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Regenerative Medicine Breakthrough: "Dancing Molecules" Successfully Repair Severe Spinal Cord Injuries
TOPICS:Northwestern UniversityPopularRegenerative MedicineSpinal Cord
By Northwestern University November 12, 2021
Longitudinal spinal cord section treated with the most bioactive therapeutic scaffold. Regenerated axons (red) regrew within the lesion. Credit: Samuel I. Stupp Laboratory/Northwestern University
After single injection, paralyzed animals regained ability to walk within four weeks.
Northwestern University researchers have developed a new injectable therapy that harnesses "dancing molecules" to reverse paralysis and repair tissue after severe spinal cord injuries.
In a new study, researchers administered a single injection to tissues surrounding the spinal cords of paralyzed mice. Just four weeks later, the animals regained the ability to walk.
The research will be published in the November 12, 2021, issue of the journal Science.
Longitudinal spinal cord section treated with the most bioactive therapeutic scaffold, captured 12 weeks after injury. Blood vessels (red) regenerated within the lesion. Laminin is stained in green and cells are stained in blue. Credit: Samuel I. Stupp Laboratory/Northwestern University
By sending bioactive signals to trigger cells to repair and regenerate, the breakthrough therapy dramatically improved severely injured spinal cords in five key ways: (1) The severed extensions of neurons, called axons, regenerated; (2) scar tissue, which can create a physical barrier to regeneration and repair, significantly diminished; (3) myelin, the insulating layer of axons that is important in transmitting electrical signals efficiently, reformed around cells; (4) functional blood vessels formed to deliver nutrients to cells at the injury site; and (5) more motor neurons survived.
After the therapy performs its function, the materials biodegrade into nutrients for the cells within 12 weeks and then completely disappear from the body without noticeable side effects. This is the first study in which researchers controlled the collective motion of molecules through changes in chemical structure to increase a therapeutic's efficacy.
A simple animation shows how a single injection restores connections in the nervous system below the site of a severe spinal cord injury. Credit: Samuel I. Stupp Laboratory/Mark Seniw/Northwestern University
"Our research aims to find a therapy that can prevent individuals from becoming paralyzed after major trauma or disease," said Northwestern's Samuel I. Stupp, who led the study. "For decades, this has remained a major challenge for scientists because our body's central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, does not have any significant capacity to repair itself after injury or after the onset of a degenerative disease. We are going straight to the FDA to start the process of getting this new therapy approved for use in human patients, who currently have very few treatment options."
Stupp is Board of Trustees Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern, where he is founding director of the Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology (SQI) and its affiliated research center, the Center for Regenerative Nanomedicine. He has appointments in the McCormick School of Engineering, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and Feinberg School of Medicine.
A paralyzed mouse (left) drags its hind legs, compared to a paralyzed mouse that has regained its ability to move its legs after receiving Northwestern's injectable therapy. Credit: Samuel I. Stupp Laboratory/Northwestern University
Life expectancy has not improved since the 1980s
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, nearly 300,000 people are currently living with a spinal cord injury in the United States. Life for these patients can be extraordinarily difficult. Less than 3% of people with complete injury ever recover basic physical functions. And approximately 30% are re-hospitalized at least once during any given year after the initial injury, costing millions of dollars in average lifetime health care costs per patient. Life expectancy for people with spinal cord injuries is significantly lower than people without spinal cord injuries and has not improved since the 1980s.
"I wanted to make a difference on the outcomes of spinal cord injury and to tackle this problem, given the tremendous impact it could have on the lives of patients."
— Samuel I. Stupp, materials scientist
"Currently, there are no therapeutics that trigger spinal cord regeneration," said Stupp, an expert in regenerative medicine. "I wanted to make a difference on the outcomes of spinal cord injury and to tackle this problem, given the tremendous impact it could have on the lives of patients. Also, new science to address spinal cord injury could have impact on strategies for neurodegenerative diseases and stroke."
'Dancing molecules' hit moving targets
The secret behind Stupp's new breakthrough therapeutic is tuning the motion of molecules, so they can find and properly engage constantly moving cellular receptors. Injected as a liquid, the therapy immediately gels into a complex network of nanofibers that mimic the extracellular matrix of the spinal cord. By matching the matrix's structure, mimicking the motion of biological molecules and incorporating signals for receptors, the synthetic materials are able to communicate with cells.
"Receptors in neurons and other cells constantly move around," Stupp said. "The key innovation in our research, which has never been done before, is to control the collective motion of more than 100,000 molecules within our nanofibers. By making the molecules move, 'dance' or even leap temporarily out of these structures, known as supramolecular polymers, they are able to connect more effectively with receptors."
Nanofibers containing molecules that bear two different bioactive signals (green and orange) more effectively engage cell receptors (yellow and blue) as a result of the molecules' fast motion. Credit: Samuel I. Stupp Laboratory/Mark Seniw/Northwestern University
Stupp and his team found that fine-tuning the molecules' motion within the nanofiber network to make them more agile resulted in greater therapeutic efficacy in paralyzed mice. They also confirmed that formulations of their therapy with enhanced molecular motion performed better during in vitro tests with human cells, indicating increased bioactivity and cellular signaling.
"Given that cells themselves and their receptors are in constant motion, you can imagine that molecules moving more rapidly would encounter these receptors more often," Stupp said. "If the molecules are sluggish and not as 'social,' they may never come into contact with the cells."
One injection, two signals
Once connected to the receptors, the moving molecules trigger two cascading signals, both of which are critical to spinal cord repair. One signal prompts the long tails of neurons in the spinal cord, called axons, to regenerate. Similar to electrical cables, axons send signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Severing or damaging axons can result in the loss of feeling in the body or even paralysis. Repairing axons, on the other hand, increases communication between the body and brain.
The second signal helps neurons survive after injury because it causes other cell types to proliferate, promoting the regrowth of lost blood vessels that feed neurons and critical cells for tissue repair. The therapy also induces myelin to rebuild around axons and reduces glial scarring, which acts as a physical barrier that prevents the spinal cord from healing.
A new injectable therapy forms nanofibers with two different bioactive signals (green and orange) that communicate with cells to initiate repair of the injured spinal cord. Credit: Illustration by Mark Seniw
"The signals used in the study mimic the natural proteins that are needed to induce the desired biological responses. However, proteins have extremely short half-lives and are expensive to produce," said Zaida Álvarez, the study's first author. "Our synthetic signals are short, modified peptides that — when bonded together by the thousands — will survive for weeks to deliver bioactivity. The end result is a therapy that is less expensive to produce and lasts much longer."
A former research assistant professor in Stupp's laboratory, Álvarez is now a visiting scholar at SQI and a researcher at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalona in Spain.
Universal application
While the new therapy could be used to prevent paralysis after major trauma (automobile accidents, falls, sports accidents and gunshot wounds) as well as from diseases, Stupp believes the underlying discovery — that "supramolecular motion" is a key factor in bioactivity — can be applied to other therapies and targets.
"The central nervous system tissues we have successfully regenerated in the injured spinal cord are similar to those in the brain affected by stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease," Stupp said. "Beyond that, our fundamental discovery about controlling the motion of molecular assemblies to enhance cell signaling could be applied universally across biomedical targets."
Reference: "Bioactive scaffolds with enhanced supramolecular motion promote recovery from spinal cord injury" by Z. Álvarez, A. N. Kolberg-Edelbrock, I. R. Sasselli, J. A. Ortega, R. Qiu, Z. Syrgiannis, P. A. Mirau, F. Chen, S. M. Chin, S. Weigand, E. Kiskinis and S. I. Stupp, 11 November 2021, Science.
DOI: 10.1126/science.abh3602
Other Northwestern study authors include Evangelos Kiskinis, assistant professor of neurology and neuroscience in Feinberg; research technician Feng Chen; postdoctoral researchers Ivan Sasselli, Alberto Ortega and Zois Syrgiannis; and graduate students Alexandra Kolberg-Edelbrock, Ruomeng Qiu and Stacey Chin. Peter Mirau of the Air Force Research Laboratories and Steven Weigand of Argonne National Laboratory also are co-authors.
The study, "Bioactive scaffolds with enhanced supramolecular motion promote recovery from spinal cord injury," was supported by the Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Center for Regenerative Nanomedicine at the Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, the Air Force Research Laboratory (award number FA8650-15-2-5518), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging (award numbers R01NS104219, R21NS107761 and R21NS107761-01A1), the Les Turner ALS Foundation, the New York Stem Cell Foundation, the Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation (award number PVA17RF0008), the National Science Foundation and the French Muscular Dystrophy Association.
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29 Comments on "Regenerative Medicine Breakthrough: "Dancing Molecules" Successfully Repair Severe Spinal Cord Injuries"
Aaron | November 12, 2021 at 8:00 am | Reply
I'm hopeful for uses for people who are NOT paralyzed. People like me who have degenerative disk disease and the spine is literally falling apart. Also I have significant scar tissue. This sounds great!
Lori Jackson | November 12, 2021 at 8:35 am | Reply
What I need to know is if this would be effective on individuals with old injuries, like 20 years old. Please answer. Thank you.
Bluebell | November 12, 2021 at 12:06 pm | Reply
I was wondering the same thing???
Jeff Kilroy | November 12, 2021 at 9:50 am | Reply
Would this also help people with MS?
Bob Canales | November 12, 2021 at 10:09 am | Reply
Wow, I am a retired Special Agent, who was shot in 1971, damaging, but not severing the spinal cord at L1-2. I have been using long leg braces and crutches for mobility for the last 50 years and continue to do so to date. Should a need for volunteer patients ever exist, I would be happy to volunteer. Any improvement would be a gift.
Mary Espinosa | November 13, 2021 at 3:59 am | Reply
Would this help people with Stiff Person syndrome?
Bridget I Mark | November 13, 2021 at 5:06 am | Reply
I'm a speech Pathologist who works with the elderly, many who have spinal chord issues from a variety of reasons. This application holds such promise.
Crystal | November 13, 2021 at 5:37 am | Reply
What about conditions like spina bifida? Are these individuals able to volunteer for trials and how do they sign up for trials?
Monty | November 13, 2021 at 9:44 am | Reply
Thats great. Glad to hear spinal injurys may soon have a treatment available. I wonder if the same type of treatment could be used on diminished and crushed disk as my father lives in constant back pain.
Silas kinley | November 13, 2021 at 5:53 pm | Reply
I would to see my mother walk again or maybe with just a walker she deserves it she was a hard worker never in trouble and took good care of her family
Jacob Smith | November 14, 2021 at 5:36 am | Reply
I was in an auto accident and my break is to my T12-L1 with spinal chord injury. Paralyzed below break. I live in constant nerve pain in both legs and feet. The pain level never goes below a 6/u and I have frequent days of 9/10 level pain. I go to a pain clinic but get no relief. Currently I am takong percocet 10mg and Lyrica 200mg three time daily. I usually have to go to ER at least once weekly for relief which is short lived. I am a 31 year old male and I really am desperate for some relief.
Terry Cates | November 14, 2021 at 2:41 pm | Reply
I had a Retroperitoneal groin injury from a blood clot from a PICC line which has left my left leg severely damaged and I would love to be a volunteer test subject!
BJ | November 14, 2021 at 4:28 pm | Reply
Iam interested to learn if is a potential cure for neuropathy!
foxi | November 15, 2021 at 4:34 pm | Reply
wow this sounds exactly like the repair nanotech in Travelers and the nanomachines in the Metal Gear series. it's god tier science.
Philip | November 15, 2021 at 4:58 pm | Reply
I to would like to know if help me can't get doctors do anything after drunk driver almost killed me 21 years ago.still to this day I have excruciating pain in back numbness n tingling through out body I need help I was 39 at time,
REESHONDA RENEE OUTLAW | November 15, 2021 at 5:44 pm | Reply
Would this work if they took out part of spine an replace with rod an screws.? An about MS patient with nerve damage and not able to use limbs?
Brian Wilson | November 15, 2021 at 5:50 pm | Reply
My wife broke her neck 5 years ago in a horse accident. She is now walking with a numb leg. Both of her legs a numb fro the knee down and both hands from the elbow to the fingers. She has severe nerve pain. Do you think this could help her.
Susan Downs | November 15, 2021 at 6:23 pm | Reply
My husband has transverse myolitis and has problems because his left leg is effected and drags. Would this help him?
Lauren M Woodroof | November 15, 2021 at 6:59 pm | Reply
Can this be used for the Cauda Equina Syndrome? I have this and know many others who do as well, world wide. I am literally crying from reading this discovery, to even think there's a glimmer of hope! After 15 years of this nightmare, it'd be BEYOND a blessing, to be rid of the paralysis in the bowels and bladder areas.
Hector R. Galvan | November 15, 2021 at 7:19 pm | Reply
I was involved in a motorcycle accident. So far I have had 2 neck surgeries and 2 back surgeries. I continue to have peripheral neuropathy on my left leg due to nerve damage (foot drop).I would be very interested in getting an injection to possibly repair my nerve(s),
Edward | November 15, 2021 at 9:08 pm | Reply
I'll sign up for the testing
Christopher Mustovic | November 16, 2021 at 6:32 am | Reply
I would do anything to try this! I hope the FDA gives them the green light to get this into clinical trials. This brings so much hope to us spinal cord patients looking for some kind of answer.
Mark h sparrow | November 16, 2021 at 12:19 pm | Reply
I have cerrabellar ataxia. Will this help me and how long? My neurologist is Dr Ralph Pagano, a graduate of NW.
Mark h sparrow | November 22, 2021 at 9:55 am | Reply
Second request. I have cerrabellar ataxia diagnosed 15 yrs ago. In excellent health. Would this procedure help me. My neurologist is interested in your answer. I live in Sun City AZ. Please advise.
Raktima Dangui | November 26, 2021 at 3:55 am | Reply
I am from India waiting for this treatment soon in India for my 23yr daughter who is spinal cord injury patient. Want to see her walking LIKE before.. praying for green signal from FDA
Vinod Vazhakunnath | November 28, 2021 at 1:59 am | Reply
My brother is in a similar situation with injury in L2. He is paralyzed for last 30 years. It will be perfect if he can walk again. Looking forward.
Mark h sparrow | December 6, 2021 at 10:39 am | Reply
Third request. Would this help cerrabellar ataxia. I was diagnosed 15 yrs ago by Mayo Clinic Scottsdale AZ.
JAMES SELLERS | December 7, 2021 at 1:45 pm | Reply
I WILL VOLUNTER FOR THE CLINICAL TESTS. i AM IN MEMPHIS, TN. i HOPE WE CAN FAST TRACK THIS PROCESS. PLEASE CONTACT ME
Cynthia Hennig | December 17, 2021 at 7:48 pm | Reply
I would love to know when this is approved for I have used Stem cells w/ Umbilical cord w/ Bone Marrow to repair my hip joint of Acetabular ball and socket.
The procedure was went well however; the right side New Hip is nerves were damaged have numbness.
Notable: Have had Fusion C-5 and have Degenerative Disc disease and still able to exercise on my bike.
Very frustrating with Degenerative Disc and have been exercising All my life on daily bases!
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Q: Is there a way to use a pull request with cocoapods? With swift 3, many cocoapods have been scrambling to keep up with the changes each beta brings. Sometimes these changes aren't merged into a branch quickly. In those cases, is there a way to use a pull request of a branch?
Example:
https://github.com/MengTo/Spring/pull/187/commits/d791055bc43bba9af8124d2832c2d8cd95ecfc11

