Changes??
I'm considering changing the name of this blog from "Omblog" to "Battingthird". Originally I resisted calling this blog Battingthird because I felt it implies that the blog is solely focused on baseball.
But there is a certain symmetry to having it named after the web address. Let me know in the comments section what you think. Which is better? Does it matter?
Pirates make moves
The Pirates made 3 minor moves this week.
First, they released Nelson Figueroa. I've got no problem with this move, though the timing is strange as the Pirates certainly didn't need a spot on the 40 man roster. Regardless, it was sort of a no-brainer as the Pirates have enough possibilities for rounding out the bottom of the staff for next season.
Second, the Pirates released Mark Corey. Once again, a fairly solid decision as Corey is a replacement level relief pitcher.
Lastly, it's been reported that the Pirates have offered free agent to be Jose Mesa a contract for next season. I don't know the dollar figures, and I don't know the years. I'll reserve judgment until those are reported, however I will emphatically state what should be obvious: the Pirates should not bring Mesa back to be the closer. Period.
I've said it before, and at the risk of being repetitive I'll say it again. The Pirates have better options in-house and better options are available fairly cheaply on the free agent market. "Experts" will point to his save total this season, and by that indicator he did a fine job. However, the Pirates were lucky to squeeze an adequate performance from him this season. His peripherals were sub-par and indicate that he is unlikely to pitch as well next season.
I realize that conventional wisdom says that you need experience to close in the majors, but I'd always rather give a job to a young player who might succeed, than an old player who probably won't. And I'm on the record as saying Mesa probably won't succeed next season. Let's see what Gonzalez can do. (Or even Vogelsong/Snell/Grabow.)
O'Reilly lawsuit
The Smoking Gun has the details on the sexual harassment lawsuit that has been filed against Bill O'Reilly. Check them out for an interesting read.
I'm actually a fan of O'Reilly. I enjoy his show and think he gets more heat than he deserves from liberals. Regardless, there are some interesting details in the documents. For example, its obvious, if the details are true, that O'Reilly obsesses about Al Franken. O'Reilly also makes some interesting claims about the connections his boss (Fox head Roger Ailes) has with the White House. Hmmm.
Anyway, it will be interesting to watch this play out. I hope O'Reilly doesn't lose his show. Side question...Is there a conservative pundit out there who doesn't have some crazy skeletons in his closet?
Blogs
In many ways, the 2000 election was the 'election of the internet.' That election marked the watershed moment whereby most technologically savvy people, and more than a few unsavvy, began to get most of their news on the internet rather than on TV or in a newspaper.
This election is the 'election of the blog.' People not named George Bush are still getting their hard news from traditional mass media sources (networks/newspapers) via the internet, but they are supplementing it with rumors, opinions, and projections from small independent sources on the internet, ie. blogs.
One thing that has bugged me is that the word 'blog' has been so overused. In a rush to seem hip, or at least less stodgy, many mainstream media folks have started what they call a blog. But these really violate the spirit of the 'blog.' Let set some rules:
1. If you are a celebrity, you do not have a blog. You have a fan-club.
2. If you are a reporter affiliated with a newspaper or network, you do not have a blog. You have a freelance column.
3. If your posts are not the primary attraction of the site that they are viewed on, you do not have a blog. You have a feature.
4. If you are a well-known political activist, you do not have a blog. You have a, well, I'm not exactly sure. But it ain't a blog.
In essence, if you have access to have your posts published by a media outlet, you do not have a blog!
NRA endorses Bush
Today the NRA announced it is endorsing Bush for president. This strikes me as a bit odd, considering they have already spent a million dollars on anti Kerry ads, many of which have been running in Pennsylvania. I guess Kerry can stop holding his breath on this endorsement.
Rove tactics
Now that the debates are over, the campaigns will spin furiously in an attempt to win the post-debate. It's fairly obvious that neither candidate is going to come out of these debates with a substantial lead. Therefore, we can expect a final Rove moment, shortly after the next round of polls.
Rumor has it that it will involve Ms. Kerry's tax return. Stay tuned.
Taking shots...debate in progress
Bush just hit Kerry with a direct shot that actually shut Kerry up, by pointing out that Kerry voted not to use force in the first Gulf War.
