Freedom Is Slavery

Is it possible that trans-fats and high fructose corn syrup are metaphors for modern American life?  Does the poison simply taste too good?  Do we live in such velvet chains that we are unable to recognize our captivity?  I never agreed to the social contract.  I was not given the option to sign off on romantic love, capitalist exchange, Judeo-Christian morality or an educational rewards system.   I believe myself to have been raised as more of a free-thinker than the vast majority.  I am counter to many of the norms that surround me in culture.  And, I don't think that, despite my many flaws, that I am an idiot.  Yet, I look around and find that I have fallen into each of those traps.  I'm sitting here at odds with, arguably, the McDonald's of higher education and I just keep gobbling fries and chugging icy cold Coca-Cola.  It's very possible that my original assertion is but a layer of the onion.  Perhaps we are not just distracted to the point of slovenly absenteeism.  Maybe this glaringly obvious pitfall is the Wizard and I've just noticed that there is, in fact, a curtain.  Off to re-read 1984.  Or sleep.  Or internalize all of the cables on wikileaks.org.  Hi DHS! ;-)

Pretty Girl 12.01.10 - Kelly Clarkson

If only she could keep the weight off...

Hurricane Gruden

You heard it here first -- Jon Gruden signs a 4-yr $15.1mil deal to coach the Miami Hurricanes.

Also, the word on the street is Jay Gruden (UFL Florida Tuskers coach) as OC and Jim Leavitt (former South Florida coach) as DC.

Sunshine State Sweep

Following a gridiron win over Miami and a big statement dismantling of Florida on the court, the Buckeyes hoopsters have completed the sweep with a 58-44 victory against the FSU Seminoles.  It was certainly not the prettiest game the Bucks will play, but I am still surprised how well all of their moving pieces fit together so early in the season.  OSU shot 32% from the floor and turned the ball over 15 times and, unsurprisingly, it was the defense that stood out.  Aaron Craft had 4 turnovers to 1 assist and the Bucks had only 6 dimes total.  There was too much of the "dump it inside to Sullinger and watch" offense and the freshman seemed briefly over-matched for the first time all year.  Although the D forced 22 turnovers (including 4 steals in 40 minutes by Jon Diebler of all people), it was the rotation that was most impressive.  Outside of the transition opportunities that FSU got off of their pressure, they did not get many easy shots.  Leading scorer Chris Singleton certainly played lock-down defense (5 steals), but he shot only 2-of-9 and finished with 8 points.  An ugly win is still a win (see Cleveland Browns) and there are still quantifiable positive results:  Jared Sullinger with 11 and 13, 76% as a team from the line.  Regardless, all the pieces (leader, outside shooter, true wing, true point, lock down defender, rim defender, both end big man, instant O off the bench) are in place.  This team is only going to get better.  The fact that they can gut out a double digit win and survive the brutal physicality of this Seminoles team speaks to how the team is built for a deep run in March. 

Cheers.

MLB Whistle Stops

Miguel Tejada signs with the Giants; 1-yr $6.5mil.  The dominoes are starting to fall and December is historically the busiest month for free agent signings.

Thank god that Javier Vazquez inked a 1-yr $7mil deal with the Marlins.  Now the Indians can't sign him.  I'm still hoping for Jamie Moyer. (Oops.  Jamie Moyer will have Tommy John surgery and will miss all of 2011.  He hopes to return for 2012 at age 49.  Must ponder plan c for the Tribe.)

Flick to Click: Rare Exports

Opens 12.03 (NYC); 12.25 (Ohio)

Indians Top Prospect Videos

Courtesy of IPI, some quick looks at a few of Baseball America's Top 10 in the Tribe system. This is amateur video, but very cool if you haven't yet seen these guys.

