Disclaimer: I do not claim to be an expert…on anything. I am just an A’s fan who loves talking about the A’s. So if you find yourself shaking your head at my amateur ramblings or wondering why I even bother in the first place then please, move along, move along. If, however, you are like me and just love talking about the A’s then, by all means, welcome aboard!
Just some quick thoughts on the flurry of moves conducted by Billy Beane over the last couple of weeks.
Signed Nick Punto. This is a excellent little move by the A's to get needed SS depth and a superb all around utility player. Nick also has the added bonus of being a great clubhouse guy for whatever that is worth.
Traded for Fernando Abad. Left handed relief pitcher who will be part of a revamped bullpen.
Traded 2B Jemile Weeks and C David Freitas to the Orioles for Closer Jim Johnson. Did I say revamped bullpen? Yep, and here is another big piece. It is strange to see the A's trade for an expensive -gulp- "proven closer" but that is exactly what Billy did here. Balfour leaving was a foregone conclusion but most people, myself included, figured Billy would promote from within not trade for what the A's have traditionally stayed away from during Billy' tenure. While a bit peculiar this move does make sense when examined more closely. First off, Billy acquired Johnson for very little. Weeks was not going to be in any of the A's future plans and at this point most experts had written him off as replacement level at best so shipping off Weeks for a reliable relief pitcher was actually sort of a coup. Freitas was a solid org catcher but nothing the A's couldn't find again at the Spring Training swap meet. As for expensive, Johnson's contract is for only one year at the moment so he will not be a financial hindrance in future seasons. Also, because Johnson comes with the "proven closer" title it will put to bed any questions about who will be the new closer and allow the A's to employ their better relievers(Doolittle) into higher leverage situations leaving the 3-out 9th innings for Johnson. And if need be, the A's could always flip the "proven closer" to another team for additional assets. This was a nice move by the A's.
Trade OF Michael Choice and 2B Chris Bostick to the Rangers for OF Craig Gentry and RHP Josh Lindblom. This is the one move that worries me. The A's are obviously going for it now by trading future assets for current assets but this is the one move that could come back to haunt. Lindblom provides more pitching depth but the A's do need someone like Gentry to compete in 2014. He can play a great defensive CF(Coco does get hurt), provide platoon options for RF, and be a terror on the base paths if need be. He really completes the A's outfield picture, but at what cost? Both Choice and Bostick, while not projected superstars, were on most experts' top 10 lists for A's prospects. Bostick is still a couple years away but Choice is ready to make his move to MLB now and should get his opportunity next year. And while I applaud Billy for having the confidence to trade within the Division, the thought of Choice helping the A's biggest division rivals over the foreseeable future makes me think of Nelson Cruz, Andre Ethier, and Carlos Gonzalez. I also thought of Choice as Reddick insurance just in case Reddick never gets his swing back on track. Now the A's have no one in the high minors other than org guys ready to step in if Reddick or God forbid, Cespy, fail to live up to certain standards. TBD...
Trade OF Seth Smith to the Padres for RHP Luke Gregerson. I like this move. Smith is a nice role player. Someone who can come off the bench or platoon in LF on some days but getting Gregerson for him was a steal. Gregerson is another important piece to a very deep and talented bullpen that should be able to shut down most games from the 5th inning on.
Sign LHP Scott Kazmir. Apparently Kazmir was plan C for the A's of the oft-injured-starting-pitchers right behind Bartolo Colon and Timmy Hudson. After not liking Colon's contract demands*, and getting spurned by Hudson*, the A's settled for Kazmir on a high-risk contract. If the A's can get 150+ solid to above average innings a year out of Kazmir then it will be worth it. If, however, he gets injured again or is unproductive(both probabilities) then it will be a waste of money and roster spot.
Trade LHP Brett Anderson to the Rockies for LHP Drew Pomeranz and RHP Chris Jensen. The A's trade lotto ticket Anderson for lottery scratcher Pomeranz plus org pitcher Jensen. Anderson still has youth and promise on his side but I feel the ship has sailed and he is destined to be another "what if..." guy. Pomeranz may still be able to start and provide some innings but could end up in the bullpen to provide another lefty arm.
Trade LHP Jerry Blevins to the Nationals for OF Billy Burns. With the revamped bullpen Blevins was expendable and the A's need a new OF in the high minors for depth after dealing away Choice earlier. Burns is an all speed/no pop OF who could end up as solid 4th Of/defensive replacement type of player.
Billy went into the off-season with a plan and by golly he full-filled it. The A's look great on paper right now and 2014 should prove to be just as exciting as 2012 and 2013 with hopefully a better finish. The bullpen is going to be a monster and when the A's make the playoffs again next year, it will be interesting to see if the A's try to really shorten the game by using more relievers than the starting pitchers for the majority of innings. My only concern is the OF. With no depth waiting in the minors and all three starters having injury histories, making a couple more moves to acquire some low-rent depth may be in order.
demands*- Colon signed with the Mets for less than what the A's will pay Kazmir but 1) I don't think the A's wanted Colon on a 2 year contract and 2)We don't know if what the Mets ended up paying is what Colon was demanding from the A's earlier in the off-season.
