Frayed Knot

Benson - 3.75Woodward - 2.5Reyes - 0.5Floyd - 1.5Piazza - .50Looper - 1Hernandez - .25

This is his 6th season, but several of the early ones look like they were partials so I doubt he'll be a FA this winter.So if you want him you need to start talking trade.

WOW, I didn't think he got that one ... and it made it w/20 ft to spare.Willie burns the bench and gets away with it.

Looper's spot is up 3rd this inning so, no, he won't be coming out if needed in the 12th.

MY KINGDOM FOR A FREAKIN SINGLE!!!!

I like Cliffy up here.Lefty change-up artists don't usually dominate lefty hitters.

I knew as soon as Looper came in to the game that the Pads were going to score immediately.Oops, I mean that the next time he actually allows runs to score I would have known it in advance.

As reported on the WFAN pre-game show, Humber had his TJ surgery today.

Winfield - like Boggs after him - always denied that there was any financial attempt to get them to "choose" a particular HoF team, something that's virtually impossible to prove or disprove.FWIF, the HoF claims that it's always been their decision to select what's on the plaque, not the players', although obviously it's not something they were adamant about enforcing (see: Jackson, Reggie).In Winnie's case, his SD service time & ABs represented less than half of his totals although they were above that of the nearest other team - the NYY - so it made sense to put him in* as a Padre.Retired numbers, of course, are a totally different topic since there are no objective standards, just a desire by a team to establish some kind of history. And when SD chose to create a kind of insta-history by retiring Garvey I'm sure they're totally embarrassed by that decision. At least they should be and I hope it serves as a cautionary tale for other teams.* at this point I'm going to make my semi-annual comment that this is really a silly topic. This whole notion that a player having a particular ensignia on his hat means that he's somehow in as a member of that team to the exclusion of any and all others is ridiculous.

Did he say Mora will play 1st or that Lowell would?Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that taking Lowell (and at least part of his salary) is one of the conditions of the trade.

I think what we in NYC forget sometimes is that many out-of-towners simply assume that baseball fans in NYC root for the NYC baseball teams -- both of them."You mean you're from New York and you hate the Yankees (or Rangers or Jets or whoever)" ... does not compute.I ignored those comments from him as soon as he made them and if it weren't for the fact that he was the MVP that year - and ergo the symbol of the Braves - most others would have as well.He never bothered me in the slightest.btw, Chipper was activated tonight ... he HR'd in his first AB.

Gammons saying tonight that Burnett to Bal'mer is pretty much a done deal and should be finalized by mid-day tomorrow.3 players going the other way; Reliever Jorge Julio (who happens to be pitching right NOW!!!! in the 10th inn in Mini-soda), plus starter Hayden Penn, plus some other dude who I forgot already (OFer Matos maybe?).Apparently it's all contingent on Burnett inking a deal to take him out of the FA market this winter.If he's on board - and Eric Bedard retunring from injury (he started tonight) - the O's might actually have a fighting chance in the AL East. I had pretty much written them off.

Not even close IMO.The only thing Chipper ever did was hit our pitching, and I'll cast a vote for that whole Rocker stuff being one of the more over-blown sports stories of the last decade. He was basically just a harmless moron.But even worse than the ones who wouldn't root against the Yanx in a Braves series were the ones who specifically rooted FOR them in '96. "Ya gotta root for 'em, cuz of Doc & Darryl and Coney"Oh no I don't. In fact, I'll say fuck Doc, fuck Darryl, and fuck Cone, and fuck the Met fan who thought that way.I don't believe in karma and other crappy stuff like that but I'm still willing to blame those fans for causing the Yanqui dynastic run by thinking that pulling for a Yanqui team was some kind of harmless touchy-feely good-will gesture. It's all their fault. There, I said it.

Gut CheckYeah, I've got a bit of one. What of it?

Speaking of Cincy players who may (or may not) be available;Sean Casey is still hitting around .300 ... but has 7 extra base hits - 5 2Bs & 2 HRs - for all of June & July. That's over 152 ABs! There's a notion among some Met fans that this guy's the power hitting 1st-sacker we need. Problem is, not only is he NOT that guy at the moment but he's really only been that guy a few times during his career (1999, 2000 & 2004) - far less often than the times he hasn't ('98, '01, '02, '03 & now '05). And this year he's showing less power than ever: .095 Isolated Power for the season, .070 since June 1.I understand he's a fun guy to have around but ... little power, little speed, plus a good (thou hardly great) glove that comes with a big contract which is locked in for at least one more year doesn't make for a tasty package.

