Continuing this weekend's Las Vegas theme, after watching about half of today's game, I went to see the new movie "21" this afternoon, and then had dinner, which explains the lateness of this post. Actually, it was my son Mark's idea, so we went even though at least one Chicago newspaper review was pretty bad.
Basic plot, VERY loosely based on a book about the subject (a true story): some MIT students, led by a professor who isn't quite what he seems, try to game the system at blackjack tables by a card-counting scheme. They succeed for for a while, but eventually get caught. The movie is an intriguing idea, at times well-executed, at times bogging down and you find yourself saying, "Get on with it!", as it runs on for two hours and two minutes.
Jim Sturgess, a British actor who was so good in "Across The Universe" as a Paul McCartney lookalike, plays Ben Campbell, the MIT student who's doing the scheme only to get money to pay for med school. Kevin Spacey is sufficiently slimy as the professor/card counter, and there's a subplot about how human security people in Vegas are being replaced by biometrics -- only Laurence Fishburne plays the security guy who proves humans are better than computers. Some of the time, anyway. Oddest note: one of the very first things Spacey's professor tells the "team" is that they'll work in disguise -- but then they never do until it's a necessary plot point toward the end.
It's got the requisite chase scenes and snazzy photography, but it's just OK -- maybe worth a rental.
AYRating:
Today's game, the final exhibition game giving the Cubs a 15-15-2 record, rates highter. The Cubs beat the Mariners 4-2; Reed Johnson led off the game with a home run (and incidentally, I really like today's lineup vs. LHP -- obviously, with Ryan Theriot or Ronny Cedeno hitting 8th, since most of the time there won't be a DH, as there was today). Ryan Dempster threw better, issuing no walks, and it appears to me that Carmen Pignatiello nailed down that last spot in the bullpen over Sean Marshall, if you're going on their most recent outings.
This recap, in fact, says the Cubs will fly to Chicago (where there will be a closed-to-the-public workout at Wrigley tomorrow at 1) with 27 players -- presumably, both Marshall and Pignatiello, and also Matt Murton, pending whether he'll be sent to Iowa or traded.
I'm ready for the season. Aren't you? I think the Cubs are, too. I'll post my season predictions tomorrow.
0 recs | 102 comments
21
There's a TV show called "Masterminds" that chronicled this amazing "story". They got away with it for awhile but get too greedy. Not sure if I'd pay money to see Hollywood's take on it.
lemon20pie - March 29, 2008
I don't know about you all...
but I'm ready to go! Let's Go Cubs!
santoswoodenlegs - March 29, 2008
video clips
Nothing personal but I hate having video clips in a forum situation. Makes it very hard to read the rest of the page.
Stan Cox - March 30, 2008
Technically, it's an animated GIF
But I see and agree with your point. =)
gjdow - March 30, 2008
I don't mind it.
You can always scroll past it.
Al Yellon - March 30, 2008
Technically
Yes I know its not really a video clip and I can scroll past it. I just hope they dont proliferate, just a passing comment as I have seen other forums become really messy with all the huge jpgs & animations
I agree with Santoswoodenlegs comment tho. Bring on the season!!!!
Stan Cox - March 30, 2008
HA!
I think the pics and gif files/vids santoswoodenlags posts are hilarious. I wish SWL would post more them. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw Murton on a unicorn! If it's annoying then scroll on past. It doesn't say anything in the terms and conditions about being annoying or I'd have been booted from here day one. If theres nothing in the T and C about posting gif/pcis then I say let it fly!
(i wonder if turning off avatars also turns off images in comments)
Keystone80435 - March 30, 2008
Agreed about Pignatiello
Interesting that both Marshall and Murton will be there tomorrow. You would think that by now that the decision on whether or not they'll start the season in AAA has been made.
Maybe they're both involved in a deal?
lemon20pie - March 29, 2008
Ken Uston is one of my heros.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
The baseball connection here is...
...that the Kevin Lewis character is based upon Jeff Ma, founder of PROTRADE.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
T.O.T
Ok. This game in LA is great. 201ft down the left field line. 60ft screen from the LF foul pole to left center. The Dodgers arent even playing a left fielder haha Its on NESN channel 623 Directv.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
Doesn't seem like it's blacked out, either.