#10 Nick Hagadone



#9 Joe Gardner



#7 LeVon Washington



#6 Jason Knapp



#5 Nick Weglarz



#4 Drew Pomeranz



#3 Jason Kipnis

Tales of a Black Friday

The Good

After striking out at several locations in the wee hours of the morning, I headed home to drop off a few items for my dad.  I tried to sleep to no avail, and plotted round 2.  While mildly more successful than the initial trip, when I got to Wal-Mart for the second time (8:30a) I was rather dejected and primed to loudly reject capitalist consumerism.  I stopped into the Sprawl because I was right next door anyway.  My object d'amore was a $39 Western Digital 500GB portable hard drive.  It was to be a gift.  When I hit Wally World the first time (5a), there were none to be found.  As I lumbered in, my eyes heavy, I repeated the mantra "anything can happen" to myself.  When I reached the electronics department I found several of what seemed to be the hard drives on the shelf, where there had been only empty space earlier.  As I approached the electronics manager, he sighed towards me "That's the not the one that's on sale."  Then, poof, he was gone.  I grabbed the flier and compared serial #s.  They were identical, save for the last 2 characters.  The drive in my hand ended in 00, while the sale item's last 2 were WM (ostensibly for Wal-Mart).  I found a price check scanner and ran the box through... $79.99.  I took a deep breath and asked myself if I had the wherewithal to barter with the drones at customer service.  Guilty for missing deals earlier on, I grabbed the drive and flier and trudged east to service desk.  Betty, a clueless but kind sexagenarian, was first to assist me.  I told her "This is definitely the item in the ad, but the guys in the back say it's not."  Betty was as baffled as I, so she called Katie, a floor manager, over.  I delivered my spiel again and Katie, after first comparing the circular to the absolute wrong # on the box, cited the disparity between the serial #s.  She also informed me that the advertised items had been left off the truck, had never been delivered.  Also, Wal-Mart was not giving out any rain checks, nor substituting any similar item, nor even informing the customers when the truck would arrive. As I asserted my intent to solve the mystery, Katie called, from her sleek headset, assistant store manager Chuck from parts unknown.  After spinning my yarn for the 3rd time, Chuck re-iterated the difference in serial #s.
Me - "Chuck, WM stands for Wal-Mart.  They're the same thing.  Look at all the specs."
Chuck - "But they're not."
Me - "Chuck is there any way you can tell me when the sale items will arrive or will I have to camp out in your electronics section."
Chuck - "Well, if they get here after 11am, they won't be $39 because our doorbuster sale will be over."
Me - "OK, then sell me this one for $39."
Chuck - "But it's not the same item."
Me - "It's the same item in a different box."
Chuck - "But it doesn't have the same serial number as the one in the ad."
Me - "C'mon Chuck, I understand invetory depletion and replenishment.  I know the computer can't tell that they're the same, but you and I, we know."
Chuck - "Good.  I'm glad you understand that.  Maybe you can also understand that the specially boxed items were purchased at a huge bulk discount and if I sold you this one, we'd be taking a huge loss."
Me - "But you just said that if the special drives get here after 11am you won't sell them at the advertised price.  Shouldn't that cover any loss on this drive?"
Chuck - "But we don't know how much those drives will sell for because we don't even have a UPC to scan."
Me - "What about the serial #?"
Chuck - "Doesn't work."
Me - "Chuck, is there some other way I can get this?  On-line (I already knew the to be sold out)?  At another Wal-Mart?"
Chuck - "Do you want me to check on-line?"
Me - "Yes."
(A long pause as Chuck fidgets with the computer and pulls the sale item up on the screen.)
Chuck - "Uh-oh.  This isn't going to help.  They're sold out on-line."
Me - "Chuck, I will give you $39 right now and then come back later and pick up the hard drive."
Chuck - "But if they arrive after 11am, they won't be $39."
Me - "But I'll pay you now.  Put my name behind the counter."
Chuck - "So you want a raincheck?"
Me - "That would be fine."
Chuck - "I can't do that."
Me - "Chuck, I wasn't even talking about a raincheck.  A raincheck is the promise of a specific price at a later date.  I want to pay you now."
Chuck - "You're obviously upset.  What can I do?"
Me - "You can sell me this Western Digital hard drive for $39."
Chuck - "But it's not the one on sale."
Me - "Chuck, let's get down to nuts and bolts.  This is the same hard drive in a different box.  You know it.  I know it.  It's been on your shelf so long there's dust on the box."
Chuck - "What do you want me to say?"
Me - "Well Chuck, you can either say that you'll sell me the drive for $39 or you can, as an agent of Wal-Mart, implicitly state that you will not stand behind your company's name and years of great service and that you will not satisfy me as a customer."
Chuck - "What will satisfy you as a customer?"
Me - "Sell me the drive for $39."
Chuck - "Is there anything short of that that will satisfy you?"
Me - "A raincheck would be fine.  Or, as I suggested, I'll pay you now and you can save one behind the counter for me."
Chuck - "But since they're sold out online, we may never get our shipment.  I could write you all the rainchecks in the world and it wouldn't do any good."
Me - "Chuck, we're saying the same thing.  You're trying get me to see your perspective and I'm trying to get you to see mine: they're the same hard drive."
(At this point Chuck picks up the hard drive and types the serial # into the computer.)
Chuck - "You know what, you're right.  They're the same thing.  It would be dishonest, disingenuous, not to sell it to you for $39.  I'm sorry this took so long."
(I throw my arms in the air, touchdown style.)
Me - "But I'm getting the drive for $39?"
Chuck - "Yes."
Me - "That's all I ever wanted.  Thank you, Chuck."
(We shake hands.  I win.)


