A delightful result coming from the questionable camera on the BlackBerry Bold 9700.
I present to you: Impressions at XS, Encore Las Vegas.
Turn up the volume.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Las Vegas, Day 2: The Pinball Hall of Fame
Running Tally:
Video Poker - DOWN $60. Curse you, video poker! Actually that $60 lasted for about 40-50 hands on a $1 ($5 max bet) machine.
Vegas tip: If you choose to leave The Strip to drive around town, make sure you plan your travel carefully. Roads change names, end abruptly, and seem to have existential crises near the highway. When returning to The Strip, if you find yourself on Desert Inn Road, GET OFF OF IT IMMEDIATELY.
None of us (Jason, our pal Claire, and I) slept much on the first night. Does anyone ever sleep well on the first night in LV? I powered through the day without a nap and without lunch. Yes, I forgot to eat. That happens in Vegas sometimes. That's usually due to a good run at the tables. But for me, it was due to
THE PINBALL HALL OF FAME.
Yeah, that's right, baby. The Pinball Hall of Fame is a Must Stop for me every time I'm here.
She may not look like much on the outside, but she's got it where it counts. [One of the many Star Wars quotes that goes seamy out of context.]
Their new facility is huge! There are so many pinball games that......
......
......
......Sorry, I got lost daydreaming about the place again.
Here's the game list. Oh, there is indeed 150+ pinball games. But here's the kicker: They're in perfect working order. Probably in better shape than the tables you played 15-45 years ago. The place is a non-profit, using its proceeds for the upkeep and overhead, then donating the rest.
Yeah, it's freaking sweet.
$12 lasted me THREE HOURS. Three hours of bliss for the same price as one ugly blackjack hand.
Two of my all-time faves (Addams Family and Jurassic Park) were getting fixed. Had they been up, I'd still be playing right now. But it was all good. So many of my old favorites were bumping like they were shiny and new.
Star Wars - Got reamed on it like always do.
Twilight Zone - Killed it! Played at least 8 games. Hands went numb early. REPLAYED. Possible all time favorite?
Attack From Mars - A super table. Forgot how awesome it is. Didn't forget how bloated the scoring system is. I was at 6 BILLION points when I was all, "The hell's the replay at?" 8.7 billion. Five balls! MATCHED ONCE.
Black Knight 2000 - There were 2 credits sitting on this oldie. So I gave it spin. Odd and not entirely intuitive double-leveled gameplay. But it was free pinball.
Eight Ball Deluxe - A little older than the previous table, but very enjoyable.
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Incredible how quickly the gameplay all comes back. This is a modern pinball classic. REPLAYED TWICE IN A ROW. Yeee-ay-ah. MATCHED ANOTHER ONE. Seven games of this. "Q, we don't have time for your games."
Bad Cats - Awesome. Haven't played this one in about 15 years. It's an uncomplicated but oddly addictive table. I don't even remember how many games I played. MATCHED TWICE.
Jack Bot - By this point my wrists were locking up and my mind was mush. I think I played three rounds of this. Scores were embarrassing.
Theatre of Magic - But I got my second wind here. Must have played it for an hour, thanks to another two matched free games. Got 92% of the way to the replay on my last game. Then I just had to put down the pinball pipe. My natural instincts were groaning for sustenance and hydration.
I have actual HD video footage of this experience. It's terrible and terribly mint. I'll edit one minute recap of this as soon as I'm able.
If you enjoy pinball, please go to the Pinball Hall of Fame. It will refresh your pinball soul. The games are all 25-50 cents. The sounds will transport you to the arcades of the '80s and '90s. And it's non-profit too!
Video Poker - DOWN $60. Curse you, video poker! Actually that $60 lasted for about 40-50 hands on a $1 ($5 max bet) machine.
Vegas tip: If you choose to leave The Strip to drive around town, make sure you plan your travel carefully. Roads change names, end abruptly, and seem to have existential crises near the highway. When returning to The Strip, if you find yourself on Desert Inn Road, GET OFF OF IT IMMEDIATELY.
None of us (Jason, our pal Claire, and I) slept much on the first night. Does anyone ever sleep well on the first night in LV? I powered through the day without a nap and without lunch. Yes, I forgot to eat. That happens in Vegas sometimes. That's usually due to a good run at the tables. But for me, it was due to
THE PINBALL HALL OF FAME.
 |
| Source |
She may not look like much on the outside, but she's got it where it counts. [One of the many Star Wars quotes that goes seamy out of context.]
Their new facility is huge! There are so many pinball games that......
......
......
......Sorry, I got lost daydreaming about the place again.
 |
| Source |
Yeah, it's freaking sweet.
$12 lasted me THREE HOURS. Three hours of bliss for the same price as one ugly blackjack hand.
Two of my all-time faves (Addams Family and Jurassic Park) were getting fixed. Had they been up, I'd still be playing right now. But it was all good. So many of my old favorites were bumping like they were shiny and new.
Star Wars - Got reamed on it like always do.
Twilight Zone - Killed it! Played at least 8 games. Hands went numb early. REPLAYED. Possible all time favorite?
Attack From Mars - A super table. Forgot how awesome it is. Didn't forget how bloated the scoring system is. I was at 6 BILLION points when I was all, "The hell's the replay at?" 8.7 billion. Five balls! MATCHED ONCE.
Black Knight 2000 - There were 2 credits sitting on this oldie. So I gave it spin. Odd and not entirely intuitive double-leveled gameplay. But it was free pinball.
Eight Ball Deluxe - A little older than the previous table, but very enjoyable.
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Incredible how quickly the gameplay all comes back. This is a modern pinball classic. REPLAYED TWICE IN A ROW. Yeee-ay-ah. MATCHED ANOTHER ONE. Seven games of this. "Q, we don't have time for your games."
