Archive for Audio and/or Visual

Being a fan of comedy jokes, I am a fan of the television show Archer on FX. I realize that adult animation (not that kind of adult animation) isn’t for everyone, but if you haven’t checked out at least a few episodes, I suggest you do so. It’s on Netflix Instant, if I’m not mistaken.

The reason I’m bringing this up is that the show made a reference last night to baseball. Archer makes, perhaps, 150 cultural references per episode, but I don’t remember one regarding our favorite game. I won’t give too much away, but it involves a lengthy homage to the movie The Natural.

Could it be that the show’s producers are baseball fans, and used this opportunity to celebrate the coming of another season? I am not privy to this information, but I like to think so. I do know that I enjoy this show and baseball a great deal, and always like it when my cultural worlds collide.

Again, if you haven’t seen the show, please watch a few episodes. If you are a regular, but haven’t seen the most recent, you (as always, really) are in for a treat.

Those readers who have imbibed themselves with the audio libations that are the weekly FanGraphs podcast featuring Carson “Boy Hitler” Cistulli and Dayn “Sex With Men & Women” Perry know that an episode is not to be missed, especially the most recent episode.

That is why those listeners will want to drink deeply of the following: a previously unaired episode of said podcast, which finds our beloved pod-stars affirming each other’s affirmations in an exchange that is sure to lift your Monday-soiled spirits. Enjoy!

Totally Unaltered Audio

You may have come here expecting to see perhaps one of Carson Cistulli’s studious studies of a Cameron-on-Clubhouse-Confidential, complete with Blink+ statistics and Frog Mouth annotations, but this is an emergency; we here at NotGraphs are in a State of Emergency. A metaphysical Mississippi.

Last night, this image hit our servers and it hit our servers hard:

Needless to say, the 2003 Dell Inspiron 5150 laptop that wholly runs NotGraphs melted inside its frame when this cellphone-daguerreotype appeared. Yes, that is FanGraphs editor in chief Dave Cameron, a-wheelin’ and a-dealin’, a-gamblin’ and a-wrastlin’ with the WAR cards — or something.

Actually, I’m not tooooooootally 100% clear on what this is supposed to be promoting, but perhaps through the magic of science we can enhance the image and see better the intention. Consider this slightly less worst version and attempt to understand the purpose here; gaze into his world-weary eyes; study his oddly pink hand and acceptably-coiffed haired; what is the answer to the mystery?; why have you brought us here, Dave Cameron?; is the journey, perhaps, the destination?

Regardez-vouz:

What are you trying to tell us, Dave?! Do you want me to pick a card? Or are you just exhibiting the necessary motions to finish your taxing shift aboard this gambling ship we call a blogger’s life? Does the next card spell out our future? We can’t understand you!!!

Piracy in action!

The author, who knows zero percent of Spanish, is currently watching an illegal video stream of the Caribbean Series — the other occupants of which video stream are conversing in a chat area exclusively by means of the Spanish language.

In this post, I will use Google Translate to understand poorly what they are saying!

User: koricoman
Comment: “Vamos Mexicooo!!! saludos desde peñasco, son. y nos vemos en phoenix en el clásico 2013.”
Translation: “Let Mexicooo! greetings from rock, are. and see you in Phoenix in 2013 classic.”
Note: “Let Mexicooo, indeed!” one is compelled to say for reasons that aren’t entirely clear.

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It’s imperative — for any American hoping to telegraph his sophistication — it’s imperative to have at least a cursory knowledge of what is known universally as the Sport of Kings Who Aren’t That Interested in Thoroughbred Racing.

In so acquainting ourselves with the sport, we find this spectacular defensive effort courtesy 24-year-old cricketer Kieron Pollard from Tuesday’s international match between Pollard’s West Indian team and Australia.

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Periodically, in these pages, we have considered the blinking habits of the guests of MLB Network program Clubhouse Confidential, hosted by the robustly coiffed Brian Kenny. Dave Cameron’s own blinking habits have been considered with no little enthusiasm in these electronic pages — as have those of other, notable members of the sabermetric community.

Recently, godfather of sabermetrics himself Bill James appeared alongside Kenny. Below is the data concerning his blinking patterns.

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The author had occasion Sunday — during the Milwaukee Brewers’ On Deck fanfest event — to ask occasionally mustachioed and always Canadian John Axford three questions of considerable import. Below is an audio record of Axford’s answers — and a more or less accurate transcript of same.

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This is a clip from the film City of Baseball — about Nettuno, Italy, and its status as sort of a capital city of baseball in the bel paese.

Beyond its obvious charms, the clip serves as a lesson to aspiring documentarians: regardless of the film you’re making, do as much work as possible with old, Italian men.

It is come to my attention that the Nationals will be adding a fifth mascot to their Race of Presidents*. While the Nationals fans may assume that the Naltionals will feature a former U.S. President, allow me to offer up the idea of using an international president, in an effort to not only bolster international relations, but also because they pretty much used up all the good options already. Observe:

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