RealityChuck

Edgy DC wrote: Among Francisco Rodriguez, Francisco Cordero, and Frank Francisco, the closer market was starting to get over-Franciscan. Very confusing. Dark-skinned, Dominican, fiery, jowly, broadchested, and round in the belly, I predict he won't get out of his first appearance without a comparison to Armando Benitez from Gary Cohen.] Make up your mind. Is he a Franciscan or a Dominican? Different orders.

"America's second oldest television shopping network."

I still have my 1969 preseason issue, where they predicted the Mets would finish last behind the expansion Expos.

Ken Hubbs of the Chicago Cubs.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Sequels have little to do with whether the material it follows is any good, right? In Hollywood anyway every flick is a potential series.You're correct about the quality -- sequels are often made from awful films. But the main factor is the profitability. There used to be a fairly reliable formula about how much money a sequel would make, given the box office of the first film. If that number was less than what the film would cost, the sequel wasn't made. I'd say that formula is no longer reliable, but the principle remains the same: if the first film tanks, no one's going to invest in the second in the hope it will do better.

Battlefield Earth. Mention of a possible sequel was made during production, and it's clear from the ending that Travolta could have come back as the villain. The fact the the film got some of the worst reviews in human history, and was a flop of impressive magnitude put an end to that pretty quick.

Beltran Duda Pagan Pridie Bay

Elektra.

Reyes Murphy Wright Tejada Davis

From the Oxford English Dictionary: 1476 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 600 He is well spokyn jn Inglyshe, metly well in Frenshe, and verry parfite in Flemyshe. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xvi. 18 Wherof they were well served for their horses, and at a metly price.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension promised a sequel, though I don't know how serious they were.

Rodriguez Isringhausen Acosta Bucholtz Byrdak

Dickey Gee Niese Capuano Pelfrey (only because we need to name five).

Duda Gee Turner Beato Pridie

There isn't a good solution to the situation. Use Acosa or Izzy, but I don't have much faith that would work for long.

So-so film. Competent, but not memorable in any way.

Ultimately, Braun's 0 for 4 made it a moot point. It was classless, but it wouldn't have made a difference if Reyes had stayed for a couple more ABs.

Maybe they should put an asterisk beside the number if Jose wins. This was gutless and a disappointment for the fans. Now his record will be tainted (unless Braun goes 0 for 4, so it wouldn't have mattered, but even then, this was the classless thing to do). Maybe MLB should pull a Taffy Wright again (Wright won the batting championship in 1938 according to the rules of the time, but Jimmie Foxx was named the winner anyway, since Foxx had twice the ABs).

I have no problem with the callups. It doesn't make any difference -- teams in the middle of the race aren't going to give the rookies much playing time, and teams out of contention can check out the future under major league conditions. I doubt that it makes more than one or two games' difference. What's far worse is the unbalanced schedules due to interleague plays: all teams in a division should play the same number of games against the same opponents.

Excellent film. Did you recognize the actor who played the bodyguard? Hint: Serenity

Because New Era probably never have backed up MLB on it. If they get blamed for this, it hurts sales. If it were up to New Era, they'd say, "Sure," and figure out how to sell NYPD caps with Mets logos.

