Jason Haskins's Blog, page 17

The Triston Casas show rolls on for Boston Red Sox

 

Two players on the Boston Red Sox are making strong cases to finish 1-2 in American League Rookie of the Year voting. The top of the list belongs to Masataka Yoshida, who is having a stellar season and in the hunt for a batting title with a .313 average.
First baseman Triston Casas could be making a late-season push in challenging Yoshida for the award.
A rough night on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants (0-4, 3 Ks) does nothing to diminish what Casas has been doing as of late. Evidence of his tear was on display in Boston's Friday night victory. This 2-4 performance included driving in two of Boston's three runs, the second coming off a home run after moments earlier fouling a ball off his shin.
July has been a scorcher for Casas but his current level of production stretches slightly further back in the 2023 season.Casas: A stellar seven weeksThe rookie season for Casas was looking bleak back in early to mid-June. The Red Sox had just suffered a 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies and Casas was fresh off a three-game stretch of going 0-11 and dropping his average to .197.
Scary numbers aside, it wasn't all bad to that point. Casas had a keen, patient eye at the plate and had been unlucky with some hard hit balls that turned into outs. He was displaying decent pop (seven home runs) and, while frustrated, kept mentally dialed in.
The patience has paid off.
Since that game, Casas has been locked in and on a torrid stretch. The Red Sox rookie has hit safely in 24 of 32 games he's played since, holding a .349 batting average. Casas has 12 multi-hit games and swatted nine home runs while driving in 21.
July has seen even more of an improvement from Casas. Heading into the final two days of the month, Casas is hitting .350 with seven home runs and 13 RBI. Saturday's loss also marked the end of five straight games in which Casas had driven in a run.
Prior to Saturday's game, Casas had an OPS of 1.335. Patience has also continued, with 11 walks, and Casas has scored 16 runs.
Overall, the numbers are much closer to what one might expect for a decent rookie season. In 91 games, Casas has 73 hits and is batting .253. His 16 home runs are tied with Justin Turner for second on the team and Casas has added 15 doubles and two triples.
Casas came up with a chance in the ninth inning to put the Red Sox in the lead. He struck out and, while disappointing, there will be plenty of chances this season for Casas to leave his mark. And a mark will be needed, as he is integral to Boston's chase for the playoffs.Boston Red Sox chase playoffsBoston had their five-game winning streak snapped with Saturday's 3-2 loss. The Red Sox bats went quiet for the most part, collecting only three hits until the ninth inning.
Trailing 2-0, Yoshida pinch hit and drew a walk. Jarren Duran continued his journey into the land of doubles with his 30th of the season. Turner followed with a single, tying the game by driving in Yoshida and Duran.
Rafael Devers and Casas failed to move the needle and Kenley Jansen was brought in to keep this game tied.
J.D. Davis promptly greeted Jansen with a left field shot on the first pitch, sending Boston home with the loss.
At 56-48, the Red Sox remain in fourth-place in the highly competitive A.L. East. They are seven games back of first-place Baltimore and 2.5 back of the Houston Astros for the final Wild Card spot.
The trade deadline is August 1 and many are still looking for the Red Sox to make their move. They are in need of starting pitching and some of their targets (namely from the Chicago White Sox) have already been moved. There is discussion, too, of where the Red Sox should move James Paxton (they shouldn't).
Reinforcements are on the way, too, for Boston with the tentaive returns of Chris Sale, Trevor Story, Garrett Whitlock, and Tanner Houck, making this team ripe for a playoff run in '23.
Closing out this west coast swing with four games (one with the Giants, three at Seattle), the Red Sox need at least a split. After that, a ten-game home stand awaits, including the Toronto Blue Jays. A 7-3 mark during the home stand is the baseline wish to have. This should move them past the Blue Jays in the standings, and set up Boston for a good spot when they later hit the road for ten straight games (with games against the Astros and Yankees in that set).
The dog days of summer are nearly upon us and for Casas and the Red Sox, it means the best is yet to come.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

USWNT seeking complete performance to end Group Stage

 

A slice of drama is on the agenda for the United States Women's National Soccer Team as they prepare for the final match of Group play.

A normal occurrence every four years in the is the USWNT advancing to the Knockout rounds. In the previous eight iterations of this tournament, the United States women have never failed to advance out of the Group Stage.

Probability remains low they receive that mark (or, demerit perhaps) in 2023. Yes, entering the tournament, a stiffer test for the USWNT was predicted.  The world's top-ranked squad is not only on a journey for an unprecedented third straight title, but fields a squad that is a little green around the edges. 

They are a team rounding into form, with flashes of brilliance mixed in with mediocrity through two matches. Blend in solid individual play with questionable late-game strategy by the coaches and what is concocted is a recipe with potential to be delicious but an outside chance of disaster with game three on the horizon.

USWNT: Group play

A precise but not glorious 3-0 victory over Vietnam got things going for the USWNT in the '23 World Cup. Areas needed to be improved upon but it was a splendid way to open.

Some of those same areas were present in the team's 1-1 draw with the Netherlands last Wednesday. In a rematch of the 2019 final, the Dutch jumped out to the lead with a first-half goal. The Americans attempted to play catch-up but missed some opportunities fans are used to seeing them convert. On many levels, it seemed a lack of fire and an instinctive connection that comes from playing together over and over again was missing.

Rose Lavelle was brought in off the bench for the USWNT and the intensity seemed to instantly step up. Urgency was tapped and the team looked more in sync in balancing the attack and defense. And, in matching the Netherlands with physicality, a new motivation seemed to be unlocked for the Americans.

