Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Did the Orioles Sink the Red Sox Back in May?

Yesterday I posted a blurb about how the Orioles dealt a death blow to the Angels season and wondered if they might do the same thing to the Red Sox this month. According to the Boston Herald's John Tomase, maybe they did it back in May when they swept the Sox in a three-game set at Camden Yards:

The Red Sox actually began that series on a bit of a roll. They had won 5-of-6 and were coming off a three-game sweep in Toronto that perhaps spoke more to the Blue Jays’ early-season ineptitude against the Sox than anything the visitors had done.

At 11-11, the Red Sox had finally returned to .500 for the first time since 4-4. They already trailed the Tampa Bay Rays by 5 games in the AL East and didn’t want to risk falling any further behind.

The Orioles appeared to be the perfect foes. Baltimore was just 4-18 and in the process of costing manager Dave Trembley his job....

The Red Sox have righted the ship since that 11-14 start, but not enough to seriously reinsert themselves into the playoff race. For that fading goal to have any semblance of hope, they’ll need to do a lot better with the Orioles, who are 16-10 since Buck Showalter took over as manager (Trembley was replaced for a time by Juan Samuel), this week than they did in the spring.

Remember the Mother's Day Massacre from 2007? Of course you do. Lost in all the misery of the losing earlier in 2010 is the fact that we have given the Red Sox their own heartburn, a series they refer to as The Lost Weekend, a time where their playoff-contending momentum was derailed by a wretched, demoralized Baltimore club.

If the Red Sox had swept the Orioles that weekend (as many clubs were doing at that point), they would be 4 games back instead of the 7 they find themselves now. Still a tough hill to climb but 7 games looked nearly insurmountable now, especially given who they are chasing.

If they lose this series to the Orioles, they could find themselves as much as 9-10 games back. Season over. Here's hoping the Orioles oblige them.


Our Glib, Cynical, Neurotic Elite

Good, clear-thinking and righteous stuff from Swarthmore's Camille Paglia quoted in the WSJ:
Jobs, and the preparation of students for them, should be front and center in the thinking of educators. The idea that college is a contemplative realm of humanistic inquiry, removed from vulgar material needs, is nonsense. The humanities have been gutted by four decades of pretentious postmodernist theory and insular identity politics. . . .
Having taught in art schools for most of my four decades in the classroom, I am used to having students who work with their hands—ceramicists, weavers, woodworkers, metal smiths, jazz drummers. There is a calm, centered, Zen-like engagement with the physical world in their lives. In contrast, I see glib, cynical, neurotic elite-school graduates roiling everywhere in journalism and the media. They have been ill-served by their trendy, word-centered educations.

Jobs, jobs, jobs: We need a sweeping revalorization of the trades. The pressuring of middle-class young people into officebound, paper-pushing jobs is cruelly shortsighted. Concrete manual skills, once gained through the master-apprentice alliance in guilds, build a secure identity. Our present educational system defers credentialing and maturity for too long. When middle-class graduates in their mid-20s are just stepping on the bottom rung of the professional career ladder, many of their working-class peers are already self-supporting and married with young children.

The elite schools, predicated on molding students into mirror images of their professors, seem divorced from any rational consideration of human happiness.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Say It Ain't So, Joe

[Posted By Jake]

Undoubtedly, the strongest, and some might say the only, qualification for public office for former Admiral Joe Sestak is his military record. So it stands to reason that our ambitious Congressman should be an influential voice on Naval affairs in Washington.

October 12, 2010 will mark the 10th anniversary of the suicide bombing of the USS Cole by Muslim extremists. Seventeen young men serving their country in the United States Navy died that day. The al-Qaeda coordinator of this tragedy is in custody and the military is ready to proceed to trial.

But the Obama Administration has "shelved" the prosecution. They will not allow a military trial until their liberal, politically-correct sensibilities are satisfied that civilian trials are available for the balance of the Gitmo terrorists. "It's politics at this point," said one military official on the condition of anonymity.

Can this be true? Our own Admiral standing idly by while this killer evades a well-deserved reckoning because of political expedience? If Joe does not stand up for the men who sacrificed their all, then what does that say about his character and independence? We know he is a 96.6% Nancy Boy, but you would think he could spare some loyalty for the brave men of the USS Cole. Say it ain't so, Joe.

Orioles Dash Angels Playoff Hopes...Who's Next?

