#perhaps fits better for that argument- (they were the perfect players for those moments in time~ in henry's psyche as it were...

[fideidefenswhore]

Anne's ability to hold the king off for seven years is part of her legend. The brilliance of her strategy was to cast herself in the role of the courtly lady, requiring Henry to play to perfect knight. Henry was nothing if not dogged in the pursuit of all the roles in which he cast himself—philosopher-king, warrior, even husband—and 'this persona of courtly lover...was fully formed in Henry and had been signaling...for an answering adept to come and lift its latch. In Anne, he had her: she was the mistress of Petrarchan contraries [...] the perfect [player] for the king's tender interest.'

Renaissance Prince: Elizabeth, Lisa Hilton

[lov3nerdstuff]

Voluptas Noctis Aeternae {Part 7.20}

*Severus Snape x OC*

Summary: It is the year 1983 when the ordinary life of Robin Mitchell takes a drastic turn: she is accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Despite the struggles of being a muggle-born in Slytherin, she soon discovers her passion for Potions, and even manages the impossible: gaining the favor of Severus Snape. Throughout the years, Robin finds that the not quite so ordinary Potions Professor goes from being a brooding stranger to being more than she had ever deemed possible. An ally, a mentor, a friend... and eventually, the person she loves the most. Through adventure, prophecies and the little struggles of daily life in a castle full of mysteries, Robin chooses a path for herself, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more, and two people abandoned by the world can finally find a home.

General warnings: professor x student, blood, violence, trauma, neglectful families, bullying, cursing

Words: 4.7k

Read Part 1.1 here! All Parts can be found on the Masterlist!

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It was a week before Christmas break, on a snowy Friday evening, when Robin and Snape found themselves sitting at one of the tables in the lab yet again, waiting patiently while their newest project simmered quietly in a small cauldron in front of them. Eventually the draught would turn in colour, going from a dull yellowish brown to a brilliant ruby red, but until then there was nothing to do but chat while they had their usual evening coffee.

After the firewhisky endeavour in late October, most of November and December had gone by remarkably unspectacularly, and while they had spent some more evenings in Snape's room throughout that time, mainly because of the music that had stayed in his room in form of Robin's old record player, Robin hadn't ever dared to even consider staying over again. Not that she wouldn't have wanted to –gods, she would give about anything even just to sleep in that cloud of a bed again– but she was rather certain that she couldn't spend another night in his space without doing something stupid. Especially when he was starting to become less opposed to this innocent physical closeness, to her touch and to touching her in return, she was better off sparing herself the temptation of crossing lines she shouldn't even come close to. They had already gotten so far, and she couldn't jeopardize that for a ridiculous spurt of nightly braveness. So it was their normal routine of staying up until ungodly hours to work and talk and simply enjoy each other's company that brightened her days no matter what.

"Your hair smells like pineapple again." Snape remarked in a dramatic sigh, which effectively drew Robin out of her head again.

"Yeah, well, I forgot my shampoo and had to steal from Cas once more." She shrugged with a humoured huff, then took a long sip of her cooled down coffee and quirked an eyebrow at him. "Do you honestly detest pineapple that much?"

"Yes. They smell too sweet for how acidic they are."

"But I know for a fact that you like lemons, and those are even more acidic."

"I do like lemons, yes."

"Funny."

"For someone who cannot tell lemons and limes apart it certainly must be, yes."

Robin rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, but the smile on her lips gave away her true sentiments. He honestly would never let her live that down… and it had been years! That man had a memory better than a photo album or an audio recorder, and she found herself stuck between pride, envy and admiration. The middle would do.

"Next time I'll use Jorien's coconut body wash too, so that you get stuck with me smelling like a freaking piña colada, if you'd prefer that." She teased him right back with a small smirk, but then couldn't help laughing at his horrified expression. "Don't worry, I for my part have no intention of smelling like a fruity cocktail. Would be the cherry on top of everything, eh?"

"Funny." Now it was Snape who rolled his eyes, using his flattest and most indifferent tone, and Robin had to laugh even more. Especially when he finally couldn't help the smirk on his lips any longer either.

"Speaking of drinks, isn't-..." Robin was cut off by a loud knock, which made both her and Snape frown at each other simultaneously, then at the door. It was past one o'clock in the morning; who the hell would dare bothering them at this time?! With every intention to find an answer to that question, it was Robin who jumped off her chair and skipped to the door this time around, with Snape just a few steps behind her.

When she opened up, she was greeted by the kind and absolutely unsurprised face of none other than Professor McGonagall. Robin's eyebrows rose for a second, but she didn't forget her manners over her surprise. "Good evening, Professor. Is everything alright?"

"Good evening indeed, Miss Mitchell. Severus…" McGonagall gave both of them a nod and a smile, looking from one to the other as Snape came to stand so close behind Robin that she could feel his warmth on her back, as well as the gentle brush of his robes whenever he took a breath. It took quite a bit of effort on her part to keep focusing on McGonagall as she spoke on, clearly addressing Snape now. "I'm afraid I have news you won't like to hear."

"What happened?" Snape's voice was the perfect disdainful indifference once more, and Robin had no doubt that his expression was made to match.

"Pomona received an urgent owl an hour ago and henceforth has personal matters to attend to all weekend, which means she will not be able to see to the mandatory dancing instructions of the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students tomorrow morning, and seeing as Filius isn't an option, by his own choice may I add, you're going to have to attend to half of the students, Severus." McGonagall stated in one long breath, with a pointed expression that left no room for arguments. Behind Robin's back, Snape held his breath for a second, which she only could tell by the lacking brush of fabric against her jumper.

"Certainly." He finally drawled, dutiful as much as disdainful. It wasn't hard to guess his thoughts on the matter, especially after he had successfully avoided giving this dance class for the past years. "I shall instruct the Slytherins myself, and whichever half of Pomona's students you wish to… impose on me."

"The Ravenclaws should be a better fit for you, I believe." The transfiguration professor was quick to reply. "Would you mind having the time between breakfast and lunch, in the great hall? I myself would prefer the timeframe from lunch until dinner."

"I am not partial to any time."

"It's settled then. You'll teach the Slytherins and Ravenclaws after breakfast." McGonagall smiled almost mischievously, or at least in a decent amount of amusement. "I believe a standard waltz shouldn't be a problem to you, after demonstrating it quite so nicely with Miss Mitchell at last year's ball."

Snape didn't reply, but Robin could feel him glaring at McGonagall over her shoulder. Honestly, she couldn't even blame him for being annoyed by the turn of events. This was probably the last thing he had expected to be doing on this Saturday, especially since they had previously made different plans. Looks like those would have to wait yet again.

"Anyway, I don't want to hold you two up any longer than necessary." McGonagall finally spoke on when nobody replied to her previous statement. "What is it you are doing at this time of night anyway?"

"Working." Both Robin and Snape replied in unison, in the same evading neutrality, and the woman in front of them couldn't help smiling in sincere amusement at their mannerisms.

"I see." She said, and tried to glance past Snape into the lab, only to give up after a half-hearted attempt. "I was merely being curious; I unfortunately have to conduct most of my experiments alone these days."

"If you find yourself looking for an assistant, I can only recommend you to ask Jorien Blakeley. She would be delighted, and I know for a fact that she has a remarkably strong interest in transfiguration." Robin couldn't help the blurb of words from escaping, but she also didn't quite regret it. "And as far as I'm aware, she has been getting fairly high grades as well."

McGonagall looked surprised at the suggestion, then she frowned to herself for a moment and finally smiled at Robin again as she went to reply. "Miss Blakeley really does have a talent for the subject, however I wasn't aware that she would take interest in furthering her knowledge beyond the classroom topics. Nor that she would enjoy having to spend more time with me than necessary."

"Believe me, she does. Very much so even. But she admires you too much to bother you with questions she believes to be too insignificant. Actually, she believes herself to be too insignificant. I try to tutor her as much as possible, but I am by far not the most proficient in the subject, nor can I teach her as much as she would want to learn."

"I certainly will consider speaking to the girl about assisting me then. Thank you, Miss Mitchell." McGonagall said in prevailing mild amusement, but definitely also appreciation, and then gave both Snape and Robin another nod. "Anyway, goodnight for now. I will see you both tomorrow."

As the professor left, Robin closed the door once again and let out a long breath while she followed Snape back to their stools. Perhaps McGonagall would ask Jorien for her assistance indeed, and that might just take some work off Robin's hands if the girl would get her answers from someone more adept in the subject.

"Funny." Snape said after a moment, as he gave Robin a teasing smirk. "You never admired me enough to spare me from your questions."

Robin gave him an immediate glare, but then also a smirk in return. "No, I admired you enough to know that you were the only one who could keep up with my questions in the first place."

"You've always been by far brighter than anyone around you." His smirk widened, and Robin rolled her eyes exaggeratedly to act over the warmth spreading in her chest and on her cheeks. "Logically, nobody but me could handle you even if you came with instructions."

"Hey!" She couldn't help laughing again at last, and nudged him in the shoulder before she slumped down in her seat. "I don't even know if that last part was supposed to be a compliment or an insult."

"That would be for you to decide."

Indeed, Robin decided on taking it as a compliment. If he thought that his intellect had somewhat found a match in her, she honestly could only feel flattered, brilliant as he was. Besides, he had long stopped insulting her for anything more than a tease in the first place… so a compliment it was. And honestly, Robin absolutely didn't mind that he was the only one who was able to handle her, and she even wholeheartedly agreed with that assessment. But the thought of handling things brought her on to a different topic of thought in an instant, and she frowned to herself for a second.

"I guess our plans for tomorrow are cancelled now, aren't they?" She stated more than asked, and the amusement faded off her face as it vanished from his as well. "I mean, we'll never make it all the way around the black lake between lunch and dinner, especially not in this snow. It'll be too dark to see our own feet even before we have walked half the distance if we start in the afternoon."

"Unfortunately." He sighed, then his face set in a scowl. "Teaching fifty fourth years how to dance certainly is the last thing I expected to do tomorrow."

For a second Robin had to snort at the confirmation of her previous assumption, in almost the same words even, but it was a bitter amusement and it confused Snape more than it cheered either of them up, so her face set back into a grim expression before long . "Too bad Sprout had urgent matters to attend to right on this weekend, out of an entire year to choose from."

"I was starting to believe I had once and for all gotten out of giving dancing lessons… The previous years I wasn't even asked to."

"I luckily only had to suffer through it once, during fifth year. Remember that? I danced with this redhead and everyone made a big deal out of it."

"How could I forget?" Snape huffed, rolling his eyes. "Minerva kept going on and on afterwards about how neat it would be to… encourage that non-existent connection she however believed to see between you and the Weasley boy."

Robin was the one rolling her eyes now, with an indignant scoff to accompany the expression. "Honestly, even back then I was far closer to you than to that boy, or to anyone at all really. You knew that, I even told you about it!"

"That you did." He confirmed, then lost some of the annoyance as he let out a quiet sigh. "I believe it isn't of relevance anymore, Minerva has long since come to her senses as has everyone else who attempted to conspire on the issue. But other than that, I would still like to hear more about your dancing lesson."

"Ah, yes…" Robin said, as the realization hit her that he probably hadn't received any such lessons during his time as a student nor gotten to witness the ones given in the previous years. "Well, uh, it wasn't spectacular actually. In the beginning there was a quick explanation about the whys and hows of dancing, and then McGonagall forced some seventh year boy to demonstrate the dance with her. After that we just had to pick a partner and practiced for like… two hours perhaps. A bit longer maybe. That's it."

"I assume Minerva corrected your errors while you practiced?"

"I'm not too bad at dancing, so she didn't concern herself much with me, but others' mistakes she did correct relentlessly from what I could tell."

"Good. I can do that."

"I think it'll actually be easier for you than it was for her." Robin shrugged at her own thought. "You shouldn't have the problem of people slacking off and fooling around. They're far too scared of you to cause any mayhem or refuse your orders. Easy."

The corner of his lips quirked up for a second, but then set back into a grim line. "I wouldn't call forcing some dunderhead to demonstrate the dance with me particularly 'easy'. Students are far less repelled by Minerva, which makes the entire endeavour less of a sickening prospect for her in return."

Either it was his self-deprecating words or the thought of him dancing with someone else that made Robin feel sour in an instant, but either way she had to swallow the lump in her throat down quite forcefully before she replied. "I… You… uh, I understand how dreadful it must seem to you to dance with someone. But I'm sure whoever you choose will be less repelled by it than you are, if that helps anything."

"I have no intention to force anyone to dance with me at all."

"Yes, no, but… I mean, since it's the fourth years we're speaking of anyway, I'm sure you could ask Jorien. She's quite indifferent to most people; she wouldn't care if she was dancing with you or with someone else. And if I ask her to do it, she will. Especially after I just advertised her to McGonagall."

"Actually, I was going to ask you." He said, surprisingly straightforward and direct in his approach of the topic. "For the favour of helping me with the entire lesson. It would be to the best advantage of everyone if the demonstration was nothing short of perfect, and an additional pair of eyes will certainly be beneficial for the students' practice afterwards as well."

A weight lifted off Robin's heart in an instant, and she had to smile at his through and through logical and desperately appropriate reasons for asking her assistance. "Of course I will help you. Anytime, with anything. You know that. And having someone to explain the female part will probably be good too."