Bad Cats - Awesome. Haven't played this one in about 15 years. It's an uncomplicated but oddly addictive table. I don't even remember how many games I played. MATCHED TWICE.
Jack Bot - By this point my wrists were locking up and my mind was mush. I think I played three rounds of this. Scores were embarrassing.
Theatre of Magic - But I got my second wind here. Must have played it for an hour, thanks to another two matched free games. Got 92% of the way to the replay on my last game. Then I just had to put down the pinball pipe. My natural instincts were groaning for sustenance and hydration.
I have actual HD video footage of this experience. It's terrible and terribly mint. I'll edit one minute recap of this as soon as I'm able.
If you enjoy pinball, please go to the Pinball Hall of Fame. It will refresh your pinball soul. The games are all 25-50 cents. The sounds will transport you to the arcades of the '80s and '90s. And it's non-profit too!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Las Vegas, Day 1: The Whisky Attic
"I hate to travel, but that's probably because my dad used to beat me with a globe."
--Dave Attell
Okay, neither are true for me. I LOVE to travel. And I was beaten with a blue agave plant. That's probably why I hate tequila.
Did the annual pilgrimage drive to Vegas yesterday. Started bright and early yet still hit a ton of LA traffic. But, man oh man, every time I hit Interstate 15, I get Vegas geeked.
I prefer driving here, even if it's without a car partner. The gas expense is similar to roundtrip plane tickets, but I don't have to deal with the debaculous McCarren Airport. I don't have to wait in the awfully long taxi line then get charged a bundle for the cabbie sitting in traffic. And I gain some level of control over my trip. One has very little control over everything else in this city. Speaking of which...
Running Tally:
Video Poker - EVEN. Was down almost $60, then made it all back.
Due to financial restraints, I won't be doing much gambling this weekend. But I have set aside cash for some excellent endeavors.
The first endeavor......
THE FREAKING FROG - THE WHISKY ATTIC
The Freaking Frog sits just to the west of the UNLV campus. To call it a bar would be an insult. They have 1000 beers on the menu. And lots of live music. Oh yeah, and they have The Whisky Attic.
The Whisky Attic is by-appointment-only, but it's easy to set up. There's a couple hundred whiskies up there. Quite beautiful. At your appointed time, the boisterous brilliant owner, Adam Carmer, leads up there unlocks the door, then frees your mind.
Since whisky nosing/tasting officially began around 50 years ago there's been one way to do it: Look at the whisky, nose the whisky, taste the whisky. Adam has discovered a second way. And it's 100% legit. I am a believer.
So who is Adam, exactly? He's the Wine & Spirits professor at UNLV. He opened the Frog first, then the Attic later as the collection expanded. He also has a ribs place nearby. He has a book coming out next month on his Method. When he's not teaching he's meeting with Master Distillers and Blenders in Ireland, Scotland, and Kentucky who want in on this Method. And he has two patents pending.
Because The Method (also known as CSTEM - Carmer Spirits Tasting Enhancement Method) is in the patent phase and I want the guy to sell some books, I'm going to avoid spilling the beans. BUT some googling will direct you to some sites that attempt to explain the process. There's even a video floating around out there. These things give you a hint but they don't do it justice.
I will say this, if you go drinking with me, I'll walk you through it. It takes some practice. Practice with whisky. OR you can set up an appointment with Adam next time you're in LV [check out the Freaking Frog's website and/or drop me a line]. He'll set up a "tasting" per your specific palate. And your whisky mind will be melted. And the price (and I am a cheapskate) is excellent, considering the spirits and two hours of the man's time and what you take with you.
He lined up a set of enormous-palated whiskies since he surmised that I would man-up and enjoy the challenge. Mere flattery? Truth? Either way works for me. Here is my worldwide sensory experience in order:
Dalmore Gran Reserva
Tyrconnell 10yr Irish Single Malt, Madeira Finish
Big Bottom Bourbon
Balvenie 14yr Carribean Cask
Rowan's Creek Bourbon
Willett Straight Rye
Ledaig 15yr
Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt
Laphroaig 10yr Cask Strength
Ardbeg Corryvrecken
Ballylarkin Irish Whiskey Liqueur
Tomintoul 27yr
Yes, that's a lot of drink. But it wasn't unreasonable. It was glorious actually. And due to his Method, I could easily discern and remember every whisky's characteristics. And still can actually. Here are my notes on the highlights:
Dalmore Gran Reserva - can FINALLY taste the Dalmore orange peel character, never was able to before, a graceful malt, one of the better sherried malt experiences I've had
Tyrconnell 10yr Irish Single Malt, Madeira Finish - never been the biggest fan of the fancy wine finishes, but this is delicious; there are flowers blooming in my olfactory bulb, and fresh fruits melting on my taste buds
Big Bottom Bourbon - best bourbon experience I've had yet; it's bourbon, but I can taste more than generic Bourbon, especially the sweets from the corn
Balvenie 14yr Carribean Cask - milk chocolate! lots of it, and cinnamon, all the sweet spices in the cabinet
Rowan's Creek Bourbon - okay, maybe this is the best bourbon experience I've had, I could nose this for days on end
Willett Straight Rye - that's it, I'm sold on rye; I have found an American whisky that I've enjoyed at first blush, it's like a havdalah spice box
Ledaig 15yr - always wanted to try Ledaig, and this was no disappointment; a little soapy and dusty around the edges, but a beautiful peat at its center, a fresh peat if that's possible, grasses and growing vegetation
Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt - for all of its 62% ABV this was very easy to do thanks to the method, the layers expanded with each sip
Laphroaig 10yr Cask Strength - ah the Quarter Cask has a competitor now, dynamite, a whole different animal than the regular 10yr, no more bandaids instead replaced by coal and wood smoke and smoked fish, has one of the best finishes I've ever experienced as it keeps transforming
Ardbeg Corryvrecken - we have a winner, holy s***, despite being one of the heaviest peated malts in history The Corry's peat doesn't dominate, it's one element in actual whisky bouquet, I just used "bouquet" to describe a Scotch, Corry's a damn whirlpool enveloping this drinker, *sigh* I'm going to have to save up for a bottle of this one
Ballylarkin Irish Whiskey Liqueur - Scotch candy! Lychee and canned peaches, shows Adam's sense of humor for putting this one next to The Corry
Tomintoul 27yr - a bonus sip, wasn't supposed to be part of the tasting; very nice malty malt, more enjoyable than the 33yr, very tiered with a burst of pear at the end
Okay, so I realize that's of limited help to the reader. But I wanted to show you that the whisky alone would cost two or three times as much in LA......if you could find a bar that carried any of them. All of this for less than a good seat at Cirque de Soleil. Much cheaper than a terrible 30 minutes at the tables.
