The High Heat

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120723&content_id=35428210&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb Ichiro traded to the Yankees for two 25 year old prospects! I figured he'd leave Seattle after the season, but not this!

This is correct. I'd expect a few departures before the week is out.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8191027/penn-state-nittany-lions-hit-60-million-fine-4-year-bowl-ban-wins-dating-1998 Yesterday Joe Paterno's statue was put into storage and this morning the sanctions against Penn State were announced.

I was happy when Lincecum balked in a run, and even happier the next night when I had to climb over the wall and back into the seats after Jeff Tweedy lied to everybody about not doing an encore.

I was there. I have no complaints.

Laminated Cat was worth the price of admission for both the Camden show and the Phillies game (another loss) I went to Friday night.

Adding SBC to my phone contacts. Must be at the ready!

You have a point there.

Where ya been lately?

http://www.bobdylan.com/us/tempest-press-release 'Tempest' to be released on September 11, 2012.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/07/red-sox-to-designate-brent-lillibridge-for-assignment.html Good news, bad news, Red Sox fans: Carl Crawford is being activated, and Brent Lillibridge - the trade return for Kevin Youkilis - is being removed from the roster on the same night in which Youkilis is returning to Boston with the White Sox.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=23056587&query=%26game_pk%3D319056 Ben Sheets is back in the bigs with Atlanta. He pitched well yesterday, but after missing two seasons the Braves only gave him two starts in the minors (10.2 innings) before recalling him. I'm glad to see him back, but I hope he makes it past August.

I've read both Sharp Ojects and Dark Places. I enjoyed both, but I'd say Sharp Objects is better. I picked up Sharp Objects because Stephen King said it freaked him out. How can you not be curious about such a statement? I'd didn't know Flynn had a new one out. Thanks!

If there's nothing to play for and the quality of play and players is greatly diminished, there won't be as much money coming in. The prestige will be gone, if it isn't already, of course.

Would it be more appropriate for the NCAA to just put Penn State's football program on a long-term period of getting no rewards, but allow them to still play; and, furthermore, to declare all wins and titles since 1998 to be forfeited, thereby punishing the actual guilty parties involved at Penn State rather than just the present and future students and players?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-crime-sanduskybre86b05d-20120711,0,5217577.story Louis Freeh's report on his investigation of Penn State is in and it doesn't look good for the school, Joe Paterno, or anyone else involved. Unfortunately I'm not surprised by what they discovered.

For you

Whatever happened to old Dick anyway? Some things of yesteryear I still miss, like Jules' VC recap of the week thread. That was fun.

Campaign ads on tv is one thing, but having them at the beginning of YouTube videos is more than I can stand!

KC fans should be grateful. Billy Butler is a line-drive hitter with some power. Participating in a home run derby could screw up his swing for a couple weeks. On a different note: I miss having the Royals and that fabulous stadium being part of MLB's most competitive teams. KC is a great baseball town, but they're a half of a pitching staff away from a return to the playoffs. Great position players, though. Expect Wil Myers to be called up soon to take over RF, regardless of Jeff Francouer's contract.

You doing Dick Ctionary's bit now?

I'm hopeful for a good crowd, too, but I'm keeping in mind it's a Saturday night and will have fans of two other bands there; so I wouldn't be surprised if the crowd will be more vocal in one way or another.

Camden, NJ

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=22975441&topic_id=vtp_jaguar&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_22975441&v=3 Most intense thunder known to man strikes during Rangers game. Love how Josh Willingham (runner at first) hits the ground and how Mike Napoli suddenly has some of the quickest feet in baseball!

I've heard it before, and here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I42JIgfnMYE