Bench Cano now rather than waiting until September

Mets radio announcers noted Robinson Cano's lackadaisical play over the weekend Yankee-Mets series, wondered how the Yankee manager puts up with it. Girardi ended up benching Cano late in the 2008 season for lack of hustle or focus. Many thought the move was long overdue. To avoid sacrificing another season, why not bench Cano now before he can wreck the 2009 season, cause team pitchers to overwork, etc.?

• Reference, NY Post article, "Cano Benched for Lack of Hustle," by Dan Martin, 9/14/08

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Back covers, 6/29/09

From top, NY Post, Newsday, NY Daily News

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So. Mo's at-bat v the Braves didn't turn out to be his last after all...

• Only four days after MLB.com framed Mariano Rivera's at bat vs the Braves as the likely end of his batting career, he was in a batting helmet again. And, got an RBI. Some people forget--rushing Rivera out of the game just doesn't pay.

MLB.com reporter, 6/25/09: "But Rivera knew that, in the final years of his Major League career,

• this at-bat ...

• would probably be

• his last."...

If this is how Rivera's big league batting career ends,"....

• from MLB.com article, "Comic Relief: Mariano bats for Himself," by Bryan Hoch

from MLB boxscore, NYY v NYM, 6/28/09:

• "RBI: Teixeira 2 (60), Posada (33), Rivera, Ma (1).2-out RBI: Rivera, Ma.

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Andre Dawson throws first pitch Marlins v Tampa Bay

Andre Dawson throws first pitch, Saturday 6/27/09, ap photo. Final score 3-2 Rays.

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Kate Hudson at Yankee-Mets game

Ms. Hudson watched from "the second row next to the Mets' dugout." 6/26/09, per Newsday. getty photo

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Duke University official raped his adopted son--Selena Roberts missed real crime

• Employed at Duke since 1999.

(AP) —6/26: "A Duke University official has been arrested and charged with offering his adopted 5-year-old son for sex.

• Frank Lombard, the school's associate director of the Center for Health Policy, was arrested

• after an Internet sting, according to the FBI's Washington field office and the city's police department.

Authorities said that Lombard tried to persuade a person — who he did not know was a police officer — to travel to North Carolina to have sex with Lombard's child.

• The detective's affidavit charges Lombard identified himself online as “perv dad for fun,” and says that in an online chat with the detective,

• Lombard said he had sexually molested his son,
• whom he adopted as an infant.

The court papers say Lombard also invited the undercover detective to North Carolina to have sex with the young boy, and even suggested which hotel he should use. "...via RedState

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GREENPEACE opposes Waxman-Markey Cap n Trade bill--'chooses politics over science'

• 6/25/09:"Greenpeace USA Deputy Campaigns Director Carroll Muffett issued the following statement:

"Since the Waxman-Markey bill left the Energy and Commerce committee,

• yet another fleet of industry lobbysists has weakened the bill even more,

and further widened the gap between what Waxman-Markey does and what science demands. As a result, Greenpeace opposes this bill in its current form. We are calling upon Congress to vote against this bill unless substantial measures are taken to strengthen it. Despite President Obama’s assurance that he would enact strong, science-based legislation, we are now watching him put his full support behind

• a bill that chooses politics over science,

• elevates industry interests over national interest,

and shows the significant limitations of what this Congress believes is possible.... “With many others in the environmental, faith and consumer rights communities, Greenpeace has expressed tremendous

• concern about the role of offsets in this legislation.

Unless strictly controlled, the abuse of offsets could prevent real emission reductions for more than a decade.

• The decision to move authority over offsets from EPA to the
• Department of Agriculture

• further reduces the likelihood that such controls will be maintained

and increases the likelihood they will undermine real reductions. "...via RedState

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Behind the hype of the regular season "total save stat"

• 1997-2009 ytd, Regular Season only

Multi Inning appearances:

• Hoffman 75

• Rivera 177

Runners on base:

• Hoffman 112

• Rivera 171

Save Opportunities (1999-2009, available since 1999 in free stats):

• Hoffman 611

• Rivera 542 (69 fewer)

Win/Loss Record, total reg. season career

• Hoffman 56-67 .455

• Rivera 69-51 .575

The regular season total save stat is often paired with the "save conversion" rate in attempts to keep the focus on the wrong stat. If the other stats don't mean anything, why didn't Hoffman do them?

• Mariano Rivera's upcoming regular season landmark is nice but more welcomed by MLB, Inc. as an excuse to put Hoffman's name in the news along with Rivera. Rivera doesn't benefit from this--he doesn't need it--even in regular season, this stat doesn't tell the story of his efforts. Others have said Hoffman's name should never appear with Rivera's:

The above stats show it would take 2 Hoffmans to do what one Rivera has done--just in regular season--and he'd still have a losing record. That's what the 'total save stat' hides.

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Michael Jackson 1958-2009

Newsday front cover, Friday, June 26, 2009

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Turner Field in the evening

Chipper Jones at the plate v Andy Pettitte, Turner Field, 6/25/09, Getty photo. Pettitte v Braves, 6/25/09, ap photo. As they said, he deserved a better fate than having 2 pop-ups missed. bottom 2 photos by getty

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AL GORE=ENRON in a dress. Cap and Tax vote in House Friday

(12/97): "“If implemented, [the Kyoto Protocol] will do more to promote Enron’s business than will almost any other regulatory initiative….

