#would K have ended up with a bomb or just Evan?

[massiveobservabletidalwave]

WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON AT ST DOTTOS?!? I appreciate everyone seeing the clear horror movie trap they were in and smartly running the fuck away. But like .....what was that though? Like.....healing magic is there, maybe, unless that was something else. But that doesn't explain stuff. And now everyone is just all horny for Brennan and Lou being dogs. I NEED ANSWERS!

[cksmart-world]

The completely unnecessary news analysis

by Christopher Smart

May 18, 2021

GOP BATTLE CRY: “GET RID OF YOUR DIAPER”

Who could guess the new battle cry of the Trump wing of the GOP would be, “Get rid of your diaper.” Although it's a great T-shirt slogan, it's somewhat limited because it's hard to sing, although Majorie Taylor Greene did give it a good try. The failure could have something to do with the acoustics as she bellowed through the office door mail slot of Bronx Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. Here at Smart Bomb, the staff has been unable to discern the origin of the catchy phrase. It may have been the product of focus groups in Taylor's backwoods Georgia district, although our analysts think it might be too sophisticated for her constituents, who are more likely to come up with something like, “Get rid of your taco you stupid spic.” Perhaps Taylor Greene paid an expensive K Street PR firm to come up the colorful maxim. The Trumper firebrand had a few other gems up her sleeve: she called AOC a “chicken,” which impressed some of her Republican colleagues for its finesse. But all that was just a warmup for the heavy artillery when she called AOC a "radical socialist," adding: "You don't care about the American people." But the former Bronx bartender seemed unrattled when she retorted, “I used to throw people like her out of the bar all the time.”

WINGMAN READY TO SING, MAN

Ever wonder what someone means when they say, “He's my wingman.” It used to mean a pilot whose plane is positioned behind and outside the leading aircraft in a formation. Then hockey players appropriated it for forwards, who generally do most of the scoring. But now wingman can mean almost anything. For Trumpist Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz it means something like “fixer” or maybe “pimp,” but boy did his wingman score. Of course, those are just allegations that came out when the feds investigated Gaetz' wingman, Joel Greenberg, who faces a 33 count indictment and will probably need a wingman, himself, when he ends up in the Big House alongside guys who have pretty good slap-shots. If Gaetz' wingman sings, the Congressman could face charges of sex trafficking of a minor and others. There have been more famous wingmen, of course, like Sundance was to Butch, like Spiro Agnew was to Richard Nixon, like Pence was to Trump, like Tonto was to the Lone Ranger, like Dale Evans was to Roy Rogers and like Mike Lee is to Ted Cruz (Laurel and Hardy of the Senate). But not even Agnew and Nixon were charged with sex trafficking. Let's not forget, Gaetz is innocent until proven guilty. And anyway, the girl said she was 18.

STEWART AND CURTIS: OFF WITH HER HEAD

Time to roll out the old guillotine. See, when you have a revolution everyone has go along and if they don't you have to cut their heads off. In the case of Wyoming's Congresswoman Liz Cheney, some say she's getting it in the neck for telling the truth about The Big Lie and that the January 6 insurrection was no picnic. But here in Utah, our Rep. John Curtis can explain the whole thing away: “Well, I think the thing that's been frustrating to me is missing the narrative that she was not removed because of her stance on President Trump, nor because of her statements,” Curtis said. “It's that she is not leading this party in a way that will help us,” undermine democracy or prove the Earth is flat. We also have Rep. Chris Stewart to help us understand what Curtis said: “This was not a vote to condemn Rep. Cheney for her previous vote of conscience (to impeach Trump); this was a vote to unify the Republican Party” so we don't have that bitch going on and on about The Big Lie. We can't keep talking about how the election was stolen and how January 6 was just a big party incited by Donald Trump. That would just continue to make us look like assholes who chose Trump over Truth. Oh, and by the way, don't put away the guillotine: Mitt Romney, you're next.

Post script — Well that about does it for another crazy week here on As The World Turns, aka Smart Bomb. Some of us worry too much and some don't worry enough. If you're in the second group we can help: Consider this — our birth rate is declining and has reached 1.7 children per couple. Pencil this out and you will find that is 0.3 of a person short of replacing the current population. What's wrong with that, you might say, the swimming pools and golf courses are too crowded and, almost as bad, people are starving in Bangladesh. Why can't we just go back to a less crowded world where you could get up Little Cottonwood Canyon? Well because, stupid, capitalism demands growth. There must be an expansion of goods and services — and people to purchase them. And it can't work in reverse. So for us in the U.S, the short term solution is that we need immigrants. What do you think all those Turkish guys are doing in Germany — other than the blonde women, of course. That's right, Germans stopped reproducing (too much beer?). Smart Bomb analysts have considered the data and made a prediction: Ten years from now Trumpers will be inviting immigrants from everywhere and anywhere. And when you ask, they'll say, What's a Trump?

Well Wilson, here it is May, the most beautiful month of the year and everything is coming up roses. So how about you and the guys play a little cheery something for Matt Gaetz and his sidekick Joel Greenberg:

If I had a boat I'd go out on the ocean And if I had a pony I'd ride him on my boat And we could all together Go out on the ocean Me upon my pony on my boat If I were Roy Rogers I'd sure enough be single I couldn't bring myself to marrying old Dale It'd just be me and trigger We'd go riding through them movies Then we'd buy a boat and on the sea we'd sail The mystery masked man was smart He got himself a Tonto 'Cause Tonto did the dirty work for free But Tonto he was smarter And one day said kemo sabe Kiss my ass I bought a boat I'm going out to sea...

(If I Had A Boat — Lyle Lovett)

[creepingsharia]

A Month of Islam in America: June 2019

Another month, and another step forward for sharia in America as more censorship was exposed. A whistleblower leak confirmed that @Pinterest protects Muslims and censors any reference to “creeping sharia,” and many other non-liberal topics.

Click any link below for more details and link to original source.

Jihad in America in June

Brooklyn: Muslim Immigrant Sentenced to 20 Years for Attempting to Join Islamic State (ISIS) Mohamed Rafik Naji was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Frederic Block for attempting to provide material support or resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization.  Naji pleaded guilty to the charge in February 2018.

Brooklyn: Muslim Woman Who Helped ISIS Gets 4 Years, But Will Be Out in 18 Months

With credit for time served, Sinmyah Amera Caesar will end up only serving about 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges accusing her of using social media to help recruit IS fighters under the nom de guerre “Umm Nutella.” She had also admitted violating a cooperation agreement with the government a — betrayal that infuriated prosecutors.

Illinois: Bosnian Muslim refugee and mother of 4  jailed for sending money, supplies to ISIS

Mediha Medy Salkicevic, a/k/a Medy Ummuluna, a/k/a Bosna Mexico, 39, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

Salkicevic, aka Medy Ummuluna and Bosna Mexico, espoused the ISIS philosophy that infidels should be killed and once said that unbelievers should be buried alive.

At the time of her arrest, she was working for an air cargo company at Chicago O'Hare Airport...

Illinois: Two Muslim converts convicted of aiding Islamic State (ISIS)

Joseph D. Jones and Edward Schimenti proudly waved a terrorist flag during a photo at a Lake Michigan park in Zion, had plotted to attack the Navy’s main U.S. training center near North Chicago and once had their eyes on planting an ISIS flag atop the White House.

Now Jones and Schimenti, both 37, have been found guilty of providing material support to ISIS.

Indiana: Yemeni Muslim who tried to join Islamic State terrorists gets 8 years in prison

U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker handed down the 100-month sentence Friday afternoon in the case against 21-year-old Akram Musleh, U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler announced.

He admitted in the plea agreement that from about April 2016 through June 21, 2016, he offered himself to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, also known as IS, knowing it was a “designated foreign terrorist organization.”

Pittsburgh: Syrian Muslim Refugee Arrested for Planning Jihad Attack on Christian Church

Mustafa Mousab Alowemer, 21, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was arrested today based on a federal complaint charging him with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and two counts of distributing information relating to an explosive, destructive device, or weapon of mass destruction in relation to his plan to attack a church in Pittsburgh.

“Court documents show Mustafa Alowemer planned to attack a church in the name of ISIS, which could have killed or injured many people...”

Ohio: Jordanian Muslim Immigrant Sentenced to 15 Years for Trying to Join Islamic State (ISIS)

A Dayton, Ohio man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 180 months in prison and 25 years of supervised release for attempting, and conspiring, to join the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). 

Laith Waleed Alebbini, 28, was convicted following a bench trial in November and December 2018 before U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.

Alebbini attempted, and conspired, to provide material support and resources to ISIS in the form of personnel, namely himself.

Alebbini, a citizen of Jordan and a U.S. legal permanent resident, was arrested by the FBI on April 26, 2017, at the Cincinnati/Kentucky International Airport, as he approached the TSA security checkpoint.

South Carolina: Muslim - twice convicted for attempts to join ISIS and kill Americans - gets 20-year prison sentence

A federal judge has sentenced a South Carolina man who tried to join ISIS to 20 years in prison.

Zakaryia Abdin, 20, pleaded guilty in September 2018. The Ladson man was arrested in March 2017.

New York: Bangladeshi Muslim immigrant arrested in Times Square terror plot

Ashiqul Alam was arrested Thursday after arranging through an undercover agent to buy a pair of semiautomatic pistols with obliterated serial numbers, prosecutors said. Police Commissioner James O’Neill said that development was “a clear indicator of (Alam’s) intent to move his plot forward.”

The defendant, a legal resident born in Bangladesh, moved to the U.S. as a child about 12 years ago...

He talked about wanting to “shoot down” gays, referring to them with a slur; using a “rocket launcher, like a huge one,” to cause havoc at the World Trade Center; and obtaining an enhanced driver’s license so he could walk onto a military base and “blow it up,” the documents said.

Illinois: Muslim Arrested for Threatening to Bomb Aurora Casino for Allah

A recently released affidavit and search warrant claimed that 30-year-old Musatdin M. Muadinov,  while detained by police on Feb. 12, vowed to “pray to Allah” to “destroy the casino.” He further demanded to meet with President Donald Trump, saying that if his demands were not met, “we would all meet Allah,” according to the affidavit obtained by the Daily Herald.

Muadinov — who was dressed in what police described as “Muslim attire” when arrested — waived his right to remain silent.

More Jihad in America in June

Florida: Suspect sent bomb threats to judges ‘for cause of Islamic State’

Nebraska: Heavily armed Marine arrested trying to enter Air Force Base

Arizona: Muslim shared terror propaganda before attacking police officer

Brooklyn: Muslim in Jail for ISIS Support Pleads Guilty to Slashing Correctional Officer

South Carolina: Man who pledged allegiance to ISIS hid explosive device in teddy bear

Arizona: Witness in probe of 2015 Islamic jihad attack on free speech event convicted of lying to FBI

Libyan National Found Guilty of Terrorism Charges in 2012 Attack on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi

Iraqi Muslim who orchestrated jihad attack that killed 5 U.S. troops gets 26 years prison, then release to Canada

Immigration Jihad in America

Minnesota’s first Somali Muslim cop gets 12 years for murdering Australian woman

Minnesota: St. Paul’s first Somali Muslim city council member says criticizing his homophobic comments is… Islamophobic

New York: Brooklyn Mosque Blasts Islamic Call to Prayer to 20 Block Radius (VIDEO)

Somalis have Changed Minneapolis

New York: Thousands of Muslims take over two city blocks in Brooklyn to pray in the streets

Four Muslim ISIS suspects arrested in Nicaragua, likely headed for US

Islamization of America

Pennsylvania: 167-year-old Catasauqua church will become Islamic mosque

Pennsylvania: Former Easton church is now a Sunni mosque

Pennsylvania: Former daycare in residential Salisbury to become Muslim “community center”

Virginia: Residential home in Annandale to become a Muslim funeral home

Education Jihad in America

New Jersey Public School District to Students: “May Allah Continue to Shower You Love and Wisdom”

Maryland school fails Christian student for refusing Islamic prayer

New York: Cornell Univ. Muslim Students Demand More “Prayer Rooms”

Stanford administrators say advertising for conservative event threatens Muslim students

The Muslim Brotherhood’s Muslim Students Association: What Americans Need to Know

DOE Investigating Elite Colleges For Hiding Saudi, Qatari Cash from Regulators

Islamic Slavery & Sexual Jihad in America

Virginia: Three Muslim family members arrested for conspiracy, forced labor, and document servitude 

Detroit Imam: Wife-Beating Serves to Remind Her That She Misbehaved (VIDEO)

Dhimmitude in Elected Office

Trump Admin Sues Greyhound for Banning Muslim Driver from Wearing Full Length Islamic Robe 

Democrat majority passes defense authorization bill that funds transfer of remaining Gitmo jihadis to U.S.

Minnesota: City of Bloomington allows terror mosque to flout local laws (VIDEO)

Minnesota city council votes 5-0 to ditch Pledge of Allegiance (to avoid offending Muslims)

Diversity is our Strength Alert

Minnesota’s first Somali Muslim cop gets 12 years for murdering Australian woman

Minnesota: St. Paul’s first Somali Muslim city council member says criticizing his homophobic comments is… Islamophobic

Boston Police Dept’s First Muslim Captain Put On Administrative Leave Amid ‘Anti-Corruption’ Investigation

Minnesota: First Muslim congresswoman Ilhan Omar fined by state for unlawful use of campaign funds

Minnesota Muslim Rep. Ilhan Omar filed joint tax returns before she married husband

Fraud for Jihad

Connecticut: Muslim Grocery Store Worker Pleads Guilty in $3.2M Federal Food Stamp Fraud

Massachusetts: Muslim Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Conspiracy

That’s just what we had time to compile for just the month of June.

Far too many steps forward for the sharia, and only a few pushbacks, but worth noting:

New Jersey: School District Scraps Posters Calling upon “Allah” to “Shower” Students with Blessings After Threat of Lawsuit 

Rather Than Go to Trial, Terror-linked CAIR Settles with the Victims They Defrauded 

Tunisian Muslim who swore allegiance to ISIS removed from U.S.

New York: Albany mosque imam convicted of terrorism is deported back to Iraq It’s almost midnight and Americans are losing their first amendment rights to sharia supremacists and the big technology, media and politicians who support them.

Please share this report before it’s too late.

