Walk List

  Walking in to work this Halloween morning, I did not see one person decked out in costume - child, adult, college straggler, or walk-of-shame victim.  Kind of a depressing way to start your Halloween, wouldn't you say.  (granted, it was only 9:28am when I began my 20 minute journey).

  As usual, I set my Songs on shuffle as I began my 1.15 mile journey.  Here went the playlist:

  2:42 - Cancer Bats - "Dead Wrong"
  4:09 - AFI - "Bleed Black"
  3:07 - NIN - "The Collector"
  2:10 - He Is Legend - "Hip-Hop Anonymous"
  3:41 - MUSE - "Hoodoo"
  2:49 - This Is Hell - "Bloodlines"
  2:58 - Green Day - "When I Come Around"

  As I look at it now, it took me a little longer to walk in today - 21 minutes, 36 seconds if my math is correct.

  There is a home volleyball match today beginning at 2pm followed by a Halloween Party (both events I had to set up for).  Bleachers✔ Press Table✔ Chairs✔ Net✔ Speakers✔ 5 Tables and 40 chairs for party✔

  Hey, at least FOX is back on.

Happy Halloween!!

FOX...

  ...is baaaaack!!

  And I'm not sure where the Giants are that won the first two games.

  Cody Ross is unconscious, by the way.

Costume's come out

  Year after year, I struggle immensely as to what I want to be for Halloween.  Last year, Lindsay and I were going to do a last-minute costume - salt and pepper.  No, not this Salt 'n Pepa.  I planned on making a homemade costume until I drew a black "P" on the white shirt.  Costume over, Halloween over.  Instead, we went to the Ale House and had some beers.  Jesse and Julia went as a couple from Grease - I am not a fan of Grease, so I couldn't tell you their names, but they looked the part.

  This year, chances are we will not be going out, so I am not really sure why I am stressing over a costume.  We are grown-ass people, and dressing up with no party to go to is asinine. 

  That shortened this thread up.  Not going to worry about dressing up this year.  Sorry world, wait til next year.

  Happy trick-or-treating to all of you who plan on going (by yourselves or with your children).  We'll be at the apartment, waiting for building trick-or-treater's to come to the door - better go get some candy and some fake web/spiders.

  Boo!

Happy Birthday's

  Just browsed a list of today's famous birthdays (courtesy of www.famousbirthdays.com) and found it interesting that there are no interesting birthday's today.  This prompted me to google "today's sports birthdays" and although I have yet to view the results, I'd imagine I can round up some pertinent information on at least 1 or 2 of these athletes.

  1.  Happy Birthday to Joliet, IL native Jesse Barfield.  51 years young today, he was once a featured gun out in right field, known predominantly for a cannon otherwise knows as his right arm.  He led all outfielders in assists from 1985 to 1987 - surprisingly, people kept trying to take an extra base on him.  He finished his career with 162 outfield assists - well short of Tris Speakers 449 career assists, but still a huge number for a 12 year career.

  Some of his on-field accomplishments included making the 1986 AL All-Star team (0-3, 2K), winning 2 Gold Glove Awards (1986, 1987) as well as a Silver Slugger Award (1986).  For his   After 8+ seasons north of the border, he was traded to the NY Yankees for left-handed pitcher Al Leiter.  He remained with the Yankees until after the 1992 season, when he took his game overseas and played for the Yomiuri Giants for a season in 1993.

  Barfield can still be found at Yankee Stadium for the yearly Old Timer's Day - throwing old dudes out at home with regularity.

  Over his 12-year MLB career, he amassed 241 HR, 716 RBI's, and 1,234 strikeouts (in 1,428 games).  He wasn't so much known for his bat, but he had an arm that base runners of his era will not soon forget.