• The endorsement of [CO₂] emissions trading was another victory for us…. This agreement will be good for Enron stock!”

• - John Palmisano (December 12, 1997) from Kyoto, Japan. Quoted in Bradley, Capitalism at Work, p. 307

“If anyone has environmental credit needs, that’s what we do. We want to be to be the clearing house to monetize available credits or to manage risk.”

- Kevin McGowan, director of coal and emissions trading, Enron Corp., (Enron Biz, November 29, 2000, copy in files)

“We are a green company, but the green stands for money.”

- Jeff Skilling, CEO, Enron Corp., quoted in Capitalism at Work, p. 310.

Enron is Exhibit A against Waxman/Markey’s cap-and-trade proposal. Enron was poised to make money coming and going by being the nation’s and the world’s largest market-maker in CO₂ permits,

• and the “smartest guys in the room” were ready to game and game for incremental dollars (remember California?) ...

Enron gamed the highly prescriptive accounting rules (GAAP), tax system (the corporate tax division was actually a profit center as told in an exposé in the Washington Post."...

• Call the House of Representatives to say no to 'cap and trade': 202-224-3121

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The question of preparing for opposing pitchers

• I assumed hitters spent a lot of time studying pitchers they might face. Two examples indicate that isn't so. One from the NY Times this week, and another from what I heard Arod say to Rob Dibble on XM in 2005 after the Yankees lost the ALDS to the Angels. First, it seems left to Kevin Long to beseech players to prepare for opposing pitchers:

NY Times, 6/21/09: "The Yankees do not have a traditional advance scout, relying heavily on video tailored specifically for Kevin Long, the hitting coach. Long studies the video and consults with Yankees scouts who have seen the pitchers in person, passing on tips to the players.

• Long knew of the 11-6 record after the game, and he said too much was made of a phenomenon that does not really exist. Even so, he said,

• he urged the hitters to make a greater effort to know what was coming.

“I just mentioned to the guys today, ‘Spend a little extra time on guys to make sure exactly what their pitches are going to do and what they’re going to throw in certain situations,’ ”

• Long said. “But we’re not overly concerned with seeing a new pitcher.”"...

• from article by Tyler Kepner, "Weary Yankees Find an Unfamiliar Pitcher they can Hit"

*********

• Sometime after the Yankee loss to the Angels in the 2005 ALDS, Alex Rodriguez was interviewed on XM 175 by Rob Dibble and Kevin Kennedy.

The winning pitcher for game 5 was Ervin Santana. The Angels starting pitcher was Bartolo Colon, but he was replaced after one inning by Ervin Santana. I recall Arod's words to Dibble were approximately the following:

• We expected Bartolo Colon to be the pitcher, we didn't even prepare for Ervin Santana or anyone else.

Dibs and Alex both chuckled. According to Baseball-Reference, Arod had no hits in the game. The Yanks started to make a comeback in the 9th when Jeter got a single off K-rod, but

• Arod batting next grounded into a double play. Shortly after that the game and the season were over.

If they don't care, why should anyone else?

• UPDATE, 6/25/09, NY Times Bats Blog, Kepner: "Rodriguez studies a lot of video and tries to anticipate what pitch he will get."

Good to hear at any time.

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Both home teams shut out

Newsday back cover, 6/24/09. Mike Francesa today hoped we wouldn't experience another October like 2008 in which neither NY team was in the post season.

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With Goldman Sachs awash in cash, time is right to buy the Yankees

(Mr. Steinbrenner and Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones on Legends hospitality partnership with one third owner Goldman Sachs, Sept. 2008). photo from dividend.com

• Fascinating that as the world suffers, Goldman is experiencing their best year ever along with the mysterious disappearance of
• competition.

They're already deeply involved with the Yankees and the YES network (40% owners), so now might be a good time for them to buy the team and give it some direction. Goldman Sachs was even mentioned as a possible source of cash to finance Arod's salary during negotiations in 2007. (If they like Arod so much, why fool around, why not take ownership of him through 2017?)

• 11/15/07, CNBC, "A-rod/Yankee Talks: What Part did Goldman Sachs Play," Goldman owns 40% of the YES Network. by Darren Rovell

• 10/20/08, Reuters, "Yankees, Cowboys, and Goldman form sports services company" Legends Hospitality

• 10/20/08, Dallas Morning News, "Gerald Cardinale of Goldman Sachs, who has worked with the Yankees and their YES Network, first pitched the idea more than a year ago."..."Cowboys, Yankees, form company for new stadium," by Rachel Cohen

• 3/16/09, Goldman Sachs leads group loaning $105 million to cover final cost overruns at new Yankee Stadium, Sports Business Journal, "Yankees get new Loan for Ballpark," by Daniel Kaplan

• 8/3/07, NY Times: Gerald Cardinale, managing director of Goldman Sachs and YES Network board member: ""Any new financial partners, he added, “will want a partnership with the Yankees about how the games are broadcast.”" "Yankees' YES Network stake not for sale," article by Richard Sandomir

• 11/20/07, Reuters, YES Network sale stalled in part by A-rod negotiations. "NY Yankees Network sale stalls as A-rod Deal Looms." Article notes subscriber fees wouldn't be affected but loss of more than one star could affect advertising revenue.