In the 60th-minute, off a corner kick from Lavelle, a Lindsey Horan header found the back of the net, giving team USA the equalizer needed. (And a much-needed confidence booster of a goal off a set piece).

Again, the USWNT had plenty of missed opportunities throughout the game, whether that be with mistimed passes and badly missed shot attempts. One thing of note was the lack of subs deployed by USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski. Lavelle was the only sub and they came in at the half.

On one hand, the attack was working and the Americans failed to convert. Forwards Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith were making nice runs, with Alex Morgan doing their best to find them. So, I could see not wanting to mess with that rhythm because it seemed like they were poised to score before the 90th-minute.

On the other hand, the USWNT has plenty of game changers on the bench. Lynn Williams hasn't seen the pitch yet and could have provided a difference in the final 15 minutes. So, too, could have Alyssa Thompson and Megan Rapinoe.

And, with five subs at team's disposal per game, there really isn't a reason not to use them, especially in the Group Stage. Fresh legs will be needed going forward, so perhaps a major overhaul in the third game is on the horizon.

Thankfully, a draw was salvaged and the United States remained on top of Group E thanks to a goal differential. Netherlands and Portugal, each with one win, are two goals back of the United States.

Both games (USWNT vs Portugal, Netherlands vs Vietnam) to close out group play will be at 3 a.m. ET on Aug. 1. A win or a draw and the Americans will advance. A loss, well, they'll need the Netherlands to do the same by a greater margin. Nothing will come easy from this point forward but best hope is to win the group. Either path in the final 16, however, is a mine field waiting to be gingerly traipsed through.

Group standouts

The darlings and aces of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in the first week are the teams from Spain and Japan. Representing Group C, each has won their first matches with ease. Spain currently holds a +8 difference in the goal column, with Japan sitting at +7.

The teams meet July 31 at 3 a.m. (ET) to determine the winner of that group, with both teams already advancing.

Spain has looked to be the finest of teams so far but Sweden is looking like a top contender, too. As of this writing, Sweden has played only one match (a victory) and takes on Italy (1-0) at 3:30 am (ET) on 7/29.

The most intriguing to me, aside from the United States team, will be the finales in Group B, with three teams fighting for two spots.

Nigeria, Canada, and Australia all sit with one win each. Nigeria and Canada tied with one another, while Australia's loss was to Nigeria. Canada will take on Australia and Nigeria faces the Republic of Ireland on 7/31 at 6 a.m. ET to close out this group.

Australia will face a tough-test but they will get standout Sam Kerr back for the match. A victory is needed for the co-host to advance and anything less will be considered a disappointment for a team that harbored series hopes of making a run for the cup. (A draw could still be had by Australia, but a lot of help from Ireland over Nigeria would be needed).

Panic might be swirling around Australia and many teams. For team USWNT, while in somewhat unfamiliar position heading into the third match, the panic button should be avoided. Too much talent is present and I believe this team is poised to put together a complete match. It will be needed sooner or later, so why not find that Zen against Portugal. Because if not and a victory is still secured, the real panic in the Knockout Rounds will settle in, and team USWNT may find the perfect game far too late.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boston Red Sox: Four players on a scorcher in July

 

Fighting to get back on track, the Boston Red Sox ended a three-game losing streak in powerful fashion Saturday night.

Backed by five home runs and six strong innings from James Paxton, the Red Sox picked up a 8-6 victory over the New York Mets. 

Nerve wracking ninth inning aside, where Boston surrendered three runs thanks to hard hits and a couple of balks, it was a stellar win. In improving to 52-47, the Red Sox also climbed back to within two games of a Wildcard spot in the American League.

Four of the home runs belonged to a trio of players simply raking in July. And a fourth player continued to set the table and contribute in multiple ways.

Triston Casas

Rookie first baseman Triston Casas isn't on the most torrid stretch of these four players but he was the top star in Saturday night's victory.

Casas made Mets pitcher Max Scherzer pay twice for trying to sneak pitches by him, delivering two monster home runs. A 2-3 game improved Casas' batting average to .244 on the season and is 4-6 this series against the Mets. 

The two home runs gave Casas five in July and he's hitting .333 (with an OPS in July of .992 prior to today's games).

Casas has been on an upward trajectory, getting better with each month. He's shown a good eye at the plate, is improving defensively, and providing stability in what is usually the lower third of the Boston order. 

Expectations were high for Casas entering the 2023 season and, for the most part, he's right where I expected him to be. Part of the struggle in the early going was indecisiveness. Toss in hard contact that were finding outs, the stats were going to be low.

But, Casas has cemented a spot in the lineup, meaning finding ways different ways to get an equally scorching player in the lineup every day.

Justin Turner

Justin Turner was expected to provide versatility for the Red Sox in '23. Much of that plan involved sharing time with Casas and spelling Rafael Devers at third base, plus some DH. In playing no less than three positions, plus Designated Hitter, Turner has done exactly as expected.

A 15-game hitting streak ended in the early game on Saturday, a conclusion of Friday's suspended affair. Shaking off an 0-4 performance and a couple of hard early outs in the night game, Turner found the seats in the seventh inning.

Turner's two-run shot provided a nail in the coffin against the Mets. It was his fourth home run in July and brought his RBI total in the month to 21.

More impressive is the six multi-hit games and .355 batting average. 

Turner is providing veteran leadership for this Red Sox club. A hot July at the plate, however, is rivaled by two teammates hitting for an even better average.

