David Halberstam killed and Random Ramblings

We start Random Ramblings on a sad note.
Noted Author David Halberstam was killed yesterday in a auto accident outside San Francisco.
The 74 year old author had written many excellent books including Summer of 49.October 1964 and his best work (IMO) The Best and the Brightest,which was a scathing indictment of the U.S. and its policy/involvement in Southeast Asia.
Halberstam was likely the literary world's most noted expert on the Vietnam War and won a Pulitzer for his field coverage in 1964.
Our condolences on his passing to his family.

Now to Random Ramblings.

Watching the Bucs-Dodgers game on Sunday and Vin Scully offered a interesting note.
A game bat costs between 65 and 100 dollars per bat.
Not cheap at all.
Maybe that is why they don't give many away!!


Anyone else get the feeling that Scully could make any event interesting to just kick back and listen?
What a loss that will be when he is no longer commentating.
Los Angeles has been very fortunate indeed.

Is there any doubt that Strat O Matic is the greatest baseball game ever?
I am far from a video game hater and I enjoy them too,but the real seamhead that looks for a game goes to Strat.
Silver medal to the Baseball Mogul game for the PC.
A different type of game than Strat,but enjoyable as well.

Lots of shows on "Global warming" lately.
The Tom Friedman show from last week,Sundance is showing 2 Eco-based shows a week and some programming on PBS tonight.
I support this movement,but I feel the movement makes one huge error.
I would prefer the brand name to be Climate Change.
Every time,a cold front moves through,it gives the opportunity for someone to say "So much for that Global Warming".
It makes light of the problem and hurts the credibility of people taking it seriously.

As much as I love Countdown with Keith Olbermann,it really loses its luster when he is not there.
Who the substitute is matters none,the writing that fits Keith brilliantly,fits no one else.
That said-When Alison Stewart is hosting the show, I watch something else.

I am officially worried about Michael Felix down in Hickory.
3 starts and blasted in all 3.
Here is hoping for a turnaround.

And finally here are the 2006 numbers for Pirate killer Olmedo Saenz.
Vs Pittsburgh, Saenz hit .524 (11 for 21) with 3 HR,9 RBI and a OPS of 1,583.
Crazy...............

Photo Credit- AP Photo-Mark Lennihan