Archive for August 2009

Revisiting the AL MVP Race

31 August 2009

A couple of weeks ago, at the height of the Twitter AL MVP froo-frah, I wrote a tongue-in-cheek post arguing that Victor Martinez should win AL MVP and Rafael Betancourt should win NL MVP, since both players had achieved great success (albeit in absurdly limited playing time) while toiling for the two teams with the [...]

George F. Will Wants Out Of Afghanistan

31 August 2009

OK, I think the blog’s gone long enough having a death motif as the top post. Here’s a quickie post on foreign policy, followed by an honest-to-goodness baseball post. First, I submit this terrific op-ed piece by none other than George F. Will, arguing for the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan. All the key points [...]

Cheating Death

28 August 2009

A deafening series of violent bumps. A patch of thickly clustered trees. A terrified scream. A sickening crash. A crushed mass of twisted metal and broken glass. A smoking heap. Silence. – TUESDAY I took my 28-week-pregnant wife to the doctor for the latest in her now-weekly ultrasound appointments. Two weeks earlier, the doctor had [...]

Where Does Derek Jeter Rank Among All-Time Yankees?

25 August 2009

The Baseball-Reference Blog has an interesting post up about Derek Jeter, noting that he’s poised to become the all-time leader in Yankees history for hits. Of course, much as having the most all-time hits among shortstops doesn’t make Jeter the best offensive shortstop of all-time (much less the best all-around shortstop of all-time — that’s [...]

Talking Triple Plays On NPR’s “All Things Considered”

24 August 2009

Click here for the August 24 show, click to download, then scroll down for the segment about triple plays. Your NPR Word of the Day: lachrymose

Link of the Day: Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” for Rock Band – played by Rush

24 August 2009

Neil Peart, perhaps the greatest drummer in rock history, makes a series of frustrated faces, singer Geddy Lee tries to stifle giggles, and guitarist Alex Liefson stares intently at the screen and screws up royally. I could watch this 700 times.

Twenty Years Ago Today

23 August 2009

I attended this game. 22 innings 1-0 Dodgers win Rick Dempsey hit the game-winning home run, right down the LF line Off Dennis Martinez, pitching in relief Future Expo John Wetteland got the win, pitching SIX relief innings for LA Tommy Lasorda had Youppi! ejected for taunting Dodgers dugout Youppi! earlier broke out his best [...]

Link of the Day: The Women’s Crusade

20 August 2009

Tremendous New York Times excerpt of “Half the Sky”, a book about gender discrimination, and how empowering women in poor countries (notably through targeted microloans and education, not pretty words and hand-waving) could be the key to making a gigantic dent in global poverty. Can’t recommend this piece highly enough. Money passage: Bill Gates recalls [...]

Bears Repeating

20 August 2009

As noted on Twitter (@jonahkeri): Barney Frank’s dining room table is the new inanimate carbon rod. “Awwww!!! They were just about to show a close-up of the rod!” I’m giddy over this new, ridiculous meme. Here’s a fun slideshow of Barney Frank wisecracks for added emphasis. Especially enjoyed the second one.

New Dameshek Podcast – Favre, Vick, Tiger, Strasburg and Mad Men

18 August 2009

Another rip-roaring good time with ESPN’s podcast maven and all-around mensch, Dave Dameshek. We discussed Favre, Vick, Tiger, Strasburg, Mad Men…and my love of dog shows and vintage ’60s clothing. Here’s Part I of the extravaganza. And here’s Part II.