#Vinny Capra

[baseballjerseynumbers]

Vinny Capra takes 18. Last worn by Chris Roller earlier this season.

[ratchet9cooper]

The National film registry is announcing this years additions in the next couple days, so i wanted to share what my 50 votes were this year.

300 (Zach Snyder, 2007)

AFL-NFL World Championship Game-with ads (1963)

Akira (Katsuhiro Ôtomo, 1988)

Aladdin (Ron Clements and John Musker 1992)

Batman (Tim Burton, 1989)

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (Stephen Herek, 1989)

The Birdcage (Mike Nichols,1996)

Captain America: The First Avenger (Joe Johnston, 2011)

A Charlie Brown Christmas (Bill Melendez, 1965)

A Christmas Carol (Edwin L. Marin, 1938)

Couples Retreat (Peter Billingsley, 2009)

The Evil Dead (Sam Raimi, 1981)

A Few Good Men (Rob Reiner, 1992)

Fiddler on the Roof (Norman Jewison, 1971)

Finding Nemo (Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich. 2003)

The Fugitive (Andrew Davis, 1993)

Godzilla (Ishirô Honda, 1954)

The Good the Bad and the Ugly (Sergio Leone, 1967)

The Great Escape (John Sturges, 1963)

The Green Mile (Frank Darabont, 1999)

Happy Gilmore (Dennis Dugan, 1996)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Chris Columbus, 2001)

Harvey (Henry Koster, 1950)

How to Train your Dragon (Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, 2010)

The Hunting trilogy-Looney Tunes (Rabbit Fire, Rabbit Seasoning, Duck! Rabbit, Duck!)

The Incredibles (Brad Bird, 2004)

John Wick (Chad Stahelski, 2014)

Kung Fu Panda (Mark Osborne and John Stevenson, 2008)

Lethal Weapon (Richard Donner, 1987)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Peter Jackson, 2002)

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman, and Ben Sharpsteen, 1977)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones,1975)

Metropolis (Fritz Lang, 1927)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Joel Zwick, 2002)

My Cousin Vinny (Jonathan Lynn, 1992)

Mulan (Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, 1998)

The Nativity Story (Catherine Hardwicke, 2006)

The Parent Trap (David Swift, 1961)

The Passion of the Christ (Mel Gibson, 2004)

Phantasm (Don Cascorelli, 1979)

The Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (Gore Verbinski, 2003)

RED (Robert Schwentke, 2010)

Spider-Man (Sam Raimi, 2002)

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (Adam McKay, 2006)

The Truman Show (Peter Weir, 1998)

Unbreakable (M. Night Shyamalan, 2000)

The Usual Suspects (Bryan SInger, 1995)

War games (John Badham, 1983)

While You Were Sleeping (Jon Turteltaub, 1995)

You Can’t Take it With You (Frank Capra, 1938)

[goalhofer]

Top 10 MiLB Walk Leaders: Week 1

10: Trey Sweeney, Oklahoma City (4) 9: Mason McCoy, El Paso (4) 8: Jacob Hurtubise, Louisville (4) 7: Mark Contreras, Worcester (4) 6: José Rojas, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (4) 5: Michael Capel, Louisville (4) 4: Anthony Prato, St. Paul (4) 3: James Wood, Rochester (5) 2: Vinny Capra, Nashville (5) 1: Jonathan Davis, Jacksonville (5)

[twins2994]

Toronto Blue Jays @ Minnesota Twins 3.23.23

Toronto Blue Jays Lineup Minnesota Twins Lineup

1.) Santiago Espinal 2B    1.) Byron Buxton DH

2.) Danny Jansen C           2.) Carlos Correa SS

3.) Otto Lopez SS              3.) Christian Vazquez C

4.) Spencer Horwitz 1B      4.) Kyle Garlick LF

5.) Orelvis Martinez 3B      5.) Nick Gordon 2B

6.) Vinny Capra LF             6.) Tyler White 1B

7.) Wynton Bernard CF      7.) Mark Contreras CF

8.) Will Robertson RF        8.) Ryan LaMarre RF

9.) Alan Roden DH            9.) Elliot Soto 3B

SP Yusei Kikuchi LHP    SP Tyler Mahle RHP

(1-1) 1.38 ERA               (1-1) 6.00 ERA

(2023 Spring Training Stats)

-Chris Kreibich-

[best2daynews]

Capra drives in 7 runs as Jays tame Tigers 18-5 | Globalnews.ca - news today

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted March 4, 2023 4:51 pm Updated March 4, 2023 4:52 pm Descrease article font size Increase article font size LAKELAND, Fla. – The Toronto Blue Jays exploded for 13 runs in the fourth inning en route to an 18-5 dismantling of the Detroit Tigers in spring training baseball action on Saturday. Second baseman Vinny Capra paced the offence with seven RBIs. The…

[zackcollins]

Battery Meeting || SEA vs TOR || 05/16/22

[niallodonohoe]

C's Alumni Update - Berti, Biggio & Zeuch Zap The Thunder In Fisher Cats Series Opener

