Poseur candidate. Adulating (s/b a word) media.
Does anyone think this was a candid moment?
Link
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Woe
New Indiana Jones movie previewed and reviewed:
In short, this is the Indiana Movie that you were dreading.The web has been alive with rumors that the movie is dreadful. Sadly, woefully, those rumors appear true. Sigh.
[...]
seemed to be missing 'something'. That something was tension. During the whole of the movie, there was not a single moment that I thought our hero Mr. Jones ... was in any sort of peril or even significant inconvenience.
Note: The linked review contains mild spoilers. As if it matters.
You could see this coming a mile away, i.e. at the exact moment you learned Shia LaBeouf was cast as Indy's son. No. No. No.
I knew nothing about Shia LaBeouf. Yet, one look at his photo told me: 1) he's a girly type boy, 2) he's doesn't have enough soul and grit.
I think Speilberg and Lucas are fabulous at special effects and moviemaking, yet not so good at understanding actors and soul and grit. They are good at movies; they would be horrible at theater.
What helped the original Star Wars was the "lets go fight the bad guys" spirit amongst the fresh and genuine and gritty actors. But look at how, years later in Episode 2, Lucas lost touch with this and cast Hayden Christenson as a Young Darth Vader. Disaster. Christenson didn't have soul, grit, freshness, genuineness, or believability. Young Darth Vader should've been one of the memorable roles of all time. Instead, Christenson tried his best to sink both films he was in.
What helped Raiders of the Lost Ark was the same soul and grit and spirit of the original Star Wars movie. Karen Allen embodied it. Harrison Ford had it, and and has since lost it.
What's happened to Harrison? Once he was an earthy carpenter fighting to have a film career. Now, he's infected with granola/west coast disease, as represented by his infatuation with the reed thin Ally McBeal actress. Are Ford and Speilberg and Lucas all infected with money and success and Hollywood mores? Have they been pulled into effete tone-deafness, like a Supreme Court justice who goes in as a minimalist and is soon seduced by the power of legislating from the bench? Are they pulled as Colin Powell and Condi Rice were seduced by State Dept. and Western hemisphere belief that jaw-jaw equates to act-act? It would be hard not to be pulled. From my end zone - judging by the casting of Shia LaBeouf - it looks as if they have succumbed.
Any Offensive Guard on any high school football team would've been a superior choice to Shia Labeouf. Any Fullback would've melted high school and college girls across America. What about the actor who plays the hard knocks FB in the TV series "Friday Night Lights"? THAT KID embodies the son of Indiana Jones. Instead, we get Shia LaBeouf. Shia is weak tea - and I can tell it from a photo! I'm laughing at my own presumption, here. But I'll be surprised if I'm wrong.
Look, in the photo in the post just below this, at the Dudley Dooright profile of Jason Botts. Jason Botts embodies Indy's son better than Shia LaBeouf.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
O Happy Day!
Jason Botts makes it through waivers!!
GM Jon Daniels is a genius. Lou Rawls and Freda Payne are happy.
Next stop: OKC. Botts can use his major league experience and observations to further improve himself/refine his skills at OKC.
Give Botts and Cruz all of May and June in OKC. Bring them up on July 1, and - this is important: start them 5 out of 6 games through all of July, August, and Sept. This allows Botts and Cruz some breathing room, and some daily rhythm, which they were not allowed last season.
After Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley, I expect Botts and Cruz to one day be better than any of the other OF/1B players currently in Arlington: Catalanotto, Murphy, Boggs, Byrd, Shelton, or Broussard. I would like the chances of this 2009 line-up:
1. # Kinsler 2B
2. # Young SS
3. x Hamilton CF
4. ~ Milton Bradley DH
5. x Blalock 3B
6. # Cruz RF
7. ~ Botts 1B
8. x Murphy LF
9. ~ Saltalamacchia C
Bench:
Laird (or Teagarden)
Duran
~ Boggs
x Catalanotto(or Davis, after trade deadline)
That line-up would require signing Milton Bradley to a big money contract. I am okay with that. This is a young and dangerously volatile line-up, and is thus enjoyable to watch and to root for. It has 3 RH hitters, 3 LH hitters, 3 Switch hitters. I have tried, in the style of Johnny Oates and Buck Showalter, to intersperse the RH/LH hitters throughout the line-up (thus forcing opponents to burn through situational LH relief pitchers).
Slight Detour:
The 2008 Rangers have
- a true Lead-Off hitter: Kinsler
- a true #2: Young
- a true #3: Hamilton
- a player who will not freak out b/c he's hitting Clean-Up: Bradley
- and - once he is healthy - a true #5 hitter: Blalock.
