Soundtrack

The song on which Kurt Cobain got the hang of it, and made rock a weapon again.

He spent a day, a week, or three acid trips (or make up your own story) listening to the Beatles and then, properly soaked in musical ask-and-answer, came up with his first coherent song. 

The producer was blown away, but couldn't discern quite what Cobain was getting at.  To which Kurt replied, "It's about a girl."

I need an easy friend

I do ... With a bat to lend

I did, Think you fit this shoe

I do .... But DO you have a clue?

They'll all take advantage while

You hang me out to dry

And I can't see you out there tonight. Freeeeeeeeee ... Dustin

...I do

We were standing in your line

I do, Hope you have yer dimes

I do, Pick up number two

We do, Keep a date with you

You take advantage while

They hang me out to dry

And I can't see you here in a fortnight. Freeeeeeee ... Chone

I need an easy friend

I do, With a ear to lend

I do, Think you fit this shoe

I do, But DO you have a clue?

They'll take advantage while

You hang me out to dry

And I can't see you every night,

no I can't see you any night...
Freeeeeeeee .... Chuck

I do...

.

Q.  What happened out there?

A.  Score tied after four innings, 1-1.  Vargas throwing his usual Moyeresque "comfortable lockdown" and the score tied, of course, because the M's hitters were throwing their own "comfortable lockdown" at the Red Sox pitching.

Game turning on every play.  Mike Cameron leads off the 5th with a short double to the LF wall. 

Saunders cuts it off neatly, gets the ball back in quickly, but misses Wilson, manning, second base by a couple of yards.

The right side of the Mariner infield only mildly interested in the ballgame, the ball rolls through to the first baseman Smoak, who pounces on it and tries to throw Cameron out at 3B, but is much too late.

...............

After the top of the 5th is over, Don Wakamatsu pulled Figgins from the game for failing to notice that he was in it.  This is in contradistinction to Earl Weaver, Bobby Cox or Dick Williams, who would have pulled him in the middle of the inning.

It's in contradistinction to Billy Martin, who would have pulled him in the middle of the inning, kicked his can in the dugout, and kicked Jose Lopez' can for "backing up" Figgins on the play.  (It's true; Billy reportedly never lost a fight in his adult life, and he wrote that he had hundreds if not thousands.)

It's in contradistinction to Lou Piniella, who after the game would have Mike Singletary'ed Figgins in his locker if he said a cotton-pickin' word (as Lou did to Rob Dibble in one postgame).

It's in contradistinction to Dick Williams, who would have challenged Figgins to a wrestling match and accidentally defecated all over him during (as Williams actually did to one player; now I'm kind of sorry I brought it up, but we're setting up how genteel Don was with Figgins on the play).

And it's in contradistinction to Mike Scioscia, who benched Chone Figgins' keister many times over stuff like this, before Chone got with the Angels' program.  Could be wrong, but I'm guessing that Chone has reverted to no longer being "with the Angels' program."

.

Part 2

.