CanadianChris

It's funny that the entire Sox starting rotation are having below-average seasons for them (except Contreras) when they all had above-average seasons for them last year.

Wow, Rusch sure made me look like a genius there.

Glendon Rusch is pitching now. It should end shortly.

Gomez to Phoenix is a rumour I've heard. I can't believe he wanted $7 mil -- you'd better be a top-10 player in the league for that kind of money, and he's definitely not that. Also, the Red Wings signed Danny Markov, and Jay Bouwmeester got 2 years, $4.35 million from the arbitrator.

Surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet, but Scott Gomez was awarded $5 mil in arbitration. He's gone -- I don't think Jersey can even consider taking that on with the cap problems they already have. Sens signed Chris Kelly to a 1-year deal and Chris Neil for three years.

I noted that as soon as the list was released. Raines, Andre Dawson and Tim Wallach (plus Gary Carter, who made the list) were the faces of the franchise in the early-mid 80s. As an Expos fan, I was insulted.

I finally got around to reading Moneyball; it was fantastic. As a bonus, now I can fully appreciate all the Joe Morgan jokes on Fire Joe Morgan. Al, what baseball writers/columnists do you consider to be must-read right now?

Is there any chance that the winner of the AL West will be at or below .500 at season's end? While I'm thinking of it, do you think the Dodgers can rebound from the St. Louis debacle and get back in the race?

Certainly not compared to slots. Slots are low risk in that there's very little risk you'll walk away with as much money as you had when you started. How much money are you going with? That should influence what you decide to play.

Ty gets my vote again this week. He was the only one who made me laugh out loud more than once. If I was voting someone off, it'd be Josh. He has consistently weak sets. I'm worried that he's going to ride the charity case momentum to the finals. Ty and Chris in the finals would make me happy. Josh in the finals would make me root for whoever he's up against.

I usually eat lunch at my desk and do some reading.

It's difficult to understand the magnitude without some knowledge of cycling. But...on Wednesday, Landis hit the wall going up the final mountain of the second stage in the Alps and lost ten minutes of time (10:00 with four stages left is the equivalent of being down, say, 5-0 in a hockey game with 5 minutes left in the third), enough that everyone who follows cycling conceded that he had no chance of winning the Tour. The very next day, he went off on a solo breakaway over all four mountains in the next stage and got all but 30 seconds of that time back. Normally, riders attack on the final hill -- attacking before they even reach the first hill is unheard of, practically suicidal. It's probably the greatest ride in cycling history.

Lilly's been pitching well for quite a while, and Burnett is looking pretty good. Maddux would be a good #4 starter, though, since I don't trust Chacin all that much, even before he got injured. Failing that, Marcum looks like he has enough to be a #5 starter for the rest of the year.

I'd rather have it all in here than in the game threads.

I don't care what happens for the rest of the season...after starting 4-17, I finally made it over .500.

Landis's 17th stage was the greatest, most unbelievable thing I've ever seen in sports. The only thing that would come close would be the Sox beating the Yankees two years ago.

Maybe he wanted to save Papelbon for the tenth in case Boston scored in their half. Still weak, but not totally ridiculous.

Dusty's WWF run should answer any questions about that.

No, I left the house pretty much as soon as the third was over.

13 batters, 3 HRs, 8 runs and two pitchers later, the Blue Jays are finally finished in the third inning.

August 2001, American Pie 2.

Aw, Torre's no fun. I wanted to see more Ponson! EDIT: Never mind, I like this new guy. 7-3 Jays.

Glaus with a 2-run shot, Jays have the lead back.

No mention of A-Rod striking out with 2 on in the previous AB?

I <3 Sidney Ponson. Yankee fans may feel differently.