Connie Schultz leaves the PD. Probably under a cloud, as her Tea Party mea culpa was a scant two weeks ago. Generally, I thought she had an important voice, but for some, they couldn't get beyond Mrs. Sherrod Brown was in their paper. All you need to know is to read the comments on Cleveland.com to find out there is no middle ground.

Meal of Links

Aaaaar, matey! It's International Talk Like A Pirate Day.

It's your Emmy winners. I obviously watch the wrong programs.

A Feist sighting! It's been a while. I think it's been at least 1-2-3-4, probably 5 years.

Look at what Best Buy was selling 15 years ago. 28.8 modems! Packard Bell equipment! You Don't Know Jack games! VHS movies!

Another dumb politician.

Netflix has survived a lot over the years. Lately, it seems they cannot do anything right. It's obvious they need to concentrate more on streaming, while not totally abandoning DVDs. Now, they can't even name the spinoff without catching heat.

Exercise Yard

College realignment is all the rage currently. But, look at the current Big East. They expanded in 2005 (including Marquette, Louisville and Cincinnati) and now certain schools, like Pitt and Syracuse, several years later decide, eh, it's not so good here. Eventually we get those 4 super conferences and a football playoff system.

Nate Silver makes your head hurt with stats.

Visitor

45 Across: Scotch partner (4 letters) Answer: Soda

MLB had nothing better to do today, so they released the 2012 schedule . The Indians open against the Blue Jays on Holy Thursday. So, that means hot dogs unless there is a rainout. Next year, the season extends into October.

The Red Sox and Yankees only come in once, but both are here in August. Interleague is awfully strange with the new "Miami" Marlins, Pirates, and Reds at home and the Reds, Astros and Cardinals on the road. Memorial Day and Independence Day are at home. This may be the year to take a roadie out to Seattle or Minnesota, during the dog days.

The other thing you notice is those dreaded two-game series. They have two of those in May and only 9 home games in June. The June schedule is tough, because if they suck, they are out of sight, out of mind. Or, if they play well, you wish you could see them more.

Meal of Links

Frank Deford called this, "the most important article ever written about college sports". Well worth the time.

The "Austin City Limits" schedule is up. As always, it's worth watching. Jeff Bridges this year.

Your Fall TV Cancellation Forecast. Yes, there are many duds awaiting us.

Elizabeth Warren. Populist.

Exercise Yard

What happened to my alma mater's football team? After whomping on Brooklyn, 64-14, they got shutout at JFK. Last week, they were getting shutout at Cleveland Central Catholic when a brawl erupted in the third quarter. That game got called. So, being shorthanded, they did what any smart team would do. They will forfeit this week's game to Glenville. That was allegedly a home game, but they were playing it at Marshall.

On an unrelated note, we get Marv Albert for this week's Browns-Colts game!

Visitor

52 Across: Seven-time Grammy-winning jazz singer (9 letters) Answer: Al Jarreau

I kinda feel bad for Jim Thome. He hit his 600th homer and it barely scratched the surface of coverage. It didn't help that he banged out 599 and 600 in the same night. After I saw 599 on MLB Network, they said they would show everyone of his at-bats until he hit 600. Well, that didn't last very long.

Today, all the talk nationally asked if Thome is a first ballot Hall-of-Famer. I say he'll get in, but maybe not on that first ballot. He lacks a ring, no MVP, only 5 All-Star games. It's true that Thome never won an MVP, but look at that 2002 season while he was still a position player:

52 HR, 118 RBI, 101 Runs, 122 BB, .304 BA, .445 OBP, .667 Slugging, 1.122 OPS

and he finished SEVENTH in the voting that season. OPSed by more than 200 over FOUR guys in front of him (Tejada MVP, Soriano 3rd, Garret Anderson 4th, Hunter 6th). With voting like that, it's hard to hold the lack of an MVP against him.

Locally, of course, the venom is still out on sportstalk radio. The common theme seems to be that somehow Thome lied to us when he opted to go to Philly. I may have been in a coma, but is this some sort of perceived slight? I recall the Indians being really late to the table with legitimate offers, which were easily trumped by the Phillies.

