I'm probably the last baseball fan in America to see this movie. I have loved Bill James sabermetrics applied to baseball for a long, long time. I have loved baseball for over 40 years.
I just don't care much for baseball movies.
The Natural just wasn't very good. The comedies like Bull Durham and Major League don't even count. Parts of them were watchable, but they got the baseball wrong, and quite frankly were too crude for my tastes.
Field of Dreams was more a zen experience that a baseball movie. But at least they erred on the cool side of baseball.
The Casually Viewing Wife and I FINALLY had a Sunday afternoon open yesterday. We watched Moneyball.
I now have a favorite baseball movie. 8 or 9 scenes were so cool that it made me want to watch the movie again right away.
Bill James and his books have told me for years that players should always work the count and wait for walks. His books have told me that you never willingly give up outs as sacrifice bunts. His books tell me that most old-time philosophies about how to play the game are just simply wrong. The MATH of baseball plays the odds like a professional gambler plays poker in Vegas. In the long run, over a long season, the odds will always win out.
This movie showed why baseball is so stinking great. If you understand it, you can win. If you don't, you'll be a cellar-dweller even with a high-priced roster.
The best part? Even while doing everything right, you can lose to a good team in a short series. The team that destroyed Oakland's dream at the end of the movie. MY Twins. How could this not be my favorite baseball movie?
Monday, April 30, 2012
Willingham
It's kind of weird. I've watched Mauer and Morneau for years in Twins uniforms. Mauer, when hot, has one of the smoothest swings you ever want to see. Morneau, even when hot, has an awkward swing that always looks like he's lunging at the ball. But they never LOOK like they command the plate.
Josh Willingham, on the other hand, looks like he's going to hit a rocket somewhere every time he comes to the plate. Yesterday, he did.
I have no idea if the Twins will turn this season around. I'm guessing their pitching just isn't good enough to make it happen. But the Twins offense, led by Willingham's bat, should at least make many of the games watchable.
Span's bat looks good. Mauer is looking like his old self. He slaps the ball just enough to get some singles. He's not a quarter-billion dollar player and never will be, but at least he's getting hits. Valencia's bat looks like it might be waking up as well.
But it's Willingahm that will keep me watching this year.
Josh Willingham, on the other hand, looks like he's going to hit a rocket somewhere every time he comes to the plate. Yesterday, he did.
I have no idea if the Twins will turn this season around. I'm guessing their pitching just isn't good enough to make it happen. But the Twins offense, led by Willingham's bat, should at least make many of the games watchable.
Span's bat looks good. Mauer is looking like his old self. He slaps the ball just enough to get some singles. He's not a quarter-billion dollar player and never will be, but at least he's getting hits. Valencia's bat looks like it might be waking up as well.
But it's Willingahm that will keep me watching this year.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Baseball
I'm actually glad the Twins got rained out yesterday. I needed a break from the losing. What's odd is that it didn't really rain that much. Downtown Minneapolis got about .30 inches over a few hours yesterday afternoon, or about the same type of rain we got yesterday morning.
Calling the game off when it was barely raining seems fishy. Yes it was cold, but it was still reasonable baseball weather. That they called it off so soon was just baffling. It was mostly done raining by 2:00 p.m.
In other baseball news:
I like how good the Washington Nationals have suddenly become. I realize that may not last, but their pitching has been really solid.
Even if they revert to old form and start losing again, the fans can look forward to watching two great prospects over the next several seasons. Stephen Strasburg is back after Tommy John surgery and he looks just as good as ever. They've also called up "The Phenom" nineteen year-old Bryce Harper to be their third baseman for the the foreseeable future.
I've talked a lot about those two in my old blog. They make baseball fun to follow even when the local team is in the dumps. Baseball is great even when you have no hope with your own team. I just have to remind myself of that once in a while.
Calling the game off when it was barely raining seems fishy. Yes it was cold, but it was still reasonable baseball weather. That they called it off so soon was just baffling. It was mostly done raining by 2:00 p.m.
In other baseball news:
I like how good the Washington Nationals have suddenly become. I realize that may not last, but their pitching has been really solid.
Even if they revert to old form and start losing again, the fans can look forward to watching two great prospects over the next several seasons. Stephen Strasburg is back after Tommy John surgery and he looks just as good as ever. They've also called up "The Phenom" nineteen year-old Bryce Harper to be their third baseman for the the foreseeable future.
I've talked a lot about those two in my old blog. They make baseball fun to follow even when the local team is in the dumps. Baseball is great even when you have no hope with your own team. I just have to remind myself of that once in a while.
More Draft
I'm less aware of most of yesterday's draft picks, but they did address some needs. I kind of like the idea that they drafted another defensive back from Notre Dame who played so well with one of their first round picks, Harrison Smith. Chemistry is so important for secondary and the guys have gotten to know each others habits for four years at Notre Dame.