Hudson*- Who then went on to sell his soul to the devil!
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Quick BREAKING BAD SPOILER Thought
You know what, I would die a happy man if at some point during the last two episodes of Breaking Bad ol' Uncle Jack is chillin at home, counting his money, grinning, and thinking evil neo-nazi thoughts when all of sudden there is a knock at his front door. When he opens it with only his semi-auto pistol in hand Walt is staring him down while holding that M-60. The one who knocks.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
When the Ship Goes Down...
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be an expert…on anything. I am just an A’s fan who loves talking about the A’s. So if you find yourself shaking your head at my amateur ramblings or wondering why I even bother in the first place then please, move along, move along. If, however, you are like me and just love talking about the A’s then, by all means, welcome aboard!
Monday, August 19, 2013
Grampa...
I lost one of my Grampas last night. I often think we take our Grampas for granted. We assume that this strong yet comforting man will always be there for us to turn to. A man who served proudly in the Korean War. A man who could fix anything you broke, often with some duct tape and good ol' American ingenuity. A man who only drank Oly or Pabst back when they were considered a man's beer & not something for hipsters to pretend over. A man who put in 8-10 hours a day working at a job but still came home to work his almond orchard and gardens. A man who could be ornery and curt yet would still shed tears every time one of his dogs passed away. A man who taught two rambunctious boys and one tomboy girl what it meant to work hard to get what you want out of life. A man...
My Grampa was known for his gardens and freshest vegetables, next to his family they were what he was most proud of. My Grandmother asked me to write a short poem for the service dedication to honor what he loved best doing:
My Grampa was known for his gardens and freshest vegetables, next to his family they were what he was most proud of. My Grandmother asked me to write a short poem for the service dedication to honor what he loved best doing:
My Garden, My Life
My garden is life
through which all were nourished
growing strong and vibrant
with my love and caring
to make sure all around me
were bathed
in my sun’s warm light
onions so tasty...so powerful
they’ll bring a tear to your eye
tomatoes so juicy...so zesty
you’ll be smiling for a week
peppers so crisp...so strong
even the coldest nights seem warm
My garden, my life
My garden is life
I put myself in my garden
each plant a small part of me
an image of my being
for all to see beauty and strength
full of life’s flavor, full of life’s color
and through the sharing of my garden
with all that I loved
I know I will be part
of the lives forever
of those who loved me
My garden, my life
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
It's not easy being Green...
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be an expert…on anything. I am just an A’s fan who loves talking about the A’s. So if you find yourself shaking your head at my amateur ramblings or wondering why I even bother in the first place then please, move along, move along. If, however, you are like me and just love talking about the A’s then, by all means, welcome aboard!
Yesterday the A's traded Grant Green to the Angels for Alberto Callaspo. Some thoughts:
The Players:
Grant Green- A former 1st round pick, Green never could find a defensive home despite putting up solid offensive numbers in the minors. It did look like he was going to stick at 2nd base for at least the time being.
Alberto Callaspo- Another solid, switch hitting infielder.
What does it all mean?
To me this one is a bit of a head scratcher as the A's just traded Green for a player to fill a role that Green was being groomed to do. This is obviously a win now move as the A's were apparently not ready to hand over an infield spot to an unproven rookie during a pennant chase, but is Callaspo going to be that much more of a difference maker down the stretch than what Green could of brought? We'll see, and I hope for Callaspo's sake he can provide the production because the #FreeGrantGreen movement was in full swing this summer.
Yesterday the A's traded Grant Green to the Angels for Alberto Callaspo. Some thoughts:
The Players:
Grant Green- A former 1st round pick, Green never could find a defensive home despite putting up solid offensive numbers in the minors. It did look like he was going to stick at 2nd base for at least the time being.
Alberto Callaspo- Another solid, switch hitting infielder.
What does it all mean?
To me this one is a bit of a head scratcher as the A's just traded Green for a player to fill a role that Green was being groomed to do. This is obviously a win now move as the A's were apparently not ready to hand over an infield spot to an unproven rookie during a pennant chase, but is Callaspo going to be that much more of a difference maker down the stretch than what Green could of brought? We'll see, and I hope for Callaspo's sake he can provide the production because the #FreeGrantGreen movement was in full swing this summer.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Ynoa in Stockton
Some camera phone pics I took of Michael Ynoa's first Cal League start in Stockton.
I waited 5 years for this moment:
Lookin good Michael!:
I waited 5 years for this moment:
Lookin good Michael!:
Some warm up tosses:
In game action:
Nice arm angle.
Release the fury!