The Texas Rangers maybe haven't had all those elements in place, ever. Excepting Kenny Lofton, they've gone since at least 1999 without having a true Lead-Off hitter. The development of Kinsler at Lead-Off, and the acquisition of the mentally tough Milton Bradley for the Clean-Up spot, will pay dividends this season, imo. Those are the toughest batting order slots to fill.
Milton Bradley is really a #2 or a #5 hitter. However, he is saavy enough and talented enough to do the job at clean up. If you had to hit Blalock at clean-up, Blalock would feel pressure to swing for the fences. It would ruin him.
Kinsler has been a little-noted revelation. Initially arriving as an aggressive pull hitter with surprising power, he is now a patient batter who hits to all fields with surprising power. He takes the lead-off role very seriously: he works his initial at bat so as to see many pitches(via patience, and via fighting off tough pitches by swatting semi-intentional foul balls). Kinsler, also, can steal bases even when the defense knows he wants to go. A good lead off hitter is critically important in Playoff and World Series games. Kinsler hits good pitching. He can do it.
Brandon Boggs might develop into a lead-off hitter. Speedy Julio Bourbon preps for 2010ish. The Rangers might have options at this important line-up spot. Good. Good. Good. The organization needs some young players to step up and be good in the lead off spot.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Awesomeness
R2D2 DVD Projector
"The Dork flows strongly in this one. Oh, my. It's a remote control and birth control device all rolled into one."
Monday, May 05, 2008
Conversation w/Jeff: follow up links
Skype-conversationed with famous cousin Jeff. He has relocated to Rio de Janiero for a few years. This post incorporates some follow-up emails to Jeff (to flesh out some conversational topics).
The photos were taken by Jeff's wife, Karen, along Route 66 in the Texas panhandle/western Oklahoma area. Some of Karen's Route 66 photos were selected for display in a photography show.
Polar Bears threaten America
Proponents of world government attempting to
1) gain/use threatened species status of polar bear, to
2) force climate change regulation targeted at saving the polar bear, to
3) accomplish actual goal of controlling aspects of U.S. economic policy.
Jeff observed that every large and wild mammal on Earth could be said to be threatened, b/c large and wild mammals need large spaces in which to operate, and such large spaces are shrinking.
Silent Scream of the Asparagus
The crescent of the moon is observed on opposite sides of the moon (right side vs. left side) in the northern and southern hemispheres.
My son, Jake, and I pulled out a basketball (Earth) and our own fists (moon). When the sun shines on the eastern crescent of the moon, we (in Texas) see the moon in the eastern and then the southern sky, and the left side of the moon is lit as we look at it. You (in Rio) see the moon in the eastern and then the northern sky, and the right side of the moon is lit as you look at it. Plus, standing in the southern hemisphere, clearly you are standing upside down - with your feet nearer the equator and your head nearer the South Pole - thus causing blood to rush to your head as you try to look up at the sky, which is clearly disorienting and therefore is a problem.
Also: in the early part of the lunar phase the moon's crescent appears lit on the eastern portion of the moon. Days later the moon is full. Days later, in the late part of the lunar phase, the crescent moon is lit on it's western portion. Therefore, the moon is lit in both an eastern and western crescent at differing portions of its lunar phase(a fact which I, in my entire unobservant and clueless life, never before paid attention to).
Does toilet water spin in opposite directions in northern and southern hemispheres(due to Corealis Effect)?
Snopes.com says the toilet water direction thing is a myth.
Mom and Dad and Jake say hello. Jake says the Simpsons got kidnapped when they went to Rio (by 8 year old children demanding a ransom of candy). After Jake's story, Mom is more worried than ever about your and Karen's safety. So, the moral is, keep a candy ransom available, and make sure Karen and Gurvis and Gary and Karen's sister know how to access it.
WTC site 9/11 Memorial Controversy - 2005 WSJ article - proposed museum has now been killed off b/c of the controversy
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110006791
Flight 93 (Pennsylvania) Memorial Controversy
http://errortheory.blogspot.com/2005/11/redesigned-flight-93-memorial-still_30.html
The argument for coincidence (which I instinctively want to make) becomes harder and harder to make:
1. Memorial is in shape of Islamic crescent.
2. Islamic star representation is properly positioned relative to crescent.
3. Memorial is properly oriented towards Mecca.
4. Islamic prayer time sundial representation is properly positioned and is the proper height(relative to the surrounding crescent).
That is too much coincidence. Maybe, somewhere in the universe, that much coincidence adds up to "not a Jihadi memorial". But, here on Earth: we're looking at a Jihadi memorial.