[howdoipickauniqueusername]

Hi, I would love a ship please! Either for BMC, DEH, or Hamilton. You can choose. I have short hair that I dye whenever I get the chance. I’m bisexual so boy or girl works for me. I love to sing, read, ride my bike, walk all over my town, draw, write, and I have an addiction to reading fanfiction. I haven’t had the best past, but I’m very positive. I’m extremely smart, funny, and I’m very nice according to others. My friends say I’m gorgeous but I don’t believe them that much. Thank you so much!

Hi! Thank you so much for requesting! This is my first request ever so I’m sorry if it isn’t what you hoped for ;-;.

Anyway, I thought I’d do all three for you because why not 😅!

Also, I don’t know much about the character personalities for DEH, I’m just obsessed with it, so I’m sorry if the characters are ridiculously OC ;-;.

Also, so sorry for the wait - but thank you for being so nice and supportive and talking with me while I’ve been writing this :). It means a lot!

Be More Chill:

I ship you with Michael Mell!

Classic friends-to-lovers with Michael pining for you for years

He thought you were so amazingly talented like, holy crap like this level of creativity is unprecedented

He lives for seeing you die your hair, and later one when you guys are together he’s 100% helping you out with the process

His moms fricken love you

Like, you’re such a good influence!!

He studies more these days - he kinda wants to impress you

He really admires you - especially for your positivity

It rubbed off on him a lot!

You helped him with his anxiety a lot, since whenever you’re around, he feels a lot calmer and more peaceful

When he finds out that you haven’t had the best past, he doesn’t pressure you into telling him about it but he’s totally there for you if you ever want to talk about it

Loves to read your writing. Like, he doesn’t read that much but theres something about seeing his girlfriend’s works of art that just makes him so proud

Totally shows you off 24/7

Like, he will show people videos of you dancing and singing (how did he even get those lolol)

“She’s the fucking bomb”

If you’re into it, you guys would get high together some nights and just talk

For hours

He’s super cuddly when you guys are alone

So doting

He cherishes you so much omg

Definitely has a photo of you in his locker. And taped to the inside of his closet

Is actually really happy when he finds out you’re bisexual - he felt kinda nervous about telling you his own sexuality but now that you both know it’s like you’re even closer

You guys are the cutest power couple of the school, hands down

He’s a flustered, blushing mess if you do something even remotely adorable or flirty or anything literally

Like GOD YOU DO UNSPEAKABLE THINGS TO THIS BOI

Getting kicked out of 7/11 because you guys were laughing too loudly too much and kinda making a mess because Michael can’t use the slushie machine properly

Which is why that girl had to pour his for him lololol

When the whole SQUIP thing happens, his anxiety gets really bad, but he ends up loving you even more after it all because you were so supportive and kind and there for him through it all

Ends up getting really high one night soon afterwards and tells you that he really wants to be with you forever

He basically thinks you’re fucking perfect and how did he end up with someone this fricken amazing in his life???

Hamilton:

I ship you with Angelica Schuyler!

You guys were inseparable the moment you both met

Like, you both finally found someone who could relate

It’s a tough time for girls

But you both confided in each other - your love for the creative arts and her love for knowledge

FUCKING POWER COUPLE

You were both basically pushing over the patriarchy

Kinda upset a lot of people but who the f cares? You guys had each other

Went on walks together, sang, wrote and shared a lot of the same hobbies

Everyone was s h o o k e t h when you guys rode bikes together

Her dad was kinda upset but not really because he always knew Angelica wouldn’t want to conform she was too rebellious plus he just wanted his daughters to be happy

And you both made each other happy

When you guys are separated, letters every day omg

Loves how smart you are

Really deep conversations - especially at night and while you both snuck away from whatever party you were at

Secret kisses and snuggles - not so secret hand holding

Wants to help you focus on the present and the future, tries to make sure it’s as amazing as possible because she knows how tough its been for you

Thinks you’re really strong

Loves to touch your hair - she does it a lot when she’s stressed and you guys are alone

Loves the colours you choose

You guys are totally the leaders of the fe~ma~le~ revolution together

Since you guys can’t really go out on dates that much, you guys spend a lot of time together

Reading (like that one scene in Up!!!!)

Or just talking

Dear Evan Hansen:

I ship you with Connor Murphy! I’M HONESTLY REALLY SORRY IF IT’S A BIT OC ;-;

Can really relate when you tell him about your past

Really admires how strong you are for getting through it

You actually motivate him to get better, with your support of course

He slowly gets sober from the drugs he’d been involved with and although its a bit harder with the mental illnesses, he tries to talk to the school counsellors a bit more

Tbh, he didn’t think he had any chance with you at first

You were so nice and smart and gorgeous…

And you were so sweet and patient with him - so supportive!

He couldn’t really help falling in love with you

Feels really guilty when he lashes out at you

Loves hearing you sing, it’s like an angel’s lullaby to him

When either one of you are having a really tough day or just want to get away from your families, you’ll go for a walk around town or just sit in the park

A little bit jealous when he sees you with other guys, slightly possessive

But everyone knows you guys are together - a little bit of a weird couple at first, but as they get used to it, they find you guys adorable

People start talking to Connor more because he’s changed a lot since he met you

He honestly cherishes you. He thinks you’re God’s gift to the world

Insecure about whether or not you really want to be with him

Loves your hair

Kinda obsessed with it - will give you suggestions lolol

He isn’t really one for reading and writing, but he’ll read your stuff because it’s yours and he’d be damned if he wasn’t gonna support your hobbies

Plus you were really good

Like really good

Loves getting to spend time with you, just the two of you

Takes you to this spot in the park that’s secluded that he goes to sometimes to get off steam

Now it’s ‘your’ spot

He’s actually a huge tsundere

Lots of blushing when you guys are cuddling

But he loves it

You’re the first person to make him laugh so much and so quickly after he’s had a panic attack or breakdown

You guys support each other through thick and thin

Nothing can really get between you both

[insidethegiftbasket]

Domingo German

A Brief Editorial

I do not want German on the team. I do not like what he did, it appears that his teammates do not like what he’s done, and nothing he’s done off the field has made me think that he’s grown as a person. That said, he is a member of the team so Evan and I agreed to do a breakdown of him, and so I will be breaking down only his on the field work in here as fair as I possibly can. That said, hopefully it doesn’t matter because hopefully Deivi or Schmidt beat him out and take his job and the Yankees can send him off to KC or something.

A Second Brief Editorial

Evan here. Sam said everything I would, but with a greater sense of decorum. I have been actively booing his starts in ST with the same gusto that I cheer for Judge.

Okay, on to the stuff.

Basic Info

German is entering his age 29 season from San Pedro de Macoris, DR. He originally signed as an international free agent with the Marlins, but was traded to the Yankees along with Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Jones for Martin Prado and David Phelps in 2014. After needing Tommy John surgery, the Yankees non-tendered him, but lack of interest elsewhere led to him re-signing with the team, eventually making his MLB debut in 2017. He will be arbitration eligible after this season, and is under team control through the 2024 season. Domingo also has one minor league option remaining.

2019 Breakdown

Outside of five bad starts in the Dominican Winter League this past offseason, Domingo hadn’t pitched since his suspension in late 2019. However, in 2019 he was a fairly effective pitcher- obviously people don’t take pitcher wins super seriously anymore, but he went 18-4 with the best win percentage in baseball in 2019 with a .818 ERA, and that was with him missing time due to suspension and a hip strain. His overall ERA wasn’t great (just over 4) and his xERA was worse (4.51), but he got the job done in a season where the Yankees had a billion injuries and had to use the opener more than you’d like to see.

As a reminder for what Domingo does as a pitcher, he throws a four seam fastball that sits around 93 with a ton of spin, a tight curveball with lower than normal break, a sinker that has a ton of movement, and a really nasty change up that he throws around 87 mph.

German’s biggest problem as a starter has been his home run tendencies- he gives up a LOT of hard contact and gave up a LOT of home runs in 2019- 30 homers allowed, with 18.8% of all fly balls he allowed ending up in the seats. He has changeup/sinker pitch mix to give up more ground balls, but his four seam and curveball are the pitches that get absolutely hammered. His curve is his go-to out pitch and his main option for getting swings and misses against lefties and righties, and it had a 45% whiff rate in 2019 which is really good. The issue is that 41.4% of the curveballs that were actually hit ended up being hard hit, and of the 99 curveballs that ended up put in play, 19% of them went for extra bases. Of the 145 four seams put in play, nearly 10% ended up as home runs! Hopefully, for both his and the Yankees sake, the ball not being juiced anymore will lower those home run numbers to a more manageable spot.

Split wise, German struck out a lot more lefties, but lefties had an OPS over .130 better than righties against him, and 20 of the 30 homers he gave up were to lefties. Surprisingly though, he was significantly better at home than on the road:

He was also a lot better earlier on in the season, which could be for a couple reasons:

The May numbers are highly inflated by one start in Kansas City, which is where Domingo’s hip issues began—after that start and two poor starts in June, he went on the IL for a month. The July numbers were also heavily inflated because Domingo started the classic game against Minnesota with the Hicks catch. He also pitched way more innings than he had in the past, so by the end of the season he was going from 6 or 7 innings a game to 3 or 4.

One of the positive things German has going for him (and also a reason why he gives up a lot of homers) is that he’s pretty accurate with his pitches:

That’s a lot of red inside the strike zone, and not a lot of wasted pitches either. German only walked 6.6% of batters in 2019 and averaged about 15 pitches an inning, so if he can stay healthy and built up he can be the kind of guy you can rely on to get you into the sixth or seventh inning and not have to use your bullpen after four innings. If he had pitched last year, I’d have a lot more faith in him being the other workhorse of the Yankees team, but having barely pitch for 18 months means that I’d expect them to take it slower with him, or for him to move to the pen towards August again.

I think for Domingo to ever be more than a fourth or fifth option on a team, he needs to improve his batted ball types. German is someone that when you hit him, you hit him hard, but giving up 52% of your balls as either fly balls or line drives (remember, 18.8% of those fly balls ended up as homers) is an issue. His curve is his most thrown pitch, and it’s his main strikeout pitch, but part of me wonders if a sinker/change approach may be better suited, especially against lefties, just to try and force more grounders.

Lastly, while his xERA was a half run higher than his actual ERA in 2019, it was nearly two runs lower in 2018 and below a 3.00 xERA in 2017, so even if he regresses a bit, he can still be a valuable pitcher for the team.

Optimistic 2021 Projection

Domingo stays healthy and despite not pitching for a year and a half, is still able to give the team length out of the rotation for most of the season. He averages almost six innings a start, and puts up a 4.00 ERA as the fifth starter, giving the bullpen a rest and letting the Yankees high powered offense pick up the slack against the other team’s worst pitchers. He’s on the postseason roster as a reliever who can give a little length, and makes an appearance in October in a blowout. He ends up being an important part of the team thanks to his consistency and the amount of innings he ends up eating.

Pessimistic 2021 Projection

It turns out that missing a year and a half is really bad for pitching, and despite the good spring training stats, Domingo is terrible in the regular season. He has an ERA over 6 after April, and is sent down for Deivi Garcia. After an injury to a starter, Domingo gets the call back up, but continues to be bad, as he gives up homer after homer, including a five bomb game against Toronto as the Jays finish off the sweep. Domingo gets the boot and is designated for assignment the next day, and ends up pitching in Mexico in 2022.

Sam’s Official 2021 Gift Basket Projection

I think German will be mostly fine for the first half of the season- I’d expect an ERA around 4.50, averaging around six innings a start, with a couple starts looking really ugly with teams teeing off on him and a couple starts where he looks like an ace. However, I do think he ends up running out of steam around the All Star break, which is when he’ll most likely be replaced in the rotation by Schmidt, Severino, or Garcia, and that he’ll end up being a long man out of the pen down the stretch.

Join us tomorrow as Evan tries to remember whether its Zack or Zach, as we take you Inside the Gift Basket on RP, Zac(h/k) Britton.

[gontagokuhara]

me and @thisiswhatmylifeamountsto created a boyfriend for jared kleinman and here he is

lgbtrucy: idea: jared has the Biggest crush on one of his online gamer friends and while literally Everyone is aware hes gay (he told them all himself he wants them all to Know) he would rather die than admit he likes this online friendconnor finds out by accident. it turns wild

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Dude yes ((((((GAYmer friend)))))))) Nope you

*Nope you’re committed to this now - how does Connor find out? 

lgbtrucy: and i feel like jared has connor and evan over around his place and theyre playing something online and jared’s friend comes on and jared’s immediately like “evan give the controller to connor i cant look like my friends are bad at video games"and connor is like >:) whats this

and he isnt horrible at video games, he just doesnt rly care about them (and jared Knows This) so when connor starts playing the worst he’s ever played jared is pissed

lgbtrucy: “connor what the hell man, you’re making me look like shit, knock it off!!”

evan eventually catches on and he and connor just start. making the fuck out in the middle of the game and jared has to get his headset on and apologize to his friend

“dude im so sorry my co-op is making out with his boyfriend IN MY ROOM, WHICH IS REALLY FUCKING WEIRD CONNOR, anyways sorry but hes the only one here that can play w me”

lgbtrucy: and connor is a smug asshole so hes like “oh who you talking to jared??” and jared goes red as hell and is like “no one just a friend online—you Were playing against him until you started fucking evan on my bedroom floor”

and the tiniest, giggliest “hot” comes from the headset and In That Moment, evan and connor pledge themselves to hooking jared up w this mysterious gamer boy who is so obviously perfect for jared

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: THIS IS SO GOOD IM CACKLING AND CRYING Please tell me more about the adventures of Jared and mysterious gamer boy

lgbtrucy: ok So jared and mystery boy

lgbtrucy: his name is elliot, he’s half-korean, and i love him

lgbtrucy: hes goofy and more conventionally funny as opposed to jared, who’s funny by being kind of mean and using crude humor

lgbtrucy: anyways later on, evan is over at connor’s house and they break out connor’s scarcely-used xbox and send a friend request to elliot

once theyre friends, they sort of keep up appearences for a little while, playing games with him and eventually moving into text chatting and talking on headsets (connor had to spend $50 on a new headset. he was not pleased)

lgbtrucy: and one day they not-so-casually let slip the fact that they were “the guys who were fucking on jared’s floor” (evan nearly choked when elliot said that) and elliot is like !! “no way!! you guys are friends with jared?”

