Wild get the win, 3-2 over LA (two wins on a West Coast road trip? I'll take it!) They've opened up a nice cushion on Phoenix and Dallas and all but assured that those are the only two teams to worry about.
Winnipeg lost in overtime, and now are mathematically eliminated from catching Minnesota.
GAMES TONIGHT:
Phoenix/Winnipeg - Now that the Jets can't catch the Wild, it's time for them to win some games.
Dallas/Washington
Vancouver/NY Rangers
That was a fun game to catch the 3rd period of last night.
One thought about the Wild though... I've been watching a fair amount this season, and they seem like a bad passing team. Is this in any way accurate? Measurable? Contributing to their other problems?
Measurable? Not really - no one collects passing data on the NHL that I know of.
Accurate? I just don't know. They tend to get outshot quite a bit, so possession is usually tipped in favor of their opponent. You could read into that and say that bad passes lead to loss of possession and lack of sustained possession.
That was another big third period for the Wild. Sports Club Stats has them at 92% to make the playoffs and 66% to get the 7th seed. Hopefully, Nino and Granlund aren't out for awhile.
Heatley/Pominville circa April 2013 immediately came to mind.
No doubt. Speaking of which, Heater's going to end up somewhere in the top six, if Granlund can't go. I'd rather see Haula get a chance with more, but sheltered, minutes, but I'm not the coach.
It couldn't hurt to see what he can do with a more-skilled line, and what he can provide them with his speed. Unfortunately, I think your second sentence is probably correct.
Scratches appear to be Heatley for a third game in a row, McCormick, Rupp. Yeo basically said that in the Wild's eyes, McCormick's not a center, so that's the reason for the Dowell callup.
D pairs remain the same:
Suter-Spurgeon
Brodin-Prosser
Scandella-Blum
I've decided to tell my supervisor and my boss that, after about a week on the job, I've decided this position just isn't for me.
April Fools? I hope?
Oh yeah. I just told my super. She asked if I'd like to sit down and discuss it, but figured it out when I declined. She laughed, but I definitely scared her for a minute.
(I did check with some of our other staff to make sure the prank would be well-received before I went ahead with it.)
Good idea.
Ditto on this.
My favorite April Fool's joke was several years ago when I borrowed a For Sale sign from our realtor friends and put it in our front yard. Had several neighbors concerned.
At end of every month thus far this season Wolves no better or worse than within one game of .500 #mediocrity
I like how the Twins have pushed into Wisconsin some but the Brewers haven't pushed into Minnesota at all. (which I suspect has more to do with the lack of any larger-ish cities in Western Wisconsin.
Also, what in the hell is going on in the middle of South Dakota there?
The reservations have a lot of Yankees fans.
Joba?
Winnebago tribe is actually based in eastern Nebraska (also shows up as Yankee country), but yeah, first Joba and now Ellsbury. I've seen a lot of Yankees caps and jerseys when I've driven through those areas.
I don't know. The only thing I can figure out is that it's hard to get Twins' radio broadcasts there. In fact, the last time I was out that way, it was pretty hard to get any radio stations at all there, although that was quite a few years ago. That area is not very far west of where I live, but I never have any reason to go that way because, basically, there's nothing there. Come to think of it, the "majority" that roots for the Yankees in those counties is probably a very small number of people.
I think the field has been levelled more due to increased media exposure, but if Facebook had been around 20 years ago, you'd see a ton of SuperStation Braves and WGN Cubs fans scattered in areas you wouldn't have expected.
Yep. Small Sample Size is my guess.
Like that one Pirates-fan county in Oklahoma,
one tiny BoSox-fan county each in NewMex and Virginia,
the one Giants-fan county in Louisiana,
those two Angels-fan counties in southern California,
and the two Marlins-fan counties.
Those lone counties are likely home counties of major league players for those teams.
or minor league teams?
If the Diamondbacks weren't around, you'll find a lot of Spring Training teams liked there, particularly the Cubs
I see what you did there. #sciosciaball
With the season upon us, it's time to bring out the old hobbyhorses.
