| By Rick Randall |  | By 02-08-2011 |
There are five days between now and the day pitchers and catchers report for spring training on February 13 -- the rest of the squad will report no later than February 18 with the first full-squad workout slated for the day after. The M's first spring game is the annual charity game versus the San Diego on the 27th with their first Cactus League matchup the following day against the same Padres.
Minor leaguers won't report until the second week of March, though these dates are more of a deadline than the day most players show up for camp.
In any case, we'll be here daily to round up the thoughts and ideas as the club heads closer to the 2011 season; lending you all anything you might need to get yourself ready.
The bullpen
Chris tackled the topic of the lineup yesterday in his piece, and the other big question mark for the M's this season is going to be in who breaks camp as the six or seven big league bullpen arms. We can be sure that Brandon League will be there, but after that, questions abound. Aardsma and Kelley may not be fully healthy by Opening Day, the club may not be comfortable with the young guys like Dan Cortes, Josh Lueke, Tom Wilhelmsen, Edward Paredes, Cesar Jiminez, etc. -- especially in gross like that -- and the Rule 5 pick (Jose Flores) and Jose Lopez trade return (Chaz Roe) likely are no better than some of the NRI guys that will be in camp, like Royce Ring, Chris Ray, Justin Miller or Fabio Castro.
Does Luke French grab the 5th starter's spot? And, if not, is he in the pen, or back in Tacoma? Same goes for David Pauley. It will be very interesting to see what kind of group Eric Wedge and Jack Zduriencik choose to head North with, and what roles they will assign within the group. How the various arms are handled in Spring Training -- and, of course, how they perform -- should shed a lot of light on how that plan will shake out.
The Big Game on the Big Screen
No, I'm not talking about the Super Bowl still; football is over now (and as Chris said yesterday, it may be for a while). I'm talking about baseball movies! I don't know about you, but this is the time of year that I typically start to dive into my extensive baseball movie collection once or twice a week to watch a baseball movie. I caught Mr. 3000 on TV the other night, and my son and I watched the animated Everyone's Hero on Sunday…not exactly getting off to a rocking start.
There are the typical stand-by's -- namely Major League (the first one), Bull Durham, The Sandlot and Field of Dreams -- I usually watch each of those at least once before each season, but wondering if the PI community has any less-known favorites, any diamonds in the rough.
For the record, my favorite among the non-top four is probably Eight Men Out. Same goes for Chris Crawford, with a shout-out to The Rookie and the seldom mentioned Sugar. Jason took a different approach, saying, "Anything but League of Their Own or Angels in the Outfield."
Sometimes it can be better just to know which ones to stay away from.
So share your thoughts here on any other baseball movies that you feel don't get enough credit or are underappreciated and then let the rest of the community praise your artistic insight or ridicule your horrible taste. That's what these boards are all about, right?
five-days
Comments
The following 29 comment(s) for this article are shown below:
| 1. By: sexymarinersfan on 02-08-2011 08:18:10 61* is an awesome movie with one of my all-time favorite actors Thomas Jane portraying Mickey Mantle and Barry Peppers as Roger Maris. I always tear up like a little girl when McGwire hits that one out of the park in the beginning. |
| 2. By: The Great Pumpkin on 02-08-2011 09:20:32 It doesn't get much better than Bull Durham and Field of Dreams. My other favorites include The Natural and Bad News Bears. |
| 3. By: Rudolf on 02-08-2011 09:23:11 Can't leave out the original Bad News Bears. Or the last third of The Naked Gun. Bull Durham is probably the best of the bunch. |
| 4. By: MissoulaMarinerFan on 02-08-2011 09:31:20 Call me a hopeless romantic dude if you wish (I am married by the way), but I am a big fan of "For Love of the Game". Pitching a perfect game against the Yankees I would say is a child's #2 Baseball wish (behind winning the world series). Unless of course, you are a Yankees fan, then it would be some other team. |
