Dan Gould

Pounding the strike zone with a butterfly. I like Wakefield (and not just because he's over 40.) Did anyone else see the discussion/demonstration of the knuckler by MLB's crack staff of old fart former players? Mitch Williams learned the knuckler from Charlie Hough and was throwin it pretty good and joked about coming back as a 50 year old knuckleball pitcher. Didn't seem that farfetched.

Well, Wakefield had an awesome start - 7 innings, 1 run, pounded the strike zone all night, close to an 80-20 strike to walk ratio, and on top of that, V-Mart had no major problems with the knuckler. If he can keep that up, I wouldn't mind bringing Wake back for one more go-round, assuming his back and his nerve problem isn't an issue. Using Martinez as his caddy works a lot better than having a limp noodle back up catcher who can't hit his weight but can catch the knuckler. And best of all, Papi hit his second homer of the night in the ninth for a walk-off! A great reminder of days past, if Papi can keep it up maybe good things are still to come. And there will be another good thing to come tomorrow: I'm quite sure Penny will be DFA'd to make room for Wagner. With Wakefield going seven and the Red Sox getting away using only Ramirez and Bard with no extra innings, they've got a fresh enough bullpen - Okajima, Saito, Delcarmen and Papelbon having all gotten a day off - they don't have to worry about Tazawa blowing up. Even if he only goes 4-5 innings they can work from there with what they've got; no need to disable someone they don't want to to keep Penny one extra day for dubious "protection". So long Brad.

You gleefully made hash out of the BALCO leaks regarding Barry Bonds, Danny. And given your propencity to assume facts ahead of actual evidence, WTF do you care about constitutional rights? Including the 4th, 5th and 6th Amendments. I applauded the arrest and conviction and sentencing of the DEFENSE attorney who leaked the BALCO Grand Jury testimony. Just as I have no problem with the reporting that certain players are on the list of 104, the FIRST AMENDMENT of a free press is paramount and as such, the NYT is free to publish the information they receive as the San Francisco paper was free to publish the Grand Jury testimony of one Barry Lamar Bonds. See, Timmy?

Yeah, who cares if its information under seal by a Federal court, or that the players gave up their fourth amendment rights because their anonymity was assured. None of that stuff matters at all.

I disagree. The tests were agreed to on the basis of anonymity. Each time a name has leaked its been a violation of Federal law by someone who is subject to the court-ordered seal. The valid search warrant trumps the promise of anonymity for the ten connected to BALCO. But no one has any right to leak the other names. What if a different business were involved - what if it was your own work-related drug test being leaked to the press? Now I'm not saying that recent drug tests shouldn't be released, but there is a negotiated penalty and agreed to loss of anonymity if you test positive since 2003. The 2003 tests were supposed to be anonymous and they should stay that way. I'd rather see a serious investigation into who has done the leaking than decide that everyone else who tested positive should lose their rights too. This is not to say that I expect any end to the piecemeal release of the rest of the names. But it doesn't make it any more right to just release these names all at once. Like the BALCO defense attorney who served a prison sentence for releasing the Grand Jury testimony, someone, or several someones, should be going to prison for releasing these names. But there is no way to just release the other 100 names because both MLB and the Union are party to the Judge's order sealing the information. No one can legally release it. Period. Its f-ed up, but we are a country of laws - and the law in this case should be adhered to.

Well that decision was pretty obvious, and if they appeal, they'll probably lose again. This does not however impact Bonds' case, as his test results were subject to the subpoena, among others. Old "clean" result, but lo and behold, if you look for BALCO 'roids, you find them! But he never knowingly took them. No, never. Didn't even wonder about his arthritis balm and his flaxseed oil even when his balls shrunk, his head grew and he had home run power to an extent he never ever came close to when he was a young man, not in his late 30s.

Hans, you are right in general, but we're talking about the jazz community here. And what of Mike Weil's comment that jazz saxophonists in Germany have only a "cursory" knowledge of Mobley's recordings? I find that very curious to say the least.

It would take a helluva better movie than that to keep me awake. I think Billy Crystal said that depression is great because you catch up on your sleep. That's certainly true - in bed by about 11:30 pm, up around 9 AM. Its the rest of the day that sucks.