Before 2002, I doubt the Angels would have had more than Orange County and wouldn't have been surprised if they didn't even have that. I am surprised that they don't have San Bernardino County now, especially since the Dodger fans around here tend to be older and this is data from Facebook.
There are no U.S. counties where a plurality of fans like the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, or Oakland Athletics.
I get the Blue Jays, but ouch for the Mets and Athletics.
when you have two MLB teams in the same metro area, and one has a decade-long head start on the fan base, that can happen. Plus, Because Mausoleum. Plus Because two WS titles in the last five seasons.
Even the Sox have four counties!
I wonder how many they would have had 10 years ago.
Three teams’s fans make up a plurality of zero counties, anywhere in the U.S.: The New York Mets, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Oakland Athletics.
This makes sense. Two of those clubs are just across the water from another team with another, more successful franchise. (Those waters would be the East River and San Francisco Bay, respectively.) The other is in Canada and therefore not a part of this American map.
While technically true, I suppose, I don't think that most people would describe Yankee Stadium as being "just across the East River" from Citi Field or whatever it's called.
How the Giants really been "more successful" than the Oakland A's? The Oakland A's won more World Series IN A ROW than the San Francisco Giants have ever won.
Yeah, that, too. Although, the Giants have won twice very recently, which may drive Facebook likes, which is what this is based on. (Stop laughing.)
So meat didn't get a vote?
I feel disenfranchised. I wish I had a social media outlet to carp about my feelings.
the popularity disparity is a pretty real thing out here, as far as I can tell. But some of it definitely is driven by relatively short-term effects.
and anti-Moneyball oldsters
I don't think the SF hipsters, financial district dudes, or various others with too much disposable income who frequent [Insert communications conglomerate name here] Stadium really tilt that way very much. But the "atmosphere" (read: junkyard + gangbanger vibe + sh!thole stadium) around A's games probably deters a lot of those types from being A's game attendees. There's a bit of East Bay vs. SF thing going on too (Kultur Klash).
you put too much effort responding to throwaway comments
[shrugs shoulders].
[in Gregg Popovich "Manu Ginobili" voice] This is what I do.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2d1wdt_BXI
I stopped coaching him a long time ago.
The Giants are more glamorous. They are in SF, they have a beautiful park. Plus, Barry.
Chicks continue to dig the long ball.
the A's had facial hair and WS titles in the 1970s. Did not help. They had Bash Brothers and lots of steroids and WS titles in the 1980s. Did not help.
Yeah, if the Sox were the Gary White Sox, it would probably cut them back to one county.
The Giants had the Willies.
...had sewage backing up into the dugouts in the twenty-teens*. Did not help.
*what the hell do we call this decade again?
Don't use the past tense there.
it hasn't happened in the future.
It's happened in the last month or week or whatever.
*the really-late aughties.
I almost went there. But I know how sensitive you all are, so I refrained. Thanks for backing me up.
Backed up?
He put a plug in for me? Papered over the issue? I dunno. I need to sit down. I'm feeling a little flushed.
I love you guys...and I ain't even had my first (whole) drink yet!
Always the warning that comes with these maps is that its Facebook data. Its like saying baseball is a dying sport because it doesnt get enough tweets on Twitter.
appropriately, the Yankees color is black
I know it's baseball season and all, but the San Antonio Spurs are really something special. What an amazing run for this club. And I'm not talking about the last 18 games.
One more comment about the NBA today. Toronto and Chicago, each at 42-32, have clinched playoff spots. If they were in the West, they would be tied for tenth.
Gross.
And at 32-43, the New York Knicks are 9th in the East with Atlanta at the 8th slot with a 32-41 record.
Since our local club plays in the West (and won't change), I can never decide if I should be amused by the recent disparity in quality between the conferences or disgusted by it.
More evidence why Kevin Love deserves to be in L.A. or New York.
/mediotory
Did anyone else read the recap of the T-Wolves/Lakers game last week on 4ltr? Disgraceful.
Great, now you piqued my interest enough that i have to go back and read it.
Same here, and now I feel a bit dirty.
Yeah, that was pretty gross. Ugh.
I did like the Love quip the other day when asked why the Nets were able to overcome such a bad start and still end up with good playoff seeding: "They play in the East."
