Day 1,270, Quasi-Quarantine: Our Long-Sought Lego Ghost Has Finally Been Brought To Life

 

As long-time fans of "Star Wars: Rebels," we have been longing for the iconic Ghost starship for years. When we heard rumors that it may be featured as a re-release as part of the "Star Wars: Ahsoka" series on Disney+, we did not yet dare to believe. However, when the set was announced for pre-order on the Lego site, we had to pounce and face the interminable wait for its release.

Well, somehow, it exceeded all expectations.

Set 75357 (the Ghost & Phantom II) checks in at a robust $159.99 price point, but that is understandable when you account for the 1,394 pieces, five minifigures, and dual starships. 

I had previously cobbled together the original Phantom, so seeing the newer version and how it fits neatly into the Ghost design was very satisfying. The Ghost itself is beautiful constructed and highly swooshable, with essentially three cockpits (four if you count the Phantom's) and a lot of interior room -- which has often been a drawback in Star Wars builds. There are a number of playability features, though the turning turret mechanism can be a trifle balky and temperamental.

 

The build comes with five minifigures, including three brand-new characters. The OGs are Hera Syndulla and Chopper, with both being impeccably printed and dramatic improvements from previous versions.

Lieutenant Beyta, First Officer Vic Hawkins, and Jacen Syndulla are the newcomers, with my only quibble being that Jacen should have come with blue hair as depicted in the show. I also feel that Ahsoka Tano probably should have come with the set as the star of the series, and six minifigures would have been a more appropriate number considering the price point.

All that said, the Ghost & Phantom II immediately ranks among my favorite all-time Lego Star Wars sets. The combination of unique-colored bricks, innovative building techniques, modular aspects, and interior playroom makes this set a stunning addition to the entire Lego Star Wars line. I can't wait to follow the series for more ideas on mission storylines and possibilities.

Day 1,265, Quasi-Quarantine: Gritty Sequel "Crook Manifesto" Shows Whitehead Writing For Personal Joy

 

" ... He suspected the revolution had already happened, only nobody could see it and no one had come along to replace what had been overthrown. The old order was rubble, bulldozed into a pile with the long-held assumptions and rickety premises, and now they waited for someone to tell them what was next. No such person appeared."

A searing (literally) depiction of 1970s Harlem and its seedy underbelly, "Crook Manifesto" represents a venue for Colson Whitehead to roll around in exultation at an opportunity to revel in noir. His passion for the genre is apparent in every paragraph, with delightful turns of phrase, memorable personalities, and the use of setting as character.

"The city had recovered, they had survived, the future was here, and it looked like crap. The neighbors complained. It wasn't what had been there before, the people said, we liked the way it used to be. They always said that when the old city disappeared and something new took its place."

As a sequel, the novel brings us back in touch with Ray Carney, the owner of a furniture store who has fought hard to put himself in position to escape the criminal underworld. In the course of three distinct but connected vignettes, he fails spectacularly at staying legit, putting himself in the midst of wild shootouts and dangerous scenarios.

"A cup of coffee costs the same all over and the person who serves it is miserable in the same way, so maybe when you think you're moving around you're marching in place." 

Not that it matters to anyone but me, but this is probably my least favorite of Whitehead's books that I've read. But I think that's more a reflection of the incredible run of work he's produced than anything to do with this particular novel. For what it's worth, my signed copy also had a repeated line on two different pages, which felt like either an error or an odd decision.

Readers looking for resolution or answers won't find any in "Crook Manifesto." Instead, Whitehead has written a love letter to a time and place, a rich tribute to the idea that family and home are things we can't escape, that we come to cherish despite -- or because of -- the shared struggle.

"Crooked stays crooked and bent hates straight. The rest is survival."

Day 1,263, Quasi-Quarantine: Youthful Duet Stuns Grafton Street With A Heart-Felt "Hallelujah"

Having just visited Grafton Street in Dublin recently and witnessed the incredible busking scene there in person, this video was really touching. It's clear these two haven't played together a ton, but it's also there was some magic involved.

I miss Ireland.

Day 1,262, Quasi-Quarantine: Back To School Has Become Way More Emotional

 

Just over here in my feelings as the kids start back to school today. The house is too quiet and my heart is roaming halls that aren't here ...

