"ND shoots, he scores!!"

Right place at the right time.

DXM, seen this?

Todd Jones credits much of his success this year to his catcher, Paul Lo Duca. "I throw four pitches for strikes,'' Jones said. "I used to have every at-bat mapped out, using all my pitches: First-pitch fastball away, second pitch ... etc. It was a four-step process. What Paul has done is take me from step one to step four. It has been working really well.'' How often has Jones shaken off Lo Duca?

"Not once all year,'' Jones said.

Tim Kurkjian's column at espn.com

I'm going to have an A&W cheeseburger for dinner since I pretty much have no meal-like food at home. Unless I wanted a bagel sandwich, which I don't.

I really ought to go grocery shopping.

How often has Jones shaken off Lo Duca?

Our catcher has gotten a lot of hype about how well he calls games. Recently, the number of shakeoffs has increased a lot, right before strikeouts, and somebody let the cat out of the bag that the pitchers were faking shakeoffs in order to keep the batter guessing.

Now, if only these pitchers could actually throw the strikes called for. The best catcher in the world can't go out on the mound and do it himself, although don't think Red Sox fans wouldn't be game for trying it.

(I read recently that Jose Canseco got to pitch once, in a game back when he was a Ranger. WTF?? And injured his arm bad enough to miss time.)

yeah - that was when Bobby Valentine was manager. He was being a smart ass and got a lot of flk for it at the time.

The Red Sox had a lefty first baseman who was a decent pitcher last year -- Dave McCarty -- and he actually got to pitch, for like 3 innings the whole year. It was a fun line to read, though. I think he had a 0.00 ERA, and unfortunately a batting average about the same.

(THe low BA probably accounts for why he taught himself to pitch in the first place, and why it would have been no big whoop to send him out there to blow out his elbow on a lark.)

The Autumnal Equinox will be in about an hour (3:23 PM board time). I'd wait until then to post this but I won't be near a computer.

eta: or Vernal Equinox for folks south of the equator.

And then summer will be well and truly over.

About damn time. I like sweater weather.

You guys: I have cured back pain. No, seriously, listen.

I've had stabbing pains for two weeks-- pretty much when I walk or move. Last night it seemed like it had gotten worse. I kept waking up in pain every time I rolled over in bed. It was no better this morning. This afternoon, I decided that since I'm moving I should stock up on those Therma-Care disposable heating pads. They numb my back; should be long enough to pack and unpack all my boxes.

I walk outside the office to go to the Duane Reade...no pain. I can walk without a limp, twist my torso without yelping! Even the asscheek that's been supporting my limp seems better. But I've had it go away before, so I bought $17 worth of cure anyway.

It's still good, though! I've bought one box of Therma-Care before, so that's not the cure. No, you must buy TOO MUCH Therma-Care, and your problems will disappear! This is my cure.

bon bon, that works almost as well as enduring an MRI, and for much less time, money and anxiety.