I refuse to bite.
Notice that I didn't post a link.
I'm catching up on last night's Mariners-Angels game, and the play to end the top of the 6th is a perfect example of why the old obliterate-the-catcher rule was stupid. The Mariners had a runner coming home on a play at the plate, which was close enough that in the past it would have been a collision 100% of the time, but instead the catcher stood inside the base line, the runner slid feet first into home, the tag was applied and the runner was out. In addition to being safer for everyone involved, and more consistent with how all the other bases are treated under the rules, it also seems to make it an easier call for the umpire to make--he can more consistently anticipate the positioning of the players to get himself a good angle to see the play.
just checked it out, and I absolutely agree. it was a no-doubter, so why risk any injury? thank you, MLB
Contrary to your point of view, I was told repeatedly last night that the players of the past were made of steel, and the pantywaists who call themselves catchers today have no integrity and lack the intestinal fortitude to play the right way.
Oh, and WAR is total bs too.
Whenever that segment of the population is up in arms, you know someone has done something right.
I love this statement so much. It can be applied in much broader fashion, throughout life.
Yup.
you forgot #playyousissies
Oh man, I'm going to have to edit below.
This rule is a truly a win for all relevant stakeholders. Consider:
Players: Reduces likelihood of players suffering injury and potential loss of income Owners: Protects their significant investment in players Rational fans and former players: Increases enjoyment of the game by providing a higher probability that the best players will be available to play Irrational fans: Gives them something to complain about GOML former players: Allows them to feel superior to current players, even if not actually true Certain media types #playyousissies
Umpires?
Easier calls, I suppose, but are they relevant stakeholders? Plus, they don't really fit into the bit that I angling for there.
I imagine umpires enjoy the better players being around, too
I'm sure that's true.
Brian McCann seems like a jerk and maybe they want him taken out with a collission.
Right. I also had this conversation last night:
Good friend " I think teams/owners should be allowed to opt out of contracts when players are suspended for peds..."
Me: "no effing way. The incentive to sign known dopers to huge contracts would be way too great if the owners can have all their money back when the doper gets caught"
Friend of friend, "no way dude, the player has too much at stake to dope in that situation"
Me "omg"
Friend "what?"
Me "I'll have another high life.
Could be a smokescreen, but it appears that if Manziel is on the board when the Vikings pick they are going to say, "Pass." Because non-conformity.
Is he going to conform to typically what the NFL is or what everyone else has done before him including what the great players in the game have done before him, or is he going to try to be the celebrity man guy that he was maybe a year-and-a-half ago?
Gotta love the NFL. I mean it. I think it's a law or something.
I don't really know who else there would be to pick at that point, so I have no idea if passing would be a good idea or not, but I can somewhat understand the fear of drafting a Ryan Leaf.
I think Manziel is more likely to bust than be a good starter, but if Bridgewater is gone and Manziel is still there at 8, I don't see how the Vikings pass on him. Especially for reasons that flimsy.
He has a good point. An NFL quarterback has to be all about football all the time.
You don't see Tom Brady out on the town with a super model. You don't see Peyton Manning making commercials. 100% football!
This time of the year, anything that an NFL executive or coach says is a smokescreen.
This time of the year, anything that an NFL executive or coach says is a smokescreen.
FTFY.
dude reminds me more than a little bit of Fran Tarkenton. Look how that turned out. #3XLOSER
But seriously. He's got a lot of "Jimmermania" vibe to him. Great college player; don't know how that will translate to the pro game.
I was convinced that Jimmer was an NBA bust waiting to happen when he was in college. Manziel? He won the Heisman!! That's like a ticket to the HOF!
totally.
btw, trivia question for you. Who was the only Heisman winner to subsequently win an NFL playoff game as a starter in the last 26 years?
I got it, but I had to think about it for a while.
I know it without looking.
As a fan of a division rival, and a fan of circuses, I am desperately hoping Manziel falls to the Vikings and they take him.
It doesn't matter. If they do take him, it will be a circus and he won't be great. If they don't take him, he'll become a star elsewhere that they should have taken.
