but Paul Byrd!!! 7.1 IP, 0 ER, 7K, 0BB. Cleveland starters have allowed a grand total of 1 run in their last 39 innings pitched. If only Betancourt wasn't trying to do his best Borowski imitation. Kobayashi gets his first save tonight.

Mike Brown is not getting fired any time soon, and why should he? He wasn't the one that got hoodwinked by Carlos Boozer, or that thought guys like Larry Hughes, Damon Jones, Donyell Marshall, were the answer. Cavs missed a lot of player-games to holdouts and injuries, and made a blockbuster trade that did not cost them either of their valuable, potentially available, young players (Gibson, Varajao). Joe Smith has been a pleasant surprise (not missing Drew Gooden who for a long time I felt had a chance to be an excellent power forward). Wally and Ben are old, but they contribute as much as Larry Hughes and Donyell Marshall. And Delonte West has a chance to be an effective point guard (we shall see). Brown does need an offensive ass't coach real bad, but one could do a lot worse. Q: Is Doc Rivers still a coaching genius? Pistons fans have to be feeling pretty good right now. Even if Boston survives Cleveland, Detroit has got to like their chances against the Celtics' not so big 3. Jeff Van Gundy is a brutal tv commentator--we are seriously into Bill Walton territory here (who I find to be rather amusing in a sick way). Give me Hubie, or Fratello, or Mark Jackson. Send JVG off to be the towelboy in Orlando, please...

Fausto Carmona!!! Cliff Lee!!! (ERA dips to 0.67, 9 inning no decision) Asdrubal Cabrera (responsible for 2/3 of the offense in a doubleheader, and the unassisted triple play)!