  2.  Former NY Islander defenceman Denis Potvin turns 57 today.  He was the 1st overall pick in the 1973 NHL Draft and was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 1991.  Although he is currently one of the voices of the Florida Panthers, it might best be remembered when the Islanders and Rangers played at the Garden, Ranger fans chanting, "beat your wife Potvin, beat your wife." over and over and over again.  Unless you've been to a Rangers game, you don't know the tempo or cadence of that chant, but you get the picture.  Another favorite of Ranger fans, albeit less original, were the "Potvin Sucks!" chants that bellowed from the rafters of MSG.  They were all jealous of his beard.

  I was brought up an Islanders fan (it gets harder and harder to root for them) but I will stick by them.  They play in a dump, so the end product really is no surprise.  He and Brian Trottier are the only two players Islanders to play 1,000 games for the team, a list that isn't likely to grow anytime soon.

  Let's Go Islanders!  Let's Go Islanders!  Potvin helped lead the Islanders to an unprecedented 4 consecutive Stanley Cup victories from 1979-80 to 1982-83.  (even though on the 1980-81 Cup, it reads "Ilanders").

  3. NY Mets right handed knuckle-baller RA Dickey is 36 today.

  4. Former Ohio State standout RB and current criminal Maurice Clarett turns 27 today.

  5. Puerto Rican boxing great Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez (44-3-1) turns 54 today.

  SF Giants are two wins away folks.  SUCKA!  All you Rangers fans with that stupid air high five or magic fist or claw, whatever you wanna call it.  Doesn't seem to be working thus far.  Still a ways to go, but it's a good start for the renegade Giants.

Sounding off on the NBA

  I've rarely (read: I can only remember one) wasted time formulating thoughts about the NBA here on WRT (besides that one time I remember in April, when the Spurs were about to TKO the dimwitted, Mark Cuban-led Mavs), and this story I just came across backs my decision to ignore the NBA altogether in this type of forum.

  Time to sound off.

  Yahoo! Sports writing Kelly Dwyer reported yesterday that the NBA has banned players donning their headbands upside down - a trend apparently started in 2007.  Apparently, you aren't ballin' unless you flip that Jerry West logo upside down.  I am still trying to wrap my head around how the hell this actually constitutes a story in this early NBA season. 

  Here's two things I'd rather write about concerning the NBA:

  1. The fact that the Celtics original and older Big 3 defeated Miami's new and improved Big 3 in Boston on opening night and the very next night, the LeBron-less Cavs beat the original Big 3 in Cleveland.  Parity. 

  2. The Knicks and Nets won their openers and are sitting atop the Atlantic.  The last time this happened?  Funny enough, it was only the 2008-2009 season (NYK def. Mia 120-115; NJ def. Was 95-85).

  I digress.

  Rajon Rondo (known primarily for being a great PG and secondly for his headband-wearing) has decided against sporting his headband - simply because he wants to wear it upside down.  Maybe in some past life, he was a ninja (see: SF Giants closer Brian Wilson's 12-minute ninja class) and was able to stand on his head, but something inside me highly doubts that.

  Wearing the logo of the league you play for, the one that includes the team that pays you millions of dollars a year to dribble, pass first, and shoot second, is straight disrespectful.  Utterly disrespectful.  Wear it right or don't wear it at all (which is exactly what he did).  The equivalent of this is Josh Hamilton out in center field wearing his Texas Rangers hat backwards.  It's something that just doesn't belong.

  Ms. Dwyer's final light reads like this - "Why? Because, yes, the NBA is that petty."

   Petty?  Really?  Petty?  Defined:  Petty [pet-ee] -adjective 1. of little or no importance or consequence.  2. of lesser or secondary importance, merit, etc.  3. having or showing narrow ideas, interests, etc.

  In my opinion, this is absolutely the right thing for the league to do.  Many, many years back, they traded in the Larry Bird/John Stockton shorts for the modern day baggy, looser fitting garb.  They changed the pre- and post-game dress code a few years back in an attempt to clean up the league's image.  The league needed a facelift and with all the nonsensical bullshit that surrounds this league (Gilbert Arenas' gun problems, Chris Anderson's tattoo problem, Kobe's alleged rape years ago, yada yada yada) it seems to me that it's players have a hard time controlling themselves off the court.  It gives the players like Dwayne Wade a bad rap who always does community service projects (built and renovated church for his mother) and genuinely seem like decent guys.  I could be totally off the mark with my thoughts on DWade, but I'll back him. 