I don't want to make myself look like a raving lunatic. However, it is also damning that obvious Islamic details are ever so slightly off - yet, upon closer inspection, other subtle details perfectly rectify and correct the obvious details which originally appeared to be slightly off. A series of deceptions and subtle corrections simply is not coincidence. It is, rather, evidence of intent.
The only way this is not a monument to Islamic Jihad is if the damning evidence which is proffered consists of lies. That is a possibility. So far as I can ascertain, the damning evidence has the heft of legitimacy. Since I am a layperson - armed only with common sense, and not armed with engineering/architectural training - my opinion is not even close to authoritative. I am looking only from my end zone seat, and seeing only what can be seen from this angle. But, good gosh, from this angle the evidence looks like a solid mountain.
I suspect this is not taken seriously, inside Congress and the National Parks Service, b/c those raising the alarm are instinctively compared to loon conspiracy theorists. Yet, this memorial design is not a conspiracy. A conspiracy requires a plot amongst multiple conspirators.
To get this far required only one Jihadi architect + design selectors who refused to recognize evidence of bad intent + U.S. National Parks Service bigshots who refused to recognize evidence of bad intent. We are a nation of experts at refusing to recognize bad intent by jihadis. If this memorial design was generated out of bad intent, it was also no conspiracy. One architect does not comprise a conspiracy. A bunch of Americans practicing blindness as usual does not comprise a conspiracy. Alec Rawls of Error Theory:
http://michellemalkin.com/2006/09/24/the-arizona-911-memorial-disgrace/
The photos were taken by Jeff's wife, Karen, along Route 66 in the Texas panhandle/western Oklahoma area. Some of Karen's Route 66 photos were selected for display in a photography show.
Polar Bears threaten America
Proponents of world government attempting to
1) gain/use threatened species status of polar bear, to
2) force climate change regulation targeted at saving the polar bear, to
3) accomplish actual goal of controlling aspects of U.S. economic policy.
Jeff observed that every large and wild mammal on Earth could be said to be threatened, b/c large and wild mammals need large spaces in which to operate, and such large spaces are shrinking.
Silent Scream of the Asparagus
At the request of the Swiss government, an ethics panel has weighed in on the "dignity" of plants and opined that the arbitrary killing of flora is morally wrong. This is no hoax. The concept of what could be called "plant rights" is being seriously debated.Michelle Malkin:
Sure, you vegans thought yourselves so morally pure. But according to the Swiss government, your hands are stained with the chlorophyll of innocent beings.
The crescent of the moon is observed on opposite sides of the moon (right side vs. left side) in the northern and southern hemispheres.
My son, Jake, and I pulled out a basketball (Earth) and our own fists (moon). When the sun shines on the eastern crescent of the moon, we (in Texas) see the moon in the eastern and then the southern sky, and the left side of the moon is lit as we look at it. You (in Rio) see the moon in the eastern and then the northern sky, and the right side of the moon is lit as you look at it. Plus, standing in the southern hemisphere, clearly you are standing upside down - with your feet nearer the equator and your head nearer the South Pole - thus causing blood to rush to your head as you try to look up at the sky, which is clearly disorienting and therefore is a problem.
Also: in the early part of the lunar phase the moon's crescent appears lit on the eastern portion of the moon. Days later the moon is full. Days later, in the late part of the lunar phase, the crescent moon is lit on it's western portion. Therefore, the moon is lit in both an eastern and western crescent at differing portions of its lunar phase(a fact which I, in my entire unobservant and clueless life, never before paid attention to).
Does toilet water spin in opposite directions in northern and southern hemispheres(due to Corealis Effect)?
Snopes.com says the toilet water direction thing is a myth.
Mom and Dad and Jake say hello. Jake says the Simpsons got kidnapped when they went to Rio (by 8 year old children demanding a ransom of candy). After Jake's story, Mom is more worried than ever about your and Karen's safety. So, the moral is, keep a candy ransom available, and make sure Karen and Gurvis and Gary and Karen's sister know how to access it.
WTC site 9/11 Memorial Controversy - 2005 WSJ article - proposed museum has now been killed off b/c of the controversy
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110006791
Flight 93 (Pennsylvania) Memorial Controversy
http://errortheory.blogspot.com/2005/11/redesigned-flight-93-memorial-still_30.html
"Is it possible to achieve all of this Islamic orientation without knowing it?"We should change any 9/11 Memorial design which incorporates "crescent" in any fashion.
