MFS62

Three more hits today, including his 5th homer. Later

Flores has been en fuego. He's now playing third base and is hitting .323/.355/.523 Later

Welcome to the bigs, kid. Once you get that major league meal money, I'm not feeding you any more. Out of the house ya' go. Later

The comeback wasn't working out. He announced his retirement. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/players/playerpage/1666196/rss Shame. Later

Edgy, your kid is finally back in the saddle. He went 1-3 for St. Lucie last night. Later

Opening the season at St. Lucie. Not a good sign. Later

themetfairy wrote: OMG - this Cirque du Soleil production is horrendous! A few weeks early for this question, but, why is this night different from all other nights? Later

Edgy, I think the Latin translation of your review is "collectae rectae". Even if that's not correct, it sounds a lot classier in Latin. Thanks for the warning. I'll miss it. Later

My favorite title sequence is from the movie "The Loved One". No flash and crash or dizzying graphics. A plane lands at LAX, and star Robert Morse is seen walking toward Customs as the credits roll. What makes this memorable is his answer to the customs agent's question about his occupation as the credits end. I looked high and low for a video to post, couldn't find one. But the movie is so good, I'd recommend you rent it and see for yourself. Later

The nomination of "Extremely Loud ,,, " for best picture is unexpected. But the nomination of Max Von Sydow for Best Supporting Actor is not. (See the thread in this forum.) Wish I could predict the outcome of sporting events or Lottery drawings like that. Later

MFS62 wrote: . The other performances are fair to middling (except Von Sydow, who should expect some award nominations) . This morning it was announced that he was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. So was the picture. That one's a head-scratcher. Later

A: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Q: How did American League umpires describe their encounters with Earl Weaver? May an enraged wombat invade your pup tent. Later

Went to the cocktail party and benefit (for Tuesday's Children) performance tonight. The top three stars did not attend, and the director sent his wife (he's in London). But some of the co-stars did attend, including Max Von Sydow. He and his wife were late for the party, but he did make some introductory remarks before the showing. I had a chance to speak to him briefly after the movie. After brief small talk about some of his many movies, I mentioned his role as Ming the Merciless in Flash Gordon. He smiled. I then asked him which he preferred, comedy or drama. He replied "They are both a delight". As for the movie iteself, I tend to not like kid actors. So I tried to have an open mind about the movie and its young star. I was pleasantly surprised at his performance. I'm not sure why someone would want to see the movie. Maybe to deal with their own feelings about the day and the aftermath. Maybe they like tear-jerkers. Whatever. But I can't see anyone wanting to see it to be entertained. The pace is slow. As hard as everyone tries, you never really get grabbed in to the young hero's quest. The other performances are fair to middling (except Von Sydow, who should expect some award nominations) . And, I predicted the closing scene, almost down to the camera angle. I'm not going to post a poll, because if you want to see it, you will have your own reasons, and like it. And if this isn't your cup of tea, you won't. Later

I'll be attending a benefit showing of the film next Wednesday. Cocktails and celebs before the movie. I'll post a poll and give my comments then. Later

Holy Gears and Sprockets, Batman! Have we all mised this? While the baseball world has for years been trying to come up with a fair measure for "clutch", it appears m.e.t.b.o.t has come up with a way to quantify the "anti-clutch". I can see it all now. Instead of just saying a player is a "gagging motherfucker", we will now be able to say how the player ranks on m.e.t.b.o.t's scale of suckitude. Get an oil change and a lube, you mechanical marvel, and send the bill to SABR. You've earned it. Later

And he has carried his hitting over to the Arizona Fall League: http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l119&t=p_pbp&pid=501571 Later

1) My bad. (error of enthusiasm?) 2) Yup. (Hey, Clemente walked fewer than 25 times a year for his first 5 years in the majors. And I'm hoping that my kid will one day be spoken of in the same breath as a hitter. After all, he's my kid. I have to think that way. Now don't get all logical on me and spoil my reverie.) Later

Three more hits tonight. My kid's still hitting .398 after over 120 AAA at bats. Later

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: eyepopping 8.2 IP, 20 Ks, 3 BBs, 1.04 ERA, 5 hits, .161 BAA Memo to Sandy: Trade for the guys who got the hits off him. Later

With a double and two triples tonight, my kid is hitting over .410. Later

Phil "Ochs" was an answer in yesterday's USA Today crossword puzzle. I hadn't thought about him in years, then this thread yesterday. Then the puzzle. Things come in threes. I wonder .... Later

Edgy DC wrote: Like Scott Hairston, he's got a footballer's neck. The Argonauts are the Toronto team in the Canadian Football League. Later

Back in the 60's, there was folk (Leadbelly), Pseudo-folk (Chad Mitchell Trio), protest (The Weavers, Dylan, Ochs) and there was one group I really liked who were good at all three, The Limelighters. A friend and I went to see Ochs perform in Washington D.C. (Should there be a second period there?) We were in the Army, and to say our clothing and haircuts made us stand out in the crowd was an understatement. I hadn't heard about this movie, but now will try to find it. Later

Two hits, including a double, for your kid. He also had two errors. I chalk it up to the jitters. (One was listed as a missed catch) Later

I've read about that prediction of an arm injury for Wheeler before. (subscription site) It stems from his motion, in which his pitching arm and his glove arm both have the elbow higher than the hands. It is called the "inverted W". I don't know why it isn't just called the M. Mark Prior is the latest example of pitchers using that motion experiencing serious arm injuries. Later