This should be interesting.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
There is no way in hell that the 15 ft. ...
between third and the wall deserves to be called "left field," no matter WHAT the NESN announcers have to say.
And listening to some other team's broadcast crew really makes me appreciate Len and Bob.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
make that 120 feet
but I get it.
hey, I like the NESN guys. I watch a lot of Red Sox games. Orsillo and Remdog are entertaining thru the season. They ain't much worse than Len and Bob.
wojo - March 29, 2008
I guess it's 111ft. If it's 201ft down the line and third is 90ft from the plate.....
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
Actually, it's probably more like 90-100 feet
as there is probably 10-20 feet of infield dirt behind the 3B bag before you actually get to "LF."
But yeah, that's a ridiculously short distance between 3B and the LF fence.
SouthernCub - March 30, 2008
HA!
The only guy behind the backstop thats 10ft behind home playe is the Fedora/cigar radar gun guy for LA. He doesnt miss a pitch!
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
playe = plate in Keystonese
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
If somebody doesn't hit a flyball to left I will be annoyed.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
Yea! I'm getting mad!
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
LMAO
At Andruw Jones covering second on the steal attempt becuase LA isnt playing a left fielder hahaha
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
FINALLY
HR over the 60ft net haha
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
I don't even know if I'd call that a fly ball.
That was almost a pop-up.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
and it still landed 30 rows up. gezzz
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
I really wish one of the full-screen graphics guys...
....at NESN would show a picture of where the ball would have landed in a "real" park. I might have to see what I can do about it if they don't.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
Thats what I wanna know.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
I want to see someone get thrown out at 1st base from left field on a grounder hahaha
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
The angle on the telecast isn't very good...
...but I did some measuring, watched the replay a few times, and came up with this:
There's quite a bit of guesswork to that, mind you.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
I'd say this is dead on to where that ball landed.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
so what
it's an exhibition for a good cause. lighten up
wojo - March 29, 2008
no one is angy, we're just curious. And we were just joking about getting pissed if no one goes yard to left.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
You may have been kidding.
I would have been horribly upset if nobody hit a home run in this game. The bearded lady doesn't get to shave, and the Coliseum needed a home run hit out of it.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
I would have laughed
if no one hit one to left. But honestly the 201ft left field line is th eonly reason I;m watching this game.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
really, the only reason?
the are more reasons than that. 50 years in LA, 115,000 people setting a sports record, "think blue" for a good cause, the oddity of playing in the coliseum again. the game itself is down on the list
wojo - March 29, 2008
yep
the only reason I'm even slightly interested is the short left field. I dont like Boston or LA. The 50 years thing doesnt mean much to me. I didnt even know the Dodgers played in the Colosium until before the game. Had no idea about any good causes.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
that's too bad, for 3-4 reasons
wojo - March 29, 2008
yea it is
it wasnt promoted and it's on a pay only obscure channel. Not my fault I didnt know about the importance of it.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
you're right
it should be on national TV. Nobody knows all the cool things about it
wojo - March 29, 2008
I didnt
mean any disrespect. I just didnt know about all the 50 year stuff or historical things. I thought it was just another ST exibition game. Dont know why its not on ESPN.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
it's all cool, lol
I wish it was on espn too. maybe because it's march madness. can't compete with basketball in march!
wojo - March 29, 2008
The basketball games are all over. And the bb games are on CBS. ESPN had the Civil Rights game today. I'd rather they show this. No disrespect to the Civil Rights game but anything Joe Morgan calls is more like a 'give up your rights' game.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
Nothing quite atones for baseball's racist history...
...like a meaningless exhibition game!
Including the Cleveland Indians in the inaugeral Civil Rights Game was a particularly nice slap in the face.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
That was something else.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
Nothing says civil rights...
...like Chief Wahoo!
Baseball has the dumbest PR people, I swear.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
that shit has to end sometime
wojo - March 29, 2008
today's "civil rights" game
was white sox-mets. Doesn't matter if it was espn. it still competes with basketball if they were on at the same time. Not sure what your point is, but I'm seems pretty stupid. It's not about "white guilt", jesus, give up already.
wojo - March 29, 2008
I have no idea what you're talking about. I wasnt making a point.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
I guess..
