Edgy MD

Six loozas travel cross-country in accidental pairs stublign toward their destny --- a high-stakes karaoke championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma. [list:905dbpaz][*:905dbpaz]An ex-con (Andre Braugher) doing a bad job reintegrating into honest society, travelling with[/*:m:905dbpaz] [*:905dbpaz]A burned-out commercial real-estate developer (Paul Giammatti), looking for new life in the thrill of pills and bright lights of karaoke.[/*:m:905dbpaz] [*:905dbpaz]A tramp (Maria Bello) trading her body for meals, beds, and rides, travelling with[/*:m:905dbpaz] [*:905dbpaz]A failed priest (Scott Speedman) turned cuckolded cabby, brokenhearted by the brokenness of this broken world.[/*:m:905dbpaz] [*:905dbpaz]A lone-wolf karaoke hustler (Huey Lewis), making a living on the big-stakes sidebets he suckers lounge lizards into, travelling against his will with[/*:m:905dbpaz] [*:905dbpaz]The daughter he never knew (Gwyneth Paltrow),a Vegas casino worker thrown together with him after her Vegas casino worker mother dies of a sudden aneurysm.[/*:m:905dbpaz][/list:u:905dbpaz] See, karaoke songs are sometimes performed as duets, and they're travelling in pairs, sort of like duets. The title has a double meaning that way.

Tim Hudson of the Braves undergoes surgery for a herniated disc.

I kinda like the early-nineties post-Jim Treasure Island and Christmas Carol movies more than the last two Jim-era ones: The Great Muppet Caper and The Muppets Take Manhattan. I agree that a more evolving muppet pantheon would be a good idea. But Disney is all about the rehashing.

G-Fafif wrote: He is married to the daughter of Ralph Branca, who threw the gopher ball to Bobby Thomson at the Polo Grounds in 1951. His first roommate in professional baseball was Bill Buckner, when the two were drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968. He managed the Texas Rangers, who were once managed by Ted Williams. He also managed the New York Mets, who inflicted immeasurable pain to our region in 1986. Impressive how he got there. "Think Shaughnessy, think...the Branca thing kinda works if you don't stare too hard at it, the Buckner thing definitely works, the Mets thing goes with the Buckner thing...how can I fit the Rangers in with this? Hmmm...TED WILLIAMS! OMG, Danny boy, you did it again!" This is the post that I was thinking of writing, but was late to the party. The Yankees should hire Art Howe, because he managed the Mets who were once managed by Casey Stengel and another time managed by Joe Torre. It's FATE!

A half a star? Sheesh, it was messy, but it wasn't' sadistic or hateful.

Reports are surfacing that Tal Smith and Ed Wade could possibly go shortly after the sale of the Astros is complete. A little late in the offseason, methinks.

Gooden shows support.

That's a complete hatchet job --- right down to the pointless parenthetical swipe at Bill James --- from a guy with a strange propensity for holding grudges.

Not to mention the Gilliam tendency to be undercut by a mid-shoot disaster. Wonderful visual thoughts haphazardly assembled, leading to appealing peeks into an inarticulate vision of an unclear pantheon. It gets an almost from me. Heath Bell's disappearance wasn't even the real problem, so much as too much seemingly conceived on storyboards and in the editing room. The presumed script that underlied it all was almost invisible.

An ancient monk (Christopher Plummer), rumbling through London in sideshow gypsy caravan, duels with the Devil (Tom Waits) for high stakes. High stakes indeed!