The argument for coincidence (which I instinctively want to make) becomes harder and harder to make:
1. Memorial is in shape of Islamic crescent.
2. Islamic star representation is properly positioned relative to crescent.
3. Memorial is properly oriented towards Mecca.
4. Islamic prayer time sundial representation is properly positioned and is the proper height(relative to the surrounding crescent).
That is too much coincidence. Maybe, somewhere in the universe, that much coincidence adds up to "not a Jihadi memorial". But, here on Earth: we're looking at a Jihadi memorial.
I don't want to make myself look like a raving lunatic. However, it is also damning that obvious Islamic details are ever so slightly off - yet, upon closer inspection, other subtle details perfectly rectify and correct the obvious details which originally appeared to be slightly off. A series of deceptions and subtle corrections simply is not coincidence. It is, rather, evidence of intent.
The only way this is not a monument to Islamic Jihad is if the damning evidence which is proffered consists of lies. That is a possibility. So far as I can ascertain, the damning evidence has the heft of legitimacy. Since I am a layperson - armed only with common sense, and not armed with engineering/architectural training - my opinion is not even close to authoritative. I am looking only from my end zone seat, and seeing only what can be seen from this angle. But, good gosh, from this angle the evidence looks like a solid mountain.
I suspect this is not taken seriously, inside Congress and the National Parks Service, b/c those raising the alarm are instinctively compared to loon conspiracy theorists. Yet, this memorial design is not a conspiracy. A conspiracy requires a plot amongst multiple conspirators.
To get this far required only one Jihadi architect + design selectors who refused to recognize evidence of bad intent + U.S. National Parks Service bigshots who refused to recognize evidence of bad intent. We are a nation of experts at refusing to recognize bad intent by jihadis. If this memorial design was generated out of bad intent, it was also no conspiracy. One architect does not comprise a conspiracy. A bunch of Americans practicing blindness as usual does not comprise a conspiracy. Alec Rawls of Error Theory:
The possibility of coincidence is vanishingly small at this point. Symbolism is what architects do. They understand the Islamic symbolism of the crescent. They know that adding a star in almost exactly the position of the star on an Islamic flag confirms the Islamic symbolism of the crescent. They understand that orientation towards Mecca is yet another Islamic symbol. They understand that if a separate wall is added, distinct from the wall of American dead, and it is centered on the crescent, that wall gains the Islamic symbolism of the crescent and the star. They understand that, when there is a translucent block for each dead American, additional translucent blocks symbolize additional deaths, and they know who else died. Is it possible to achieve all of this Islamic orientation without knowing it?Arizona 9/11 Memorial controversy - 2006 information - several panels have now been chiseled off and replaced.
If a monkey sits at a typewriter FOREVER it might type a verse of Shakespeare, but if I see an English Ph.D. student put on a monkey suit and straight off type, “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore are thou Romeo,” I’m pretty sure it’s not a monkey.
http://michellemalkin.com/2006/09/24/the-arizona-911-memorial-disgrace/
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Pfc. Monica Brown earns Silver Star
Pfc. Monica Brown, 18 year old medic from Lake Jackson, TX, becomes the second woman in the last 60 years to earn a Silver Star for action during combat: for her actions to protect wounded soldiers during an enemy ambush and firefight in Afghanistan. A moving story.
May Day: My Immigrant Vagina is Angry
What?! Is she announcing a very personal need for antibiotics? Is she protesting lack of government healthcare for (non?)citizens?
I would never enforce a border. I may be an unconscious racist, but I'm not a racist imperialist, as unconscious imperialism has not been invented (or has it[?] - as in: imperialist warmongers - uh oh).
More pictures here. Takeaway question: are May Day protests considered warm-ups for Cinco de Mayo protests?
Cowboys 4th Round Pick: RB Tashard Choice
There's a lot of me, me, me amongst NFL RBs and WRs. Then there's Tashard Choice, here displaying a little Michael Irvin style leadership before Georgia Tech vs. Clemson:
Video link: Georgia fan interviews Tashard about his second career as a Little League baseball umpire.
I hurted last week bro - I couldn't come out there and fight wi ch'all boys. It absolutely killed me, bro. [...] I don't got nuthin else, man. I don't got nuthin else but ch'all boys. [...] This is it, bro. There's no turnin back from this point, bro. Somebody in here, man - I know y'all boys with me. I know y'all ride with me.Would you go out and block and sweat and grunt and bruise and bleed for Tashard Choice? HAY-ULL YEAH! All day. With pleasure.
My everythangTashard is not that big of a back. Yet, he throws his body into defenders to such extent that NFL Scouts worry he won't be able to stay healthy. Tashard fits in with OG Leonard Davis' classic rumination on Marion Barber:
or nuthin!
