Dan Gould

You're right there are, were, and always will be plenty of assholes in sports. And of course Bonds is not the only one using steroids, past or present. That is obvious as hell. He is though, the one about to break Aaron's record, so the spotlight is on him. Where did you get those numbers at? In a poll conducted by MSNBC just a few days ago, the numbers are quite different... MSNBC This ESPN poll matches your numbers more closely, but you left out the fact that 73% of those polled believe Bonds uses Steroids. ESPN I got those numbers from a poll done a couple months a go. These new polls should suggest to you that the media is attempting to do some damage control. I mean, think about it, you have a multi-billion dollar organization which has been bitching about Bonds, with no actual proof, what would you do? Answer: Take another poll which favors your prejudice.. "the media" is a single, multi-billion dollar organization, apparently engaged in an unprecedented attempt to destroy a decent, honorable man ... do you ever listen to yourself?

I was checking the pitching matchups for the Yankee-Baltimore series and I noticed that Guthrie looked like he'd give them a reasonable chance for a win - I had no idea he had been in the Indians system before. It really sucks when that happens.

Having paid a little more attention to the Tribe this week, my impression is that starting pitching is, overall, a significant defect, even more so than having a closer with such horrendous stats. To hold off the Yanks (or God how I hate to say this, the Red Sox) the Tribe needs a starter or two or those two have to pick it up. Byrd is better than those two but not by a huge margin.

I made my first Newbury purchase at the same time I bought another CD from another Amazon Marketplace seller and from the raves I've heard here, I was expecting it to arrive the next day on a specially constructed pillow-lined package. Instead, the other seller, shipping from California, beat Newbury's delivery time by three days. I'll stick with Caiman, thanks.

Because he should have another start where he throws 80-90 pitches, then he can make his return with no restrictions. Meanwhile Tavarez, who can still get the win, has turned a blow out into a three run game and made me look like a genius for predicting a slugfest. Edit to say Man-ny! Man-ny! Man-ny! and Is there any way we can convince the Yankees to keep trotting Igawa out there the rest of the season? Too bad old George has too many bats in the belfry these days, I'm sure he'd have a colorful nickname for this guy by now, something much better than 'fat pussy toad'.

Well you were right about Lee but I'm very disappointed that Gabbard pitched so well right until they broke it open, then he fell apart and now he can't get the win. Ironically Tavarez would get the win if they hang on. Good news from Pawtucket though: Schilling threw 64 pitches over five innings, struck out eight, allowed two hits and no runs. One more rehab start and then he returns the first week of August. And I have to say it sounds like the rest and the shoulder strengthening work has done wonders. If we get the Schill of 2001-2004 back, I like our chances. Hell I might even endorse bringing him back for 2008. Nah.

After he is indicted, you'll be CHOKING ON THE PROOF. And when he isn't you'll be choking on your own self-righteous bullshit. Who's profane now? You know, if you weren't so pathetically caught up in your man-love for this guy and your need to defend him at all costs and against all attacks, you might have just said, "Oops, my bad, that was a pretty funny article." But no, when it comes to your God, Barry Lamar Bonds, there is nothing remotely funny about him. Which is true in a way, I guess. Nothing funny about a cheater, and nothing funny about such a joyless quest.

After he is indicted, you'll be CHOKING ON THE PROOF.

I feel the same as I did when Clinton was denied his constitutional rights and when the press blasted JFK, Martin Luther King and said nothing about the rights grab of the Bushites. Once again you can't recognize the point of the statement and you go off on your usual whiny "you're denying him his constitutional rights" jag. The point is that your man-love for Bonds is so strong, you can't recognize humor about the object of your affection.

Unfortunate news but its not like the Phils had a great chance to make the playoffs. He's a cornerstone guy for a team that could do something if it signs/trades/develops some pitching. I'm bullish on the Phils for the future but this wasn't going to be the year.

So, Goodie, how stupid does it feel to realize that you are so intent on defending your man against all criticism that you can't recognize satire? That's almost as pathetic as your hero worship of a fraud.

I can't stand A-Rod, but the day he erases Bonds from the record book will be an excellent day for me.

Keep dancing, Goodie, for the end is near. Bonds will be in the clink by Christmas - and then Selig will have a gala celebration of the return of the home run record to its rightful holder.

But don't re-use them for more than a week at most. There was a pretty gross segment on all the bacteria in water bottles that were being re-used. Now this was specifically on people refilling store-bought bottles (which you can't wash) with tap water, but I would suspect that even with the sports bottles, most people don't wash them frequently enough. I don't want to hear that ... I've been refilling the same gallon jug for about three months.