Happy Thanksgiving, Lenny. Former NY Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra holds first sit-down interview since plea in grand theft auto case Jail, rehab humble Dykstra BY NANCY DILLON NEW YORK DAILY NEWS LOS ANGELES � The former Met known as �Nails� claims his recent five-month stretch in county jail hammered home many much-needed lessons. In his first sit-down interview since copping a plea in his grand theft auto case, Lenny Dykstra � who earned his nickname as a hard-playing, hard-partying Met during the team�s wild days in the 1980s � says he learned his destructive addictions and major league ego cost him his fortune, his marriage and his freedom. �I really for the first time understand humility,� he said Thursday while smoking a cigarette on the patio of his private bungalow at The Hills rehab center. �It�s not everybody else�s fault. It�s not a coincidence that I�m here. It happened because I was using drugs and alcohol. It was a reality check.� Wearing a fleece sweatshirt and a court-ordered ankle monitor, Dykstra said his demons were wine, vodka, pain pills, party drugs and the rush he got blowing through his millions. �The way I lived my life helped me in baseball. But when you�re spending $28,000 for a bottle of wine and liking it? Nothing was ever enough,� he said, shaking his head. �The punishment gods said, �You know what we�re going to do? We�re going to put you in f---ing jail. We�re going to put you in the cooler because you have to pay for some things.� � Dykstra, 48, endured the death of his estranged mother while stuck in a Los Angeles County cell. He is now a voluntary patient on scholarship at The Hills, takes routine drug tests and calls his thinking �clear.� �I�m a partier, (and) it leads to making decisions that probably led to why I�m here right now. And that�s a fact that I have to admit,� he said. Dykstra�s long public fall from icon to inmate started during his 12-year career with the Mets and Phillies, and with the hard-headed recklessness that earned him his nickname. He helped the Mets win the 1986 World Series, had a short, ill-fated career as a stock-picking savant and went on to run a successful chain of car-wash businesses in southern California. Then his 2007 purchase of Wayne Gretzky�s $18.5 million mansion landed him in bankruptcy court, and everything unraveled from there. He was arrested in April on charges that he embezzled $400,000 from the bankrupt estate. The grand theft auto case followed, and if that wasn�t enough, he was also accused of exposing himself to women who answered his help-wanted ads on Craigslist.com. An April search of Dykstra�s residence turned up cocaine, Ecstasy, four boxes of the steroid Somatropin and a pink bag filled with syringes, police said. He faces up to four years in jail at his January sentencing for the car case. Dykstra declined to discuss his ongoing legal saga, but he was adamant that he�s not a bad person. �I�m not a criminal,� he said. �There will be a good ending. Just like I knew when I was growing up that I was going to be a Major League Baseball player. But there�s work I have to do and a price I have to pay.� He said he can count his remaining friends on one hand. Tears welled in his light blue eyes when he discussed his ex-wife, Terri, and the apologies he made to her and their sons during a recent family counseling session with Dr. Howard Samuels, owner of The Hills. �Lenny was scared to face them,� Samuels told The News. �He had a lot of shame about the things he had done. He did a great job taking responsibility.� Dykstra scoffed at reports that he recently bailed on a formal agreement to fight fellow former baseball star Jose Canseco in a celebrity boxing match. He said the Pennsylvania fan who ran his Twitter feed while he was incarcerated signed the contract without his full consent and then fabricated quotes for a press release. �It was confusing. I don�t know where I was misled,� Celebrity Boxing Federation founder Damon Feldman told The News. �We met with Dykstra at his rehab, he said he was 90% sure it would happen. He said the money was a little low, that he was worried about stepping in the ring. And then the next day he said he couldn�t get clearance.� Dykstra said the Pennsylvania-based fan later staged a fake Twitter war with him, attributing anti-Semitic remarks to the former All-Star. Claiming he doesn�t even know the password for the Twitter account bearing his name, Dykstra said he now is pursuing a restraining order. �To do the right thing with my cases, I have to get myself right,� he said. �I was living in a world of insanity.� I might take issue with the "was," but good luck to you.

Ollie back with the Tomateros in 2011 WLERAGGSCGSHOSVIPHRERHRBBSOGO/AOAVG000.00600004.02000110.83.143 Happy Thanksgiving, O-Town.

No, I want Jos� Reyes for the rest of his career. Else, yeah, absolutely, keep it in the family and (somehow) get healthy.

I don't know that free agency lists are meant to inspire, but it seems as talent-laden as ever. The only free agent I really have my eye on is the shortstop from New York.

Ashie62 wrote: Ankiel can hit though... Maybe Sandy can cut costs further OF/RP? Loewen has to be for organizational depth. He certainly has hit in the minors. I thought I made it pretty clear that I spoke of a poor man's Ankiel. Considering how Ankiel has hit the last two years (and even the last five), he looks like a better bet for the money, though without much centerfielding on his r�sum�. Sandy..shoot smart..