C’s Alumni Update – Berti, Biggio & Zeuch Zap The Thunder In Fisher Cats Series Opener

T.J. Zeuch gave New Hamsphire a 1-0 series lead with six shutout innings over Trenton Wednesday. A trio of members from the 2016 Vancouver Canadians gave the New Hampshire Fisher Cats a leg up in their Eastern League playoff series against Trenton. T.J. Zeuch pitched six shutout innings and Cavan Biggio drove in a couple of runs as the Fisher Cats silenced the Thunder 8-0 at Northeast Delta…

[veronicamarsconfessions]

When Hulu announced it was reviving the cult favorite Veronica Mars for an eight-episode fourth season, the new episodes were initially referred to as a limited series. But in the year 2019, the phrase "limited series" also holds no meaning. If a show is successful enough, a network or streaming service will find a way to bring it back. Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas has been vocal about his desire to continue Veronica's story beyond this new season, which Hulu refers to as Season 4, while series star Kristen Bell would be happy to play the show's eponymous sleuth until "until everyone in Neptune is dead." And for most of Season 4, that felt like a real possibility.

Although the show may never again reach the exciting highs of that first season, for a little while, simply being in Veronica's orbit again was enough to keep viewers happy and entertained. However, in the wake of the shocking, and frankly unnecessary, death of Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), whom Veronica married in the finale and who was a key part of the show's enduring legacy, it's difficult to see how the show can continue with the same level of fan support that twice brought it back from the dead. And yet, Thomas is still hoping it will.

"The hope we have going into these eight episodes is that we get to do more of them. And my belief is that those will be better with Veronica Mars as the lead of a noir detective series who does not have a boyfriend or a husband," Thomas explained to TV Guide. "In order for us to keep doing these, I think it needs to become a detective show — a noir, mystery, detective show — and those elements of teenage soap need to be behind us. I sort of viewed these eight episodes as a bridge to what Veronica Mars might be moving forward."

Thomas said he wants to continue Veronica Mars as a Sherlock-esque series, one that can hopefully return with new seasons whenever Thomas and Bell can make their schedules align. This hypothetical version of the series would find Veronica solving different cases around the country, and a significant other for the show's heroine apparently doesn't fit into that plan. But the power of the Logan-Veronica relationship and what it meant to fans of the show should not be underestimated. To assume that viewers would even be interested in a Logan-less Veronica Mars almost feels like a fundamental misreading of the fandom.

Of course, this isn't meant to suggest that Veronica Mars cannot exist without Logan — that would be to belittle Veronica and her many achievements; although Logan clearly left an indelible mark on her, Veronica has accomplished plenty on her own without him, and she will no doubt find similar success in the future, especially if she stays in therapy and learns healthy methods of coping with her trauma. But at the same time, Logan is still a major character who was both deeply loved by Veronica and greatly beloved by a number of the show's fans. His sudden death and the reasoning behind it feels like a betrayal that becomes even more painful when you consider Logan's secretive military career would have been an easy way of writing him out of future installments without piercing the hearts of fans everywhere.

Further explaining the difficult decision to kill off Logan, Thomas revealed he worries that whenever a show reaches a romantic conclusion — like, say, a wedding — it also reaches a finale of sorts, and he's not ready for Veronica Mars to be over. This argument not only feels a bit dated, but it also feels a little misguided when a show like Friday Night Lights has already proven that a happy couple in a lasting, loving relationship can make for compelling television, or when series like Bones, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Parks and Recreation have shown us that will-they, won't-they couples can get together without signaling the end of the road.

Knowing this, Logan's death feels needlessly cruel like it was a narrative decision seemingly meant only to further torment Veronica and leave her cold and isolated. While you can argue it serves to once again show just how resilient Veronica is in the face of adversity, how she always gets back up after the world has knocked her down, how much pain and heartache does Veronica have to go through before saying enough is enough? It's honestly exhausting. So, if fans are tired of seeing Veronica constantly having to endure a painful existence to somehow prove she's a great heroine and they choose to no longer watch the show because of this latest development, it's perfectly reasonable. And if fans are angry that Logan is dead and choose to no longer watch Veronica Mars because of this, it is pretty understandable too. However, even if fans can somehow stomach the idea of a Veronica Mars without Logan Echolls, Thomas' vision for the show's future raises more issues. Mainly, new seasons would find Veronica alone, separated from the town she knows and the people who call it home, and this would mean erasing yet another fundamental part of the show.

For four seasons (and a movie), Neptune and its inhabitants have added depth to its rich and rewarding story. Creators love to describe the location of a series as if it's a character in the story, and this is most often a frustrating sentiment that has lost all meaning through overuse, but Neptune is truly an example of a location that has played a major role in shaping not only the show's characters but also its ongoing narrative. Although the town is no longer the same as it once was — the class war and accompanying social commentary that dominated the series from the start is over after these eight episodes, as the town's wealthy elite have succeeded in pushing the working class out — that doesn't necessarily mean the best course of action is for Veronica to skip town and solve cases around the country. Like many shows before it, Veronica Mars is the story of a specific place, and if the show is to continue beyond these eight new episodes, it probably should remain committed to telling the stories of Neptune — at the very least Southern California — if for no other reason than the fact the show owes a lot to the exceptional supporting cast that calls it home and has brought its story to life since 2004.

