Dan Gould

Wasn't this about the time that Basie made an album for Impulse with him on organ? Not that it explains such a high spot in the rankings, but those yearly polls can be unduly responsive to short-term influences (I wonder if he was even on the list for the previous two years or the two years following, give or take).

The one significant advance in the "technology" of hitting is in the widespread use of video technology, both for swing mechanics (fixing what's wrong when a batter slumps) as well as batter preparation (seeing, one after the other, pitch sequence of every previous at-bat against a pitcher).

When the hell was this decided that first class stamps go to .41??? (Not that I'm angry at you, Hans. )

If you read the FAQs, the site operator insists that George was a native born American, having lived his entire life in Houston. He also insists he was fully functional, except in his job, where he had learned he didn't have to do it very well to keep it (due to a personal relationship with the boss) and showed no interest in improving his "skills".

I tell you what, if Wake turns out to be pitching like its 1995 when he went 16-8 with a 2.95 ERA, this team will be unstoppable. Wake being an ace instead of a league-average innings eater? Unbelievable. And I really wish that Lester was ready now - but if everyone else keeps pitching the way they are, I guess we can deal with a few more Tavarez starts.

I don't know if there are any Blue Jay fans here, but just when the season seems to be slipping away between injuries and horrible pitching, now BJ Ryan is out for the rest of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Ouch. In fact, with the usual rehab for TJ surgery 12-18 months, he is probably out through the 2008 season. I hate to say it, but its been recognized for a long time that Ryan has a very violent delivery, giving him such an expensive and lengthy contract (four years, its possible he isn't back til the last season now) wasn't a good idea. Edit: the contract is actually for five years, so if he makes a strong recovery, the Jays will have him for perhaps three years. It sounds from the initial reports that the injury wasn't nearly as bad as a lot of TJ surgeries are. But he won't help them this year, and they are about to fall for the ninth time in a row. Its 8-0 Sox in the eighth, Wakefield easily outpitching Holloday, who the Jays radio crew was speculating may be hurt, as he got hit hard and rarely threw fastballs in the low 90s. Its way too early, I know, but the way the Sox are pitching and hitting, I've got a really good feeling about the rest of the season. Now, if we can just keep it going and see if the Yanks slump in their very challenging stretch of the schedule, it may be close to too late for even Clemens to save them.

Now that you are responding to my posts, try answering the questions that I have posed multiple times already: IF STEROIDS DON'T HELP YOU HIT HOME RUNS, WHY DID BONDS UNDERTAKE SUCH A MASSIVE EFFORT TO RESHAPE HIS BODY AND ADD FORTY POUNDS OF MUSCLE? IF STEROIDS DON'T HELP YOU HIT HOME RUNS, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE FACT THAT BONDS HOME RUN RATE SKYROCKETED AFTER HE HIRED GREG ANDERSON, ACCEPTED SHIPMENTS FROM BALCO, AND ADDED THOSE 40 POUNDS OF MUSCLE? HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE FACT THAT BONDS SLUGGING PERCENTAGE SKYROCKETED AT AN AGE WHEN EVERY OTHER HISTORICALLY GREAT BALLPLAYER SEES STEADY DECLINE, IN HIS LATE 30s?

Yes, but 80% of the HoFers present on the dais should get up and walk out when he starts talking. A silent protest of the fact that he cheated to attain the greatest record of all time. I'll take that bet. 48% sez yer wrong, Dan. What the fuck does this refer to? I said that 80% of the dais should walk out. I don't think there has been any poll of HoF members as to whether Bonds belongs. And if there was such a poll, and only 48% think he does, then he is in far worse shape than I imagined.

Well, he really didn't, because Barry has never admitted that he knowingly used steroids, or cheated on his wife, or cheated on his taxes, or "cheated the sport". I do wish that instead of the abject apology, Schilling had said something like "I misspoke about whether Barry has admitted any of his misdeeds. He has not, but the evidence of his steroid use is overwhelming and in fact he acknowledged that he used "the cream" and "the clear" from BALCO while denying that he knew they were steroids. Its up to others to decide whether his pursuit of Aaron's record is legitimate." Not exactly. He has already admitted to using the "clear" and during the time it was not outlawed by the MLB. Ruth, OTOH, openly drank an outlawed substance during Prohibition. Which is worse? Still no case. You are a fucking fool. Bonds never admitted to using "the clear" - he insisted it was flaxseed oil. "The clear" was a designer steroid. In 1991, Fay Vincent issued a directive as a MLB Commissioner stating that steroid use was illegal in MLB. That directive was never overturned or changed. Regardless of whether or not there was a testing regime in place, the USE OF STEROIDS was banned by the Commissioner. Your comparison of Ruth and Bonds is as laughable as everything else you have claimed.

from Baroid. Seriously, I can't believe how much time has been wasted to justify or not justify this person. It doesn't take a genius to see he's not the same person he was with the Pirates. That head is so big, it's about to explode, and I'm not about his having a swelled head, even before he started using steroids. I also don't know why Schilling apologiized. He spoke the truth. Truth...? This is the same Schilling with the paint on his sock, right? Oh, I think he has a very good reason to apologize....a big red one. Don't you EVER claim that Schilling put "paint" on his sock. There is no evidence whatsoever that he did so. Anyone watching the ALCS game recognized blood when they saw it; and the sock from the World Series which the Hall of Fame now has turned brown, exactly like blood does after a period of time. The only reason Schilling had to apologize was that he mischaracterized Bonds' grand jury testimony. Everything else he said is true: Bonds used steroids. Bonds cheated on his wife, cheated on his taxes, and cheated on the game. Keep pretending otherwise. Soon enough, Bonds will pay the piper in front of a jury of his peers.