Day 1,257, Quasi-Quarantine: Atlantic Ocean 1, Scooter 0

 

One broken rib later, this old man is mulling retirement from body surfing ...

Day 1,251, Quasi-Quarantine: So. Many. Manager. Fires.

 

Niles Crane just out here cosplaying as me and how I spend roughly 70% of my days currently ...

Day 1,249, Quasi-Quarantine: The Swell Season Spins Up The Glory Days In Durham

Returning on tour to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the incomparable "Once," The Swell Season erupted in the DPAC last night, turning in a truly stellar performance.

There were a number of highlights on the evening, including a new Glen Hansard tune called "Factory Street Bells," dedicated to his 10-month-old son, as well as a beautiful new song by Marketa Irglova.

I had seen The Swell Season in both 2008 and 2010, and I've seen Hansard solo a couple of times as well. He's the ultimate showman, and he puts on a phenomenal concert.

However, this performance was among the best I've seen, highlighted by "Low Rising" slowly morphing into a stellar "Into The Mystic."

The decidedly older crowd was reluctant to sing along or get too involved in the proceedings, but there seemed to be a deep appreciation for the show despite that. The Swell Season brought back tons of good memories, turning a run-of-the-mill Monday evening into an unforgettable experience.

Day 1,248, Quasi-Quarantine: Yes, I Definitely Watched Preseason Football Yesterday. That Happened.

 

Football doesn't really start until someone makes the first "Scott Hanson must be taking a dump" when NFL Red Zone stays on a 3-0 Cleveland vs. Jacksonville game through several punts.

That said, games are happening. Sure, they're practice games. But they're occurring.

It's almost time.

Limerick Friday #592: Practice Football Has Arriven -- Day 1,245

NFL football is back

Well, kinda, is the real fact

Preseason game one

Let's have some no-injury fun

And hope Tua doesn't have to survive a sack

Quarterly conversations

And talent calibrations

Promotions to boot

Raises and bonuses, for a hoot

It all has me needing vacations

The conference alignment zoo

The ACC courting fucking SMU?!

Expansion and contraction on the run

Wake me up when its done

And let me know when the NCAA's through

Of these complaints, I'm tired

In impostor syndrome you're mired

You whine about titles and roles

Then don't reach any goals

So watch out you don't get your ass fired

Wielding a bat as a lever

Hope he & the Mets never sever

The Polar Bear finally getting hot

With moon shot after moon shot

I guess better late than never

Last time ...

Day 1,244, Quasi-Quarantine: Identity And Possibility Collide In "The Ghost Writer"

 

"You don't like him much."

"I'm not in the business. 'Liking people' is often just another racket."

An aspiring writer in 1950s New York scores a meeting with his idol, novelist E.I. Lonoff, in Philip Roth's "The Ghost Writer." A bottle episode quickly turns into an occasionally confusing, often-humorous tale that includes marital strife, anti-Semitism, the process of earning attention as a writer, and, well, Anne Frank.

"I got fondled more by strangers on the rush-hour subway during two months in 1935 than I have up here in the last twenty years!"

Amidst it all, young Nathan Zuckerman struggles with his own identity even as he finally meets his hero, questioning himself incessantly: Is he a good Jew? Is he a bad person? What does his owe his family? How does he honor his past without compromising his future? 

Written in 1979 as the first of what would become a trilogy, "The Ghost Writer" features rigorous pacing that outweighs any challenges in following what is real and what isn't, cementing Roth yet again as an essential novelist.

"As even the judge knew, literary history was in part the history of novelists infuriating fellow countrymen, family, and friends ... writer weren't writers, I told myself, if they didn't have the strength to face the insolubility of that conflict and go on."

Day 1,242, Quasi-Quarantine: The East Will Rise Again

 

And now for a picture that makes me miss both Ireland and, somehow, "Game of Thrones."

Slainte ...

Day 1,241, Quasi-Quarantine: Julien Baker Covers "Act Of Man"

One of my favorite musicians honoring another one of my favorite musicians? Why yes, I would like that.

I certainly wish Julien Baker and Scott Hutchison had had more opportunities to collaborate. But heartfelt covers will have to suffice.

More, please.

