Distrcit 13

District 13 is a 2004 French martial arts film re-released in dubbed English in 2006. They waste no time getting to business, and what is most engaging about this movie is how much adrenaline it provokes without the use of special effects or wires. A druglord has an enemy's sister, as well as a nuclear weapon he may blow up the French slums with, thus drawing both Damien (a cop who can diffuse the bomb) and Leito (a slum-dwelling avenger who seeks his sister) together. The main characters use parkour, a french technique that was invented by one of the main characters (David Belle, Leito), which emphasizes maximum efficiency in manipulating your environment with the use of the human body. There is a lot of jumping, flipping and spinning in this technique, for example in the popular urban ninja video on youtube. They used a variety of martial arts, as the cop was a self-professed kickboxer, and the druglord watches a famous UFC fight at one point in the movie. The movie was also politically clairvoyant, as the French attitudes towards the slums of Paris showed up in the media a year later when riots broke out due to the hopelessness of the ignored areas. But still, District 13 was a 90-minute adrenaline-rush, that is fitting for any martial-arts movie-fan.

The Protector

Another installment by Tony Jaa, who goes to Australia to protect his companion elephant, a sacred animal in Thai culture, which has been kidnapped by some crooked business people. Some of the plot, acting, and music were silly, but there is one reason to watch this movie, and that is to watch Tony Jaa kick some ass. He is a lot more aggressive and dominant than in Ong-Bak, and there were some long and daunting fight sequences.

The Golden Compass

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Tim Burton delivers another masterpiece in Sweeney Todd. Johnny Depp plays a vengeful barber who becomes a serial killer, while his wife Helena Bonham Carter makes meat pies out of the bodies. The movie will have the amount of gore and grief you would expect from an R-rated movie about a serial killer, even though it's a musical. The singing was pretty good, even by Depp who reportedly had not sung in decades. Tim Burton said that auditioning so many people singing was as intimate as seeing them naked for a porno. The singing certainly brought a level of intimacy to the film that contrasts the dark tone, and the score was as grandiloquent as the barber himself. If you like Tim Burton's aesthetic, then you will love Sweeney Todd. Almost the entire movie was colourless, except of course for the blood, and two brief scenes bookending the movie.

The sub-text played on the theme of how "man eats man," the eating of human meat pies a metaphor for this. The judge wants something that Sweeney Todd has, his beautiful wife, and so unfairly sentences him to life in prison. The judge reflects man's selfish nature. Todd, who escapes and comes back years later, requires vengeance, in his all-too-human nature. Todd has a great capacity for evil, and carelessness, definite traits of humanity. This was probably Tim Burton's darkest movie, but it was a great one, and further cements his status as one of the best director's of his generation.

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Walk Hard

The latest from Judd Apatow parodying a Johnny Cash-style singer's life. It's silly and dirty and pretty funny. Not quite 4 stars, but I would probably give it 3.75 if I could. In comparison, Superbad was worth 4 stars, Knocked Up closer to 3.25, and the 40-Year-Old Virgin closer to 3.75. The movies that this core of actors generates are on average better than the one's the "fratpack" usually spurts out. The groups are pretty easy to delineate. The core of the "fratpack" features Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, and Luke Wilson. Old School was amazing, Zoolander and Anchorman pretty good, but then the catalogue starts to slip a bit with Dodgeball, Meet the Parents, Wedding Crashers, and Blades of Glory. The Apatow group is centered around Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, and to an extent Steve Carell. Obviously there are a lot of overlapping casts and what not. I could probably designate three side groups: one is Jack Black, who gets to be in a field all by himself (Tenacious D, Nacho Libre, School of Rock, Orange County, and High Fidelity). Another is Wes Anderson, who uses Jason Schwartzman a lot, and generally does more self-explorative, sophisticated comedies (Rushmore, Royal Tenanbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and The Darjeeling Limited). These are probably the highest quality movies out of the bunch. Then there is Bill Murray, who is Bill Murray.

Legend

No, not I Am Legend, but the 1986 fantasy classic by Ridley Scott, featuring Tom Cruise as a pants-less forest-dweller, and Tim Curry as one of cinema's most memorable Devil's. It's amazing what a Director's Cut, as well as good DVD quality can do for these solid 80's movies. Watching this made me want to watch Dark Crystal, another movie I remember from my childhood.

Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior

Tony Jaa is pretty good, but this movie proved to be a fairly standard martial arts movie.

Interesting Non-Tendered Free Agents

(featured on www.bluejayway.ca)

After Wednesday’s non-tender deadline, there are a few interesting names available.

Dallas McPherson (3B) – A former Angels prospect, and a lefty with a lot of power. He has been plagued by injuries, but a low market team with no 3B would be smart to give him a shot, especially because he has tons of service time left. The Blue Jays would also be smart to look for a backup 3B in case Glaus gets injured for a few months.

