Vic Sage

Vargas in 2017 and the 2nd half of 2018 was equivalent to Gio. Pass.

yes, smart people are window dressing if there are still dumb people making the decisions. I do not yet know whether BVW is the former or the latter, but I know what Jeffy is.

bored the crap out of me.

Edgy MD wrote: Vic Sage wrote: depending on how you define horror, you could also include JAWS (1975) and SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991). No horror film has won BEST PICTURE ... Well, The Silence of the Lambs won. You don't really have to stretch any definitions to file it under horror at all. And it not only won best picture, but became only the third film to sweep all five major categories. In my view, serial killer movies can be regarded as thrillers, or action films, or mysteries, or suspense films, but not necessarily horror films, unless the psychopath in question has some sort of supernatural aspect, quality or dimension. I understand that many definitions of the horror genre include non-supernatural thrillers about serial killing psychopaths, but I happen to disagree. There is a reason that works in the horror genre in every media are generally grouped together with SF and Fantasy, rather than suspense, or mystery, or thrillers. If the only criteria for "horror" is a work that intends to scare you, then that could include half the films ever made, and when a definition is that broad, it fails to be useful. What distinguishes a work of horror from any other that might put its protagonist in mortal danger, or uses some similar narrative device to evoke fear in the viewer, is the supernatural element. For example, many point to PSYCHO as the first (or at least most influential) slasher/horror film. I disagree. Until that point, Hitchcock was the "master of suspense," not horror, and he reached his apotheosis with PSYCHO. But for Hitch's horror film, you have to look to THE BIRDS, which offers a terrifying vision of a small town enduring a protracted and organized attack by birds for no reason, implying some unnatural situation in which birds can think and coordinate and seek vengeance for a crime only they are aware of. If all it takes to be a horror film is an attempt to induce fear or dread, then just about every film Hitch ever made was a horror film, and he should be rechristened "the master of horror" rather than suspense. Under the supernatural definition then, if you consider the shark in JAWS or Hannibal Lechter in SILENCE to have a quasi-supernatural dimension, rather than being merely a realistically depicted shark or psychopath (and I can see an argument for that), then its HORROR. If not, they could be considered suspense, or thrillers, or actioners, or even dramas, rather than examples of the horror genre.

Emily Blunt won SAG best supporting actress award for her performance in A Quiet Place and wasn't even nominated by the Academy. While blockbuster superhero films are getting recognized, "horror" movies are still waiting for a chance. Later supermovies have 1 nomination for best picture...That's for BLACK PANTHER this year. While i totally agree that horror films have been woefully underrepresented, particularly in best picture category, they have waaaay more best picture nominations than superhero movies, with THE EXORCIST (1973), GHOST (1990), SIXTH SENSE (1999) and GET OUT (2017), and, depending on how you define horror, you could also include JAWS (1975) and SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991). No horror film has won BEST PICTURE, but there have been 60 horror films nominated for oscars in other categories (compares to about 26 superhero films), and 16 have won Oscars (compared to 4). i do think Emily Blunt got screwed for A QUIET PLACE, and that horror films got particularly overlooked this year, when i would include in my own top 10 not only A QUIET PLACE, but ANNIHILATION (which could be categorized as SF instead), and HEREDITARY. I liked BIRD BOX, too.

I have no interest in any of them (other than BP, which I've seen). I guess, eventually, I'll catch BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY and A STAR IS BORN on cable/Netflix (or a plane), because my wife wants to see them. Maybe VICE, too. But the others sound duller than dishwater.

I have a hard time believing we really are going into the season with Broxton/Lagares as our starting centerfielder. I think they have another move coming. So maybe the fact that they passed on Markakis is a sign that they're aiming a little higher. this is what is known as "whistling past the graveyard." Be desireless in order to achieve nirvana.

I've seen virtually none of these films, except BLACK PANTHER, MARY POPPINS, RBG, and most of the visual effects and animated feature nominees.

SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, DEATH OF STALIN and A QUIET PLACE got screwed by the Oscar nominators this year.

It's amazing how many dumb fans root against their interest. why would they be any different than the average Republican voter, voting against there own economic interest?

