Jade Bile

I never really thought about concepts like love or friendship or the soul.  I assumed that, since they had been defined, I would eventually discover how they related to my life.  This was a mistake, one that I realized far too late in the game.  I had always thought that love existed and I simply had to find the person with which I was meant to be, my soul-mate.  As if all of this had been preordained, I wandered about in a vain search for all of the grace that was to be my destiny.  It took me far too long to understand that the words did not create the reality, rather the reality created the words.  All of these labels were constructed so that there could be a commonly understandable term, not because they held any innate meaning themselves.  I had spent my life looking for that which was love, that which was friendship.  How foolish.  I should have simply led the best life that I could and allowed the history books to describe the relationships however they saw fit.  Everything is not for everyone.  Life is not a checklist of success, love, children, 22 friends and landmarks seen.  Life is only an expression.  It is the cause and effect of each of us upon the rest.  There is no should.  There is no expectation.  At this late date, I find it unlikely that I might affect such a fundamental change of philosophy upon the practice of my life.  Another change seems much more pragmatic.  Perhaps if I light the fires just right, I can burn away the wool of others without forever blinding their eyes.

A Quest Called Tribe

Before I start this rant, let me make sure that we are all on the same page.  We all agree that there are more right handed pitchers than left handed, right?  And that this is even more prevalent among starting pitchers?  Good.  Thus, logically, assuming that a switch hitters bats always bats from the opposite side of the plate as the throwing arm of the pitcher that he is facing (an outstanding assumption), all switch hitters will have more at-bats from the left hand side, correct?  OK.

So, when Asdrubal Cabrera came up in the top of the 8th inning (Right before the Boston fans started singing that F'ing Neal Diamond song that everyone forgets is an F'ing Red Sox song and sings wherever their dumb asses are even if that is at the Jake.  Come to think of it why do they play that shite at the Jake?  It's a GD Red Sox song!) and Matt "My IQ is" Under-wood chimes that "his batting average is much higher from the right hand side of the plate, but most of his pop is from the left.  In fact, 16 of his 19 home runs have come batting left handed," I want to punch him in the mouth.  Of course, most of his home runs are going to be batting left handed!  Because most of the pitchers are right handed!  Now, if you look at AzCab's splits, it turns out that his slugging percentage is 75 points higher as a lefty.  Cool, I can dig it, but, for the love of Pete guys, stop treating us like maroons and talk about the game like professionals.

Whew.

While I have been quite critical of Manny Acta over the past few weeks, the skipper made a statement today that I am in total agreement with.  Acta declared that Ubaldo Jimenez and Justin Masterson will start every five days for the rest of the season.  That means the other three starters will, if necessary, get skipped to accommodate the top two.  This is old school... and awesome.

Speaking of Jimenez, he will join the Indians in Boston tomorrow, prior to making his debut in Texas on Friday.  With Ubaldo reporting, space had to be cleared on the active roster (Mitch Talbot was DFA'ed to open a slot on the 40-man).  To accomodate this need, the Tribe has optioned David Huff and his 0.51 ERA back to Columbus.  At first glance, this seems exceptionally stupid.  Strangely, it is not.  Based on the standard that Manny Acta set earlier in the day, the Tribe will not need a 5th starter again until August 13th.  By this time, Carlos Carrasco will have started tomorrow, dropped his appeal and severed the 6-game suspension that he earned for throwing at the head of Billy Butler on Friday.  Assuming Car-Square delivers something less than a perfect game tomorrow, he will then be optioned to the Clippers on the 13th and recall Huff.  Next, the Tribe will bring Carlos back when rosters expand on September 1.  Here is the best part.  Since Carrasco will have been in the minors for less than 20 days, this does not count as an option!  Love it.

If you feel like reading the most incisive and well constructed piece that Terry Pluto has written all year (and one I happen to agree with), go here.

I wanted to be done with this, but pictures of the game have yet to be posted, so on I go.

While I was sminking a bunch went down that I have yet to discuss.

#1 - Orlando Cabrera traded to the Giants for OF Thomas Neal.  Given the fact that the Indians are committed to Jason Kipnis at second base (and with good reason after he became the first Indians rookie to homer 3 times in his first 9 games since Luis Medina in 1988), the fact that they got something reasonable for O-Cab is downright awesome.  Now, Neal is having a down year, but he was #7 on San Francisco's prospect list coming into the season and was #96 on the Baseball America top 100 prior to 2010.  He is a toolsy guy who needs to rebound to make the bigs, that is why we got him for a washed up scrub.  For O-Cab, though, Neal is a great return.

#2 - Jason Donald takes Cabrera's spot on the active roster.  Good for JD, who has had a tough season injury wise and has been absolutely destroying the International League.  A true utility guy, I hope that he hangs around Cleveland forever.

Tonight was a tough one to swallow.  Maybe I'll dig into it tomorrow.  Maybe not.

Cheers.

Pretty Girl 08.03.11 - Rhianna Bumpin' In Barbados

rihanna-getting-drunk-and-jiggy-barbados by EgotasticMedia

She wasn't part of the show, that's just what she had packed.

Black and White and Purple

Hopefully, it'll be a lot easier to take this after Friday.

Flick to Click: Pearl Jam - Twenty

Limited release 09.20.11

Jade Bile

I think that it changed for me when I realized that I no longer held any dreams or aspirations.  One day I found that I disliked hope, that I was all but afraid of it.  How could it come to this?  Every song that I hear conjures the sensation of a monumental mistake.  Every opportunity is another to squander.  Every breath is new disappointment and each step another jagged pain.  When left without any possibility of joy or fulfillment, no goals for tomorrow or beyond, you begin to search for a path or plan.  When the insurmountable burden of expectation has eradicated every glimmer of glee, you begin to question the very concept of happiness.  Someone once told me that the United States is wonderful because we have the freedom to do whatever we want.  No person is constrained from following his true heart's desire to its ultimate fruition.  If my role is not inspire the exhibition of human achievement, perhaps my purpose is more subtle.  They say ignorance is bliss.  I shall abolish both.

Pretty Girl 08.02.11 - Meghan Markle

A former Deal or No Deal kitten, check her out on Suits.

Jade Bile

Did you ever read comic books as a kid?  The nature of melodrama is to describe an adversarial encounter, the dichotomy between good and evil.  After the Hitler/Nazi propaganda of WWII, comics needed something more satisfying than Batman punching purse pilfering thugs or Superman saving a defenestrated Lois Lane.  These bad guys could not be in any way sympathetic to the reader.  The Joker was psychotic.  Lex Luthor was a mad scientist, driven to wild means by the end of knowledge.  Since the plot is designed for the villain to lose every time, they needed to be such abominable bastards that the readers would continue to buy the book just to witness evil's inevitable defeated time and again.  Years went by and the characters evolved to appeal to a more sophisticated audience, yet the dynamic changed little.  The Joker got crazier.  Lex Luthor became an immoral businessman who directed his xenophobia at the alien Superman.  As Hollywood pumped millions of dollars into film franchises, it became imperative that the antagonists remain unquestionably despicable.  The viewer is meant to be left appalled, unable to comprehend how any human being could commit such atrocities.  None were intended to identify with such scoundrels.  I'm the guy who did.

The Munsters Go To College

I think that I was more like the wolfman (over consumed at night, never shaved, made a lot of noise and sometimes messed on the carpet).

Pretty Girl 08.01.11 - Aviva Farber

Can you believe that this is the same chick that McLovin' was drooling over in Superbad?  Wow.