My everythang
or nuthin!
We gonna fight
till we cain't fight no more
we gonna lie down
bleed awhile
we gonna get up
fight agin
He's got that mentality. He thinks he's bigger than he really is, but I guess he bulked up.
Video link: Georgia fan interviews Tashard about his second career as a Little League baseball umpire.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Ben Broussard is THE FUTURE
I am onboard with Mike Hindman's sarcastic headline, and with his sentiments:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I haven't been this frustrated since Ian Kinsler was traded for 2 months of 38 year old Larry Walker. Walker, via refusing to consent to the trade, saved the Rangers from themselves.
When Chris Young was traded, I could not understand the reasoning. I told myself that maybe Adam Eaton was a crafty and effective major league pitcher. I was slightly comforted by an anonymously quoted Rangers Management voice saying the team believed Eaton was ready to step up and be a #1 starter. THAT anonymous quote was an incredible bit of cynicism. At his very best possible level of excellence(a level, btw, which Eaton has never yet attained in his career), Eaton is a #4 starter on a championship team. He will likely never attain that level of excellence in his career. He is, in actuality, either a #5 starter on a good team, a #4 starter on a mediocre team, or a high school coach(not that there's anything wrong with that!).
When Danks was traded, I found it curious that a LH who works at 94 (and can throw harder) and has no significant control issues was traded for a RH who works at 89. I found it curious that a team with a dearth of LH pitching would trade a nice LH prospect(plus RH prospect Nick Masset). Yet, I had to admit I had only ever seen Danks throw to one hitter. I had, otoh, seen Brandon McCarthy shut down the Rangers in Arlington. Brandon McCarthy did look like a nice prospect.
In the shakeout, McCarthy turns out to be obsessively finicky: about his motion and mechanics, about the condition of the mound and the weather, about the umpire, about his pregame meals and routine, about how his uniform fits. Danks, in comparison, is a Texas-born disciple of John Wayne.
McCarthy turns out to need perfect control in order to succeed(and perfect umpiring, and perfect everything else). McCarthy often lacks lacks perfect control. Danks turns out to be the mentally tough battler (under all conditions) which he was advertised to be. Maybe Danks doesn't project as a #1. But he does project as a durable LH #2 or #3 who will battle in all conditions. Danks projects to an Andy Petitte level of major league success. McCarthy's success (due to his finicky nature and his less speedy fastball) is less of a good bet.
I'm old enough to have been aghast when the Rangers gave up Ron Darling and Walt Terrell for Lee Mazilli. And now I'm aghast over Botts(even as I retain hope that he just miiiight end up in OKC).
I could go on, but the point is made: It's hard to be a Rangers fan.
Ben Broussard is THE FUTURE: Jason Botts liberated.
"At some point, you've got to commit to people you believe in. The only way young players are going to develop is if you give them a chance to learn and sometimes they learn through failure, a little bit." - Jon DanielsIt's not easy being a fan of this organization.
It's never been very easy.
It's nearly impossible today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I haven't been this frustrated since Ian Kinsler was traded for 2 months of 38 year old Larry Walker. Walker, via refusing to consent to the trade, saved the Rangers from themselves.
When Chris Young was traded, I could not understand the reasoning. I told myself that maybe Adam Eaton was a crafty and effective major league pitcher. I was slightly comforted by an anonymously quoted Rangers Management voice saying the team believed Eaton was ready to step up and be a #1 starter. THAT anonymous quote was an incredible bit of cynicism. At his very best possible level of excellence(a level, btw, which Eaton has never yet attained in his career), Eaton is a #4 starter on a championship team. He will likely never attain that level of excellence in his career. He is, in actuality, either a #5 starter on a good team, a #4 starter on a mediocre team, or a high school coach(not that there's anything wrong with that!).
When Danks was traded, I found it curious that a LH who works at 94 (and can throw harder) and has no significant control issues was traded for a RH who works at 89. I found it curious that a team with a dearth of LH pitching would trade a nice LH prospect(plus RH prospect Nick Masset). Yet, I had to admit I had only ever seen Danks throw to one hitter. I had, otoh, seen Brandon McCarthy shut down the Rangers in Arlington. Brandon McCarthy did look like a nice prospect.
In the shakeout, McCarthy turns out to be obsessively finicky: about his motion and mechanics, about the condition of the mound and the weather, about the umpire, about his pregame meals and routine, about how his uniform fits. Danks, in comparison, is a Texas-born disciple of John Wayne.