Only 10 seconds later, Bush shot himself in the foot by saying that he actually supported extending the assault weapons ban, but that Democrats and Republicans in Congress were against extending it. HUH??
Debate in action
George Bush just scoffed at the credibility of the press. We already know that he has professed his disdain for news coming in from anyone other than his immediate handlers. I just didn't realize he lived in such a bubble that he dismisses any information coming from independent sources. Explains alot.
1,000
Omblog recently earned a Stargell Star (look up and to the right) by receiving its 1,000th visitor. Thanks!
The last word
Tonight is the last presidential debate of this election. The focus of this debate is supposed to be on domestic issues, but somehow I have a feeling that foreign policy, specifically the war will creep into the discussion.
In any event, I'll be taking a drink everytime Bush says the words "it's hard work" (as if he is surprised and bitter that being president isn't like running his fraternity or being a figurehead in one of daddy's friend's companies). Therefore, I'll be having a good time by the 3rd question.
States in play
3 weeks from the election and several states are still in play. Don't look to the polls to find out which ones. Polls tell you more about the organization doing the polling than the candidates chances.
If you want to really know which states are too close to call, just look at where the candidates are still spending money. After all, who knows more about what's going on in the trenches than the campaigns themselves.
Bush's top 10 cities for spending:
Miami
Albuquerque
Reno
Grand Rapids
Madison
Green Bay
Harrisburg
Cleveland
La Crosse (WI)
Las Vegas
Kerry's top cities:
Miami
Albuquerque
Tampa
Columbus
Toledo
Cleveland
Green Bay
Reno
Orlando
Dayton
A couple of interesting things from this data (thanks to dailykos for it). First, it's a relief to see that Bush has written off California and Oregon. Put those states in Blue.
Second, it looks like Ohio is the lynchpin for the Dem election strategy. Likewise, Wisconsin for the GOP.
Lastly, I think it's particularly bad news for the Kerry that both candidates are still spending so much money in Florida. Obviously this election could come down to Fl again. And it is obviously very tight right now since both candidates are poring money into Miami. Why is this bad news? I think there is no way Kerry can come out of Florida with a tight victory, when you consider the organization the GOP already has in place to secure the election for Bush. Kerry needs to pull Florida by 3-4 solid percentage points, else it's Katherine Harris all over again.
Just another brick in the wall
According to reports, the Republican National Committee is funding an organization that is going state to state, registering voters.
Sounds like a great idea, except the organization is destroying the Democrat registrations and only submitting the Republican registrations. So hundreds of likely Democrat voters will show up at the polls in Nevada, Arizona, Oregon only to find out that the registrations they completed were never filed.
Read about it
here.
If you vote Republican, then this is the type of thing you implicitly condone.
Yankees/Red Sox
On the eve of another Yankees/Red Sox post-season series, I'd like to say on behalf of baseball fans all over the country, "YAAAAAAWWWWWWNNNNNNNN."
4-1 and counting...
The leaves are starting to change, the breeze is carrying a brisk chill, and the Steelers are in first place. The world has finally been righted.
Since this is my first post about the Steelers, let me make a few comments that might be a bit dated, but need to be said anyway:
Am I the only person who cringes when Bettis comes on the field on short yardage situations? Staley is better at getting tough yards, enough with the Bettis novelty. On the most important downs, you should have your best personel in the game. Please.
I see shadows of Favre in Roethlisberger (from here on forever referrerd to as B.R.) I'm not saying that B.R. will be as good as Favre. But his pocket awareness, ability to avoid the rush, and his ability to find guys and throw on the run is very Favre-ish.
There are sure to be difficult times to come, but B.R. is a Player. Note the Capital-P.
I hope the Steelers don't think they have to resign Kendrell Bell in the off-season. He is always hurt, and rarely lives up to the hype when he does get on the field. He's been living off his rookie season for far too long now. Larry Foote is nothing special, but he's ok. I'd rather see them sign Burress and draft a LB, than sign Bell and draft a WR.
I thought Staley was supposed to be a threat catching passes out of the backfield. I wish the Steelers would give that a shot, especially since they don't have a tight end who can contribute in the passing game.
Chad Scott has terrible technique. He must not be coachable.