#Becausevikings
Did anyone else catch the "Colbert Report" last night? I don't normally watch, but I caught it last night. Awesome. #cancelcolbert
Yankees fan comes to Angels-Mariners on opening day to display a sign disparaging Robinson Cano for following the money: Priceless.
hippopotamus criticus
the river horse is critical?
Worst fans in baseball. Not any question about that.
KEY DEPARTURES C/U Ryan Doumit. Not as evil as his soulless black eyes suggest.
WHAT?!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZzBCLFW_38
(you do NOT want to watch the part before this)
Contrary to the headline on that video, it's being reported as a right femur fracture. That's a pretty crazy bone to fracture without a hard impact, so I imagine his doctors will be concerned about more than just the broken bone.
Baylor, 64, is a survivor of multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks bone marrow. He was diagnosed with the cancer in 2003, and he is active in fundraising efforts to combat the disease.
Hopefully he heals up from surgery sooner rather than later.
yeah, that seemed like a freakishly easy break, reminiscent of Dave Dravecky
The big difference is that Baylor is 30 years older. I would imagine chemo, radiation and old age could combine to make for brittle bones. Hopefully, this is the case and not a return of the cancer.
I just found out that the nephew of my sister-in-law (my brother's wife) Tucker Barnhart made the Reds' Opening Day roster as a backup catcher. He hasn't even played AAA, but Devin Mesoraco got hurt and they promoted Barnhart to back up Brayan Pena. Pretty cool story.
UConn is sending teams to the men's and women's Final Fours in the same season for the fourth time. Of course, that pretty much means the men have been to the Final Four 4 times.
I saw somewhere that UConn is 6-1 in Final Four games, so that would make this their fifth trip. (Three wins in four tries? That's pretty amazing.)
Oh, I figured there might be more than four, but it only seems like the women make it every year. (only the last seven in a row).
Whoa, Astros broadcast showing BABIP and WAR. Can't even imagine how DicknBert would react.
Bonus: Yankees losing by 6 to the Astros in the 2nd inning!!
The White Sox broadcast is miles ahead of FSN's. Last year, Hawk Harrelson talking about, but I dont think understanding, the run expectancy graphic.
What's also cool is that you are probably getting different information in each at bat!
So NBBW is on the road tonight. This is when I get to experiment in the kitchen.
Tonite: Spanakopita.
Tried to do the spinach/scallion deal in the Vitamix - too much clumping. Transferred to the food processor - no problemo.
Last minute switch from the internet recipe to the package recipe (they aren't going to put a dud recipe on the package). Only problem is the phyllo sheets are too sticky - too much breakage. Gotta figure out the right temps, etc. so the phyllo sheets don't break down. I know the triangle method is elegant but I am going the lasagna route.
dude. I hope you are taking pictures along the way. This would make an epic Appetite post.
I've never worked with phyllo dough (ok, not in 25+ years anyway).
I took a before picture - kinda farmer-style squares. Plating opportunity?
But taste = 14 pts on the NBB scale. Still some work on the layout. I believe they are at their finest when rolled into triangles. I did not have the Kefalotyri cheese. Also I went with Italian flat-leaf parsley, and no dill. Natch. Next time.
This dish was meatless (but had eggs), but I'm thinking you could sneak in some salmon and capers...
Saw the coolest mlb gif today. Dodger batter (Puig?) loses grip on bat and it flies into stands. Two guys grab it. Do they fight? No. They play rock-paper-scissors to see who gets it. Smiles all around.
Edit: blue jays, not dodgers.
Still not a fan of the new replay rules, but one benefit seems to be that the close plays are now being shown on the big screen at the ballparks.
More appropriate to yesterday's ballgame...
ID the AU -- name the Twins Player (current or former) who would put this signature on an IOU to his brother:
Nailed it
Rhu_Ru, did you see the link from the NYT that I posted yesterday about baseball autographs?
I'm not registered there, so couldn't read it.
you get like 5 free ones per month.
not motivated enough for any of those
Too bad. It was a pretty great article for Twins fans.
The engineers at Rolla tricked out their school website for April Fool's Day.