Jarren Duran

After beginning the season with a bang, Duran cooled off slightly at the end of May and into June. But the month of July has been a different story.

Duran hit a leadoff home run on Saturday night, part of a 1-3 night that raised his season average to .315. It's part of a month where Duran has collected 20 hits and is hitting .425 with eight doubles and 15 runs scored.

After a dismal 2022, Duran is setting the tone in '23 and earned the right to be playing every day. It's forced manager Alex Cora to make some tough decisions in who sit each game, which is a good problem to have.

Duran's month has also included six multi-hit games, with a superb 5-5 night in the books. Impressive as Duran has been, a fellow outfielder is taking the multi-hit game to different levels. 

Masataka Yoshida

Rookie Masataka Yoshida has been the king of the multi-hit game for the Boston Red Sox through the season's first 99 games.

Yoshida added to his total on Saturday night, going 3-4 in collecting his 38th multi-hit game of the season. It was his 10th such occurrence in July as he upped his average to .407 on the month and .319 on the season.

From the last game in June until July 14, Yoshida picked up at least two hits in eight straight games. He's been a solid hitter in using the entire field to his advantage, including power. Yoshida has 11 home runs this season, with two in July.

Yoshida picked up an RBI in Saturday night's game, giving him 11 in the month and 51 overall. This includes his second six-RBI game of the season, last week against the Chicago Cubs.

He's also added 22 doubles and 3 triples.

These four players have been fun to watch this season, especially in the last month. If they keep producing, and the Red Sox keep winning, buying at the trade deadline will be a no-brainer. And then, the real fun begins.

photo credit: rawpixel

USWNT: Arrival of star on the World Cup stage

 

Steps were choppy and small as the USWNT set out on their journey to capture their third-straight World Cup title.

Play wasn't precise and there were missed opportunities galore. Playing against a Vietnam squad making their FIFA Women's World Cup debut, the USWNT did enough and were never really threatened in a 3-0 victory. 

The opening game result for the group stage wasn't a wipeout, like the 13-0 boot USA gave to Thailand in the 2019 opener. And with 14 new players on the roster, including six who made their first start on the World Cup stage, hiccups were to be expected.

One of those making their debut was Sophia Smith. Already a star in the NWSL, Smith announced her arrival on the world stage on grand fashion against Vietnam.

Smith shines, game notes

The USWNT was on the attack early and often, with captain Lindsey Horan missing a good opportunity in the seventh-minute

This was sort of a theme in those first ten minutes. Nice runs were being made and passes were usually spot on but there was a crispness lacking in the final third. Vietnam held strong and came out physical, showing they weren't going to back down.

That changed in the 14th-minute, where Alex Morgan had a nice little flick to Smith, who found the back of the net to give the United States a 1-0 lead.

Good movement continued and Smith was a factor on multiple opportunities. With Morgan often getting attention from two defenders at a time, Smith and Trinity Rodman were handling much of the action up front.

Rodman, shaken up in the game's first minutes, controlled the sideline and was able to draw a penalty in the box (after a lengthy VAR). And when Morgan stepped in to take the penalty shot, a 2-0 lead was forecast.

Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh had other ideas, making a sweet save (off not the best of kicks) to preserve the lead.

Tran Thi Kim Thanh was the MVP for Vietnam for much of the game, coming up with key saves throughout.

Smith found the net again in first-half stoppage time, placing a deflection in the perfect spot. This came after the call was initially ruled offside against Morgan, and overturned upon review (by the length of a couple of fingertips, as it turns out).

In scoring two goals in a World Cup game, Smith became the second-youngest player (behind Cat Whitehill) to do so.

A brace before the break for @sophsssmith ✌️

🎥 » @FOXSoccer
pic.twitter.com/SAlCrH6Za7

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 22, 2023

Smith kept the pressure on in the second-half and assisted on the final goal for the United States. Taking a pass down the sideline, Smith crossed it back towards the top of the box to a waiting Horan, who had been hunting goals all game and finally found one.

All told, it was a dominant, if not uneven, game from the United States. With so many newcomers, this could be one of those World Cups were the team takes time to gel and gets better as the tournament progresses. For the most part, communication was good. The defense was never really tested, so that will be something to keep an eye on in coming games.

Doing better off set pieces is also a must for this squad. They had multiple opportunities throughout the game but only had a handful of times, if that, where they made a serious run at goal.

Veterans Megan Rapinoe (63'), Rose Lavelle (63'), and Kelly O'Hara (84') all saw action off the bench, with the appearance being number 200 for Rapinoe's international career.

First-timers Alyssa Thompson (75'), making her debut at 18-years old, and Sofia Huerta (84') also saw minutes off the bench.

It wasn't the most thrilling of victories but the important thing is the USWNT starts off Group Stage with three points, joining a handful of early-favorites doing the same.

Early results

Upsets are always a fun part of any , and the co-host squad from New Zealand kicked off the 2023 edition with one of their own.

A goal by Hannah Wilkinson in the 48th-minute and New Zealand defeated Norway, 1-0.

Co-host Australia, despite the absence of star Sam Kerr, also opened play with a 1-0 victory.

Many of the considered favorites have yet to take the field. Spain won with ease, defeating Costa Rica 3-0. And two teams contending in Group B, Nigeria and Canada, played to a 0-0 tie.

Switzerland also picked up a win and three more games are on the schedule in the coming hours, beginning with Japan vs Zambia at 3 a.m. ET. 

USWNT will be in action again on 7/26 (or 7/27 World Cup time, as I am calling it) at 9 p.m. ET, where they take on the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final. 

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boston Red Sox: Dukes of Double Land

 

A six-game winning streak came to a screeching halt on Saturday for the Boston Red Sox. A rare bad outing by James Paxton (3 IP, 3 H, 6 ER, 3 BB) contributed mightily to Boston's first loss in over a week. The Boston Red Sox offense, however, continued to preside over the land of doubles in the loss.
A lineup built to deliver with the two-bagger, Boston's lineup is a main reason the team is 49-44 and hanging around in the playoff discussion. The offense is a main reason Boston is on track to be buyers come the trade deadline, where the main need is starting pitching.
In the meantime, the hitters continue to carry this club. Among them are a handful who could be in a race to lead the league in hits, batting average, and of course, doubles.
Double trouble for Boston Red SoxIn Saturday's 10-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs, the Red Sox added four more doubles to their season total. Now at 207, Boston trails the top American League team Texas Rangers by two doubles and has a cushy lead over the third-best team Toronto Blue Jays (169).
Four players have hit 20+ doubles for Boston, led by Jarren Durran. Durran is having quite the season, bouncing back nicely from struggles in 2022. His 28 doubles are currently good enough to place him in a tie for second in the American League.
Durran had a pretty special game in a June 19 victory over the Minnesota Twins, going 3-3 with three doubles. Less than two weeks later, Durran decided to one-up that experience by going 5-5 with four doubles in a 5-4 victory over the Blue Jays.
In 72 games, Durran is hitting .319 and picked up 76 hits this season.
Hot on Durran's tail is Alex Verdugo, who has hit 26 doubles. Verdugo has been a star for the Red Sox this season, hitting .286 with also four triples. He has 96 hits and has endeared himself to fans this season with multiple walk-off hits (and spot-on throws from the outfield).
Justin Turner added two doubles to his total on Saturday, now standing at 21. Rafael Devers kept pace, too, with a double in the loss, tying him with Turner. 
In his first season with the Red Sox, Turner has 99 hits (5th in the American League) and is hitting .290. Turner's 56 RBI are second on the team to Devers, who has 72.
Not to be left out, Masataka Yoshida has 19 doubles and hitting .313 (97 hits). And Connor Wong may have only 49 hits this season but 17 of them are doubles.
It's certainly a kingdom of doubles for these players but in Friday's night victory over the Cubs, the team found their power stroke, too.Boston Red Sox flex their musclesHome run droughts for the Boston Red Sox are a common occurrence so far in 2023. They rank in the lower third for team totals, with Devers leading the way with 22.
Two of those came in a monster night for Boston at the plate in Friday's victory over the Cubs, with Red Sox launching six home runs as a team.

RAFFY TO THE SCOREBOARD! pic.twitter.com/ZDpsV9uR6g

— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 15, 2023

Turner, Adam Duvall, Yu Chang, and Triston Casas joined Devers in the Boston power display for the evening.
Casas is a player to keep an eye on. The rookie has had his troubles this season but has improved each month.  He homered on Saturday as well and is 6-16 in his last four games.
The offense for the Red Sox will ultimately be the deciding factor on how long the '23 season lasts. Keep raking like they have been and Boston will be in the playoff discussion until the very end. And if they get some help from the starting rotation outside of Brayan Bello and Paxton (today's game aside), this team can make an unexpected run this season. And there's nothing like the Red Sox rolling into October with momentum, where anything can happen for the Dukes of Double Land.
photo credit: rawpixel

USWNT: Stiff competition in vying for third-straight World Cup title

 

The FIFA Women's 2023 World Cup gets underway on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, with the United States Women's National Team seeking their third-straight title.

Winning one World Cup is impressive. Winning back-to-back FIFA World Cups is outstanding. For the USWNT to win their third in a row, and fifth overall, they will need the new generation representing the red, white, and blue to rise up.

Fourteen players who were not on the 2019 World Cup winning roster were named to the national squad for the '23 edition. And all 14 will be making in this event. Consistently one of the world's top programs, the USWNT is in prime position to ease into high-caliber play with little to no drop-off involved.

The gap between the United States and the world is closing. All 32 countries harbor hopes of hoisting the trophy, with more than 25 percent considered legitimate contenders. The USWNT, despite facing more of an open field in '23, remain atop the list, led by a group of skilled, veteran players.

Key returners

A core group of veterans will be looked to when play opens for the United States. These returnees are small in number (nine) but have seen plenty of action over the years. This may not be the roster head coach Vlatko Andonovski envisioned when first starting but the talent level is top-notch.

Headlining this group will be three players making their fourth World Cup appearance. After the most recent Summer Olympics, there was some question whether these players would be back. But forward Alex Morgan is playing some of her best ball in recent years and forward Megan Rapinoe can provide valuable minutes. Along with defender Kelly O'Hara, these three provide valuable leadership to this squad (though, there's a strong possibility only Morgan starts among these three).

Another veteran possibly used in more of a leadership and substitute role is midfielder Julie Ertz. Ertz only recently returned from injury but she is always an x-factor when on the field. Ertz and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher will be participating in their third World Cup, with Naeher the expected starter between the pipes.

Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Crystal Dunn, and Emily Sonnett are all attending their second World Cup. Dunn and Horan should be starters in that first match, with Lavelle a possibility as well. Lavelle, much like Ertz, only hopped back into game action in recent months, so coming in with super-sub minutes might be best, at least in the early going.