That sounds like it's got all the makings of a really bad country music song:Jeff, letting you go was the hardest thing I've ever done. - Jeff

Couple of notes on Palmiero:From the NYTimes on Sunday:Among those with 3,000 hits (there are now 26) Palmiero is;3rd in HRs - Behind only Aaron & Mays4th in SLG - Musial, Mays, Aaron9th RBIs14th in 2BsAnd 'The Hardball Times' takes a statistical look at his HoF candidacy:http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/raffy-and-the-hall/

Martinez - 3Cameron - 3Reyes - 2Beltran - 1Woodward - .5Padilla - .25Koo - .25

As I recall it, this was one of the first ones submitted and kind of set the format for the ones to come.And where else but on the CPF can you get an in depth analysis of Jenny: 867-5309 ?? METHEADI was ten years old in 1982. I wasn't hanging out with my buddies behind the arcade sneaking smokes and skateboarding. More likely I was begging my parents for quarters so I could go inside the arcade to play Pac-Man or something. Thus, many of my musical experiences in the early '80s were shaped by top-40 radio and MTV. Yeah, I know... shut up, you elitists. MTV was just getting started, and I can remember exactly where I was when certain videos came on. Glued to the TV, mostly. Those were the days when you could watch MTV for hours and it was just one video after another, man. Plus, the VJ's were cool. Martha Quinn, baby! 1 Centerfold - J. Geils BandThis song is from the first record album I ever bought. Back in the days when I thought a song about a centerfold was absolutely the coolest thing ever. Also the first time I ever heard the word "negligee". I had to look it up. I love love love this freakin song, man. Plus the video has a shot of what looks like an ordinary snare drum that ends up being full of milk that splashes all over the place when the guy plays it. Oh, and chicks in tight sweaters.2 Spirits in the Material World - The PoliceGod, The Police kick ass. There are better Police songs out there... many of them. But this one was on the charts and stuff, so it's here. Plus, I have to rank The Police very high on any '80s list.3 The Message - Grandmaster FlashThe first rap song I remember that didn't talk about parties and waving your hands in the air til the break of dawn. And it was a message... to suburbia as well as kids in the ghetto. While "Rappers Delight" was making fun rhymes about Superman, "The Message" was talking about people pissing in stairwells, guys hanging themselves in prison, gangsters flashing twenties and tens.4 Hurts So Good - John CougarCoulda gone with Jack 'n' Diane here... but I just like this song better. A lot better. Jack and Diane sorta lurches along... this song jams. 5 Who Can It Be Now? - Men At WorkJust try to hate this song. I dare you. Still have this album on vinyl at home, I damn near wore it out. "Business As Usual" would end up breaking the American record for the most weeks spent at the top of the charts by a debut album.6 Shake it Up - The CarsGreat '80s band. This song was a pretty big hit so it makes the list. I always end up singing along when I listen to these guys, I just can't help it. Infectious. 7 Abacab - GenesisEarly Genesis kicks ass. This song is from a period in their history where they were sorta changing from long jam compositions into more radio-friendly arrangements... but it's still good. "Home By The Sea" is better than this one... but I think that was on a later album.8 Rock The Casbah - The ClashAn early MTV video experience. I had no idea who The Clash was at the time. I just knew I liked the song. Some stereotypical depictions of Jews and Arabs... but they're dancing together, so it's OK. 9 Kiss Off - Violent FemmesYou know, "Add It Up" was on most of the lists I found, but "Kiss Off" is so much better. Great example of how a songwriter can be pissed off at the world without using the phrase "shut up" repeatedly in the refrain. Young songwriters of today, take note. "I forget what eight was for." Fucking great. Sidenote: listen to the Femmes' cover of "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" from the "Why Do Birds Sing" album (1990). Damn.10 Rio - Duran DuranYeah, yeah. I know. But this song is pretty good. Heard it the other day and was reminded how good the hook is. This video had weird painted women writhing around on a beach and being chased around a sailboat, if I remember correctly. Apparently this sailboat was crossing the Mexican border, 'cause they mention the Rio Grande a bunch of times.11 You Got Lucky - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers"You got lucky, babe... when I found you." Ha ha! I want to play this at my wedding. 12 Valley Girl - Frank Zappa (w/ Moon Zappa)Not the best Zappa song by any stretch of the imagination. But I played some Zappa for a buddy who claimed he had never heard any, and he started singing along when this came on. He grew up in Southern California, and this song was huge out there. This song was actually nominated for a Grammy, but "Eye Of The Tiger" beat it. A 14-year-old Moon Zappa recorded her vocals in the middle of the night, basically imitating the other girls in her school. Introduced the "valley girl" species to the USA and maybe helped popularize all that fun slang like "gag me with a spoon", "grody to the max", "tubular", and "bitchin". Totally.13 Shock The Monkey - Peter GabrielBreaking away from Genesis and cementing his own style. I really like this song, but I remember the video more than anything. It's paired with "She Blinded Me With Science" in the file cabinet of my brain.14 Rosanna - TotoGuilty pleasure. "Africa" is also good. Toto is a wacky name for a rock band, but the lead singer had hair like a poodle with a jheri-curl, so maybe the name fits.15 1999 - Prince"Little Red Corvette" was the B-side to this, I believe. Fun little ditty about partying. Phish opened their 1998/99 New Years Eve show with this and the place went nuts.16 Pretty Woman - Van HalenRoy Orbison singing about hot chicks makes me feel all weird. Van Halen singing about hot chicks, on the other hand, is so perfect it hurts. This is from the era when Van Halen's albums were like 20 minutes each. Eddie! Eddie! Eddie! 