Category: News

Red Sox Ready to Release Hanley Ramirez

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The Boston Globe – According to a major league source, the Red Sox informed Ramirez Friday morning that they will designate him for assignment in order to open a spot on the major league roster for Dustin Pedroia, who is returning from the disabled list after his rehab from offseason knee surgery.

The Red Sox are responsible for more than $15 million remaining on Ramirez’s salary through the duration of this season. They will have seven days to trade or release him.

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I did not expect Dealer Dave to drop this bomb the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. Sure, Hanley’s had a tough week. He’s hitless in his last five games, but he did have a hit in ten of his last eleven games before this skid. How bad could things really be going for him?

Well, Hanley’s batting average for the month of May is .163. His batting average stood at .330 on April 30, but today stands at .254. His OPS on the season stands at .708. The only Red Sox regulars with a lower OPS are Eduardo Nunez, Jackie Bradley and whoever the hell the catcher is on a given night.

The Red Sox had the luxury of having three guys for two positions essentially. Hanley, Mitch Moreland and J.D. Martinez were sharing time at first base and DH. With Martinez locked in at the plate, and under contract for four more seasons, and Moreland playing better for much less money, Hanley was the man left standing when the music stopped in this game of musical chairs.

Sure, the Sox could play Martinez in the outfield more to get Bradley out of the lineup and to get Hanley in as the DH. But Jackie Bradley plays superb defense and is not 300 plate appearances away from $22 million next year. Bradley’s a younger, cheaper option with more upside.

The Red Sox have a week to trade or release Hanley. It’s hard to imagine any team trading for him, and taking on more salary than they need to. If they wait a week, they can pick him up for a lot cheaper and leave the Red Sox on the hook for most of his salary. And it’s hard to imagine that Hanley’s Red Sox career isn’t over. I don’t see him walking back into that clubhouse after being DFA’ed.

It’s another bold move by Dombrowski. Another one of Ben Cherington’s big signings has been shown the door. But let’s give credit to Dombrowski. As surprising as the move may be today, I’d rather pay $15 million for a problem to go away instead of $47 million for a year and half of a .708 OPS.

Blockbuster Alaska Not Going Down Without a Fight

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AP — A celebrity jockstrap that’s been the buzz of Alaska for nearly two weeks went on display Wednesday at one of the nation’s last Blockbuster video stores in an effort to ramp up business.

“I tell you, we’re going to get a lot of traffic, is what I’m expecting,” said Kevin Daymude, general manager of Blockbuster Alaska.

He expects the store to get a lot of calls: “Did you get it in? Can we go see it?” he said.

The jockstrap has a strange history since actor Russell Crowe wore it in the 2005 movie “Cinderella Man.”

When I think of some of the best promoters in America, I think of Vince McMahon, Don King and Dana White. Today I add Kevin Daymude to that list. Now that he’s got Russell Crowe’s jockstrap, I realize how badly I want need to visit Alaska.

I’ve been to the Warner Bros. Studio and the Sony Pictures Studio, but I’m not sure they can stand up to the showcase Daymude is putting up in his Anchorage Blockbuster these days. In addition to his jockstrap, Daymude is also putting Crowe’s robe and boxing shorts from Cinderella Man on display, as well as his vest from Les Misérables. Anchorage, Alaska, is quickly becoming the mecca for Russell Crowe aficionados.

Before I book my flight, though, I should probably check on their hours and make sure that they’re open and accessible year round. I recommend you do the same. They can be reached at (907) 338-3456. I can’t wait to go, though. I might have to rent a copy of The Net while I am up there too. I just hope my hotel room has a VCR.

 

Airlines Behaving Badly

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I’ve asked this question before and Sun Country Airlines is making me ask it again. Does any industry think less of its customers than the airline industry?

I guess this nonsense is to be expected from an airline that last summer hired the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Allegiant Air to be its new president and chief executive officer. You might remember Allegiant Air from such television programs as 60 Minutes, which on Sunday night called Allegiant Air “one of the country’s… most dangerous [airlines].”

