As usual, Jon Heyman is an idiot

Jon Heyman is one of the lead baseball writers for Sports Illustrated, which is remarkable since he clearly knows little or nothing about baseball. Today he decided to write about the best and worst free agent signings, despite the fact that the season is only half over, and that most of these players signed multi-year contracts. This makes perfect sense, it is obviously easy to judge the success of a seven year contract after half a season.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jon_heyman/06/28/Heyman.scoop/index.html

For example, in a couple of years CC Sabatia could have a couple of Cy Young awards, or he could have ballooned to 400 pounds, making the walk in from the bullpen an adventure every 5 days (needless to say, I'm pulling for the later). But the worst item on the list has to be:
13. David Eckstein, Padres 2B. Always inspirational, at least the rebuilding Padres have had moments. Hitting .268 and making just $850,000.
Right, that .673 OPS is really helping those basement dwelling San Diego Padres. Ken Tremendous, we need you back.

Ari being Ari

Apparently Ari is against moustaches, which is completely ridiculous.

http://mdrnjackass.blogspot.com/2009/06/mustaches.html

I mean, if it wasn't for the great moustache, I wouldn't have this:

Draft grades

One of the dumbest columns that sports writers insist on writing every year after the NBA and NFL drafts is the draft grade column, where the writer gives each team a grade on their picks.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/scott_howard-cooper/06/26/grades/index.html?eref=sihp

Since the draft is mostly a crapshoot, the only way to get a good grade is to do what the writer thinks you should do, and if some GM has the nerve to have a different opinion than the experts at ESPN, SI, or one of the other major sports outlets, they had better be prepared to be ripped to shreds by these so-called draft gurus.

My favorite part of this whole exercise is how the Mel Kiper Jr's of the world always assume they know more than anyone else. My favorite draft moment is when Mel ripped apart the new Patriots braintrust of Belichick and Pioli for taking Richard Seymour (now a perennial Pro Bowler) over David Terrell (no longer in the league). Good call Mel, go buy some more hair gel.

MannyBeingSuspended

Does anyone else think that it is absolute garbage that Manny Ramirez is able to do a rehab assignment at the end of his suspension for taking steroids? He was suspended for cheating, if he isn't ready to hit big league pitching after his 50 game unpaid vacation, then let him go to the minors after the suspension is over. I do find it fitting that he is playing for the Albequerque Isotopes, a triple A team named after a Simpsons episode. If anyone in major league baseball belongs in a cartoon, it is Manny.

Proof of Rule #1

Today's proof that people are stupid: Disgraced South Carolina governor Mark Sanford. What the hell was he thinking, disappearing for 4 days to go see his mistress in Argentina? The question shouldn't be "how could this blow up in my face?", it should be "is there any way this doesn't blow up in my face?" He didn't even have an excuse for going down there, he just up and left. Brilliant. Of course, I take special pleassure when these things happen to members of the self-proclaimed moral majority. In doing this, he has completely ruined his career (if he is able to finish his term it will be remarkable), and possibly his marraige. I hope she was worth it Mark.

Today's evidence that Ari is a moron

According to Ari, straight vodka has no calories because it's clear:

http://mdrnjackass.blogspot.com/2009/06/straight-vodka.html

By this logic Karo syrup, which is essentially liquid sugar, would also have no calories.

Beer of the day

I have discovered the most dangerous beer ever, Harpoon Leviathan Big Bohemian Pilsner. Harpoon Leviathan is a series of BIG beers, and I've tried a couple of them, usually they are heavy beers with obviously high alcohol content. This beer is an exception, it is a nice light pilsner, with some subtle character, and absolutely no idiciation that it is 9% ABV! This beer comes highly recommended, just know what you are getting into.

Hello

So, I've decided to start a blog. I have a few resons for doing this, and I thought I would outine them, mostly for my own amusement (I'm convinced that is why 99% of people blog anyway), but also to get any feedback/suggestions if anyone actually reads this. First and foremost, I wanted to get back into writing, I used to write things on a semi-regular basis, but recently all of my writing has been about my research, and while my papers are technically in English, anyone who doesn't have an extensive background in organic chemistry would think it was another language.

Another reason for starting this is that, despite my laid back personality, I have a lot of opinions, and feel the need to write them down, even if no one else gives a shit. Hopefully, if people end up reading this, they will find something interesting, useful, funny, offensive, thought provoking, etc. As far as when I'll add content, I really have no idea, but it will most likely be sporadic at best, I might go a couple of weeks without posting anything, and then write 20,000 words over a weekend. A lot of that is my schedule, but like many other things, some will be a need for interest or inspiration.

Finally, there is way to much stupidity in this world, and I feel the need to call people out when they write or say things which are completely ridiculous. With that in mind, a certain part of this blog will be dedicated to pointing out ridiculousness, hypocrisy and idiocy, in the mainstream media, in other internet sites, and specifically in Ari's blog (http://mdrnjackass.blogspot.com/).

I will listen to any suggestions, and mock then mercilessly if I feel like it.