mstar1

scuse me while I vomit. are we gonna have to go through this stupid sh!t again? what a pox on the game I may be foirced to leave the country that year and take up ice fishing in the arctic, or join Bumpy in Borneo somewhere out of the constant onslaught of the horrid media blitz to come Interestingly enough it doesnt say anything about bonuses for winning, or post season performances. ehhh-- what does that mean anyway as long as you can break personal records........

i admit don't know much about these things but I imagine it would iron itself out as long as the Cap'n pays up and doesnt pull a Leona Helmsley and say or do something stupid which I cant see him doing. I see the press conference like this: "blah blah blah slight misunderstanding blahblah oversight has been cleared up blahblahblah im honored to be a part of the City of New York blah blah blah"

good visual on the one way streetsa through Baltimore was that by plan or accident? Im not a tax attorney, not even close but Im sure that it gets very complicated, every state has its own rules, plus there are special rules for athletes who actually earn their money all over the country in many different states. I was a little surprised to find out that they owe state taxes in all the states that they play on the money that they earn while they are there (ie for 9 games in Fenway each year Jeter owes Mass State Income tax for those 9 games earnings while in Massachusetts). Plus they do generally live in two or more places, or like alot of wealthy people maintain some shell residence in a tax free state. It gets way too complicated for me Id bet that at his earning level he has at least one (maybe more)fulltime tax accountants who is playing all the nuances and stretching the laws where he thinks he can..... My guess is its probably a matter of the interpretation of the law between his accountants and the NY Dept of Revenue who'll go to court fuss and moan and come to some agreement about it. I dont think its that huge of a deal, at least I hope not, probably just another NY accountant playing too loose and Jeter (who may or may not know it was actually an issue)a little too high profile for the state to ignore it.

I get one for pills to lose 23 pounds in 2 weeks almost but not quite the same as gaining 40 pounds of muscle mass . anyway... When will they strip his records and carve his name off the pyramids? Whens the Mitchell Report coming out? and i gotta say this is alittle weird having competing threads--but--whatever

my sentiments exactly RhinoThey shouldve stop this sh!t 20 years ago when the Bash Brothers showed up looking like ballooned out aliens ptoooey--what induction? its spelled i n c a r c e r a t i o n and he will show up. pride comes before the fall Thanks for playing-seeya later-game over

LAE: I tried googling and Netflixing that every which way I could think of and came up with nothing, are you sure that is the right title? if you can remember a better/different title or who may have been in it or directed it, or released it--or anything googlable really id appreciate it. I definitely would like to see that one...tks

Didnt Giambi fess up a few years ago and recieve no repercussions?Bonds' crime is lying about it to a grand jury. FWIW-im also glad the ARod thing is over 10/275mil plus bonuses and perks... (yup a man with a quarter of a billion has to have his perks ...) Two fiascos over in one day thankyoujesusthankyouthankyouthankyou Not that this has much to do with anything but while we are on controversy I may as well throw THIS out which also was from today. oops E-6

I'll let someone else handle that. Im sure Tom or Hiway could handle it better than me, Ive said my piece pages and pages ago of what I think of Bonds, Im sick of the whole thing. but just for the record he was indicted for lying to a grand jury and obstruction of justice--which are very serious charges. The ESPN legal analyst said any sentence for a conviction for charges like these, " is measured in years, not months." The only thing that ticks me off is that it came a year too late, and we had to put up with that bogus HRchase fiasco for a good part of the summer.. (well 20 years too late really) Say hello to OJ for us Barry!

I dont know Joe Dimaggio? NAH i have no idea As far as the east goes. The Red Sox and yanks do push each other, but the other teams could be better, The Jays were second in 06, but always seem to be fighting off a key injury or two and seem to never get the years that could happen out of some of their players. Something never quite clicks with them over a season for some reason.. The Rays actually are alot better than people give them credit for, Im not going to look up the numbers right now but their starting pitching actually was amazingly good this year (Im a big Scott Kazmir fan) but they had huge bullpen holes and their relief pitching was horrid which handed most of their season away. The Defense had some gaps, but they really arent all that far imo away from being a very good team if they play their cards right. I dont know whats up with the O's, they jumped out one year for about three months or so ( I cant remember if it was 05 or 06) but fell off the chart pretty quick after that---- they seem to have a lot of internal problems or something...or at least thats what I hear and remember out of Baltimore more than a few times a year--it seems like I hear a lot of stupid squabbles--.... Like a lot of teams they just dont seem to have an overall coherent plan, and seem, for now at least, to be content to finish in the middle of the pack somewhere. I dont know--its a big challenge to take on the east but it can be done, (Ive actually seen it done :) )maybe some key guy for them will get a fire under his a$$, not be intimidated by the idea, and patiently put all the pieces together and go for it... ................................................................................ ...................................................... are you sick of it yet? New York Times "Yanks Should Treat Rodriguez the Way He Treated Them" This isnt some ragmag-this is The New York Times. somehow this whole fiasco would seem just if he ended up signing for less than he was going to get on his option Now that would be perfect! ....I suppose this is what happens when the best player in baseball had a daddy that walked out for cigarettes and never came back.

