Cal product Connor Sullivan is dominant as the closer this year for the Oakland Ballers. I watched him strike out the side to close out the game Saturday night vs. the Glacier Range Riders. The Ballers are alone in first place in the Pioneer League. It was a special event at Raimondi as well, as the life of Rickey Henderson was celebrated. His family and several of his former teammates were present. A mural featuring Rickey was unveiled. The Ballers organization know how to treat their fans. I thoroughly enjoyed the game and the perks at the park are great. The Ballers have won eight of their last nine games, and feature a number of local players. For example, first baseman Christian Almanza, a graduate of Saint Mary’s, was the star at the plate for Oakland in this game. The Ballers can really crush it.
I am thinking of running some irrigation up the hill outside my house. Environmental change has made rainfall less predictable and almost no homes out here have irrigation. Last summer was bad and we lost thousands of dollars in landscaping. It's going to be 99 degrees today.
Sounds like the Eastern seaboard is going to be hot. No 1 is apt hunting in NYC and staying with HSB and it's going to be 100 over the next few days. Luckily it'll be a bit cooler this weekend when I'm out helping No 1 move, either to an apt or to a storage unit.
NWS reported a heat index of 106 at National Airport just before noon. Even though I hunted the shade the weather kicked my butt on my run this morning. I’ve got a frozen bottle of water in the freezer in case I decide to do some errands this afternoon.
Not necessarily a hobby, but I could get coilovers for my Miata and lower the car a little bit. Either that or just lowering springs to lower it 1 to 1.5 inches. I don't really need full coilovers and 1K would just be for parts, not for labor to install. I think I could get lowering springs installed for under 1K.
Watched my first Golden State Valkyries game on the telly yesterday. Don't know what took me -- as a long time season ticket holder for Cal women's hoops -- to jump on the bandwagon. Going to a game next month. They're drawing huge, enthusiastic crowds and seem to be a well-coached fun team.
I will never discount skill coming from back of pack to win after witnessing a crazy Olympic cross country ski event some years back where the heavy favorite wiped out badly as the pack was leaving the starting area. He paused for a moment, regrouped, dug in but seemed in no way able to make up the time. After many laps (10?) he came back to win the thing. Incredible.
They've been unimpressive in these games but winning anyway since their talent is so much better. I guess this is kind of the way it goes when most of your best players are busy on European club teams.
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Luke Short pitched into the eighth for the first time in his professional career, and Dillon Tatum drove in six with two long balls to guide Oakland to a 15-3 win over the Glacier Range Riders in Sunday's series finale. The Ballers collected 17 hits and blasted five homers in support of their starting pitcher.
Short began his outing by fanning the side in the first. He was responsible for nine of the first 10 outs recorded, catching a pop fly and punching out eight in that span.
The A’s came up empty on Sunday afternoon in their series finale against the Cleveland Guardians, dropping the last game of the series 3-0 and finishing the home stand on a sour note.
Taking to the mound for the good guys today was left-hander JP Sears. Looking to right the ship after a rough stretch that has ballooned his ERA, he looked better this afternoon. Cleveland scored a pair of runs in the top of the second and one in the fifth, his final inning of work in this one. A much better performance and more in line with what the club expects from the third-year lefty.
Devers went 2 for 12 (0.167) against the BoSox in the series, but he did have what turned out to be the game winning dinger in game 2. Giants take the series and are next up at home versus the Marlins.
Yeah, those two hits turned out to be pretty important! The other one extended a rally that Ramos cashed in on behind him, putting the Giants up 3 and mostly putting the game away.
Having watched some of his ABs, he definitely LOOKS like he's a good hitter, in that he has good command of the strike zone and can hit the ball hard when he makes contact. The process still looks good. He'll probably have a hot streak soon.
The Dodgers end their 10 game homestand with seven wins after taking two of three from the Washington Nationals, winning the series finale by a 13-7 final score.
The hype once again surrounded Shohei Ohtani, as he prepared to take the mound for just the second time as a Dodger. Ohtani needed one pitch to get a groundout of C.J. Abrams before Mookie Betts failed to seal a pop out of James Wood. The Nationals couldn’t put the ball in play afterwards, as Ohtani recorded his first two strikeouts as a Dodger while completing a scoreless inning of work on just 18 pitches.