Coming: Signed Away From Florida To Minor League Contract And Invited To Spring TrainingSigned Away From Toronto To Minor League Contract And Invited To Spring TrainingOutfieldersOutfielders =#FF8000]43 Vinny Rottino DoB: 4/7/1980 (AAA/MLB in 2011) G:127 PA:538 HR:10 RBI:59 AVG:.301 OBP:.372 SLG:.436 OPS:.808 =#FF8000]39 Adam Loewen DoB: 4/9/1984 (AA in 2011) G:148 PA:622 HR:18 RBI:89 AVG:.299 OBP:.372 SLG:.496 OPS:.868 Going: Signed Away by PittsburghSigned Away by OaklandSigned Away by AtlantaInfieldersOutfieldersOutfielders =#FF8000]82 Stephan Welch DoB: 8/12/1988 (A+ in 2011) G:129 PA:514 HR:16 RBI:53 AVG:.271 OBP:.361 SLG:.438 OPS:.800 =#FF8000]20 Jason Pridie DoB:10/9/1983 (AAA/MLB in 2011) G:115 PA:298 HR:7 RBI:26 AVG:.231 OBP:.309 SLG:.367 OPS:.659 =#FF8000]37 Brahiam Maldonado DoB: 9/18/1985 (AA in 2011) G:131 PA:530 HR:28 RBI:74 AVG:.222 OBP:.285 SLG:.453 OPS:.737 Staying: Re-Signed To Minor League Contract And Invited To Spring Training Re-Signed To Minor League ContractInfieldersCatchersOutfielders =#FF8000]15 Val Pascucci DoB: 11/17/1978 (AAA/MLB in 2011) G:140 PA:534 HR:22 RBI:93 AVG:.264 OBP:.373 SLG:.478 OPS:.851 =#FF8000]38 Jean Luc Blaquiere DoB: 2/27/1986 (AA in 2011) G:47 PA:145 HR:2 RBI:14 AVG:.229 OBP:.368 SLG:.331 OPS:.699 =#FF8000]38 Raul Reyes DoB: 12/30/1986 (AA/AAA in 2011) G:124 PA:458 HR:14 RBI:58 AVG:.280 OBP:.327 SLG:.457 OPS:.784 Up in the Air: Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers =#FF8000]28 Boof Bonser DoB: 10/14/1981 (AAA in 2011) W-L:0-0 Saves:0 G:1 GS:1 ERA2.45 IP:3.67 BB:2 SO:4 =#FF8000]93 Manny Alvarez DoB: 12/18/1985 (AA/AAA in 2011) W-L:0-2 Saves:1 G:9 GS:0 ERA8.10 IP:10.00 BB:0 SO:2 =#FF8000]10 Ricky Brooks DoB: 7/18/1984 (AA in 2011) W-L:2-8 Saves:1 G:53 GS:1 ERA3.95 IP:82.00 BB:21 SO:58 =#FF8000]33 Taylor Buchholz DoB:10/13/1981 (MLB in 2011) W-L:1-1 Saves:0 G:23 GS:0 ERA3.12 IP:26.00 BB:7 SO:26 =#FF8000]46 Gustavo Chacin DoB: 11/4/1980 (AAA in 2011) W-L:3-7 Saves:0 G:39 GS:10 ERA6.39 IP:81.67 BB:8 SO:10Relief Pitchers =#FF8000]39 Jos� De La Torre DoB:10/17/1985 (Rk/A-/AAA in 2011) W-L:2-2 Saves:0 G:22 GS:0 ERA0.99 IP:27.33 BB:16 SO:29 =#FF8000]63 Justin Hampson DoB: 5/24/1980 (AAA in 2011) W-L:3-3 Saves:1 G:52 GS:0 ERA3.41 IP:58 BB:16 SO:56 =#FF8000]49 John Lujan DoB: 5/10/1984 (AA/AAA in 2011) W-L:3-7 Saves:9 G:51 GS:1 ERA2.73 IP:69.33 BB:21 SO:66 =#FF8000]58 Brian Sweeney DoB: 6/13/1974 (AAA in 2011) W-L:5-5 Saves:1 G:32 GS:8 ERA4.34 IP:84.00 BB:22 SO:67 =#FF8000]57 Taylor Tankersley DoB: 3/7/1983 (AAA in 2011) W-L:1-1 Saves:0 G:48 GS:0 ERA5.79 IP:56.00 BB:37 SO:72Relief Pitchers CatchersInfielders Infielders =#FF8000]25 Gabriel Zavala DoB: 5/14/1987 (A in 2011) W-L:2-5 Saves:1 G:32 GS:0 ERA4.70 IP:44.00 BB:29 SO:36 =#FF8000]19 Raul Chavez DoB: 3/18/1973 (AAA in 2011) G:80 PA:256 HR:1 RBI:22 AVG:.199 OBP:.214 SLG:.253 OPS:.467 =#FF8000]6 Salomon Manriquez DoB: 9/15/1982 (AA/AAA in 2011) G:87 PA:265 HR:6 RBI:34 AVG:.268 OBP:.315 SLG:.396 OPS:.711 =#FF8000]32 Dusty Ryan DoB: 9/2/1984 (Rk/A+/AA/AAA in 2011) G:49 PA:191 HR:5 RBI:23 AVG:.252 OBP:.353 SLG:.442 OPS:.794 =#FF8000]92 Jose Coronado DoB: 4/13/1986 (A+/AA in 2011) G:76 PA:213 HR:1 RBI:11 AVG:.197 OBP:.289 SLG:.247 OPS:.536 Infielders =#FF8000]6 Nick Evans DoB: 1/30/1986 (AAA/MLB in 2011) G:123 PA:453 HR:12 RBI:57 AVG:.289 OBP:.350 SLG:.438 OPS:.788 =#FF8000]3 Luis Figueroa DoB: 2/16/1974 (AAA in 2011) G:110 PA:442 HR:1 RBI:30 AVG:.294 OBP:.351 SLG:.369 OPS:.720 =#FF8000]25 Chin-lung Hu DoB:2/2/1984 (Rk/AAA/MLB in 2011) G:48 PA:112 HR:0 RBI:3 AVG:.160 OBP:.234 SLG:.180 OPS:.414 =#FF8000]71 Jonathan Malo DoB: 9/29/1983 (AA/AAA in 2011) G:94 PA:264 HR:3 RBI:16 AVG:.226 OBP:.290 SLG:.315 OPS:.604 =#FF8000]94 Niuman Romero DoB: 1/24/1985 (AA/AAA in 2011) G:75 PA:273 HR:0 RBI:23 AVG:.231 OBP:.294 SLG:.261 OPS:.555OutfieldersOutfielders =#FF8000]10 Bubba Bell DoB: 10/9/1982 (AA/AAA in 2011) G:81 PA:229 HR:2 RBI:23 AVG:.239 OBP:.292 SLG:.325 OPS:.617 =#FF8000]34 Jason Botts DoB:7/26/1980 (AAA in 2011) G:59 PA:201 HR:3 RBI:19 AVG:.268 OBP:.383 SLG:.405 OPS:.788 =#FF8000]97 Jesus Feliciano DoB:6/6/1979 (AAA in 2011) G:121 PA:437 HR:4 RBI:39 AVG:.268 OBP:.328 SLG:.334 OPS:.662 =#FF8000]21 Fernando Perez DoB:4/23/1983 (AAA in 2011) G:116 PA:414 HR:4 RBI:25 AVG:.223 OBP:.307 SLG:.310 OPS:.618