(Notice fellow Future Star Addison Russell has his back!)
Follow through.
(and Addison is already reacting!)
He is tall:
Addison Russell comes to play!:
Before
After
Catcher Bruce Maxwell is built like an oak tree and plays the game with a fierce determination. He's quickly becoming one of my favorite players to root for:
I pity the fool who tries to take out Maxwell at the plate.
Final thoughts: Even though Ynoa had an overall rough outing he still showed enough for me to be very excited about him as a future Athletic. I look forward to watching him progress through the Cal League and eventually all the way through Sacramento and the PCL. Good luck Michael!
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Top 5 Video Games, In My Opinion
Like quite a few of my generation video games have been a part of my life growing up and growing old. Not to go all old-timer on you but I was there when Atari Pong* was around and haven't gave up on video games since. At one time or another my family or myself have owned every console system* from the popular to the not so popular and have enjoyed countless hours playing on them all. So to say I have seen my fair share of video games over the years would be an extreme understatement, I have practically played them all*. So without further ado, my personal top five video games of all time.
#5 Dark Wizard: Sega CD. I don't know why, but as a youth I became addicted to this game to the point that I was sleeping during the day on days off from school just so I could use the family TV at night to play. The game isn't generally considered one of the greats like most on this list but for me it was engrossing. The game was a simple strategy game with simple graphics and simple game mechanics but I loved it anyways. You could play as one of 4 characters with unique role-playing attributes and actions to try and conquer a medieval type land. Fun for the whole family! I actually brought it out of retirement as recently as 7 years ago just to reminisce and still had a great time playing it.
Afterthoughts: I have never really gotten into strategy games whether they be real time or turn base. I have tried to capture the magic of playing Dark Wizard with other games like Command and Conquer or Age of Wonders but have never succeeded. I did enjoy the Final Fantasy Tactics series but for me that was a one 'n done affair.
#4 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: PlayStation 2. For me, the pinnacle of the Grand Theft Auto series. Vice City had more fun than what should be legally allowed and the PSP "Stories" games were actually more than just interesting time killers, but San Andreas was and is the best over all game Rockstar has ever produced. The story takes place during the gangsta rap era* of California which happened to be when I was in high school here in the lovely Golden State. So even though I am the farthest thing from a gangsta there could be, the game still resonated with me. San Andreas took everything that worked from previous GTA games like over the top characters, customizable vehicles, glorified violence, and scores of anti-social behavior and took them up to the proverbial 11. All the things a guy in his 20's wishes he could do but knowing he could never actually get to a 6 star rating in real life. The game was immense at the time, covering an area that takes place in three different cities* plus the land in between them. The story was borderline outlandish, the music rocked including a country station for when you were going after the trailer park people, and Samuel L. Jackson as the main baddie. Just a perfect symphony of destruction.
Afterthoughts: I know GTA IV is more critically acclaimed and generally considered the better game but IV just didn't have the overall fun factor that San Andreas had. The characters were toned down, the streets(and sidewalks!) too congested to drive really fast through most of the time*, and the over all tone just a bit of a bummer. Realism in video games is fine but I prefer my GTA universe to be more open.
#3 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater: PlayStation 2. Metal Gear Solid and its' various off-shoots happen to be my favorite game series of all time. I love the overall feel of science fiction with some magic realism thrown in. Snake Eater employs all the outstanding MGS elements into one superb game. The game takes place during 1960's Soviet Union in a remote jungle area with a plethora of unique and disturbing characters. The gameplay features new additions like a camouflage system and Close Quarter Combat which help evolve the game. Like most MGS games you can play either full on combat or go for the stealth route, each having their own satisfying styles and conclusions. I could of done without the frogs, but Snake Eater had two of my favorite boss fights of all time. The final against The Boss and the ultra-patient romp with The End.
Afterthoughts: Just like the previous entry on my list, Snake Eater is often overshadowed by its sequel, in this case Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. In most ways Guns of the Patriots is superior to Snake Eater in almost every way but I really got into the Snake Eater story and the mood it was trying to establish so to me Snake Eater narrowly beats out Guns of the Patriots.
#2 Final Fantasy VII: PlayStation. Oh yeah, the legend itself. The game that ruined my 1st PlayStation. The game that taught the world that despite what Nintendo says, sometimes the Princess dies. The game that caused me to forget what the outside world looked like. If there is any game that I wish could be re-released with modern graphics and sound quality, this is the one. The story and gameplay blew me away and kept me coming back for more. Cloud Strife destroyed the typical hero arch-type, he was a complicated mess of emotions, duty, and uncertainty. Plus he carried a big ass sword!
...and what is considered to be one of the most shocking scenes in video game history...Aerith.
