Brewtacular

Japan hadn't won anything at the time of that botched play. The US won the game based on the call and, for good or bad, that jives with the perception people in Japan, or outside the US, have.

The best, and most intense, sporting match I've ever watched was during the innagural WBC while sitting at my desk, in Japan, when Japan lost to Korea 1-0. It's different, there's a history that goes back thousands of years. They don't like each other. I also recall when the US ump botched the 3rd base tag-up call during the US vs Japan game. That only fed people's suspicions that it was rigged and that the US is, and perhaps rightly so, out of step with the rest of the world.

Beautiful grab by Aoki last night. I don't get to see many games since I live out of state but when I do get to see them it seems like Aoki continually has good/long at bats. I'd like to see him playing more, he does a good job. I also wish announcers could learn to pronounce his name. Man, the Twins announcers continually butchered it with different enunciations each time.

I like Bobby. I was in Japan when he came back the second time and loved what he did with Chiba and, more so, what he did for baseball in Japan in addition to the genuine respect he showed for the country/language/culture. Bobby was ideal person to needle the old guard that runs NPB and will have a lasting impact there. Besides, it's the Red Sox. They deserve the drama. No fan base is more annoying.

Ummm, we more or less had that last year.

Hong Kong. It's just unimaginably beautiful on the surrounding islands and the topography is hard to grasp. You can also head over to Macau which has much more gambling than Vegas.

I'll have you know that Hank has a really nice 79 Transam and he was just trying to do MLB a favor and save them some money in tough economic times by dropping the sample off at FedEx over on Cliff Road, sheesh.

I quit ESPN year ago. It's much easier than you think. I refuse the website and only turn to that channel if a game is on featuring a team from Wisconsin. Otherwise...screw um.

Yes, but it's metric. So that makes it 35 days.

Yes, but think of all the shell games you could do on the jumbotron!

Mexico City Astros...no wait, wrong name change.

More accurately, he made one decade-long bad decision.

That last sentence is really irritating. WHY? I know those aren't your words RyDogg. They're not validating the suspension they're just suggesting the most likely outcome. I would say that sentence is more accurate then saying the 50 game sentence is likely to be over-turned.

1. a wild sheep chase. not to be that guy, just sayin'. 2. if i recall, there was an audio book edition of consider the lobster by david foster wallace that he read himself that was supposed to be great. either way, those essays are worth a go. i'm currently immersed in the giant that is infinite jest. recently finished the milwaukee braves: a baseball eulogy by bob buege - great for a milwaukee/baseball nut, not great if you tire of minutiae and using the word whitewash in reference to a good pitching performance.Why the heck did I type Steeple?! Oh well, yes it is sheep but you are now that guy.

Flosses- Well, I was only in Taipei a few days -back in May- but it made a great impression. It felt right, culturally at least, and made more sense to me than many of the other countries I've been to. To help resurrect this thread I'll throw out some books I've read lately and/or just purchased.Forbidden Nation - political history of Taiwan. Not bad, dry.Pirate King; The Story of Koxinga. I love that dude. Basically gave the finger to China, Japan, and the Dutch and became a defacto deity. Shockingly, I just got around to reading Slaughterhouse Five. Freaking awesome. I've been fan of Kurt V's other stuff but never had gotten around to this one. A Wild Steeple Chase - Haruki Murakami - he's awesome and rate this up there on his list. His new book comes out later this fall, I believe. On the just purchased listNothing to Envy - ordinary lives in North KoreaEgg on Mao - about a Chinese dissidentFarewell to Manzanar - about the Japanese internment campsBeyond the Sky and the Earth - Some gal goes to Bhutan.Wild Swans - audio book - doesn't really count but oh well. Anyone have some good audiobook suggestions for the commute??