Thursday, June 29, 2006
Nationals - A Real Fantasy Team
The Washington Nationals right now want to build up their farm system so they can be a successful franchise. This is an excellent idea, but there's not reason not to add to payroll and shore up the rest of the team while they're at it. Since I live in a fantasy world where I make up stuff like this, I'm going to post my Nats roster for next year, with a little help from the Unofficial MLB site, which has all the contract info.
Before that happens, I will officially call the Nats getting rocked tomorrow because Roy Halladay is starting for the Blue Jays, and he's awesome.
Now, that having been said, here are the people under contract for next year:
Marlon Anderson - OF
Luis Ayala - RP
Christian Guzman - SS
Livan Hernandez - SP
Nick Johnson - 1B
Brian Schneider - C
Jose Vidro - 2B
Guys with options:
Ryan Drese - SP
Brian Lawrence - SP
Players not under contract that won't be free agents:
Chad Cordero - CP
Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
Gary Majewski - RP
Jon Rauch - RP
Ryan Church - OF
Marlon Byrd - OF
Zach Day - SP
Alexander Escobar - OF
Brendan Harris - IN
Matt LeCroy - 1B/PH
John Patterson - SP
Michael O'Connor - SP
Before looking at next year's free agent pool, let's check the roster
C - Schneider
1B - Johnson
2B - Vidro
SS - Clayton
3B - Zimmerman
OF - Escobar
OF - Church
OF - Anderson
IN - Harris
1B/PH - LeCroy
SP - Hernandez
SP* - Lawrence
SP* - Dreese
SP - Patterson
SP - Day
SP - O'Connor
CL - Cordero
RP - Rauch
RP - Majewski
RP - Ayala
Players that will be Free Agents next year:
Alfonso Soriano - OF/2B
Daryle Ward - 1B/PH
Felix Rodriguez - RP
Ramon Ortiz - SP
Damian Jackson - OF
Jose Guillen - OF
Robert Fick - C
Joseph Eischen - RP
Royce Clayton - SS
Pedro Astacio - SP
Tony Armas - SP
The question of free agents is which players are best to sign for the team, then which are best for the money. Here are people I absolutely retain.
Soriano - he can be a leader for this franchise, with his work ethic. Great arm, bat and speed.
Fick - backup catcher and pinch hitter, and that's his market value. Why not
Maybe characters:
Ward - lefty power off the bench, is price right?
Guillen - decentish bat
Armas - reliable starter, puts in his 180 innings
The rest can go. The bullpen is solid, and a mop-up man and lefty reliever can come via non-roster invite. I would expect Dreese and Lawrence to go next year, so that leaves Hernandez and Patterson, which isn't a lot. There is a need for another starter, unless the club feels like letting Hill or Day start regularly. So besides Soriano, that would be the big acquisition. Picking up another outfielder would be a priority as well, but maybe not as high a priority. Ideally, getting a true leadoff hitter will help.
I would heavily pursue Dave Roberts as my first choice there. The guy can run, and he and Sori can probably run a few double steals. If not him, then Ryan Klesko would be good too, or Kenny Lofton (who can still perform despite his age).
For the starting pitcher, Barry Zito is the big prize. But that might not be the best move, or even possible; the Nats may blow their wad on Soriano. Andy Pettite, Soriano's former teammate, might be a good acquisition if he can be coaxed away from Houston. Tom Glavine is old but can still pitch, and the same can be said for El Duque. Both Hernandez brothers would be kind of cool really. Byung-Hyung Kim is a maybe, although as diverse as DC is, he may attract a good following, and he would probably come cheaper than Chan Ho Park, though Park may be a better option. If you want to live dangerously, Kerry Wood.
Here's the end result of the Nationals, assuming the ex-Yankee pickups in the rotation.
C - Schneider
1B - Johnson
2B - Vidro
3B - Zimm
SS - Clayton
LF - Soriano
CF - Church
RF - Roberts
Bench
LeCroy
Anderson
Byrd
Harris
Fick
Rotation
1 - Livan Hernandez
2 - Andy Pettite
3 - John Patterson
4 - Orlando Hernandez
5 - Michael O'Connor
Bullpen
Cordero (CL)
Ayala
Rauch
Majewski
mop-up
lefty
That's not a bad team. Power from Soriano and Johnson, straight hitting from Vidro, and who knows what from Zimm. The bullpen for the Nats is already great. This team could challenge for the division.