This took about half an hour, when it should have taken 2 minutes, but, in the end, I got the win.  I was the only person to acquire a Western Digital 500GB portable hard drive for $39 from the Macedonia Wal-Mart on Black Friday.  I was elated.  I'm sure sleep deprivation had something to do with it, but there truly is nothing like a well-played, good, solid win.

The Bad

- I was awake for 38 straight hours.

- The same netbook that I got from Best Buy last year, after waiting in the freezing rain for 3 hours, was no longer a doorbuster and $50 cheaper this year.  It was of the 2 day sale.  No hurry to grab it, right?  Wrong.  When I got to BB @ 5:30 they were sold out.  How misleading.  Now my mom doesn't get her gift.  Jerks.

- Before I went back to Wal-Mart I headed to Target for a 1TB portable for $70.  I checked their website thrice before I left and the digital omniscience claimed the item to be in stock not only at my local Target, but at all in the NorEastern Ohio area.  Just pop back in and grab it, right?  Wrong.  Sold out.  Thank god for my mass debating skills.

The Ugly



The Lessons

(1)  If you're jonesin' for a Black Friday item, if it's not a doorbuster (cross your fingers), if you want to avoid lines, aggravation and injury; go out around 8am.  The maniacs are gone.  The laissez-faire are still sipping coffee and you can slip in and out ;-j without much grief.

(2) The retailers have to do something about this, spread out the sales, make everything available on-line, ticket in-store items days in advance, something.  This whole tradition has spiraled wildly out of control.  No item is worth savagery above.  Or maybe we just all become Buddhists.  I wonder what that would do to the economy.

The Chuckle

I was in Kohl's at about 12:30p.  Their doorbusters were about to expire at 1p, so the lines were pretty freakin' long.  As I approached the registers, your classic Harley-man (leather vest, scraggly beard, carrying a extra keg under his shirt and reeking of cheap tobacco) approached me and asked if I could purchase his jeans for him.  Quizzically, I informed him that I wasn't paying in cash.  He replied that he would give me the $35 for his Levi's and an extra $10 for my trouble.  I told him he had picked the right guy.  I won't get into the details of Kohl's myriad of promotions, but I did get an extra $10 coupon because my total eclipsed $100 with Altamont's dungarees.  Good times.  I wonder why he picked me?

Cheers.

Pretty Girl 11.30.10 - Anne Heche

Shockingly easy to find pics of blondie looking real good.

Not So Far From the Truth

Is it merely coincidence that TCU joined the Big East 3 days after Boise flopped?

Pretty Girl 11.29.10 - Tricia Helfer

Part of the fun is that she looks like she'd kick my ass.