Wow
Wild Playoff Watch:
Wild get the win, 3-2 over LA (two wins on a West Coast road trip? I'll take it!) They've opened up a nice cushion on Phoenix and Dallas and all but assured that those are the only two teams to worry about.
Winnipeg lost in overtime, and now are mathematically eliminated from catching Minnesota.
MIN - 89 pts
PHX - 84 pts (WMN = 10)
------------------
DAL - 83 pts (WMN = 11)
VAN - 79 pts (WMN = 3)
NSH - 77 pts (WMN = 1)
WIN - 76 pts (WMN = 0)
GAMES TONIGHT:
Phoenix/Winnipeg - Now that the Jets can't catch the Wild, it's time for them to win some games.
Dallas/Washington
Vancouver/NY Rangers
That was a fun game to catch the 3rd period of last night.
One thought about the Wild though... I've been watching a fair amount this season, and they seem like a bad passing team. Is this in any way accurate? Measurable? Contributing to their other problems?
Measurable? Not really - no one collects passing data on the NHL that I know of.
Accurate? I just don't know. They tend to get outshot quite a bit, so possession is usually tipped in favor of their opponent. You could read into that and say that bad passes lead to loss of possession and lack of sustained possession.
That was another big third period for the Wild. Sports Club Stats has them at 92% to make the playoffs and 66% to get the 7th seed. Hopefully, Nino and Granlund aren't out for awhile.
Heatley/Pominville circa April 2013 immediately came to mind.
No doubt. Speaking of which, Heater's going to end up somewhere in the top six, if Granlund can't go. I'd rather see Haula get a chance with more, but sheltered, minutes, but I'm not the coach.
It couldn't hurt to see what he can do with a more-skilled line, and what he can provide them with his speed. Unfortunately, I think your second sentence is probably correct.
Uncle Walt - seems not!
Today's lines:
Parise-Koivu-Coyle
Moulson-Haula-Pominville
Cooke-Brodziak-Fontaine
Veilleux-Dowell-Niederreiter
D pairs remain the same:
Suter-Spurgeon
Brodin-Prosser
Scandella-Blum
I've decided to tell my supervisor and my boss that, after about a week on the job, I've decided this position just isn't for me.
April Fools? I hope?
Oh yeah. I just told my super. She asked if I'd like to sit down and discuss it, but figured it out when I declined. She laughed, but I definitely scared her for a minute.
(I did check with some of our other staff to make sure the prank would be well-received before I went ahead with it.)
Good idea.
Ditto on this.
My favorite April Fool's joke was several years ago when I borrowed a For Sale sign from our realtor friends and put it in our front yard. Had several neighbors concerned.
Race to the middle, indeed.
It wouldn't be so sad if the race to the middle weren't the best result in a decade.
l would take that from the Twins.
Yes, but expectations for the Wolves were slightly higher than for the please-don't-lose-95-again Twins.
Here's an interesting map on favorite baseball team by county. It seems people in Nebraska have no idea who to follow.
I like how the Twins have pushed into Wisconsin some but the Brewers haven't pushed into Minnesota at all. (which I suspect has more to do with the lack of any larger-ish cities in Western Wisconsin.
Also, what in the hell is going on in the middle of South Dakota there?
The reservations have a lot of Yankees fans.
Joba?
Winnebago tribe is actually based in eastern Nebraska (also shows up as Yankee country), but yeah, first Joba and now Ellsbury. I've seen a lot of Yankees caps and jerseys when I've driven through those areas.
I don't know. The only thing I can figure out is that it's hard to get Twins' radio broadcasts there. In fact, the last time I was out that way, it was pretty hard to get any radio stations at all there, although that was quite a few years ago. That area is not very far west of where I live, but I never have any reason to go that way because, basically, there's nothing there. Come to think of it, the "majority" that roots for the Yankees in those counties is probably a very small number of people.
I think the field has been levelled more due to increased media exposure, but if Facebook had been around 20 years ago, you'd see a ton of SuperStation Braves and WGN Cubs fans scattered in areas you wouldn't have expected.
Yep. Small Sample Size is my guess.