And keep in mind, I violated every rule of whisky nosing beforehand. I wore (too much) cologne. I ate fish and chips (at his recommendation). He cooked up a bunch of garlic and onions at the bar. And none of that, none of it, hindered the whisky adventure that followed.
I can easily enumerate the seminal whisky experiences in my life:
Glenfiddich with Cousin Jon almost 15 years ago; Scotland and Ireland in October and November 2003; Splitting at least a half bottle of Johnnie Walker Green Label with Bernardo; Royal Mile Whiskies visit in May 2011; Peat reek finally clicking with the Signatory Bowmore; and now learning this new sensory method.
I'm still mulling over this. It's like being able to see new colors.
I prefer driving here, even if it's without a car partner. The gas expense is similar to roundtrip plane tickets, but I don't have to deal with the debaculous McCarren Airport. I don't have to wait in the awfully long taxi line then get charged a bundle for the cabbie sitting in traffic. And I gain some level of control over my trip. One has very little control over everything else in this city. Speaking of which...
Running Tally:
Video Poker - EVEN. Was down almost $60, then made it all back.
Due to financial restraints, I won't be doing much gambling this weekend. But I have set aside cash for some excellent endeavors.
The first endeavor......
THE FREAKING FROG - THE WHISKY ATTIC
The Freaking Frog sits just to the west of the UNLV campus. To call it a bar would be an insult. They have 1000 beers on the menu. And lots of live music. Oh yeah, and they have The Whisky Attic.
The Whisky Attic is by-appointment-only, but it's easy to set up. There's a couple hundred whiskies up there. Quite beautiful. At your appointed time, the boisterous brilliant owner, Adam Carmer, leads up there unlocks the door, then frees your mind.
 |
| Source |
 |
| Sourced from Facebook |
Because The Method (also known as CSTEM - Carmer Spirits Tasting Enhancement Method) is in the patent phase and I want the guy to sell some books, I'm going to avoid spilling the beans. BUT some googling will direct you to some sites that attempt to explain the process. There's even a video floating around out there. These things give you a hint but they don't do it justice.
I will say this, if you go drinking with me, I'll walk you through it. It takes some practice. Practice with whisky. OR you can set up an appointment with Adam next time you're in LV [check out the Freaking Frog's website and/or drop me a line]. He'll set up a "tasting" per your specific palate. And your whisky mind will be melted. And the price (and I am a cheapskate) is excellent, considering the spirits and two hours of the man's time and what you take with you.
He lined up a set of enormous-palated whiskies since he surmised that I would man-up and enjoy the challenge. Mere flattery? Truth? Either way works for me. Here is my worldwide sensory experience in order:
Dalmore Gran Reserva
Tyrconnell 10yr Irish Single Malt, Madeira Finish
Big Bottom Bourbon
Balvenie 14yr Carribean Cask
Rowan's Creek Bourbon
Willett Straight Rye
Ledaig 15yr
Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt
Laphroaig 10yr Cask Strength
Ardbeg Corryvrecken
Ballylarkin Irish Whiskey Liqueur
Tomintoul 27yr
Yes, that's a lot of drink. But it wasn't unreasonable. It was glorious actually. And due to his Method, I could easily discern and remember every whisky's characteristics. And still can actually. Here are my notes on the highlights:
Dalmore Gran Reserva - can FINALLY taste the Dalmore orange peel character, never was able to before, a graceful malt, one of the better sherried malt experiences I've had
Tyrconnell 10yr Irish Single Malt, Madeira Finish - never been the biggest fan of the fancy wine finishes, but this is delicious; there are flowers blooming in my olfactory bulb, and fresh fruits melting on my taste buds
Big Bottom Bourbon - best bourbon experience I've had yet; it's bourbon, but I can taste more than generic Bourbon, especially the sweets from the corn
Balvenie 14yr Carribean Cask - milk chocolate! lots of it, and cinnamon, all the sweet spices in the cabinet
Rowan's Creek Bourbon - okay, maybe this is the best bourbon experience I've had, I could nose this for days on end
Willett Straight Rye - that's it, I'm sold on rye; I have found an American whisky that I've enjoyed at first blush, it's like a havdalah spice box
Ledaig 15yr - always wanted to try Ledaig, and this was no disappointment; a little soapy and dusty around the edges, but a beautiful peat at its center, a fresh peat if that's possible, grasses and growing vegetation
Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt - for all of its 62% ABV this was very easy to do thanks to the method, the layers expanded with each sip
Laphroaig 10yr Cask Strength - ah the Quarter Cask has a competitor now, dynamite, a whole different animal than the regular 10yr, no more bandaids instead replaced by coal and wood smoke and smoked fish, has one of the best finishes I've ever experienced as it keeps transforming
Ardbeg Corryvrecken - we have a winner, holy s***, despite being one of the heaviest peated malts in history The Corry's peat doesn't dominate, it's one element in actual whisky bouquet, I just used "bouquet" to describe a Scotch, Corry's a damn whirlpool enveloping this drinker, *sigh* I'm going to have to save up for a bottle of this one
Ballylarkin Irish Whiskey Liqueur - Scotch candy! Lychee and canned peaches, shows Adam's sense of humor for putting this one next to The Corry
Tomintoul 27yr - a bonus sip, wasn't supposed to be part of the tasting; very nice malty malt, more enjoyable than the 33yr, very tiered with a burst of pear at the end
Okay, so I realize that's of limited help to the reader. But I wanted to show you that the whisky alone would cost two or three times as much in LA......if you could find a bar that carried any of them. All of this for less than a good seat at Cirque de Soleil. Much cheaper than a terrible 30 minutes at the tables.
