The song is "Please don't go girl" by The New Kids on the Block - Moffat's favourite 80's band of all time.

You said you wouldn't tell!!!!!

"The thing Bonds will do," said Lima, the voice of experience, "is that he will look bad on a pitch on purpose. He has done it to me three times."

I hadn't heard that about Bonds before. That's funny. Makes me think Bonds might be a tad confident in his batting abilities.

I can't think of anything witty, so I'll just say it: SIX MONTHS IN A LEAKY BOAT!

I'm a huge fan of them Finns, especially Neil.

There was a copy of The National Post's sports section on the GO train today, and in it there were a pair of articles by John Lott about the turf at the Dome and how much everyone hates it. The Argos apparently are renting their own removeable turf for all their home games this year.

Apparently, Montréal's Field Turf experiment is interesting because Field Turf is supposed to be permanently installed because it cannot be rolled up for storage -- that would mess up the distribution of the bits. So at the Big O the turf is in a series of 800 pound containers that meet up perfectly but that can be stacked and put away. SkyDome is apparently interested in buying the used setup if and when the Expos move.

I'm wondering how the Argos field will be, since it rolls up. Word is that they're getting a sweetheart deal on the rental because the vendor wants the contract for the new Argo stadium next year. If it is a good surface, there's another option for SkyDome.

Hell, how many times can I use apparently ? Apparently a lot of times.

The Argos apparently are renting their own removeable turf for all their home games this year.

The turf they're renting, is it FieldTurf-esque?

Word is that they're getting a sweetheart deal on the rental because the vendor wants the contract for the new Argo stadium next year.

Not a very smart business decision, I'm ninety percent sure that Varsity stadium will be grass. The Canadian Soccer Association is the other tenant and there's no way they'll play on turf.

A story in the Sun today says that it is not FieldTurf but rather something produced in Michigan by Generalsports Turf Systems. It cost $300,000 compared to $1 million for the FieldTurf. It is described as "consisting of synthetic grass and granualted rubber".

I am heading to the game tonight. Will be interesting to see what it looks like. Anything is better than what they had.

It can't really be like Field Turf if they can roll it because Field Turf is made up of a bunch of loose rubber bits. But it's supposed to be better than the old-school Astro Turf at the Dome now.

I can't think of anything witty, so I'll just say it: SIX MONTHS IN A LEAKY BOAT! I'm a huge fan of them Finns, especially Neil.

You get thirty million points. It would have been more if you had been wittier and/or said the name of the band (Split Enz). But thirty million is still good.

Because you're a fan of the Finns, you also get a picture of one of my favourite Finns: Miss Finland.

[The Argos turf] is described as "consisting of synthetic grass and granualted rubber".

Now that is interesting! Field Turf says the granulated rubber is why it can't be rolled up -- the granules unsettle and move around. Remember all the talk about how the Twins' field was too springy at the start of the year because it would take a few weeks to settle? Imagine that happening every time they had to change the stadium for some other event.

So maybe these Michigan guys have figured out a way to keep it together better.

The market for artificial turf is so tough that the makers of genuine Astro Turf declared bankruptcy.

By the way, the Field Turf people say that in the Marlins stadium there have been Monster Truck shows on the Field Turf (with a tarp over it and some boards) with no ill effects to the turf.

You get thirty million points. It would have been more if you had been wittier and/or said the name of the band (Split Enz). But thirty million is still good.

Can I get bonus points for sending you an MP3 of an acoustic version performed by Neil and Tim during a radio interview?

Yes.

Someone was just on the Fan talking about the Argo reaction to the turf, called Game Day Turf. Apparently they love it and it totally changes the look of SkyDome.

http://www.argonauts.ca/ArgosNews04/0614.html
COMN for a (not very good) picture of the turf at the 'dome

http://www.generalsportsturf.com/main.asp
COMN for the GeneralSports Turf System homepage.

Do the Marlins have fieldturf? Perhaps you mean the Devil Rays.

I thought I read Marlins, but maybe I read Florida and my brain filled in Marlins. ;)

Maybe I'm just easily annoyed when it comes to reading the Star, but this kind of bugged me:

It made news, because after 4,306 consecutive games and an additional 41 post-season games — yes, kids, the Jays once played those — his chair in the broadcast booth went empty for an evening.

