It's here. If you are someone who likes deadlines, then this weekend will have you floating in the clouds. Deadlines abound everywhere - some even matter.
I can remember a time, back in the dark ages when I was in college, when a deadline meant that a term paper was due the next day and it was time to get started on the assignment. The fact that the paper was going to count for a large percentage of my grade, and that it had been assigned months before wasn't important. I, like many of my friends, had more important issues to deal with - such as partying - and knew that we had plenty of time to write the paper. When up against this kind of deadline I would set up a table in the dorm lounge and start writing. The clock was ticking so I would dispense with outlines and just start writing on a legal pad. Fraternity pledges were enlisted to take my pages to the ladies in Centennial Hall who typed as I wrote. With the help of some "Black Beauties" the job always got done. When the writing and typing were finished (usually about ten minutes before the thing was due) I would run it over to the prof without having proofed it and then return to the dorm for days of sleep. The system worked, I was never late on a paper.
Unfortunately, the deadlines we are watching now are a little more important to all of us than the stuff I wrote about in the late '60s. The big deadline of the debt crisis would be very amusing if the consequences of failing to get the deal done in time weren't so dire. This process has been a teaching moment, one that I fear has been lost on most Americans. If you've been paying attention you would have learned that the people we elected are about as stupid as humans can be. You would have learned that our elected darlings care about one thing and one thing only - themselves and getting re-elected. You would have heard them say that they are just giving us what the American people want. Well, I'm an American person and I've never been asked for my opinion, although I do get mail from time to time asking me to give them money. If you have been paying attention you might have come to the opinion that these assholes are acting like spoiled children rather than doing what they need to be doing. Well, the deadline is here and they need to get the paper written now. I say, give Boehner and his gangsters all the Black Beauties they need (contact Limbaugh for the name of a dealer in the District) and have them pass something that has a chance to pass the Senate and save the country from the horrible consequences a default would bring.
I am hoping against hope that the idiots in Washington will pass something, no matter how bad it is for the country, so let me turn to what many believe is a more important deadline.
The non-waiver trading deadline is now two and a half days away. Some deals have been done including the trade of Carlos Beltran to the Giants. Thank god Ruben didn't bring him here in exchange for the future. Amaro has yet to pull any triggers, but the conventional wisdom has him focused on Hunter Pence of the Astros. Some in the press are trying to sell us on the idea that Pence would be a perfect fit here. They want us to believe that his right-handed bat, positioned right behind Howard in the lineup, would be the catalyst for Howard to see more fastballs and to pepper the bleachers with a plethora of home runs. Unless Pence's being in the lineup can somehow magically stop Howard from striking out on pitches at his ankles, I'm not convinced that he or anyone available is worth stripping the farm of guys like Cosart or Singleton.
While Hunter Pence may be first on Ruben's wish list there are some in the baseball world that say not so fast. An article in today's paper has an interview with a long time baseball scout who has less than glowing things to say about the guy. According to this scout, Pence has a slow bat which forces him to cheat with his swing in order to strike the ball so that it will drop safely between defenders. That, according to the scout, causes Pence to strike out a lot. Just what we need - a guy hitting behind Howard who strikes out a lot. We already have a line up riddled with slow bats and strike outs - do we need to give up our best prospects and perhaps a Brown for this kind of player? I don't think so, especially considering the potential needs of the next few seasons when the Phillies will have question marks at SS, 3B, LF, & RF, to mention but a few. I'd rather Amaro go for a lesser name and not mortgage the team's future.
One last baseball tid-bit, and I know this isn't going to be what you want to read. Tough. We were all excited about the return of Cliff Lee. Many got caught up with the 4 Aces bullshit and started drinking the Kool Aid as soon as he put on his jersey at the press conference. Lee had one of the best months of any pitcher this past June, but that is yesterday's news. I read this morning that since Lee was traded to the Rangers last year he has a record of 13-13, which is a lot worse than you would expect from an Ace. I'm starting to think that he may not be the same guy who pitched so well for us in 2009.
The NFL is back in business and the anticipated flurry of trades have been made. The Patriots have traded for both Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco. If Haynesworth has anything left after his year in the Redskin doghouse and, if Ocho can return to the form he showed two years ago, then the Pats could be a top pick for this season.
In the worst-kept secret since the beginning of time, Kevin Kolb will now be wearing the silly Arizona Cardinals uniform and the Eagles will have another D-back who doesn't like to hit people. Kolb is now The Man in the desert so we'll find out just how good or not good this guy is.
On the golf front, Tiger Woods is scheduled to return to the tour at some whites-only country club, and he is sporting a beard. Does anyone out there care?
Finally, I would be remiss in my duties as the LSF if I failed to mention that, after beating up the hapless Padres, the Phillies dropped 2 out of 3 to the defending world champion Giants. Against a good team with good pitching, the Phillies bats went to sleep. Is anyone else starting to see this pattern? Perhaps they will be able to come back against my beloved Pirates and maybe they won't. The Pirates are coming to town after a rough series against the Braves in which one of the games was decided by a bad call. They should be hungry to battle and beat the Phillies. It could be fun. I think they'll pull it off.
Have a great weekend!
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