Afterthoughts: The Final Fantasy universe is huge but VII stands out amongst it. The Final Fantasy games leading up to VII were good to great but they were standard RPG fare. VIII sucked. IX returned to standard fare(solid game) and X, X-2 were some outstanding games. XI was a MMORPG so I didn't play it. XII and XIII to me were disappointments. The characters were redundant to the point you only really needed a couple to play and beat the game. When all the characters can learn the same skills and with little to none differentiation then the game becomes a bore. I really liked the combat system of XIII but the game could of been more open in the beginning with more opportunity to develop the weapons and limiting the characters to only 2 paradigm roles instead of 3 would of forced you make more diverse parties instead of using the same 3 characters all game.
#1 Fallout 3: PS3. Simply put, the greatest video game of all time. Why is it the greatest? Was it the large and most diverse selection of weapons ever, ranging from rolling pins to shotguns to Gatling Lasers*? Could be. Was it the large and most diverse set of characters ever, ranging from the pure evil to godly good and everything in between? Could be. Was it the large and most diverse story ever, ranging from deciding whether or not to blow up a town with a nuclear warhead to helping a lovely old lady find some sheet music? Could be. Was it the large and most diverse set of skills available, ranging from cannibalistic nutrition to cyborg implants to having the ability to paralyze an opponent with just the palm of your hand? Could be. Or was it because Qui Gon Jinn played your Pops? Definitely could be it. But no, what made Fallout 3 so great was that the moment you stepped outside of Vault 101 for the 1st time the world kicked into gear and kept running whether you did anything or not. The whole vastness of Capitol Wastelands was open to you and the people and places that inhabited this area went on with their lives with or without you. No other game had been this wide open before, with random events happening all around you. You literally could not play the game the same way twice.
Afterthoughts: The 1st two Fallouts were forgettable. Fallout: New Vegas is a solid little time killer but I really hate the Factions game element. I had to restart a game because I decided that while visiting Nipton for the 1st time that Vulpes Inculta was too much of a jerk to let live so I offed him. So even though I left no witnesses I managed to anger all of Caesar's Legions with no hope of saying "sorry" until much later in the game. As a result I couldn't go more than 100 ft. without Legionary Assassins laying waste to me. I hope the Factions is gone or at least redesigned* for Fallout 4.
Final thoughts: The 1st thing most of you are going to ask is "Where is everybody's favorite plumber on this list?" This is my list, my thoughts, thus my opinion. I do not care much for platform games other than time killers so Mario and his minions mean little to me. Also you may of noticed a lack of 1st person shooters such as Halo. I am on of those who gets motion sickness from fast paced 1st person shooters. I'm fine with something I can go slow with like Fallout 3 or Borderlands* but for the most part I stay away from them. Just watching my brother play can cause me to get dizzy and nauseous. Sucks to be me. And finally most of these games are more modern. The classics are classics for a reason and I enjoyed playing in the 8 bit universe as much as anybody but those early games can't touch what is happening nowadays. Not just better graphics and sound but overall game play and story lines have grown well beyond what was capable of even 10 years ago.
Finally, currently I am playing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim* and I find that I am really getting into the game to the point I have 9 different characters going at once. Even though it is too early to tell, Skyrim could be on its' way to a top game in my book. So far I am loving everything about it and haven't come across anything that has caused me to shake my head in disgust*. After I have thoroughly finished Skyrim, which could be a year or two from now, I might have to re-adjust my list. I also have an unopened Borderlands 2 which I have high hopes on.
*Atari Pong- I still have my original.
*system- Including Vectrex, Atari Jaguar, and TurboGrafx-16.
*played them all- During the 80's I played quite a bit on my old Commodore 128 but since then I have stuck mainly to consoles rarely if ever playing on my PC. Also, with game prices nowadays, it is hard to play them all.
*Gangsta Rap era- Think early 90's.
*different cities- The make believe cities were recreations of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas.
*most of the time- Who at Rockstar thought it would be a fun game playing element to have to take a taxi to go anywhere?
*Gatling Lasers- My personal favorite. Mow 'em down kid, mow 'em down.
*redesigned- No witnesses, no crime! That's the way it should be.
*Borderlands- Came real close to making the list! Definitely top 10.
*Skyrim- It is made by Bethesda who also did Fallout 3!
*disgust- There are factions and crimes in Skyrim but unlike New Vegas; no witnesses, no crimes.
#5 Dark Wizard: Sega CD. I don't know why, but as a youth I became addicted to this game to the point that I was sleeping during the day on days off from school just so I could use the family TV at night to play. The game isn't generally considered one of the greats like most on this list but for me it was engrossing. The game was a simple strategy game with simple graphics and simple game mechanics but I loved it anyways. You could play as one of 4 characters with unique role-playing attributes and actions to try and conquer a medieval type land. Fun for the whole family! I actually brought it out of retirement as recently as 7 years ago just to reminisce and still had a great time playing it.
