Edgy MD

The fates were closing on Shliamatti so slowly yet assuredly, my wife spent most of this film afraid would end up whinily and futilely crawling out a motel window in the end, a la William H. Macy in Fargo. I thought the best thing was the tone-lessness of the teenaged boy. Why does Hollywood not know that adolescent boys talk like robots. It's initially chilling when you actually meet one because Hollywood doesn't tell you they're like that. They are! In my world, a lot of filmmakers would be doing what McCarthy does --- taking people insulated in their cocoons forcing them into each other's lives, and watching them trying to find a way to reconcile that. It's what societies are made of. Increasingly, families are also. Also interesting that he sets his films in the cocoon-intensive world that is much of suburban New Jersey. That said, McCarthy seems to have wrapped this one up a little more sloppily than in The Station Agent or The Visitor. A few elements --- the boiler, the slap to the side of the head --- are like guns hanging on the wall that refuse to go off by act three. Bobby Carnavale's character, while apparently based on McCarthy's co-writer, seems tacked on to add color. What does that guy do? He has a nice condo, a nice house for his ex, nice clothes and haircut, and all he does is sit around feeling sorry for himself while his bestbuddy is in quicksand. They also introduce him during that fake heart attack scene that would have been more effective had they established his character earlier. I'm thinking maybe the trappings of success are helping him connect the dots in ways that used to be handled by writing and directing. His other two films featured star turns by career supporting/character actors. This one featured a character actor in Giamatti who had long since turned in his career-turning role in Sideways, establishing him as a viable leading man. Jeffrey Tambor, at 65-ish, seems a little long in the tooth to be taking up wrestling coaching to be connecting with a teen-aged song. Maybe he got tacked in there, under the premise that the film needed another name, and so the Carnavale character lost 30% of his role. Which, while disappointing, doesn't drain my resevoir of good will. Go McCarthy! Part of the film, by the way, appears to have been filmed in my hometown of Rockville Centre, so it's got that going for it. #winwinning!

Strange stuff. And with all that space, they can't print the three-digit batting average? I realize that's an issue with the original set they aped, and not with this one, but the layout sort of leaves the actual order so unclear that they confused even the layout artist. Funny to see Musial and White wearing different hats.

It exists whether I mention it or not, for I am not God.

Ronny C. dealing with knee tendonitis. What page do we reach by opening day?

Well, that's what happens when tweeting kills clarity. Sorry 'bout that.

Ruby tweeting that the Mets have been trying to push the beatwriters to write negative stories about Beltran.

Sac fly plates one.

Walk to Ike loads the bases. Never too early to practice avoiding conflict. Do it again, Lucas.

Bay follows Murphy's second single with a much-desired double. Tying run at the plate. His name is Ike.

Daniel Murphy the only Met packing his lumber today.

Supposedly, The Tejada Groin is the last straw for Terry Collins, and he has spoon-fed the media their day's story by publicly blowing a gasket. I wonder if he privately or publicly links Tejada's groin to him reporting "late" to camp.

What's this I hear about a strange groin? How unusual could it be?

Tejada scratched out, Quintanilla inserted. Explanation not yet available.

Santana throwing his normal bullpen, and the report is that it's so routine that only two reporters are watching.

12-9, 3.33, 171 IP, just qualifiying for the ERA title. He'll pitch better than his record, but he'll be pulled from too many games too early to secure la victoire, and will fall victim to his pen and to his manager's kid gloves.

It's a shrine to Felix Heredia over my dresser.

Getting to really hammer this Mejia thing hard.