I misinterpeted your statement. sorry
wojo - March 29, 2008
not to mention.
all the old dodger players watching in the stands, and the first pitch ceremonies.. god- kareem abdul jabbar even threw out one of them, and when he blew it, got a second chance and decided to throw a "sky hook" the second time! how cool was that!
wojo - March 29, 2008
Missed all that.
Didn't realize I got NESN until Keystone mentioned it.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
I only knew about the game
becuase I saw someone mention it on a thread yesterday. I didnt see anything about it on tv at all. I went through every channel on the channel guide last night until I found it on NESN.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
Only thing better would be if....
...he fought Chuck Norris in the infield after the pitch.
DudeVf11 - March 30, 2008
that
and the fact I bet $10 on Boston. Otherwise I'd be watching Cruel Intentions on HBOS. I wasnt aware of all the historical references or I would have been more interested than I am. I just heard about the game being played in the LA Colosium late last night.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
cywers said he would be "annoyed"
;)
this is fun, and weird
wojo - March 29, 2008
very weird. it has an All-Star game HR derby feel to it.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
The HR derby is weak sauce.
You want to do a HR derby right? You stop putting a bunch of stars in it, and you start dragging out all of your Glenallen Hill types. Then you hold it in Coors Field, and you do it with corked bats and juiced balls.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
your sarcasm is weak sauce
wojo - March 29, 2008
I would also accept...
...Great American Ballpark or US Cellular Field as hosting sites.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
HR derby is stupid imo, I think you agree, maybe
wojo - March 29, 2008
It's not that I dislike the idea of the Derby.
I just think that if you're not at least making it possible for a guy to break the single-season home run record in an evening, then you're not maximizing the potential of the event.
Also, you need to be able to at least have a shot at an 800-ft. home run. Otherwise what's the point?
cwyers - March 29, 2008
Griffith stadium in DC was rather big
wojo - March 29, 2008
And
throw them golf balls instead of baseballs.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
I was thinking tennis balls, actually.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
I'll go the other way on this
How about wiffle ball HR derby? I'd love to see Prince Fielder screw himself into the ground missing a nice knuckleball floater...
ballhawk - March 29, 2008
The video no longer works...
...but Pirates hitter Freddy Sanchez actually did this. Struck out.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
Video worked for me. That guy can throw some nasty stuff
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
More detail on Sanchez K'ng on the wiffleball
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7011
northofwrigley - March 29, 2008
Thatd be better
it'd take days to measure golf ball home runs.
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
yea!
Glenallen Hill!
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
Would someone please
check their mlbtv feed and tell me if they are also getting sound, but no picture. thanks
lilkimmer77 - March 29, 2008
ANYONE?
lilkimmer77 - March 29, 2008
please
lilkimmer77 - March 29, 2008
i'm getting sound
wojo - March 29, 2008
and no picture?
lilkimmer77 - March 29, 2008
First cosby show shenanigans
and now this
lilkimmer77 - March 29, 2008
did you get the picture back yet?
wojo - March 29, 2008
sorry, I'm getting both
wonder what's the problem on your end?
wojo - March 29, 2008
Finally it can be told - the real story behind the Juan Pierre signing
Clearly the Dodgers thought they were going to be playing more games in the LA Coliseum with this configuration when they signed Juan Pierre to play left...
ballhawk - March 29, 2008
Even Pierre might have hit some HR...
... over that net.
Al Yellon - March 30, 2008
That Cash home run...
...is quickly becoming my favorite "comedy" play of all time, supplanting Henry Blanco's game-winning hit in the Carribean World Series and the Neifi Perez Crab Walk.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
Here's a picture of Blanco's hit...
...as it bounces off the shortstop's head.
I really wish I could find the video of that.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
HAHA!
Keystone80435 - March 29, 2008
Hu's a bona-fide prospect.
Blocked by Furcal. Not that LA has a habit of blocking prospects.
cwyers - March 29, 2008
I just looked at weather.com
And I wish I hadn't.
Keystone80435 - March 30, 2008
did it look something like this?
ballhawk - March 30, 2008
Who are the genius'
that decided to schedulethe Opening Series of Cubs vs. Brewers in Chicago, when you got a dome ofthe other team 60 miles north or so...
