Dan Gould

With all the B.S. that's gone on between me and Paul about the series between the Sox, lost is the fact that the Yanks visit the other division leaders, also for four games. Be real interesting to see how the top two teams in the East stack up against the top two teams this weekend.

I also owned a couple of snakes growing up. Mom used to pet its little head with her finger like it was a dog! Full name of my garter snake: Sly and the Family Snake.

There was an article about this in the NYT yesterday. I like the phrase "Lawrence Welk for Hip Seniors",

Thanks Berigan, though it doesn't take the place of Gammons writing and insight. (that's aimed at ESPN, not you!)

Yeah, but you came back with two in the 8th to beat the Yanks, Cordero had no room for error and still got the save ... and the Sox are back in first as SCHILLING records his first save! Now do us all a favor and pound on this guy Smalls who pitches tomorrow for New York!

OK, here's my first exposure to this album: I was working at Mello 105 in Tallahassee, a soft Adult Contemporary station. I had my own jazz show on Saturday nights. Tony Williams died suddenly, and I decided to dedicate a section of that weekend's show to him. I knew nothing of this album but picked it up at Vinyl Fever. After listening to the CD, and not wanting to lose my job, I decided the best thing to do was to note his passing and play a couple of tunes from his second tenure with BN and leave it at that. After several more listenings after the show aired, I sold the CD back, which I am sure will come as a mind-blowing shock to all of you who are familiar with my tastes.

Yeah, I was going to post about this. Totally pisses me off, even though I knew it was coming ... I mean, why put the other people behind the "Insider" wall and leave Gammons, your one bona fide star reporter/commentator, free? Fuck 'em - I don't need no stinking commentary and B.S. rumors masquerading as "Insider" reporting. Its all sound and fury, signifying nothing, and I'd rather half the time that I spend on that shit and just read about it when something actually happens.

You're kidding, right? Don't count on my boys for anything right now. Except blowing ninth-inning leads. They're REEEEEEAL good at that right now! ← Well at the moment, I figured, with the Yankee pitching staff and the Rangers offense, they ought to win two out of three, and the Sox ought to sweep the Devil Rays. But what the fuck do I know?????

No, not Stanley. Get the singer, and the odds are near 100% that you get the tenorist. Maybe the dog was acting up during this one, because this is one I figured that you'd nail! ← Seeing the other guesses, I realize I might have nailed it ... the problem is, believe it or not, I've only been getting the tenor's solo albums. But based on this tune, I think its time to start investigating his work with his long time musical partner.

That's it, road trip is off.

Going ass backwards, cuz my reactions to Disc 2 were a little more ... shall we say ... immediate and definitive, if not to say visceral. But it wasn't all 1) Um ... I'll guess its Cannonball. Do I get a prize? Seriously, not my favorite Cannonball. It was OK, though, but probably something you needed to be there for ... or else not listen while sitting with a dog in your lap. 2) Uh ... NO THANKS!!!!! 3) After #2, this was a very welcome change of pace, if a bit jarring. Interesting sequencing, Jim. Back when I was on the radio at a Soft AC station, one of the discs we used as "instrumental filler" was David Sanborn, Pearls. Seeing that "Try a Little Tenderness" is in fact on that CD, and that the track times match up, I think we have a winner here! 4) I enjoyed this ... is the tenor Stanley T.? 5) Gots to be Hubbard on trumpet. 6) See #2 7) Me likey but no guesses. 8) This rhythm track ain't doin much for me, I'm afraid. 9) through 11) NO no and Oh HELL no

We'll see. You do know that Hermanson was a joke with the Sox, right? You do know that he bounced all over, in fact, before stumbling into this job? I don't think he's the second coming of Rivera. BTW, is Contreras lined up to face the Sox? You might want to consult his time with the Yanks to understand how he handled the pressure ...

Enjoy the moment, because I'm not sure which is less likely: reconstituting the rotation or Leiter continuing to impersonate Andy Pettite. This is the guy who walked SIXTY in EIGHTY innings and allowed batters to hit .300 off of him, and that was in a big park with great defense. No way Leiter keeps this up. And you're still down a pitcher even with Brown back on Monday. Be real interesting to see which Brown shows up in Texas. The Sox suck right now, but with Tampa coming to Fenway, the Yanks in Texas and Baltimore at Minnesota, I think we could actually hold on to first this week.

I wouldn't say that just yet. He just had no command and walks killed him. And as far as his year has gone, from today's Globe: If he'd been pitching poorly recently, they'd have mentioned that. Everyone has a bad start once in a while. 'cept for Al Leiter, who only manages good starts once in a while. You're right about a baptism by fire.

Well, I hear that Brown may start Monday in Texas, so he might be a bit closer than you thought ... but as you say, he can go down again at any moment. And its not like the pitching options out there are too good, unless they can swing a deal for Burnett of Florida. And with his injury record, he'd probably get hurt in his first start.

Sorry Chuck but at the time, I dug Hargrove and Moore a great deal and wanted to hear anything they were involved in.

So Conte is pleading in the Balco case. Does this mean the end is near for Barry? No word on testifying against anyone, just that he's going to plead to one count of steroid distribution and one count of money laundering. But I have to wonder if he's saying anything about Bonds. Meanwhile, I just saw on Sportscenter that the Giants have become the first North American sports team to win 10,000 games? I'd have figured it would be the Yanks, but maybe the Giants have been that much more consistent over the years?

But what a way to go out, with a bird on 18.

An update: Got a letter from Walgreens today, actually from the same store number but a different manager. Makes me wonder did the guy get fired??? Anywhoo ... enclosed was a Walgreens card for the cost of my added film developing costs at CVS. Guy says the card is good at any store, but he hopes I'll use it at his and introduce myself. Maybe I'll swing into the store this weekend and see if there's a new picture up under "store manager" ... but I don't think I'll go back to that store to buy anything.

When the cost for an Eddie Guardado is three of your top five prospects, you look around for alternatives. I don't know whether it works or not, obviously the first time was a flippin' disaster, but its obvious that neither Schilling nor management believe that he is anywhere near to being ready to have consistent command of his pitches for seven innings as a starter. But both seem to believe that for short periods of time, he can be effective. If this experiment is an abject failure, you'll either see them go ahead and stretch him out for the rotation and move someone like Wakefield to the bullpen, or else make a deal for someone, but I'd rather go with what we have than give up any of our top prospects, all of whom have huge upsides. Remember too that when Schilling had his surgery, it was supposed to take 18 months to regain full strength, and we're only at the 8 month mark now. Fact is, his ankle won't be completely back at 100% until 1/3 of the way through next season.

I'm in!

I was all over this when it came out. Been a while since I've listened, but I do like that front line an awful lot.

There was a Blue Note LP?

Offbeat Records is the best, and virtually only, place for jazz vinyl. Very nice owner, name of Allen. Go to http://www.offbeatrecords.com There are two CD Collectors (different owners, though) one is in Pompano Beach (just north of Fort Lauderdale) on Atlantic Ave, go east toward the ocean and its on the north side of the street just before the bridge over the intracoastal. Their selection of used jazz CDs is OK; the other store is on Sunrise in Fort Lauderdale, used CDs section is larger, and they now have used vinyl as well, quite cheap, not a huge selection but not bad, either. Last, and certainly least, is All Books and Music, also on Sunrise in Fort Lauderdale (about two miles west of the CD Collector). They've got an OK selection of used CDs, vinyl is typically overpriced especially for the condition. Offbeat Records is the place to go jazz vinyl. Miami has Blue Note Records but they closed their jazz and vinyl annex, put most of the stock in storage and the rest in their main location. I haven't been back since, but I can't imagine that they are stocking much at all anymore. I think Bob is using ebay and record shows to move his merchandise.

OK, now I've listened to the tunes again and cross-checked with the "organissimo in the studio" blog, and I gotta say: LOVE the loping feel on that first cut. That's one HIP dude taking the "Third Right on the Left." Wish you'd lay down "Sweet Potato Pie" for the CD, but I'm sure "Pumpkin Pie" will sound just as sweet. NO IDEA why "Smokin Section" is a "guy's tune" but then again, I've never claimed to understand women. "Brother Ray" sounds better each time I hear it, really, really looking forward to hearing Randy's harmonica on this one. Thanks for the sneak peek of what is sure to be the organ trio recording of the year.