Patrick

Had a sinking feeling when Andrew Miller relieved Carrasco, whose pitch count was still low and had not yet given up any runs. Andrew will be elsewhere next season. Thanks for the thrills in 2016. Too bad that magic could not be replicated/extended. Time on the Lindor free agent clock ticks down a bit more...

Tribe definitely were/are underdogs against Houston from the start. Like their recent World Series run, little margin for underperformance and Kluber has to be dominant. That obviously didn't happen in game 1. Clayton Kershaw, wow. I get that CLE/HOU is not going to be as popular as larger market series, and am fine if the scheduling reflects that a bit. But the extreme approach is kind of pathetic, and feeds the view that there is much less interest/concern in the League than in a few large markets. But maybe this for the schoolchildren of northeast Ohio, who will get proper sleep on school nights. (And this very well may be over before holiday weekend anyway).

Dear MLB, Do you and your scheduling geniuses give a crap about anything other than the epic Boston/NYY series? Why is it that NOT ONE single game of (World Series champion) Houston Astros vs Cleveland Indians is scheduled in prime time? Not a one. Game 1 is 2pm today (Friday!), and the other scheduled start times (including a Saturday and a federal holiday) are 4:30, 1:30, 4:30 (Tuesday!), 4:00 (Thursday!). I understand ratings matter, but you couldn't possibly let one game (say pitched by a Cy Young award winner or two) involving teams in flyover country start after the workday is over? And I understand there are a lot of games to play in the first round. But sharing of the early time slot, especially on weekdays? Apparently not. We will get the (statutorily required) fawning about the historic ballpark on Yawkey Way. It is a cool part of the League's history. How about going old school and actually playing a day game there? Rant over. Back to bullpens. With Cody Allen still lost at sea, and Andrew Miller far from 100%, the question in Cleveland is how effective Trevor Bauer (still coming back from leg injury) can be in a new role. I don't have much confidence in the Tribe pen, even with the (overpaid) acquisitions of Hand and Cimber. Mike Clevinger was a pleasant surprise in the rotation, and he now gets the #3 slot. If TB hadn't been injured, Clevinger would have been the long guy added to the pen. It will be interesting to see how well Clev performs (...and how much help he gets from Bauer).

...and face the Tribe in the Series.

Kind of cool (...totally data mined...) stat: Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez are the first pair of teammates to have consecutive seasons in which they each had at least 80 extra base hits since DiMaggio and Gehrig in 1936-37.

Bummer. I was in Chicago one week too early. Experienced Robert Glasper at a packed Jazz Showcase on a Thursday. Regretted not trying Kingston Mines or B.L.U.E.S. instead.

Frank is (...or perhaps was...) a lurker/occasional poster here. In the binge-able present, is such a large project that surprising? I'm intrigued enough to explore. Maybe some more Andrew Hill or Herbie Nichols retrospectives in the future? Finally got a copy of Frank's solo piano date Air (Palmetto). Loving the much slower take on "Wig Wise". Has anyone heard Solstice (Pirouet) w Jay Anderson and Jeff Hirschfield? I have not.

Somewhat amused that the Sunday night crew were all picking the Tribe as their favorites in the AL. Was hoping to continue flying under the radar in flyover country. But when the genius ARod opines otherwise, so be it. Think the rotation can hang with anyone's, as can the top 1/3 of the order. But the rest of the lineup drops off considerably, as does the bullpen. Hoping that Andrew Miller who has been injury-plagued, and Cody Allen who has just been lost, can regain some effectiveness. Pleasantly surprised by the season Mike Clevinger has had. I did not have him penciled in for 200K, even in today's wildly swingin' era.

Complete game shutout for Corey Kluber against the Troutless Angels. 3H, 1BB, 7K, only 98 pitches. After a couple of bad starts, the methodical Klubot appears to have been rebooted. Leonys Martin has already exceeded expectations (HR in each of first 2 games in CLE). And fans finally getting to Progressive Field. I believe it was a massive overpay to send their best prospect (#5 league-wide) who is a catcher for bullpen help, but they need help there and the current guys likely sign elsewhere in offseason. Hopefully rotation stays healthy and effective and they get enough support from guys not named Lindor/Ramirez/Brantley to scare a few folks (...who do not reside in the AL Central).

RIP Tomasz. My point of entry was Soul of Things and Suspended Night. Have all of the ECM's except for the most recent December Avenue, and some of the earlier recordings. The first NY quartet recording Wislawa is a favorite. Saw the Soul of Things group perform once at Blues Alley and naively hoped that they would be a regular on the BA schedule (unfortunately, not so). Had hoped that the New York Quartet would travel south to DC. Was intrigued by the possible collaboration with Rava. Much to enjoy.

Yes. Another great performance by Bauer flushed away by Cody looking to do his best Bob Wickman imitation.

Pleasantly surprised that Michael Brantley got voted in by players. He was a throw in prospect in the CLE/MIL Sabathia trade way back when. Anyone recall future slugging star Matt LaPorta? (Ugh. Trade is exhibit A for not getting any sort of premium for trading stars at the deadline. Perhaps a useful contrast to the great Colon to MON deal.) Brantley has battled injuries the last several years, and I thought it probably was a mistake to sign/extend him this past offseason, but he has stayed healthy (so far).

This is true. A healthy Kyrie likely would have made it a bit more interesting.

Definitely frustrating for Cavs fans. For me, it was more the officiating in the last minute. Charging call on Durant should not have been reversed. Just appreciating the greatness of LeBron, and he managed to play less than 46 (which has started to become customary). It didn't even look that hard for him (in contrast to Indy and Boston). JR does have knucklehead tendencies, but he was a key component of the championship they won.

Agree with Jim about Not in Our Name and Carla's Christmas Carols. Great recordings. Also like the Lost Chords Find Paolo Fresu and the (perhaps simple) humor in much of the rest. Have never tried the fusiony CB items that Jim also mentions.Looking forward to a Haden appreciation at Kennedy Center on Friday that will feature Bley with LMO and Quartet West (with Lovano for one or both). Would the expressed lack of enthusiasm for Bley composing/arranging also apply to Haden? Just curious.

Pine (top) Perkins!

I sense that you do not recall Sasha Pavlovic, Larry Hughes, and Eric Snow. How about Donyell Marshall?

Performing and composing/arranging are two complementary skills. If satisfying art benefits from combining the two, do both have to be delivered by the same person? Or can one be satisfied/entranced/blown away by a great performance of material that was composed/arranged by someone else? Are there great performers/soloists who are not accomplished composers? Agree with the recommendation for quality over quantity, even if it means circulating something less than a traditional LP unit (...whatever those were...).

Can you serve it while injured?

yes. finally. Tribe rotation has been pretty damn solid. Hopefully bats continue to heat up, and not just against the AL Central.

yes, cool story Rooster!

Sneakers. Canvas Chuck Taylor style in Blue Note blue, and/or a higher end black leather (or vinyl) with micro grooves, perhaps including tongues w the Rivers Dimensions & Extensions graphic. A t-shirt featuring Hipp/Sims graphic on front and back. Coasters (the kind that absorb water) w designs from Afro-Cuban, Black Fire, Basra, Evolution, perhaps True Blue.

My wife and I are quite pleased with our 2014 Ford Fusion hybrid. Is the Fusion franchise such a money loser competing against similar not huge (or tiny) vehicles from other makers? Or is Ford management over-correcting given the CAFE relaxation?

Gotta listen to some DP BN's this weekend, and track down that Uptown release sometime soon.

Yes. I think my favorite was "Chili Peppers".