OFF FIELD DISTRACTIONS This qualifies as a mighty big one. And I would not be surprised if the mostly rehabilitated Andy Pettitte would prefer to avoid any additional revelations that come to light.
H/T - Jason @ IIATMS
no commentsDON CHERRY UNDER FIRE FOR WAVING THE FLAG TOO MUCH It's fine when flag waving is done for kids at the World Junior Hockey Championships, but Canadians in the line of fire, not so much. "[A] group called "Hockey Fans For Peace" feels this is pro-war propaganda on CBC, and they've planned a formal protest of the practice for this weekend." Ahhh, Canada. That love/hate relationship with free expression. Remember, Mark Steyn was brought before a British Columbia Human Rights tribunal for writing about demography in 2008. Steyn was cleared, of course, because speech is after all theoretically free, even in the great white north. Don't be surprised if Grapes ends up on a tighter leash.
no commentsNOTE TO STEVE JOBS: Please forward one copy of "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson to the subject of this story. You'll find every opinion in the comments section, if you dare venture there.
H/T - Instapundit
no commentsEFF YEAH NEYER! Not quite brimming with delicious subtlety as Posnanski's, but just as thoughtful, to the point and laced with enough optimism to belie this claim: "I consider myself neither an optimist nor a pessimist, but rather a cynic informed by a fair touch of realism. It's certainly true that the vocal self-righteous moralists aren't going to undergo conversion overnight, and perhaps not ever. But they're actually in the minority. We know that many, many voters lack real convictions about much of anything, and are perfectly malleable -- Bert Blyleven received just 14 percent support in one Hall of Fame election; Luis Aparicio just 12 percent -- which means it's just a matter of turning them in the right direction."
no commentsDECLARATION DAY IN BEANTOWN Tango notes that this could have been tweeted, and hopes that we have reached the stage. Interesting back and forth in the comments at Tango's place. For what it's worth, I'm glad that Steve Buckley feels comfortable enough to open up about himself with us, but not for nothing, it really doesn't matter much at the end of the day.
no commentsBOTCHED DRUG RAID IN FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS These remain all too common and all too tragic. "If this case plays out like most of those before it, Eurie Stamps' death won't change a damn thing."
no commentsEFF YEAH POSNANSKI! "Bob [Costas] thinks that the Baseball Hall of Fame is too big. He did not go into detail, but he made it very clear — and I believe the reference point was Bert Blyleven– that the Hall of Fame was supposed to be for the “great” and, over the years, it became for the “very good.” He did not elaborate out of respect for the very good players who are already in the Hall of Fame. But I suspect that if it could be done clandestinely — that is to say if it could be done without anyone noticing and without hurting anybody — Bob and a lot of other people would throw a lot of players out of their Baseball Hall of Fame."
Pound for pound - in the old fight parlance - the best writer on sports we have. Savor each word.
H/T - His Lord of Minionsota, Craig Calcaterra
no commentsWHAT'S IN A NAME? Connecticut's new Governor insists a Dannel P. called Dan will not due. Lighten up, Dan.
no commentsMISADVENTURES IN HEADLINE WRITING Yes, I understand that the point of the story is to call out charges being filed against someone for assisting in another's suicide, but the headline itself presents an impossible outcome, and therefore must be mocked. A factually correct headline would read "Man Charged with Manslaughter For Assisting His Father's Suicide".
no commentsBRAVO FOR RICH LEDERER "The Internet flattens the world a little and allows someone like me to have a say, an audience, and indirectly participate in the discussion," Rich Lederer said. "I enjoy that. If not for the Internet, it would be next to impossible for me to have an impact on those types of things." Someone should write a book about that
JEFF BAGWELL AND OTHERS WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR The baseball blogosphere burst with outrage directed towards BBWAA voters who declined to vote for Jeff Bagwell due to baseless allegations of steroid use. I have to wonder if this was merely a deflection from the "He's not a first ballot Hall of Famer" argument we otherwise would have heard.
no commentsDEATH OF A RETAIL DISCOUNT BOOK SELLING GIANT? "Joseph Schumpeter coined the phrase "creative destruction" to describe the process of churn whereby old companies, technologies, and industries die, to be replaced by new ones. This process has brought us today's prosperity, and is a massive force for good in human history. But it is not without its sadness. You don't have to want to stop the process, to mourn for the real losses it entails." There is a place for old technologies, but they become the realm of hobbyists. Retarding progress for sentimentality is inefficient.
no commentsNUANCE No longer a right reserved to flip-flopping politicians.