I just discovered a little complication in the Red Sox acquisition of Wagner along with their plan to activate Wakefield today. They've said that Penny would be the long man both today and tomorrow for Tazawa, assuming he isn't needed early for Wakefield tonight - but he isn't suited to the bullpen. But looking at the roster, there's only one obvious guy to be DFA'd or demoted - Enrique Gonzales, the last guy in the bullpen who has pitched to a 5.93 career ERA over parts of 4 seasons. So, if Penny stays on the roster, how do you add both Wakefield and Wagner? There's no one to be traded or released out of the bullpen with Saito, Delcarmen, Ramirez, Bard and Okajima backing up Papelbon, they traded for Kotchman because he's under team control for another two years, Green is the backup infielder and Baldelli is the backup outfielder. Unless there is someone in the bullpen they are going to creatively disable, I have to assume that Wagner is not getting activated immediately - if that is allowed under league rules. They DFA Gonzales and activate Wakefield today. Then after they've used Penny as insurance against a short outing by Wake or Tazawa, Penny is DFA'd and Wagner is activated. If its true that Wagner won't pitch more than every third day, he wouldn't be available to pitch before Thursday anyway. Penny better be spending his time getting packed. And I presume its OK to trade for an active member of one team's roster without immediately adding him to your own. Or else someone is going on the DL and they'll be shorthanded until rosters expand next Tuesday.

I saw the highlights on MLB Network and almost posted about it. Funny how the goat from the top of the ninth who broke in on the line drive and turned it into at triple is the hero of the bottom of the inning. The WFC have to make a change and get someone in there as closer before the season is over. Or maybe make a deal with Cleveland for Wood? I'd think he's gone through waivers, I certainly didn't hear that there were claims. Granted he hasn't pitched like he did in Chicago but he can't be worse than Lidge and he might help a lot. Seems to me the WFC would be crazy to even put Lidge on the playoff roster at this point.

Some more good news for the Mets - apparently Santana will only require arthroscopic surgery on his elbow and should be ready for 2010. Still it can't be good when your super-expensive stud pitcher goes under the knife. But this is way better than it could be.

Or, to put it another way, he's more interested in maximizing his earning potential and his personal stats than in competing for a championship. I'm not sure that's someone you want on your team. Will he hold back because he doesn't want to risk injury heading into free agency? Screw that. I want the guy who is hungry, who will run through a wall for his teammates. I guess he reconsidered the chance to go deep into October. WEEI tweet: Now I need J.H. to tell me more about Wagner's mouth. As I responded to him before, as a Met, Wagner stood up and pointed out that the Latinos all run out of the clubhouse after a loss but he's always there to face the media. That kind of thing isn't going to be an issue in Boston but I really don't know what else he may have said in the past. I should also mention that some sportswriter claimed that the Red Sox interest was in part due to concern about Papelbon and his troubles. That makes it possible that Wagner could be asked to close occasionally anyway.

Not official but cost appears to be two prospects who are to be named later (Masserati of the Globe) or are already identified but nameless right now (Cafardo of the Globe). Funny how two guys from the same paper have different info. Must be working on different rolodexes. Anyway - this has to be an upgrade, and if Papelbon has any sense, he'll go introduce himself and tell him he's excited to have the chance to watch one of the great closers up close as he goes about his business.

Well, now there are multiple reports that a deal is done, or expected, or being completed. It sure would be nice to have a power lefty to bring in against someone like Abreu, or Matsui and Damon and the other MFY taking aim at the Little League fence in right field. Okajima is OK, and guys like Ramirez and Delcarmen have good splits against lefties but its not the same as calling in a guy like Wagner. Of course, it could be just like 2007 when Gag-Me was acquired - but hey, 2007 turned out OK in the end. Now if Wakefield and Matsuzaka can return and be effective, I think we would have a shot at reaching the playoffs and doing some damage.

I don't want to defend the guy too much but he's lost a year of his career and in the meantime the team that signed him went for even bigger dollars to someone else. He's most concerned with signing as a closer somewhere next year, and given that he returned from TJ surgery faster than expected, I would believe it if his doctors said there is a risk in going all out for the next eight weeks. OTOH, if he really is holding out on the issue of the arbitration/compensation, F-him.

There are lots of ways to slice this, including whether a TOCJ counts as Japan because of country of manufacture vs USA because its a BN recording. I'd vote for the latter. But anyway you slice it, I would guess that my collection is around 90-95% USA (0% Saturn).

Its possible that Wagner isn't quite as stupid as the Globe is reporting that while the arbitration thing was one stumbling block, the larger stumbling block was coming to a pennant race and throwing high leverage innings that mean something and possibly injuring himself. Given that he wants another decent size contract and to reach 400 saves, I can understand if he wants to make sure he is healthy going into free agency.

Assuming he did this after passing third base, he's only doing what Big Papi started. Ortiz got tired of the pounding headaches he'd get if he went into the dogpile with his helmet on, and 24 guys pounded on his head. Apparently helmets really amplify the force being exerted on the hero's head.

