Matthew

I wonder if Wilson is spreading himself too thin with all his side projects. I was much more impressed with Blackfield II than FOABP, it seemed much fresher, more creative, and even in that cd, the leftover PT cut was the weakest. Hate to say it, but I wouldn't be surprised to see PT go on a hiatus after this tour *sigh*.

I was only able to listen to Fear of a Blank Planet twice over the weekend, and I'm kind of underwhelmed by it; it's good but it has a been there, done that vibe for me. I'll have to really sit down and listen to it this week and maybe hearing the songs in concert next week will help also (eat your heart out everyone ). So, I'm holding off on a definite opinion at this point. edit: spelling

The Giants can have Jeff Weaver in a trade with the Mariners..... PLEASE!!!

Looks like Pavano will win that Pavano vs JD Drew DL race after all....

Dude! This totally proves baseball is out to get Bonds! MLB Credits Hank Aaron With 50 Lost Home Runs April 27, 2007 | Onion Sports MILWAUKEE—In what Major League Baseball officials are calling a "long overdue correction of a gross oversight," Commissioner Bud Selig announced Tuesday the discovery that Hall of Famer Hank Aaron had in fact accumulated 50 previously unaccounted-for home runs during his illustrious 22-year baseball career, bringing his once record total of 755 to an even higher 805 and putting the all-time home-run record perhaps forever out of reach. "Hank Aaron is a hero, an excellent man, and a great ambassador for the game of baseball," Selig said during a press conference to announce the findings. "We're proud to have finally set things right, hopefully once and for all. And I have to tell you, some of the home runs that we discovered were just monster shots. One was hit off of [Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher] Harvey Haddix that went 576 feet, and Hank wasn't even that big of a guy. Just naturally strong and gifted, I guess." Haddix was unavailable for comment, as he passed away in 1994. According to Selig, a committee of sports journalists and baseball historians was set up during the off-season to investigate, with Selig's oversight, whether there was any substance to a rumor that began circulating last summer concerning Aaron having hit more homeruns than those credited to him in the record books. Though Selig said he couldn't recall the date the committee was established, he believes it was in or around the time he approved the San Francisco Giants' highly publicized signing of Barry Zito. The committee's 30-page report points out several key factors that combined to increase Aaron's home run total. For example, in 1958, home runs hit during both the first week of spring training and those hit in pre-game batting practice during away games in the third week of August were added to a player's career numbers. In addition, home runs hit during the 1971 All-Star Game should have been tallied. Aaron, coincidentally, did hit a home run in that game. "We are here today to the right the wrongs," Selig said. "This is America's national pastime, and its players, fans, and all citizens deserve to have a record book in which they can take great pride. So if we didn't count Hank Aarons five-homer outing during 1964's famous 'Empty Stadium' game, I wouldn't be able to live with myself." Furthermore, the report continued, a third of the home runs hit by players who participated in the television series Home Run Derby, a show on which Aaron appeared several times, should have been counted. In addition, during the second half of the 1962 season, balls that bounced over the outfield fence should have been counted as home runs, and foul balls that were hit behind the batter but cleared the netting intended to protect fans seated behind home plate were also home runs. That being the case, league scorekeepers now say Aaron had his best year in 1962, hitting 65 home runs—20 more than originally thought. Though there has been some negative reaction towards the announcement of Aaron's new record, mostly from fans in northern California, the news has been received very well nationwide. "This is the best thing that has happened to baseball in years," said New York resident Tom Plaitano, 63. "I remember watching Hank Aaron as a kid, and even though I don't recall a time when all home runs hit off Sandy Koufax counted for two, I don't really care. This decision just makes sense to me." "The number 805 will go down as the most prestigious number in sports," said Selig, adding that there is a strong possibility still more of Aaron's home runs could come to the surface during this season, and maybe even the next several seasons to come. "It's not out of the question that Hank could have, say, 900 home runs by the time our investigation is all said and done." "Either way, the all-time home-run record couldn't be held by a more dignified and honorable man," Selig added. The committee's report has caused quite a shakeup to the list of baseball's all-time home-run leaders. Aaron, while keeping his record, is not even the biggest benefactor of the findings; as of now Aaron is first with 805, Willie Mays has jumped to second with 800, Frank Robinson is third with 798, Harmon Killebrew is fourth with 797, and Reggie Jackson, Mickey Mantle, Ernie Banks, Ted Williams, and Willie McCovey are tied for fifth at 796. According to Selig, early results of another investigation may net Babe Ruth as many as 74 additional home runs, Mike Schmidt an estimated 124, and Ken Griffey Jr. a possible 200, while players such as Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, and Barry Bonds will probably be knocked even further down the list.