H/T - Craig Calcaterra (currently ensconsed in his bell tower, ready to yell, "Top of the world, Ma" at exactly 2 pm eastern time.)
no commentsPAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE SOCIAL NETWORK Goldman's recent investment in Facebook has prompted watchers of bubbles and shady dealings alike to sit up and take notice.
no commentsSEAN MCADAM ON HIS NO VOTE FOR BERT BLYLEVEN I like Sean; he's a damn fine reporter. And he's a good sport for hearing us out on Twitter as we disagree with him. His rationale for not voting for Blyleven is what frustrates we proud internet zealots. The work of Rich Lederer lobbying on Blyleven's behalf has pointed out that relying on All-Star game selections and Cy Young votes are poor criteria for Hall of Fame selection. One could argue that much of the sabermetric research conducted has had settling debates, such as MVP and Hall of Fame by minimizing subjectivity and ambiguity. WAR attempts to do just that. If the sportswriters want to understand it, Tom Tango is happy to explain all. One needs only ask.
no commentsIF THE CONSTITUTION IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND and it is, then what's the harm in reading it aloud prior to the commencement of the 112th Congress? Don Surber says there is none. If it is no longer the supreme law of the land, then reading it aloud is no different than the hundreds of non-binding resolutions that Congress takes up congratulating sports teams or naming post offices. Now if they wanted to read something inciting revolution, like the Declaration of Independence, then I can see getting up in arms. (sarcasm off)
no commentsDYNAMISM VS. STATISM FRAMING MITCH DANIELS as he begins consideration of a run for the White House in 2012.
Plus this: "One of the knocks on Republicans in general is that they're not interested in governing. Rather, like Newt Gingrich, they want to bitch and moan all the time and get the first-class ticket on Air Force One but basically screw off once they reach power. Daniels, like former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, is a Republican who knows how to govern and can do it well. Unlike characters such as Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney and Rudy G., these guys show serious follow-through and provide a starting point for the right-hand side of the 2012 election that won't make libertarians put a shotgun in their mouths." Or anyone else's for that matter.
no commentsANGELS MISS OUT...AGAIN The Angels must put together a more potent lineup than they did last year, when they barely produced more runs than the Kansas City Royals. [Kendry] Morales will help, but he can't do it alone. And I doubt general manager Tony Reagins is enamored with the external options at third base. The remaining free agents are unexciting, and the trade market features...well...Michael Young."
no commentsCarlos Gonzalez $80 MILLION MAN After the deal was confirmed, pending a physical, yesterday applause flittered through the baseball blogosphere. But some critics are lurking to note the problems with the deal.
Bill Petti at Beyond the Boxscore noted his BAbip which was way out of line at .384, compared with an expected one of .325. A fair point.
Peter Hjort of Capitol Avenue Club tweeted this obvious concern: "Am I the only person who thinks COL is making a mistake giving $80 million to a 25 year old corner OF with a career 286/81 K/BB ratio?"
Gonzalez benefits from youth, as Petti points out. And Hjort concedes that the choice is odd, with Colorado, typically a frugal club, committing as much as they are to both Troy Tulowitzki and Gonzalez. If Gonzalez can play centerfield credibly (unlikely) then it makes more sense, buying premium talent long term, up the middle. But the threat of injury and regression looms large, and with it the chance that significant money is tied up in the baseball equivalence of a toxic asset.
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