Morgan Ensberg (3B) – Still could produce, as he had good walks and power in the past. But unless he can play LF, another team might be able to offer him a starting spot.

Adam Everett (SS) – One of the best defensive shortstops in baseball, with a poor bat. His type of tools are the kind that go underrated when contracts are given out.

Kevin Mench (OF) – He’s got a decent bat for LF, with a career .791 OPS.

Miguel Olivo [C] – Has hit 32 homeruns over the last two years (and 23 walks!). He might be that good backup catcher Ricciardi has been looking for. He threw out 33% of baserunners last year.

Johnny Estrada [C] – An even better solution offensively than Olivo, since he’s a switch hitter, and has a higher career OBP by 45 points. However, defensively he’s not as good, throwing out 13% last year, even worse than an injured Zaun.

Kiko Calero (RHP) – A career 3.55 ERA has got to make some teams look twice for bullpen help, even though he struggled last year. The Blue Jays would be wise to beef up their bullpen to protect against any possible regressions from some of the overperforming young pitchers last year. Not that the Jays bullpen will be bad, but you can never have enough pitching.

Akinori Otsuka (RHP) – He has a 2.44 career ERA. I’m not sure why the pitching hungry Rangers non-tendered him, as even though he’s returning from injury, he still has an awful lot of service time left, making the risk of losing a few million dollars over 1 year logical. He was also the last valuable commodity left in the Adam Eaton/Otsuka for Adrian Gonzalez/Chris Young/Termel Sledge trade.

Mark Prior (RHP) – The Cubs non-tendering Prior makes more sense than the Otsuka situation. He will be a free agent after next year, and could resign anywhere. He will be returning from injury, so a big market team might want to drop $3.5 million to see if he can be useful for half of the year.

Josh Towers (RHP) – NL West bound.

Matt Wise (RHP) – Another potentially useful bullpen arm. He’s got a career ERA of 4.18, with a good K:BB ratio (238:103).

Other names:

Jose Garcia, RHP, John Parrish, LHP, Cory Doyne, RHP, Roberto Novoa, RHP, Nick Gorneault, OF, Brendan Donnelly, RHP, Emil Brown, OF, Chad Durbin, RHP, Jason Tyner, OF, Andy Gonzalez, INF, Heath Phillips, LHP, T.J. Beam, RHP, Matt DeSalvo, RHP, Darrell Rasner, RHP, Bronson Sardinha, OF, Willie Harris, OF, Aaron Miles, 2B, Mark Hendrickson, LHP, Scott Munter, RHP, Ben Johnson, OF, Juan Padilla, RHP, Nook Logan, OF, Mike O’Connor, LHP, Jack Cassel, RHP, Ryan Ketchner, LHP, Jason Lane, OF, Brad Eldred, 1B; Brian Rogers, RHP, Jerry Gil, SS, Brad Salmon, RHP, Sean Barker, OF, Darren Clarke, RHP.

Dexter: End of Season 2 Comments

SPOILERS! Please don't read unless you've finished season 2.

Season 2 was pretty fun in that there was a whole lot of tension and excitement throughout the entire season. There was also more introspection into Dexter's past, which I enjoy. However, I and many other fans can't help but feel a little disappointed with the plot developments. Doakes ends up dying, getting blasted to smithereens, and is pinned as the Bay Harbour Butcher (BHB). Doakes is no different from Dexter. He's a good cop that wants justice and to kill bad guys. Everyone who watches the show roots for Dexter. He's the loveable serial killer. The feeling of disappointment comes in when you realize that Doakes' blood is on Dexter's hands. Even though Lila killed him, Dexter was planning to frame Doakes for the BHB murders, which would probably have lead to him getting the death penalty since it is legal in Florida. So even if you're not the one doing the killing, but you set them up to be killed, you are absolved? I also think that was a weak plan by Dexter, considering Doakes' accusations would at least cause investigation into Dexter's past, basically screwing him over. The chances of them finding something in Dexter's past to connect him to the BHB would be way higher for him than Doakes. As well, season 2 saw a markedly different Dexter, who battled much more moral problems (since his hand was forced by the law and revelations by Harry's code), and he got a lot closer to people, such as Lila, and caring for Rita and the kids. At times you wonder, if Dexter stops killing people, then wouldn't this be just a normal cop drama?

I loved the conversations between Doakes and Dexter once Doakes knew that he was the BHB. Towards the end, you felt that Doakes layers were being knocked down, and he somewhat understood Dexter. And Dexter also helps Doakes from being killed by those drug lords. What a team those two would make! That would have been epically cool, if there weren't the problem of the law hunting down at least one of them as the BHB.

