The Boston Globe and other media outlets are now reporting that former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is weighing his options in relation to a run for Massachusetts' open senate seat, as discussed in his 38 Pitches Blog. Schilling began discussing the prospect of a run on his blog as early as Wednesday, but at this point is still very non-committal, as most would-be politicians are wont to be when discussing possible runs. I've already gone on record on this site with my anti-Schilling views, but will offer some objective political analysis after the jump.

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An interesting article from an unlikely source about the good old days of the American Association, also known as the Beer and Whiskey league. Among other things, it discusses how the Red Stockings were once kicked out of the National League for selling beer, and with a few other teams went on to form the American Association. it also covers a few ballplayers who might have even been able to drink Sir Sid under the table.  I'll definitely remember this the next time I'm bitching about paying $7 for a Heineken at Oriole Park. Enjoy.

So there's been a lot of talk lately about Manny and whether he should or shouldn't play the All Star Game and whether or not he'll even make it anyway, but its got me thinking... what goes through the fans' minds when they're punching out the little chads in the middle innings? So I'd like to hear your opinions on how you do it; Is it purely a numbers game, batting lines and OPS? Do you consider only the current season, or overall carreer numbers? Give the edge to young blood, or like to see future hall of famers? Are you highly prejudicial toward PHN and MFY, and partial to the O's, or just want to see the best team on the field? Do you fill out each ballot the same way, or punch in different outfielders or what?

As for me, I don't mind the numbers much at all, and tend to go by carreer name and reputation. At the same time though, its hard to ignore players who are having really good seasons (Ryan Zimmerman) or really bad seasons (Ken Griffey Jr.). I'm definitely partial to the O's, but kind of dubious about whether Huff and Roberts stand up to the competition. And I don't watch hardly any NL games at all.

So CC, what say you? How do you pick 'em?

I've noticed so far this season on more than one occasion that Trembley is reluctant to pinch hit for Greg Zaun.

Even in the late innings. Even with runners on. Even when it could change the game.  Even though we have a perfectly creditable backup catcher in Chad Moeller. I mean, do the double switch with your likliest bench player, and if the game turns out to go extra innings, you send Moeller to the plate next time.

I'd even go so far as to say that Moeller will get better the more time he gets.

Can anyone on Camden chat explain this to me? Is there something I'm missing?

Also, Zaun to fill the shoes of Elrod Hendricks in the future? Any thoughts?

I was pleased with how easy it was to exchange tickets after the oakland game was rained out, but after Friday's twins game was ppd, I made a special trip to the goddamn stadium just to pick up my tickets from will call, to use them the next day.

But when I got there the next day, right at game time, Was stopped at the gate and told I would have to exchange my tickets FOR A GAME PPD LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO. Apparently, everyone else was told the same thing, and we were made to stand in line for NEARLY AN HOUR with people walking through the line perpendicularly, brushing up against me every 30 seconds and saying "oh, scuse me."

By the time we got in the score was already 4-1 twins (thanks, Cabs!) and the game was all but over. We left in the 7th, rather than see them give up 12 in each end of the double header.

So if you get rained out... show up early I guess.

This is not another blog bemoaning Angelos' failure to sign real talent. What it is though, is a quick relation of Uncle Pete's attempt to steal a shilling from an orphan's hand on a day of national mourning.

Okay... so I'm not really an orphan. But I am a US Merchant Marine and a loyal, lifelong O's fan, and I just got back from Kuwait. While I'm ashore, I've really tried to take advantage of the MASN $1 tickets, and have bought tickets to 7 games so far. Its enough just to show up when you have to look at the likes of Chris Waters and Rad Liz. Anyway, I've been buying these tickets online and each one has come with a 50 cent surcharge; a convenience fee. So after coming home from another embarassing loss there's a number for me to call on the kitchen counter and a note saying

"We forgot to charge you $1 on one of your internet transactions. Please call and pay us a dollar"

Or something like that. So I waited a day and called, intending to ask them to waive the fee, since it was the O's' fault that they didn't apply it in the first pplace, and since, you know Its a freaking dollar!

But who do you think picked up the phone? A friendly, orange-clad intern at the warehouse? Negative. It was ticketmaster's automated answering system telling me to have my confirmation number ready and be prepared to wait on hold.

So I hung up. Fuck a bunch of Ticketmaster.