Pretty Girl 11.28.10 - Samaire Armstrong

What a cutie.  Doesn't matter what she's on, the chick always looks good.

Pretty Girl 11.26.10 - Kristin Davis

Too much time wasted on that awful show when she coulda just been hot.

Pretty Girl 11.25.10 - Minka Kelly

Today I am thankful for Minka Kelly.

... Hey Hey Hey ...

The dunk was in the SportsCenter top 10.  The wave was not mentioned.  Chuckle.

Delhomme D'oh!

Jake Delhomme will start Sunday for the Browns against the Panthers.  Colt McCoy is hampered by a high ankle sprain sustained in the 3rd quarter last week versus the Jag-wires.  Again, this team was never going to make the playoffs so another game of Jake the Mistake isn't the end of the world, but it sort of takes the venom out of my snake.  My interest level in the game has dropped near the floor.

Pretty Girl 11.24.10 - Busy Phillips

Man, this girl know how to wear lipstick.  Sheesh.

Manic Dystopia

So DC (Superman, Batman, etc) is introducing an MMORP (think World of Warcraft).  As one might expect when you create your character/avatar you can choose to be either a hero or a villain.  Your choice affects your experience within the environment -- goals, associates, privileges, etc.  Whenever I have this choice in a game or a hypothetical, I always choose the villain.  There are fewer rules.  Through the 90s, as I came to age, many were infatuated with the "anti-hero."  That's one that's classified as a white hat, but doesn't have the strict moral code of a Superman or Captain America.  Characters like the Punisher and the Crow (we all know that one) expanded the acceptable behavior or those counted as "good."  I have no desire to explore the construction of the general morality that defines what is "good."  Sadly, for anyone who reads this, the baseline of your moral code lies in Judeo-Christian scripture.  That is to say, "good" and "bad" are not subjective, they are ultimate, well-defined facts.  Again, that's not what I'm here to rant about.  I would argue that the only thing that separates hero from villain is context.  History is written by the victors.  All of the great heroes of history (say George Washington, Ghandi or MLK) have held fervently to their beliefs.  They have gone beyond the call of duty and put themselves in great danger towards the attainment of a self-conceived vision of a better world.  Oddly the same might be said of Napoleon or Hitler.  Heroes are romanticized, are seen alabaster pure, just as villains are seen to possess only flaws.  As popular media elevates the hero myth, American culture becomes obsessed with saving everyone forever, regardless of utility.  Every zygote, every brain dead vegetable, every senile fool with complete renal failure.  Our unprecedented success as a Democratic Republic gives the false impression that the current society is equally respectable.  Just because all men are created equal does not imply that they remain so.  American culture remains ensconced in a tattered white robe, unable to contemplate the necessity of bold action.  We have grown fat and lazy.  We have fed too long at the trough of entitlement and manifest destiny and the results are disgusting.  This country is half-asleep, more concerned with the reality within their HDTV than with the world before their eyes.  We have become mechanical, following the rules, doing what we've always done under the erroneous assumption that the American Dream is not dead.  Pulling oneself up by the bootstraps has become a false promise as the populace now values homogeneity over challenge and monetary conformity over the magic of existence.  If one accepts the premise that the country has become an irredeemable quagmire of pomp and circumstance, of irresponsible self-preservation, then one is aware that something must be done.  Too many are unwilling to take action that is unpopular, that they might be branded villains should failure come.  We must galvanize those who are not, for without absolute clarity and commitment, regardless of potential consequence may we find a worthwhile society on the far side.  We must define our vision of a better world and we must do what is necessary to achieve it.  We owe to our forefathers and our children, we owe it to them to try.

Motor City Vicky

The Tigres have signed Victor (Martinez) to a 4-year, $50mil deal.  Sweet, now we'll see him 22 times a year for the bad guys.  I was at the game when Wedgie put Vic in the #3 spot for the first time.  That seems like so very long ago.

I'm not the only one who recognizes the value of Adam Miller as a Rule 5 pick.  Check out this in depth piece from an official Rays blogger.

