Brad

Bummer. Except for three incredible innings in game 5, this was an otherwise forgettable series, which is pretty much what you can say for the whole postseason. Hasn't been exciting baseball.

It ain't lookin' good, 3-1

Very tidy game. What I liked about the Red Sox is that every time the Rays scored, the Red Sox responded. It's plausible what Maddon was saying: that after game 5, they put it out of their mind. However, when they all went their separate ways last night, I'm sure some had to be thinking: Man, we were this close. Maddon says everything is a learning experience but it's a tough way to learn. I've got a feeling that tonight will be a blowout one way or the other. Hopefully, it's the Red Sox doing the blowing. I wouldn't bet against them at this point. Although past history is never a predictor of the future, when you're up against it like the Rays are, it has to get them thinking a little bit.

You would have thought fans would have hung in until the bitter end. Glad I saw it. However, I do fess up to missing the 88 Kirk Gibson HR against the As. I woke up right after I hit it.

I sort of agree but what's the point of saving Lester if you can't get to game 7. Moreover, I believe he would be on normal rest (although the post season tends to mess that up). You would need Beckett but I'd like to make sure they get to a game 7 first. Good point about all hands on deck. Regardless of when Beckett goes, who is the first guy out of the pen if he lasts only a couple of innings?

I'm also a big Bud fan, as evidenced by the avatar. The Xanadu is quite good although pre 64. Some of the Black Lions are very interesting also, if you can get your hands on those.

One of my favorite players when I was a kid. Had a lot of talent. Thanks for the memories.

That was indeed one of the great games I've ever seen and I've been watching baseball for almost 50 years. Of course, I wasn't around in 1929 for the only comeback that was better: the Cubs-As game. I had fallen asleep and woke up in the 6th inning when it was 5-0 and figured it was definitely over when it was 7-0. When it was 7-4, I said "too little, too late" but thought, well, let's score two at least in the 8th and tie it in the ninth. When it was 7-6, I thought "damn, those two runs they gave up in the 7th is really going to cost them." Otherwise, they would have been up 6-5. Incredible ending obviously. Incredible at bats by Coco Crisp and Youkilis. What can you say? Just a fantastic ending. I'm not sure it would go down as a great game, particularly if you're a Rays fan, but a great ending. I guess that does, in fact, make it a great game. One for the ages. Why not start Lester in the sixth game. He'll be going on normal rest. He should be better than Monday and he's more reliable than Beckett. Let's face it unless you can win game 6, saving him for game 7 doesn't mean much. If they do get to game 7, then start Beckett but on a very short leash, with "all hands on deck" as they say in the trade.

All, Thank you all very much! Haven't been for awhile. The Mets, now that's a sore subject. They deservedly finished second.

I hope the Cubs clinch this weekend, not because I like them but because they're coming to play the Mets next week and, with that bullpen, we need all the help we can get. Omar should be fired for the bullpen he put together. At the end of the year, just clean it out and start from scratch. Whatever you get can't be any worse then the pile of shit you have already

Of all the Mosaics I have, this is probably my favorite and, objectively, one of their best issues. I'm actually surprised it hadn't gone OOP before.

I've listed on ebay my copy of the Bud Shank Mosaic. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Yeah, I'd read here awhile back that it had some great stuff but also some ordinary stuff. I'd like to get it but I'm sure I can live without it.

I wonder if these are some of their slower moving sets although I would think the Jazztet, Stanley and Lou would be popular. The Farlow is a great set in its own right.

Well, there's one less left now, be it 57 or 19 Listened to disc one. Not a big fan of strings but it was passable. Rest is very good. Must have timed out because my copy is in the 2000's.

I'm selling some Art Pepper Cds on Ebay: Modern Art - Complete Alladin Recordings, Volume 2 Complete Village Vanguard Sessions Art Pepper With Sonny Clark at the Lighthouse - Two Cd set reissued by Venus of Japan Please click here. Please let me know if you have any questions.

I don't know if anybody needs this or is interested in this but Amazon Germany sent me an email about it this weekend, Elegant Soul.

I wonder if Carter could still make those claims today: clean tongue (how does one get a tongue dirty?), constipation, indigestion, etc.

I was on vacation when the semis and final were played but managed to see them both and sidewinder's comments are my thoughts. As a longtime Spain supporter, I was obviously very happy that they won. I actually thought they should have been up 3-0 in the first half of the final and was worried that it might come back to haunt them. Except for the first 10 minutes and a small part of the second half when Germany was moving well with the ball, it didn't seem like they were really in the match but that could also be attributable to the Spanish defense. They were clearly the best team in the tournament and deserved to win. And that is that.

I think it's pretty sad how far society, morality, have sunk.

I had Spain and that was it. All I can say is that justice was done tonight in the PKs as Spain was the best team throughout the game against an Italian team more interested in defending than attacking (what else is new). Now, I can relax for a few days until Thursday.

Since all the group winners have exited so far, you have to wonder if they thought about how close they are to the final and just got too conservative instead of playing like this was the first game of the tournament.

Although the Russians deserved the victory, the Dutch never seemed into it or out of sorts or something. The team never seemed right, certainly not the team from the group stage. 0 for 3, uh, oh!

So far, I'm 0 for 2 in predictions. Doesn't bode well for my team

What an amazing last two minutes. Rustu screws up and they save his butt. The next few minutes should be "interesting."