I did write one alternative ending, which I think would have tied things up much better:

Doakes survives the blast - but is in a coma, and when he wakes up has retrograde episodic amnesia. He is able to be a cop, but not homicide, as he has lost his episodic memory for a few months back (forgetting that Dexter is the BHB). He still hates Dexter for some reason. The law acquits him because they find out that Lila is the BHB, after its discovered she was trying to make Doakes her latest victim in a plea to get Dexter back. (I suppose her fingerprints were found on something in the cabin, and they identify her motive). Lila as the possible BHB could have worked well if the writers developed it more. The viewers of the show know that she can kill, and that she had all those body parts in her studio, alluding to chopping up bodies. From the law's perspective, they first find she has an alias and no paper trail. All that would be required is writing in on how she was a killer of chopping a person up 15 years ago in Britain before coming here, yadda yadda yadda. Anyway, before the law gets to her, Dexter has already "taken care" of her, both framing her and killing her in the process, making it look like a suicide because she was "found out." This way, Dexter doesn't have any of Doakes blood on his hands, Doakes lives, and Dexter goes on being his old self.

Do you believe in the Jays?

On a recent board discussion on Blue Jay Way, someone asked if you really believed that the Jays had a chance. I'll put my long rant of an answer here. However, I was partly depressed because I lost my mp3 player last night by leaving it on a (coach) bus.
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First, no one can say with absolute certainty who is going to win this year. I know you may think I'm being facetious, but look at it in terms of a matter of probability. No one can answer "no the Jays won't make the playoffs again next year." There is a shot, even if it's in the 10% range, it's still could happen.

With that being said, and in my honest opinion, it's really tough to see the Jays ever making the playoffs. The Red Sox and Yankees are way too good for us. They both have money and are both developing terrific young players. The Jays spend a decent amount, though considering the cap of $100 million, you could heavily criticize the allocation of resources by JP Ricciardi. The Wells contract looks expensive in the last few years, though that is far away. BJ Ryan is a very expensive reliever. Not only that, but JP seems to acquire those free agents with his eyes and ears closed with regards to their medical reports. It's almost like he pretends it might not be a factor. It was known that Glaus, Burnett and Thomas were all injury concerns, and that BJ had a funky delivery and was due. The point is, spending money in an absolute vacuum may increase your chances to win, but the Red Sox and Yankees pummel us on that front, so we have to be even more shrewd with spending money.

The Red Sox and Yankees have been drafting better than us until this year and perhaps the last. JP wasted picks here and there (for example, on some of the aforementioned signings, and maybe the Koskie one), and blew several high picks on signability. Look at what the Tigers are doing. They drafted Maybin for a signing bonus of perhaps 400K more than Ricky Romero, and just traded him as the centrepiece for Miguel Freaking Cabrera. I know it's in the past, but I think that with JP at the helm, and the current economic structure (luxury tax, no draft slotting), as well as weighted divisions, the Jays are essentially screwed. The Red Sox and Yankees are going to make the playoffs almost every year, and if not them, an AL Central powerhouse. It is almost like the NBA, where the Western Conference is dominant and the Eastern one not so much (for baseball, like the AL over NL). However in basketball 8 teams make the playoffs, whereas only 4 do in baseball. A small change that could help is taking away the weighted divisions, and making the best 4 teams in each league make the playoffs. Baseball is usually slow to change though, so you can't expect something drastic like a salary cap or expanded playoffs (which would probably require a shortened season, even though 8 playoff teams would be really fun and lucrative).

It IS a delicate situation though. You can't just fire JP unless you can hire away a Brian Colangelo type guy. There are much worse GM's than Ricciardi. There are a few great GM's floating around right now, like Terry Ryan or John Schuerholz. The Jays could offer a somewhat big payroll, a good market, a good paycheque, and a supportive ownership group to try and sway one of these guys away.

It's also frustrating when you think that basically any other team has a chance but the Jays (and other AL East teams). If you haven't noticed, there is a lot of parity in baseball. Seven different world champions in the last 8 years (or so), with several new teams making the playoffs. However, the newest CBA actually heightened the level for luxury taxes, and there has been no discussion on slotting of the draft. With the weighted divisions, the Jays have to face these two teams very often, and have to hope that they both don't automatically make the playoffs. At least teams in the Central and West can hope to win the division in any one year.