lgbtrucy: and because evan is a #good friend hes talking jared up “oh yeah jared is like my best friend, he’s so funny and cool and really good at video games” and elliots just “yeah, i know right” all dreamily and connor + evan know their plan is gonna Work

lgbtrucy: and connor says “maybe you two should meet up or something, i heard theres a convention or whatever near here this weekend” and elliot is like “!!heck yeah i just gotta ask my mom”

lgbtrucy: fastforward to the con: connor and evan are being dragged around by jared while he shows off excitedly but he suddenly halts when connor calls out, “hey, elliot.”

lgbtrucy: and jared doesnt know what elliot looks like. he doesnt know that its him officially. the only reason connor and evan know is bc they traded numbers and selfies so they could find each other

and elliot yells back “hey connor! hey evan!” and jared Knows because he knows his voice and he is ready to Die and break evan’s other arm

lgbtrucy: because evan Knows hes gay and even if he would rather cut off his own foot than admit he actually Likes elliot, evan knew that he thought really highly of him and What The Fuck evan???

lgbtrucy: and elliot approaches and looks at jared all smiles and asks him “jared?” and jared just kind of dazedly nods and elliot Lights Up and hugs him (jared nearly collapses) and is like “oh my god man im so excited to meet you!!!! i was looking forward to this all week since evan and connor told me about this!!!” and jared gives them A Look but hes lowkey happy

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Honestly this was all I ever wanted wow

lgbtrucy: so the four of them walk around the con, connor and evan kinda trailing behind because elliot is talking to jared about the mechanics behind some game they both like and how calculating the math of it made him really good, and it helps him w his adhd, and theyre all happy and gay(jared gets elliots number later)(and the rest is history) in conclusion im very passionate about jared and his gamer bf

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: That was beautiful I also applaud your dedication I am also v passionate about Jared and his gamer boyfriend tbh

lgbtrucy: #givejaredaboyfriend2k17

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Now that is a cause I can get behind I’m kinda laughing at imagining gamer bf finding out about jared’s obsession with bath bombs

lgbtrucy: jared whispers “love the cronch” and everyone else loses it but elliot is just ?? “what????”

lgbtrucy: its explained to him and more than anything hes confused about why he would waste a $10 bath bomb by eating it

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Honestly so am I Wtf Jared But just think about Connor embarrassing Jared as much as possible 

Because like He’s done the nice bit by getting them to meet And now he can be a little shit

lgbtrucy: “dear elliot cho we’ve been way too out of touch  life has been crazy and it sucks that we dont talk that much. but i should tell you that i think of you each night; i rub my nipples and start moaning in delight” “CONNOR WHAT THE F U C K NO”

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: I’M CRYING NO I CAN’T THAT WORKS SO WELL

lgbtrucy: while jared is Suffering elliot is just delighted at how cute he is “dont be embarrassed man its cute!!”

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: ((((((Dammit why am I so attached to this fictional fictional character))))) Also On the list of things I want for no particular reason Alana + Elliot brotp

lgbtrucy: YES they both talk a lot but theyre both very on par with each other intelligence wise so it balances out??

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Yes yes yes 

They do that thing where they both speak over each other a lot but they’re both happy because they’re enjoying what they’re talking about Plus Elliot is the one who gets her to call her friends her friends instead of her acquaintances

lgbtrucy: ye hes a good influence on everybody but everybody is Not a good influence on him

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Tell me more?

lgbtrucy: connor gets him high and he nearly drowns himself trying to race connor in a swimming contest

lgbtrucy: jared fucks his sense of humor for good. everytime someone mentions the word “dick” he laughs for ten minutes straigh

tzoe convinces him to dye his hair baby pink. she messes up the dying process and he ends up with electric pink hair

evan and alana are the only good influences 

tbhthisiswhatmylifeamountsto: So far he’s got bright pink hair, laughing at dicks and drowning Amazing ((((OK but Jared being a little shit all the time But when Elliot thinks he’s going to far He gives Jared a look Like a LOOK And Jared is sort of like Oh shit OK That was pretty fucked up Sorry))))

lgbtrucy: yes!! he uses that look a Lot when connor and jared are in the same room

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Oh yeah definitely But one time Jared, Connor, Elliot and Evan are together for a while And Elliot doesn’t have to use the look once And he’s really damn impressed

lgbtrucy: jared gets an extra round of smorches. jared decides he likes that better than fucking w connor

thisiswhatmylifeamountstoYes But Connor is really confused??? Because like Sure Jared’s better with Elliot But suddenly he’s a downright angel??? And it’s weird But one day when Connor is feeling like shit Jared genuinely helps him out And Connor doesn’t care what happened It happened And it’s good

lgbtrucy: they still fuck w each other but its more lighthearted 

nowthisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Like more “Hey I’m kinda being mean to you but it’s ok because we both know we love each other But in a heterosexual way Because we would never date Ever No Stop thinking about it" 

Honestly Elliot sometimes questioned whether he should wonder if Jared was cheating on him but he A) trusted Jared B) could see how in love Connor was with Evan

lgbtrucy: he realizes even tho theyre being nicer to each other they could never date. they get caught at evans house together when a bad storm hits and they have to stay overnight and by the time they leave theyre beginning to go at each others throats so. no chemistry there

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Accurate Wait crap what about the Evan + Elliot brotp

lgbtrucy: they get along rly well honestly theyre good influences

elliot has adhd so he Knows how it feels when things become too much nd they can bond over similar experiences

lgbtrucy: good friends 10/10 would brotp

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: I feel like their friendship is really pure Like half the time their conversations are just a bunch of compliments thrown at each other? Honestly I’m convinced that Elliot is my fave and this is really bad

lgbtrucy: elliot is the unproblematic fave

he just likes video games and his friends and his bf

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: ok but Elliot not having any close friends He’s that guy who chats to everyone but has noone to confide in etc And then he finds some online But it’s still not the same And suddenly he has five??? And like They all really like him Like obviously he knew Jared And he got to know Connor and Evan But Zoe and Alana love him too And I’m just such trash for this au wow

lgbtrucy: ELLIOT LOVES ALL OF HIS BEST FRIENDS

when someone asks who his bff is he cant choose"oh man i dont know!! i love all my friends the same theyre all really great” (crying boyfriend sounds in the distance)

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Honestly every time Elliot does something really sweet/pure/nice Jared cannot handle it At all Because !!!! MY !!!!!!!! BOYFRIEND !!!!! HE’S SO CUTE But going back to drunk Jared Imagine drunk Jared with sober Elliot

lgbtrucy: "HI DID YOU KNOW I LOVE MY BOYFRIEND ELLIOT HES REALLY NICE AND CUTE AND R ES LLY GOOD AT VIDEO GAMES”

lgbtrucy: “o….oh really?” elliot is dying blushing at this point

“YEA HES REALLY GOOD DID YOU KNOW HE USES MATH AND SHIT TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES? IT SOUNDS LAME BUT HES RESLLY GOOD. AND ALSO VERY CUTE DID I MENTION I LOVE MY BOYFRIEJD HIS NAME IS ELLIOT”

someone (probably connor or zoe) is recording at this point. evan is near tears lauging. elliot is In Love

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: When Jared watches the video in the morning he gets really nervous because he hasn’t seen Elliot that morning But when he does “So I hear you have a boyfriend named Elliot and he’s really cute? Interestingly enough I have a boyfriend named Jared’s who’s really cute - look how much we have in common” And Jared dies

lgbtrucy: DHSHSHS YES THATS SO CUTE (connor posts the video. it goes semi-viral. jared dies for a different reason)

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: (Jared moans that he’s lost all of his street cred Nobody has the heart to tell him he never had any in the first place) OK but how often do Jared and Elliot so they’re going on a date And then the next day everyone finds out the ‘date’ consisted of beating each other at every single video game either of them owned

lgbtrucy: elliot is always swooning over these “super romantic” dates and everyone is like ??? jared?? ROMANTIC??? and its a big thing trying to find out just what jared and elliot do

turns out these romantic dates are playing video games for 10 hours and then going to mcdonalds at 3 am and sharing a milkshake

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Like when they find out everybody sort of wonders why they expected anything else 

They met in person at a con through a shared love for video games after about three months of planning because neither of them wanted to make a move

lgbtrucy: elliot, unironically: jared is the most romantic person in the world everyone: that sounds fake but ok

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: But I feel like Jared would be a really attentive bf Like he actually pays attention to what’s going on in Elliot’s life Like the day he has a big exam he has everything 100% prepared to congratulate him/cheer him up depending on how it went

lgbtrucy: hes a really good bf but only like…..secretly. he has to keep up his Insanely Cool Jared Kleinman appearance

physical affection is where he hesitates tho hes v awkward with holding hands/kissing/cuddling. elliot has to initiate all of it

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: Elliot so called him that once to make fun of him but it’s stuck now and they can’t get Jared to stop coming into a room announcing himself as the INSANELY COOL JARED KLEINMAN 

Elliot felt awkward about it first because he wasn’t sure whether Jared was comfortable with it and he didn’t want to make Jared feel bad But then they have a long, way-overdue talk and work out how things are gonna work

lgbtrucy: its not from a lack of interest that jared doesnt initiate it he just. where do u put ur hands. is it weird to just kiss ur bf randomly. fuck evan was right hands DO get sweaty abd [panic alarm] but as soon as elliot touches him hes like “nice” and is totally into it

thisiswhatmylifeamountsto: OK honestly I’m so sad that Elliot doesn’t exist he’s literally Jared’s ideal boyfriend this is such a travesty

lgbtrucy: make elliot famous

THE ELLIOT PROJECT

except its me posting at 2 am about how much i love him

[its-kiripima-to-you]

All of the vaguely nsfw asks 💗

1. Are looks important in a relationship? Not really, I mean if they’re good looking that’s cool but it’s not the end all be all.

2. Are relationships ever worth it? I think so, yeah.

3. Are you a virgin? YEET

4. Are you in a relationship? YEAH BOIIII

5. Are you in love? I’M NOT GONNA HAVE THIS CONVERSATION RN XD 

6. Are you single this year? Nah son

7. Can you commit to one person? Of course.

8. Describe your crush Perfection and all mine. My Kinzie.

9. Describe your perfect mate Someone who’s my lover and best friend who I can be open with. Someone who genuinely cares for me and is loyal.

10. Do you believe in love at first sight? I do with food. Sometimes with people

11. Do you ever want to get married? Eventually

12. Do you forgive betrayal? Never

13. Do you get jealous easily?Sometimes yeah

14. Do you have a crush on anyone? My girl

15. Do you have any piercings? two in each lobe

16. Do you have any tattoos? Thinking about getting them

17. Do you like kissing in public? If it’s in good taste.

20. Do you shower every day? Most times, sometimes every other day.

21. Do you think someone has feelings for you? Yes

22. Do you think someone is thinking about you right now? Maybe?

23. Do you think you can last in a relationship for 6 months and not cheat? I know I can.

24. Do you think you’ll be married in 5 years? I have no clue but I’m no seer

25. Do you want to be in a relationship this year? I’m in one, hot shot.

26. Has anyone told you they don’t want to ever lose you? I don’t think so, I know I’ve said it.

27. Has someone ever written a song or poem for you? I don’t think so? This one boy named his Build-A-Bear Jackie Legs when we were 8 and I was uncomfortable as hell.

28. Have you ever been cheated on? Yes, and I fucking hate them.

29. Have you ever cheated on someone? Hell fucking no

30. Have you ever considered plastic surgery? If so, what would you change about your body? lol no

31. Have you ever cried over a guy/girl? yeh

32. Have you ever experienced unrequited love? Yeah

33. Have you ever had sex with a man? No

34. Have you ever had sex with a woman? No

35. Have you ever kissed someone older than you? Yeah

36. Have you ever liked one of your best friends? Yes

37. Have you ever liked someone who your friends hated? Yep

38. Have you ever liked someone you didn’t expect to? Yup

39. Have you ever wanted someone you couldn’t have? Yeeep

40. Have you ever written a song or poem for someone? I wrote a fan fiction exposing them as the horrible person they were and it got popular and I don’t talk about it.

41. Have you had sex so far this year? What’s sex? Is that a plant?

42. How long can you just kiss until your hands start to wander? Tbh it really depends on the person, your comfort zones, and your connection and whatnot

43. How long was your longest relationship? 7 months

44. How many boyfriends/girlfriends have you had? 8 boyfriends 1 girlfriend (who I’m currently with)

45. How many people did you kiss in 2012/2013? My boyfriend at the time

46. How many times did you have sex last year? WHAT IS THIS SEX

47. How old are you? 19

48. If the person you like says they like someone else, what would you say? K cool bye 

49. If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend, what is your favorite thing about him/her? WHY YOU MAKING ME PICK WHERE’S THE ALADDIN SWOONING GIF??? LIKE??? Her eyes, her dimples, her giggle, how her nose crinkles a little when she laughs, her eyebrows are fuckin bomb, i love her lips…

50. If your first true love knocked on your door with apology and presents, would you accept? lol no, fuck off

51. Is there a boy/girl who you would do absolutely everything for? My squad and my girl

52. Is there anyone you’ve given up on? Why? Yeah, they were toxic

53. Is there someone mad because you’re dating/talking to the person you are? Nah

54. Is there someone you will never forget? There are lots of peoples

55. Share a relationship story. Hot Topic, last week. Oh boy.

56. State 8 facts about your body I’m left handed, I have a baby gap between my two front teeth, I have a scar on my calf from a broken bike pedal, I have a scar on my forehead from a lifeguard’s teeth, I have size 13 (in women’s) feet, my eyebrows look like mad scientist brows if I don’t do them, my neck is super sensitive, I’m ticklish af

57. Things you want to say to an ex I don’t wanna talk to them tbh

58. What are five ways to win your heart? Bring me you and food, call me cute nicknames and give me attention, actually listen and remember what I say, gimme cuddles, make me laugh

59. What do you look like? (Post a picture!) or nahh

60. What is the biggest age difference between you and any of your partners? uhhhh…. 6 years?

61. What is the first thing you notice in someone? lips, smile, eyes

62. What is the sexiest thing someone could ever do for/to you? Well right now if they brought me some dinner xD Well honesty is pretty sexy and validating me and just loving me

