Dan Gould

This is really amazing. You can't let facts get in the way - the fact is that there are no findings you would accept, if they clear Armstrong. In blind adherence to your faith, its analagous to die-hard Barry Bonds fans - the Mitchell report might state that he injected steroids in the dugout during batting practice, in full view of the Pope, who was visiting, and they'd say "I don't believe it - baseball hates Barry and has it in for him and ... well, I just don't believe it!"

I'm betting there wasn't much Don didn't hear on the field. The question is, was he good enough to get unmercifully heckled? With those ears he'd have heard every put-down, that's for sure.

Didn't think this would turn into a new HoF thread, but I definitely think that Blyleven belongs and that Dawson will get in - in Dawson's case it doesn't hurt at all that he was such a class act. No question about Goose either - he's in within another few cycles. Its interesting about Rice and Murphy in that they had similar overall numbers (I think Rice was the better hitter for average though) and Murphy was certainly better than Rice in every area other than hitting, yet despite being a more complete player, Rice is the one who creeps closer and closer but Murphy has no groundswell of support. Being a Jim Ed fan since the age of 12, when I adopted his batting mannerisms for backyard wiffleball games, the little boy in me will be very very happy when he gets the call.

Yes No No Definite yes Definite yes Definite yes

Pathetic. I am really worried where we might be by the end of this road trip, given how we're playing, who we're playing, who's injured and who is pitching (and who isn't). I'm afraid we are going to limp home from New York a week from tomorrow in third place.

Mumia was a Marx brother?

UPDATE From CNN-SI: Any apologies now from our European friends who besmirched his reputation?

Its probably correct that he signs with them, but as of now, it looks like people are jumping the gun. Both Clemens' agent and the 'Stros owner are denying the report.

He and Phillips, that know-nothing failed GM, would be a great pair offering gambling advice. Whoever they pick, bet against!

Happy B-Day! And many more .... great seeds at Dime!

Harold Reynolds is such a Yankee fan you'd think he'd have actually played there. He always picks them to win, so why wouldn't he pick Clemens to return? I wouldn't call the set-up guys universally "awful" - in fact, two rookies kept the Blue Jays bats silent from the 4th to the 7th. The real problem for the moment is Timlin's tired shoulder, and Foulke's regression just as we face the Blue Jays, Tigers and Yanks on the road.

Not exactly. The lead was 2 heading into today's games. Edit:: F-ing pathetic. Come back from down 6-0 on the road, to have the pathetic, depleted bullpen give the winning run back in the 8th.

Whose? Yeah, whose?

Well, that's why I said, "heart of hearts" - which reaction is strongest? Good to know I haven't lost my knack for making up polls that someone is dissatisfied with.

Now that its happened, what do you think about it?

Discussed here.

Well this is good news in that, youmustbe often seems to drop "inside" info but to my knowledge has never revealed his true identity. Looking forward to finding out who you are! (and the book, too)

Actually, if you'd bothered to read the thread Jim posted after he accidentally deleted a critical file, he offered to re-register anyone who had started an account between the date of the replacement file he used and the date that he deleted the old file. So you could have re-established your last user name, had you bothered to investigate. But glad to see you back!

With a decision looming, supposedly coming on June 5th, here's a factor that might just help tip Clemens towards the Sox: Coco Crisp is ready to return. It hadn't even dawned on me til now, but maybe it will enter into Clemens mind that the Red Sox are in first place and have done it without their biggest lineup addition of the off-season. With Crisp back, and Youklis and his .425 OBP moving to the bottom third of the lineup, this offense, which wasn't exactly a slouch either, at around 5th in the league in scoring, can only improve. Having reached first place without him, I think the Sox can now excel with Crisp - and one more starter like Clemens. With the choice reportedly (and believe me, I emphasize "reportedly") narrowed down to Houston and Boston, I'll grasp at anything that makes Boston look like a better chance to get to the playoffs and be competitive!

Anyone else notice that recently joined member Chewy-chew-chew bares some striking resemblences to the recently departed "Contemporary" lady and our old friend Aric? Check out his posts: Particularly the references to Warne and Hank. J'Accuse!

There is surely a very toasty place in hell waiting for him next to that other monstrosity from Braunau. Seriously, its as if he pulled down Monk's cojones and cut them off with a rusty razor. Which would have made better sounding music than that.

Fame and success in the Arts is a fickle thing. Sure, talent helps and often wins out, but it also takes luck, opportunity, and usually a string of (often accidental) right moves to make or break someone. In my business it's writers. In the field of jazz, well - think of your favorite/best local musician who isn't known outside your town and compare him to someone with a record deal. Sure, there are the Rollins/Shorter giants out there, but not always that much seperates the local bar bands from the pros with record deals. Given the crap that fills best-seller lists, movie theaters, and airwaves, it is certainly true that there is often times not much that separates the "success stories" from the wannabes.

I wouldn't look for McPhee to start singing standards anytime soon, at least not as a career move.

Thanks very much, fasstrack, for the report of John's funeral. Very moving.