Why? Because. Because Why?

One of my favorite exchanges to overhear is the classic 'why, because' dialogue.

"Why?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"I don't know, just because."

"But it can't be just because. Why exactly? There must be a reason."

I don't have much more to comment on as far as that type of dialogue is concerned, but I was reminded of it recently by overhearing a conversation between this guy I work with and one of his candidates (I work for a recruiting firm, in case that was in question. Why do I work for a recruiting firm? Because.). I also overheard this conversation recently:

"Hi, Bill? Hey, it's Pat. How are you?"

"Pat, I'm good thanks, how are you?"

"Good, how are you?"

Hilarious. But it just goes to show that programmed responses sometimes just can't be avoided because they may just jump out of your mouth without the chance to retract them. This previous dialogue is exactly one of those such responses.

Maybe it's more of a nervous reaction, I don't know. Having worked in sales for quite some time, I've heard some pretty funny things come out of the mouths of co-workers. I used to work with a guy who, when asked how he was doing, would say the word "good" about ten times.

"Hi Zack, how are you?"

"Good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good."

I certainly think this is more of a nervous reaction but man, it was fucking funny to hear. I tend to say weird things to clients who give me a hard time on the phone. I have interesting conversations every day I pick up the phone and call potential clients...most don't really have the time to talk when they hear my voice, but my favorite road blocks to overcome are those cold calls to people who have no idea what my company does. I'll say things like "Oh, it's your lucky day then. You'll be pleased to know that I'm a recruiter..." You have to understand that these people that I'm calling receive upwards of twenty calls a day from people who do what I do. I'm pretty much willing to make an ass out of myself on the phone if it means that person at least remembers my name...with positive connotation or not. I recently left a ridiculous voicemail for a client that hadn't returned one of my calls in over three months. It was a play on the Comcast Digital Voice Commercials (sorry Roger, you Tiger now). I explained that I now had Comcast Digital Voice and that we could do business together now. There was more to it, but you get the point. And this woman emailed me shortly thereafter, explaining that I'd have to contact someone in another department, blah, blah, blah. But she got back to me. She did not, however, acknowledge my off-the-cuff voicemail and that would lead me to believe that she wasn't amused in the slightest bit. I need to start listening to Lauren when she tells me that most of the things I find funny really aren't that funny.

So the Sox have upped the ante for Santana, in figuring Jacoby into the final equation. On one hand, as I've discussed with me father and countless guys in my office, I would hate to watch him leave town. I can see him playing center for the Sox for years to come. At the same time, I was very reluctant about the Hanley/Beckett deal and look at where the Sox are following that deal: world champs, 2nd best pitcher in the AL this season. Yes, Florida owns the NL's most productive shortstop and bonafide superstar but Beckett basically won the Sox a World Series. Fans can't complain about that deal. Hooking Santana would be a really good insurance policy for a repeat title and maybe more to come, depending on the health of the whole pitching staff. There's also no guarantee on successful, young September call-ups who tear it up that first time in the bigs; see Dwayne Hosey, 1995 Sox call up with similar numbers. Point is, we just don't know if Ellsbury will be as good as he's shown himself to be in a short amount of time. However, his raw ball skills are undeniable and that's why I love him. He has tremendous intangibles and his baseball IQ is off the charts. In my opinion, those types aren't flashes in the pan. You can't teach speed or the ability to read the ball off the bat in the outfield. We'll see what happens, but Ellsbury is a superstar in the making.

In closing, I'd like to welcome the month of December in a most unloving fashion. Way to make a grand entrance, what with 20-degree temperatures, snow, slush and just a general shittiness. Thanks, and screw you.

Hi Lisa. And Dina. Thanks for reading.