The Tejada deal

Tejada%20action%208x10%20fielding.jpgWell, one thing’s clear — new Stros General Manager Ed Wade is not risk averse!
The six player deal that is bringing star shortstop Miguel Tejada to the Stros has already been thoroughly analyzed around the blogosphere, so there really is not much to add. From what I’ve seen, most folks think the Stros gave up too much for Tejada. I’m not sure about that, but I’m not sure that this trade helps the Stros all that much, either.
As regular readers of this blog know, the Stros’ decline over the past two seasons since their World Series team of 2005 has been for different reasons. The 2006 Stros fell short in the mediocre National League Central because their strong pitching finally could not overcome the club’s chronically anemic hitting. Then, after Stros management took steps to improve the club’s hitting for the 2007 season, the Stros pitching staff fell apart as the club’s subpar defense contributed to the staff’s struggles.

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More on the myth of beneficial long-distance running

alberto%20salazar%20121407.jpgThe increasing evidence that long-distance running is not healthy has been a frequent topic on this blog, and this Lou Schuler/Men’s Health article surveying the most recent research and expert opinions comes to the same conclusion:

[No expert] today believes that endurance training confers immunity to anything, whether it’s sudden death from heart disease or the heartbreak of psoriasis. Every time you lace up your running shoes, there’s a chance your final kick will involve a bucket, and every expert knows this. [. . .]
The highest death rate is among the men who exercise long and hard, and is much higher than that of the men who exercise short and hard.

Schuler concludes that frequent, short exercise sessions that balance strength-training with moderate aerobic exercise is probably the healthiest approach. Read the entire article.

The Aggies are finally number 1!

We%27re%20no%201%20121407.gifIt’s been such a tough run for the Texas A&M football program this decade that some folks are now questioning the legitimacy of the Aggie football heritage. But not to worry. The Aggies are now number 1 — in bass fishing!