BERKELEY - California's cross country team has announced its 2025 schedule, with six meets on the slate this fall in its second season as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Golden Bears will open the season on Aug. 29 at the USF Invitational, a meet in which Cal has participated for over two decades. The Bears had a memorable performance to open last season, with alumnus Carrick Denker winning the men's race and teammate Garrett MacQuiddy placing second. It marked the first 1-2 finish for the Bears since 2016.
California track & field's Mykolas Alekna was named the West Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Friday after a superb 2025 season with the Golden Bears, which included a substantial improvement on his own world record in the discus as well as three facility records, four meet records, an ACC title and an NCAA runner-up finish.
The California men's water polo team announced a challenging 2025 schedule Friday, highlighted by all four semifinalists from last year's NCAA Championship and at least eight opponents who finished 2024 ranked in the final CWPA poll.
I volunteered at Pride Parade on Saturday. Last year, I was surprised by the number of people who said they wouldn't vote for Kamala because of her stance on Gaza. This year, I was surprised to watch a protest group there who wanted to blow up the Democratic party because they want more action on, well, everything... healthcare, environmental protection, Gaza, gay rights. On one hand, I get that they are desperate for these things. On the other, I am confounded by people who get a virtual F-minus in Political Science.
IMO too much attn is paid to the shit disturbers on both sides. Would be great to abolish party primaries and instead have two rounds - would greatly reduce the shit disturbers’ influence
US Rep Kat Cammack (R-FL 3) had an ectopic pregnancy discovered in May. That would likely kill her without an abortion. The DeSantis administration had made abortion illegal in Florida, and it had just gone into effect. Despite it being illegal, she somehow got the abortion - she called it a "medically assisted miscarriage". When interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, she went on to blame the left pro-abortion groups for fearmongering to create fear and hesitation amongst medical professionals. I guess the only moral abortion is your own. The hypocrisy is so thick that you can walk on it.
WaPo shrinks some more. It got rid of a separate business section awhile ago and folded it into the main news section. Starting tomorrow sports, metro, and style will be in one section. I’m old so still prefer the home delivered paper but I can foresee a switch to digital may be in the future.
https://www.oaklandballers.com/sports/bsb/2024/bios/sullivan_connor_wld1
Cal product Connor Sullivan is dominant as the closer this year for the Oakland Ballers. I watched him strike out the side to close out the game Saturday night vs. the Glacier Range Riders. The Ballers are alone in first place in the Pioneer League. It was a special event at Raimondi as well, as the life of Rickey Henderson was celebrated. His family and several of his former teammates were present. A mural featuring Rickey was unveiled. The Ballers organization know how to treat their fans. I thoroughly enjoyed the game and the perks at the park are great. The Ballers have won eight of their last nine games, and feature a number of local players. For example, first baseman Christian Almanza, a graduate of Saint Mary’s, was the star at the plate for Oakland in this game. The Ballers can really crush it.
What does $1k buy in your current hobby?
I am thinking of running some irrigation up the hill outside my house. Environmental change has made rainfall less predictable and almost no homes out here have irrigation. Last summer was bad and we lost thousands of dollars in landscaping. It's going to be 99 degrees today.
Sounds like the Eastern seaboard is going to be hot. No 1 is apt hunting in NYC and staying with HSB and it's going to be 100 over the next few days. Luckily it'll be a bit cooler this weekend when I'm out helping No 1 move, either to an apt or to a storage unit.
NWS reported a heat index of 106 at National Airport just before noon. Even though I hunted the shade the weather kicked my butt on my run this morning. I’ve got a frozen bottle of water in the freezer in case I decide to do some errands this afternoon.
Not necessarily a hobby, but I could get coilovers for my Miata and lower the car a little bit. Either that or just lowering springs to lower it 1 to 1.5 inches. I don't really need full coilovers and 1K would just be for parts, not for labor to install. I think I could get lowering springs installed for under 1K.
