Patrick

I had no problem with how Francona used his bullpen, and I don't think he's suffering from paralysis. The best pitchers pitched, and they didn't succeed (an infrequent occurence among that collection of arms). It was exciting, it was a meltdown. It happens. And it's not obvious that Papelbon would have also pitched the ninth. Red Sox will still win the division comfortably, and the Yankees probably will win the wildcard comfortably. Then we'll see how those goliaths do against those other division winners...

Agreed that giving Gagne a batter or two with a 5 run lead may have been a reasonable approach. As far as length of game, does Dice K work really slowly, esp. with guys on base? Seemed like it was taking forever, even early in the game when NYY was not scoring.

No, he wasn't watching it....after he destroyed his TV.... Well, now we know how much confidence Francona has in Gagne -- none. I mean isn't the whole reason they brought Gagne to Boston was to have him pitch the 8th, then bring in Paps to shut the Yanks in down in the ninth? I thought Francona managed in panic mode last night, now, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Yankees sweep. But in retrospect, would you have put Gagme out there last night? The guy has not done much yet to instill any confidence in his ability. If EG had pitched the eighth and given up a run or two, we'd be all over Francona for putting in that chump. ...Or at least I would. Maybe Gagne will get it together before the end of the regular season, but I wouldn't count on it. And I'd run him out there a few times against TB, Tor, Bal... Meanwhile, for the first time in 10 starts CC Sabathia has a bad inning and gives up more than 2 runs in a start (while striking out a career high 13 against KC). Outpitched by Brian Bannister who deserved more than a no decision. Fortunately, ex-Indian David Riske was there to serve up a game-tying HR to Victor Martinez in the 8th and a game-winner to Casey Blake leading off the ninth. Coupled with a White Sox victory over the Angels, the Tribe and LAA are now tied for the second best record in the AL (2.5 games behind Bos).

This jazz sales event also includes a large number of OJC's at $8, in case you haven't already gobbled up all that you desire from Concord/J&R/Newbury/.... I ordered 3 ECMs (Rava: Easy Living, Tati; Stanko: From the Green Hill), and 7 OJC's (Miles: Collector's Items; Lacy: Soprano Sax; Dickerson: To My Queen; Byard: Here's Jaki; Dameron: Mating Call (RVG); Adderley: In SF (RVG); Rollins: Freedom Suite).

Happy Birthday Dan. Life is still good. ...And Beckett will handle Wang on Saturday...no problem.

After 26 straight game days and a ten game/day trip, Tribe gets a day off after going 19-7 (7-3 on the just concluded road trip). Magic number is 11, and only one game behind the Angels for the right to host the Yankees instead of travelling to Fenway. [Angels' schedule looks especially soft the rest of the way, so in all likelihood Tribe will be in Boston. Will Becket/Dice and CC/Fausto duel to 1-0 games then/there??] Wedge should get serious consideration for manager of the year, and Sabathia should be a/the frontrunner for AL Cy Young. After three against KC, they host Detroit one last time (Sabathia, Carmona, Westbrook). Nice to see LAA and NYY lose. K-Rod is definitely having issues now. Orioles announcers think he is seriously overthrowing. And while playing in Chicago, Tribe surrendered only one HR to Jim Thome, so they got out of town before he hit #500 (...he's now at 499).

I have an order number but haven't yet received any email from these guys. This is my first order there. Is this typical--do they not bother with email until they ship or cancel?

yeah...tell me about that Blue Jay snake bite against Detroit...

I gotta question about Wake. He's always struck me, perhaps based on my limited exposure, as being very iffy late in the season and post-season. The impression I have is that it is either total mastery of the opposing lineup, or total BP for him. Almost like you have to warm up another pitcher from the start just in case it is the latter. Is this correct?

Thanks for the recs. Who knows, maybe some of this stuff will be too out there for my ears. Worth experimenting at this price. I pullled the trigger on McPhee, Eskelin, Ortega, Konitz, Grossman, Portal, Harrison, Lloyd, Shipp and Jorgensmann (Snijbloemen). Anyone familiar with this Shipp (By the Law of Music), and how it compares to other items in his catalog?

