Trying to find time...

Missing time again,this time due to work overtime and just being tired when the OT is over.
I really need to hook up with a laptop soon.

The Devils split two games with a exciting 6-5 win over the San Jose Sharks and a listless 4-0 loss to the Florida Panthers in Miami.
Since I am so far behind,I will not do a recap of the games,just add them to what should be a long post.

The loss was one that you could kinda see coming after two close and hard fought wins over the top two teams in the league.
Following those up with a road game against a team that has been playing well was going to be a tough game.

Paul Martin and Brendan Shanahan missed each of the last two games.
Shanahan is expected to return for tonight's game in Tampa,but Martin is still out and Anssi Salmela has been recalled from Lowell to take his place on the roster.

Kevin Weekes is expected to get the start tonight after two shaky Scott Clemmensen starts.
Goaltending may be the toughest and hardest position to figure out.
Clemmensen scored two shutouts in a row and then allows 9 goals in two games.

In the biggest news from the Pirates,the Pirates signed Nate McLouth to a three year extension worth 15.5 million with the standard award bonus clauses enclosed in the deal.
The contract includes a club option for a possible fourth year as well.

My take on the deal?
Well,as some of you know,I have been a Nate McLouth fan for a while.
I was boosting McLouth when many Pirate fans preferred Chris Duffy and this deal is not a bad move,but there are still a few questions.
McLouth's hitting fell through the floor after the Bay and Nady trades,is it possible that he was just getting good pitches to hit that he might be seeing as many of anymore without the backup from those bats?
Even I figured McLouth as 4th outfielder or a stopgap starter and if his first half turns out to be a fluke,the Bucs are on the hook.
On the overall,I do basically like the deal and it is not overpaying by any standard.
Plus it is such an affordable deal,the Pirates could still trade McLouth down the road and get a solid return because the arbitration time was bought out.

Another thing that I like about this contract?
It will be very nice to look at the Pirate outfield in 2010,see the starting outfield of McLouth,Andrew McCutchen and Jose Tabata and know that there is a good chance of seeing the same three players there in 2011 and 2012.

Our man in Japan has been very busy in his scouting of the Japanese amateur scene.
Brandon Siefken has started his own page Baseball81 (Now located in our links section) and he has become a weekly writer for JapanBall.Com.
I get their newsletter on a weekly basis and it is clearly the top source for information on the Japanese game.

If you are fan of smaller,regionally based items,try this site-Hometown Favorites.
I was tipped off to them by a reader and could be enjoying some of their items shortly.
Shipping is a little high,but unless you travel a lot,this is the best way to get your fix of items that you cannot find where you live.
I usually hit SunDrop when I am in the South and bring home Squirt from Ohio and Big Red for Ryan and none of those are available here,although I did see Squirt in Cumberland MD when I was there for the Pirate caravan.....

A few additions on the signing front
Ebay brings the legendary wrestling manager Jim Cornette,Pirate prospect Robbie Grossman and Phillies top prospect Dominic Brown,while the mail brings former CFL quarterback Tracy Ham....

Anyone out there get any of the TriStar Prospect Plus stuff???