A little too close to home

McSweeney's.

I'm sure they'll be saying that after they win the World Series

It is known that Johan Santana is Father Hennepin's favorite active baseball player is Johan Santana. So you can take this prediction with a grain of salt:

Your 2008 World Series Champions will be the New York Metropolitans.


Slate has an article arguing why the Red Sox and Yankees were fortunate not to get Santana. I have read similar articles that basically say that yes Santana is one of the best pitchers in baseball but the money and the amount of years in his contract, not to mention the personnel that were required to acquire Santana are too steep a price.

First of all, Santana is not "one of the best pitchers in baseball." He is THE BEST PITCHER in baseball.

Second, in acquiring Santana, the Mets did not give up one major league ready player and also retained their top prospect. They have not one, but two, MVP candidates in Wright and Reyes and a scary good lineup.

Third, the Mets (and the Yankees and Red Sox for that matter) can afford Santana's contract and the accompanying risk of a long term deal with.

I point this criticisim more at the Yankees than the Sawx. Hughes/Chamberlain/Kennedy are not Johan Santana. They are Kris Benson. They are Gil Meche. Enjoy missing the playoffs.

William F. Buckley

William F. Buckley died yesterday. This is a blow to conservatisism. I neither dismiss nor do I embrace conservatism as a political ideology. From my observation, however, conservatisim has undergone a rift between the small government, libertarian, individualism expressed by intellectuals like Buckley and the wrap yourself in the flag, evolution is a scam, school prayer, kick out the foreigners brand of 21st century conservatism.

Perhaps someone fill the intellectual leadership void left by Buckley. It would do well for our nation's discourse.

Breaking News: Requiem for a Decent Burger Place

Maxwell's in downtown Minneapolis caught on fire today.

I was sitting in class when I got an Instant Message from a friend who lives and works downtown:

Her: Maxwell's is on fire!

Me: What did you do?

Her: It wasn't me, but it's in flames.

Me: Holy Shit

Her: I know, no more Burgers

Me: Unless you like them really, really, well done

RIP Maxwell's

And the train kept a rollin'

10 in a row. My biggest fear is that as the Clinton camp grows more desperate the threat of Rove-like tactics increases. She needs to win Ohio and Texas decisively. It appears that it least in Texas a win may possible, but a decisive win isn't going to happen. Obama appears to be making serious inroads in Ohio as well

Here is a take on Hilary's chances and options:

http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2008/02/were-now-down-t.html

Money Quote:

"There is nothing left but strained, over-the-top shenanigans in the service of pulling off a mathematically impossible fantasy.
That, or a polite, reasoned withdrawal in the interest of faits accomplis and party unity, leaving her, in eight years, still nearly four years younger than the current Republican nominee.[...]
She can now stay mired in the silliness and do the party a whole lot of damage, or she can crawl out of it and do the party and herself a whole lot of good.
She can, that is, simply withdraw now. The test of Wisconsin was whether Obama would continue taking occupation of virtually every demographic territory once so confidently held by Mrs. Clinton. He did, and he did it decisively."

(H/T: Sullivan)

Experience

Bill Clinton, 1991, talking about the role of experience.

Dwight Howard Superman Dunk

I can understand that not everybody like sports. I can understand that not everybody likes basketball. I can understand that not everybody likes the slam dunk contest.

But...

This should be appreciated by EVERYONE for what it is. Beauty.

Dwight Howard's display of athleticism on Saturday night was a thing of beauty.

Enjoy.