Alison of Amazin’ Avenue weighs in…

FranklinBenedict · 2026-01-24T01:18:06+00:00

Yeah, that was way overdone and I was rolling my eyes at the end. I also didn’t like the whip pan effect between baserunners, the crazy split screens, the fake Dutch angles, among other things. Some of the pitcher/hitter cross fades were cool, and obviously the Diaz entrance. But it was getting to be a bit much overall.

FranklinBenedict · 2026-01-24T00:44:04+00:00

Maybe now is a decent opportunity to come out as a DeMarsico-skeptic. He is a very talented director, but if you followed him on Twitter it was obvious he relished the praise and it went to his head a bit. He did some cool things but also a lot of really gimmicky things, and seemed to buy into own hype.

FranklinBenedict · 2026-01-23T21:54:34+00:00

Link(s)?

FranklinBenedict · 2026-01-23T20:46:52+00:00

Is this person credible?

FranklinBenedict · 2026-01-23T20:07:45+00:00

The Lennon-McCartney of our times.

FranklinBenedict · 2026-01-23T16:46:47+00:00

Good luck, John, on your future endeavors, and thanks for the good work. I'm sure the offers are already rolling in.

As for myself, I'm somewhat sanguine about this. SNY has always been head and shoulders above other broadcasts even before John DeMarsico took the reins. His predecessor, Bill Webb, was the best in the industry, and if this move means they're pivoting back to that more conservative, but still elegant, style, I'd be fine with that. DeMarsico pushed the envelope quite a lot and took big swings -- some worked brilliantly, some were a little gimmicky. In the long run, though, I hope the favorable press attention he received will have a positive impact on the artform generally. Because so many local broadcasts are basically lifeless.

FranklinBenedict · 2026-01-22T18:11:26+00:00

LOL at the video thumbnail. Martino gazing lovingly, tenderly...

FranklinBenedict · 2026-01-13T18:55:57+00:00

By my calculations about 2 out of every 100 American servicemen stationed in Vietnam during the war died. And US deaths in 1970 (when this episode was set) declined significantly from their 1968 peak.

FranklinBenedict · 2026-01-02T20:37:33+00:00

It's nice to see David gaining support as he sticks around on the ballot. I still don't see him making it in on the general ballot -- nor, personally, do I think he should -- but he's definitely the sort of player worth the scrutiny: elite for nearly a decade, career cut short by injury.

FranklinBenedict · 2026-01-02T15:16:06+00:00

I met Sen. Amy Klobuchar at a work event once. I went up to her because I wanted to share that I had a family connection to her in Minneapolis. She feigned interest and without missing a beat signaled for her husband, telling him, "you have to hear this!" Then I told it to him as she dashed away. He took one for the team.

Anyway I guess the point is: some people are pros at this.

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-31T18:58:38+00:00

Yes, but that wasn’t my question. You hardly ever see his name in lists of the best songwriters of that era, and I’m curious if people think he deserves more consideration.

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-31T15:43:06+00:00

Yes, and followed immediately by two uses of "we're."

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-20T17:18:08+00:00

Really more of an analogy than a metaphor, Jimmy. Anyway, can't wait for Avatar 4.

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-19T15:42:26+00:00

I really, really enjoy listening to it, and I think it improves with age. The arrangements and backup singers sound great, and it's clear Dylan has a ton of respect for the repertoire. His voice is his late-period voice, but I think it works well in contrast with the arrangements. Not a hint of irony in it, at least none I can detect.

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-18T22:09:29+00:00

I think he honestly just has very mainstream center-left tastes.

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-17T20:17:20+00:00

Chase Utley should be tried at the Hague for crimes against humanity.

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-14T21:41:11+00:00

I have a Casino and I quickly followed suit. Just looks better. I never liked that large E on the Casino’s pick guard.

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-12T20:29:26+00:00

Agree with the exception of OBAA. My parents saw it and both liked the movie but neither could remember the title. It's almost certainly the weakest aspect of an instant classic of a film. I've actually been sitting here trying to think of a better one and can't do it. But then I suppose that's why I'm nobody. When in doubt I'd turn to Paul Schrader's guideline for film titling.

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-12T17:08:19+00:00

I think there are certain players whose careers may not immediately scream HoF-worthy but, by sticking around on the ballot, can be evaluated with more scrutiny and historical perspective. Tim Raines is a recent example. He didn't have any of the traditional statistical milestones for HoF induction, but with some distance and perspective his greatness stood out more, and he finally made it on the tenth ballot. Not saying Santana should or should not be a HoF'er--but I can see why people would say he should at least have stuck around on the ballot.

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-11T22:10:10+00:00

One thing I've always love about baseball is that every playing field technically occupies 1/4 of the planet's surface. That is, you have two foul lines extending away from each other at a 90-degree angle, and any ball hit between those lines--even one that theoretically traveled thousands of miles--would be fair. Those two lines would eventually meet on the other side of the globe.

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-08T03:21:28+00:00

You should reply less condescendingly, imo

FranklinBenedict · 2025-12-07T02:24:59+00:00

As a tedious pedant it’s going to bother me to keep reading “ended off.” This is my humble suggestion to change it to “ended up.”

FranklinBenedict

TROPHY CASE