“American Sniper” – Two Conflicting Views

20 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures

Tags

"American Sniper", 9/11, Autobiography, Chris Kyle, Clint Eastwood, David P. Stang, Film, Iraq War, Richard Millier, Terrorism

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A long time friend suggested we both see Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper and then get together to talk about the film.

We haven’t had that talk in person yet, but I suggested we could both write about the film, and I’d post what we both wrote (without having seen each other’s comments).

I’ve posted his first and mine afterwards.

Please feel free to add your thoughts, civilly of course, in the Comment section of this post.

An Apology to Mr. Rizzo

19 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by Richard in Family and Friends, Go Sox

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

"MillersTime" Contest, Listen to Your Father, Max Scherzer, Mike Rizzo, Nats, Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals, Yunel Escobar

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According to the Washington Post:

The Washington Nationals radically altered the baseball landscape Sunday night, ending a winter of relative inactivity by agreeing to a seven-year contract with free agent pitcher Max Scherzer, according to a person with direct knowledge of the talks.

I shoulda listened to my father, the chess player.

He tried to teach me to take my time when my opponent made a move that perhaps seemed weak, foolish, or one I didn’t understand. He warned not to jump too quickly in my next move and to beware of what further moves my opponent might have in mind.

For the most part, I’ve followed that advice, at least with reference to MillersTime.

Your Predictions: A One Question Contest

18 Sunday Jan 2015

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

"MillersTime" Contest, Baseball Contest, Nats, Oakland Athletics, Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals, Yunel Escobar

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Boston Red Sox v Toronto Blue Jays

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Thanks to the suggestion of a long time baseball fan and a MillersTime reader (and with some adjustments on my part), I’m creating a new Baseball Contest, this one limited to just one question.

Contest: List three impacts you predict the trade of Tyler Clippard for Yunel Escobar will have for the Nats and/or for the Athletics.

Prize: Two seats in Section 117, Row G or H (three or four rows behind the Visitors’ dugout and between home and third base) for a Nats’ game next year.

Details:

Baseball: Business vs Family

16 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by Richard in Family and Friends, Go Sox

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

baseball, Family, Loyalty, Nationals, Red Sox, Tyler Clippard, Values, Winning, Yunel Escobar

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My post yesterday, Nats: Terrible, Terrible Decision, reminded me of what most bothers me about baseball, a game I’ve loved for as long as I can remember (at least six and a half decades).

Nats: Terrible, Terrible Decision

15 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

"Tu ere maricon", "You are a faggot", baseball, MLB, Nats, Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals, Yunel Escobar

Boston Red Sox v Toronto Blue Jays

“Tue ere maricon” – “You are a faggot” – Just a joke? Some of his best friends are gay!

I read last night as the story was developing about the Nats trading Tyler Clippard for Yunel Escobar.

I understand that baseball is a business.

I understand there are problems with the Nats at second base.

I understand that Ian Desmond has only one year left on his contract and could go elsewhere. I understand Escobar could play second base this year and move to shortstop next year if that’s necessary.

I understand Escobar’s hitting has averaged .276 over his career, (tho only .258 in 2014) and he has averaged 145 games a season over that career.

I understand Escobar “has a team-friendly contract that will pay him $5 million in 2015 and $7 million in 2016…(and) the Nationals hold a $7 million club option for 2017.”

I understand the trade “saves the Nationals somewhere between $3 million and $4 million, depending on Clippard’s arbitration process.

I understand that this is Tyler Clippard’s last year of arbitration before being eligible for free agency and that there are “”young arms behind him” in the Nats’ organization.

However,

2015 Baseball Contests – Help Needed

08 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

2015 MLB Baseball, baseball, MillersTime Baseball Contests

Hus-on-first by: JamieD 9/3/10, Total ProSports.com. (If you’ve never seen, or want to see the Abbott-Costello piece Who’s on 1st: http://bit.ly/1mV1fyH)

Baseball Fans:

Now that it is officially 2015, and we are all freezing, my thoughts naturally turn to the upcoming baseball season and the annual MillersTime Baseball Contests.

And I’m asking for some help.

32 Hours in NYC*

05 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by Richard in Escapes and Pleasures, Family and Friends

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time", Blue Fin, Chinatown, Civic Hall, Eataly, Excellent Dumpling House, Genesis, International Center of Photography, New York City, Rockefeller Center, Saks, Sebastiao Salgado, Tarallucci E Vino, Times Square, Union Square, Upland Restaurant

* Any resemblance to the NYTimes series “36 Hours in ____” (you name the city) is mostly accidental.

Most New Yorkers stay as far away from the city as they can the last few days of the year, but we actually love it. So, we planned to meet our KC daughter there just before New Year’s. In the end, she couldn’t make the trip. But we did.

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32 Hours in New York City