And keep in mind, I violated every rule of whisky nosing beforehand. I wore (too much) cologne. I ate fish and chips (at his recommendation). He cooked up a bunch of garlic and onions at the bar. And none of that, none of it, hindered the whisky adventure that followed.
I can easily enumerate the seminal whisky experiences in my life:
Glenfiddich with Cousin Jon almost 15 years ago; Scotland and Ireland in October and November 2003; Splitting at least a half bottle of Johnnie Walker Green Label with Bernardo; Royal Mile Whiskies visit in May 2011; Peat reek finally clicking with the Signatory Bowmore; and now learning this new sensory method.
I'm still mulling over this. It's like being able to see new colors.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Jason turns 30!
My brother Jason turns thirty years old today. Happy Birthday J! I wish I had a 30 year old whisky to report on. I REALLY wish I had a 30 year old whisky to report on.
In lieu of that here's my list of the Top 30 Mets since 2/22/82, by Wins Above Replacement (Fangraphs verson), and stay tuned for blackmail pics at the end...
1. Dwight Gooden - 52.9 WAR - Dr. K sits easily at #1. Everyone will always ponder what could have been, but we should also embrace what was. During Gooden's 11 years on the Mets (1984-1994), Clemens was the only pitcher in the majors who put up comparable stats. No one in the NL even comes close.
2. David Wright - 39.3 WAR - With two years left on his contract, Wright could pull into the #1 spot with back-to-back All-Star level seasons. Can he do it? Absolutely. Will he? It would be great for New York baseball if he did.
3. Darryl Strawberry - 36.6 WAR - During The Straw's eight years on the Mets (1983-1990), only Henderson, Boggs, and Raines put up better offensive numbers league-wide. Originally from Crenshaw (LA!), Darryl was the son of Ruby Strawberry. Not a joke.
4. Jose Reyes - 33.4 WAR - His Mets career over much too quickly, Reyes is their all-time leader in triples (99) and steals (370), and is so far ahead of the second place guy (the Mook) that I don't foresee anyone passing him.
5. Carlos Beltran - 30.9 WAR - His high ranking is largely helped by his glovework. He put up the best fielding stats of any NL centerfielder from 2006-2009.
6. Edgardo Alfonzo - 30.7 WAR - Wow, I forgot all about this guy. Like the two gents immediately above, he combined great fielding stats and great offense. If not for a rough 2001, he may have been challenging Darryl for the #3 spot on this list.
7. Mike Piazza - 30.2 WAR - He called a press conference to announce that he was NOT gay. Sounds like Terrell Owens maneuver. Otherwise, he's the best hitting catcher in the history of baseball. His abysmal fielding stats during his Mets career keeps him from challenging The Straw at #3.
8. Keith Hernandez - 27.0 WAR - Baseball-reference.com says that his nickname was Mex. Was it because he did not look anything like a Mexican? His .297 BA is third best behind Wright and Olerud. And he was the best fielding first baseman in the National League during his career.
9. Sid Fernandez - 26.4 WAR - Now we're talking. El Sid has the 3rd lowest Hits-per-9-Innings ratio IN MAJOR LEAGUE HISTORY. Only Koufax and Ryan sit above him.
10. David Cone - 24.8 WAR - A superb pitcher who really should have gotten more notice when the Hall of Fame voting occurred in '09. He sits low on this list due to his limited Mets career. Had he started as many games as Gooden, he'd be in 2nd place.
11. Howard Johnson - 24.0 WAR - This list would be incomplete without the man who played 3B, SS, LF, and RF, went 30/30 three times, kept a sculpted beard, put up the best offensive WAR in the entire majors in 1989, and hit the seventh most sacrifice flies in a single season ever while leading the NL in homers in 1991, all while he was running an international hotel chain. HoJo.
12. Al Leiter - 22.5 WAR - A very good pitcher who hasn't stopped talking since he retired. Could have won the 1998 Cy Young had he pitched the full season.
13. John Olerud - 19.3 WAR - Statistically, probably the best hitter in Mets history, but only played 3 seasons for them. Wish they'd picked him up sooner then held onto him longer. Should have gotten more respect in the Hall of Fame voting this year.
14. Mookie Wilson - 16.8 WAR - Mooooooook. Next to Reyes, he's the Mets historical speedster. His hitting wasn't terrible and he was decent with the glove, but quickly faded into oblivion in 1989.
15. Dave Magadan - 16.5 WAR - Got his rookie card! It'll be worth a fortune! Really only had one good year, in 1990, which was also the only year he stayed healthy. Was third in the NL in BA and second in OB, while flashing the best first base glove in the league.
16. Kevin McReynolds - 16.0 WAR - Was a hell of a power-tandem mate with Strawberry. Finished 3rd in MVP voting in 1988 when he stole 21 bases without being caught a single time.
17. Ron Darling? Yes Honey. - 15.8 WAR - The third of the great multi-cultural starting trio of Gooden-Fernandez-Darling. Put up almost the exact same WAR numbers between 1984-1988 as the other New York Ron (Guidry) had during the same period.