17 Man Out Of Time - Elvis CostelloWow. One of the Best. Songwriters. Ever. Period.18 Don't You Want Me - Human LeagueOne of the first big hits for a synth-pop-dance outfit. "Tainted Love" would fit here, but I can't stand that song. Sorry, fans. 19 Goodnight Saigon - Billy Joel"They counted the rotors"? They can do that? Damn! 20 Heat of the Moment - AsiaWhat else can I say. Decent song. I remember some girl I knew way back when had the album cover painted on the back of her denim jacket... that's all I got.21 867-5309 (Jenny) - Tommy TuToneEh. I think everyone knows this phone number, but they have to look up everyone else's. Can't you just set everyone's phone number to music? You'll never forget another one, I promise.22 Electric Avenue - Eddie GrantThis song makes me laugh every time I hear it. When I first moved to NYC I wanted to go up to people on the street and ask them how to get to Electric Avenue. But I never did. "Yeah, like we never heard that one before, pal... why don't you turn your ass around and go back uptate, you scrawny little hayseed!" 23 I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) - Hall & OatesThe album "H20" represents for me, the peak of Hall and Oates. I wore that album out too. 24 Come On Eileen - Dexy's Midnight RunnersMan, I can't stand that weird bohemian Adam Ant lookalike prancing around in the woods. But he was a welcome sight to me one night as I was watching "American Werewolf In London" on HBO. I got scared, had to change the channel, and this video was on. 25 Open Arms - JourneyLook, I can't stand Journey. But they were a huge act back then, and this was one of the biggest rock ballads. Also, we went on a field trip for school once, and a bunch of girls in the back of the bus were singing along to this on a tape they were playing.. Except they were singing "So I come to youuuu... with Open Legs..." Hehehehehhh, good times.Honorable mention (no particular order):We're Gonna Groove - Led ZeppelinTainted Love - Soft CellWhite Wedding - Billy IdolDer Kommissar - FalcoGoody Two Shoes - Adam AntMexican Radio - Wall Of VoodooSteppin' Out - Joe JacksonI Ran (So Far Away) - A Flock of SeagullsFor Those About To Rock (We Salute You) - AC/DCPac-Man Fever - Buckner and GarciaModern Love - David BowieWe Got The Beat - The Go GosEye Of The Tiger - SurvivorSomebody's Baby - Jackson BrowneSenses Working Overtime - XTCLittle Guitars - Van HalenCooky Puss - Beastie BoysDancin' In The Street - Van HalenManeater - Hall & OatesCaught Up In You - 38 SpecialAnother One Rides The Bus - Weird Al YankovicRock This Town - Stray CatsI Melt With You - Modern EnglishSO there you go. I'm pretty sure this stuff was all released on albums in 1982... may not have hit the charts 'til 1983. I'll revise this using only the 1982 Billboard top 100 list at some point soon. COOBYWow, the memories!Coupla thoughts from me:Shake It Up: Heard this song just this morning. A great song, except it reminds me of the Yankees! They used it in their commercials one year a long time ago.There is an Electric Avenue in Danville, PA, and I often wonder if the people who live on it think about that song a lot.Come on Eileen is a fabulous song which I could hear ten times a day and not get sick of it. But the people in the video all lot like they need a bath!Totally agree with you about Journey and the song Tainted Love, blech!Nice job Methead! THE BIG TRAINYou have a lot of hold-your-nose-and-vote choices.You've got Asia over anything from Night and Day by Joe Jackson or Beauty and the Beat by the Go-Gos or just about every other track on Violent Femmes.1. Blister in the Sun 2. Kiss Off 3. Please Do Not Go 4. Add It Up 5. Confessions 6. Prove My Love 7. Promise 8. To the Kill 9. Gone Daddy Gone 10. Good Feeling Did you have a rule that limited you to one track per artist? That could be ten of your top twenty selections right there. METHEADKiss Off is in my top-ten there.I mean if we're gonna be restricted to Billboard's chart, there will be some songs there that I don't really like, but were big hits.And yeah, I did try to limit it to one song per artist, just to represent the most that I could. I love that Femmes album, but Kiss Off is my fave, so I went with just that one. Obviously I'd rank most of those tracks ahead of Asia and Journey. I tried to mix it up between Billboard's choices and my own. THE BIG TRAINScrew Billboard, be yourself tonight.LFThe list comments are great!THE BIG TRAINAgreed. Comments are great.But unplug the playlists and give us y'er own choices. WIDE BEE GEEThere's quite a few on that list under consideration for my 1981 rankings.Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5 , 7, 11, few others ... I'm pretty sure all come from 1981 releases.Your No. 21 is a leading preliminary contender for 1981's Number One slot. METHEAD"Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5 , 7, 11, few others ... I'm pretty sure all come from 1981 releases."I'm sure you're right. But that's what's gonna happen with a list based on Billboard's charts. I've got choices here that were on '82 albums, but didn't hit the charts until '83. As a result they're on Archer's list as well.Is this stuff all gonna be compiled into a giant master list at the end? If so... this overlap business ain't that big a deal, really. WIDE BEE GEEIt won't matter in the end. I suppose the best way to solve this would be;Your year is 1) what Billboard charted in your year and2) What didn't chart but was released during your calendat year.I suppose that's good for me because what lose in Tutone I'll make up for in Springsteen and Lennon (late 1980 releases).THE BIG TRAINYour year should be what you think came out in your year, but, if contested, you've got to defer to somebody brandishing a release date.Not that understand Widey going number one with "867-5309." WIDE BEE GEEI'm not gonna make Meathad chop up his whole list. 867-5309 is a terrific pop-rock guitar ballad. You can sing along to it, dance to it, but its a desperate, sad song all the same. Let's break it down:Jenny, Jenny, who can I turn to?You give me something I can hold on to.I know you think I'm like the others beforeWho saw your name and number on the wall.This is a sad, lonely man who's not singing to Jenny but to himself. He has plenty of self-doubt but what really gets him is that nagging feeling that others see no value in him either. The last two lines are exposition in great economy: It tells us the whole story.Jenny, I got your number.I need to make you mine.Jenny, don't change your number,8-6-7-5-3-0-9, 8-6-7-5-3-0-98-6-7-5-3-0-9, 8-6-7-5-3-0-9Don't change your number? He hasn't called yet... will he call? There's some drama here...That's a hell of a chorus by the way. Yeah, it's a phone number, but it's pronounced backwards, as if the number isn't 867-5309 but 8675-309.Jenny, Jenny, you're the girl for me.You don't know me but you make me so happy.I tried to call you before but I lost my nerve.I tried my imagination, but I was disturbed.Are these the ramblings of a man who's got game? I think not. He also doesn't show any interest in being this girl's "savior" He's after her because of what she can do for him. He's a creep.Jenny, I got your number,I need to make you mine.Jenny, don't change your number,8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)I got it, I got it!I got your number on the wall!I got it, I got it!For a good time, for a good time call....This is a cool bridge, with great timing on the staggering "I got it!"s framing a funny rhyming verse. This leads into a cool guitar solo that continues behind the next chorus....Jenny, don't change your number.I need to make you mine.Jenny. I'll call your number,8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)Highlight of the song right here: Note how sadly he says "Jenny I'll call your number." (The tone of voice is completely different than the "don't change you number" the first two times around) He's gone from vaguely hopeful to doomed-and-he-knows-it: He can't even get an easy chick!Jenny, Jenny who can I turn to? (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)For the price of a dime I can always turn to you.(8-6-7-5-3-0-9)8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)8-6-7-5-3-0-9 (8-6-7-5-3-0-9)5-3-0-9!5-3-0-9!5-3-0-9!5-3-0-9! He's like Rainman here at the end, just spitting out the number like its something exciting.This is possibly the best song of 1991 and, independently confirmed by Meathead here, among the top 21 of 1992!92!92! 92!92! THE BIG TRAINYou're nuts!Derivative Elvis Costello music."867-5309"/"Jesse's Girl" similarity score: 976. WIDE BEE GEELike, no way.THE BIG TRAINYeah, well, Swing Out Sister called about your ticket request. They said you could have three or four tables if you want.Right down front. METHEADAfter a whole year of waiting to see if this guy would call Jenny, the fans simply lost interest, causing this song's precipitous drop from #1 in 1981 to # 21 in 1982.Gotta be honest... I didn't look up lyrics when I ranked these... I shoulda.WIDE BEE GEEElsewhere on this list, I approve of the choice of "Spirits" as the Police selection. But the Cars -- I can't even remember the name of the song, but its the ballad that Ben Orr sings. Minor hit -- and IMO the highlight of that record. As great as the Cars were, it was downhill after Candy-O.THE BIG TRAIN Dude, you're talking about "Drive"!Problem with the Cars was the same problem with Hall and Oates. They had two front men in the seventies and early eighties, but, after the video era launched, they stuck with Ocasek/Ocasek/Ocasek/Ocasek. Every song was the same cute-little-girlie-makes-me-feel-all-kinds-of-goofie. Benjamin Orr was the superior singer and composer, but got shuffled off in favor of the more ambitious Ocasek. Even in "Drive," Ocasek's future wife and he starred in the video for Orr's song. WIDE BEE GEEActually, I was confused. Definitely not thinking of Drive (not on that record) but "I;m not the one" -- with Ocasek singing.The Orr song that was cool on that record was "Think It Over" which wasn't a hit.Nevermind. THE BIG TRAINDude, you're not talking about "Drive"! That would have been 'eighty four! THE BIG TRAINCooby: lol, did anyone else ever dial that phone # just to see what would happen? Yup! http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/8675309.aspCENTERFIELDAmateurs.A real prankster calls that number, asks for Jenny, then says "I just called to say I love you."Between these songs and "Ghostbusters", there was so much fun to be had at the expense of others.Freakin' caller ID depriving yutes today of hours of fun...