Afterthoughts: I have never really gotten into strategy games whether they be real time or turn base. I have tried to capture the magic of playing Dark Wizard with other games like Command and Conquer or Age of Wonders but have never succeeded. I did enjoy the Final Fantasy Tactics series but for me that was a one 'n done affair.
#4 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: PlayStation 2. For me, the pinnacle of the Grand Theft Auto series. Vice City had more fun than what should be legally allowed and the PSP "Stories" games were actually more than just interesting time killers, but San Andreas was and is the best over all game Rockstar has ever produced. The story takes place during the gangsta rap era* of California which happened to be when I was in high school here in the lovely Golden State. So even though I am the farthest thing from a gangsta there could be, the game still resonated with me. San Andreas took everything that worked from previous GTA games like over the top characters, customizable vehicles, glorified violence, and scores of anti-social behavior and took them up to the proverbial 11. All the things a guy in his 20's wishes he could do but knowing he could never actually get to a 6 star rating in real life. The game was immense at the time, covering an area that takes place in three different cities* plus the land in between them. The story was borderline outlandish, the music rocked including a country station for when you were going after the trailer park people, and Samuel L. Jackson as the main baddie. Just a perfect symphony of destruction.
Afterthoughts: I know GTA IV is more critically acclaimed and generally considered the better game but IV just didn't have the overall fun factor that San Andreas had. The characters were toned down, the streets(and sidewalks!) too congested to drive really fast through most of the time*, and the over all tone just a bit of a bummer. Realism in video games is fine but I prefer my GTA universe to be more open.
#3 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater: PlayStation 2. Metal Gear Solid and its' various off-shoots happen to be my favorite game series of all time. I love the overall feel of science fiction with some magic realism thrown in. Snake Eater employs all the outstanding MGS elements into one superb game. The game takes place during 1960's Soviet Union in a remote jungle area with a plethora of unique and disturbing characters. The gameplay features new additions like a camouflage system and Close Quarter Combat which help evolve the game. Like most MGS games you can play either full on combat or go for the stealth route, each having their own satisfying styles and conclusions. I could of done without the frogs, but Snake Eater had two of my favorite boss fights of all time. The final against The Boss and the ultra-patient romp with The End.
Afterthoughts: Just like the previous entry on my list, Snake Eater is often overshadowed by its sequel, in this case Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. In most ways Guns of the Patriots is superior to Snake Eater in almost every way but I really got into the Snake Eater story and the mood it was trying to establish so to me Snake Eater narrowly beats out Guns of the Patriots.
#2 Final Fantasy VII: PlayStation. Oh yeah, the legend itself. The game that ruined my 1st PlayStation. The game that taught the world that despite what Nintendo says, sometimes the Princess dies. The game that caused me to forget what the outside world looked like. If there is any game that I wish could be re-released with modern graphics and sound quality, this is the one. The story and gameplay blew me away and kept me coming back for more. Cloud Strife destroyed the typical hero arch-type, he was a complicated mess of emotions, duty, and uncertainty. Plus he carried a big ass sword!
...and what is considered to be one of the most shocking scenes in video game history...Aerith.
Afterthoughts: The Final Fantasy universe is huge but VII stands out amongst it. The Final Fantasy games leading up to VII were good to great but they were standard RPG fare. VIII sucked. IX returned to standard fare(solid game) and X, X-2 were some outstanding games. XI was a MMORPG so I didn't play it. XII and XIII to me were disappointments. The characters were redundant to the point you only really needed a couple to play and beat the game. When all the characters can learn the same skills and with little to none differentiation then the game becomes a bore. I really liked the combat system of XIII but the game could of been more open in the beginning with more opportunity to develop the weapons and limiting the characters to only 2 paradigm roles instead of 3 would of forced you make more diverse parties instead of using the same 3 characters all game.
#1 Fallout 3: PS3. Simply put, the greatest video game of all time. Why is it the greatest? Was it the large and most diverse selection of weapons ever, ranging from rolling pins to shotguns to Gatling Lasers*? Could be. Was it the large and most diverse set of characters ever, ranging from the pure evil to godly good and everything in between? Could be. Was it the large and most diverse story ever, ranging from deciding whether or not to blow up a town with a nuclear warhead to helping a lovely old lady find some sheet music? Could be. Was it the large and most diverse set of skills available, ranging from cannibalistic nutrition to cyborg implants to having the ability to paralyze an opponent with just the palm of your hand? Could be. Or was it because Qui Gon Jinn played your Pops? Definitely could be it. But no, what made Fallout 3 so great was that the moment you stepped outside of Vault 101 for the 1st time the world kicked into gear and kept running whether you did anything or not. The whole vastness of Capitol Wastelands was open to you and the people and places that inhabited this area went on with their lives with or without you. No other game had been this wide open before, with random events happening all around you. You literally could not play the game the same way twice.