It's a nice column about Tom Cheek. Is the "by the way, the Jays stink" comment strictly necessary? I don't think it adds anything at all.

Reminds me of Ann Coulter's column marking Ronald Reagan's passing, which couldn't resist a couple of shots at liberals. When you're acting at Ann Coulter's level of emotional maturity, you need help.

Ann Coulter is secretly a socialist imitating a Conservative in order to make anyone right of center look bad. I'm convinced. How any libertarian, fiscal conservative, or social conservative can read one of her pieces without getting annoyed is beyond me.

Everytime you agree with Ann Coulter, God kills a cuttlefish.

Mike, don't worry about the cuttlefish. He's way behind on kittens for me alone; it'll take Him years to catch up.

Yeah, but every time you disagree with Ann Coulter, she kills a kitten. Your kitten, if you're not careful.

She boils it alive and crunches the bones between her fangs.

He's way behind on kittens for me alone; it'll take Him years to catch up.

This one sentence might be the funniest thing I've read on the Box, but I fear that it may be lost on some.

http://www.dogsdieinhotcars.com
I'm sure I don't need to point you guys to The Onion but their Reagan headline was the first time I've laughed out loud at the Onion in a long time. If you swing by the onion.com it might still be up on the sidebar.

Another pathetic diversion for the day. I usually spend my time on the internet listening to BBC6 radio out of the UK. For the past few months they've been pushing a band called Dogs Die in Hot Cars. They sound incredibly 80's-like. In fact, I think they sound very similar to XTC. If you like your XTC, COMN and then go to the media section and check out the videos there. Godhopping is especially good.

http://www.thewolfshack.com
Well things are slowing down here, so I have a question.

Some friends and me are thinking about going to New York for July 1, 2 and 3rd.
However, New York is expensive. Does anyone know anywhere I can find a reasonably priced placed for 4 of us? We're cool with 2 double beds in the same room or a university residence or something.

Also, the Yankees play the Red Sox on Thursday night, and the Mets Fri, Sat and Sun.
All of these games are sold out. If we try to buy tickets from a scalper, how badly are we going to get ripped off?

Thanks.

Some friends and me are thinking about going to New York for July 1, 2 and 3rd.
However, New York is expensive. Does anyone know anywhere I can find a reasonably priced placed for 4 of us? We're cool with 2 double beds in the same room or a university residence or something.

Might want to check out this hotels site:

http://express-res.com

I used them a couple years ago, and was pretty happy with the service.

In regards to the whole issue of Bonds looking bad on ptches on purpose, I just was reading about Willie mays and apparently he would do the same thing. In his first few at-bats (if there was no one on base) he would purposely look bad on a particular pitch so that later in the game in crucial situations the pitcher would try and get him out with the same pitch which Mays would be expecting...pretty interesting strategy

It might not work as well today as it is unusual to face the same pitcher in the 1st and the 8 or 9th inning...

In regards to Lima's quote on Bonds. I have done the same thing in my men's league on several occasions. The worse you look on some junk, the better the chance it will get thrown to you again. If I am sitting on a fastball, with less then 2 strikes, i will swing through a curve, slider, knuckle, if i know it will be a strike anyway.

I thought FIFA approved field-turf for their matches which would allow Varsity Stadium to put it in if I have that right.

sweat, i think you missed the point. in the case described, if you were like bonds, you swing threw the fastball if you wanted to sit on it later.

anyway, anyone know when short season A-ball starts? today?
any drafted players signed yet?

A few years ago, I read a story about Maddux that said he was known to intentionally throw some bad pitches, or choose poor pitch sequences, during spring training. I think he gave up a couple home runs to Bagwell on the same pitch, then in the regular season thrown the "right" one.

Paul, if you are looking to go cheap, check out the West Side YMCA. I think you also get use of the facilities including the gym and pool. It's right in the heart of Lincoln Center.

5 W 63rd Street between Central Park West & Columbus Avenue

http://www.jimsdeli.com/new-york-city-hostel/west-side-ymca.htm

"The thing Bonds will do," said Lima, the voice of experience, "is that he will look bad on a pitch on purpose. He has done it to me three times."

