Oil Can Boyd

My first thought was an ELO triibute album ...

And DiMaggio wasn't elected until his third try ...

I am a huge Jim Rice fan but his numbers (.298, 382 HR, 1451 RBIs) and Belle's (.295 381 HR 1239 RBI) are pretty similar.

Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken (98.5 percent of the vote) and Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn have been elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, it was announced today. Controversial Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire and Red Sox great Jim Rice each fell short. Rice received 63.5 percent of the vote (75 percent is needed for induction).

Newspapers: Boston Globe New York Times (Sunday only) Arlington Advocate Lincoln County (Maine) News I also used to get the Boston Herald but I stopped a few months ago. Magazines: New Yorker Magnet My wife is a professional gardener so she gets all sorts of gardening/design magazines that I occasionally look at.

Started this last night, and am looking forward to reading more of it.

Thanks for posting that. I am sure Gammons knows better than I do, but I was not all that impressed with Pedroia last year either in the field or at the plate. And maybe I hold Loretta in high regard after watching him hit a walk-off homerun last Patriot's Day.

And Mark Loretta signs with the Astros. I don't get why the (Red) Sox didn't even try to re-sign him.

I used to like David Caruso (on NYPD Blue). But this compilation demonstrates why I can never watch CSI Miami.

I wonder what Tweedy thinks when he gets on here and sees that not even his own fans know how to use an apostrophe.

1967 Jim Lonborg and Carl Yastrzemski

Something that might get overlooked in the whole MVP discussion: He is the third Canadian-born athlete to win an MVP in a major pro league this year, following Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash and San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton.

I was just scrolling through the thread to make sure someone made that point.

I know there is some hypocrisy in it but I spend a lot of time following the Red Sox and I don't hear the local pundits saying that the Sox are underdogs across the whole league. They mainly point out that the Yankees are able to do things that other teams can't afford to do. If you look at the salaries (from USA Today) the Red Sox are consistently a distant second (or more) to the Yankees (and have been for years). 1999 Yankees 24% more than Boston 2000 Yankees 14% 2001 Yankees 3% 2002 Yankees 16% 2003 Yankees 54% 2004 Yankees 45% 2005 Yankees 69% 2006 Yankees 63% And yes, I am sure y

Before the $51.1 million offer I could have made an effort, but now I can't. As some wag once said, being second in payroll to the Yankees is like being the second richest guy in the room behind Bill Gates.

Probably my autographed copy of the original pressing of the Feelies Crazy Rhythms or my autographed (by Paul, Chris, and Tommy) copy of the Replacements Let it Be.

I saw that; it is weird. Do you think he was trying to be funny and outrageous (a la Borat or Andy Kaufman) or do you think he just lost it?

"I think the money isn't that important to me. I'm not looking for the money." Why do people who are going to be making $136 million say things like that?

And Alex Gonzalez signs with the Reds (3 years/$14 million). I am sorry to see him go from the Red Sox. I know he couldn't hit a whole lot but he sure was smooth in the field.

And Nomar stays in LA for two more years ...

I would say Slanted is my favorite but I think I would put Brighten the Corners second. I love that album.

I know I am a little late to the party but I just got back from this and really liked it.

That's true and he is far from signed. But the new market issue is an interesting one. Last night on one of the local news channels here in Boston they were talking with an "expert" on Japanese baseball. This guy said that as soon as the Red Sox fee was accepted, there was a noticeable (to him) increase in Red Sox merchandise being advertised on websites about Japanese baseball.

That may be my favorite Sufjan.

You and me both. I saw him play for the Single A Lowell Spinners. The game I saw he didn't do anything spectacular but he looked like a major league player surrounded by college players.