Afterthoughts: The 1st two Fallouts were forgettable. Fallout: New Vegas is a solid little time killer but I really hate the Factions game element. I had to restart a game because I decided that while visiting Nipton for the 1st time that Vulpes Inculta was too much of a jerk to let live so I offed him. So even though I left no witnesses I managed to anger all of Caesar's Legions with no hope of saying "sorry" until much later in the game. As a result I couldn't go more than 100 ft. without Legionary Assassins laying waste to me. I hope the Factions is gone or at least redesigned* for Fallout 4.
Final thoughts: The 1st thing most of you are going to ask is "Where is everybody's favorite plumber on this list?" This is my list, my thoughts, thus my opinion. I do not care much for platform games other than time killers so Mario and his minions mean little to me. Also you may of noticed a lack of 1st person shooters such as Halo. I am on of those who gets motion sickness from fast paced 1st person shooters. I'm fine with something I can go slow with like Fallout 3 or Borderlands* but for the most part I stay away from them. Just watching my brother play can cause me to get dizzy and nauseous. Sucks to be me. And finally most of these games are more modern. The classics are classics for a reason and I enjoyed playing in the 8 bit universe as much as anybody but those early games can't touch what is happening nowadays. Not just better graphics and sound but overall game play and story lines have grown well beyond what was capable of even 10 years ago.
Finally, currently I am playing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim* and I find that I am really getting into the game to the point I have 9 different characters going at once. Even though it is too early to tell, Skyrim could be on its' way to a top game in my book. So far I am loving everything about it and haven't come across anything that has caused me to shake my head in disgust*. After I have thoroughly finished Skyrim, which could be a year or two from now, I might have to re-adjust my list. I also have an unopened Borderlands 2 which I have high hopes on.
*Atari Pong- I still have my original.
*system- Including Vectrex, Atari Jaguar, and TurboGrafx-16.
*played them all- During the 80's I played quite a bit on my old Commodore 128 but since then I have stuck mainly to consoles rarely if ever playing on my PC. Also, with game prices nowadays, it is hard to play them all.
*Gangsta Rap era- Think early 90's.
*different cities- The make believe cities were recreations of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas.
*most of the time- Who at Rockstar thought it would be a fun game playing element to have to take a taxi to go anywhere?
*Gatling Lasers- My personal favorite. Mow 'em down kid, mow 'em down.
*redesigned- No witnesses, no crime! That's the way it should be.
*Borderlands- Came real close to making the list! Definitely top 10.
*Skyrim- It is made by Bethesda who also did Fallout 3!
*disgust- There are factions and crimes in Skyrim but unlike New Vegas; no witnesses, no crimes.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Unfollowing The Following
I have abnormal television viewing habits. I do not have cable, satellite, or even an antenna. I generally just wait until a show comes out on Netflix to watch it on my PS3*. Sure, I am behind the cultural times and I run the risk of spoilers* but it is a small price to pay not to have to watch an endless stream of irrelevant commercials or pay for channels I will never turn to. There are a few exceptions to my TV viewing habit; some shows I have to watch in season and can usually talk my parents into DVRing them for me so I can go over and watch them. Shows like Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and Syfy's Face Off are three current shows that must be watched as soon as possible*. With Kevin Bacon and a cool concept (a serial killer with a cult of serial killers? Yes please!) I thought I would give The Following a try. My parents watch shows like Criminal Minds and Bones so DVRing a show like this was no problem for them.
The first episode of The Following was a bit of a let down. It was too much like Criminal Minds and not enough like Luther for my taste. I though Kevin Bacon would bring a more dimensional character to the show but he was a little flat footed coming out of the box. The rest of the characters were not much better; even the main serial killer, Joe Carroll, was doing a bad impersonation of Hannibal Lecter. The only saving graces were the characters Emma Hill and Agent Mason. The pilot was not impressive but the concept was cool and I was willing to give the next episode a shot to see if they could fix some of the character problems that slowed down the pilot episode. The second episode toned down the Lecter impersonations and allowed Bacon to broaden his acting chops but it still wasn't a home run. Emma continued to steal the show but they sacrificed the lovely Agent Mason to bring in cult expert and full time sassy Agent Debra Parker, a bad trade off in my opinion. The Following showed signs of improvement so like a good follower I decided to keep watching to see how this season would unfold.
The next three episodes were fine if not really good. The creepiness was there, characters were more developed, Emma rocked, and they were willing to kill off what seemed like major players for the sake of the story. They even found a way to include Mazzy Star's* Fade Into You that made it sound more haunting than it already is. But the sixth episode, The Fall, destroyed the series for me. The episode started out great, Bacon was delivering his best performance thus far throwing around that Bacon charm that made us all want to Footloose* but that's where the positives end. The Fall switched the series from something sinister to a bad episode of 24. Professional mercenary tactical support? Check! Military trained computer specialists? Check! Good guys turning out to be bad guys? Check, check, check! I get how a cult of serial killers could happen, just look at what Manson was able to accomplish in a short time, but this whole militarized, expertly trained cult of super soldiers just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The series could have been something really dark for us to explore with these confused, loner types wanting to make Joe Carroll happy by doing his bidding. Instead we got The Expendables pt. 3: Suspending Disbelief. A bunch of psychopaths who get together to do some bad? Sure. Tactical teams going at it with FBI Swat? No thanks, moving on. And just like this, it's a waste of Bacon.