63. What is your definition of “having sex”? WHAT IS A SEX… but for real it just varies from person to person

64. What is your definition of cheating? Y’all fuckin know what it is. Dating someone else/ Having the sexuals with someone else

65. What is your favourite foreplay routine? YO THAT’S BETWEEN ME AND MY PARTNER

66. What is your favourite roleplay?Not tellin ya

67. What is your idea of the perfect date? Swing dancing, Diner Dinner, and a Drive-in movie

68. What is your sexual orientation? Bisexual with a preference for women

69. What turns you off? Lying, manipulation, being an asshole in the bad way, racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, fuckboys…

70. What turns you on? Praise from my partner, N E C K K I S S E S B O I, WHISPERED SWEET NOTHINGS, loyalty

71. What was your kinkiest wet dream? the wettest dream I had was when I shoved Sebastian Stan into a water fountain in Central Park, Y’ALL AIN’T GONNA KNOW MAH SEX DREMS

72. What words do you like to hear during sex? Y’all ain’t gonna know

73. What’s something sweet you’d like someone to do for you? TAKE ME DANCING PLEASE ALSO LOVE ME UNCONDITIONALLY 

74. What’s the most superficial characteristic you look for?  Gewd lewks

75. What’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for you? My best friend took me in when I got kicked out

76. What’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever done for someone?I don’t know tbh

77. What’s your opinion on age differences in relationships? IF IT’S LEGAL THEN OKAY

78. What’s your dirtiest secret? Idk?

79. When was the last time you felt jealous? Why? wot

80. When was the last time you told someone you loved them? My baby brother a few days ago

81. Who are five people you find attractive? Kinzieeee, Sebastian Stan, Chris Evans, Tom Holland, Paul Rudd

82. Who is the last person you hugged? My grandmother

83. Who was your first kiss with? This dude who kissed me at homecoming

84. Why did your last relationship fail? HE WAS A HOE WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME

85. Would you ever date someone off of the Internet? yeet.

[weekendwarriorblog]

WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND October 26, 2018  - HUNTER KILLER, INDIVISIBLE, JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN

A very impressive October is going to fizzle out this weekend with three weaker offerings that will allow Universal’s Halloween to dominate the box office for a second weekend in a row, even though Halloween proper isn’t until next Wednesday.  (Honestly, the release of the video game sequel Red Dead Redemption II Friday might keep many guys at home in front of their consoles this weekend.)

HUNTER KILLER (Summit/Lionsgate)

The widest and most prominent new movie of the weekend is a submarine action-thriller starring Gerard Butler and recent Oscar-winner Gary Oldman, being released into roughly 2,600 theaters by Lionsgate subdivision Summit Entertainment. It deals with a submarine captain who works with a Navy SEAL team to try to rescue the Russian President from a Russian general who has staged a coup.

Butler has been out and about doing promotion for this movie directed by Donovan Marsh (director of something called Spud), but he’s already had a good year, coming off the surprise crime-thriller hit Den of Thieves earlier this year, which grossed $45 million. Butler’s previous movie Geostorm was a catastrophic bomb, at least in North America where it grossed $33 million on a $120 million budget. (It did better overseas.) The previous year, Butler had a similar mix of hits (the sequel London Has Fallen) and over-priced CG bombs (Gods of Egypt), but he’s still maintaining some of the box office pull he first found with Zack Snyder’s action 300in 2007.

Butler does get a boost among older moviegoers with the presence of Gary Oldman, who finally won an Oscar playing Winston Churchill in last year’s Darkest Hour, which grossed $56 million. In 2017, Oldman benefitted from appearing in the Samuel Jackson-Ryan Reynolds action-comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard, which grossed $75 million on the tail-end of summer. Even so, Oldman has had a spotty track record at the box office with hits like Dawn of the Planet of the Apesand Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight movies countered with bombs like Child 44 and Criminal. The movie also stars Billy Bob Thornton, Willem Dafoe, Linda Cardellini, as well as Common, who is making his fifth movie appearance in the last month!

Although there have been many submarine movies over the years including the Oscar-nominated German film Das Boot in the early ‘80s, the two biggest submarine films were the Jack Ryan film The Hunt for Red October, starring Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin, in 1990, and Denzel Washington’s Crimson Tide in 1995, the latter written by Quentin Tarantino. Those grossed $122 and $91.4 million respectively, and 2000’s U-571 also performed respectively with $77 million. Two years later, K-19: The Widowmaker with Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson ended up with about half that amount, and few submarine films have done well since with 2013’s Phantom and 2015’s Black Sea, each barely cracking a million.

One presumes that even with the success Butler has had with some of his recent ventures, particularly the “Fallen franchise” (or whatever you wanna call it), it might be harder to bring out all of his mostly male fans with a submarine movie. It just seems like this is coming out too soon after Halloween and other stronger releases that might keep this from making more than $10 million over the weekend.

INDIVISIBLE (Pure Flix)

The next widest release of the weekend is yet another faith-based film, the new one from David G. Evans, who previously directed The Grace Card, which made $2.4 million after being released into 352 theaters by Samuel L. Goldwyn in 2011.

This is a biopic about Army Chaplain Darren Turner, as played by Justin Bruening from Grey’s Anatomy, and his wife Heather (Sarah Drew), who try to save their marriage after he get back from war with PTSD. It seems like a fairly typical faith-based film, and it’s the fifth film from PureFlix this year, the previous four grossing between $4.7 and $6.2 million. That’s a far cry from the some of the bigger Christian hits like 2008’s Fireproof or 2011’s Courageous, both which grossed in the $33 to 34 million range. It’s also nowhere even close to the $83.5 million grossed by I Can Only Imagine, which is by far, the biggest Christian hit of the year.

The lack of success of many recent faith-based films, including Unbroken: Path to Redemption (that $6.2 million PureFlix release) and God Bless the Broken Road, which made half that amount, makes it seem like there just isn’t interest in a Christian movie not based on a well-known book or song.

Indivisible is being released into around 1,000 theaters, which means it probably will end up opening in the same $2 to 3 million range as some of the other releases mentioned, which might be a push to get it into the bottom of the top 10.

JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN (Focus Features)

A movie that normally would have gotten a straight-to-video release in the early ‘00s is just barely getting a theatrical release into 500 theaters, and that’s Rowan Atkinson’s third outing as the bumbling British spy Johnny English, who this time takes on the threat of a cyber-attack.

Atkinson created the character in 2003 for the movie Johnny English, which grossed $28 million domestic after a $9.1 million opening, but the movie grossed $132 million overseas including $31.1 million in the United Kingdom, where Atkinson is quite famous for his show Blackadder and comic character Mr. Bean.  

The 2011 sequel Johnny English Reborn might have done better if it was released soon enough to capitalize on the success of the first movie, but in fact, it did even better overseas with $151 million ($33 million of that from the UK) compared to the mere $8.3 million in North America.

Obviously, Universal Pictures wasn’t going to spend a lot of money to promote a third movie in the States, considering how poorly the previous movie did. Instead, they dumped it to its little brother Focus Features, who are wisely only releasing it into 500 theaters this weekend with the smallest amount of promotion.

The movie also stars Olga Kuryenko, Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon, Charles Dance and James Lacy, which is a decent enough cast to bring in some Anglophile parents with their kids, but it’s hard to imagine this can make more than $2 million, which will probably place it outside the Top 10.

With most of the returning movies remaining dominant, there aren’t many questions to ask: Whether Gerard Butler’s Hunter Killer does better than I projected, and whether Fox’s The Hate U Give will capitalize on the word-of-mouth from its impressive A+ CinemaScore to maybe overtake First Man or even Goosebumps in their respective third weekends. Regardless, this week’s Top 10 should look something like this…

1. Halloween (Universal) - $35 million -54% 2. A Star is Born  (Warner Bros.) - $13.5 million -30% 3. Venom  (Sony) - $9.1 million -50% 4. Hunter Killer  (Lionsgate/Summit) - $8.4 million N/A 5. Goosebumps: Haunted Halloween  (Sony) - $6.1 million -37% 6. First Man  (Universal) – $5.1 million -40% 7. The Hate U Give (20thCentury Fox) - $5 million -35% 8. Smallfoot  (Warner Bros.) - $4.2 million -35% 9.Night School  (Universal) - $3 million - 10. Indivisible (Pure Flix) - $2.8 million -40% -- Johnny English Strikes Again(Focus Features) - $1.8 million N/A

LIMITED RELEASES

The big limited release this weekend is Luca Guadagnino’s long-awaited remake of Dario Argento’s SUSPIRIA (Amazon), which will open in New York and L.A. Friday.  It stars Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) as Susie Bannion, a young woman from a Memonite background who comes to Berlin in 1977 to study at a prestigious dance school with the legendary Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton), but she soon finds out that there’s more to the all-women school than she thinks – in fact, it’s a witch’s coven. At the same time, psychiatrist Dr. Josef Klemperer (also played by Swinton!!) is trying to learn the truth about the school after one of his patients – a dancer at the school -- vanishes. Featuring an all-female cast that includes Chloe Grace Moretz, Mia Goth and Sylvie Testud, this is an amazing film that’s mostly a tense drama for the first 45 minutes, but then quickly turns into a suitably gory thrill-ride that gets completely insane in the last act. At the same time, it’s an interesting look at a historical period of time that overlays with the story going on at the dance school.

Also quite good is BURNING (Well Go USA), South Korea’s Oscar entry and the new movie from Lee Chang-dong (Secret Sunshine). It stars Ah-In Yoo as Jong-su Lee, an assuming young man who hooks up with a girl from his old village, but when she returns from a trip to Africa, she’s a dashing and rich man, played by Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead), who Jong-su immediately suspects of hiding something.  You can read what I wrote about the movie in my New York Film Festival coveragea few weeks back.

Sweden’s Oscar entry is Ali Abbasi’s BORDER (Neon), a strange fairy tale romance about a Swedish border guard named Tina (Eva Melender), whose chromosome defect makes her look different from others. Even so, she has the ability to sniff out anyone trying to smuggle anything across the border, which proves useful for a job. When Tina meets a “man” a lot like her, the two fall into a romance, which distracts Tina from a job finding a pedophile ring. Adapted by John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In) from his short story Gräns, it’s a truly original film at a time when we’re not getting very original movies, and it’s a strange concept that grows on you as it veers further into the fantasy realm. To say more about the Cannes award winner and some of its plot twists would be doing it a disservice, so just check out the trailer.

Stephen Dorff and Melissa George star in David Gleeson’s psychological thriller DON’T GO (IFC Films) as a couple dealing with their young daughter’s death by moving to a seaside village where their life is disrupted as the girl begins appearing to him in a dream.

Billy Bob Thornton stars in the long-delayed adaptation of Martin Amis’ 1989 noir novel LONDON FIELDS  (GVN Releasing) directed by Matthew Cullen. Set in 1999, Thornton plays novelist Samson Young, whose life starts coming apart when he meets Amber Heard’s manipulative Nicola Six, who becomes Samson’s muse to break him out of writer’s block. Also starring Johnny Depp – in one of the most ridiculous performances of his career—Jim Sturgess, Cara Delevigne and Jamie Alexander, this movie was pulled from the Toronto Film Festival a few years back and has been entangled in legal battles. Having seen it, I can tell you that it’s a very, very bad movie.

Meanwhile, Susan Sarandon plays an ER nurse whose journalist son (Matt Bomer) has been kidnapped in Syria in Maryam Keshavarz’s VIPER CLUB  (YouTube Originals/Roadside Attraction), which opens in New York and L.A. this weekend and then expands to more cities next week.

Latin-American filmmaker Lorena Villareal’s SILENCIO (Tulip Pictures) is a sci-fi drama starring John Noble, Rupert Graves and Melina Matthews, the latter playing Ana, who must find a stone discovered by her grandfather in the Zone of Silence, the Bermuda Triangle of Mexico, which has enough interest from others who want the stone’s power for themselves.

Now playing at the Film Forum is Life and Nothing More from Spanish filmmaker Antonio Mendez Esparza, starring Regina Williams as the mother of a 14-year-old son Andrew, whose life has been spiraling downwards and it gets worse when her son is confronted by a white couple. The film won the John Cassavetes Award for a film under $500,000 at the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards earlier this year.

Would you believe that I have yet to see a movie directed by Frederick Wiseman despite being a huge documentary fan? The master documentarian’s new movie Monrovia, Indiana  (Zipporah Films) will open at the Film Forumon Friday, as well as in L.A. on Nov. 2 and other cities to follow. I haven’t seen it, but I assume it’s about a town in Indiana.

Sanjay Rawal’s doc 3100: Run and Become  (Spartan), opening in New York Friday and in L.A. on Nov. 9, follows a Finnish paperboy and an Austrian cellist who attempt to complete the New York-based Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race over the course of 52 days .

STREAMING

Sandi Tan’s doc SHIRKERS (Netflix) is about how in 1992 she tried to make an independent serial killer film called “Shirkers” in Singapore until the footage was stolen, and it certainly looks intriguing.  (It’s also getting a one-week release at Metrographif you want to see it on the big screen.) Also, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, based on the teenage witch featured in Archie Comics, will stream its first season starting Friday.

REPERTORY

METROGRAPH (NYC):

Just in time for Halloween, the theater will be one of a couple that will be showing a restoration of John Carpenter’s 1980 horror film The Fog, starring Adrienne Barbeau and Jamie Lee Curtis. (I wonder what happened to her?) Thursday, the theater presents Paul Auster X2, showing two movies by author Paul Auster: Lulu on the Bridge (1998) and The Inner Life of Martin Frost (2007), both on 35mm with Auster in attendance.   This weekend’s Playtime: Family Matinee is one of my all-time favorites Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)—who knows? I might even go see it again.

FILM FORUM (NYC):

Starting Friday is a restoration of Luchino Visconti’s 1954 film Senso (Rialto Pictures) with new subtitles that incorporates dialogue by Tennessee Williams and Paul Bowles written for the English adaptation The Wanton Contessa. It’s set during the 1866 battle of Custoza between Austria and Italy, after which Contessa Alida Valli decides to betray her own country’s cause in favor of a relationship with an Austrian deserter.Probably not my kind of thing, but perfect for the Film Forum crowd.

EGYPTIAN THEATRE (LA):

Just in time for Halloween, the Egyptian will show the restoration of Bill Gunn’s Ganja and Hess (1973; Kino Lorber), starring Duane Jones (Night of the Living Dead), which Spike Lee remade a few years back. A discussion will follow the screening on Monday night.