I just can't believe there's such a thing as a poor man's Rick Ankiel. Ankiel has one of the most unusual career tracks and it's like Loewen's analogous in almost every way.

Ceetar wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Edgy DC wrote: I'm going to say boo on the luxury tax thingie. Not only is it unethical, but-- as the "Bonus Pool" formulation is a de facto slotting system-- it kinda puts another dagger in small-market gamblin'-type organizations, doesn't it? except small-market teams get extra picks, plus over-slot is still clearly possible, but you have to be smarter with it. Can't just willy nilly throw money at everyone. So benefits the small market in a way. Draftees will also be bidding against each other. The faster you sign, the more is available in the pool to give you. On the o ther hand, if you wait it out, maybe a higher pick opts for college, opening up all that extra money for you. 26 man rosters for doubleheaders, changes to the 4th option/outrighting rules, more replay. lots of interesting stuff. Amateur talent shouldn't be competing against each other for an artificially finite amount of money. Teams should be competing against each other for a naturally finite amount of talent.

Gwreck wrote: I found this nugget very interesting: "Active Roster limits will be expanded to 26 for certain regular or split doubleheaders." Oh, mercy. Thank God Tony LaRussa won't be around for that indulgence.

You get a fourth option year if you come up at a young enough age, or some'un. GM Alderson has stated on more than one occasion his confidence that Martinez is option-able this year.

Not a lot of great fu manchus in Mets history. A wispy one on Wally Backman and well-scupted one on Steve Henderson come to mind. I'm sure Piazza wore one at one time or another. Loewen would blow them all out of the water on day one, I think.

I guess so. I would know little about that. I only know it's not cool. But I think the entire draft system is lousy.

Great news for the Mets.

The players are bargaining with the rights of the now-amateurs that will come after them. Not cool.

MFS62 wrote: IIRC, the Cy Young was institiuted by Ford Frick when he noticed that hitters were winning the majority of MVP awards. It was meant to be a separate award. IMO, a pitcher should win the MVP in the first year a cat wins the Westminster Kennel Club Show. Later That's actually called the "The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show," so it's specifically about dogs. "Most Valuable Player" specifies "players," and pitchers certainly qualify as players.