I just flipped on SportsCenter.  I was greeted by the glorious 93-77 Heat home loss to the Pacers.  They've dropped 4 of their last 7.  They'll be without their best interior option, Udonis Haslem, until the break and it seems as if these guys have no desire to play together.  Unfortunately, I was also treated to Sage Steele mining the mind of fat slob Brian Windhurst for nuggets on the Miami tribulations.  For those who have forgotten, Windhurst is the schmuck who followed LeChump from Cleveland to Miami for an ESPN blogging gig.  I'm not even going to waste my time on him.

Pretty Girl Update! - Blake Lively

I don't care what's real and what's fake, it all looks friggin' awesome.

Jacking What?

You can skip to a minute in.  Classic.

Jared Has Aides
Tags: SOUTH
PARKmore...

Pretty Girl 11.23.10 - Elizabeth Banks

How can she pose like this, then go back to bein' all funny lookin'?  Why Liz?  Why?

Is That Sharon Stone?

Nope.  'Tis skier Lindsay Vonn.  Nice.

This is amusing to any NFL fan, especially those who have watched a few of these guys destroy all hope.

Shin Soo Choo is officially exempt from service in the Korean military.

POS Drew Sutton has been signed by the Red Sox.  Thank God.  Why do the Indians waste time on these stiffs?

Sadly, CF Jose Constanza was signed away by Atlanta.  I understand that he was made redundant by Ezequiel Carrera, but Jose has speed to burn and is the type of guy every team wants in the clubhouse.

Finally, look here for my debut in the Indians Inbox.  It's near the bottom.  My rant against Castrovince notwithstanding (can you believe that's one word?), it's mildly amusing to be on Indians.com.  I'll deal with his concerns with Goedert's bat next time.

Cheers.

MLB Whistle Stops

Apparently, prospective teams cannot review RHP Adam Miller's medical file until AFTER they select him in the Rule 5 draft.  Many around the net, seem to have given up on Miller, despite his incredible comeback and we can only hope that the entirety of MLB front offices take the same perspective.  I've heard a lot of chatter that Adam will never pitch a Major League inning.  I'm on the flipside and am ready and willing to bet on Miller debuting next summer.  Write it down.

The Reds have taken a risk of their own and inked Dontrelle Willis to a minor league deal.  Willis, who spent time in 3 different organizations last season, has never come close to his 22-win 2005 in the half decade since.  I've also met him and he's a jerk.  Don't clamber aboard the D-Train anytime soon.

Joey Votto has been awarded the 2010 NL MVP.  Nice to see a class act actually surpass a mountain of hype.

The Indians have taken their miserly spending to a new level.  The Tribe was unwilling to outbid the Rangers' $312K to snag 2010 #6 overall pick Barret Loux.  The Diamondbacks' selection, Arizona chose not to sign the RHP after Loux failed his physical thanks to shoulder problems.  Loux was dominant in his junior season at Texas A&M (11-2, 2.83, 1.07 WHIP, 11.66 K/9) and after not receiving a big dollar offer from any organization, the 21 year old chose to stay in his home state.

Pretty Girl 11.22.10 - Kristy Swanson

Help me fondly recall 1994.

Pretty Girl 11.21.10 - Linda Cardellini

If only her tongue was just a little bit longer...

Pretty Girl 11.20.10 - Kim Engelbosch

I don't often drink the Kool-Aid on models, but O. M. G.  Now get that image out of your head.

Rampant Consumerism

Y'all lookin' for the hottest Black Friday (yes, I capitalize it) deals?  Last year, I waited in the freezing rain outside of Best Buy for 3 hours to get the very netbook I am currently typing this on.  Best.  Toy.  Ever.  Anywho, check out the savings here.  Don't worry, I'll repost this on ThanxG.  Cheers.