After all, if Veronica leaves Neptune, where does that leave her father, Keith (Enrico Colantoni)? Thomas said the character may not make an appearance in hypothetical future seasons of the show, and that almost feels incomprehensible. Veronica's relationship with her father is the bedrock upon which the series has rested since the pilot. Even when the show was at its most uneven you could count on Veronica and Keith's powerful family dynamic to ground the story emotionally. And although Veronica is now an adult in her 30s, their relationship is the single most important relationship in her life in the wake of Logan's untimely death. To remove him from the equation entirely threatens to disrupt far more than the status quo, which is what Thomas's intention is by taking Veronica on the road. A Veronica Mars without Keith's stabilizing presence would make for a shell of a series, one that would only be further harmed if Veronica's chosen family — Wallace (Percy Daggs III), Mac (Tina Majorino), and Weevil (Francis Capra) — were to suddenly disappear from her life as well.

Now, the show hopes to minimize this instability by essentially skipping over Veronica's grieving period. As Thomas said, one of the reasons the season includes a flash-forward is so the series doesn't have to spend time actually depicting Veronica's grief. "Our bread and butter is being quick and funny, and I'm not sure it'd be to our benefit to living a year in Veronica's grief on our show," Thomas said, noting that by the end of the season Veronica is actually getting her feet back under her.

But even if Veronica has recovered from her latest trauma, Logan's death is still raw for viewers, and it's painful enough without having to consider that every familiar source of comfort could be ripped away at once in the potential next season. Even beyond the show's core supporting cast, Veronica Mars is home to a memorable motley crew who have brought Neptune to life, and their presence in future installments, no matter how small, would be a cool balm on fresh wounds. Plus, what does the show look like without them? Ryan Hansen's self-centered party king Dick Casablancas, Max Greenfield's charming Leo D'Amato, Ken Marino's skeezy private detective Vinnie Van Lowe, and Daran Norris' reliable public defender Cliff McCormack have all become fan favorites. They each play a necessary role in the show's ecosystem, much like the Fighting Fitzpatricks or the PCHers have done over the years.

Veronica Mars has excelled at building out its little corner of the world by populating it with unique but believable characters, and it's not to suggest that a version of the show that exists outside the world of Neptune won't be able to successfully reach the same depths or recreate that magic in the same way, but it will have to work a lot harder to do it, especially if future seasons once again have a limited episode count. Furthermore, even if new seasons turn out to be good, the truth is that a Veronica Mars outside of Neptune, one without any familiar faces in sight, would feel like a very different show, one that threatens to not feel like Veronica Mars at all.

Veronica Mars helped to usher in the tidal wave of revivals and reboots that is still washing over Hollywood some five years after the fan-funded feature film hit theaters, and when this second revival was first announced last year, I wrote that the show should also be the series that puts an end to that trend too. It was a plea in favor of originality at a time when original ideas felt about as impossible as a unicorn. I still believe this should be the end of the revival trend, but now it's because this is a classic case of the writers thinking so much about whether or not they could do something that they didn't stop to consider if they should. In the end, we got eight more episodes of Veronica Mars, but it came at a deadly cost, and now we live in a world where Logan Echolls is dead and Veronica Mars is leaving Neptune. Was it really worth it?

[bubblywrites]

Running From A Name Chapter 4

A/N: 

I had to use a converter for the lira.

130,000 lira = 80 usd 980,000 lira= 60 usd

“You know you’re acting childish.” Angelo said. Alma continued walking, pretending not to hear him.

“Are you seriously going to ignore me over a couple of customers? I don’t even see why it bothers you.” Angelo's voice seethed with frustration.

As much as Alma wanted to act petty, Angelo was right. The restaurant had all types of people as customers. Marco had every right to let in who ever he wanted into the restaurant. Business was business. But that man, Capra, was no regular customer. He reminded Alma of the suited men that loitered around the streets and restaurants of Sicily. The same suited men who were always busy, but did not work jobs that matched their attire. They also instilled the same fear in Alma that Capra did.

Alma stopped walking and turned to look at Angelo. An annoyed sigh left her lips. “Maybe it’s because you’re used to him Angelo, but when I looked at that man, I froze in place. I felt too scared to even breathe. Only dangerous men give out that kind of aura.”

“I understand that Capra spooked you a little bit, but that’s just how he is.”

“That’s bullshit.” Alma slammed her hands on her mouth. She had forgotten Miguel and Emilio were in the wagon. Miguel gasped and pointed at Alma. “Oooo, you said a bad word.”

She dropped her hands from her mouth to speak to Miguel properly.

“Well, sometimes when people are angry they use bad words.” “But you said if we ever used bad words, you would pinch us.” “I know.” “Can I pinch you?”