Injuries played a huge part in shaping this roster. Six players from that 2019 squad are out with injuries, many of who haven't played meaningful minutes since 2022. And these are players (Tobin Heath, Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper, and Sam Mewis, to name a few) who contributed mightily to the success of the USWNT in the last decade.

The stellar Carli Lloyd retired, as did Ashlyn Harris, plus six others who either played with the squad in 2023 and missed the cut or have not been on the national team in the intervening years at some point.

Losses in World Cup experience are balanced with the youthful (for the most part) exuberance ready to contribute on the world's biggest stage.

Key newcomers

The biggest names among the World Cup newcomers, and those who can make the most impact, are forwards Sophia Smith and Lynn Williams, plus midfielders Andi Sullivan, and Kristie Mewis.

Smith and Williams, with much of the attention by opponents focused on Morgan, should see ample opportunity to score. Smith brings a huge scorer's mentality to the field and Williams proved herself in the most recent Summer Olympics.

Sullivan will be a player to keep an eye, especially with Ertz back. At this point, Sullivan could get that starting nod, just based off the valuable minutes and contributions as of late. Plus, it's always good to see teams transitioning to the future at positions while the veteran (Ertz) can still provide valuable minutes, whether starting or off the bench.

The back line for the United States is the greenest of the group, at least in terms of potential starters. It's very possible that three of the four back there in game 1 are new to the World Cup, with Crystal Dunn possibly playing alongside Alana Cook, Naomi Girma, and Emily Fox.

It will be interesting to see how this squad gels with so many newcomers and to see if the veterans can provide the same leadership those before gave them.

Group play

No matter who is out there, the United States should be considered a lock to advance to the Knockout Stage. With the inexperience, play might not be a breeze, but the USWNT should be among the top-2 with ease.

July 21 is their first match, against a Vietnam squad in their first-ever World Cup. Netherlands and Portugal round this Group E, with the Netherlands squad probably the toughest match (the teams met up in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Summer Olympics, where the United States won on penalty kicks). 

Portugal, too, will be an opponent making their first appearance in the Women's World Cup.

While heading to the final 16 teams should be a cinch, the USWNT has plenty of other foes to worry about when the time comes.

2023 Women's World Cup: Top Contenders

Danielle van de Donk and Netherlands will be a great Group Stage test for the United States. A test for both teams, really, as a measuring stick to prepare themselves for making a run at a title.

Group E aside, there are fantastic teams ready to take home the moniker of World Cup champion. To me, that begins and ends with Australia. Here is a team always on the precipice of breaking through with a deep run. And what better way for Sam Kerr, arguably the best player in the tournament, and Australia to earn renown than with a title in their home country.

Australia is out of Group B, where Canada could make noise as well. Japan (C), Germany (H) and Brazil (F) are also countries who could sneak into making a deep run.

Standing in their way, one way or another, is the trio of England (D), Spain (C), and France (F). These three countries are primed to pick up their first women's World Cup victory. England and Spain are two heavy favorites, along with the United States, to rack up hardware.

Inexperience and improved play from other countries are just two hazards the USWNT faces as they look to become the first team ever, men or women, to win three consecutive World Cups. Can it be done? Most certainly but for those fans of the team who thought the '19 World Cup was anxiety-driven, well, '23 could very well skyrocket those feelings through the roof.

United States kicks off play against Vietnam on July 21 @ 9 p.m. (ET) on Fox

Picture credit: Public Domain

Summer 1993 box office tournament: Off to the round of 16

 

The "Best Of" tournament for the summer box office of 1993 marches on, with two heavyweight films making mincemeat of opponents in the early going.

Dinosaurs and Jeff Goldblum ruled the summer box office of 1993. They, along with Laura Dern and the other stars of Jurassic Park, seemed like to lock to win this tournament to determine a favorite from that summer. Beloved to this day, and a very fine film, Jurassic Park has cemented itself a place in pop culture history.

So, too, has The Fugitive, which is bull rushing its way on a trajectory to possibly meet Jurassic Park in the final.

Both films have had easy romps in the first two rounds. And on paper, the star power of Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones could lead The Fugitive to easy wins on the way to an appearance in the final four.

Star power was the name of the game back in the 1990s and the same can be said about the summer of '93. Names like Tom Cruise, Mike Myers, Bette Midler, Angela Bassett, Charlie Sheen, and Clint Eastwood were but a few who headlined films that summer. And these are just mentioning a few who are still fighting in the round of 16, with names like Sharon Stone, Mel Brooks, and Wesley Snipes among those who have already bowed out.

The one sad thing is we won't get to see two films Neil Flynn was in square off. Flynn may not exactly be a household name but he's a favorite of mine, with a long list of roles. He's appeared in such films as Mean Girls and Magnolia and also starred in The Middle and as Janitor in Scrubs 

Flynn was in the now-eliminated Rookie of the Year and plays a cop in The Fugitive. A fact that was even used as a part of a story in an episode of Scrubs.

Will it be star power carrying films onto the next round? Will we see a double-digit seed reach the final four? See the matches below as we whittle the list down to eight films. 

May region

The round of 32 witnessed easy victories for three of the films. Cliffhanger and Hot Shots: Part Deux each won with 75 percent of the vote. The closest match was between the no. 2 seed, Dave, which narrowly defeated 7-seed Menace II Society by two percent. (The loss by Menace also means we don't get the Samuel L. Jackson vs Samuel L. Jackson match-up in the final four.)