All tied up after the Pedroia blast in the 6th. You've got the great bullpen. No problem.

Any recs from this list for someone that has never tried a Hat on?

When does Wolverine hoops start?

The Red Sox have to be the favorites at this point, but it's understandable if Red Sox Nation is not breathing easily right now. Dan, quite clairvoyant regarding tonight's disaster at Camden Yards. I watched that long third inning. Dice K couldn't get a fastball over to save his life. He looked completely gassed in the third inning. It was hot and humid (I think 90 degrees at first pitch), but based on his recent string, would it make sense to skip him once (or give him an extra day) and let Buchholz spot start? Life is still good (...though not as good as it could be). Meanwhile after two losses in LA, including a tough extra inning affair in which Ryan Garko hit a ninth inning homer to send it into extras, C.C. Sabathia pitches a complete game 5-hitter (5 singles, one walk, 4 double plays). Bullpen gets a night off before the rookie Laffey goes tomorrow night. Given Laffey is a 5/6 inning guy at most, this is good. Hopefully Tribe bats will get to Weaver and they will get out of LA with a respectable split. Would have been nice to close some ground on LA, though they're only two games apart right now. Tribe will need every game of their current 5 game lead over Detroit. Besides a 3 game series at Cleveland, Detroit only plays one game against a team with a winning record the rest of the way (Toronto). Tribe still has a 4 game series in Seattle.

Fine to place a marker there, but they oughtta also have a classic hardbop CD vending machine nearby. Gotta move product. Bu wouldn't want it any other way...

Forgot about Drew--he would be at the very top of a short list of under-contributors (though he did make a great catch in the corner last night). I would be inclined to give him a few days off as well when Manny is back. In Cleveland, they finally gave up on platooning Trot Nixon in right, and are letting the kid Franklin Gutierrez play every day. I think it finally dawned on decision makers that Trot does not cover much ground in right, does not have much of an arm, isn't exhibiting much power or average, and won't be around much longer. At this point, he supposedly contributes clubhouse leadership, and is the main instigator of the pie-in-the-face for whichever Indians hero gets interviewed by the tv announcers post-game. [i know, extremely valuable...] Gutierrez average has dipped from around .300 down to .260 with a very large home/away difference, but he's great in right field, reasonably fast, and has excellent upside.

I don't read the NYT much, but this opening is lame. From the notes for Abbey's great You Gotta Pay the Band: "Bird Alone", which has nothing to do with Charlie Parker, was found by her [Lincoln] in Japan in 1973: "I was hanging with Miles Davis for a minute, and I heard this song. At first I thought it was about him, but it was about me. I was truly alone over there. Sometimes you get a chance to show how big and bad you are, and then sometimes you fly low where everybody else is, and those who fly low are the ones who sing in the night." Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Does big and bad apply to portions of NYT??

Given what Peter Angelos did to block DC getting a team (after DC allowed the Orioles to move to Baltimore way back when), I'm not too upset about their lack of success. Great ballpark but I'm not sure I need to go back there for a game anytime soon. And maybe Leo Mazzone is not quite the genius he once was--ton of Indians retreads there (Danys Baez, Paul Shuey, Jaret Wright, Jeremy Guthrie, now Fernando Cabrera). Only Guthrie has performed well. And he probably should be shut down. Forgive me if I'm a little less enthusiastic about cheering for the Tigers just now, though all props to Granderson for hitting 20 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 homers in one season. But I am sympathetic to the anyone-but-NYY-vibe. I know you have to remain more than slightly paranoid about things, but man the Red Sox are really deep and really playing well. [Of course, I'm watching local broadcasts against the O's.] Pedroia will be ROY, why does Jacoby need to be so good? Papelbon is awesome, why is Delcarmen solid (does he get more innings while Okajima rests some?)? Lester, Buchholz, ...Getting contributions from just about everywhere (except maybe not so much from Captain Curt). Not really missing Manny that much (of course they need him back, but...). Life is good.

