Job Growth Unleashed in Akron

Eldrick Woods returned to the ranks of the employed yesterday at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron. So we know nonfarm payrolls added one in August.

In July, the beleaguered U.S. economy added 117,000 jobs, ahead of the 75,000 consensus but not enough to sate the demand from new entrants to the workplace, not to mention those that remain idle, which is 9.1% of us, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What’s more, the work week was unchanged, which bodes ill for third quarter gross domestic product, and growth in hourly earnings is lagging behind inflation, which spells trouble for increases in consumption, the key component of GDP.

We would call the labor outcome a bogey, when a birdie is needed to move up the leaderboard. Take note, Mr. Woods. The caddy you dumped last month is now carrying the bag of the first-round leader. Hey, that makes two nonfarm jobs added to payrolls this month.

Our baseball picks have followed the stock market recently. The Bronx B-52s finished their carpet-bombing of the pasty panty hose, who remained colorless except for Guillen. That brings our imaginary pile to 2,800 units. For entertainment purposes only, we’ll put 500 units on the favored hemoglobin hose of Boston and Jon Lester over the visiting poker-playing pinstripers and Bartolo Colon of New York.