Alma huffed and stuck out her arm to Miguel. He used his tiny fingers to pinch her as hard as he could. She reeled back her arm, trying to shake out the stinging. She gave Miguel a stern face as he giggled at her. Alma bit back a scolding and continued walking. When she turned the corner, she was greeted by colorful street vendors selling all types of fish and fresh produce. Further down the street, there were little boutiques that sold trendy clothes as well as small obscure shops that sold everything from perfume to religious knicknacks.

As they walked through the market, fishermen were shouting out their products at the top of their lungs.

“FRESH OCTOPUS FOR SALE!” “GET YOUR SWORDFISH HERE!” “FRESH SQUID HALF OFF! FRESH SQUID!”

Angelo’s head snapped towards the fisherman yelling about squid. He sped up his pace to get a closer look at the man’s merchandise. Angelo maneuvered through the crowd with ease, careful not to bump into anyone. Alma almost tripped several times trying to keep up with Angelo. "Bruno was right. The people of Naples really do move differently."

Alma grabbed Angelo’s arm to hand him the money and shopping list Marco gave her. He thanked her and focused his attention back onto the fisherman.

“How much for three squids?” Angelo pulled out some of the money from the wad bills, ready to pay the man. The fisherman hungrily glanced at Angelo’s hands and told him the price. “130,000 lira.”

Angelo’s face twisted with irritation. “Don’t try to con me. You said half off, so that should be 980,000 lira.”

“My squid is very fresh. It is worth that much.” “Like hell it is. Vinny sells it cheaper than your half off price.” “Fine. 980,000 lira.” “That’s more like it.”

The fisherman tsked and bagged up three squids. He shoved them into Angelo's left hand as he snatched the money out of his right. Angelo smirked smugly at the fisherman. “Try harder the next time you try to haggle me”. He placed the squid in the wagon. Miguel and Emilio poked and picked at the bag, playing with the squids’ tentacles.

“Where’d you learn how to negotiate like that?” Alma asked. “You just get used to people trying to pull a fast one on you. Plus, the old man was hellbent on making sure I knew how to get the most for my money.”

They moved through the rest of the marketplace buying everything on Marco’s list. When they finished shopping, Angelo stopped in front of a clothing boutique. “We need to buy you new clothes. You want to try this place?”

The clothing store was called Canali’s Boutique. It was a small, all white store that had skinny mannequins posing in stylish dresses and flashy clothes. Additionally, it had tiny lights hanging off the walls that created a hipster aesthetic to the place.

“I was hoping to buy more casual clothes. Maybe I’ll get these clothes when I’ve settled here in Naples for a little longer.” “They sell casual clothes. These are only up to get your attention.” “Maybe we should come back after we drop off the stuff from the market. I rather not bring in a bunch of fish and vegetables into a clothing store.”

Angelo shrugged his shoulders. “Fair enough.”

As they made their way back home, a pair of boys close to Angelo’s age rode up to them on their bikes. One of the boys was of medium height with olive colored skinned and had curly, fiery red hair. The other boy was shorter in stature with fair skin and a shaved head.

“Yo Gelo, what's up.” The boy with red hair pointed at Angelo’s chest. “Who’s baby is that?”

“I always knew you’d mess up and get a girl pregnant. I just never thought it would be this early.” The bald one said laughing.

Angelo scoffed, threading his fingers through Isabella’s tuft of hair. “First off, she isn’t mine. This is my baby cousin Isabella. The other three here are also my cousins. Second, I would never mess up that badly and get a girl pregnant. I’ve done a lot of things to piss off my dad, but I don’t think he would let me come home after that one.”

Boisterous laughs ranged out from Angelo’s and the two boys’ mouths. He calmed down and introduced the them to Alma. “These guys are my friends. The red-haired one is Giuseppe and the bald one is Manzo.”

“I’m not bald. It’s a shaved head.” “You might as well be bald.” Angelo and Giuseppe said in unison.

Manzo rubbed his head, sucking his teeth at his friends.

Alma fought back a snicker and introduced herself to them. “My name is Alma. These are my brothers Miguel and Emilio.”

Giuseppe and Manzo waved at them.

“Gelo, you trying to hang out at my place.” Giuseppe asked.

Angelo looked back and forth between Alma and his friends. Alma grabbed his shoulder. “Let me get Isabella. You can go hang out with your friends. I’ll take all the stuff back to Marco’s place”.

“You sure? I don’t want anything bad happening to you.” “I’ll be fine. I’m used to being alone.”

That last sentence escaped Alma's lips on accident. She stared at the ground, afraid to see the face Angelo was making.

“You and your siblings can come if you want. I don’t mind.” Giuseppe blurted out.

Alma lifted her head to contemplate his offer. She had no problem with the idea of hanging out with Angelo’s friends. However, she didn’t want to annoy them with a baby around.

She shook her head at him. “Miguel and Emilio can go with you. I’ll go home and watch over Isabella.”

“My sister babysits. She could watch over your siblings for you sometimes.” Giuseppe started to rub the back of his neck.

“Oh yeah, Angelo mentioned this morning that your sister babysits. I would really appreciate it. If I find the time, I might just take up your offer to hang out.” Alma smiled softly at Giuseppe.

The hint of a blush crept onto his face which did not go unnoticed by Alma. Giuseppe's eyes drifted to the side, trying to avoid her gaze as he whispered “no problem”.