18. Lenny Dykstra - 14.4 WAR - Extortion and chewing tobacco. Wound up finding his swing in Philadelphia. Though his numbers swelled so high so quickly that...well, far be it from me to make behavioral assumptions about a someone guilty of sexual harrassment, sexual assault, indecent exposure (at age 48), fraud, grand theft auto, and identity theft. And his trainers named him multiple times in the Mitchell Report. According to Baseball-reference.com, one of his nicknames was Dude.
19. Gary Carter - 13.2 WAR - Kid!!! Too bad he's listed underneath Nails. He only had four healthy years with the Metsies, thus the #19 ranking. Thankfully in the Hall of Fame, though. The player most closely statistically comparable is Johnny Bench. That's always a nice thing.
20. Rick Reed - 13.1 WAR - Really? I guess so. He was actually the 15th best starter in the NL during his years on the Mets. And a two-time All Star with tremendous pitch control.
21. Robin Ventura - 12.9 WAR - He played for both NY teams, but the first thing I picture is him getting punched in the head by Nolan Ryan. He had an exceptional year in 1999 and always flashed a good glove.
22. Bobby Jones - 12.6 WAR - Another Met I under-appreciated. Reed put up the better numbers, but Jones spent more time on the team. Was probably at his best during his great 1994 rookie year.
23. Bret Saberhagen - 12.1 WAR - A tremendous pitcher that everyone forgets about. He came to the Mets after his prime, but in 1994 he logged the greatest Strikeout to Walk ratio in the history of the game. Even better than the marks set in the 1880s when it took NINE balls to record a walk. Saberhagen struck 143 and walked 13.
24. Todd Hundley - 12.0 WAR - The Man Who Came Before Piazza actually put up huge numbers in 1996 and 1997. His 41 HRs in '96 still stands as the team record.
25. Tom Glavine - 11.6 WAR - At the end of a great career, Glavine put up five solid seasons for New York, including 2004-2006 which matched some of his better seasons with the Braves.
26. Bob Ojeda - 11.1 WAR - Was the fourth member of that great mid-eighties rotation. Put up some tremendous numbers in '86, when was the fourth best pitcher in the NL. Without him there would have been no championship.
27. Johan Santana - 10.9 WAR - He'd better get his ass further up this list.
28. Bernard Gilkey - 10.5 WAR - Yes, we're getting into Bernard Gilkey territory. His 44 doubles in 1996 is still the team record. He was actually had the third best WAR in the NL in '96. He put up a decent '97, then was gone in '98.
29. Wally Backman - 10.5 WAR - It's easy to forget that he only played three full seasons, then played small chunks of six other years. His highlight was also 1986, when he hit .320, which would have been 4th in the league had he had enough plate appearances.
30. Frank Viola - 10.3 WAR - Two great years for the Mets, in 1990 and 1991. Arguably the best in NL pitcher in 1990. It's a pity he went to the Red Sox after that.
Honorable Mentions:
Angel Pagan: Not only will he crack this list by late May, he could make it into the top 20 with a decent season.
Bobby Bo: #31
Pedro: #33
John Franco: #35
Tim Teufel: #44
Mike Hampton: #56
Happy B-Day JK! See you soon.
In lieu of that here's my list of the Top 30 Mets since 2/22/82, by Wins Above Replacement (Fangraphs verson), and stay tuned for blackmail pics at the end...
 |
| Kris Benson doesn't make the list but that's because he's trapped somewhere in his wife's cleavage. |
2. David Wright - 39.3 WAR - With two years left on his contract, Wright could pull into the #1 spot with back-to-back All-Star level seasons. Can he do it? Absolutely. Will he? It would be great for New York baseball if he did.
3. Darryl Strawberry - 36.6 WAR - During The Straw's eight years on the Mets (1983-1990), only Henderson, Boggs, and Raines put up better offensive numbers league-wide. Originally from Crenshaw (LA!), Darryl was the son of Ruby Strawberry. Not a joke.
4. Jose Reyes - 33.4 WAR - His Mets career over much too quickly, Reyes is their all-time leader in triples (99) and steals (370), and is so far ahead of the second place guy (the Mook) that I don't foresee anyone passing him.
5. Carlos Beltran - 30.9 WAR - His high ranking is largely helped by his glovework. He put up the best fielding stats of any NL centerfielder from 2006-2009.
6. Edgardo Alfonzo - 30.7 WAR - Wow, I forgot all about this guy. Like the two gents immediately above, he combined great fielding stats and great offense. If not for a rough 2001, he may have been challenging Darryl for the #3 spot on this list.
7. Mike Piazza - 30.2 WAR - He called a press conference to announce that he was NOT gay. Sounds like Terrell Owens maneuver. Otherwise, he's the best hitting catcher in the history of baseball. His abysmal fielding stats during his Mets career keeps him from challenging The Straw at #3.
8. Keith Hernandez - 27.0 WAR - Baseball-reference.com says that his nickname was Mex. Was it because he did not look anything like a Mexican? His .297 BA is third best behind Wright and Olerud. And he was the best fielding first baseman in the National League during his career.
9. Sid Fernandez - 26.4 WAR - Now we're talking. El Sid has the 3rd lowest Hits-per-9-Innings ratio IN MAJOR LEAGUE HISTORY. Only Koufax and Ryan sit above him.
10. David Cone - 24.8 WAR - A superb pitcher who really should have gotten more notice when the Hall of Fame voting occurred in '09. He sits low on this list due to his limited Mets career. Had he started as many games as Gooden, he'd be in 2nd place.
11. Howard Johnson - 24.0 WAR - This list would be incomplete without the man who played 3B, SS, LF, and RF, went 30/30 three times, kept a sculpted beard, put up the best offensive WAR in the entire majors in 1989, and hit the seventh most sacrifice flies in a single season ever while leading the NL in homers in 1991, all while he was running an international hotel chain. HoJo.
