Satan's Luau

Posted by at 1:03 PM | Permalink

Some day baseball from the Yankees -- a bit tough to watch the early struggles -- at this point the jury is out on this team

Coming in a bit late on the start of this one ... and took a break in the middle of the sixth, too LOL

Inside, impressions of TOR at NYY (24/162)

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TOP 1: Catalanotto grounded out to short -- Hudson flied out to left, two down -- Wells flied out to center to make the third out

BOT 1: Jeter singled to center -- Jeter goes, Bernie Williams singled to shallow center, one run scores, Bernie to second on throw -- Yankees 1-0

Sheffield singled to center, runner to third on play -- Runners at the corners,
Matsui grounded into 663 double play, the run is conceded, the lead is now 2-0

ARod down swinging to retire the side

TOP 2: Koskie grounded out to second -- Hillenbrand lined out to pitcher, two away -- Hinske grounded out to first for the third out

BOT 2: Giambi struck out looking -- Tino singled to right, advances to second on a WP -- Flaherty flied out to center, two away

(Note: apparently haven't missed that much ... the Toronto announce team said that there was a 1 hour rain delay -- Maybe the Rogers team will bring good luck, superstitious thy name is baseball fan LOL)

8:30AM HST

Bush pitching for the Jays -- Runner on second, two down -- Womack hustles out a slow grounder on the wet grass, infield single ... a bit wet from the rain this afternoon at Yankee Stadium -- runners at the corners, two down for Jeter -- Jeter strikes out on a check swing ... well, it honestly didn't look like it, such is the way so far on the season -- the rally is put down

8:40AM HST

TOP 3: Rookie Chien-Ming Wang on for the Yanks -- Rios hits a routine grounder to third -- Jeter charges the grounder, two away -- Adams backs up Matsui, but flies out ... 1-2-3 inning

BOT 3: Wow, talk about I'm slow this morning ... I missed journalizing this half of the inning LOL ... I did watch it, can't remember what happened here

9:00AM HST

TOP 4: Wang gets the leadoff man to ground to second -- Hudson difficult chopper, no chance for Womack, single -- routine DP ball, Jeter gets the force, Hudson takes out Womack on the turn, throw is awry ... two down

Trainer out to check on Womack, he'll stay in -- Koskie grounds a two out single through the infield -- runners now first and second -- Hillenbrand fists one, broken bat pop out to ARod to retire the side

BOT 4: ARod golfs one opposite field, gone ... Yanks 3-0
Giambi sits down looking, one away -- Tino hard shot to first, first baseman recovers and puts him away, two down -- Nice stop by Koskie at third, throws out Flaherty to end the inning

9:07AM HST

TOP 5: Hinske leads off with a single -- Rios draws a walk -- runners now first and second, none out -- first jam for the rookie, let's see how he works it

Zaun grounds to Martinez, no DP on this one, one down -- the runners move up -- Wang gets another grounder to first, two away, one run scores -- Yanks 3-1

Tough grounder to Jeter, looked like it kicked slightly off ARod's glove, throw is late to first, Catalanotto singles, one more scores, Yanks now, 3-2

Hudson hits into a force at short to end the rally

BOT 5: Womack shows bunt, pulls it back ... works the count full, the payoff pitch ... fouled back ... grounder to first, great play and tag by Hinske, one down -- on the play, Womack gave a shove and sideways glance at Bush who was in his running lane trying to cover the bag

Jeter grounds one through the infield, single -- Bernie hits a slow comebacker to the pitcher, runner advances to second, two down -- Sheff grounds to short to end the inning

9:30AM HST

TOP 6: Wells walks -- Koskie singles to left -- Hillenbrand busted bat grounder to ARod, tags Wells running by, one down -- Hinske flies to center, runners stay, two away -- Womack gets the force at second

12:51PM HST
(note: went away for a bit, now watching the recorded edition -- gee, I wish MLBtv wouldn't put spoiler information next to the game watching buttons)

BOT 6: Matsui grounds to Hinske at first, one out -- ARod hard grounder to short, two away -- Andy Phillips PH for Giambi -- Graphic just was shown that Yank payroll has gone up from $92M to now $208M in the past 5 years, yikes -- Phillips with a quality AB, battling -- and on the 11th pitch. he doubles to the gap in right center, great! -- Tino flies to left to end the inning

1:03PM HST

TOP 7: Zaun grounds to second, one away -- Adams gets on with a bunt single, takes advantage of depth of ARod at third -- boy, the rain is falling now

Womacks fields a one hop grounder, gets the force at second, Jeter cannot get Catalanotto at first, two away -- Jeter corrals the hard grounder, tosses to Womack for the force to retire the side

Seventh Inning Stretch, Yankees lead 3-2

Gordon warming for Yankees -- Mariano sent home last night with viral infection -- Wang looking like he's done for the day

BOT 7: Bush still in for the Jays, nice go for him -- Flaherty puts a charge into one ... foul -- Flaherty pops foul to first, one down -- Womack hits one really deep to right, well for him anyways ... two down -- Jeter grounds to second, pitcher covers to end the inning

1:21PM HST

TOP 8: Flash in for Yanks -- gets Wells to ground to Jeter, one away -- Gordon falls behind Koskie 2-1, and he jacks the next offering to right, score tied, 3-3

Well, hard luck for Wang as Flash gives up the BSv -- Hillenbrand lines one to left center, all hustle he legs out a double -- Flash's pitches are really flat and straight -- Stottlemyre visits the mound, no one going for NYY in the pen

IBB to Hinske -- one down, runners at first and second -- Rios grounds to short, runners move up, two down -- gets Zaun to wave and end the rally ... but the damage is done

BOT 8: Bush out, solid outing kept his Jays in the game long enough to rally back -- Frasor now pitching -- Bernie lines one to left, but Catalanotto is there, one away -- Sheff crunches one ... foul -- Sheff comebacker to Frasor, two away -- Matsui is put out to end the inning

1:43PM HST

TOP 9: Mariano getting work for Yankees for the first time in a WHILE ... he gets the first batter to pop foul at third -- Catalanotto is frozen, two away -- Hudson grounds to Womack -- that was a stereotypical Rivera inning, one of the few we have seen this season

BOT 9: Chulk now pitching for Jays -- Chulk works a 3-0 to ARod, four pitch walk -- Andy Phillips showing bunt, tics one in front of the plate, Zaun guns down ARod at second, one out -- Tino grounds one through, now runners at the corner

First and third, one out -- Posada PH for Flaherty, and he will get the IBB, much to the boos at the Stadium -- Bubba Crosby PR at third for Phillips

Bases loaded for Womack ... first pitch is low ... Womack rips the next one to right, it's a game winning single ... the Yankees win, 4-3

1:58PM HST

FINAL: Yankees win, 4-3

Another 3 and 3/4 hours of my life awash with Yankee baseball -- I think my fandom is getting out of hand

In my soapbox of the day, why the hell didn't they bring back Jon Lieber? Instead we bring in Jaret Wright for 3Y/$21M ... psshh, it's Javier Vasquez all over again

Yankees now a ho hum 10-14, but they at least have stopped the bleeding on the three game skid

Lilly and Pavano will go for the teams tomorrow in the rubber match -- Yankees going for their first series win at home since the opening Boston series, I think ... yikes

Posted by at 8:43 AM | Permalink

Afternoon Update:
I actually wrote up a review of the Norah show last Saturday ... I know, potential for stale is very high ... but I figured I might as well write something prior to it going totally stale

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I suppose I called the category by this name, because that's what it is most of the time

Was enjoying listening to The Replacements' Bastards of the Young during lunch and the sounds of Jellyfish

Anyways, I was thinking about issues that are flying beneath the radar at the Leg this year -- I know that the big coverage has been going to union pay raises, gas caps, and raising taxes to pay for mass trans here

Well, here I am back at clean elections -- I find it kind of weird to be talking about this issue -- but here's my take on the current approach that is still 50/50 at the Leg now in the waning days of conference

I don't mind the reduction of influence as a part of the election process, in fact, if I could imagine it, I would say take all the donor influence/quid pro quo aspects out of the election process

But I always get logically hung up on what our political process is like -- it really is about buying influence -- in other words, I am contributing to you because you will support my issues -- in general, that is buying influence -- certainly it is not as blatant as say certain specific interests trying to get tax breaks and other political favors that will DIRECTLY affect their situation

What I do not like about this "clean elections" bill is that it goes too far -- it moves from reduction of influence into subsidizing opinions and views with taxpayer money -- ironically, it theoretically allows for candidates to get money from the public fisc (yes, our tax dollars) and this person would be allowed to run and be supported by this money -- and you may totally and fundamentally disagree with their viewpoints

So my upshot is this, no one is ENTITLED to run in elections -- you become ELIGIBLE to run, if you can raise the support -- and yes that includes money, on your own -- I do not feel that at this time, with all these actually important issues about our common future, that we should be spending millions of dollars on the marginal candidacies of political wannabes who feel deprived because they are not popular enough to raise their own money

I just don't think it's right that a portion of my taxes should go to the political candidacies of people that I don't agree with their stances on key issues -- that very concept is so off base -- this doesn't mean that I am opposed somehow to those of marginal status or political views -- ultimately I still believe in the marketplace of ideas, that if your idea is truly good, you may be able to persuade others and compete because your ideas are good -- no one said that you are entitled to additional help if your ideas are unsound

Posted by at 4:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Back at the 9-2-5, live baseball after lunch is always welcome AND a good thing ... today the Yankees open a three game set against the Jays

Might be tough sledding for the inept offense as the Jays will throw their ace Roy Halladay against the Big Unit ... that's why they play the games, right LOL

Inside, impressions of TOR at NYY (23/162)
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1:05PM HST

TOP 1: Menechino first pitch swinging, singles through the infield to left -- Johnson flails at a slider, SO (RJ 1) -- Wells waves through the heat, SO (RJ 2) -- Johnson gets Hillenbrand to wave at the slider, SO (RJ 3) -- after giving up the single, he strikes out the side

BOT 1: Jeter hits a tough grounder to third, out by a step -- Halladay works a full count to Womack, he grounds the payoff pitch to first, two down -- Sheff tics one straight into the ground, fair ball, he is tagged out by the catcher ... weird

1:26PM HST

TOP 2: Johnson walks Rios on four pitches -- Rios goes, Zaun grounds to Tino, one away -- Hinske, swing and a miss SO (RJ 4), two away -- Hudson makes a great running catch at the wall to end the inning ... wow

BOT 2: Matsui grounds to second, great play by Hudson -- ARod is Kd by a backdoor breaking ball, two down -- Giambi walks -- Posada grounds to Hudson to end the inning

1:41PM HST

TOP 3: McDonald flails at the high cheese (RJ 5) -- that was #4200K of the Big Unit's career -- now only 1514 short of the Ryan Express LOL -- full count to Menechino, the payoff pitch ... FROZEN PIZZA!!! (RJ 6) -- Reid Johnson has to skip some rope on the 1-1 pitch ... whoo -- Johnson doubles over Sheff's head -- a grounder to Jeter retires the side

BOT 3: Tino is HBP -- Bernie battles off a few, then strikes out swinging -- Jeter singles up the middle -- runners at first and second, one down -- full count to Womack, the payoff pitch ... runners go, Womack strikes out --- the throw by Zaun, dropped by Hillenbrand, Tino is safe

Two down, two on -- Sheff hits one right at Wells in center, three down

2:00PM HST

TOP 4: Johnson gets the leadoff batter to ground out -- Rios lines out to center -- Zaun grounds to short to retire the side

BOT 4: Matsui grounds to third -- ARod singles through the infield to right -- he steals second on the first pitch to Giambi -- Giambi strikes out -- Posada lines to third to end the inning ... still no score

2:15PM HST

TOP 5: Johnson pops up the leadoff man, nice catch by Tino crossing the mound -- Hudson walks, steals second on a breaking ball -- McDonald singles to center, Hudson holds at third -- Menechino hits into a routine 463 DP to retire the side and end potential Blue Jay rally

BOT 5: Tino taps one back at Halladay, easy first out -- McDonald leaps and steals a single from Bernie, two away -- Jeter down on strikes to end the inning

2:28PM HST

TOP 6: Reid Johnson strikes out (RJ 7) -- Wells grounds to third, two away --
Hillenbrand hits a comebacker to the Big Unit ... who stabs it with a behind the back catch and puts him away at first ... what a play!

BOT 6: Womack battles and then waves through a slow curve, SO -- Sheff crushes one but it dies in center, two down -- Matsui grounds right back to Halladay, who retires Matsui and the side

2:39PM HST

TOP 7: Rios first pitch swinging, singles to left -- Johnson picks off Rios, Tino makes a great throw to Womack to tag Rios out -- Zaun walks -- Hinske jacks an 0-2 pitch over the right field fence, Jays 2-0

Hudson grounds to Womack, two down -- McDonald hits a comebacker to Johnson, barehands this one, and goes to first to retire the side ...two great defensive plays by the Big Unit

Seventh Inning Stretch, Jays lead 2-0

Boy, this game with all the pitching and defense is blazing by

BOT 7: Full count to ARod, payoff pitch ... swung on and missed, one down -- Reid Johnson runs down a tail away bloop to left, two down -- Posada lines a two out double to the gap in right center

One on, two out -- Tino grounds to second, and that ends the inning

2:55PM

TOP 8: Menechino pops out to Jeter -- Reid Johnson grounds to short, two away -- Busy inning for Jeter, he puts out Wells for the third out

BOT 8: Bernie grounds to Hudson, one pitch, one out -- Halladay now at 100 pitches -- Jeter, back to back SOs -- Womack pops up to end the inning

3:06 PM HST

TOP 9: Hillenbrand lines one to center, single -- Rios also singles -- runners at first and second, none down -- Big Unit flashing the glove again, catches a potential sac bunt, one down -- not this time Hinske, SO (RJ 8) -- Hudson fouls the first pitch

Torre and Monahan to the mound to check on RJ -- he stays in, and blasts one by Hudson 0-2 -- and gets Hudson on a nasty slider (RJ 9) ... that is a CG for the Big Unit, and the 93rd of his career ... hard luck, hard luck

BOT 9: Halladay trying to get a CG and preserve the shutout -- Sheff jacks one to left ... FOUL -- nasty breaker gets Sheff, that's Halladay's 9th SO, one down -- Matsui grounds to second, two down -- ARod grounded out to short to end the game

Halladay has pitched a complete game, three hit shutout against the Yankees ... that's a gem -- Awesome pitching duel tonight between the Big Unit and Roy Halladay

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3:18 PM HST

In a National League special time-wise ... time to get back to the joyous labor of the sweat of my brow

FINAL: Jays win, 2-0

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Yanks guaranteed their first sub-.500 April since 1991 -- the thing that is frustrating about the past two games is that they have wasted two great outings by Big Unit and K. Brown -- and of course, no timely bats for the third consecutive game

What can I say ... this April cannot end any sooner for me

Posted by at 1:05 PM | Permalink

Well, I finally went to grab the new CD/DVD by Athlete (on sale, too, what a bonus!) ... made in Holland, btw whatever that means -- hopefully at some point, I can do a review this weekend -- there's some really great low powered music going on in GBR lately that really deserves play here, oh well wait a year or two, I guess LOL

It's pretty weird to me still that I can listen to stuff from Europe on webradio -- or even on Audioscrob/Last and I can't buy it for months and months and months

What may be even odder is that I love the taste of probably a teenage girl in Germany --- the implications are huge -- but Last.Fm profile radio is a real godsend to people like me who live and die for new music

Anyways, if you look on my profile page, you'll see her there as one of my neighbours (BR) ...

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The allergies seem to be breaking down quite well -- I am amazed at the power of a simple injection, supported by pills -- quick relief is just an injection away, the implications of that statement are scary yet true

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We went to O/Back last night because we were thwarted from going to the new BCD in Waipio --- now, I don't know what their deal is, but they have okazuya hours -- It was quite funny to see people walk up to their door, pull on it and be stoned by the door that didn't budge

It had been a while since we went to O/B and man, their portions are ungodly huge -- you really get food for two in a single entree there, they really don't fool around at all

Posted by at 10:42 PM | Permalink

Here we go, finally some live baseball -- after watching MLBtv for about a month now, I have to say that the service is really good -- and actually is quite a bargain if you are a baseball nut, like I am ... that aside

The feed is the Angels broadcast on LA local affiliate KCAL 9 today

Inside, impressions of LA-A at NYY (22/162)
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1:08PM HST

TOP 1: Kevin Brown pitching today for the Yanks -- after retiring the leadoff man with a grounder to second -- Figgins singles through the infield to right -- Brown walks Guerrero on four pitches (loses him seemingly because he is over concerned about the runner at first)

Anderson pops to Matsui, two away -- Finley lines one ... but right at Bubba in center, the side is retired

BOT 1: John Lackey going for the Halos today, both pitchers seeming to have a bit of trouble this early season -- Works a full count to Jeter, after falling behind 3-0 -- quality AB for Jeter, and gets a walk on the 7th pitch

Womack batting second in the lineup, this is a unique lineup move on the part of Torre -- doing well so far this series vs. Halos -- Jeter picked off in a rundown, Lackey read him well on the first move, one down

Womack singles to right (he would ... ARGGH) -- Sheff lines to right, single, Womack holds at second -- Runners at first and second, one down for Gajira --
Matsui just misses one, Vlad right at the wall makes the catch

Two down, two on for ARod -- he is frozen pizza after taking two balls in the same spot, one called a ball -- the next ...strike 3 called

1:30 PM HST

TOP 2: Cabrera is down looking -- Dallas McPherson beats the shift, doubles into the gap in left center -- Molina grounds into a fielders choice at short, Mc too far off the bag is caught in a rundown by ARod -- two down for Davanon who historically has hit .615 vs. KB, weak roller to Jeter, forces the runner at second to retire the side

BOT 2: Giambi back as DH today -- he flies to right center, great rundown on the fly by Steve Finley -- Posada waves at a fastball away, two down -- goes full on Tino, he singles -- two down, one on for Bubba Crosby -- Crosby starting in CF for Bernie tonight, he is not the most offensively potent force on the team -- has a quality AB and draws a walk

Runners at first and second, two down -- Bud Black visits the mound -- Jeter strikes out on a nasty breaking ball to end the inning

1:50PM HST

TOP 3: Matsui makes a great play on a ball dying in the gap, one down -- Figgins singles to right, his second hit today -- Figgins steals second -- Figgins running, Vlad slaps a single to left, he will score -- Halos 1-0

Anderson singles to the right field corner -- Sheff bobbles the ball, Vlad comes all the way around to score, even though he was gimping home. Halos now, 2-0

Great D by Tino on Finley's smash, he makes the play unassisted, two down -- Stottlemyre in to check on Brown, who looked tweaked trying to cover first -- Tino beautiful catch in foul territory to end the inning

BOT 3: Womack bunts his way on to first -- Sheff grounds to short, force at second -- Womack's hard slide busts up the DP -- Sheff easily steals second
Gajira lines to Erstad, throws to second to double off Sheff -- tough break

2:09PM HST

TOP 4: McPherson singles to center -- Molina sacrifice bunts Mc over to second, one down -- Davanon singles to right, Mc holds at third -- One down, runners at the corners -- Erstad singles, one run scores, Halos 3-0

Runners at first and second, one down -- Figgins flails at one on at the shoetops, two down -- Vlad weakly grounds to third, ARod steps on the bag for out #3

BOT 4: ARod strikes out twice tonight, one down -- Lackey works a full count to Giambi, he singles past the shift going opposite field down the third base line -- Posada rips one long ... and foul -- Posada flies to center, two down -- Full count to Tino, Lackey misses outside ... ball four

Two on, two out for the weak hitting Bubba Crosby -- Crosby check swing roller to third, force play at second to end the rally

FRUSTRATING, totally frustrating ...