Got some sexy new pictures here, though Manny Acosta seems to be between hairstyles. I'll get the minor leaguers' first big-league photos up later. Invited To Major League CampRelief Pitchers =#0000FF]87 =#FF8000]Josh Edgin DoB: 12/17/1986 Your Projected 2012 Mets (Orange Indicates Players Have Options) Starting Pitchers =#0000FF]43 R.A. Dickey DoB: 10/29/1974 =#0000FF]35 =#FF8000]Dillon Gee DoB: 4/28/1986 =#0000FF]49 Jonathon Niese DoB: 10/27/1986 =#0000FF]34 Mike Pelfrey DoB: 1/14/1984 =#0000FF]57 Johan Santana DoB: 3/13/1979Relief Pitchers =#0000FF]46 Manny Acosta DoB: 5/1/1981 =#BF8000]. =#0000FF]77 D.J. Carrasco DoB: 4/12/1977 =#BF8000]. =#0000FF]48 Frank Francisco DoB: 9/11/1979 =#BF8000]. =#0000FF]19 Danny Herrera DoB: 10/21/1984 Not on Roster =#0000FF]39 Bobby Parnell DoB: 9/8/1984 =#BF8000].Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders =#0000FF]52 Ram�n Ram�rez DoB:8/31/1981 =#0000FF]60 John Rauch DoB:9/27/1978 =#0000FF]4 =#FF8000]Mike Nickeas DoB: 2/13/1983 =#0000FF]30 Josh Thole DoB: 4/28/1986 =#0000FF]13 Ronny Cedeno DoB: 2/2/1983Infielders =#0000FF]29 =#FF8000]Ike Davis DoB: 3/22/1987 =#0000FF]28 Daniel Murphy DoB: 4/1/1985 =#0000FF]11 Ruben Tejada DoB: 10/27/1989 =#0000FF]2 Justin Turner DoB: 11/23/1984 =#0000FF]5 David Wright DoB: 12/20/1982Outfielders =#0000FF]44 Jason Bay DoB: 9/20/1978 =#BF8000]. =#0000FF]21 =#FF8000]Lucas Duda DoB: 2/3/1986 =#BF8000]. =#0000FF]20 Adam Loewen DoB: 4/9/1984 Not on Roster =#0000FF]33 Vinny Rottino DoB: 4/7/1980 Not on Roster =#0000FF]56 Andr�s Torres DoB:1/26/1978 =#BF8000]. Also on 40-Man Roster Starting Pitchers =#0000FF]73 =#FF8000]Robert Carson DoB: 1/23/1989 =#0000FF]75 =#FF8000]Jeurys Familia DoB: 10/10/1989 =#0000FF]53 =#FF8000]Jeremy Hefner DoB: 3/11/1981 =#0000FF]32 =#FF8000]Jennry Mejia DoB: 10/11/1989 =#0000FF]66 =#FF8000]Armando Rodriguez DoB: 1/28/1988Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers Infielders =#0000FF]63 =#FF8000]Chris Schwinden DoB: 9/22/1986 =#BF8000]. . =#0000FF]27 =#FF8000]Pedro Beato DoB: 10/27/1986 =#BF8000]. . =#0000FF]40 Tim Byrdak DoB: 10/31/1973 Looks to Open Season On DL =#0000FF]64 =#FF8000]Josh Stinson DoB: 3/14/1988 =#BF8000]. . =#0000FF]71 =#FF8000]Wilmer Flores DoB: 8/6/1991 =#BF8000]. .InfieldersOutfielders =#0000FF]74 =#FF8000]Reese Havens DoB: 10/20/1986 =#BF8000]. . =#0000FF]65 =#FF8000]Zach Lutz DoB: 6/3/1986 =#BF8000]. . =#0000FF]3 =#FF8000]Josh Satin DoB: 12/23/1984 =#BF8000]. . =#0000FF]61 =#FF8000]Jordany Valdespin DoB: 12/23/1984 =#BF8000]. . =#0000FF]12 Scott Hairston DoB: 5/25/1980 Looks to Open Season On DLOutfielders =#0000FF]76 =#FF8000]Juan Lagares DoB: 3/17/1989 =#0000FF]67 =#FF8000]Cesar Puello DoB: 4/1/1991 Also in Camp Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers =#0000FF]47 Miguel Batista DoB: 2/19/1971 =#0000FF]70 =#FF8000]Matt Harvey DoB: 3/27/1989 =#0000FF]38 Garrett Olson DoB: 10/18/1983 =#0000FF]58 Fernando Cabrera DoB: 11/16/1981 =#0000FF]87 =#FF8000]Josh Edgin DoB: 12/17/1986Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders =#0000FF]36 Chuck James DoB: 11/9/1981 =#0000FF]16 Rob Johnson DoB: 7/22/1982 =#0000FF]62 =#0000FF]Lucas May DoB: 10/24/1984 =#0000FF]15 Val Pascucci DoB: 11/17/1978 =#0000FF]6 Omar Quintanilla DoB: 10/24/1981Outfielders =#0000FF]23 =#FF8000]Mike Baxter DoB: 12/7/1984 =#0000FF]68 =#FF8000]Matt den Dekker DoB: 8/10/1987 =#0000FF]72 =#FF8000]Kirk Nieuwenhuis DoB:8/7/1987 Free Agents Starting Pitchers =#0000FF]55 Chris Young DoB: 5/25/1979 Coaching Staff ManagerBench CoachBatting CoachPitching CoachThird Base Coach =#0000FF]10 Terry Collins DoB: 5/27/1949 =#0000FF]7 Bob Geren DoB: 9/22/1959 =#0000FF]51 Dave Hudgens DoB: 12/5/1956 =#0000FF]59 Dan Warthan DoB: 12/1/1952 =#0000FF]18 Tim Teufel DoB: 7/7/1958First Base CoachBullpen CoachBullpen CatchersHead Trainer =#0000FF]26 Tom Goodwin DoB: 8/27/1968 =#0000FF]25 Ricky Bones DoB: 4/7/1969 =#0000FF]78 Eric Langill DoB: 4/9/1979 =#0000FF]79 Dave Racaniello DoB: 10/15/1981 =#0000FF] Ray Ramirez =#BF8080].Assistant Trainer =#0000FF] Brian Chicklo

St. Lousie=#0000FF]St. LucieDescalso, ssSchumaker, cfBeltran, rfFreese, dhAdams, 1bMolina, cCarpenter, 3bGreene, 2bKomatsu, lf Wainwright, spTorres, cfMurphy, 2bBay, lfDavis, 1bDuda, rfMay, cLoewen, dhSatin, 3bTejada, ss Pelfrey, sp Olson is the only lefty reliever scheduled to go, so I guess we can expect the Mets to take a hard look at him. Satin certainly seems to be getting enough at-bats around the diamond to sink or swim. I guess Turner's spot isn't so safe.

Professor Julius Kelp's Elixir of Love. His Passion Potion. His Serum of Savoir-Faire.

They're married.

I got the folder. I liked the tee-shirt better.

I think he meant showing up for the funeral. Attendance counts!

Get in line. Anyhow, the bottom line is that Mike Stanton, knowing how poisoned that name is in baseball, is now playing under the name Giancarlo Stanton.

That pitch hit Stanton so hard it changed his name.