And can we do everyone a favor and euthanize the Orioles. Absolutely brutal. As summarized in a Thomas Boswell column in the Washington Post this morning, in their previous 15 games the Orioles have been outscored 149-66. Basically losing 10-4 every day for two weeks. No team in history has given up that many runs in a 15 game span. Losses include 30-3, 11-3, 15-8, 10-0 (and no hit), and 17-2. Several of these games were against the Devil Rays. Tonight's 4-0 loss to Boston sets a Camden Yards record 11 straight losses at home. Their last home win was a Bedard victory against Texas. Overall 4-17 in their last 21 games (home and away). Daniel Cabrera has some natural talent, but he is a complete head case. He's in his 4th season, and should be beyond this by now. In tonight's loss, Crisp induced a balked in run by dancing around at third. Full story not yet available, but something upset DC (Palmer and Hunter suggest it may have been yapping from the visitor's dugout). He then hits Pedroia high, a baseball non-fight breaks out (complete with the bullpen choruses running on stage) and Cabrera wants to go after somebody. He gets tossed and likely will miss his next start due to a suspension. Just plain stupid. Overtaxed and underwhelming bullpen pitches 5 1/3 innings and gives up just one run. [ultimately probably wouldn't have mattered given how well Lester pitched.]

. Now, it's going to be stupid cold if you get a Mets vs. Red Sox World Series. ...or a Cubs/Indians World Series. After getting snowed out in Cleveland to open the season, I think that would be a great way to finish the baseball season.

Otto Klemperer Werner Klemperer Robert Clary

Ditto for Paul Byrd's complete game shutout against Chisox. Impressive. That Bucholz curve is nasty! Boy have the Orioles been abused in the last month (the 30 run game, losing nine in a row at home, blowing late inning leads to DRays,...). Last night the Twins starter had a no-hitter broken up in the ninth, tonight Bucholz was successful. Both nights ESPN broke into live coverage of the first week of college football to show the ninth (or parts of it). I like it.

Nice story Al. ...Somehow I don't think one gets the same experience at NFL or NBA contests. Last night's Indians/Mariners game. In the bottom of the ninth inning of a now tied game (blown save #6 for JoeBo!), Seattle has already used Sean Green, George Sherrill, Brendan Morrow out of their pen. Eric O'Flaherty starts the ninth, and after retiring Hafner, puts on Martinez and Garko. At this juncture, the only arms left in the Mariner pen are all-star J.J. Putz, reclamation project Rick White, and lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith. Manager McLaren puts in White who retires Peralta for the second out, but then walks Gutierrez and Lofton for a walkoff walk. Question: your team is in a tied game on the road, do you always save your ace to pitch after you've taken the lead? Hindsight is often 20/20, but I'm a little surprised that McLaren went with White (of the 6+ ERA in limited work) with 2 on and only one out. Putz has pitched more than an inning in other games, Mariners may not get to the next inning (like last night), and if/when Mariners take the lead it may be by more than one run (making the need for your closer less vital). Whaddaya think?

Meanwhile the Tribe is finally on a bit of a roll--five straight (admittedly against KC and Minn, but both of those teams have been scrappy rather than crappy recently), and KC is beating Det. Last night I went to the Sabathia/Santana game at the Jake. 4 Tribe runs in the bottom of the first, didn't score after that. Carmona and Sabathia now have each beaten Santana twice this year (Santana also has a no decision against Cleveland). Sabathia was good, but not great--probably better in all of his previous 4 starts (which earned him 3 losses and a no decision thanks to the MIA offense). Finally a bit of offense (just enough as it turned out)--homers from Asdrubal Cabrera (who has Josh Barfield remaining on the squad only to pinch run) and Victor Martinez. JoeBo put the lead/tying runner on in the ninth, but Martinez made a great diving catch behind the plate, and (the defensively challenged) Ryan Garko started a nice double play to end it. Mariners in town for last makeup game at Jake (last makeup game gets played as part of a doubleheader out in Sea at end of season--how lame is that? Bud Selig is still a knucklehead), and then the White Sox are in town.

Cecil Cooper was a favorite when he was on those bashing Brewers teams (and the Avalon Hill baseball game--he had a great card one of those years). Hopefully he'll have some success in Stroland. Mussina looks like he's hurt. That was brutal tonight. How did the Tribe only manage 2 runs against him in mid-August?