2:39PM HST

TOP 5: Anderson rips one long ... and foul -- he then lines out to Tino, one down -- Finley grounds to Womack, he looked awkward out of the box, two down -- Cabrera swinging and missing, three down

BOT 5: Jeter leading off for the Yanks, he gets plunked high by Lackey, HBP --
Womack having a great game so far (2-for-2), he falls behind 0-2, works Lackey full, and grounds to second with the hit and run on, only play is at first, one down

Runner at second, one down -- Sheff powers one to left ...just foul -- Sheff grounds to third, shirt ... two down -- Matsui, hard luck today, finally gets one, a gapper for a double, Jeter will score, Halos 3-1

Lackey has now thrown 100 -- ARod has been owned by Lackey, and this time no different, grounds to third to end the rally

2:57 PM HST

TOP 6: Brown gets a grounder from the leadoff man, one out -- Goes 0-2 on Molina, and gets the K, two outs -- Gets Davanon to fly to center to retire the side

BOT 6: Even though Woods was warming for the Halos, Scioscia stays with Lackey to face Giambi -- Giambi lines single to right center -- Posada works it full against Lackey, then strikes out on a diving breaking ball, one down

Scioscia to the mound, Lackey out after a great performance -- In comes Jake Woods -- Tino grounds to second, the force play is made on Giambi, two down -- and the Yanks looking popless on offense again tonight

Bernie in as PH -- Scioscia in to take the ball from Woods, will matchup Donnelly with Williams, kind of doesn't matter as BW is a switch hitter -- Donnelly historically owns the Yankees, let's see now, with two out -- Bernie grounds harmlessly to third

Yanks have had runners on every single inning, and only one run to show for it -- psshh

3:19PM HST

TOP 7: Bernie will stay and field CF -- Erstad easy grounder to Womack, one out -- Chone (pronounced Shawn, yeah how?) Figgins waves at a pitch low and in, same pitch as last time, two down -- Brown gets Vlad to tick one to short -- Brown has really settled in and has retired the last 11 straight

Seventh Inning Stretch, Halos lead 3-1

BOT 7: Jeter to leadoff, he pops up to right, one out -- Womack broken bat grounder to short, two out -- Donnelly works it full to Sheff, he pops to third ... it falls in front of a diving Mc ... WTF, I've seen it all this year

Two down, one on -- Gajira goes the opposite way, but flies out to Anderson, the inning is over

3:36PM HST

TOP 8: Groom in for Yankees -- will we ever see Rivera again this season, I had to say it LOL -- Full count to Anderson, Groom goes high heat, and gets him SO -- Finley hits a comebacker to Groom, he can't handle it, safe -- and gives Groom an E, sheesh ...

The Halo color man on the broadcast is talking some serious bullcrap about how the Angels players don't care about their own stats ... yeah, shaddap

Cabrera rips one ... but foul -- Finley is picked off leaning, Groom throws over to start the rundown, two down -- full count now to Cabrera, he bloops one to center, that falls in -- McPherson sinking liner to center, what a sliding play by Bernie, that will retire the side

BOT 8: Shields in to face ARod -- ARod grounds to short, one away -- Giambi is blown away by a high fastball, two down -- Posada works it full, then walks

One on, two down -- color man totally homering for the Angels during Tino's AB -- building up Shields awesomeness, talking down the ghosts at the Stadium -- Shields gets Martinez on a check swing, the inning is over

3:58PM HST

Must be a SoCal telecast, news commercial shows female anchor with very obvious manapuas on her stick frame

TOP 9: Flash getting some work -- Molina grounds to first, great teamwork D by Womack and Gordon, one away -- Gordon gets DaVanon (Angel broadcast spelling LOL) on the black, two away -- color man now puffing Erstad, what was a pretty ok broadcast now degenerating into Halo lovefest -- Gordon gets Erstad to wave SO -- the side is retired

BOT 9: Well, first time seeing K-Rod this season, let's see how the Yanks do against him -- Bernie has never got a hit against K-Rod, he grounds to first, one away -- nice matchup with Jeter here, he gets Jeter with a nasty bender, two down -- Womack strikes out, that's the game -- what a dominant outing by Frankie Rodriguez

4:12 PM HST

FINAL: Angels win, 3-1

The Yankees waste, what was probably the best outing by Brown this season, by not being able to generate offense again today

Yanks back to four below .500 at 9-13 ... what else can be said at this point

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The terms of the season is constipation and diarrhea ... all you want is regularity -- I wish the same for the offense of the Interlocking LOL

How can you score 12 in one game (and 23, yes 23 in two games), then only TWO in TWO games ... this is what is killing me about this team this year, shirt!

Tomorrow, a new three game series begins against Toronto -- Big Unit is slated to go for the Yanks

Posted by at 1:28 PM | Permalink

Well, I haven't been watching too much live baseball -- kind of regret missing yesterday's TEN RBI, THREE HR performance by ARod live -- but I can watch it next

So here is today's game, seems a lot like many others this season for this Yankee team that really can't get out of the way of itself YET this season -- the winning streak snaps at a mighty TWO ... PFFBBTTT!!!!

I think I heard the Yanks lost today, woo big surprise LOL
Well, maybe it's just April .... yeah rrright

Inside, impressions of LA-A at NYY (21/162)
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Today it's Washburn vs. Muss -- man, I really feel for Mike Mussina, he never seems to get the bats behind him lately

He owns the West over his career, of course, that explains the loss today LOL

Supposedly they had a lot of rain, yet got the game in ARGGGHHH lol -- no breaks so far this April ... with the delay comes lots of FILLER ... so a FFWD we go

Actually caught the National Anthem by the Yankee Stadium organist ... cool

TOP 1: Erstad flies to left -- Figgins lines a single to right center -- Check swing by Guerrero, Figgins steals second -- Breaking ball by Muss, Posada loses it WP, Figgins to third

Quality AB Vlad (9 pitches) -- 12-6 Curve, he struck him out! -- two down, Anderson hits a comebacker at Muss, throws to first -- out of the jam

BOT 1: Yankees doing well again this season against lefties ... so WTF happened today??? -- baseball is a funny game, isn't it?

Jeter walks on four pitches -- Bernie rips one past the third baseman down the line in left -- Jeter waved in, Anderson guns him down at the plate ARGGGH -- lots of gamble by Sojo on that one ... Jeter gimpy after the play

One out, Bernie on second with the double -- Sheff strikes out on a changeup, after a full count -- two down, Matsui -- full count -- fastball looked outside, ump calls him frozen pizza, the side is retired

(20/20: I think that play at the plate set the tone tonight -- little too greedy)

TOP 2: Finley flies to the track in right -- Cabrera, hot shot to Womack, nice glove work, throw to first, two down -- McPherson, quality AB, but waves through a changeup to end the inning, SO

BOT 2: Man, already feeling like a long ass game -- out of shape after a few days away LOL -- ARod, nice ovation from the crowd for his awesome 4-for-5, 3 HR, 10 RBI night

ARod grounds to second, one down -- Phillips as DH tonight, he's an exciting young player -- this AB looked overmatched vs Washburn, SO -- two down, Posada pops to shallow left center -- the inning is over, 8 pitch inning is nice to my psyche/attention span LOL

TOP 3: Molina flies to center -- Davanon shows bunt ... HUH?!?!?! -- he walks on four pitches, Muss looks a little shaky with location to the first two batters

On the 0-2 to Erstad, Davanon goes, Posada perfect to second .. OUT!
Two down, Erstad grounds slowly to second, thrown out -- wait, they called catcher's interference on Posada ARGGH -- I have that sinking feeling SHOOT

Muss falls behind Figgins, but he pops to Matsui to end the inning ... so much for my drama LOL

BOT 3: Tino singles up the middle -- what a slow, ho hum game, matches the weather today -- Womack lays a bunt down in front of the plate, Molina sees Tino steamrolling to second -- rushes his throw to second, into centerfield -- all safe, sac to Womack, advances Tino

Jeter shows bunt, runs the count 2-0 -- the Yanks take off the bunt, Jeter grounds hard into a 543 DP ... SHIRT!!, why LOL ... I can't believe it

Two down, runner on third, Bernie rips the 2-1, just foul ... DAMN!!! -- full count -- Bernie flies to center .... oh, the missed opportunities

In NYC, they have a commercial called Badcreditsowhat.com ... LOL

TOP 4: Vlad slaps one into the left field corner, in with a leadoff double -- Anderson slaps one into the right field corner, oh the symmetry, Vlad scores easily, Halos 1-0 -- Anderson held to a single

Finley jacks one after falling behind in the count 1-2, two run HR, Halos now 3-0
Muss totally missed on that one

Cabrera hits a difficult comebacker to the left of Mussina, hits his glove -- slows down, ARod can't make the play -- safe, that's 4 straight hits this inning, YIKES

McPherson grounds into a 463 DP, two down -- Molina flies to center, three outs

BOT 4: Looks like another 3 hour plus Yankee game ... bleah

Sheff hits a hard grounder to Cabrera, can't make the play, infield single -- Matsui grounds into the 363 DP, yuck! -- ARod smashes one deep to center, solo HR (AL leader with 8), Halos now, 3-1 -- Phillips flies harmlessly to right to end the inning

TOP 5: Davanon lines the first pitch at Tino, one down -- Erstad lines another hard liner, again caught by Tino, no problem -- two down -- Muss obviously not fooling anyone, but Halos hitting em where they are -- Womack retires Figgins for the 1-2-3 inning

BOT 5: Posada pops out to right -- Tino nubs one, Washburn picks it up and throws him out -- Womack works the BB -- Jeter singles

Runners now first and second, two down -- Bernie weakly flies to center, first pitch swinging -- three outs

Washburn overall in control, making great pitches tonight, getting great D in back of him, stringing out hits -- not giving up the big damaging ones, except for ARod's bomb

TOP 6: Surprisingly to this point, Muss has thrown 76 pitches, fairly low pitch count -- Vlad slaps a single to right through the infield

Muss is no mystery to Garrett Anderson, two run jack to right center, Halos 5-1

Finley grounds to Womack, shovels the ball out of his glove to just get him at first -- Cabrera lines a FAT PITCH ... foul -- he flies to right, two down -- McPherson hits one into the right field corner, two out double (as the stupidly retarded lean over the wall trying to touch the ball) -- Womack puts away a grounder to end the inning

Two hours in -- boy, what a ho hum, slow paced game

BOT 6: Sheff slaps a hit into the right field corner, tests Vlad's arm, easily in with a double -- Matsui backsliding a bit over the last week, pops up to shallow center -- ARod sharply grounds one past the third baseman (he does a Charlie Brown flop, flailing), Sheff holds at third

One down, runners at first and third, Phillips hasn't seen a fastball to hit to this point, here's one ... and he grounds into a DP ... SHIRT!!!!

Just not clicking all at the same time ... psshh

TOP 7: Davanon singles to center -- Erstad tough fly to left, slicing away from Matsui, he makes an amazing catch, guns to Tino, little bit off -- oh, so close, but Davanon back in

One out, runner on first -- Figgins lines a single to right, runner holds on second -- Stottlemyre to the mound, Muss missed again

Vlad, having a great night so far, but he grounds into the inning ending DP

Overall, not a bad outing by Muss, just a few badly located pitches -- story of the Yankee staff to this point this season ... also a matter of no bat hit ball for the offense

Seventh Inning Stretch, Halos lead, 5-1

I love the SIS at Yankee Stadium, they have this really bright sounding rendition of GBA, that sounds so 40s and patriotic ... I wonder when Ronan Tynan will be back singing GBA ... dunno, maybe only during playoffs and opening day

BOT 7: Posada gives it a jolt, but flies out to right center -- Tino, nice hitting, singles up the middle (now, 2-for-3) -- Womack, lazy fly to center, two down --
Jeter grounds to third, runner forced at second to end the inning

Washburn, solid solid solid -- defense, great as well

Another spot for Badcreditsowhat.com LOL, classic

TOP 8: Buddy Groom in for Muss -- Anderson grounds to ARod, tough play -- throw is wide and away, Anderson is on at first -- Finley grounds to first, Tino gets the force at second -- Cabrera lines to Matsui, two down -- McPherson grounds to Womack

Good outing for Buddy Groom, solid

BOT 8: Washburn, 86 pitches to this point -- Bernie grounds to short, one down -- Sheff didn't have anything to hit, until the 3-1, lines a single to left (his third hit of the night) -- tonight, it's not that Yanks haven't been hitting, NO TIMELY HITTING -- ick

Gajira looking ugly at this AB, the slide continues, frozen pizza twice tonight -- WHOA! -- two down, Washburn leaves the game

Shields in to face ARod -- Sheff advances to second on a wild pitch in the dirt --
another pitch in the dirt, hoo, what a block by Molina -- ARod swings through at a breaking pitch away for out #3

TOP 9: FRod in for Yanks, let's see how he does today -- Molina singles to center -- Karsay warming for Yanks

Molina steals a base, yes that is no misprint (and yes, the pitch was high and off) -- Davanon swings, creates a nice breeze for those still in the stadium, misses horribly, then clubs his bat down -- a craftsman doesn't blame his tools LOL, one down

Torre playing mix and match, Stanton in -- Stanton gets Erstad to fly out, Molina holds -- ARod gloves a liner to end the inning

Now at three hours and one minute in ... yeesh, also nearing midnight here in Paradise

BOT 9: Giambi in to PH for Phillips -- though his BAVG is down, his OBP is really high, lots of walks so far this season -- Giambi nubs one in front of the plate, thrown out at first -- Posada grounds to second -- Tino frozen pizza to end the game

I have no life (... or I have allergies), three hours and change (3:07 to be exact) to watch a Yankee LOSS ... ugh, I have way to much faith and hope -- a stupid amount of F&H ... especially since I already knew the outcome of this one

FINAL: Angels win, 5-1

---

Yankees now 9-12 on the season ... ho hum ... it doesn't look like the Yankees will add TITLE SEVEN in my lifetime this year

To this point, the Yanks have given up more runs than any pitching staff since 1903 -- amazingly, they have outscored the runs given up, though only winning nine games and dropping twelve ... GO FIGURE!

Tomorrow afternoon, the series rubber match against the Halos -- Kevin Brown and John Lackey scheduled to

----

Feast OR Famine

Story of the season so far ... Inconsistency -- big offensive game -- then flat game -- this may be by the design of how Torre manages the Yankee offense -- it's honestly time to start playing small ball/NL ball, running the bases and playing some small ball at times -- mixing it up

And honestly speaking, man, Yankee pitching either looks shot/old or really inconsistent -- two jacks, that's the game -- subplot of the season, hopefully it ends soon

Posted by at 8:48 PM | Permalink

In an allergy medicine kind of mood

Why else would I be playing Surface and Howard Jones LOL?

The amazing thing that always stuns me is that as a society, we have conquered many things with technology; however things such as the common cold, cancers, and allergies are almost like voodoo -- so poorly understood,
and so many things are really hit and miss

At least with the music thing, I can tell that what I like is stuff with a good groove to it -- next up is Natalie Cole, before she started redoing her papa's catalog -- man, she was one heck of a R&B diva with such a high quality, distinctive voice

---

Haven't been watching much live baseball due to being either too wired or too sleepy from allergy medicine -- so I plan to catch up ... eventually

famous last words LOL

Posted by at 8:32 PM | Permalink

It's taken me a while to get back to the ARod game ... but nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon -- let's watch two

Inside, impressions of LA-A at NYY (20/162)

---

We get the KCAL 9 guys, stinking homers all the way, especially Hudler, as we saw this week -- well at least we know the outcome beforehand LOL

TOP 1: Pavano, he of the messy uniform, will go for the Yankees -- Erstad chases and comes up empty, SO -- Figgins grounds to Womack, two away -- Vlad grounds one up the middle, single -- Anderson hits a hard grounder to first, Phillips knocks it down and retires the side

side note:
Brooke Shields looks really weird in those new FORD commercials -- I think she had some cosmetic things done

BOT 1: Bartolo Colon, the round mound of SO, is going today for the Halos -- Jeter draws a walk -- Bernie pops foul to third -- Sheff pops up to left center, great D by Finley to catch the ball in the wind, wow -- Colon fall behind 3-0 in the count to Matsui, works back it to full, and loses him to a walk

Runner on first and second, two down -- ARod gets ALL of a 2-2 fastball, that one went 400ft+ just left of center, Yankees lead 3-0

Giambi looked totally lost in that AB, three pitch SO to end the inning

TOP 2: Pavano gets Finley to fly to right -- the free swinging Cabrera also flies out to right, two away -- McPherson flies to left for out #3

BOT 2: Posada pops out to first -- Phillips, Mr. Energy, just lined one over the left field wall ... just foul, shirt! -- Phillips grounds to short, two away -- McPherson just dropped an easy foul pop fly from the bat of Womack LOL -- Womack hits a broken bat liner to the right field corner, that's a double

Two down, runner on second, Jeter works a full count, the payoff pitch is a foul tip into the glove to end the inning

TOP 3: Pavano gets Molina to ground to short -- DaVanon bloops a single to left -- Davanon steals second, late slide, throw is not on time -- Erstad draws a walk

Runners at first and second, one out -- Pavano falls behind Figgins 3-0, then works it back to full -- inside to Figgins, Pavano has now walked the bases loaded

Bases loaded for last year's league MVP Vlad Guerrero, he hits a ground shot to ARod, he throws to second, not in time, a run scores -- Yanks 3-1

Anderson grounds to third, only play is at first, two down, another run scores -- Yanks now 3-2

Two on in scoring position, two down -- Finley grounds to second to end the rally

BOT 3: Bernie flies out to center -- Sheff draws a walk, that's Colon's third of the game -- Matsui pops to shallow center, Finley battles the wind and makes the catch, two down

One on in scoring position, two down -- ARod jacks the first pitch deep to left, that one goes 387, wow -- two homers tonight, the Yanks now 5-2

Giambi flailing and looking lousy at the plate lately, works a full count, quality AB here doing some battling -- and draws a walk, that's BB4 for Colon, he seems off today -- Posada down with a nasty inside pitch to retire the side

TOP 4: Pavano gets Cabrera to weakly ground right of the mound, tags him for the first out -- McPherson hits one well, off the fence in left center for a double -- Molina strikes out, on the play McPherson trying for third, he's in there

Two down, runner at third -- DaVanon, of the truly ugly batting stance, works a full count, but grounds to third for the third out

BOT 4: Phillips hits a hot shot to Figgins, great D, but throw pulled Erstad off -- Phillips runs into the ump on the bang bang play -- Womack battling off pitch after pitch foul, but eventually gets popped up to Cabrera, one down

Colon close to 80 pitches already -- Jeter, although I never would have thought it, has the second most hits in the past ten years, second only to Garrett Anderson of the Angels --Jeter inside outs one for a single, Phillips on the move, runners now first and third, still with one down

Bernie grounds to Figgins, who bobbles the baseball turning to second to start the possible DP, drops it, a run scores -- Yanks 6-2

Runners at first and second, one down for Sheff, he pounds one deep to left, the runners tag and advance on the fly out -- Runners on second and third, two away for Matsui -- Matsui works a walk after a full count

Bases loaded, two down -- Colon works full to ARod, the payoff pitch ...