According to this this, he goes nowhere (or, at least, doesn't get a megabucks contract). It doesn't look like there are too many teams that have the money and a need for him. Why Your Team Won't Sign Prince Fielder By Tim Dierkes [August 22, 2011 at 10:14am CST] Scott Boras isn't likely to send client Prince Fielder to play for the St. Paul Saints next year; obviously he'll wind up with one of baseball's 30 teams. Still, there are good reasons for every single team not to give Fielder the megadeal he's expected to seek. Orioles: The Orioles could probably fit in Prince's salary without raising payroll, but would a new GM jump in with a $100MM+ commitment for a team that isn't expected to compete in 2012? Is there any way they'd win the bidding on a top Boras client? Fielder is not a good long-term signing for the Orioles, who may prefer to give Chris Davis a full season at first base if he continues to avoid labrum surgery. All that said, they will probably at least be in the mix. Red Sox: This could only work if Fielder replaces David Ortiz as the team's full-time DH, given the presence of Adrian Gonzalez at first. The Sox clearly have bigger concerns and are highly unlikely to make Fielder the game's first $100MM DH. Yankees: To open up first base, the Yanks would have to trade Mark Teixeira despite his full no-trade clause. Fielder is not clearly better, so don't expect that manuever. While DH is technically possible, it's wise to leave that spot open for Alex Rodriguez, who is under contract through 2017. Plus, starting pitching will be a more immediate concern than offense. Rays: Something tells me they won't have Fielder taking up half their payroll. Blue Jays: I expect the first base and DH spots to be filled by Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion again; they'd earn a total of $8.5MM next year. However, Lind has been disappointing and the Blue Jays could certainly afford Fielder, if you'd like to dream on it. White Sox: Paul Konerko is locked in through 2013; Adam Dunn through 2014. In theory Dunn could be dumped, but not for the purpose of Kenny Williams oddly cozying up to Boras for a massive Fielder contract. Indians: They don't have the payroll space for it, nor does signing Fielder fit with their long-term plan. Tigers: Miguel Cabrera will occupy first base through 2015, while DH Victor Martinez is signed through 2014. Royals: Their future is with Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler. Twins: They have to be worried about Justin Morneau and could have an open DH spot this offseason. Technically the Twins could afford Fielder without raising payroll, but they have needs all over the place and this would not be their style. Angels: Though he missed all of 2011, Boras client Kendrys Morales should be in the first base mix next year, as well as Mark Trumbo. Bobby Abreu is under contract for '12 as the DH. While the Angels could afford Fielder, it is tough to see Arte Moreno winning that bid. A pursuit of Aramis Ramirez to play third base is more reasonable. Athletics: I imagine they'd like to see Brandon Allen and Daric Barton compete for first base next year, with a cheap free agent DH signing. Fielder would be hard to fit into the payroll, and the team's outfield uncertainty will likely be a big focus. Mariners: The Ms would probably like to see Justin Smoak and Mike Carp in their regular lineup. I think they could afford Fielder, but I can't see them making that DH investment. Rangers: Mitch Moreland, Mike Napoli, and Michael Young will all be back next year unless someone is traded. With a big arbitration class, the Rangers would need to raise payroll just to re-sign C.J. Wilson or sign a comparable starter, so I don't think Fielder fits in financially either. Braves: They're surely content with Rookie of the Year contender Freddie Freeman. Marlins: Gaby Sanchez has this spot locked down on the cheap. Mets: Even with a payroll reduction the Mets should have some money to burn, but not Fielder money while embroiled in a huge lawsuit. Ike Davis' status is uncertain, but that's not going to push the Mets to Fielder. Phillies: Ryan Howard is signed through 2016. Nationals: An $8MM Adam LaRoche is not a huge roadblock to Fielder, and Boras will certainly try to get the Nationals involved. While Mike Morse could move to left field, a big extension for Ryan Zimmerman could be preferable to Washington. Cubs: Boras needs to get the Cubs involved in the Fielder bidding. While the Cubs could afford him, their needs for starting pitching and perhaps a third baseman should be equally pressing. The team's new GM will have alternatives in Carlos Pena, Michael Cuddyer, and Albert Pujols. Reds: They've got Joey Votto through 2013, plus a lack of payroll space if Brandon Phillips is retained. Astros: Brett Wallace and Carlos Lee have their flaws, and Jonathan Singleton is a ways off, but it'd be a radical departure for the Astros to go after Fielder. Brewers: Last year, Fielder reportedly turned down an offer from the Brewers that was similar to Howard's five-year, $125MM deal. Since then the Brewers locked up Ryan Braun through 2020, so they might not be able to make that offer again even if Prince is interested. Pirates: The Pirates could sign Fielder and still have one of the game's smallest payrolls. I don't think GM Neal Huntington has committed even $20MM total to a player in his tenure, and it'd cost that much for one year of Fielder. It just doesn't seem like his style, but if ownership decides that the team is close they do technically have the need and payroll space. Cardinals: It's difficult to see Fielder as anything more than a long shot Plan C for the Cards. If Pujols signs elsewhere while Fielder is still on the market, and the idea of re-signing Lance Berkman to play first base doesn't pan out either, I guess the Cardinals could look into Fielder. Diamondbacks: I think they could afford him, but they have Paul Goldschmidt as their future. Rockies: They don't have the money for it, and Todd Helton is under contract through 2013. Dodgers: They'll have an opening, but payroll flexibility is the question. Attendance and payroll will be down, and without a new owner in place by year's end the Dodgers won't be able to bid for Fielder. Padres: Anthony Rizzo struggled as a rookie, but Jed Hoyer isn't jumping into the Fielder bidding. Giants: Aubrey Huff is only under contract through 2012, but signing Fielder would make Brandon Belt a permanent outfielder. Maybe that could work, but payroll flexibility will be very limited. The focus may be on signing Tim Lincecum and finding a shortstop and an outfielder or two.

The issue isn't his stuff, but the fact that he has had troubles handling pressure. When things start going bad for him, he presses. Not a quality you want in a closer.

The Mets season is meaningless if and only if you think like a Yankee fan. It's fun to watch them win games, even if they don't make the playoffs. This team is much more entertaining then they've been in years and you know that they're never out of games.

Depends on if Sandy can get anything worthwhile for him. It makes no sense to trade him if you're not getting anyone who can't be on the 25-man roster in 2012.