Because he denied knowing that these were steroids, when it was Bonds who directed Jason Giambi to his personal trainer, Anderson, and it was Anderson who put Giambi on "the cream" and "the clear" and Giambi fully knew what he was taking. He testified that he knew they were steroids. Is it plausible to believe that Greg Anderson told Giambi what he would be taking and not Bonds?

All I'm askin' is that you manage to win one from them this week. I like our chances against Toronto; just give us a tiny bit of help, 'k? I am seriously thinking of flyin' me & my son (11 years old) to Yankee Stadium and force the Rangers to either start him as a pitcher or put him in the outfield. He's got a good arm (which means he can hit the plate from the outfield repeatedly, without fear of his arm wearing out), and he can't be any worse than the overpaid schmoes currently polluting the field. Of course, his bedtime is 10:00 pm, so we'd have to start the game a bit earlier.... Well, you had to wait til the last game to score 14 runs, huh? Spread those around the other games and maybe you'd come out better than 1-5. Nevertheless, thanks for taking care of them today; we've got to face Doc Holloday tonite at Toronto, and I have my doubts that we can keep them down so far as to sweep, coming off of their six game disaster of a road trip. At least I know that the lead can't be smaller than 6 games, and if the roof is closed as its supposed to be in Toronto, maybe Wake can match Holloday.

Yes, but 80% of the HoFers present on the dais should get up and walk out when he starts talking. A silent protest of the fact that he cheated to attain the greatest record of all time.

Well, he really didn't, because Barry has never admitted that he knowingly used steroids, or cheated on his wife, or cheated on his taxes, or "cheated the sport". I do wish that instead of the abject apology, Schilling had said something like "I misspoke about whether Barry has admitted any of his misdeeds. He has not, but the evidence of his steroid use is overwhelming and in fact he acknowledged that he used "the cream" and "the clear" from BALCO while denying that he knew they were steroids. Its up to others to decide whether his pursuit of Aaron's record is legitimate."

I did the same thing once when my then-fiance and I moved from the second floor to the first floor of a small apartment building. Had no one to help either. Fortunately a rather strong neighbor took pity on me and helped move my wife's dresser, which is an absolute bear (the design doesn't allow the drawers to be removed, and its a very heavy wood). Man, my legs and back killed me for about three days afterwards.

Is that scientist-speak for big bazongas? I have a feeling he won't be posting much anymore, and the only thing playing on the stereo will be

Not at all a bad song. I'm surprised it's just now getting the "jazz treatment". Anybody know offhand who played the flute solo on the original? Bjork? C'mon, everyone knows that was composer Randy Bachman on flute. Actually, its Ian Anderson.

Does this mean that you do or you don't think Elling is equally silly?

Number one, that this yet another pirated reissue by the Andorran thieves. Even on the 50 years to public domain that Europe operates under, they have no right to issue this until sometime after 2010. Number two, its a very fine session and features the underappreciated organist, Charles Kynard.

Screw you, Lowe. My comment was based on previous statements by Jim in many other threads, wherein I am quite certain he repeated the comment about knowing the rules to break them. As I indicated in my post, I couldn't be sure if Jim had actually expressed support for the concept when he mentioned it. Now I know otherwise.

The swing is essentially the same, Aggie. A "weak" hitter is that way because he can't see the ball, can't hit a curve, is in a slump, etc. Anybody in the MLB who can swing a bat well, merely needs to connect with a 90 mph fastball and it will go. How then do we explain the obvious difference in build, one batter to another, large or small build, to the various batting averages throughout the league? Some can hit some can't and I absolutely gaurantee you muscle mass has very little to do with it. Oh you are an absolute joke. Why don't you listen to Jerry Remy, who knows a little something about baseball:

I didn't say I'm sending a letter bomb.

I didn't go to a single jazz concert from any of the local jazz societies this past year, but that looks to change this coming season. October 10: The Kenny Drew Jr. Trio (I'm about to write a nasty email to the president of the society, for identifying Drew as the "son of jazz sax legend Kenny Drew." December 12: The Freddy Cole Quartet Assuming Freddy's voice isn't shot, this should be a nice taste of someone who never got his due. February 13 2008: Warren and Allan Vache with the Eddie Higgins trio I can probably deal with a taste of the Carl Jefferson era Concord Jazz style. March 12: The Doctor is in the House! Dr Lonnie Smith Trio!!! This one really surprises me given the typical programming philosophy of this organization, but come hell or high water, me and the Mrs. will definitely be there, even if there is no way in hell that Marty will join us. Hopefully this will be the season that we can meet up with some of the other south Florida members. (there are other concerts scheduled, but I'm not so excited by the Artie Shaw ghost band or Richie Cole)

Its obviously just a matter of time before Schilling posts some sort of clarification on his blog acknowledging that Bonds has never owned up to anything in his entire life.

A lot of people don't know who Joe Franklin was but they certainly know Billy Crystal's SNL impersonation. "Matzohs by Streit's -- for the unleavened experience of a lifetime."