This isn't to say anything positive about Goldman Sachs except that as owner of the Yankees they might hire the right people to run the team. Or even the right people to run the YES Network. I do not assume anyone in investment banking or hedge funds has a conscience-or is even smart. But the Yankees need new ownership if they want to be a championship team. (sm)

• On Goldman Sachs' banner year:

From Guardian UK, 6/21: ""This year is shaping up to be the best year ever for investment banks, or at least those that have emerged relatively unscathed from the credit crisis....

• "There is also a lack of competition that means they

• can charge huge sums for doing business."...

"Goldman to make record bonus payout," Guardian UK, 6/21/09, via the Drudge Report

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Donald Fehr to step down

MLB.com: "Don Fehr, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association since 1985, will relinquish the position on Monday, according to a report on ESPN.

• He will be replaced by general counsel Michael Weiner, pending board approval, a source told ESPN.

Fehr, 60, succeeded Marvin Miller as union chief when he was named acting director in 1983, and he was elected executive director in December 1985.

• Fehr joined the Players Association as general counsel in August 1977. Two years prior, while with the Kansas City law firm of Jolley, Moran, Walsh, Hager & Gordon on behalf of the union, he worked on the landmark case involving pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally, which opened the door to free agency."

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A-rod not too 'fatigued' to party-PB Post

Seen dashing off with Kate Hudson around 2:30 AM. Newsday reports Cashman denies "ordering" Girardi to bench Arod for 2 days, that it was doctor's idea. (P.S. Girardi has good points, but he gives games away. Games have become a waste of time as a result of the organization having no clear leader at the top. This situation will not change in the foreseable future, possibly not until the team is sold. The sooner the better. The team is a mess).

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Al Gore book placed in 'Science Fiction' section

in Crossword Bookstore in Bangalore's Garuda Mall, from Daily Telegraph Tim Blair blog, via RedState. Bangalore is an IT hub and India's 3rd largest city.

• MLB has eagerly given over the game to the trillion dollar mob behind the global warming scam.

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Pettitte-Marlins hits would've been home runs at Yankee Stadium

(NY Times, Kepner): "Pettitte, meanwhile, was fully in command. He mixed off-speed pitches effectively and allowed only two base runners after Cody Ross homered in the third. Pettitte lowered his

• earned run average on the road to 2.35.
• His E.R.A. at home is 5.77.

“I give up a lot more home runs at home,” Pettitte said. “They hit a couple balls tonight that would have been home runs at Yankee Stadium.

• Instead of giving up one run, I might have given up three or four at home. I really think that’s it, for the most part, right there.”

Pettitte also mentioned that he issued no walks Friday. He stayed ahead in the count and ahead in the game, becoming the first Yankees pitcher with seven victories this season."..."Behind Pettitte, Weary Yankees beat rookie Sean West," or "Weary Yankees find an Unfamiliar Pitcher they can Hit" 6/19/09, NY Times

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No walks, no fits. Adults take back the game for one night

• Andy Pettitte pitches the first of seven innings v the Marlins in Florida, 6/19/09. ap photo.

• Jorge Posada hits an RBI single in the first inning v the Marlins, 6/19/09. ap photo

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Jeff and Jered Weaver to pitch v each other Saturday

When the Weavers pitch on June 20th, it will be the 8th time in MLB history brothers have started against each other (per Yahoo). ap photo 6/19/09 in Anaheim.

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Francesa & others on Chamberlain--Posada was on the bench so can't blame him.

Francesa deals with callers defending Chamberlain with now tired cliches, like his ERA and 'you have to give him a chance,' by reminding them

• the Yankees have babied him, taken him out of games early when it looked like his ERA would get worse. They took him out in the 4th inning v the Mets as an example.

• As far as his development, Francesa notes he's regressing in all areas. Livan Hernandez has a better WHIP.

Even with Posada on the bench last night he walked in a run v the Nationals. Says the scouting report on him is that he's mediocre, bad temperament, bad make up. 60+ hits, 38 BB in 60+ games.

• Mike said Keith Hernandez recommends Chamberlain not go to the bullpen, but
• straight to the minors.

Anthony McCarron was a big fan of Joba as starter but said last night he's changing his mind. If Chamberlain was going to be like Roy Halladay great, but if he's continually showing only 4th or 5th starter competence, put him back in the bullpen....

• My view is the team's front office is focused on the stadium, the YES Network, and the fantasy of developing a starting pitcher because it would save money. The rest of the team and its fans are collateral items and expected to hold the bag indefinitely.

All the money they're trying to save by developing a starting pitcher is peanuts compared to the big picture.

• How the heck did they get to build this new stadium? By winning many consecutive years in the post season.

And what was the biggest reason for that?

• The bullpen starting with 1996, glimmers of which began in the 1995 ALDS.

