La caja fuerte del El Guapo, mundo respira el suspiro de la relevación

It would seem that Rich "El Guapo" Garces, thought to be kidnapped, was actually just at the beach, according to ESPN Deportes. The Babel Fish translation of the story is especially hilarious:

It was 10 of disappear The ex- thrower of Great Leagues, Rich Garcés, appeared safe and sound in the Guaira, Venezuela (Services of ESPNdeportes.com) -- the ex- relevista of the Red Averages, Richard Garcés, appeared safe and sound in the Guaira, after ten days of disappear, according to the Dazzling Venezuelan newspaper. Garcés, which according to the Boston Herald it had expressed a preoccupation to be kidnapping in Venezuela when it was in Great Leagues, was sending in Venezuelan Liga with the Navigators of Magallanes, and the last time that their relatives had known of him was after a party in the University Stage of Caracas. Garcés affirmed when appearing that soon of the party of the 17 of January, it had spent days in the beach in the Central Coast. The relatives of corpulento throwing had gone to the Division of People Misled of the Police Body of Investigations to denounce the supposed disappearance of the player. Garcés, that sent with Boston from 1996 to the 2002, had mark of 23-8 and effectiveness of 3,78 with the Red Averages; one inquires that it is in talks with the Orioles to return to the Great Leagues.

Some of the unique phrasing that results is probably worthy of its own post. There is likely a joke (or more) here about "corpulento en la playa", but I will venture no further.

Won't someone think of the children!?

Yesterday's SF Chronicle relates the brave story of one woman's fight to protect the "environment and children".
How? By drafting a law in SF that will outlaw smoking in all recreational areas under the city's management, including parks.

"Secondhand smoke outdoors is just as dangerous (as indoors)," said Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier..."Like other young parents, I have had the wonderful experience of a child picking up a cigarette butt off the lawn and popping it in their mouth"

So, I assume there are no littering laws on the books in SF that otherwise would have prevented such an atrocity? The Board of Supervisors vote was 8-3, so there were at least dissenting opinions that expressed worries about the civil liberty issues related to outlawing people participating in an otherwise perfectly legal activity. Right?
Well, not really. Supervisor Jake McGoldrick had other worries:

McGoldrick, who represents the Richmond District, was particularly worried about how the law might disproportionately affect some immigrant communities, including Chinese Mah Jong players at Portsmouth Square who enjoy a cigarette with their game.

Others had more personal scores to settle with "Big Smoke":

Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who lost his mother to a smoking-related illness, said he welcomed the measure, as did Supervisor Tom Ammiano, who is asthmatic.
"I wish, as a child, there had been that incentive, if she was at a playground with me or a park with me, that she had the incentive not to smoke, " Dufty said.

With a more laws like these, and with all other major problems solved, SF is inching closer to being a true utopia, were people can breathe freely the clean air without fear of harmful, toxic chemicals:

Dr. Mitch Katz, who runs the city's Department of Public Health, was thrilled with the vote.
"People are under the misconception that if they are outside, they are not being exposed," he said. "If you can smell the smoke, your body is inhaling the toxic chemicals in the smoke."
Katz said he hopes the law "will result in fewer smokers and fewer people being exposed to smoke."

So long Eyechart

From the Daily News via
Sons of Sam Horn, Sox first baseman and defensive specialist (I'll sorely miss the slick fielding) Doug Mientkiewicz has been reunited with the "Dominican Dandy" on the Mets in a trade for prospect Ian Bladergroen. I admit to knowing nothing about Bladergroen, but I do know that Mientkiewicz might be leaving empty-handed, and I don't mean without a WS ring.

Oil Can?!

From the Boston Globe, I learn that flamboyant former Sox pitcher Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd (possessing one of the coolest baseball nicknames ever) is attempting to make a comeback at age 45. Lest you think it can't be done, remember that the great Satchel Paige pitched into his 60s. Incidentally, according to the "Can" his father and uncle played with Paige in the Negro Leagues. Of course all of this is irrevelant as to whether the "Can" himself will be able to succeed. Good luck anyway. If only Dewey could come back...it's times like these I wish I was back in Boston and was able to have watched NESN's replay of the '75 and '86 WS.

El Guapo?!

Via a Cincinnati Reds forum via the Sons of Sam Horn, former Red Sox reliever Rich "El Guapo" Garces (who seems to share my birthday), has been missing from his home in Venezuela since January 17th and has possibly been kidnapped. Yikes! No word to my knowledge on the fate of the mother of former Sox closer Ugueth Urbina, kidnapped in Venezuela last year. Come home safely, Guapo.

Update: Jan. 26, 2005 Apparently kidnappers have demanded 3 M$ for Urbina's mother, but no word in a month or so.

Worst. Day. Ever.

Nothing much to say in this first post. However, to whomever broke into my car last night: Thanks for the anecdotal confirmation of what is supposed to be today.