Some birthday notes

OK, I don't mean to fish for happy birthday wishes, but, well, it IS my birthday.

• The Indians were playing pretty well until they ran into the red-hot Mets. In each of the first two games of the series, the Mets have undone the Tribe with one big inning. On Tuesday, it was because of terrible fundamental defense by the Indians' infield, including the pitcher and catcher. Yesterday, it was because of four consecutive doubles given up by Tribe pitcher Mitch Talbot, who turned in his worst start of the season. Talbot attributed some of that to a problem with the signs between him and rookie catcher Carlos Santana, especially with runners on second.

• Left fielder Shelley "Slam" Duncan didn't play those doubles very well, as all four went to his part of the field. He did make a fine catch on a foul ball in front of the tarp, but that doesn't make up for his lapses. But he is an inexperienced left fielder, and Manny Acta knew that when he sent him out there. Duncan did hit a two-run homer for the second straight game, so maybe Acta knows what he's doing, at least a little bit.

• Game seven of the NBA Finals is tonight, and it starts at 9 p.m. here in the Eastern Time Zone, where approximately half of the country's population resides — including the visiting Boston Celtics' home fans. I'd like to stay up and watch it, but I have to work tomorrow. So I have to decide whether I want to miss the excitement or come to work bleary-eyed. This is an increasing trend in pro sports, and I'm getting sick and tired of it. I know the game starts at 6 p.m. in Los Angeles, where it's played, and that if it started earlier, ticket-holding fans who work would have trouble getting there in time. But which is more likely: that a few thousand Lakers fans who have tickets would have trouble finding a way to get out of work early, or that several million East Coast fans with TVs will decide to go to bed at halftime because they have to get up for work the next day? Stupid NBA.

• If the Celtics should happen to win tonight, it will make me feel ever-so-slightly better about the Cavaliers having lost to them two rounds ago. It will be very small comfort, but some comfort.

• It's been hard to pay very close attention to the World Cup, since all the games in South Africa are played during work hours over here, but it's been exciting so far. Switzerland pulled off a monumental upset of Spain yesterday, which I think is great because Switzerland is my daughter's ancestral homeland on her paternal side. The next US game is tomorrow morning (our time) against Slovenia, and there's been some question about the health of American goaltender Tim Howard, who sustained a rib injury in Saturday's tie with England. Howard has been cleared to play, with the assistance of pain pills. I hope they don't make him loopy.

• What in the world is up with those vuvuzelas that the South Africans keep blowing? It sounds like every stadium in the country is being attacked by killer bees. My beautiful wife says it drives her crazy, and things that drive my wife crazy are simply unacceptable. I'm told the players and some of the fans hate them, but that FIFA won't ban them because it's such a big part of South African culture. I'm also told that they can cause hearing damage. I'm sorry, but any culture that embraces something that stupid needs to re-evaluate its priorities.