I wanted to post this one without comment

Sports Illustrated Fan Value Index (Baseball edition)

I was ready to get all up-in-arms about Fenway being ranked 28th, and then I saw RFK is ranked last. Yeah, $3 seats -- what a ripoff.

Now, I've only been to the Fens twice in the last six years or so (once around Passover with Christine, and once on the day after Ted Williams died with Paul, Marty, and Rich), but allow me to explain why Fenway isn't overpriced, even at three billion a seat: knowledge. Everywhere else I've been (save the Vet, actually), people go to the games to get an Ichi-roll and wait for the between innings Y-M-C-A. At Fenway, they go to watch the game. In recent years, it's pretty clear that Sweet Caroline (Whoa-w'-whoa!) has become Fenway's own little version (only bigger and better) than Y-M-C-A, but I've very been anywhere (other than the Vet) that people knew what the heck was going on on the field.

Wait, that's not entirely true -- I've been fairly impressed by the RFK fans. There's just not enough of them. But it's NOT because the stadium's a bad value. The sausage (which they really ought to know how to butterfly, and don't) is a good meal, as is the fried-chicken-and-fries thingy. Beer? Look, if you're complaining about beer prices at a ballpark, you might as well complain about the cost of popcorn at a movie theater. These are the prices. Don't like it? Drink at home.

Josh's Crazy Idea of the Day

Safeties should be the same as touchdowns. Their rarity is evidence of how difficult they are to execute, and they are evidence of outstanding special teams (downing the ball inside the five or so) and great defense (moving the ball backwards). And they should be rewarded with six points, followed by an extra point or a two-point attempt.

Also, I'm opposed to the Texas Longhorns' fans hand gesture thingy. Or maybe I'm just sick of it.

Around the Majors

Er, Minors.

Guillermo Mota
with Cleveland: 6.21 ERA
with NYM: 1.00 ERA

So lay off Theo, okay? The Beckett trade was not a mistake, it's just that Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez are still tearing up AAA.

Terrible?

Why I hate the Steelers and their fans:

Waiving a towel is lame. Men clap.

My head hurts

First, let me say that I support allowing babies to eat, and making it easier for them to do so. I couldn't possibly be more tolerant -- nay, supportive -- of breast feeding.

But.

How does this work?

Employers benefit when their employees breast-feed. Aetna, for one, reported a return on investment of $2.18 for every $1 spent supporting lactating workers.

Happiness

Happy Anniversary, me and Christine (yesterday). And to Mom and Dad (today).

Why we're going to win

It's not because we're so great. It's that our opponents are dumber than we are:

Entire ranches have been consumed and homes have been lost ... Based on these conditions, I am requesting that you declare a state of emergency. -- future former Senator Conrad Burns

Schweitzer had declared such a state of emergency on July 11.

Our long national nightmare is over

David Wells is no more!

Sing it with me: na na naaah na. Na na NAAAH na! HEY! HEY! HEY! Good-bye!

And thus ends the career of my Least Favorite* Red Sox Ever.

*Even when he played well, I wasn't happy about it. Carl Everett, Matt Young, Jose Offerman -- when they were playing well, I rooted for them. I wanted to see David Wells fail. Just something about embedded Yankees -- I can't trust them.