A: You can always specify a specific commit or branch to pull in with your pod file.
So, if you wanted the swift3 branch from the master repo, it'd be as simple as:
pod 'Spring', :git => 'https://github.com/MengTo/Spring.git', :branch => 'swift3'

However, this pull request did not come from  the master repo.  We need to figure out where it came from.
In this case, it came from this repo, so we just need to change what repository it came from (the branch name in that repo is actually the same):
pod 'Spring', :git => 'https://github.com/sammygutierrez/Spring.git', :branch => 'swift3'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Over the past year, Purdue University engineers spent 3,300 hours building a machine to pour a bowl of breakfast cereal. If their device seems reminiscent of Rube Goldberg's 20th century cartoon inventions, there's a very good reason: The deliberately overcomplicated contraption was developed for the annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest at Chicago's Museum for Design and Industry. At least from that perspective, the mechanical cereal dispenser served its purpose. The Purdue team won the competition last weekend.
The Museum for Design and Industry contest speaks to Rube Goldberg's persistent place in the American cultural zeitgeist. Goldberg's name and vision remain in circulation nearly four decades after the cartoonist's death in 1970. However an exhibition of the artist's drawings and artifacts at the Contemporary Jewish Museum reveals that the contemporary spin on his inventions runs contrary to all that gave his machines vitality. The Purdue device is whimsically entertaining. Goldberg's cartoons, on the other hand, probe the limitations of our technological imagination, and skewer the 'tech fix' mindset that is increasingly imperiling our planet.
The dystopian implications of Goldberg's inventions were clearly appreciated in his own era. No fewer than seven of his cartoons were included in the seminal 1968 MoMA exhibition, The Machine as Seen at the End of the Mechanical Age. Tracing the critique of mechanization back to Dada – often through imaginary contraptions that had a very real philosophical function – the MoMA exhibition artfully revealed many of the technological excesses that were becoming increasingly excessive, and foretold a future that would increasingly follow Goldberg's techno-dystopian formula: "exerting maximum effort to accomplish minimum results".
Application of this formula can be found all around us now. From 'clean coal' to hybrid cars – not to mention grand schemes for environmental intervention through geoengineering – we're putting in more and more effort to reinforce legacy systems rather than questioning and changing their basis. In his quaint midcentury cartoon aesthetic, Goldberg was portraying the innovations pouring out of today's university research centers, not to mention Silicon Valley.
Therefore the premise of the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is questionable at best. The academic justification for the Purdue cereal pourer, as well as the myriad other creations by high school and college students, is that these competitions can keep America competitive by motivating STEM education. Perhaps mining and manufacturing will benefit. But from a Goldbergian perspective, the contest is actually counterproductive, fueling the sort of mainstream engineering that Goldberg was challenging.
What is needed instead is a competition that truly honors Goldberg's legacy – a challenge to build philosophical instruments that reveal the underlying workings of society.