| 5. By: Rick Randall on 02-08-2011 10:06:32 No shame in that one in my book, Missoula...of course, I'm married and a romantic, too. I also like long walks on the beach at sunset. And the baseball action in that movie is very well done. |
| 6. By: Chris Crawford on 02-08-2011 10:11:49 I always thought For The Love Of The Game was underrated. But I also think Little Big League is awesome for two reasons. 1. All the Griffey and Randy stuff. 2. Everything bad that happens, happens to Dave Magadan. Not sure what that guy did to the director, but anytime something bad happens, it's Madagan. Why he's even in the movie, I don't know. Was Brian Turang busy? While I'm on a Madagan fix, did you know that Madagan and Jeff Darwin were traded for each other? Twice? Within six months? Yes, one of the trades had Mariner legend Henry Cotto, but Darwin was involved in both trades. Neat. |
| 7. By: Edman on 02-08-2011 10:34:22 My vote would have to go to Love of the Game. I'm not a Cosner fan, but it showed the human side of the game. It was a bit cheesy that he threw a no-hitter in his final game. But, that's just part of the story. On a side note, as an experiment, created an Excel spreadsheet with Jason, Randall and Chris' Free Agent predictions and added my own, as an experiment. I wanted to prove how random it is to predict who will sign and where. Here are the results: Jason 23% Chris 17% Randall 15% Ed 23% I don't think that anyone with a realistic knowledge of the game of baseball, thinks anyone knows what Free Agents or teams will ultimately do. Some are fairly easy, like Jeter, he was always going to be a Yankee. But, for the most part, it was completely unpredictable. Moral of the story? When you ask Jason, Chris or Randall where they think someone is going to sign as a Free Agent, you're asking for something difficult to predict. |
| 8. By: chico escuela on 02-08-2011 10:34:50 I enjoyed the made for TV movie Long Gone starring William Peterson of CSI fame, and he had one of the all time great baseball names: Stud Cantrell. |
| 9. By: Rick Randall on 02-08-2011 10:49:55 Ed...SHHH!!! Seriously though, those results weren't great from any of us. It was fun to do, but the problem I got in to was the domino effect of predicting one guy would leave that stays, or sign, say, in Boston but ending up in Washington of all places. This FA period was a little different than in years past in that the players certainly won out from a dollar standpoint. |
| 10. By: Chris Crawford on 02-08-2011 11:48:57 I hope though, Ed, that my Derek Jeter to the Ham Fighters prediction was thrown out of that percentage. Because now that you made it a competition, I need it. I NEED IT. |
| 11. By: Jerry on 02-08-2011 11:51:39 Surprised nobody talked about the bullpen. I haven't heard much on the topic, but my impression was that Aardsma was a good bet to be ready near spring training, and that the prognosis for him not missing significant time was quite good. I also think that Ray is a good bet to win a job. He's a quality arm, and is the one guy the team brought in this offseason who could be a really pleasant surprise. I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be the next Aardsma. The one other really issue that will play into the roster decisions is the PR aspects of the Lueke situation. If I were the M's, I would be trying to figure out the best way to minimize the PR hit they will take when they promote Lueke to the ML club. There will be shitloads of storylines during spring training and opening day. Perhaps it would be best for the club to bring him up right away and hope the story gets buried beneath other headlines. If they wait, Lueke's story will likely be THE headline when they promote him. By bringing him up on opening day, it might make it easier for the club and the player, in terms of media scrutiny and PR. Also, since this is a transitional year, if I was Jack, I would be focusing a bit more on asset management than simply putting out the best players. Thus, I could see them going with guys like Jimenez, Ray, Ring, and Flores to avoid losing them. If I remember correctly, Cortes, Wilhelmsen, and Paredes have options left. That could be a factor in the decision making process. So, perhaps we'll see something like this, assuming that the rotation is Felix, Bedard, Vargas, Fister, and French (I know that Bedard is the big question mark): Aardsma CL League RSU Ray RSU Jimenez LOOGY Lueke MR Flores MR Pauley or Olsen Swingman Kelley on the DL Cortes would be the next guy to come up if an opening is available. From what I've heard, isn't Kelley likely to be available fairly early in the year? The team could make room for him later, because its likely one or two of these guys will be a big bust or get injured. This way, the M's could transition Lueke onto the club while minimizing attention to the situation, while still giving Jimenez and Flores a shot to pitch without risking losing them. And assuming Aardsma is healthy, he is a good bet to get moved at the trade deadline. If things fall well for the M's, they would still have League, Ray, and Cortes as potential closer candidates. |