Colon's 101 is deposited in deep center ... GRAND SLAM!!!, Yanks now 10-2

That's ARod's third homer in three ABs, he has NINE rbi in the game -- and he has chased Colon from the game

Gregg in for the Halos -- two down, Giambi powers one to right, Vlad has room on the track, the side is retired

TOP 5: Erstad singles -- Figgins doubles over Sheff's head off the right field wall -- Halos in business, none out, runners at second and third

Vlad grounds to Jeter, Yanks concede the run, one down -- Yanks 10-3

One down, runner at third -- Anderson lines out, two down -- Finley flies out for the third out

BOT 5: Posada hits it well to center, but Finley makes the over the shoulder catch, great play -- Phillips gives a jolt to one, bounces over the 399 sign in left center, ground rule double, the rookie giving great energy to the Yanks so far this season

One down, runner at second, Womack slaps a bloop to left for a single, runner to third -- runners at the corners now for Jeter, he hits into an inning ending 643 DP

TOP 6: Cabrera flies to right -- McPherson broken bat grounder to short, two down -- Molina grounds to ARod, a 1-2-3 inning

BOT 6: Bernie slaps a single to center -- Sheff deep fly out to center, one down -- full count to Matsui, walks him -- Runners at first and second, one down

ARod singles up the middle, Bernie hustling home, the throw is cut off, he scores -- Yanks 11-3 -- and that is ARod's 10th RBI tonight, wow!

Giambi up with one down, runners at first and second -- Giambi walks -- bases juiced again -- Posada grounds hard to Figgins, drops that ball again, but gets it to first ... in time, two down, one run scores -- Yanks now, 12-3

Phillips hits one long, far ... and foul -- runners at second and third, two down -- Phillips goes down swinging to end the inning

TOP 7: Jeff "DaUglystance" DaVanon grounds to Jeter, one down -- Erstad grounds to Tino, two away -- Figgins chops one over Pavano, Womack can't make a play, infield single -- Vlad hits a sinking liner to right, Sheff makes the catch to retire the side

Seventh Inning Stretch, Yankees lead 12-3

BOT 7: Womack another slap hit to left -- Jeter struck out swinging, one down -- Bernie grounds to Hudson, turns to force Womack, no throw to first

Two down, one on -- Crosby PR for Bernie at first -- Sheff singles up the middle -- runners at first and second, still two down -- Matsui slaps one long ... and foul -- Matsui grounds to second, force play ends the inning

TOP 8: This is kind of cool, the ML debut of Colter Bean for the Yanks, up from Columbus -- Juan Rivera hits a tough grounder to third, ARod great defensive play, one down -- Quinlan lines one, but right at Jeter, two away -- Cabrera pops up to shallow left, Jeter makes a wonderful running stab in foul territory to retire the side

BOT 8: ARod goes for history, the chance to be the first player to hit a HR cycle in ML history -- Jake Woods in for the Halos -- ARod 4-for-4 on the game -- he lines out to center, looked like he just MISSED ... a truly special game for ARod

One down, Giambi slaps one through the infield to right, single -- Posada turns around to face the lefty Woods -- he pops out to right for the second out -- Phillips hits a broken bat grounder to short, force play on Giambi for out #3

TOP 9: Bean goes full to McPherson, quality AB, and finally he draws the walk --
full count also to Molina, the payoff pitch is outside, Molina also walks

None out, runners at first and second -- Quantrill warming for Yanks -- DaVanon
hits a comebacker to Bean, he bobbles, only play to first, one down

Two runners in scoring position, Merloni strikes out swinging, now two away -- Figgins singles to right, one run scores, Yanks 12-4

Runners at the corners, two down -- Josh Paul gets rung up to end the game

---

Another 3+ hours awash in Yankee baseball ... and the Yanks get the win, what more could I ask for or want?

FINAL: Yankees win, 12-4

---

Brilliant game by ARod

Not much else to say, as we know what happened over the next three games

Posted by at 11:59 PM | Permalink

(This one is predated for historical purposes as I am actually writing this one almost a week later -- so forgive the memory lapses ... ironic, that this is supposed to prevent a memory lapse about the show yet the show is not really fresh in my memory)

(Photo from Star Bulletin)

Little did I know that later in the night I would be allergic to Norah Jones' last show on her Feels Like Home tour ... but all joking aside

Norah Jones finally made a swing into our part of the big blue globe Saturday night -- and for an hour and 45 minutes held court in the Blaisdell

I have largely read glowing reviews of this show -- I am not going to pan the show, but say that it was an okay performance ... and admit that sometimes, I just don't get it, feel it, or appreciate some things that other people really vibe to

Norah's vocal performance was very spot on ... in fact it gave a renewed meaning to the old Memorex tape slogan -- I really could not tell the difference between her recorded style and her live performance, this of course is mostly a good thing ... certainly I am not expecting a world class vocal performance, just that classic slowburn vox style ... she delivered that

The set was pretty much the same as she had been playing for months now in her recent tour dates -- I thought the ambience set up by the lights and decor was loungey and comfortable ... something that I would not have immediately thought of as possible in the "arena rock" context -- when I think back on it, that's very cool ... but there also was nods to the arena context, by providing large viewing screens so that those further away could see her upclose and see the guitar soloists upclose as well

Her live band is really great, very solid all around -- and very capable in turning instruments around from classic acoustics to electrics -- there were times when I thought to myself, that I was tired of looking up Adam Levy's constipated solo faces ... but I guess that's all part of the greater show, and I guess Norah is no diva that way, so more power to her

I know that Norah gets knocked for being either shy or lame on the mic with babble ... well, she seemed really comfy up there on Saturday, but SD and I were not as enamored with her banter as we were with Mraz, the most recent performer we saw ... this is just a matter of personal taste, and I'm sure some others thought she was really personable and on that night ... so I chalk that to YMMV

In the end, it was a show to soak up the music -- it wasn't terribly audience interactive, and the make the audience stand up at the end of the show seemed well ... out of place ... and everyone standing had this look like, uh ok we're standing ... now what? LOL

Just sat there soaking it in ... noticed Jan and 9k were soaking it while sleeping, I guess they had a long day at K-Kon earlier in the day -- everything about it allowed for nice pleasant soaking, clear audio, reasonable volume, good mixing

At the end of the day, this was a very diverse performance that had really good execution and balance -- sometimes performances are cathartic, where you explode and go whoa -- this one was like a slow roaster, where you feel warmed but no big pop ... it's not really a criticism, but I guess I wasn't really in the proper frame of mind to really appreciate the show

In the end, I think it was good .... and if I invoke some of the spirit of that TV curmudgeon in the size small gray t-shirt, I was expecting spectacular

I didn't get spectacular ... so to me, this show was a B -- solid all around, not enough dynamic and pop for my tastes that night

Posted by at 11:09 PM | Permalink

Seems the avalanche is beginning to really come down on the NYY -- three players, two pitchers on the DL -- another offensively fruitless game

Today, they run up the Big Unit to stop the bleeding against the Rangers, and avoid getting swept for the second straight weekend at home

Impressions of TEX at NYY (19/162) within:

---

TOP 1: Johnson Ks Soriano with the slider -- Unit Ks Matthews, Jr. for the second SO of the inning -- gets a line out to Jeter to retire the side

BOT 1: Astacio goes for TEX today -- Andy Phillips getting a start at 1B -- Jeter hits one sharply at Soriano for the opening out -- Bernie hits a grounder to short for out #2 -- Sheff rocks the 0-1... just foul -- he pops up to second to end the inning

TOP 2: Teixeira grounds the first pitch weakly to second, one out -- Mench bloops one in between the CF and RF and the chasing 2B -- ARod drops a routine DP ball, but still gets it to second for the force out -- Johnson gets a K to end the inning (3 for the game)

BOT 2: Matsui hits a hard grounder to short, the SS has trouble with it, throw is high -- Astacio balks Matsui over to second -- ARod grounds to third, and beats it out, runner goes to third on the play

No one out, runners at the corners -- Giambi so far this year 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position this season -- down looking SO, his woes continue --

Posada singles, one run scores, ARod holds at second -- Yanks 1-0
One out, runners at first and second -- Phillips rips one to the gap, one run scores, Posada holds at third -- Yanks, now 2-0

Womack lines one up the middle, one run scores, Phillips holds at third --
Yanks 3-0 -- runners at the corners, one out -- Jeter SF to right, one run scores -- Yanks now 4-0 -- Womack caught stealing to end the inning

TOP 3: Barajas grounds out to first -- DeRosa grounds to third, two out -- Soriano down on strikes for the second time today (4) to retire the side

BOT 3: Teixeira takes away a single from Bernie, one down -- Sheff flies out to right -- Matsui grounds to second for out #3

TOP 4: Matthews Jr. pops up to second -- Johnson takes a comebacker and puts out the runner, two down -- Jeter makes a web gem deep in the hole to gun down the third out

BOT 4: ARod grounds to second, one down -- Giambi pops up to second, two away -- Posada down looking

TOP 5: Another campfire defense situation, Bernie pulls it in, one out -- Jeter gets a routine grounder for out #2 -- Bernie catches a deep fly in center for the third out

BOT 5: Phillips flied out to right -- Womack surprise bunt single -- With the hit and run on, Jeter doubles to the gap, Womack hustles home, Yanks 5-0

Bernie grounds to second, runner to third on the play -- Sheff just lays out the bat for a bloop single to score Jeter, Yanks 6-0

Matsui draws a walk -- two down, runners on first and second -- ARod RBI bloop to right, Yanks now 7-0

Two down, runners at the corners -- Giambi is HBP, bases now full -- Posada flies to right to end the inning

TOP 6: Barajas grounds to second -- DeRosa grounds to short, two down -- Soriano singles to left -- Matthews hits an RBI triple, one run scores, looked like Sheff lost the ball -- Yanks 7-1

Johnson gives up a BB, runners now first and third, two down -- Teixeira flies out to left for the third out

BOT 6: Riley in to pitch -- Phillips grounded to short, one away -- Womack flies to center -- Jeter, solo shot to the short porch in right, Yanks 8-1 -- Bernie goes down swinging to end the inning

TOP 7: Mench down on easy grounder to the mound -- Hidalgo down on strikes (5) -- Allen is frozen pizza (6) to retire the side

Seventh Inning Stretch, Yanks lead 8-1

BOT 7: Sheff grounds back to the pitcher, one out -- Matsui walks -- ARod grounds into an inning ending DP

TOP 8: Barajas pops to Womack, one down -- DeRosa grounds to short, two out -- Unit strikes out Soriano three times -- three down

BOT 8: Giambi leadoff walk -- Sanchez in to PR -- Posada singles to left -- none out, runners at first and second

Phillips three run jack to left -- Yanks 11-1 -- he has had a great game today!

Womack flied out to right, one down -- Regilio in to pitch for TEX
Jeter singles to left for his third hit on the day -- Bernie grounds to first, force on Jeter, two down -- Sheff hits a double to left, Bernie will hold on third

Crosby PH for Matsui -- he pops up to short to end the inning

TOP 9: Flash in for the Unit -- gets Matthews Jr to ground to second, one down -- strikes out the next batter -- with two away, Teixeira waves through for the final out

FINAL: Yankees win 11-1

---
Yanks now 8-11, ironically the same record at this point last year

Yanks did it today with timely hitting and running the bases to manufacture runs, as opposed to their current style of money ball -- very exciting style of play today for the Interlocking -- let's see if it leads to more of this style of ball
---

Yankees get a day off tomorrow, back in action on Tuesday vs. Angels

Posted by at 5:10 PM | Permalink

Food allergies are the suck

Posted by at 6:58 AM | Permalink

This log is much after the fact ... and even though, it was a one sided blowout by the Rangers, in the interest of anal completing a record on this lost season

Inside, impressions of TEX at NYY (18/162)
---

Actually watching this one with the volume down, and listening to new music on Last.fm ... looks like the Ranger crew is doing it anyway, so I don't think I'll be missing much

TOP 1: I'm certainly not fricking excited about it, but Jaret Wright going for Yankees -- works it full to Soriano, he flies out to center

Blalock flied out to left, no problem, two away -- Young is frozen pizza, good inning by Jaret

BOT 1: Chan Ho Park going for Texas, cams showing Koreans at the Stadium, that's cool

Jeter draws a walk, good leadoff AB -- Bernie lays a sac drag bunt down the third base line, almost beats it out, runner to second on the play

Sheffield grounded out to third, the runner is checked back, two down -- Runner at second, Matsui hits one long, far, and foul ... he is frozen pizza, to end the inning

TOP 2: Teixeira flied out to left, one down -- Dellucci ... hits it hard LOL ... solo shot to deep right, Rangers 1-0

That looked like a mistake, Wright missed with that one -- Mench slaps one over the jumping Womack into the gap, he has himself a hustle double to right center

Matthews Jr. grounded out to second, runner to third on the play - Sandy Alomar Jr. grounded out to first to retire the side

BOT 2: ARod flied out to center -- Giambi draws a walk -- Posada is popped out, and Tino grounds to first to end the inning

TOP 3: Full count to Nix, he bloops a single to left -- A. Soriano slaps a single to right, runner to second on the play

That was a good pitch by Wright, damn Soriano will swing at anything ...

Wright gets Blalock to ground the sinker off the end of the bat into a 643 DP, two down, runner to third on the play ... that takes some of the pressure off

(note: I have stopped the Last.fm, having returned from lunch and am now listening to the Rangers broadcast)

Runner at third, two down -- Young, nice piece of hitting, singles through the infield to right, one run scores, Rangers now lead 2-0

Oh crap, Wright left it out ... Teixeira hits a bomb to right center, two run homer, the score is now 4-0

Dellucci hits a weak dribbler to the left of the mound, Wright can't glove it, -- and they give him an ERROR, wow LOL

Mench hits an absolute bomb to left, two more runs in with the shot, Rangers now, 6-0 ... and it was a tough pitch in on the fists

Matthews Jr. struck out swinging to end the inning ... and the Bronx cheer is in effect

BOT 3: Womack grounded out to third -- Jeter flied out to deep right, two down

Bernie Williams hustles out a doubled off a hit to the gap -- Full count to Sheffield, the payoff is singled under the second baseman's glove, one run scores, the Rangers lead now is 6-1

Two down, runner at first -- Matsui grounded out to second, almost eats up Soriano, but he retires him at first for the third out

TOP 4: Full count to Alomar Jr., he draws a walk -- Nix hits a sinking liner to left down the line, he doubles ... and Alomar makes it to third, good hustle

Wright in trouble now, but gets Soriano to pop to first -- he gets Blalock to first pitch swing, comebacker to Wright, looks everyone back, two away

Young flied out to deep center, and Wright has nicely worked himself out of the jam ... with economy, 4 pitches, 3 outs

(Broadcast showing a King of the Hill promo for FX, I always wondered if it was big in Texas as it is elsewhere ... dunno)

BOT 4: Lots of pitches, three full counts, but Chan Ho Park has struck out the side -- full count, the payoff ... ARod down looking ... honestly it looked low and should have been Ball 4 -- full count to Giambi, the payoff ... fastball, belt high and in, he goes down swinging -- full count, the payoff ... Posada also down looking at the inside breaking ball

TOP 5: M. Teixeira lined out to right at Tino, one down -- Wright falls behind on the count 3-0, Dellucci bails him out, grounding the 3-1 pitch out to short, two away

Two down, Mench keeps on rolling ... adding a single to right past Tino, to his double and HR (3-for-3 today) -- Matthews Jr. struck out looking, after losing his bat ... flopping it over his head and back on the 1-1

BOT 5: Tino grounds out the 2-2 pitch to first -- Womack grounded out to second, two away -- Chan Ho gets out 0-2, but loses Jeter to a walk, after a quality AB -- Bernie battles but struck out looking (on a questionably high 2-2 fastball) to retire the side ... Bernie has a short discussion with the home plate ump

TOP 6: Alomar Jr. grounded out to a ranging Jeter for the first out -- full count to Nix, the payoff ... he swats it to left, a carbon copy of his other hit ... and Wright missed his location on that one

Wright looking off, two of his recent pitches running away on him -- Soriano smacks a pitch Jaret left out to left, Nix hustling to third, draws the throw from Matsui ... and Soriano hustles into second, that was a mistake by Matsui

Jaret looks hurt, the trainer is out ... Torre is out -- Wright will leave the mound with the trainer, to a chorus of boos, and that is REALLY uncalled for by the fans

Groom in to pitch for Yankees -- Blalock grounded out to second, Womack gloves it, Tino catches it barehand and steps on the bag, what a defensive play all around, wow

Torre in and will match Karsay -- Two down now, Karsay will come in and lose Young to a walk, and the bases are now loaded for the dangerous Mark Teixeira

Karsay gets Teixeira to ground out to first to end the rally

(note: seems like the game has settled into its rhythm now, and settled down)

BOT 6: Sheffield gives it a ride out to deep left, but Mench is there, one out -- Full count to Matsui, the payoff ... he flies out to left, two out -- ARod, first pitch swinging, hits one hard into the hole at short, no throw from the shortstop ... infield single

Giambi draws a walk, runners now first and second, two down -- Orel "The Professor" Hershiser to the mound -- the 3-2 is in the dirt, ARod hustles over to third on the play -- Full count to Posada, the payoff ... he gets him to wave at the slow curve, the two out rally is extinguished

TOP 7: Karsay still going for Yankees, he gets Dellucci to ground out to second -- Mench going for the cycle here, Tino almost makes a great snow cone catch of a foul ball ... Mench has a quality AB, but the cycle ... not this time at the plate, he grounded out to short, two down

First pitch swinging, Matthews Jr. slapped a single past ARod to left -- Karsay gets in front of Alomar, Jr., then Alomar hits a comebacker past Karsay and just past Womack into center, runner goes to third on the play

Runners at the corners, two down for Nix, he singles to right this time (4-for-4, great day), one run scores, the other runner to second, Rangers lead, 7-1

Soriano, hard hit fly to right, Sheff backing up on it ... IT GOES OFF HIS GLOVE ... damn, the roof has fallen in now

Soriano safe at first on Sheffield's fielding error, one run scores, and the runner goes to third on the play, the lead is now, 8-1

Karsay gets the hook, Sheffield gets the boos, and the new pitcher for the Yankees is Mike Stanton -- Two down, runners at the corners, Blalock grounded out to second to end the two out rally

Boy, the two out rally has killed the Yankees today, that's SEVEN of their runs with two outs

Seventh Inning Stench, Rangers lead, 8-1

BOT 7: Tino flied out to left, one away -- Womack grounded out to short, two down -- Full count to Jeter, the payoff ... draws another walk

Showalter out with the hook -- Brocail will relieve Chan Ho Park, great outing for him today - allowing only THREE hits -- Brocail gets Bernie to hit a comebacker at him, that nipped him ... but he puts him out to retire the side

(note: funny SONIC commercial about "meat-based dressing" on a salad ...
chili LOL)

TOP 8: F.Rod in for Yankees -- First pitch swinging, Young singles to left ...

