15-3 in June? Homers in back-to-back games for Laddie? Eight runs in the first? Who are these guys?
All posts by spookymilk
June 21, 2011: Air Mattress
It was more convenient to move the bed out a few weeks ago, but damn, my sleep is suffering right now.
June 20, 2011: Off Day
I hate off days in the midst of winning streaks.
Third Monday Movie Day
Movie of the Month: Following (Christopher Nolan, 1998)
Following is a lean little movie (69 minutes) that's clearly made on a shoestring budget, but first-time director Christopher Nolan knew what he was doing as far as plot, tension and language were concerned. This black-and-white film full of no-name actors won't catch the eye of the average viewer, but it's well worth pulling up on Netflix streaming to see the humble beginnings of a man who would become one of America's premier directors within less than a decade.
The Young Man (Jeremy Theobald, and yes, "The Young Man" is the character's name) has an obsession with following strangers, just to see who they are and what they do. He makes the mistake of following Cobb (Alex Haw, in his one and only film credit), who believes the young man to be a cop about to nail him for his own fetish: breaking into houses and leaving traces of activity, though never stealing anything of note. The Blonde (Lucy Russell, the most consistently working actor in this film, though you won't recognize her) figures into the story with both men, but the more I tell you, the more I ruin.
Following is told out of order, and essentially is about a man with one great flaw who's being used by other people in ways he can't imagine, and he doesn't have long to figure out how. Nolan would soon tell a similar story (Memento) on a much bigger stage and become a household name. His strengths then remain his strengths now, although his one big weakness - his inability to connect the viewer with his characters emotionally, and not just with the plot - remains an unfortunate hole in his game today. Still, he's one of America's great directors, and Nolan completists shouldn't miss this one, especially with the very short running time.
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Otherwise it's been a lean viewing month at Casa de Leche, what with the moving and stuff, although I've also been watching the fantastic British cop show Luther, starring Idris Elba (The Wire's Stringer Bell). It's also on streaming and definitely recommended to fans of cop dramas, and of Elba. The supporting cast is dynamite as well.
What have you seen?
June 19, 2011: Rolling
Remember that ugly 9-3 loss against the Rangers? That was the last time the Twins were beaten.
June 18, 2011: Most Improved
Eight wins in May, twelve so far in June.
June 17, 2011: Ho-Hum
Yet another sweep of the White Sox. Now on to the Padres; the last(?) time the Twins hosted them, I attended a Father's Day game with Skim. Santana was not only outpitched by Peavy, I'm pretty sure Santana got ejected. Plus, some clown two rows in front of me wouldn't leave despite one of his sons screaming for about four innings straight. I'm not using the word "screaming" to color the situation. He was screaming. For four. Innings. Straight.
2011 Game 67: Hosers at Twins
Morning baseball (morning here, anyway). Yesterday, the Twins did what they do, beating the White Sox at home. Well, recently, they've beaten them everywhere. How do we feel about today?
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrly 6-4, 86.2 IP, 3.95 ERA, 3.74 FIP, 4.29 xFIP, 1.5 WAR
Nick Blackburn 5-4, 83 IP, 3.47 ERA, 4.60 FIP, 3.77 xFIP, 0.5 WAR
Buehrle, in his twelfth season with the White Sox, doesn't show signs of being a different pitcher at all. His numbers are totally stable this year in comparison to recent years, so the Buehrle you know is the one that's pitching today.
Blackburn's K/9 is all the way up to 4.99, which might help to explain why he's been so much more successful this year than last. His GB% is a tick up from last year, too, which was up from the year before, which was up from the year before. I never trusted the guy, but it seems like he might turn out to be a good pitcher by sheer force of will. For those playing at home, Aaron Gleeman once made a bet with someone that Blackburn would never get 75 Wins as a major leaguer (I agreed). As of today, his next one will put him over 50% of the way there. I still don't know if he gets there, but I'll say I'm definitely not rooting for him to start failing today.
June 16, 2011: B’s
At long last, a championship for Boston!
2011 Game 66: Hosers at Magical Target Field
Hmm...starting to think that yickit has moved on from baseball or something. (But seriously, yickit, if you have something ready go ahead and edit this).
Floyd vs. Pavano.