Does your son think any differently about "Who's Now"? Even making generational allowances its dumb dumb dumb. As far as the chumminess with athletes - it goes back to the anchors trying to become celebrities in their own right with their endless search for the catch-phrase that will set them apart. Boo-yah!

Well a mother-bleeping 1-0 game SUCKS when you're on the wrong side of the score. And with a runner thrown out at the plate and two caught stealing in one inning??? (*&(^^&^(*^&(^&* Of Beckett's four losses, two were run defeats in which he gave up 1 or 2 runs. Gabbard better keep his streak going tomorrow, but I really have to wonder how much longer the Indian's bats can be kept quiet. It will probably be a slugfest tomorrow.

Hardly. Its actually hotter in the summer months without the ocean being adjacent. Tallahassee is like the deep south, hotlanta. South Florida temps tend to be in the low 90s while Tallahassee easily heads into the upper 90s this time of year.

We didn't even lose Piniero - he cleared waivers (no one was going to put in a claim and be on the hook for the remainder of his 4+ million salary) and accepted an assignment to Pawtucket, where he starts tonight. I guess there were no hard feelings, and he'd rather have a chance to pitch his way back than see what is out there when he's given his release. Just because they weren't getting anyone to make a deal for him doesn't mean that teams like the Phils or Atlanta wouldn't have been interested in him as a starter. Oh, and Papi returns tonight.

Paul, have you started to set your watch by the 4-6 pm thunderstorms yet? Seriously, glad you are all settled in. If I ever make it up there for a football weekend, maybe I can buy you a beer.

Thanks Sal, its interesting that someone of "little faith in the conventional sense" would be struck by the "spirituality". Your comment about sunday morning mass in an alternate universe makes me think Trane was 'speaking in tongues' in an alien language - that's why its all gibberish to me.

That would be more appropriate than American F-ing Gladiators.

I hope that I don't get the "if you can't hear it that's your problem" dismissals (I'm looking at you, Chuck - but I am curious to hear what it is that makes Coltrane's mid and late period Impulse records such compelling music. I'll be the first to admit that I have never found my way into that era and have always regarded it as "noise" - random "noise". Now I have heard from Jim S. many many times that if you get into the guts of the music, it is far from random and of course I accept his statement. But the music still strikes me as noise, with nothing that is appealing to my ears. So the question is, for fans of this period, what does make it appealing to you? The energy? The feeling of boundaries being exceeded? For that matter, is there a particular mood you have to be in to enjoy it? Would you listen to it with your Sunday paper and coffee? Or more when you are pissed off at the world? Inquiring minds want to know!

Don't count me as some sort of ESPN addict - but I do want to see highlights and scores especially during baseball season. The problem with ESPNews is that the highlights aren't very thorough. For that you need Baseball Tonight but then you are stuck with idiotic commentators like that failed GM who no other team has even considered interviewing since he got canned by the Mets. Aside from that idiotic Shwab game show and American Gladiators, Classic isn't a bad network particularly for classic boxing matches. Unfortunately that's about the only show on any of the networks with listenable, intelligent commentary. The brand really went downhill when the anchors decided they were more important than the results.

You are right, and that is another thing that is becoming intolerable - cross promotion between ESPN and Disney films. I can't remember where I saw it, maybe the Fire Joe Morgan website, but I think they did a lot of BS with the last Pirates movie, including lame-ass transitions ... I do have to admit there is one thing they've improved on, and that is the scroll on the right side of the screen during Sportscenter. Its helpful to know when the particular highlights you want to see are coming up.

The idea that Boras is influencing pitch counts is ludicrous. The fact is that Dice is adjusting to the four man rotation and has thrown a lot of pitches already. They said they would lighten his load to try to keep him fresh for the pennant drive and October. And with seven innings in the books and Oki well rested, it was the obvious move. Plus, a 1-0 game means absolutely no mistakes, and since Dice has given up a few blasts and Oki went from Opening Day to last week without giving up a single homer, he was the better choice for the situation, in my opinion. As for Teixeira, I can't see them making big changes on such a successful team, especially when the odd man out has played so well all year (Lowell). And to give up their best position prospect when he is knocking on the door is crazy when you are getting someone who is guaranteed to go to free agency in two years. You can absolutely bet the Yankees will go very hard for him when all he will cost is money. Even if you think you can convince him that Boston is a great place in the next year and a half, there's no way he doesn't test the market. The only trade I make for Teixeira has Lester as the centerpiece, and a lesser prospect thrown in. I'll always root for Lester but I am not entirely convinced he won't be a guy who doesn't harness his talent and put it all together.