Like that one Pirates-fan county in Oklahoma,
one tiny BoSox-fan county each in NewMex and Virginia,
the one Giants-fan county in Louisiana,
those two Angels-fan counties in southern California,
and the two Marlins-fan counties.
Those lone counties are likely home counties of major league players for those teams.
or minor league teams?
If the Diamondbacks weren't around, you'll find a lot of Spring Training teams liked there, particularly the Cubs
I see what you did there. #sciosciaball
With the season upon us, it's time to bring out the old hobbyhorses.
Before 2002, I doubt the Angels would have had more than Orange County and wouldn't have been surprised if they didn't even have that. I am surprised that they don't have San Bernardino County now, especially since the Dodger fans around here tend to be older and this is data from Facebook.
I get the Blue Jays, but ouch for the Mets and Athletics.
when you have two MLB teams in the same metro area, and one has a decade-long head start on the fan base, that can happen. Plus, Because Mausoleum. Plus Because two WS titles in the last five seasons.
Even the Sox have four counties!
I wonder how many they would have had 10 years ago.
While technically true, I suppose, I don't think that most people would describe Yankee Stadium as being "just across the East River" from Citi Field or whatever it's called.
How the Giants really been "more successful" than the Oakland A's? The Oakland A's won more World Series IN A ROW than the San Francisco Giants have ever won.
Yeah, that, too. Although, the Giants have won twice very recently, which may drive Facebook likes, which is what this is based on. (Stop laughing.)
So meat didn't get a vote?
I feel disenfranchised. I wish I had a social media outlet to carp about my feelings.
You've still got your Twitter account.
"may drive"??? Heh.
the popularity disparity is a pretty real thing out here, as far as I can tell. But some of it definitely is driven by relatively short-term effects.
and anti-Moneyball oldsters
I don't think the SF hipsters, financial district dudes, or various others with too much disposable income who frequent [Insert communications conglomerate name here] Stadium really tilt that way very much. But the "atmosphere" (read: junkyard + gangbanger vibe + sh!thole stadium) around A's games probably deters a lot of those types from being A's game attendees. There's a bit of East Bay vs. SF thing going on too (Kultur Klash).
you put too much effort responding to throwaway comments
[shrugs shoulders].
[in Gregg Popovich "Manu Ginobili" voice] This is what I do.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2d1wdt_BXI
The Giants are more glamorous. They are in SF, they have a beautiful park. Plus, Barry.
Chicks continue to dig the long ball.
the A's had facial hair and WS titles in the 1970s. Did not help. They had Bash Brothers and lots of steroids and WS titles in the 1980s. Did not help.
Yeah, if the Sox were the Gary White Sox, it would probably cut them back to one county.
The Giants had the Willies.
...had sewage backing up into the dugouts in the twenty-teens*. Did not help.
*what the hell do we call this decade again?
Don't use the past tense there.
it hasn't happened in the future.
It's happened in the last month or week or whatever.
*the really-late aughties.
I almost went there. But I know how sensitive you all are, so I refrained. Thanks for backing me up.
Backed up?
He put a plug in for me? Papered over the issue? I dunno. I need to sit down. I'm feeling a little flushed.
I love you guys...and I ain't even had my first (whole) drink yet!
Always the warning that comes with these maps is that its Facebook data. Its like saying baseball is a dying sport because it doesnt get enough tweets on Twitter.
appropriately, the Yankees color is black
I know it's baseball season and all, but the San Antonio Spurs are really something special. What an amazing run for this club. And I'm not talking about the last 18 games.
One more comment about the NBA today. Toronto and Chicago, each at 42-32, have clinched playoff spots. If they were in the West, they would be tied for tenth.
Gross.
And at 32-43, the New York Knicks are 9th in the East with Atlanta at the 8th slot with a 32-41 record.
Since our local club plays in the West (and won't change), I can never decide if I should be amused by the recent disparity in quality between the conferences or disgusted by it.
More evidence why Kevin Love deserves to be in L.A. or New York.
/mediotory
Did anyone else read the recap of the T-Wolves/Lakers game last week on 4ltr? Disgraceful.
