I have no excuse, and no defense. It was disgusting, and everyone knew it was going to be disgusting, and nobody else tried it. On the scale of “goofy eccentric” to “performative weirdo,” the salsa move was definitely several steps too far to the right.

I’ve made a ton of drinks that were considered disgusting by other people, but the only ones I’ve ever regretted on my own terms were Bailey’s and orange soda (whoops!) and a drink I called “myrrh” that was whiskey, coke, Everclear, Manischewitz, and salsa.

Old LeBrons never die...they just fade away.

I mean, you can argue that they’d get slaughtered by the Rockets or Warriors (and presumably they would/will), but doesn’t the option at this point have to be Philadelphia? Or Toronto, I guess.

My friend and I wrote several thousand words about the 2016 Name of the Year when the bracket came out, that I will not link to unless requested because it was Major Overkill - but yes, I was unimpressed by Taco Pope. I’m aware this is a controversial position.

It’s astonishing that the best name could win. After the horrific debacle of 2016 (Taco Pope and Sweet Orefice both making the final 4 and Pope McCorkle III winning), I lost faith in the voters. But they have come back strong. Go Jimbob.

Interleague play frustrates some candidates. Jamie Moyer would be a great candidate because he pitched in the NL in 1991 and then not again until 2006, but interleague play screws with it. For example, he faced Bonds in 1997, 1999, and 2001.

Here’s a 13 year gap: Mark Grace, Jesse Orosco (1988, 2001)

Here’s an 11-year regular season gap: Cy Young and Honus Wagner. Faced each other in 1900 and then not again until 1911 when Cy was back in the NL...although they did meet in the 1903 World Series.

Kent Tekulve blows Franco out of the water. 70 against Gary Carter, 67 against Andre Dawson, 63 against Mike Schmidt. And 0 career starts.

Dennis Eckersley faced lots of guys lots of times, led by Robin Yount (89), Mike Hargrove (87), and Reggie Jackson (85). But again, half his career was as a starter.

If the Phillies hadn’t traded Cole Hamels he would have a chance with Ryan Zimmerman (91) and David Wright (85). You really want guys in the same division as much as possible I think.

Wonder who faced Cy Young most. Willie Keeler is a candidate, because he was of a similar age and also moved to the American League in his later career. You’ve got full seasons for both from 1894-1900 and then again from 1903-1909. Underrated candidate: Fielder Jones, 1896-1908. Maybe Nap Lajoie, although Lajoie…

BBref goes back to 1925, so we can’t know Cobb-Johnson, though that certainly makes sense. Lefty Grove and Lou Gehrig are at 239. Don Drysdale and Hank Aaron 249. Pete Rose and Phil Niekro 266. I bet Musial-Spahn will be the best since 1925 - before then hard to say. I looked up some pitchers, but Nolan Ryan switched…

Sorry, two walks and a hit batsman.

More fun stuff: The player with the most PAs against Colon without a hit is Tino Martinez. 0 for 19 with 3 walks.

I love remembering guys, but what I love even more is unexpectedly remembering guys!

Jimbob Ghostkeeper and Gandalf Hernandez are still alive, and could meet in the finals...which means that somehow the voting this year has NOT been abjectly horrible. What sweet madness is this?

Luke Appling deserves a mention simply because he was a genuinely good starting shortstop at age 42 and because he earned the nickname “Old Aches ‘n’ Pains” after complaining endlessly about how much his body hurt and then hitting well anyway.

Fairly weak bracket this year, especially with brutally awful 1 seeds Makenlove Petit-Fard (just bad all around) and Dr. Narwhals Mating (which would be great with any other last name). Of course, given the Taco Pope and Sweet Orefice debacle of 2016 (such a wrenching injustice that I don’t even remember the 2017…