Opening day lineup in 07, then
Roberts
Vidro
Soriano
Johnson
Zimmerman
Church
Clayton
Schneider
L. Hernandez
Before that happens, I will officially call the Nats getting rocked tomorrow because Roy Halladay is starting for the Blue Jays, and he's awesome.
Now, that having been said, here are the people under contract for next year:
Marlon Anderson - OF
Luis Ayala - RP
Christian Guzman - SS
Livan Hernandez - SP
Nick Johnson - 1B
Brian Schneider - C
Jose Vidro - 2B
Guys with options:
Ryan Drese - SP
Brian Lawrence - SP
Players not under contract that won't be free agents:
Chad Cordero - CP
Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
Gary Majewski - RP
Jon Rauch - RP
Ryan Church - OF
Marlon Byrd - OF
Zach Day - SP
Alexander Escobar - OF
Brendan Harris - IN
Matt LeCroy - 1B/PH
John Patterson - SP
Michael O'Connor - SP
Before looking at next year's free agent pool, let's check the roster
C - Schneider
1B - Johnson
2B - Vidro
SS - Clayton
3B - Zimmerman
OF - Escobar
OF - Church
OF - Anderson
IN - Harris
1B/PH - LeCroy
SP - Hernandez
SP* - Lawrence
SP* - Dreese
SP - Patterson
SP - Day
SP - O'Connor
CL - Cordero
RP - Rauch
RP - Majewski
RP - Ayala
Players that will be Free Agents next year:
Alfonso Soriano - OF/2B
Daryle Ward - 1B/PH
Felix Rodriguez - RP
Ramon Ortiz - SP
Damian Jackson - OF
Jose Guillen - OF
Robert Fick - C
Joseph Eischen - RP
Royce Clayton - SS
Pedro Astacio - SP
Tony Armas - SP
The question of free agents is which players are best to sign for the team, then which are best for the money. Here are people I absolutely retain.
Soriano - he can be a leader for this franchise, with his work ethic. Great arm, bat and speed.
Fick - backup catcher and pinch hitter, and that's his market value. Why not
Maybe characters:
Ward - lefty power off the bench, is price right?
Guillen - decentish bat
Armas - reliable starter, puts in his 180 innings
The rest can go. The bullpen is solid, and a mop-up man and lefty reliever can come via non-roster invite. I would expect Dreese and Lawrence to go next year, so that leaves Hernandez and Patterson, which isn't a lot. There is a need for another starter, unless the club feels like letting Hill or Day start regularly. So besides Soriano, that would be the big acquisition. Picking up another outfielder would be a priority as well, but maybe not as high a priority. Ideally, getting a true leadoff hitter will help.
I would heavily pursue Dave Roberts as my first choice there. The guy can run, and he and Sori can probably run a few double steals. If not him, then Ryan Klesko would be good too, or Kenny Lofton (who can still perform despite his age).
For the starting pitcher, Barry Zito is the big prize. But that might not be the best move, or even possible; the Nats may blow their wad on Soriano. Andy Pettite, Soriano's former teammate, might be a good acquisition if he can be coaxed away from Houston. Tom Glavine is old but can still pitch, and the same can be said for El Duque. Both Hernandez brothers would be kind of cool really. Byung-Hyung Kim is a maybe, although as diverse as DC is, he may attract a good following, and he would probably come cheaper than Chan Ho Park, though Park may be a better option. If you want to live dangerously, Kerry Wood.
Here's the end result of the Nationals, assuming the ex-Yankee pickups in the rotation.