A 1973 Topps MLB complete set, in excellent to near mint condition
I have this set! My dad’s buddy got it for him as a wedding present and my dad gave it to me. Has Winfield’s rookie!
Nice! The only complete set I have from that decade is 1978. It has really cool cursive fonts and nifty colors for the team names.
LITERAL
PRO
Watched my first Golden State Valkyries game on the telly yesterday. Don't know what took me -- as a long time season ticket holder for Cal women's hoops -- to jump on the bandwagon. Going to a game next month. They're drawing huge, enthusiastic crowds and seem to be a well-coached fun team.
My daughter got me into - is fun!
Bananas how little they get paid
A pro mountain biker starts at the back of the pack. Who wins: him or 100 amateurs?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=oE3dkrjXokY
I will never discount skill coming from back of pack to win after witnessing a crazy Olympic cross country ski event some years back where the heavy favorite wiped out badly as the pack was leaving the starting area. He paused for a moment, regrouped, dug in but seemed in no way able to make up the time. After many laps (10?) he came back to win the thing. Incredible.
Reminds me a little of an Insane bike race from the top of the Alps (?) to the valley below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxE51euhAE8
USMNT - essentially a B-side - defeats Haiti 2-1 and is still undefeated, albeit in an easy group
https://www.espn.com/soccer/matchstats/_/gameId/735335
They've been unimpressive in these games but winning anyway since their talent is so much better. I guess this is kind of the way it goes when most of your best players are busy on European club teams.
[ESPN] KD to Rockets for Green, Brooks, #10 picks, and 5x second round picks
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45561747/sources-suns-trading-kevin-durant-rockets-blockbuster-deal
I saw Athletic say Suns got fleeced, but I don’t follow at all. KD turns 37 this year, so he has maybe one or two good years left?
Yeah, they are just trying to get rid of him for something.
I don’t understand it from Houston’s POV. How does KD mesh with their timeline?
Looks like they think they can contend now.
Haliburton goes down with an Achilles injury as Pacers as OKC wins game 7 of the NBA finals 103-91
https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401766128/pacers-thunder
Lot of achilles injuries this year
They play too many games.
Short Shines, Tatum Swats Two Taters in 15-3 Triumph
Ballers Win Five of Six in Series
https://www.oaklandballers.com/sports/bsb/2025/releases/202506233yoffy
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Luke Short pitched into the eighth for the first time in his professional career, and Dillon Tatum drove in six with two long balls to guide Oakland to a 15-3 win over the Glacier Range Riders in Sunday's series finale. The Ballers collected 17 hits and blasted five homers in support of their starting pitcher.
Short began his outing by fanning the side in the first. He was responsible for nine of the first 10 outs recorded, catching a pop fly and punching out eight in that span.
Wow; nice to see another Cal product excelling on the mound for the Ballers. I remember watching Short throw some gems at Evans Diamond.
A’s Drop Series Finale to Guardians 3-0
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2025/6/22/24453752/as-drop-series-finale-to-guardians-3-0
The A’s came up empty on Sunday afternoon in their series finale against the Cleveland Guardians, dropping the last game of the series 3-0 and finishing the home stand on a sour note.
Taking to the mound for the good guys today was left-hander JP Sears. Looking to right the ship after a rough stretch that has ballooned his ERA, he looked better this afternoon. Cleveland scored a pair of runs in the top of the second and one in the fifth, his final inning of work in this one. A much better performance and more in line with what the club expects from the third-year lefty.
Giants beat the Red Sox 9-5
Devers went 2 for 12 (0.167) against the BoSox in the series, but he did have what turned out to be the game winning dinger in game 2. Giants take the series and are next up at home versus the Marlins.
Yeah, those two hits turned out to be pretty important! The other one extended a rally that Ramos cashed in on behind him, putting the Giants up 3 and mostly putting the game away.
I think it'll take Devers a while to get used to playing in SF. I think his power numbers go down.
Having watched some of his ABs, he definitely LOOKS like he's a good hitter, in that he has good command of the strike zone and can hit the ball hard when he makes contact. The process still looks good. He'll probably have a hot streak soon.