"Likely. To be honest however, while those are all perfectly good reasons to ask you to do this with me, they aren't truly my measure. I rather know your presence is going to make the entire ordeal a lot more bearable, as it always does. And in the end, I would simply hate to dance with anyone but you, no matter the circumstances." He added after a moment, again in a shocking easy sincerity that almost had Robin's heart leaping out of her chest.

Her smile broadened until it was allconsuming in its radiance, like all those times when she failed to suppress the stupid hope that lived in every shadow of her mind these days. No. He would hate dancing with anyone else because Robin was the only person he found bearable to touch. Not because of any other reason. Who wouldn't choose a friend over a stranger? Her smile fell, her heart sank, and she couldn't help the hurt from showing in her eyes at least.

"You really should stop that, you know…" She finally said in a sad chuckle that was heartbreaking even to her own ears.

"What?" Snape asked in return, and his expression fell in accordance with Robin's. He looked almost taken aback, confused at least, about whatever he had obviously done wrong this time and Robin felt even worse for speaking up at all. She didn't dare to answer. So he asked again. "Stop what?"

"Forcing this ridiculous hope onto me." She said before she knew, with a sad smile and a gaze that dug souldeep into his. "Every time you say things like that, it forces a little more hope to seep through the cracks in my walls, and I need you to stop. I don't want to hope, I can't bear it… Hope is dangerous. It's torturing me."

Her words seemed to confuse him even more, and while he frowned deeply at her, the subtle hurt in his own eyes was undeniable. He wanted to understand what he had done wrong… she knew. But he hadn't done anything wrong at all, nothing but being who he was. And being who he was, he wouldn't let go that easily. "Hope for what, Robin? You have to be a bit more precise if I am to understand. And I would very much like to."

The sight, the thought almost broke Robin entirely, while his blissful oblivion almost made her laugh in return. Oh, how stupid could she be? For the first time he had done absolutely everything right by being completely honest, by trying to talk about an issue, and here she was, doing absolutely everything wrong in return. It wasn't his fault that she loved him too much, and it wasn't his fault that she couldn't handle her own stupid emotions.

"Nevermind." She sighed finally, tearing her eyes away from his to look down at her empty coffee mug on the table. "I'm just being stupid because my brain is too tired to function. You know me… I talk nonsense sometimes when I'm exhausted. If it wasn't for the stupid potion that just refuses to change colour, I'd be going straight to bed."

"Actually, it changed colour twenty minutes ago and I put a stasis on it to continue the work tomorrow afternoon."

Robin groaned in frustration and closed her eyes before hiding her face in her hands. "See! I didn't even notice! Great friend you have in me… and an even worse colleague. I'm such a failure…"

For a moment it was silent in the lab, and while Robin just hoped that she hadn't entirely screwed things up, she could practically hear his mind working at light speed. Gods, he had only said he quite liked to dance with her… and she'd gone on to make a scene of it. Great. So much for being better.

"To tell you the truth, I haven't the remotest idea what to do in a moment like this. What to say or do that would make things better for you and not worse. But I assume… perhaps this is the kind of situation where an embrace might prove helpful?" He finally spoke up, reluctantly and more than a little uncertain about his assessment of the situation, but without a hint of discomfort or doubt about the underlying offer he was making. Robin's hands dropped from her face in an instant, and before she knew, her eyes were filling with tears of adoration and exhaustion and overwhelm. His brows furrowed in return, his face a careful layer of neutrality.

Robin wanted to reply, wanted to say how damn right he was in that assumption, wanted to assure him that she wasn't being so bloody emotional because of anything he had done wrong, but because of all the things he was doing right. But all she could do was to nod, and then push herself off her stool to cross the space between them. Snape for his part stayed perched on the edge of his seat when Robin wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and he pulled her flush against him when his arms circled her waist in return. They were almost the same height like this, or at least closer to it, which allowed Robin to hide her face in the soft fabric in the crook of his neck when her tears finally started spilling over. She didn't even know why exactly she was being so bloody stupid right now, so ridiculous and pathetic and weird… Her almost-slip of emotions hadn't backlashed. Her secret was still safe. Their experimental potion was intact and waiting to be continued. She would get to dance with him tomorrow, and help him with a class. She even was wrapped up in the most comforting hug ever at the moment, if that alone wasn't enough reason to be happy! Everything was bloody perfect. And yet, when he ever so subtly started playing with the tips of her hair that cascaded down her back, a strangled sob escaped her lips and he stopped in an instant.

"No, please…" She sniffed before she could think better of it. His hands in her hair had felt so nice… a hint of a sign that he enjoyed their closeness as well. "Please keep doing that."

It took a few seconds before he complied, but once he did, Robin sighed under her breath, and she was almost sure that she felt him smile against her shoulder in return. True or not, the idea sufficed to send a shiver down her spine, and finally she found herself able to relax. The tension left her body like a burn washed away by the sweet relief of a cooling water, and while she sunk deeper into the warm comfort of another perfect embrace, her spiralling emotions became subject to her will once more. It really was alright… they were alright.

"I'm really looking forward to dancing with you tomorrow." Robin finally said, in a calm tone and with a calm mind once again. He deserved to know that much at least, and it was a perfectly appropriate thing to say. "The circumstances… nah, but as long as we're suffering through it together, it will be alright."

"I take it then that an embrace really does make you feel better. I shall have to remember." He replied in amusement, and while that did make Robin smile, she also wasn't fooled over the astonishment he tried to hide behind it. Indeed, it was rather sad to think that he wouldn't know how comforting the embrace of a beloved person could be. Or perhaps he simply doubted that his embrace would have this effect on her. Either way, Robin made a mental note to make him understand and believe both in the nearer future.

"You shall indeed, I do feel a lot better. Always, with you." She sighed softly and closed her eyes to enjoy the feeling of his arms around her now that she could focus on it at last. "Still am beyond tired though."

"Perhaps you should go to bed. Tomorrow certainly will be exhausting enough with all the dunderheads stumbling through the room and tripping over their own two feet."

"We should totally play bullshit bingo with the idiotic things they might say or do…" Robin chuckled to herself and absentmindedly traced the seams of his robes she could reach with her fingertips. "That might just make the entire ordeal more amusing. For us, at least."

"How… temptingly unprofessional." He drawled in return, and the deep tone of his voice being so delightfully juxtaposed by his words made Robin snicker even more. "We most definitely should play indeed."

"I think I'm a bad influence on you." She yawned, and somehow it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep her legs from giving out beneath her, now that her entire body was relaxing and being held up by his. "And I would have to say that I love it."

Her words made Snape chuckle, which was a sound so exquisite in its low rumbling depths that it sent new waves of shivers all over Robin's body, which left goosebumps in their wake in return. Bloody hell, he most definitely could feel the effects he had on her now… But at least he was kind or indifferent enough not to comment on it. She could always blame it on being cold or tired or something of that sort, should the necessity arise.

"You certainly have the strongest influence on me, and I daresay you are the only one I allow myself to be affected by in the first place."

"Well, if I'm the only one, being the strongest is hardly an accomplishment. And I would be the strongest and the weakest at the same time, you know…"

"Will you just take a compliment when I accidentally give you one for once, you insufferable little creature?"

"I can try." Robin grinned at his half humoured and half feignedly annoyed tone. "Even though I technically wouldn't call 'insufferable little creature' a compliment."

"But I would." Snape returned, and his smirk didn't need to be seen to make its way straight to Robin's heart, making it soar. "You are indeed quite tiny, as well as considerably different from any average humanness, and you most definitely are insufferable."

"Thanks…" She snorted, then stifled another yawn and wondered for a moment what would happen if she just fell asleep right in this spot; she was hardly supporting her own weight anymore anyway. Chances were high he'd wake her right back up or she'd cause him trouble if he tried not to, which wouldn't be much of a gain in either direction, and thus she banned the idea into the back of her mind.

"It seems like that was quite a weak attempt at humour on my end, going by your response. My apologies."

"No, I'm sorry, it really was funny! I'm just too tired to appreciate it properly."

"I still stand by my suggestion that you should go to bed. Teaching is more exhausting than one would assume, especially if it involves watching fifty students at once."

"You're right… I know."

That seemed to be the cue for both of them to ever-reluctantly let go of each other in the same silent agreement as always, and for Robin to sigh softly in disappointment at the loss of his delectable warmth and comfort in return. Yet, she didn't let any of it seep into her expression as she went to pick up her backpack from the other table and only turned back to Snape when she halted at the door before letting herself out.

"I really am looking forward to tomorrow." She said once again even though she'd told him already, but she couldn't help it. The excitement was there and it was strong, and he deserved to know. "I miss dancing with you."

He gave her one of his rare smiles in return, a genuine one that wasn't teasing or humoured but simply content and perhaps just a little excited as well. "This time I would like to ask you to dance though, if you will let me."

"Well, then you simply will have to be faster than me, won't you?" Robin smirked at him, wiggling her eyebrows for a second, and then had to laugh at her own ridiculous silliness. It really was too late for her own good. "Goodnight, Severus."

"Until tomorrow." He replied, and when Robin stepped out into the hallway with a huge smile lingering on her face, she couldn't help but think that perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing that their plans for tomorrow had been changed. Maybe she would have to thank Sprout for being absent at some point.

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[reavenedges-lies]

Full Article Below The Cut

Which players should the Penguins protect? Three Post-Gazette staffers play GM

MATT VENSEL

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

mvensel@post-gazette.com

JUL 15, 2021 5:18 AM

Ron Hextall has been mum about which Penguins he plans to protect in next Wednesday’s expansion draft. We have educated guesses but won’t officially find out until the weekend, after teams must formally submit their protected lists to the new Seattle Kraken and the rest of the league.

In the meantime, we decided we would steal Hextall’s comfy GM chair for a moment, kick back our feet, swivel around a little bit and share which players we would protect if Mario Lemieux was crazy enough to let us run the team.

Who’s we? Post-Gazette beat reporters Matt Vensel and Mike DeFabo and columnist Ron Cook, game-day regulars over at PPG Paints Arena.

We also projected which guy the Kraken would grab in each scenario.

All three over us opted to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie instead of eight overall skaters and a goalie. And while we all agreed on most of the players we would keep, there were a few differences. So we explained the rationale behind our personal protected lists.

Finally, these protected lists are somewhat based on the personal preferences of each of us. But there is some actual intel buried in here. So enjoy, let us know which of us is the smartest and feel free to share your lists, too.

Matt Vensel, Penguins beat reporter:

FORWARDS: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Brandon Tanev, Teddy Blueger and Kasperi Kapanen

The first four guys are no-brainers. Tanev and Blueger are quick calls for me, too. Tanev is a guy who can provide a spark on a random Tuesday in January and help you win playoff games in May. He is also integral to the team’s off-ice chemistry. Blueger has become an effective shutdown center and added 22 points in 43 games last season. The final forward spot comes down to Kapanen and Jeff Carter. Carter is the more useful player to Pittsburgh for 2021-22, especially with Malkin out indefinitely. But I’ll gamble that Seattle passes on the 36-year-old and I will instead keep Kapanen, an imperfect middle-six winger but a tradable asset.

DEFENSEMEN: Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci

Letang and Dumoulin are the easy ones. And young blue-liners John Marino and Pierre-Olivier Joseph are exempt, so need to worry about protecting them. No one else is a priority. Mike Matheson had a nice first season here and fellow lefty Marcus Pettersson is well-rounded with perhaps a little more room to grow. Unfortunately, both have pricey, long-term deals that eat up too much cap room relative to their level of performance. Ceci is an unrestricted free agent but he is someone whom the Penguins should and will consider resigning. I’ll keep his rights, which could maybe be traded for a future asset if we can’t afford him.

GOALIE: Tristan Jarry

Protecting Jarry is not endorsing him as my No. 1 entering 2021-22. I just don’t want to be caught without a goalie when the record screeches on the offseason game of musical chairs. I still hope to bring in a veteran with some semblance of a playoff pedigree to push or potentially outright replace Jarry on the roster.

SEATTLE SELECTS…

Jared McCann. I crossed my fingers that Kraken GM Ron Francis would take one of these bigger cap hits off our books. But they pass on Matheson, Pettersson and winger Jason Zucker and roll the dice on McCann. The former first-rounder has speed, a wicked wrister, versatility and a reasonable $2.9 million salary. The Kraken hope that the 25-year-old finally puts it all together on his fourth NHL team.

Mike DeFabo, Penguins beat reporter:

FORWARDS: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Brandon Tanev, Kasperi Kapanen and Jeff Carter.

The Penguins might be willing to play a game of chicken with Seattle and assume the Kraken will not select a 36-year-old who has just one year remaining on his contract. In fact, I’d expect them to take this bet and leave Carter exposed. But if I’m playing GM? That’s too big of a gamble now that we know Evgeni Malkin underwent significant offseason knee surgery that will force him to miss the beginning of the season. Who knows when Malkin will actually return? Who knows how effective he’ll be at 35 with a wonky wheel and a disrupted offseason program? The Penguins need a reliable insurance policy. Carter is exactly that. Carter fit in seamlessly in the dressing room after he was acquired at the deadline and made his presence felt on the ice, too, scoring 13 goals in 20 games, including playoffs.

DEFENSEMEN: Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin and Mike Matheson

There’s an argument to be made that the Penguins should leave both Pettersson and Matheson exposed and try to entice Seattle to take one of those long, expensive contracts off their hands. However, the way the Penguins’ speed-oriented system highlighted Matheson’s strengths makes him a player that I wouldn’t want to lose for nothing.