Today the so-called Yankee front office has decided they'll turn the team into a

• giant crib for a

• childish, ill tempered clown, Joba Chamberlain. Who has shown no sign his DUI arrest brought him any self awareness.

P.S. You'll read characterizations elsewhere that Francesa's remarks were a "rant." Nothing like it, he spoke in a normal tone of voice.

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Sosa revelation unlawful--MLB

"This much was clear: He (Selig) and others at Major League Baseball believe a lawyer with the U.S. Attorney's office -- past or present -- ignored a court seal to whisper Sosa's name to Michael S. Schmidt, the New York Times reporter who broke the story.

• They see the leaks as unethical and unlawful.

And there's apparently no end in sight."...from Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune, 6/17/09, "MLB Upset over Continued Steroid Leaks, Releasing Anonymous Results Unethical and Unlawful"

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Sid Rosenberg to guest with Joe Benigno Friday 6/19 on WFAN

Dave Kohl reports: New York: "WFAN listeners get a chance to hear Joe Benigno reunited with Sid Rosenberg on Friday (6/19) when

• Sid guests with Joe (or so we are being told - given that Sid is currently without a fulltime local sports talk gig) during his 11 AM hour."...via RadioDailyNews

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Deutsche Bank global warming profiteer puts up climate change ticker in heart of NYC as sales pitch

With enough money you can sell anything, take over any city, of course saying it's 'scientific,' ignoring thousands of scientists who deem it a fraud. Carbon trading is big business and has no relation to actually improving the environment. photo Reuters article, "Carbon Counter Takes Manhattan."

• MIT genius says it's a new way of "communicating climate science to the public."

• (As for MIT's involvement, some of their geniuses lost big money in the Madoff scandal).

• Google has over 29,000 entries for Deutsche Bank's carbon trading investments:

"Web

Results 1 - 10 of about 29,200 for deutsche bank investments in carbon trading. (0.22 seconds)

Search Results

1. Environmental Finance

   Deutsche Bank has become the first bank to set up a dedicated greenhouse gas ... Japanese companies are expected to be major buyers of carbon credits to help ... Eco-efficiency funds can outperform 'mainstream' equity investments even in ... Entergy-Koch Trading has bought the first weather derivatives contracts ... www.environmental-finance.com/2001/0109sep/news.htm - Cached - Similar
2. [PDF]

   Financial and Banking Aspects of Carbon Trading

   File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML Apr 18, 2007 ... Carbon Trading in India - The Way Forward - 18 April 2007 · · .... Deutsche Bank provides CER Buyers with a tailored risk profile associated ... with the merger and acquisition services of an investment bank. Deutsche ... www.ieta.org/ieta/www/pages/getfile.php?docID=2261 - Similar

3. Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley up carbon investments - 24 Sep ...

   DWS Investments, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank's asset management division, ... Meanwhile, carbon trading specialist EcoSecurities announced yesterday that ... www.businessgreen.com/.../deutsche-bank-morgan-stanley - Cached - Similar

4. Climateer Investing: Deutsche Bank Transfers Tech Team to Renewables

   May 22, 2009 ... Deutsche Bank AG has transferred its European technology-coverage ... Climateer Investing on Carbon Trading and Traders · Richard Sandor, ... climateerinvest.blogspot.com/.../deutsche-bank-transfers-tech-team-to.html - Cached - Similar

5. Deutsche Bank provides clearing for new Munich Stock Exchange ...

   Deutsche Bank provides clearing for new Munich Stock Exchange carbon trading venue ... From Finextra.com: Deutsche Bank's Global Transaction Banking division is ... Under the agreement, the Munich Stock Exchange will offer a spot trading venue ... Brazil and China boost oil investment · AA warns high oil prices may ... www.opalesque.com/.../Deutsche_Bank_provides_clearing_for_new_Munich_Stock628.html - Cached - Similar

6. Deutsche Bank's Carbon Counter and the Business of Greenhouse ...

   Deutsche Bank's ginormous “Carbon Counter” — unveiled Thursday in New York ... that — of the growing interest and investment surrounding climate change. ... The carbon trading market — for example — has grown from $727 million in 2004 ... industry.bnet.com/.../deutsche-banks-carbon-counter-and-the-business-of-greenhouse-

   1. 9 hours ago - Similar
   2. [PDF]

      EU emission trading: Allocation battles intensifying

      File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML Mar 6, 2007 ... When quoting please cite “Deutsche Bank. Research”. The above information does not constitute the provision of investment, ... www.dbresearch.com/PROD/DBR.../PROD0000000000207573.PDF - Similar

   3. Street takes notice of carbon credit trading - Investment News

      Nov 13, 2006 ... "The World Bank has made some big carbon-trading-type investments - other banks and players have, as well - but [Morgan Stanley's] is the ... www.investmentnews.com/article/20061113/.../611130712 - Cached - Similar

   4. iGlobal - Develop Connections

      The Annual Carbon Trading Summit 2009 will gather key executives of energy and utilities companies, ... JP Morgan Chase Bank; Deutsche Bank Asset Management ... Director, Senior Investment Analyst for Climate Change Strategies DEUTSCHE ... www.iglobalforum.com/conference_011309.php - Cached - Similar

   5. Environmental Markets, Carbon Trading, Emissions Trading Stocks ...

      Deutsche Bank's Carbon Counter and the Business of Greenhouse Gases Energy Industry - 2009-06-18 ... Climateer Investing on Carbon Trading and Traders ... www.altenergystocks.com/comm/.../environmental-markets-stocks/ - Similar"

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Little League umpire pleads guilty to child porn charge

• Umpire for 29 years, had dvd's with children as young as 8.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Hammel: "A Little League umpire from Oxford yesterday pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a charge of possession of child pornography.

