Latest news with #Catch-22
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Opinion - The most psychotic musical since ‘Sweeney Todd' — and why America needs it
Luigi Mangione is accused of gunning down the CEO of UnitedHealthcare in broad daylight. A clean shot. No hesitation. Very soon, he'll sing about the brutal act in a San Francisco musical. I say: Good. 'Luigi: The Musical' is absurd, possibly sociopathic — and yet somehow entirely defensible. In fact, in this grotesque, camp-addled culture of ours, it might be the most honest piece of art produced all year. Not because murder is funny. Not because the justice system is a joke. But because we now live in an age where satire is the last viable truth-delivery system. Much of journalism is corporate. Novels are afraid. Late-night comedy is neutered. You want truth? Put it in a musical. Wrap it in sequins. And give it jazz hands. Satire has always been the most ruthlessly efficient scalpel. Aristophanes mocked imperial war. Jonathan Swift proposed devouring Irish children. George Orwell, Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Vonnegut — they didn't protest. They staged freak shows. Molière shredded hypocrisy in powdered wigs. Charles Dickens dragged Victorian England through the gutter it tried to ignore. Joseph Heller turned bureaucratic madness into 'Catch-22.' Before his comedy went off a cliff, George Carlin stood on stage and tore down empire with a smirk. With 'Four Lions,' a pitch-black comedy about incompetent jihadists, Chris Morris made terrorism absurd. Before that, he had already terrified the British establishment with 'Brass Eye,' a fake news satire so savage it tricked members of Parliament into denouncing fictional drugs on air. Trey Parker made everything absurd, or at least appear absurd. From Mormonism ('The Book of Mormon') to war propaganda ('Team America') to the bloated theater of American politics and celebrity culture ('South Park'), nothing was sacred — and that was the point. Satire doesn't whisper; it slaps. It offends. It remembers what the real world would rather forget. 'Luigi' stands firmly in that lineage — not in spite of the outrage it invites, but because of it. What are we really so scandalized by? The idea of a murderer with a musical number? Please. We've been there before: 'Sweeney Todd,' 'Chicago,' 'Heathers,' 'Assassins.' We have clapped for John Wilkes Booth. We have cheered for razor blades and ricin. What bothers people about 'Luigi' isn't the violence. It's the contemporaneity — the fact that it's still too soon and the wound hasn't scabbed yet. This character, the corporate assassin-turned-accidental folk hero, feels dangerously plausible. Deep down, we know the real absurdity isn't the musical. It is the world that created such a man. We live in a culture that glamorizes sociopathy but gets offended when it's reflected back. Netflix ran 'Dahmer.' You can now buy 'American Psycho' mugs, t-shirts and beanies. 'The Sopranos' has a wine label. Real-life cartel hitmen share their 'wisdom' on TikTok. And yet, when a fringe theater group stages a smart, cynical satire about a real-life killing, we're told it's 'too far'? Get real. 'Luigi' doesn't play by prestige rules. It's too camp. Too gaudy. Too loud. It isn't Oscar-bait. It's black box theater with blood under its nails. And that's why it matters. It's not Netflix. It's not Hulu. It's not a limited series you can binge and forget. It's theater. And theater — real theater — makes you sit with it. The show is Gulag humor for the Uber Eats generation. It weaponizes the ludicrous, stitches viral violence to choreography, turns cellmates like Diddy and Sam Bankman-Fried into Greek chorus figures, and mocks our collective appetite for the borderline insane. 'Luigi'isn't glorifying Mangione. It's not trying to humanize him. It's trying to indict us. The audience. The algorithm. The economy of attention that turns killers into content. The culture that made a young man with a gun a trending topic before the body hit the pavement. This is a country where mass shooters get Wikipedia pages before their victims get autopsied. Where headlines blur into hashtags. Where the line between infamy and influence disappeared sometime around 2014. In that context, 'Luigi' isn't satire. It's realism. But there's a deeper tragedy here — not in the subject matter, but in the medium. Theater is dying — with its empty seats, aging donors and young people who'd rather scroll through cat videos, theater is losing the war for attention, and fast. This makes 'Luigi' both timely and, in some ways, necessary. Perhaps it's too campy. Perhaps it's too crass. Maybe it turns a murderer into a meme with a melody. But you know what? It gets people off their screens. It gets them out of their apartments. It gets them into a room with other humans, watching a live act of provocation unfold in real time. That used to be called art. Now it's called a liability. 'Luigi' won't win prestigious prizes. It might not even last its full run without protests. But it belongs. Theater isn't supposed to be sacred. It's supposed to be a mirror. Sometimes cracked, but always honest. So let them sing. Mangione won't be the last killer to dance under a spotlight. He's just the first one to do it with a chorus line and a cellmate named Diddy. John Mac Ghlionn is a writer and researcher who explores culture, society and the impact of technology on daily life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
