Dan Gould

Why oh why do the Yankees get freaking gifts everytime they stare defeat in the face? And how in the hell did Grady Little occupy Gardenhire's body last night in the last inning? Who the hell throws a closer out there for a third inning, and has no one warming up until the game is over for all intents and purposes? The guy was on fumes-did you notice how he was huffing and puffing on a cold night? Once he lost the strike zone to Cairo he should have been pulled. Now we get treated to more bullshit about Yankee mystique and A-Rod earning his pinstripes. A-Rod's freaking grandmother could have hit that pitch. It was a freaking BP fastball. On the other hand I have to say I was much happier when I awoke to the late score than when I went to bed at midnight after the Angels got on top. Pedro obviously sucked it up, and if he keeps it up, I don't see anyone beating the Sox. Idle thought: It would be nice if the Twins can win, because Pedro should pitch Game 2 and 7. Both would be in the dome, and its been clear that Pedro loosens up quicker in warmer weather, so avoiding a cold weather start would be nice. Too bad he can only avoid it for so long, though (unless the Dodgers pull their nuts from the fire

Jim R. mentioning the need to revisit music led me to this question: How do you choose what you listen to in an average listening session? Is it purely by mood, or do you try to cut into that backlog? And do you have a system to ensure that new CDs get an adequate listening before they get filed away? Here's my system: New CDs get stacked on the home entertainment center. On the main rig, they get two listenings, though sometimes its more if something really appealed. The stack of CDs that have had their two times then end up in the CD Wallet for the car, where they get their third listening before being filed away. And of course, with the A-to-Z office project, the archives are steadily getting new hearings, too. OK, maybe I'm a bit anal here, and maybe this system has something to do with the size of the backlog. But it works pretty well for me, so long as I keep with the regular listening on the main rig. Then I have a steady supply of music for the car, where I spend less time and it takes longer to get through. But I do get two listenings done and the a third, less attentive listening in the car. How's about you?

Which goes back not only to my point about Leiber starting instead of Pettite, Wells or Clemens, but also the fact that Game 3 and 4 look to be the enigmatic Vasquez and the combustible Brown. And the Yanks will not only need big performances but a solid 6+ innings from each. Otherwise, the weak underbelly of the bullpen comes into view. Honestly, do you want Quantrill to come in to a tough situation in the sixth or seventh inning, the way he's pitched for half a season? They can't ask Flash to pitch two innings a night for the rest of the series.

Obviously Dan still can't read..,. If I don't get it, why is that the last two sentences of your second post effectively restate my points? Not quite, Moose. You called the filming "silly". I said the broadcasting serves as a deterent. The same sting against murderers or rapists doesn't need to do a broadcast. Those people are tougher to find, so the important thing is to get them to come to you. Minor criminals are more likely to see this sort of broadcast or hear about it, and a deterrent effect is more likely to exist.

So the remaining three left as millionaires? Maybe the remaining three were living in the former homes of the accused and got the invite by mistake? Or were their relatives and assumed that the "prize" was transferable? Obviously folks like Moose don't get the point: These were petty criminals who probably assumed the cops had bigger fish to fry. By filming it and broadcasting it, the message is, don't think you can get out of minor fines or other low grade infractions. The cops will still come for ya. The only thing I'd prefer is to use it on those accused of worse crimes. Its been done in the US and it usually works, filming or no filming.

I'll just direct you to what I said earlier: Aren't we basically agreeing here?

Can we talk about the American League now? Harold, normally the Yanks wouldn't worry about dropping the first game, but in the past they've turned to Pettite or Clemens or Wells to get them going, not John Leiber. So, tonite's a must win for the Yanks with a guy who's pitched well down the stretch but has rarely shut people down. Leiber can definitely be hit, its a question of bunching hits together. He's also an excellent pitcher when he's ahead-I think his "get it and pitch it" tempo gets the opposite team swinging for pitches off the plate. So, its critical that Radke shut them down early and keep his team in it until they string some hits together. I heard that talk radio in New York has the Yanks as done if they lose game 1, now we'll see if that's true. But do me a favor, Harold: try to extend them to five games and then lose to Santana, OK? With Santana unable to pitch so many times in the LCS, I likes our chances very much. Which brings us to Anaheim. A must win, IMO, when you've got your ace going in the first road game of a short series. You expect to win with your ace, but you gotta go out and do it, because if you fail you're really behind the 8-ball, particularly with the mysterious Pedro pitching game 2. Now, we can survive even if Pedro brings his B-game, with two at home plus Schilling for game 5. But we need Pedro to show he's still Pedro, and we can wrap this thing up and still have Schilling for 1, 4 and 7 of the LCS.