And while Wagner said he is interested in a chance to win, he's apparently about as smart as Papelbon, which is to say, exceptionally stupid. Apparently the Red Sox and Mets have reached an agreement and now Wagner will use his no-trade protection to cancel it. Why? Well, Wagner wants to make sure he has a chance to get a free agent contract with a team in need of a closer, so he insisted on a Red Sox commitment not to exercise the 8 million dollar 2010 option in his current contract. The Red Sox said no problem. But according to the Player's Agreement, if a pending free agent is offered salary arbitration, the team losing him will get compensatory draft picks - two of them for a "Type A" free agent like Wagner. He thinks that he will be more attractive to other teams if there is no draft pick penalty to signing him, so he wants the Red Sox to commit to not offering him arbitration, which they won't do since I am sure they are giving up someone with some value to get Wagner in the first place, and paying him the remaining two million on his contract is kind of ridiculous if you don't get some draft picks out of the deal. But isn't it obvious why its a stupid thing for Wagner to reject the trade? The Mets are absolutely guaranteed to offer him arbitration in order to get to the two draft picks and try to rebuild their farm system a tiny bit. That is an incredibly stupid move, considering that his choices are: Go to Boston, perhaps make the playoffs, maybe even reach the World Series or win it, and be assured of unrestricted free agency afterward. Stay in New York, where the Mets will: Offer arbitration and theoretically make him a less attractive free agent Exercise his option and keep him for 2010 in which case he's not a closer Exercise his option and trade him, which will inevitably restrict his options for 2010 even if he has the no-trade protection, because the Mets could make a deal to send him somewhere he doesn't really want to be, and his choices are either to accept the trade or risk staying on the Mets where K-Rod is the closer. There are about 3 1/2 hours left for someone to convince this moron why he is being a freaking idiot to hold up a chance at free agency over draft compensation. Hell, if he cares about the money, an arbitration offer guarantees him a substantial salary against the risk that his elbow isn't fully healed and he gets hurt again. And we thought Papelbon was being the dumb ass.

I was right - clobbered some more by Tampa after I posted, Halladay fell to 3-6 in 11 starts since his return from the DL, with 12 home runs allowed. (Of course, Beckett gives up 12 homers in 3 starts lately but still ... not the Doc we expect. Either he's hurt, or he just doesn't want to bias the race for the playoffs, so he's serving them up to the Yanks, the Sox and the Rays. Seriously though it makes me think that not making the deadline deal for Halladay might have been the right move, if he is in fact hurt in some way. He might not have helped enough anyway.)

And BTW, according to MLB.com, Johan Santana will miss his scheduled start and is resigned to elbow surgery. His arm has been bothering him for some time, and he's been limiting his between starts work just to avoid the pain, which reached an unacceptable level in his last start. Imagine if he's looking at Tommy John surgery. That would be a crushing blow for the Mets and make the Yankees and Red Sox look even smarter for not making that deal. And what does that say about C.C. Sabathia? Similar age, similar wear & tear, how soon before C.C. sees Dr. Jobe? And is it possible that Doc Holladay has physical issues, too? He has not pitched well in a while if I am not mistaken. The Sox got to him last time, and the Rays have rung up six runs tonight. Doc hasn't been Doc basically since his groin problem.

There's no argument that makes Zito a particularly good pitcher over the last several years, let alone to justify that contract, but judging pitchers by wins is so last century. Meanwhile, Dice-K has started on the road back to Fenway with a strong three innings in the Gulf Coast League. Up next is a start at AA, followed by a start for Pawtucket, with September 8 as the target for a return to the Fens. What I found surprising is how much better Matsuzaka looks physically. Check out the video on the right side of the page: http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=10981572 They said they wanted to work on fitness as well as shoulder strength, and it really shows. He had a noticeable paunch when he returned from the WBC. Looks like he's lost some of the jowls too. I don't know if it will help his pitching but for the money they paid for his services, at least now he looks like he actually gives a shit. He better be ready to help because the current number three, Buchholz, has gotten pounded by the White Sox. Thank god the bats are alive against Contreras, its 7-4 in the third.

Picked this up yesterday and Lou's comment about David Binney is worth the (inflated to $5.95) price of admission: At the same time, he isn't gentle with straightahead guys or beboppers either. Calls Frank Morgan an amateur; has unkind words about Tom Scott and Terence Blanchard (for a Cannonball tribute recording) and Donald Harrison. ****************************** To answer my earlier question, the Sax Legends of Blue Note pictorial definitely has some previously unseen Francis Wolff photos, including a pretty cool looking one from The Empty Foxhole session, there's also a shot of Griff and one of KB with Coltrane that I don't recognize. Jazztimes is definitely thinner than the last time I picked it up but this is a pretty good issue - there's a short article about Red Holloway and one of the feature stories is about One For All, also an update on Mark Turner's recovery from that horrific power saw accident.

Perhaps not but I find his assertions about who is and who isn't qualified to be a jazz fan incredibly offensive. "Moronic" was far and away the gentlest thing I could say about what I think of his ideas.

Sorry to fail to live up to your utopian vision but I love jazz every bit as much as you. That fact is not oxymoronic. What is moronic is you, sir.