The Angels entered the weekend 9.5 games behind the Rangers for the AL West title and with, by record, the worst team in the American League coming to town. They and their fans were still deluding themselves about this being the beginning of a run at a playoff spot.

They can't be thinking that now. Over a weekend where they could have made up some ground on the Rangers, they scored one run all sereies, got swept and now sit 10.5 games behind the Rangers with 31 games to go in 2010. Season over, courtesy of the Baltimore Orioles.

Red Sox fans are just as delusional. They really think that they can still catch the Yankees and/or the Rays even though they are 5.5 games back with 31 to go. That's a lot to overcome barring a collapse by one of those teams  which is highly unlikely because those teams are both pretty damn good.

Can the Orioles have an impact on the playoff race? Probably not a big one. But with 6 games against the Red Sox in September, they can certainly squash any hope Boston has for a postseason berth.

Bambi vs. Godzilla

From Drudge, two pictures worth a thousands words:


Obama makes Michael Dukakis look like a warrior.

Eulogy for Bluefield

Andy MacPhail has announced that next year the Bluefield Orioles will be no more. From a development standpoint, this will not have a huge impact of the Baltimore Orioles. If they maintain the rest of their minor league teams, they will still have 8, which is plenty.


But from a historical perspective, it's a sad decision. The Orioles have had a 53-year partnership with Bluefield and a ton of Baltimore Orioles started their career in southern West Virginia including Cal Ripken, Jr., Eddie Murray, Boog Powell and Don Baylor. That's the oldest minor league affiliation in baseball and now it will be gone. They won nine Appalachian League championships as an Oriole affiliate. Joe Altobelli managed there as well.


This too shall pass and the Orioles will move on. But the end of this historic relationship deserves a bit more than flippant comments like this:


Yes, Bluefield and the Orioles had plenty of history. But it is tough to get too worked up about this one.


Wow, Dan Connolly, really? There was obviously more to his post but this comment pretty much sums up the tone. Bluefield deserves more than casual dismissal. I get that a lot of fans (or writers) don't care about the minor leagues or team history and Connolly is an MLB writer who, he admits, has never been to Bluefield. But I would expect more historical awareness from a Baltimore native.


I finally got out to Bluefield this summer but the game got rained out. I managed to snap a few pictures of the stadium and stand on the historic field. I am very bummed that I never got to see a game there but was happy I got to visit this little piece of Orioles history. Here's the pics of Bowen Field from this past July:


Luxury Wedding Invitations with a Hawaiian destination beach theme by New York wedding invitation designer Lela New York

I wanted to share more of the Luxury wedding invitations Lela New York created for this bride's Hawaiian destination beach wedding. The couple wanted an elegant beach themed wedding invitation that would introduce their guests to their amazing venue, The Four Seasons Wailea, Maui. Lela New York created linen invitations which were adorned with beautiful custom crystal starfish closures and letterpressed in blush pinks and sage greens.  I love that color combo!

Enjoy!





Barney's Immodest Proposal

CATO's David Boaz and his modest proposal:
“Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said Tuesday that he will hold a hearing this fall to examine whether regulators are being tough enough in curbing pay practices at Wall Street firms that can lead to excessively risky practices,” writes Zachary Goldfarb in the Washington Post.

Hmmm. “Pay practices that can lead to excessively risky practices.” Since Barney Frank entered Congress, federal spending has risen from $590 billion in 1980 to $3.7 trillion this year. (U.S. Budget, Historical Tables, Table 1.1) The annual deficit has risen from $74 billion to $1.5 trillion. Gross federal debt rose from $909 billion to $13.8 trillion — and to over $15 trillion next year. (Table 7.1) And all this without a major war or depression during those 30 years.

Maybe we should adjust pay practices for members of Congress to give them an incentive to avoid risky, unaffordable, out-of-control borrowing and spending.
.
So Frank and his colleagues will hold a hearing this fall. Well, so will voters.

The solution to bad congressman is to vote them out of office. The solution to bad businessmen is for their shareholders to fire them on to let them go out of business.

Stabbing in Springfield

He had enough? Of what?

Compassionate Folly

When you subsidize something, you get more of it. That includes unemployment. Robert Barro provides the numbers.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Ballpark Hazards:Beware the Moldy Hot Dog Buns

Saturday night this tweet and attached picture came across my feed in TweetDeck:








Pretty vile, no? I can't ever remember seeing something like that in 20+ years of attending baseball games.

