For Paul Rudd, the decision to star in Jay Roach’s new comedy, “Dinner for Schmucks,” was an easy one. “I thought the script was really funny,” he says. “That was it. It was kind of a no-brainer.” Of course Rudd, who’s built an impressive resume of smart comedies, was just as enamored of the man behind the camera. Cliff who? The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has just gotten quite a bit of company: As many as 6,600 graves at the country’s hallowed Arlington National Cemetery for fallen U.S. service members may be mislabeled, one lawmaker said on Thursday.New claims for unemployment benefits slipped last week, but stayed at a stubbornly high level that underscored the labor market recovery was having trouble gaining traction.J.A. Happ said all the right things, just as the crafty lefty always has.Julian Assange, founder of the website that published more than 91,000 secret U.S. military reports from Afghanistan, says he’s revealing injustices. President Barack Obama says he’s concerned that disclosure of sensitive information may harm military operations.1. Will the Jets regret cutting Faneca?For many job-hopping careerists, smuggling a resignation letter in their bag like a guilty secret, there are few workplace rituals so hard as saying so long.Subletting in NYC typically involves some kind of covert transaction. Try to find a budget traveler who hasn’t enjoyed the risk of Craigslist’s lease-free rentals. But thanks to a bill Gov. David Paterson signed into law last Friday, renting an apartment for less than 30 days isn’t kosher. Fortunately, there’s a saving grace for those in search of short-term living: Jersey City.Could nail mats like the Acushakti be the next Snuggies?
MLB. Manny Delcarmen has become one of Terry Francona’s prime options out of the bullpen when the Red Sox need a punch out.
The 26-year-old setup man was the talk of spring training after he showed up 10 pounds lighter and appeared ready for greater responsibility in the bullpen. His heightened role has thrusted him into dire situations when anything less than a strikeout or a weak pop-up simply won’t do.
With that in mind, Delcarmen worked vigorously on elevating his mid-90s fastball when he has a hitter on the ropes with a two-strike count. The Hyde Park native experienced problems harnessing the high fastball in the past, so he came up with a unique solution: aim directly at Jason Varitek’s head.
“I definitely consider myself more of a power pitcher with good off-speed stuff, but I’ve been trying to get more strikeouts by relying on my fastball,” Delcarmen said. “I can get guys to chase my off-speed stuff, but a lot of it is about elevating my fastball and getting hitters to chase it for a strikeout.
“Before, I always had problems elevating the fastball where [Varitek] would call for it and stand up a little bit, and I would pretty much throw a strike right down the middle of the plate. I just couldn’t elevate in bullpen sessions and in spring training. [Varitek] will try to stand up a little now, and I’m just trying to hit him in the head, hit him in the mask or throw it over his right shoulder. It’s worked so far.”
Varitek wasn’t shocked when apprised of Delcarmen’s intent to hurl a heater off his noggin, and instead encouraged any means necessary to harness Delcarmen’s nuclear stuff.
“With different people, it takes different viewpoints and different areas to start locating,” Varitek said. “The key for Manny is location. It’s elevating the fastball when we want to and working down in the zone when we want to.”
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