Tim McG

Hubert Laws Herbie Mann Yusef Lateef

Too hot, too soon. Mid-80s and dry, drier, driest. Ugh.

Marcel Bich Marcel Marceau Marcel Duchamp

IMHO, and after decades of following the division, the team W-L records simply do not matter. Before the Wild Card, several times an NL West team did not make the playoffs and had a better record than teams from other divisons which did. These NL West teams fight each other tooth and nail at least 12 times each. That means there are going to be more losses in the long run. Look at last year for example. The red hot Dodgers finish out the year by winning the NL West then the Giants took it all in the World Series. In each of the previous 15 World Series NL West teams have been there 6 times, winning it all, 4 times. In the NLCS, the team to beat was an NL West team 10 times. In the NLDS, the team to beat was a NL West team 20 times. Overall, the top three NL teams, NL West teams break down like this in total appearances in the World Series: San Francisco/NY Giants- 20 2nd most; 1st in the NL Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers- 18 4th most; 3rd in the NL In total WS wins by NL teams, San Francisco (8) is 2nd only behind the the Cardinals (11). The Dodgers (6) are 3rd. By any measurement, the NL WEST is very competitive and pretty darn successful. Hence, IMHO,the most competitive, top to bottom, every year.

Hm. I would argue the NL West is the most competitive division in the MLB. Hands down.

Nice. Got to see them both play at the 'Stick.

Good news: MadBum and the Giants start off with a win. Bad news: Matt Cain will miss his first start; goes in for a MRI. Ugh. Medium news: Pablo "I'm not fat" Sandoval goes 0-5. Great glove, spotty bat. Good luck, Dan.

That's pretty amazing by anybody's standard. Always liked his voice and the way he makes everybody feel right at home. He just announces for the wrong team is all.

Good point.

Be kind of a drag for those of us Out West. A 12PM start? I dunno....

If it wasn't as good as the novel, it certainly was close enough that I'm surprised none of us mentioned it before you did! I blame aging memory. . . Well, put me in that same category, Jazzmoose. I only remembered because I used to teach the novel.

In the Shakespearean play category: Merchant of Venice. The movie followed the play almost to a "T". Except for the gratuitous nudity, Al Pacino was absolutely superb as Shylock. If you haven't seen this movie, you need to. No kidding.

To Kill a Mockingbird was as good as the novel, IMHO.

The 49ers are dead in the water. Jed York has succeeded in completely destroying a once proud franchise. Embrace losing.

And, TBH, Steve Howe had like 30 chances to sober up. The league gave him every possible opportunity but he still blew it. Darryl Strawberry wasn't much better. Then Stienbrenner would pitch a fit and the league would give Howe yet another chance. Different world now, Paul.

Come to find out the PT-22 Trainer he was flying used to be flown on training missions for the Army out of my town during WWII. The name of the airfield and city are stenciled on the plane. Cool.

Hunter Pence out for 6-8 weeks. Fractured arm. Should be back mid to late April. Blanco will fill in for him.

I agree. Been a tough go for him with the prior drug and alcohol abuse. Then there was that Dad who died trying to catch a ball for his kid. Josh Hamilton was his favorite player and he and Josh got watch the man fall and die. I have to believe that still affects him.

Very sorry to learn this. I knew he went into the hospital with a lung infection, but didn't expect this. Rest in Peace.

Totally agree. That is why we love this game! Had it gone against my guys, I still would think it was a classic Game 7. Toe to toe, nobody gave an inch. Just what you would expect in a WS. Tell you what, though, the Royals relievers are lock solid unhittable. Wow. Amazing pitching from those guys.

Every time I just think about Blanco & Perez screwing up that fly ball, I'm thankful that the Twins didn't send Alex Gordon. I'm still pissed off at them both, can you mess it up more than they did? My heart just jumped into my throat when that happened. But when Mad Bum induced Salvador Perez [whom I was surprised was still in the game after getting hit at home plate] into a pop-up, I left my seat! I agree, Scott. It might have been close, but Blanco has a rifle for an arm. The Royals will be back. Great team.

Just got done watching the World Series highlights on the Giants Network Comcast. What a game seven! Wow. I am just plain stoked for the season to start. :-D GO GIANTS!!!

Very sorry to see Clark Terry go. He was and is one of my all-time favorite trumpeters. He clearly pioneered the use of the flugelhorn in Jazz as well. He will be missed.

Unseasonably warm and dry. A 4th year of a drought that is crippling us.

Yup. Back in the day the NCAA would punish all sports at the university. That's what happened to my college, Long Beach State, after he left for Lost Wages.