12. Al Leiter - 22.5 WAR - A very good pitcher who hasn't stopped talking since he retired. Could have won the 1998 Cy Young had he pitched the full season.
13. John Olerud - 19.3 WAR - Statistically, probably the best hitter in Mets history, but only played 3 seasons for them. Wish they'd picked him up sooner then held onto him longer. Should have gotten more respect in the Hall of Fame voting this year.
14. Mookie Wilson - 16.8 WAR - Mooooooook. Next to Reyes, he's the Mets historical speedster. His hitting wasn't terrible and he was decent with the glove, but quickly faded into oblivion in 1989.
15. Dave Magadan - 16.5 WAR - Got his rookie card! It'll be worth a fortune! Really only had one good year, in 1990, which was also the only year he stayed healthy. Was third in the NL in BA and second in OB, while flashing the best first base glove in the league.
16. Kevin McReynolds - 16.0 WAR - Was a hell of a power-tandem mate with Strawberry. Finished 3rd in MVP voting in 1988 when he stole 21 bases without being caught a single time.
17. Ron Darling? Yes Honey. - 15.8 WAR - The third of the great multi-cultural starting trio of Gooden-Fernandez-Darling. Put up almost the exact same WAR numbers between 1984-1988 as the other New York Ron (Guidry) had during the same period.
18. Lenny Dykstra - 14.4 WAR - Extortion and chewing tobacco. Wound up finding his swing in Philadelphia. Though his numbers swelled so high so quickly that...well, far be it from me to make behavioral assumptions about a someone guilty of sexual harrassment, sexual assault, indecent exposure (at age 48), fraud, grand theft auto, and identity theft. And his trainers named him multiple times in the Mitchell Report. According to Baseball-reference.com, one of his nicknames was Dude.
19. Gary Carter - 13.2 WAR - Kid!!! Too bad he's listed underneath Nails. He only had four healthy years with the Metsies, thus the #19 ranking. Thankfully in the Hall of Fame, though. The player most closely statistically comparable is Johnny Bench. That's always a nice thing.
20. Rick Reed - 13.1 WAR - Really? I guess so. He was actually the 15th best starter in the NL during his years on the Mets. And a two-time All Star with tremendous pitch control.
21. Robin Ventura - 12.9 WAR - He played for both NY teams, but the first thing I picture is him getting punched in the head by Nolan Ryan. He had an exceptional year in 1999 and always flashed a good glove.
22. Bobby Jones - 12.6 WAR - Another Met I under-appreciated. Reed put up the better numbers, but Jones spent more time on the team. Was probably at his best during his great 1994 rookie year.
23. Bret Saberhagen - 12.1 WAR - A tremendous pitcher that everyone forgets about. He came to the Mets after his prime, but in 1994 he logged the greatest Strikeout to Walk ratio in the history of the game. Even better than the marks set in the 1880s when it took NINE balls to record a walk. Saberhagen struck 143 and walked 13.
24. Todd Hundley - 12.0 WAR - The Man Who Came Before Piazza actually put up huge numbers in 1996 and 1997. His 41 HRs in '96 still stands as the team record.
25. Tom Glavine - 11.6 WAR - At the end of a great career, Glavine put up five solid seasons for New York, including 2004-2006 which matched some of his better seasons with the Braves.
26. Bob Ojeda - 11.1 WAR - Was the fourth member of that great mid-eighties rotation. Put up some tremendous numbers in '86, when was the fourth best pitcher in the NL. Without him there would have been no championship.
27. Johan Santana - 10.9 WAR - He'd better get his ass further up this list.
28. Bernard Gilkey - 10.5 WAR - Yes, we're getting into Bernard Gilkey territory. His 44 doubles in 1996 is still the team record. He was actually had the third best WAR in the NL in '96. He put up a decent '97, then was gone in '98.
29. Wally Backman - 10.5 WAR - It's easy to forget that he only played three full seasons, then played small chunks of six other years. His highlight was also 1986, when he hit .320, which would have been 4th in the league had he had enough plate appearances.
30. Frank Viola - 10.3 WAR - Two great years for the Mets, in 1990 and 1991. Arguably the best in NL pitcher in 1990. It's a pity he went to the Red Sox after that.
Honorable Mentions:
Angel Pagan: Not only will he crack this list by late May, he could make it into the top 20 with a decent season.
Bobby Bo: #31
Pedro: #33
John Franco: #35
Tim Teufel: #44
Mike Hampton: #56
Happy B-Day JK! See you soon.
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| That's J on the right. |
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| On the right again. |
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| And now on the left. |
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
30 Simple Rules of Fitness Club Etiquette
1. Looking at yourself longingly in the mirror while the 25-lb weights sit at your feet does not count as "using" the weights.
2. Share the weights. Thus, do not take six different sets of free weights to your corner and claim that you are "using" them all "right now".
3. Do not opine on politics with an Outside Voice while in the locker room.
4. Do not opine on politics at all.
5. Do not slam the machine weights. The unenforced sign that reads "Do not slam the machine weights" isn't just posted to cover up a crack in the drywall. You will break the machine, which will ruin the workout routine for hundreds of people. Returning the weights slowly to their original position works your muscles and IS PART OF THE WORKOUT. If you can't lift the weights appropriately, use less weight, Tough Guy.
6. Wash your jockstrap. This year. I'm serious.
7. When that woman says that she doesn't need you to spot her, don't force the issue. No means no. If she wanted you to straddle her head while she lays down, she would have provided a more overt invitation.
8. Don't smell like garlic when using the elliptical next to mine.
9. Slamming your feet into the treadmill tread while you run is not proper running form. It slows you down. It tires you out quicker. It will likely bring on joint or ligament injury very quickly. And it's loud as f**k.
10. Swinging your entire body around while using the elliptical heightens your chance of injury and wears you out quicker, but is totally appropriate if your headphone song ROCKS.
