Also, I agree with underdog, I do not like Mike Greenburg's voice calling football games.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gQmnGiH_aOw

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I didn't know you wrote TV shows too, Jon. Fun diversion to get us through tonight.

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You know Amazon Super Saver Shipping really is super. The projected date for my Office S3 shipment was this Thursday, but I received it last Saturday! There's also a mini preview of the new season on NBC.com

2 Are you not asleep yet? He sounds like this really well-meaning, dull as wood uncle of mine.

how many assistant of baseball operations are there for the padres?

Although how much it differs from the Special Assistant to the General Manager is up to debate.

From my interview with DePodesta, here's his version:

https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/160153.html

Of course, not every dream DePodesta and the Dodgers have will come true. Asked what his biggest disappointment from the 2004-05 offseason was, DePodesta didn't hesitate to say it was the loss of third baseman Adrian Beltre as a free agent.

"It's Adrian," DePodesta said. "There's no doubt. There were a lot of guys we pursued and would have loved to have had, but when it's one of your own who had a breakout year, in the prime of his career – that's an easy answer."

While DePodesta regretted the outcome, he said that there was nothing the Dodgers could have done differently to keep Beltre. Though this could not be confirmed with Beltre's agent, Scott Boras, DePodesta said that it's "very unusual in a free-agent situation to have the ability" to meet directly with the player. Everything had to go through Boras - not that DePodesta was blaming Boras in any way.

"I certainly had a lot of contact with Scott," said DePodesta, who was also interested in other Boras clients including Hernandez, Derek Lowe and Alex Cora. "Three to four face-to-face meetings, lots of phone calls. … Scott was on my speed dial throughout the winter. There certainly wasn't a lack of communication there."

Conversely, there was one meeting with DePodesta, Boras and Beltre in the same room.

"Even in that meeting with Adrian, it was forbidden to talk about financials or contract," DePodesta said. "We could just talk about the team."

The bidding on Beltre between teams was not a back-and-forth, can-you-top-this contest, according to DePodesta, but more of a blind auction. DePodesta told Boras to contact him when he was ready for their offer, and so he did. And ultimately, the Beltre camp liked Seattle's offer better.

Some thought DePodesta's offer was generous; others might argue that DePodesta should have found a way, despite all the obstacles, to make the Beltre signing happen. Whether he could have or not, what was immediately clear was that the Dodger winter was headed for rewrite.

When the offseason began, according to DePodesta, the Dodgers had the goal of improving the pitching staff, retaining Beltre, adding another piece or two like Jeff Kent, and also perhaps retaining Steve Finley. As time passed, the Dodgers lost out on Beltre while seeing the cost of starting pitching soar, forcing the front office to call an audible.

DePodesta said that while outfielder J.D. Drew was always a consideration for the Dodgers, there was never a chance they would sign both Beltre and Drew. Once Beltre turned north to ponder the philosophical question, "How does Puget Sound?" the Dodgers looked east and went directly after Atlanta free agent Drew.

"Our biggest fear was being left standing without a chair when the music stopped," DePodesta said.

how about regional manager? does depo have a purple belt?

*I've always wanted to say that.

The circle of life

Now 3-2 Giants in the 7th. I can't even watch that one because it's painful to root for the Giants.

http://baltimore.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=21185

As far as Beltre goes. His contract becomes more of a bargain due to the incredible inflation rate of salaries. Any decent player signed almost three years ago, will look like a bargain these days. The only thirdbasemen in the AL that I saw with higher OPS was Arod, Lowell, Youkilis (can play 1b or 3b) and Glaus. Beltre probably makes up ground on the latter three due to his defense and park effect.
vr, Xei

At least, I think I woke up . . .

Does this include Furcal and will it include JP in three years?

I thought Furcal's deal was the best thing Ned did.

Even with the inflation over the last few years, it did go down before that so it's just bouncing back to the early 2000 levels. Mike Hampton is due to make $15 mil next year.

Even without the box, GameDay impugns Tim Timmons' eyesight on strike two.

And I hear he that he has psychological failings too.

I blame Shea Hillenbrand.

But next week, I'll have Brees starting, there's no doubt about it.

I think I already have quite a bit of reflux, but maybe adding another heartbreaking team would indeed put me into the danger zone.

DBacks win 5-3.

A touchdown pass. Is this the first one of the whole game?

Now let's see if Smith can mount a drive.

I can't go through another year of these 6-of-17-for-87-yards-and-2-picks games.

But Mike Nolan looks damn good.

Wow, could both Arizona teams sneak away with one here in San Francisco?

More coaches should wear suits in football.

Mr. Shimminn and I are of like minds on this playoff business stuff. Almost makes me want to call him Andy.

Dodgers, Brewers, and Zona. Now were talking.

It's to prevent another "Holy Roller" play.

Okay, time to play "Hi Bob!" and watch more TV Land.

http://tinyurl.com/3znou

So when do the Raiders trade Culpepper to Atlanta? (Or the Giants.)

That said, if you go by Win Shares Above Baseline, he's 4th, not 2nd in the AL, behind A-Rod, Lowell and Figgins. More to the point, he's 11th in the majors, after being 15th last year. In other words, he's in the top 1/3 to 1/2 of 3B. That strikes me as about right.

Beltre was never as good as he looked his last year here, but not as bad as he seemed his first few months in Seattle. His time since is right in line with his career with the Dodgers.

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/20571