GOALIE: Tristan Jarry

Jarry’s postseason performance didn’t inspire a lot of confidence. But where will the Penguins be if Seattle selects their No. 1 netminder? I’d still try to add a goalie to challenge Jarry for starting time or possibly even supplant him. But knowing he’s on the roster gives the team more options and a safety net.

SEATTLE SELECTS…

Teddy Blueger. Give the 26-year-old center credit. He’s almost always the last player on the ice at practice, fine-tuning his game as he adds an offensive dimension to what’s already a consistent defensive game. But let’s not make him out to be more than he is. He’s still, more or less, a fourth-line center on a team filled with talented forwards. The Penguins would have a much-easier time replacing a fourth-line center than a second-line center like Carter.

Ron Cook, Post-Gazette columnist:

FORWARDS: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Kasperi Kapanen, Brandon Tanev and Teddy Blueger

Only the final spot was difficult for me: Blueger or Jared McCann. I’m gambling the Kraken won’t take Jeff Carter at his advanced age even though he would be a perfect leader on a young team. It would be nice if Seattle would take Jason Zucker and his inflated salary off the Penguins’ hands, but that isn’t going to happen. I went with Blueger over McCann because he is more qualified as a center.

DEFENSEMEN: Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin and Mike Matheson

The Penguins don’t have to worry about losing much on the blue line. Matheson and Marcus Pettersson are more than expendable because of their high salaries, but the Kraken won’t be interested in either player. It’s good that John Marino is exempt from this draft. I see him coming back next season and having a good year. Getting bigger and tougher on defense should be Ron Hextall’s No. 1 offseason priority. Opponents go virtually untouched in front of the Penguins’ net.

GOALIE: Tristan Jarry.

Penguins management insists it still believes in Jarry despite his playoff flameout. I wasn’t buying any of it until someone I trust in the organization told me that the coaches and players know the truth about Jarry – that he was injured late in the season, didn’t get to practice before the playoff series against the Islanders and lost his edge. I still have my doubts and want to see the team bring in a veteran goaltender to challenge Jarry for playing time. That wouldn’t be good news for Casey DeSmith, who is a solid No. 2 netminder. Who knows? DeSmith might have given the Penguins a better chance against the Islanders if he hadn’t been injured.

SEATTLE SELECTS…

McCann. Sadly. The Penguins won the NHL’s most rugged division last season so you know they are going to lose a good player in the expansion draft. That will be McCann. I will hate to see him go despite the fact he came up small in the postseason the past two years. I see him as a solid NHL player for many years.

First Published July 15, 2021, 5:18am

[dio-roga]

‘Let Your Heart Hold Fast (Shadow People)’

Author:               @jjamestiberius (niente) Status:                Complete Word Count:       76,862 Links:                  AO3 Rec No:               #3 (Part One)

The Gist of It (aka. TLDR Sorry, you gotta to read this one. No argument )

‘The best Craig/Clyde story published to date. No, I’m not exaggerating.

Set during their young adult years, Clyde is a hapless romantic, trying to find something in his life to hold onto. Craig is… well– Craig… he’s made some mistakes and faced his share of problems. This beautifully written, fully-fleshed out masterwork tells the story of their reunion and the two of them coming to terms with just how long-overdue it was. The writing is utterly gorgeous and technically-brilliant, and the imagery– honestly dudes –it’ll stick with you long, long after you’re done.

I cannot recommend this one enough. You will not be disappointed.’

Fair Warning: This story was the reason I started writing these things in the first place. I could sing it’s praises from every rooftop until long after my voice gives out. You better believe this is going to run long. Like– we’re talking five thousand words plus… Buckle up buckaroos.

Plot

You know what’s weird? This recommendation turned into the hardest I’ve ever had to write so far, which I find bizarre considering how much I adore this work. I think one of the reasons I’ve been having so much trouble is that I find it very difficult trying to encapsulate the entirety of my feelings towards this story. More than ever before, I’ve been finding it almost impossible to stay objective, to the point of not wanting to give a single thing about the plot away to make certain new readers can experience it as fresh as I did that first time around.

Now wouldn’t that just make for an excellent write up?

But hey dudes, I guess you gotta do what you gotta do… so here we go– in short:

It’s a slow burn read and an especially slow burn for the characters, co-narrated by our two romantic leads (with an introductory chapter provided in Kyle’s point of view), spanning the years of Craig and Clyde’s lives from a failed high school romance to a sudden and quite unwelcome reintroduction after over a decade apart. The main focus from then on out being the gradual reintegration of Clyde back into Craig’s life and Craig back into Clyde’s, along with the fumbling but ultimately endearing mess it all becomes. It’s a slice of life that truly lives up to the name, being effortlessly relatable while also telling a grounded, realistic and very adult-themed story about re-examining old chapters of your life and using them to grow as a person. (Even discovering aspects about people you thought had long since vanished over the years)

I think more than anything, this story reminds me of a sitcom– one of those comforting ones from the 90’s or 00’s, during the peak of its run, were you see it on TV and it’s like spending time with friends you haven’t seen in a while. Everything suddenly clicks and suddenly you’re back in that world, picking up right where you left off. The plot is there, and it’s funny and charming, and inevitably– sometimes a little heart-breaking –but it’s never overwhelming. The story serves the characters, not the other way around. The plot gives way to allow them room to breathe, and it shines all the brighter for it.

Honestly, it’s a brave kind of story to tell, intentionally allowing for a muted delivery and the lack of a primary driving motivator. Under less skilled hands, it’s the kind of plot that could come across as meandering and directionless. But instead, thanks to the utterly captivating writing, it serves its role as a perfect example of understated storytelling– like that perfect splash of color that ties a room together (a simple elegance that Clyde’s attempts at interior decorating during the narrative sadly never match).

Utterly riveting from start to finish, filled with what reads like a lifetime of genuinely magical little moments that’ll make you feel as if you’ve spent as long a time in this world as the characters have.

Speaking of the characters, get ready for some serious gushing dudes…

Characters

This is characterization in fanfiction done to its finest– staying true to canon while understanding the essence of each character to such a high degree that every familiar face from the show remains a familiar face, even as young adults. It blends a wonderful mix of well-known tropes with well-rounded and realistic development; every character fitting both how you remember them, as well as how you’d expect them to grow over the years. To be honest, I was initially worried this wouldn’t be the case when I first came across this story, given the time-frame of the main plot is set long after most of the cast have graduated college– and though yes, they have matured certainly, and understandably changed as a result, the author goes to great lengths to make certain that, first and foremost, you’re reading a South Park story with South Park characters.

Which brings me onto Clyde, who in my mind, is the breakout character of the piece. It’s no big secret that I adore a well done Clyde Donovan– the dude tragically underutilized or flat-out mishandled in many stories, as well as suffering from a severe case of background-character syndrome across the board (including the actual show, so– not all that surprising, I guess). It’s with great pleasure that I can say then, unequivocally, and without a trace of doubt, that this story is like a love-letter to fans of Clyde everywhere. Aside from telling a good chunk of the narrative from his perspective, as well as the in-depth accounts of Clyde’s thoughts and feelings, relationships and personal history that we’re constantly treated to– Clyde is given a proverbial goodie-bag of intensely powerful character moments, fresh and interesting takes on his career, skills and social life, and is such a goddamn sweetheart that he lights up every scene he inevitably steals. It’s hard to not to keep falling in love with the guy at every given opportunity. He’s a fitting emotional core to the story and this version in particular has influenced how I see him as a character more than any other depiction of Clyde I’ve read before or since.

My favoritism notwithstanding, the rest of the cast are equally as charming and well-written when it comes right down to it. Craig is in top form, providing the usual perfect rational personality counterpoint to his emotional dual protagonist, while also meshing seamlessly on a deeply personal level with Clyde that brings out the best in both of them. He’s level-headed and low-key snarky, but cares a lot more than he lets on and has a good heart– even if it’s behind some pretty thick shielding. The pair’s relationship is a sight to behold throughout the entire story, and– without giving anything away –the chemistry is clear for all to see from the very beginning, not requiring any heavy-handedness or contrivance; Craig and Clyde just work together, a matched set that’s frayed around the edges over the years.

Stan and Kyle play important roles, both as Clyde’s best-friends/pseudo-family/protectors (something rarely explored in other stories, and just as endearing as it sounds) as well as the other major romantic pairing (perhaps unsurprisingly to most veteran South Park readers). As it happens, this story was originally penned as a look at Stan and Kyle’s relationship through Clyde’s eyes, and that uniquely original element still remains– mirrored by Craig and Clyde’s relationship being initially explored through Kyle’s perspective in the first chapter. Stan and Kyle’s romance, as well as the characters themselves, are handled with the utmost care and love –no half-measures accepted, with as much of an engaging story arc as our leads (making certain to earn it by constantly engaging with the narrative; never feeling like a distraction or B-plot)

This is par for the course with most key players in the story– no one feels unnecessary and everyone adds something meaningful to the overall narrative; Kenny and Tweek being notable standouts, but even more minor roles such as Wendy, Bebe, Cartman and the Tucker and Donovan families provide some important plot contributions in both passive and active ways. Just like real life, it’s a number of small things coming together that eventually shapes how the story is told. I’m particularly amazed that an entirely original character is introduced at one point, something that usually makes me wary, but thanks to the dialogue, set-up and eventual pay-off, he and his time in the story tends to stand out just as memorably as the interactions between the canon cast (an extremely difficult trick to pull off).

Now I’m rambling a bit, but it really merits repeating that the author’s style just fits these characterizations brilliantly. As mentioned, they’re given room to naturally grow and develop outside of a strong-armed plot structure, and the world they inhabit gives them (as Stan and Kyle’s apartment is once described) a really ‘lived-in’ feel. It’s easy to imagine each of them simply living their lives off-screen, events unfolding independently regardless if we’re there to read about them or not. You can tell a lot of effort went into fully fleshing out these dudes and that comes in no small part– sneaky segue incoming –to the exceptional amount of research, planning and detail that makes up the author’s legitimately masterful style of writing…

Style

To preface this– and really, as a fairly obvious sign of gold-standard quality –I would be shocked, like, completely and totally shocked to find out that Niente (our wonderful author) doesn’t have some kind of classical training; undergraduate level, at the very least– their writing is simply too polished and too well put together for me to feasibly believe otherwise. It feels almost redundant to point out that this story is written to a publishable standard, all the hallmarks of grade-A storytelling on full display from beginning to end. What always makes me smile however is the unique qualities to the writing that push it beyond simple technical brilliance; a certain stripped-back and raw quality is lent to a lot of scenes, letting the work speak for itself and managing to capture these enchanting moments that linger in your head long after you’ve finished reading.

It’s abundantly clear that the author is well versed in the source material, including many clever references that highlight some of the quirkier elements from the show (without feeling fan-servicey or redundant, naturally) while also– perhaps unsurprisingly at this point –somehow often managing to help advance the plot (Remember how the Pope’s a rabbit in South Park? Because you sure will come the end of chapter two). More remarkable still, over and above the clear love of the show on which the story’s based on, is the author’s dedication to fleshing out the lore of this timeline we’re presented. The sheer amount of work in keeping continuity and detailing how things changed and how those changes came about is a real delight to read; like rediscovering South Park again after a long time apart. There’s an author’s note explaining that every off-shoot comment, backstory, or event that we only see glimpses of (Stan and the gangs usual hi-jinks, for instance) have been legitimately thought out and accounted for– even if they’re not included in the narrative –and god damn if that isn’t some admirable dedication right there. Really helps explain how vibrant and alive the setting always feels.

There’s a lot of planning on display throughout the whole story, keeping the writing tight yet eloquent. There’s a real sense of purpose in what’s presented, and it feels as you come to the end of the work, that everything meant something; you leave feeling invested and that your investment was rewarded with substantial pay-offs and true-to-life emotional closure. There is something mentioned in the first chapter, offhandedly, that returns later down the line as a god damn touchstone to the themes presented up until that point, conversations between characters that reference seemingly inconsequential events that are seen in a whole new light from that moment after; It’s moments like these that remind you that you’ve been reading something that’s been lovingly crafted, purposeful in its direction and confident in its ability to deliver on past promises.

One last thing, because otherwise I’m just never going to stop talking and you’ll all be skeletons by the time we’re done (and that’ll make me feel bad– probably). I greatly appreciated the quiet moments in this story. As I mentioned above in the plot, much of the writing can come across as understated– there’s no big, wacky theatrics or ticking clocks; everyone simply inhabits the world rather than chews its scenery. This really does do wonders by tying in with a later theme of the importance of personal feelings over grand displays; there’s something so heart-warming and intimate about so many moments of dialogue, little acts of kindness, or simple stray observations that add this rich texture to every scene. It ultimately makes everything feel more special and important than it might have otherwise been if the need to fit in big ‘emotional/dynamic set-pieces’ prevailed. More than anything, it’s a mature style of writing; true to real-life in that most things aren’t really some grand adventure– but they certainly feel like it when they’re happening to you and the people you care about. The technical bones of this story are rock solid, make no mistake, but– as cliché as it might sound –it’s the soul of the work that carries it above and beyond into something truly special.

Favorite Things

A carefully crafted plot-line that knows when to focus and when to back-off, allowing for some intensely satisfying character drama, legitimately earned emotional pay-offs, and a perfect conclusion that both neatly ties everything together as well as providing enough good vibes to leave you a more hopeful and enriched person by stories end. I legit cried– not going to lie.