| 12. By: sexymarinersfan on 02-08-2011 13:44:36 Well obviously Bull Durham is the best baseball movie to ever come out. Would love if they made a sequel of that. Maybe one with him as a minor league Mgr, who possibly gets a shot to coach or work full time in the majors. What a perfect ending to that story. Maybe even bring Tim Robbins for a cameo as a rival coach or something. |
| 13. By: Edman on 02-08-2011 13:54:12 First off, Seattle needs to worry about Lueke's talent, and not worry about how to PR him onto the roster. There is no way to avoid it. Seattle's stance should be simple. Lueke has been processed through the system and his sentence is complete. We can agree or disagree that it was justified. However, in the eyes of the legal system, that phase is over. Seattle should state simply that the Seattle Mariners will not descriminate against any player, based on public opinion. It would be illegal for eny employer to fire an employee based on the impression that he might reoffend. Seattle cannot claim they were not aware that he has a criminal record. Once a statement is read, they end ALL media discussion about it. State clearly what you are doing and why. Certainly, they'd be justified to state that they will not tolerate future offenses, not only for him, but any player on the team who would commits a similar offense. I find that in general, if you refuse to talk about it, and continue to fuel the fire, it tends to go away. |
| 14. By: shortstop9 on 02-08-2011 14:17:43 Do you think the M's should have any interest in the 2 Rays of's that got DA'd today? Leslie Anderson can also play 1b. |
| 15. By: Rudolf on 02-08-2011 14:21:19 Another classic baseball movie oft forgotten: Brewster's Millions. |
| 16. By: FWBrodie on 02-08-2011 15:02:57 Jason, didn't you used to have a page on your website that had a chart of some kind detailing the payroll obligations for the next few seasons? Do you still or will you again? It'd be a nice tool to have access to. |
| 17. By: Rick Randall on 02-08-2011 15:36:38 FWBrodie, I'm not Jason, but I've been a visitor of this site pretty much since it started and I don't recall that info being here (could be wrong), but you can always get a general feel from the COTS stuff. It is pretty accurate, and even used by B-R.com now, I believe. |
| 18. By: FWBrodie on 02-08-2011 16:51:26 Yeah. I seem to remember a chart somewhere that lists current and future payroll, which Cott's does just not in a chart. I don't really want to have to bust out a pencil and a calculator to figure it out. If that's not something that used to be here then I retract my question a resubmit it in the form of a suggestion. |
| 19. By: FatBat on 02-08-2011 17:05:23 Love the post's!! As I tend to do the same, watching Major League is a big start for my baseball season. But, my favorite has to be Fever Pitch! Oh come on! "Thats not yankee dancing, that's Devil Ray dancing" has got to be one of the best lines in the movie, and for most of use that are married our wives can simpathise with the line "The Red Sox are one game away from elimination, your becoming winter Ben, I already know I like winter Ben, its summer Ben who broke my heart." I make my wife watch that with me every year at least twice. My wife, alway's comments on Summer husband is coming! Haha and that movie has some mariners stuff thrown in as well. Fun topic guy's. |
| 20. By: Rick Randall on 02-08-2011 17:07:39 I'm with you FatBat. My wife knows all about "Winter Rick". I have one of those little hanging signs in my house that reads, "We interrupt this family for Baseball Season". |
| 21. By: Adam P. Boyd on 02-08-2011 17:25:12 Cott's has an excel chart for payroll obligations from 2011-16 here: http://bit.ly/eZoeMH |
| 22. By: FWBrodie on 02-08-2011 18:59:08 Thanks Adam. Exactly what I was looking for. |