McCarthy turns out to need perfect control in order to succeed(and perfect umpiring, and perfect everything else). McCarthy often lacks lacks perfect control. Danks turns out to be the mentally tough battler (under all conditions) which he was advertised to be. Maybe Danks doesn't project as a #1. But he does project as a durable LH #2 or #3 who will battle in all conditions. Danks projects to an Andy Petitte level of major league success. McCarthy's success (due to his finicky nature and his less speedy fastball) is less of a good bet.
I'm old enough to have been aghast when the Rangers gave up Ron Darling and Walt Terrell for Lee Mazilli. And now I'm aghast over Botts(even as I retain hope that he just miiiight end up in OKC).
I could go on, but the point is made: It's hard to be a Rangers fan.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Rangers CF Brandon Boggs; Duran; Saltalamacchia
As I type this, Boggs has swung three times as a major leaguer; the three swings have resulted in two singles and a home run. He has neither swung and missed, swung and hit a foul ball, nor swung and hit a fly ball out or a ground ball out. For good measure, Boggs also has received a 4 pitch base on balls.
Even without having gotten the hits, Boggs would still look like a future hitting success because of his command of his own strike zone. This is very difficult skill/knowledge for hitters to acquire. So many minor leaguers and major leaguers a-l-m-o-s-t succeed, and only fall short because they never acquire this skill of commanding their own strike zone.
From Boggs very first AB in Arlington, it was clear he had this skill. He let teasing pitches, just off the strike zone, go by without so much as checking his swing. How many young hitters - with adrenaline pumping during their major league debuts - can confidently lay off of teasing pitches? It's clear Boggs knows exactly where he wants the pitch, and he knows exactly which pitches he will not offer at. Not many young hitters fully understand that. Some hitters never, ever understand that.
It's also clear Boggs is a cool customer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After replacing an ejected Ian Kinsler in last night's game, German Duran is today's starter at 3B. Thank goodness. So far, tonight, Duran has a single in his only at bat. Duran, also, displays a strike zone prescience and confidence which Botts and Cruz, for instance, rarely displayed in big league at bats.
Watching Duran play, one has an odd sensation that nothing can keep him from succeeding as a major league player(even though he almost surely will return for a while to AAA). I don't know why I have this sensation when watching him. I've seen lots of young players display lots of varying levels of confidence. Duran just has a really solid game. It's easy to see he has no holes in his swing(he even has HR power), he has no holes in his defense, he has no problem with his speed or with his arm strength, and he appears to have the good face of a player who is focused, confident, and able to move through competitive ups and downs.
How can I look at Duran and be so confident of this? I don't know. I can only compare it to attending a spring training Dallas Cowboys practice last season. I especially wanted to watch Jason Garrett's coaching body language. By the end of the practice, I could tell, from 50 yards distant, Garrett had the "it" which he would need to succeed. You look at Duran and you get the same feeling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saltalamacchia, very happily, looks to have a much improved idea at the plate. Last season, Saltalamacchia was all about high adrenaline and swinging from the heels. This season, Saltalamacchia clearly has a plan for each AB, and he is following his plan. He looks much better. I liked him pretty well last season, I like him even better this season. He is now a VERY intriguing prospect - a VERY intriguing hitting prospect. His ceiling is now very high. Saltalamacchia has skills.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Update: in his second AB of tonight, Boggs ripped a line drive JUUUUST foul - just missing a double. He ripped his next swing for a single in the hole. Current Boggs: Five swings, four hits, 1.000 career batting average, one walk. If he retires now, he's at least tied for highest Batting Average of all time.
Even without having gotten the hits, Boggs would still look like a future hitting success because of his command of his own strike zone. This is very difficult skill/knowledge for hitters to acquire. So many minor leaguers and major leaguers a-l-m-o-s-t succeed, and only fall short because they never acquire this skill of commanding their own strike zone.
From Boggs very first AB in Arlington, it was clear he had this skill. He let teasing pitches, just off the strike zone, go by without so much as checking his swing. How many young hitters - with adrenaline pumping during their major league debuts - can confidently lay off of teasing pitches? It's clear Boggs knows exactly where he wants the pitch, and he knows exactly which pitches he will not offer at. Not many young hitters fully understand that. Some hitters never, ever understand that.
It's also clear Boggs is a cool customer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After replacing an ejected Ian Kinsler in last night's game, German Duran is today's starter at 3B. Thank goodness. So far, tonight, Duran has a single in his only at bat. Duran, also, displays a strike zone prescience and confidence which Botts and Cruz, for instance, rarely displayed in big league at bats.
