Brad

Sorry to hear that, RIP. Tenorman is one of my favorites.

Had the Mets had a half decent bullpen, they would have swept the series. If they want to stay relevant they need bullpen help NOW! In a way I think Alderson wouldn't be that unhappy if they dropped out of the race. That way, they could continue to develop under his plan under the radar. I know that sounds crazy but if they hang around, he's under pressure to do something and he doesn't want to deviate from his plan. For instance, he doesn't want to bring up Matt Harvey to address a pitching need. He only wants to bring Harvey up if Harvey is ready.

Not "must have," do have. The GM Sandy Alderson did something about it this year but what he did was just god awful. Their closer Frank Francisco is on the DL, with no apparent timetable for his return, so the designated closer is Bobby Parnell. He can throw fast (high 90s) but can't spot the ball worth shit. On Tuesday night, the Nats are down to the last strike and he's been getting people out on curve ball so on a 2-2 pitch he throws a fastball low and in and the Nats hitter hits it for a single to tie the game. The catcher set up for outside for a waste pitch but Parnell couldn't locate it properly. The guy has a lot of talent but always fails. He's frustrating to watch as is the whole bullpen these days.

Would you say that if the Nats had lost?

Mets find new ways to lose: wild pitch with bases loaded. Five in a row. Other shoe has dropped. They don't have the worst pen for nothing. Two blown saves in one game. Hard to do

Thanks for bringing this back up. Just ordered it.

Angels seem afflicted with problems of most teams: spotty middle relief. My son was beside himself last night as they blew a 5-2 lead.

Today's Tour ended in Pau, a wonderful little town that I visited on business a couple of times. Hope to get back there someday. It's not that far from Spain.

Lin has signed an offer sheet with the Rockets that contains a poison pill: the back end (the third year) is $15 million. Originally, Knicks were going to match but will not. Also, Lin had worked out a contract with Rockets that wasn't as rich but then when Knicks said they would match, he had the Rockets make the deal richer. Obviously, Lin didn't want to be here anymore. He got his 15 minutes of fame and parlayed into a barrel of cash, and then some.

I stand corrected: Happily the Giants won and if not for a Sanchez throwing error, Lincecum could have gotten the win. From what I read sounded like he had a great game.

Well, Mets are starting the second half like they have the last two: losing. Last two seasons they have gone in with a winning record and proceeded to swoon. Looks like more of the same. Other shoe is dropping

He finally sees the light Boo, hiss. Did we forget our roots. I was at Yankee Stadium today to see the Angels play (my son is an Angels fan; Yankee fans werent too bad). History is all around that place. The history of the Yankees is the history of base ball. Yankee Stadium is located at 161st and Jerome Avenue. My mother was telling me tonight at dinner that when she was a kid in the 1920s and 1930s and living on Jerome Avenue they used to go on the roof and watch the games. However, she grew up as a Giants fan.

He finally sees the light

Using that theory maybe they should have started Cliff Lee. After all he was 17-8 last year and 11-2 after the break. On the other Dickey and Cain were both 4-6 after the break in 2011, not exactly all star material. Yes, Lee definitely should have started. It's not second half performance that is the judge and I think we all know that except LaRussa.

I thought it was a nice performance but the blues licks were pretty standard. Fun to watch though. The Ronnie Scott concert is an amazing concert in every which way for those who haven't seen it.

Just saw this, an appearance on Saturday Night Live by Jagger, Beck and one of my favorite bassists (at least in rock), the Presidential Blues. Thoughts?

Pretty sad. It's too bad Paterno is dead so he could hauled into court. I'm sure the civil suits will keep the family's attorneys busy for years. Re Goodspeak, did he go to Penn State?

Think so since he was the manager of the Futures Team.

My hearing is somewhat decent but in crowded rooms it's not easy nor in listening to tv english programs.

That Rita Reys session is a new one on me. Pardon me for being lazy but is that available, and is it worth buying, if available.

Since it miraculously disappeared and then returned, I would have this looked at. You don't want to mess around. I suffer from tinnitis and although I've gotten used to it (tuned out the background noise), it will return on occasion. Had a bad bout for a few hours on Monday.

At the end of the day, it's only an exhibition game so who really cares. We will just see at the end of the season who had the better season. Parting shot: he had a perfect game but then so did Phillip Humber, the White Sox pitcher (a former Met farmhand by the way), and he is, was and a mediocre pitcher, save his one big moment.

I agree: Bud Selig is full of shit regarding the W-L in the All-Star Game vs home field advantage in the WS. However, if you are interested in winning baseball games, emotional favorites are not who you go with. Here's the line on Dickey: 1H, 1K, 1.00 WHIP in one inning pitched. Cain's the better pitcher today....and with good reason. LaRussa made the right call, IMHO. Shocking you would say that However, there was never really any question who was the better pitcher coming in and that's what you measure things on when making a decision. I think in the future they should have retired mgrs manage. Next year we can start with Joe Torre.

How does LaRussa get to manage the NL and make an idiotic decision by not picking Dickey as the starter when he has the best stats in the league the reason given is that Posey is not used to a knuckler. Neither is Ruiz but he will be Dickey's catcher when he comes in. Great reasoning.

Great finish today by the young French rider. Great elation in France I'm sure.