1) Cliffhanger4) Hot Shots: Part Deux6) Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story2) Dave

June region

Jurassic Park took care of business last round, taking home 97 percent of the vote. A match in the round of 16 has the possibility for a more difficult time, with What's Love Got to Do with It on the slate. This film about Tina Turner eked out a round of 32 victory over Last Action Hero, with 52 percent.

The region's 2nd-seed, Sleepless in Seattle, also could present a challenge after notching 93.5 percent last round.

1) Jurassic Park5) What's Love Got to Do with It3) Dennis the Menace2) Sleepless in Seattle

July region

This region promised to be a difficult one prior to the tournament and has lived up to the billing. There was no real runaway winner in the round of 32, with In the Line of Fire snagging the biggest win with a 36 percent margin of victory.

The closest was Hocus Pocus, which held off Free Willy by an eight percent clip.

1) The Firm13) So I Married an Axe Murderer6) Hocus Pocus2) In the Line of Fire

August region

A cakewalk for The Fugitive continued in the round of 32, winning with 95.5 percent. No other film came close to that, with margins of victory ranging between 14 and 26 percent. 

This region has one of the last two remaining double-digit seeds. Searching for Bobby Fischer is the 11th-seed and won in the round of 32 with 63 percent.

1) The Fugitive5) Man Without a Face11) Searching for Bobby Fischer2) Hard Target

Voting continues on Twitter as we aim to crown a favorite film from 1993's summer box office. 

photo credit: rawpixel

Summer box office 1993: Round of 32

Summer box office 1993: Power to the memorable quote(s)

 

"Pitcher's got a big butt!" - Rookie of the Year

The legacy of a film, good or bad, often lives on through a quote (or multiple memorable lines).

Lines like May the Force be with you, You're gonna need a bigger boat, Here's looking at you kid, and There's no place like home are but a few examples of the greatest movie quotes. Films that don't need to be named and are easily recognizable from one simple line and usually evoke an emotion or memory.

Comedies, in many ways, are often remembered in this way. Chunks of dialogue, entire scenes, and even full movies are memorized. Animal House, Caddyshack, Blazing Saddles, Anchorman, any of the Vacation films, Airplane!, and so much more fall into this category. Comedies that dominated pop culture from the 1970s to the mid-2000s.

And then, for me, very little comes to mind. Were movies simply more quotable back then? Or did they happen to fall into a sweet spot of my film watching experience? Is it because I was in large groups of like-minded friends who always quoted these films and shared the experience with?

Time and importance certainly do play a part. Or is it comedies just aren't as memorable or built around one-liners?  I can probably count on one hand the number of comedies released since 2010 I can cite lines from.

But films from the summer of '93? Well, those reside in my heart to this day. 

Gems from films like Son-in-Law, So I Married an Axe Murderer ("My Name is John Johnson but everyone here calls me Vicki"), Hocus Pocus, Coneheads ("France. We come from France"), Hard Target, etc... still are part of jokes and go-to memes and gifs to this day.

Will a favorite quote carry a film to the winner's circle? Does a good line of dialogue make up for an otherwise horrible film? The round of 32 match-ups is listed below, with one surprise in the August region because of an unforced error by yours truly.

May region

The top earner from May, Cliffhanger, gave us the brilliant John Lithgow as the main antagonist and a litany of quotable pieces of dialogue. The film also gave us the great Michael Rooker, with such lines as, "If you're looking for Qualen, try about 4,000 feet south of here. He'll be the one wearing the helicopter.

To me, it was Hot Shots: Part Deux that occupied much of my lexicon at that time. It paled in comparison to the first film, and other films from those early 90s, but with classics like, "These men have taken a supreme vow of celibacy, like their fathers, and their fathers before them...", how can you not go wrong?

These two films could be headed to meeting in the round of 16, if voting holds true to seeding.

1) Cliffhanger9) Super Mario Bros4) Hot Shots: Part Deux5) Sliver3) Made in America6) Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story2) Dave7) Menace II Society

June region

"Yeah, but John, if The Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists. " - Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is the top overall seed and contains many classic lines, many of which are spoken by Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum). It was so hard to just pick one.

On the other side of the region, the romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle will hope to make some noise, and has five memorable lines that fans take with them to this day.

1) Jurassic Park9) Orlando4) Last Action Hero5) What's Love Got to Do with It?3) Dennis the Menace6) Guilty as Sin2) Sleepless in Seattle7) Life with Mikey

July region

Selections from the July region have already been discussed. Honestly, I could knock out 3000 words just on the films from this region and the importance that had on my early teen years. 

The Firm holds the top seed and perhaps you have greater memory of this film than I do. If not, here are some quotes listed on IMDB.

And the quotable Son-in-Law lost a close match to Coneheads, falling 56 percent to 44. But, the Pauly Shore film is number one in many of our hearts.

1) The Firm8) Robin Hood: Men in Tights13) So I Married an Axe Murderer5) Rookie of the Year3) Free Willy6) Hocus Pocus2) In the Line of Fire10) Coneheads

August region

It's safe to say The Fugitive, the top-seed from the region (winner of the 1st round with 97 percent), is one of the most quotable films from this bracket, if not all-time.

"I didn't kill my wife." - Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford)

"I don't care!" - Deputy Marshal Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones)

A couple of double-digit seeds initially advanced in this region, with 10-seed Meteor Man winning by one vote. And now, a mea culpa. In putting this bracket together, I simply look at release dates for the year desired on Box Office Mojo. In failing to recall correctly, and do deeper research, I failed with Unforgiven. The page noted a release date of Aug 7, so I rolled with it, not realizing the release date should have been noted 1992. Unforgiven kept raking in money until July of 1993, and I debated back-and-forth whether to keep it in or not. Due to its popularity, however, I made the sad choice of eliminating the film to keep with the true spirit of this (hopefully) fun tournament. So, Surf Ninjas will move on. Apologies to the Unforgiven fans. But yay, I suppose, for those fans of Surf Ninjas.