• John R. Coran, 51, of Thayer Pond Road, North Oxford, was arrested April 10 by the FBI and has been in federal custody ever since. The arrest followed a search of his apartment March 13 and seizure of two computers, several photo albums plus DVDs and VHS tapes, according to Special Agent Albert D. Lamoreaux.

Mr. Coran has worked as a boys’ Little League umpire since 1980, working 60 to 100 games per year, according to the FBI. He has lived in his condominium since 1993 and has worked at a Worcester supermarket for 17 years. ...

• The baseball administrator said Mr. Coran was a good umpire and said of the news, “I’m sure it was shocking to everybody.” Mr. Coran has never been married, has no children and lives alone, according to court documents.

Oxford police detectives told the FBI that Mr. Coran worked almost every night as a Little League umpire in Oxford and other towns and had been seen watching boys’ Little League games on nights that he didn’t umpire. The detectives said they are unaware of any complaints or allegations made against Mr. Coran.

• Mr. Coran came to the FBI’s attention in the same way that Gregg Woodward, a Foxboro High School Teacher of the Year, did: Their names were on a spreadsheet showing 30,000 transactions provided to the FBI’s Innocent Images Unit Oct. 22, 2007, by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, a republic of the former Soviet Union.

That list was provided following the arrest by MIA agents of three people operating child pornography Web sites associated with iWest, a Web page intermediary between pornography sites and third-party payment services such as PayPal....

• A plea agreement with Mr. Coran calls for 46 to 57 months’ imprisonment, 5 years supervised release,

• and forfeiture of his computers and pornographic material.

In addition to the iWest transactions, the FBI recorded three attempts from Mr. Coran’s America Online user name to access an FBI undercover Web site that advertises child pornography.

• Mr. Coran admitted that he bought several DVDs showing naked adults and children as young as 8 years old." "Little League Umpire Pleads Guilty to Federal Child-Porn Charge."

...via MichaelSavage.com

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Chamberlain's spoiled brat routine noted by SNY

"The line was once reserved for Steve Trachsel. On Friday night, Keith Hernandez applied it to alleged phenom* Joba Chamberlain.

• "It's like watching paint dry with Joba out there, isn't it?" Hernandez, on SportsNet New York, asked with Carlos Beltran batting (3-2 count, third inning) and the bases loaded....

SNY's voices stuck it to Joba pretty good during a

• 43-pitch third inning sans midges....

Throughout the inning, SNY's cameras alternated between the faces of Joe Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland. Their mugs were the picture of exasperation. Jorge Posada did not escape unscathed, either.

• Ron Darling explained Posada's role in this constipated relationship. After the opinionated catcher made yet another trip to the mound.
• "How can this be?" Gary Cohen asked), Darling said: "There's been a problem all year ...He really doesn't want his pitchers to shake him off. And when that happens, a guy like Chamberlain will call him out."

Shortly after Darling's comment, Chamberlain shook off Posada four more times, causing the catcher to make another trip to the mound....

• "How do you get into a rhythm with all these stops and starts?"

• What he meant to say: The next time Joba shakes him off, Posada should kick his tuchis.

Chamberlain walked Beltran, struck out David Wright, then hit Ryan Church,

• forcing in the go-ahead run.

• "I feel like I'm watching an 'A Ball' game," Hernandez moaned.

With Gary Sheffield up, Hernandez continued chirping: "I played for managers who, the way Joba is pitching, shaking off Posada and throwing breaking balls, would

• just yank him on general principles."

• Cohen: "This is dreadful.""...from Bob Raissman column, NY Daily News, "SNY Voices Quick to Chide deliberate Joba Chamberlain," 6/16/09, via BTF

* Emphasis mine, sm. This kid has yet to pitch one entire season and is treated like a God.

• On top of it, Girardi apparently refuses to manage him.

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Texas Rangers cut front office staff despite increased attendance

ARLINGTON, Texas --"The Texas Rangers have cut several staff members from their front office about two weeks after owner Tom Hicks said he was exploring a sale of the team.

• Rangers spokesman John Blake said Tuesday the
• cuts amounted to less than 10 percent of the staff. He said the possible sale of the team was among several factors that led to the layoffs.

• Before the cuts, the Rangers had about 275 employees, excluding onfield personnel.

The move came despite the first-place Rangers enjoying a resurgence at the gate.

• Attendance has increased about 11 percent over last year to 867,016 entering Tuesday's interleague series opener against the Houston Astros.