What do I want from the games? Well, you can always watch them with tempered expectations, because certain good things will happen, like breaking out young players like McGowan, etc. You can watch for the good plays too. I don't agree with corpusse on his point about having an awful team. It would just desensitize you. It's better to have a somewhat competing, talented team...and even if you get good draft picks every year, it could take you 10 years to be good. Plus, you can still draft the Roy Halladay's of the world with the 18th overall pick. Also, you can always find a new team (which is hard for me to do personally because I've grown up with the Jays), but I'm a big fan of what Dave Dombrowski does for the Tigers. Look at how they draft over slot every year, getting Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, and Rick Porcello. Why can't we do that? It'd be only adding another $5 million on the draft, easily affordable. It's pennywise, poundfoolish not to. They are also the closest team to us, and Dombrowski used to work for the Expos I believe.
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Now someone did respond and intelligently pointed out that the Red Sox and Yankees merely have an abundance of picks the last several years, and that the Blue Jays drafts are improving tremendously. That and the solid payroll makes me feel better about the future at least, since they are going in the right direction.

Garza for Young: A Prospect Blockbuster

It's hard to say who got the better of the Delmon Young for Matt Garza trade right now. The Twins gave up the 5th best pitching prospect in baseball last year and a possible number 2 starter, a great defensive shortstop in Jason Bartlett, and power-pitching relief prospect Eduardo Morlan. The Rays gave up the best player in the deal – Delmon Young, who many scouts see as having unlimited potential - as well as role players Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie. Young was a number 1 overall pick who treaded water in the majors at 21, a resume you don’t want to give up on too quickly. It all basically breaks down as to whether Delmon Young breaks out into a superstar. He had discouraging plate discipline in 2007, with 127 k’s and only 26 walks, despite logging only 13 homeruns in 645 AB. However, he still had 38 doubles, and some of those will turn into homeruns. Scouts have always loved his quick bat speed, and I should reiterate that he is only 21. It may not be for a couple of years, but there’s no reason to think Delmon Young still won’t become a perennial All-star.

In the context of how each team improves, it’s still a fairly even trade. Both teams dealt from a position of strength to fill a weakness. The Twins had numerous young pitchers for the rotation without Garza, including Bonser, Baker, Slowey, Perkins, Liriano, and Swarzak, so selling high on Garza makes sense. In 2006, Baseball America said of Garza, “calling him a No. 2 starter behind Johan Santana almost seems conservative.” He had a good year in 2007, and obviously the pitching hungry Rays believe the same things that Baseball America does. However, they are downgrading their shortstop position, hoping that Harris, Alexi Casilla and Nick Punto can share time effectively between SS and 2b. The offense still looks weak up the middle (including CF) and 3b, but will obviously be helped if Delmon Young breaks out.

The Rays had an overloaded outfield, a bad pitching staff, and the league’s worst defense. The defense is helped by Jason Bartlett at shortstop, and the rotation is much deeper now: Kazmir, Garza, Shields, Sonnanstine, Niemann, Jackson, and Hammel. I still don’t see the Devil Rays competing next year. They lost 96 games, and the bullpen is still awful, even though it is fronted by Al Reyes, Dan Wheeler, and now Troy Percival. Their offense is not as strong as it looks: you can't rely on Baldelli because of injuries. B.J. Upton may regress offensively due to his ridiculous .393 BABIP (definition: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/glossary/index.php?search=babip), showing that he was getting lucky with hits, and whopping 154 strikeouts. However, he's still a good hitter, as his power, stolen bases, and walks were all good. Carlos Pena may be good next year, but not as good as his career year in 2007. As well, Bartlett, Josh Wilson (2b), and Dioner Navarro [C] don’t have great bats. Considering the long-term upside of Delmon Young, I would say that the Twins have the slight edge in this trade.

Jim Callis of Baseaball America is driving the 2010 Devil Rays World Series champion bandwagon. He also does not believe in the Jays at all. In a recent chat, he picked the Blue Jays as the worst AL East team over the next 10 years (that’s right, even worse than the Orioles, even though the Jays organization is run better in many ways over the Orioles). So will the Devil Rays be taking the traditional 3rd place reigns (or higher) in a few years? It’s an important question, because the Rays have been an arch nemesis to the Blue Jays, beating them when they needed wins the most, while the Red Sox and Yankees frequently posed as less a problem.

The future has several key prospects coming up. Evan Longoria (SS/3b) and Reid Brignac (SS) will presumably take the left side of the infield, while Iwamura moves to 2b, and Pena stays at 1b if he is still there. The rotation could have 5 number 1 or 2’s, with Kazmir, Garza, Shields, Wade Davis, Jake McGee, and David Price, which may be enough to put them over the top. But that is several years away, and not counting the attrition rate for prospects, especially pitchers. Prospects often take a long time to develop, and may not hit their stride until well past 2010. If their management is reluctant to start spending a lot of money in a poor market to keep players like Crawford and Kazmir, then all the pieces will never be there at once, and they will never reach their potential. All in all, the Rays have collected many top prospects from years of losing, but their future is so prospect-based that I’ll believe it when I see it.