The most psychotic musical since ‘Sweeney Todd' — and why America needs it
Luigi Mangione is accused of gunning down the CEO of UnitedHealthcare in broad daylight. A clean shot. No hesitation. Very soon, he'll sing about the brutal act in a San Francisco musical. I say: Good. 'Luigi: The Musical' is absurd, possibly sociopathic — and yet somehow entirely defensible. In fact, in this grotesque, camp-addled culture of ours, it might be the most honest piece of art produced all year. Not because murder is funny. Not because the justice system is a joke. But because we now live in an age where satire is the last viable truth-delivery system. Much of journalism is corporate. Novels are afraid. Late-night comedy is neutered. You want truth? Put it in a musical. Wrap it in sequins. And give it jazz hands. Satire has always been the most ruthlessly efficient scalpel. Aristophanes mocked imperial war. Jonathan Swift proposed devouring Irish children. George Orwell, Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Vonnegut — they didn't protest. They staged freak shows. Molière shredded hypocrisy in powdered wigs. Charles Dickens dragged Victorian England through the gutter it tried to ignore. Joseph Heller turned bureaucratic madness into 'Catch-22.' Before his comedy went off a cliff, George Carlin stood on stage and tore down empire with a smirk. With 'Four Lions,' a pitch-black comedy about incompetent jihadists, Chris Morris made terrorism absurd. Before that, he had already terrified the British establishment with 'Brass Eye,' a fake news satire so savage it tricked members of Parliament into denouncing fictional drugs on air. Trey Parker made everything absurd, or at least appear absurd. From Mormonism ('The Book of Mormon') to war propaganda ('Team America') to the bloated theater of American politics and celebrity culture ('South Park'), nothing was sacred — and that was the point. Satire doesn't whisper; it slaps. It offends. It remembers what the real world would rather forget. 'Luigi' stands firmly in that lineage — not in spite of the outrage it invites, but because of it. What are we really so scandalized by? The idea of a murderer with a musical number? Please. We've been there before: 'Sweeney Todd,' 'Chicago,' 'Heathers,' 'Assassins.' We have clapped for John Wilkes Booth. We have cheered for razor blades and ricin. What bothers people about 'Luigi' isn't the violence. It's the contemporaneity — the fact that it's still too soon and the wound hasn't scabbed yet. This character, the corporate assassin-turned-accidental folk hero, feels dangerously plausible. Deep down, we know the real absurdity isn't the musical. It is the world that created such a man. We live in a culture that glamorizes sociopathy but gets offended when it's reflected back. Netflix ran 'Dahmer.' You can now buy 'American Psycho' mugs, t-shirts and beanies. 'The Sopranos' has a wine label. Real-life cartel hitmen share their 'wisdom' on TikTok. And yet, when a fringe theater group stages a smart, cynical satire about a real-life killing, we're told it's 'too far'? Get real. 'Luigi' doesn't play by prestige rules. It's too camp. Too gaudy. Too loud. It isn't Oscar-bait. It's black box theater with blood under its nails. And that's why it matters. It's not Netflix. It's not Hulu. It's not a limited series you can binge and forget. It's theater. And theater — real theater — makes you sit with it. The show is Gulag humor for the Uber Eats generation. It weaponizes the ludicrous, stitches viral violence to choreography, turns cellmates like Diddy and Sam Bankman-Fried into Greek chorus figures, and mocks our collective appetite for the borderline insane. 'Luigi'isn't glorifying Mangione. It's not trying to humanize him. It's trying to indict us. The audience. The algorithm. The economy of attention that turns killers into content. The culture that made a young man with a gun a trending topic before the body hit the pavement. This is a country where mass shooters get Wikipedia pages before their victims get autopsied. Where headlines blur into hashtags. Where the line between infamy and influence disappeared sometime around 2014. In that context, 'Luigi' isn't satire. It's realism. But there's a deeper tragedy here — not in the subject matter, but in the medium. Theater is dying — with its empty seats, aging donors and young people who'd rather scroll through cat videos, theater is losing the war for attention, and fast. This makes 'Luigi' both timely and, in some ways, necessary. Perhaps it's too campy. Perhaps it's too crass. Maybe it turns a murderer into a meme with a melody. But you know what? It gets people off their screens. It gets them out of their apartments. It gets them into a room with other humans, watching a live act of provocation unfold in real time. That used to be called art. Now it's called a liability. 