Possibly the best Clyde Donovan put to words– a weighty statement to be sure, but there’s something so infinitely refreshing about Clyde’s struggles as a writer, emotional vulnerability, unwavering optimism and kindness that makes this adaption so wonderful. I love ‘Bro Clyde’, don’t get me wrong, but this portrayal will always hold a special place in my heart.

The setting, world-building and lore are a sight to behold– very few fanfictions can boast such a detailed and lovingly well-thought out framework. With so much rich history in both the lives of the characters and the town itself, there simply not enough time to explore it all, creating the feeling of a large and vibrant world, truly lived in by its cast of characters.

A myriad of beautifully quiet moments, tender romantic gestures, and small victories that pepper the narrative– be it Clyde’s conflicted inner monologue as he cleans his apartment, Kyle’s and Stan’s silent conversations told entirely through eye-contact, or Craig taking a moment to wipe clean the corners of Clyde’s mouth with his napkin during a snack; it’s the kind of imagery that really sticks with you.

The themes of gradual re-connection, feeling adrift in adulthood, trying to discover what makes you happy and pursuing it, engaging with your past in order to build your future– I would wager there’s at least one, if not many ideas that will feel profoundly relatable to a lot of readers, and this story does an excellent job of engaging and exploring them with a mix of sincere insight and often times genuine catharsis.

Remember at the start, where I said this was difficult to write? Honestly, I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t, I had to scroll up and look myself– hell, I wrote that sentence like, three days ago or something by now. I said up there that one of the reasons I found this a challenge was that it’s tough to try and list everything you love about something special to you; which I suppose is pretty common knowledge, right? It’s hard to be put on the spot to explain yourself when you feel deeply about something– you always think you’re not going to do the subject justice, or that by condensing your feelings for it, you’re not going to give the full picture, regardless of how much detail you go into.

Honestly, I think I’ve been feeling this way about ‘Let Your Heart Hold Fast’ (brilliant song to name it after, by the way) for some time now– probably since I first read it like, half a year ago. It’s still a story I think about on a regular basis, and really, when something affects you to the point where you’re still thinking about it months and months down the line, it almost feels like your duty to recommend it to everyone you can, if only for the chance that it might give them the same amazing experience you were rewarded with. I’ve been worried writing this that I wouldn’t be able to translate just how much I cherish this story into words, but– you know, I hope I got close enough, and even if no one ever reads a word I have to say on the matter, I sincerely hope that everyone at least reads the story instead.

Because it’s worth it. I really do believe that you’ll be better off having read it– I know that’s subjective, and that ‘it meant something to me’ means nothing to most, but seriously dudes, trust me here, alright?

This story deserves having people read it, and you all deserve to have more extraordinary things to read in your life.

If it isn’t massively obvious, to the author, Neinte, I can’t thank you enough dude. I can’t imagine the time and dedication– and seriously, the obvious talent and creativity on your part –that must have gone in to writing this. All I can say is that I’m thrilled that you did, and that it’s time well spent, because honestly? The results speak for themselves. You should be so proud of yourself, to have made something so meaningful and well-crafted– you’re a master dude, I’d love one day to be half the writer you clearly are. You deserve the biggest pat on the back imaginable, and you deserve to feel amazing– because really, this is more than just a job well done, this is inspirational work.

Spoilers and art coming up in the next post, I’ll try not to write too much (no promises) –but there’s some more stuff I’m dying to cover (my favorite scene specifically) so hope to see you there when you’re done reading the story!

[sheikah]

7.01 Thoughts

Watching the premiere last night was so much fun, you guys! I loved it and don’t have any complaints to make. So far it seems like 1. the leaks are probably real and 2. they did not do the season justice. I think this is going to be an epic story, maybe our best season yet! I have a lot to say so I’m putting it under the cut.

So from the outset I absolutely loved the opener with Arya and the Freys. It was really clever how there were small hints of it really being Arya in his overall demeanor and the way David Bradley approached the scene. And the “proper wine for proper lords” line reminded me of when Arya insisted to Tywin Lannister that her parents taught her to “talk proper.” 

The big reveal and her declaration that “The North remembers, and Winter came for House Frey” gave me instant chills and I LOVED it. It does worry me a tiny bit though, if I’m honest. At Con of Thrones I sat on a panel about the women in Westeros and when one of the speakers asked the audience if Arya is “too far gone,” almost everyone raised their hand in agreement. I was LIVID and scandalized and couldn’t have disagreed more. But we are starting to see a more ruthless side to her. 

Don’t get me wrong--revenge narratives are my absolute favorite thing in the world and I was CHEERING when those Freys died. And from what Arya said to them, they all played an actual role in the RW and aren’t innocent. But at the same time, when she came upon those Lannister soldiers she was looking at their weapons and seemingly planning a way to kill them at first. And that makes me sad. I want her to be in a place where she can trust again. She deserves it, and seeing her laugh with them was one of my favorite moments in the episode. 

Speaking of those Lannister soldiers, what an unexpected treat! Starting with BotB last year, I really feel like the show is doing a better job of reflecting the harsh realities of war, and one of those realities is that not everyone on the opposing side is evil. War is full of all kinds of people and the way it destroys so many lives, even those of good people, is part of what makes it so awful. 

Sure, Ed Sheeran’s derpy face out of nowhere was funny for a second, but this scene was moving (at least to me) and clearly it moved Arya, too, who we can assume was finding common ground with these men, especially the one who mentioned love between a father and daughter. As sweet and wholesome (who would have thought I’d be using those adjectives in a GoT recap?!) as this scene was, I do think it hints at a darker future for these men. We might see them dead on the battlefield against Dany’s army in the very near future, and I dread that.

We didn’t get much from Bran and Meera but I was glad to at least see them. I got a chuckle out of Edd asking for proof that Bran is truly a Stark, and instead of providing real proof he just says some cryptic and broody stuff about Winter and Edd is like, “Yep. Kin of Jon Snow for sure.”

Speaking of Jon, I loved the scenes in Winterfell. They were surprisingly tense but also offered moments of humor and warmth. The Jon and Sansa face-off was interesting because I can see both sides of the argument. 

But I found it odd that she brought up Robb, who took the opposite approach to Jon’s when it comes to handling Karstark treachery by beheading their lord. So by contrast I think Jon’s level-headedness is smart and fitting in this scenario. 

If there weren’t ice zombies marching South then perhaps the Starks could afford to hold their allies at arm’s length or hurt some feelings by punishing the Karstarks and Umbers. But as things stand they need a united North to face the WW and Jon made the right call. I feel like this was confirmed when Ned Umber was revealed to be a small child younger than Rickon. Rendering him homeless in the middle of Winter isn’t justice. 

I also really like that Jon is making it a point to have the women train for the war as well. Women need to be able to defend themselves just as much as men, and of course I loved how this moment gave Lyanna a chance to shine. It was my understanding that Mormont women already trained in fighting to some extent but I’m excited to see what Jon’s new policies mean for the future. And when Lyanna was setting Lord Glover straight, Brienne looked SO PROUD of that fiery little future warrior woman and I was LIVING. 

Anyway, overall I enjoyed getting a glimpse of Jon’s ruling strategy which so far seems really solid. And KING Jon is the sexiest thing that I have ever seen in my life. The maester calling Jon “Your Grace” almost killed me. Things are only going to get better from here :)

Also in Winterfell I loved seeing Sansa sass Littlefinger into silence, which I didn’t even know was possible. It was hilarious and savage and I love her spirit and snark so much. It’s good to see that even though D&D are trying to trick us into thinking that dark!Sansa or Stark Bowl is happening, the reality is that Sansa is not even remotely fooled by LF and is only arguing with Jon to voice her opinion--as she should. 

The Brienne and Tormund shippy moment was hilarious and a good way to break the tension of the previous scene. It was cute how Brienne was just training with Pod calmly and normally until Tormund arrived and then since she can’t handle feelings she just turned it up to eleven and basically beat the hell out of poor Pod hahaha. It seems some scenes with them were cut but I am excited to see where it goes from here, even though in my heart I ship Jaime x Brienne.

Speaking of Jaime his conversation with Cersei was deliciously awkward. I loved when she asked him if he was afraid of her and he responded, “Should I be?�� That’s the question on all our minds, Jaime. Well actually I want to know if SHE should be afraid of YOU, Mr. Valonqar ;) 

This scene was very interesting to me as someone who is looking forward to the Jon/Dany pairing because Cersei emphasizing that she and Jaime are the last Lannisters who are poised to start a dynasty parallels how Jon and Dany, the last Targaryens, will soon be in a similar position. But while one pairing represents fear and oppression the other represents hope for a better and more progressive future for the realm. 

I also think that that conversation revealed how far Cersei has slipped in terms of her sanity. She called her son a traitor for killing himself. Not good. Not good at all. But at the same time this conversation also foreshadows Cersei’s potential pregnancy with another heir. If that plays out, it will be interesting to see how it effects her schemes and Jaime’s perception of her. 

Their meeting with Euron was much funnier and more interesting than I expected. First and foremost I just want to establish that I really enjoyed Euron’s sexy trash pirate outfit haha. He looked great. And the humor he brought to his villainy was reminiscent of Ramsay, who I will honestly miss on the show. So I’m glad to see that he will be as scene-stealing and maniacal as I’d hoped. Also, “two good hands” is the new pickup line for the ages lol. 

The scenes of the Brotherhood were surprisingly emotional and it absolutely wrecked me to see Sandor so visibly affected by the deaths of that farmer and his daughter. I also pitied him a lot when he was looking into the fire and seemed absolutely SHOOK at what he saw there. I think of The Hound as a simple man who DID NOT sign up for a zombie war. 

While there was a lot of humor in his relentless roasting of Thoros (lmao @ the “top knot” comment) the grave-digging scene showed us Sandor’s depth and continued redemption, and also hinted at a possible friendship between him and Thoros later on :)

Sam’s plot was the least interesting to me but I understand that we need to establish what his life is like at the Citadel and get some more low key scenes of him and Gilly researching to set up the big! reveals! they will give us later in the season. 

The poop montage was absolutely revolting but really well done and I liked how they contrasted the shit with the soup and showed how they sort of became one and the same to poor Sam. But as gross as that was, the most disturbing part for me was Jorah reaching through the bars. For them to only show his arm, he must be looking very bad right now so I hope they hurry up and show his cure soon. The fact that even in his current plight, he is still eager for news of Dany is honestly really touching as much as I don’t ship Jorah and Dany. 

Oh! and Jim Broadbent was perfect as the arch maester! I love him so much and got lots of Harry Potter feels from his voice + Sam sneaking into the restricted section of the library haha.

And of course, the last and most important plot line from this episode--Dany! I love her so very much and have waited so many years for Dany to be in Westeros. I had company over to watch the episode but still couldn’t hold back the tears when she arrived. Emilia’s face in this scene was just so intense and filled with longing and relief. I LOVE IT SO MUCH YOU GUYS OH MY GOOOODDD. 

Dany in Westeros really is a game-changing event and I can’t believe we’re this blessed. 

So Dragonstone itself looks beautiful and I’m glad we’re getting to see more of it than we did with Stannis. I also enjoyed the way they decided to play this scene with no dialogue. No witty quips from Tyrion or surly observations from Grey Worm, just letting the scenery and the actors’ body language carry the weight. 

My favorite moment was Dany walking up to the throne, the throne of Aegon I himself, something she’s been dreaming about for years, and WALKING RIGHT BY IT, instead focusing her attention on the sort of council chamber where she and her companions will work together as a TEAM. Because as much as people try to tear her down, at heart Dany is a team player who is growing and changing and I am so excited to see where her story goes from here. 

Lastly, as a Jonerys shipper, I think this bolder, more assertive Jon is someone who Dany will be instantly intrigued by. I also think that the peek at the next episode and the line delivered to Jon about not trusting Targaryens is going to set up an interesting dynamic for their relationship. Because Jon isn’t going to listen to that person and automatically distrust Dany based on her Targaryen heritage. His actions this episode should be final proof that he isn’t going to judge someone for the sins of their father. 

But I do think that both of them having such strong ideals and ideas of how to approach repairing the realm at this moment in the narrative, when Dany probably hasn’t even heard of WW, is going to cause some friction. They will challenge one another at first. But as the season progresses I think they’re going to find like-minded allies in each other and it’s going to be a beautiful partnership to watch :’) Overall I loved this episode so, so much and can’t wait for next week, and of course episode three. A Jonerys meeting!

If you’ve read this far, thanks for caring about my thoughts haha. What did you think about this episode and what do you hope to see moving forward?

[macalaniasprings]

Tidus takes the role of coach for a day, trying to teach Yuna the tips and tricks of being a star player... (for @zanarkandmp4.)