The Indians were originally around $45 million for four years and eventually tapped out between $62 and $64 million for 5 years. The Phillies easily added another year and he eventually signed for $85 million for six years. Unless we came up with something and named it "Thomeville", I don't think he could refuse that Philly offer. And weren't the Dolans happy he didn't sign?

And let's not forget 2002. The Tribe dumped Robbie Alomar in the offseason and made the Colon trade that year. Even a blind man could see the rebuilding. Thome's signing was the start of the renaissance of the Phillies as David Bell and Kevin Millwood arrived as free agents, as well. Outside of World Series appearances in 1980, 1983 and 1992, the Phillies only made the playoffs in '81.

The 3 years before Thome, the Phillies had 77, 65 and 86 wins. But he didn't get them in the playoffs in the three seasons he was there and the emergence of Ryan Howard made him expendable. He's hardly played with a glove since.

And you really can't dismiss any non-steroid use for sure, can you? There is a famous PD photo of 1995 World Series Thome that looked a helluva lot different than the behemoth I saw up-close walking out of a Wrigley Field dugout a scant few years later. When you hear Hammy waxing about Thome "doing it the right way" or "country strong", there has to be some doubt, no?

So, there are bound to be some doubters on the Hall of Fame. And it proves, once again, that no one holds a grudge like Cleveland Fan.

Jim Thome's First Homer



What do you notice on that clip?

Ex-Indian Steve Farr on the mound.

Thome wearing Number 6.

Thome is a bit thinner then.

Hey, what's with those socks?

OK, it's late season (October) and the Indians and Yankees both suck, but where are the people?

Baerga's haircut.

That's Reggie Jefferson congratulating Thome at home plate.

Meal of Links

Deviled eggs at the movies? For only 50 cents more...

Here are your TV premieres for fall. Both new and old. Have not picked my "Terriers" of 2011 yet. It will NOT be "New Girl", which should just be named "Zooey Being Zooey".

A new solo album from David Lynch. I wanna do "I Know" at karaoke.

The 5 best car commercials. No way. "Time to unpimp ze auto" is easily on this list. Joe Isuzu golfing, as well. "Birdie".

If you have never seen "Children's Hospital", there is good news. It got renewed.

Remember that show where Bobby Flay helped judge someone to a new restaurant? He blames Chipotle for the failure.

The art of seat poaching. What really sucks though, is when the poacher is around you. Someone comes in late, claims their rightful seats, then the poacher moves. I've seen these guys disrupt at least five rows at a game. "We'll sit here until someone arrives" is not necessarily a bad line to hear at a game, but it's downright awful, if you know there is a crowd.

Even the right is getting tired of Palin. Playing the "victim" again.

Great Improvised Scenes



Exercise Yard

Next on the NCAA's list? The U.

Visitor

45 Down: Sea-dwelling superhero (7 letters) Answer: Aquaman

So, what are you going to watch this weekend? Hopefully, not much, so you can enjoy the weekend outdoors. But, if you are inside, here are some hints.

Here are this weekend's TV Marathons. My Dad will be psyched for that "Martin" marathon. And a very theme-worthy "How The States Got Their Shapes".

Klitschko vs. Haye is tomorrow. Like the old days, HBO has this one live at 4:45. Has potential to revive the heavyweights.

The Tour returns. I confess, I'm an Andy Schleck guy.

The closing arguments in the Tot Mom Trial are on Sunday. A quiz is included.

Alan Sepinwall makes a case for "Treme". That's a 90-minute closer on Sunday.

Close it out with a sold-out Indians-Yankees game on the 4th.

Meal of Links

A rerun of Fireworks suck.

Really loud movies. "Shoot the glass."

Work hard, feel poor. Explained here.

What's this? I may have missed Bash "Treme" Week.

Exercise Yard

First USC. Then Ohio State. Now Oregon.

Visitor

56 Across: Super bowl party array (6 letters) Answer: Salsas