AERO  (LA):

The theater’s Halloween horror series includes double features of The Abominable Dr. Phibes with The Devil’s Rain on Friday night, Frankenstein with Bride of Frankenstein on Sunday night, and an All-night Horrorthon on Saturday night, which includes such “classics” like Jason X,Maximum Overdrive, Zombie 3, a 25th anniversary screening of Body Melt and more.

QUAD CINEMA (NYC):

I missed last week’s horror series but this week is A Woman’s Bite: Sapphic Vampires, an amazing series of vampire lesbians including Tony Scott’s The Hunger (1983), Dracula’s Daughter (1936), the Spanish-German film Vampyros Lesbos (1971) and many other rare offerings.

IFC CENTER (NYC)

This week’s Weekend Classics: Coen Brothers offering is one of my favorites, 1990’s Miller’s Crossing, showing Friday though Sunday at 11AM. Also The Water Margin (1972) is shown as part of the Shaw Brothers Spectacularsseries. Maybe even more importantly, the theater will kick-off a week-long Directed by Orson Welles series that will lead directly into the release of the long-incomplete The Other Side of the Wind, which will show at the IFC Center along with Morgan Neville’s doc They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead. It will include 35mm prints of Chimes at Midnight, Mr. Arkadin and F for Fake.

LANDMARK THEATRES NUART  (LA):

This will also be showing the 4k restoration of John Carpenter’s The Fog.

MOMA (NYC):

Modern Matinees: Vincent Pricecontinues with Roger Corman’s The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) on Thursday afternoon, Return of the Fly (1959) on Friday afternoon and House of Wax (1953) on Halloween afternoon. The Museum of Modern Art also kicks off a new series called Catalan Cinemas Radical Years: 1968 – 1978 for the more experimental as filmmakers used their craft to rebel against Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco’s last years in power.

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE (NYC):

This weekend sees the self-explanatory series Beyond Halloween: Five Horror Films by John Carpenter, which will screen The Thing, Christine, Prince of Darkness, Body Bags and In the Mouth of Madness. Just in time for the movie’s 25thAnniversary, the theater’s Family Program will screen Hocus Pocus on Saturday afternoon.

That’s it for this week, but next week, the holiday movie season kicks off with Bohemian Rhapsody, Disney’s Nutcracker and the Four Realms and Tyler Perry’s Nobody’s Fool starring Tiffany Haddish.

[oraneproductions]

This would be the worst possible time for a Yoenis Cespedes DL stint

May 18, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto (30) hits an rbi single during the first inning of the game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports (Gregory Fisher)

The Mets (24-20) wrap up their three-game series against the Marlins (18-30) on Wednesday night at Citi Field at 7:10.

Mets notes…

The Mets are 5-2 on their current homestand, which concludes tonight. … The Mets are 4-1 against the Marlins this season, posting a 2.20 ERA in 45.0 innings against them. … Mets pitching has struck out nine or more batters in seven straight games — tied for the longest streak in franchise history. … The Mets have 14 come-from-behind wins this season — the third most in the majors.

May 20, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets pinch hitter Asdrubal Cabrera (13) reacts with shortstop Jose Reyes (7) after hitting the game winning two run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports (Andy Marlin)

On the latest episode of Shea Anything, Doug Williams and Andy Martino discuss the sad state of affairs surrounding Jose Reyes, the Jose Bautista signing, and the importance of getting quality starts from the likes of Zack Wheeler and Jason Vargas.

Plus, Doug and Andy want to hear from you! Go to SNY.tv/SheaAnything and upload a video or audio clip of your take on the Mets. Keep it to 30 seconds or less, make it good, and you may be on the show!

Click below to listen!

Michael Conforto celebrates with Wilmer Flores and Brandon Nimmo after the Mets beat the D-backs in walk-off fashion at Citi Field on Saturday. (Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)

The Mets may have young pitching to gamble on, but it’s become painfully obvious that they’re significantly lacking in young hitters. What’s worse, the young hitters they do have in Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and Amed Rosario are not yet consistently living up to their potential.

As a result, and because the team is without Yoenis Cespedes, Todd Frazier, and Juan Lagares — the Mets signed free-agent OF-3B Jose Bautista on Tuesday.

To the tune of no more than $545,000, the Mets can simply release Bautista if he is unproductive. Thankfully, they pay the same price if he exceeds expectations and discovers the Fountain of Youth. Therefore, the decision to sign Bautista, start him in left field and have him bat fifth was a no brainer given their available internal options….

2:39PM

Share: New York Mets third baseman Jose Reyes (7) (Noah K. Murray)

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | Word this afternoon is that Jose Reyes’ roster spot remains safe, at least over the next several days. The Mets do not plan to cut him as a reaction to last night’s two error performance.

That equation could change before long, though — especially when Todd Frazier returns from the disabled list. At that point, the team could buy time on a Reyes decision by optioning Luis Guillorme or a reliever. Or they could decide that Reyes’ long Mets career is over.

Reading between the lines, if Reyes doesn’t show value soon, the end could be drawing near. It just won’t come today.

Piazza breaks his bat at the plate at Shea Stadium in 1999. Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler winds up. (AP)

Tuesday was an important night for Zack Wheeler, who I hope understands how and why he was so effective after a difficult first inning. Instead of just pounding the bottom of the strike zone, Wheeler was wild, but effective.

It all changed for Wheeler in the second inning, down three runs with two outs and runners on second and third base. If Marlins 1B Justin Bour gets the fifth hit of the inning, the game is blown wide open, Wheeler is demoralized and out of the game sooner than later, the Mets easily lose and the bullpen gets taxed again.

However, after a quick mound visit from Tomas Nido and Dave Eiland, and with a 2-2 count, Wheeler set up Bour with an unhittable 97-mph fastball inside. Then, with what was his most important pitch of the night, Wheeler dropped a perfectly-placed 91-mph splitter down and inside for a swing-and-miss strikeout to end the inning.

In the latest installment of Gameday, Keith Hernandez discusses how he prepares his scorecard for each night’s game.

May 22, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray)

Mets RHP Zack Wheeler allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings against the Marlins on Tuesday night, and was done in by an inexcusable error by Jose Reyes in the second inning.

With runners on first and second and one out in the second, pitcher Caleb Smith bunted toward Reyes at third base while attempting to move the runners over. Reyes fielded the ball and would have had the runner out by 20 feet at second base, but didn’t throw there. Instead, he hesitated before throwing wild to first base — allowing Smith to reach.

After Wheeler got Martin Prado to pop out for the second out of the inning, J.T. Realmuto’s two-run single made it 3-0, Marlins, with both runs unearned due to Reyes’ gaffe…

9:31AM

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Porsche, Coca-Cola®, and the Mets have teamed up to provide fans the opportunity to win an experience to catch the Mets take on the Braves in Atlanta.

Enter for the chance for you and a guest to win this once in a lifetime trip, including the following:

Roundtrip airfare for two Hotel accommodations for two for one night Two tickets to the Mets vs. Braves game on Tuesday, June 12th Access to pre-game batting practice on the field at SunTrust park Gift card for the food and beverage at the game

The newest member of the Mets arrived just in time for Tuesday night’s game against the Marlins and made an immediate impact.

Jose Bautista, recently released by the Braves, doubled in his first at-bat and scored the Mets’ only run of the night. He batted fifth and started in left field.

Bautista flew from Tampa to New York in the afternoon to join the Mets, who were searching for a right-handed hitter to add depth in their depleted outfield.

By Michael Avallone | May 22 | 10:11PM

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Caleb Smith allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings to help the Marlins end the Mets’ winning streak at four games with a 5-1 win on Tuesday night at Citi Field.

Things you should know about tonight’s game…

1) Zack Wheeler overcame a shaky second inning to turn in a solid start for New York, scattering seven hits and allowing three runs — one earned — on 106 pitches in six innings. He retired 13-of-his-last-15 batters and matched his season high with nine strikeouts while issuing no walks for the first time in eight starts.

May 4, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Jose Bautista (23) hits a double against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports (Brett Davis)

The Jose Bautista signing is not a big enough deal to get worked up about, but that’s the best thing I can think to say about it.

Okay, that’s not totally fair. The move makes logical sense, in that Bautista is a righthanded hitter, and the Mets need outfielders.

The only problem is that, in the eyes of multiple talent evaluators, Bautista does not seem to have much left. He was 5 for 35 in a brief stint with Atlanta this year, and posted a .674 OPS in 157 games in 2017. There is little indication that, at 37, he can still be productive.

May 18, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Jose Bautista (23) warms up during batting practice before their game against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports (Jason Getz)

Moments after the Mets signed Jose Bautista on Tuesday, general manager Sandy Alderson touted the veteran outfielder’s ability to hit left-handed pitchers.

"We had been looking at the possibility of a right-handed bat in the outfield that could spell our other outfielders and give us some offensive potential against a left-handed pitcher," Alderson said. "Given the way that we expect he will be used initially, that fit pretty well with what we need."

Bautista has three hits — including two home runs — in 16 at-bats against left-handed pitching this season. In his career, Bautista has hit .257 with 82 home runs and 203 RBI against left-handers.

The Mets have agreed to a one-year major league deal with INF/OF Jose Bautista, who was released by the Atlanta Braves this past weekend, the Mets announced Tuesday. Bautista will be available for Tuesday night’s game, with Phillip Evans optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room on the roster.

SNY’s Andy Martino had reported a deal was close.

Bautista, who was just 5-for-35 (.143) with two home runs after joining Atlanta’s big-league roster on May 5, had agreed to a minor league deal in April.

New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario is congratulated by left fielder Brandon Nimmo after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning. (Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports) May 18, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto (30) hits an rbi single during the first inning of the game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports (Gregory Fisher)

Michelle Ioannou, MetsBlog | Twitter | When the Mets opened their series in Philadelphia on May 11, Ron Darling and Gary Cohen spoke on SNY about how if Michael Conforto is hot, the Mets will be hot. In case you don’t remember, this was the game where the Mets were losing to the Phillies, 1-0, going into the ninth. Conforto hit a bomb that just missed and landed foul. He then compensated for this by hitting a two-run home run, putting the Mets in front. He sparked a rally, with Devin Mesoraco knocking it out of the park right after him for his first homer after becoming a Met. The Mets, who were reeling at the time, desperately needed that come-from-behind win.

And Conforto needed that big hit, too, as he had hit a slump towards the end of April and beginning of May, to the point where he was kept out of the lineup twice in order to have mental health days off. That is not the Conforto any of us know, or ever want to see. Shortly before the Phillies series — upon returning from being benched for two days, Conforto led off a Monday game against the Reds, going 2-for-5 with a solo home run, helping his team finally win a game. Not a bad way to break a slump, right?

Since then, Conforto has continued to heat up. Over his last 10 games, Conforto is hitting .333/.366/.590 with 13 hits — including three home runs — and seven RBI. To put things into perspective, from April 13 – May 6, Conforto was just 8-for-58, hitting .138. He’s improved in a drastic, much-needed way.

Mike Piazza (AP)

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | 20 years ago today, the Mets made one of the biggest moves in franchise history, acquiring Mike Piazza from the Marlins for Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall, and Geoff Goetz.

I was a 14-year-old listening to Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN when I heard the news, and ran back and forth in my house in excitement. It was the biggest moment I had experienced up to that point as a Mets fan, and I — along with thousands of others — rushed out to Shea Stadium the next day to see Piazza make his Mets debut against the Brewers.

Piazza — a 29-year-old superstar in his prime — instantly turned the Mets from a nice little team into a legitimate contender. And for the first time since Darryl Strawberry departed following the 1990 season, the Mets had a hitter whose every at-bat was a must-see event. Piazza shined in his Mets debut, but his first huge Mets moment arguably came at the Astrodome on Sept. 16, when his laser of a three-run homer off Billy Wagner in the top of the ninth inning erased a 2-0 deficit. Watch his debut and the huge homer in Houston below…

Sep 26, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki (26) rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray)

Mets C Kevin Plawecki will join Triple-A Las Vegas Tuesday and begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday. Plawecki has been out since April 11 due to a hairline fracture in his left hand.

Grip strength in Plawecki’s left hand doubled earlier this month, and he began a hitting progression shortly after.

Without Plawecki and Travis d’Arnaud (who is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery), the Mets have been using a combination of Devin Mesoraco and Tomas Nido behind the plate recently. ..

May 15, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets catcher Devin Mesoraco (29) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Toronto Blue Jays on a single by shortstop Amed Rosario (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

Devin Mesoraco (elbow) is not in the Mets’ lineup against the Marlins on Tuesday night, but is available off the bench.

X-rays on Mets Mesoraco’s left elbow came back negative Monday night after he suffered a contusion on a backswing in the Mets’ 2-0 win Marlins.

Mesoraco suffered the injury midway through the game, but stayed in. He said after the game that he felt no pain and that he would be fine.

New York Mets pitcher Anthony Swarzak throws during the third inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (Jeff Roberson/AP)

Mets RH reliever Anthony Swarzak (left oblique strain) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday in Port St. Lucie as he continues to work his way back.

The earliest he can return is May 31.

"He’s progressing nicely," manager Mickey Callaway said last week. "We’re hoping to get him in games and get him going so he can get back here and help us."

May 2, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Robert Gsellman (65) reacts after allowing four runs during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

Robert Gsellman has been one of the Mets’ most valuable weapons in the bullpen this season, and manager Mickey Callaway believes a lot of that has to do with Gsellman’s attitude and desire to learn.

"When I told him and we relayed the message to him that he was gonna be going to the pen, he embraced it from day one," Callaway told SNY’s Steve Gelbs prior to Monday night’s win over the Marlins at Citi Field. "And you have to do that to have success. And I think that’s why he’s having success."

The 24-year-old Gsellman — like Seth Lugo — is adjusting to his full-time bullpen role on the fly. And while he is excelling — with a 2.76 ERA and 1.19 WHIP to go along with 28 strikeouts in 29.1 innings (21 appearances), Gsellman is still learning…

Mets LHP Jason Vargas struck out seven batters in five scoreless innings to earn his first victory of the year in Monday’s 2-0 win over the Miami Marlins at Citi Field.