Limerick Friday #591: Burning Down The Franchise -- Day 1,238

They spent and spent

But look where it all went

Welcome to the Mets

Now cool your jets

Sell everything and repent

Training camps open

And every team is hopin'

Close to the season

But scared beyond reason

Of injuries with which we'll be copin'

Quell all the strife

Wield the layoff knife

Complaints you'll field

As a human shield

'Tis a manager's life

A roll of the dice

To reverse an overpay vice 

Traded and dissed 'em

But having a farm system

Could actually be kinda nice

A quick trip to NYC

To see all we could see

Catch up with fam

And get on our Mets jam

The Big Apple and a bigger memory

Last time ...

Day 1,237, Quasi-Quarantine: Pervasive Bleakness, Sublime Beauty Propel Unforgettable "Juno Loves Legs"

 

"I wasn't fooled, I knew what kind voices were used for. I knew all the meanness in the world begins with a kind voice."

Almost unbearably brutal yet completely irresistible, "Juno Loves Legs" is a devastating look at an unseen life on the streets of Dublin, Ireland. Karl Geary captures the beautiful-but-doomed relationship between Catholic school outcasts Juno and Legs and how it is impacted by their separate paths through trauma and neglect.

"'She broke your mother's heart.'

'You broke my mother's heart.'

'Your mother loved me.'

'I know she did. It's the only way to break a heart.'"

If you can name a setback or kind of abuse, it was present in "Juno Loves Legs" and faced by one or both of the main characters. Despite the stifling overcurrent, Geary manages to find and lovingly present small moments of beauty in a masterful way.

"There's really nothing to prepare a person for having their hand taken in just the right way."

Just when you think you can't take much more, the book trails away on a tender moment. "Juno Loves Legs" is not to be missed by anyone with the constitution to persevere through how much it hurts to fall in love with characters who are cast to the wolves and yet find a connection in the fury.

"This was our room, it was home, and even there in the thick silence that would last till morning, like the silence of reading or reading about people who love and must part, I thought it perfect."

I purchased this book on a whim in Edinburgh, Scotland, drawn by the depiction of Dublin's backstreets and the powerful cover art on the European version of the book. For that reason among others, it will always hold a special place in my heart and memory as a lottery ticket that paid off.

"'It wouldn't be true, though, would it?'

'I wouldn't worry about it, true doesn't care if you believe in it or not.'

'I care.'"

Day 1,235, Quasi-Quarantine: There Goes The Summer

As the dawning realization that today is the first day of August hits, I've gotta come to terms with the impending expiration date of summer. We've packed a lot in, but boy, does it go fast.

Hat tip to the Undertones, one of my low-key, under-the-radar favorite bands.

Day 1,234, Quasi-Quarantine: It's Been A Decade Within A Month

 

From London to Edinburgh to Glasgow to Dublin to New York and many places in between, recent weeks have been an enjoyable slog. But I'm ready to be home-bound for a minute.

Day 1,228, Quasi-Quarantine: "The Man Who Played With Fire" Is A Long-Winded, Misguided Tribute To A Pioneering Journalist

 

"Stieg Larsson's three books - known as the Millennium Trilogy or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series -- have sold more than eighty million copies, but his greatest achievement wasn't writing thrillers. He devoted his entire adult life to fighting right-wing extremism."

Part homage to Swedish writer and journalist Stieg Larsson and part true-crime escapade into the unsolved assassination of Swedish prime minister Olof Palme, "The Man Who Played with Fire" is a book with an unresolved identity crisis.

Author Jan Stocklossa takes a lot of narrative license in his attempt to represent Larsson's words and thoughts, which can be a bit off-putting for some readers, especially when Larsson's actual death is treated more like a footnote. The work is exhaustive and comprehensive -- perhaps too much so -- but also could have been aided by the inclusion of certain pieces of evidence and imagery.

"Palme's, and therefore Sweden's, political philosophy was referred to as the 'third way,' a path that negotiated a space between the Capitalist West and the Communist East."

"The Man Who Played with Fire" loses significant steam at the end, when Stocklossa inserts himself into an ongoing investigation and portrays events that feel farcical and slapstick, leading one to question their veracity. Inconveniently for the author, soon after the book's publication, Swedish authorities announced they had identified the killer -- and it is not one of the many suspects pinpointed by Stocklossa at various points.

Fans of Larsson will appreciate some insights into his pre-Millennium Trilogy work and true-crime fans will find something in the myriad of conspiracies surrounding Palme's death. However, one can be left with the sense that "The Man Who Played with Fire" put too much effort into parlaying Larsson's death into a hunt that never truly coalesces.