Hicks said last month he would be willing to sell controlling interest in the franchise, in part because of financial problems he is facing.

• Earlier this year, Hicks Sports Group defaulted on $525 million in loans backed by the Rangers and the NHL's Dallas Stars, the other U.S. pro sports team Hicks owns.

Hicks bought the Rangers for $250 million in 1998. Forbes last month valued the Rangers at $405 million, 15th among the 30 major league teams."...from CBS Sportsline, "Rangers Lay off Several Staff Members from Front Office"

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Francesa idea: YES Network could do show measuring new stadium

Caller to Mike Francesa on dimensions of new Yankee Stadium, Mike says the Yankees dispute the Accu-Weather report and claim the dimensions are the same as the old stadium. Mike notes the Accu-Weather report mainly deals with the right field porch but that balls have gone out excessively in all areas. He offers an idea for a YES Network program:

• do a show measuring the new stadium.

• YES Network cameras record the whole thing, get an independent firm to observe. Francesa suggests a guy like they have on the Oscars who walks in with a briefcase looking like he never smiled in his life.

• Have people there with a tape measure getting the distances from home plate to several outfield points.

He says YES could sell the show to a sponsor such as Lowes who could supply ladders, tape measures, etc.

• On Chamberlain's performance Friday, 6/12 v the Mets: "He was an embarrassment." His 5 walks, 2 hit batsmen, extended laboring with Posada all stunk.

I agree with Mike's view of Chamberlain's performance. Both Girardi and Chamberlain disgust me. Girardi should not allow a punk kid who's never even made it through one entire baseball season to be hijacking the game, using it as a warped showcase for himself to disrespect Posada and everyone else-- down to the lowliest fan. This garbage has been going on since the beginning with this kid and should have been stopped. Let him work out his personality problems elsewhere. It tells me Girardi is lost.

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Radio station promotes wind turbine business in Montana

"Cascade County (Montana) launched a radio station Thursday — 1620 AM —

• to promote wind energy.

"It signals to wind developers that Cascade County is investor-friendly," Commissioner Peggy Beltrone said.

• Beltrone said it is the first radio station in the nation featuring
• wind-only programming.

The low-frequency radio station is broadcasting from the county public works department in Vaughn, the site of a 50-kilowatt wind turbine that supplies 40 percent of the facility's electricity.

• The 9-megawatt Horsehoe Bend wind project, owned by United Materials, is located nearby.

Broadcast segments feature two separate recordings by Beltrone discussing wind resources and how the county is working to attract developers. Segments will be regularly updated, she said...

• To operate the station, the county needed to get a license from the Federal Communications Commission, Beltrone said.
• A $3,500 grant from the American Wind Energy Association* helped with the $6,000 cost of the project.

The station is the county's latest effort to promote economic and environmental benefits of the county's wind....

• In the coming weeks, the county is planning to post additional information via podcasts at www.cascadecountywind.com." 6/12/09 via RadioDailyNews

*Receives taxpayer funding via 2009 government grants. Free money. Everybody's doing it.

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One lucky night

Top Newsday back cover, 6/13/09. Bottom Newsday front cover, 6/13/09. Yankees 9, Mets 8.

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Obama looks to raze parts of rust-belt baseball cities

From UK Telegraph, 6/12/09, "US Cities May Have to be Bulldozed in order to Survive:" A pioneer study was done for Flint, Michigan, and Obama liked it.

• Plans are underway to raze parts of Detroit. Other target cities include baseball towns Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The Obama group has been moving at the speed of light to change this country from one thing into another, so these moves fit right in. From the Telegraph:

"The government (is) looking at expanding a pioneering scheme in Flint, one of the poorest US cities, which involves

• razing entire districts and returning the land to nature.

Local politicians believe the city must contract by as much as 40 per cent, concentrating the dwindling population and local services into a more viable area.

• The radical experiment is the brainchild of Dan Kildee, treasurer of Genesee County, which includes Flint.

Having outlined his strategy to Barack Obama during the election campaign, Mr Kildee has now been approached

• by the US government

and a group of charities who want him to apply what he has learnt to the rest of the country.

• Mr Kildee said he will concentrate on 50 cities, identified in a recent study by the Brookings Institution, an influential Washington think-tank, as potentially needing to shrink substantially to cope with their declining fortunes.

Most are former industrial cities in the "rust belt" of America's Mid-West and North East.

• They include Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Memphis.

In Detroit, shattered by the woes of the US car industry, there are already plans to

• split it into a collection of small urban centres separated from each other by countryside.

"The real question is not whether these cities shrink – we're all shrinking – but whether we let it happen in a destructive or sustainable way," said Mr Kildee. "Decline is a fact of life in Flint. Resisting it is like resisting gravity.""....via Lucianne.com

• A new way to deal with crime and illiteracy, I guess. sm

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Harold Reynolds' reaction to Yankee 8th inning after 4-3 loss-caller

Caller to Mike Francesa today tuned to MLB Network after the Yankee 4-3 loss last night and found Harold Reynolds quite upset. The Yankees entered the 8th inning with a lead, and lost it due to lack of a reliable set up man. Reynolds said they have the solution right under their nose and doesn't understand why they don't use it.