....of course this year would be three out of four! Only if we both get there, and you can beat what is clearly a superior starting staff. On name recognition alone, the Cards do have a superior lineup. I mean, the Sox only have two MVP candidates, and the Cards have three! But the thing is, superior lineups don't always win. Certainly the Yanks had the superior lineup in last year's World Series. I'm not at all sure that the Cards will get past the Astros even. Not only does superior lineups not guarantee victory, neither does big winning percentages in the regular season. Aside from the Yanks 125 win season, recent history shows that big winners in the regular season come up short in the playoffs.

I say, bravo! It should be done everywhere, everyday.

Pretty bad right now, with the confluence of my birthday last month; my reel-to-reel transfer project, and a couple of trades. I'd say I'm definitely in the 200+ range. Good thing I don't plan to buy anything before Christmas.

D'OH! But it is December 2003, so while Horace may not get out much, he surely can still play.

Uh, Mark, if its the best lineup in baseball, how come the Red Sox scored almost 100 more runs? Hopefully they'll go head to head and then we'll know which is the best lineup in baseball!

Told ya it was something Dali-esque.

OK, then what's the verdict on quoting "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" in the middle of "Two Bass Hit"? Kind of obvious. "Down For Double" would be more impressive. Guess I'm kinda simple minded then, cuz it brings a smile to my face.

I figured it was some sort of Dali-esque picture in a picture kind of thing, but ...

OK, then what's the verdict on quoting "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" in the middle of "Two Bass Hit"?

Lazaro, I got this for my birthday but haven't had a chance to listen yet. I think though that it actually has a recording date of December 2004, so maybe Horace isn't doing quite so badly, the fact that they recorded at his home notwithstanding.

Thanks, Jim. Can anyone check if this session was switched to "rejected" in the latest discography? As far as squeeks go, Bill, you may be right. I just remember listening to decent takes and thinking, c'mon Hank, no squeeks, man and then ... squeeeek. I hadn't been aware though that master takes were selected. So did Alfred simply decide not to issue it once the live set of a similar song list was recorded or did he have second thoughts about the studio date?

Maybe he didn't have change for a five because he only carries hundreds?

I've never seen a CD, Brad. A while back, there was a vinyl copy up on ebay but it quickly went too high for me. Weeks later, though, at my local used LP emporium, I found a Chiaruscoro vinyl reissue. So, if you can do with a CDR, just let me know. I was just listening to this late last week, its my favorite of the Babs sessions.

Kevin, I may have something you could offer. PM incoming. ***************** Folks, Kevin has it right. The band never really gels on these tunes. Lee is loose and having fun but Hank is not having a good time of it. On the rare occasions that he doesn't mar a solo with hellacious squeeks, he sounds lackluster. The band gets close on a few occasions-its not like its a session that is a total waste of time-but its really not worthy of release.

Happy Birthday, Marcus!

Since the Europeans chimed in on October 5, I'm sure Brad's b-day is October 6, so happy birthday to a fine person.

Yup, just as I will worry about which Pedro shows up, you'll need to worry about both El Duque and whether or not Brown continues to get his back loose-he blamed the Sox implosion on his back, not pitching rust, and credited his decent start to getting his back loose before Toronto. At least the Sox picked the correct aging righthanded power pitcher to acquire! I think the key will be the first game, for both series. If Santana dominates and the Twins win, the Yanks will really have their work cut out for them. If they find a way to win, the Twins probably fold pretty quick. If Schilling continues with his 'A' game and shuts down the Angels, I think we'll have a good shot at closing them out at home, and keep Schilling to start Game 1 of the LCS.

"Yoko Ono Nude" leads to Organissimo? "Alyssa Milano" I can sort of understand-there's more than a few pictures of her or references. But "Yoko Ono Nude"???? (Unfortunately, now I've reinforced the linkage between "Yoko Ono Nude" and "Organissimo". Sorry.)