'Luigi' won't win prestigious prizes. It might not even last its full run without protests. But it belongs. Theater isn't supposed to be sacred. It's supposed to be a mirror. Sometimes cracked, but always honest. So let them sing. Mangione won't be the last killer to dance under a spotlight. He's just the first one to do it with a chorus line and a cellmate named Diddy. John Mac Ghlionn is a writer and researcher who explores culture, society and the impact of technology on daily life.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
15 Celebs Who Have Appeared To Support Trump In The Last Few Months
Note: Discussions of rape. On Monday, Trump said he wants to launch a "major investigation" into celebrities like Beyoncé, Oprah, and Bruce Springsteen, claiming, without providing evidence, that they were paid to endorse Kamala Harris. 'HOW MUCH DID KAMALA HARRIS PAY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN FOR HIS POOR PERFORMANCE DURING HER CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT?' he wrote in all caps on his Truth Social platform. 'WHY DID HE ACCEPT THAT MONEY IF HE IS SUCH A FAN OF HERS? ISN'T THAT A MAJOR AND ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION?' And then, my favorite line: "WHAT ABOUT BEYONCÉ?" Because Trump loves to throw pity parties about all the "woke left" celebrities who instead endorse his opponents, let's take a look at a few of the celebrities who have shown support for him recently, shall we? Rose 2.50 Cent 50 Cent has gone back and forth on his political stances. During an interview with The Breakfast Club, he said he is "afraid of politics" and claimed he turned down $3 million to appear at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally. Still, after Trump's 2025 win, 50 posted photos of him and Trump with the caption, "I don't care how the fight goes, I'm leaving with the winner shit. I still don't know what's going on 🤦congratulations!" Related: 13 Celebs Who Opened Up Publicly About Their Sobriety Schneider Rob Schneider has very loudly shown his support for Donald Trump recently, endorsing him in the 2025 election and tweeting constant conservative talking points from vaccine conspiracies to calling climate change a scam. He even adopted Trump's signature ALL CAPS style. Schneider told Tucker Carlson that he was "banned" from Canada after his comedy set was considered hate speech. (He was booed off the stage at a show in Saskatchewan.) Stallone Sylvester Stallone has been a consistent, outspoken supporter of Donald Trump. In November, Stallone introduced Trump at a Mar-a-Lago event, calling him the "second George Washington." In January, Trump named Stallone as one of his "special ambassadors" to Hollywood, whose task is reportedly to bring back business "lost to foreign countries." Gibson Mel Gibson, another vocal Trump supporter, was also selected as one of Trump's "special ambassadors" to Hollywood. In May, Gibson's first task is reportedly to lure Italian film productions back to the US. Gibson, who lost his Malibu home in the California wildfires, commented during a Fox News appearance after Trump visited the state: "I'm glad Trump is here. It's like daddy arrived, and he's taking his belt off." Gibson, who was convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in 2011 involving his former girlfriend, recently had his gun ownership rights restored by the Trump administration in a contentious decision. Voight Actor Jon Voight may have started his career with more left-leaning positions, even playing a gay hustler in Midnight Cowboy (1969) and starring in anti-war dramas like Catch-22 (1970) and The Revolutionary (1970), but he's since become better known for his God-fearing conservatism and MAGA rhetoric. In an op-ed, Voight dismissed his earlier views as youthful naivety, claiming he was "caught up in the hysteria during the Vietnam era" and blamed Marxist propaganda and America's Democratic Party for luring young people "to program their minds." So, it came as little surprise when he appeared at Trump's victory rally in January 2025 or when he, too, was named one of Trump's "special ambassadors" to Hollywood this year. And back in 2016, Voight defended Trump's infamous "grab 'em by the pussy" quote, stating that he does not know "too many men who haven't expressed some sort of similar sexual terms towards women." Charming. Related: "Rude, Crass, Entitled Piece Of Garbage": People Are Revealing Their Best And Worst Celebrity Encounters, And These Are Genuinely Soooo Fascinating Guadagnino Former Jersey Shore star Vinny Guadagnino made his support clear after attending