  Maybe all this behavior starts from what goes on between the lines.  There are rules, and I applaud the league for putting an end to this degradation of an NBA legend and logo.  Well played David Stern, well played.

  I can go on with this for another four hours and address plenty of other topics I haven't even begun to talk about.  But I won't, because this dog crap of a sport will not consume any more of my time.

  Jerry West, you will always be standing on your feet if (and that's a big if) I even wear NBA gear (or a headband).

Crosswords

  Just knocked out the crossword in about 14 minutes.  Granted, it was from Monday, but still, I am rather impressed with myself.

  Time for practice and a team run.

  Oh yeah, way to show up last night Cliff Lee.  Freddy Sanchez is a man.  Josh Hamilton pulled a disappearing act.  And my man, Brian Wilson, came in and shut it down!

 

Word of the Day

  Doing the crossword from Monday's edition of Newsday.  1 Across kind of threw me for a loop until I got all the surrounding clues.

  1.  Pub missile

  A dart.  It all made sense.  A dart is a pub missile.  Lesson learned.

SF Giants are my pick...

  ...because of one man - BRIAN WILSON.



  Best interview ever, hands down.  Shit, if I could be one guy - dead or alive - right now, I'd pick this guy.  You're telling me he isn't loving what he does?

Improve Memory?

  Does anyone have any ideas, tips, or tricks to improve memory, because I can't remember shit and it is starting to eat me up.  If this is something that happens to you as well, I feel your pain.  It's a hopeless feeling, similar to - well, similar to not remembering anything.  It sucks!

  Seriously though, it's not for lack of effort.  I want to remember things, it's not like I try to forget things.  Maybe it's because of the stress at work?  Doubtful.

  Time to go on the lift and try to raise an ancient basketball hoop 3" because it's 9'9".  Mind you, these hoops were custom made and probably weigh around 5,000 pounds.  Pray it all goes well.

Mr. Forgetful (courtesy of Roger Hargreaves)

What Series?

  Thanks, Fox and Cablevision, for taking away the biggest stage of America's Pastime, the World Series.

  First year ever I won't get a chance to watch a game in the comfort of my own couch.

  Jackasses.

Word of the Day

  Lard Ass
  [lahrd]

  -verb
  1. Used to describe a slow-moving person

  Come on lard ass, cross the street.

  First time I've used that in about 6 years.  I laughed when I said it.  Use it.

Happy Birthday's

  A segment I've gotten away from a bit happens to be one of my favorites.  It allows me to dig up some random facts on whoever has a birthday on a specific date.  Today's date is October 25th, and I have yet to look up to see who shares this day as the day of their birth, but here goes:

  The General, legendary college basketball coach Robert Montgomery Knight turns the big 7-0 today.  He is most known for his intensity, outbursts, witty comebacks, sweaters, and serious temper (not to mention the whole chair throwing incident in 1985 against Purdue).  The leader in NCAA Division I men's basketball coaching wins (902) currently is employed by ESPN as an analyst and color-commentator.  There is no one I'd rather listen to than him when watching my Duke Blue Devils on TV (except well-known Dukie Dick Vitale).

  Happy birthday coach!

  Everyone's favorite California Gurl, Katy Perry turns 26 today.  Fresh off her marriage to comedian Russell Brand just off a tiger reserve in India, the singer is probably toying around with her wedding gift from Brand, a baby Bengal tiger.  Not to be outdone, she gave Russell a baby elephant as a token of her love.  Odd as it may seem, nothing surprises me when it comes to Russell Brand.  The dude is hilarious.

  Maybe it's just the British accent or the fact that I understand only 25% of what comes out of his mouth, but either way, happy birthday Katy Perry.  Keep on with the wacky outfits, but I swear if I hear California Gurls one more time on the radio, I am going to lose it.

