Dan Gould

I thought that was what Mighty Quinn was going to be all about with the Pepper Adams, Don Ellis, etc material? Have they shifted gears? Maybe those reissues were so successful they decided to stop. You know what they say about too much success.

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I can't imagine Baldelli took it to be a fifth starter, so I have to assume that leaves Kotsay out of the picture, which I think is unfortunate. He showed he can handle the glove at 1B and RF and his poor hitting seemed to be mostly a function of bad luck - lots of balls he hit should have fallen in, or at least were hit hard. Now what do they do about Youk's backup? Its hardly an idle concern, since no one knows for sure that Lowell will handle 3B from Opening Day. There are a couple of AAAA types at Pawtucket who could take the job, but they're likely to be nothing more than replacement level. A Kotsay would be excellent insurance at 1B and the OF, for the uncertainties with Lowell as well as Rocco.

Zen, supposedly the Sox are also close to a deal with Baldelli - so at least they have a fifth outfielder. If they knew that his medical condition is treatable and he could go back to playing semi-regularly, or could take over for Drew when he takes his annual summer vacation, then it wouldn't be a bad move. But the medical uncertainties makes me question it. Which brings us to Smoltz. If he somehow returns to anything approaching his former level of greatness, yeah, its a great deal. But I thought I read somewhere that he had to adapt a new delivery in order to throw with less discomfort, post-surgery. So what is the likelihood that he helps in any significant way? Signing one "low cost/high reward" guy in Penny made sense, but why two? And what's really annoying is when people like Olney speculate that their new "pitching surplus" will allow them to trade a young pitcher for a catcher. What fucking pitching surplus? One of Smoltz incentives may be a roster bonus if he is ready by June 1. He doesn't do shit for our pitching "surplus" - not yet, anyway.

I would be shocked if the Times didn't survive, largely intact, as a trophy property of someone like Rupert Murdoch. In fact, the thought of Murdoch in charge and Krugman and Dowd out on the street almost makes me giddy.

I'm surprised you didn't mention Bubba Brooks performance, MG - unless that is on the one Brooks CD you said you've looked high and low for ages.

Blue Note's birthday brought BN spam which led me to the Blue Note site, where I read this: So the Conns are apparently continuing, and one has to wonder what the "special digital initiatives" will be ... downloads of OOP releases that don't justify or a Conn or RVG issue? I'm also curious about this: http://www.bluenote.com/MainNewsDetail.asp...amp;promoId=690

Got this for Christmas, it is definitely a keeper.

Rock On ... (someone had to say it)

I hardly paid attention to the NFL this year - not sure how much Brady's injury had to do with that - and when the Bears blew it and the Pats were denied on the last weekend, I said to my wife, what am I going to do during the playoffs? Just root against the Dolphins and the Mannings until they are eliminated or win it all? So I have to say I was quite pleased by the results this weekend. The Dolphins embarrassed at home; one Manning out in the first round; I wanted to see Minny eliminated since they were lucky to get in ahead of the Bears; and after so many years of incompetence, wouldn't it be something if the Cards get on a roll? I just may pay attention for the rest of January.

Yeah, but you'll be able to download it at mind-boggling speed to your million gig hard drive that will be implanted under your skin at birth.

This guy? In all seriousness, how many people know those notes because of "A Fifth of Beethoven" not actual exposure to the composition? As far as the question goes - while its theoretically possible I'll be here in 50 years, I wouldn't count on a 93 year old being too interested in what's "now". Especially when I can hardly be moved to care about any current "new" recordings. Jazz as we know it died a long time ago, and the best way I can view it is the same way that a great classical composition is viewed: as a great artistic/cultural achievement of a particular moment in time.

