The Maze Runner

 

 

For Matthew’s birthday we went to see the Maze Runner, which is not the story of Kansas miler Jim Ryun. I can understand why he liked it – the story of a group of boys trapped in a glade, forging out an existence while trying to find an exit to the massive, dangerous maze that surrounds them. The movie clearly sets up a sequel, as it is based on a book trilogy. Perhaps the last movie will be about when the boys grow old, and will be titled “The Mall Walker.” Not exactly Ceil’s kind of movie.

 One of the main characters, Chuck – the little boy with curly hair – is the younger brother of the friend who recently went to a concert with Matthew. Spoiler: Curly dies at the end of Maze Runner, but he might still appear in future sequels in flashbacks. Another main character had previously appeared in Nanny McPhee and voiced Ferb in the hit cartoon show Phineas and Ferb.

 

Previews for upcoming movies: Exodus, with Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, the plagues, etc. You never know how Hollywood will bastardize the Biblical account. Supposedly ISIS shows the recent Noah movie to slam Christianity. Another movie looks better: Interstellar,  with astronauts Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Michael Caine. The upcoming “Ouija” horror movie looks horrible and blasphemous – with the same old screaming ghosts, bland faces, and eyes rolling back in their heads that populate most horror movie trailers. Count me out.

 

Ceil cooked one of M’s favorite meals: spaghetti and meatballs. Also salad, and an Oreo and Cool Whip dessert. Anna had art, but made it home for the candle lighting and dessert. Saturday she re-takes the SAT.

 

Looks like the Braves are making lots of changes, and almost certainly the high number of strikeouts will be reduced. The 2014 team wasn’t exactly known for hitting home runs, but neither were the Cardinals or Giants. The difference? St. Louis and San Francisco (and Kansas City) struck out far less.

 

Sounds like Schuerholz has talked John Hart into taking the job for 1-2 years, to groom the young assistant GM, who is expert in team building but novice in other areas of the GM world. But aside from Schuerholz the younger, it seemed like all the people the Braves are bringing in (or back) are in their 50’s or 60’s. I just hope the swing from the heels / high strikeout mentality will change.

 

The top six payroll teams are out of the playoffs, as well as 11 of the top 13. Last year the story was similar. The Giants (7th) have the highest payroll of the teams still alive. Yet fans will call for the Braves to open the bank to sign expensive yet unspectacular free agents - who are no better than who the team already has in their system.  

 

The mighty Dodgers failed to advance. The highly-touted Puig and Kershaw both failed miserably. Last night Puig was benched, and only pinch-ran. In the playoffs Kershaw is 1-5 with a 5.12 ERA in 10 postseason games (8 starts). A great regular season pitcher, but he has a long way to go to become the next Greg Maddux. Mad Dog had a 3.42 playoff ERA in 35 games, and a 2.09 ERA in five World Series games.

 

Sports Illustrated had picked the Nationals to make it to the World Series, yet they performed poorly as well. Wrong again, SI. Fans will call for the heads of Matt Williams and Don Mattingly, along with Fredi. Braves fans won’t remember these repeated failures by these other teams make year after year. More frustration for the long-suffering Pirates, Angels, Rangers, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Phillies, Mets, Mariners, Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, Marlins, A’s – I could go on and on. The Braves aren’t the only team that doesn’t win the World Series every year.

 

Young Sadie Robertson from Duck Dynasty continues to dominate on Dancing With the Stars. She’s favored to make the finals, along with the guy who played Carlton on the Fresh Prince. This week I traded for a Willie Robertson bobblehead. Last week I missed out on the bidding for an antique Braves Indian bobblehead. No telling how much the high bidder would’ve paid.