When I hear the term “ultra-low cost carrier,” I think of Spirit Airlines, being asked to pay $3.50 for half a can of Diet Coke, being told it’ll be $25 to bring a suitcase with me, and generally being told to go eff myself. Add “figuring out how to get home from Mexico during a blizzard on my own” to that list.

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For all of its troubles, I don’t remember the Fung Wah Bus ever telling people to find their own way home from New York City. No man left behind!

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Airlines like Spirit, Allegiant and Sun Country are slowly turning into the Fung Wah Buses of the sky. Southwest Airlines already is a bus company that just happens to own and operate planes. There’s no assigned seating and no other way to explain why a flight from Boston to Atlanta would stop in St. Louis.

My personal policy used to be to drive to any destination less than 8 hours away. These stories have me considering updating that policy to drive to to any destination less than 12 hours away. I know that air travel is a privilege and not a right, but if I have the “privilege” of paying for my ticket, luggage, soft drink and small pack of pretzels, I think I have the “right” to expect a flight home.

Science Now Confirms Hand Dryers Are Disgusting

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FOX 2 now – Washing your grubby mitts is one of the best ways to cut your chances of getting sick and spreading harmful germs to others, but a new study may make you think twice before you use air hand dryers in public restrooms.

Researchers at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine found the dryers may suck in bacteria from flushing toilets and spread it onto your hands.

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This news doesn’t affect me – I’ve always been a paper towel guy. It’s just nice to know that science has finally come around to confirm my hunch that bathroom air blowers are disgusting, useless, time wasters. Maybe now we can discuss whether or not it is absolutely necessary to wash our hands after every. trip. to. the. bathroom.

I’m not asking to amend hand-washing guidelines for doctors or food service employees. I’m not saying that the rest of us should never wash our hands. I’m just asking that regular guys who work in office buildings not be shamed if they skip washing their hands every once in a while.

If a guy is in a regular office 9 – 5 every day, sucking down TB12 amounts of water at his desk, should he have to wash my hands after every trip to the men’s room? The correct answer is no. The less time in the men’s room the better. Especially now that we know all of the germs we wash off our hands are being replaced by other people’s piss. Literally. I’ll skip the sink and keep my own germs instead of trading germs, thanks.

George Carlin, right again.

Does Any Industry Think Less of Its Customers Than the Airline Industry?

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There’s nothing funny about this story and I don’t have too much to add, other than to say that this stuff needs to stop.

I generally agree with what Mike Rowe had to say about air travel last year, after another United Airlines fiasco, because I also don’t want to fly with people who get to pick and choose which rules they follow. But that assumes the people enforcing the rules, namely flight attendants, are competent employees. Far too often, though, many flight attendants have demonstrated staggering incompetence.

There are far too many jobs in America that require a master’s degree that shouldn’t, or even a bachelor’s degree that shouldn’t. I don’t know what the preferred qualifications are to be a flight attendant, but I wouldn’t want to make an admittedly thankless job even tougher to get. But is it too much to ask that flight attendants understand that living animals on planes require air to breathe and not die? If you’re too God damn stupid to understand that, maybe you should be working at the Burger King in the terminal and not on the plane as a flight attendant.

Again, I don’t want to fly with people who get to choose which rules to follow, but the lack of critical thinking here is mind blowing. This attendant is like George Costanza playing Trivial Pursuit [“the card says moops”]. They did not care about the animal’s safety or well being, they only cared that a carry-on bag larger than 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches be placed in the overhead bin because that’s what the rules say. To ask any questions would require critical thinking and decision making, which is clearly not in the job description of a flight attendant.

PETA has released a statement calling for this flight attendant to be fired and prosecuted, and I completely agree. I’m tired of flying with idiots.

Airlines should keep stories like this in mind the next time they try to limit the number of service animals that fly with passengers. Maybe Americans wouldn’t need to fly with so many service animals if the airlines would just stop murdering their pets.

Illinois Considers Adding D1 Hockey

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Interesting news out of the Land of Lincoln yesterday, where the University of Illinois released the results of a study into the feasibility of launching a Division I men’s ice hockey program. The feasibility study results state:

[T]here is growing excitement and anticipation about the University of Illinois starting Division I intercollegiate ice hockey. With a growing passion for ice hockey at all levels in the state of Illinois, the foundation appears to be in place for the University of Illinois to develop an intercollegiate men’s hockey program that will be financially successful and competitive on a conference and national level.