Great, now you piqued my interest enough that i have to go back and read it.
Same here, and now I feel a bit dirty.
Yeah, that was pretty gross. Ugh.
I did like the Love quip the other day when asked why the Nets were able to overcome such a bad start and still end up with good playoff seeding: "They play in the East."
I refuse to bite.
Notice that I didn't post a link.
I'm catching up on last night's Mariners-Angels game, and the play to end the top of the 6th is a perfect example of why the old obliterate-the-catcher rule was stupid. The Mariners had a runner coming home on a play at the plate, which was close enough that in the past it would have been a collision 100% of the time, but instead the catcher stood inside the base line, the runner slid feet first into home, the tag was applied and the runner was out. In addition to being safer for everyone involved, and more consistent with how all the other bases are treated under the rules, it also seems to make it an easier call for the umpire to make--he can more consistently anticipate the positioning of the players to get himself a good angle to see the play.
just checked it out, and I absolutely agree. it was a no-doubter, so why risk any injury? thank you, MLB
Contrary to your point of view, I was told repeatedly last night that the players of the past were made of steel, and the pantywaists who call themselves catchers today have no integrity and lack the intestinal fortitude to play the right way.
Oh, and WAR is total bs too.
Whenever that segment of the population is up in arms, you know someone has done something right.
I love this statement so much. It can be applied in much broader fashion, throughout life.
Yup.
you forgot #playyousissies
Oh man, I'm going to have to edit below.
This rule is a truly a win for all relevant stakeholders. Consider:
Players: Reduces likelihood of players suffering injury and potential loss of income
Owners: Protects their significant investment in players
Rational fans and former players: Increases enjoyment of the game by providing a higher probability that the best players will be available to play
Irrational fans: Gives them something to complain about
GOML former players: Allows them to feel superior to current players, even if not actually true
Certain media types #playyousissies
Umpires?
Easier calls, I suppose, but are they relevant stakeholders? Plus, they don't really fit into the bit that I angling for there.
I imagine umpires enjoy the better players being around, too
I'm sure that's true.
Brian McCann seems like a jerk and maybe they want him taken out with a collission.
Right. I also had this conversation last night:
Good friend " I think teams/owners should be allowed to opt out of contracts when players are suspended for peds..."
Me: "no effing way. The incentive to sign known dopers to huge contracts would be way too great if the owners can have all their money back when the doper gets caught"
Friend of friend, "no way dude, the player has too much at stake to dope in that situation"
Me "omg"
Friend "what?"
Me "I'll have another high life.
Could be a smokescreen, but it appears that if Manziel is on the board when the Vikings pick they are going to say, "Pass." Because non-conformity.
Gotta love the NFL. I mean it. I think it's a law or something.
I don't really know who else there would be to pick at that point, so I have no idea if passing would be a good idea or not, but I can somewhat understand the fear of drafting a Ryan Leaf.
I think Manziel is more likely to bust than be a good starter, but if Bridgewater is gone and Manziel is still there at 8, I don't see how the Vikings pass on him. Especially for reasons that flimsy.
He has a good point. An NFL quarterback has to be all about football all the time.
You don't see Tom Brady out on the town with a super model. You don't see Peyton Manning making commercials. 100% football!
This time of the year, anything that an NFL executive or coach says is a smokescreen.
This time of the year,anything that an NFL executive or coach says is a smokescreen.FTFY.
dude reminds me more than a little bit of Fran Tarkenton. Look how that turned out. #3XLOSER
But seriously. He's got a lot of "Jimmermania" vibe to him. Great college player; don't know how that will translate to the pro game.
I was convinced that Jimmer was an NBA bust waiting to happen when he was in college. Manziel? He won the Heisman!! That's like a ticket to the HOF!
totally.
btw, trivia question for you. Who was the only Heisman winner to subsequently win an NFL playoff game as a starter in the last 26 years?
I got it, but I had to think about it for a while.
I know it without looking.
As a fan of a division rival, and a fan of circuses, I am desperately hoping Manziel falls to the Vikings and they take him.
It doesn't matter. If they do take him, it will be a circus and he won't be great. If they don't take him, he'll become a star elsewhere that they should have taken.
