Cheech Tremendous

Yeah, this was one of the worst kept secrets in baseball after the Red Sox bought the Salem franchise last year. I couldn't be happier. Lancaster was such a disaster. It was impossible to fairly rate any prospect, hitter or pitcher. Everything was at such extremes that you couldn't make any kind of reasonable judgment.

I don't have 24/7, and I'm kind of glad that I don't. I get so depressed reading these threads and reminiscing about how great the product the was back them. Look at how many historical things are happening every week. Now we just get the same regurgitated crap every week.

Anyone who rails against Ed Hochuli is an idiot. Yes, it was a blown call. Referees blow dozens of calls every weekend. Unfortunately for him and the Chargers, it happened to come at a time that ended up directly affecting the outcome of the game. But sending threatening emails to a ref? That's just unfathomably stupid. He apologized to Norv and to the fans. What more do you want? If anything SD should have manned up and stopped Denver on the next play and the two-point conversation.

It's been a lean couple of years in the quality department for Bill Simmons, but I've managed to stay with him with the hopes of one of those classic columns. Occasionally he can still deliver. Today's column, however, was just downright embarrassing. Claiming that Monday's game was the highest rated in history because of the fantasy implications? That's just ridiculous.

I wonder how much Burnett will get this offseason. I'm thinking it will take five years and something between $75 and $90 million. That's a lot of money for a guy who can't seem be healthy and effective in the same season. Also, do you think Burnett gets more than Ben Sheets? Both guys are awesome when they're on, but there are huge question marks surrounding both.

There probably aren't many pictures of him doing anything else.

Czech calling Laz a dirtball made me laugh so hard.

Man, Bob loves defending WWE.

That report makes it sound like run of the mill stuff, but it's not that easy to get kicked off a plane. Sounds like he had to be really messed up. Doubt this will lead to any sort of disciplinary action on WWE's part, but they should really consider relaxing his push in the future. The guy is just too much of a fuck up to keep putting in these high profile feuds and matches.

What's more sad, the fact that Seattle is relegated to bringing in Colbert and Robinson, or that Shaun Alexander and Cedric Benson got tryouts with Lions and didn't make the team?

I don't know what Curt's trying to prove with these comments other than the fact that he's a blowhard who likes to hear himself speak. You mean to tell me that Manny was a clubhouse cancer and dogged it until he got traded? No shit. We knew all this stuff in July. The team has moved on, the fans have moved on and Manny has moved on. Why even discuss it? Take the high road, Curt.

This is my attempt to contribute positively to the music folder. Each week I'll dip into my vinyl collection (comprised mostly of rock albums from the '60s-'80s, with a few notable exceptions), pull out an essential album, drop the needle and post the results. This isn't so much designed to be a review but more of a jumping off point for discussion. I'd envision us debating the merits of each album and whether or not they are rembered correctly by history. Since my collection is in alphabetical order, the first choice was rather simple. Aerosmith - Rocks Released in 1976, this is generally regarded as the peak of Aerosmith's drug-induced '70s output. It is often cited by many musicians as one of rock's most influential albums. This was simply Aerosmith at their best. If you aren't familiar with this era of the band, think Stones with less sensibility, or Zeppelin without the folky mysticism. Side 1 "Back In The Saddle" "Last Child" "Rats In The Cellar" "Combination" The first side starts with two of the band's radio classics. Not much new discuss here, as we've heard both of these millions of times. "Last Child", however, may be the funkiest the band ever got. "Rats.." is something of a companion piece to "Toys In The Attic" from the previous album. The side closes with "Combination", Joe Perry's first vocal performance for the band. I consider it a lost classic. Side 2 "Sick As A Dog" "Nobody's Fault" "Get The Lead Out" "Lick And A Promise" "Home Tonight" This is the basically the prototype for all '80s hard rock, for better or worse. It has the bluesy numbers, the heaviness and the ballad. "Nobody's Fault" is probably the hardest number in their entire catalogue. "Home Tonight" was a staple of their early shows, complete with a Joe Perry kitchen-sink solo. Top notch stuff. Thoughts on this album? This is a band that's historical place has been diminished by their late career output. This might not be the best hard rock album of the era, but it is definitively American, and as influential as it gets.

