I think the last time the Indians tried to force-feed a closer on the great unwashed (Danny Baez aside) was the year John Hart picked up John Rocker. Ah, a distant memory, but yes, Rockhead was seen as a great alternative to Bob Wickman. I can't count how many times after it was obvious it wasn't working, that Uncle Charlie kept giving Rocker the ball with the game on the line. He left him out there to die on numerous occasions and if you recall, Wickman was reinstated as the closer on the last Tribe team to make the playoffs.

Fast forward to this season when Fausto Carmona was highly touted as a future starter. Somehow, while others are always sent to Buffalo for more seasoning, Carmona sticks with the club and we are trying him as a reliever. Then Wickman is traded and Carmona is handed the closer's job. But his performance since then has been putrid. It's not that he's losing games, it's the drama of the last-inning bomb to lose. That makes three games this week. What was the quote the other day after the second one, "If Wedge sent him out again to close, it would border on a human rights violation."? Hey, dial Amnesty International, won't you?

Meal of Links

Jodie Foster defends Mel Gibson. She's good people.

In case you haven't noticed, Darren Rovell moved from ESPN to CNBC. He is a terrific sports business reporter. We've all seen the ads for "Talladega Nights" where Will Ferrell is sponsored by Wonder Bread. Rovell gives us the bread and butter on the topic.

More anniversaries. The web went worldwide in August of 1991.

Exercise Yard

Best Friend and I took in some boxing last night. A rare Saturday, because Showtime AND HBO had cards. On Showtime, the Brothers Marquez both won. They each had tough opponents, Rafael beat Silence Mabuza of South Africa, and Juan Manuel beat Terdsak (yes, Terdsak!) Jandaeng of Thailand. Pretty good bouts in that the Marqeuzeses kept pounding the other guys, but took big shots themselves, with Juan Manuel a one-eyed fighter in the end. Juan Manuel won in 7, Rafael in 9.

The HBO card featured Ike Quartey and Vernon Forrest. These guys are really fighting for their respective careers. Quartey has had some long layoffs and Forrest battling some tough injuries and some bad losses. In a unanimous decision that defied all odds, Forrest was declared the winner. Even with a point deduction for a low blow in the 9th, which I thought for certain clinched it for Quartey. When the first two judges had it 95-94, my first reaction was uh-oh, those two would have it a draw without the deduction. The next guy came in at 96-93 and I thought sanity prevailed. Then Michael Buffer announced Forrest as the winner and we were both shocked out of our minds. Hell, I thought I had been hit with a low blow. Not the outrage it should be, because it was a non-title bout, but damn.

Visitor

None, it's a Jack-White-is-in-town-with-The Raconteurs Sunday.