MattZ

Yeah I figure I am weighing possible Ramirez HRs against possible Pena SBs. Neither of which I expect will be very high numbers.

Thanks buddy. I have to say that some people hate it, but I find fantasy baseball so much more interesting when you are in a league that forces you to make decisions about Alexei Ramirez vs Tony Pena Jr. Can you squeeze out a few extra SBs or HRs out of either? I just don't enjoy the "my allstar team of players was better than your allstar team of players" way of playing.

Thanks for thinking of me. To be honest, my opinion of Alexei was colored by the same Soriano-esque reports referred to in the article you posted. But he was also hitting the cover off the ball in the spring. And, scouting reports notwithstanding, he won a spot on the team. At least, so far as I could tell from the stuff I was reading (and having never actually seen him play) As for whether he's on my team or not, the sad answer is yes. We cannot just drop scrubs in my league. You buy a scrub in the auction, and you are stuck with him. Until he gets hurt or sent to the minors, and t

thanks buddy. we need it.

Exactly. It's not at all intuitive to me that someone, somewhere would have done that if Dylan hadn't. It's just as possible that he actually and literally did change the face of popular music.

Me too.

Oh boy. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8161872?MSNHPHMA RANDOLPH RACES TO RETREAT New York Mets manager Willie Randolph backtracked from his accusations of racism yesterday but didn't back down from his feud with the Mets' own TV network. Under siege for his passive ways as the Mets struggled this season, Randolph suggested in an interview published Monday in the Bergen Record that racism might be fueling the animosity. Randolph also criticized SNY in the interview, saying the network

Yeah, I hear ya. I always do the same thing too. I guess there was just something different and beautiful to me about being in the back room in my small apartment, late at night, plugged into the computer, listening to the album when Wilco leaked it a couple of months early for us. Someone ties a bow in my backyard to show me love. So many hearts beating in one place. EDIT: and I remember listening to it 3 times in a row that night because I was afraid, like Cinderella and her pumpkin/midnight, that when I stopped listening to the stream that it would go away and I'd have to wait mon

Do you really think the chord progressions in songs like YAMF are straightforward?

I remember that Saturday night and I remember the joy I felt when I was hearing these songs for the first time through my shitty computer speakers... I am somehow still reminded of that night of joy every time I play the album. Those opening notes of Either Way still give me chills. I was just so freaking happy. That was my first experience streaming a new album from Wilco and I felt like I was sharing my joy with other Wilco nerds like me. I can't believe that was a year ago. I was so much older then.

Please don't cry This world of words and meanings makes you feel outside Something that you feel already deep inside You've denied Go ahead and cry makes me cry. Still.

Almost. Tom Glavine. Same velocity.

Initial reports seem to indicate that Luis Castillo hit a home run today. I have not yet confirmed this independently, but I don't believe it.

Was there some significance to the band playing Misunderstood all three nights? I seem to remember there was a bit of criticism directed at the band not playing STL enough. Wasn't there some preposterous open letter to the band in a newspaper?

Ever notice how people that cover his songs cover the easy ones? You think someone could do a better job than him with Visions of Johana? Not Dark Yet? If You See Her, Say Hello? Sad Eyed Lady? It's Alright Ma? etc? No way. That's why people don't even bother. (And I'd even argue that the standard covers that I assume you are referring to aren't better than Dylan's versions -- except Watchtower).

No, actually, I dont see what you mean. On the one hand, a real issue that may contradict one of McCain's central talking points was reported and then promptly forgotten about. And on the other hand, a "scandal" was invented involving Michelle Obama and is now being run on loop in TV ads for maximum affect. I would fault the Dems for not running an ad about McCain's campaign finance loopholes, but I fear this country is more interested in the shock and awe of Reverand Wright and an "unpatriotic" and "Mulsim" president than they are about actual issues. The Dems would probably be wasting t

Does Cindy McCain actually speak? Or does she just have her company provide its private jets for her husband's use so that he can simultaneously hold himself up as a champion of campaign finance reform while taking advantage of the very loopholes he adds to campaiogn finance reform bills? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/us/politics/27plane.html

I can't think of songs that way. Waterloo Sunset may be the best "pure" song, alone, by itself, but I can't separate it out. A song is the whole package. And with that whole package come the voice that's singing it, the harmonizing behind it, the instrumentation built around it, etc. I have no idea if the Kinks songs, on their own, are as good as the Beatles'. Maybe they are. But the Beatles songs are better for all those reasons -- the voices, the musicianship, the production, etc. And I love the Kinks -- this isn't a knock. So, I abstain.

I was on there. I think my name was HeatpipesJustCough.

Well, your money is certainly where your mouth is. I recognize that this stuff is subjective, but man, if there's anything that I'd think we could baptize as fact when it comes to something subjective, it's that Highway 61 and Blood on the Tracks are better albums than Modern Times. Guess not.

You may be right. I can't really argue with anything you've said. But again, I do think that most of the frustration is that the fans perceive the team as not caring. You may be right that the team isn't that good. But fans don't like it when fans feel like they care more than players do. Even though they probably do. At the same time, and some of this is for Bjornicus, let's not forget that Heilman has blown 3 games and the Mets are 2 back in the loss column. So it's not really even that bad from a pure baseball standpoint.

I am late to this party, but I noticed this statement by ikol early in the fray. As a general matter, (I think), polygamy and incest rarely occurs between two consenting adults. I can agree with you if your point assumes there are two consenting adults involved. Is it safe for me to assume that you think the government should be getting involved to prevent polygamy and incest when it is to protect children or women that do not have the power to resist?

As a long suffering Mets/Jets/Knicks fan (insert joke), I have to say that yes, NY fans can be tough and jump to conclusions and boo you the day after you hit a home run. And all of that is over the top and can be perceived by players as an us against them thing. But the truth is, and I believe this, Mets fans (and NY fans in general) just want to see a team that goes out there and leaves everything on the field. Even if they lose. I understand that slamming helmets on the ground when you strike out is not the only way to show passion. But there is just a vibe this team gives off -- and

Sure they are, but conversations also need two sides. No one suggested anything contrary to what you argued. Unless you are now just arguing with yourself...

I am resisting every impulse in my body to agree with you.