Here is the full list of 2019 Oscar nominations: Best Picture: “Black Panther” “BlacKkKlansman” “Bohemian Rhapsody” “The Favourite” “Green Book” “Roma” “A Star Is Born” “Vice” Lead Actor: Christian Bale, “Vice” Bradley Cooper, “A Star Is Born” Willem Dafoe, “At Eternity's Gate” Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody” Viggo Mortensen, “Green Book” Lead Actress: Yalitza Aparicio, “Roma” Glenn Close, “The Wife” Olivia Colman, “The Favourite” Lady Gaga, “A Star Is Born” Melissa McCarthy, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, “Green Book” Adam Driver, “BlacKkKlansman” Sam Elliott, “A Star Is Born” Richard E. Grant, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” Sam Rockwell, “Vice” Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, “Vice” Marina de Tavira, “Roma” Regina King, “If Beale Street Could Talk” Emma Stone, “The Favourite” Rachel Weisz, “The Favourite” Director: Spike Lee, “BlacKkKlansman” Pawel Pawlikowski, “Cold War” Yorgos Lanthimos, “The Favourite” Alfonso Cuarón, “Roma” Adam McKay, “Vice” Animated Feature: “Incredibles 2,” Brad Bird “Isle of Dogs,” Wes Anderson “Mirai,” Mamoru Hosoda “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” Rich Moore, Phil Johnston “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman Animated Short: “Animal Behaviour,” Alison Snowden, David Fine “Bao,” Domee Shi “Late Afternoon,” Louise Bagnall “One Small Step,” Andrew Chesworth, Bobby Pontillas “Weekends,” Trevor Jimenez Adapted Screenplay: “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” Joel Coen , Ethan Coen “BlacKkKlansman,” Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,” Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty “If Beale Street Could Talk,” Barry Jenkins “A Star Is Born,” Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, Will Fetters Original Screenplay: “The Favourite,” Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara “First Reformed,” Paul Schrader “Green Book,” Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly “Roma,” Alfonso Cuarón “Vice,” Adam McKay Cinematography: “Cold War,” Lukasz Zal “The Favourite,” Robbie Ryan “Never Look Away,” Caleb Deschanel “Roma,” Alfonso Cuarón “A Star Is Born,” Matthew Libatique Best Documentary Feature: “Free Solo,” Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” RaMell Ross “Minding the Gap,” Bing Liu “Of Fathers and Sons,” Talal Derki “RBG,” Betsy West, Julie Cohen Best Documentary Short Subject: “Black Sheep,” Ed Perkins “End Game,” Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman “Lifeboat,” Skye Fitzgerald “A Night at the Garden,” Marshall Curry “Period. End of Sentence.,” Rayka Zehtabchi Best Live Action Short Film: “Detainment,” Vincent Lambe “Fauve,” Jeremy Comte “Marguerite,” Marianne Farley “Mother,” Rodrigo Sorogoyen “Skin,” Guy Nattiv Best Foreign Language Film: “Capernaum” (Lebanon) “Cold War” (Poland) “Never Look Away” (Germany) “Roma” (Mexico) “Shoplifters” (Japan) Film Editing: “BlacKkKlansman,” Barry Alexander Brown “Bohemian Rhapsody,” John Ottman “Green Book,” Patrick J. Don Vito “The Favourite,” Yorgos Mavropsaridis “Vice,” Hank Corwin Sound Editing: “Black Panther,” Benjamin A. Burtt, Steve Boeddeker “Bohemian Rhapsody,” John Warhurst “First Man,” Ai-Ling Lee, Mildred Iatrou Morgan “A Quiet Place,” Ethan Van der Ryn, Erik Aadahl “Roma,” Sergio Diaz, Skip Lievsay Sound Mixing: “Black Panther” “Bohemian Rhapsody” “First Man” “Roma” “A Star Is Born” Production Design: “Black Panther,” Hannah Beachler “First Man,” Nathan Crowley, Kathy Lucas “The Favourite,” Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton “Mary Poppins Returns,” John Myhre, Gordon Sim “Roma,” Eugenio Caballero, Bárbara Enrı́quez Original Score: “BlacKkKlansman,” Terence Blanchard “Black Panther,” Ludwig Goransson “If Beale Street Could Talk,” Nicholas Britell “Isle of Dogs,” Alexandre Desplat “Mary Poppins Returns,” Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman Original Song: “All The Stars” from “Black Panther” by Kendrick Lamar, SZA “I'll Fight” from “RBG” by Diane Warren, Jennifer Hudson “The Place Where Lost Things Go” from “Mary Poppins Returns” by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born” by Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, Andrew Wyatt and Benjamin Rice “When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings” from “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” by David Rawlings and Gillian Welch Makeup and Hair: “Border” “Mary Queen of Scots” “Vice” Costume Design: “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” Mary Zophres “Black Panther,” Ruth E. Carter “The Favourite,” Sandy Powell “Mary Poppins Returns,” Sandy Powell “Mary Queen of Scots,” Alexandra Byrne Visual Effects: “Avengers: Infinity War” “Christopher Robin” “First Man” “Ready Player One” “Solo: A Star Wars Story