a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden. After receiving backlash from fans, he said on his podcast, Something Went Wrong, "I'm not a MAGA guy. I'm a Dark MAGA. Dark MAGA is different. Dark MAGA is a little bit of a subset of MAGA. It's a little more nerdy. It's less religious, less culty." Gretzky Former NHL star Wayne Gretzky attended Trump's victory rally — where he was photographed wearing a white and gold MAGA hat — and the 2025 inauguration. Trump has also expressed his admiration for Gretzky, joking that Gretzky could be the "governor of the 51st state of Canada." Despite Gretzky's friendship with Trump and showing up at his presidential events, he has not outwardly discussed his political affiliations. On The Ben Mulroney Show in April, he remarked, "Trust me, I have no political power with the prime minister or the president." Aldrin Buzz Aldrin has actively supported Republican candidates, including Trump. In 2024, he endorsed Trump for president, writing, "Over time, I have seen our government's approach to space wax and wane. But under the first Trump Administration, I was impressed to see how human space exploration was elevated as a policy of high importance again." Phil McGraw While Dr. Phil McGraw did not publicly endorse Donald Trump in 2016 or 2020, he spoke at Trump's 2024 Madison Square Garden campaign rally. While many saw the speech as an endorsement, he doubled down and said it wasn't, calling it instead an "act of rebellion" against Kamala Harris, who he said had repeatedly ignored his requests for an interview. More recently, Dr. Phil spoke at a National Day of Prayer event at the White House in early May. Praising Trump, he said, "I've sat with President Trump with no cameras around, nobody listening, nobody watching. And I'm telling you, this is a man of deep faith, a man of deep conviction," he said. "This is a man that wants this country to have a heart and have religion and God Bless America for giving us President Donald Trump." Dr. Phil was appointed to Trump's new Religious Liberty Commission, a group whose goal is to "vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law." Paul In October 2024, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul released a video urging his followers to vote. Although he mentioned he couldn't vote himself because he resides in Puerto Rico, he encouraged his audience to support Donald Trump, claiming it was necessary to "quite literally save America." Paul said he was "not concerned with Trump's character flaws" and echoed anti-trans rhetoric in his message, saying that allowing people assigned male at birth to compete in women's sports is "taking away a woman's rights." He also drew a controversial comparison between Trump's felony convictions and the actions of America's founding fathers in their fight for independence from the British monarchy. "Trump is labeled a 'felon,' but remember, the founders of this country were seen as felons by Britain because they demanded change," he said. "History shows that sometimes those who challenge the system are the ones who make a difference." Paul attended Trump's 2025 inauguration alongside his brother, Logan Paul, and podcaster Theo Von. Barr Probably one of the more outspoken celebrity supporters of Donald Trump, comedian Roseanne Barr's political stance has been a recurring theme in both her public statements and creative projects. In 2018, the reboot of Barr's own sitcom was canceled after she posted a racist tweet about former Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett. In 2024, in an apparent attempt to mock E. Jean Carroll, she released a controversial skit in which she falsely accused President Joe Biden of raping her 26 years ago. Most recently, in 2025, Barr appeared in a pro-Trump rap song and music video titled "Daddy's Home," where she addressed being "cancelled," flicked off the camera, dissed Eminem, and rapped: "They tried to cancel me and say that I'm a racist / Got a mean hook, they can't get me with that jam / Tryna take away my right to go insane then / Well listen up, 'cause this Granny's going bad." Aldean Country music singer Jason Aldean has been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump. In a March 2025 Instagram Q&A, he expressed support for Trump's second term, writing, "He's doing, I think, what a lot of us hoped he would…he's saving a ton of our tax dollars that are going to waste." In 2023, Aldean received backlash for his song, "Try That in a Small Town," which many critics called racially charged. The lyrics describe violent retribution for behavior like carjacking, cussing out cops, and lighting up flags. He sings: "Well, try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road / 'Round here, we take care of our own / You cross that line, it won't take long / For you to find out, I recommend you don't / Try that in a small town." In response, Aldean defended the song as a tribute to the tight-knit communities he had grown up in and declared it was not