The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics said yesterday that no final decision had been made yet on whether or not to add a varsity men’s hockey program. If it were to launch a varsity men’s hockey program, the University of Illinois would become the tenth Power Five school to sponsor the sport, and the third to add it since 2012.

Penn State, which launched its program in 2012, has shown that success on the ice can come sooner rather than later. The Nittany Lions men’s hockey team showed improvement in each of its first four years and made the NCAA tournament for the first time in year four. This year the program is in good position to get back to the tournament again in year five. Progress for Arizona State, which launched its program in 2015, has been a little slower but that could change if/when they find a hockey conference to call home. Life as an independent can be tough for everyone other than Notre Dame football.

The University of Illinois wouldn’t have to worry about life as an independent, though, as they would be able to slide into the Big Ten hockey conference when they’re ready. As Penn State has already shown in that conference, being a newcomer to the sport doesn’t mean being a cellar dweller for years and years. And the University of Illinois could very well have a good amount of talent on its team in a short amount of time.

It was pointed out in the study results that Illinois produced 85 Division I hockey players in 2017. Only Minnesota, Michigan and Massachusetts produced more. Of the eight states that produced the most Division I hockey players, Illinois is the only one without a Division I program. Illinois is also home to an Original Six NHL franchise, the Chicago Blackhawks, so the interest in hockey is there.

If college hockey operated like professional hockey, investors, city leaders and fans would all be demanding the next “expansion” franchise be placed in Champaign. College hockey in Illinois just makes too much sense. There’s no way that program wouldn’t be successful. Adding a Big Ten team in the third largest media market in the country can only mean more exposure for the sport, and there’s nothing to not like about that.

Unless you’re a New England fan. Just one more midwest powerhouse for BU, BC and Maine to compete against for talent.

Dunkin’s Menu Goes on a Diet

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boston.com – Regulars at Dunkin’ Donuts may begin noticing parts of the menu disappear this week.

The Canton-based company began testing a “simplified menu” in a number of markets last summer, eventually expanding the pared-down offerings to roughly 11 percent of their stores.

Now, beginning this Monday in New England and upstate New York, the reduced menu will be rolled out nationwide. The company expects all stores will feature the new menu by the end of March…

Dunkin’ Donuts says that the reduced menu will result in “faster, more accurate service and a more consistent consumer experience from store to store.”

The Dunkin’ Donuts menu is going on a diet and I don’t hate it. Here’s the full list of items getting the ax (for now):

The only item on that list that I’ve ordered more than once is the Steak & Egg Breakfast Sandwich. Not filet mignon, but a nice change of pace from the usual breakfast meats. Other than that I can’t say that I’ll miss anything that’s getting the ax. If you want a smoothie, don’t go to Dunkin’ Donuts. If you want a turkey, ham or tuna sandwich for lunch there are literally dozens of better places to go to.

I love the move to drop some flavor shots. What maniac is ordering peach coffee? Also, any move to reduce the number of flavor shots/swirls on the menu is a good move. In fact, I’m in favor of dropping all flavor swirls other than mocha. Try ordering a hazelnut iced coffee outside of New England with cream and sugar. You won’t even be able to taste the coffee if they put that sugary sweet hazelnut flavor swirl in there, which they will. If you ask for the standard, original flavor shot you will have to ask them to make it at least twice. I speak from experience.

Dunkin’s attempt to provide “faster, more accurate service and a more consistent consumer experience from store to store” will be appreciated outside of New England. Again, try ordering a flavored iced coffee at a Dunkin’ that hasn’t been around for 20 years and you’ll see what I mean. I’m firmly on Team Dunkin’, but I’ve never had to explain my order more than once at Starbucks.

Of course we’ll have to wait and see how long this menu diet lasts. McDonald’s made news about three years ago as it trimmed its menu, but it’s been beefed back up lately with the new $1-$2-$3 menu. It’s a step in the right direction for Dunkin’, though. As long as we don’t see pizza back on their menu in six months.