Tidus was fully expecting a lecture today– perhaps, even, an argument. he had promised to teach Yuna how to blitz, and he fully intended to keep that promise, but in his haste to do something fun for Yuna, he had failed to consider what the other guardian’s might say, until now. Rikku would be cool with it, but Kimarhi might snarl. Auron would complain that they didn’t have time for such frivolities, and Lulu wouldn’t trust him alone with her. perhaps most annoyingly, Wakka would probably try to tag along. none of these were things he particularly wanted to deal with, but nevertheless, he had mentally prepared a whole, lengthy speech to be delivered– on how it was important that they have time to let loose and relax, especially for Yuna, who should be able to do things she wanted to do, even though she was a summoner with duties and high expectations. more than anyone, she deserved this. standing defiantly before them when he broke the news, he was more than ready to convince them, but… no resistance came. Rikku and Wakka were encouraging. Kimarhi simply looked at Yuna, then gave a nod of acceptance. “be careful”, was all that Lulu replied. Auron grunted-- agreeing with his surly companion, Tidus assumed... he was confounded. things had gone much better than expected... but he wasn’t complaining! and neither was Yuna. the pair glanced briefly at each other in surprise, but before long, broke out into smiles. “well, let’s go!” Tidus waved a hand at her encouragingly, leading her down the path towards the shore. when they were out of earshot and sight of the rest of the party, he tilted his head at her, wondering aloud. “that was weird, right? nobody yelled at me, or threatened me... it’s like they didn’t even care!” she gave a small toss of her shoulders, trying not to laugh. “it’s not that they don’t care. I think… it’s different now. they trust you.” she had always trusted him, but now, more than ever, his role as a guardian was a special one, and, perhaps, everyone was beginning to realize that as well. since their escape from Bevelle, and the betrayal by Yevon… Yuna found great comfort in her time with him. for those precious few moments, she could forget about all her troubles, and though she never wanted to forget for long– the importance of her journey was always in the back of her mind, as it should be– sometimes, a break from it all was just what she needed. she could hardly remain Spira’s ray of hope, with so little light in her own life. she felt lucky, to have someone so bright to keep her smiling. “yeah... I guess so.” the smile he gave was sincere, like he was pleased by the party’s change of heart. proud, even. rightly so, she thought. he’d become quite the guardian. shyly, her hand reached to graze his gloved one, fighting the blush that begun to form when he warmly, immediately clasped her fingers in his. she was happy, walking the rest of the way in comfortable quiet, enjoying the contented feeling he gave her, until finally, they arrived at the water’s edge...

they dropped the towels they’d gathered, and the blitzball in his free hand fell to the sand, giving it a nudge towards the tide with his foot. he turned to her with eyes shining bright, looking enthusiastic, like he’d been waiting for this for a long time. “alright! it’s time to get this lesson started! ‘you ready to blitz?” Yuna was more subdued, still. “well, no… not quite…” he blinked in surprise, wondering if she was backing out... but then she smiled. she was only teasing; his question implied that she already knew what she was doing, when in fact, she was here to learn just that! “--not yet! but you’ll teach me, won’t you?”

he breathed a relieved laugh, then nodded. “yeah, of course! that’s what we’re here for, right?” his hand tugged lightly on hers, gently pulling her towards the water, but giving her leeway to follow at her own pace. she did, boots tentatively toeing through the sand, until warm water lapped at her ankles. it was only then, as their lesson should have been beginning, that he realized he hadn’t exactly come prepped with a game plan... sure, he’d playd the role of a coach before. but he was usually teaching a new move to an already seasoned player, or a simple concept to an eager fan. in both cases, the students already had the foundation for the game down– they were just perfecting a technique. but how exactly did you teach someone blitzball from scratch… ? he didn’t really know. he had been playing for so long that it had begun to feel like he’d always known how… but when he looked at her, patiently waiting for instruction, hair blowing softly in the ocean breeze… he decided it didn’t really matter. they weren’t really here because she wanted to go professional in the sphere pool. the truth was... they wanted to spend time together. it was as simple as that. they should just enjoy this, a day at the beach, together… because how often would they get a chance like this? (he refused to think about the possibility– the very real one– that they never would again.) he reached for her other hand, two standing united in the waxing and waning surf. “well… we’re here. what do you wanna do?” in a moment so perfect as this one, he could practically forget the whole reason they’d come. and so had she. the truth was, she wanted to stay here, in this moment, for as long as possible. but of course, that couldn’t be. they only had so much time to spare. reluctantly, she spoke, though she was unsure what to say. “I... I don’t think I need much help with my passing, and catching. and I’m a pretty good swimmer!” she didn’t want to sound too full of herself, but she had grown up on an island. he didn’t doubt it. she probably only stayed behind on their aquatic missions as a precaution. if she didn’t need help with that, it left only a few things left to study. “so, maybe... holding your breathe?” after a moment, she nodded. “I think I could use the practice.” so it was settled. he took her hand, leading her farther from the shore, so that she could more easily dip under the surface. gleeful and lost in thought, he hadn’t realized how far they wandered, until the water was nearly to her collarbone. she gave a squeeze to his hand, not wanting to drift much farther-- the sea in Spira was never the safest place to be. he turned to face her, meeting her gaze encouragingly, noticing that her expression had turned a touch more nervous than before. “’is this okay? do you wanna go back a little?” “no-- it isn’t that. it’s just... I’ve never been very good at this part! how do you do it so well...?” “--huh? really? I mean... you seemed pretty good at it to me… ” she tilted her head at him in question, wondering to what time he referred… until the realization hit her like a tidal wave. her cheeks burned bright red. he was talking about Macalania, wasn’t he? “well, that– that wasn’t the same– !” he was laughing, but not having meant to embarrass her, he shook his head apologetically. “sorry! I just meant… well, you know, that’s kinda the trick! you just gotta distract yourself! if you’re worrying about how much longer you can make it, you’re gonna freak out and have to come up for air. but if you’re relaxed, you can do it... I don’t know how, but you just can!” she hummed in thought, vaguely wondering how that was possible. didn’t a body have it’s limits? but he must be right, because she had been just fine in Macalania, despite her lack of experience in underwater athletics… she gave a nod, choosing to trust him. “I’ll try my best.” “don’t worry. just go as long as you can!” with her eyes locked on his, she gave another nod. “okay… I’m ready!” he nodded back, smiling encouragingly. “I’ll be right here. I’ll keep count, okay?“ reassured, she took a deep gulp of fresh air, readying herself… then dived under. he followed with a big splash, hovering in front of her with a cheeky expression. she looked at him questioningly, but true to his word, he kept count on his fingers, and she watched each second passing. it was slow, and a bit tedious, and she wasn’t sure how she was meant to relax when her lungs were silently begging for air. noticing her growing discomfort, he glided forward, until the two were mere inches apart. uncertain, his eyes searched hers. the curiosity in her eyes gave way to something else, like… hope. her nerves melted into a small quirk of her lips. he took it as a sign that it was okay: pressing a quick peck against her lips. she leaned forward, accepting the distraction happily in a soft, slow kiss. her eyes shot open in surprise when he pulled away suddenly. he was giving her some kind of enthusiastic gesture with his hands. she didn’t understand, head tilting at him curiously. he held up a digit, mouthing the words ‘one minute’. oh! her expression lit up. so he was right: time sure flew faster when she was distracted... he gave her a big thumbs up and a grin, doing a little flip underwater. she giggled at his showy encouragement… but unfortunately, this motion accidentally parted her lips, sent her sputtering, seawater pouring into her open mouth. her hand went to cover her mouth instinctively, and his own instincts kicked into action. he pulled her quickly from the water, immediately greeting her with worry, his hands clasped tightly on her shoulders.

“Yuna, are you okay– ?” she managed a strong nod, trying to assure him that she was in no real danger. the water in her throat was more of a nuisance than anything, rendering her silent through coughs, but truly, she was fine. it was no reason for the panic he exhibited, watching her intently to be sure she didn’t need more help than that. when her coughing fit passed, she took a long breath, as if in relief. “mm– that stung a little…” she whined, but lightly, not truly bothered. her pride was hurt more than anything. “sorry– I– I guess I pushed too hard. we should’ve come up earlier–” “no, no!” she shook her head fiercely at the remorse that was quickly coalescing in his tone, and in an apologetic expression. “you didn’t do anything wrong! in fact, I’m certain that’s a record! I’ve never held my breath for so long! well, except for... you know...” she gave him a shy look, eyes unable to hold contact with his. a short laugh was given at her at her bashful avoidance to speak of Macalania. it was almost enough to admonish him of his guilt, but he still felt a little bad. all that trust he’d earned from the guardian’s, and here she was, getting hurt under his watch. his discomfort was clear, and she frowned at him stubbornly, a pouting look, with wet strands sticking to her cheeks. he would have laughed, at the impossibly cute expression, if not so wracked with guilt. “don’t be upset-- please. I... I had fun. thank you, Tidus... for always making me laugh.” “yeah, well...” this was one time she shouldn’t be thanking for making her laugh, he thought, but... the sincerity of her words… it was touching. his heart warmed, seeing her smile at him in the most genuine way. it reminded him why they were here… for fun. she didn’t need another guardian to fuss over her safety all the time; she had plenty of those. she just wanted to laugh… and smile. just like this. his hold on her lessened, hands falling from her shoulders. the gaze he beheld her with could hardly be called anything but adoring. “… anytime, Yuna.” his eyes, so intent on her, rose a blush to her cheeks. she looked down shyly, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. though she was not looking at him, she could not hide the smile on her face– nor did she see him approach. being pulled into a warm embrace surprised her, an abrupt sound– almost a squeak– escaping her. it would have worried him, if not for her arms raising to return the hug, burrowing closer for warmth against the water chilling her skin. (and for less practical reasons, like the safe, eased feeling she got in his arms.) “you did a really good job. maybe you can come play with Wakka and me next time!” “I… think I’d rather cheer from the sidelines. at least, for now.” “hey, that’s good, too– as long as you cheer real loud!” “I will!” even in their warm embrace, the growing chill of the water on their skin was becoming obvious. concerned, he pulled away, letting his hands rest on her shoulders, carefully drifting up and down to keep her warm. “it’s getting kind of cold. should we… call it a day?” much as she was enjoying the comforting touch… from a practical standpoint, she had to agree. catching a cold wouldn’t do. “I think so…” he nodded, taking her hand, drifting back to the shore with her in sight. “but we’ll do this again! right?” “mhm! I still have a lot to learn!” her quick, immediate response gave him hope. without hesitation, she was imagining a future, one where she was alive. maybe… she was starting to believe in him. to believe there was another way… at that realization, his heart was full, his smile was bright enough to outshine gold. when they arrived back on the sandy beach, he reached down for the towels they’d dropped there in preparation. the first was draped over her shoulders, and the other, he playfully mused her hair with, as if trying to recreate her infamous bedhead. she gave a light huff of argument, placing her hands on his wrists to stop him.

“what? I was just making sure you’re dry!” she shook her head at him incredulously, unconvinced by his plea of innocence, but too amused to fight it. instead, she removed the towel from around her shoulders to rise slightly on her toes, reaching for his hair and ruffling in return… though much more gently. she was smiling, but her actions were gingerly, and sincere. he just watched her, enamored, his hands falling to rest lightly at her waist. when the droplets of water were gone from blonde strands, she was a little disappointed. with that, she lost her excuse to be close to him. her cheeks were pink with embarrassment, but she knew she had no reason to apologize, seeing the joy in his expression, so she said nothing at all, simply lowering the towel to rest on his shoulders. the gentle attention was missed, but it was reason enough for him to be bold in his own way, leaning forward for a soft, meaningful kiss... just like in the water, time stood still for them. a minute may have passed– an hour, for all she knew. they were in their own world... until a sound in the distance, like a branch cracking, startled them both, jumping slightly in surprise. his hand reached for sword, pushing her back, guardian instincts taking over. but no fiend emerged from the greenery, nor even a person. slowly, the tension faded, and he whistled in relief. “‘must have been an animal, I guess...” “maybe…“ her voice drew on, almost suspicious. he looked back at her, a question in his eyes. "you don’t sound convinced...” “oh, it’s nothing… I’m just surprised... no-one has come to check on us yet, have they?” “ah…” he laughed. that was her nice way of saying that it might be one of her loyal companions, come to make sure they were safe. so much for trusting him. “it was probably Rikku being nosy like always.” she tucked a stray hair behind her ear shyly, hoping not, though… at this point, did it really matter if anyone saw? everybody must already know how they two felt for each other, didn’t they? it was getting more and more difficult for her to hide. she had him thinking of the rest of the group, though, and he shot her a wiry smile. “sorry for almost drowning you. don’t tell Lulu on me, okay?” “oh– never!” “good-- ‘cause she’d never let you out of sight again!” she was chuckling, but the thought almost seemed to bother her, her head bowing. she appreciated all of her guardians, and their protective nature-- she really did. but she was not quite ready to return to the careful cocoon they had constructed for her. yes, Tidus may have put her in harm's way a bit more than she was used to... but if he hadn't, would they have had as much fun? she was enjoying the brief feeling of freedom, and didn't want it to end. the subtle shift in her mood didn't go unnoticed by him, prompting his careful questioning. "Yuna...? what’s wrong?" she began to open her mouth, to protest that anything was wrong at all. but after a long moment, she settled on honesty. "...we don't have to go back yet, do we?" "--ah?" he was surprised-- eyes widening momentarily-- but hardly saw a reason to protest. "not if you don't want to..." his hand reached for hers, smile glaring again. "... we can stay here forever if you want. that'd be fine by me!" she looked up, meeting his eyes, mirroring his glowing expression. “me, too...” they both knew they couldn’t stay forever. soon, they would have to move on. the sun was setting, and they had a duty to fulfill. but for now, they could dream. a towel was tossed to the floor, seating themselves comfortably in front of the sea. before long, she had shifted from her place beside him, to lean her back against his chest, their hands clasped together tightly. and they watched, the sun melting into the sea, giving way for the moon to shine...

