The Final Score

If Baumbach were here, he would have something to say about Mike Jarvis getting hired by Florida Atlantic.

Jarvis was the St. John's coach for the 17 minutes that Baumbach was Newsday's St. John's beat writer. As soon as Baumbach came aboard, there was a huge sex scandal at the school. He did a great job reporting it, and 14 seconds later he was the Yankees beat writer. After three years on that beat, he became the country's first newspaper sports Web columnist.

Some people wonder why Jim has ascended as quickly as he has at Newsday even though he looks like he's just out of college. Actually, he's closing in on the ripe old age of 30 and he's a home owner and a dog owner.

I think it has something to do with working hard. Of course, now he's pretty much mailing it in, jetting off to Italy instead of staying behind to report on Willie Randolph's job security and Mike Jarvis' first coaching job in five years.

Has Baumbach blogged once while on vacation? No. I'm pretty sure they have the Internet in Europe. The Baumbach I grew up with would have never put his leisure time ahead of his blog.

I remember a time when you could count on uninterrupted blogging from Baumbach on The Final Score. Not anymore. Why do things have to change? Never for the better. I used to cringe when I'd have to listen to whining from old-timers about how much better things were in the old days. Now I agree with them.

Anyway, Baumbach returns Thursday, I think. I'd like to do one of those ESPN countdown clocks like they do for Monday Night Football. But we don't really have the technology for that.