October 1, 2010
Link-O-Rama
• Many times the word "irony" gets misused. This is not one of those times.
• Fan Graphs crunched some numbers on Kenny Powers' career stats and calculated his Wins Above Replacement despite the fact that he "f***ing hates computers, all kinds."
• I hope she asks for the kidney back.
• If your sibling is significantly better looking than you, don't appear in front of cameras while wearing the exact same clothes.
• I'll be co-hosting "Twins Wrap" on 1500-ESPN again tonight with Joe Anderson, starting 40 minutes after the last out.
• If you're into schadenfreude, click here.
• On a related note, Ozzie Guillen will be back with the White Sox next season.
• It's tough to blame a guy too much for having crazy goals when he's already dating Rihanna.
• In a "worlds colliding" discovery, Jin from Lost diagnosed Kramer with gonorrhea on Seinfeld:
Also in the scene: Brian Posehn.
• One of my favorite stand-up comedians, Greg Giraldo, died Wednesday. September was an awful month for the comedy world, with the great Robert Schimmel also passing away.
• After a Fred Lynn-like rookie season doing FSN's weather updates during Twins games, Kate Bilo has taken a new job in Philadelphia. She'll be missed.
• Pittsburgh fired ex-Twins catcher Matt Walbeck after he won Double-A manager of the year.
• More than 40 percent of AOL's revenue still comes from people using their service through a dial-up connection, which is the most shocking thing I've heard since ... well, since I stopped using AOL's dial-up service like 10 years ago.
• Doc Rivers' son Austin Rivers is the top-ranked high school basketball player in the country and yesterday he committed to Duke. It surely had nothing to do with this.
• Phew, good to know that whole thing is finally settled. We're cool again, Germany.
• MLB.com has a mesmerizing video showing all 54 of Jose Bautista's homers in two minutes.
• Here's something to think about next time you read an article quoting "an unnamed scout."
• If you're unfamiliar with the brilliance of Karl Pilkington, this video is a good place to start:
And there's more where that came from.
• My main man Drew Silva wrote a lengthy article about the Cy Young award and everything that comes with it this season.
• On one hand, this is pretty cool. On the other hand, I have 20 of the real thing in my garage.
• YoYo Donuts and Coffee Bar opened recently and has really good donuts, which is bad news for fatso baseball bloggers who live a couple blocks away. I'm already into the place for $9.
• Friend of AG.com Ted Berg wrote a very touching, personal piece about life and baseball that you should probably read.
• If you're a student and a blogger, you can get a $10,000 scholarship.
• Here are some highlights from my NBCSports.com blogging this week:
- The Big Three could start 17 of 19 playoff games for the Phillies
- Pirates clinch MLB's worst record and next year's No. 1 pick
- Mariners "not thinking about changing the general manager at all"
- Pedro Feliciano becomes fifth pitcher in MLB history to make 90 appearances
- Matt Murton threatening to break Ichiro Suzuki's hit record in Japan
- "Setup man of the decade" Scot Shields pondering retirement
- Japanese outfielder Hitoshi Tamura "exploring" move to MLB
- Elvis Andrus is doing Vince Coleman-like things
- Rickey Henderson wants to be on the A's coaching staff
• Finally, this week's AG.com-approved music video is Sara Bareilles performing a live version of "King of Anything" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson:
Hell, yeah!! I’m into schadenfr….
Oh, that’s what it means. Never mind.
Comment by Rusty Trawler — October 1, 2010 @ 9:30 am
Just showed the baseball-card wood box to Chris Olds, who agreed that it was very cool and might try to get it into a future issue of Beckett Baseball.
Comment by Jason w — October 1, 2010 @ 1:08 pm
Glad to see World War I ended. Now I can get rid of the gas mask.
Comment by Michael — October 1, 2010 @ 2:58 pm
There’s nothing particularly ironic about the Segway guy dying on Segway. Would it be a ironic if the Ford CEO died in a Ford? Now if perhaps he was on his way to deliver a speach about Segway safety, it would have been ironic.
Comment by Matt B — October 1, 2010 @ 3:27 pm
To follow up a get a bit meta on you, it is ironic that would you mention the frequent misuse of the word “ironic” while misusing it.
Comment by Matt B — October 1, 2010 @ 3:28 pm
I hope Kate Bilo leaving means that they will replace her full time with the hotter Katie Fehlinger. And please lord not that rube dude who gave the weather last night.
Comment by Andy — October 1, 2010 @ 3:29 pm
As a Twins fan living in Philadelphia I fully support her coming here.
But yes, Ms. Fehlinger is way hotter.
Comment by Pete M. — October 1, 2010 @ 4:23 pm
I have to agree with Matt. Funny coincidence /= ironic.
Comment by jojo — October 1, 2010 @ 6:19 pm
I hate Nick Punto. He’s the reason the Twins are playing like crap this week. Our only chance is to leave him off the playoff roster.
Comment by Pedro Munoz — October 1, 2010 @ 7:58 pm
Just listen to the old Alanis Morissette song “Ironic” for examples of things that are in fact, not technically or literally, ironic. Which is, itself, ironic.
So I think the Segway falls into the category of “not technically or literally ironic.” Which doesn’t really matter to most people – including me.
Now, if someone gets strangled by a safety harness – that’s ironic. If someone drowns because of a life-preserver – that’s ironic.
Comment by Son of Shane Mack — October 1, 2010 @ 8:33 pm
A.G., your links are a treasure and you are a media genius. Write a book already!
Comment by Where's A.J. — October 1, 2010 @ 10:53 pm
A.G., I agree with Where’s A.J.
OT: first pitch temperature for the playoff game wednesday will be an OK 55-60ish, according to the National Weather Service.
Comment by duane — October 3, 2010 @ 7:57 pm