Edgy MD

Think of everything that changed after that. [list:1wsqil4c][*:1wsqil4c]The power boom and the presumed juice boom[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the new stadium boom[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the empty-heartedness of faux nostalgia[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the extra tiers of playoffs (which would have happened in 1994 hadn't the strike occurred)[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the extreme widening of the market advantage due to the cable boom[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the Mets missing that boat due in part to being locked into a pre-boom cable contract[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the utter deterioration and destruction of the Expos and Francophonic baseball[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the unprecedented powers of Selig[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the unapologetic presentation of a commissioner coming out of the owner's club[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the threat of contraction[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the return of the independent minors[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the explosion of legacy ballplayers, with all-star teams crowded with second- and third-generation players[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the sinking feeling that among these legacy players were the only black American athletes still interested in playing baseball[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]despite the unprecendent offense, there still being three or four pitchers who could make people look as stupid as Bob Gibson did in 1968[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]thin-handled bats and ballooning strikeout numbers[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the weirdness of baseball's popularity growing by any measure, with the paradoxical growing feeling and general attitude that its relevancy was hopelessly waning[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]the weird boom in the card market where everybody in America suddenly had a nephew who religiously collected cards, keeping them pristine in their cellophane binders, but who had no interest in actual baseball[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]'roid hearings[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]pontifications about roids and baseball ruining America, even though you knew most every other game was as filthy or filthier --- sometimes far filthier (hello, wrestling)[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]failed prosecution of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]having to explain to people over and over again, no, you really don't take any joy from the Yankees' run of success, and no, you don't in any way feel you're being stingy[/*:m:1wsqil4c] [*:1wsqil4c]but hey, artificial turf disappearing from every big league stadium but appearing at every high school, evolving over the years from the luxury that only big league teams could have to the luxury only big league teams could afford not to have.[/*:m:1wsqil4c][/list:u:1wsqil4c]

Pretty cool, I guess that Gossage finished his career as a teammate of Rodriguez. That's a nice little bridge to the past on the 1994 Mariners.

Of course, Hook had an appropriate role (another man-child) and a good director and it still missed. It's real alchemy, the filmmaking business. Sometimes all (or most of) the elements can be there, and they just won't mix.

It's really as simple as that, yeah.

Youse wanna wave the white flag, at least do when and if the team collapses before the Nats this week. The Flushings beat the Naminals, they make a big splash in the division, especially if the Braves continue to flounder. If they don't, there's a good chance the surging Padres catch 'em from behind. Big ol' week o' baseball. You look at that NGB column and you see, the team is actually gaining incrementally while seeming to stand still. TeamWLPCTGBNGBWashington6353.543��Atlanta6058.5084.04.0Miami5860.4926.08.0YOUR New York Mets 5762.4797.512.5Philadelphia5366.44511.528.5 TeamWLPCTGBNGBPittsburgh6355.534-0.5-0.5St. Louis6255.530��San Francisco6256.5250.50.5Atlanta6058.5082.54.5Cincinnati6058.5082.54.5Miami5860.4924.512.5YOUR New York Mets 5762.4796.020.0San Diego5562.4707.026.0Philadelphia5366.44510.047.0Arizona5167.43211.559.0 Chicago5067.42712.063.5Colorado4672.39016.5108.5

Gwreck wrote: Except shutting down Mejia to have necessary hernia surgery accomplishes both goals. I don't think it's an established fact at all that it accomplishes the first goal. I think the Mets would jump on it if was that clear. I don't think the second goal is much of a goal at all. Gwreck wrote: They're not going to make the playoffs in 2014. I don't think this is anything like an established fact either. The team is seven and a half off the division and six off the wild card. They'd be a game closer in both if they made any number of subtle decisions just a little bit better on Sunday afternoon. It's unlikey, sure, but unlikelier things happen every season. The Pirates were within reach, a game and half in front of the Mets, two weeks ago. Now they're now the wild card leader.