Another first pitch ... this time Teixeira BOMBS it to right, two run shot to the upper deck in the right field stands, two runs score, Rangers routing the home team now, 10-1

Dellucci singles right up the middle, that's three straight hits off FRod ... and now he lets loose a VERY wild pitch, runner goes to second

Mench, again up for the cycle ... he hits a bomb to left, but Matsui is there to collect it, cycle denied again -- FRod falls behind Matthews Jr. 3-0, works it back to full and then walks him, phoooo

Alomar Jr. singled to right, the bases are loaded up now ... hoo, not a good outing for FRod today

Bases loaded, one out for Nix who will go for his FIFTH, yes no misprint, FIFTH hit today ... he fouled out to short, and that is just one of those quirky things ... only the Yankees have Jeter running down foul balls in third base foul territory

Two down, three ducks on the pond, Soriano grounded to third, ARod hustles in front of G. Matthews Jr. to get the third out

BOT 8: DeRosa in to field 2B for the Rangers -- Almanzar in for Brocail to pitch
Crosby PH for Sheffield, the rout must be on ... how many times do you see this

Bubba singles to center -- Full count to Matsui, he draws a walk, runners now first and second

ARod grounded out to third ... out by a step, runners move up on the play -- One down, runners second and third for Giambi, he grounds to first, the Rangers trade the run for an out, Rangers now lead, 10-2

Runner on third now, two away -- Full count to Posada, the payoff pitch ... he draws a walk

Almanzar will get the hook, Showalter has seen enough -- Mahay in for Texas

Andy Phillips will PH for Tino, like I said, the rout is on, man, it's on!,
Phillips drills one, but Mench is there with a great reachout catch in deep left to retire the side

TOP 9: Bubba will play in right field and Andy Phillips at first in defensive changes --- and Quantrill in to put the wraps on the bleeding ... oh, new SS is Rey Sanchez, and Flaherty in behind the dish

Blalock grounds to second, one down -- Q gets out in front 0-2 on Young, Young singles the 1-2 pitch up the middle and into center -- Teixeira flies out to the track in left, two away -- Dellucci also flied out to deep left to retire the side

BOT 9: Uno, dos, adios ... Womack struck out swinging -- Sanchez also struck out swinging on the nasty splitter, two away -- Bernie singles to left, his second single -- Bubba popped out to short to end the game

Boy, three hours plus to watch a Yankee blowout loss, that's dedi ... just stupid

FINAL: Rangers win, 10-2

Yankees fall to 7-11

Jaret Wright left the game in the sixth with a shoulder injury

They were bombed today, what a game by Teixeira

(5/7 note: somehow I feel karmically cleansed having seen all the Yankee games this year, maybe that will lead to good things ... or not LOL)

Posted by at 11:59 PM | Permalink

the common cold is for suck

Posted by at 8:59 AM | Permalink

On the heels of UH's win at SJSU, Stephen Bryant 2-hit shutout, yeah

Inside, impressions of TEX at NYY (17/162)

---

Ugly drizzly cold evening in the Bronx -- lucky I live in Paradise

Word on Sierra on the DL: torn bicep, out 4-6 weeks -- yikes, oh well, hope Ruben recovers quickly and returns to good health

TOP 1: Soriano singled -- stole second, advanced to third on WP -- Blalock singles, one run scores -- Rangers 1-0

Young walked, runners at first and second, no outs -- Teixeira grounds to first, runners now second and third, one out -- Dellucci two run double down the first base line. Rangers 3-0

Brown is struggling AGAIN -- Mench flies to left, two down -- Matthews, Jr. singles, one more run scores, Rangers now 4-0

I guess the Yanks will spot them 10 before removing Brown -- psshh -- Barajas singles past ARod -- again looking at the replay, Brown missed the target BADLY -- Nix grounds to Womack to retire the side

1:30PM HST

BOT 1: Lord knows why they kept Kevin "Arm Shot" Brown -- well, Yanks down four before coming out of the field

Yankees facing the giant Chris Young 6-10 -- Jeter runs the count full, then reaches when Soriano boots an easy grounder -- Bernie pops out to third -- Sheff hits a high fly that dies in center, no carry, two down -- Matsui down looking to end the inning

1:37PM HST

TOP 2: Whoo, missed it -- laundry time LOL, one more hit, no runs

BOT 2: ARod walked -- Giambi down looking SO -- One out, runner at first -- Tino grounds out to second, ARod moves to second on the play -- two down, Flaherty goes down on strikes to end the inning

1:53 PM HST

TOP 3: Teixeira singled to right -- Dellucci grounded into fielder's choice, lead runner out at second -- one out runner on first, Mench doubled to deep center, one run scores, Rangers 5-0

Matthews Jr. grounded out to first, runner moves to third on the play -- Barajas strikes out swinging to retire the side

BOT 3: Womack flies to center -- Jeter flied out to right -- Bernie flies out to end the inning -- Young very much in control of the game thus far, cruising

2:08PM HST

TOP 4: Brown Ks Nix -- Brown gives Soriano, the chin music, after 0-2 -- Soriano pops out to second -- Blalock flies harmlessly to center for the third out

BOT 4: Sheff walks on four pitches -- Matsui RBI double, Sheff scores on the hit and run play -- Rangers 5-1

ARod quality AB but whiffs on the curve -- one down, runner on second -- Giambi must have the bat superglued to his shoulder, second time frozen pizza -- Tino strikes out to end the inning -- Young bounced back to strike out the side, great work

2:30PM HST

TOP 5: Young hits a comebacker at Brown, underhands to Tino for the out -- Teixeira singles by Tino into right field -- Womack gloves a hot shot, turns it into 2, and the side is retired

BOT 5: Flaherty struck out -- Womack quality AB, slaps a ball to the right field fence, in with a double -- Blalock looks Womack back to second, throws out Jeter for out #2 -- Bernie singles, Mench playing shallow -- guns out Womack at the plate to end the inning

2:45PM HST

TOP 6: Mench fouls out to first -- Matthews, Jr. and Barajas back to back singles, runners now first and second, one out -- Stanton and Karsay warming for the Yankees -- Nix hits a routine DP ball, Jeter to Womack for the force, the throw is off line to Tino -- two out, runners first and third, Soriano strikes out to end the inning

BOT 6: Sheff singles to center -- Matsui deep fly to left, Sheff retreats back to the bag at first -- One out, hit and run on, ARod grounds to short, only a play at first -- Chris Young leaves the game, good outing for Young vs. the Yanks today

Shouse in for Texas -- Giambi whiffs, his third SO this game

3:10PM HST

TOP 7: Stanton strikes out the side in order -- dominating

Seventh Inning Stretch, Rangers lead 5-1

BOT 7: Tino pops out to first -- Flaherty grounds to short -- Womack waves through one for out #3 -- Shouse Ks the side

3;26PM EST

TOP 8: Stanton great outing, 4 batters, 4 Ks -- he goes out, and in comes Quantrill -- Mench grounds to short -- Matthews, Jr. singles to right -- he steals second easily -- Barajas grounds out to retire the side

BOT 8: Jeter faces Regilio, the new TEX pitcher -- Jeter grounds to third --Bernie quality AB, scratches out the walk -- one down, runner on first -- Sheff gets his second base hit of the night, singles

One down, runners on first and second -- Matsui flies out to center, the runners hold -- two down, ARod gets frozen after a quality AB, tough one

3:56PM HST

TOP 9: Nix broken bat pop up to Jeter for out #1 -- Soriano grounds to Jeter, who guns him down -- Blalock flied out to center

Last chance for the Yankees ...

BOT 9: Mahay in for the Rangers -- Giambi easy ground out to first -- Sanchez PH for Tino -- Sanchez grounds to short, tough throw, Sanchez beats it out -- Phillips PH, dribbler to Mahay, can't field it, SAFE on the error

One out, runners at first and second -- Mahay taken out for the TEX closer

Posada PH to face Cordero -- Posada doubles to the fence in right, two runs score, Rangers now 5-3

Jeter flails at one, two down -- Bernie flies out to left to end the game

4:14PM HST

FINAL: Rangers 5-3
---

Yanks looked really flat today -- and the Kevin Brown getting gashed in the first inning for the second game in a row did not help

Yanks now 7-10 on the season

Tomorrow another game against Texas -- Jaret Wright getting the start for the Yanks after the shaky win against TB earlier this week -- Chan Ho Park will go for the Rangers

Posted by at 1:16 PM | Permalink

Well, I was thinking that after all this time, you would think someone would have invented or discovered some cure to the common cold -- oh well, let's give them a little more time

It's always tough to work in the office with people that have kids -- kids, well they get sick, they're kinda germy -- and that means parents get sick, and for some reason, no one uses sick leave APPROPRIATELY any more so they come and infect the whole office eventually

So for those who take sick leave when they are not sick, then have to come to work and get the rest of us sick -- try staying at home for a few days so that it doesn't keep rotating around the office

Posted by at 8:20 AM | Permalink

Little late coming in on the second game with the Jays

Oh yeah, and a sign the NYY is Satan Inc. -- guess what number entry this is LOL

Inside, impressions of NYY at TOR (16/162)

---

TOP 1: Jeter and Williams grounded out to short for outs one and two -- Sheffield struck out swinging for a rare SO to retire the side

BOT 1: Catalanotto grounded out to second, one away -- Zaun gets an infield single to second -- Hillenbrand also singles to center, runners now first and second, one away

Koskie down swinging, two away -- Two down, runners first and second, Wells grounds into the force at second to end the inning

(Note: We have the Toronto broadcast team today on MLBtv -- I came in with
no score, END 1)

1:25PM HST

TOP 2: Chacin strikes out Matsui -- walks ARod -- runner on first, one out for Giambi -- ARod caught off first, is run down CS -- Giambi lines out to second to end the inning

BOT 2: Hinske flies out to short right -- Rios flied to deep center -- Muss goes full count to Hudson after being down 3-0, then comes all the way back to K him

1:40PM HST

TOP 3: Posada grounds out to short -- Tino waves through a changeup SO -- Rey Sanchez was HBP -- Jeter grounds to Hudson and that retires the side

BOT 3: Muss Ks McDonald -- Catalanotto gets a single after running the count full -- Zaun crunches a double to left, just out of the reach of Matsui, now runners second and third

One out, runners second and third -- Hillenbrand is HBP, the bases are now full -- Muss the Gold Glover picks up the comebacker from Koskie, throws to Posada for one, who relays to first DP -- the Jay rally is extinguished by great defense

2:00PM HST

TOP 4: Bernie singles right up the middle, the first hit off Chacin -- Sheff doubled to deep center -- Bernie hustling to score from first, the throw is offline, Yanks 1-0 -- Sheff advances to third on the play

Matsui sac fly to left, Sheff tags up -- just beats the throw home, Yanks now 2-0

ARod grounds to short for the second out -- Giambi gunned down on a grounder to the hole between first and second to end the Yankee half of the 4th

BOT 4: Wells hits an easy grounder to Jeter, Jeter bobbles it, no throw E6 -- Muss gets Hinske to wave on the knucklecurve SO -- Rios grounds to Jeter, tags second unassisted and throws to first to complete the inning ending DP

2:15PM HST

TOP 5: Posada walks to leadoff the inning -- Tino singles to right, now runners at first and second, none out -- Sanchez sac bunt, moves the runners over

One down, runners second and third -- Jeter SF to deep left, the runners tag, one run scores, Yanks now 3-0

Two down, runner on third, Bernie singles to left, another run scores, Yanks 4-0
Sheff grounds to short, force play at second is the third out

BOT 5: Hudson singles off the mound and through the wickets -- McDonald singles to right, Hudson to third on the play -- no outs, runners at the corners

Catalanotto bloops one to center, one run scores, runners still at the corners and nobody out -- Yanks 4-1

Muss Ks Zaun for the first out of the inning -- Hillenbrand singles, one run scores, Yanks 4-2

Koskie grounds to Jeter, all he is going to get is the force at second, runners at first and third, two down -- Wells singles, one more run scores, Yanks 4-3

Two down, runners first and second -- Hinske flies out to center for the third out

2:50 PM HST

TOP 6: Chacin freezes Matsui on the payoff pitch -- ARod flares a single to center -- one down, runner at first, Giambi drives a single up the middle -- runners now first and second, one down

Posada, full count -- hits a high chopper up the middle, only a play at first, Posada is retired, two outs -- now runners second and third

Tino, quality AB, full count -- but ultimately goes down swinging to end the rally

BOT 6: Rios opposite field base hit -- Groom and FRod warming for the Yanks --
Muss loses Hudson on four pitches -- none out, runners at first and second

McDonald brilliantly executes the sac bunt -- now one down, runners second and third -- Mussina is done, Groom will come in for Yanks

Groom IBB the PH Johnson, bases loaded -- one down, Zaun pops up to second, infield fly rule -- now two down, FRod in for Groom to face Hillenbrand, and match up righty-righty

The 1-1 pitch is wild, but Yanks catch a break, it bounces right back to Jorge, runners do not advance -- Hard hit to Jeter, who gets the force throwing from his knees, to end the inning

3:23PM HST

TOP 7: Chulk in relief for Jays -- Sanchez grounds to third -- Jeter hard single past the diving third baseman -- Bernie turns around to face Chulk, and gets frozen by a breaking ball, two away -- Sheff flails after a nasty breaking ball SO for the third out

Seventh Inning Stretch, Yankees lead, 4-3

3:35PM HST

BOT 7: Koskie weakly pops to the second baseman -- Quantrill and Stanton are up warming -- Wells doubles to right

Torre in to get FRod, Stanton will be the new pitcher for the Yanks to go lefty vs lefty -- one down, Hinske flied to shallow center to short to tag the runner -- two down, Gordon in for the Yankees to face Rios

Jeter makes a filthy stab to rob Rios of a single, and guns him out to end the inning

3:48PM HST

TOP 8: Matsui and ARod both grounded out to start the inning -- Giambi gets away from Schoeneweis BB -- Bubba PR for Giambi at first -- Posada gets a two out single, Crosby gets to third on the play

Two down, runners at the corners, Tino strikes out for out #3

BOT 8: Gordon still in for Yanks -- Hudson walks -- Adams PH for McDonald -- Gordon whiffs Adams, Hudson took off for the steal, is in safely -- They are sending him back to first calling interference on Adams, similar play last night

Johnson, the whiff, two down -- Zaun grounds to short, Jeter another great play, throws to second for the force -- the Jays are retired

4:10PM HST

TOP 9: Sanchez flies out to right -- Jeter beats the off balance throw from Hudson, single -- Bernie back to the left side -- Bernie grounds into the 463 side retiring DP

BOT 9: Rivera in, save situation, will face the heart of the Blue Jays order -- Hillenbrand pops up, it's almost a campfire defense, as Tino reacts in time to dive for the out -- Koskie flies out to deep center, two away -- Wells singles past Jeter who was playing him to pull

Ok, this whole the pitcher gets hit crap is pissing me off -- Mariano gets hit in the glove in self defense, that's a single to center -- runners now at first and third

Rivera still in, will face Rios -- two down, 42 shuts the door by getting Rio to ground hard to Sanchez, who throws him out to end the game

4:25PM HST

Final: Yankees win, 4-3

Nice to get the two game sweep over the Jays, Yankees now 7-9 on the season

--

Yankees return home to the Bronx tomorrow to face Texas, and will begin a nine game homestand (and 13 of the next 17 at home) -- Kevin Brown is slated to start for the Interlocking --

Posted by at 1:22 PM | Permalink

Stupid consumption item I am currently tempted by:
Sin City sculpt action figures in B&W

--

Okay, so we've known for a while that Tesla was touring with Def Lep -- and adding our bizarre logic, they are both scheduled for cover albums -- my question is, wouldn't it be weird to go see these two bands in concert and then have them do stuff from other artists (because that's their "new" stuff)

It's like double nostalgia

---

The rise of the tribute bands -- it seems like more than ever there are a ton of tribute bands out there -- I think before they used to just be a curiosity in big concert towns like LA, where there's a show somewhere every night -- now they are touring all over including backwater Paradise

It's kinda interesting -- if your favorite band can't get their shit together, no problem -- there's if your band doesn't play a set of their old stuff, no problem -- it's like the ultimate cater to the fans, when the real isn't about to tour anytime soon