Watching Duran play, one has an odd sensation that nothing can keep him from succeeding as a major league player(even though he almost surely will return for a while to AAA). I don't know why I have this sensation when watching him. I've seen lots of young players display lots of varying levels of confidence. Duran just has a really solid game. It's easy to see he has no holes in his swing(he even has HR power), he has no holes in his defense, he has no problem with his speed or with his arm strength, and he appears to have the good face of a player who is focused, confident, and able to move through competitive ups and downs.
How can I look at Duran and be so confident of this? I don't know. I can only compare it to attending a spring training Dallas Cowboys practice last season. I especially wanted to watch Jason Garrett's coaching body language. By the end of the practice, I could tell, from 50 yards distant, Garrett had the "it" which he would need to succeed. You look at Duran and you get the same feeling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saltalamacchia, very happily, looks to have a much improved idea at the plate. Last season, Saltalamacchia was all about high adrenaline and swinging from the heels. This season, Saltalamacchia clearly has a plan for each AB, and he is following his plan. He looks much better. I liked him pretty well last season, I like him even better this season. He is now a VERY intriguing prospect - a VERY intriguing hitting prospect. His ceiling is now very high. Saltalamacchia has skills.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Update: in his second AB of tonight, Boggs ripped a line drive JUUUUST foul - just missing a double. He ripped his next swing for a single in the hole. Current Boggs: Five swings, four hits, 1.000 career batting average, one walk. If he retires now, he's at least tied for highest Batting Average of all time.
Jason Botts DFA'd
In my judgment, Jason Botts is very likely to become a championship quality hitter in the major leagues. Might Botts make it through waivers and be assigned to OKC with Nelson Cruz? I don't know how to handicap that. I hope Jon Daniels does.
Botts is PISSED OFF. I'm sure he's hurt. I'm sure he believes he should've been playing in the majors all of last season. I believe that also. If I were Botts, I would want the heck out of Texas. I would believe Jon Daniels, Ron Washington, Nolan Ryan, and Buck Showalter(for good measure) are all idiots. Botts could not have been jerked around by major league management any more than he has been. This season, he has 38 ABs scattered over 13 appearances. In his last 20 trips to the plate, Botts has an OBP of .400(second best on the team). And yet: bye bye. It's crazy. The Rangers have almost zero chance to win a playoff series, yet they jerk Botts around. Stupidity. Botts:
Rangers management is brain-dead in other ways. Consider:
Blalock is injured. Prospect German Duran is brought to the majors, only to watch Ron Washington start journeyman Ramon Vasquez at 3B in three straight games as Duran sat. What the? What the heck is anyone thinking in Arlington? Is anyone thinking?
Consider: Washington said he would not platoon Ben Broussard. After 9 ABs against LH pitchers, Washington began platooning Ben Broussard. Way to give a guy a chance, Ron. The only guy Ron's giving a chance to is Ramon Vasquez.
Fire Ron Washington. Promote 3B coach Matt Wolbeck. He was an outstanding minor league manager before coming to Arlington.
Either micromanage Jon Daniels, or fire him.
The Soriano trade was horrible. The Chris Young trade was one of the worst trades in history. The John Danks trade looks horrifying. 2007 was over by April 15, yet Daniels allowed Botts to languish in OKC until Aug. 1, then got him semi-sporadic playing time after.
After Nelson Cruz began to destroy AAA pitching in mid 2007, he received extreme sporadic playing time in Arlington at the end of 2007. Nelson Cruz was jerked around, and was given no chance to get in rhythm. No one can effectively judge Cruz' ability based on that unsteady sampling. Cruz had a good winter, a good spring training, and now a good spring. There's every chance Cruz has turned the corner. The 2008 season is a perfect opportunity to give Cruz an extended look.
Daniels has some nice strengths, yet is overmatched in areas where he needs nuanced understanding about how to play the game, about how to mesh together a winning team, about how to judge the Rangers real chances of winning in the short term, and about how to manage his Managers.
If you fire Daniels, promote special assignments scout Jerry Narron to GM. Narron is the consumate baseball man. He understands how to identify and develop young talent - which is what the Rangers need, thanks to Jon Daniels' business strengths(i.e. buy low, sell high). If Narron were the GM, German Duran would be playing 3B in Arlington.
Botts is PISSED OFF. I'm sure he's hurt. I'm sure he believes he should've been playing in the majors all of last season. I believe that also. If I were Botts, I would want the heck out of Texas. I would believe Jon Daniels, Ron Washington, Nolan Ryan, and Buck Showalter(for good measure) are all idiots. Botts could not have been jerked around by major league management any more than he has been. This season, he has 38 ABs scattered over 13 appearances. In his last 20 trips to the plate, Botts has an OBP of .400(second best on the team). And yet: bye bye. It's crazy. The Rangers have almost zero chance to win a playoff series, yet they jerk Botts around. Stupidity. Botts:
"I think I've been here for a pretty long time and I deserve a fresh start somewhere else. It's not the most negative thing to me right now that this has happened. I'm excited about it."Think that's snarky? Unclassy? I say: truer words were never spoken.