“I think Giuseppe has a thing for your cousin Angelo.” Manzo said in a teasing voice. Giuseppe’s face flushed even more.

“Really man, my cousin. You could’ve had a thing for any other girl but my cousin.” “I-I-I never said that. I mean she’s cute, no I-mean. Nevermind.” Giuseppe choked on his words.

Alma chuckled as she unstrapped Isabella off of Angelo’s chest to attach her to her own. After doing so, she helped Miguel and Emilio out of the wagon.

“Make sure to keep these two safe Angelo.”

“Don’t worry I will. And I won’t be gone long.” Angelo shot a glimpse at his friends then leaned in to whisper into Alma’s ear. “After I come back, I’ll tell you everything I know about Buccellati and Capra.”

Alma was taken aback. That was the last thing she expected to hear Angelo say.

“Are you serious?” “Yeah. I just can’t do it in the house. I have a place we can talk about it privately. But you can’t tell the old man I told you any of it.” “Got it.”

The two of them nodded at each other. Angelo grabbed Emilio and Miguel’s hands and strode up to his friends. Alma grabbed the wagon’s handle and waved goodbye to them. She paused for a moment to wink at Giuseppe. Another blush crept onto his face. Alma laughed to herself as Angelo’s face churned in disgust.

“Marco, I’m back.” Alma called out into the kitchen. Marco pulled focaccia out of the oven and greeted her. He frowned when he saw that she was alone.

“Where’s Angelo and the others?” “His friends showed up. I told him to go hang out with them.” “He let a girl walk home alone. Especially one with a baby. I know I taught him better.” Marco shook his head.

“I was the one that insisted, zio. I had to beg him to let me go.” “He still should have walked you home.”

He grabbed a small plate off the table and slid a slice of the focaccia onto it. He handed it to Alma along with a glass of water. Alma thanked him and bit into the bread. She leaned back into her chair in delight as the fluffy, flavorful bread melted onto her tongue. Isabella mimicked Alma in trying to bite the bread. “Sorry Izzy. You're not ready for solid food yet.”

Marco chuckled at Isabella and pointed to a high chair in the corner of the room.

“I had to look everywhere for that thing. I thought I threw it away. You can put Isabella in there so you can have some time for yourself.”

Alma was bewildered at the idea. “Are you sure it’s safe for a baby to be in the kitchen?”

“Angelo is still alive isn’t he?” “Fair point.”

Marco went to grab the food out of the wagon to start preparing it. Alma took another bite of the bread before speaking. “I wanted to drop your stuff off then go back out to buy clothes.”

“Alright, be safe. Try not to get lost, the city is still new to you. Also, try not to get pickpocketed.”

“I’ll only go to the areas I’ve been shown so far. Thanks for watching over Isabella for me.”

Alma stopped herself from asking Marco about Capra. He would probably brush off the question or tell her the same thing Angelo told her about Capra. She put the plate in the sink and left the kitchen.

On her way out of the restaurant, Alma observed the secluded seating area of the restaurant. Capra’s deep voice was oozing out from behind the wall. The rest of the restaurant was empty, so Alma sauntered up to the wall, crouching down to listen in. “This is so stupid. This is so stupid.” Even though she berated herself, Alma could not pull herself away from Capra's conversation with Bruno.

“Those street thugs will be near the club tonight. I’ll hold down the place on the inside in case they come into the club. You watch from outside.” Capra said.

“Understood.” Bruno responded with no hesitation.

“There won’t be that many of them. More than likely, it will be the same five. Lead them away from the club. I’ll join you outside and take out three of them. You take out the other two. Use your stand if necessary.” “After we complete this assignment, Passione’s territory will expand further right?”

“Not necessarily. Mostly just Polpo’s territory will expand with this club. This spot is just convenient for the organization as a whole.” Capra finished talking. Bruno did not give an audible confirmation for his orders. They continued eating their meal with light conversation.

Alma had multiple questions, none of which had any answers. "Who were these men they were talking about? What club? What was a stand?" The only questions Alma had answered were why Capra scared her so much and what Bruno’s connection to him was. He and Bruno were exactly like the nicely dressed men from Alma’s childhood neighborhood. They were mafia members.

[vmheadquarters]

VANITY FAIR: VERONICA MARS on Hulu Will Be Darker, Sexier, and Stacked with Guest Stars

Kristen Bell and Rob Thomas preview the upcoming revival, from Veronica and Logan’s evolving relationship to what happens when spring break descends on Neptune.

Marc FreemanJune 20, 2019 8:00 am

Photo by Michael Desmond/Hulu.

Anticipating a one-way trip down nostalgia lane when Veronica Mars returns to television next month, via an eight-episode revival on Hulu? Prepare to be pleasantly disappointed.

It’s not that Veronica’s forgotten her past—it’s that she’s not in high school anymore. As series creator Rob Thomas said in an interview, this new iteration offers creative fulfillment and the chance for big character development: “I’m interested in the foibles of our characters, and living in a noir world where things aren’t black and white.”

