Football is over and Spring Training has begun!
I know that the Shattered Lens isn’t a sports site but I love the Rangers and I can’t wait to see how they do this season. I can’t wait for more memories like this one:
The season officially starts on April 2nd! Good luck to my Rangers and to every other team (even the Blue Jays)!
Congratulations to the Chicago Cubs, who just won their first World Series since 1908!
I started this season believing that this would be the season that my Texas Rangers would finally win their first World Series title but it was not to be. After a great regular season, they lost the division series to the Blue Jays. As much as I wish my Rangers had gone further in the postseason, I’ll always cherish the memories.
But if my Rangers couldn’t win the World Series, I’m glad that the Cubs did. Going into the series as an underdog to the Cleveland Indians, the Cubs came back from behind and won Game 7, in extra innings with 10 runs to Cleveland’s 8. Both Chicago and Cleveland should be proud of their teams tonight!
Way to go, Cubs!
And here’s hoping my Rangers make it next season!
Congratulations on the victory, Chicago! You earned it!
For many of us, October doesn’t just mean Halloween and all things horror, it also means playoff baseball. Unfortunately, my Boston Red Sox were eliminated last night by the Cleveland Indians. Fenway Park has locked its gates for the winter, but the Boys of Summer will return next April. Only there will be something missing in 2017. There will be no more Big Papi.
David Ortiz has decided to call it a career after nineteen glorious seasons as the best Designated Hitter in baseball. The 40-year-old slugger gave us his all, but the wear and tear on his body told him to make this season his last. And what a tremendous final season it was: .315 Batting Average, 38 Home Runs, 127 RBI, and he led the American League in OPS (1.021), Doubles (48), Slugging Percentage (.620), and Intentional Walks (15). Not bad for an old geezer, and Papi will…
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This scene isn’t from a movie but it is one that I love and that I’ve watched a dozen times today.
Here’s what those of us watching the Rangers/Blue Jays game saw yesterday.
I’m usually against violence and I don’t like it when grown men act like children but I’m also a Rangers fan and Jose “Bat Flip” Bautista got what he deserved. After Bautista’s hard slide into 2nd base, Odor is lucky he didn’t end up with a broken leg and Bautista’s lucky that Adrian Beltre was there to carry him to safety.
Here it is again:
For the record, that game was the last time that the Rangers and Blue Jays are scheduled to play during the regular season. With a final score of 6-5, the Rangers not only won the game but also swept the series!
Happy Jackie Robinson Day!
Lyrics (by Woodrow Buddy Johnson):
Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?
It went zoomin cross the left field wall.
Yeah boy, yes, yes. Jackie hit that ball.
And when he swung his bat,
the crowd went wild,
because he knocked that ball a solid mile.
Yeah boy, yes, yes. Jackie hit that ball.
Satchel Paige is mellow,
so is Campanella,
Newcombe and Doby, too.
But it’s a natural fact,
when Jackie comes to bat,
the other team is through.
Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?
Did he hit it? Yeah, and that ain’t all.
He stole home.
Yes, yes, Jackie’s real gone.
Did you see Jackie Robinson hit that ball?
Did he hit it? Yeah, and that ain’t all.
He stole home.
Yes, yes, Jackie’s real gone.
Jackie’s is a real gone guy.
As a bonus, here’s Jackie Robinson stealing home plate at the 1955 world series! Yogi Berra said Jackie was out. The umpire disagreed.
Welcome to the wacky, wonderful world of 70’s sexploitation comedies. Today we’ll be dealing with two Great American Obsessions: boobs and baseball! (Actually, it’s softball here, but why quibble). SQUEEZE PLAY is brought to you by Lloyd Kaufman and his team at Troma Entertainment, the folks responsible for such cinematic gems as THE TOXIC AVENGER and CLASS OF NUKE EM HIGH. Let’s slide right into the plot of the movie, shall we?
SQUEEZE PLAY is your basic Battle of the Sexes romp. The Beavers are the champs of the Mattress Workers Softball League, and the guys on the team have been ignoring their women folk for softball. This is causing much friction between them (and not the pleasant kind!), especially our two leads, team captain Wes and his fiancée Samantha. Things change when Mary Lou, a pretty heiress on the run, comes to town and demonstrates a killer arm (seems…
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This week’s baseball theme wouldn’t be complete without Bud Abbott and Lou Costello doing their classic “Who’s On First?”. The skit originated in burlesque in various permutations, until the team turned it into a baseball routine and ran away with it. They first performed it before a national audience on Kate Smith’s radio show in 1938, and it was an immediate smash. Abbott & Costello never did it the same way twice, riffing on the routine like a jam band. Enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956, here’s the boys doing “Who’s On First?” from their 1950’s television show:
4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.
Two months ago, Lisa reviewed The Pride of the Yankees. Two days ago, Gary reviewed Take Me Out To The Ballgame. Erin just explained to me why the Orioles are going to lose this season and the Rangers are going to win. Opening Day is almost here.
These 4 shots from 4 films are dedicated to baseball lovers everywhere.
4 Shots From 4 Films
The Natural (1984, directed by Barry Levinson)
Field of Dreams (1989, directed by Phil Alden Robinson)
Eight Men Out (1989, directed by John Sayles)
42 (2013, directed by Brian Hegeland)
Congratulations to the Kansas City Royals!
Tonight, after 12 innings and scoring 7 runs, the Kansas City Royals won the 2015 World Series! It took them 5 games to defeat the New York Mets but their victory was never in doubt. From the moment they defeated the Blue Jays for the AL Championship, the Royals had the momentum. The Mets are a good team and put up a good effort but, from game one, it felt as if the Royals were unbeatable. After spending 8 innings of Game 5 trailing 0-2, the Royals tied the game in the 9th inning and then scored 5 runs in the 12th.
I didn’t start as a Royals fan. I love my Texas Rangers and I’d be lying if I said that there wasn’t a part of me that wishes they could have been the ones winning tonight. And my Rangers had a good season. After being dismissed by everyone, they came on strong during the second half of the regular season and they won the AL West. I’m proud of what they accomplished this season and I can’t wait to see what they do next season.
But tonight belongs to the Royals! Congratulations, Kansas City, on a great team, a great series, and a great victory! This is the 2nd World Series victory for the Royals and their first since 1985. They earned it.
See you in April!
Today we celebrate the 4th of July, the United States’ Independence Day, and I mean the one from British rule and not from invading aliens.
This day has always been about the balance of one’s level of patriotism (or lackof), gathering with friends and family for barbecues and fireworks. I would also like to add that the 4th of July has also meant watching or listening to one’s favorite baseball team. Baseball, for me at least, will always remain America’s national past time.
So, here are four films that one should check out this day, or any day to understand why baseball remains such a major part for some people’s lives.
4 SHOTS FROM 4 FILMS
The Natural (dir. Barry Levinson)
Eight Men Out (dir. by John Sayles)
Bull Durham (dir. by Ron Shelton)
Field of Dreams (dir. by Phil Alden Robinson)
Through the Shattered Lens 