That would be interesting. there has been alot of that type of gamesmanship the last several years between the Sox and Yanks. i expect other teams may do it also within their divisions but it is not so publicized that I pay that much attention. To me its a good sign, (if its true that is..) that the Yanks are as much concerned about making a move to attempt to hinder the Red Sox as they would be to be improving themselves.... If its true, its good to be 'in their head'.... There is alot of bluster, and smoke and mirrors this time of year, Its hard to know what or who to believe, or the exact angles and strategies they are playing..but in an odd way I do find it very entertaining--Its almost like watching a bunch of poker players bluffing, folding, holding and drawing ---or a 30 way chess match. ................. doesnt mean much but I found a good quote yesterday: " When I was young, a friend and I were talking about our dreams for the future. I told him that I wanted to be a professional baseball player, like the great Honus Wagner. He told me that he wanted to be the President of The United States. ---Neither of our dreams came true" Dwight Eisenhower

It would be good for baseball if Boras gets ousted. Other than that this whole episode has been kind of pathetic. From the announcement during the World Series (everybody look at meeee!! I neeeed your attention!!! I am vewwy important!!! to this crawling back to the yankees thing, like he really doesnt have any idea what he wants -- is all looking like some sort of bad soap opera. Psychologists watching from a distance must be having a field day with this I hope he signs somewhere soon, I dont really care where, just so its over ..... I also read last night that the Yanks are interested in Lowell at first Wha???? are they serious? Lowell has played in 1,262 games and has spent not even one minute at first base. I have no idea what this is about. A lot of Lowell's value is tied up in his glove at third. Can he learn a new position at age 34? And are the Yanks serious about playing him $15 per for three or four years to do it? Does Lowell even want to play first? Bizarre. One thing is for sure: the "Hank and Hal" era in NY is off to an entertaining start. had me rolling on the floor that should go in the classic lines file

Good for Pudge! he deserves it Seems every year some guy wins the glove with his bat though didnt Palmiero win the Gold Glove one year when he spent most of the year DH'ing?

The jeter stuff has been going around, (at least I have heard is amongst AL East fans) for at least a few years. He positions himself well, does have a good arm, is very good on the relay, but honestly has the range of a sack of potatoes most of the time--anything more than 18 inches to his left can be questionable when you watch him, and he has been noticably deteriorating in the fieldover the years. Its not just me-- He consistantly has ranked last or next to last in range factor for the last several years as that NY writer pointed out. I think part of the problem is that he is perceived as a good shortstop because of old highlights (the same ones- that are played over and over) and because his name is "Derek Jeter" and he has some untouchable iconic aura attached to his name. How many times have you seen the play he made in the playoffs against Oakland years ago, or his dive into the stands that he made in '04? (Pokey Reese actually made that exact same play in the very same game..) He still has the patented jump-throwTM, which is very dramatic, and looks smoooth doing what he does, and the fistpump, but when you watch him alot, he just doesnt reach many of the plays that most other shortstops do in less dramatic fashion This is not to downgrade him, he is probably the best number 2 hitter that I have ever seen and that is where his real value lies and why he will be in the HOF--but in the field he has become an icon, an image, sort of like Wierwille preaching when he really didnt make a whole heckuva a lot of sense but people still fawned all over him because he was the MOGFOT.... To many people Jeter is the Yankee SS, period. He is the captain, he won championships--therfore he must be a great fielder I was actually surprised in a way when ARod came in 04 and didnt play short, of course I havent seen him play short in 4 years but at that time he was much better at short than Jeter. I think he plays there because he is expected to, its "his", and the Yankee organization doesnt want to see that it is actually costing them in the field. Anyway thats my two cents on the matter. Most likely nobody is going to move him (unless Girardi grows a brass set) and that is fine with me