11. There's grunting and then there's Grunting. Capital 'G' Grunting is like a tramp stamp. It broadcasts that you didn't receive enough attention from your father.
12. If you flex and grunt at yourself in the mirror, your human being membership will be revoked.
13. Standing next to a cardio machine and using your Outside Voice to talk to an exercising individual for thirty minutes is inappropriate. You are disrupting everyone else's workout and you are not working out.
14. If you sweat profusely, wipe down the goddamn equipment when you're done. Sweat is the equivalent of urine and often smells worse. Wipe the bench. Seriously, wipe it. I still see your nut sweat stripe on it.
15. Be judicious with the Purell. Do not bathe in it. Aside from strengthening the most aggressive 0.1% of existing bacteria, you are also suffocating everyone around you in a cloud of ether.
16. To women who choose to wear tight shorts that barely cover the cheeks and a boosting brassiere instead of a sports bra: There are infinite permutations of gymwear, but you chose clothing that accentuates your sexuality. Thank you, you've made my 7am workout much better.
17. Farting: Cropdust responsibly. And away from me. Nothing ruins the last rep of a military press like a sulphuric barbecue air biscuit. Someone's going to get hurt here, and it'll probably be me.
18. Farting: On a treadmill, acceptable, but only if you're really running hard.
19. Farting: Woman on the elliptical next to me......that's your eighth one in five minutes. Go to the f**k to the bathroom.
20. After finishing your bowel movement in the restroom and before using the fitness equipment, wash your hands. There's poop on them.
21. Don't stand outside a fitness classroom and stare at the people taking spinning/yoga/kickboxing. They are exercising. You are not.
22. If the equipment you are using breaks, then please tell a fitness club employee. And blame it on the D-Bag from Rule #5.
23. If you are talking on your cell phone for more than ten seconds, every person at the gym is allowed to "accidentally" clock you with a 50lb. dumbbell until you end your call.
24. If you are spraying mucus onto your elliptical screen (because you can't bother to cover your sick hole when you cough), then you should not be in public. Go home, but wipe down the machine before you leave, lest you desire two broken kneecaps to go with your influenza.
25. When you finish a set on a machine and see at least one person waiting to use the same machine, do not remain there and take out your iPhone to watch Two and a Half Men before your next set.
26. If someone asks, "Can I work in?" The correct answer is, "Yes."
27. Do not sit and read the newspaper at the machine between sets.
28. If you leave your sweatshirt on the only remaining weight bench as you take a ten minute cropdusting stroll around the gym between sets, I am allowed to rifle through its pockets. And then toss it aside.
29. My god, flush the toilet.
30. Share, be considerate of others, don't use your Outside Voice indoors, cover your mouth, wash your hands... If your 5-year-old grandchild can do these things better than you, then maybe she should be welcomed into society and you should be ushered out.
2. Share the weights. Thus, do not take six different sets of free weights to your corner and claim that you are "using" them all "right now".
3. Do not opine on politics with an Outside Voice while in the locker room.
4. Do not opine on politics at all.
5. Do not slam the machine weights. The unenforced sign that reads "Do not slam the machine weights" isn't just posted to cover up a crack in the drywall. You will break the machine, which will ruin the workout routine for hundreds of people. Returning the weights slowly to their original position works your muscles and IS PART OF THE WORKOUT. If you can't lift the weights appropriately, use less weight, Tough Guy.
6. Wash your jockstrap. This year. I'm serious.
7. When that woman says that she doesn't need you to spot her, don't force the issue. No means no. If she wanted you to straddle her head while she lays down, she would have provided a more overt invitation.
8. Don't smell like garlic when using the elliptical next to mine.
9. Slamming your feet into the treadmill tread while you run is not proper running form. It slows you down. It tires you out quicker. It will likely bring on joint or ligament injury very quickly. And it's loud as f**k.
10. Swinging your entire body around while using the elliptical heightens your chance of injury and wears you out quicker, but is totally appropriate if your headphone song ROCKS.
11. There's grunting and then there's Grunting. Capital 'G' Grunting is like a tramp stamp. It broadcasts that you didn't receive enough attention from your father.
12. If you flex and grunt at yourself in the mirror, your human being membership will be revoked.
13. Standing next to a cardio machine and using your Outside Voice to talk to an exercising individual for thirty minutes is inappropriate. You are disrupting everyone else's workout and you are not working out.
14. If you sweat profusely, wipe down the goddamn equipment when you're done. Sweat is the equivalent of urine and often smells worse. Wipe the bench. Seriously, wipe it. I still see your nut sweat stripe on it.
15. Be judicious with the Purell. Do not bathe in it. Aside from strengthening the most aggressive 0.1% of existing bacteria, you are also suffocating everyone around you in a cloud of ether.
16. To women who choose to wear tight shorts that barely cover the cheeks and a boosting brassiere instead of a sports bra: There are infinite permutations of gymwear, but you chose clothing that accentuates your sexuality. Thank you, you've made my 7am workout much better.
17. Farting: Cropdust responsibly. And away from me. Nothing ruins the last rep of a military press like a sulphuric barbecue air biscuit. Someone's going to get hurt here, and it'll probably be me.
18. Farting: On a treadmill, acceptable, but only if you're really running hard.
19. Farting: Woman on the elliptical next to me......that's your eighth one in five minutes. Go to the f**k to the bathroom.
20. After finishing your bowel movement in the restroom and before using the fitness equipment, wash your hands. There's poop on them.
21. Don't stand outside a fitness classroom and stare at the people taking spinning/yoga/kickboxing. They are exercising. You are not.
22. If the equipment you are using breaks, then please tell a fitness club employee. And blame it on the D-Bag from Rule #5.
23. If you are talking on your cell phone for more than ten seconds, every person at the gym is allowed to "accidentally" clock you with a 50lb. dumbbell until you end your call.