  Lots to do today, so I gotta get a move on.  Happy birthday to all, and to all, a good day.

  Oh, and how about those Raiders?!  a 59-14 ass-whooping of the Broncos.  Kyle Orton is getting all this love all season for throwing for so many yards, maybe because his team is terrible (2-5) and they are down every game, thus forcing the offense to call more passing plays.  Regardless, the Raiders are 3-4 (2-0 in AFC West) and for once look like a professional football team.  They host the Seahawks next week before a huge game with the 1st-place Chiefs.

  Let's keep it rolling, don't fall into the trap-game mentality.  .500 this late in the season might as well Christmas in October.  But seriously, a Halloween game, in Oakland, with a chance to get to .500 - look out.  The Black Hole is normally like Halloween every home game for the Raiders, but I have a feeling they got their mojo back by the bay.  Silver and Black are back, baby.

  Bye now!

MUSE - Nassau Coliseum

  Wow!!

  MUSE is, by far, the best live band on the planet, and quite possibly the universe.  In my estimation, there were over 15,000 people there to see last night's concert, and I guarantee no one left disappointed.

  From beginning to end, they were incredible.  The one hiccup was that during New Born, the speakers blew out.  Only at the Coliseum would this happen.  Being the band they are, they shook it off, the problem was resolved, and they continued on for another 75 minutes.  When I was walking out the doors, I was speechless, deaf, dumbfounded, and completely in awe of the shock my senses just experienced.

  If you've never seen them live, which was me before last night, you have to see them.  Whatever the cost is, it'll be well worth it.  Trust me.

  There were people bitching about the set list being the same as it was during their last trip to NY (at MSG), but who really cares.  That can play the same songs night after night, and I'd probably see them every time.

  Here's the set list from last night's concert that literally blew the speakers out:

  1.  Uprising
  2.  Map of the Problematique
  3.  New Born
  4.  Supermassive Black Hole
  5.  Resistance
  6.  Hysteria
  7.  Guiding Light
  8.  Nishe
  9.  United States of Eurasia
  10. Feeling Good
  11. Helsinki Jam
  12. Undisclosed Desires
  13. Time is Running Out
  14. Starlight
  15. Plug in Baby.
  Encore
  16. Exogenesis:  Symphony, Part 1: Overture
  17. Stockholm Syndrome
  18. Knights of Cydonia

  Go get each and every album they have ever put out.  You will not be disappointed.

Head Automatica; Muse; Twitter

  Wednesday night, I ventured into unfamiliar land to see one of the bands I've seen many times live, Head Automatica.  Despite the fact that they haven't put out an album in about four years, I still had an interest in seeing them.  There is also something to be said for seeing live music.  The show was in Brooklyn, a far cry from the Bronx - it's mostly full of fashion-forward, preppy, hipster wannabes who are looking for approval from their peers.  And they all dress weird as can be.  Anything seems to go in NYC, but Brooklyn is a different beast.  Anything goes means anything goes.  There is no right or wrong way to dress, act, eat, etc. etc. 

  The concert was good for the most part, Daryl (frontman for HA and GlassJAw) sounded good and they played a lot of new songs from their so-called "new album".  I saw them a year and a half ago, and they said the same things before they played the same songs.  I am a fan of music in general, and Daryl's music is a vice of mine.  But for the love of God, put out some new music already. 

  Another band I am a huge fan of is MUSE.  Although I have never seen them live, I have all their albums and never get sick of listening to them.  Saturday, however, I break my drought and will head to Nassau Coliseum to take it all in.  They have been dubbed "the best live band" year after year and I am geeked up to see them.  It's a shame they have to play at the worst standing structure in Long Island.  The Coliseum is jokingly known as the Mausoleum because of the way it looks and the condition it's in.

  All kidding aside, this is the most excited I've been for a concert since Lindsay and myself took a trip to Boston with Paul and Jenny to see The Killers.  That show was amazing.  More amazingly, we flew there - a nice little 45 minute flight from LaGuardia.