Along those lines, also under the heading this might be true is a story involving Greg Maddux and Jeff Bagwell. It is alleged (by whom, I can't recall) that Maddux once intentionally grooved a 1-2 pitch to Bagwell who promptly homered and ruined Maddux's shutout (though the Braves were comfortably ahead). Maddux allegedly did so to set Bagwell up down the road, presumably the playoffs, when he would most certainly not throw that same pitch in the same situation.

The story does sound fishy but Maddux would be a pitcher who would be smart enough to plant seeds in a hitter's head for another time.

http://www.thiolon-grass.com
MatO, I believe you're right about FIFA approving FieldTurf. Not sure about the Argos turf, although I found this on the GeneralSports Turf System webpage...

GENERALSPORTS TURF will use Thiolon Grass as the yarn component for the sports turf products. Thiolon is the world’s market leader in synthetic sport grasses. Thiolon has recieved FIFA's recommendation.

Not sure what FIFA's recommendation means.
COMN for the Thiolon Grass website.

Some decisions JP might want to have back:

Pat Hentgen $2.2 Million 66IP 67H 26BB 32K 5.50 ERA
Mark Hendrickson $.3 mil.70.1IP 79H 21BB 24K 4.61 ERA
Chris Carpenter $.5 mil. 79.1IP 72H 17BB 59K 3.97 ERA

I know it is early. Carpenter's arm may fall off and Hentgen could have a great second half but still for the money it appears the Jays didn't do well. (Not a criticism just an observation)

How any libertarian, fiscal conservative, or social conservative can read one of her pieces without getting annoyed is beyond me.

How anyone can read any of her pieces without wanting to gnaw their own arm off is beyond me.

McCarthy: "Who's criticizing Ann Coulter? I want names! I want names of people with names of people criticizing Ann."

Hentgen hasn't pitched quite as well as many expected (or maybe hoped is a better word) but if nothing else he's been a mentor in the clubhouse, an inning eater to bridge the gap for the young arms to develop and has given the fans a chance to thank one of the greatest players in franchise history. Plus as you said, he could still turn it up in the second half as he did last year. His signing is certainly not as much of a gaffe in hindsight as paying Lidle $5 mil.

As for Hendrickson, I like the guy and all but if he keeps giving up so many HR's, hits, walks and striking out so few batters I just can't see him maintaining that mid-4's ERA over the long haul. I think the Jays brass are probably still quite happy with Speier instead.

Carpenter's salary will escalate to about $1 million after bonuses, plus there's that $500,000 (incl. buyout) they paid Carpenter last year waiting for him to recover. Considering the guy had two shoulder surgeries in less than a year it was a high risk signing that paid off for the Cards. But it's not the type of risk the current Blue Jays are prone to making.

Pat Hentgen $2.2 Million 66IP 67H 26BB 32K 5.50 ERA

Hentgen has been pitching pretty well of late, including his last start where he was almost dominant. I would not be surprised to see him get his ERA down into the mid 4's by the end of the season. If he manages to do that, he's will have certainly earned his keep.

Carpenter wanted a spot on the 40-man and the Jays didn't want to use one on him. So they agreed to disagree. BTW, Carpenter will earn another 500K if he makes 30 starts. St. Louis has a 2MM option (200K buyout) for 2005.

4.61 ERA notwithstanding, Hendrickson has been one of the luckiest starters in the majors this year. Things will even out, and his ERA will rise.

One other thing:

Hentgen's ERA is 5.05, not 5.50.

Who in their right mind would have offered Carperter arbitration after blowing out his arm? When Toronto didn't offer arb, Caerpenter became a free agent and could sign with anyone. The Cards gambled that he could return and be productive - a gamble that failed last year but is working out better this year.

If JP could have seen Carpenter coming I'd turn my 401k over to him.

I'm 95% certain that grass is going in at Varsity, but while FIFA has sanctioned games to be played on field turf in the past (there have been Canadian women's games held at Frank Clair Stadium where they have it) it has repeatedly said that it will not award competitions to bidders whose stadiums are not natural grass.

With that said, part of the reason the government agreed to partly fund the new stadium is because of an almost certainty that the FIFA U-19 Youth Championships will be awarded to Canada. CONCACAF president Jack Warner in fact withdrew his own country of Trinidad & Tobago from bidding on the Championships in order to guarantee that Canada would get the event. It is due to be held in North America, because it hasn't been held in this region since Mexico hosted in the 1980s.