EMA: Bullpen Woes, Birds and Barry

For those who may be wondering what EMA stands for, it's "Early Morning Aggregator" which I thought may help people know that they can find good links in here. If you want to send me links to make this place more diverse (as I'm only going to link to stuff I see or my friends), email me here.

Two games in a row now where the bullpen blows a lead? What, did the Mets sneeze on you guys or something? Up 4-1 and Cole was dealing, so I went upstairs and turned on Barack Obama. Well, that sure sounds awkward when taken out of context.

I thought the game was in tow. But the usually steady combination of Ryan Madson and Chad Durbin went, as Todd Zolecki's game story put it, "Boom."

Links:

• The Birds played last night and lost, but who cares. The real issues is who will make the squad, and Les Bowen took the time to break it down position by position until he got to 53. Here's a confidence inspiring position group:

Wideouts are Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown, DeSean Jackson, Hank Baskett, Greg Lewis and Jason Avant. If Brown isn't going to be ready for the opener, maybe Michael Gasperson gets a game, but of course, you'd have to cut someone else somewhere to make that work.

• College football started. Yay. I don't know where to link, because who around here cares about any of the games that were on last night. Most were BCS conference teams warming up against lesser opponents. ESPN had two "powerhouses" go at it, and the Ol Ball Coach gave NC State a drubbing. Matt Sussman at the 'Spin live blogged the entire 34-0 rout.

• Per PFT, Chad Johnson is an idiot. A complete and utter moron.

• Dan Gross had a story about Ryan Howard being a bad tipper. Turns out, it wasn't his fault. Man, if the name Mendte doesn't appear in a gossip story, there is really nothing to talk about in this town, huh.

• Daulerio asked me yesterday if anyone had posted the video of the kid who fell out of the stands trying to catch a BP home run on Tuesday. I hadn't seen it, but since Deadspin posted a one line link, it's popping up more now. Like, for example, at our neighbor's house. Funny, as long as the kid is okay. Or has a fractured hip.

• I mentioned Obama. His speech was strong, powerful and riveting. I honestly can't tell you one word he said other than "Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much" for TEN MINUTES. Then I started to fall asleep. But in between dozes he was his usual polished self. Great moment for the man, and as a Broncos fan, undoubtedly the best moment Invesco Field will see all year.

Watch it at the Huffington Post, or read the text as they give it to you any which way you choose.

• To play fair, John McCain made news yesterday by announcing that he'll be making news today. His running mate will be announced at a noontime rally at Wright State University. The Washington Post says the Veep candidate may be down to two men – Mitt Romney and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. That gives us "pawlenty" of time to debate this before the GOP Convention speeches commence and the real race for the White house begins.

• For those in Jersey who get SJ magazine, check out page 49 that has a huge (like half page) photo of me, on a story about my podcast. The story is fine, and I'd link it but they haven't updated their website for September yet. I'm not sure I ever used the word 'hero' when talking about Tony Kornhesier, and the numbers she uses aren't really relevant anymore, but the story is pretty cool.

• Last, it turns out Enrico was back yesterday, the entire day. He just didn't give a shit enough to post anything and slept through the day. So he should be back in bits and pieces today, and in full force after recharging over the weekend. UPDATE: Turns out that Matt is back too. Kulp and I can finally go back to being regular douchebags in the comments section!!!

Today might be a slow day, so if you cut out early, enjoy the long weekend and be safe.

Comments

[millertime]

bam childress is a joke

[John]

How many leads does Ryan Madson have to give up before we stop bringing him in?

[James Beale]

In Durbin's defense,

He's injured

[GreggyD]

The Phillies acquired Matt Stairs today from the Blue Jays. He's been horrid this season. Fantastic...

[Ajizzle]

Matt Stairs probably will help out during Jenkins' injury. A source said the Phils wanted him more than Kotsay so who knows.

[Kulp]

NC State is horrible. Their center, a converted DT, couldn't even snap the ball. South Carolina didn't look a whole helluva lot better. Their starting QB threw four INTs, and they only started pulling away once the Wolfpack D got tired.

Stanford/Oregon St. was the much better game to watch. Penn St. should dispatch Oregon State fairly easily next week.

[Sid]

it's not the bullpens fault, it's manuel's mismanagement of the bullpen that are causeing the problems. What hamels couldn't go out there for one more inning? 108 pitches isn't that many for a 24 year old.

[Scott B]

In regard to that kid falling out of the stands during BP, he was on The Today show this morning. His mom was fucking hot too!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26453891/

[Justin Evans]

You turned off the Phillies to watch Barack Obama? That's dumb.

[ricky]

Fo real. Turning off to watch Obama was a bad call.

[Jon]

Went to the game last night. Unbelievably frustrating. The place EXPLODED when Aramis hit that. Madson? Really???

Cubs fans were even doing M-E-T-S chants on the way out.

[Pete]

That might be the hottest mom i've ever seen.

[Benjamin]

That kid who fell survived? I was there, and didn't see any movement from the ground until the green tractor drove away. At least it provided more entertainment than spending the 85 minutes before the 1st pitch just looking for the eye candy in the nearby sections.