Posted by at 8:58 AM | Permalink

After a traffic riddled late morning, having to drive to Ewa Beach -- when they were doing construction in front of St. F West -- and stopped traffic for a good 20 minutes to do work -- and then coming out was a bear, too

Traffic really sucks -- even when they are trying to improve the road LOL

Inside, impressions of NYY at TOR (15/162)
---

TOP 1: Jeter struck out looking -- Bernie flied out to deep right, two away --Sheffield flied out to left

BOT 1: Catalanotto singled to left, out at second trying to stretch it --
Zaun also singles, an infield hit to second -- Hillenbrand grounds into an inning ending 463 DP

TOP 2: Matsui doubled to deep left -- ARod also booms a double to deep left center, one run scores, Yankees lead 1-0

Three two baggers in a row, Sierra doubles to deep left, another run scores, the lead is now 2-0

Posada grounds to short, one away, runner to third on the play -- Tino flied out to right, two down

Womack singles to left, another run will score, Yankees now lead 3-0

Jeter grounded out to second to end the rally

BOT 2: Koskie popped out to shallow left center -- Wells down swinging, two away -- Hinske flies to center for the third out

TOP 3: Bernie draws a leadoff walk -- On the Sheffield strikeout looking, Williams stole second -- Matsui grounds out to first, runner to third on the play, two down -- ARod flies out out right center to retire the side

BOT 3: Rios tripled to deep right -- Hudson sac fly to center, one run scores, the Yankees now lead 3-1

One down, Adams singles to center

So we begin today's Yankees fan journal with seeing a truly bizarre play -- Catalanotto struck out, and Posada attempting to throw the ball to second, beaned the ball of his helmet and into right field

Catalanotto was called for interference and the runner was sent back to first -- Zaun also goes down on strikes to retire the side

We begin in the fourth inning, Yanks up 3-1

1:56PM HST

TOP 4: To lead off the Yank half, Sierra laces what the broadcaster called his 2nd double of the day (and 5th overall) -- Posada knocks a double nearly to the identical place where Sierra's hit was, Sierra scores, Yanks 4-1

Still none out, Tino walks, runners now 1st and 2nd -- Womack sac bunts, runners move up -- Lilly gets the hook

Walker now pitching for the blue birds -- Jeter hits a seeing eye single, Pos scores, Tino is held up -- Yanks now, 5-1

Runners on the corners, one out -- Bernie singles to left, Tino scores, Jeter to third, Yanks, 6-1 -- still runners at the corners, one down

Walker Ks Sheff, two down -- Gajira draws a walk after falling behind in the count, 0-2 -- Bases loaded for ARod -- full count -- inside, Ball 4 -- one run scores, Yanks 7-1 -- bases still loaded, now for Giambi -- Giambi hits a teaser to the warning track in center to end in the inning

BOT 4: Well, missed that LOL

2:30PM HST

TOP 5: Posada singled to left -- Tino caught looking SO -- Womack flied out to right -- Jeter walked, runners at 1st and 2nd -- Bernie also walks, bases loaded for Sheff -- Sheff grounds out to retire the side

BOT 5: Hinske lines out to center -- Rios grounds out to short -- Hudson with a two out double to left -- Adams grounds out to second to end the inning

2:44PM HST

TOP 6: Whiteside in for the Jays -- Gajira grounds out to first -- one out walk to ARod -- Whiteside loses Giambi BB -- one down, runners at first and second

Posada drives one deep to right, a 3-run homer, Yanks now, 10-1 (his 1st HR of the year) -- Tino grounds to second for the second out

Womack is HBP -- Jeter grounds out for the third out

BOT 6: Womack makes a great stab on a grounder, but a low throw allows Catalanotto to get on first -- Myers singles, runners at the corners -- Hillenbrand grounds into a brilliant DP, what a 360 by Jeter! -- one run scores, Yanks 10-2
Koskie pops up to second to end the inning

3:07PM HST

TOP 7: Bernie singles when Menechino can't make the play on a grounder -- Bernie looks to be hurt -- Bernie comes out of the game, Bubba in as PR -- Sheff doubles, runners at second and third -- Matsui grounds out, one run scores -- Yanks, 11-2

ARod frozen pizza on a breaking ball, two down -- Two down, runner on third, Giambi having a quality AB, but strikes out swinging for out number three

Seventh inning stretch ... Yanks 11-2

3:20PM HST

BOT 7: Wells smokes one but right at ARod, one out -- Hinske flies to left -- Rios flies to right to end the inning

TOP 8: Posada grounds out to short -- Tino grounded out to first -- Womack SO to retire the side

BOT 8: Pavano starts the inning, PC 84 -- Menechino flies out to left on the first pitch -- Adams flies out to right for out number two -- Catalanotto singles to right with two down -- Myers lined out to center to end the inning

3:37PM HST

TOP 9: Speier in for Jays to face Jeter -- full count, Jeter singles up the middle -- Crosby down on strikes -- Sheff singles to center, runners at first and second, one out

Matsui just missed going yard, two outs -- ARod grounds into a force at second for the third out

BOT 9: Karsay takes over for Pavano -- Hillenbrand pops to right -- Koskie whiffs -- Johnson grounds out to short to end the game

3:50 PM HST

FINAL: Yankees 11-2

Again, have to wonder whether all the mojo left the bats with today's offensive performance

---

Yanks back on the winning side of the ledger, now 6-9 on the season

Tomorrow the closing game of the short two game road trip also in Toronto

Penciled in as starters, Mussina for NY and Chacin for TOR

Posted by at 1:58 PM | Permalink

Well, the Mraz is touring with Alanis on her Jagged Pill Acoustic tour this summer -- and we finally have a release date on the new "Mr. A-Z" -- now coming on July 26th

---

I was thinking that I wouldn't mind seeing Colin Hay live, yes he of the former Men At Work -- apparently he is doing standup comedy now, yes I am as surprised as you are -- well, he does play some shows, too -- so perhaps one of these days he'll swing into our part of the woods

---

Spot check on the Norah show tix -- well, you can now sit in section 24, row M -- seems like a pretty good indication that the show is pretty close to being sold out -- I never imagined seeing her in an arena, so we'll see ... Saturday should be good

---

While on TixBasterd, I saw that two cover bands were playing Pipeline towards the end of next month -- Kiss Army and Buddhist Priest -- so I guess we can see real cover bands instead of spending money on bands doing covers -- really, it's not a riddle LOL

---

Denison Marrs - Denison Marrs

I'm really enjoying the music of Denison Marrs -- I suppose I'm really late to get on the bandwagon on this -- their song "Disappear" of their 2004 release, I am playing and liking a lot (the vox sounds similar to Bono) -- their music is best described as new retro 80s new wave/college rock sounding -- and they are an Inspirational band -- it's pretty cool to see that this is another Xtian band that really has a legitimate rock sound -- if I were to describe who they are close in sound to is that they have elements of U2, HHH, Joy Div/New O and Modest Mouse

They also have a previous release, "Then is the new now" -- with a crunchy rocking version of 80s new wave classic "Send Me An Angel" -- IMO the self-titled newer album is the better album, but this one also is highly listenable if you liked the 80s new wave/college rock style

Posted by at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Well, today we have the Rays feed on the MLBtv -- hopefully all the mojo didn't leave the Yankee bats after that awesome offensive performance

Inside, impressions of TB at NYY (14/162)

---

1:07PM HST

TOP 1: Crawford first pitch swinging, weakly grounds to Tino -- Sheff hauls in a high pop fly to right center -- Lugo strikes out on a dropped ball, throw to Tino is out #3

BOT 1: Nomo now sporting the long sideburn look -- Jeter singles to leadoff -- Jeter gunned out trying to steal on the first pitch to Bernie -- Bernie pops out to short, on the payoff pitch -- Sheff flies to deep left center to end the inning

1:20PM HST

TOP 2: Huff hit by the first pitch of the inning on the side of his right knee -- Perez strikes out (RJ 2) -- Cantu flies out to right, two down -- Phelps singles to left, runners now at 1st and 2nd -- Hall grounds to Jeter to end the inning

BOT 2: Matsui grounds out to first -- ARod caught looking SO -- Two down, Giambi solo shot to right on an 0-1 pitch, Yanks 1-0 -- Pos flies out to end the inning

1:37PM HST

TOP 3: Sanchez strikes out (RJ 3) -- Crawford grounds out to third -- Gonzalez also strikes out to end the inning (RJ 4)

BOT 3: Tino softly pops to third -- Womack hits a comebacker to Nomo, he is retired -- Jeter beats out a bounding grounder to second, single -- Bernie flys to right for the third out

1:50PM HST

TOP 4: Lugo is frozen on a breaking pitch, SO (RJ 5) -- Huff broken bat single -- Huff steals second on a low throw -- Perez hits a two run homer out near the retired numbers monument, Rays 2-1

Cantu dribbles one in front of the plate, thrown out by Posada -- two down, Phelps strikes out swinging (RJ 6) to end the inning

BOT 4: Sheff rips one to right, but Huff is there for the out -- Gajira walks after running up a full count -- ARod flies to right --two down, Giambi SO looking

2:10PM HST

TOP 5: Hall grounds out to third -- Sanchez SO swinging (RJ 7) -- Crawford grounds out to second -- quick inning by the Big Unit

BOT 5: Posada with a leadoff walk -- Tino first pitch swinging, hits one high and deep -- and foul -- Tino hits a sharp grounder up the middle, Pos on the hit and run is tagged out by Lugo, and Tino is thrown out at first DP

Womack singles -- two down, Jeter smacks a double to the gap, cut off by Huff -- waving Womack home from first, he is gunned out easily to end the inning

2:25PM HST

TOP 6: Gonzalez lined out to center -- Lugo hits a liner just outside the right field foulpole, that's a long strike -- Lugo frozen pizza SO (RJ 8) -- two down, Huff grounds to Womack to retire the side

BOT 6: Bernie first pitch swinging, grounds to first -- Sheff walks on four pitches -- Gajira hits a seeing eye single past Lugo, runners now on first and second, one out

ARod flies harmlessly to center, runners have to stay -- two down, Rays change the pitcher, as Giambi comes up -- Giambi is blown away with three straight fastballs from Trever Miller

2:45PM HST

TOP 7: Perez smacks his second HR almost to the same spot, after bouncing on the top of the fence -- Rays now, 3-1

The color man for the DRays is a homer, he's annoying to listen to -- so I mute the volume LOL

Cantu lined out to right -- Phelps is hit by the pitch -- still one out, runner at first -- Hall long fly out to left -- Sanchez flies out to end the inning

Seventh inning stretch, Rays 3-1

BOT 7: Posada seeing eye leadoff single -- at this point, Yankees EIGHT hits, none timely -- Tino smokes one down the line ... Foul -- damn!

Full count on Tino, he singles after a quality AB -- Posada to third, now runners first and third, none away -- Womack singles on the first pitch, lined to center, one run scores, TB now, 3-2

The hook comes for Miller, Jeter next up -- Harper in for Rays -- runners at first and second, still no one out

Jeter grounds into a DP, Tino to third -- two outs, man on third, Bernie having a quality AB, ruining out pitches -- Bernie pops out foul to the left side of home plate

3:15PM HST

TOP 8: Crawford singles -- Gonzalez singles up the middle, runners now first and third, none out -- Lugo grounds out to ARod, holds the runners -- runners now second and third, one away

Jeter has a grounder hit to him, he boots it E6, one run scores, Rays 4-2 -- runners now on the corners, one out -- that's all for RJ tonight

They bring in Flash -- well, I have no confidence in him, apparently Torre does -- Lee singles, one run scores -- on the play Huff out at second, Rays now 5-2

Cantu singles, one more run scores -- Ok, that's two straight hits, this guy is no mystery to any team so far this season -- I can only shake my head, Rays now 6-2

BOT 8: Three straight fly outs -- the Yankees spent it all last night

3:35PM HST

TOP 9: Gee, I guess when you don't win much, you have to put 42 in -- in a non-save just to get him reps -- Hall grounds off Mariano's hand to Jeter, and is put out -- ARGGHH, how many of the Yankee pitchers are going to get hit by balls this month!!!

42 will continue -- gets Sanchez to ground out to first -- then strikes out Crawford to end the inning

BOT 9: Giambi grounds out to Lugo -- -- Tino lines out to short to end the game

FINAL Rays 6-2

---

Well, Yanks honestly back where they deserve to be at this point of the season -- LAST PLACE, tied with the D-Rays

I'm no prophet but I am beginning to get the feeling that this is the year that the chickens come home to roost -- you can't buy a championship, it's just against the essential karma of the game

--
Big Unit notes
There are times when I notice RJ has lost some MPH off the fastball, but makes these really great pitches -- the hard luck part of it is that he has grooved some the past two outings and has been jacked out of the yard, as a result

--
Tomorrow, the Yanks start a short two game series in Toronto

Posted by at 1:08 PM | Permalink

Ok, so now I'm supposed to be afraid of becoming infertile -- as men are less likely to be infertile before 25, and more likely after 35 -- let me apply some analysis, that means that 26-34 somehow doesn't register on the range -- so somehow this study is fuct, and the story as well must be fuct

That means, this is another bogus story attempting to create fear -- I know that these stories are those, oh, I didn't know that kind of interest story -- the natural process of life is so gradual and intelligent that I just don't buy this crap

So when my biological infertility alarm goes on in October, I'll hit the snooze

---

The other thing is the "piling on" effect -- traffic sucks, the job market sucks, there is no affordable housing (rental or buy), there is very little green space --

To which I have to say to the media, uh no shit -- and stop it with the creating anxiety about it -- too bad you don't have anything to report on anyone in power trying to do something about it, but sheesh stop it already, we know

---

So I was thinking this morning while I was icing my knee and watching the coverage of the announcement of the new pontiff -- okay, so all churches spun off of this one ... also, that 265 pontiffs is pretty amazing in terms of the longevity of the institution

I know there's the whole Da Vinci/Holy Grail line of dubious thinking that places more importance on the attempts of people to hide secrets rather than pass on the gospel -- and I can think of nothing that is more contrary to the MANY evangelical passages in the Bible

So enough about that ... I was thinking okay, so who has it right? -- I know that a vast number of Protestant sects believe that the Big C church is somehow apostate and at times heretical ... in fact some cite passages out of the last chapter in the Bible to "prove" this

Okay, so if we track back history -- we have a break at the point where some believers thought that the Big C was becoming too ritualistic, too big, too indulgent of sinful nature, that worship was placed oddly, after saints, after the holy mother, etc. -- and that the man in the big hat had too much status, and questionable ability to intercede with God

As a person with much exposure to the Protestant side -- I found that as in many things, you get only one side of the story -- essentially you get the we don't need a man in the $5000 pointy hat argument; the whole belief is stronger than a ritual process; the whole confess to God, not man; etc.

Ultimately, to me I thought the separation was due to a process of man, in other words -- people who teach Xtianity teach it according to how they were taught it -- but at some point, someone made decisions as to what would be done, how people would worship, etc.

I know there are some that believe that you should follow what it says of how to worship in the Big B book -- ironically I believe it only says things such as the gathering of two or three -- there is no big hats, there is no laser light show, no jokes, it is just sincere worship

Sure, the other things may be comforting psychologically -- a gathering of a mass of believers, entertaining presentation that incorporates entertainment concepts (e.g., music, jokes, dance, plays, etc.) -- to me, at the end of the day, if there is a new covenant, the direct line is open to large G

That also means that much like the Xtians of old, it is equally valid to gather together in small groups -- fellowship and pray -- and this doesn't necessarily require a building, a mass of people you know and don't, etc. -- it is a personal and sincere express of religious belief

In other words, humble prayer and living a simple compassionate life

So, for the new pontiff, Benedict X,V,I for our Roman friends -- do well for others, for there are many that rely on you for spiritual care and feeding

As for me, it was an interesting time between crunches of Life cereal

Posted by at 8:23 AM | Permalink

Well, I can understand why they call the 162 game baseball regular season a marathon -- for those unconditioned like me, I already am getting tired -- and it's only game 13! LOL

Inside, impressions of Devil Rays at Yankees (13/162)

---

TOP 1: Crawford and Lugo grounded out to first for the first two outs -- Huff down looking to retire the side

BOT 1: Jeter grounded out to short -- Bernie grounded out to first, two away --
Sheffield popped out to shallow left to end the inning

TOP 2: Lee grounded out to first -- Cantu down swinging, two away -- Singleton grounded out to second to retire the side

(Note: Picked it up in the TOP 2 ... Kapolei Shopping Center is very difficult to get out of at lunchtime -- I think it's time to do traffic calming in Kapolei, odd to say it, but it's true)

1:20 PM HST

Jaret Wright retires the first six in order

BOT 2: BB to Matsui to start inning -- ARod two run shot to left, Yanks 2-0 --
Giambi doubles as Chris Singleton looked to have lost the ball attempting to make a sliding catch -- still no outs, runner at second

Posada grounds out to first, Giambi to third -- Tino rips a shot down the first base line, Singleton again having issues with the ball -- Throws to Lugo, beats Tino to the bag, and DOESN'T put on the tag -- Tino safe at second, a run scores, Yanks 3-0

Womack hits a hard grounder down the line that hits the first base bag and pops up over Travis Lee, Womack singles, Tino now at third -- after some cat and mouse, Torre puts on the hit and run, Jeter singles to right, Tino scores, Yanks 4-0

Still one out, runners at first and third -- Bernie singles to right, Womack scores, Jeter stops at second, Yanks 5-0 -- the Yankees have batted around -- Sheff lines a single to right, Jeter scores, Bernie to third, Yanks 6-0

Matsui singles through the hole, the bases loaded, still one out for ARod (who has already hit a homer this inning) -- ARod doubles, two runs score, Matsui holds at third -- Yanks now 8-0

Lester in for DRays -- Giambi walks loading em up -- Posada singles to right field, one run scores -- Yanks 9-0 -- at this point, each Yankee in the lineup has a hit

Tino has just hit his 11th GRAND SLAM of his career, Yanks now, 13-0

Womack thrown out by Lugo making a great defensive play near the second base bag -- now two down, Jeter draws a walk -- a fly out to right ends the inning

A 13 SPOT ... wow (with 11 hits)

2:05PM HST

TOP 3: Positive Test Sanchez draws a walk -- WP and Sanchez goes to second -- Hall lines one off Wright's leg and bounces off into foul territory, he singles and Sanchez to third -- Nick Green SO on a check swing

One down, runners at 1st and 3rd -- Crawford slaps a single to left, one run scores, Yanks 13-1 -- Runners now 1st and 2nd, Lugo singles, Hall scores, Yanks now 13-2 -- Jeter cuts off Sheff's throw but can't tag Crawford who had lingered off second