"How could people in the 1980s, who appeared to be otherwise normal, participate in gatherings and organizations where fascist and racist views were expressed? The same people kept cropping up in political parties that seemed completely on the up-and-up, like the Moderates or the Liberals, and then gradually the boundaries were erased between the right wing, the right-wing extremists, and even outright Nazis."

Day 1,227, Quasi-Quarantine: Happy Finn Day To One And All

 

Hard to believe that this young man is 11 today.

I usually like it better when I can be Dad and not Coach, though I often get dragged into the latter role against my wishes. But beyond labels, I am always grateful that he wants me involved in his life and development as a human. I hope that never changes, though I know it will vary.

Happy birthday, Finn. Thank you for making me a better version of myself. <3

Limerick Friday #590: Celebrating The Kid And Mourning The Mets -- Day 1,224

The bats are cold

The pitchers are old

The stars are fading

The losses are grating

Who and how many will be sold?

The dialogue does singe

During family-dynamic cringe

Intense and disturbing

Entertaining and perturbing

This describes my "Succession" binge

Always makes you grin

Or makes your head spin

Try to stop fretting

And future-dreading

And cherish another year of Finn

Performance is drifting

Development is shifting

Professionalism rare

And insights bare

Through bad feedback we're sifting

Cry or yell

Buy or sell

The trade deadline nears

As the Mets face fears

That the season has gone to hell

Last time ...

Day 1,223, Quasi-Quarantine: At Very Long Last, The 'Fins Spend A Lottery Ticket On A Blocker

If you've made it this far, you may have noticed that I've been not-so-politely pointing out that Miami ignored its weakest position group by not selecting any offensive linemen with their first three picks in the draft. The Dolphins finally placated those of us who think blocking is kind of important by picking a tackle with its final choice.

Ryan Hayes of Michigan was nabbed in the seventh round as the 238th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. While it's possible he was taken just to shut up failure owner Stephen Ross by taking a player from his alma mater, the hope is that Hayes can represent a development prospect who could pay dividends a couple of years down the road. Tabbed as the No. 19 offensive tackle in the draft and assigned a seventh-round grade by analyst Dane Brugler, Hayes was picked in an appropriate spot by the 'Fins.

The pluses: A good athlete who nearly played baseball as well in college, Hayes was a tight end and defensive end in high school, and that athleticism served him well in shifting to the offensive front. Light on his feet for his good size (6-6, 298 pounds), he is considered to be quick to his keys, exhibiting good technique and angle usage. Hayes has impressive discipline as well, committing a single penalty and not allowing a single sack in 357 pass-blocks snaps as a senior.

He boasts a wealth of experience as well, emerging as a three-year starter and four-year letterman for a program that went 25-3 in his final two campaigns. Along with his 30 career starts at the high-tension left tackle position, Hayes earned three Academic All-Big Ten selections and a pair of second-team all-league honors, and he was a key component of an offensive front that won back-to-back Joe Moore Awards as the outstanding offensive line unit in college football.

The negatives: Scouts dinged Hayes for having short arms and below-leverage strength for his height, which contributed to his poor leverage technique at times. He has difficulty maintaining blocks in the run game and (like many young tackles) struggles with speed rushers. While arm length can feel like nitpicking for non-draft gurus, the attribute can be a death sentence for aspiring NFL left tackles -- especially when paired with below-average play strength.

The bottom line: Seventh-round selections are basically lottery tickets in the NFL, and you'd like to have the most information possible in that context. Hayes participated in the Senior Bowl and spent his career in a highly competitive conference, so the Dolphins have a lot of indications of how he stacks up against elite talent.

Brugler characterizes him as a potential backup if he can find ways to adjust to a lack of core strength and length, which is certainly a lot to ask of a rookie. How do you get better at having short arms? While Terron Armstead is closer to the end of his career than the beginning as one of the league's top left tackles, there are (barely) stronger in-house options in reserve when Armstead battles the inevitable injury.

Instead, Hayes is a guy Miami is likely to try to stash on the practice squad and work with over time. However, development of young players on the offensive line has been a dramatic weak spot for the 'Fins for, I don't know, ever, so expectations should be pretty low from the outset. But hey, if you're going to buy a lottery ticket, it's best to do it on a core position like left tackle. Hope can be a strategy in such situations, right?

