vivalaultra

After finishing No Country for Old Men, I read another McCarthy book-Outer Dark. It was one of his earlier works, so it's not as fully realized as his later stuff, but there's still many of the McCarthy trademarks-violence, religion, existentialism, nihilism, travelling as a means to survival, randomness, etc. As far as McCarthy on Oprah, apparently the interview shall air on June 5th. After finishing Outer Dark, I started Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys.

Clearly the Rangers/'Stros series is the most important interleague rivalry in all of baseball. I mean, they play for a freakin' Silver Boot, for God's sake! I like Mike Lamb's idea of how to make the 'Stros/Rangers rivalry more of a rivalry than just another three-game series built up to be intense if only because the two teams are located in the same state: "Maybe we should have a brawl in the stands to spice it up", Lamb theorized. "Get a ring out on Crawford Street and have ultimate fighting between Rangers and Astros fans." Hell yeah. I'd make them Arlington sumbitches tap out, yo.

Really good pitching duel going in Houston so far. Roy Oswalt has faced the minimum through 3, giving up only 1 walk, no hits, striking out two while Tim Lincecum has been throwing straight 98 mph gas, giving up just one hit to Lance Berkman, with no walks and 6 Ks through 3 innings. Hunter Pence's 7 AB hitting streak ended...sadly.

Haha. Cubs suck. Lol2007!!!

I use Darin Erstad to sand down my doorframes, because he's gritty. I also put butter and sugar on him and use him to complement my egg breakfast...also because he is gritty.

And another hit for Pence. 7 for 7 with a BB in the last two nites. Edit: And he just stole a base. I'm just upset that I tried to add him as my myspace friend and he hasn't approved me yet.

Edit: Hunter Pence has 3 HRs in his last 9 at-bats. He went 3 for 3 last nite and he is 3 for 3 so far tonite to raise his average to .344. How much longer until he starts getting compared to obscure, early 20th century flash-in-the-pans?

Yeah, it is kind of a 'Mickey Mouse' ballpark. Edit: Hunter Pence just hit a damn homerun that probably is going to end up in Dallas somewhere. His 3rd HR in 4 games. Screw Josh Hamilton! Hunter Pence all the way, yo.

I bet nobody had Yolanda King, either...

And there's El Caballo with the walk-off! Carlos Lee went 4 for 4 with two homeruns. Hunter Pence went three for three with a homerun and 2 RBI. Good Lord, this was a good game and a good sign for the Astros.

Hunter Pence is friggin' legit. He hasn't made an out tonite. A double, single, walk, and, with the 'Stros down 5-3 in the 8th, he hit a two-run homer off of Armando Benetiz to tie it up. He also earned everybody in the ballpark a free Chic-Fil-A sandwich, as his homerun banged off the Chic-Fil-A 'Fowl' pole.

Woody Williams just hit a homerun against Matt Morris and the San Fran Gigantes; the 4th of his career. Only 742 more till he passes Bonds! 2-0 'Stros! Exclamation point!

Anybody have Rev. Jerry Falwell?

I dunno. Smoltz was probably giving him the ol' stinkeye or something.

I read somewhere that Austin Kearns beat up John Smoltz in Washington and broke his hand or something.

Wandy Rodriguez pitched another really strong game today against the D-Backs. Hunter Pence got another couple hits after getting a homerun and two doubles last nite. Brad Lidge has lowered his ERA from 10.12 to 3.50 in the last 2 weeks. Finally the 'Stros are able tow in a game on a day when the Brewers lost to move to 7 games back. In other news, BK Kim is going to the Marlins in exchange for Jorge Julio.

I haven't read much DeLillo. I did read White Noise in a class a few semesters ago. I found it slightly contrived in some parts, but decent overall. I've also read 'Pafko At The Wall'/'The Triumph of Death' but not Underworld. I have Mao II lying in the middle of my 'Stack O' Books to Read'.

And if you're talking closers, K-Rod's also not in there. No love for K-Rod?

I was actually going to buy one of the old-skool Brewers caps I found at the flea market today, but it was too small, and I don't think I'm ready to be a 'hat-traitor' yet. Still, I really like the Brewers' glove logo. So, the big comparison for the Brewers is the 2006 Tigers, but the Brewers are actually 2 games better than the Tigers were last year at this time. I wonder if that makes them 'legit'. I still hold out hope that my 'Stros will go on a tear and the Brewers will fall off the map, but if it doesn't happen, I'll be happy with the Brewers in the postseason. They've got a lot of good young guys and respectable veterans on the team. It's hard to dislike them. And, if the 'Stros don't win the division, I always follow the 'A.B.C.' rule of baseball-Anybody But the Cubs!

The Astros optioned Chris Burke back to AAA to clear a spot for Rick 'Double Balls' White who is back from the 15-day DL. It sucks for Burke that in 2001, he was the Astros 1st round draft pick and the 2nd baseman of the future but got relegated to left field because of Biggio and then, when he got a chance to play everyday in CF this season, went into a 'team-sponsored' slump and was the most easily replaceable because Hunter Pence was mashing in AAA. I swear, if Burke was able to play everyday at 2nd base, he'd be a perennial All-Star contender for years to come. He has nothing left to prove at AAA, but I'd hate to see the Astros trade him.

When everybody in Wisconsin buys their new Brewers hats, I hope they'll do the right thing and donate their old circa-'04 Red Sox hats to charity. Nothing can bring Astros and Cubs fans together like a Brewers' division lead. I feel both dirty and slightly aroused all at the same time.

That's just how I roll.

Oh, Clemens ain't pitching for the Yankees. He's just using that as a bargaining chip to get more money out of Drayton McClane. He wants to be around his family and go watch his kids play their Little League games. The Yankees would NEVER give him a clause in his contract letting him skip road trips he's not pitching on and miss some games for family functions. Clemens has a 10-year personal services contract with Houston AND his son is in the minor league system. Roger Clemens is a man of integrity to whom money and the spotlight does not matter. There's no way he'd blow off his hometown fans to pitch in New York. No way at all!

Come on...the Astros are totally going to be in the race. Once Jennings comes off the DL and Berkman starts heating up, they'll be fine. And when Clemens comes back, that'll give the Astros the best rotation in the NL Central.

Awww...look at the Brewers' fan getting cocky. It's cute. Wait till August, junior.