  One thing I want to sound off on is Twitter.  I'm guilty - I have an account, though I rarely check it or update it.  I go on once a month or so and I'll stay on continuously for 20 minutes at the most.  There has to be something better for mere plebes like you and me to do than post 140 character messages to one another.  I'm also guilty of updating my Facebook status quite often, but I don't make plans on Facebook.  I follow a lot of the television shows I regularly watch (Always Sunny, Modern Family) to keep up to date on what's going on.  I keep the world (those who give a shit what I'm doing) abreast as to my thoughts and feelings or how my day might be going.  It's a great medium to promote sports teams and college events, and also to get back in touch with people you haven't seen or heard from for years.  And then you realize why you haven't been in touch with them - they still think they're in high school with some of the crap they write.

  It goes back to a post I had about abbreviating words and sentences, lack of punctuation, and overall ignorance by said users.  Is it that hard to write a proper sentence or make a little bit of sense while typing out your thoughts?  If you're going to spout off about every Tom, Dick, and Harry and everything else you find the need to let everyone know, at least write it in English. 

  I guess blogging is sort of the same type of thing as Twitter or Facebook, but you choose to read this (I think).  I have to head out and go to the women's soccer game, where I might go through my phone and delete everyone I have no interest in speaking to.  Then, when I get a free hour, I will go through my Facebook and delete those people who's posts make me cringe.

  I bid you adieu, blog-world.  Go Yankees!

Sliver of hope...

  The big guy kept the season alive, even if for only another two days.  The Yankees have a fighters chance tonight when they take on the Rangers in Game 6 at 8:07 ET.  Hughes v. Lewis.  Hughes was less than stellar in his last start looks to rebound from another rocky start while Colby Lewis looks to build off the standing ovation he received last time he walked off the mound in Arlington after 5.2 innings in Game 2.

  Alex Rodriguez, who seems to have broken out his Halloween costume (a ghost) two weeks too early.  He needs to get it together if this team is going to move on at chance for redemption against the mighty Cliff Lee, on Saturday.

  I have to head to a women's soccer game tonight, but believe I will be sprint-walking home after the game to catch the end it.

  I was down on them after the ass-kicking they took in Game 4, but they rebounded to force tonight's game.  Yankee Nation can only hope to get it to Andy Pettitte on the mound for the deciding game.

  Go Yanks!!

  (Check out my counterpart Joe Brackets blog - he's just starting his blog but has a little more experience that I do with the whole writing thing)

Game over, Season over - Yankees choke

  In what is shaping up to be a miserable way to end a season (at home to the Texas Rangers), Yankee fans are looking for someone to blame, someone to point their fingers at.

  AJ Burnett - Everyone in America thought he'd lay an egg.  But you can't tell me that after that dominant first inning you weren't a little geeked up by the possibilities?  Ultimately, Girardi's decision to intentionally walk David Murphy coupled with the fact that Burnett missed his spot by 22" to Yankee-killer Bengie Molina (who has owned the Yankees in past playoffs) cost them the game.  AJ Burnett is not the goat.

  Nick Swisher - Les Carpenter, of Yahoo Sports, was quoted as writing, "Alex Rodriguez, who made $33 million this season, is hitting a robust .133 in the LCS. At least he has two RBIs.  That’s more than Nick Swisher with his .067 average or Derek Jeter with but one RBI."

  Nick Swisher isn't getting paid nearly as much as A-Rod ($33M vs. $6.85M) but is getting named as a goat in this series?  No one expected Nick Swisher to do what he did this year.  Was it a pleasant surprise - yes.  Was he supposed to be the savior?  Never.  Nisk Swisher is not the goat.

  I am getting sick of writing about this team and this game, so I am going to cease immediately.  Ultimately, it is a great team that choked in the 2010 ALCS.  Simple as that. 