Huff grounds into a 663 DP to end the inning

2:15PM HST

BOT 3: Sheff on with a leadoff walk -- Matsui flies out to center

ARod just crushes one to left, two more runs -- that's 6 RBI in the game for ARod (who is 3 for 3 in the 3rd inning, with 2 HRs and a double, gaudy gaudy stats), Yanks now, 15-2

Giambi is HBP -- Posada with a broken bat popup out -- inning ends with a flyout

2:24PM HST

TOP 4: Sheesh, TB going down quietly, as I return from walking around outside in the dry West Oahu heat -- two down, runner at first -- Sanchez flies out to left

BOT 4: Hooboy, daydreaming here -- now two down, Bernie singled to right -- Sheff makes a really long out to end the inning

2:37PM HST

TOP 5: Hall singled -- Nick Green down on strikes -- Crawford singles, runners at first and second -- Lugo doubles, one run scores, runners at second and third, Yanks 15-3

Huff hits a three run homer -- Yanks 15-6

Lee walked, steals second -- Cantu singled to left, T. Lee to third -- Singleton singled to right center, T. Lee scored, J. Cantu to third -- Yanks 15-7

A. Sanchez grounded into double play to end the shaky inning by Jaret Wright

BOT 5: After Matsui singles, the Yanks go quietly

3:00PM HST

TOP 6: Wright walks the leadoff man Hall after getting off 0-2 on him -- Womack makes an outstanding over the shoulder catch on a bloop -- Crawford hits a hard grounder off ARod's glove for a single, great stop by ARod

Quantrill takes over with one down, Lugo singles off Jeter's glove to load the bases -- Huff SF, scores one, runners advance to 2nd and 3rd, Yanks 15-8 --
Q gets a flyout to left to end the inning

3:14PM HST

BOT 6: Jeter draws a 2-out walk -- Bernie singles to right -- the Yanks now have 15 hits to go with their 15 runs -- McClung in, and pops out Sheff to end the inning

3:25PM HST

TOP 7: Quantrill still in the game -- Cantu lines out to center -- Singleton singles, sounds oh so redundant LOL -- Sanchez hits one off Womack's glove for a single, runners now at 1st and 2nd

On a flyout, Singleton tags and goes to 3rd -- two down, runners now 1st and 3rd -- Green flies out to deep center to end the inning

3:35 PM HST

BOT 7: Matsui, broken bat grounder for the first out -- ARod doubles again (now, 4-for-5) -- Giambi singles up the middle, ARod scores, Yanks 16-8

Posada lines one to center, basehit -- Tino HBP to load em up -- Miller gets Womack SO -- two down, still bases loaded -- Jeter is walked, and a run comes home, Yanks 17-8

Jeter is forced at second to end the inning

3:55PM HST

TOP 8: FRod blows away Crawford SO-- Womack tracks down a high pop up for out 2 -- Huff grounds out to Womack to end the inning

BOT 8: Bubba Crosby hits a sharp grounder at third that is booted straight into the air -- Matsui grounds into a force, Crosby out at 2nd -- ARod singles, FIFTH HIT of the night -- sheesh, unbelievable

One down, runners at first and second -- Giambi walks on four pitches, bases loaded for Posada -- Posada hits a DP ball to SS, but legs it out safely, one run scores, Yanks 18-8

Two down, runners at first and third -- Tino singles, one run scores, Yanks 19-8 -- ARod has now scored 5 runs in a game for the second time in his career -- a ground out ends the inning

4:10AM HST

TOP 9: In my opinion, seems like FRod making the case to be the setup man for 42 -- Womack with a great defensive play for the first out -- HOO, Skippy the ball boy just snagged a stiff liner at him in foul territory

Cantu grounds out to ARod -- Bernie catches a short fly in center to close it out

FINAL: Yanks 19-8

The score, of course, mirrors last season's ALCS Game 3 bashing of the Red Stockings at Fenway

---

I suppose the panic at this point is a bit premature, the Yanks at this point last season were 6-7, on the way to a 101 win season -- this season 5-8 is worse but not markedly

Tomorrow Nomo and Big Unit are the projected starters

---

4:22PM HST

On a side note as a former Angeleno, enjoying the Dodgers start, that is defying the conventional wisdom that said that the LA-D were deadmen walking this season after losing so many key players from last year

BOT 9: LA-D at MIL

Watching Brazoban dominate the last up with moving heat -- Dodgers win again, what a start -- LA-D win, 7-3

Posted by at 1:21 PM | Permalink

I always thought that if you were committed to a place, you would be there all the time -- not just one time a week

I always thought that nice to have versus need to have meant -- that one should be reasonable in terms of deciding what they really needed -- like for example taking up two large office spaces in a full building when you work there only once a week -- yeah, exactly, that's need to have ... psshh

I always thought that if someone was there before you and had set up all their possessions, that you should kindly ask them to move -- wrong again, you can just move them up and out -- of course, don't involve them in consultations -- and of course just tell them when you have planned to move them, just because -- I guess the pilgrim/manifest destiny mentality still exists today -- then again, what do you expect from someone educated partly in New England

But what do I know ... back to moving -- I can feel our town improving as we speak -- smell that? that's progress ... would someone move the cow with horns and the nose ring away from me, please?

Posted by at 9:24 AM | Permalink

SIN CITY - REVIEW: A+

Well, SD and I finally got out to see Sin City -- actually we thought we would go see it as a matinee -- DOH, missed the matinee by 15 minutes, no matinee price after 4pm on weekends at Signature, take note of that everyone LOL

Review within ...

---

I guess I don't really need to gush about how much I love Frank Miller stuff -- and how his stuff just has the right balance of darkness, grit, and captures so deftly how human emotion can twist situations

It wasn't necessarily full of A-list acting talent -- but it was filled with the right casting decisions top to bottom -- Marv was really brought to life by Mickey Rourke, Reverend Roark by Rutger Hauer, Old Man by Bruce Willis ... it was just awesome -- I was really impressed by Benicio Del Toro as Jack the Dirty Cop, he always does so well when he sells out, this is no exception

It was really cool how the cinematography captured the comic concept of framing -- I have never seen it done so well -- I guess it's because other comics based films are more films than presentations of comic style

For example, the jail shot where Old Man was in the fetal position and the bars extended out to the frame -- classic comic framing -- or the depiction of the heavy rain and the highway when Old Man went out to look for Junior -- or the axe in the head stop pause centered shot when Marv was clobbering everyone -- just great

The whole black and white with splashes of color is captured so well that it is seamless in presentation -- I was wondering if it would be traditional B&W -- but instead it looked like B&W color wash much like white paper and ink -- cool

I think one can see how this source material gave some ideas to both RobRod and Q -- notable is the nice use of non-linear, context based story telling where the same characters appear in each scene or situation but contextually differently in terms of their role in the story

The material was dark and uncompromising, the violence made sense in the comic book sense, the situations were well, Milleresque

I think that overall, if you are a comic book fan, this one is about as close to the Grail of comic book movies -- if one is not, the stories are compelling enough to hold your interest, even if some of the style might be a bit overwhelming to initially absorb

That's all -- highly recommended.

Posted by at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Baseball! LOL

Inside impressions of NYY at BAL (12/162)

---

So here we is again ... Yankees closing out the six game road trips, lots of road woes thus far -- 1-4 -- and trying to avoid the first three game sweep of the season

7:40AM HST

TOP 1: With two down, Sheff hits a can of corn that falls in between three converging players -- Matsui gets a seeing eye single to right -- ARod weakly grounds to Roberts to force Matsui -- no score

BOT 1: With two down, Brown gives up a solo shot to Mora, Os 1-0 --- Tejada doubles -- Sosa singles in Tejada, Os now, 2-0 -- Palmeiro hits a ground rule double, Sosa to third

Brown got shelled after two outs -- it's getting real hard to watch

8:00AM HST

TOP 2: Yankees go down one, two, three -- Both Sierra and Tino had fastballs to hit that they missed -- and so it goes

BOT 2: Great 463 turned by the Yankees --Brown walks Roberts -- Newhan slaps one past ARod, runners now 1st and 2nd, two out -- Double Steal!

Now runners second and third, two outs -- and the Yanks looking like they just want to go home -- Brown walks em loaded -- Tejada GRAND SLAM, Os 6-0

Good Lord, this better build character because it certainly isn't fun to watch

8:20AM HST

TOP 3: Yankees again quiet as a church mouse, it is Sunday after all

BOT 3: Brown sets em down in order

8:30AM HST

TOP 4: Matsui gets his second single of the game -- ARod caught looking -- Sierra two really long outs -- Tino grounds to first

BOT 4: why not? Roberts ... single -- Os do no further damage

8:45AM HST

TOP 5: Flaherty leads off with a double -- two outs, runner at third -- Jeter singles, Yanks on the board -- Os 6-1

Sheff walks -- runners at first and second, two down -- Matsui is retired to end the inning

BOT 5: Great play to get Tejada -- Flaherty picks up a tick, fires to Tino who jumps then toes the bag like a ballerina to get the out

Brown pitching better now, 10 batters, only one hit

9:05 AM HST

TOP 6: ARod rips a double down the third base line to lead off the Yankee half of the sixth -- then Sierra after just missing on his first two ABs jacks one over the right field scoreboard, Os now 6-3

Tino drives one over the pitcher's head and into centerfield, still none out -- Flaherty makes a loud out to right -- Bubba Crosby just overmatched SO -- gets Womack

BOT 6: After a flyout to center, Cabrera for the Os taking congrats from Chen and Rodriguez in the Os dugout, looks like he is done for the day

Brown seems to be back in the groove now -- Flukey bloop that hits Womack after battling with the afternoon sun -- Brown then gets Roberts looking

9:30AM HST

TOP 7: Steve Reed now pitching for the Os, goes full count on Jeter before losing him BB -- Sheff hits one off the glove of Reed, Roberts picks it up, steps on second and fires to first for a DP -- Reed gets Matsui to ground out to end the inning

BOT 7: One out, runners on 2nd and 3rd, Sosa is intentionally walked to load the bases -- Yanks bringing in Stanton to match up lefty-lefty against Rafael Palmeiro -- Stanton walks in a run, Os 7-3

Matos singles, Tejada scores -- and Sosa is tagged out at the plate, Os 8-3

10:00AM HST After returning from doing laundry

TOP 8: ARod leads off with a solo shot, Os now, 8-4 -- Os bring in Kline to face Sierra -- Sierra rips one down the line for a double -- is it me or is that like six or seven today? LOL

Sierra on 2nd, none out -- Tino is popped up -- Posada PH grounds to second, Sierra moves over to third -- Bernie PH gets a four pitch pass BB -- Runners on 1st and 3rd, two down, for Womack SOs on a dropped ball -- thrown out to end the inning

Back to laundry LOL ...

BOT 8: Gil (pronounced Heel) grounds out -- Roberts singles, so what's new? -- Roberts gunned down by Posada, two down -- Surhoff flies out to end the inning

10:22 AM HST

TOP 9: For all the world looking like the Yanks will at least still have a share of the cellar at the end of the game -- BJ Ryan on in a non save appearance -- Jeter grounds out to third -- Get those brooms ready Baltimore fans -- Sheff singles -- the Yanks on the verge on being swept in Baltimore for the first time since late season 2000

Matsui pops out -- Baltimore one out away from equaling their season total of victories against the Yanks last year, five -- ARod hot shot to short, Tejada gloves it, guns to Roberts for the force ... game over

Final: Os 8-4

That concludes the first road trip of the season, the Yankees losing five of six -- and showing problems in all areas much like their record of 4-8 would indicate

--
Tomorrow starts the Toilet Bowl -- two game series between the cellar dwellers of the AL East, the D-Rays and the Yanks -- back in the Bronx

Posted by at 7:53 AM | Permalink

Okay, so I survived another Saturday morning traffic jam -- yes, that's right -- if you try to go into town from out west here on SAT morning -- uh, good luck to you -- and Godspeed

What I have noticed lately, however, is that people love to drive in packs here -- like a clump of 4-6 cars -- then there's a big space in front and back until the next clump -- I happen to think it's because well, vans don't go fast with families in them (so uh, slower traffic to the LEFT -- yes, that is no mistype)

The other thing is that the SUVs and Vans in the middle lane are naturally going slow -- because everyone is packed in -- and then everyone else just drives like a lunatic swerving and speeding around clumps of cars stuck behind vans, big trucks, and vans

Man, traffic is so for suck here -- even on weekends

Posted by at 2:53 PM | Permalink

Well, Yankees off to their worst start since 91 -- and Lord knows how bad that team was

Inside are impressions on NYY at BAL (11/162)

---

Came into the game late this morning, had to go to the doctor

12:25PM HST

TOP 5: Runners on 1st and 2nd (back to back walks), ARod up, no one down -- Yanks. 2-1 -- Poor flip by Roberts on a routine DP ball, Tejada forces the runner at 2nd, ARod safe on Tejada's high throw -- now runners 1st and 3rd, Sheff sends a hot liner to center, Matos catches the SF -- Yanks, 3-1

BOT 5: Leadoff single for Sosa after Muss fell behind 3-1 -- Gets Palmeiro to hit into a 463 DP -- then strikes out a batter to end the inning

12:40PM HST

TOP 6: Sierra first pitch swinging, weakly grounds to Roberts -- Giambi down looking SO -- Pos gets a BB -- Bernie grounds out to end the inning

BOT 6: Muss retires two, Gibbons singles -- Torre brings in Stanton to face Roberts, loses him to a BB -- Two down, Tanyon in to get Mora -- Mora singles up the middle, Gibbons scores, Yanks now, 3-2 -- Sturze gets Tejada to end the inning

1:05PM HST

TOP 7: Womack goes down looking -- Jeter hits a double to the gap -- ARod hits a ground rule double over Surhoff's head, Jeter scores -- Yanks, 4-2 -- Kline in for Lopez

Sheff gets intentionally walked by Kline -- WP to Matsui, runners move up to 2nd and 3rd -- Matsui grounds to Roberts, double clutches before throwing, the throw is late -- ARod scores on great hustle, 5-2

Sierra grounds a DP ball to Tejada -- Tejada tosses it over Roberts, everyone is safe -- one more run in, Yanks 6-2 -- next two batters SO

1:25PM HST

BOT 7: Sosa leads off with a double off the rightfield scoreboard -- Palmeiro flies out to center -- Javy hits a sinking liner, Sosa scores, Yanks 6-3

Surhoff lines out to Matsui -- Matos bloops it over Tino for a single -- Gibbons doubles down the left field line, one run scores, Yanks 6-4

Sturtze gets the hook, Flash in -- Roberts smashes one over right field for a three run homer -- Flash is having a bad start to 05, Os 7-6

Os get FIVE runs, the bullpen gives it back

1:43PM HST

TOP 8: Kline loses Bernie, after a quality AB, BB -- Womack bunts, Mora in perfect position, guns down the lead runner -- Mazzili takes out Kline

One down, Womack at first -- Todd Williams in for the Os -- Williams gets out in front 0-2 on Jeter -- now, full count -- loses Jeter BB, now runners at 1st and 2nd -- Yanks send the runners, stay out of the DP, ARod grounds out, two down

Sheff, two times in a row, IBB -- loads em up for Gajira -- BJ Ryan in for the Os, lefty v lefty --

First pitch -- Ryan smokes one by, big swing and a miss
Second pitch -- Smokes another one by, another big swing
Three balls to a full count -- Gets Matsui swinging on the heat to end the inning

I know it wasn't favorable for the Yanks, but you gotta like that

2:05PM HST

BOT 8: Flash gets the Os to go fairly quietly, only BB to Palmeiro

2:15PM HST

TOP 9: Ryan Ks Sierra -- Sanchez pinch hits and singles -- K's Posada -- two down, runners at 1st and 2nd

Flaherty comes in as a PH -- bloops one to short center, but Roberts is there for the out

Final: Os 7-6

Os have now won 4 of 5 against NYY -- and that Brian Roberts is a great player

Posted by at 12:33 PM | Permalink

Welcome to National Tax Day -- or render to Caesar what is his day

Inside is impressions of NYY at BAL (10/162)

---

I haven't got to watching this too much because we are in the process of moving offices in our building

Did see the BOT 1, where Mora hustled out a double, then Tejada drove him in with a triple off the scoreboard in right, Os 1-0

3:35PM HST

Back into the game, looks like the Os have broken it open, it is now, Os 8-1

BOT 6
I guess I missed all the heart rending damage as the Os broke it open and ran 7 across the plate

Here's the breakdown according to Yahoo! Sports:
- M. Tejada homered to deep right center, Os 2-1
- S. Sosa homered to deep left, Os 3-1
- R. Palmeiro safe at first on R. Sanchez's fielding error
- J. Gibbons lined out to second
- L. Matos singled to right center, R. Palmeiro scored, Os, 4-1
- L. Bigbie walked, L. Matos to second
- B. Roberts singled to left, L. Matos scored, L. Bigbie to second, Os 5-1

- F. Rodriguez relieved C. Pavano

- M. Mora walked, L. Bigbie to third, B. Roberts to second
- M. Tejada walked, L. Bigbie scored, B. Roberts to third, M. Mora to second,
Os 6-1
- S. Sosa ground rule double to deep center, B. Roberts and M. Mora scored, M. Tejada to third, Os 8-1

3:57PM HST

Yanks going quietly in 7 and 8 -- Os seeming to taper off and settle in -- another great pitching effort by Bruce Chen vs. the Yankees

BOT 8: Man, this Brian Roberts is a great player, he singles to lead off against Quantrill -- his BA prior to the single was .415, wow -- inning ends on a hot shot to ARod, 543 DP -- great play

4:07PM HST

TOP 9: Last chance for the Interlocking LOL -- Chen going for the CG -- Yanks have had only one baserunner since scoring their one run -- Sheff singles with 2 outs, but the Yanks go down

4:13PM HST
Final score: Os, 8-1

---

Yanks now 4-6 on the season, looked very flat and tired -- I guess playing Boston and then the excitement last night will do that to you

Oh well, laundry time

Posted by at 3:44 PM | Permalink

It's funny, I was looking at some of the statistics on the Last/AScrob page -- and I thought to myself -- partly, that's what happens when you just let the iT run by itself -- and that even though it's intended to track how you listen, for some reason, I wanted to manipulate it -- unfortunately, I don't have the time or patience to program a playlist, especially if I'm not going to sit through and listen to what I've programmed -- essentially I have too much itchy fingers to listen to a playlist clean