about race. After the attempted assassination of Trump in July 2024, Aldean dedicated a performance of the song to him, saying: "President Trump's a friend of mine, so I want to send this next song out to him." Tyson Mike Tyson and Donald Trump's friendship dates back to the '80s, when Tyson would fight at Trump-owned venues. Over the years, Tyson has publicly supported Trump, including during his presidential campaigns and at his 2025 inaugural events. In a February 2025 interview with Sean Hannity, Tyson drew a controversial comparison between Trump's legal troubles and the experiences of Black Americans. He said, "I always tell people, if you didn't know who Trump was, and you heard about that person with all those cases, all that crime [accusations], all of those indictments, you'd think he was Black…that's what a lot of Black people see. That's what would happen to them." He praised Trump's resilience, adding, "Most people would have given up. He didn't give up." finally, Lil Pump Lil Pump continues to be a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, even after Trump famously mis-introduced him as "Little Pimp" during his final 2020 campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since then, it was revealed that Pump reportedly was not even registered to vote in the 2020 election. Still, that didn't stop him from showing support in 2024. In the lead-up to the 2024 race, Pump teased a diss track aimed at Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, though he ultimately scrapped it, claiming he didn't want to "stoop to the liberals level." Instead, he released a pro-Trump love song titled "American Hero," where he sings: "He's patriotic as apple pie / And fireworks on the fourth of July / He understands the importance of the blue-collar man / The forefathers who found this nation / Wouldn't want our families worried 'bout inflation / We need a stronger leader with the plan." After Trump's win, he tweeted, "Thank God, Donald Trump won because if not, I would've left the country." Yes, "He's patriotic as apple fireworks on the fourth of July..." are the real lyrics. OK THEN! Well, I think that's time. I'll end here. Also in Celebrity: 19 Celebrities Who Are Way Smarter Than You Thought They Were — Like, One Is A Neuroscientist Also in Celebrity: Cassie Finally Broke Her Silence After Kanye West Decided To Publicly Support Diddy, And Her Response Is Exactly What Everyone Has Been Saying Also in Celebrity: 31 Celebrity Slip-Ups On Social Media That Revealed Wayyyy More Than They Ever Intended
Express Tribune
15-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
8 Underrated Miniseries You Might Have Missed, But Should Definitely Watch
Miniseries often deliver captivating stories with an intensity that keeps viewers hooked. However, despite their brilliance, many of these gems fly under the radar, deserving far more recognition than they've received. These 8 miniseries span genres from historical drama to thrilling true crime, showcasing unforgettable performances and gripping narratives. If you haven't seen them yet, here's why you should give them a chance. 1. John Adams (2008) John Adams is a historical drama that brings the tumultuous life of the second U.S. president to the screen. Starring Paul Giamatti in a deeply immersive performance, the miniseries captures Adams' complexities as a man and a leader during the American Revolution. Despite its historical importance and Giamatti's nuanced portrayal, John Adams often gets overshadowed by other Revolutionary War movies. But this series is a must-watch for history enthusiasts and anyone curious about the founding of the United States. 2. Irma Vep (2022) Alicia Vikander stars in Irma Vep, a modernized reimagining of the 1996 film. Directed by Olivier Assayas, this series delves into the world of filmmaking, focusing on the fictional breakdown of an actress, Mira, as she becomes consumed by her role in a remake of a silent film. The show explores the toxicity of the industry and the psychological toll of acting. With its stunning visuals and Vikander's outstanding performance, Irma Vep is a sharp and stylish commentary on film culture, yet it never received the widespread acclaim it deserved. 3. Mildred Pierce (2011) In Mildred Pierce, Kate Winslet plays the titular character, a woman trying to navigate the hardships of being a single mother during the Great Depression. The miniseries, based on the novel by James M. Cain, delves into Mildred's complex relationship with her daughter, Veda. Despite its incredible performances, particularly Winslet's nuanced portrayal, Mildred Pierce often falls into the shadow of other, more popular miniseries like Mare of Easttown. Directed by Todd Haynes, this miniseries is an emotional, gripping drama that warrants more attention. 