pardon my analogy

We're in the sixth inning, now. Our starter is starting to get a bit winded, but has changed tactics as the game has progressed, mixing in a few offspeed pitches, a changeup or sinker just to keep the batters guessing. The other side, though, has already plowed through several middle relievers. The latest, called from the bullpen after only a couple warmup tosses, can't find his control, and has just walked the bases loaded.

"The community expects a return on the investment of their dollars into the school system," said Mike Reitz, director of labor policy for the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, a conservative public policy research organization. "The teachers being in a position of wanting more pay for no new work is a difficult one for administrators to accommodate. ... That's a free gift of taxpayer dollars."

Yes, it's possible to throw a curveball with too much spin. Down in the dirt, bouncing past the catcher. Another run scores. It's going to be a long sixth.