Vargas (1-3) lowered his season ERA by nearly four runs. He entered the game 0-3 with a 13.86 ERA and a 2.68 WHIP, having allowed 19 runs, 26 hits and seven walks in 12 1/3 innings. He hadn’t pitched since May 8, the Mets skipping his last turn in the rotation.

But Monday, he threw five complete innings for the first time this year, lowering his ERA down to 9.87.

"The biggest difference wasn’t giving up multiple runs each inning," Vargas said, "just making quality pitches and getting some swings and misses … It was a good night, definitely had a good rhythm going, had good control with the hitters."

New York Mets catcher Devin Mesoraco runs towards home plate after hitting a home run during the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. (Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports)

By Michael Avallone | May 21 | 10:13PM

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Jason Vargas turned in his best outing of the season, tossing five two-hit innings as the Mets extended their winning streak to four games with a 2-0 win over the Marlins on Monday night at Citi Field.

Things you should know about tonight’s game…

1) Vargas (1-3) came into the game having allowed 34 baserunners in 12 1/3 innings over his first three starts. The 35-year-old retired the first nine batters and allowed two hits, walked one and struck out seven to lower his ERA from 13.86 to 9.87. He was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the fifth after tossing 86 pitches — 51 for strikes.

SNY’s Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez call a Mets game from the outfield at Citi Field. (SNY)

Tonight in Post Game Extra, Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling will be answering your questions about tonight’s game against the Marlins.

While Gary, Keith, and Ron have a wealth of knowledge about lots of things and would love to answer every question under the sun if they could, please keep the questions specific to tonight’s game.

Leave your questions in the comments section below!

May 19, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder Michael Conforto (30) (Noah K. Murray)

The Mets (23-19) open a three-game series against the Marlins (17-29) on Monday night at Citi Field at 7:10.

The Mets are 5-2 in their last seven games, including 4-1 on their current homestand. … The Mets swept the Marlins in a three-game series in Miami earlier this season, April 9-11. … The Mets have hit five HR over their last two games and 15 HR over their last 10. … The Mets have 10 wins this season when the game is tied or they are trailing after six innings — tied with the Mariners for the most in the majors.

New York Mets catcher Jose Lobaton loses grip of his bat as he strikes out swing to end the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)

The Mets outrighted catcher Jose Lobaton to Triple-A Las Vegas, two days after designating him for assignment, according to MetsMerized’s Jacob Resnick.

Lobaton hit .152 with no home runs and three RBIs with the Mets, being replaced on the active roster by Tomas Nido’s promotion to the majors and New York’s acquisition of Devin Mesoraco in the Matt Harvey trade earlier this month.

Apr 7, 2018; Washington, DC, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Jeurys Familia (27) throws to the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Mills)

During this weekend’s sweep of the Diamondbacks, Jeurys Familia was one of the many Mets with standout performances. But there was little buzz over his two perfect innings. In fact, his entire resurgent season has largely flown under the radar.

After three straight seasons as one of the best relievers in baseball, Familia’s brutal 2017 was an alarming blow to a struggling team. Between a suspension related to a domestic violence arrest and surgery for a blood clot, he threw only 24.2 innings with an ERA of 4.38 — nearly two full runs higher than his career mark — and had only six saves on the year.

Familia’s most notable weakness has always been his walk rate, which in 2017 jumped to 5.5 batters per nine innings. Aside from a slight drop in his strikeout rate (which has never been elite in the current environment), Familia’s other statistics largely held stable, suggesting a return to form wasn’t out of reach. Looking back, it seems that rustiness from lost time and lingering effects of a short-term injury were to blame for his ineffectiveness, both of which have fully resolved…

Apr 18, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets third baseman Todd Frazier (21) celebrates his two run single against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

Todd Frazier (hamstring) took batting practice on Monday for the first time since landing on the DL on May 8. The 32-year-old Frazier was eligible to return from the DL this Friday.

While Frazier is progressing, he will need to run before the Mets clear him for a rehab assignment, manager Mickey Callaway said prior to Monday night’s game.

In Frazier’s absence, the Mets have been using a combination of Wilmer Flores, Luis Guillorme, and Jose Reyes at third base.

May 15, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario (1) hits an RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

Mets SS Amed Rosario hit two home runs Sunday and provided a glimmer in to the dynamic, smooth and powerful player he projected to be when making his debut last summer.

It would be a godsend if Rosario emerged this season as the player we all hope he can be and helped lead the Mets to a long winning streak. The thing is, he’s still 22 years old. So, instead of an immediate All Star, he’s been a typical young player, showing signs of amazing talent in a sea of pressure and learning curves.

I realize we live in a league where it seems every day a new phenom emerges to step in to the spotlight. But, there are far more young players who are making their debuts in line with Rosario, who has produced a career OPS well below average…

Courtesy: Oregon Live: The Oregon Ducks take on the Stanford Cardinal at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon on April 21, 2017 (Eric Evans Photography)

Mets LHP prospect David Peterson continued his dominance on Sunday for Low-A Columbia, firing 7.0 innings while allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking none and striking out seven.

The 22-year-old Peterson has allowed just two earned runs over his last 26.0 innings (three starts). Overall, Peterson has a 1.91 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 32 strikeouts in 37.2 innings this season.

Peterson, who the Mets selected with their first round pick (20th overall) in last June’s MLB Draft, is No. 58 on Keith Law of ESPN’s Top 100 Prospects list…

New York Mets infielder Dominic Smith tosses a ball during spring training baseball practice Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (Jeff Roberson/AP)

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | With the Mets down to three healthy outfielders on their 25-man roster — and with zero outfielders on their 40-man roster beyond those three — Dominic Smith (yes, Dominic Smith) made his professional outfield debut over the weekend with Triple-A Las Vegas. The slimmed-down Smith started in right field on Saturday night, and threw a runner out at second base.

Mets manager Mickey Callaway smirked prior to Sunday’s game while addressing the Smith-to-the-outfield thing — not because the idea of Smith being out there is crazy, but because it was done due to the fact that the Mets are simply running out of healthy outfielders. At the moment, Wilmer Flores and Phillip Evans are the Mets’ backup outfielders.

"The way he’s been moving around, the way he’s been working, he’s a really good athlete," Callaway said about Smith. "With the injuries we’ve had, it makes some sense for him to go out in right field and get some reps. … This only gives Dom another option to be able to make it back up here and contribute." In the short-term, if Smith can hack it in the outfield, it will give the Mets an option to turn to if another outfielder is lost due to injury. The long-term options are even more interesting…

Aug 3, 2017; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; St. Lucie Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (5) scores before the tag of Tampa Yankees catcher Wes Wilson (69) in the eight inning at First Data Field. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports (Jasen Vinlove)

Double-A Binghamton 2B Jeff McNeil has been tearing Eastern League pitching apart all season, and was rewarded Monday by being named Eastern League Player of the Week.

The 26-year-old McNeil hit .389 (14-for-36), with 5 HR, 13 RBI and a .833 slugging percentage this past week. He shares the league lead with 12 HR, and had a 17 game hit streak earlier this year — the longest in the EL this season so far.

Overall, McNeil — who was not on MLB.com’s Mets Top 30 prospects list entering the season — is hitting .328/.403/.715 with 12 HR, 11 doubles, three triples, and 31 RBI in 35 games (137 at-bats) for Binghamton…

May 8, 2018; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway (36) against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports (Aaron Doster)

The Mets entered their series with the Diamondbacks having lost seven of their previous eight games. Meanwhile, the Mets are 11-7 in starts made by Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard and 17-3 when the team scores four or more runs in a game.

In other words, with deGrom and Syndergaard pitching two of three games, during which the Mets scored 12 runs, sweeping the D-backs this past weekend should be what is expected from a team that entered this season hoping to make the postseason.

"That was a huge sweep," Syndergaard said after getting Sunday’s win. "We’d kind of been struggling a little bit. But just as easily as we were struggling, it’s that easy to turn it around."

May 20, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; The New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports (Andy Marlin)

The Mets swept a series! The Mets swept a series! And there are more Mets babies to talk about!

It really has been quite the week in Mets Land. No, we’re not back to our exciting start to the season, but hey, baby steps! (Yes, pun intended).

The Mets actually won four out of their five games this past week, which is pretty impressive with what we have been seeing recently. It wasn’t the easiest week, though, filled with rain delays and more injuries…

May 20, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports (Andy Marlin)

Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard allowed one run on six hits in seven innings in Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field.

While Syndergaard (4-1) labored through five innings in his last start, he was effective Sunday, only giving up singles and pitching around Wilmer Flores’ fifth-inning error when Jay Bruce threw Jeff Mathis out at home.

"I just kind of took a deep breath, relaxed and focused on making quality pitches as opposed to focusing on my mechanics," Syndergaard told reporters after the game. "Today was just a lot of fun. Great win, great sweep."

New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario is congratulated by left fielder Brandon Nimmo after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning. (Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports)

Mets shortstop Amed Rosario hit his first two home runs of the season in Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field.

The 22-year-old Rosario homered to tie the game at 1 in the sixth inning, and after Asdrubal Cabrera’s pinch-hit two-run homer in the seventh, Rosario hit his second of the game.

"For me, it’s amazing," Rosario told reporters after the game. "It’s my first time hitting two homers. I’ve been waiting for this moment and this opportunity so I’m feeling great."

By Michael Avallone | May 20 | 4:16PM

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Asdrubal Cabrera’s pinch-hit homer snapped a 1-1 tie and Amed Rosario homered twice to back Noah Syndergaard as the Mets completed a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.

Things you should know about today’s game…

1) Having been limited to one hit through five innings by Clay Buchholz, Rosario went deep for the first time in 200 at-bats dating back to last season to tie the game. D-backs reliever Jorge De La Rosa retired the first two batters of the seventh, but Tomas Nido singled and Cabrera followed with his third career pinch-hit homer. Rosario went deep on the next pitch to increase the Mets’ lead to 4-1.

May 20 | 2:25PM

Share: New York Mets infielder Dominic Smith tosses a ball during spring training baseball practice Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (Jeff Roberson/AP)

One day after Dominic Smith made his outfield debut for Triple-A Las Vegas, Mets manager Mickey Callaway said the added experience "only gives Dom another option to be able to make it back up here and contribute."

Smith played right field for Las Vegas on Saturday night, marking the first time he played the outfield in his professional career.

The decision to shift Smith to the outfield came after Mets OF Juan Lagares was placed on the disabled list with a toe injury and could miss the rest of the season. OF Yoenis Cespedes (hip) also landed on the DL earlier in the week.

SNY’s Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez call a Mets game from the outfield at Citi Field. (SNY)

Today in Post Game Extra, Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez will be answering your questions about today’s game against the Diamondbacks.

While Gary and Keith have a wealth of knowledge about lots of things and would love to answer every question under the sun if they could, please keep the questions specific to today’s game.

Leave your questions in the comments section below!

Apr 26, 2018; St. Louis, MO, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Seth Lugo (67) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports (Joe Puetz) May 19, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder Michael Conforto (30) (Noah K. Murray)

May 20 | 11:00AM

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Enter for the chance to win a vacation to Universal Orlando Resort, the only place on earth where you can play, scream and laugh with the biggest characters in movies, TV and pop culture! With three exciting theme parks, five spectacular on-site hotels offering a range of accommodations, and the dining and entertainment of Universal CityWalk™, it’s days and nights of endless fun for every member of the family. Vacation beyond anything you’ve experienced before at Universal Orlando Resort!

You could win a 3-night trip for FOUR including:

Roundtrip airfare to Orlando, Florida Admission to Universal Studios Florida™ and Universal’s Islands of Adventure™ theme parks, plus Universal’s Volcano Bay™ water theme park Accommodations on-site at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort Ground transportation between the airport and hotel in Orlando Tickets to Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando Resort™ The Mets rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning when Devin Mesoraco hit a two-run homer.

By Matt Tracy | May 19 | 11:20PM

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Devin Mesoraco tied the game in the eighth inning with a two-run homer and Wilmer Flores hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the ninth to lift the Mets to a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Citi Field.

Things you should know about today’s game… May 19, 2018; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz (32) delivers a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray)

Mets LHP Steven Matz pitched just four innings against the Diamondbacks on Saturday night after allowing two home runs in a three-run fourth inning.

Matz gave up a season-high four earned runs on six hits and threw 79 pitches on the night. He walked one and struck out two batters.

John Ryan Murphy drove in Arizona’s first run in the second inning with an RBI single.

SNY’s Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez call a Mets game from the outfield at Citi Field. (SNY)

Tonight in Post Game Extra, Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez will be answering your questions about tonight’s game against the Diamondbacks.

While Gary and Keith have a wealth of knowledge about lots of things and would love to answer every question under the sun if they could, please keep the questions specific to tonight’s game.

Leave your questions in the comments section below!

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[zeroviraluniverse-blog]

2018 NCAA tournament Everything you need to know about second-round games

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2018 NCAA tournament Everything you need to know about second-round games

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County just showed why in March, hope springs eternal.

On Friday, UMBC became the first 16-seed in NCAA tournament history to knock off a No. 1. And the Retrievers didn’t just knock off Virginia. They destroyed the Cavaliers with one of the most improbable, impressive and dominant second halves that college basketball has ever seen.

Can the Retrievers harness that magic and carry it into Sunday? If so, the Sweet 16 would be waiting for one of the best stories in sports history.

More on UMBC and the rest of Sunday’s second-round action below:

All times ET

No. 9 Kansas State vs. No. 16 UMBC 7:45 p.m., Charlotte, N.C., South Region Player to watch: K-State’s leading scorer, Dean Wade, sat out Friday’s win over Creighton because of a foot injury, but the Wildcats are hoping he will be able to return Sunday. The All-Big 12 forward is a difference-maker, whom the Wildcats will definitely need on the floor to stymie this snowballing UMBC surge.

What will keep Kansas State from moving on: Fate? Destiny? But above all, a second half from UMBC like the one it delivered Friday. The Retrievers scored 53 points after halftime against Virginia, which came into the tournament with the nation’s No. 1-rated defense. Can the Retrievers replicate such a magical performance? The college basketball world — well, outside Manhattan, Kansas — will be pulling for it.

What will keep UMBC from moving on: UMBC coming back to planet Earth. On Feb. 3, the Retrievers fell to Vermont by 28. On Jan. 21, they were obliterated by Albany by 44. Beginning with the America East tournament, which culminated with Jairus Lyles‘ buzzer-beating 3 and propelled the Retrievers into the dance, UMBC has been a completely different club. And it is suddenly playing as well as about any team in college basketball.