I also like the idea that they took a virtual unknown tight end who is a good blocker and has soft hands. He's also good friends with our OTHER first round pick, Matt Kalil. These guys will be rooting for each other and those type of friendships might make the team better. I'm surprised they took him in the fourth round since he wasn't on anybody's radar, but maybe the Vikes know this kid well enough to take a chance.
What's weird is that they did the same thing at wide receiver. They took two very good teammates from Arkansas who have also been best friends all of their lives. Camaraderie and chemistry. The things that usually occur over time are built right into this Vikings draft. I like this philosophy a lot. It has the chance to pay big dividends right out of the gate.
Other pluses? The Vikes got an accurate place kicker with a strong leg knowing Longwell cannot go on forever. They did get a good prospect at linebacker as well.
The Vikings really look like they improved themselves in this draft. That's a step in the right direction. I'm going to start looking more closely at some of there other signings, now, to see if anything else stands out.
I also like the idea that they took a virtual unknown tight end who is a good blocker and has soft hands. He's also good friends with our OTHER first round pick, Matt Kalil. These guys will be rooting for each other and those type of friendships might make the team better. I'm surprised they took him in the fourth round since he wasn't on anybody's radar, but maybe the Vikes know this kid well enough to take a chance.
What's weird is that they did the same thing at wide receiver. They took two very good teammates from Arkansas who have also been best friends all of their lives. Camaraderie and chemistry. The things that usually occur over time are built right into this Vikings draft. I like this philosophy a lot. It has the chance to pay big dividends right out of the gate.
Other pluses? The Vikes got an accurate place kicker with a strong leg knowing Longwell cannot go on forever. They did get a good prospect at linebacker as well.
The Vikings really look like they improved themselves in this draft. That's a step in the right direction. I'm going to start looking more closely at some of there other signings, now, to see if anything else stands out.
KIng
From ESPN:
Minnesota Vikings running back Caleb King was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault in the beating of another man outside a birthday party, the Anoka County sheriff's office said Saturday.
King, who signed with the Vikings as a rookie free agent last year but didn't play in a game, was jailed but hasn't been charged.
The victim was a 22-year-old from Coon Rapids. King is accused of punching him repeatedly and throwing him headfirst to the ground. The man was hospitalized in serious condition with skull and facial fractures, as well as with cuts that required more than 50 stitches to close, Sheriff's Cmdr. Paul Sommer said.
The man "may have a very serious brain injury," Sommer said.
MyTake:
Jerks are everywhere. I'm just glad he's not currently in the Vikings plans.
Minnesota Vikings running back Caleb King was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault in the beating of another man outside a birthday party, the Anoka County sheriff's office said Saturday.
King, who signed with the Vikings as a rookie free agent last year but didn't play in a game, was jailed but hasn't been charged.
The victim was a 22-year-old from Coon Rapids. King is accused of punching him repeatedly and throwing him headfirst to the ground. The man was hospitalized in serious condition with skull and facial fractures, as well as with cuts that required more than 50 stitches to close, Sheriff's Cmdr. Paul Sommer said.
The man "may have a very serious brain injury," Sommer said.
MyTake:
Jerks are everywhere. I'm just glad he's not currently in the Vikings plans.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Observations
Former Twins outfielder Delmon Young got into a drunken brawl Thursday night while Detroit was getting ready to play the Bronx Bombers. While brawling he let out an anti-semitic remark which automatically upgraded his fight to a hate crime. If convicted he could get up to a year in jail.
As I've mentioned in the past, (and will continue to dwell on as long as I still have free speech) I have to caution everyone who thinks that "hate crimes" should be punished worse than their "non-hate crime" counterparts. If you do something horrible you should be punished for it. Your possible reasons for doing so should have no bearing on the outcome of the penalty.
If you burn a someone's house down on purpose, you should go to jail. You start a fire in someone's yard to scare them, you should go to jail. You beat someone up so badly that they die, you should go to jail. The list of crimes is endless, but the punishment should be swift and just.
Adding the word "hate-crime" to the event just gets more people riled up on both sides of any issue while blurring the issue of the real crimes. It also makes drunk people look even more stupid than they already are.
What Delmon did BEFORE slurring his words horribly should be enough to get a conviction if he really did do something bad.
The Supreme Court has ruled that "language to incite" is not protected by the constitution. Speech isn't free if it can be limited. All it takes now is the continued broadening of the phrase "language to incite" to stop people from freely talking about their deepest held beliefs.
You know the ones that are truly important to them. The ones that NEED to be protected.
And don't believe it's not already happening.
Stadium Bill Moves to Senate Floor
I'm not hearing great love for this bill. There's still many reservations from a vocal group of lawmakers who do not want to see gambling expansion in Minnesota.
I can't say I disagree with them.
But I do want the new stadium, NOW.
I'm just glad I'm not he one voting on it. I've offered lots of better plans in the past.
No one listened to me, however.
I can't say I disagree with them.
But I do want the new stadium, NOW.
I'm just glad I'm not he one voting on it. I've offered lots of better plans in the past.
No one listened to me, however.
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