• That being Chamberlain.

My observation is the Yankee front office today is a jumbled rogues gallery of sometime relatives. Their priorities are

• first to sell tickets to the new stadium,

• 2nd to provide certain content to the YES Network to keep it in saleable shape (to attract future buyers),

• and third to assemble a championship-ready team.

Chamberlain as a starter answers points 1 and 2 for them. They've also expressed that he is an investment in the future, which is their privilege.

• There is no reason to ridicule people who correctly recognize that the Yankees can't win in the post season without a reliable 7th and 8th inning man who affects the outcome of several games a week and upwards of 60-70% of post season series. There is no one else on their roster or in the minor leagues that qualifies. Brian Bruney has proved unreliable both in terms of his health and candor.

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Overheard on Red Sox radio-no overshift for Ortiz

Joe Castiglione, bottom of the 7th, David Ortiz hits a ground ball single past Robinson Cano:

• "Yankees do not overshift (for Ortiz). For most teams that would've been an out." 6/11/09

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Global warming lobbyists outnumber congress 4-1

"There are now four climate change lobbyists for every member of Congress."...

• For something that doesn't exist, that's a lot. (sm)

2/27/09, "Seeking Influence: Number of Climate Change Lobbyists Tripled in Five Years," ClimateBiz

• Hey, MLB bought the rap.

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Ticket scalping extended in NY state-teams can't punish

Via Neil Best Watchdog: "Two years ago, then Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed the bill that made ticket scalping legal in the state, but it contained a sunset clause that expired on June 1, 2009. During the past two years, state officials were supposed to study the matter and issue a report about ticket resale, but it was never done.

• The bill not only allows ticket scalping to continue without limits as to what brokers or others can charge,

• it also prohibits teams from revoking season tickets of fans who resell their tickets through channels other than the team;

requires primary ticket sellers to disclose whether seats

• have obstructed views;

and prohibits primary sellers from selling or conveying tickets through a secondary ticket seller that they own."...TicketNews.com 6/10/09

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Texas Rangers TV ratings soar

"Rangers ratings on Fox Sports Southwest are up more than 90% compared with last season (through last week), with a near 50% increase reported from KDFI-TV's telecasts. Shows what one of the best starts in team history can do to spark fan interest.

• Ironically, KDFI-TV has already given up its contract after this season, and after 10 years total.

• KTXA-TV 21 is expected to show 25 Friday telecasts in 2010.

• Josh Lewin and Tom Grieve have already been retained to continue both the cable and Channel 21 telecasts into next season....

Sorry to hear about Eric Nadel missing several games from the Rangers' broadcast booth after having worked more than

• 3,100 consecutive games over the past (literally) 20 years to the week due to an eye condition."...via Dave Kohl's column on Radio Daily News

Dallas Morning News account of above, 6/5/09

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Johnny Damon reacts to Joe Torre's casual knife

Johnny Damon told a NY Post reporter that Joe Torre's characterization of him in his smash-hit NY Times best seller was insulting and motivates him to show Torre up this year. For example:

• NY Post, Kernan: "Torre wrote of one "old guard" Yankee telling the manager of Damon,

• "Let's get rid of him.""...

This piece is a perfect example of Bob Klapisch's description of the Torre money-maker as 'casually insulting:'

• From Bob Klapisch column, 1/29/09, NorthJersey.com on the Torre book:

"Each one of these depictions reveals a casual, insulting quality to Torre’s personality that seems almost incomprehensible."...

• It's not just that it's a clubhouse tell-all, it's the indifferent tone that accompanies his knife. From NY Post column by Kevin Kernan, "Damon Targets Torre over Book," 6/10/09

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David Letterman jokes about Alex Rodriguez raping Willow Palin on Saturday

• Audience laughs. via RedState.com.

I'm pretty sure joking about child rape of a girl in the public eye through no fault of her own would merit-at the least-suspension. (Willow Palin accompanied her mother to the game).

• If the person who said it was on radio.

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Jeter ranges north

Probably isn't a Bill James stat. Leaps over Rays' Ben Zobrist, 6/8/09. ap photo

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That's Mo Like It-Newsday

Newsday back cover, Monday, June 8, 2009

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Mo to Grim Reaper: not so fast--Tim Brown, Yahoo Sports

Mariano Rivera pitches in Yankee Stadium vs the Rays, 6/7/09. Final score 4-3. Getty photo.

• "Rivera has defied numbers in his entire career," Anthony McCarron with John and Suzyn on Yankee radio today.

And tonight from Tim Brown, Yahoo Sports, Rivera had been sick and vomiting several hours before the Saturday game v the Rays--not that he used it as an excuse or even mentioned it. Interestingly, a select Yankee blog did not give Rivera the benefit of the doubt in its haste to deep six him. Perhaps the young gent will learn in a few more years. From Brown, Yahoo Sports:

• "For several hours before Rivera took the ball Saturday afternoon in that tie game,

• he’d suffered with a stomach ailment that brought aches and repeated vomiting,

according to one Yankee.

• Rivera had rolled off the trainer’s table, where he’d hoped to sleep it off, and into the bullpen in the eighth inning, when he began to warm up.