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How much is a 1995 Kirby Puckett bobble head made by SAM worth?
Q: How much is a 1995 Kirby Puckett bobble head made by SAM worth?
How much is a 1995 Kirby Puckett bobblehead worth with box and certificate?
Kirby Puckett is a former baseball player. He was very popular in his time. The value of a Kirby Puckett bobble head with box and certificate depends on the demand for the item and the condition. To ensure a fair value find a reputable collector.
When did Kirby Puckett retire?
Kirby Puckett retired after the 1995 season. Although retiring at his age, he is still the best baseball player.
What sport did Kirby Puckett play?
Kirby Puckett was a Major League Baseball player. He played for the Minnesota Twins from 1984-1995. Puckett died on March 6, 2006 at the age of 45.
How many all-star game appearances did Kirby Puckett have?
Kirby Puckett 10 All Star AppearancesKirby Puckett appeared in 10 All Star Games consecutively from 1986 - 1995.
How many games did baseball player Kirby Puckett play as designated hitter for the Minnesota Twins in 1995?
Kirby Puckett played in 28 games at designated hitter for the Minnesota Twins in 1995, starting in none of them. , equivalent to 0 errors per game (estimate based on total games played in).
When and where did baseball player Kirby Puckett play?
Kirby Puckett debuted on May 8, 1984, playing for the Minnesota Twins at Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome; he played his final game on September 28, 1995, playing for the Minnesota Twins at Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome.
What were the fielding stats for baseball player Kirby Puckett playing at short stop for the Minnesota Twins in 1995?
Kirby Puckett played in just one game at short stop for the Minnesota Twins in 1995 and did not start. He played for a total of 1 out, equivalent to .04 9-inning games. He made no putouts, had no assists, and committed no errors, equivalent to 0 errors per 9-inning game. He had no double plays.
What were the fielding stats for baseball player Kirby Puckett playing at third base for the Minnesota Twins in 1995?
Kirby Puckett played in just one game at third base for the Minnesota Twins in 1995 and did not start. He played for a total of 2 outs, equivalent to .07 9-inning games. He made no putouts, had no assists, and committed no errors, equivalent to 0 errors per 9-inning game. He had no double plays.
Where did Kirby Puckett play baseball?
Kirby Puckett played 12 years for the Minnesota Twins. He played his first game in the Majors on May 8, 1984 vs. the Angels and batted 5 AB, 4 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB. Kirby played his last game on September 28, 1995. His career was cut short as he lost vision in his right eye, and was diagnosed with glaucoma.
What is the value of a 1995 Topps Kirby Puckett card number 534?
A 1995 Topps Kirby Puckett card number 534 has a book value of about .75 cents in near/mint -mint condition. Professionally graded cards will sell for more. Condition is important. Common flaws with baseball cards include: rounded edges, creases, off centered, and faded color. Any or all flaws will devalue the card significantly.
What were the fielding stats for baseball player Kirby Puckett playing at second base for the Minnesota Twins in 1995?
Kirby Puckett played in just one game at second base for the Minnesota Twins in 1995 and did not start. He played for a total of 3 outs, equivalent to .11 9-inning games. He made no putouts, had one assist, and committed no errors, equivalent to 0 errors per 9-inning game. He had no double plays.
What were the fielding stats for baseball player Kirby Puckett playing at center field for the Minnesota Twins in 1995?
Kirby Puckett played in 5 games at center field for the Minnesota Twins in 1995, starting in 4 of them. He played for a total of 102 outs, equivalent to 3.78 9-inning games. He made 10 putouts, had no assists, and committed no errors, equivalent to 0 errors per 9-inning game. He had no double plays.
What were the fielding stats for baseball player Kirby Puckett playing at outfield for the Minnesota Twins in 1995?
Kirby Puckett played in 109 games at outfield for the Minnesota Twins in 1995, starting in 108 of them. He played for a total of 2791 outs, equivalent to 103.37 9-inning games. He made 194 putouts, had 9 assists, and committed 4 errors, equivalent to .039 errors per 9-inning game. He had one double play.
When did Kirby's Avalanche happen?
Kirby's Avalanche happened in 1995.
What were the fielding stats for baseball player Kirby Puckett playing at right field for the Minnesota Twins in 1995?
Kirby Puckett played in 106 games at right field for the Minnesota Twins in 1995, starting in 104 of them. He played for a total of 2689 outs, equivalent to 99.59 9-inning games. He made 183 putouts, had 9 assists, and committed 4 errors, equivalent to .04 errors per 9-inning game. He had one double play.
What is a signed Kirby puckett and team worth?
Kirby Puckett Minnesota Twins Team Signed BaseballA Kirby Puckett Minnesota Twins Team Signed Baseball in general from 1984- 1995 could range in value from $100.00 - $600.00 depending on what year the team can be attributed to. If the baseball features team member from various years it would be worth less than a baseball that could be attributed to a single year such as 1991. A 1991 Minnesota Twins team signed baseball with the key signatures: Hrbek, Puckett, Knoblauch, and Morris is worth about $400.-$600. Value is based on average prices of recently closed auctions. Prices may vary based on condition, and the type of authenticity that accompanies the baseball. Prices may also vary based on the amount of signatures, and key signatures acquired. The more complete the baseball with key signatures the more valuable.If the signatures are not properly authenticated the baseball could sell at half the market value or less.
When was Kirby's Avalanche created?
Kirby's Avalanche was created on 1995-04-25.
When did Kirby's Block Ball happen?
Kirby's Block Ball happened in 1995.
What were baseball player Kirby Puckett's total batting stats for 1995?
In 1995, Kirby Puckett played in 137 games, all for the Minnesota Twins, and batting in all of them. He had 538 at bats, getting 169 hits, for a .314 batting average, with 0 sacrifice hits, 5 sacrifice flies, and 99 runs batted in. He was walked 56 times, 18 times intentionally, and was hit by the pitch 3 times. He struck out 89 times. He hit 39 doubles, 0 triples, and 23 home runs.
What Kirby games were invented?
2022Kirby's Dream Land (1992) Kirby's Adventure (1993) Kirby's Pinball Land (1993) Kirby's Dream Course (1994) Kirby's Avalanche (1995) Kirby's Dream Land 2 (1995) Kirby's Block Ball (1995) Kirby's Toy Box (1996) Kirby Super Star (1996) Kirby's Star Stacker (1997) Kirby's Dreamland 3 (1997) Kirby Super Star Stacker (1997) Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (2000) Kirby Tilt n' Tumble (2001) Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland (2002) Kirby: Air Ride (2003) Kirby and the Amazing Mirror (2004) Source: Kirby Wiki This list does not include the Super Smash Bros. games.
What were some of the modern batting stats for baseball player Kirby Puckett in 1995?
In 1995, Kirby Puckett played for the Minnesota Twins. On Base Percentage (OBP) is considered by many to be a better measure of a great hitter than the Batting Average. It is calculated with the formula (Hits + Walks + Hit by Pitch) / (At Bats + Walks + Hit by Pitch + Sacrifice Flies). In 1995, Kirby Puckett had 538 at bats, 169 hits, 56 walks, and was hit by the pitch 3 times. He had 5 sacrifice flies. That gives him an On Base Percentage of .379. Slugging Percentage (SLG) is a popular measure of a batter's power. It is calculated as (Total Bases) / (At Bats). Another way to look at it is (Singles + 2 x Doubles + 3 x Triples + 4 x Home Runs) / (At Bats). In 1995, Kirby Puckett had 538 at bats, and hit 107 singles, 39 doubles, 0 triples, and 23 home runs, for a .515 slugging percentage. Being able to get on base and to hit for power are two of the most important offensive skills in baseball, so the On Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage are often added together. On-base plus slugging (OPS) is a sabermetric baseball statistic. The best hitters in Major League Baseball can achieve an OPS of .900 or higher. In 1995, Kirby Puckett had a .379 On Base Percentage and a .515 Slugging Percentage for an OPS of .894. Runs Created (RC) is a baseball statistic invented by Bill James to estimate the number of runs a hitter contributes to his team. There are a number of formulas used to calculate it. One of the simplest is (On Base Percentage) × (Total Bases). In 1995, Kirby Puckett had a .379 On Base Percentage and 277 Total Bases for 104.91 Runs Created.
When was Kirby's Block Ball created?
Kirby's Block Ball was created on 1995-12-14.
How much is a 1995 sandslash Pokemon card worth?
It was worth 17$ in 1995 but in 2010 it was worth $6,000!
How much is a 1995 dime worth?
it is worth ten cents. It is not rare.
How many games did baseball player Wayne Kirby play as designated hitter for the Cleveland Indians in 1995?
Wayne Kirby played in 7 games at designated hitter for the Cleveland Indians in 1995, starting in none of them. , equivalent to 0 errors per game (estimate based on total games played in).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Everything You Need to Know About Camellias
Island Bush Poppy
Marigolds Self-Sow in Gas Station Planter
February 18, 2014 Joshua Siskin Flowering Shrubs, Flowers No comments
African marigold and sweet alyssum are annuals that self-sow in the garden
Note: the following was written in 2000. Some years ago, the marigold planter was converted to artificial turf.
If you want to learn about the importance of soil in the life of a plant, pay a visit to the gas station at the corner of Moorpark Street and Van Nuys Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.
At the corner of the gas station – perilously close to the sidewalk and street – in a modest-sized planter, more than a thousand marigolds are growing. You will not be overwhelmed by a burst of color, for the plants are still in the seedling stage. Come back in a month for a riotous display of orange and gold.
The seeds from which these marigolds are growing were not sown by any human agent. Last year, marigolds in six-pack plastic containers were planted here. The plants bloomed and bloomed. By late December, flowering had practically ceased, but the faded and dried-up blooms were not snipped off. In time, seeds ripened within the moribund flowers. When the spent marigolds were finally removed from the planter early this year, hundreds of fully developed seeds had already been deposited on the soil below. For a few weeks, the soil looked bare. But then the miracle of germination began and, lo and behold, a carpet of marigold sprouts was soon visible.
If you planted a packet of marigold seeds in your garden, you could probably expect a handful of them to germinate, as long as you had a fairly well-drained soil and scattered the seeds over the surface, dusting a little peat moss or compost over them before watering. If you buried the seeds in the ground, it is quite likely that they would rot prior to germination.
The success of the marigold seeds in the gas station planter may be attributed almost entirely to the soil, a fast-draining sandy loam. Sandy loam contains 50 to 80 percent sand.
Most nurseries carry sandy loam soil, usually marketed as "topsoil," and sold at a cost of around $2 per cubic-foot bag. If you want to improve the drainage in your soil, adding topsoil will certainly help.
Another use for topsoil is in balcony or patio containers. In a container filled with sandy topsoil mixed with compost, you can grow just about anything. Such a soil mix will be pleasing not only to annual flowers such as marigolds, petunias and snapdragons, but to herbs, vegetables, perennials and even palm trees. Conventional potting mix is not only costly but, being highly composted, readily decomposes – that is, disappears – when used in pots. Topsoil, on the other hand, will remain at or near the same level for years.
Remember, topsoil is somewhat low in organic matter and drains rapidly. It should be mixed liberally with compost both to increase its fertility and to improve its water-holding capacity
After the rains, the crust which has formed on the soil surface may give you a feeling that your soil is dried up underneath. To the contrary, this crust prevents evaporation of water from the soil below and should not be broken. The practice of constant cultivation increases the rate of water loss from the soil and destroys beneficial microorganisms that live near the soil surface. It is much wiser to put a layer of mulch – be it compost, shredded bark or straw – on the soil surface both to preserve moisture and to protect the soil ecosystem.
< Grand geraniums
Marshall Maydeck e-mailed an inquiry about sources for unusual geraniums. One of the country's most important geranium growers, Grand View Geranium Gardens, is located just south of Los Angeles in Carson and grows more than 500 varieties of Martha Washington, zonal, ivy and scented geraniums. Grand View is a wholesale nursery closed to the public. However, the nursery does have an online catalog at www.gvgeranimus.com. Grand View supplies all the major garden centers in the Valley. If you see a geranium in the catalog that you like, your local garden center should be able to order it for you.
hibiscusmarigolds self-sow
Hibiscus — All-Time Favorite...
Nothing but Mallows
Everyone Loves Mallows
Return of the Giant Whitefly