Arby’s Will Soon Have More Meats

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CNN Money – Arby’s is buying Buffalo Wild Wings, the chain of sports bars, for $2.9 billion.

In an all-cash deal, Arby’s is paying $157 per share for Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD), a 7% premium based on Monday’s closing price. Buffalo Wild Wings stock had been much lower before rumors about a deal with Arby’s surfaced two weeks ago…

The deal will take Buffalo Wild Wings private. Arby’s is owned by Roark Capital, which also has big stakes in Auntie Anne’s, Carvel and Jimmy John’s.

Buffalo Wild Wings, known as B-Dubs to its fans, was facing pressure from activist investors who support the deal.

The two most disappointing restaurant chains in America are joining forces? It’s a match made in fast food heaven! Buffalo Wild Wings, the home of 75¢ Boneless Thursdays. And a place where the flat Pepsi flows like wine. I’m talking about a little place called Arby’s.

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Woof. Not exactly a power couple. More like Arby’s leaving with the last girl at the bar at 2:15 AM. What’s the matter, Arby’s? You big swingin dicks couldn’t close on Hooters?

Now Buffalo Wild Wings and Arby’s can combine forces to sling bastardized chicken wings and roast beef sandwiches more efficiently. I love chicken wings but I won’t set foot in a B-Dubs unless it’s 75¢ wing night. I shudder to think what those small, cold, under-sauced wings go for on a regular night. Hooters beats B-Dubs ten times out of ten. And don’t even get me started on Arby’s. Jon Stewart covered them pretty well.

It’s unbelievable to think that they sell the same food as Kelly’s. Comparing Kelly’s roast beef to Arby’s roast beef is like comparing apples to hockey pucks. And I still miss the Allston Kelly’s.

I’d also like to take a moment to discuss the soda situation at Buffalo Wild Wings and at Arby’s. I love a cold one-liter bottle of Diet Pepsi on a hot summer afternoon as much as any one, but fountain Pepsi at restaurants sucks. The Coke at McDonald’s can’t be beat and Burger King has stepped up its game with Coke Freestyle machines. The flat Pepsi is the worst part of any Taco Bell trip. Thankfully I usually don’t drink soda from Taco Bell unless it’s after dark and it’s mixed with some Admiral Nelson. Dumping Pepsi and getting back with Coke would be an easy improvement for B-Dubs and Arby’s.

It’d be interesting to see if Arby’s interest in Buffalo Wild Wings had anything to do with Buffalo Wild Wings venturing into the fast casual realm with B-Dubs Express. Does Arby’s hope to make B-Dubs Express the next Raising Cane’s? That might make sense with millennials “killing” chain restaurants, but there’s not much Buffalo Wild Wings has to offer to start with. If you take away the loud music and big screen TVs, what’s left?

Evidence Mounts that Laptops Are Bad for Students at Lectures. You Think?

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The Verge – Do you use a laptop or tablet to take notes during school lectures or meetings? If so, you might want to reconsider pen and paper; there’s increasing evidence that using laptops during lectures decreases learning, which can result in lower grades, reports The New York Times. To study this, researchers at Princeton University and the University of California asked a group of students to take notes at a lecture using pen and paper while another group used laptops. The experiment found that the students who used a laptop did not understand the lecture as well as those who wrote their notes out by hand.

Yea, no shit! Scientists strike again. Seriously I’ve never seen a group paid more to do less than scientists. Maybe TV weathermen, who don’t even need to be right with their weather predictions to stay on my TV for two decades.

Of course laptops for students in class are bad. You know what I used to do on my laptop basically all through senior year? I downloaded a ROM and played fucking Pokemon Red Version ALL year.

Granted, I was a Journalism major, which didn’t have the most grueling classes, but still. I had a kid that sat in front of me in my math class and he would just pop in one earbud and literally just watch Netflix in class.

If college wasn’t such an amazing four years of experiences, then I’d be prettyy pissed off about all those crippling loans paying for student debt that we took on under the promise of jobs that don’t exist anymore.