You don’t have to be a Veronica Mars superfan—or a “Marshmallow,” as members of the fan base call themselves—to enjoy this new version, either. While Easter eggs aplenty populate the Neptune city landscape as the show returns, Thomas said he’s most focused on telling a great detective story.

So, what exactly should viewers expect? While compiling my oral history of the show’s original iteration, I also asked the cast and Thomas to brief audiences on what they’ll find when the series returns July 26.

Veronica has grown up

For Veronica, being an adult and acting like one are very different concepts. “You see a lot of TV and film drama stories of when men [have] to grow up,” Thomas said. “They have to be dragged into normal adult life. And a lot of what we’re doing this season is letting Veronica have that role. Not in a dumb, I want to play video games and hang out with my bros sort of way, but in an I find the adult world dull [sort of way].” Star Kristen Bell said that Veronica’s restlessness has placed her at a crossroads: “She is a woman figuring out what she wants out of the rest of her life, which are very different decisions than the ones you make when you’re 16. She sees the world differently. She’s a little more bitter now than when she was on the series.”

The father/daughter relationship remains at the heart of the show

Enrico Colantoni’s Keith Mars often acted like Veronica’s friend on the original series—but he was parental when he needed to be. Years later, his parenting responsibilities here have changed. As Colantoni pointed out, “When she was a young girl, it was all about protecting her, and making sure she’s okay and makes choices that manifest into a good healthy life. Now that she’s an adult, there’s only so much that he can stop her from doing.”

But their private eye business, Mars Investigations, is struggling

Keith ran Mars Investigations for justice, rather than for profit; Veronica thinks the business’s survival depends on finding room for both. “Keith doesn’t care enough about making money,” says Thomas. “Veronica’s the realist going, ’Hey dad, we have to fold tent if we don’t start making money’…. In some respects, it almost comes off like Veronica’s the boss.”

The LoVe (i.e. Logan + Veronica) connection remains complex

As the revival opens, Veronica and Logan—together at last—share a cramped 600-square-foot apartment on the beach with a big dog. “I wanted there to be no space—like when you get home, you’re on top of each other,” said Thomas. “Sometimes that’s great, and sometimes it’s maddening. And for somebody as independent as Veronica…”

In many ways, in fact, Logan has grown up more than Veronica has. Bell was the first to point out that “we have a new Logan on our hands. It’s something Veronica loves, is competing with, and annoyed by.” Jason Dohring, who plays Veronica’s partner, likes the new layers his character has developed: “There’s love and professionalism and duty,” he said. Thomas added that Logan has gone “the Officer and a Gentleman route,” which has given him the discipline to set him on a better path. Five years after the events of the Veronica Mars movie, “he’s continued to try and put his demons in the past, and he’s been largely successful at it,” said Thomas. But “Veronica, I think, likes her demons—[she] thinks they drive her.”

The revival focuses on a familiar theme: haves vs. have-nots

At its core, Neptune always exemplified a world in which the wealthy lived by their own rules and paychecks. This time, however, that contrast has been amplified: “The chain stores come in and replace the mom-and-pop places, and the beach changes, and the energy changes, and it’s no longer a small town,” said Colantoni. Adding fuel to the fire is the story’s time frame. “We come back in the middle of spring break, which is a huge melting pot for Neptune—and there’s all sorts of criminals who are not there usually, and all sorts of crazy people coming of age and testing their boundaries. And kids with throwaway money,” said Francis Capra, who plays Eli “Weevil” Navarro. “It’s a hyper-realized, exaggerated version of Neptune. You see the underbelly of the city—and wherever that is, Weevil’s not too far behind.”

The tone is darker too

“When we were on CW, you have to be safe,” said Bell. “This is Hulu. It’s a whole new ball game.” Thomas sees it as a natural evolution for the series: “We do not want to just keep making the same show we made 15 years ago. It’s certainly more adult. We get to swear. The sex scenes don’t look like CW makeout scenes. It looks like adults having sex.” This fits with his vision for the series as it evolves: “I am trying to turn the show from a CW soap opera with detectives to a detective show. I think we can keep making Veronica Mars as detective shows for a long time.”

Your favorite character is probably present and accounted for

The list includes Max Greenfield’s Leo D’Amato, who’s now in the FBI and in town to work a case; Ryan Hansen’s Dick Casablancas, who is “the king of Spring Break,” according to Hanson; Percy Daggs III’s Wallace Fennel, now a physics teacher and basketball coach married to a lawyer; Julie Gonzalo’s Parker Lee; and Ken Marino’s Vinnie Van Lowe—among others.

There are new cast members as well

Izabela Vidovic joins the series as Matty Ross, a teenager who suffers a tragedy and brings out a whole new side to Veronica. “That was an incredible dynamic to add,” said Bell. “It was fun to let Veronica explore her maternal instincts, which she is barely in tune with—but Matty brings them out. It’s just a whole new dynamic for Veronica to care about a younger person, to genuinely care about another person.” Also look for recognizable faces like Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons and comedian Patton Oswalt as…a Patton Oswalt type.