So, no, he didn’t have his best command. And, no, he didn’t have his best fastball.

• But, he didn’t sprinkle the Yankee Stadium mound with breakfast, which, in itself, was a small victory, even in defeat.

• “He was so upset afterward,” the teammate said.

And yet, Rivera did not mention it after the game, and he did not reveal it late Sunday afternoon, when it would have played less like an excuse than, in victory, the simple retelling of a trying 30 hours. He did not hang those hittable fastballs or that loss on his illness.

• He did not blame manager Joe Girardi for asking him to pitch in a tie game when a healthier body might have – and probably should have – done.

He accepted the baseball.

That was that....

• “Yesterday was yesterday,” he said.

Today, he ate. And held it down."..."

• Yanks Rivera Never Lost his Mojo," by Tim Brown, 6/7/09

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Sarah Palin at Yankee Stadium

Sarah Palin, Sunday, June 7, 2009 at Yankee Stadium, Rays-Yankee game. Top photo, AP. Middle photo, she signs for a fan before the game, AP photo. Bottom photo, getty.

• Per the AP: "Alaska Gov. and former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin sat in the second row behind home plate. …" "Rivera Holds Rays in 9th, Yanks Rally for Win," by Howie Rumberg, 6/7/09

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Bobby Crosby's glove stolen from locker in Chicago

Sometime Tuesday, June 2 or Wednesday, June 3, Crosby's infielder's glove was stolen from his locker at US Cellular Field. The MLB.com article said there were surveillance tapes, so I don't understand why they haven't made progress finding the person who did it. via mention on Orioles radio during Orioles-A's game, 6/6/09. "Missing Glove a Mystery to Crosby"

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Live cam from the Jersey Shore

Pt. Pleasant Beach live cam from the NJ Star-Ledger. via Fitz&Jen @ E&P

• Photo from moments ago on the Jersey Shore, from Star-Ledger live cam

The above scene is one of the reasons I like baseball on radio. The best. sm

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Over 425,000 were killed in the Battle of Normandy for 1 purpose. To rescue Europe from the Nazis.

"Over 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded or went missing during the Battle of Normandy. This figure includes over 209,000 Allied casualties, with nearly 37,000 dead amongst the ground forces and a further 16,714 deaths amongst the Allied air forces. Of the Allied casualties, 83,045 were from 21st Army Group (British, Canadian and Polish ground forces), 125,847 from the US ground forces. The losses of the German forces during the Battle of Normandy can only be estimated. Roughly 200,000 German troops were killed or wounded. The Allies also captured 200,000 prisoners of war (not included in the 425,000 total, above)."...

• Ddaymuseum.co.uk. photo from American Chronicle of Normandy Beach.

Today, no continent can be rescued. There are no leaders. And if there were leaders, they would be afraid of the media which would be present every step of the way looking for self aggrandizement at any cost. (sm)

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Concept of walk-off hit in the 8th inning

• Speaking of Melky Cabrera's late inning heroics:

(Newsday, Boland): "Cabrera, with three walk-off hits already to his credit this season, ripped a two-run home run

• in the bottom of the eighth inning

• to provide the final margin in Thursday's 8-6 victory over the Rangers.

• With Mariano Rivera pitching the ninth, that's almost

• a walk-off hit."...

The same concept was noted on Yankee radio. After the game, John Sterling speaking:

• "As Suzyn (Waldman) said" during the game, with Melky getting the lead run in the 8th inning and Mariano coming in in the 9th,
• "it's almost a walk-off hit."

Reference, Newsday article, "Got Melky? Yankees do, and they feel fortunate," by Eric Boland, 6/5/09

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Bill to address listener abuse by too-loud commercials, HR 1084

"The House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet has scheduled a hearing for June 11 on H.R.1084, the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM).

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), would require the FCC

• to set a standard for commercial volume for broadcast, cable and satellite programming.

• The idea is to insure that the volume of ads isn't too loud

• and isn't louder than the surrounding programming.

The bill, according to Congressional Research Service, would prevent commercials from:

• "(1) being excessively noisy or strident;

• (2) having modulation levels substantially higher than the accompanying program; and

• (3) having an average maximum loudness substantially higher than that of the accompanying program.

The bill, which has 28 co-sponsors, was introduced Feb. 13.

• It was also introduced in the last Congress "

from Multichannel News by John Eggerton, 6/5/09, "Hill to Get Earful on Commercial Volume"

• I hope this passes. sm

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ESPN The Magazine to charge for access

"ESPN The Magazine, the decade-old print offshoot of Walt Disney (DIS)'s wildly successful cable sports network, is about to begin charging for access to its Web site.

• In August the company will essentially shutter its espnthemag.com site and merge almost all of the magazine's Web content—which includes articles and ongoing Web video series—into its ESPN Insider service, which costs $6.95 a month, or $39.95 a year. (The Insider will continue to be free to magazine subscribers for one year.)...

The Insider has 350,000 paying subscribers, say executives familiar with the figures, and its parent site ESPN.com remains free."...from BusinessWeek.com via Poynter.org/Romenesko

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