#Becausevikings
Did anyone else catch the "Colbert Report" last night? I don't normally watch, but I caught it last night. Awesome. #cancelcolbert
Yankees fan comes to Angels-Mariners on opening day to display a sign disparaging Robinson Cano for following the money: Priceless.
hippopotamus criticus
the river horse is critical?
Worst fans in baseball. Not any question about that.
Glen Taylor is buying the Star Tribune
Is David Kahn going to be the new Sports section editor?
From the SB Nation MLB preview:
WHAT?!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZzBCLFW_38
(you do NOT want to watch the part before this)
Contrary to the headline on that video, it's being reported as a right femur fracture. That's a pretty crazy bone to fracture without a hard impact, so I imagine his doctors will be concerned about more than just the broken bone.
Aha, this makes more sense.
Hopefully he heals up from surgery sooner rather than later.
yeah, that seemed like a freakishly easy break, reminiscent of Dave Dravecky
The big difference is that Baylor is 30 years older. I would imagine chemo, radiation and old age could combine to make for brittle bones. Hopefully, this is the case and not a return of the cancer.
I just found out that the nephew of my sister-in-law (my brother's wife) Tucker Barnhart made the Reds' Opening Day roster as a backup catcher. He hasn't even played AAA, but Devin Mesoraco got hurt and they promoted Barnhart to back up Brayan Pena. Pretty cool story.
Movie madness alert: Whoa! It's a sled, dude.
Casting by Johnny Utah! Heh.
music by Dogstar. Screenplay by Neo Anderson.
And so much more.
Alex Winter!
John Malkovich. I'll bite.
Probably one of those where the remake is better than the original.
Even if so, I'm not gonna see it in 3d.
I find the original to be overrated, but I never liked the Beatles much either.
Starring Alex Winter? Directed by Keanu? Music by Dogstar? Edited by Ted Logan? I am soooo onboard with this project.
Alex Winter directed Helmet music videos?
UConn is sending teams to the men's and women's Final Fours in the same season for the fourth time. Of course, that pretty much means the men have been to the Final Four 4 times.
I saw somewhere that UConn is 6-1 in Final Four games, so that would make this their fifth trip. (Three wins in four tries? That's pretty amazing.)
Oh, I figured there might be more than four, but it only seems like the women make it every year. (only the last seven in a row).
Don't forget the guys from MST3K are riffing on the National Geographic channel tonight!
Whoa, Astros broadcast showing BABIP and WAR. Can't even imagine how DicknBert would react.
Bonus: Yankees losing by 6 to the Astros in the 2nd inning!!
The White Sox broadcast is miles ahead of FSN's. Last year, Hawk Harrelson talking about, but I dont think understanding, the run expectancy graphic.
What's also cool is that you are probably getting different information in each at bat!
So NBBW is on the road tonight. This is when I get to experiment in the kitchen.
Tonite: Spanakopita.
Tried to do the spinach/scallion deal in the Vitamix - too much clumping. Transferred to the food processor - no problemo.
Last minute switch from the internet recipe to the package recipe (they aren't going to put a dud recipe on the package). Only problem is the phyllo sheets are too sticky - too much breakage. Gotta figure out the right temps, etc. so the phyllo sheets don't break down. I know the triangle method is elegant but I am going the lasagna route.
dude. I hope you are taking pictures along the way. This would make an epic Appetite post.
I've never worked with phyllo dough (ok, not in 25+ years anyway).
I took a before picture - kinda farmer-style squares. Plating opportunity?
But taste = 14 pts on the NBB scale. Still some work on the layout. I believe they are at their finest when rolled into triangles. I did not have the Kefalotyri cheese. Also I went with Italian flat-leaf parsley, and no dill. Natch. Next time.
This dish was meatless (but had eggs), but I'm thinking you could sneak in some salmon and capers...
Saw the coolest mlb gif today. Dodger batter (Puig?) loses grip on bat and it flies into stands. Two guys grab it. Do they fight? No. They play rock-paper-scissors to see who gets it. Smiles all around.
Edit: blue jays, not dodgers.