That wraps up the 2023 draft picks for the 'Fins. We'll try to take a look at some intriguing undrafted rookie free agents before training camp begins in earnest.

2nd round (51st overall): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

3rd round (84th overall): De'Von Achane, RB, Texas A&M

6th round (197th overall): Elijah Higgins, WR/TE, Stanford

7th round (238th overall): Ryan Hayes, OT, Michigan

Day 1,222, Quasi-Quarantine: "The Night Watchman" Documents A Close-Knit Tribe's Tangles With Government

"We have survived smallpox, the Winchester repeating rifle, the Hotchkiss gun, and tuberculosis. We have survived the flu epidemic of 1918, and fought in four or five deadly United States wars. But at last we will be destroyed by a collection of tedious words. For the disposition of, for the intensification of, for the termination of, to provide for, et cetera."

Set in the mid-twentieth century, this captivating tale documents efforts to resist Indian termination policies on the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota. Full of symbolism and magical realism, "The Night Watchman" is characterized as semi-fiction, but is largely inspired by the experiences of the author's grandfather.

"They both started laughing in that desperate high-pitched way people laugh when their hearts are broken."

"The sense of something there, with her, all around her, swirling and seething with energy. How intimately the trees seized the earth. How exquisitely she was included."

Louise Erdrich does an admirable job handling a sprawling cast of characters and plotlines, part of the reason this work won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Some readers may question why certain storylines just sort of end without resolution or why non-Indian characters are rendered so one-dimensionally, leading to a sense that this is a great story -- and a good novel.

I was fortunate to read this book during a vacation to the British Isles, which will always imbue it with fond memories for me. But no matter the reading experience, "The Night Watchman" is an important book that should be read and digested by anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Native Americans in the United States.

"You cannot feel time grind against you. Time is nothing but everything, not the seconds, minutes, hours, days, years. Yet this substanceless substance, this bending and shaping, this warping, this is the way we understand our world."

Day 1,221, Quasi-Quarantine: Missing The Guinness And Other Real-Life Problems

 

That day was better than this day.

Day 1,220, Quasi-Quarantine: With Pitching And DH Disasters, Do The Mets Have A Buck Showalter Problem?

Having already covered the Mets infield and outfield, we'll tackle pitching, the enigmatic designated hitter spot, and manager Buck Showalter generally.

Look, New York is old across the roster, but the issue is pervasive on the pitching staff. The Mets have tied their success to veterans like Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Carlos Carrasco, David Robertson, and others. Expecting all those guys to pitch how they've always pitched when they're a year older is an exercise in hope -- which usually doesn't play well in Major League Baseball.

Obviously, injuries have been devastating. New York lost the best closer in the game (Edwin Diaz), a key starter (Jose Quintana), and a handful of vital bullpen arms before the campaign even began.

Instead of stepping up when given golden opportunities, promising young pitchers like David Peterson and Tylor Megill have regressed in brutal fashion, forcing them to be sent back to the minors at times. Showalter has tried to mix and match in the bullpen, to very mixed success.

On a larger scale, the manager has placed entirely too much faith in last-legs veterans across the roster. Instead of having a plan for a young player like Mark Vientos when he is called up, Showalter instead gives him five at bats a week while vets like Daniel Vogelbach ("Vogey the Hoagie"), Eduardo Escobar, Sterling Marte, and Mark Canha flail on the daily.

Vientos was eventually sent back down to Triple-A, leaving many wondering what the point was of calling him up to the big club in the first place. Not that Vientos should be a regular, but the lack of any strategy in incorporating him into a flat-out bad lineup is beyond confusing.

Speaking of which, the lineup remains out of kilter, with Showalter trotting the same guys out there in the same spots time after time. New York is largely middle of the pack in most offensive (and pitching) stats, but it's clear they should be running more (they are ninth in steals but last in caught stealing), are surrendering way too many first-inning runs, and making entirely too many base-running and fielding blunders.

The disastrous state of the DH position is a prime example of front-office ineptitude, of which Showalter is a part. After paying way too much for the platoon combo of Daniel Vogelbach and Darin Ruf at last year's trade deadline, the duo imploded. Vogelbach had to be benched for mental issues and Ruf was cut in training camp, leading the Mets to be near the bottom of the league in pretty much every DH measurement.

