EVIL~! alkeiper

A full chapter devoted to the Paris sewer system, though that comes around in the next chapter where you have some idea of what the characters are traveling.

Wasn't me.

National Television WEDNESDAY LA Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs 8pm, ESPN FRIDAY LA Dodgers @ San Francisco 10pm, ESPN SATURDAY Minnesota @ Chicago White Sox, 3:55pm Fox Florida @ Philadelphia, 3:55pm Fox LA Dodgers @ San Francisco, 3:55pm Fox Chicago Cubs @ Pittsburgh, 7pm Fox Cleveland @ Los Angeles Angels, 9pm Fox SUNDAY Cleveland @ LA Angels, 8pm ESPN Last week the Red Sox, Indians and Angels opened up their leads in their respective divisions. The Mets weathered a four game sweep by the Phils and gained two games back on their lead. The Cubs lead by a game and a half, the D'backs and Padres are in a dead heat for the West. The Yankees lead the AL wild card while the D'backs/Padres loser gets that honor in the National League. If I had to pick a showcase series, it would be Seattle/Yankees midweek, Seattle/Detroit over the weekend. This is a big week for the AL wild card hunt.

When you lead the division, the status quo is gaining ground, because you've run down the clock.

I love the old school house shows. It's great how Maple Leaf Gardens, Boston Garden and Madison Square Garden all have their unique looks. Maple Leaf has the ramp, Boston has the wooden steps, etc.

Kane Davis is in for the Phils. I saw Davis pitch twice this year, and he exhibited the worst habit of touching his crotch I have ever seen. He'd get the ball, tap his crotch 1-3 times, and pitch.

An advertisement for the AWA dvd after the program promises "13 matches in their entirety." Talk about stretching the truth.

How many years does a manager deserve? What managers do you think will be fired? Depends on the manager. I think too often the manager's performance is directly related to the talent he is given. How is a guy manager of the year one year and a bum the next? I'd say maybe Ned Yost. I can't think of anyone else offhand.

Volstad's K rate is relatively low. I've seen enough finesse guys come up to know they are far from sure things. Aaron Thompson, same problem. Jose Garcia and Sean West haven't even pitched this year. Honestly, I don't see one sure guy coming up.

Which ones? I'm not impressed by Hernandez and Volstad, and NONE of their starters are hitting league average this season.

I was 11, my parents weren't big fans. Baseball wasn't a big deal in my household growing up.

Guilty Pleasures. Chris Michalek, Colter Bean, Dan Giese. All pitchers without blazing fastballs that get results at the AAA level. Michalak throws slower than Jamie Moyer. I think he could have a career as a reliever in the Stu Miller mold if someone got creative. Bean I've mentioned many times. Giese has impeccable control but has never gotten a shot at the Majors. Overrated/underrated I don't know because I don't pay that much attention to the sports media. I think relievers with 98 mph heat are overrated, particularly when they lack control or a secondary pitch. Conventional wisdom used to say that you carried relievers who threw strikes. Underrated guys are players who do a bit of everything well rather than one thing. The three worst run teams are the Orioles, Pirates and Nationals. Teams with neither current success, recent past success, or much farm talent to indicate future success. Managers I'm going to take a pass. There is no current MLB manager I feel deserves to be fired. Jose Mesa, Randy Johnson, Omar Vizquel. Big Unit needs to pack it in because he really has nothing to gain at this point. His legacy is set. The other two are bad players in their 40s. Three best moments. Number one is game seven of the 2001 World Series. Number two is game seven of the 2004 ALCS. Both were high profile Yankee losses. Number three is the Phillies' win in the 1980 NLCS, though I did not see it live. Three worst. Number one is game seven of the 1996 NLCS. I was a big Ozzie Smith fan, and his last game was a 15-0 blowout. The only reason to continue watching was knowing he would never play again. Number two was the 1994 baseball strike. If that happened today I wouldn't sweat it and would opt for minor league ball instead. Number three was Derek Jeter's "home run" in the 1996 ALCS.

It's only annoying if you watch ESPN.

Not a good night for the Phillies' pitching prospects. Carlos Carrasco gave up six runs over four innings, including a grand slam. Scott Mathieson pitched to one batter and left with arm discomfort. Russell Branyan traded to the Cardinals for a player to be named. Good stopgap for the Cards for a month worth of stretch run.

On another note, making my last trip to a regular season minor league game today. Reading Phillies @ Harrisburg Senators, with the Phillies' #1 prospect Carlos Carrasco starting.

I think it's apparent the pitching is a priority. Rowand is a nice player but the Phillies have two players who can cover center field on the club right now (Shane Victorino and Michael Bourn). Given the contract Gary Matthews got last season, Rowand is going to be very expensive.

I never understood the Eckstein hate myself. He gets on base at a reasonable clip. What does it matter that he has no power? Agree or disagree, I think there is no doubt that their absolute worst problem is shortstop.

Everyone knows good tennis isn't played on grass.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/Yaxd Billy Wagner throwing over 40 pitches in a game. As you can see, he had only done it twice in the last five years.

Busch Stadium was named before a Busch brand of beer existed. Originally new Cardinals owner August Busch Jr. wanted to rename Sportsmans Park "Budweiser Stadium," but MLB officials nixed the idea. Of course given that we now have Miller Park and Coors Field, monetary rewards have trumped other concerns.

He comes from the Poconos. We're all built like that naturally.

The Iron Sheik feature is well worth watching. The Backlund/Sheik title change is there in its entirety. The boot camp match is shown joined in progress.

Congratulations to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees for clinching the International League North division.

Better yet was Finley using the pads as a weapon to start the match. That feud made Regal.

Some good news for Philly fans. Scott Mathieson should return next week from Tommy John surgery.