To me it's the endless stepping out of the batter's box that drives me nuts. I recall George Foster doing it but only in retaliation of Al Hrabosky's stalking around in the back of the mound to get psyched. Not to say he didn't do it elsewhere, that's just the only at bat I remember. I don't remember Reggie being one to step out of the batter's box endlessly. I have distinct memories of him leaning back while in the box spitting sunflower seeds. When Nomar started all of that obsessive compulsive disorder batting glove nonsense MLB should have put a stop to it then (for all the players who stepped out), along with getting on pitchers to pick up the pace. That to me isn't "flash" - its Reggie tossing the bat and standing at the box admiring his shot. That used to result in some chin music next go-round, but eventually that ended, too. But up to some point in the 60s/early 70s, home run trots became slower and slower, culminating in garbage like the "one flap down" thing. But yeah, batters staying in the box and guys running around the bases after home runs are two things long gone from the game, but on display in these old broadcasts. That and a lot of hats in the crowd.

If you're not sure if your cable provider offers it and what channel to go to, check out their website http://www.mlbnetwork.com enter your zip code and you'll get the channel number, if your provider has it. What I like about the plan for gamenight broadcasts is that, since its owned by MLB, they can do "look-ins" for as long as they want to during the broadcast. ESPN is contractually limited in how long they can broadcast a local feed nationally. And I assume that in March there will be more ST games, and also some sort of news broadcast in the mornings once the season starts. That would be a nice way of getting baseball highlights without the hockey and basketball that ESPN will lead with, especially during the interminable playoffs. In the meantime, yeah, I am curious what they'll run from years past. Would Reggie's rise to prominence mark the end of the "no flash" era? I seem to recall a 1967 Red Sox game with home runs being "run out" and no showing up the pitcher.

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It was dropped recently ("withdrawn by the manufacturer") but someone in south Florida put out a four track tribute to Gene Harris and Amazon was selling it new. This EP length recording was offered by an Amazon Marketplace seller for $39.95!

He obviously stays healthier than Burnett but I don't think Penny has the same potentially dominating stuff. His K rate is 6.36 per 9 IP (Burnett averages two more K's per 9 IP; Beckett's K rate is a touch higher than that) so he isn't the shut-down guy, he needs a good defense (which he'll get). But he was an ace for the Dodgers, if you assume he comes down a notch in the A.L., I'm perfectly happy putting an N.L. "Number 1" into the fourth or fifth spot behind Beckett, Lester and Dice. Not sure what the Bard signing means - its not a guaranteed contract so there's no real commitment (Bard doesn't get the full contract unless he is on the roster at the end of spring training, if cut I think he gets half his salary). But I doubt they brought him in to catch Wake, and we know Tek won't do it, so does this mean they are ready to move on without the Captain, and may go after someone else to platoon with Bard?

Well the Sox have finally done something this hot stove season, as Brad Penny himself has confirmed that he has agreed to a one year deal, pending a physical. They were reported to be in on both Penny and Smoltz as "low risk, high reward" signings, and I think I like Penny just a bit more overall. Until last year he pitched very well for L.A., if his arm is OK he should be a solid addition to the rotation, and much more likely to contribute than Bartolo Colon ever was. Smoltz would have more upside, obviously, but at his age and number of injuries sustained in his career, what exactly are the odds that Smoltz pitches, pitches well, and doesn't go down all season? I suspect Smoltz is at the end of the line (finally) but Penny is only 31 and would love to re-establish himself in order to sign an A.J. Burnett type deal next fall (and after Kennedy and Hughes fail again, couldn't you just see the Yanks doing just that?) While I still think Masterson has potential as a starter, I'm fine with him working with Oki as the bridge to Paps and providing depth in case of injury or ineffectiveness. I'd like Buchholz to be the first guy to get the call as a replacement starter, and hopefully they hang on to Bowden too after they've figured out the catcher situation. Forget the Rangers' surplus - they're asking for the moon because they think the Sox are over a barrel. Make a deal for Benjie Molina as a stop-gap and then figure out where you are with your prospects in the next couple of years.