“When you go in to pitch a show, you get prototypes—like ‘a pizza driver on the wrong side of 40 still delivering pizzas who witnesses this first bomb and becomes obsessed with it,’” Thomas explained. “We’re thinking like, a Patton Oswalt role. You never expect to get those people—but we did with Patton and J.K.… J.K. is a key player. He plays a guy who served time in Chino at the same time as Big Dick Casablanca. He helps him survive prison in exchange for a job on the outside.”

This may not be the last we see of Veronica Mars

Neither Bell nor Thomas wants this to be Veronica’s swan song. According to Bell, “I don’t think the show is anywhere near its end.” Thomas concurred. “I want to tell good detective stories for people, whether they watched Veronica Mars when it was on UPN/CW or not…. I felt great doing these eight episodes, and hope to continue feeling great about it for a long time.”

Link in source.

[blind-rats]

SPOILER ALERT!

Veronica Mars fans everywhere exploded with excitement at last week’s news that Hulu had ordered a new season of the former UPN/CW mystery drama — and then, they immediately began speculating what the eight episodes will be about. First and foremost, how would they deal with the follow-up books written by Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas?

Yes, books! After Thomas, star Kristen Bell, and most of the major cast members reunited to make a Kickstarter-funded movie in 2014, Thomas wrote two novels, The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line and Mr. Kiss and Tell. And based on Hulu’s own description of the upcoming season — which will center on a crime that takes place in Neptune during spring break — it sounds quite similar to Tan Line.

While Thomas has clarified that the new season won’t be an adaptation of either book — rather, it takes place five years after the events of the movie and novels — the two books provide tasty clues about what Veronica Mars might bring back. Let’s dig into both novels and investigate what Marshmallows can expect when the show returns next year.

What’s been revealed about the new season?

Rob Thomas will write the first episode and Kristen Bell will return to headline, but no other cast members have been announced yet. But when Hulu made its announcement last week, it also released a plot description that sounded a lot like The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line, the first Veronica Mars spinoff book co-written by Thomas and Jennifer Graham, which finds Veronica solving a crime during spring break.

On Twitter, Thomas described the season as a “hardcore So-Cal noir” that will follow “one big case.” Hulu’s press release about the project offers even more details: “Spring breakers are getting murdered in Neptune, thereby decimating the seaside town’s lifeblood tourist industry. After Mars Investigations is hired by the parents of one of the victims to find their son’s killer, Veronica is drawn into an epic eight-episode mystery that pits the enclave’s wealthy elites, who would rather put an end to the month-long bacchanalia, against a working class that relies on the cash influx that comes with being the West Coast’s answer to Daytona Beach.”

What happens in The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line?

The book is set directly after the events of the movie, which saw Veronica returning to Neptune to help ex-boyfriend Logan Echolls after he’s accused of murder. (By the movie’s end, Veronica and Logan reunited romantically, she lost a job offer at a top law firm in New York, and it looked like she was ready to move back home for good.) In Tan Line, Veronica is in Neptune caring for her father Keith, who is still recovering from a bad car crash he suffered in the movie. She’s in a long-distance relationship with Logan, who shipped out with the Navy on a six-month tour of duty. And she’s taken the lead at Mars Investigations in her dad’s absence. When a spring breaker goes missing, Veronica’s very particular set of skills are called upon to investigate, but as she gets deeper in the case, she’s pulled into a world of crime, money, and drugs that are darker than she’d imagined.

But again, Thomas said the new episodes will not tell the exact story of A Thousand-Dollar Tan Line.

His tweet indicates that the events of both novels will mostly be the backstory for the new season. (In case you’re wondering: Pony is the puppy that Veronica and Logan get in Mr. Kiss and Tell. Also, former Army general Marcia Langdon runs for sheriff against Dan Lamb and wins.) Still, it’s interesting that Hulu’s press release describes a story that’s so similar to Thousand-Dollar Tan Line. Will Veronica ruminate on how this new case bears a remarkable resemblance to the one she investigated five years earlier? Could some of the same players be involved?

Which longtime characters might return?

On Twitter, Rob Thomas has already announced that a handful of cast members will return alongside Kristen Bell, including Jason Dohring, Francis Capra, Percy Daggs III, and David Starzyk — with a promise that more casting news is “on the way.” Given that, plus the plots of the movie and the two books, here are the most likely returning characters and how they’d fit into Veronica Mars now.

Logan Echolls (confirmed to return): Veronica’s past and current boyfriend, played by Jason Dohring. He’s a Navy pilot who’s mostly absent from the first book, except for the occasional Skype session. They get a puppy named Pony in the second book before he’s called away for another tour.

Wallace Fennel (confirmed to return): Veronica’s best friend, played by Percy Daggs III. He’s a teacher at Neptune High and still does occasional investigating favors for her, like posing as a drunk college kid to get into a party.

Weevil (confirmed to return): One-time gang leader turned Veronica’s friend, played by Francis Capra. He and Veronica left things on bad terms at the end of Mr. Kiss and Tell when he dropped a lawsuit against Sheriff Lamb that Keith had championed.