[karenuse54-blog]

Talking baseball with John Thorn, official historian of Major League Baseball and coauthor of The Hidden Game

(John Thorn, photo by Alison Richards; Bill Savage, photo by Rich Lalich.)

In 1984, John Thorn and Pete Palmer helped launch what would become the sabermetric revolution in baseball by publishing The Hidden Game of Baseball: A Revolutionary Approach to Baseball and Its Statistics. More than thirty years later, we have seen the game of baseball absorb the insights of Thorn, Palmer, and those who came in their wake in a way that no one could ever have predicted back in the days when RBI, batting averages, and pitcher wins were king.

In 2015, we were proud to bring The Hidden Game back into print. To kick off the baseball playoff season, we hooked up our old friend Bill Savage, lit prof and Cubs fan, with John Thorn to talk about the book and the game.

In The Hidden Game, you and Pete Palmer helped explain new forms of baseball statistics to fans (and the powers-that-be in The Game).   Many of these stats have come to be widely accepted, despite the stubborn adherence to BA/HR/RBI and W/L records among the more retrograde fans. Which of the even more recent statistical categories do you think most add to our understanding and enjoyment of players’ accomplishments?

I admire the work of modern statistical analysts even as, over the years, my interests have drifted more to the history of the game, particularly its earliest period—even before statistics entered the discussion of which player was better than another. Voros McCracken’s FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) has seemed to me to be a great breakthrough in the way we look at the game, and how we measure it. BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play) is also a solid new stat, as it reveals the good luck or bad that may inform short-term outcomes. WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is a refinement of Pete Palmer’s Linear Weights System, with the principal difference being its baseline of a mythical replacement player (available via callup from Triple-A) rather than the LWTS baseline of zero. The latter still seems to me more elegant mathematically and philosophically, as an average team will go 81-81 and thus provide no extra wins above a team that is 0-0 on Opening Day.

What’s your take on the new measurements of hitters (launch angle and exit velocity) that are based primarily on technological advances rather than new mathematical ways of framing the game’s data points? Back in the day, people might have seen such things but not have been able to quantify them.

Interesting . . . which is to say that I am interested in their likely assistance in evaluating hitters’ future chances and perhaps their suitability in certain trade ruminations. I am not, however, impressed by these measures’ in-game or in-season utility. They seem to me to be the shiny tinsel on the otherwise perfect tree.

The powers-that-be in MLB are concerned with how long a game takes—but recent research by Grant Bisbee of SBNation.com (comparing two games with strong statistical parallels, from 1984 and 2014 https://www.sbnation.com/a/mlb-2017-season-preview/game-length) suggests that the difference between today’s game and the game of a generation ago is simply how long pitchers take to throw the ball.  Why not just have a 20-second pitch clock, as some minor leagues do?

As it has turned out, few pitchers exceed the 20-second mark with any regularity, so this argument may be moot, or at least window dressing, compared to other problems of pace/length, e.g., number of relief pitchers used, number of pitches thrown (deep counts), time between balls put into play (“Three True Outcomes”), and so on.

The powers-that-be in MLB are also worried about their aging fan base, and blame pace-of-play and length of games for a potentially lost generation of young fans.  But my experience is that some young people (many of my students at Northwestern, for instance) love baseball, and the pauses inherent in the game fit with their constant fiddling with phones, Tweeting and texting.  (Ahem.  I have been known to tweet between innings as well.) If you could mandate anything to get younger fans into baseball, what would it be?

This is above my pay grade, of course—I work for the Commissioner but do not presume to mandate anything. As an advanced fan, however, I might speculate that more balls in play, fewer strikeouts, and fewer situational relievers might well make the game more appealing to fans of any age.

Part of baseball’s historic continuity is the relative stability of the rules, with the lowered pitcher’s mound and the DH being prominent counter-examples.  Is it worth changing fundamental rules to speed up the game?  The gesture for an intentional walk, starting extra innings with a runner on second, and so forth?  Some sports chatterers are even suggesting making the game 7 innings long.  I’d (unseriously) suggest just starting every batter with a 1-1 count, like in park district softball.  How should baseball balance historical continuity with modern demands?

I think most fans do not appreciate the fairly violent gyrations in the rules that characterized the game into the twentieth century, and those that characterized the 1960s and early ’70s. Baseball has always had an experimental quality—just as one might say of the America’s evolving adventure into democracy. Both the nation and its pastime may be viewed as solid, inert institutions, inhospitable to change, yet that is not the way I see either. Continuity, yes; obdurate resistance, no. Traditionalists will tend to be older and bound to affirm their life’s experience of baseball (or America). But older fans, while they may dominate today’s marketplace of ideas, do not represent the economic marketplace of tomorrow.

Baseball is America’s most ancient and historic game—yet many people think MLB doesn’t do enough to teach its history to current or potential fans.  As MLB’s official historian, how would you like to see teams in MLB (and the minors) use the game’s history to enrich the fan experience?

My dear departed friend Larry Ritter, author of The Glory of Their Times (1966), liked to say that the best part of baseball today is its yesterdays. For older fans, certainly that is true. But I think baseball’s past enriches the experience of younger fans, too, and when a seemingly unique event resonates across the canyons of time to recall another, similar happenstance, the effect is warming, enriching, beautiful. I believe that my mission as MLB’s official historian is to share the pleasure I experience in making such connections, and perhaps to inspire a new generation to explore the depths of this endlessly fascinating game. No sport connects with its past on a daily basis the way that baseball does. Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson—these are names that all baseball fans know and revere. Can the same be said of our other team sports—say, for Red Grange (football), or George Mikan (basketball), or Howie Morenz (hockey)?

One huge issue lately is cultural differences between “old school” baseball people and younger players, especially stars from Latin America, who play with more overt emotion and exuberance.  This moment parallels the reaction of many players, coaches, and executives to how Negro League players brought their style of play to the Bigs after Jack Robinson’s debut.  It seems ironic that MLB can simultaneously worry about not appealing to young fans, and criticize players whose style might very well appeal to such young fans, accustomed as they are to the more emotionally-charged behavior on basketball courts and football fields.  The term often used in this conversation is about “respecting the game.”  What does it mean, to you, to “respect the game”?

Respecting the game has meant different things in different eras. The ungovernably rowdy 1890s nearly placed baseball permanently in the shade, trailing college football, cycling, golf, and automobile races. When decorum returned to the game, female fans did too. In the 1950s, Mickey Mantle ran around the bases with his head down after a home run, so as not to show up the pitcher. Given its roots in sublimated martial activity, baseball has sometimes struggled to strike a balance between chivalry and bravado. I am utterly confident that it will do so again, embracing Hispanic conventions while not abandoning North American reserve.

Electronic strike zone: Yes or No? If yes, how?

It may come. Certainly cricket and tennis have accommodated it. I  have always accepted mistakes as an inevitable feature of human endeavor, and almost miss the vanishing error in the field as much as I miss the triple. But it is hard to deny the appeal of greater accuracy.

The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown is not directly run by MLB.  Right now, while executives from the PEDs Era are being inducted (Selig, Cox, LaRussa, Torre), the writers who vote on players seem pretty set on excluding Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and other players whose records they call “tainted.”  If you could mandate how players are selected for the Hall, what system would you enact?

I do mandate how players are selected for the Hall of Fame between my ears, but not for the one in Cooperstown. It is a grand institution, and part of its enduring vitality may be accounted to its annual controversy, stirring fan interest and sometime outrage.

  Source: http://pressblog.uchicago.edu/2018/10/01/talking-baseball-with-john-thorn-official-historian-of-major-league-baseball-and-coauthor-of-the-hidden-game.html

[junker-town]

Every MLB team’s best Winter Meetings rumor, graded

The Yankees might end up with Noah Syndergaard? The Dodgers might end up with Corey Kluber? It’s not wild yet, but it’s getting there.

Do you like waiver claims? Then, boy, would you have liked the first day of the 2018 MLB Winter Meetings. Carlos Asuaje was claimed! Mike Gerber was claimed! Just a bunch of GMs hanging around Vegas, claiming each other’s stuff when they aren’t looking.

But there are still rumors floating around. Actual rumors. Our job today is to look at these rumors and grade them. More specifically, we need to find the best rumor for each team and grade it.

There aren’t any signings, and there weren’t any great trades. So how are the rumors looking? Are they at least good rumors, the kind that allow us to close our eyes and imagine the sheer chaos and dread?

Some of them, yeah. Here are the hottest rumors around Major League Baseball at the moment:

Arizona Diamondbacks

In wake of Goldschmidt deal, #DBacks drawing trade interest in virtually all their players, but telling clubs they are not interested in a teardown, sources tell The Athletic. AZ open-minded, but will be selective in how it proceeds. Not entering rebuilding mode.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 10, 2018

Yeah, that’s cute, Diamondbacks, but a team that trades Paul Goldschmidt after losing Patrick Corbin and A.J. Pollock is rebuilding. We don’t make the rules, here. Sorry if that’s a drag, but you literally traded your best player for prospects after losing your best pitcher. Don’t play the semantic shuffle with us.

Now, if the Diamondbacks were saying things like, “Ideally, we’re looking for players ready for the majors or close to it because we’re not interested in a rebuild. We want a quick reload,” I could dig it. As is, though ...

Grade: D

Atlanta Braves

Some teams have gotten the sense the Braves are willing to trade both Inciarte and Foltynewicz. Acuna's presence make Inciarte understandable. To move Folty, the Braves would likely need to fill multiple needs and/or have the confidence another deal would land a front-line SP

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) December 10, 2018

Ah, I love the idea that a win-now team is confident enough to trade one of its better young starters. Because Mike Foltynewicz is young and affordable, he should fetch a high price. Because the Braves are stacked with pitching prospects, they can afford to gamble and trade Foltynewicz at what could be his highest value.

The team that had Mike Minor, Brandon Beachy, and Kris Medlen at the same time should definitely not worry about depth. What’s the worst that could happen?

Or is the argument that a team that had Mike Minor, Brandon Beachy, and Kris Medlen at the same time should be way more inclined to trade a young arm because those things are inherently unpredictable?

I think the larger point is that pitchers are confusing and so are the Braves.

Grade: B+

Baltimore Orioles

Elias said he’s interviewed 6 manager candidates in person. There won’t be any more. #orioles

— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) December 11, 2018

See, this is the thing about an abominable team: Even the rumors suck. One of the managerial candidates is Manny Acta, and another one is ... that guy with the hat ... look, I fell asleep reading the list. It’s entirely possible that this manager is the one who shepherds the Orioles back from the abyss — look at how little excitement there was about the Braves and Brian Snitker, for example — but right now, it’s just not a sexy rumor.

The Orioles won’t be a part of a sexy rumor until July 16, 2020. Savor it when it comes. It will be about the Dodgers wanting to trade for the player who breaks out in 2019, but savor it when it comes.

Grade: F

Boston Red Sox

Robertson and Ottavino are believed high on Red Sox list of back-end relief targets. Of course they’d like to have Kimbrel and Kelly back but they are free agents too. Deep pen market also includes Britton, Miller, Familia, more.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 9, 2018

This is a peak We Just Won The World Series rumor. Just tinkerin’ over here. We have the best team, la la lalala. There will be no JD Martinez this year, and that’s fine. The last one helped them win the World Series, after all.

Grade: C

Chicago Cubs

Several teams have inquired on Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber but they’ve all gotten the same response from #Cubs. No, he’s not available

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 9, 2018

Is there anything more boring than a We Just Won The World Series rumor? Yes. The Cubs aren’t in on Bryce Harper. They don’t have Patrick Corbin. They’re not trading for Sonny Gray. We don’t even have a stray Sonny Gray rumor. Every team has a stray Sonny Gray rumor.

This, of course, means that they’re going to trade Kyle Hendricks and Anthony Rizzo in a six-way deal for Kyler Murray and Aaron Judge. But for now ...

Grade: F

Chicago White Sox

From Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:

They are still taking calls on first baseman Jose Abreu, but there’s an organizational debate on whether they should move him before the big money starts or keep him.

It’s a boring rumor, but don’t forget that the White Sox still have one piece to pawn. I know they don’t want to trade Abreu after his worst season, but if teams are interested in your soon-to-be expensive, two-tool, 32-year-old first baseman, you have to consider it.

(And if you’re the Rockies, a team that’s struggled to find half-decent first basement since Justin Morneau left, you have to be curious about the giant dinger monster that the bad team is curiously reluctant to deal.)

Grade: B

Cincinnati Reds

#Yankees shooting high with Sonny Gray, asked #Reds about 1 of top prospects, OF Taylor Trammell, which was a no go. Sign NYY can get something good for Gray or that they simply or asking high before settling low, Could also always partner with a prospect to get more.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 10, 2018

BRIAN CASHMAN: It’s like that scene from The Office where Michael Scott puts his own name under Wayne Gretzky’s “You miss 100 percent of the shots that you don’t take” quote.

— Grant Brisbee

Grade: B+

Cleveland Indians

From Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The Tampa Bay Rays, coming off an unexpected 90-win season, are looking to upgrade their offense for the season ahead in the AL East.

They’re evaluating several players who could help them, including Yandy Diaz and Edwin Encarnacion of the Indians.