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HMRC has published a report showing that the UK tax gap in 2017/18 is estimated to be £35 billion. This is 5.6% of total theoretical tax liabilities, and a small increase of 0.1% from 5.5% in 2016/17. HMRC therefore secured 94.4% of all tax due.
The tax gap is the difference between the amount of tax that should be paid to HMRC compared to what is actually paid. Further details in the report show:
the overall tax gap has fallen from 7.2% since 2005/06
the duty-only excise tax gap has reduced from 8.4 % in 2005/06 to 5.1% in 2017/18.
the corporation tax gap has reduced from 12.5% in 2005/06 to 8.1% in 2017/18.
Jesse Norman MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:
'The UK's low tax gap underlines both how the vast majority of people are paying the correct amount of tax, and how effective HM Revenue and Customs has been in its efforts to clamp down on tax evasion and avoidance.'
The report advises that the majority of taxpayers want to get their tax right, but many are still finding this hard, with avoidable mistakes costing the Exchequer over £9.9 billion a year. HMRC advise that £3 billion of this is attributable to VAT alone.
With the introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT, HMRC anticipates that the tax lost due to avoidable errors will be reduced because of the improved accuracy that digital records provide.
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Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to change the law to ensure that musical instrument tuition is available as of right to all children attending state schools in Scotland who wish it, free of charge.
13 September 2018: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government, the Musicians' Union, Local Authorities, COSLA and the Educational Institute of Scotland. Link to Official Report 13 September 2018.
Local petitions in South Ayrshire and West Lothian quickly reached 3,000 signatures.
In West Lothian, the Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland intervened and urged the Council to delay the cuts until children had been consulted, as is their right in terms of Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In Clackmannanshire the fees have been doubled for group, mixed instrument, lessons - making them the most expensive in Scotland at £524 per child, and the same price as one to one private lessons.
What is the story in your area? You may have had charges for many years, or the service may have diminished due to cuts.
All children should have access to music free of charge.
I think music should be free as any other extra curricular activity in school time.
Without free music tuition in school, myself and my brother would not have been able to access music tuition which was inspirational and provided so many opportunities for us. Both of us going on to gain degrees in music! As an instructor you see the cuts being made and the impact it has on families. Why should children have limited access to music which is part of the curriculum. Classroom teachers are fantastic but they cannot single handedly teach all instruments, each instrument has its own set of complexities and this art is dying..if we don't teach our next generation on musicians where will we get our next generation of orchestral players, jazz musicians or in fact instrumentalists for any genre... Not to mention the benefits from research studies in to the impact music has on raising attainment, the social impact of joining together to perform or the positive impact music has on health and well-being.
Music is a way to express yourself and if this is taken away then children are not given this right.
Music is fundamental to children's learning, as well as instrumental to their mental health. As Plato said "Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Access to the valuable experience of learning an instrument is a vital aspect of excellence in education. Don't let it be the province of the affluent elite.
All of my children played instruments at school and I have grandchildren that play instruments too. But sadly I see that some countries are stopping music lessons. How sad and misguided. The benefits outweigh the cost.


A holey-structured metamaterial for acoustic deep-subwavelength imaging.
J. Zhu, J. Christensen, J. Jung, L. Mart´ın-Moreno, X. Yin, L. Fok, X. Zhang, y F. J. Garcia-Vidal.
Dual band terahertz waveguiding on a planar metal surface patterned with annular holes.
Enhanced acoustical transmission and beaming effect through a single aperture.
M. Guillaume, A. Yu Nikitin, L. A. Dunbar, V. Spassov, M. J. K. Klein, R. Eckert, L. Mart´ın-Moreno, F. J. Garc´ıa-Vidal y R. P. Stanley.
Observation of enhanced transmission for s-polarized light through a subwavelength slit.
Resonance Energy Transfer and Superradiance Mediated by Plasmonic Nanowaveguides.
Resonance excitation and light concentration in sets of dielectric nanocylinders in front of a subwavelength aperture. Effects one extraordinary transmission.
Whispering gallery mode propagation in photonic crystals in front of subwavelength slit arrays. Interplay with extraordinary transmission.


Zombudoy is back! and now you got to deal with some serious pirates! over 50 weapons to be unlocked.Zombudoy 3 Pirates is one of the best shooting games and a lot of fun is waiting for you in this game, play Zombudoy 3 Pirates flash game online, the game that many players have chosen it as their favorite, make your comparision and we hope you enjoy it.


Home / Skate Decks / PAVEMENT OCTAGON 8"
The Octagon is like the EMB of Dunedin, its a killer spot with loads of different things to skate. Like most inner city spots these days its a bust, but it's still skated. Callum Parsons ( @shut_up_cal ) drew the Octagon sketch and Hugo Van Dorsser (@hugovandorsser) put the graphic together, an epic collab between two Dunedin legends.


On February 18, 2017, First Lady Melania Trump led the audience in the Lord's Prayer at a rally in Florida.
The following day Father Giacomo Capoverdi shared a fascinating story about the Hermit of Loreto who predicted the Donald Trump presidency back in the 1980s.
The holy man shared a premonition that President Donald Trump would help bring America back to God.
Father Giacomo Capoverdi shared a fascinating story of his encounter with the Hermit of Loreto (the author of the Pieta Prayer Book), at the site of the Holy House of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In this video, Father Capoverdi shares an amazing premonition this Hermit of Loreto had all the way back in the 1980s about Donald J. Trump. Please watch as Father shares this incredible story.


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kosali-simon-endowed-professor
Kosali Simon named Herman B Wells Endowed Professor
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Kosali Simon, a professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington, has been appointed a Class of 1948 Herman B Wells Endowed Professor, an award bestowed previously on only two other IU faculty members.
Simon is a nationally known health economist whose research applies economic analysis to questions about health insurance and health care policy. She has published widely on the Affordable Care Act and its impact on health care and labor market outcomes. She is also a national leader in her profession, serving on several boards and in editorial positions.
The Herman B Wells Endowed Professor position was endowed by the IU Bloomington Class of 1948 to honor Herman B Wells, who served as Indiana University's 11th president from 1937 until he retired in 1962 and university chancellor from 1962 until his death in 2000.
IU faculty who were previously appointed to the profesorship are the late Myrtle Scott, who was a professor in the School of Education and associate dean of the Graduate School, and Abhijit Basu, professor emeritus of geological sciences and Class of 1948 Herman B Wells Endowed Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences.
"The Class of 1948 endowed this position to enrich the educational experience and to emphasize the values that Chancellor Wells exemplified, including devotion to diversity, inclusion and academic excellence," said Eliza Pavalko, vice provost for faculty and academic affairs, who announced the appointment. "Professor Simon is an exceptional candidate to carry forth these values for the campus.
Simon is highly regarded for her teaching as well as her scholarship. She received the Indiana University Trustees Award for Teaching in 2015 and has received several national research awards.
"Kosali Simon's dedication to higher education and her unbounded energy are reminiscent of the passion that characterized Herman B Wells during his leadership of Indiana University," said Michael McGuire, executive associate dean of SPEA. "The School of Public and Environmental Affairs and IU are fortunate to have Kosali representing that legacy through the endowed professorship."
An IU Bloomington faculty member since 2010, Simon is a research associate of the National Bureau for Economic Research and has just concluded a seven-year term as a board member of the American Society of Health Economists. She serves on the board of the American Economic Association's Committee on the Status of Women in Economics, where she directs a national mentoring program for female assistant professors in economics. Simon was also recently elected to the leadership team of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management and is an associate editor of Health Economics and an editorial board member of the American Journal of Health Economics and the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management.
With the appointment, Simon will carry the title of 1948 Herman B Wells Endowed Professor for the remainder of her career at IU Bloomington. She will receive a grant of $10,000 per year for five years, designated for activities that enrich the educational experience at IU Bloomington. Simon plans to use these funds to create research fellowships for undergraduate students.