Weddings are the easiest place in the world to pick up chicks. Then again, if you're attending with your girlfriend, that's not exactly an upside.

It'll be a joke if he gets any. Sure his numbers are great and the trade coincided with LA's turnaround, but he's only been there for a month and a half. He doesn't even have a half season worth of performance and this little run isn't even on the level of the stretches that guys like Berkman and Uggla had earlier this year. Plus he was run out of another organization because he was a clubhouse cancer. Shouldn't that count against you in this sort of argument?

Come on, all WWE guys fly on like a dozen planes every week. Why would Jeff, boarding his one millionth domestic flight, suddenly forget what you should and shouldn't try to bring through security? That being said, unless you get real unlucky and somehow get subjected to a strip search or something, I don't see how the hell you could possibly fail to sneak something through the Nashville airport. I was there a few weeks back, and security was a joke considering this is a Post 9-11 World and all. You would think they'd be smart enough, but don't forget the NBA player that attempted to go through security a few years back with weed wrapped in tin foil. Drug addicts do the stupidest things imaginable. Not saying this is the case with Jeff, but I wouldn't think to rule out drug possession on the claim that it would be stupid. Everything he's done has been stupid. Hadn't Randy Orton already been suspended for the Signature stuff before the story hit the papers? I believe that WWE didn't want to punish him twice for the same offense.

Yeah, mostly via the usual sportswriting stupidity. I've watched Howard all year. NO WAY is this guy the MVP. He was absolutely awful at the plate most of the year, and doesn't contribute anywhere else. So, I threw out Howard's name because I've been hearing it a lot, but since I don't always follow the National League that closeyly I decided to check some numbers last night. Holy jeez, I had no idea how awful he's been. Well, awful might be a harsh word, but a .337 OBP?! Nobody should ever win an MVP with an OBP that low. Pujols' batting average is twenty points higher than that. Checking VORP, Howard's been like the 4th most valuable player on his own team. Not to mention he plays really bad defense. There's no way that in 2008 Ryan Howard wins an MVP because of some gaudy RBI totals, right? Right?

This didn't get quite the response that I was hoping for, but I've got some ideas for next week if people are interested in me continuing this concept. Just to put a bookend on the Rocks discussion, here are some interesting facts: - Slash once claimed that Rocks changed his life and made him want to be a musician - Kurt Cobain cited it as one of his favorite albums - It ranked #176 on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest albums of all time - "Combination" is Joe Perry's first lead vocal performance. Steven Tyler sings back-up - "Home Tonight" was the traditional show-closer on their early tours

I love the fact that Czech's doing some housekeeping in the Music folder. Complaining really leads to stuff getting done around here.

So you prefer knowing the versions of Paul Byrd (shitty) and Bartolo Colon (fat, injured) that will show up?

I horded my waiver claim all year in hopes of getting David Price and it failed.

He has a 3.92 ERA. You're going to let one bad outing keep him off the playoff roster? Talk about a kneejerk reaction. By that logic, the Rays should keep Kazmir off their roster for shitting the bed the other night.

If true, damn it Jeff. Which means we have to post this again. Drugs, drugs, drugs, drugs. Jeff Hardy does drugs. He snorts drugs. Smokes drugs. Ingests drugs. Drugs. He's immature because he could be a main eventer but insted he does drugs. He was sent home because he does drugs. Drugs. Is that clear enough for you? You're saying it was drugs then?

I've heard Howard's name come up a few times recently, but really, is there any chance that Pujols doesn't win the MVP award in a landslide?

Or Stanford last year. Hey, I went to Willamette, not Western.

Don't forget Romeo Crennel and Brad Childress either.