*PS3- Thank God for MLB.tv on the PS3 as well!
*spoilers- I have already had the last seasons of Sons of Anarchy and Downton Abbey spoiled for me on Twitter.
*possible- I wish I could watch SoA in season but my Dad has a personal hatred for outlaw bikers and refuses to allow that show on his TV.
*Mazzy Star's- Can you guess the Luther connection?
*Footloose- Thought I wouldn't?
The first episode of The Following was a bit of a let down. It was too much like Criminal Minds and not enough like Luther for my taste. I though Kevin Bacon would bring a more dimensional character to the show but he was a little flat footed coming out of the box. The rest of the characters were not much better; even the main serial killer, Joe Carroll, was doing a bad impersonation of Hannibal Lecter. The only saving graces were the characters Emma Hill and Agent Mason. The pilot was not impressive but the concept was cool and I was willing to give the next episode a shot to see if they could fix some of the character problems that slowed down the pilot episode. The second episode toned down the Lecter impersonations and allowed Bacon to broaden his acting chops but it still wasn't a home run. Emma continued to steal the show but they sacrificed the lovely Agent Mason to bring in cult expert and full time sassy Agent Debra Parker, a bad trade off in my opinion. The Following showed signs of improvement so like a good follower I decided to keep watching to see how this season would unfold.
The next three episodes were fine if not really good. The creepiness was there, characters were more developed, Emma rocked, and they were willing to kill off what seemed like major players for the sake of the story. They even found a way to include Mazzy Star's* Fade Into You that made it sound more haunting than it already is. But the sixth episode, The Fall, destroyed the series for me. The episode started out great, Bacon was delivering his best performance thus far throwing around that Bacon charm that made us all want to Footloose* but that's where the positives end. The Fall switched the series from something sinister to a bad episode of 24. Professional mercenary tactical support? Check! Military trained computer specialists? Check! Good guys turning out to be bad guys? Check, check, check! I get how a cult of serial killers could happen, just look at what Manson was able to accomplish in a short time, but this whole militarized, expertly trained cult of super soldiers just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The series could have been something really dark for us to explore with these confused, loner types wanting to make Joe Carroll happy by doing his bidding. Instead we got The Expendables pt. 3: Suspending Disbelief. A bunch of psychopaths who get together to do some bad? Sure. Tactical teams going at it with FBI Swat? No thanks, moving on. And just like this, it's a waste of Bacon.
*PS3- Thank God for MLB.tv on the PS3 as well!
*spoilers- I have already had the last seasons of Sons of Anarchy and Downton Abbey spoiled for me on Twitter.
*possible- I wish I could watch SoA in season but my Dad has a personal hatred for outlaw bikers and refuses to allow that show on his TV.
*Mazzy Star's- Can you guess the Luther connection?
*Footloose- Thought I wouldn't?
Monday, February 4, 2013
Get Carter? nay Trade Carter
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be an expert…on anything. I am just an A’s fan who loves talking about the A’s. So if you find yourself shaking your head at my amateur ramblings or wondering why I even bother in the first place then please move along, move along. If, however, you are like me and just love talking about the A’s then, by all means, welcome aboard!
The A's and Houston Astros made a trade today, some thoughts. I have to admit, this trade hurts. Not just from a purely baseball stand point but also the unbridled fan in me is taken aback.
The Players:
Chris Carter*- Chris has always been one of those prospects that the prospect guys either loved or thought "meh". He had the minor league numbers for a top guy but also had more than his share of K's making some wonder if he could translate any of that power into the Big Leagues. After finally getting an extended look at the major league level last year he produced an impressive batting line and showed that there may be more to come. One of the prospect guru's who thought highly of Chris was Kevin Goldstein*, formerly of the excellent Baseball Prospectus. Oh by the way, Kevin is now the Pro Scouting Coordinator of the Houston Astros, the team Chris was just traded to.
Brad Peacock- Brad was a minor league righty who never really got it going in Sacramento after some solid innings over in the Nationals' system. Poor mechanics and "pressing to hard" were the reasons given but just like Carter, there were those who thought that Brad's minor league stats would not translate well into the majors.
Max Stassi- Another Goldstein guy. Max was an up and coming catcher just beginning to make headway in the A's system after going through some shoulder problems coming out of high school. While he had early offensive struggles, he put up a solid season at Stockton for a catcher just coming off of shoulder surgery. Most prospect guys feel even if he doesn't produce much with the bat, he should make it to the majors with his defensive ability alone.