This could have been a black eye for the concession staff at Nationals Park but they turned it into a positive. When I contacted @wikipublius for a followup, he stated that when they pointed the problem out to the person at the concession, they were given a replacement dog and a free beer. No excuses, just apologies and an immediate attempt to make it right.

So while the Nats could probably use a bit better quality control for their food service, they certainly made up for it with customer service. wikipublius also wanted to give the food at Nationals Park one more positive comment: the variety of food offered is much better than the concessions at Camden Yards.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Brad 'Bases Loaded' Lidge...

... balks in the tying run, with two strikes and two out in the bottom of the 9th. What a week! Unbelievable.

UPDATE: 1:52 a.m. Whew! That's a relief. Boy, am I tired.

Thank You! - Lela New York has won Bride Pop's 2010 Best New York Wedding Invitation Designer

A heart felt thank you to all of you who supported Lela New York! We have won the people's choice award for Bride Pop's 2010 Best Wedding Invitations designer for New York!!!!

Thank you for all the LELA LOVE!

Slip Sliding to Safety

For the second time in a month, a JetBlue emergency slide is activated.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The tires of a JetBlue airplane caught fire Thursday during a hard landing in Sacramento that left 15 people with minor injuries and sent passengers down emergency slides to escape the aircraft.
At least they had good reason to believe they would work.

U.S. Stimulus vs. German Austerity

David Brooks compares the U.S. and German governments' reactions to the financial crisis. One borrowed heavily to stimulate its economy, the other didn't.

It's looking like the Germans got it right.

(Actually it was economist Gary Becker who did the heavy lifting. But Brooks deserves credit for reporting it.)

It Goeth Before the Fall

Meet Philadelphia's Carl Greene, Public Housing Executive of the Year.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The director of the Philadelphia Housing Authority was placed on leave Thursday amid revelations the agency quietly agreed to pay nearly $900,000 to settle four sexual-harassment complaints filed against him, and U.S housing officials pledged an immediate audit.

Agency board members voted to put longtime director Carl Greene on leave while it investigates the harassment claims and the secret settlements.

Greene has been mostly unreachable since news broke two weeks ago that the $350,000-a-year housing executive had fallen months behind on his mortgage and that the IRS had placed a $52,000 lien on his luxury home. Neither staff nor board members could reach him for days.

His lawyer disclosed Thursday that he has checked into an out-of-state medical facility to be treated for undisclosed medical problems. Greene, 53, is expected to remain there through mid-September, lawyer Clifford Haines said.

"Carl's a very proud man," said Haines, who described Greene as distressed by the allegations. "I have yet to hear anybody make a connection between any of the things that have occurred and his performance."

Hmmm. Undisclosed medical problems? Is there an operation where one can have excess pride removed?

The Last Refuge

Charles Krauthammer shines a light into the cave of where angry liberals dwell. It is not a pretty place.
It is a measure of the corruption of liberal thought and the collapse of its self-confidence that, finding itself so widely repudiated, it resorts reflexively to the cheapest race-baiting (in a colorful variety of forms). Indeed, how can one reason with a nation of pitchfork-wielding mobs brimming with "antipathy toward people who aren't like them" -- blacks, Hispanics, gays and Muslims -- a nation that is, as Michelle Obama once put it succinctly, "just downright mean"?

The Democrats are going to get beaten badly in November. Not just because the economy is ailing. And not just because Obama over-read his mandate in governing too far left. But because a comeuppance is due the arrogant elites whose undisguised contempt for the great unwashed prevents them from conceding a modicum of serious thought to those who dare oppose them.

The Weather is Here, I Wish You Were Beautiful

More on that movement to get government-mandated paid vacation, my print column is up.

Hey Boo Boo...

The NYT's Tim Egan thinks the average American is dangerously stupid. Powerline's John Hinderaker thinks the average American is smarter than the average New York Times columnist and not nearly as smug.

Stealing Signs: A Study of Pie

Mark Buerhle accused Felix Pie of stealing signs last night.

Quite frankly, that's just fine with me. Baltimore still has marginal talent and still could use every edge they can get to win games.

But Pie was only on second base (the traditional place a runner needs to be to steal signs), and that was during a Cesar Izturis groundout in the 6th.

