bellyitcher

No? Well, anyway. I wish I could say I've been working on some fantastic redesign, but my HTML skills are akin to Rodriguez's baserunning skills: fumbling at best. I also haven't been running numbers on multiple spreadsheets trying to predict Izzy's meltdowns. Nor was I signed by a big record label. But there are some things in the works to provide an even more fabulous bellyitcher which are taking up a good deal of time.

So, until these people stop stealing my great ideas a day before I read them and/or I can drum up some interest in the WBC, here are some links:

VEB's community projections, all-time lists from Cardnilly and Valatan (1B, 2B, 3B), The Red Crush looks at the Cards' business practices, Fungoes continues mining the internet in Around the Horn, and Alex makes friends on myspace. Not that there's anything to report on, but I wouldn't expect much from the official site for a few days. I do believe Matthew Leach just got married, so congratulations to him and his new bride.

Also, Ozzie's still being a little bitch. Seriously, it's time to let it go.

the Iron_Throne requested Green Day's "Good Riddance," saying it reminded him of the 1998 home run chase. With all the talk about McGwire's Hall of Fame chances going on right now, it's really quite fitting to remember that we all had a hell of a lot of fun that summer.

We're trying something a little different with this song: a sort of rebus.

Another winter gone, a fork stuck in the road
The game grabs your wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

The season's unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
We'll be praying for your good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while

The season's unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

The season's unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

The season's unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

-apologies to Green Day

Marquis will make at least $5.15 million next year.

What day is he traded? Whoever is closest to the actual date will win a fabulous prize.

Speaking of fabulous prizes, congrats to the Iron_Throne, who once again kicked ass in Scrabble. Now I gotta think of a song.

Back from a holiday break: Scrabble! This weekend it's the Johnson City roster. I again analyzed the frequency of letters. Here's the allotment:

A=	10	B=	1	C=	3	D=	4	E=	9	F=	1	G=	2	H=	4	I=	4	J=	2	K=	1	L=	8	M=	4
N=	7	O=	9	P=	2	Q=	0	R=	8	S=	6	T=	4	U=	2	V=	1	W=	2	X=	1	Y=	2	Z=	1

Plus two blanks. Here are the rules, but you can use as many letters as you like, so there's no bonus for using 7 "tiles". Again, the prize is a game from 2005 (or if you have a Mac, something else undecided).



The Iron_Throne has 203 points, Laura has 60 points, Bruce has 45 points.

Letters no longer available: D, F, K, M, O, P, S, U, W, X, Z, blanks

Also, Matthew Leach is doing Winter Warm-Up updates on his blog. I never know how to feel about the WWU. It's for Cardinals Care and there's interesting speakers every year. But there's something about it that's a little creepy and a lot cheesy.

I hope he wears a Cards hat. Rather, he better wear a Cards hat.

Well, that was a little lame. Only two people participated in Scrabble, so it's on hold and we'll finish that game next weekend.

The Marlins were in town today and we didn't put on our best face. In the Oregonian column linked to by FishStripes, John Canzano seemingly could not find anyone who might have the slightest interest in baseball. Which is crap. Ratings for Game Four of this year's World Series:

Of the markets not in Texas or Chicago, Portland ranked fourth in the nation with a 14.8 rating, behind St. Louis (22.9), Minneapolis-St. Paul (15.5) and Phoenix (15.0).

It's not like we had a horse in that race. Here's the other paper, the Portland Tribune's, column from December.

Sadly, the majority of native Portlanders have been brainwashed by the proximity of the Mariners into thinking the American League is real baseball. And it would probably continue to be that way as I could see the Portland Salmon/Orca/Beavers/Really Big Trees moving to the AL West and one of the NL Central teams going to the NL East.

Also, PGE Park? Gorgeous. With a delicious microbrew beer garden right down the right field line.

Course, our mayor isn't really on board, so this whole exercise is academic.

I vaguely remember reading a blurb at the end of the season that the team was looking at updating the uniforms. Nothing drastic like vests (which are so dumb) or anything, but small changes in the "Cardinals" script or the like. I went through the "Dressed to the Nines" online exhibit to get ideas. I'd love for the jerseys to have piping, a la the '36-'55 unis. If they ever have a solid red alternate jersey, I will not be responsible for my actions. Leave those in Spring Training. And I like the Sunday caps.

What would you like/hate to see?