OK. And how often does this happen? Once, twice maybe three times in a player's life? You're pleading the case of the defense here, Matthew: Steriods do not increase the likelihood of a player hitting a HR. Vision and timing do. Period. There can be no question on this one. So I fail to see the issue here. Bonds using steriods now becomes a White man's justification that Ruth was second only to a "lucky" Black man in Hank Aaron. Can't you see why the media is so concerned about this? Even George "failed Iraq policy" Bush is on this one with getting the Feds involved. Any person with half a brain should ask why steroids in baseball are subject to a Federal investgation. It's a freakin' GAME, fer crissakes, not the answer to terroism. This is not at all about steriods [for the which they have no proof] it is all about another Black man beating Babe Ruth's record and, most importantly, the media jackals of the sporting press' effort to discredit Bonds in a shameless get-back for telling them to take a flying leap. It is total bullshit. There seems to be a couple of different issues here, let me comment on some: 1. Are you saying that a player only hits a fly ball to the warning track two or three times in his life? Jeesh, Adrian Beltre goes to the warning track two or three times a week, and I know that because Mariner fans have to watch that week after week. So, I disagree if that's what you're saying, I'm sure some stat geek out there is keeping track of "almost home runs." 2. We'll just have to agree to disagree on whether steroids creates home runs or not. You don't think so, I do, and I don't think either one of us will change our minds on that one. 3. Bonds and his treatment during his run up at Aaron's record is complex and crazy at the same time. Now I remember clearly Aaron's treatment during his chase of Ruth's record, and he garnered great respect from most people over the way he handled himself. Of course, it's well documented that he did suffer from racist taunts and letters, but he was respected in and out of baseball. Bonds is different, and it's true that most of the media treats him with disdain. There is an element of racism to it all, but there is also the feeling that Bonds is a jerk, and a lot of people don't care for him in the least. Of course, whether he's a jerk or not, I have no idea at all, so I can't comment on that at all. It's interesting to see how the media handles Bonds, I've lived in the Bay Area for a while, and go there on my vacation all the time, and the picture in the SF/Oakland papers of Bonds is different, and much more positive than anywhere else in the country, like L.A for example. Maybe the dislike for Bonds is partially to explain why, all of a sudden, there is a lot of talk of ARod beating his record later on in his career. The baseball establishment would certainly prefer ARod as the all-time home run king than Bonds, more cuddly than Bonds, that's for sure. It all causes me to wonder about the real reason why Aaron won't be there when Bonds breaks the record, and how that achievement will be celebrate in the stadium when it happens. One thing about Bonds: He's never dull.

But a fair ball that would have landed on the warning track, with that fifteen extra feet, is a home run. I'm not here to jump on BB, he's a great player, and I doubt that he is a long time user of steroids because it's been proven over time that the body breaks down with repeated, long term steroid use, eg. Albert Belle. I just don't agree if your point is that steroid use cannot create home runs, in the "steroid era" we saw plenty of players who had a great couple of years and then broke down. Steroids does not increase hand-to-eye coordination, but it does add distance, which is the key to its use in baseball. Bonds, OTOH, has sustained his greatness over his whole career, so even if(??) he used, at most, it would only be for a year or two, but whether he did or not, who knows -- Bonds denies it, he's never tested positive, so what can anyone do in that case? He's one of the best players ever, and maybe the best hitter of all-time, maybe just leave it at that.

Steroids can make a hitter better by adding ten feet to a fly ball, when that happens, then you have a home run hitter. That's really all it takes to change a twenty homer player to a forty homer guy, I mean, my gosh, look at what happened to Brady Anderson for heaven sake! Or did those fifty homers come off pure ability? That's what players were really looking for, that extra ten to fifteen feet, and that could be worth a couple of million extra a year.