Plenty of music this year, starting with some blues: Elmore James, The Sky is Crying Little Milton, The Best of the Stax Years Billy Boy Arnold Plays Sonny Boy Williamson Dave Thomas' latest, like Billy Boy, its on Electro-Fi And some jazz, starting with three recent releases on HighNote: Fathead Newman, Diamond Head Cedar Walton, Seasoned Wood Houston Person/Ron Carter duo recording The recent Scott Hamilton disc with Duke Robillard and Gene Ludwig I also decided to correct what I suspect was a mistake I made more than ten years ago - not buying Stanley Turrentine's T-Time because I was too much of a snob to consider a recording with "keyboards" as well as piano by Kenny Drew Jr. This was f-ing Stanley T., and one of his last recordings. I want to hear it, and better late than never.

Welcome back! As for the Yanks - yeah, they might finally win #27 in the next couple of years, but does this roster look anything like the one from 96-2000? They've thrown a shitload of money at three players, and they've got three more (four really if you count Mo) who are, or will be very soon, the baseball equivalent of really old farts. Add in how long Teixeira and Sabathia are signed for and I think its undeniable that the odds are better that the Yanks will regret these contracts (A-Rod, Jeter's inevitable new deal, Posada, Sabathia, Teix and Burnett) than that they will win it all before the inevitable decline and fall of all of those guys. I'm more than ready to see what happens on the field between the "'player development machine' + select free agents/trades" vs Steinbrenner's money.

I'd have to say that musically, 2008 was memorable for discovering Johnny Adams. It started right about this time last year when I visited the folks and picked up a cheap LP copy of Room with a View of the Blues, when I listened to it in January I was blown away. The good thing about sleeping on an artist is that eventually, you correct that mistake, and despite limited funds I've recently added Greatest Blues Album (a compilation from his 80s-90s output) One Foot In The Blues (with Dr. Lonnie Smith) Twilight Zone (not the full title but its a superb CD of Percy Mayfield tunes) Last year I discovered Junior Parker and he immediately shot to the top of the list of greatest singers - much to my surprise and delight, he's got company there now in the person of Johnny Adams.

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I hate to admit that I was taking John Henry's statement at face value when the consensus seems to be that this is all part of the dance, and that most still think that he'll end up in Boston. How could I forget Boras' use of the infamous "Mystery Team" gambit? As for Teix' performance, I think I'll be able to deal. The problem I have is with people who insist he isn't clutch, he always fails when the game is on the line. Anyone who puts up the numbers he does helps his team win. Period. And anyway, if you look at his Clutch Stats splits, his highest OBP and Slugging come with two outs and RISP. He slugs .555 in Late and Close situations. Yeah, his highest BA comes with a marging of 4 or more runs but the bottom line is that, as is the case for virtually every player, his "clutch" numbers pretty much follow his overall numbers. The problem is that when you are the big guy in a lineup, people think you should come through every time, and don't look at his performance rationally. And Conrad, you're absolutely right that he isn't great in the first half (.277/.366/.511) vs the second half (.303/.390/.574) but I'd rather have a guy who gets hot during the pennant chase than a guy who consistently cools (like, say, Mikey Lowell, and until last year, Youkilis too). BTW, clutch stats for Teixeira are here.

I am going to CT on Sunday for what will surely be a memorable holiday for all the reasons no one wants to deal with: My older brother's health is failing and he has to stay in Harrisburg to be near the doctors; my father's mental state is worse than a year ago; my younger brother is bringing his psychotic ex-fiancee; and I get to bring everyone up to date on my own financial collapse and ongoing trip through the court system. I'm a little more stressed than usual - but I'm going to try to concentrate on and appreciate more the good things that come with the holidays.

Having seen the reports Zen mentioned, I put on Sportscenter right before going to bed, hoping to catch an update of what seemed like good news, only to see that report of John Henry's email. What a staggering turn of events. At least the positive news, at this point (and only at this point because I don't trust Cashman) is that there are no indications that the Yankees are swooping in with a 250 million dollar deal. If Teixeira wants to prove he is the perfect soulless money grubbing Boras client, fine. If that means he spends ten years in D.C. or Baltimore, planning his October vacation in July every year, enjoy counting the millions, Mark. As happy as I would have been to land him, I actually admire Theo and Henry for taking a position and sticking with it. There are other options going forward, including Matt Holiday and especially young Lars Anderson, who could be knocking on the door as early as this September.