The tournament has tipped off. Your picks are locked in. It’s time to find out how your bracket is holding up. Check your brackets

No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 10 Butler 12:10 p.m., Detroit, East Region Player to watch: Kelan Martin‘s 27 points Friday against Arkansas were the second-most ever by a Butler player in the tournament. And Butler has had some big-time performances in recent history in the tournament. Martin has put up 27 or more eight times this season. He can absolutely fill it up.

What will keep Purdue from moving on: Assuming he’s unable to play as expected, the absence of center Isaac Haas, who fractured his right elbow in Friday’s victory over Cal State Fullerton. Initially, he was ruled out for the rest of the tournament, though on Saturday he participated in parts of the Boilermakers’ practice wearing a brace. Coach Matt Painter is still not expecting Haas to play. Purdue’s offense ran through the 7-foot-2 center, and retooling on the fly won’t be easy.

What will keep Butler from moving on: Purdue’s 3-point shooting. The Boilermakers — who came into the tournament shooting 42 percent from 3, ranked second nationally — knocked out another nine on 22 attempts Friday. With Haas out, look for Purdue to bomb away from 3.

Can Miles Bridges keep up his scoring pace against Syracuse? Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 11 Syracuse 2:40 p.m., Detroit, Midwest Region Player to watch: According to ESPN Stats & Information, only Scott Skiles and Steve Smith have scored more points for Michigan State through three tournament games than Miles Bridges, who dropped another 29 points Friday. With Bridges playing that way, Michigan State is a legit national title contender.

What will keep Michigan State from moving on: The vaunted matchup zone. Syracuse, already with two wins since Wednesday, frustrated TCU on Friday with its length. As a result, the Horned Frogs shot below 40 percent from the field and only 18 percent from 3. Michigan State is a much better offensive team than TCU. But this Syracuse zone can puzzle the best of offenses.

What will keep Syracuse from moving on: Shooting. Even though Syracuse defeated the Horned Frogs, it struggled to get much going offensively. The Orange made only three 3s and shot 37 percent from the field. As good as Syracuse’s zone has been, the Orange will need much more from Oshae Brissett and Tyus Battle to have any chance of keeping up with Bridges & Co.

No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 7 Texas A&M 5:15 p.m., Charlotte, N.C., West Region Player to watch: Kenny Williams delivered one of the best games of his career Friday, scoring 18 points in a rout of Lipscomb. Playing alongside Luke Maye and Joel Berry II, Williams had scored as much only four times this season. Williams isn’t going to be North Carolina’s primary playmaker or scorer. But when he can knock down shots playing off Berry & Co. the way he did against Lipscomb, that makes North Carolina all the more dangerous.

What will keep North Carolina from moving on: Texas A&M’s prowess inside. Robert Williams and Tyler Davis made all eight of their shots in the paint in the second half Friday against Providence, as the Aggies finished with 26 paint points after halftime. Texas A&M also blocked eight shots and outrebounded Providence 44-26. North Carolina is a tremendous offensive rebounding team. But the Aggies are an absolute force around the basket at both ends.

What will keep Texas A&M from moving on: North Carolina’s balanced attack. The Tar Heels have five players who average double figures in scoring, and on Friday, all five scored at least 10 points.

No. 2 Cincinnati vs. No. 7 Nevada 6:10 p.m., Nashville, Tenn., South Region Player to watch: With Jacob Evans and Gary Clark struggling to get going, it was Jarron Cumberland who pushed Cincinnati past Georgia State on Friday. Cumberland scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed eight offensive rebounds. Cumberland’s shooting and activeness around the glass could be a real plus for Cincinnati moving forward.

What will keep Cincinnati from moving on: Nevada twins Caleb Martin and Cody Martin producing another pair of all-around brilliant performances. On Friday, Cody had 15 points, 6 assists and 4 blocks. Caleb, meanwhile, took over the game in overtime, nailing three 3s in OT to finish with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. The two played a combined 85 of a possible 90 game minutes.

What will keep Nevada from moving on: The Wolf Pack had trouble dealing with the size of Texas center Mohamed Bamba. Now they face one of the top rebounding teams in the country in Cincinnati, which outrebounded Georgia State by 20 on Friday, collecting 20 offensive boards alone. If the Wolf Pack get clobbered on the glass, they’ll stand little chance of scraping out a win.

No. 4 Auburn vs. No. 5 Clemson 7:10 p.m., San Diego, Midwest Region Player to watch: Clemson had been sputtering since losing senior forward Donte Grantham for the season because of a knee injury, but Shelton Mitchell gave the Tigers a major spark Friday. He scored a season-high 23 points and handed out five assists. Post-Grantham, Clemson has been searching for more offense. Since the ACC tournament, Mitchell has been answering that call.

What will keep Auburn from moving on: Clemson keeping the hot hand. Clemson, known for its defense, torched New Mexico State and shot 56 percent from the field, including 43 percent from 3. If Clemson, which entered the tournament with the nation’s sixth-best adjusted defensive efficiency, keeps shooting anywhere close to that, it will be a tough out for anyone.

What will keep Clemson from moving on: Auburn knocking down tough shots late. In Friday’s narrow win over Charleston, Auburn nailed four contested 3-pointers in the second half, including two in the final two minutes, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Although Auburn struggled to shoot for much of the game, the closing minutes of the second half were a different story.

• Tournament bracket | PDF | GIF • Tournament Challenge: Check brackets • 538: Win probabilities & predictions • Best bets for Sunday’s games • 2018-19 projections for tourney teams • College Basketball PickCenter • College Basketball Scoreboard • College Basketball Nation blog • NCAA tournament schedule • Full NCAA tournament coverage <!– • What you need to know for Saturday • BPI tournament projections • BPI: Projections | Best bracket tips • Scouting the entire tournament field • FiveThirtyEight: Win probabilities • NCAA tournament bracket cheat sheet • ESPN expert picks for the Final Four • Best bets for first-round games • Bilas picks every game of the tourney • Who are the tourney’s best players? • NCAA tournament bold predictions • Who is this year’s Kemba Walker? • Spreads for every first-round game • Selection Sunday winners and losers –>

No. 1 Xavier vs. No. 9 Florida State 8:40 p.m., Nashville, Tenn., West Region Player to watch: The Musketeers lean heavily on Trevon Bluiett for scoring. But on Friday, backcourt wingman J.P. Macura dropped a career-high 29 points. When Macura produces offensively that way, it takes pressure off Bluiett.

What will keep Xavier from moving on: Florida State’s bench play. In Friday’s win over Missouri, the Seminoles got 42 of their 67 points from their bench, led by Mfiondu Kabengele, PJ Savoy and Trent Forrest, who all finished in double figures.

What will keep Florida State from moving on: Bluiett’s greatness. The Musketeers are 19-1 when he scores at least 20 points. The problem for Florida State is that Bluiett usually gets to 20.

No. 5 West Virginia vs. No. 13 Marshall 9:40 p.m., San Diego, East Region Player to watch: Jon Elmore was sensational for Marshall in Friday’s upset of 4-seed Wichita State. Elmore scored 27 points, nailing four 3s while getting to the free throw line 15 times. Elmore is unafraid to shoot, no matter how far he is from the basket.

What will keep West Virginia from moving on: Fouls. As a team that presses full court, West Virginia is always going to be a team that fouls an inordinate amount. But Marshall overall is an excellent free throw shooting team, averaging 77 percent from the line as a unit. The Mountaineers have to be who they are. But against their in-state rivals, they must strive to keep Marshall out of the bonus for as long as possible.

What will keep Marshall from moving on: Turnovers. Although the Thundering Herd turned the ball over only nine times against Wichita State, Marshall can get careless with the pace with which it plays. West Virginia’s lifeblood is forcing turnovers. Marshall can’t afford to give away possessions — or baskets to Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles Jr. going the other way off the break.

[reeltalker]

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (and its spin-off television shows) grows, the number of actors being cast also increases exponentially. Not only do we start to see more cross-over between actors who’ve worked together before (Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson, for example, have worked together almost a dozen times now), we’re starting to see a great deal of influence from other large bodies of work. Now, with Thor: Ragnarok right around the corner, we’re noticing a recurring trend – there are quite a few cast members from Peter Jackson’s imaginings of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies making an appearance in this world of superheroes! Some are fairly obvious, but digging through the two extended universes, it’s actually pretty interesting just how much crossover there is.

Richard Armitage

Thorin Oakenshield – The Hobbit Trilogy

Heinz Kruger – Captain America: The First Avenger

Armitage struck a reasonably recognizable figure as the Dwarf king Thorin in Jackson’s foray into the prequel series The Hobbit, as he should’ve. But when you strip away the medieval clothes and massive dwarf beard, you realize you’ve actually seen Armitage before – as a Nazi in the first appearance of Captain America. Heinz Kruger was the Nazi spy that used a bomb to blow up the super-soldier presentation, stole a vial of the serum (that was thankfully destroyed), and killed Dr. Erksine. Though his MCU appearance was a small one, it was pivotal in Captain America’s journey, and most of us didn’t even make the connection to the King Under the Mountain.

Sala Baker

Sauron / Orc / Uruk – The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Extremis Soldier – Iron Man 3 / King – Iron Fist S1.E5

Now this was an appearance I can almost guarantee you didn’t recognize. Though the voice of the Ring throughout the series was played by different actors, Sauron’s flashback appearance in The Fellowship of the Ring was handled by Baker, who was then invited back as an orc for The Two Towers (the one who sniffed and said “Man-Flesh!”), and then as an Uruk in The Return of the King. Afterwards he played an adversary of Tony Stark as a soldier effected with Extremis, before getting a role with a name in the Netflix adaption of Iron Fist. So not only has he branched the two universes, he has played multiple roles within them.

Cate Blanchett

Galadriel – The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit Trilogy

Hela – Thor: Ragnarok

This Oscar winner has always brought a presence of strength and mystery to her roles, so it only makes sense that she makes a big impact on both universes. She was one of the few characters to perform in all six films in the Jackson franchises, which audiences loved because the elf queen Galadriel was both beautiful and a little terrifying. Now, in just a couple of weeks, Blanchett will step into the MCU as the first lead female villain, Hela, the goddess of death. She stands to be an adversary of Thor and Asgard, but who knows where that role will lead her as Infinity War looms ever closer?

Benedict Cumberbatch

Smaug / Necromancer – The Hobbit Trilogy

Dr. Stephen Strange / Dormammu – Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok

Though Cumberbatch first drew attention for his appearance of Sherlock Holmes (a role once played by Tony Stark actor Robert Downey Jr.), it didn’t take him long to set foot in Jackson’s take on The Hobbit. Though his pivotal role was as the dragon Smaug, the foe of the dwarves, he also performed a voiceover role in the first film of the trilogy as the Necromancer who summoned the Nazgül back to “life”. He even went so far as to perform motion-capture for Smaug, though it was eventually discarded from the final cut. Then in 2016, Cumberbatch took a step into the MCU as surgeon-turned-magician Dr. Strange, wielder of the Eye of Agamotto (a coveted Infinity Stone), as well as providing the voice of his great foe Dormammu (though this is uncredited on IMDB, trivia confirms that Cumberbatch provided the voice). It has also lead to many jokes and petitions that when Tony Stark and Stephen Strange finally appear in a scene together, a Sherlock Holmes joke should be made.

Brad Dourif

Grima Wormtongue –  The Two Towers, Return of the King (extended edition)

Thomas Nash – Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., S1.E16

One of the favored performances of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was that of Grima Wormtongue, the twisted advisor to King Theodon that secretly worked for Saruman. He was slimy and everyone loved to hate him, especially when he got super creepy towards the king’s niece Eöwyn. That was not his only experience as a villain – he then went to ABC’s television show Agents of  S.H.I.E.L.D. to be hunted as the potential candidate for the Clairvoyant, a Hydra mole inside of S.H.I.E.L.D. Because Wormtongue was such an iconic look, it was hard to recognize him in regular clothes!

Martin Freeman

Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War L to R: Agent 13/Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) and Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) Photo Credit: Zade Rosenthal © Marvel 2016

Bilbo Baggins – The Hobbit Trilogy

Everett K. Ross – Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther

Freeman has developed a bit of a reputation as being eternally paired with Benedict Cumberbatch for projects, as the Dr. Watson to his Sherlock Holmes on Sherlock, and appearing in these two extended universes alongside Cumberbatch doesn’t help dispute the theory (even though in the MCU, the two have shared no scenes yet)! Freeman was chosen to portray Bilbo Baggins in his youth (after Ian Holm’s performance in the Lord of the Rings trilogy), on a journey with a group of dwarves as their burglar. Freeman stood out with his unique mannerisms and fun attitude, becoming a fan favorite even to those who were upset with the trilogy itself. In the MCU, Freeman cuts a different sort of figure – not only is he second character with the surname Ross (whether or not he’s related to Hulk opponent Thaddeus Ross has yet to be clarified in the films), but he seems to be an antagonist toward the Avengers. He appeared alongside Team Iron Man to promote the Sokovia Accords after Captain America’s group were captured with Bucky in Germany, and he seemed pretty happy to throw away the key on all of them. The magnitude of his role in Black Panther has yet to be determined.

Evangeline Lilly

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (2013) EVANGELINE LILLY

Tauriel – The Desolation of Smaug, The Battle of the Five Armies

Hope van Dyne – Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp

As a rather athletic actress, Lilly has been taking extended universe roles as a rather badass fighter, so it makes sense that both her characters in these series’ can hold her own with warriors and superheroes. Lilly performed in one of the few female roles of the Hobbit trilogy as the female elf scout Tauriel. She eventually fell in love with one of the dwarves, but throughout the two films she appeared in, she spent a great deal of time fighting Orcs and giant spiders, proving her skills with a bow and knives. She then slipped into the role of a business woman who still knew how to throw a punch in Ant-Man as Hope van Dyne, the daughter of Hank Pym. She was a bit of an antagonist towards Scott Lang at the beginning, taking pleasure in showing him exactly how she punched, but by the end the two had gotten plenty close, and now she stands to be equal to him in a superhero suit of her own in the sequel film.