C - Schneider
1B - Johnson
2B - Vidro
3B - Zimm
SS - Clayton
LF - Soriano
CF - Church
RF - Roberts
Bench
LeCroy
Anderson
Byrd
Harris
Fick
Rotation
1 - Livan Hernandez
2 - Andy Pettite
3 - John Patterson
4 - Orlando Hernandez
5 - Michael O'Connor
Bullpen
Cordero (CL)
Ayala
Rauch
Majewski
mop-up
lefty
That's not a bad team. Power from Soriano and Johnson, straight hitting from Vidro, and who knows what from Zimm. The bullpen for the Nats is already great. This team could challenge for the division.
Opening day lineup in 07, then
Roberts
Vidro
Soriano
Johnson
Zimmerman
Church
Clayton
Schneider
L. Hernandez
Labels: Nationals
Friday, June 16, 2006
In for a long one - my take on the Inspiring Films list
Tyler Cowen at Marginal Revolution has a blog entry on the AFI 100 list of Inspirational movies. Well it gets a blurb, and he basically says they're awful. I've skimmed it, but haven't commented on the whole thing, until now.
First off, I'm going to go with "inspire" as defined by Dictionary.com, definition #2, which is "To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion." I will note whether the films are inspiring, good, and other comments.
1)IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
This isn't a bad start, or end if you're doing a countdown. Getting a mention in Russell Roberts' The Invisible Heart, this is one of those movies that I enjoy watching, just not on TV. And it's inspiring to know how one man can do so much.
2) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
I got a 100 on a test on the book in an English class, so I can't hate it. Atticus Finch is cool though.
3) SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
This film was somewhat inspiring with how Schindler saved a few, but what I remember it for was the appauling depiction of life in Nazi Germany.
4) ROCKY (1976)
never saw it, and from what I understand, it's an inspirational film benchmark
5) MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
A Jimmy Stewart flick where he represents the only noble politician ever (except of course, Abe Lincoln). Seriously, that's the plot. This is too boring to be in "fantasy" but is a pretty good film, so they had to put it somewhere.
6) E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
I never saw this in English (we watched it in German class), but again, I don't think this is inspiring. Feel-good, maybe. Is this supposed to inspire me to call my mom?
7) THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
never saw it, don't really care
8 BREAKING AWAY (1979)
Never heard of it. Look it up if you care.
9) MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)
"It is the opinion of this court that judges should not be elected. They should be installed for life and paid handsomely." This is a feel-good Christmas movie. It inspires me to open presents.
10) SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)
I feel guilty criticizing this movie, but I didn't like it. You had the action scenes, some sickening gore, and then they just talk, and that part bored me. Then again, I saw this movie on VHS, so that was a while ago. Nonetheless, I'd say a good movie to ponder the past, and at the time a great film to take a veteran to the theater to see. But I wasn't inspired.
11) THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
don't know, don't care
12) APOLLO 13 (1995)
The inspirational film for the 2003 Detroit Tigers. Yay, we didn't kill them!
13) HOOSIERS (1986)
This is a good movie, and it's inspirational. I'm waiting for Ed Harris to play Jim Larranaga.
Now, 9 movies I have not seen
14) THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
15) THE MIRACLE WORKER (1962)
16) NORMA RAE (1979)
17) ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
18) THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (1959)
19) THE RIGHT STUFF (1983)
20) PHILADELPHIA (1993)
21) IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)
22) THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942) - is certainly not Alex Rodriguez
23) THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)
It inspired me to break out of prison. Morgan Freeman had a great speech that finally got him Parole.
24) NATIONAL VELVET (1944)
don't know
25) SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941)
?
26) THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
This movie is on too many lists. Come on people. What's so inspiring? Are you inspired to throw buckets of water at people you don't like?
27) HIGH NOON (1952)
never saw it
28) FIELD OF DREAMS (1989)
This is a great movie. Not only about the father-son thing, or the idea of letting the past be amended, but it's just cool. I'm going to plow over my corn too, except I don't have any.
3 in a row I have not seen
29) GANDHI (1982)
30) LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
31) GLORY (1989)
32) CASABLANCA (1942)
Inspirational? Um, no. But a good movie. Round up the usual suspects.
More movies I haven't seen
33) CITY LIGHTS (1931)
34) ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976)
35) GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
I give up, who?
36) ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
37) FORREST GUMP (1994)
How come in movies kids in leg braces can run fast? I want leg braces. This is kinda touching.
38) PINOCCHIO (1940)
When you fish upon a car, ice cream will too.
39) STAR WARS (1977)
I wasn't inspired by this as much as I thought it was a pretty good story.
40) MRS. MINIVER (1942)
never saw it
41) THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
As if World War II wasn't bad enough, it gave us this.
42) 12 ANGRY MEN (1957)
The American justice system really does work.
43) GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
Well frankly my dear I don't give a damn.
44) SPARTACUS (1960)
I never saw this, but a friend of mine in high school got a new marching baritone and named it Sparticus. He ran around with it on his head or something and dented it.
oooooooooo . . . nature
45) ON GOLDEN POND (1981)
46) LILIES OF THE FIELD (1963)
4 more I didn't see
47) 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
48) THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
49) MEET JOHN DOE (1941)
50) SEABISCUIT (2003)
51) THE COLOR PURPLE (1985)
This is a good movie. And while it's bleak at times, it makes you feel good in the end.
52) DEAD POET'S SOCIETY (1989) - I keep forgetting to see this
53) SHANE (1953)
54) RUDY (1993)
55) THE DEFIANT ONES (1958)
56) BEN-HUR (1959)
57) SERGEANT YORK (1941)
58) CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
59) DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
60) THE KILLING FIELDS (1984)
61) SOUNDER (1972)
I think I read the book, and it was actually kinda sad.
62) BRAVEHEART (1995)
This is how I know the AFI people are retards. This movie is excellent and most definitely inspiring (unless you're English, in which case Mel Gibson hates you). FREEDOM!
Now get this, 30 films in a row I have not seen.
63) RAIN MAN (1988)
64) THE BLACK STALLION (1979)
65) A RAISIN IN THE SUN (1961)
66) SILKWOOD (1983)
67) THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951)
68) AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1982)
69) THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS (1957)
70) COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER (1980)
71) COOL HAND LUKE (1960)
72) DARK VICTORY (1939)
73) ERIN BROCKOVICH (2000)
74) GUNGA DIN (1939)
75) THE VERDICT (1982)
76) BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ (1962)
77) DRIVING MISS DAISY (1989)
78) THELMA & LOUISE (1991)
EDIT - I have actually seen these, but I skimmed the list too quickly.
79) THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)
No, I have seen this one. I guess it is inspirational, but I've jsut alwasy thought it was a good film.
80) BABE (1995)
Yes, I've seen this. My favorite scene is when the little girl opens her Chrismas present and screams. It makes me thankful I don't know anyone like that.
81) BOYS TOWN (1938)
82) FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1971)
83) MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (1936)
84) SERPICO (1973)
85 WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT 1993
86 STAND AND DELIVER 1988
87 WORKING GIRL 1988
88 YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 1942
89 HAROLD AND MAUDE 1972
90 HOTEL RWANDA 2004
91 THE PAPER CHASE 1973
92 FAME 1980
93) A BEAUTIFUL MIND (2001)
Finally one I've seen. And it's one I can relate to, being a math major and feeling like I'm going crazy, especially after my differential equations class last semester.
94) CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (1937)
95) PLACES IN THE HEART (1984)
96) SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER (1993)
This movie did make me want to play chess, until I kept losing. I beat my mom in 5 moves once, though.
97) MADAME CURIE (1943)
98 THE KARATE KID 1984
99 RAY 2004
100 CHARIOTS OF FIRE 1981
Verdict. I haven't seen a lot of these, but I don't really think I'm missing much. I'll put up an ultimate movie list sometime.
First off, I'm going to go with "inspire" as defined by Dictionary.com, definition #2, which is "To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion." I will note whether the films are inspiring, good, and other comments.
1)IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
This isn't a bad start, or end if you're doing a countdown. Getting a mention in Russell Roberts' The Invisible Heart, this is one of those movies that I enjoy watching, just not on TV. And it's inspiring to know how one man can do so much.
2) TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
I got a 100 on a test on the book in an English class, so I can't hate it. Atticus Finch is cool though.
3) SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
This film was somewhat inspiring with how Schindler saved a few, but what I remember it for was the appauling depiction of life in Nazi Germany.
4) ROCKY (1976)
never saw it, and from what I understand, it's an inspirational film benchmark
5) MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
A Jimmy Stewart flick where he represents the only noble politician ever (except of course, Abe Lincoln). Seriously, that's the plot. This is too boring to be in "fantasy" but is a pretty good film, so they had to put it somewhere.
6) E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
I never saw this in English (we watched it in German class), but again, I don't think this is inspiring. Feel-good, maybe. Is this supposed to inspire me to call my mom?
7) THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
never saw it, don't really care
8 BREAKING AWAY (1979)
Never heard of it. Look it up if you care.
9) MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947)
"It is the opinion of this court that judges should not be elected. They should be installed for life and paid handsomely." This is a feel-good Christmas movie. It inspires me to open presents.
10) SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)
I feel guilty criticizing this movie, but I didn't like it. You had the action scenes, some sickening gore, and then they just talk, and that part bored me. Then again, I saw this movie on VHS, so that was a while ago. Nonetheless, I'd say a good movie to ponder the past, and at the time a great film to take a veteran to the theater to see. But I wasn't inspired.
11) THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
don't know, don't care
12) APOLLO 13 (1995)
The inspirational film for the 2003 Detroit Tigers. Yay, we didn't kill them!
13) HOOSIERS (1986)
This is a good movie, and it's inspirational. I'm waiting for Ed Harris to play Jim Larranaga.
Now, 9 movies I have not seen
14) THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
15) THE MIRACLE WORKER (1962)
16) NORMA RAE (1979)
17) ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
18) THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (1959)
19) THE RIGHT STUFF (1983)
20) PHILADELPHIA (1993)
21) IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967)
22) THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942) - is certainly not Alex Rodriguez
23) THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)
It inspired me to break out of prison. Morgan Freeman had a great speech that finally got him Parole.
24) NATIONAL VELVET (1944)
don't know
25) SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941)
?
26) THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
This movie is on too many lists. Come on people. What's so inspiring? Are you inspired to throw buckets of water at people you don't like?
27) HIGH NOON (1952)
never saw it
28) FIELD OF DREAMS (1989)
This is a great movie. Not only about the father-son thing, or the idea of letting the past be amended, but it's just cool. I'm going to plow over my corn too, except I don't have any.
3 in a row I have not seen
29) GANDHI (1982)
30) LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
31) GLORY (1989)
32) CASABLANCA (1942)
Inspirational? Um, no. But a good movie. Round up the usual suspects.
More movies I haven't seen
33) CITY LIGHTS (1931)
34) ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976)
35) GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
I give up, who?
36) ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
37) FORREST GUMP (1994)
How come in movies kids in leg braces can run fast? I want leg braces. This is kinda touching.
38) PINOCCHIO (1940)
When you fish upon a car, ice cream will too.
39) STAR WARS (1977)
I wasn't inspired by this as much as I thought it was a pretty good story.
40) MRS. MINIVER (1942)
never saw it
41) THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
As if World War II wasn't bad enough, it gave us this.
42) 12 ANGRY MEN (1957)
The American justice system really does work.
43) GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
Well frankly my dear I don't give a damn.
44) SPARTACUS (1960)
I never saw this, but a friend of mine in high school got a new marching baritone and named it Sparticus. He ran around with it on his head or something and dented it.
oooooooooo . . . nature
45) ON GOLDEN POND (1981)
46) LILIES OF THE FIELD (1963)
4 more I didn't see
47) 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
48) THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
49) MEET JOHN DOE (1941)
50) SEABISCUIT (2003)
51) THE COLOR PURPLE (1985)
This is a good movie. And while it's bleak at times, it makes you feel good in the end.