BetOnline.Ag's odds have the Mets' over/under at 84.5, tied for the fifth-best in the National League with the Brewers and Phillies. In the NL, that puts the Mets behind the Dodgers (94.5), Cardinals (88.5), Cubs (88.5), and Nationals (87.5). Is this a reasonable line?

this team is clearly in "win now" mode. Trading a 33-year old Frazier for a 36-year old Choo is not really aging us significantly. And choo is coming off a better year than Frazier, and is a better overall player, whose road numbers still include an OPS over .800. And contract-wise, maybe they take Lagares off our hands, too, for some prospects, and then the money is a wash, more or less. And what good would Texas throwing in a ton of money do, if the CouPons are just going to put it in their pocket (or service debt) anyway?

Edgy MD wrote: And mebbe the Mets get Shin-Soo Choo after all. You know? I'd make that deal in a second. me too... Choo-Nimmo-Conforto (with Lagares and Broxton as backup RHed CFers who can come in for defense), with room for JD Davis and D.Smith at 1b.

THIS: Frazier, Cano, Rosario, Lowrie seems most likely as Rosario is still seen as a top prospect and the other guys make lots of money. No way is Alonso in there. If 1B is a disaster they might not wait for 'super 2' in June but they will at least wait a week or two which gives them an extra year of control, even if that control comes with arbitration. AND THIS: Edgy MD wrote: One possibility is that Frazier opens as the platoon partner for Smitty at first, and backs up Lowrie at third, which could also make him effectively Rosario's backup, as Lowrie slides over to short. That doesn't leave much playing time for McNeil, but if he performs, he'll insinuate himself in. McNeil will be the LH IF/OF/Ut bat off the bench. If he hits (again), I think he'll end up in splitting time with Lagares, with Nimmo and Conforto playing everyday, and with D. Smith and Broxton on the bench.

well, Lowrie solves the backup SS question. He's also taken either Davis or Rivera's slot on the roster.

when Alonzo comes up and Cespedes comes back (replacing Frazier and Lagares), it has the makings of a great lineup, particularly if Rosario continues the progress he showed toward the end of last season. I'm also assuming JDDavis still has options left. If not, he takes Rivera's role and Rivera's out from the outset.

What's funny about somebody whose about to take your job?

Cano isn't moving off 1b until he can't play 2b anymore. And nobody is taking Frazier off our hands. And they clearly don't think McNeil can replicate his last season. If Lowrie is healthy, I think this move forces Frazier to 1b to start the season, and he'll stay there unless and until Alonzo hits his way up a month or 2 later (with Super2 status intact). If/When Alonzo comes up, a few things will happen: (1) whoever is not hitting between Lowrie and Frazier becomes the IF backup; (2) they're going to use McNeil in the OF, too, which will force Dom Smith back to AAA; and (3) there will be no room for Rivera, and he probably doesn't have any options left, so he (or Frazier) gets traded or cut. This signing comes down to Lowrie taking ABs from Frazier, and some from McNeil and Rivera, too, before ultimately replacing Rivera on the roster... which I'm all fine with. Could they have used $10m better? I don't know; neither do you. lineup 3b Lowrie# Lf Conforto* 2b Cano* C Ramos RF Nimmo* 1b Frazier (until Alonzo comes up) Cf Lagares P- ss Rosario bench: d'Arnaud (c,1b) McNeil* (Ut/If-Of) Broxton (of) D. Smith* (1b/Lf) Rivera (Ut) [until Alonzo comes up], then Frazier (1b/3b)

If they don't carry Guillorme, who is the backup SS? McNeil? Rivera? I guess that can work, to rest Rosario here and there or PH for him if his bat doesn't start picking up. But what happens if/when Alonzo comes up? Davis doesn't have any options left, is that correct? So who goes down? D.Smith, I guess, but that leaves exactly ZERO LH bats on the bench. With Rivera, Zeile, and McNeil available (and Alonzo soon to arrive), I just don't see the need or role on the bench for the unproven Mr. Davis.

Took you long enough, dude.

he already turned that down from Washington; why would he accept it somewhere else?

You're skeptical of Lagares because of his injury history, so you want... Pollack?

Here's a Harper proposal that I saw that sounds interesting: A 10year/$320 deal that has an opt-out clause for Harper after the third season. Additionally, after the fifth year, the Mets could terminate the contract if Harper failed to win the MVP Award in the first five seasons of the deal. Essentially, this makes it a three-year deal. So, how much would you have to give Harper to make signing for three seasons worthwhile? Further complicating things is that the Mets would prefer to backload the deal to take advantage of when Yoenis Cespedes' deal comes off the books following the 2020 season. Here's one way it could shake out, given the opt-outs after year three and year five: 2019 – $25 2020 – $32 2021 – $43 2022 – $45 2023 – $45 2024 – $30 2025 – $30 2026 – $25 2027 – $25 2028 – $20 So, while the headlines would brand it 10/$320, which would be a higher average annual value than Stanton's 13/$325, it would most likely be a 3/$100 deal with the ability to become a free agent again for his age 29 season when he should still be able to command top dollar with a multi-year deal. There's at least some pull for Harper to come back, as he would still have 7/$220 remaining, with the bulk of that actually being front loaded. Currently, the Mets are still looking at about $150m payroll for this season, which is around where we've been. But it looks like they will recoup 75% of Cespedes contract this year, so adding Harper would be a wash for 2019. So they absolutely could do it, financially. Would they? No, and that's what is so frustrating. Not that I think Harper is necessarily the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Frankly, he's had 1 great year (2015) out of 7 to date, with only 2 seasons of 5+ WAR. But he's entering his prime and he's a good bet over the next 5 years to give somebody a bunch of 5+WAR seasons. Can he get to 10WAR? He's done it once; he could do it again. He's also an asshole who i would hate to root for, but i'd find a way to do it, i suppose. But the point is moot because Wilpons. So once again, we're going to go halfway in and try to win at the wholesale price. The Wilpons never pay retail prices.

I see fewer and fewer new films every year, so my top 10 is pretty meager. my top 10, alphabetically: Annihilation Aquaman Black Panther Death of Stalin Herditary ISle of Dogs A Quiet Place Sorry to Bother You Spiderverse Vice honorable mentions: Avengers:IW, Mary Poppins Returns,They'll Love Me When I'm Dead I also saw: Alpha Antman & Wasp Bird Box Christopher Robin Crazy Rich Asians Deadpool2 First Man Incredibles2 Juliet, Naked Oceans 8 Other Side of the Wind Outlaw King Pacific Rim Uprising The Predator RBG Rampage Ready Player One Red Sparrow Solo Tag Tomb Raider Venom Won't You Be My Neighbor? still planning to see: Anna & the Apocalypse Ballad of Buster Scruggs Bohemian Rhapsody Bumblebee Creed II Halloween Mission Impossible: Fallout Ralph Breaks Internet Sisters Brothers Stan & Ollie A Star is Born Widows other movies getting "best of" buzz: At eternity's gate Beautiful Boy Ben is Back Blackkklansman Blindspotting Boy Erased Can you ever forgive me 8th grade The Favourite First Reformed Green Book If Beale St could talk Leave No Trace Mary Queen of Scots Roma Shoplifters The Wife You Were Never Really Here