Anyways, I read this morning from the man himself, M-Raz that he is having vocal problems that require medical care and rest -- well, I hope he irons it out and continues to provide us all with great music over a LONG career

As you can tell, still too damn lazy to set up links within my entries, even if it is way too easy -- I figure, why deny people the joy of search surfing to find what I'm talking about LOL -- I'm an ass

I'm thinking that I should unsub myself from some of these constant political mailings that I get -- actually, I got so frustrated with one list that I was on, that I was like -- sheesh, how can these guys sit here every day and write basically the same thing over and over and over -- and then spend endless hours pulling articles -- I mean, really, it is Hawaii -- go outside for at least a minute

Oh I saw an internet pull ad ask if Clinton or Bush II was a better President -- that's like asking people whether the sky is blue or orange

Was listening to WOXY this morning -- and I thought to myself, what is the point of listening to all this really really new music, when there is no way to get my hands on it -- and of course, I certainly will not pay import prices for CDs anymore -- again defeated by distribution that should really be universally dropped everywhere at once, if at all possible

Posted by at 9:33 AM | Permalink

Again, coming in a little late to the game, today was the first day back for Washington, DC baseball in 34 years -- that's great

Inside impressions about Yanks-Sawx (9/162)

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Well, the excitement that I just saw is Doug Flutie catching a foul ball -- and yes, he brought his glove

The in-the-stands reporter interviewed him -- and he said this is the 4th consecutive game -- yes, in a ROW -- that he has caught a foul ball at a Sox game

1:30PM HST

TOP 2: Giambi lined a single into the short corner in right field -- this sounds totally irrelevant but Corn Rows Arroyo is now Blonde Mane Arroyo -- Two down, runners at the corners (announcers said this is the second straight inning of 1st and 3rd ARod flew out in the 1st inning in that situation) -- Womack lined out to Bellhorn to end the inning -- oh well, there goes scoring chance TWO

BOT 2: RJ pops out Ortiz first pitch swinging -- with a full count, Millar peppers the Green Monsteh, only a single -- Gets Varitek, uno dos adios SO -- Jay Payton jacks an 0-2 pitch for a 2-run HR, Sawx 2-0

1:45PM

TOP 3: DJ leads off with a double down the line in right -- Sheff first pitch swinging flies out to right center -- Gajira doubles off the Green Monsteh, the Yankee Captain scores, RS 2-1 -- "Karate Chop/Fight Instigator" ARod weakly pop fouls out to Millah -- Jorge grounds out to the end the inning

1:53 PM
Just saw a commercial for Sullivan Tiyeh

BOT 3: RJ mows down Bellhorn -- walks Frosted Hair Jesus -- Damon steals second -- Renteria hits a scraper over the Green Monsteh, another 2 run homer, Sawx now, 4-1 -- BU strikes out Manny and then makes frozen pizza of Ortiz -- RJ strikes out 3 but the damage is done

2:05PM HST

TOP 4: With one down, Tino singles -- Arroyo throws Bernie a variety of breaking balls at 0-2, and he walks -- now for the third time tonight, two down, runners on 1st and 3rd, this time for Jeter -- takes it to a full count -- Arroyo walks another batter after being ahead in the count

Two down, now bases loaded for Sheff -- again full count -- ball 4, that brings in a run, RS 4-2 -- the umpire has thrown out Sox bench coach Jackson -- Francona out, and now Jack out to get his money's worth

Gajira continues to PWN Arroyo -- two run single, third RBI for Matsui tonight, evened up at 4 -- still two down, runners now at 1st and 2nd -- Cobra Kai Master ARod now up -- ARod bloops a single, Sheff hustles in from 2nd -- Yanks 5-4

Four run two out rally for the Yankees

2:30PM HST

BOT4: RJ pops out Millah -- Varitek crushes one over the Monsteh, tied back up at 5 -- three HRs now for the Sox against the Big Unit, go figure -- Payton strikes out -- RJ not happy with the call as he threw two pitches into almost exactly the same location -- the umpire not happy after last inning and now RJ with the WTF arm gesture

Next pitch, RJ gets a strike call on what looks like a ball -- Francona ejected when he comes out to argue balls and strikes -- Sheff catches a fly to end the inning

This is shaping up to be one of the more odd yet entertaining games of the young season

2:40PM HST

TOP 5: Giambi grounds out to Bellhorn on the outfield grass, as the shift was on -- Tino grounds out to second -- Bernie grounds out to Bellhorn to end the inning -- Arroyo gets his first 1-2-3 inning, but has thrown over 90 pitches already

BOT 5: Bellhorn strikes out for the 2nd time -- RJ now at 7Ks -- RJ shakes his head, now the umpire yelling at him -- he's yelling back -- bizarre -- Jesus grounds out softly -- Sox go in order as Renteria grounds out to ARod

2:50PM HST

TOP 6: Womack flied out -- Jeter SO -- Two down, Sheff hits one just under Renteria's glove for a single -- pitching change, as Matsui comes up (3 for 3 on the game) -- Embree now in facing Matsui -- Matsui flies out deep to center to end the inning

3:00PM HST

BOT 6: The amazing stat here is that the Sawx have only 4 hits, THREE are home runs -- damn. Manny walks to leadoff the inning -- Matsui made an amazing catch on a dying quail near the garage door in left field to put out Ortiz -- RJ strikes out Millah for SO #8 -- pops out the Sox captain Tek for out 3

3:10PM HST

TOP 7: ARod down on strikes to lead off the 7th -- Posada lined out -- Giambi pops out to right -- Embree has great stuff tonight

Time for the stretch, time for me to go to the office facilities LOL

3:20PM HST

BOT 7: RJ strikes out Payton for SO #9 -- one out single for Mueller -- Sturze warming up for Yankees -- Bellhorn grounds into an inning ending 543 DP

3:30PM HST

TOP 8: Surprisingly, Foulke in already for Sox, even though the game is tied -- the question now is whether Yanks can push runs across to get Johnson a chance at a W, otherwise he is in for a ND -- Tino walks to leadoff the inning, Bubba brought in to pinch run -- on the strikeout pitch to Bernie, Crosby steals second -- Womack strikes out and Jeter flies out to end the inning

3:43PM HST

BOT 8: Flash in, Jesus singles -- Renteria doubles to left center, Damon scores easily, Sawx go ahead, 6-5 -- Manny makes a loud out to Matsui, Renteria holds -- Ortiz is intentionally walked, runners on 1st and 2nd with one down

Varitek singles, Flash has no clue against the RS -- the ball rolls along the right field wall -- and WHOA, a fan just took a shot at Sheff -- and maybe someone threw their beer at Sheff --

Fuck, that looked like a fan false cracked Gary Sheffield -- 2 runs score, Sawx 8-5 -- and now Sheff is back at the wall confronting the fan -- umps are out, security is out, the Yankees are by the wall

Two outs, Varitek at third, this game is now ugly and just another weird Sox-Yankees incident -- it will probably cost the Yankees the game -- I think it wouldn't be unreasonable for the umps to call Tek out and put the runners back, but apparently that won't happen

4:01PM HST
Still two down, Stanton in for Flash, Trot in to PH -- wow, frozen pizza on a nasty slow bubble ball

4:05 PM HST

TOP 9: Sheff just went Vlad Guerrero, hitting a fastball literally inches off the ground high off the Monsteh for a double --

During Matsui's at-bat -- what the hell is with these fans jumping and leaning onto the field to swipe at balls all game long -- Foulke walks Gajira, now runners at 1st and 2nd, none out

ARod, quality AB against Foulke -- almost makes me wonder if the time he spent on the bench has dissipated his mojo -- full count, ARod hits a long, scary, loud out right at the base of the Monsteh, killed by the wind

4:15 PM HST

One down, Timlin up in the pen for the Sawx -- pitch 40 for Foulke makes the count 3-0 on Posada -- full count as Pos barely misses fair on a ground shot --Pos pops up weakly on a high pitch that would have been Ball 4 -- two down

Well, the hopes sit on Mr. Apologize for Can't Say What -- 3-1 to Giambi, Ruben in the on deck circle -- runners will go on full count -- 51 pitches for Foulke, 32 this inning -- Giambi walks, the bases are loaded for Sierra

First pitch is a high ball
Second pitch is fouled off, Tek and Mueller converge, Tek makes a great catch at the stands, Sox win, 8-5

---

Season series
Yanks: 3
Red Sox: 3

Tied at 3, both teams winning series 2-1 at home

Posted by at 1:29 PM | Permalink

Ok, so why do local J families always either eat at the local chopsuey or at J food, for all family dinners?

Family dinner with the other side of the family -- I hardly have family dinner with the other side -- usually it's when my JW aunt -- and yes, JW is a religion -- comes here to "visit"

Well, I wouldn't call it a "visit" as much as it is she's conveniently here because her church is having some function here -- well, this time she's on her way to Nippon for apparently church and travel reasons, so off to dinner we go

Now, there's something that I wish to say about my other aunt -- who actually lives here -- I never truly understand where she's coming from

So the story this time is that my very estranged cousin wanted the family to meet his new wife from Japan -- so my aunt said well, if the schedules all matched up, she could have come to dinner at her house

But since we are having dinner out at a restaurant, now she can't come? ... I just don't get it

The other issue that I have is that I don't understand how when plans are made for dinner that they didn't say oh, bring SD -- this irritates me more than slightly

I have a feeling it's my aunt, no not the one from the mainland that has done this oversight -- I guess 5 years is not long enough to have that info sink in when you hardly see someone? not

The stupid part is, when we are there, they will say oh, how come SD didnt come? -- to which I will say, well gee, you didn't say to bring her now did you? well, I'm not the one doing the inviting now am I? -- yeah, I so would say that

I think as local J people we are kind of repressed in that sense -- like we don't say what bothers us, until it goes FULLY volcano -- and that's unfortunate because misunderstandings can become very huge given years and years passing by

---

SD and I were talking about the siege mentality couple of nights ago -- well, actually I was

If I were to define it, it is how when local Japanese women here have a kid, married or not -- their family at some point, should the relationship go south with the father -- adopt a siege mentality and just get on with life

Often, the family will care for it in an extended manner -- where mom might be still going to school (or try and get her life together), and her parents (the actual GPs) are the ones raising and caring for the kid -- so the child develops a quasi-parental bond with their grandparents

I'm not really sure why it is that it still happens today -- but believe me, it does -- and I guess if you are the guy in that situation, well you're either really and truly off the hook -- or you're screwed, you probably won't have an iota to do with your child's life

But I guess, it's "okay" because by the time that the mother gets her stuff together -- well perhaps some other good hearted local guy, most likely Jpnse, will be good enough to marry the woman and incorporate that child into their new family

The odd thing that I find about this thing is how the women have children from typically non-Jpnse guys -- and then later a substantial number of them marry Jpnse guys -- I mean, I really don't know what to make of it at all, especially in light of the fact that realistically speaking, there aren't that many "pure J" guys around

It's just a funny thing I noticed -- there really is no point about it, other than just thinking aloud about stuff I have observed

Posted by at 12:31 AM | Permalink

I got into the game late this afternoon, little busy at work -- I'll probably watch from the beginning later

As it stands right now, the Interlocking 2-1, BOT 5

(Update: Yankees win, 5-2)

As always, game info within, NYY at BOS (8/162)

3:05 PM HST
Not really paying close attention, seems like I went away from the computer for a few -- next thing I know the game is tied (Nixon jacked one), 2-2

Otherwise, Wright and BFM are in a pitching duel, although both have high pitch counts going into the 6th

3:11 HST
With one down, Giambi just took BFM over the wall in right with his golf shot looking swing for a two run jack, Yanks 4-2

3:14
So once again, my theory is beginning to look more like law -- when the Bombers bomb -- they put up big offense and runs, Bernie just jacked one to the centerfield bleachers, now 5-2 Bombardiers

That results in BigFknMouth getting the hook from Francona -- Timlin came in and put out the fire

3:24
Tanyon now in the game for Jaret

3:40
Having a hard time following this game, still 5-2 NYY -- Just saw Pos get frozen pizzaed by Neal to end the inning, with Sheff on third -- Time for the 7th inning stretch

3:44
Sheesh, Sturtze mowing them down fast this half inning -- two down fast, third down with a check swing tick

3:48PM HST
Mike Myers now in for the RSox -- got out of the inning with a DP, no big trouble

3:55
Flash in for the Yankees now -- gets a quick first out, gets Capt. Tek to ground out for dos, and gets Mueller to fly out, adios -- bullpen doing well today, 9 straight Red Stockings retired

4:03 PM HST - Top 9
Halama in for RS -- gets Jeter to ground out -- Sheff hits an absolute bomb foul that caroms of the left field upper deck facade then back onto the field -- Vasquez, RS 2nd baseman, drops an easy fly -- Sheff on first -- Gajira SO, 2 down -- ARod grounds out, forcing Sheff at 2nd

And now, it's time for 42!!!

BOT9
Mariano going for his first save against the Sox this season in 3 tries -- Womack makes a great diving stab in the hole at 2nd of a Bellhorn smash -- Womack fields an easier grounder for out Dos -- 42 gives up a walk to Nixon -- Womack a busy inning picks up a soft grounder from Manny and goes to Tino to end it

That was a more Rivera of old like performance, he gets his first save against the Sox this season -- the Yankees even up their overall record this year to 4-4

Tomorrow, the rubber match of this three game set

----

Season Series (5/19)
Yanks: 3
Sawx: 2

Yankees: 2-1 Bronx 1-1 Beantown
Red Sox: 1-2 Bronx 1-1 Beantown

Posted by at 2:57 PM | Permalink

Looking out for you?

I have been wondering out loud about such things lately as it has seemed that there are many aspects of life now where government no longer provides a buffer against insecurity or bad turns of events -- I guess I take it personal because economic insecurity is something near and dear to our hearts here in 5-0

I have always had a problem with the way that credit cards are marketed and so easily obtained -- Well soon coming to an America near you, a bill favored by the credit card companies that will make it harder for people with massive credit card debt to seek bankruptcy

Of course, this is necessary, because in the estimation of the credit card companies -- well, they have nothing at all to do with this, RRIIIGGGHT -- people abuse credit cards and then the bankruptcy law

Of course, the facts that most personal bankruptcies are due to unanticipated medical conditions, divorce, or job loss seem to have eluded the discussion -- oh by the way, our senior Senator in Washington (you know, the guy that brings all the money he can carry home to us) voted in favor of it -- tell me, what state is he from, again? That sounds a lot like the reasons why the back pages of PBN are cluttered and obliterated by bankruptcy, foreclosure, and lien listings -- so what state is he from again? And wouldn't it help more Hawaiians to prevent the passage of this bankruptcy reform bill -- rather than pass the Akaka bill, just wondering aloud

Someone should help get out the information in this age of Schiavo, MJ, and sensational stories about where to glut yourself on cheap eats -- I find it very humorous that a week or two ago, the senior Senator decided to write an op-ed about his position on Alaskan drilling, and no one has bombed him with communications about his position on bankruptcy relief

So why else is this bankruptcy thing screwed up -- ever heard of an asset protection trust? -- basically it's a way for people to protect their wealth from seizure and foreclosure -- well, I shouldn't say people, I should say the extremely wealthy

And it's not for not trying, but amendments to the bill that would have protected bankruptcies for legitimate medical emergencies, protecting the homes of fixed income elderly, and for war veterans and soldiers transitioning back to society -- all voted down -- I guess these are not enough of a hardship, credit card companies must be PAID and IN FULL

I guess I am taking it personal because of living out here in Hawaii -- and seeing that government on all levels really is out of tune with the realities of most people -- who is middle class and lower in Hawaii anyways, if not most of us

I don't have to list off the litany of things in the environment that point to the fact that people's lives are becoming less secure economically -- job stability? what? -- ever tried to get a job after being unemployed? takes a while, no -- health insurance? no no, work for us part-time -- pension or after employment benefits? no sorry, I hope you die soon

I know that some people have issues with people who don't have a handle on their lives -- like I'm better than you because I have managed my finances better, how dare you declare bankruptcy -- like you're so irresponsible for doing so

As an attorney, I see bankruptcy for what it is -- RELIEF -- I guess, when you bring in the tightening of the bankruptcy law -- well, no relief in sight, we'll figure out a way for you to pay it back (and then after you die, your family, and then after that ...)

