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Leo

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Posts posted by Leo

  1. I am not really sure what we are arguing about here. We all know that games are played on the field, not on paper. On paper, the Yankees are significantly improved over a team that won 89 games last year. As bobbob and I admitted earlier, we both would have said that the Yanks were a virtual lock last year -- given 14 yrs in a row, and the roster they had on paper. We would have been (or were) wrong. Of course we can be wrong again this year. Except that this team is vastly improved over the one from last year. And last year's team won 89 games with an injured Wang, an ancient Mussina, and a disappointing Pettite. 89 games!

     

    This is why they play the games.

     

    And they can't get here soon enough.

    So ready for '09.

    What's the latest on Abreu?

  2. If a show in Cleveland is in the plan, I hope they play a venue bigger than Lakewood Civic. My living room is bigger! ;) Unless they want to play in my living room.

    Huh. I really like this venue. Comfortable and small.

  3. Hey Zeus man, you are a regular hi fi dealer.....

     

    What DO you use? All those sound really sweet. I have Duals, but I really don't know that much about Thorens, but I am sure they are great.

     

    LouieB

    Yeah, so . . . I obviously don't need all those TTs. I went through a "phase" where I thought I "needed" more and better. It has been the source of some embarrassment (and humor).

     

    I've had the Phillips since 1976 - HS graduation gift from Dad.

     

    I use a Linn LP12 with a Clearaudio wood cartridge or a Rega Planar 25 with a Goldring 1042 cartridge. Both great combos, but the LP12 is amazing.

  4. whoa anything exciting??

    LouieB

    Well, those I don't use are:

    A nice Dual 710 that was just tuned up by Harve's in Ann Arbor;

    A Phillips 212 that is working perfectly;

    A Thorens TD 160 MK II that I have never plugged in;

    A Thorens TD 125 that I have a Rega RB 250 tonearm to mount; and,

    A Thorens TD 145, also never plugged in.

  5. Now we are talking. I used to listen to that all the time, but haven't in recent years.

     

    LouieB

    I was 17 when The Koln Concert came out and, during one weekend, listened to it over and over and over and read Papillon. To this day, I can't think of one without the other.

  6. Well done Uncle Bunk.

     

    From Willesden to Cricklewood

    As I went it all looked good

    Thought about my babies grown

    Thought about going home

    Thought about what's done is done

    We're alive and that's the one

    From Willesden to Cricklewood

    From Willesden to Cricklewood

     

    Beautiful. Thanks Joe.

  7. A handful of players dominating a league is a sign that that league is watered down with lesser competition. booyah.

     

    And I could make a list of players from the last 25 years that are as good as those, but you'd just disagree with it anyways.

    Earl!!

     

    That's not true. I almost always agree with your positions (except The Hold Steady - overrated), especially when it comes to baseball. You are thoughtful and passionate and well spoken (written).

     

    And, in this instance, well researched. I can't and won't argue with any of it. I'd still rather field my lineup than yours. And I do agree with Matt that much of my opinion comes from the romance I had with baseball when I was a kid. Don't get me wrong though, I admire the players on your list and am grateful we have the opportunity to watch them chase baseball's ghosts (because the magic is in the continuum, of course, which is held together by your numbers). Hell, I spend at least at least 40 nights each summer at a MLB ballpark doing just that.

     

    And thanks for the James. If nothing else, these are some of the greatest baseball-type names ever:

     

    Gates Brown, Wally Bunker, Rico Carty, Dean Chance, Tony Conigliaro, Ron Fairly, Jim Fregosi, Dave Giusti, Mickey Lolich, Dick McAuliffe, Sam McDowell, Tony Oliva, Claude Osteen, Milt Pappas, Gaylord Perry, Vada Pinson, Boog Powell, Pete Rose, Ray Sadecki, Ron Santo, Willie Stargell, Mel Stottlemyre, Luis Tiant, Joe Torre, Pete Ward, Don Wert, Zoilo Versalles and Carl Yastrzemski.

     

    Say 'em out loud - it's poetry.

  8. In this hypothetical, do today's players still get modern exercise techniques, nutritional knowledge, etc.? 'Cause if they do, I think they'd dominate baseball of that era.

    Fair enough. But do those advantages make them better baseball players? Or better trained athletes?