1) The Fugitive9) Manhattan Murder Mystery13) Surf Ninjas5) The Man Without a Face3) The Secret Garden11) Searching for Bobby Fischer2) Hard Target10 Meteor Man

What are some of your favorite quotes from the summer movies of 1993? Keep the conversation going and be sure to vote for your favorites to advance to the round of 16.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Summer box office of 1993 tournament: Dino DNA

 

The summer box office movie bracket returns, with the time machine welcoming us to the glorious summer of 1993.

Steven Spielberg gave audiences the gift of dinosaurs 30 years ago at the box office. 

Life-sized, breathing, living creatures of yore, based off the hit book of the same name by Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park was a hit from the get-go. It was a family fun event with a blend of action, adventure, drama, and Jeff Goldblum that was director Spielberg at his finest.

The film not only owned the box office that summer but all of 1993 and beyond, holding off November releases Mrs. Doubtfire and Aladdin to win the battle of the box office involving films released in '93. Jurassic Park grossed $338,929,640 that calendar year. Currently, the film has grossed at the domestic box office upwards of 404 million dollars, placing in the top-50 highest grossing films of all-time (not adjusted for inflation).

Jurassic Park eventually spawned a franchise, adding two more films to complete an original trilogy. The franchise relaunched in 2015 with Jurassic World (et al.) but these high-grossing films centered around Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and a Velociraptor named Blue can't touch the original (and are mostly forgettable).

That all lay ahead in the future. In 1993, Jurassic Park was the talk of the town but plenty of other notable films hit the market that summer. Thirteen other films released in '93 currently have grossed 100 million dollars or more, with six of them released in the summer (May thru August, for this tournament). Films from that summer gave us quotable comedies and modern classics, timeless romances and notable duds. And everything between.

Where do those films rank in our hearts now? The perfect question leading to the perfect time to bring back the summer box office tournament. Voting will take place on Twitter over the coming weeks to crown a champion. In the past, it's been a standard 64-film tournament but the numbers were a little light in some regions. First-round will be slightly different, than the final 32 will return to standard fare. So, in the words of the great Samuel L. Jackson, "Hold onto your butts."

May region

Thirteen films will represent this region. Thirteen films that saw dinosaurs in the future and tried to get a head start in capturing the attention of the audience. Cliffhanger is the top seed in the May region; the only region without a film grossing over 100 million dollars. This Sylvester Stallone - John Lithgow thriller raked in just over 84 million, and will compete against a couple of plumbers, a martial arts master, and a Carnosaur, among others, to determine who advances.

The first three films in this region receive a bye into the round of 32.

Byes: (1) Cliffhanger (2) Dave (3) Made in America

8) Much Ado About Nothing9) Super Mario Bros5) Sliver12) Happily Ever After4) Hot Shots: Part Deux13) Carnosaur6) Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story11) Lost in Yonkers7) Menace II Society10) Posse

June region

The June 1993 region had the lightest of release schedules.  Maybe it was because Hollywood saw the writing on the wall with Jurassic Park getting the call. Common knowledge dictates you just down mess with Spielberg and a summer release.

Only nine films will be representing this region, with only one match in the first-round. But, there are some stellar films in this region and, much like the ultimate Christmas song bracket in 2020, upsets via social media can always happen. Plus, with Sleepless in Seattle, this region had two films cross the 100 million dollar mark.

1) Jurassic Park2) Sleepless in Seattle3) Dennis the Menace4) Last Action Hero5) What's Love Got to Do with It6) Guilty as Sin7) Life with Mikey8) Once Upon a Forest vs 9) Orlando

July region

The July region, while not booked with 16 films, holds the distinction of me having seen every film within in this region. Some, only once, while others were staples (see: Henry Rowengartner) on my television throughout those late junior high, early high school years.

July had two films (The Firm, In the Line of Fire) reach the once-magical 100 million mark but Free Willy made one bajillion dollars in my heart. These first two films noted will receive first-round byes. (*Note: Due to my own discretion, I did not include the re-release of 1933's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Do with that what you will.)

Byes: (1) The Firm (2) In the Line of Fire

8) Robin Hood: Men in Tights9) Poetic Justice5) Rookie of the Year12) Weekend at Bernie's II4) Rising Sun13) So I Married an Axe Murderer6) Hocus Pocus11) Another Stakeout7) Son in Law10) Coneheads

August region

In August, a full complement of films provides eight first-round matchups. In what was once considered, especially in the latter part of the month, a dumping ground of sorts for films, August '93 did produced the second-highest grossing film of the summer. The Fugitive is August's top seed heading into this tournament and an interesting match could be on the horizon in the round of 16, where the Clint Eastwood classic Unforgiven could make some noise. (The film made only ~26 million in the calendar year but has a total domestic gross of over 101 million, hence the fourth-seed).

A special nod to Son of the Pink Panther, which finished in 17th-place for August and on the outside looking in.

1) The Fugitive16) Only the Strong8) Needful Things9) Manhattan Murder Mystery5) The Man Without a Face12) The Wedding Banquet4) Unforgiven13) Surf Ninjas3) The Secret Garden14) Father Hood6) Heart and Souls11) Searching for Bobby Fischer7) Jason Goes to Hell10) The Meteor Man2) Hard Target15) My Boyfriend's Back

Stay up-to-date over the coming weeks in crowning a champion from the summer box office of 1993. Follow along here, or via Twitter (jasonrh_78) 

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Album & Artist: Ben Folds and Rockin' the Suburbs

 

A person and their piano can provide the most simple and powerful albums of their generation.