  Cano was a beast; Pettitte was dominant (Lee was just more dominant); Teixeira didn't have a hit but his defense saved some runs (that ultimately didn't matter); the starting rotation, outside of Pettitte, was piss poor; the bullpen was even worse.  It just wasn't in the cards. 

  Freddy is probably rolling over in his grave at how bad this team played.  Oh well, there's always 2011.  Chances are the Red Sox will still be in their downward spiral.

 

Freddy "Sez" Passes Away; R.I.P.

  The world of sports lost one of the great unofficial mascots yesterday when Freddy "Sez" Schuman passed away at the ripe age of 82.

  Best known for his enthusiasm for the Yankees, he was never seen without his shamrock pan on a stick with homemade signs for each game.  He'd walk throughout the Stadium letting fans young and old take a whack at the pan with a spoon.  The Yankees should do something to honor Freddy at tonight's game, and adding a 28th World Championship would make Freddy smile in his grave.

  They do need help tonight (& tomorrow night) as Cliff Lee takes the mound tonight and A.J. Burnett toes the rubber for the Yanks in Game 4.  Getting on the board early is a must tonight - Lee tends to get better as the game goes on.  And he certainly isn't going to give away any free passes (185 K : 18 BB) - get in there, and hit the first good one you see.

  Freddy was also a supporter of Manhattan College athletics (namely basketball), showing up at Draddy for many home games throughout the years. 

  A legend was lost yesterday, and here's to hopes that the Yankees will keep the legend alive with another World Series title.  It's now a best of five, so getting the first one tonight is huge.

  Say Hey Freddy!

Really?!?

  Today I hopped in the elevator in my building to head down to the lobby.  At the 2nd Floor, the electric box stopped, and in walked an older woman ready to go to the gym.  "Good for her", I thought, as she began doing standing butt kicks in the elevator in an attempt to get loose.

  She then proceeded to hit B - basement.  You're heading to the gym (located in the basement level of the building) and can't walk down the two flights of stairs to get loose?  Give me a break lady.  You stopped me on Floor 2 to take the elevator two floors?

  She seems motivated.  She probably hops on a treadmill and walks for 10 minutes and calls it a day.

  Next time, and this can be said to everyone, instead of taking the elevator two floors, walk down the stairs and treat that as your warm-up. 

  Sloth.

  Game day at The Dutch.  See you out there.  Enjoy your Sunday.  (Battle of the Bay with the Raiders and 49ers today).

Delay of Game

  Some serious lightning is delaying the start of the game Brett Favre says he'll be "lights out".  OK Brett, but it wasn't a slow week in the sports pages here in NY - Yankees ALDS began (and ended) vs. the Twins; hockey season kicked off (the Islanders are 1-0-1); the Giants proved to the rest of the league that they're for real; and Brett Favre still managed to hog the headlines.

  Apparently, he sent text messages to sideline beaut Jenn Sterger.  Is there any length Brett will not go to to get his mug on the front cover of newspapers?  Narcissistic old bastard.  Perverted  pictures?  Really?  Get a grip man.  I am wasting no more time on you nor will I pay attention.  You need to hand the ball off to the best RB in the NFL and maybe, on occasion, fire the pigskin Randy Moss' way.  He's going to make you look good again.  Big Randy Moss fan. 

  Watching the Giants/Braves on TBS - thank God Chip Caray isn't doing these games.  He was one of the worst in the business.  Along with Joe Morgan.

  SNL just did a skit on NBC Sunday Night Football - pretty funny stuff.  Check it out here:  SNL's NBC Sunday Night Football. 

  Now I have to figure out where to get a MetroCard at 9:00pm on Columbus Day so that we can ride the bus into the city tomorrow.  I may have to wake up and take a stroll early in the morning.  Probably going to get a little lift in anyway, try to make myself feel a little better.

  The day off today was a real nice treat - seems like days off don't really exist because there is always something else going on - sporting events, outside groups coming in - and I really never have a day off.  Today was the first day since school started that I didn't have to do a thing related to work.  Outstanding. 