Maybe Buerhle thoughtt he team was stealing signs all game. Maybe but every hit of consequence for the O's came with nobody on second. Matt Wieters doubled in Pie in the 5th but Pie was on first. Runners were on first and third when Corey Patterson singled to drive in Wieters later that inning. It was the same in the 6th when Wieters his a sac fly to plate Ty Wigginton and there was nobody on when Brian Roberts hit his solo shot in the 7th.

It is rare for hitters to steal signs from first base (although not unheard of) but even if Baltimore was stealing signs, it doesn't appear to by why they got the big hits on Wednesday night.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Who(Cares Who')'s the Closer?

That is a confusing title, huh?

But it's not nearly as confusing as all the ink and pixels being wasted on the conjecture over who is the Orioles' closer. Because the bottom line is this: it doesn't matter. At all.

In the 22 games that Buck has been in charge (and there has been no designated "closer"), the Orioles have only blown one "save" situation. Buck has stated he cares far more about the win than the save but the Orioles have been winning and have racked up four saves with the unspoken "closer by committee".

Sure, maybe if this team had a Mariano Rivera or a Trevor Hoffman, maybe you go with a set closer and build the other bullpen roles around him. But the Orioles don't have a guy like that on this team. Why not let the situation dictate the guy called upon to close out a game?

This is not a new concept. Before Gregg Olson showed up in 1989, the "closer" for the Orioles was usually a team of two, a lefty and a righty. Occasionally, there would be a third guy grabbing a few saves too. Would it be so crazy to go into 2011 with Mike Gonazalez and Alfredo Simon (or Jim Johnson) as your lefty/righty team of "closers"? It's not an unprecedented solution.

I don't believe you have to have some magic skill to come in for the 9th inning and preserve a three-run lead. Let's stop worrying about who gets an arbitrary title and worry about the performance of the bullpen overall.

The Smug Ignorance of Bill Maher

In 2006, Bill Maher outted Republican Ken Mehlman as gay claiming he was a hypocrite for being against gay marriage, which he and other liberals equate with "gay bashing."

Questions:

Is it not possible to be a gay man and not believe in gay marriage?

Does Bill Maher know what hypocrisy is? Because he sure doesn't know what Brazil uses for fuel.

UPDATE: Mehlman, it turns out, has recently come out in support of gay marriage. Some Republicans do, other don't. Some Democrats don't either, having not been persuaded that changing the definition of marriage is wise thing to do. Being black and not being supportive of Affirmative Action doesn't make one a hypocrite either. But that doesn't stop some liberals from accusing African American conservatives of being insufficiently black. Nice.

Toomey Clingy Like Some Other Pa. Voters

Headline:
Poll: Toomey clings to lead over Sestak
Would that be in the same way some people in Pennsylvania "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."?

Interview with a Celebrity Makeup artist, Brandy Gomez-Duplessis

Hello everyone!
I had the opportunity to interview the awesome Brandy Gomez-Duplessis, a celebrity makeup artist making her new home here in the NYC! Lucky me. Here is how it went:
1. What wedding services do you provide? I offer traditional makeup, airbrush makeup, brow shaping and eye lash extensions. Brides can also hire me for a one time application, half day where I follow them to the church and give them one more touch up before walking down the aisle, and full day where I stay with my bride until all her professional pictures are done including her cake cutting. It’s like having a personal makeup artist for the day.
2. What makes Brandy Gomez-Duplessis makeup artistry unique? (Smiling) I have been told by my past brides, who I have become close to, the same thing of what makes me unique. I calm them and make them all feel very special. To have a celebrity makeup artist on their wedding day to give them a glamxurious look, is amazing. Plus, I personally noticed that most of my brides are girly like me (laughing).
3. Could you please explain your process? I’m an energy person and an artist so I get to know my brides first. I look at pictures of them, their dresses, their flowers, their bridesmaid’s dresses. I talk about how they will wear their hair, what time of day they are getting married, where they are getting married. I ask questions about their skin which is very important and then I find out how they have always dreamed about looking. After all that, I prep the clients face based on their skin type and I start the makeup application. At the end, I apply everything on a face chart because a lot of time brides book my makeup services a year in advance, that way I don’t forget what was applied. So on the day of the wedding, I have the brides colors packed in ready for when I arrive.
4. What can you advice brides and couples to be aware of or avoid when hiring their makeup artist? I always share with my brides to definitely communicate with the makeup artist. Brides should have a consultation so both parties will be on the same page. Bring pictures on the consultation of themselves with makeup on, and of what look they have in mind. With many trends out, they will all not work on everyone. Smokey eyes cannot be worn the same way, so this is why a consultation is needed. If a bride is going to tan or has any skin problems, it can be discussed at the consultation. This can affect the makeup on the wedding day. I understand we are still in a recession, but you do get what you pay for. Also to be safe you should have your makeup artist fill out a contract to lock in your wedding date and time to ensure no double booking.