     

    I really don't think they'd dominate. Baseball is more about skill than athleticism. Michael Jordan?

  9. Sure. There were lesser players then. But the handful of greats today were armfuls yesterday.

     

    I don't think that today's all-stars, with obvious exceptions (Pujols), would put up the numbers they currently produce against pre-expansion pitching and fielding. Not to mention ballparks and mound. It's a tired conversation; but it does tend to diffuse the frustration that comes with all the Money In Baseball talk that takes place this time of year.

  10. How does money cheapen the game? If anything, guys are going to play harder (and subsequently, better) if they have more at stake. I don't buy that the game has gotten anything by better as time has gone on, and there's very little doubt in my mind that the best baseball players ever are playing right now.

    When the "more at stake" is money as opposed to pride, competition and teamwork, the game is significantly cheapened.

     

    So your argument is that when a player is not in a contract year, it's acceptable for him to not play "harder" because there is less at stake?

     

    Maybe it's a generational (ouch!) thing; but the 50s, 60s, 70s stars WAY outshine those playing today. I don't think today's all-stars could come close to this:

     

    Koufax

    Gibson

    Bench

    McCovey

    Rose

    Banks

    Schmidt

    Aaron

    Mays

    Clemente

     

    And that's only one league.

  11. How do you say "no" to what, 23M for 8 years? He's good, but c'mon!

     

    I love baseball. I have since 1967 when, at 9 years old, I was heartbroken on the last day of the season, in the last at bat, as Dick McAuliffe ground into a double play to end the Tigers' hope of forcing a 1-game playoff with the Red Sox for the pennant. I was hooked.

     

    It is the most dramatic and sublime of all sports. It's poetry. It's blood. But the money in which the owners, players and agents now deal is fucking grotesque. I know that it is an inevitable, economic reality; but it directly cheapens the game and makes me weary.

     

    I want to look away and move on and search out another activity that has a smell, a color, a sound and a memory as organic and enchanted as baseball. But I can't. It's too much a part of me. Of where I've been and where I want to go.

     

    So, I ignore my own best interests, and continue to feed the monster. I have renewed my season tickets again, and eagerly await spring training.

     

    I'll always scuffle and sniffle for baseball.

  12. 1. Stephen Malkmus & Jicks - Real Emotional Trash

    2. Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.

    3. Sun Kil Moon - April

    4. Calexico - Carried To Dust

    5. Portishead - Third

    6. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazerus Dig!!!

    7. Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue

    8. The Sea And Cake - Car Alarm

    9. No Age - Nouns

    10. Bonnie "Prince" Billie - Lie Down In The Light

    11. Deerhoof - Offend Maggie

    12. TV On The Radio - Dear Science

    13. Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea

    14. Horse Feathers - House With No Home

    15. She & Him - Volume One

    16. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins

    17. Plants And Animals - Parc Avenue

    18. Beck - Modern Guilt

    19. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

    20. Flying Lotus - Los Angeles

     

    (Bon Iver = 2007)

  13. My daughter and I were just discussing April yesterday. Ghosts or April? She sided with Ghosts. I lean toward April. I think the songwriting has more depth on April. The music is not as immediate as Ghosts, but it grows.

    Tiny Cities - merely nice.

  14. milkhc0.jpg

     

     

    Saw this last night. Excellent movie, but it was a bit heavy handed. It's like Van Sant thought we might forget he was gay if they didn't show two guys making out every couple minutes.

    Also saw Milk last night. I was very moved. Truly a great movie.

    Have to disagree with your response. I didn't at all feel beat over the head with the physical intimacy. Thought it was all natural, and necessary to the portrayal of the spirit and humanity of the movement.

  15. Great crowd. Beautiful venue.

    Loved the acoustic opening on Poor Places.

    Thought Jeff's guitar work on Spiders was spectacularly gnarled.

    Anyone else think they weren't as loud as in past shows?

    Or is my hearing prematurely failing?

    I had a great time. Hoping tonight will be as satisfying.

  16. Yeah, but it's only 2 years, so they at least learned that much.

     

    Apparently the Tigers/Pirates deal is actually not close to done.

    I don't know that Wilson is who we need. His defense is average at best. I'd rather have a bonafide gold glover and give up some offense. Wilson just doesn't really stand out in any phase of the game. I heard there is some interest in Adam Everett.

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