  Getting a little hot in here, lightning is still striking outside.  Going to try to get a few more photos and then hit the hay.  First, I gotta take the little guy out so he don't pee in the apartment.  Dodging bolts.

  Speaking of bolts, the OAKLAND RAIDERS beat the Chargers for the first time in seven years.  The Raiders are a respectable 2-3, but have to travel to nearby San Fran to take on the hapless 49ers.  Looks like a trap game to me.  Hell, 2-3 ain't bad - took them 6 weeks to get W #2 last year.  Looks like there's some improvement going on in Raider Nation.

  Bye!

Walk List

  New feature here to the WRT.  Since my walk to work is around 15-20 minutes each way, I pass the time by listening to music.  Here's the track listing for my walk to work this afternoon:

  Eric Church - How Bout You
  The Bronx - Inveigh
  System of a Down - Psycho
  Brand New - Archers
  The Killers - Joy Ride
  AFI - Medicate
  Thursday - Signals Over the Air
  AFI - Summer Shudder

  I know, it seems like longer than a 20 minute stroll - it was.  I stopped for a bite to eat at Han's.

  Time for some practice.  Siyonara.

Playoff Baseball is Here!!!

  As an appetizer, an ex-Phillie dominated the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Pete.  For an intermezzo, Doc Halladay no-hit the Reds.  NO-HIT.  Understand something - it's only been done once in MLB Playoff history - by NYY great Don Larson.  The Yankees trail the Twins 2-0 in the third inning now, after a leadoff hit by pitch was followed by a 2-R bomb to center field.  Leadoff freebies always come back to bite you in the ass - ask CC.

  A-Rod is still not great.  Clutch he is not.  Yanks get the first two guys on - BB and 1B - and proceed to hit two fly balls and a K from Mr. Rodriguez.  That was the chance to get right back in it, get some of the momentum back.  Instead, a goose egg.  Swisher had the right idea bunting - he gets it down and the next fly ball scores a run.

  Good thing they told him not to bunt - SIKE!

  C.C. needs to settle in here and act like the big donkey he is - be a horse and get some 0's up there to give them a chance.  They've been playing like crap coming down the stretch, and it cost them the division. 

  I am home with Nathan watching the ballgame, missing the Mrs.

  Time to get ready to take Nathan for a stroll in the park - may make a night-time trip to the dog park out back.  Dog loves it over there.

  Sofa, chair-and-a-half, and ottoman are scheduled for delivery tomorrow - it only took Bob's over two weeks to do what I asked them to do.  Never order from them, and if you do, pick it up yourself.  Maybe it's just their customer service department that blows.  You walk in there and get bombarded by 40 sales people looking for a sale - it's like a feeding frenzy.  I'm just happy it's finally going to get delivered, start making this place look like something.  It gets old sitting on the damn floor.

  Time for October baseball.  Let's make it a game Yanks.  Joe Mauer is a good hitter.  A pro.  Damn the Twins are a scrappy team.  Good play Teixeira made, but Hudson's a sneaky little bastard.

  Big AB.  Posada sucks defensively.  I'm out.

  A split on the road is good for me.  Then they gotta continue their domination of the Twins.

SOFT and Complacent

  Like baby poo.  That seems to be the way a lot of kids are made nowadays.  Not sure where the gap between a tough generation and a generation that expects everything to come easy came from, but it sure is an ugly place.  Years ago, there were guys our age (maybe a little younger than my 29) fighting in the war, because they had to protect our country.  There are still guys our age fighting in wars.  I don't hear them expressing their grief about being shot at and bombed. 

  Anyway, I don't wanna get into hot water by what I say or don't say on the blog, so I will end with this:  nothing in life is guaranteed.  Whatever happens, happens.  There is no one to blame but yourself and sometimes the surrounding circumstances. 

  Time for a meeting, talk about the rotation tomorrow for our game at NJIT.  We got a three walk limit tomorrow for the pitchers.  Three walks and you're day is over.  Simple as that.