Nike Brings The HaHa

Leaked over the weekend, this is an independent artist's approximation of what the Steelers unis will look like when Nike unveils their new "Pro-Combat" NFL uniforms for the 2012 season.  The Browns' aren't much different than the current and classic, but many more are freakin' hilarious.  Check 'em out here.  Great job jumping at the money Goodell.  I can't wait to see Nike's actual designs.  And we'll have all of next fall to consider them as the NFL locks out.  I'll bring a paper bag.

Biggest Indians Offseason Moves

The Indians have added 3B Jared Goedert, LHP Nick Hagadone, and RHPs Josh Judy, Corey Kluber and Zach McAllister to their 40-man roster.  I had expected them to roster RHP Adam Miller, finally at full strength and ready to compete for a big league bullpen spot in March, rather than McAllister as they have invested a considerable amount of time and money into Miller's rehabilitation from a variety of injuries.  Most notable among these was his groundbreaking finger pulley surgery from which he has only just recovered from.  McAllister was obtained from the Yankees over the summer as part of the Austin Kearns trade.  The thought process here is that the combination of organizational investment and probability of Rule 5 selection is lower for Miller than McAllister.  I disagree with the Indians position as Miller seems the perfect Rule 5.  If he remains healthy, he should be on a major league roster come opening day.  If he gets hurt, any team that picks him can just offer the headache back to the Tribe.  This move scares me.  The most pleasant news here is that Goedert was, indeed, added to the roster.  Many of the talking heads had discounted the possibility, feeling that the Indians powers-that-be do not trust Goedert's glove.  His addition speaks to the probability that the Tribe will give the youngster the opportunity to win the third base job in the spring.  Pay attention, the kid's a hitter and his defense is fine.

The Ironing Is Delicious

TBJ exclusive: Like A Bosh from The Basketball Jones on Vimeo.

Bosh's line from Wednesday night - 35 points, 6 boards, 11-11 at the line

Golden Choo

South Korea defeated Taiwan 9-3 today to win baseball gold at the 2010 Asian Games.  Who cares, right?  We do!  Shin Soo Choo's participation on the gold medal team serves to exempt him from military service.  Thus, Choo's career will not be interrupted by the mandatory 2 year hitch that all South Korean males must undertake before the age of 30.  Even better, I never have to hear about this ridiculous topic again.  The only downside is that it supersedes my plan to send Andy Marte in Choo's stead.

Complimentary Movies

Fog Causes Havoc at High School Football Game @ Yahoo! Video

86 points?  Could they not see the ball carrier?



Out for yet another season.  Have I told you I have a Greg Oden jersey?

Winning Isn't Everything, It's... Nothing?

So... 13-12 was good enough to get King Felix the AL Cy Young award.  As I've been informed about 32 times today, that is the lowest win total of any awardee in a non-interrupted (see '81, '94, '95) season.  There has been much debate, but most agree that we have seen a dramatic shift in voting tendencies over the past few years.  Former winner, future Hall of Famer and current MLB network talking head, John Smoltz, is in favor of a rubric of sorts, an objective measure that "recommends" the winner.  I've seen enough BcS malarkey to feel confident that such an algorithm cannot be effectively constructed.

There is, of course, a middle ground.  While Felix Hernandez fell many wins behind CC Sabathia, the former outshone the latter in several other statistical categories, such as IP, WHIP, and Ks.  I have a favorite "meta" stat that seems to be wildly accurate in synthesizing all of this data.  It's called WAR.  That stands for Wins Above Replacement.  I've mentioned it before and, again, I shan't derive the equation, but, basically, it represents the number of additional wins that any player contributes to his team above and beyond those of a AAAA (think Jeremy Sowers, ouch) player.  To evidence my contention, the top 62 all-time in WAR are either in the Hall of Fame or definitely will be (think Clemens or Pujols).  Of the top 100, 95 fall into these categories, 2 more will likely get in someday via the veterans committee (Whitaker, Grich) and 1 is Pete Rose.  The long and short of it is that, historically, WAR is pretty damn accurate in defining the best players (#1 is Babe Ruth).