Elton John and Billy Joel both know, with albums and songs that have been delighting listeners for decades now. 

So, too, does the incomparable Stevie Wonder and if you haven't taken a listen to Martha Argerich, now is the time.

In my own personal pantheon of pop greats, Ben Folds deserves to be included on the list. It's been a wide-spanning career, one that has taken Folds around the world in his journeys. And while he has consistently delivered over the years, it his debut album as a solo artist, Rockin' the Suburbs, that still strikes a chord in the heart to this day.

But before the solo artist arrived, Folds laid the foundation of his musical contributions with the band Ben Folds Five.

Ben Folds Five (and beyond)

Folds was part (and founder) of Ben Folds Five, a trio of musicians also including Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee. Wait. A trio? But it says Five right there in the title, shouldn't there be five members? Next, you'll probably tell me the Doobie Brothers aren't really brothers and the Thompson Twins aren't really twins nor named Thompson.

Misleading name aside, the group's music tended to be on the indie side of life, though they did eventually find some mainstream hits

Ben Folds Five formed in 1993 but it wasn't until the song "Brick", the first single off the Whatever and Ever Amen album, in which Ben Folds Five gained more mainstream popularity. And perhaps if you never heard this song or album, perhaps you caught their song "Air" off the Godzilla soundtrack in 1998.

Soundtracks would actually turn out to be a huge "go-to" for not only the group around this time but for Folds as well. Songs appeared on such films Me, Myself, and Irene and Over the Hedge, among others, in addition to the aforementioned Godzilla soundtrack.

Amicably, the trio parted ways and did reunite over the years. Many of these occasions were one-offs but they managed to hit the studio again for The Sound of the Life of the Mind in 2012. The group's fourth album debuted on the Billboard 200 at no. 10 and features a handful of my favorites, including "Draw a Crowd", "Thank You For Breaking My Heart", "Do It Anyway", and "Sky High".

The group is solid together, with a catalog that goes fairly deep, when one seeks them out. Folds, as a solo artist, has proven to be a solid entity in the music world, and Rockin' the Suburbs is an album (or, specifically, its songs) that I come back to again and again.

Rockin' the Suburbs

Released on September 11, 2001, this album marked a new beginning for Folds as an artist. And here, over 20 years later, many of the songs remain meaningful (some, in different ways), much of which can be attributed to the art of an album telling a story. Starting, on this album in particular, with song no. 1 ("Annie Waits") and lasting until the last beats of song 13 ("The Luckiest").

The arc of a story/theme within an album has changed over the years but, more so, in recent years the habit of the listener has evolved. While present in media prior the compact disc, the CD and accompanying devices made it much easier to skip around and listen to only one's favorite songs. Sure, the cassette tape and vinyl had similar capabilities, just much more difficult to get to the exact song wanted.

Streaming services and the idea of shuffle have narrowed down that aspect even further, with often entire albums sans one or two songs are forgotten about. It is truly a shame, as even now when new albums are released there might be a tendency to listen on "shuffle", rather than listen as the artist and/or producer intended the album to be heard.

I, too, am guilty of this. Though I have made a concerted effort to listen in order to start to finish when I come across artists/albums for the first time.

Song from Rockin' the Suburbs are among my most-listened to on iTunes and they populate a number of playlists on Spotify. For the first time in years, I recently played Rockin' the Suburbs in order from start to finish and was reminded what a brilliant album it is.

The album hit hard for me early its release, notably in early 2002 when it was on heavy rotation. Back then, songs like "Gone", "Not the Same", and "The Luckiest" were hammering the soul. Here were these songs, along with others peppered throughout, speaking to me on love, heartache, and the power of relationships (and in some instances, relationships breaking apart). 

"The Luckiest", nearly 23 years after its release, continues to be one of my favorite songs. The lyrics perfectly encapsulate what it is to love, and to love unconditionally, especially when relating to those most important in your life. Folds wrote this for his wife and the birth of his child but can be easily applied to one's own loves in life, whether that be a partner, friend, or family member.

One of the things that struck me, upon the recent listen of the album, is how Folds had his finger on the pulse of living a complete life, despite only being 35 years old. This is not entirely young but some of the maturity of which he writes could lend one to thinking Folds was older.

This is perfectly captured in the song "Fred Jones Part 2" and, to some extent, "Still Fighting It" (also a favorite of mine, listened to on repeat with no end in sight). The depth of which Folds sings about heartache, the crass reality of losing a long-time job, growing up, and examining life in its entirety shows Folds has a wisdom beyond his years. Through it all, Folds captures the ebbs and flows of a life lived with a deft hand (and voice), balancing all with style.

All that and we barely even mention the titular song of the album, which is a powerful and poppy rock song that kicks off the last stretch of the album.

Follow-up albums have proven Folds has staying power and is also willing to experiment, as he did with author Nick Hornby and the album Lonely Avenue. Whether it's as a solo artist, with his original band or making music with The Bens, Folds is a singer-songwriter worth listening to. Especially when it comes to the art of telling a story with an album, like he so expertly did with Rockin' the Suburbs back in 2001 and will hopefully continue to do with his upcoming (June 2) album What Matters Most, his first album since 2015's So There. 

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons