Dropped by the yard yesterday with One Of My Best Friends, got stunned again. Scrap Iron has some 'splaining to do. He pulls Roger after 7 innings even though Roger had a low pitch count, had struck out nine, given up two hits, the run he gave up was unearned, and we had a 5 to 1 lead. Enter Qualls and Lidge, they CHOKED! We lost 7 to 6.

Qualls and Lidge were roundly booed by 'Stros fans - deservedly. At least when Lidge entered the game, they got rid of the "Lights Out Lidge" video piece - good. My Friend Drayton and Tim Purpura need to take some of the boys to the woodshed, including Scrap Iron. Plus, they got rid of the batting coach a couple of weeks ago, why not the pitching coach?

On the bright side, if there is a bright side, I got my fourth foul ball of the season - a lazy Mike Lamb roller that barely reached me, errr, my lid. Now One Of My Best Friends has two in her collection. She's a huge fan, heck, she has to be, the yard is in her council district. She knows her baseball and has her opinions about the team. We both agree that Lidge's problems are head case related.

Have you noticed that Roy O. works fast? He started Saturday's game and it lasted 2 hours and 14 minutes. When Roy O. pitches, it's a good bet that I'll be home in time to catch the 10 o'clock news.

My Nephew informed me of this. The Milwaukee Brewers are reaching out to Latino fans. You know, they have the four sausage mascots that entertain the fans and race around the yard during the game. They have an Italian, Polish, Brat, and Hot Dog sausages. Last week they trotted out The Chorizo, a brown skinned fella that wears a sombrero and has a mustache. His name is "El Picante." He was introduced at a press conference and he had to use a translator during Q and A - he doesn't speak English - take that W. Wonder if he has his papers? I bet he has huevos, awwww!

Speaking of the yard, the Houston Police Chief sat two seats from me Friday night. The Chief was wearing 'Stros gear. He never mentioned Friday's Commentary - whew!

Saturday at the yard they had a blood drive. Commentary donated, they were giving away team gear - T-shirts. A pint for free gear sounds like a good bet to me. The blood folks like me. They say I have easy to stick arm veins. I don't even need the rubber ball to get things moving. Great, my best physical attribute are my arm veins.

Did you hear about the female stripper that was arrested because she had body parts at her pad? She says a human hand in a jar of formaldehyde was given to her by a male patron that also happens to be a medical student. He had access to cadavers. What ever happened to just slipping a twenty into a waistband?

Talking about taking the bad with the good, some of the residents of Crawford, Texas are a little p___ed at America's #1 Protester cause she bought some property in their burg. Hey, you got W and his baggage, you gotta take the dissenters.

A__holes! Mofo! Guv Dude's campaign certainly let the penny donors know what they think of them. Does this qualify as arrogance?

Tony Bennett had a new album coming out this fall that includes duets - one with Sir Paul. That ought to be nice.

There is also a new flick due in the late summer or fall called "Bobby" about the assassination of RFK. It stars Demi Moore, Sharon Stone and Anthony Hopkins. Interesting, don't you think?

July 31, 2006, 9:00AM