Felix Hernandez was #1 among AL pitchers in WAR this year, as was Zack Greinke in 2009, Cliff Lee in 2008 and CC Sabathia in 2007.  In fact the only time since 2002 that the best in WAR did not win the AL Cy Young was 2005 when Bartolo Colon took it over Johan Santana based on Bart's 21 wins.  That vote was widely disparaged then and widely referenced today as the genesis of the current outlook on pitching supremacy.  Still, as previously mentioned, this statistic is not omniscient, is imperfect and should not be the only metric to evaluate a player.  The easiest example of this is this years NL Cy Young vote.  Roy Halladay won with the 2nd best WAR, while Ubaldo Jimenez finished a distant 3rd despite a better WAR.  The watchword here is consistency.  In the 2nd half Ubaldo was a pedestrian 4-7 with a 3.80 ERA.  His ERA in July was 6.04.  Granted 15-1 and a 2.20 before the break is pretty damn impressive.  Hell, on June 7th Jimenez was 11-1 with an 0.93!  Halladay, on the other hand, never went less than 5 2/3 and pitched at least 7 innings in a remarkable 29 of 33 starts.  He walked 30 in 250 2/3 innings and his ERA was between 1.80 and 2.53 from May onward.  Regardless of the nearly un-hittable stretch that Jimenez put together early in the season, they play 162 games.  If the winner had been picked at the break, no doubt that it would have been Ubaldo, but Doc showed up from April to October and was clearly the superior overall performer. 

Another quick example, because it is my favorite.  In 1990 Bob Welch of the Oakland A's won the AL Cy Young with a 27-6 record and a 2.95 ERA.  Those sound like awesome numbers, right?  Wrong.  Roger Clemens was 21-6 with a 1.93.  Dude gave up 7 home runs in 31 starts.  His season translated to a 9.5 WAR.  So Welch must have been 2nd or 2rd, right?  Tied for 9th?  Sorry, I can't even tell you where he ranked because baseballreference.com only lists the top 10, which included such all-time greats as Steve Farr and Greg Hibbard.  Hibbard tied teammate Bobby Thigpen (the 57 save season) with a 3.5 WAR.  Welch's was 2.5.  Here's a little perspective... Bud Black had a 3.0 for the Indians.  Black was 13-11 with a 111 ERA+.  Remember Sergio Valdez (6-6, 4.75)?  Mike Walker (2-6, 4.88)?  Kevin Bearse (0-2, 12.91)?  No?  Lucky you.  They all started for the Tribe in 1990.  They all had WARs between 0 and -1.  This means, wait for it, any of them could have won 23 or 24 games for the Bash Brother Athletics.  And they gave it to Welch.  Sheesh.  It's nice to find some enlightenment these days.

Cheers.

Pretty Girl 11.19.10 - Brittany Daniel

The only reason it's ok that I've seen  Joe Dirt 7 times.

I Need More Practice

 If you don't know why it's ridiculous, I cannot hope to explain it.  I can only assume that the Candie's people hope that no one spans the specturm of Jersey Shore, mild political awareness and abstinence fund raisers.

Pretty Girl 11.18.10 - Jamie Lynn Spears

I like my women like I like my whiskey... 18 years old and mixed up with coke.

Pretty Girl Update! - Dianna Agron (+Lea Michele)

Cue Lonely Island.

Vick Going To Canton

Seriously.  The NFL Hall of Fame has requested Michael Vick's jersey from his record setting Monday night performance.  Vick became the 1st player in NFL history to compile 300+ yards passing, 50+ yards rushing, 4+ passing TDs and 2+ rushing TDs.  Looks like I traded for the wrong fantasy quarterback...

Also...  Tony Parker and Eva Longoria are divorcing at her behest.  It's the old "irreconcilable differences" story.  Time for me to throw my hat in the ring.

And... Golden State Warriors forward David Lee has needed 2 separate surgical procedures on his left elbow to flush an infection that developed after he sustained a puncture wound from New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler's... TOOTH!  Don't let anyone ever tell you that the most bacteria infested cesspool on planet Earth is not the human mouth.  The worst?  American women.  Ewww.