Max Muncy and Shohei Ohtani power the Dodgers to 13-7 win over Nationals
https://www.truebluela.com/2025/6/22/24453785/dodgers-nationals-game-recap
The Dodgers end their 10 game homestand with seven wins after taking two of three from the Washington Nationals, winning the series finale by a 13-7 final score.
The hype once again surrounded Shohei Ohtani, as he prepared to take the mound for just the second time as a Dodger. Ohtani needed one pitch to get a groundout of C.J. Abrams before Mookie Betts failed to seal a pop out of James Wood. The Nationals couldn’t put the ball in play afterwards, as Ohtani recorded his first two strikeouts as a Dodger while completing a scoreless inning of work on just 18 pitches.
CAL
[XC] Cal Cross Country Announces 2025 Schedule
https://calbears.com/news/2025/6/20/cal-cross-country-announces-2025-schedule.aspx
BERKELEY - California's cross country team has announced its 2025 schedule, with six meets on the slate this fall in its second season as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Golden Bears will open the season on Aug. 29 at the USF Invitational, a meet in which Cal has participated for over two decades. The Bears had a memorable performance to open last season, with alumnus Carrick Denker winning the men's race and teammate Garrett MacQuiddy placing second. It marked the first 1-2 finish for the Bears since 2016.
[T&F] Alekna Named Regional Men’s Field Athlete Of The Year
https://calbears.com/news/2025/6/20/track-field-alekna-named-ustfccca-west-region-mens-field-athlete-of-the-year.aspx
California track & field's Mykolas Alekna was named the West Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Friday after a superb 2025 season with the Golden Bears, which included a substantial improvement on his own world record in the discus as well as three facility records, four meet records, an ACC title and an NCAA runner-up finish.
[MPOLO] Cal Men's Water Polo Announces 2025 Schedule
https://calbears.com/news/2025/6/20/cal-mens-water-polo-announces-2025-schedule.aspx
The California men's water polo team announced a challenging 2025 schedule Friday, highlighted by all four semifinalists from last year's NCAA Championship and at least eight opponents who finished 2024 ranked in the final CWPA poll.
Go Bears!!!
POLITICS
I volunteered at Pride Parade on Saturday. Last year, I was surprised by the number of people who said they wouldn't vote for Kamala because of her stance on Gaza. This year, I was surprised to watch a protest group there who wanted to blow up the Democratic party because they want more action on, well, everything... healthcare, environmental protection, Gaza, gay rights. On one hand, I get that they are desperate for these things. On the other, I am confounded by people who get a virtual F-minus in Political Science.
IMO too much attn is paid to the shit disturbers on both sides. Would be great to abolish party primaries and instead have two rounds - would greatly reduce the shit disturbers’ influence
US Rep Kat Cammack (R-FL 3) had an ectopic pregnancy discovered in May. That would likely kill her without an abortion. The DeSantis administration had made abortion illegal in Florida, and it had just gone into effect. Despite it being illegal, she somehow got the abortion - she called it a "medically assisted miscarriage". When interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, she went on to blame the left pro-abortion groups for fearmongering to create fear and hesitation amongst medical professionals. I guess the only moral abortion is your own. The hypocrisy is so thick that you can walk on it.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/22/kat-cammack-republican-florida-abortion-law-ectopic-pregnancy
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/republicans-life-threatening-pregnancy-collided-with-floridas-abortion-politics-ad96f8d4
"The hypocrisy is so thick that you can walk on it." That's a great line and an apt one.
I wonder how many lawyers for women getting abortions try to use "medically assisted miscarriage"
DBD AV CLUB
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
LSU wins the College World Series. State of Louisiana drained dry of alcohol.
https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/45563575/lsu-tigers-win-2nd-men-college-world-series-three-years
It’s time for another edition of Oski Disciple’s quote of the day.
“If you're lonely when you're alone, you're in bad company.”— Jean-Paul Sartre
WaPo shrinks some more. It got rid of a separate business section awhile ago and folded it into the main news section. Starting tomorrow sports, metro, and style will be in one section. I’m old so still prefer the home delivered paper but I can foresee a switch to digital may be in the future.
They are dead to me.
It was lame they chickened out on the endorsement at last second