Jed Lowrie- A solid utility infielder with a solid bat. Really just a solid guy who can play a solid SS if need be. Solid!
Fernando Rodriguez- Right handed bullpen option.
What does it all mean?
It means the A's have really soured on Jemile Weeks while thinking Brandon Moss is ready to carry the load at 1st all by himself. The A's already had a crowded infield and while none are exactly All-Stars Jed Lowrie isn't enough to knock any of them off their positions. Unless of course they think Weeks won't rebound into the 2nd baseman they thought he was and are forced to put newly acquired Hiroyuki Nakajima there. Don't forget the A's still have Adam Rosales, Eric Sogard, Scott Sizemore, and the perpetual prospect, Grant Green! Maybe the A's can have a 5 man rotation at 2nd base just like starting pitching?
As for 1st base, the A's will have the opposite problem with only 29 year old journeyman Brandon Moss and Daric "Let's give him one more chance!" Barton. Moss and Carter formed an impressive lefty/righty platoon last year and now the A's lost that because both Moss and Barton bat left*.
I don't understand where this trade came from unless the A's are having serious doubts with both Carter and Weeks. To trade that much for a utility infielder and a righty bullpen guy,even as solid as Lowrie(solid!) is, makes no sense to me. I know the A's want to win now but it seems like a high price to pay for what little they have gotten in return.
*Chris Carter- For all of you who know me(thanks to both of you!) you know that I love me some Chris Carter. I have been a fan of his since his Stockton Ports days. Maybe my fandom is clouding my judgment?
*Kevin Goldstein- With Kevin's long storied relationship with the A's(you should've went to the BP event for the story) it was only a matter of time before the A's and Astros started making deals together.
*Barton bat left- You can make the argument that Barton can't bat at all.
The A's and Houston Astros made a trade today, some thoughts. I have to admit, this trade hurts. Not just from a purely baseball stand point but also the unbridled fan in me is taken aback.
The Players:
Chris Carter*- Chris has always been one of those prospects that the prospect guys either loved or thought "meh". He had the minor league numbers for a top guy but also had more than his share of K's making some wonder if he could translate any of that power into the Big Leagues. After finally getting an extended look at the major league level last year he produced an impressive batting line and showed that there may be more to come. One of the prospect guru's who thought highly of Chris was Kevin Goldstein*, formerly of the excellent Baseball Prospectus. Oh by the way, Kevin is now the Pro Scouting Coordinator of the Houston Astros, the team Chris was just traded to.
Brad Peacock- Brad was a minor league righty who never really got it going in Sacramento after some solid innings over in the Nationals' system. Poor mechanics and "pressing to hard" were the reasons given but just like Carter, there were those who thought that Brad's minor league stats would not translate well into the majors.
Max Stassi- Another Goldstein guy. Max was an up and coming catcher just beginning to make headway in the A's system after going through some shoulder problems coming out of high school. While he had early offensive struggles, he put up a solid season at Stockton for a catcher just coming off of shoulder surgery. Most prospect guys feel even if he doesn't produce much with the bat, he should make it to the majors with his defensive ability alone.
Jed Lowrie- A solid utility infielder with a solid bat. Really just a solid guy who can play a solid SS if need be. Solid!
Fernando Rodriguez- Right handed bullpen option.
What does it all mean?
It means the A's have really soured on Jemile Weeks while thinking Brandon Moss is ready to carry the load at 1st all by himself. The A's already had a crowded infield and while none are exactly All-Stars Jed Lowrie isn't enough to knock any of them off their positions. Unless of course they think Weeks won't rebound into the 2nd baseman they thought he was and are forced to put newly acquired Hiroyuki Nakajima there. Don't forget the A's still have Adam Rosales, Eric Sogard, Scott Sizemore, and the perpetual prospect, Grant Green! Maybe the A's can have a 5 man rotation at 2nd base just like starting pitching?
As for 1st base, the A's will have the opposite problem with only 29 year old journeyman Brandon Moss and Daric "Let's give him one more chance!" Barton. Moss and Carter formed an impressive lefty/righty platoon last year and now the A's lost that because both Moss and Barton bat left*.
I don't understand where this trade came from unless the A's are having serious doubts with both Carter and Weeks. To trade that much for a utility infielder and a righty bullpen guy,even as solid as Lowrie(solid!) is, makes no sense to me. I know the A's want to win now but it seems like a high price to pay for what little they have gotten in return.
*Chris Carter- For all of you who know me(thanks to both of you!) you know that I love me some Chris Carter. I have been a fan of his since his Stockton Ports days. Maybe my fandom is clouding my judgment?
*Kevin Goldstein- With Kevin's long storied relationship with the A's(you should've went to the BP event for the story) it was only a matter of time before the A's and Astros started making deals together.
*Barton bat left- You can make the argument that Barton can't bat at all.
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