24. If you are spraying mucus onto your elliptical screen (because you can't bother to cover your sick hole when you cough), then you should not be in public. Go home, but wipe down the machine before you leave, lest you desire two broken kneecaps to go with your influenza.
25. When you finish a set on a machine and see at least one person waiting to use the same machine, do not remain there and take out your iPhone to watch Two and a Half Men before your next set.
26. If someone asks, "Can I work in?" The correct answer is, "Yes."
27. Do not sit and read the newspaper at the machine between sets.
28. If you leave your sweatshirt on the only remaining weight bench as you take a ten minute cropdusting stroll around the gym between sets, I am allowed to rifle through its pockets. And then toss it aside.
29. My god, flush the toilet.
30. Share, be considerate of others, don't use your Outside Voice indoors, cover your mouth, wash your hands... If your 5-year-old grandchild can do these things better than you, then maybe she should be welcomed into society and you should be ushered out.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Long Beach Scottish Festival
The Long Beach Scottish Festival ran this past Saturday and Sunday in and around the Queen Mary. Our friends James and Jess participated, as did Kristen and I . By "participated" I mean ate, drank, and cheered all things Scottish.
There was no haggis (thankfully?), but there were meat pies. And a steady stream of pipers. There was Scotch whisky, but no Scottish ale to be found. There were kilts EVERYWHERE. Gaelic tchotchke tents. Dancing competitions. Sheep herding. And a steady stream of pipers. There was also gelato, spicy cheese kettle corn, and street tacos -- little known Scottish delights.
Here's a hastily assembled (whisky-free) recap of the sunny day. And a steady stream of pipers.
There was no haggis (thankfully?), but there were meat pies. And a steady stream of pipers. There was Scotch whisky, but no Scottish ale to be found. There were kilts EVERYWHERE. Gaelic tchotchke tents. Dancing competitions. Sheep herding. And a steady stream of pipers. There was also gelato, spicy cheese kettle corn, and street tacos -- little known Scottish delights.
Here's a hastily assembled (whisky-free) recap of the sunny day. And a steady stream of pipers.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Single Malt Report: The Macallan Cask Strength
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| This isn't Macallan Cask Strength, but it's pretty close. |
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| This is Macallan Cask Strength, though the neck is looking a little low... |
Brand: Sherry Oak Cask Strength
Age: 10 to 12 years (though this may be debatable)
Maturation: Spanish Oak seasoned with Oloroso Sherry Sherry Sherry Sherry Sherry
Region: Speyside
Alcohol by Volume: 58.6%
The Macallan is the third best selling single malt in the world, yet this is the first report on one of their bottlings?! Yes. I know. But don't worry, there's going to be a Macallan Week here on Diving For Pearls next month wherein you'll get all of the Macallan reporting you could possibly want.
I'll get into The Macallan past and present then, but for now let us take a look at the cask strength bottling that I'd teased on Monday.
Macallan made their mark in the market through their sherry-seasoned-Spanish-Oak-matured whiskies. As you may be able to tell by the color in the picture above, they use a dark sherry. Known as Oloroso, it's a rich sherry that was itself matured in oak longer than other Jerez wines. Its own palate profile is nutty and hefty (up to 20% ABV). And it really does impart a strong character to a malt whisky spirit.
The entirety of the Macallan Sherry Oak range (even the 25yr and 30yr) is released at 43% ABV, so they've all been diluted to establish the palatable palate. Well, all of them except for the Cask Strength.
I've seen two labels for the Cask Strength whisky. The picture above shows the one that I sipped on Saturday night. There's also a label that has a large 10 year age statement. The release with the 10 year age statement contains casks that are 10 to 12 years in age. (I'm not sure if the release without the age statement has the same ages of whisky. I could have sworn that The Macallan ambassador that I'd met last year said that it contained 8 to 10 year whisky. If I'm mistaken I will redact.)
But one thing is for certain, it is a very youthful whisky.
NEAT:
The color is crimson mahogany, like the darkest sherry itself.
Once one can get past all of the alcohol fumes, the nose is all sherry and brown sugar.
The palate is HOT and heavy. There's no taming of the poison in this one. Beyond that it's massively sherried, followed by a wave of sour and bitter fruits (like raw cranberries).
The finish continues to be hot stuff. More sherry. And the sour+bitter lingers on. Very drying.
It needs water.
WITH WATER:
No change in the color, so it's clearly filtered. (Whisky joke!)
The nose smoothens out. Still Big Sherry. But more like a sherry soaked molasses cookie.
One thing to note: it does not turn into regular ol' Macallan when diluted. The palate is different. The water turns it creamier. Oloroso's nuttiness sneaks through. A little bit of the cranberry sours remain, but the bitterness and ethyl are gone.
The finish mellows significantly. Oh, and more sherry.
Maybe I'm suffering from sherry exhaustion, but this one didn't pique my fancy the way it used to. There are moments when it's nothing but sherry and rubbing alcohol, leaving me with a razed palate. Water helps it out, but by then my brain wants a beer. It is an excellently crafted muscular whisky, so I'm not going to kill it in the ratings.
But I prefer Glenfarclas 105 with its tiers of citrus and jam and plums and cherries. Of course, that one costs more.
The Macallan Cask Strength is the best priced officially-bottled cask strength whisky in the American market. Which is a great thing. It's worth every dime since you're getting a lot more booze for your money.
So, if you love the Macallan Sherry Oak flavor profile then you should definitely give this one a sip. Try it neat, try it with water. If it's your cup o' sherry, then splash out for a bottle.
Or you can wait until Glenvomit Single Cask hits the BevMo shelves for $30. [Ed. note: GlenVomit Single Cask prices have increased by 200% since this report.]
Pricing - Good at $55, Acceptable at $70
Rating - 82
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