FWIW: Gammons says Sox denying any involvement in Burnett talks.

Bell - one of the many 'would make a better closer than what wegot' pitchers (according to some) - is making a mess of the 8thinning (along w/some help from Woodward's bad toss).Both Woodward & Cairo having good days otherwise; although I'm partial to seeing Woodward get more time now that M'wcz is back.]Royals pitcher Runelvys Hernandez ejected by HP umpire Marty Foster.So I guess Runelvys has now left the building.

Eddie Todedo, btw, was the Met scout who signed Reyes.

San Diego - Tues July 19, Wed July 20, Thurs July 21 - {Met Irish} Dodgers - Fri July 22, Sat July 23, Sun July 24 - {The Old Mole} @ Rockies - Mon July 25, Tues July 26, Wed July 27 - {Seawolf}@ Astros - Thurs July 28, Fri July 29, Sat July 30, Sun July 31 - {Switch-Hitter} Brewers - Tues August 2, Wed August 3, Thurs August 4 - {smg58} Cubs - Fri August 5, Sat August 6, Sun August 7 - {Lundy} @ Padres - Tue August 9, Wed August 10, Thurs August 11 @ Dodgers - Fri August 12, Sat August 13, Sun August 14 - {Edgy DC}Pirates - Tues August 16, Wed August 17, Thurs August 18 Nationals - Fri August 19, Sat August 20, Sun August 21 - {Seawolf}@ D'backs - Mon August 22, Tues August 23, Wed August 24, Thurs August 25 - {Frayed Knot}@ Giants - Fri August 26, Sat August 27, Sun August 28 {Sharpie}Phillies - Tues August 30, Wed August 31, Thurs September 1 @ Florida - Fri September 2, Sat September 3, Sun September 4 @ Atlanta - Mon September 5, Tuesday September 6, Wednesday Sept 7 - {Rockin' Doc}@ Cardinals - Thurs September 8, Fri September 9, Sat September 10, Sun September 11 - {mlbaseballtalk} Nationals - Tues Sep 13, Wed September 14, Thurs September 15 - {Seawolf}Braves - Fri September 16, Sat September 17, Sun September 18 - {Rockin' Doc}Marlins - Tues September 20, Wed September 21, Thurs September 22 @ Nationals - Fri September 23, Sat September 24, Sun September 25 - {Seawolf}@ Phillies - Mon September 26, Tues September 27, Wed September 28 Rockies - Thurs September 29, Fri September 30, Sat October 1, Sun October 2 - {Seawolf}

]Palmiero = Reggie of our eraOf all the 500+ HR club members, I can't think of two less similar players.

TJ surgery is one of several options being considerd for Humber.Less evasive cutting and just plain rest are others.http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-sphumber0717,0,1731315.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines