Have you ever read the lyrics to Green Day’s "When I Come Around"? My buddy Chris and I like a lot of the same types of music. This always amazes us both, because whereas he knows most of the lyrics to songs he’s heard over the past 20 or so years, I tend not to know any of them. He likes those songs in large part because of the words. On the other hand, I consider lyrics little more than a vehicle for carrying the vocal melody and prefer them to be at least somewhat unintelligible so I can concentrate on the music.

At least, I did before I started singing with my current band. But now that I actually have to learn the lyrics to songs, I find that (a) without wishing to insult anyone, most pop and rock songs are pretty inane in terms of any message they hope to convey; and (b) because of the preceding fact, it’s not always easy to figure out a singer’s motivation in delivering lyrics. You might not think this is such a big deal until you try to sing something like "I’m just roaming for the moment/Sleazin’ my back yard so don’t get/So uptight you been thinking ’bout ditching me" with conviction. I mean, I’d like to, but I have no freakin’ idea what he even means.

Lest anyone think I’m picking on pop and rock music, be assured that I still love the stuff. I just like it better when I can’t understand what they’re saying.

Hey dude, shut up with your elitist music b.s. and talk about baseball.

Fine. How about Jake Peavy? Thanks to class, I caught only the ninth, when he was running out of gas. By all accounts, though, that was a heckuva performance. Sure, the Mets were without Edgardo Alfonzo and Mike Piazza (although it should be noted that Piazza’s replacement, Tom Wilson, did the only direct damage to Peavy all night), but still. The only thing that concerns me a bit is that he threw 115 pitches. That number is a shade on the high side for my taste, but given his handling to this point and the game situation, I can live with it.

Speaking of young pitchers, Mike Bynum was pulled after two innings last night at Nashville. No need to panic; word is he’s being recalled to start Saturday’s game in place of Bobby M. Jones.

Xavier Nady knocked three hits in that game to raise his average to .280. His peripherals are coming around, too. Still not where you’d like to see them but getting there. When he comes around, you know where he’ll be found. (Ah, yes; the caffeine is kicking in good now.)

I’m going to stop now before I lose the rest of you. Have a great day, and if anyone has a clue what that Green Day song is about please let me know. I think I’m starting to get the gist of it but there are still some gaps…