| 23. By: ryujinda on 02-08-2011 19:59:36 The best one I ever watched is by far Rookies (it's Japanese 11 episode drama series). And there is a movie of it which is a continuation of the drama. If your interest in watching Crawford/Randall I have drama series with English subtitle, worth watching. |
| 24. By: Mackie on 02-08-2011 22:20:17 For movies, I like "Rhubarb" starring Ray Milland. For the bullpen, I like Jerry's thinking. |
| 25. By: Slack on 02-08-2011 22:57:25 One of my favorites is "Mr. Baseball" starring Tom Selleck. |
| 26. By: rocketdawg31 on 02-09-2011 13:22:03 No movie ever captured the essence, the feel- and the heartbreak inherent- of the game better than "Bull Durham". Easily my No. 1 to watch, sometime in February-March. "Major League" still makes me laugh, even though it got dated fairly quick. Years ago, I heard a quote from diehard Reds fan (and someday I'll ask him exactly WHY he's a Reds fan...) Charlie Sheen, who played Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn- "People ask me all the time 'Can you really throw 99 MPH?'...Bro, if I could throw 99-100 MPH, I WOULDN'T BE AN ACTOR!" And around my house, if we want to declare some food item in the fridge verboten, we still mention "it's very bad to steal Jobu's rum!"... |
| 27. By: Lailoken on 02-09-2011 14:07:08 Rick, My top 5 baseball movies includes your to 4 & The Natural which just might be my favorite. What Kirk Gibson did for the Dodgers was just a lame homage to the Natural. lol Ken Burns may not be a movie but it is the seminal documentary series, a must-have for a baseball fan who is also a baseball historian. Home Run Derby sometimes shows on ESPN Classics. Fun to watch the greats hit balls at the Wrigley ivy in black & white. I also really like Mr. Baseball which is a supercool look at the US & Japan's shared love of baseball. Tom Selleck is even alright in it as the lead & I'm not a big fan of the stache-man. Other baseball movie faves that people haven't hit on yet: Taking Care of Business (Jimmy, played by James Belushi, escapes from prison to watch his beloved Cubs in the World Series. Along the way he his happy-go-lucky nature brings him unexpected misadventures & Charles Grodin to the brink of ruin.) Meet John Doe (Frank Capra classic starring Gary Cooper as a travelling bushleaguer with an injured arm who gets pulled into a newspaper stunt that becomes a national movement... not entirely about baseball but it's in there.) Soul of the Game (Great HBO movie about the Negro Leagues. Seeing the looks on their faces, the competitive streak as they struggle with not being able to play the white greats of the day is striking. Some great legends from the Negro Leagues get missed by those who are MLB-centric. When a young Jackie Robinson gets picked over the other, older stars it is a wonderful but bittersweet event.) Mr. Destiny (Jim Belushi makes a wish & instead of striking out in the big game, he hits a home run & like A Wondeful Life he sees how different his life would've been.) Amazing Grace & Chuck (Little League, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar in his third best movie after Enter the Dragon & Airplane!) The Babe (John Goodman as a loud-mouthed, philandering Babe Ruth who smokes stogies & struggles with fame) Stand By Me (the scene where John Cusack gives his little brother the baseball hat is classic) Don't Look Back: the Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige (Louis Gossett Jr. doesn't play a weird alien or pilot this time but the legend who could throw a baseball over a stick of gum from 60 feet) Fever Pitch (Based on the Nick Hornsby novel, same guy who wrote High Fidelity. The novel is about his love of soccer--- cough, he's English alright--- but the movie turns him into a baseball fan. He falls in love & has to learn to share his megafandom with his girlfriend who in the movie is Drew Barrymore.) For Love of the Game (Kevin Costner reprising his baseball movie role. It's alright. Gritty veteran searching for something left in the tank.) Insignificancee (mish-mash of events in the 50's surrounding baseball including Dimaggio, Marilyn Monroe, McCarthy hearings, & Einstein) Mr. 3000 (Bernie Mac is funny as a selfish ex-star who comes out of retirement to find he's not as good as he was in his prime.) Talent for the Game (Edward James Olmos is awesome.) |
| 28. By: Lailoken on 02-09-2011 14:07:47 Sorry the last post was a bit long. |
| 29. By: Rick Randall on 02-09-2011 14:21:53 No worries, Lailoken - we were looking for feedback here. Thanks for the list! |
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