LPLancer23 - March 30, 2008
And another series...
... with the Brewers in Chicago four weeks later. And not in Milwaukee till the end of July.
Al Yellon - March 30, 2008
And yet another
In Milwaukee to close the season, when the weather will most likely be warm
Shanghai Badger - March 30, 2008
And it won't matter if it's not...
... because they have a dome.
Al Yellon - March 30, 2008
Dome stadium.....
Now do you guys understand why I think the Cubs should have a domed stadium (retractable for those who prefer baseball au naturale) in Chicago??
ronsanto10 - March 30, 2008
yes, just like that. Then I switched to the graph version for fun. But it wasnt fun.
Keystone80435 - March 30, 2008
As a person being really big on card games
I really enjoyed the movie. Im mostly into poker, but blackjacks cool too. Id recommend it to any card player.
LPLancer23 - March 30, 2008
LPL
Did you see the Story of Ken Uston on Discovery or TLC or History or whatever channel it was on? All the real footage? That guy was NUTS!
Keystone80435 - March 30, 2008
april schedule
If anyone listened to 720 after the game today. Sports central anchors discussed at length how terrible the april schedule is.
Madison Cub Fan - March 30, 2008
The Cubs...
... complained to MLB about the schedule, were told there was nothing that could be done this year (BS, they could have if they really wanted to).
There were two college professors who used to lay out the schedule on their kitchen table. In 2005 they got outbid for the contract by some outfit that does it by computer.
The college professors did it better, because they took into account the human factor. The computer just spits out matchups, which is why we get such "logical" things as a road trip to Colorado and Washington this year.
Al Yellon - March 30, 2008
April......?
One weekend in June and but 10 home games.....then ten home games in July.....ugh....... (they can do MAJOR renovation to the park in those two months alone.....!!!! ) Plus how many weekends with the Pirates, two games with the Mets and the Braves mid-week adds up to one ugly schedule until August...... bad, very bad......!
James031 - March 30, 2008
Here's how it breaks down.
Counting tomorrow as part of "April", 62 of the home games are in April, May, June and August.
19 are in July and September.
That's ridiculous.
More: the first time the MLB schedule started as early as March 31 was 1998. Including this year, that's 11 seasons. The Cubs will play six home games by April 6 this year. Before this year, the most home games they had played by April 6 was four, in 1998.
That's also ridiculous.
Al Yellon - March 30, 2008
Addition to this.
The 1996 schedule began on April 1 and the Cubs played five home games by April 6 and finished a six-game homestand on April 7.
Against the Dodgers and Padres.
Stupid.
Al Yellon - March 30, 2008
Its bogus that we have to finish the season on the road
against the Mets and the Brewers...
LPLancer23 - March 30, 2008
Just have to open up an early lead
Yup, that's the ticket. =)
gjdow - March 30, 2008
The LA game...
...may provide the owners with an alternative to steroids? Fans apparently love to see meaningless HRs, so why not mandate that each stadium move one of its OF fences, LF,CF, or RF, personally I prefer CF because of the odd dimensions that would result, to the distance equivalent to the average of the old timer band boxes? Or just say 175 feet? The CF could become part of the middle infield. And by moving the fences in it creates space for new premier tickets to be auctioned off with a reserve price of $1K. Every player will have a shot at breaking Bonds single season HR thingy and he'll be so far down on the list that MLB won't have to worry about an asterisk. Guys will now play into their 60s because even a card carrying AARP member will be able to cream one to straight away...
DudeVf11 - March 30, 2008
21 the movie
I used to work at Unica, a company whose founders and several long-time employees were on the MIT blackjack team.
Suffice it to say that "21' is exactly what I expected. "Beating Vegas" is a sexy hook, but the actual mechanics of the process were closer to "The Cuckoo's Egg" than "Oceans Eleven." You can't make the movie without card playing scenes, but there's really very little drama in a single blackjack hand. Counting cards is work and becomes drudgery very quickly. Controlling risk is as much a part of the strategy as maximizing return, and that doesn't make for good drama.
Given the success of the latter movie, would you expect studio executives to risk a documentary/character study?
CHS - March 31, 2008
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