Dan Gould

Yeah, well if you hadn't posted this, I would have been quite content to ignore the link. Now, all I can say is

From ESPN.com Page 2: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...hilbrick/050707

BTW, Dave, I'm sorry, man, but I don't think we'll be able to make a deal to let you have Jay Payton as your replacement for Bernie. Love to help you out, guy, but even friendship has its limits.

Oh, I totally agree, having Schilling as an option is a good thing. As I said above, I prefer this approach than overpaying in prospects for another closer. And as for the farm system, I believe we are just about ready to show the fruits of Theo's labor to create a top-tier player development system. Remember these names, you'll be seeing them in Fenway soon, likely before September: Dustin Pedroia, John Papelbon, Hanley Ramirez ... and there are many more behind them, but these are the three closest to the bigs. I'm not sure that the Yanks farm system is barren. The problem is, they've exhausted the supply of guys who can actually help now. There are strong prospects at the lower levels, but its harder to turn those into the help the Yanks need right now, and they're not going to help the big club too soon either.

Interesting news out of Boston: they've swapped utility infielders with the Indians, sending Ramon Vazquez, who couldn't clear the Mendoza line for Alex Cora, who at least has a career average of about .250. But the more interesting news comes from the Hartford Courant, reporting that the Sox designated Jay Payton for assignment and called up Rule V draftee Adam Stern from Pawtucket. Payton was pretty vocal about wanting to play more and he is in his walk year so you can hardly blame him, but I didn't think they'd accomodate him given that he's an excellent outfielder and solid hitter, surely about the best fourth outfielder in the league. Great protection for Damon and Nixon, so why give him up? The only positive is this Stern fellow, who as a Rule V player had to be either promoted to the big club or offered back to the Braves. Not sure if he's ready for the big leagues yet but I do remember that in spring training, he flashed some absolutely stunning speed, beating everyone including Damon to first base. So, I guess when we need another stolen base in the ninth when we're facing elimination, we know who will get the call.

I definitely think he'll do the right thing and skip the All-Star game. The game doesn't need that distraction, he wants to put this behind him and the media won't let him, and he won't have to listen to the fans give him hell. Really should be a no-brainer for him to back out. Might also get him some good press, as I read that his bonus for making the All-Star team equals the fine Selig handed down. Though that doesn't mean that declining the invite doesn't trigger the bonus being paid anyway .... Meanwhile, further interesting news on the Schilling-to-the-bullpen story. Seems that Schilling was the one who offered to go (though the staff was discussing it already) but now I've seen Damon, Timlin and Wakefield have all said that its not a good idea. Damon thinks that its disrespectful to Timlin not to give him the chance to close and doubts that Schilling, with his being used to having a longer time to get loose, won't be able to do it effectively anyway. Wakefield figures that the staff needs protection in case anyone breaks down, but that's kind of a non-issue cuz you know that if anyone does get hurt, Schilling will go to the rotation ASAP. And Timlin opined that he doesn't think Schilling can make the adjustment to pitching back-to-back days or four times a week or whatever. And in the meantime, Peter Gammons thinks that Schilling will be the closer down the stretch, that this is a more permanent move than they're saying right now. At least on the positive side, Smoltz said that he thinks Schilling will do a great job, and at least he's got some experience switching roles. I'm still not sold on it, but I do prefer this experiment than a panic move like giving away some of their excellent prospects and overpaying to get some other closer.

Unless Jim is not being fully forthcoming about the content of the conversation, he did nothing to deserve being hung up on, and any radio "professional" should be able to distinguish between callers who deserve being hung up on and those who don't.

This is exactly the point I was making above! Only time will tell if the White Sox will be remembered like the '84 Tigers or like the Mariners. ********************** The more I think about Schilling in the pen, the less sense it makes as far as the claim that they think this is the best way to get him ready for the rotation. I mean, beyond the fact that no one knows how he will respond to working out of the pen, in terms of: How long does it take him to get warm and ready to go? How does he respond if he's asked to get loose while a pitcher works out of a jam, sits down, and then is asked to get loose again two innings later? but also, this totally contradicts the usual process of getting a rehabbing pitcher ready to rejoin the rotation, which is: building up endurance by gradually stretching out the pitch count by going 70, 90, 100 pitches, regaining command of your pitches by sheer repetition If Schilling is going to be a set-up man or closer, how do you know that his stuff will be good enough and most of all, consistent enough, for a one or two inning appearance, and if that's the work he gets in, how will he develop both the consistency and the endurance to be a starter again? The more I think of it, the more I realize that this really a stopgap measure, as Theo says, it allows us to avoid doing something hasty and shortsighted. They want to see how Schilling responds in the bullpen, and one of four things will happen: They'll see how things go and then determine if a trade-deadline deal has to be made or not; Foulke has his surgery and returns his to usual self, in which case Schilling goes to the rotation; They make a deal for a closer or bring up the rookies, and Schilling goes to the rotation; or last but certainly not least, Schilling is actually being groomed to be the closer the rest of the way, and they believe that the starting rotation that got them to first place without Schilling can keep them there if Schilling closes.

And a for good measure.

Well, this certainly is interesting: Foulke goes to the D.L. and will have one knee scoped on Thursday ... and Schilling is going to work his way back to the rotation by joining the bullpen. Guess Schilling is willing after all to put team first. Best of all, as quoted on the AP wire: I like the way Theo thinks!

Thanks for the clarification, Chris.

Now its time to keep up the hot road performance and whip the Yanks four straight heading into the break! Make it so, SS1 - we need the help!

Interesting, Chris, but can you elaborate on what this man was claiming upon his return from Hanoi? That the station was only reporting what LBJ wanted and that there was no way to win, blah blah blah?

BTW, Sox won on Manny's 20th career grand slam, with Timlin earning the save by throwing six pitches to retire the side in the ninth. Fact is, Timlin has closed before - that's how he won his rings in Toronto, right? and has an ERA under 2 this year. No reason he couldn't do the job. I'd rather see him and Arroyo handle it until either Foulke or that draft choice are ready than see them give away any prospects for Guardado.

1) Last I checked, it was the Curse of the Bambino, not the bad luck of the Bambino. 2) How little you know my man. For a team with a pittance for a payroll, a front office that could be run better by monkeys with a GM that has sabotaged his own team more times than I can count, this team has accomplished SO much. And it's not just that they've played great baseball (and that you can't even acknowledge that...I don't know WHAT to say), but they've galvanized a part of town that has been beaten up for FAR too long. I'm not saying that its going to happen, because it probably won't, but if the White Sox actually won the World Series, it would be better for Chicago than another Bears win or a Bulls win. Economically, spiritually, in every way, it would be a fantastic thing for the south side of Chicago. Only a little, and I mean a very little man would want to spite that because of something that happened 86 years ago under extraordinary circumstances that you so obviously don't at all understand. 3) So, how are you going to spin it come the 24th when we eat your beloved Red Sox alive? 4) If I get the chance to talk in October, I'll keep talking until the thread gets shut down, I promise you that much, Dan. ← They've accomplished absolutely NOTHING until they A) Reach the playoffs B) Win it all Remember the Mariners a few years ago? Record setting wins and nothing to show for it. I never denied that they're playing exceptional baseball. I simply point out, and continue to point out, that pennants aren't won before the All-Star break. You seem to think that they've already taken ring measurements and settled on a design. And why exactly am I supposed to give a crap about what the team has "done" for the south side?

Interesting news. There's been inklings of this because it was known in the offseason that he had knee issues and he chose not to have surgery. Timlin or Arroyo could close, and as I said earlier today, they drafted a closer in college who is believed to be potentially ready right now, just as the guy the A's got a year ago is. Whether you throw him into a pennant race like that, I don't know and I suspect that Theo and the rest don't believe that's the way to bring a rookie along, and as I mentioned, he is a Boras client so who knows if he can be signed anytime soon? But maybe it will force them to come to the table quicker and get it done.

At the Amaturo theater next to the Broward Center for the performing arts. Very nice location, and here's a little secret: the room is small enough that you don't need to pay extra for the seats in the main section, which are kinda on the small side as far as leg room goes. At the top of the room, the C Section is a single row of seats, and they aren't theater-style seats, they're arm chairs, with a little counter in front of you. SO MUCH more comfortable, the room is so small you don't complain at all about the view, and they're the cheapest seats available!

More like bad luck but it certainly wasn't a curse. The baseball gods only curse teams that throw the World Series. And until that curse is "reversed" Paul, your team has accomplished nothing. Or have they already printed up World Series tickets? Is the parade route set? Run your mouth when October gets here.

dimeadozen.com its a bit-torrent download site, but its membership only, and membership is capped at a certain level. I don't think you can signup at present. As for the download, of greater interest to me is the second disc from that set: Don Byas, Clifford Jordan ts; Kenny Drew p; NHOP b, Albert Heath d Cafe Montmartre, Copenhagen, 1968 1. But Not for Me 19:13 2. Bag's Groove 26:11 3. I'm Old Fashioned (incomplete) 6:32 4. Darn That Dream (incomplete) 14:22 5. Stella by Starlight 10:43

Yeah, but has Cordero been that bad all year long, after a career of tremendous consistency? At this point, I've completely given up on Foulke and would rather see a trade for just about anyone ... let Arroyo or Timlin close until they sign their top draft pick, who was a closer for St Johns, has three "+" pitches already, and like Houston Street, could go straight to being a closer in the bigs. We needed him yesterday, unfortunately, he's a Boras client so who knows how long it may take to get him signed? But we can't let Foulke piss away any more games.

For the jazzier side of the group, try to find their first Cadet album, Raising the Roof.

20 days suspension, $50,000 fine. Should have been a full month. What will be interesting to see is how the fans treat him when he gets his next start pending his appeal, and especially, if he's selected for the All-Star game, how the fans react there. IMO, he should hear boos raining down for the rest of the season, if not his career. He's a punk and an embarassment to the game. And considering that he went after the cameraman three times - its not like he got upset and lashed out once. He kept going back every time the guy put the camera back on his shoulder. What a maroon.

Not only is Brownie a truly GREAT human being, but his namesake is an awfully good trumpeter, and good eatin', too!

John, it is a good one.

Don't know for sure, but maybe they're just waiting for a new pressing. If it was a label problem, wouldn't they just delete it from the site altogether? ← Maybe its a language thing ... if it was an issue of being out of stock, I'd say "temporarily out of stock" so "unavailable" had me wondering if it was something else. You're probably right though, I doubt they'd release it unless they had their I's dotted and T's crossed. In the meantime, I'll just listen to the same group on "Smokin' Out Loud".