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Dr. Fauci projects US to have enough coronavirus tests by late May or early June
Elaine Thompson/AP
Medical assistant Nina Daniels prepares to take a swab from a patient at a new drive-thru and walk-up coronavirus testing site Saturday, April 25, 2020, in Seattle. The site, open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Rainier Beach neighborhood, is available to anyone displaying the virus symptoms, are pregnant, over 60 or have a chronic condition, as well as health care workers and first responders. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a coronavirus adviser to the White House, said that he projects that the US will have the tests required to reopen the economy by late May or early June.
Dr. Fauci told CNN's Jake Tapper on Tuesday that he is seeing the US ramping up available tests.
"The issue about tests is that, as we get into the next weeks to several weeks to a month, as we get into May and June, from what we're hearing… we will have a very, very increased production, so that by the time we get to those months, we should have what we need," Dr. Fauci said on CNN on Tuesday.
While private laboratories are assisting federal and state governments to ramp up coronavirus testing, testing capacity has been hampered by available swabs, reagents, and testing personnel.
On Monday, the White House issued guidelines to states on testing. The guidelines said that the federal government should only be used as a backup to provide testing to the states. But with shortages of swabs and other essential materials, that has created competition between states in securing testing materials. In one case, Gov. Larry Hogan, R-Maryland, ordered 500,000 tests from South Korea.
Although Dr. Fauci agrees with the approach of having private labs take leadership in preparing tests, he said that the federal governments needs to be active in working with states.
"The truth is that we're going in the right direction, but we need to continue to partner in a very active, collaborative way with the states," Dr. Fauci said. "We need to help them, the same way they need to do the execution."
Increased testing, experts including Dr. Fauci agree, is a key component to allow states to confidently reopen their economies. Otherwise, there are concerns that a potential rebound of cases would force states to reimplement social mitigation policies, further exacerbating current economic woes.
"Everyone who needs a test, according to the way we're approaching the identification, isolation, contact tracing, keeping the country safe and healthy, that, hopefully, we should see that as we get towards the end of May, the beginning of June," Dr. Fauci said.
The United States has been conducting anywhere from 150,000 to 300,000 tests per day. Although estimates differ on exactly how many coronavirus tests are needed for the economy to reopen, some experts place that number in the millions per day. Harvard University says 5 million tests are needed per day. However, Dr. Fauci pegs that number at closer to 500,000 per day.
Vice President Mike Pence said on Monday that US states that have flattened the curve have enough available tests to move forward with the first of a three-phase reopening.
"I believe, increasingly, governors understand around America that we have a sufficient amount of testing today for every state that qualifies to enter phase one to begin to reopen their economies," Pence said on Monday.


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As a team, they are proactive, professional, calm and confident with an organised outlook and hardworking attitude and we are looking for a like-minded colleague, ready to deliver a world-class programme for their members.


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27. The Decemberists
April 26, 2014 Matt Hubert 1 Comment
In honor of me turning 30, I'm making mix CDs of my favorite songs from each of my 30 favorite musical artists/groups. Read the introductory post for more background information on my 30 at 30 project. Reminder: there is no scientific rationale for this list. They're simply my personal favorites. Coming in at number 27 is The Decemberists.
The Decemberists are great storytellers. The fact that they tell their stories via folksy, rootsy rock songs is a bonus. Unlike the majority of the bands and songs that have and will find their way onto my countdown, The Decemberists' best work comes when there is considerable distance between narrator and subject matter in their songs.
Take, for example, "The Crane Wife 1 & 2" and "The Crane Wife 3" from the band's 2006 album The Crane Wife. The songs are based on an old Japanese folktale. I had never heard of the tale before, but I could not imagine a more beautiful retelling than The Decemberists' interpretation, which mixes lyrics and instrumentation flawlessly. "The Crane Wife 1 & 2" is the less popular of the two tracks. Clocking in at 11:20 it feels like parts one and two of an emotionally stirring epic tale. Cue the opening guitar of "The Crane Wife 3." Although this track curiously leads off The Decemberist's album, I find it more fittingly (surprise!) as the direct follow-up to "The Crane Wife 1 & 2."
If you've never heard of The Decemberists, "The Crane Wife 3" is the place to start. I have yet to find a time when I have heard this song pop up on shuffle—whether working at home, at the gym, hosting a party—when I felt inclined to skip it. It's a song for all situations, a song for all seasons.
Continue reading 27. The Decemberists →
30 at 3030 at 30 musical artistsThe Decemberists
28. Ben Lee
April 23, 2014 Matt Hubert Leave a comment
In honor of me turning 30, I'm making mix CDs of my favorite songs from each of my 30 favorite musical artists/groups. Read the introductory post for more background information on my 30 at 30 project. Reminder: there is no scientific rationale for this list. They're simply my personal favorites. Coming in at number 28 is Ben Lee.
When I think of Ben Lee, I think happy thoughts. Ben Lee's music is full of optimism. He sings about messages of hope, togetherness, and the promise of the future. The Australian-born Lee, who shares a September birthday, is six years my elder. Although started a solo music career at the ripe young age of 16, it wasn't until he released Awake is the New Sleep in 2005 that I was introduced to his music. Immediately, I was hooked.
Continue reading 28. Ben Lee →
30 at 3030 at 30 musical artistsBen Lee
29. The Fray
In honor of me turning 30, I'm making mix CDs of my favorite songs from each of my 30 favorite musical artists/groups. Read the introductory post for more background information on my 30 at 30 project. Reminder: there is no scientific rationale for this list. They're simply my personal favorites. Coming in at number 29 is The Fray.
I have to give credit to my wife here. In November of 2005, before anyone—or at least anyone we knew—had ever heard of The Fray, Jessie was standing front row at a concert singing along word-for-word to the likes of "She Is", "Over My Head (Cable Car)" and the rest of their songs from their How to Save a Life album, which hadn't even been out for two months. I was standing by her side and loved what I heard—both from her and them.
That all took place at Allegheny College. The Fray were opening for Ben Folds (Spoiler Alert! You'll hear more from him later in the MM 30 at 30 Countdown). There was no way The Fray were going to steal a show headlined by Ben Folds, but I'm sure I wasn't the only new fan they gained that night.
Continue reading 29. The Fray →
30 at 3030 at 30 musical artistsThe Fray
30. Oasis
April 4, 2014 Matt Hubert Leave a comment
In honor of me turning 30, I'm making mix CDs of my favorite songs from each of my 30 favorite musical artists/groups. Read the introductory post for more background information on my 30 at 30 project. Reminder: there is no scientific rationale for this list. They're simply my personal favorites. Coming in at number 30 is Oasis.
Oasis is in the minority among the groups that made my list in a couple of respects: they are no longer together and were based out of England. Fittingly, they share those two attributes in common with The Beatles who (SPOILER ALERT!) also will show up on my list. Oasis also credited the Beatles as their most significant influence as a band.
Oasis' last album, Dig Out Your Soul, was released in 2008, and none of the tracks from that album made the cut for my ultimate Oasis mix. The final tracklist features songs from five different albums, led by four songs apiece from Heathen Chemistry and (What's The Story) Morning Glory?
Continue reading 30. Oasis →
30 at 3030 at 30 musical artistsOasis


In a world over easy-come-easy-go overnight success stories, artists like Kiwi are a rare find. Steadily refining his skills as a DJ and producer since the mid 00's, whilst amassing a back-catalogue with labels such as Optimo, Disco Halal and Futureboogie, his trajectory encompasses an eclectic range of influences, making him something of a sonic wild card. With shards of disco, techno and fuzzy electronica always present, it's seems fully logical that he can count the likes of Erol Alkan, Andrew Weatherall and DJ Harvey as fans.


My mom called me with a pot roast emergency. Someone had very kindly brought her and my father dinner but they brought a WHOLE pot roast, 6 potatoes, and about 2 lbs of carrots. All that for 2 people. We had a good laugh over it when she called me, but I didn't understand what the emergency was. Evidently the roast was on the dry side. She didn't want to waste it, but neither she nor my father could eat the leftovers. "Leah, can you do something with it?" Of course I said I'd love to and picked up my bounty.
Now, what to do with it? Well, the obvious answer to me was stew and this is what I came up with. I took it over to my parents a couple days later and my stew was met with not only their approval, but a request for me to leave all the leftovers. Now that's what I call a success!
Bring barley and 3 quarts water to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Drain and set aside when barley is tender and cooked through.
In a large soup pot over medium heat, add the oil, onion, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and edges begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, basil, and oregano. Continue to cook until garlic is cooked through (adding oil as needed).
Add the broth, bay leaf, and Parmesan rind and bring to a low boil. Stir in the gravy, tomatoes, peas, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, roast, and barley. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes to meld flavors. Stir in the Parsley during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Posted in Recipes and tagged Beef, Leftovers, Stew. Bookmark the permalink.
Great way to make use of left over pot roast.