However, the extent of Showalter's response to this litany of problems has largely been simply to ramp up his level of combativeness with the local media. So with New York likely to be sellers at the trade deadline, what is the upside of retaining of an old-school, 67-year-old manager?

Showalter pushed just about every right button last year, and there are few managers better suited to guide a veteran club through a pennant race. However, the Mets aren't that anymore, and the manager's hunches have almost universally backfired this season.

Shitcanning the manager at this stage of the season likely offers nothing but proof that you're doing something. I doubt New York makes a move for that reason. But with Showalter entering 2024 already on the hot seat with a team that is yet another year older, what's the real advantage in retaining him this offseason?

Clearly, the Mets have a fever dream of problems outside of the manager. But the buck stops ...

Well, you know the rest.

Limerick Friday #589: An Ode To Staying In Your Lane -- Day 1,217

 

Cry me a river

You self-ulcer giver

Just do your job

You complaining slob

And maybe you can spare my liver

Let's not be lax

When we discuss Max

Don't be jaded

He's worth more traded

If we're dealing in facts

"Invasion" was an unexpected boon

It's intensity was in tune

The show had me gripping

As rum I was sipping

Now season two's coming soon

The temp is hot

And ready or not

The second half is here

Put the first half in the rear

If the Mets are to have a shot

Precious is the norm

For those who can't perform

So everyone get ready

'Cuz here comes the petty

When job seats start getting warm

Last time ...

Day 1,216, Quasi-Quarantine: Examining An Underperforming Mets Infield At The Break

Earlier this week, we examined the sorry state of the Mets outfield, so today we'll tackle the infield.

Over at first, Pete Alonso has battled injuries, but he has still crushed 26 home runs and leads the team in RBIs (62). He only has seven doubles, but has scored 50 runs and even stolen three bags. Those are significant positives.

Unfortunately, the "Polar Bear" is only hitting .211 and grounded into 10 double plays, and his streakiness has killed the Mets at times. Fair or not, he's often the only power threat in the lineup, and that pressure has seemed to take its toll at times in 2023. Though he's improved over the years as a defender, he does have four errors at the break.

Among the most disappointing Mets has been the reigning NL batting champ, Jeff McNeill. Sporting a .253 average, it's certainly not because the second baseman has added power. He has 13 doubles, a triple, and three home runs, scoring just 37 runs and driving in 26. 

After striking out 61 times in all of 2022, "Squirrel" already has 42 strikeouts in 89 games. He has five steals without being caught, but his inability to keep innings alive (he's also grounded into four double plays) has stymied the New York offense way too often. McNeill has also been uncharacterically poor in the field (three errors), especially when placed in the outfield.

Third base has been a difficult spot once again this year for the Mets. Eduardo Escobar was a non-factor (.236, nine extra-base hits in 40 games) before being traded away to make room for rookie Brett Baty. The youngster has had some nice moments, hitting .244 with 13 extra-base hits, 27 runs, and 21 RBIs in 209 first-half at bats. However, he has struck out 62 times with just 20 walks, with poor slugging (.354) and OPS (.669) lines while grounding into six double plays.

I believe New York thought Baty would be more of a contact hitter with occasional power, but the early returns aren't supporting that. He's also committed five errors in the field, but he has been stronger defensively than anticipated. It's hard to be down on Baty's future, but he's been asked to play a key position for an alleged contender, and more is needed, right or wrong.

Despite a furious finish to the first half, shortstop Francisco Lindor only raised his average to .239. To be fair, he leads the team in doubles (20) and runs (56) and has added 19 homers and 60 RBIs, to go with 13 steals (caught just once). 

Among the better defensive shortstops in the league, Lindor committed six errors in the first half. He has grounded into six double plays -- seemingly at very key moments -- but all signs point to him finding his equilibrium at the plate in the second half.

Behind the plate, Francisco Alvarez has been a revelation, overcoming some cold spots to launch 17 home runs and carry the team on occasion. He's only hitting .239, but you can see his maturation as a hitter. He has 35 RBIs and 30 runs, though he's struck out 58 times and grounded into eight double plays in 66 games. 

Despite a team-leading eight errors, Alvarez has been much better than advertised behind the plate as well, though his skill in nailing baserunners is a work in progress. His own baserunning could use some work, too, but he deserves to hit higher in the lineup -- although putting him second in the order makes very little sense to me.