52) DEAD POET'S SOCIETY (1989) - I keep forgetting to see this
53) SHANE (1953)
54) RUDY (1993)
55) THE DEFIANT ONES (1958)
56) BEN-HUR (1959)
57) SERGEANT YORK (1941)
58) CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
59) DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
60) THE KILLING FIELDS (1984)
61) SOUNDER (1972)
I think I read the book, and it was actually kinda sad.
62) BRAVEHEART (1995)
This is how I know the AFI people are retards. This movie is excellent and most definitely inspiring (unless you're English, in which case Mel Gibson hates you). FREEDOM!
Now get this, 30 films in a row I have not seen.
63) RAIN MAN (1988)
64) THE BLACK STALLION (1979)
65) A RAISIN IN THE SUN (1961)
66) SILKWOOD (1983)
67) THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951)
68) AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1982)
69) THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS (1957)
70) COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER (1980)
71) COOL HAND LUKE (1960)
72) DARK VICTORY (1939)
73) ERIN BROCKOVICH (2000)
74) GUNGA DIN (1939)
75) THE VERDICT (1982)
76) BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ (1962)
77) DRIVING MISS DAISY (1989)
78) THELMA & LOUISE (1991)
EDIT - I have actually seen these, but I skimmed the list too quickly.
79) THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)
No, I have seen this one. I guess it is inspirational, but I've jsut alwasy thought it was a good film.
80) BABE (1995)
Yes, I've seen this. My favorite scene is when the little girl opens her Chrismas present and screams. It makes me thankful I don't know anyone like that.
81) BOYS TOWN (1938)
82) FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1971)
83) MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (1936)
84) SERPICO (1973)
85 WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT 1993
86 STAND AND DELIVER 1988
87 WORKING GIRL 1988
88 YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 1942
89 HAROLD AND MAUDE 1972
90 HOTEL RWANDA 2004
91 THE PAPER CHASE 1973
92 FAME 1980
93) A BEAUTIFUL MIND (2001)
Finally one I've seen. And it's one I can relate to, being a math major and feeling like I'm going crazy, especially after my differential equations class last semester.
94) CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (1937)
95) PLACES IN THE HEART (1984)
96) SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER (1993)
This movie did make me want to play chess, until I kept losing. I beat my mom in 5 moves once, though.
97) MADAME CURIE (1943)
98 THE KARATE KID 1984
99 RAY 2004
100 CHARIOTS OF FIRE 1981
Verdict. I haven't seen a lot of these, but I don't really think I'm missing much. I'll put up an ultimate movie list sometime.
Labels: Lists
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Dodgers - No wonder the fired Grady Little
The man is apparently a total retard. Last night, Rafael Furcal committed two errors in the first inning, allowing four runs to score. Jae Seo had the worst performance of any pitcher, and allowed 3 runs to score. The Dodgers could have been in the game were it not for Furcal. Rafael Furcal, the Dodgers' latest waste of money, committed errors number 14 and 15 last night. Grady Little had this to say:
Little called the errors "the difference in the game."
Ok, so with a Gold Glove shortstop returning, and the incumbent leading the league in errors, what do you do?
If you're Grady Little, you bench the gold glover, because the new GM paid a lot more money for the other guy. No seriously. That is what Grady has said. How he can be so retarded is beyond me. He had previously referenced A-Rod in New York, but said nothing else. This may just be doublespeak, like with Danys Baez, but I really do think Grady doesn't care about defense. Or maybe he's wondering if Izturis can top Furcal's .252 batting average. Nonetheless, more cowardice than thought is clearly going into this decision.
Little called the errors "the difference in the game."
Ok, so with a Gold Glove shortstop returning, and the incumbent leading the league in errors, what do you do?
If you're Grady Little, you bench the gold glover, because the new GM paid a lot more money for the other guy. No seriously. That is what Grady has said. How he can be so retarded is beyond me. He had previously referenced A-Rod in New York, but said nothing else. This may just be doublespeak, like with Danys Baez, but I really do think Grady doesn't care about defense. Or maybe he's wondering if Izturis can top Furcal's .252 batting average. Nonetheless, more cowardice than thought is clearly going into this decision.
Labels: Dodgers
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Dodgers - Trade time!
The Dodgers really want to trade off Odalis Perez. That's no secret. The question is, who else has to go?
The Mets already turned down Odalis' contract. The Yankees would be the go-to guys, and we did, after all, allow things to work out so they got Randy Johnson. I'm sure they're thrilled. Although the Yankees may not be interested since Odalis is not even 30, where Steinbrenner only wants 40 years and up on his club.
The Mariners? They do have a giant ballpark, and that might be just what Jae Seo needs, although it couldn't hurt Odalis. They'd probably try to get us to take back Adrian Beltre, who is hitting like .220 and they keep moving him around in the lineup. Beltre, of course, has an even more massive contract that would potentially block out younger players, but he can play defense at third, and hits pretty well for the position. If we threw in Bill Mueller, I wonder who we'd get to go along with that. Maybe adding Guzman would give us Felix Hernandez?
I tend to think it might be a good idea to try Boston, because the Dodgers gave Dave Roberts to them for a minor leaguer who's not playing right now. They have Matt Clement in almost the same contract, so we could throw in Jae Seo with Odalis and that might appeal to them. But that's not where it ends.
The Red Sox want a shortstop who can contribute with the bat. They're eyeing Izturis. When you eye Izturis for his bat, that is desperation. The obviously are missing Nomar now, as he's hitting .369 in LA at first. But Furcal would give them a good leadoff or #2 guy who can steal, bunt for a hit, and play short. The Dodgers would then be in a position to go for a marquis player, and while Varitek, Ortiz, and Ramirez would likely be off limits, Wakefield may become available. Throwing in Navarro for Mirabelli would seal the deal.
To review
TRADE 1 minor
Odalis Perez for Adrian Beltre
TRADE 1 major
Odalis Perez for Adrian Beltre
Bill Mueller Felix Hernandez
Joel Guzman (minor leaguer?)
TRADE 2 minor
Odalis Perez for Matt Clement
TRADE 2 major
Odalis Perez for Matt Clement
Jae Seo Tim Wakefield
Rafael Furcal Doug Mirabelli
Dioner Navarro (minor leaguer?)
But who knows?
The Mets already turned down Odalis' contract. The Yankees would be the go-to guys, and we did, after all, allow things to work out so they got Randy Johnson. I'm sure they're thrilled. Although the Yankees may not be interested since Odalis is not even 30, where Steinbrenner only wants 40 years and up on his club.
The Mariners? They do have a giant ballpark, and that might be just what Jae Seo needs, although it couldn't hurt Odalis. They'd probably try to get us to take back Adrian Beltre, who is hitting like .220 and they keep moving him around in the lineup. Beltre, of course, has an even more massive contract that would potentially block out younger players, but he can play defense at third, and hits pretty well for the position. If we threw in Bill Mueller, I wonder who we'd get to go along with that. Maybe adding Guzman would give us Felix Hernandez?
I tend to think it might be a good idea to try Boston, because the Dodgers gave Dave Roberts to them for a minor leaguer who's not playing right now. They have Matt Clement in almost the same contract, so we could throw in Jae Seo with Odalis and that might appeal to them. But that's not where it ends.
The Red Sox want a shortstop who can contribute with the bat. They're eyeing Izturis. When you eye Izturis for his bat, that is desperation. The obviously are missing Nomar now, as he's hitting .369 in LA at first. But Furcal would give them a good leadoff or #2 guy who can steal, bunt for a hit, and play short. The Dodgers would then be in a position to go for a marquis player, and while Varitek, Ortiz, and Ramirez would likely be off limits, Wakefield may become available. Throwing in Navarro for Mirabelli would seal the deal.
To review
TRADE 1 minor
Odalis Perez for Adrian Beltre
TRADE 1 major
Odalis Perez for Adrian Beltre
Bill Mueller Felix Hernandez
Joel Guzman (minor leaguer?)
TRADE 2 minor
Odalis Perez for Matt Clement
TRADE 2 major
Odalis Perez for Matt Clement
Jae Seo Tim Wakefield
Rafael Furcal Doug Mirabelli
Dioner Navarro (minor leaguer?)
But who knows?
Labels: Dodgers
