Rumors surfaced last week that Cap’n Crunch was being forced to walk the sugary plank, but it turns out he’s just fine. Also, it turns out his full name is Horatio Magellan Crunch and he has a Twitter. Obviously this is all a push to get CC Sabathia back.
Why did humans become the animal that builds rockets? The New York Times investigates.
To accompany its feature on Gus Johnson, the Times puts together a solid compilation of highlights.
That online poker player you’re competing with that you just assumed was a beautiful member of the opposite sex might just be a robot. The good news is, the “robots masquerading as humans” aren’t great at poker and more than 90 percent of them are losing money. So bleed that robot dry. Also, to think we once feared a robot uprising. We should have figured robots would be basement-dwelling online poker nerds like the rest of us. Via Rob V.
Joel Sherman put together a list of some facts about Mariano Rivera. They are predictably awesome.
Eric Simon at Amazin’ Avenue pokes holes in a report I missed entirely that apparently blew up the Internet yesterday. It’s a good write-up of some silly muckracking. Here’s the thing though: Given the nature of Santana’s injury and surgery, it is entirely possible he doesn’t pitch this year.
The other thing is that the original story presents more evidence that there are nebulous, anonymous executives walking around Mets camp willing to say whatever journalists need for their stories. Is this something Sandy Alderson put in place? Are anonymous sources the new market efficiency?
58% of TedQuarters readers found the Cole of Duty photo suitably embarrassing, so the Embarrassing photos of Cole Hamels archive has been updated.
Via Joe Budd at Amazin’ Avenue comes this link. Italian-born Mariners prospect Alex Liddi hit a grand slam for the second time in as many days. Mike Piazza mentioned Liddi when discussing European guys who might make the big leagues and popularize the game in Italy.
Researchers at the Bronx Zoo are raising 41 hellbender salamanders, an endangered species that is the largest amphibian native to North America.
Kenny G hits about exactly as well as you’d expect him to. Actually, maybe a little bit better — he looks terrible, but he makes a decent amount of contact. David Wells does not appear entertained. Via Repoz.
Tedquarters 