The Writer's Life 9/30 - Bats & Cats

The 162 game MLB schedule produces many marvels. Here are numbers that caught my eye in 2014. Mark Buehrle, currently with the Blue Jays, has pitched at least 200 innings in 14 straight seasons. In his first year with the Twins, Phillip Hughes, who struggled mightily as a Yankee, had 196 K’s and only 16 walks, the best ratio in the history of the game. He finished 16-10 for a team that lost 90 games. Jose Altuve, second baseman for the Astros, who have been terrible for several seasons, led the AL with a batting average of .341. He had 225 hits! More impressive are the numbers of the Dodgers’ ace, Clayton Kershaw: 21-3, ERA 1.77, only 139 hits allowed in 198 innings, 239 strike-outs. On the negative side, Ryan Braun’s statistics have dived since his steroid-enhanced MVP season. In 530 ABs he hit .266, had 19 HRs and 81 RBIs.

The most surprising development in week four of the NFL schedule is the apparent weakness of the New England Patriots, who were drubbed on the road in Kansas City to fall to 2-2. Last week they barely beat the winless Raiders, who seem to be the league’s doormat in 2014. Are Tom Brady’s better days behind him? I'll resist the Giselle joke. The Pats struggles gives hope to the rest of the AFC East, even the Jets, who are 1-3. This may prompt head coach Rex Ryan to bench QB Geno Smith in favor of Michael Vick. With his own job on the line, dare he stick with an error-prone young signal caller? 

I enjoyed episode two of Gotham, which featured the casting of talented guest stars that have been around a long time. An almost unrecognizable Lili Taylor, and Frank Whaley were the homicidal heads of a kidnapping ring. How many times has Whaley played a socio or psychopath? Carol Kane was terrific as the Penguin’s proud, doting mom. And there may be a new star emerging, Camren Bicodova, intriguing as the budding Catwoman. Only 15, she reminds me of a young Michelle Pfeiffer, who played the part so memorably in Batman Returns (1992), the best aspect of that disappointing film. Here’s a pic of each woman:

My thanks to the folks who purchased books today, and to the gentleman who donated a bag o'his wife's romance paperbacks, about 40 in all. Stephanie Laurens must write in her sleep. First published in 1992, I counted at least 50 of her novels listed at Wiki.

Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/