Richard Casablancas (confirmed to return): The father of Veronica’s classmates Dick and Cassidy, played by David Starzyk. In the original series, Veronica discovers he ran a multi-million-dollar scheme and he was sentenced to prison for a year.

Cindy “Mac” Mackenzie: Veronica’s friend and computer whiz. In the first book, she takes a tech job at Mars Investigations and continues to be V’s, right-hand woman.

Keith Mars: Veronica’s dad. In the first book, he’s recovering from a car crash. In the second, he helps old friend Marcia Langdon take down Dan Lamb.

Dick Casablancas: Logan’s best friend and (sort of) charming dirtbag who lives up to his first name. He makes a cameo at a party in the first book but is only referenced in the second.

Leo D’Amato: Veronica’s former boyfriend. He appears in the movie and Mr. Kiss and Tell as a detective in the San Diego Police Department.

Vinnie Van Lowe: The slimy rival investigator that everyone loves to hate. He appeared in the movie, but neither of the books.

Cliff McCormack: The wise-cracking lawyer that both Veronica and her dad rely upon throughout the series, movie, and books.

Lianne Mars: Veronica’s mom, a former alcoholic. She didn’t appear in the movie, though she was on the show and recurs through the books when she returns to her daughter’s life with a new husband and son in tow.

The books also introduce a number of new characters, who could potentially appear in the fourth season. They include Marcia Langdon, the new police chief since Neptune has incorporated; Tanner Scott, Liane’s husband; and Hunter Scott, Veronica’s half-brother.

Where’s the LoVe?

All right, let’s get to the important stuff: What is the state of Veronica and Logan’s — a.k.a. LoVe’s — relationship? In Mr. Kiss and Tell, there was a lot of cute LoVe-y dovey stuff, including Veronica and Logan living together and getting that aforementioned puppy. But then Logan was shipped out with the Navy again and Veronica’s case brought her back into frequent and flirtatious contact with Leo. Still, the second book ended with Veronica video-chatting with Logan and declaring, “I’m here.”

Since Thomas revealed that the new episodes begin five years after the movie, it’s anybody’s guess as to how their relationship has developed during that time. Has the distance worn the couple down? Was Veronica tempted by the very handsome, very present Leo? Or maybe Veronica and Logan got hitched and had a baby?  It’s hard to imagine Jason Dohring won’t reprise his role for the new season, but if he doesn’t, perhaps Logan will be stuck on another tour of duty.

Whatever happened between them since Veronica Mars last hit the airwaves, it’s safe to say it will be another dramatic chapter in the show’s long-burning romance. In the words of Logan himself: “You and me. Spanning years and continents. Lives ruined and bloodshed. Epic.”

[baseballjerseynumbers]

Vinny Capra takes 64. Last worn by Mike Fiers in 2013.

[gambitions]

Tweeted

#tribes UR shortstop Vinny Capra stands out, even among three Capras playing college baseball -... https://t.co/Js1f3TnnOE

— Deep Dive Guy (@Dutch_Driver) May 17, 2017

[goalhofer]

Top 10 MiLB Walk Leaders: Week 1

10: Maverick Handley, Norfolk (3)

9: Freddy Fermín, Omaha (3)

8: Keston Hiura, Nashville (3)

7: Vinny Capra, Buffalo (3)

6: Vaughn Grissom, Gwinnett (4)

5: Bobby Dalbec, Worcester (4)

4: Jonathan Aranda, Durham (4)

3: Jarren Duran, Worcester (4)

2: Chris Roller, Columbus (4)

1: Nick Pratto, Omaha (5)

[twins2994]

Minnesota Twins @ Toronto Blue Jays 3.8.23

Minnesota Twins Lineup Toronto Blue Jays Lineup

1.) Brooks Lee SS         1.) George Springer RF

2.) Willi Castro 2B          2.) Bo Bichette DH

3.) Matt Wallner RF         3.) Daulton Varsho CF

4.) Tyler White 1B            4.) Matt Chapman 3B

5.) Mark Contreras CF    5.) Danny Jansen C

6.) Chance Sisco DH       6.) Addison Barger SS

7.) Grayson Greiner C      7.) Leo Jimenez 2B

8.) Andrew Bechtold 3B     8.) Vinny Capra LF

9.) Will Holland LF             9.) Rainer Nunez 1B

SP Bailey Ober RHP   SP Alek Manoah RHP

(0-0) 0.00 ERA            (0-0) 5.40 ERA

(2023 Spring Training Stats)

-Chris Kreibich-

[niallodonohoe]

C's Alumni Update - Berti, Biggio & Zeuch Zap The Thunder In Fisher Cats Series Opener

C’s Alumni Update – Berti, Biggio & Zeuch Zap The Thunder In Fisher Cats Series Opener

T.J. Zeuch gave New Hamsphire a 1-0 series lead with six shutout innings over Trenton Wednesday. A trio of members from the 2016 Vancouver Canadians gave the New Hampshire Fisher Cats a leg up in their Eastern League playoff series against Trenton. T.J. Zeuch pitched six shutout innings and Cavan Biggio drove in a couple of runs as the Fisher Cats silenced the Thunder 8-0 at Northeast Delta…