Lee Pace

Thranduil – The Desolation of Smaug, The Battle of the Five Armies

Ronan the Accuser – Guardians of the Galaxy

Pace is one of the only actors to have appeared in the Guardians of the Galaxy segment of the MCU as well as the Jackson-verse, going from something between an anti-hero and antagonist to a full-blown villain. His performance as Thranduil in the Hobbit films was an interesting one, as his elven king was both a hinderance to the dwarf quest and yet he was not necessarily out to murder them like the Orcs. He was also the father of Legolas, who played a pivotal role in the Lord of the Rings series. Pace’s appearance of Ronan was far darker, however, as an alien with a vendetta against an entire planet and an Infinity Stone in his grasp. He threatened to destroy entire planets in his rage, and was only stopped by a dance-off. Sort of.

Andy Serkis

Gollum / Smeagol – The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Ulysses Klaue – Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Panther

Serkis is the king of motion-capture performance, though he surprisingly does none in the MCU (where you would expect they’d need a bunch). One of his best performances to date is as the deformed Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy as both an antagonist and protagonist, helping and hurting Frodo and Sam on their journey to Mount Doom. His creepy snarls and creeping stance was left beyond as he traversed into the MCU as weapons dealer Klaue, a former associate of Stark Enterprises that was approached by Ultron for a deal on vibranium. It has also been established that he is the only dealer to get in and out of the mysterious Wakanda on a regular basis, perhaps hinting at more screen time in the upcoming Black Panther. 

Liv Tyler

Arwen – The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Dr. Elizabeth “Betty” Ross – The Incredible Hulk

Tyler’s angelic face and sweet voice provides her with a great aptitude for the love interest, and her two appearances in extended universes reflect that. In one, she is the daughter of the elf lord Elrond, linked to the future king of Gondor Aragorn. Her visions of the future help to lead him down the path to reclaiming his throne, and her elf magic also helped to save Frodo after his encounter with the Nazgül. Then she moved on to become a biologist and become romantically involved with the nuclear physicist Bruce Banner. Though The Incredible Hulk is one of the films that the MCU crowd tends to ignore (even if it’s not the worst Hulk film), Tyler’s performance was still an important one to the development of Banner and, consequently, the Hulk.

Karl Urban

Eömer – The Two Towers, The Return of the King

Skurge – Thor: Ragnarok

Karl Urban has actually branched into three extended universes (if you include the rebooted Star Trek films), but his newest “trek” is into the MCU as the Asgardian warrior Skurge. He is a character playing two sides, trying to keep Hela from destroying him alongside Asgard, but he still cuts a frightening figure, so who knows what he’s really after? This is coming after Urban’s experience as the horse lord Eömer, nephew to the king and leader of the army of Rohan. At the very least, Urban’s got experience with all of the medieval weapons that a warrior of Asgard would be working with.

Hugo Weaving

Lord Elrond – The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Unexpected Journey, The Battle of the Five Armies

Johann Schmidt / The Red Skull – Captain America: The First Avenger

Weaving is only one movie short of appearing just as many Jackson films as his costar (and according to Lord of the Rings lore, mother-in-law) Cate Blanchett. The two have, however, starred in the same amount of MCU films, both as villains no less. Weaving took the role of the elf Lord Elrond, father of Liv Tyler’s character Arwen, in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He also appeared in two films of the prequel series, The Hobbit, to continue world-building Middle Earth. He was presented as a wise and fair character, though maybe a little disheartened by everything he’d seen in the world, and more than ready to head to the undying lands. In the Marvel Universe, on the other hand, Weaving played the man who would become Captain America’s greatest foe – The Red Skull, leader of Nazi offshoot Hydra, determined to wield the power of the Tesseract himself and become a perfect being. His character was greatly unstable, but there are speculations that, because of the Tesseract’s ability to open portals into space, we may not have seen the last of him.

David Wenham

Faramir – The Two Towers, The Return of the King

Harold Meachum – Iron Fist

Another character who made a wild transition from franchise to franchise is Wenham, whose character in the MCU is extremely different from his Middle Earth appearance. In Middle Earth, Wenham appears as Faramir, the second son of the steward of Gondor who has grown up in the shadow of his brother, as he is the more bookish of the two and less of a warrior. He does have a great strength of character, however, as he is able to push out the influence of The Ring. When he appears in the MCU, however, that strength of character didn’t come with him. The series Iron Fist brings out his inner demon as Harold Meachum, the ruthless business partner of Danny Rand’s father, brought back to life by The Hand, and willing to do anything to protect what he believes is his, no matter who gets in his way. It is actually very funny how much he acts like Denethor, as though the influence of his deranged father followed him across the universes.

  Mystical in Marvel: The Lord of the Rings Crossover As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (and its spin-off television shows) grows, the number of actors being cast also increases exponentially.

[jerryadler-blog]

Donald Trump, softy

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump kisses a baby during a campaign rally, Friday, July 29, 2016, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)

Donald Trump is a tough guy — just ask him. The word “tough” appears 25 times in “The Art of The Deal,” and he even wrote a book before the 2012 election called “Time to Get Tough.” He has mused publicly about beating up protesters at his rallies and about cops roughing up suspects in custody. His signature catchphrase on television was a curt, poker-faced dismissal; no president in memory has exhibited such a range and intensity of hostile facial expressions and gestures.

He is the first president since James K. Polk who doesn’t have a White House pet.

But in some ways Donald Trump is also a softy — a side of him that gets a lot less attention, but was on display Thursday morning in the back-and-forth with Democratic leaders in Congress over a deal, or an agreement, or an understanding, on extending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections for undocumented young people who have grown up in America. Whatever one calls it, and whether or not it ends up as a bill Trump signs, it’s clear that the president who campaigned on ending DACA on “day one” has taken a closer look at what it would mean to deport “800,000 young people, brought here, no fault of their own.”

“Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military?” asked Trump, who once advocated doing exactly that — when he didn’t hold the reins of power.

Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really!…..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 14, 2017

Donald Trump, softy.

This is the Donald Trump who was moved almost to poetry by the tragic death of Harambe, the silverback gorilla who was shot by keepers to protect the life of a child who had fallen into his enclosure. “I think it’s a very tough call,” he mused afterwards. “It’s amazing because there were moments with the gorilla the way he held that child it was almost like a mother holding a baby. It looked so beautiful and calm.”

This is the Trump who has admitted that he actually doesn’t like to fire people, an observation confirmed by no less an authority on the president’s psychology than his friend and ally former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who told CNN: “I think Donald Trump doesn’t like to fire people, period.” His preferred method of dealing with recalcitrant or inept subordinates is to humiliate them on Twitter and hope they take the hint, avoiding an awkward confrontation — a tactic that notably failed in the case of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

And for all that he seems not to care that much about animals, Trump loves babies, as he announced at a rally in Virginia last year when an infant began crying in the middle of his speech. “I love babies. I hear that baby crying, I like it. What a baby, what a beautiful baby. Don’t worry,” he reassured the mother from the rostrum. Admittedly, he changed his mind a few minutes later when the child interrupted him a second time–“Actually, I was only kidding – you can get the baby out of here”—but surely he deserves credit for the original impulse. Can anyone imagine what would happen to a baby who started wailing in the middle of a speech by Kim Jong-un?

It was Trump’s love for babies that helped propel him to bomb a Syrian airbase as punishment for a chemical-weapons attack on civilians, in which, as he said in his address to the nation, “Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack.”  

President Donald Trump holds a baby upon his arrival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., April 18, 2017. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The available records suggested that Trump hasn’t been especially generous with his own money, for a billionaire, although it’s impossible to know for sure since he hasn’t released his tax returns. During the campaign, conservative media frequently reported on incidents of generosity from Trump’s past. Some — such as sending $10,000 to reward a bus driver who stopped a suicide — appear to be genuine, spontaneous acts of charity. Others — such as comping a hotel suite for actress Jennifer Hudson after she suffered a family tragedy — seem to fall more in the category of a publicity stunt. Some had elements of both, as when Trump sent a check to help pay for a disabled girl’s medical care — while the youngster was actually appearing on the Maury Povich talk show. At least one incident that was widely reported — involving Trump paying off the mortgage of a passing motorist who stopped to help change a tire on his limousine — appears to have been an urban legend that has been told over the years about various millionaires including Henry Ford and Bill Gates.

These episodes tend to have one thing in common: They involve discrete actions on behalf of a specific individual. A cynic might point out that in terms of publicity garnered per dollar spent, that’s by far the most cost-efficient way to disburse charity. You can give $10,000 to every hero bus driver in the country for a small fraction of what it would cost to, say, underwrite a serious national effort to combat suicide. But to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, he may well have been genuinely moved by these individual tales of heroism or woe. He is, after all, a star of reality TV, a genre that deals in personal struggles and triumphs, not abstract issues and causes. He is notoriously impatient with position papers and complex problems.

Which comes to mind now, in the wake of his willingness to reconsider ending DACA. After taking no action all year on his campaign promises to end it, the White House recently set a six-month deadline to wind the program down — but also invited Congress to pass a version of it that he implied he would sign. Notably, he sent Sessions out to make the announcement, while himself reassuring current enrollees (via Twitter) that they have “nothing to worry about.”

For all of those (DACA) that are concerned about your status during the 6 month period, you have nothing to worry about – No action!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 7, 2017

Was this just Trump bowing to the political reality that ending DACA is broadly unpopular, even among Republicans — although an article of faith with his core supporters and some of his key advisers, including the now departed but reportedly still influential Steve Bannon? Or could it, just possibly, reflect a changed emotional calculus, in which a faceless mob of “aliens” have taken on individual identities as what are sometimes called “Dreamers,” real people whose lives would be devastatingly upended by being thrown out of the country they grew up in? Is the tough guy tough enough to stand up to his own base? Is there the bleeding heart of a liberal inside the chest Donald Trump so loves to thump?

Donald Trump, softy. The world waits and wonders.

_____

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Regression police: Players most likely to take step back

Is Corey Kluber worth the name-brand price? (AP)

With spring training underway, it can mean only one thing: your fantasy baseball draft is just around the corner. With that in mind, the Yahoo fantasy baseball collective offer up the players coming off standout ’16 campaigns that they expect to come back down to earth this season:

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Q. What infielder are you avoiding at his current ADP (average draft position) because you expect him to regress in ’17?

Brandon Funston: EDWIN ENCARNACION. Encarnacion is coming off a career high in HRs (42), RBIs (127), Runs (99) and Games (160). For his Herculean efforts, he finished No. 27 in the Yahoo game. His ADP for ’17 (28.0) is asking you to pay for more of the same. That’s a dubious proposition given the givens: Averaged 139 games in his previous three seasons before ’16; no longer has Toronto for a home park (has slugged 62 points higher at Rogers Centre vs. the road over past three seasons).

Scott Pianowski:  I’m lumping GARY SANCHEZ into the infielder group and using him as my answer here. When someone performs significantly better at the MLB level than they did in the minors, I get suspicious. That 40 percent HR/FB rate can’t be real; it’s not real for anyone. And his current ADP (54.4) makes you pay for the high range of his outcomes. I can really get Jonathan Lucroy 28 picks later?  

Dalton Del Don: IAN KINSLER. He’s coming off a fine season in which he hit 28 homers, but he averaged a modest 15.0 home runs over the four years prior, so you are paying for the clear outlier over that span. Kinsler will turn 35 years old this season, yet is costing a top-70 pick thanks to recency bias. I have Dee Gordon, DJ LeMahieu and Matt Carpenter all ranked ahead of him on my second base board, all of whom have higher ADPs. 

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Q. What outfielder are you avoiding at his current ADP because you expect him to regress in ’17?

Funston: ADAM DUVALL. With a 133.6 ADP, it’s not like you have to break the bank to acquire Duvall coming off a breakout, 33-HR, 103-RBI season, but that second half decline (.839 OPS before the break, .741 OPS after) and his two-true-outcomes approach make me skittish. I see Kendrys Morales and Miguel Sano going right behind him in current Yahoo average drafts, and I would much rather roll my dice in their direction if I’m looking to make a power play.

Pianowski: Count me out on MARK TRUMBO at 87.9, not that it’s a silly price. Just a little too much. This is a guy who had a .707 OPS two years ago, and was nothing special in 2015. He’s not going to run, and he’ll probably tax your batting average somewhat, too. 

Del Don:  KHRIS DAVIS. He hit 42 bombs last season, which was obviously great, but Davis had previously never hit more than 27 homers during his career. It hasn’t been the longest career, but he’s 29 years old, so Davis is no young prospect. The 42 home runs came with a modest .831 OPS thanks to a .247 batting average that isn’t likely to climb with all of those strikeouts (his 27.2 K% last season was top-10 in baseball). Oakland’s stadium has also suppressed homers by 19 percent for RHB over the last three years, tied for the most in the A.L. over that span.

Q. What pitcher are you avoiding at his current ADP because you expect him to regress in ’17?

Funston:  RICK PORCELLO. His ’16 value was heavily inflated by his 22 wins, and that’s always been an ill-advised stat to chase. Not only that, but his K rate is still only serviceable in IP-capped leagues and his xFIP (3.89) suggested that his ERA (3.15) should have actually landed closer to his career norm (4.20). There’s at least a half dozen pitchers I’d rather have going after Porcello in average Yahoo drafts.

Pianowski: To be fair, it’s not like the price is crazy on VINCE VELASQUEZ, but he is a Top 50 pitcher coming off the boards in Yahoo drafts. I suspect the drafters remember his first half (3.32 ERA), or perhaps the first month, much better than the jagged second-half (5.33 ERA). His ratios hash out to 4.12 and 1.33 — those are not assets— and he also has a history of physical breakdowns. Why is Jerad Eickhoff, for just one example, going 35 picks later?  Velasquez’s pretty strikeout rate is probably driving the price, but you also have to accept the injury risk and homer-prone profile. I’m not cutting the check. 

Del Don:  COREY KLUBER. Obviously Kluber is terrific, but at his price (26.5 ADP), I doubt he’ll end up on any of my teams coming off such a heavy workload. Pitching deep into the postseason, he ended up throwing 249.1 innings, which is an awful lot. Moreover, he has to pitch in the American League in one of the very best hitter’s parks in baseball. I expect some regression, making his current price too high for me. 

Follow the Yahoo crew on Twitter: Andy Behrens, Dalton Del Don, Brad Evans, Brandon Funston, Liz Loza and Scott Pianowski