Bruiser Chong

What if he or she owns a HD TV?

My knowledge of this bid for a no-hitter went something like this: 10:31 p.m.: receive text message from friend asking me if I'm watching the Floyd no-hitter 10:32 p.m.: receive text message from same friend saying "never mind" It was an intense 30 seconds, though.

Barry Zito returns to the rotation tomorrow. The quest for 20 lives!

I disagree. Their hitting hasn't mashed up pitching as suspected, but that's not likely to continue. Even if they fail to meet lofty expectations, their hitting won't be the reason behind any ultimate futility in the quest to play October baseball. Their pen was projected to be bad and it is. The starting pitching isn't free of any guilt, but it's crazy to suggest their bullpen isn't their weakest spot right now. They currently have the third worst ERA from the 7th inning on. We know their starters aren't getting that deep into the game most of the time, so that's the bullpen at work.

Which would make no sense for several reasons. Aren't he and Sheffield like mortal enemies now? And since when does Bonds pitch in relief?

- The Tigers DFA Jacque Jones. - There's word that the Cubs might send Felix Pie down to the minors. What bullshit. They've got one of the best offenses in the league and are a game and a half behind a suspect team. What is it going to hurt to let the job be Felix's to lose? Reed Johnson isn't even hitting like he was to start the season. I guess they're having Ronny Cedeno take flyballs in center, but I'm not sold on that idea. Felix hasn't wow'ed anyone this season, but the way they're messing with him again, it looks like we might have another Corey Patterson on our hands.

The Mets are considering acquiring Derrick Turnbow. Yeah, I can see that working out pretty well.

Just to make sure we're not lopsided here... Let's see how long this lasts.

The Cubs sucked this past week and I think it's clear a couple things should change. Namely, playing Felix Pie and Ronny Cedeno with regularity. Reed Johnson has brought more patience to this team, but Felix is supposed to be the centerfielder of the future. That isn't going to happen sitting on the bench and getting the occasional late-inning defensive replacement treatment. It makes no sense not to play him, especially when Johnson's hot start is becoming a distant memory and Lou was supposedly working with Pie on his swing. Then there's Theriot, who is looking more baseball retarded everyday. I believe he's almost got as many caught stealing as he does successful swipes. Ronny, meanwhile, has 16 RBI in less than 50 AB's. Give the kid a chance. He's got much more upswing than Theriot at this point. And that's my Cubs rant for the week.

Those crowd shots after the last commercial break indicates only people with no sense of rhythm can afford to attend a Celtics playoff game.

I've seen bits and pieces. I can say they've looked like morons on the bases and the field. Brenly seemed unusually pissed off last night; I did see him tear into Pie, but he was blasting Soriano a full inning after the awful defensive play happened. I can't hate Soto. After dealing with the tandem of Koyie Hill and Jason Kendall last year, it's great to see a catcher capable of hitting. I still think you're overreacting. I'm not saying they don't have problems and right now, I couldn't see them being much of a match for Arizona or any of the better AL teams. But it's not like we're watching 2006 unfold before our eyes.

And I don't agree about the hacking part. Soriano's going to change that patience thing we had going a bit, but the Cubs are still surprisingly among the top teams in OBP so far. That isn't going to change drastically. Fukudome and Soto are changing the team's rep as a hack-tastic squad. Really, Soriano and Theriot are probably the only impatient hitters of the regular starters right now. Coincidently, they're also the team's 1-2 punch.

I'm not gonna hop on the ledge with Czech (seriously, the Brewers are likely in trouble without Gallardo and the Cards have Looper and Wellemeyer in their rotation), but there are problems here: - Soriano's baseball retarded. His striking out at balls in the dirt isn't new, but what in the world is he doing in the outfield? That was an embarrassing play. I've never heard Bob Brenley so flat-out rip a player to shreds. - Lou's making some questionable decisions. Seriously, Chad Fox? Is this 2005? Why the hell is he on this roster, anyway? - For all the crap Cedeno catches, Theriot's not much better and his fielding is really poor if you're actually paying attention.

This looks disturbingly like my brother's fiance. From the length of the hair to the "Please eat a god damn sandwich" frame. It's uncanny.

Gallardo has a torn ACL. I can't believe Yost let him stay in after that.

Probably the funniest episode of the season. It's no coincidence that it also had the most Daryl, Stanley, and Kevin we've gotten in most of the episodes this season. I'm loving the Tobey-Ryan pairing.

I get tired of the Cubs' fanbase always taking such a beating from everyone else. I'm not justifying it, but I've seen PLENTY of instances of fans in other ballparks throwing something (usually a beverage) near a player at the warning track.

Well that was a real kick in the ass, even though the Cubs made no less than three big base-running blunders in the second half of the game and were probably lucky to be winning in the ninth.

Hmm, another meltdown for Wood. People are going to be screaming for Marmol as closer, but his appearance earlier illustrated why that's not going to solve everything. He came in with runners at the corners in a two-run game and got out of it without giving up a run. Then he set them down the following inning. Marmol doesn't make the appearance and there's likely no game for Wood to save in the ninth.

Derrick Turnbow's either hurt or DONE. He's not finding the plate on anything other than his fastball and that's getting teed to the not-yet-ivy walls.

Jeff Suppan's getting absolutely smacked around. He gave up six runs before recording the second out of the game.

The Roots - Rising Down

Oh.my.god. Just when I think I can't get more amped for this movie, I see something like that trailer. What a bittersweet experience this movie's going to be for me.

I keep wanting to not bump this, but I feel the need to document this. I promise I'll stop after the inevitable suicide away message I should note she's "officially" given up at least three times in the last couple of weeks. Maybe she needs to some dick.

A 50-cent ink pen is mightier than your $3,000 worth of swords.