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Madison Violet – 'Time to Right the Wrong': about the murder of Brenley's brother
Roots Music Canada
Juno-nominated Canadian singer-songwriter duo Madison Violet is about to release a stunning new video for their single "Time To Right The Wrong" – and we're thrilled to premiere it here on Roots Music Canada.
The song is based on the true story of Stevie MacEachern — brother to lead-singer Brenley MacEachern — who was murdered in 2006 when he was 45 years old.
At the age of 11, Stevie became an altar boy and survived a period of abuse, but he never fully recovered, and that led to drug use and to his eventual murder.
"This was a hard song to write, and it came with a lot of tears, but I know Stevie would want me to share his story," Brenley said. "It's time
to right the wrong! We need to talk about 'the wrong' that has happened to my brother and so many others around the world. We're trying to do our part through song."
Madison Violet is a Juno-nominated Canadian music duo composed of Brenley and Lisa MacIsaac. The duo has achieved an impressive list of accolades throughout its 22 year career, including a Juno nomination, a Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year and
a Critic's Choice Award from Country Music People's Magazine.
Their songs have been featured in the notorious music magazine MOJO's Top 10 Playlist, and received a mass of acclaim from outlets such as the BBC, the CBC, Maverick Magazine and NPR. They have also earned the duo the Grand Prize in the Maxell John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
Madison Violet was on Germany's WDR's list of Best Bands of All Time, and with a bit of a departure from their usual rootsy sound, their single "These Ships" was released in 2014 on one of the largest dance labels in the U.S., Ultra Records, garnering over 1,200,000 plays on Spotify.
The duo has a total of nine studio albums to its credit.
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How the COVID-19 pandemic allowed Del Barber to finish some ...


Higgins, a writer, translator, critic and professor in the Department of English at UVic, will oversee the internationally known publication, which has been housed at the university since its inception in 1967 and celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.
The quarterly magazine features contemporary Canadian and international works of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction as well as reviews of recently published Canadian literature. It has been a springboard for some of the most recognizable names in Canadian publishing.
A committee drawn from members of The Malahat's boards for fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction chose Higgins as the successful candidate, making him the magazine's seventh editor.
Humanities' Associate Dean Research Margaret Cameron says that the Faculty of Humanities and Faculty of Fine Arts, which support The Malahat along with the university, are committed to the award-winning journal and its important role for Canadian writing.
"Our goal is to ensure the continued success of The Malahat. We are committed to enhancing the circumstances and resources of the journal," Cameron says.
Higgins's books include Then Again, a poetry collection; The Invention of Poetry, a translation of Polish poet Adam Czerniawski's selected poems; The Book of John Mandeville, a translation of a fictional medieval travel book about the East; and the academic study Writing East: The "Travels" of Sir John Mandeville.
Founding editors Robin Skelton and John Peter, then professors in the Department of English at UVic, established the journal in 1967. The Malahat has had six previous editors over its lifetime: John Barton, Constance Rooke, Derk Wynand, Marlene Cookshaw, Skelton and Peter.
Former editors of The Malahat came from the Faculty of Humanities and Department of Writing, with Barton and Cookshaw serving as non-faculty member editors.
Cameron thanked interim editor Micaela Maftei, who has been managing the magazine since January.
"Micaela's devotion to The Malahat, in addition to her care and wisdom, have been invaluable over the past six months," Cameron says, adding that the journal will continue to evolve.
Higgins says the university runs The Malahat "in trust," and says he takes seriously the concerns recently raised by some in the literary community about the journal's future with a change of editors.
UVic Libraries, as part of its imprint and publication series, recently produced a limited-edition monograph publication in celebration of the journal's anniversary. The Malahat Review at Fifty: Canada's Iconic Literary Magazine is richly illustrated with archival material from UVic Special Collections and University Archives.


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Greg Gianforte. right, with Paul Ryan, before his swearing in ceremony in June. CPJ met with the congressman to discuss press freedom issues on October 5. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images/AFP)
CPJ meeting with Gianforte is disappointingly brief
By Courtney C. Radsch/CPJ Advocacy Director on October 12, 2017 11:51 AM EDT
When Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte agreed to donate $50,000 to CPJ as part of his settlement with Guardian journalist Ben Jacobs, whom he body slammed during a congressional race in May, I reached out to set up a meeting to see if Gianforte was serious about his hope that "some good can come of [the] events," as he wrote in his apology to Jacobs.
At the end of August, Gianforte's staff offered CPJ 15 minutes with the congressman, with the caveat that he might be called away, but would "make every effort to be available to attend." We rescinded that request because it would not be possible to have a meaningful conversation in 15 minutes, but agreed to a later offer of 30 minutes with the congressman.
Only a few minutes into our October 5 meeting, a staffer came in to say that the congressman needed to go vote, which meant that it was left for Gianforte's staff to hear what CPJ had to say.
In the seven minutes that we had with Gianforte–and in a follow-up letter sent today–we ran through our list of ideas about what the congressman could do to promote and protect press freedom in Congress, such as joining the bi-partisan Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press, or the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
"Greg didn't come here to join clubs," the congressman's chief-of-staff, Charles Robison, told us. The press freedom caucus–co-chaired by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) and founded by Schiff and then-Rep. Mike Pence–helps bring congressional attention to cases of journalists threatened around the world. Last week, the caucus and the U.S. Helsinki Commission co-sponsored a briefing on attacks on journalists in Russia and other former Soviet states.
I was disappointed that we did not have time to have a meaningful conversation with Gianforte, and so was Jacobs. When I called him after the meeting, Jacobs said he was disappointed that the congressman "has yet again failed to live up to his past statements." The journalist noted that he tried to interview the congressman, but was told that Gianforte would consent only to an off-the-record meeting. "I had expected that he was sincere in his expressions of support for a free press. Instead, he is continuing to behave like the worst stereotype of a Washington politician," Jacobs said.
CPJ hopes that the congressman will speak out in support of press freedom and use the visibility of his office to raise his voice in support of journalists who are being jailed around the world in record numbers. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), for example, regularly devotes floor speeches to raising the cases of imprisoned journalists and human rights defenders, and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) has met with our International Press Freedom Award winners and written letters on behalf of embattled journalists.
Groups such as the press freedom caucus and the Tom Lantos Commission represent serious bipartisan efforts to advance press freedom and human rights around the world, and are important amid the declining moral authority of the executive branch on these issues. In the wake of his assault on Jacobs, Gianforte's participation would make a powerful statement that he is truly committed to defending journalists. We hope that the congressman will consider how his involvement in these groups could help reverse the wider tide of anti-press sentiments.
[Editor's note: The fifth paragraph of this blog has been updated to correct the name of Charles Robison.]
Courtney C. Radsch, PhD, is the advocacy director at the Committee to Protect Journalists and the author of Cyberactivism and Citizen Journalism in Egypt: Digital Dissidence and Political Change. As a veteran journalist, researcher, and free expression advocate she writes and speaks frequently about the intersection of media, technology, and human rights. Follow her on Twitter @courtneyr.
Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission


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40-Man Roster Deadline Analysis: NL East
by Eric Longenhagen
© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
2022 40-man Deadline
Tuesday's 40-man roster deadline led to the usual squall of transaction activity, with teams turning over portions of their rosters in an effort to make room for the incoming crop of young rookies. Often, teams with an overflow of viable big leaguers will try to get back what they can for some of those players via trade, but because we're talking about guys straddling the line between major league viability and Triple-A, those trades tend not to be big enough to warrant an entire post. Over the next few days, I'll endeavor to cover and analyze the moves made by each team, division by division. Readers can view this as the start of list season, as the players covered in this miniseries tend to be prospects who will get big league time in the next year. I'll spend more time discussing players who I think need scouting updates or who I haven't written about in the past. If you want additional detail on some of the more famous names you find below, pop over to The Board for a more thorough report.
The Future Value grades littered throughout these posts may be different than those on the 2022 in-season prospect lists on The Board to reflect my updated opinions, and may be subject to change during the offseason. New to my thinking on this subject and wondering what the FVs mean? Here's a quick rundown. Note that because we're talking about close-to-the-majors prospects across this entire exercise, the time and risk component is less present here and these FVs are what I think the players are right now.
Current 40-man Count: 40
Added Prospects: SP Roddery Munoz (40+ FV), SS Braden Shewmake (40 FV), SP Darius Vines (35+ FV)
External Additions: MIRP Dennis Santana, SP Kolby Allard, SIRP Nick Anderson
Projecting Atlanta's behavior for this exercise is a bit different than it is most other teams because while most teams' prospects track through the minors at a pace more consistent with their chalk 40-man timeline, the Braves promote players as soon as they consider them ready to help the big club. This was the case with their fantastic 2022 rookie contingent. Any players who emerge and excel in 2023 the same way Michael Harris II, Spencer Strider, and Vaughn Grissom did this season won't have to occupy a 40-man spot until the Braves think they're ready. As such, they didn't have to preemptively add them to the 40-man this offseason; it will just happen next summer. So while players like Luke Waddell and Jared Shuster are perhaps on pace for a 2023 debut based on their rate of promotion, they're not relevant for this exercise.
Does Grissom rocketing past older infielders, most notably Braden Shewmake, give us an indication of what the Braves think of those passed-over players? I think it's fair to infer that the Braves don't consider Shewmake an impact guy, and therefore not a "must-add." However, if the Braves don't re-sign nor find an outside replacement for Dansby Swanson and Grissom becomes the likely starting shortstop, perhaps Shewmake will become more desirable to roster as a utility infielder than Orlando Arcia. Arcia's power makes him a more dangerous hitter than Shewmake, but Shewmake's handedness is a better fit as a foil to Grissom, and he is the better defensive shortstop at this point. If the gap between what Arcia is set to make in 2023 ($1.3 million) and what Shew would make in his first major league season is somehow meaningful to the Braves, perhaps they'll search for a taker for Arcia this offseason and let Shewmake play a glove-first utility role. Shewmake tore his PCL in August, which complicates matters. Atlanta could use the middle infield depth, especially if they don't retain or replace Swanson. Cade Bunnell merits a mention here, too, because he has rare power (approaching plus raw) for a lefty-hitting infielder, but his arm strength isn't a realistic fit at shortstop, and he might not hit enough to get to any of that power, as he's incredibly whiff-prone. Cody Milligan, who'll be 24 next year, has above-average bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline, and plays a middling but potentially valuable 2B/CF combo. He might eventually be a nice bench piece, but his lack of power and Atlanta's incumbents at those positions made him an unlikely 40-man add this offseason.
The acquisition of Sam Hilliard created a bit of a bench outfield logjam. With Harris and Ronald Acuña Jr. Sharpie'd into the everyday center and right field roles, it left Eddie Rosario, Guillermo Heredia, Marcell Ozuna, and whichever catcher doesn't start on a given day jammed into the left field and DH spots. None of Hilliard, Rosario (who had a rough 2022), or Heredia (a clubhouse glue guy who was reduced to a pinch-runner and corner defensive replacement with Harris around) have options left, so something had to give from that group and Heredia was DFA'd. The Hilliard move also made it unlikely the Braves would roster young Brandol Mezquita, who is more of a fair, long-term prospect than one who needs to be 40-man'd immediately.
Let's talk about the pitching. I've written this before, but it bears repeating: even when the Braves pitching prospects project as long-term relievers, they tend to let them percolate as optionable starters until those option years are spent. Except for Kolby Allard and Kyle Muller, the group Jason Martinez and Jon Becker currently have projected to Gwinnett to start next year all have at least two options left. Prior to the deadline, I thought the Braves may have enough internal starter depth to opt not to roster changeup-heavy depth starter types Darius Vines and Allan Winans (a 2021 minor league Rule 5 pick), who both look like viable spot starters in the event of injuries but not must-adds. Vines was added and Winans wasn't. Roddery Munoz, however, they had to add. The 22-year-old righty held mid-to-upper-90s velo across 100 innings in 2022, sitting 95-98 in his final outing. His upper-80s slider, which Munoz can land in the zone or use as a chase pitch, is comfortably plus. He has a longer arm action and has been a middling strike-thrower so far, so he may ultimately be a reliever, but the way the Braves tend to handle young starters means that won't happen for a while even if it's true. I do think a team would have happily popped Munoz in the Rule 5 Draft and deployed him as a reliever in 2023, anticipating a velo bump out of the bullpen.
Roddery's twin brother, Rolddy Munoz, also has mid-90s arm strength and a firm slider, but he's a level below his brother and has already been relegated to full-time relief and is much less likely to be taken. Lefty Lisandro Santos, 24, had a ridiculous strikeout rate at High-A even though he lost two ticks off his fastball (sitting 94.5 mph) compared to 2021 (sitting 96.5 mph), though his cutter/slider is quite nasty. He's a 30-grade athlete who I think will end up in up/down relief eventually, and he's still a considerable distance from the bigs for a 24-year-old.
More bullpen thoughts: 23-year-old prospect Victor Vodnik has projected as an on-roster middle reliever in the past, but injury and walks plagued his 2022 and he looks more like an up/down, low-leverage option now. His arm strength (sitting 94-97) was fine late in the year when he returned from the IL. 24-year-old Double-A reliever Justin Yeager had a two-tick velo bump this year and now sits 96 with a two-plane, upper-80s slider. His command also slides him into an up/down area.
Added Prospects: MIRP George Soriano (40 FV), SIRP Josh Simpson (40 FV), MIRP Eli Villalobos (40 FV), SIRP Sean Reynolds (35+ FV)
External Additions: 2B Xavier Edwards (50 FV), OF Reminton Batista (HM), SIRP JT Chargois
The Marlins had a full 40-man entering deadline day even though they had already lost some players to waivers: contact-oriented outfielder Luke Williams to the Dodgers, rehabbing lefty Sean Guenther to the Tigers, and reliever Cole Sulser, whom Miami traded two prospects for in April, to the Diamondbacks. They also traded third catcher Payton Henry and designated five more players for assignment on Tuesday: infielder José Devers, first baseman Lewin Díaz, and pitchers Elieser Hernandez, Jeff Brigham, and Nick Neidert. Devers is now 23 and hasn't shown enough progress on offense to approach middle infield statistical baselines. Díaz (a plus defender who still needs to rake to fit at first, and my favorite of the group) hasn't hit in two extended big league trials and is now 25. Both have been chase-prone.
Adding Xavier Edwards and JT Chargois provides a direct upgrade to Devers at second base and at one of the bullpen spots. It comes at a medium long-term cost as recent draftee Marcus Johnson and DSL pitcher Santiago Suarez were traded to Tampa to acquire them (check out the AL East analysis for more on them). Is Edwards still a 50 FV (i.e. a top 100 type of prospect)? It's close. Tools-wise, he compares closely to Adam Frazier, who has hovered around the 1-to-2 WAR range (basically a 45) with a couple of peak years above that during his six-year window. If Edwards isn't up this year, he'll likely replace Joey Wendle in 2024.
Let's talk about Miami's pitching. Pitchers George Soriano, Eli Villalobos, Sean Reynolds and Josh Simpson were added to the 40-man. Reynolds, 25, is a conversion arm with impact fastball potential if he can command it to the top of the zone more consistently, and he's new enough to pitching that it might yet happen. Simpson is a slam dunk middle inning lefty with an upshot mid-90s fastball and plus curveball. Soriano moved to the bullpen about a month into 2022 and his fastball velocity finally took a leap, up three ticks into the 95-96 range, touching 100. He was at times used in multi-inning stints, but I'm not sure the repertoire depth or command is there for that in the big leagues, though the fallback is that of a good fastball/slider single-inning guy. Villalobos has a riding mid-90s fastball with enough action to generate in-zone whiffs despite its downhill plane, but his money pitch is a plus upper-80s splitter that Villalobos uses against both lefties and righties. His curveball has depth thanks to Villalobos' vertical arm slot and he, like Soriano, has a shot to work four-to-six outs at a time in the big leagues.
Even though they've dealt with the attrition and regression that commonly impacts at least a few of any given team's exciting young arms (Edward Cabrera's injuries, Sixto Sánchez's injuries and conditioning, Trevor Rogers sophomore dip, etc.), the Marlins still have a very good rotation locked in place for the medium term, with several prospects who are near-ready (most notably Eury Pérez) but who don't need to occupy a 40-man spot this offseason. As such, it was tough for fringe-y starter prospects to crack the 40-man this week. His delivery is quite violent, but righty M.D. Johnson had a strong season at High-A Beloit, posting a sub-4.00 ERA and FIP across 20 starts while exhibiting a much lower walk rate than his first two years in pro ball. His breaking ball is plus, the rest of the operation is average or below (Johnson sits 90-91), and a team would have to bet that Johnson's strike-throwing has permanently improved to consider him in the Rule 5. He was below the line for me, but Johnson has at least entered the conversation. Sinker/slider lefty Zach King garnered spot starter projection on last year's Marlins list and he's still in that bucket, but his poor second half at Double-A likely nixed his chances of being added to the 40-man this offseason. Luis Palacios, 22, had incredibly low walk rates in the low minors, and his changeup is plus, but his lack of other stuff began to be an issue as the Marlins rightly promoted him across three levels last year to stress test his upper-80s fastball.
