slikmar

Congratulations to Adam Wainwright for getting #200.  Wasn't sure it would happen.
 
And it's been pointed out...he might be the LAST pitcher to get *200*.  300?  Almost certainly never again.  Even 250...the only active pitcher with 250 is Verlander.  Greinke has 224, but he's 39, his ERA this year is over 5, and his WHIP is over 1.3.  Next would be Scherzer at 214, and 38.  He'd need 3 more pretty good years.  Kershaw has 209, and is a bit younger at 35, but his back is a big concern.
 
As far as 200?  Gerrit Cole has the best shot.  He's got 143, he's only 32, and he's on a team that will spend money to win.  Bumgarner has 134 wins, he's 33...but he was released by the D'backs after a *terrible* start back in April...and no one picked him up.  No one else with 100+ wins is under 35.
 
Looking at this season?  Strider's pitching tonight, he's got 17 wins.  Steele has 16 for the Cubs.  3 pitchers have 15;  4 have 14;  and 4 have 13.  15 wins now, is like 20 was maybe 15 years ago.

Femdom is wanting to be dominated by a female.
 
Wisdom is wanting to be dominated by a wizard.
 

He should have known better then to wear red.

That’d be worth a few rolls on the Potion Miscibility Table, I think. 

I'm reading the Hedge Wizard too. I am wondering what will happen to the locked up beast boy. I have a feeling the villain is going to turn him loose on the dragon riders.
CES

Game balance!
 

They Live, back in the theaters for its 35th anniversary.
 
Also playing this Thursday.
https://www.fathomevents.com/events/They-Live-35th-Anniversary
 
 

An old tired-looking dog wanders into a guy's yard. He examines the dog's collar and feels his well-fed belly and knows the dog has a home.
The dog follows him into the house, goes down the hall, jumps on the couch, gets comfortable and falls asleep. The man thinks its rather odd, but lets him sleep. After about an hour the dog wakes up, walks to the door and the guy lets him out. The dog wags his tale and leaves.
The next day the dog comes back and scratches at the door. The guy opens the door, the dog comes in, goes down the hall, jumps on the couch, gets comfortable and falls asleep again. The man lets him sleep. After about an hour the dog wakes up, walks to the door and the guy lets him out. The dog wags his tale and leaves.
This goes on for days. The guy grows really curious, so he pins a note on the dog's collar: "Your dog has been taking a nap at my house every day."
The next day the dog arrives with another note pinned to his collar: "He lives in a home with four children -- he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?'
 

What a ride this man had. Singer, songwriter, author, entrepreneur, pilot, sailor. He had maybe three big radio hits in the 70s (and one with Alan Jackson in 2003) but was still selling out shows in the 2020s. He had three books hit #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list—two in fiction and one in nonfiction. His business ventures included restaurants, resorts/casinos, a tequila brand, and two minor league baseball teams. How owned the naming rights for the Miami Dolphins' home stadium for a while. Forbes estimates his net worth at around $550 million.
 
But what makes him really memorable for me is his ability to tell stories. "Jamaica Mistaica", about the time his plane got shot at because the authorities thought he was a smuggler. "Nobody Speaks to the Captain No More" about a veteran who finally loses a long battle against PTSD. "Who's the Blonde Stranger" and "Frank and Lola" about a couple trying to overcome the doldrums of a long relationship. The aforementioned "It's My Job" about taking pride and satisfaction in doing whatever you do well. And who else writes a song about a cheeseburger?

Likely natural causes but some people are claiming there's a woman to blame

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jimmy-buffett-margaritaville-singer-dies-072354351.html

All I can picture now is Mystique changing into Stryker (aka Brian Cox) in front of Wolverine.

All I can picture now is Mystique changing into Stryker (aka Brian Cox) in front of Wolverine.

Just a passing thought...yeah, the four above weren't claimed by anyone.
 
Talk about a feeling of rejection............
 
And I think most of them were gonna be free agents.  Don't get your hopes up for a big offseason contract...........

I went to see it last night in the theater. Not many people there, but I confess that was a perk for me on the selfish side. I enjoyed it. I'd say it's comparable to Shazam for quality, though I liked Shazam just a wee bit better. One thing I did like was that Ted Kord gets some props. We don't see him, but he is spoken of and in this movie he has a daughter. And at least one of Jaime's family is something of a fan. HIS tech gets some use too, so if you're hoping to see a certain vehicle, it's a kick. Jaime is very likable, and the actor who portrays him is charismatic enough to do the part justice. Ted Kord's sister, Victoria, is not a nice person.  Our main villainess is utterly ruthless and cold hearted, and not even the resentment she feels towards her late father over his own chauvinism redeems her even a bit. Which I love.  Not every villain should be redeemable. Obviously she has her own 'dragon' which I will not elaborate on. I will say they leave out a lot of the Scarab's full back story... but they were probably saving that for a sequel. Lot of humor, some of which landed better than others. Some genuine pathos attempts, again some landed better than others.
 
I'd give it a 7 out of 10.

Quote from a forest ranger at Yosemite National Park on why it is hard to design a garbage bin that the bears can't break into:
 
"There is considerable overlap between the intelligence of the smartest bears and the dumbest tourists."

It's enough on offense.  it's not enough pitching.
 
Another aspect here.  The aircraft carriers are priced at their maximum production.  There's no, or very little, upside that's even possible.  In a capped marketplace, even if it's loosely capped, you need players giving MORE than what you priced in.  That's a big reason why rookie contracts are so incredibly valuable.

Solid but not spectacular == .500 ball club and no playoffs.
 
How often do those big contracts actually play to their cost...and for how long?  Yeah, if they do, that's one thing.  Another aspect with, say, the Yankees of the last several years is IMO roster mis-construction.  Too many all-or-nothing types.  With the Yankees as well, all-or-nothing hitters that were substandard on defense.  The Yankees recognized that last year, and took steps to address the defensive issues, for sure.  
 
Also, note that if Rendon and Trout aren't $20M...they're $35M.  IF they can re-sign Ohtani, even as a hitter only?  We're talking $40-45M...might be more, but that'd just make the case stronger.  So, we're talking 3 players, $110M, and about 50% of the salary cap.  IF they play that way, then they'd have to be brilliant...because the pitching staff will be badly underfunded.
 
Another point:  the Angels put those players on waivers to dump salary, hopefully.  Why?  Not so much to cut expenses this year, but to get under the competitive balance tax...if someone picks them up, then the remaining salary is their problem.  The CBT starts at $233M.  If they lose Ohtani, their compensation pick improves significantly...from post-4th round to post-2nd round.
 
If the Angels accede to Ohtani pitching...and try to get 150 innings a year out of him?  Assuming he doesn't have to have the 2nd TJ to try it...there's only a *slim* chance he'd last 2 years, I think.  Not with the repeat damage.  If he's got to have the TJ now, the first question is whether he *can* pitch again effectively.  History shows, this simply isn't very likely.
 
EDIT:  watching Angels-Phillies, actually, on MLB.  Bottom Line point about the D'backs-Dodgers game, in LA...the D'backs are 7-33 in the last 40 games in Dodger Stadium.   Owwwww.....