New York has had a short bench this year, with guys like Mark Vientos, Danny Mendick, Tim Locastro, and others going up and down from Triple-A Syracuse. The mainstays (for the most part) have been utility infielder Luis Guillorme and catcher Omar Narvaez. 

Guillorme was sent down to the  minors at one point and has a .250 average in 92 at bats. Known for his glove and as a 2022 fan favorite, he has committed three errors this season. Narvaez has battled injury and Alvarez's emergence, leading him to hit just .184 in 38 first-half at bats, to go with two errors.

Just a note here to say that I think that, in some ways, the team misses the steady presence of catcher Tomas Nido. The veteran backstop was hitting just .125 in 56 at bats before being sidelined by an eye injury and designated for assignment, but the lack of his leadership and handling of pitchers is felt in some quarters.

Some of the players mentioned above -- McNeill in particular -- are likely to return to the mean in the second half, but one wonders whether too big of a hole has already been dug for the Mets. The trade deadline and how quickly prospects like Vientos and Ronny Mauricio are called up should tell a lot about how New York feels about its chances down the stretch.

Day 1,215, Quasi-Quarantine: Magical Realism, Alternate History, And Takedown Of Colonialism Collide In "Babel"

"History isn't a premade tapestry that we've got to suffer, a closed world with no exit. We can form it. Make it. We just have to choose to make it."

A sprawling, fantastical tale, "Babel" underpins discussions of colonialism and racism through the creation of a silver industrial revolution, ascribing magical properties to silver that is unlocked only through foreign translations.

If that sounds complicated, it's because it is, and R.F. Kuang doesn't duck any hard work in weaving these disparate threads. Cantonese student Robin Swift arrives at the Royal Institute of Translation -- nicknamed "Babel" -- and joins a cohort of students with similar backgrounds. As the quartet falls in love with Oxford, cracks in the facade begin to appear and a secret society beckons.

"Bit by bit London grew to feel less overwhelming, less like a belching, contorted pit of monsters that might swallow him at any corner and more like a navigable maze whose tricks and turns he could anticipate."

As we slide toward a fairly predictable ending, Swift and his allies seek to avert a war by sacrificing their discipline, their home, and their future. Along the way, however, the author struggles to ascribe more than shared sacrifice to the cohort's relationships. 

Kuang spends little to no time exploring attractions and emotions shared between the foursome, a seemingly odd decision based on the actions of college students. As well, it felt confusing that the cohort -- brilliant by all indications -- struggled to cohere any sort of plan to deal with a traumatic event over the course of six weeks at sea.

"But they could not touch that abyss of grief. It was too early yet to give it a name, to shape and tame it with words, and any attempt would crush them. They could only wipe the blood from their skin and try to keep breathing."

However, something was bound to be lost in the -- forgive me -- translation with so many different themes and storylines in play. The overall result is a stunning achievement by Kuang, who manages to build a grim, compelling, and emotional story out of reams of silver threads.

"It revealed more than the power of translation. It revealed the sheer dependence of the British, who, astonishingly, could not manage to do basic things like bake bread or get safely from one place to another without words stolen from other countries."

Day 1,214, Quasi-Quarantine: The Sorry State Of The Mets Outfield At The All-Star Break

One of the more disappointing positions on a team full of first-half disappointments has been the Mets' outfield. The harsh reality is, outside of center fielder Brandon Nimmo, this position group is manned by older players who should be fourth outfielders at this stage of their careers.

Every regular outfielder is at least 30 years old, with Tommy Pham at 35, Sterling Marte and Mark Canha both 34, and Nimmo at 30 years old. While some degradation is expected as players age, the Mets did not account for some of the precipitious dropoffs, and while one could definitely argue that they should have, the team does not have good alternate options at the ready.

We'll start with Nimmo, who is in the first year of a massive $162 million deal. After a strong start, he limped into the All-Star break hitting .266. He's first on the team in walks (46), second in runs (52), third in RBIs (41), and fourth in home runs (13), but the price he's paying for added power is a team-leading 92 strikeouts -- after striking out just 116 times all of last year.

Despite a lot of talk about Nimmo's speed and added base-stealing ability, he has exactly three steals this year. He's also been a little more uneven in the field, but the biggest concern remains at the plate, where his aggression this year is leading to some wasted at bats and Ks.