Im sure they can have him back relatively cheap. Its too bad it didnt work out here for him, it wouldve been a nice setup with Okajima/Gagne in the 8th/ Papelbon 9th, and either Gagne or Oki every once in a while closing. Now that couldve been as formidable as Manny/Papi/Arod.. but it didnt so, he still gets a nice ring out of the deal. I still have to wonder if he was tipping his pitches, was pitching hurt, or if his confidence took a dive after he got hammered hard the first few times out .... whatever it is--I hope he works it out. ------------ I spose the big one im thinking about the most ofcourse is Ortiz, he was cut by Minnesota (or dfa'ed or something) and nobody else wanted him at the time, for a guy who came here as a 3rd firstbaseman, He fit in pretty well, found himself and hes been doing pretty good :) I think they should keep him around

I dont know what they could do. I do know that the Red Sox will be smart about it. They did say that anything they do with him will " be on our terms-not his"...whatever that all means. I do know that about the one thing he doesnt have is a ring---( well that --and the respect of 3/4 of America ) for all I know he could have been Borassed into this whole image/money thing and the insatiable need to have everyone like him ...maybe underneath ( again who knows) he really is just some schmuck who really does want to win a world series and feel that for once in his life. ....thats the main bait that the Red Sox have... I'll give Theo and Tito the benefit of the doubt on knowing what they are doing---a lot of people have come here and changed ---finding themselves--and enjoying the process indoing it. They could give the atmosphere and direction to be himself and not have to be his image, that might help--that and a team of psychologists from Vienna or someplace... who knows ---we'll probably end up with Joe Crede, Hank Blalock, or Weezie from the Jeffersons for all I know, which will be fine --

It will be intersting to me how the thirdbaseman sweepstakes plays out. The RedSox offered Lowell 3 Years which he didnt sign before the exclusive period was up yesterday. I expect that the Yankees will offer him 4 or more. I love the guy but he also had a career year this year, and 4 years is a long time. If Mike goes for the years it could be because of the Yankees way of doing things. If he goes to NY, does that (in a way) force the Sox hand on ARod? They could pay him well but I doubt that they (or anybody) are going for the 10/$350...maybe something like 7/190...With what they are losing in payroll with Lowell, Clement and others leaving as well as young cheap players, I think they could do that without expanding the payroll Who knows....and aside from the money there is the boatload of other baggage and issues that would have to be ironed out first. I dont know if they'll want to toy with that or not. I do suppose that there are alot of people conjecturing ( and fearing) a lineup that had a mix of Manny, Papi and Arod in the middle... It sounds formidable.. if i was apitcher I would wantto call in sick that day... I like Miguel Cabrera too, but he would probably cost a few young players.. Who knows? right now its like watching a card game with the gm's bluffing and dancing

I know Posada had a career year but a four year deal for a catcher of his age seems questionable to me, If they want to pay him for four, more power to them, it may work out, but personally I doubt that he will ever have another year like 07 and by the time he is 40 in a few years they will have yet another DH on their roster. maybe..maybe not that amount of years seems risky to me... Im not sure about Damon either, maybe he will bounce back, he is resilient but I have seen him run full speed into an awful lot of walls over the last several years, a lot of walls, that has got to take its toll. There is also absolutely nothing left of his arm. Cabrera will be in center, Damon in left and Matsui and Giambi sharing DH I guess. Whats up with their pitching staff? Mussina, Clemens, Pettite, Pavano-all gone...They'll either be hoping for big years from Hughes, Kennedy and Chamberlain and Wang (again)or will have to be out to get Johann Santana, or Scott Kazmir or who? Wil they give up young prospects for these guys and cut there future? I doubt too many would want to take any of their high priced guys especially for afrontline pitcher.... Im just musing... Their defense also suffered alot last year..I think that will have to be shored up.... Even diehard Yankee fans are finally calling for Jeter to be moved somewhere else...... I never did understand why ARod didnt play short.... Would they move him to first or third? Abreu and Cano are solid, and I like Melky Cabrera and of course no one ever counts the Yankees out, It's a long way until opening day-It will be interesting to see what they put together over this winter and most importantly if Girardi can get them to play as a team. theres alot to see... Dont forget it is the last year of Yankee Stadium....As much as I dont like the place, it is still unfathomable to me that they are actually tearing it down. The tentative schedule doesnt even have them playing the last game of the year in the stadium but somewhere on the road. How stupid is that? I have to wonder if anyone is awake at all sometimes

sigh.. not really you know I would have liked Beckett to win it, but I know Sabathia is very tough, He is a mountain out there and he has learned to pitch over the last few years. He was incredibly tough this year and should have a huge career in front of him Their records, ERA and WHIP were near identical but with Sabathia having an extra 40+ innings pitched which probably tipped him over the top in the voting. Oddly enough I have to wonder if that difference in innings may have contributed to his downfall in the ALCS as well (in which Beckett won the MVP) ............. Two other things I saw in the last few days that tickled me: 1)I saw a live interview with Schilling when they asked about his contract ( 8m + bonuses) with the Sox he said "Basically I make a sh!t ton of money to do what I love" I havent heard anyone say "sh!t ton" in quite awhile, it was refeshing to hear ballplayer signed for 8+ to honestly say what we all already know and be completely upfront and honest about it.. 2.) my favorite quote of the week--if you havent heard the World Series Ball has disappeared yet AGAIN. Theo Epstein's response --"I have no idea where the ball is and don't really care. I hope that's a recurring problem for us." So do I

I love watching him...HERE'S an interview with his college coach that came out a few months ago. gotta love it..