I really don't mean to be wisen. I just simply have to disagree. You can't get caught up in thinking that's the goal. It's empty, Pyrrhic, and diabolically seductive. If you have to shut a player down in the present to protect his future, by all means. If you have to shut him down to weaken your team and improve your draft position, I wouldn't like to sign on with that. The team has spent plenty of years now stockpiling talent. Victory is the scarcer and more precious commodity.

Well, two things you need in assessing Robin is the hyphenated noun "man-child," and a specially designed scale built for balancing madcap comedy with pathos. He was bearing all of our sins in a lot of films.

I think that last line is fair. You always knew that, paired with the right film and director, he could paint the world any color he wanted. But what director could possibly channel his act without dulling it? Alladin, I guess, was the perfect vehicle for him. Just let him improvise everything, and you can rewrite and edit around what he gives you. He could totally subvert the film without throwing the other actors because they could just get the other performers' readings and dub them in separately. Made forgivable stupid anachronisms like doing Ed Sullivan imitations in medieval Arabia for an audience of kids who mostly had no idea who Ed Sullivan could possibly be. My wife had a voice coach who had him at Juliard. Said he was completely un-containable. Scripts, blocking, fourth walls, costume changes... they were all just humble suggestions to him.

Your mileage may differ. In fact, I hope it does. Take this with the usual caveat of "based on what I've seen... ," along with a healthy realization that I haven't seem much of his from the last 15 years, during which he's scarcely slowed down. The Fisher King (1991) Dead Poet's Society (1989) Awakenings (1990) Aladdin (1992) The World According to Garp (1982) Moscow on the Hudson (1984) Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) The Birdcage (1996) Club Paradise (1986) Toys (1992) Supporting Roles Good Will Hunting (1997) Dead Again (1991) The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) Hamlet (1996) Jumanji (1995) Nine Months (1994) I thought my choice inclusion of personal favorite Moscow and guilty pleasure Club Paradise would look pretty controversial, but there just isn't a lot of quality from the beginning of his career. And then, smack in the middle, he pulls down four best actor Oscar nominations in four years (Vietnam, Dead Poets, Awakenings, and Fisher King). He was considered a real contender all four years, but somehow got shut out, finally winning his lone Oscar in a supporting role. I don't know what it means, probably nothing. Just a funny time to be a young adult for me and mine, to see the funniest TV actor from our childhoods suddenly an unstoppable force for carrying weighty and ambitious films. Could you imagine, I dunno, Jonathan Winters suddenly asked in the early seventies to do Jane Eyre or Save the Tiger or something?

Gwreck wrote: Right now, they look to be in the range of 16-20, and that's the worst place to be. I feel pretty certain the worst place to be is to be the worst team in the league.

Man, we suddenly have a lot of injury threads. All candidates for a 2015 rotation slot, please take one step forward.

Frayed Knot wrote: Plus Jeter has never played an inning in his entire career at a position other than SS (and the occasional DH) and, although no one there will say so, I suspect he desperately wants to retire with that on his record. Back when Omar Vizquel was one of the four or five best defensive shortstops ever to take the field, Joe Torre was forced to put together an all-star team with four shortstops. Of course, Vizquel was the one he played at second.

If bunting is for losers, tanking is for the birds.

I disagree that that particular outcome is likely.

What a waste.

Feel pretty confident that I could get Darin Ruf. Injury or not, I own that guy. He had two F's before he met me. Two R's in in "Darrin," too.

Big opportunity here.

Thanks. Yeah, I had no idea via the radio. Do I correctly assume that, had he been in position, the umpz would have had the option to rule an out?

Phew. Four-of-seven roadtrip. Not exactly world-beaters, but...

With regard to the game, is there really a difference between a double and a homer?

This is interesting. If interference is ruled, is that a double or an out?

Futley!

Are there any remaining players who participated in the 1994 strike? I don't think there are. If minor league players who were on the 40-man MLB roster participated in the walkout (I don't honestly know), maybe Giambi? LaTroy Hawkins?

Just heard a WOR commercial by yourmarketingsucks.com Classy!