Those are two very different things! Edwin Encarnacion is an ultra-expensive 36-year-old who just put up his worst OPS+ in seven years, and it came with a noticeable decline in his contact and walk rates. Yandy Diaz is a young, inexpensive 27-year-old who probably should have had a job somewhere two years ago. The former makes no sense. The latter makes all of the sense.

Grant Brisbee is in the market for a 2011 Toyota Tundra with 115,000 miles or a new spice rack.

Well, I guess both of those are true, so I stand corrected. Perhaps it’s a package thing, where the Rays take on Encarnacion’s $25.7 million salary and raise their payroll to $26 million, and their reward is a nice, owner-friendly player with oodles of potential. I don’t know if this works, but it’s a heckuva rumor.

Grade: A

Colorado Rockies

Rockies are serious about upgrading at first base. They made a sincere trade offer to Arizona for Paul Goldschmidt before his trade to St. Louis, Jeff Bridich said. He was not, however, surprised by the Cardinals as Goldschmidt’s end spot.

— Nick Groke (@nickgroke) December 11, 2018

Since Todd Helton retired in 2013, the Rockies have had exactly one season with a first baseman who finished with 2 WAR, and that was in 2014. They spent a lot of money to get a shortstop-turned-outfielder to play first, and that was a debacle.

They should probably get serious about upgrading at first base.

Grade: B+

Detroit Tigers

Source: #Dodgers interested in #Tigers OF Nick Castellanos via trade, but there’s no present momentum toward a deal. Dodgers active on numerous fronts and Castellanos is not their highest priority. @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 11, 2018

Like the White Sox and Abreu, it’s Sunday afternoon at 2:40 p.m., and the garage sale weekend is almost over. If you want a handful of Herb Alpert records, you can just take them. But there’s still something there, something in the corner. Something valuable ... yes, this just might be ...

Castellanos can hit. He should also be kept away from a National League team by a court order. So while the idea makes sense, I’m not sure the destination does. The Tigers should definitely get something while the numbers are up, though, and I would definitely expect him to move this winter.

Grade: B+

Houston Astros

From Buster Olney:

On paper, Eovaldi seemed like the perfect fit for the Houston Astros, who have a history of taking pitchers with really good arms and making them better. But the Astros never really engaged on the right-hander

From Evan Drellich:

There were 4 finalists for Nate Eovaldi, source says. Eovaldi himself said he gave a lot of consideration to Houston bc it's home. Angels indeed one of the other. Yankees were in on Eovaldi, but may not have been finalist. Eovaldi decided early he would only go to winning team.

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) December 10, 2018

RUMOR FIGHT RUMOR FIGHT RUMOR FIGHT

This isn’t to pick on either writer, just a note that these conflicting notes are about a deal that’s already done. There’s no reason for skulduggery from the teams involved at this point. And if cables can get crossed in that situation, imagine how screwed up rumors can get when they’re being spread by teams looking to gain an advantage over their rivals.

What I’m trying to say is this is all useless and we’d be much better off not following any of this until March 1.

But then we’d miss out on the endorphins. Open wide and eat your endorphins.

(There aren’t a lot of good Astros rumors right now, just like with the Cubs and Red Sox. Winning the World Series makes you soft, kids.)

Grade: F

Kansas City Royals

Dayton Moore on if he's still getting calls about Whit Merrifield: "Not as much. We’ve pretty much made it clear we want Whit Merrifield to be part of our team."

— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) December 10, 2018

There are approximately 48 different second basemen available, either through trades or free agency, so don’t blame the Royals here. There’s also no shame in keeping at least one fan favorite around. It’s a long season, and you still want to sell tickets.

Keep this good player. For the fans. They’re so cold and lonely.

It’s a pretty lousy rumor, though.

Grade: D (upgraded from F because it’s kind of unfair that a Billy Hamilton rumor would have improved their grade substantially)

Los Angeles Angels

There were 4 finalists for Nate Eovaldi, source says. Eovaldi himself said he gave a lot of consideration to Houston bc it's home. Angels indeed one of the other. Yankees were in on Eovaldi, but may not have been finalist. Eovaldi decided early he would only go to winning team.

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) December 10, 2018

The Angels are so lame, I had to reuse a tweet for the first time. They want a starting pitcher, and until they get one, I’m putting the ENTIRE blame for the slow Winter Meetings on them. Once they get someone/anyone, the floodgates will open. Until then, here’s a rumor about someone they almost got.

I was almost on Wheel of Fortune once. That knowledge is just as valuable to me as almost getting Eovaldi should be to the Angels.

Grade: F

Los Angeles Dodgers

Source: #Indians interested in #Dodgers OF Alex Verdugo as part of Corey Kluber trade talks. Cleveland is looking for outfield bats, and Verdugo is the Dodgers' top prospect, according to @MLBPipeline. @MLB @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 10, 2018

Yes, yes, yes. This is a prime Kobe rumor, fed beer and massaged to encourage marbling. You have a pair of perennial contenders discussing wild permutations and possibilities, with names you’ve heard of.

I still don’t have any idea why the Indians are interested in trading Kluber, but I guess they’re looking to sustain this run of three straight World Series titles. The rumor is a banger, though.

Grade: A+

Miami Marlins

Yankees do like Gary Sanchez very much, as they’ve said, so not sure how Realmuto deal would work for them. It’s been suggested Yankees involvement could be 3-way situation with them being the conduit.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2018

I don’t enjoy giving the Marlins a hard time, but it’s hard not to, considering they ditched an all-time outfield without having a top-100 prospect to show for it. This, though, is a rumor I can get behind. The Yankees get a sure thing, a two-way catcher who just might be the best in baseball. The Marlins get a buy-low potential superstar with some scrapes but nothing that the body shop can’t buff out?

It’s a great balance of present and future, with risks and rewards for both. Great rumor.

Grade: A

Milwaukee Brewers

From Robert Murray of the Athletic:

Sources tell The Athletic that the Brewers have expressed interest in free-agent second baseman Daniel Murphy, as well as retaining free-agent third baseman Mike Moustakas.

Still think they could use a starting pitcher or two, and this is a market that features several of them, but a solid second baseman is a pretty good start, especially one on a shorter-term deal who wouldn’t block Keston Hiura.

It’s boring, but pragmatic. This is a rumor with fiber.

Grade: B

Minnesota Twins

When in Vegas... #MNTwins seem to be kicking the tires on a few more FAs. Have inquired on Soria, Cahill, + Ramos. Ramos is said to be in Vegas. The Twins have NOT requested a face-to-face to this point. We'll see if interest turns serious on any of those guys.

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) December 10, 2018

The Twins are the hardest team to peg in baseball, two years removed from a postseason berth and just a couple months removed from a dull, pointless season. So this rumor makes sense. Reliever! Back-end starter! Win-now catcher! It’s all over the place.

At least it looks like they’re trying, though. At least it looks like they’re trying. That means something in 2018.

Grade: C

New York Mets

Their best rumor was this at one point ...

The Mets had a meeting with Wilson Ramos today.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) December 11, 2018

... and that’s a B-rumor, at best. Ramos fits the Mets, for sure, but that’s just not a sexy rumor. Even the tweet is just a single sentence, completely self-aware about its general okayness.

IT’S CERTAINLY NOT A RUMOR LIKE THIS:

#Mets have discussed trade in which they would land J.T. Realmuto in three-team deal with #Yankees and #Marlins, sources tell The Athletic. Not known if Syndergaard involved. NYM would not part with Syndergaard (three years control) if getting only Realmuto (two years) in return.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2018

PRrrrrroowwwwwww goes the power chord as you windmill the guitar until the E string breaks and sparks shoot out behind you.

The best part about a rumor like this is that you can’t hate it! I have no idea what permutation gets Realmuto on the Mets with Syndergaard going the other way. Maybe Gleyber Torres comes to the Mets? Does that sound stupid? Too much? Too little?

Look, I have no idea how any of this works, and it’s beautiful. What a rumor.

Grade: A+++++

New York Yankees

Cashman pretty much ruled out Harper: “The Harper stuff, I’m surprised you are still asking.” #Yankees

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 10, 2018

They can claim some of the pluses from that previous grade, but this is still a rumor that says, “The Yankees aren’t looking to be the Yankees that you remember.” The 2003 Yankees would have signed Harper by now. The 2018 Yankees are cosplaying as the modest Cardinals, and it’s annoying.

Grade: D

Oakland A’s

From Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle:

According to an industry source, Oakland has expressed interest in free agent D.J. LeMahieu

Perhaps the best fit of any rumor here. LeMahieu plays defense, and while Coors Field overrated his offense, he can still hit a little bit. The glut of second basemen means that his market should be owner-friendly, which is great if you’re rooting for the owners.

This definitely has a chance.

Grade: A

Philadelphia Phillies

The #Phillies have had ongoing dialogue with LHP J.A. Happ over the last several days, according to sources. The Phillies have a long shopping list. But Happ appears to be their best fit, as a LH with experience in Philadelphia who won't require a long deal. Still seeking 3 years

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 10, 2018

“Ongoing dialogue” is an underrated Winter Meetings phrase. That dialogue could be about employment. It could also be about whether the SNES or Genesis was better. It’s wide open if you use your imagination.

But Mr. Stark’s overall point — that the Phillies are a great fit for Happ — is sound. Every win-now team should be giddy about someone like Happ, who gives them a strong chance next year without requiring a messy fourth or fifth year at the end of his contract.

Grade: A-

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates GM Neal Huntington on listening to trade offers for players nearing free agency: "In Cervelli, Dickerson and Nova’s case, they fit really well for us. So it’s going to have to be something that makes sense for us in the big picture to have us entertain that."

— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) December 11, 2018

Didn’t the Pirates just give up a tremendous amount of talent for Chris Archer? Aren’t they all in? Or are they kinda sorta in but also listening to trade offers if it allows them to kick the can down the road a couple of years? And if that’s the case, why did they do that thing for Archer again?

If they’re going to trade that much for Archer, shouldn’t they surround him with free agents that break the Russell Martin threshold and become the highest paid Pirates mercenaries ever? Is it possible to talk about the Pirates without constantly reverting to upspeak?

Grade: ¨∑ œ ˆ ˆ∑ ´®? ! look i have no idea

San Diego Padres

Padres, the most rumored team for a Syndergaard trade, as of this moment “don’t look like a great fit.” Mets want 2019 impact so it’s no surprise they seek Fernando Tatis Jr.; SD has made him untouchable.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 9, 2018

I get it. It’s because Syndergaard is creating thunder and spraying the earth with lightning. That’s why he’s a part of all the best trade rumors of the last year.

The Mets would want Tatis because they’re looking to win in 2019 and also save various Wilpons money over the next few years. The Padres would want Syndergaard because they’re angling to be this year’s version of the Braves, where they arrive just a touch earlier than expected, and they want a unicorn of a starting pitcher in place if that happens.

Great rumor. A completely ludicrous paring of teams, but that’s why it’s so great.

Grade A

San Francisco Giants

Several teams have expressed interest in 1B Brandon Belt, who’s available, in talks with the #SFGiants

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 10, 2018

Brandon Belt would hit 30 homers with a .400 OBP in Yankee Stadium. I love watching him, and he’s clearly the Giants’ best hitter, but sometimes birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright.

The fact that several teams are interested gives you a hint that their computers are spitting out reams of paper that detail just how much AT&T Park screws him. It’s almost — almost — enough to make me want the Rockies to pursue him.

Seattle Mariners

Hrmm, my editors are telling me that’s not a real tweet and is something that I made up. One second.

...

You know, there really aren’t any good rumors here. Jerry Dipoto doesn’t need your stinking rumors. He prefers to hide in the bushes with a trade and spring out, “GRRRRAAHHHHHFRRRH” and scare the hell out of you. It’s his thing.

Grade: INC

St. Louis Cardinals

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch had, like, six dozen rumors packed into one post. As a rumor connoisseur, allow me to take a quick break and share my appreciation for a column like this.

I’ve been doing a lot of research with old issues of The Sporting News, and it’s made me appreciate the format of a pre-Twitter world. There aren’t single names or trade possibilities barfed out for retweets to improve brand awareness. There were densely packed articles that walked you through all of the scuttlebutt and tried to make sense of it. Nick Cafardo’s weekly column is another one that deserves praise in a Twitter world.

Anyway, just read the column if you have any interest in what the Cardinals are doing. It’s a lot better than 140 characters of “HEARD THIS.”

Grade: A

Tampa Bay Rays

From Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times:

Among several options the Rays have explored to sign or trade for a starting pitcher, they’ve expressed interest and had initial conversations with free-agent RHP Charlie Morton.

Hell yes, this is a fine rumor. But I’m not sure if I should be this proud of the Rays spending just a little bit. They’re a solid collection of on-field and front-office talent that should absolutely believe in themselves. They can afford a free agent or two, right?

Right?

Grade: B+

Texas Rangers

From Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

They have already received calls from most MLB teams on right-hander Jose Leclerc, who finished 2018 as the closer and was one of the game’s top relievers. The Rangers have a glut of left-handed-hitting corner outfielders, and Daniels has indicated a willingness to move one of them.

Jose Leclerc didn’t allow a run after July 25th. He’s incredibly awesome.

Also, the Rangers should absolutely trade him for a billion prospects. This is a bird in the hand who is worth six birds in future bushes, but you can also trade him for nine birds in future bushes. In this metaphor, the birds are prospects, unless the bushes are. Either way, every bad team that stumbles upon a magic young relief ace should cash that chip in IMMEDIATELY.

