MVotD - Johnny Cash - Hurt

Prior to yesterday, I had never seen the video, which means that I have likely not yet posted it.  One of my top 5 songs of all-time.  To thine self be true...

Cheers.

It's Official... Indians Sign Johnny Damon

The deal is 1yr, $1.25mil with another $1.4mil worth of incentives.  In perhaps the oddest contract clause that I have ever encountered, Damon can opt out of the deal when if Grady Sizemore returns.  Supposedly the Commissioner's office has to approve that bit, but no one anticipates a problem.  A bigger issue is likely Johnny ability to play the outfield every day.  Over the past two seasons (2010 with Detroit and 2011 with Tampa) he has racked up just 52 games on the lawn.  Always an above average defender, in spite of arm that envies that of an amputee, Damon put up a 25 rTot/yr in left last season and a -2 in 2010.  We all know what Johnny looks like, so here's a quick pic of his wife.  ;-j

Pretty Girl Special Report! - Jessica Dorrell

This is the chick that Bobby Petrino got fired from his $3.5mil/yr coaching job for.  Eh, she's alright.

The Clip Joint

Matt Pagnozzi

The Clips (7-2) have played twice since last we spoke, splitting the pair with the Indianapolis Indians.  I took in the game live from Huntington Park on Wednesday night and watched as the boys launched 5 home runs in coming up on the wrong end of an 8-6 tally.  Today's businessman's special was much more true to from with Corey Kluber fanning 8 over 5 innings (3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB) in the 5-4 victory to move to 2-0.

Chad Huffman (.364) hit solo shots in both games, his first two bombs of the season.  Trevor Crowe (.389), Gregorio Petit (.235) and Matt LaPorta (.303) all also homered with the bases empty on Wednesday before Lonnie Chisenhall (.313) capped the scoring with an absolute monster 2-run dong that traveled over the Wendy's home run porch, the netting atop the roof and the entirety of the stadium before landing in a parking lot across Nationwide Avenue.  Still, the tater for LaPorta was his only hit in seven trips across both games and the Chiz Kid (after I applauded him for his plate discipline) fanned in 4 of 8 ABs.  Cord Phelps (.313) and Russ Canzler (.214) each added 3 hits to significantly improve their batting averages.

Kevin Slowey got the start on Wednesday and suffered through a wildly inconsistent start (7.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K).  Three of the five (including the two unearned) came across in the 3rd when throwing errors by Slowey (on a bunt) and catcher Matt Pagnozzi (on a pickoff attempt at third) helped Indy take the early lead.  Other than that, Kevin looked pretty good... except for the two big blasts his surrendered to center.  Speaking of pitching, Indianapolis starter Justin Wilson made the Clips look stupid for the first 6 innings in allowing just 2 hits and fanning seven.  Even more conspicuous was Indians' (stay with me, they are the Indianapolis Indians) closer Bryan Morris.  He came in having fanned 5 in his first (perfect) 1 1/3 innings of the season.  Think about it.  It's not a typo.  Last night, Morris surrendered the round trippers to LaPorta and Chisenhall (sandwiched around a walk to Canzler) before striking out the next three to escape with the win.  Yeah, that's 8 Ks in 2 1/3 now.

Today, the Clipper's bullpen was the true star as Frank Herrmann, Nick Hagadone and Chris Ray combined for four shutout innings, allowing just a hit and a walk while punching out 5.  Ray seems to be the default closer at this point, notching his 2nd save.  It's easy for the bullpen to do so well when most of them should be in the majors.

Still in search of their first off day of the season, Columbus plays at Louisville tomorrow with Scottie Barnes taking the hill at 7:05p.

P.s. I actually was motivated to take some pics last night, but somebody (who could that be?) forgot to charge my camera's battery.  Bollocks.

Pretty Girl Update! - Hayden Panettiere

The only thing that could top these pictures is if I had been the photographer.  ;-j

Pretty Girl 04.12.12 - Sara Galimberti

She's Italian.  She's a runner or something.  Who cares?  ;-j

Jason Russell Is My God

Butterballs
Get More: SOUTH
PARKLeopold "Butters" Stotch,Mr. Mackey,more...

It's just so catchy...

Pretty Girl 04.11.12 - Morgan Smith Goodwin

Do you think that, if I buy enough Wendy's hamburgers, she'll come visit me?

The Clip Joint

While the parent club has played just 4 contests since Thursday, the AAA Clippers have logged seven games in the season's first week.  Tonight, they snuck by Indianapolis 5-4 in 12 innings to run their record to an IL best 6-1.  Zach McAllister (2.25 ERA), the Clips opening day starter and de facto ace, went six strong (6 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) despite some shoddy defense.  The bullpen was even better.  Hector Ambriz (0.00) and Jeremy Accardo posted identical lines (2 IP, H, 3 K) in taking the team to the 10th and CC Lee (4.50) brought the team home with 2 scoreless frames (2 H, K) to close it out.

At the plate some things are going just as expected.  Matt LaPorta (.346) is dominating AAA pitching for (what is it?) the 4th straight season.  Matty launched his 3rd long ball (5 RBI) and is rolling along with an 1.139 OPS.  Lonnie Chisenhall (.333) has continued to show that he is, indeed, the Indians' 3rd bagger of the future.  Today, he smacked 3 hits, including his 2nd home run, and has a .985 OPS.  Perhaps most impressively, he has struck out just twice in 25 PAs.  To me, personally, the fact that Ryan Spilborghs has struggled to a .176 start (with a whopping 10 Ks in 17 trips) is no shock as I feel like he just, you know, sucks.

On the other hand, there have been surprises as well.  Russ Canzler (.143, .393 OPS), despite his walk-off hit tonight, has been unable to maintain the success that he found in the desert.  Ezequiel Carrera (.179) has been anemic at the top of the order.  He took an 0-for-6 collar tonight and has struck out 7 times without walking once.  Of the pleasant variety, Trevor Crowe (.429) is off to a blazing start and stroked his first homer tonight.  His OPS is a surreal 1.243, he's swiped a pair of bags and has gone down on strikes just once in 17 PAs.

We'll get caught up a bit more each day.  Tomorrow, I'll be at the game when Kevin Slowey makes his 2nd start after a dominant (7 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 6 K) in his Clippers debut.  There might be some pics if I get ultra motivated.

Flick to Click: On the Road

Opens 05.23.12