In right field, the nice way to put it is that Sterling Marte has been a problem. He's hitting .256 but the numbers feel kind to him here. Marte's got just 13 extra-base hits in 301 at bats, scoring a respectable 37 runs, but knocking in just 28. He has 23 steals in 27 attempts, but his .309 OBP, .645 OPS, and eight double plays make him nearly unplayable in the second spot in the lineup. He still plays a respectable right field, but is probably best suited as a spot starter at this stage of his career.

Over in left, Mark Canha is hitting just .245 with 14 doubles, a triple, and six homers, scoring 27 runs and driving in 28. He's walked 28 times to 44 strikeouts, but isn't getting hit by pitches, which has kept his OBP at .345. Last year, Canha was drilled 28 times, but has been hit by pitch on just seven occasions thus far in 2023. He does have six steals without being caught this year.

After grounding into just three double plays last year, he's been doubled up eight times already this year. Canha remains an important defensive presence; his only error has come at third base, and his versatility is big for the Mets, as he has played first, third, both corner outfield spots, and DH at times.

While Canha has been the primary left fielder, he has yielded time to Pham, who has been just short of a revelation. Pacing the team with a .277 average, Pham has contributed 14 doubles and nine homers to boot. He's scored 25 runs and driven in 34 while adding 10 steals in 11 attempts, giving the Mets a rare consistent force in the lineup. Defensively, he has committed three errors, making him an iffy proposition at times in the field.

Pham's patient approach at the plate screams "professional hitter," and it's a bit frightening to think where the team might be without him. Whether he can keep it up for an entire season is the biggest remaining question.

In reserve, Jeff McNeill has become a liability in the outfield and should see time almost exclusively at second base in the second half. While there is some hope internally that prospects Mark Vientos or Ronny Mauricio -- both infielders to this point -- can be stretched into occasional outfielders, the truth is that no answers are available on the current roster.

Getting 33 total home runs from the outfield so far is not a disaster, but the plummeting averages and struggles to get on base do not bode well for a second-half turnaround. Nimmo + three fourth outfielders is not a recipe for success, so it'll be interesting to see what the Mets are willing or capable of doing at the trade deadline to fortify the position.

Day 1,213, Quasi-Quarantine: The Dolphins Go Back To The Well With Another Project Tight End/Wideout

I promise I'll stop mentioning the lack of offensive linemen at some point. But, yeah, so Miami ignored the beef again, opting for a 'tweener receiver/tight end -- a move that has rarely panned out for the 'Fins. Let's hope that sixth-rounder (197th overall) Elijah Higgins is the exception to that rule.

The pluses: Draft guru Dana Brugler described Higgins as having an NFL body with good fluidity to his movements. Despite his size (6-3, 235 pounds), he is described as decelerating well and maintaining good balance, managing to serve as a "competitive blocker" while still being good after the catch.

Brugler assigned him a fifth-round grade as the No. 23 wide receiver in the draft, so Higgins represents good value for where the Dolphins got him. Using a 4.54-second 40-yard dash, 35-inch vertical, and 10-6 broad jump, he led Stanford in receiving as both a junior (45 for 500, four touchdowns) and senior (59 for 704, two touchdowns). Higgins earned honorable-mention All-Pac-12 honors in his final campaign.

The negatives: A ratio of 10 drops and six touchdowns in his career is suboptimal, and Brugler noted that Higgins can lose focus when presented with physicality in the second line of defense. The youngster was also not a difference-maker in the red zone at the college level, recording a single score there as a senior. Brugler also identified sharpening his routes, reducing fumbles, and resolving "position confusion" as challenges for Higgins.

The bottom line: With Mike Gesicki lost to free agency, there is a potential opportunity for a "hybrid" move tight end -- or even a bigger slot wideout -- in Miami's offense. From an optimistic standpoint, Higgins could represent a mismatch for safeties and linebackers, taking advantage of underneath opportunities created when Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle stretch defenses. From a pessimistic standpoint, we saw how poor-blocking tight ends have next to no role in coach Mike McDaniel's offense, so it's hard to see a path to a significant contribution for a raw 'tweener. But the sixth round is where personnel departments can roll the dice without a lot of risk, making Higgins at least an interesting dude to follow in training camp.