5.  Can you work with all skin types? Including Sensitive skin? Yes, I have been blessed that my talent has allowed me to work with all ages, all races and all skin types. As long as my client communicates any issues she has like sensitive skin, than I am able to adjust.
6. What are the latest trends in make up? I try not to follow any makeup trends because the client may not be able to wear what’s trendy. That trendy looks does not always work for the everyday average women. I like to select colors and items that will compliment my bride. A bride that’s 25 cannot wear the same amount of colors a bride that is 50 getting married for the second time. I do find that my modern brides like bolder eye shadow colors and lipstick colors. One trend I can say that will always be around is lashes; strip lashes and individual lashes.
7. What was your favorite celebrity to work with? My favorite celebrity that I applied makeup on has been Kim Kardashian. Kim has amazing skin and she can wear any makeup look you put on her. Plus she’s a girly girl. She loves being pampered and loves makeup just as much as I do (laughing). When I do makeup on a client that is very receptive about getting their makeup done by me, it makes my job fun.
8.  What musts should a bride have for her wedding makeup? Any tips? Brides should make sure that their makeup artist apply waterproof mascara for when they cry during their vows, loose powder to set their foundation, and use a cream eyeliner so their eyeliner does not smear or smudge when they perspire. 

Thanks Brandy for the great tips!!!

Here is her info:
Brandy Gomez-Duplessis
917.438.9156 

Radio Times for More Vacation

Given the economic times, the joblessness and insecurity, it was almost funny listening to the two guests on yesterday's Radio Times attempting to make the case for government-mandated paid vacation time.

Americans, the audience was told, work way too hard with not nearly enough time off to relax and recreate. This is certainly true compared to many European countries that make it against the law for companies not to give workers paid vacation.

According to JOHN SCHMITT from the Center for Economic and Policy Research, author of "No Vacation Nation" and JOHN deGRAAF, national coordinator of a group called Take Back Your Time, one in four Americans have no paid vacation. This is a travesty and the way they talk about it that make it sound almost as if it were a human rights violation.

In Europe, workers get an average of 30 days off a year. In the U.S. workers get only 9 paid holidays. Not having having legislated/mandated paid vacation puts America in the company of some of the most backward nations on earth; Burma, to name one.

Europeans and Aussies are famous for taking extended holidays and traveling the world. Why can't America be more like them? After all, people who take more vacations are happier, and more productive, according to studies cited by Schmitt and deGraff. Don't we want our citizenry to be happier and more productive?

Listening to them yak, citing statistics, and being lobbed softball questions by substitute host Tracey Matisak (in for the vacationing Marty Moss-Cohane) was charming. But their arguments, though seductive, are downright foolish, especially for legislated mandates. The costs involved would be significant, especially on small business owners.

When Matasak finally asked about small business owners who might like to offer paid vacations for their workers but didn't feel they could afford it, one of her guests suggested as long as all their competitors were required to offer the same thing, the "playing field" would be level.

Such is the faith that these sort of people have in government to properly command the private economy and the behavior of American citizens for their own good.

First healthcare, now vacations.

Believe me, I have nothing against paid vacation time. I get it and I take it. But, I accept the trade-off of being paid a lesser salary for that benefit. The same is true with my health insurance. My company pays half of it and it's a form of compensation (on which I don't have to pay taxes). Besides, we (the unionized employees of this newspaper) negotiated a contract that gives us paid vacation time, mostly in lieu of higher salaries. Plenty of non-unionize companies offer paid vacation time, just not as much as guys like Schmitt and deGraff think is appropriate.

What makes this "issue" so silly right now is that it is the high costs associated with hiring people that is keeping so many of them unemployed. With Obamacare just passed, a law that requires businesses to buy health insurance for their workers or PAY A $2,000 (per year, per employee) FINE to the government, the cost are growing higher than ever.

And these guys want to add to those old and new costs, another one. And somehow, this WON'T cost the economy jobs? The lack of thinking about the consequences of their idea is quite incredible.

One more thing, envying European level's of vacation time is understandable. But they have consequences too. High unemployment and poor economic growth. Given all that, the social benefits mandated in Europe are quite unsustainable.

And one last thing... Remember that heat wave that hit France a few years ago (2003)? Thousands of elderly nursing home and hospital patients died, in part because so many healthcare workers were on vacation.

I missed the end of Radio Times yesterday. I wonder if anybody brought that up.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Ding Dong!

The Washington Times reports Algore's beautiful crusade against climate change is melting. Melting!

Your Very Own Personalized Tea Party Bridal Shower!

How great would it be to have a tea party for your bridal shower!
Well I thought so too. So here is some inspiration and NYC bridal shower venues that I found to have a unique bridal shower tea party.


At Lady Mendl's Tea Salon located at The Inn at Irving Place, your guest's can enjoy a 5 course tea surrounded by beautiful Victorian architecture. LOVE the pink room!

I also love Alice's Tea Cup. They have 3 locations in Manhattan. I love the whole Alice and Wonderland theme for a bridal shower, so fun!

And once you pick your location, you can then have cute tea favors!
Adorable heart-shaped tea infuser with a personalized tag and ribbon to make your guests' tea experience effortless!

Cute tea tins that are filled with Mutan white tea silks that represent the bloom of new beginning of marriage. States in gold, "A Tea for Marriage". Exclusively made for your wedding day!
Favors by New York's Favors and Flowers.

Let me know your bridal shower ideas! Comment below.

xxoo

The $578 Million High School!

In a city that is bankrupt, in a state that is bankrupt, they build the most expensive public school in history.


And public officials wonder why the public is cranky. But I can hear them now: "It's for the kids!" "It's an investment in our future!" What it is, is insane! And ugly to boot!

"Elect Me: I'll Do Less for You"

WaPo's liberal Ruth Marcus complains about Republicans being mean to the Obama Administration. But the Denver Post's David Harsanyi is looking forward to a little Washington gridlock.

Idea for a political cartoon: Two little kids with their parents in the background. One angry, frownie-faced kid with his arms folded says to the other: "My parents are the 'Party of No.' "

Anyone? Anyone? Ramirez? Anyone?

In the meantime:

Year of the Gun

Two businessmen in Upper Darby, one Korean, one Pakistani, talk about the crime spree that seems to be targeting a certain kind of Asian. My print column is up.

UPDATE: Hard-working, law-abiding Asians, aren't the only targets of our low-class criminals these days.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Wedding Photography Contest Give Away! with Tonhya Kae

Calling all brides! The talented Tonhya Kae, a Seattle based photographer, is giving her first ever Wedding Photography giveaway contest! And the wedding can be anywhere.
Tell her your true love story and you may be the lucky winner!

For more information please visit The Tonhya Kae Website.
Ends November 1st, 2010.

Good Luck!


How Nick Got Caught Looking

In this past Saturday's game, Nick Markakis struck out looking against Cliff Lee. That was the fourth straight time that he had struck out looking.


It is not surprising that Nick has never struck out looking four times in a row before. He possesses one of the best eyes in baseball. It's shocking that is ever happened at all.

So how did this rare event come to be? Was Nick justified in ripping the ump the night he was tossed from the game? With PitchFx, we can find out.

Starting with his first at bat against C.J. Wilson on Friday night:







Wilson struck out Markakis with a two-seam fastball but all three strikes he got on Nick were good pitches, away, but in the strikezone.

At bat #2:







This time, Wilson went in, out, in, out and then in the zone away to get the called strike three. Good pitching from Wilson as he changed locations and froze Nick with another two-seam fast ball low and away in the zone.

At bat #3:







This was the at bat where Nick got thrown out. But Markakis has a great argument here as none of the pitches were in the zone. Pitch number three was borderline but all are clearly outside the zone. Nick was right, this should have been a walk.

The next day, his first at bat against Cliff Lee:






Hmmmm...a little payback for going after the umpire the night before? Lee was surgical with his strikes but the second pitch and the the final pitch were off the plate. Nick probably had to bite his tongue hard after this at bat.

Don't expect to see this phenomenon again anytime soon. Nick was a victim of good pitching for two of these K's but also the victim of some really bad calls on the other two. Again, if you were watching the Orioles over the weekend, you saw a rare sight.