Of the relievers not added, I could maybe see Anthony Maldonado (who sits 94 with vulnerable downhill plane, but has a plus-plus slider) being of interest in the Rule 5. Other names of note include 22-year-old righty Jorge Mercedes, who sat 94-97 in my Fall League looks with no feel for location and a 40-grade breaking ball. He and Jefry Yan (who has a better breaking ball) are in the same fringe 40-man boat due to their lack of control. Mercedes hadn't thrown a pro pitch until this year and Yan was signed out of a recreational men's league, so these snapshots of their prospectdom actually shed favorable light on the org's scouting and development even though they're not slam dunk big leaguers. Zack Leban, 26, spent most of 2022 at Double-A, where he K'd more than a hitter per inning. His drop-and-drive delivery aids his otherwise pedestrian fastball and he'll flash a plus slider on occasion. He might be an up/down middle-inning guy.
Osiris Johnson has huge bat speed, but he swings excessively and is a slow-burning, developmental prospect at this point. Griffin Conine has 70 power but his contact rate in 2022 was 60%, which would easily be the lowest in the majors among 2022 qualified hitters. At this point, he's also a one-tool flier who seems destined for pro ball in Asia. While Troy Johnston doesn't have the power typical of a first baseman, he's otherwise a well-rounded hitter and performed at every minor league level until a rough final month in Jacksonville, his first taste of Triple-A. He's probably not an impact player, but I think he's an above-replacement stopgap. It's tough to Rule 5 a guy whose immediate role would be that of a contact-oriented bench bat.
Finally, the Marlins made a trade for DSL outfielder Reminton Batista when they sent Payton Henry (Miami currently has just two catchers on their 40-man) back to the Brewers (who drafted Henry and traded him to Miami). I don't have any in-person notes on Batista, who was not at Brewers instructs. I have some sourced DSL TrackMan data that indicates his high-end exit velocities are high for a hitter his age, and that he has some underlying swing-and-miss red flags.
Added Prospects: None
External Additions: SIRP Stephen Ridings (40+ FV, waiver claim from Yankees), SIRP Tayler Saucedo (waiver claim from the Blue Jays)
The Mets had eight open spots exiting Tuesday's deadline, only netting late-blooming reliever Stephen Ridings, whose fastball velocity climbed four ticks after he joined the Yankees, and Tayler Saucedo off waivers. Ridings missed most of 2022 with a shoulder impingement, only returning for a rehab assignment in September, when he threw two innings. Pre-injury, he looked like he had grown into a third bullpen banana on a contender. Saucedo is currently the only lefty on the Mets 40-man, a funky low-ish slot southpaw with a low-90s sinker and above-average slider.
Aside from maybe soon-to-be 27-year-old Jake Mangum, a major league-ready fifth outfielder prospect with a plus hit tool undermined by poor plate discipline, there weren't obvious candidates to protect here. It's possible a team will think enough of catcher Nick Meyer's arm strength and contact skills to draft him as their backup. Lefty Josh Walker was injured for most of the season and picked up innings in the Fall League, where he was 91-94 with extreme downhill angle. Built like a construction crane at 6-foot-6, Walker's slider lacks big movement but it's tough to discern from his heater and is aided by the downhill angle his size creates, giving it artificial but effective two-plane movement. He has the stuff to be the second lefty in a bullpen right now.
Obviously at least a few of the Mets' open 40-man spots are earmarked for starting pitching added from outside the org. They have just six potential starters on the 40-man right now, and I think it'd be ideal for starters three-through-five on the current RosterResource projection to be pushed down the depth chart by those additions, to serve as depth throughout the year.
Added Prospects: CF Johan Rojas (45+ FV)
External Additions: SIRP Andrew Vasquez and MIRP Luis Ortiz (waiver claims from the Giants)
The defending National League champions outrighted several pitchers (and utilityman Yairo Munoz) off the roster about a week before the deadline, and only added center fielder Johan Rojas on deadline day. The Phillies 40-man doesn't have starting pitching depth beyond the three starters who carried the load during the postseason — Ranger Suárez, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola — but they effectively have near-ready depth in prospects Griff McGarry, Andrew Painter and Mick Abel. Those guys don't technically have to be put on the 40-man until after the 2024 season at the earliest, but all of them are likely to be part of the big league staff at some point in 2023.
Waiver claims Andrew Vasquez and Luis Ortiz provide bullpen depth. Vasquez and his extremely odd delivery seem to be of particular interest to many teams, as he's been passed around five different organizations over the last three years. If spring training were tomorrow, he and Cristopher Sánchez would compete to be the second lefty out of the big league bullpen; both are out of options. Ortiz, a former Top 100 prospect, still throws hard (sitting 94-96 in 2022) and has a good slider, while a fair curveball rounds out his repertoire.
Rojas is an elite athlete who has incredible speed and range in center field. Even though his downward-cutting swing makes it hard for him to hit for power in games, it's not as though Brandon Marsh has performed like anything more than a glove-first center fielder during his early big league career. At some point in 2023, Rojas' defense may be better than Marsh's, and the two might either platoon or, if Marsh shows no offensive improvement, Rojas may get some big league run. If Rojas' swing ever starts to evolve in a way that incorporates more lift, he's going to explode. The underlying feel for contact and bat speed are both there. Of course, that's been true for the last couple of years.
Are there any vulnerable Rule 5 options here? 22-year-old righty Cristian Hernandez looked good in the Fall League. His velocity was creeping into the mid-90s, sitting 92-93 later in outings. All of his secondaries flash plus movement, and the proprietary metrics that evaluate stuff that I've sourced while lining the intel coffers for list season like his pitches, too. Individually, though, none of his pitches induce a high rate of swing-and-miss or chase. Perhaps there's something about his delivery that's easy to time, or hitters see the ball well out of his hand, but it's surprising he didn't miss more bats at High-A during the regular season. If a team thinks there's an easy way to remedy this, he'd make for an interesting Rule 5 pick to pitch in a low-leverage long relief role initially. Lefty Erik Miller can miss bats with all three of his pitches, but his lack of control is probably a barrier between him and a consistent big league roster spot in 2023.
It's feasible that a rebuilding team blown away by what 6-foot-8 outfielder Carlos De La Cruz is capable of at his size will take him with the hope that he'll continue to gain control of his body as he enters his mid-20s and shore up the strikeout issues that made him tough to roster at this time. De La Cruz is freaky. He's a remarkable center field defender for his size, and might end up with 70-grade power depending on how his frame develops, but the track record of players who strike out as often as he has in the mid-minors is not very good.
Added Prospects: OF Jeremy De La Rosa (45 FV), SP Jake Irvin (45 FV), 3B Jake Alu (40 FV), SP Jackson Rutledge (40+ FV), SIRP Jose A. Ferrer (40 FV), SIRP Matt Cronin (35+ FV)
External Additions: Ildemaro Vargas
As I wrote on the Washington list during the last cycle, the Nationals tend to promote their prospects at a glacial pace and often have them repeat levels, sometimes in ways that defy logic when viewed from outside the org. While we don't know what's happening inside locker rooms or what developmental checkpoints the Nationals may require in order to promote their players, it has created a situation in which three of the prospects Washington added to their 40-man have basically no experience above A-ball. This is more palatable because they're in the relatively early stages of a rebuild. They're not going to narrowly miss the playoffs because 22-year-old Jose A. Ferrer has pitched just 7.2 innings above A-ball and may not be ready to contribute to a winning big league cause next year, for instance. And the bottom-of-the-roster guys they lose because they're forced to play with roster spots are fringe players on a bad team, unlikely to be core members of the next good Nats squad. While I'm sometimes confused by what's going on in this org, this particular version of it hasn't had any immediate consequences that I can identify.
Still just 20-years old, Jeremy De La Rosa will spend at least one year on the 40-man without any hope of sniffing the big leagues, assuming he heads to High-A to start 2023. De La Rosa repeated Low-A to start 2022 and was promoted for the last month of the season. He remains a high-variance, power-over-hit corner outfield prospect with a prototypical right field toolset. Ferrer has a mid-90s fastball and plus, upper-80s changeup. His short stride and even shorter arm action make his delivery kind of funky, and it's feasible he could be up late in 2023 despite his level of experience. Jackson Rutledge rounds out the group elevated to the 40-man directly from A-ball, as he made all 20 of his 2022 starts at Low-A. It was a positive just for Rutledge to stay healthy throughout a whole season, which he did while holding 93-96 and an above-average slider throughout. He's on track to work about 120 innings in 2023, which might tee him up for a big league rotation spot in 2024.
The others are likely to see some amount of big league time in 2023. Pitchability righty Jake Irvin has plus command of three or four pitches; it's unclear if he has two distinct breaking balls or if he's just manipulating the shape of one. His fastball has above-average velocity and is tough to get on top of, he command the breakers to his glove side consistently, and I like his long-term changeup prospects based on his arm action and feel to pitch. He's crept up from "low-ceiling backend type" to "mid-rotation innings eater." The short-levered Jake Alu had walk and power upticks in 2022, swatting a career-high 20 homers and walking nearly twice as often as his career norm. Even if that's a small sample blip and due for a regression, there are still hitterish elements here. Alu can put the barrel on pitches all over the zone, he pokes stuff on the outer third to left field and can double into the gap that way, and he has enough raw power to be dangerous when he opens his hips to turn on inside pitches. Without big power, Alu isn't a fit as an everyday third baseman; instead, he could be a good part-time role player at a couple of different spots. Despite sitting 90-92, reliever Matt Cronin's fastball has missed minor league bats because of its shape and angle. He deployed it 80% of the time in 2022. Because I'm not entirely confident a fastball that slow will play when used this often, I see him more as an up/down type.
The delivery of Nationals lefty relief prospect, Jose Ferrer, added to the 40-man roster this week. pic.twitter.com/iE1CZBZDCu
— FanGraphs Prospects (@FG_Prospects) November 17, 2022
Xander Bogaerts' Defensive Bogeyman
FanGraphs Audio: Joel Goldberg on the Rising Royals
Eric Longenhagen is from Catasauqua, PA and currently lives in Tempe, AZ. He spent four years working for the Phillies Triple-A affiliate, two with Baseball Info Solutions and two contributing to prospect coverage at ESPN.com. Previous work can also be found at Sports On Earth, CrashburnAlley and Prospect Insider.
sadtrombonemember
I am a little surprised the Nats did not protect Drew Millas. I could definitely a see a team that we know is going to be bad taking him on to serve as a third catcher.


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A: Just chain them:
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