Grade: B-

Toronto Blue Jays

#BlueJays met with five teams and five firms at winter meetings today. Doesn’t sound like anything is imminent. Ross Atkins described the interest in Stroman/Sanchez as “significant” but said they’re so talented it would “very difficult” to get equal return.

— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) December 11, 2018

This is rumor non-speak.

We have good players, but we’ll need to get even better players back if we trade them.

Though I do appreciate the in-or-out quandary the Blue Jays are in. It’s the same one they’ve been stuck in for about two decades, give or take a Bautista bat flip, but I wouldn’t know what to do with them either.

Grade: D

Washington Nationals

From Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post:

As Boras sees it, (Mark) Lerner violated that provision when he said in a radio interview on 106.7 the Fan that the Nationals did “the best we could do” by offering Harper $300 million over 10 years in September.

The Nationals are out? The Nationals are out! I dismissed the idea that they would pay so much for Patrick Corbin that they would give up on Bryce Harper, but I guess I shouldn’t have. There’s apparently a younger Lerner in charge, and we should never underestimate the ability of a next-generation rich dude to outthink himself.

They should probably re-sign Harper, y’all.

Grade: F

[yahoo-puck-daddy-blog]

What if … Devils never won Scott Stevens from Blues? (NHL Alternate History)

(Ed. Note: It’s the NHL Alternate History project! We’ve asked fans and bloggers from 31 teams to pick one turning point in their franchise’s history and ask ‘what if things had gone differently?’ Trades, hirings, firings, wins, losses, injuries … all of it. How would one different outcome change the course of history for an NHL team? Today, it’s a plucky up and coming writer named Greg Wyshynski on the New Jersey Devils. Enjoy!)

By Greg Wyshynski

In Summer 1991, the St. Louis Blues signed New Jersey Devils free agent forward Brendan Shanahan to a four-year free-agent deal worth $5 million.

(In total. Yeah, it was a different time in the NHL. There was even a president instead of a commissioner!)

Shanahan was considered one of the best young offensive players in the League, and the Blues snagging the 22 year old was their second straight summertime coup: They had signed Washington Capitals star defenseman Scott Stevens in 1990 to a four-year, $5.1 million restricted free-agent contract, and surrendered five first-round draft picks to the Capitals to do so.

As a Group I restricted free agent, the Devils were due compensation from the Blues for losing Shanahan. And here’s where the fun begins.

The NHL took long over a month and a half to finally approve Shanahan’s deal with the Blues, and the two teams began their compensation talks. New Jersey anticipated that without first-round picks to ante up, the Blues might not offer a fair package for having signed away a player like Shanahan. So they aimed high in the hopes of winning the arbitration.

The Devils were rumored to consider asking for center Adam Oates, coming off a 115-point season, as compensation. There was talk they might aim even higher to ask for all-world sniper Brett Hull. Also in the mix: Stevens, having played just one season in St. Louis.

The Blues steadfastly refused to discuss sending Oates, Stevens or Hull to the Devils. At a stalemate, the case was sent to NHL arbitrator Judge Edward J. Houston of Ottawa. Each team submitted a proposal. The Blues felt theirs was a solid one: 23-year-old goalie Curtis Joseph, who had 45 NHL games under his belt with (thus far) middling results; 21-year-old forward Rod Brind’Amour, with 43 goals in his first two seasons; and a couple of compensatory draft picks.

The addition of Brind’Amour in the deal was seen as the aggressive ante, with the anticipation that the Devils would ask for a more established star.

And they did. They asked for Scott Stevens.

On September 3, 1991, Houston made his decision: The Blues lost, the Devils won. Which would be the case for the duration of Stevens’s NHL career, spent with the Devils, with whom he won three Stanley Cups, including a Conn Smythe Trophy win in 2000.

So this being an NHL Alternate History project, we suppose it’s time to get to the Earth 2 timeline that is …

What If The St. Louis Blues Won The Brendan Shanahan Arbitration, And The Devils Never Had Been Given Scott Stevens?

Let’s get the Blues out of the way first.

Please recall they went after Brendan Shanahan after one of the most inexplicable and terrible trades in franchise history: The March 1991 deal that saw them add Garth Butcher and Dan Quinn from the Vancouver Canucks for forwards Geoff Courtnall, Cliff Ronning, Sergio Momesso and defenseman Robert Dirk. All four of those players were on the Canucks’ 1994 Stanley Cup finalist. Quinn played 14 games for the Blues before being moved in another bad trade. Butcher would go on to play around four seasons in St. Louis.

Which is to say that even if they keep Stevens after signing Shanahan, the Blues were a toxic cocktail of specious management and cheap ownership at the time. Does Adam Oates still get traded to Boston because of a salary dispute with Blues ownership? If anything, having both Shanahan and Stevens on the books for the next few seasons makes that even more probable.

Stevens undoubtedly makes the Blues better on the back end, but in front of what? Curtis Joseph was the heir between the pipes, and played there for the next five years. Without him, do they turn to Guy Hebert, who was selected in the expansion draft by the Mighty Ducks? Or do they go outside the organization for a netminder (keeping in mind they couldn’t use the five first-round picks they had given the Capitals for Stevens)?

If the Blues have a 30-year-old Stevens on the blue line, does Mike Keenan still trade Shanahan for Chris Pronger in 1995? Does Stevens even coexist with Keenan?

So yeah, no promises there for the Blues if they won the arbitration.

Now, what if the Devils ended up with Joseph and Brind’Amour?

Let’s start with Rod The Bod.

The Devils had a constant need at center in the early 1990s, and into their first Cup run. The centers on the 1991-92 team: Kevin Todd, a 35-year-old Peter Stastny, Laurie Boschman and a collection of Dave Barr, Alexander Semak and the great Jarrod Skalde. They would later trade for players like Bernie Nicholls and Neal Broten as veteran solutions at center, and eventually go all-in for Doug Gilmour.

By 1993-95, Brind’Amour had hit his offensive stride, notching 86 and then 97 points with the Philadelphia Flyers, while playing the kind of defense then would eventually get him Selke Trophy recognition. It’s not difficult to see him fitting with the Devils’ changing system, and having a long run with the club at forward, especially since he was a versatile one.

The 1995 Devils could have had Brind’Amour, Brian Rolston, Bobby Carptenter and Bobby Holik at center; or those three minus Rolston, who shifts to wing, with the Sergei Brylin and Jim Dowd platoon as the other center. Do they even make the Broten trade then?

There are, of course, many reasons that Devils team won the Stanley Cup, including a soul-sucking defensive system that ruined hockey as we knew it. But two of the primary ones might not have been on that team if the Blues won the arbitration:

Scott Stevens and Martin Brodeur.

Without Stevens, the Devils still had a solid collection of defensemen on which to build their defensive system. (Assuming they still play the trap without two of the players who made it work so effectively.) Scott Niedermayer wouldn’t have had Stevens as a mentor, but would have taken on his role as the defense’s top dog. Ken Daneyko and Bruce Driver were still in their primes. Viacheslav Fetisov wasn’t, but was still kicking around. Tommy Albelin was a steady presence as well.

What the team doesn’t have if the Blues kept Stevens is his ferocious competitive fire and undeniable leadership on the ice. When he wasn’t thumping opponents with totally legal hits, he was the thumping heart of these Devils teams. Expecting them to replicate their quasi-dynasty without Stevens on defense is nearly impossible to conceive. Whatever level of success they achieved, it was Stevens who enabled them to get to the next one. That’s indisputable.

Now, as for Brodeur … now we’re talking about a hockey history-altering moment.

Joseph was 24 years old in 1991, with two years under his belt. He was a burgeoning star between the pipes, as this Buffalo News take on him in 1993 reminds us:

Say all you want about Felix Potvin (and everyone did last season), this kid may someday be the best. Led the league in save percentage (.911) last season despite a slow start. Joseph has the style for the game today: quick, with an emphasis on side-to-side movement and the instinctive ability to follow a puck through traffic. Has excellent concentration, competitive instincts and maybe the best stick in the game. What separates Joseph from the others is he’s a workhorse (68 games last season) and is superb under pressure.

Brodeur was drafted by the Devils at No. 20 overall in 1990, and would have been 19 years old when Joseph was in his first season in New Jersey, with Chris Terreri as his backup. So a few basic questions that need to be addressed in this “what if?”

Does Brodeur remain with the Devils if they land Curtis Joseph?

That’s the ‘three Stanley Cup championships, four Vezina trophies and a Hall of Famer career’ question.

If the Devils’ goalie duo is CuJo and Terreri, where does Brodeur get his shot to take over the crease? Well, the path is probably to overtake Terreri as the backup and then wait for Joseph to falter as the starter. But with a proven, young workhorse goalie like CuJo there, does Brodeur ever get a chance to do this? Does he become the classic “understudy goalie who gets traded to someone in need of a starter,” with Joseph as the Devils goalie in the trap years? Or does he outplay CuJo and force the Devils to deal him instead?

Does CuJo thrive in the trap?

Of course. He had all the tools to play well in that system, although obviously not Brodeur’s unparalleled ability to act as a third defenseman back there. Joseph was a Vezina-caliber goalie; putting him behind the Devils’ defense and into that system, there’s no telling how his career is transformed if he gets the crease over Brodeur.

Does Brodeur still become Brodeur elsewhere?

Of course not.

He’s a special goalie, and an all-world talent. But the symbiotic relationship between Brodeur, the talent in front of him and the system the Devils played was the perfect storm to create a Hall of Fame career. (And let’s not get into the chicken-or-the-egg argument about who made who, because they made each other.)

This isn’t to say that Brodeur becomes, say, Curtis Joseph if he’s forced to play somewhere other than New Jersey, although that’s entirely plausible if his teams aren’t championship caliber. Frankly, without Stevens on the team, perhaps he never challenges Patrick Roy’s records, or stakes the claim as G.O.A.T. of goalies either, if he remains in New Jersey.

But again, he’s an all-timer because of his incredible talent that isn’t simply a product of that system, no matter how many Roy fans claim otherwise. He would have been outstanding playing anywhere, but maybe not a Hall of Famer.

Do the Devils win Stanley Cup(s) with CuJo and Brind’Amour, and without Stevens and Brodeur?

Yes. At least one, I’d imagine.

Lamoriello was savvy and aggressive enough to take what was still a potent core and surround it with the types of players he acquired to create these Devils championship teams. Yes, Stevens and Brodeur were the foundation, but this franchise produced Patrik Elias, Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez, and acquired players like Claude Lemieux, Jason Arnott, Alex Mogilny, Brian Rafalski and Joe Nieuwendyk along the way.

Joseph would have been 32 in 2000, when the Devils won their second Cup and when he was a Vezina finalist with the Maple Leafs in our timeline. (And not for nothing, but CuJo’s career playoff save percentage was.917; Brodeur’s was .919.)

So, in summary, if the Blues had won the arbitration hearing:

– Not so good for Scott Stevens.

– Really good for Eric Lindros.

– Pretty good for the Blues, provided they figure out their goaltending and aren’t a bunch of cheap-wads.

– Really great for Curtis Joseph.

– Maybe not the best for Martin Brodeur, but not a death-knell for his career greatness either.

– Not the best for the Devils, who probably don’t have the perfect goalie for their system and lose out on the perfect defenseman to elevate their franchise.

– Horrible for the trapezoid.

– Probably par for the course for Rob Brind’Amour, who never fulfills his offensive promise, becomes a defensive whiz and doesn’t get truly appreciated until he wins a Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Now, about those conditional draft picks the Devils got in the arbitration rul … you know what, let’s just leave those for the next alternate history project.

Greg Wyshynski is an occasional guest on movie podcasts. 

—

PREVIOUSLY ON NHL ALTERNATE HISTORY

What if … the Islanders never hired Mike Milbury?

What if … Dallas drafted the other Lundqvist brother?

What if … Jonathan Drouin’s Tampa time wasn’t so chaotic? 

What if … Minnesota Wild hired Pierre McGuire as GM? 

What if … Florida had traded Roberto Luongo for Joe Thornton?

What if … the Martin Gelinas goal counted for Calgary?

What if … the Oilers never traded for Chris Pronger?

What if … the Blues had drafted Jonathan Toews instead?

What if … the Bruins never lost Marc Savard?

What if … the Anaheim Ducks drafted Sidney Crosby?

What if … the Red Wings had signed Marian Hossa? 

What if … the Canucks won the first NHL Draft Lottery?

What if … the Hurricanes had signed Sergei Fedorov?

What if … the Flyers hadn’t lost Chris Pronger?

What if … Avalanche never matched Joe Sakic offer sheet?

What if … the Capitals didn’t hire Dale Hunter and Adam Oates? 

What If … Terry Pegula owned Sabres in the 1990s?

What If … the Predators had let Shea Weber walk?

What if … the Senators had traded for Gary Roberts?

What If … Wayne Gretzky was sold to Winnipeg Jets?

What if … the Penguins had drafted Bobby Clarke?

What if … LA Kings missed 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs?

What if … NY Rangers didn’t win 1994 Stanley Cup? 

What if … Montreal Canadiens never drafted Carey Price?

What if … the Columbus Blue Jackets had drafted Anze Kopitar?

What if … the Sharks traded Thornton and Marleau in 2014?

What if … the Maple Leafs didn’t trade for Tom Kurvers?

What if … the Blackhawks had traded for Lindros?

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