All good choices-- Im happy for the little man--Dustin Pedroia was just named Rookie of The Year in The AL. He earned it ---the kid is tough, a great competitor, and fun to watch. Listed at 5'8" , I doubt he is even 5'5" . It also just came out he played the last few months with a broken bone in his hand-- Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox 24 4 — 132 Delmon Young, Devil Rays 3 12 5 56 Brian Bannister, Royals 1 8 7 36 Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox — 2 6 12 Reggie Willits, Angels — 2 5 11 Hideki Okajima, Red Sox — — 3 3 Josh Fields, White Sox — — 1 1 Joakim Soria, Royals — — 1 1 In the NL it was Ryan Braun Ryan Braun, Brewers 17 14 1 128 Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies 15 17 — 126 Hunter Pence, Astros — — 15 15 Chris Young, Diamondbacks — — 10 10 Kyle Kendrick, Phillies — 1 4 7 Yunel Escobar, Atlanta — — 1 1 James Loney, Dodgers — — 1 1 Pretty darn close race..... Tomorrow we get the AL CY Its a toss up between Beckett and Sabathia

The madonna is a copy of the one in Montserrat.. Shes been sitting there for about a year, I like her there. My greenman is actually out of the shot, he is behind this photo (next to the tortoise shell...of course...), Thats a carved rastaman I picked up up in the jungles of Jamaica, I think you are seeing.... my guitars (I think there are 6 here) are also just out of the shot. Iusually I have two at least surrounding the desk The desk is actually pretty neat now, but bureaus, tables, bookcases--anything that is flat really--- have become a collection of all sorts of strange artifacts My shop is a different story, the desk has overflowed onto the bookshelves, the top of my kiln and a whole 4' x 8' workbench. If anyone comes--please dont touch anything! I know where it all is.... well ---except the remotes, and that bill I was supposed to pay yesterday...

No new fornat for me-looks the same as it always has... Did your cat run over your keyboard and click on the wrong gizmo or something?

7:05 :) ..... oops no game today..instead go HERE to vote for the 2008 Ford Frick Award. You can vote to select three broadcasters to be on the final top ten ballot for the Ford Frick Award and a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame. My vote goes to Ned Martin, the voice of my youth, Paced delivery, dry wit, poetic inserts (shakespeare wasnt uncommon) dramatic when necessary, simple yet creative, and highly objective...those were all Ned. When every game wasnt on TV it was Neds voice that rang around New England for over 30 years that kindled the love affair which is still going on.... He should already be in the hall--- If you have someone you feel is worthy---go vote!

Tom was right, There is a company that does that -"Valpak", I knew someone who worked for them for awhile. They sell franchises and locals run it, and have the whole setup worked out. They figure it so it is acheap way for Eds Market or Joes Roofing to each reach XX thousand households, then bulk mail the entire packet every week to a town , a few towns or a county depending on what the advertiser wants. They might throw in a "free donut with your coffee" coupon for a mom and pop restaurant somewhere, specials on oil changes and things like that, that small businesses use to attract people. I know Valpak here, a small two man office, does OK. They sell the adv, design the flyers, print them, do the mailing, and the collecting-it seems to work for them. Honestly, mine generally gets tossed, but if a small business can get even a small percentage of new customers out of a weekly mailing (or one of those baggies) they'd probably be doing OK. The concept works, I dont see any reason to have to pay the franchise fee to do it..

My home one is better than it used to be. I like it better when its organized , Im just not one who likes the organizing part of the equation. My feet are usually up on the left hand side as i lean back in my chair, they stay right next to my Black Madonna...theres a pile of checks on the first shelf, behind my voodoo doll from New Orleans, Im not sure whats in the 'organizer' on the left, I shuffle that around about once every three months, the wastebasket is usually pletho-ing to overflowing O heck this took afew minutes but heres a picture from just now-- its alot easier: (its usually alot messier, but I had a cleaning jag this week... Is three ashtrays excessive for one small desk?