Greetings: I liked the format of The Crimson Chirper so much that I thought I would copy it.  Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. (Last year I copied the Jiggernaut, further evidence that I do not have an original thought in my head.)  In fact, I liked the Crimson Chirper so much that it once again occurred to me that Jim Ed is easily the most underappreciated member of our league, subject to constant abuse from that large-meloned fellow at the end of the hall.  Mr. Buser, please know that you are loved and appreciated by members of our league.  (Call me we need to do a deal, as you can tell I need pitching.)

Story of the Week: A week ago, Saturday the Detroit Tigers scored 8 runs in the top of the 5th inning.  In the bottom of the 5th, the Texas Rangers scored 10 runs, making it the first time in major league history that both teams scored at least 8 runs in an inning. Wow, think about that. The first time that has ever happened in major league history. Oh and you know what makes it even more special...you guessed, it both starting pitchers were on the Blues. Now isn’t that fun. Mike Maroth for the Tigers and R.A. Dickey for the Rangers, two recent free agent pick-ups of the pitching desperate Blues. (Saw Dickey pitch well on ESPN’s Sunday Night baseball..had to have him..he has sucked ever since..never watching that show again.) And you wondered why the Blues had negative pitching points last week.

Runner-up Story of the Week: Blues Win! Blues Win!..sorry must have been dreaming. Royals win! Royals Wins!..sorry same dream. Sammy Sosa ties Mike Schmidt on all-time home run list

Whining: Oh you thought I was doing that above in the Story of the Week, but as you know, the 7th Inning Stretch is just one big Whine fest. How about me sending down Derek Lee the day before he goes 5-5 with a homer, 5 RBI, and 2 runs. He scored 26 points, more than a third of his season total. Or how about me listening the Harold Reynolds tell me how messed up Rich Hardin was, so I send him down only to be followed by 2 straight quality starts. H.R. you let me down. Or how about me sending Dontrelle Willis down, only see him immediately throw a complete game 6 hitter. Gosh, I really suck.

And what is the deal with Larry Walker. This guy should be arrested for stealing so much money.($12 million this season.) He must go down as one of the biggest pussies in the history of baseball. He continues to be out with a "strained groin." His team is hurting and he can not get off his ass and go play baseball because of a 3 month "Strained groin." Give me a break.

Got my lawn mowed by the Reds in this mornings Free Agent draft. Some how on this earth I am 5 points ahead of the Reds..go figure. So he gets Orlando Hudson (wait a minute maybe I should be happy about this.) So instead I get two middle relievers who I never heard of until yesterday and could not tell you what team they play on with a gun to my head. I swear I have had my lawn mowed on the free agent draft about 5 times. It seems like every time I want somebody, I just happen to be ahead of the exact person who also wants him. Of course last week it was Carlos Silva by the Tribe, then he moon walked them back this week, after going 5-0. Well, at least my luck is not as bad as Bobby’s

Mismanagement: See above. I have been trying to manage aggressively, not sit back and accept my fate. Get on the Free Agent wire,(hell, I have picked up more free agents thus far this year than the last 3 years combined); send boys up and down if they fail to perform...you know the Skipper method........but damn if by doing so a person doesn’t often get caught in the shell game. Hey, there is a long way to go!!!!!!!!

Anniversary of the Week: May 17 is the 25th anniversary of one of my favorite games of all time and in my opinion one of the greatest games of all time (if you like offense). On May 17, 1979 at a wind-blown Wrigley Field, Mike Schmidt hits his 2nd home run of the game in the top of the 10th with 2 outs and a 3-2 count, to give the Phillies a 23-22 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Twenty one players accounted for the game’s 50 hits and 109 at bats, including 11 homers, 3 by Dave Kingman.

Birthday of the Week: On May 15 the great one, George Brett turns 51. Wow! (Same day as Dan Patrick of ESPN.) (Also, another favorite of mine, Danny Manning, turns 38 on the 17th. Damn, we are getting old!)

Just wondering: I assume the reason no one commented on the website message board about Ted ’s edition of the Bullpen a few weeks back, is that we were all at a complete loss for words. I mean just stunned. I think I read it two or three times and I know I did not catch all the references, details and nuances of that tome. I enjoyed it, just not sure I understood it all. Chock full of stats, historical, baseball and pop culture references, enough to boggle the mind. Talk about your stream of consciousness. And you thought a look into the mind of McBlunder last season was frightening . Good work Ted....there I said it...oh forgive me large-meloned one.

Sorry I was not present for the league lunch, but I was intrigued by the topic list. For the record, and being one of 4 members present, Johnny was not that drunk in Pittsburg. He was great..entertaining... and it was really one of the true fun evenings in a long list of fun evenings on Hot Stove League trips...but he wasn’t that drunk. Now Milwaukee.......there he was drunk.

Standings: As if it really matters, here are the standings as of May 17, 2004:

Week 6 Point Totals: Yada, Yada, Yada

And note the Blues total includes a whopping 54 pitching points. The real story is the Blues are 2nd in the league with 1500 hitting points, right behind the Wahoos with 1547.

I swear with any kind of pitching, just average pitching, the Blues would be right in this damn thing.

Yes, it is all about me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just remember, there is still a long way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (And when your favorite team is the Royals, who had such high expectations .........Wasn’t Opening Day great, E....with the walk-off home run, the crowd going crazy etc???........and now they have dug themselves a serious hole that likely can not be crawled out of......one must keep telling oneself.......there is a long way to go)...Go Blues!

                                                                             McBlunder