Dan Gould

I've always skipped the waffle cone to avoid the additional calories. Not that I'll get to sample, and I probably wouldn't enter on general principle, but do they at least nail the ice cream part, with "small batch" and super fat milk?

Hard pass.

So do you know how it went from your research to Magnarelli choosing these two to play? Since you were unaware I am assuming you didn't have a direct hand ...

My copy of the Mags is en route, and now I see on the Amazon release page, its actually a program of Dameron compositions, including two new ones! This all-star band of trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore, pianist Anthony Wonsey, bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer George Fludas breath new life into the compositions of the great Tadd Dameron. A supremely swinging affair, If You Could See Me Now includes two never before recorded Tadd Dameron tunes: The Dream Is You and Sando Latino. .

Yeah I have an absolute last one in me.

OK I give up. WTF is their 'concept'???

Wow finalists for AL MVP don't even include JD Martinez. Betts, Ramirez and Trout. I know he faded on the triple crown chase but that seems surprising he couldn't get the votes to be in the top 3.

FWIW Yankee fans I think that Steve Phillips is about as good a reporter as he was a GM. (And I know he was GM for a NL pennant winner and with a few good draft picks ... still a very mixed bag and he never got another opportunity so ...)

I forgot how much I've enjoyed this record. Girl Talk, 310 Blues, Into Dawn. Really nice playing all around. Glad to revisit for sure.

From the new birthday-guy to the old birthday-guy:

I really wonder whether the Mets could nab him. He'd certainly be the unquestioned star on that roster and he'd still be playing in NY. Not really the same but if he wants to feed his ego he'd be better off in Queens than the Bronx. If he didn't go to the Yankees would he think that the Phills will compete sooner than the Mets? Or just doubt the Mets commitment to winning? I'd have to say the odds favor the Yankees, than the Phillies, than the Mets, if those are the top 3 with money to burn.

Made out like a bandit on the pre-shipping guarantee from Amazon. Saved almost 33%, from just under $30 to just over $20. That may be the best deal I've ever gotten on a pre-order with them.

This is gonna make Paul's day. https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2018/11/04/report-the-yankees-are-out-on-bryce-harper/ Not so much being out on Harper but that they want to go all in on ... Machado. If its true and Harper doesn't take aim at the short fence ... we Red Sox fans thank you Mr. Cashman.

Finally! A BFT where I recognized a player and found the track on my first instinctive pull from the stacks. Track 16 is cut 6 from this https://www.allmusic.com/album/furthermore-mw0000309674 Ironically the trumpeter is Roy Hargrove. I would not have thought to pull this disc in my Hargrove memorial but now it is first in the stack. Unfortunately nothing else is jumping out at me so this will be my only contribution. But hey Ma! I got one!!!

I suspect strongly that Jim has experience in the area of addiction. Not in terms of hands-on therapy but in the collateral damage. His views are as real, honest and accurate as any. And honestly we may be laying the blame where it doesn't belong. One can be an addict, and also die young of unrelated, chronic conditions. RIP Mr. Hargrove. Will be spinning a lot of your discs in the coming days.

And now it looks like both sides want to sign an extension: https://www.mlb.com/news/clayton-kershaw-contract-news/c-300150262?tid=282421090 I know the Dodgers are making money hand over fist but even they should know that being tied to Kershaw to his age 35 season (or beyond) is a sucker bet. Between the back issues and his declining fastball speeds, he's not that far from being Rich Hill (probably without the side trip to the Long Island Ducks).

Now Kershaw and the Dodgers have agreed to an extension of his time to decide whether to opt out or not to Friday afternoon? Wonder what this is about - he's owed over 30 million a year for the next two and with his history of back problems and declining fastball and strikeout rate, does he really think he can do better on the market now? I wouldn't be completely shocked if the Dodgers are hoping he'll opt out, to clear the salary, so maybe they are giving him more time hoping he says he's leaving. Now watch they'll instead announce a new extension covering the two years plus some time more.

So the first action in hot stove is the Yankees decline Gardiner's option and immediately signed him to a one year deal? Makes sense for him, I'm sure its plenty of money still and he gets to be on a roster that should do well. Is this insurance on Ellsbury or is that really a totally separate consideration? Cause if Ellsbury is actually capable of playing its a lot of money left to sit on the bench or eat. And if Harper is targetted it necessitates at least a move or two in the outfield to make room. As for Gardiner it seemed like he was close to the end most of the year especially offensively.

One of their very best I have to say.

I think the Sox should try to keep Eovaldi but Kimbrel is a free agent and I'll wave goodbye to him - too much agita. I'd like to see them sign Zach Britton or even David Robertson and if healthy a reunion with Andrew Miller would be nice. Joe Kelly is a free agent, not sure how I feel about that. Thankful he was a beast in the WS but there were a lot of bad performances for months before that. Not to mention the failure as a starter before that. Sale just had his final option year picked up so if there is a window it better be for back-to-back because I don't know if they sign him long-term after that. As for the infield the only questions are, what happens with the Moreland/Pearce platoon (I'd vote to keep it in place, Pearce is clearly a good righty bat to have around especially at Fenway), and does Pedroia come all the way back or could this be the end? Or if not the end, the end of Pedey as an elite player?