Angry Asian Man, O Man She's Cute!

In doing a little research on a column I'm working on I ran across a web site called Angry Asian Man. That's where I saw the clip of the "nice catch" below.

There was also this:



Angry Asian Man is not as angry as all that. Check out his web site here.

Nice Catch...

... in any language.

Blogger Template | jPost

jPost is a three column template and first new template of this type on blogger.The theme is also available on wordpress designed by topwpthemes.The most important part of the template is the sidebar navigation which is fixed to the top right of the template and shows up only on hitting the navigation button.The template has also very beautiful logo with read more hack installed.Other great feature is the comments section in the template i.e to right of post which also make it look so fresh.Rest all other features are made available as like blogger and my all other templates.Seo also been done and pages also working fine.

Other templates of mine which you may also like are Kodzilla and Mayumi.






Installation



  • Header Logo And Description

  • Just go to Blogger Design > Edit/html > Press Ctrl+F and find for below codes.


    <a href='/' id='multicol_logo'><img alt='Free Blogger Template' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBOEf6oVgId_FhB9jwD1ZlnY9DjCBRNST3EXHVq-FpLFby5kF_UycstNuwwSW9NaKlDiXkeZQIuftQPrfiFE2QzVolkEclnGnBtb73QP0ljPqwQnM0NXI1_nVOzDyYHKXX88_EQCp4pc/s1600/logo.png'/></a>

    <div id='logo'>
    Another Blogger Template
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    With download link you will get psd for logo.Just make yours logo from it and upload it anywhere and grab the link to it.

    Just replace the above link in red codes to your logo url and description in red with your blog description and you are done with it.

Now Enjoy using the template.

Blogger Template | jPost

jPost is a three column template and first new template of this type on blogger.The theme is also available on wordpress designed by topwpthemes.The most important part of the template is the sidebar navigation which is fixed to the top right of the template and shows up only on hitting the navigation button.The template has also very beautiful logo with read more hack installed.Other great feature is the comments section in the template i.e to right of post which also make it look so fresh.Rest all other features are made available as like blogger and my all other templates.Seo also been done and pages also working fine.

Other templates of mine which you may also like are Kodzilla and Mayumi.






Installation



  • Header Logo And Description

  • Just go to Blogger Design > Edit/html > Press Ctrl+F and find for below codes.


    <a href='/' id='multicol_logo'><img alt='Free Blogger Template' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBOEf6oVgId_FhB9jwD1ZlnY9DjCBRNST3EXHVq-FpLFby5kF_UycstNuwwSW9NaKlDiXkeZQIuftQPrfiFE2QzVolkEclnGnBtb73QP0ljPqwQnM0NXI1_nVOzDyYHKXX88_EQCp4pc/s1600/logo.png'/></a>

    <div id='logo'>
    Another Blogger Template
    </div>


    With download link you will get psd for logo.Just make yours logo from it and upload it anywhere and grab the link to it.

    Just replace the above link in red codes to your logo url and description in red with your blog description and you are done with it.

Now Enjoy using the template.

Blogger Template | jPost

jPost is a three column template and first new template of this type on blogger.The theme is also available on wordpress designed by topwpthemes.The most important part of the template is the sidebar navigation which is fixed to the top right of the template and shows up only on hitting the navigation button.The template has also very beautiful logo with read more hack installed.Other great feature is the comments section in the template i.e to right of post which also make it look so fresh.Rest all other features are made available as like blogger and my all other templates.Seo also been done and pages also working fine.

Other templates of mine which you may also like are Kodzilla and Mayumi.






Installation



  • Header Logo And Description

  • Just go to Blogger Design > Edit/html > Press Ctrl+F and find for below codes.


    <a href='/' id='multicol_logo'><img alt='Free Blogger Template' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBOEf6oVgId_FhB9jwD1ZlnY9DjCBRNST3EXHVq-FpLFby5kF_UycstNuwwSW9NaKlDiXkeZQIuftQPrfiFE2QzVolkEclnGnBtb73QP0ljPqwQnM0NXI1_nVOzDyYHKXX88_EQCp4pc/s1600/logo.png'/></a>

    <div id='logo'>
    Another Blogger Template
    </div>


    With download link you will get psd for logo.Just make yours logo from it and upload it anywhere and grab the link to it.

    Just replace the above link in red codes to your logo url and description in red with your blog description and you are done with it.

Now Enjoy using the template.