Is this some sort of weird, little known Italian tradition? Slip a kid $20 at a funeral? And if you're Frank, you can have a lackey do it ... I've been to a lot of funerals and no one's slipped my anything yet......

Guys, the only thing more enjoyable than a Yankee seven game losing streak is a Yankee AND Red Sox seven game losing streak.

I've become more interested in American history lately and what I would really like is a book with a good overview of the history of the USA. I don't care how long it is (is Page Smiths 10,000 volume history any good?), just that it is well written, no political axe to grind, and would get me up to the 21st century. Recommendations eagerly sought! edit: spelling

I flew into Newark last Monday.... and woke up 7/4.... sorry.

Yep, it's this week! I got an email Thursday saying mine had been dispatched, so I'm hoping mine shows up on Monday. Really looking forward to this too! My signed cd finally arrived in the mail this morning (sorry SW, you have a long way to go to catch up with Andy & Colin), and I'm going have to listen to this a couple of times this weekend. Aggie, how do you like it so far?

I was there when Ozzie Smith made THE FIELDING PLAY against the Braves. It's been called the greatest fielding play ever, we gave him a standing O when he came off the field for that one.

Hard to explain what I hear in Small Talk, some of the lyrics are very dark, to say the least, and they offer a contrast to those moments when Sly is trying to convince himself that life is fine. Seems that Sly Stone had this picture of what life could offer him, and yet the reality of what was going on in his life was dragging him in a different, darker direction. To use a biblical image: Sly sees two paths ahead of him, he knows what road he should take, but something is driving him to the other path. It strikes me that there is more to Small Talk that just the farewell of Sly...

I just listened to it this morning and found it depressing as hell. I was about to post a question of "Was there any reason to include this album in the box? Other than to show how far Sly had fallen since Stand?" IMO, it's not any good as an album, much less as a Sly album. Fresh, OTOH, now THAT is one funky-ass album! Got it groovin' right now! I listened to it this morning and I liked it. I'll have to give it a couple of more spins to see if I'm way off base on this.

Nobody's talking too much about Small Talk but I find that it is a beautiful album with wonderful musical touches throughout. Matthew says: This is worth checking out.

Ditto your thoughts. Thankfully, John Updike seems in good shape right now -- it would be nice if he got some love from the Nobel committee....

Does anyone else see a Walt Whitman influence in Sly's lyrics? Reading through them, I sense a definite link there...

Poor Mariner's, another rain out today...

This is very sad news I bought The Best And The Brightest a while ago and I was very impressed, as you could see the modern implications of the book given the war in Iraq. Always enjoyed his other books also.

Sly and the Family Stone: The Collection.

Hey, if I'm not mistaken, this is the week for Fear Of A Blank Planet to be coming out! I haven't looked forward to a release this intensely since Apple Venus. I hope Newbury Comics is sending this one quick.

Finished, for like the one hundredth time, my all-time favorite coffee table book: George T. Simon's Simon Says: The Sights And Sounds Of The Swing Era 1933 - 1955. It's a collection of a lot of his articles, interviews and reviews that he wrote for Metronome magazine. It really is a journey back in time and quite interesting. Of course, it's long OOP, but it comes up on Ebay every now and then, a couple of years ago I was able to get a copy in mint condition and it's traveled with me ever since. If you like the big band era, and kind of corny writing, this book is a goldmine. Just some excerpts from the book to give you a flavor: The famous 1938 Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall concert is headlined with this. Benny and cats make Carnegie debut real howling success. Shorthairs Shag, Longhairs Wag, Walls sag, as Goodman's gang transforms ancient hall into modern swing emporium. Love this from a review about Ellington at the Cotton Club: The Cotton Club draws many ickies who pester Ellington to play pop tunes that were hardly intended from him to attack. He plays them, and the fact that he plays them well enough to satisfy those ickies, and to draw there applause, should be added to the plus rather than to minus side when computing Duke's final score. Just very interesting to read these "you are there" accounts of historic jazz bands and figures. Highly recommended.