Asked if he thinks he'll get back to the majors?
"I don't know. I think there's plenty of examples of people leaving the Texas Rangers and going on to really great things. There could be something huge in my future. Kind of an exciting moment."
Rangers management is brain-dead in other ways. Consider:
Blalock is injured. Prospect German Duran is brought to the majors, only to watch Ron Washington start journeyman Ramon Vasquez at 3B in three straight games as Duran sat. What the? What the heck is anyone thinking in Arlington? Is anyone thinking?
Consider: Washington said he would not platoon Ben Broussard. After 9 ABs against LH pitchers, Washington began platooning Ben Broussard. Way to give a guy a chance, Ron. The only guy Ron's giving a chance to is Ramon Vasquez.
Fire Ron Washington. Promote 3B coach Matt Wolbeck. He was an outstanding minor league manager before coming to Arlington.
Either micromanage Jon Daniels, or fire him.
The Soriano trade was horrible. The Chris Young trade was one of the worst trades in history. The John Danks trade looks horrifying. 2007 was over by April 15, yet Daniels allowed Botts to languish in OKC until Aug. 1, then got him semi-sporadic playing time after.
After Nelson Cruz began to destroy AAA pitching in mid 2007, he received extreme sporadic playing time in Arlington at the end of 2007. Nelson Cruz was jerked around, and was given no chance to get in rhythm. No one can effectively judge Cruz' ability based on that unsteady sampling. Cruz had a good winter, a good spring training, and now a good spring. There's every chance Cruz has turned the corner. The 2008 season is a perfect opportunity to give Cruz an extended look.
Daniels has some nice strengths, yet is overmatched in areas where he needs nuanced understanding about how to play the game, about how to mesh together a winning team, about how to judge the Rangers real chances of winning in the short term, and about how to manage his Managers.
If you fire Daniels, promote special assignments scout Jerry Narron to GM. Narron is the consumate baseball man. He understands how to identify and develop young talent - which is what the Rangers need, thanks to Jon Daniels' business strengths(i.e. buy low, sell high). If Narron were the GM, German Duran would be playing 3B in Arlington.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Obama "Obama-speaks"; distances from Wright
Obama said:
Notice Obama's infuriating lawyer-speak and parsing. Strictly speaking: NO ONE is the person they were 20 years ago. Obama's parsing is so habitual and so strategic that he has to critique - as from a distance - his own speaking ... in order to be sure we clearly understand what he is saying:
Barack habitually believes his equivocating/parsing/lawyerspeak/good looks/charm will bail him out of jams. Will it? Will parsing/lawyerspeak/good looks/charm bail him out of 20 years in a pew listening to a racist fabulist? Will it bail him out of 20 years in a Black Liberation Theology church - i.e. a Marxist/racist church? If it does, we are not the nation I think we are. The tenets of Black Liberation Theology: Marxism and racism, ought disqualify any adherent from ever receiving enough votes to be President. I think our nation agrees - even if the Democratic Party does not.
Text of Obama's remarks
The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago.Does anyone buy that? Do you buy that?
Notice Obama's infuriating lawyer-speak and parsing. Strictly speaking: NO ONE is the person they were 20 years ago. Obama's parsing is so habitual and so strategic that he has to critique - as from a distance - his own speaking ... in order to be sure we clearly understand what he is saying:
And they[Dr. Wright's statements] should be denounced. And that's what I'm doing very clearly and unequivocally here today.What kind of speaker has to explain he is denouncing someone? Here's what kind: a compulsive equivocator; a constant parser; a compulsive lawyerspeak-er. A normal person says "I denounce (whatever)" and is done with it. A normal person speaks clearly the first time.
Barack habitually believes his equivocating/parsing/lawyerspeak/good looks/charm will bail him out of jams. Will it? Will parsing/lawyerspeak/good looks/charm bail him out of 20 years in a pew listening to a racist fabulist? Will it bail him out of 20 years in a Black Liberation Theology church - i.e. a Marxist/racist church? If it does, we are not the nation I think we are. The tenets of Black Liberation Theology: Marxism and racism, ought disqualify any adherent from ever receiving enough votes to be President. I think our nation agrees - even if the Democratic Party does not.
Text of Obama's remarks
Monday, April 28, 2008
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