Essentially people in that situation will be forced to work for their creditors -- I wonder how that must be to cut your entire pay check over to your creditors while you try to figure out how to also make other ends meet

What's in your wallet (We Want It) -- a love song from your American credit card industry -- and oh by the way, Thanks Dan

Posted by at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

On this off day, I have to admit to something that I have really noticed over the course of two seasons now -- GD, the Interlocking are a dull team -- not untalented, just dull and uninteresting

There's really no one that you go wow, that's charisma -- or wow, this guy really plays hard and right -- or just simply yeah, i'm pulling for him -- and there's no sense that the team is full of characters worth pulling for -- still my team, but man, dull -- bunch of faceless hired guns

---

I would really love to enjoy some NFL draft talk this week, but I have noticed that when I listen to BnG Radio ... well, I just can't stand the personality who does that program -- I mean talk about whiny, irritating, dull and grating -- so I need to find out BnG information by myself

Posted by at 9:25 AM | Permalink

Well, apparently everyone and their country uncle is watching MLBtv's net coverage of Bombers-Sawx this morning -- because the Sawx are getting their rings and raising the flag this morning

As a result, the video and audio is damn choppy this morning -- I also am recording the game at home, TG for ESPN day games LOL

Yankees at Red Sox (7/162)

9:35 HST -- Lights going off and on in my office, as construction for Rapunzel's office continues

1st: Yanks go down pretty quietly -- for some reason, they have always had trouble with Wakefield -- Sawx got a lead off single from Damon, couldn't get him home although he did steal second

2nd: Yanks sleepwalking so far, 7 up, 3 SOs, one baserunner -- GD, after getting two down, Muss hits a batter then serves up one to the weak hitting Mirabelli, Sawx 2-0

3rd: Wakefield, no hitter through the Yankee lineup (plus one) -- One out, Nixon bloop, Manny and Ortiz (aka Ohshitz) back2back BB, loaded up for Millar -- he singles, two runs score, Sawx 4-0 -- linedrive right at Jeter, doubles off Ortiz, that was key, but the Bombers better get the bats going

4th: Oh great, the intelligent Commish Selig is now in the booth with the Sawx announcers on NESN -- talking about roids and testing, psssh -- ARod singled, stole second -- Sheff singles deep to short, ARod trying to take home, looks dead to rights, throwing error by Renteria to the plate, ARod scores, Sheff to second, Sawx 4-1 -- 2 down, runners on first and third, Giambi pops up to end the Yankee half of the 4th

Muss settling in, two down -- close pitch on 1-2, I think Muss and Pos thought it was strike 3 -- Bellhorn singles down the first baseline on the next pitch, how do you like that one -- damn, Damon gets on after his grounder gets under ARod's glove (lemme see, error 2, both against Sawx -- the first one costing 42 a save)

DAMN!! Nixon just put on off Sheff's glove in right -- SAHx 6-1
Manny singles, RS 7-1 -- Muss isn't a mystery today, and ARod's fielding is costly -- this one has really gotten away from the Yanks today

Bring back the Commish to the booth, tired with the NESN announcers ramble about their rings -- yeah good job calling the games last year boys LOL, lem, super LEMM

5th: Bernie grounded out to the start the inning -- Womack doubled -- Jeter just had an ugly at-bat against Wakefield, 2 SOs on the day -- Womack to third on WP to ARod -- ARod grounds to short to end the inning

No problem handling the Sawx this inning, inning ends with a DP, RS still 7-1

6th: Sheff singled to lead off the inning -- Matsui flies out, Tino pops out, then Pos grounds out to end the inning -- Yanks really going down quietly today

FelixRod relieves Muss, who really didn't have a good outing today, as opposed to how he deserved a win against the Sox last week -- Sox down in order

The game is really losing its energy -- between being a celebration day -- and Wakefield being utterly and completely in control

7th: James Taylor --- yes, that Sweet Baby James now in the booth -- talking about his love for the SAHx -- Bernie singled with one down -- Yanks go down again without scoring, still 7-1

FRod gives up a leadoff walk to Trot, otherwise Sox go quietly -- today's game starting to FEEL long

8th: Mantei in for Wakefield -- maybe the rally can start now LOL -- or NOT
ARod and Sheff down by SO -- two down, Mats singles -- but Tino pops out to end the inning

Stanton now pitching for the interlocking -- Renteria leads off with a two bagger -- Mueller doubles him home -- RS 8-1 -- no further damage

9th: Foulke in, in a non-save spot -- a flyout, a strikeout, and a popout -- Dirty Water, 8-1

----

12:08PM HST

Season Series to date:
Bronx Bummers: 2
Red Hosiery: 2

Well, Tea Party Town had their perfect day today -- Sox end their three game home opener losing streak

Thank God tomorrow is an off day -- the past two games have been killers to watch

Posted by at 9:49 AM | Permalink

It's Monday morning again -- I have really never been one to dread Mondays or be really down about returning to work

So my rhetorical question is this, if the weekend is supposed to be restful, how come we put so much into it -- I mean, it's like we're working seven days a week -- it's no wonder we feel like crap on the 8th day, just thinking aloud

---

I wish I had something real important to say about current events -- I guess I don't have anything to say about the Pope other than he seemed like a good man -- I'm just so tired of the El Busho antics, I really have nothing further to say -- the whole Kanno thing, well ... no, not writing about that, either -- and the whole we never knew traffic could be so bad thing, well both janitor and I have been blaggin this one prior to this

---

I suppose that I have two really obvious ones -- I think that I have discussed them here or elsewhere

I think that the primary one is the whole no one can lay on my bed prior to me sleeping there -- I hate pre-warmed beds, actually because I don't cope well with warm sleeping conditions in general -- a pre-warmed bed on a warm night is well, pfbbttt

The other one is about facilities -- I am highly germ paranoid with respect to that

This morning I heard a really weird one as my superior indicated that he didn't like a particular kind of word processing list bullet

Umm yep, we all have our quirks

Posted by at 8:15 AM | Permalink

We notice weird things, don't we?

Well, at least I do ... last night while we were at the gym, I noticed this woman that had your typical lycra mix shorts on

The funny thing about it was that there was this enigmatic wording a little below the waistband on the butt side -- it said miss honolulu, in some really computery font that looked like arial narrow bolded & lowercased-- SD was wondering if that was pageant wear

I guess people really do sell stuff off cafepress -- I don't know, just speculating

---

Rediscovering: Great Expectations S/T

Packing up another set of cds to go to the great reseller in SoCal -- ye old Second Spin -- the 1997 movie S/T for that movie with Ethan and Gwyn is quite interesting to listen to even today -- great songs include Life in Mono, a great Cesaria Evora track, and a where are they now track from David Garza

---

Rediscovering: Red, Hot and Rhapsody

This one was the follow-up to AIDS benefit cd Red, Hot and Blue -- this one a set of rhapsodic sounds from the absolute American songmaster Cole Porter --
Man, there are two songs that really crush -- a Natalie Merchant cover of "But Not For Me" and a shine bright, not long by Sinead O'Connor of the all-time classic "Someone to watch over me"

Yanks-Os notes within (6/162) ... tomorrow Bombers-Sawx, SERIES 2!!!

Day game dos, little too early for my weekend tastes 7:05 -- I'm a fan yes, but this is still week one of the season ...

The game began with a great layout diving catch of a linedrive by Giambi -- yes, I was as surprised as you must be LOL

Both Pavano and Lopez for the Os look like they have great stuff today -- no scoring through one

Top 2: Rafael Palmeiro is such a great hitter, slapped one to left -- then the oddly enough happened -- looked like Giambi kept asking why he was holding Palmeiro on first -- Palmeiro stole second, DOH -- then scored on a single ... umm, I think that's why you hold Rafy on LOL

Pavano has really worked hard this inning, 3 singles -- Os, 1-0

Top 3: Brian Roberts for the Os is such a great player, a real pleasure to watch -- lays down a bunt towards Giambi, beats it out -- Jason is really not the best fielder of those plays or thrower, for that matter

Next batter, Giambi drops an easy foul ball -- E3, pssh

AWWFARQ!!! Pavano just got hit in the head with a liner, and the ball ricocheted into foul territory -- he's out of the game, damn -- hope he is ok -- this is turning into the freak stuff against the home team kind of game

Well, nothing particularly that great happened after that, the interlocking fell behind 7-1, and ultimately lost 7-2

A bit up and down to start the season, showing that trend from last year that if they do not play money ball, they're in serious trouble to score runs or even get hits, for that matter

Due to the unbalanced schedule again this season lots of see the same team for two weeks -- this week to Boston and Baltimore, flipping the first week schedule

Posted by at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Gee, I guess our second season started today -- what I mean is that we seem to only have spring and summer here in paradiso -- hot, very hot

Inside, thoughts on Bombers-Os (NYY 5/162)

Some observations from today's NYY game:

"Runs are tough to come by against a guy like Randy Johnson" - Thanks for the curse/bachi today, Ken

2nd: there seems to be a lot of quirky things happening when the interlocking are in the field -- their C infield singles on a dribbler to ARod, Giambi can't bend to start an inning ending 363 -- but Matsui stabbed one in left to end the inning, instead the Os take the lead, 1-0

The contrast between Chen and the Big Unit is really pronounced -- one guy is totally control and changing speeds -- BU has been throwing a ton of sliders the past two games, haven't really seen him reach back for one just yet this season

This 2B Roberts for the Os is really something -- quite the pissant leadoff man, playing great so far last night and today

Geez, Tejada has made two yoga plastic man plays deep in the hole at short -- man! -- I never really thought of this guy as one of the premier defensive SSs in the AL

Bot 3: ARod off the schnide ... singles in Sanchez, tied 1 up-- seems like the Yanks have started to figure Chen out (actually at this point, Chen has more Ks than RJ -- imagine that) -- on out 2, looked like the second strike em/throw em by the Os, oh well, luck is with the NYY -- oh well, balances out, Matsui got a sinking liner robbed

Well Top 4, not looking great for RJ, Javy lead off with a double, Surhoff follows with a first pitch slap hit, then he beans Matos on the ankle -- loaded with 0 outs, yikes -- he walked in a run, Os 2-1 -- mound visit Stottlemyre -- next batter Gil singles, Os 3-1 -- bases loaded, no outs -- 2Ks in a row -- aw crap!, Tejada first pitch swinging just knocked in two, Os 5-1 -- damn

Just when I was about to say Chen looks like he's cruising along, Giambi hits a solo shot for his 1st of the year -- Os 5-2

On the play that made the game 5-3, ARod broke up the DP by crashing into Roberts -- and Roberts got charged with a error -- that's a tough E to charge

Top 6: WTF, just as the Yanks get closer, little squib hit again to third (2x today... weird), WP by RJ that the runner took two bags -- runner on third, no outs -- pssh. Big bailout, Os call the bunt squeeze, but the batter whiffed on the bunt, runner on third caught in a rundown -- end of 5 1/2, still Os 5-3

Bot 7: Creeping back in a little more, Sheffield singles in one, Os 5-4 -- and you gotta love the ghosts at The Stadium, Matsui bloops one and it falls in for a ground rule double bouncing into the left field stands, tied at 5

Oh wow, Sierra just bombed a first pitch out of the park over near the retired numbers in left center, NYY 8-5, what a comeback -- RJ now off the hook, Sturze going for the win now -- bit of a tough break for Chen for the Os, pitched a good game

Amazing stat that everyone in the lineup got a hit today -- good all around performance by the Yanks

Nothing really remarkable happened the rest of the way -- 42 got his first save of the season, but it wasn't really dominating -- it was workman-like

Posted by at 4:12 PM | Permalink

Anyways, so I finally figured out what the problem was with my iT and AScrob -- it feels so yesterday to have to look through communications logs to figure out what the heck was going on -- i'm a lawyah jim, not a networking specialist

---

The rediscovery process continues -- as I am truly digging the Cary Brothers "Blue Eyes" track on the Garden State S/T -- that S/T is truly one of the great S/Ts from last year

Man, the other thing is that I am so hooked on the White People CD by Handsome Boy Modeling School -- they totally own my soul right now, suct in in a major way

---

I think I'm getting spoiled, this whole watch any baseball game thing is unbelievably awesome and addictive -- got to catch some of the Cubs home opener this morning -- gotta get out to Wrigley at some point

(Afternoon note)
Almost forgot to watch the game today, LOL -- why is this turning into a challenge ... comical

Boy, today's first game of the Os series, is turning into a GD rout of major proportions -- oh well, such is the nature of the 162 game marathon season

When I first checked in, the score was 5-1 and Wright was struggling

Next check in, Sheffield knocked in Jeter with a HR, now 5-3

Roof falls in on Karsay, Os 10-3 now

At this point, Os 11-4 in the 8th -- you know it's a blowout game when the announcers start talking about music in the clubhouse for a few innings running and the commentary about the game goes to very minimal

Posted by at 12:58 PM | Permalink

Soooo, I was thinking today about one of the most fun sounding, laid back songs that I've heard since .... Summertime by the FP and JJ, LOL nott

Seriously, the single from the multi-genre, hot Brazilian girls (oh great, just by writing BG on this blog, it will get listed among the porn sites ... p.u.)

What can be so controversial about a satirical song about what people enjoy about certain aspects of life -- and the funny thing is that it is clever in its straightforwardness -- and not rude or excessive

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The other thing that I have noticed while writing this blog, I really like Bill Janovitz's (ex-Buffalo Tom) recent stuff -- kinda reminds me of a style ala the Wallflowers -- but it's just good old fashioned straightforward band rock

I can almost forgive his liking the Sawx, LOL

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More reason to hate Microslop -- I tried to run Last.fm/AudioScrob on my office machine -- it didn't work, and not for the "firewall" reason either -- it unidentifiably just does not seem to like things called iTewnz, I guess -- run it on WMP, fine -- but not iT -- psshh

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The other thing that I have decided to do is use the journal capacity of this journal -- hoowee, redundancy is redundant

I have decided to record my exercise and diet things here and probably measurable stats as well -- I got this grand lightbulb idea from janitor's previous entries, I thought it was a good idea -- I will just mod it to my needs

Posted by at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I was thinking that I would write my impressions of each Interlocking NY game this season that I watch -- after all, I have the MLBtv -- LOL, we'll see how much dedication I have to this

10:30 HST -- Baseball is a funny game. I mean, here we have the acclaimed best closer in baseball just not able to close out the Sawx two games in a row

And even though, he didn't have his best stuff, there was a potential inning ending, game saving ground ball to third -- that A-Rod couldn't get a grip on to either throw home or start an inning ending DP -- the roof caved in after that, and the 3-2 lead turned into an eventual 7-3 loss

Well, one series in the book, Yanks 2-1 over the Red Stockings -- hopefully, Terry Francona the Sawx manager is doing ok after being checked into the hospital -- and hopefully the magic comes back to the bats after two days of limited hitting -- and of course, hopefully 42 finds his mojo again

Posted by at 10:36 AM | Permalink

And no, you would think that the thing that I am enjoying is the Tar Heels victory in the NC game last night -- yeah that was good, too -- actually the whole tournament was really good this year -- didn't pay much attention to national college basketball this past season, but the tourney, especially the regional rounds, and the finals last night were really good

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I am really enjoying baseball, I can't really remember when I felt so excited about baseball -- no, not UH baseball -- get rid of the coach, I suppose is what I should say, LOL not -- although we have been to a few games this year --

I'm really excited about MLB -- for some reason, I don't really give a mud about the whole steroid thing -- to me that's baseball getting caught with their pants down again, so they should fix it, not that I'm holding my breath or anything

Saw the interlocking NY take out the Sawx on Sunday night -- yesterday got to see a lot of the Mets-Reds game -- this morning I saw game 2 in the Bronx between the Sawx and the Yanks, that was a great game -- I thought Mariano was gonna choke it up after giving up a solo shot by Varitek to tie the game 3 UP in the 9th -- Jeter came up in the bottom and hit a foul ball that was almost caught by Millar, next pitch opp field walk-off

I love this game, and I really love MLB.TV -- awesome

On a side note, I think this whole LA Angels of Anaheim thing is GD ridiculous -- now, when they put up acronyms the Dodgers are LAD, and the Angels are LAA -- umm, I'm not liking the LAD/LAA crap -- well back to Giants-Dodgers ...

Posted by at 10:50 AM | Permalink

Seriously tired -- today was a grindfest at work
and last night I didn't sleep too well

Posted by at 9:43 PM | Permalink

I really don't know what has possessed me to see each and every pitch and play this season of the Yankees

What seems transparent is that this is being journalled on the date of publishing, well it's not LOL

This is being written in May, when I have made the decision, and a probably silly insane one to journal and log each and every Yankee game this year, and I noticed I had some gaps in it sooo why not create some unnecessary sufferring and enjoyment for myself

And so it begins ...

Inside, impressions of BOS at NYY (1/162)
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I had initially saw the ESPN A-Team broadcast of the game on the debut of Sunday Night Baseball -- we see the old Yankee David Wells now pitching for the Sawx, against the Bronx debut of the Big Unit Randy Johnson

A sellout at the Stadium, Berra throws the ceremonial pitch ... he of the most WS rings in ML history

Love the ECSTASY OF GOLD before the game, very Metallica, very cool
... just as I say Metallica, we get the Seek and Destroy during RJ's warmup tosses from the mound

TOP 1: Full count to Damon, the payoff pitch grounded to second, one away -- new addition Renteria is frozen pizza, two away (RJ 1) -- Manny also frozen pizza, same location (RJ 2)

BOT 1: Jeter fists a leadoff single -- ARod flies out to center, one away -- Sheffield grounds to Mueller, gets the force at second, Sheff legs it out safely at first

Two down, runner at first -- Sierra chases the outside pitch, down on strikes to end the inning

TOP 2: Ortiz rips one into the right field corner, he is hustling out a double, the throw is slightly offline, he's in there -- Millar hits an absolute bomb to left

Matsui at the wall .... HE MAKES AN AWESOME CATCH TO ROB HIM of a two run shot, who holds Ortiz at second with a good throw as well

One down, runner at second -- Varitek hits a broken bat grounder to short, Ortiz to third on the play, two away -- newcomer Jay Payton singles to left, two out single, scores a run, Red Sox draw first blood, 1-0

Full count to Mueller, he draws a walk -- runners first and second, two out for Bellhorn, he goes down on strikes

BOT 2: Full count to Matsui, the payoff pitch ... falls in for a basehit in left center -- Posada put out on a pop fly to right, one down -- Giambi grounds one through the right side of the infield for a single

Runners at the corners, one out

FINAL: Yankees win, 9-2

Yankees 1-0

5/7 Note:
I had actually watched this game on ESPN, prior to buying the season sub to MLBtv ... well, we haven't looked back, have we?

MLBtv rocks ... even though the Yankees so far haven't

Posted by at 11:59 PM | Permalink

I have always wondered how the heck they make band decisions on the FM dial -- and by band I mean, radio license and secondarily programming

Sure, I couldn't understand the whole let's try to own all the Hawaiian music -- later I couldn't understand, let's try to fill the air with 3, then 4 "urban music" stations

Now, I'm really puzzled -- I feel sorry for those who experience new music for the first time on the radio -- I guess I'm a nostalgic old futt who actually appreciated that you could get a diversity of music and actually learn about new music that way

What with the need to listen to right wing talk shows IN STEREO -- and the death of urban music on 1-94 -- good luck HNL on finding new music

So here's your choices as they stand -- classical, jazz, deadly mindnumbing contempo, Xtian, more contempo, more Xtian, even more contempo, right wing bullcrap, island music, more island music (just older kind), even more island music, female tuned alt pop ... I give up

Let me tune in to some jawaiified cover songs from my youth on the radio LOL

Posted by at 9:31 AM | Permalink

How many times can a story be told before it becomes a bunch of overhyped excess?

Well, there is yet another Metallica documentary, this time on VH1 ... and I mean, it's nothing new -- seems to be just another way to hype the IMO overhyped SKOM documentary

I'm really tired, in fact, burnt out over the whole Met overexposure thing that's been going on for close to two years straight now -- I realize that I am one of millions of casual and serious Met fans -- but even the most hardcore among us must admit, it's a bit much

It is so much that I don't even want to watch it -- and dos, I am very critical of what they have put out musically since None More Black (Smell the Glove, too)

It was interesting to me to watch the Strapping Young Lad DVD -- Devin was saying how all of metal performance is a parody, the style is really overblown and a parody -- and Strapping is one of the most metal of the metal

Alt rocky, hard rocky, bluesy, and now garagey Met -- honestly, it's been close to 17 years since Metallica has been heavy, low end, fast, and melodic --

And for now, their stuff goes into hibernation for me -- just tired of it

Posted by at 11:19 PM | Permalink

Welcome to another It's Fucking April Now day ... no ideas this year for the absurd and sublime

So rev up those searches on why there is a fool's day

Posted by at 11:25 PM | Permalink