I’ve been posing down the pub
On seeing my reflection
I’m looking slightly rough

watchin' 6 years
slipping through my picket gate.
Like some wounded dog escapin'
through the hole in the kennel fence
The water's boiling, poached eggs waiting
The toast I notice - still on the plate
The queen of diamonds
lying face down
---
Today We Have a Contest!

I like watchin' the puddles gather rain
And all I can do is just pour some tea for two
and speak my point of view
But it's not sane, It's not sane

Let's face it ... none of us are MLB GMs, and there's a reason for that. As fans, we spot a young player who is absolutely, positively bound for stardom, the Hall of Fame, even, and for some reason, he ends up spending more time in Syracuse or Toledo than Cooperstown.

Come to think of it, that happens to the pros, too. Sparky Anderson once proclaimed Kirk Gibson was "the next Mickey Mantle" and while KG was pretty good, he was no #7. The Main Spark also once famously guaranteed stardom for a third baseman named Chris Pittaro, who managed to hit .221 in 95 big league at-bats, spending more time with the Twins than Sparky's Tigers after not being able to hold off the immortal Tom Brookens for the starting third base slot on the defending champion 1985 Tigers.

Loaded the guns then you run off home for your tea
Left me standing, like a naughty schoolboy.

You said to call you up if I was feeling moody
Hey little Donna, still wanna
You said to ring you up if I was in Toronto

But never see the stars
And sleep all day
On a chainlink bed of nails

Thanks to everyone who commented on my latest article at The Hardball Times, "The Importance of Strike One (Part One)". I finished Part Two this morning - there is some very interesting data indeed - and it should be up next week.

Since we've been way late with these lately, I thought I'd post this really early for a change.

Two games today, both at 8:00PM

Pedro Martinez vs. Jon Lieber in Game 2 of the ALCS
Brandon Backe vs. Woody Williams in Game 1 of the ALCS

Until then read Spencer Fordin's article about the six Jays players who were taken off the 40 man roster.

Be sure to catch the pre-game show with Mike Wilner starting at 7PM on The Fan 590. Tonight's guest is Orlando Hudson.

I was hooked to a machine
Just to keep my mouth from spouting junk
Must have took me for a fool
When they chucked me out of school

Brewing alternatives?
What's in the bottom drawer
Waiting for things to give?

Collectively, Da Box got this one wrong.

50.0% Twins in 5
30.0% Yankees in 5
17.0% Yankees in 4
13.0% Twins in 4

Yes, it's playoff time again and time for a totally unrelated, almost completely non-baseball-related Batter's Box contest... the BBPSOBWTRCC.

Just sits at home and rolls her spastic eyes
But every weekend through the door
Come words of wisdom from the world outside