4. Catch-22 (2019) Based on Joseph Heller's iconic novel, Catch-22 is a dark, absurdist comedy that follows John Yossarian, a bombardier in World War II who can't escape the madness of war. Christopher Abbott plays the lead role in this adaptation, which stays faithful to the novel's bleak humor and surreal narrative. While it is a solid adaptation, it didn't receive the level of recognition it deserves, making it one of the most underrated war-related miniseries out there. 5. Under the Banner of Heaven (2022) Under the Banner of Heaven explores the chilling events surrounding a murder connected to the Mormon faith, based on Jon Krakauer's true-crime book. The series stars Andrew Garfield as a devout detective investigating the crime. While the show garnered attention for its compelling storyline, it never quite reached the level of acclaim it should have, despite its complex characters and thought-provoking themes of faith, justice, and crime. 6. Generation Kill (2008) Generation Kill offers a stark and authentic portrayal of the early days of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Based on a journalist's firsthand account of embedded reporting with Marines, the series is a raw and eye-opening depiction of the realities of war. With standout performances and an incredibly realistic approach, Generation Kill explores the complexity of soldiers' lives in combat. Despite being highly praised, this miniseries often gets overlooked when discussing war-based TV dramas, but it remains a powerful and unflinching exploration of modern warfare. 7. Station Eleven (2021–2022) Station Eleven is a sci-fi masterpiece that follows a group of survivors after a deadly flu pandemic wipes out most of humanity. The series, based on Emily St. John Mandel's novel, is a beautifully crafted exploration of survival, humanity, and rebuilding. Its narrative is both hopeful and haunting, with stunning performances by Mackenzie Davis and others. Despite receiving critical acclaim, Station Eleven remains a hidden gem within the genre, underappreciated by many viewers who would benefit from its depth. 8. A Very English Scandal (2018) A Very English Scandal dramatizes the real-life scandal involving British politician Jeremy Thorpe, played by Hugh Grant, and his affair with Norman Josiffe. Set in the 1960s and '70s, this miniseries examines the intersection of politics, scandal, and LGBTQ+ rights. With standout performances from Grant and Ben Whishaw, A Very English Scandal is an engrossing and often darkly humorous look at the hypocrisy and dangers of hiding one's true identity. Despite Grant's outstanding performance, the series didn't get the recognition it deserved compared to other historical dramas.
New York Times
10-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
This Week in Mets: Another injury puts more strain on Mets' depth
'Your conscience will never let you rest.' 'God bless it. I wouldn't want to live without strong misgivings.' — 'Catch-22,' Joseph Heller On Thursday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., David Stearns was asked about not bringing back Jose Quintana or José Iglesias — a pair of critical contributors to last year's NLCS team. Advertisement 'We feel really good about our team,' Stearns said. 'We prepare for injuries. We feel like we have depth, and I'm excited to see what some of our other players, including some of our young players, would be able to do with that opportunity.' Stearns and the New York Mets don't have to wait long to test that excitement. Still more than two weeks from Opening Day, New York has lost two of its top starting pitchers in Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, it's lost the presumed front-runner for its utility spot in Nick Madrigal, and now it's lost its starting catcher, Francisco Alvarez, for roughly the first month of the season. In Stearns' first season in Queens, one of his greatest successes was quickly and consistently buttressing the Mets organization with quality depth. Players seldom discussed this time last year, such as Iglesias, became unexpected and significant parts of the team by the end of summer. We've covered this. However, the loss of Alvarez is especially challenging for the Mets because it's a reminder of one spot their depth failed them in the first two months last season. Remember, the catcher's ligament tear in his thumb in April augured the Mets' woeful start to the season: The team went 17-28 during the time he missed, with Tomás Nido and Omar Narváez unable to provide serviceable depth. It wasn't until June, when Stearns acquired Luis Torrens in a minor trade just before Alvarez returned, that the Mets resolidified the backstop. As well as Torrens played, it was Alvarez's return that really did it. The Mets' record when Alvarez started last season was 58-27, compared with 31-46 when he didn't. That's the difference between a 110-win team and a 65-win team, over 162. No, it isn't '72 Steve Carlton, but I did have to double-check. And that's what happened during what was pretty clearly a frustrating offensive season for Alvarez, who dropped from 25 homers in 2023 to just 11 last season. Alvarez's defensive value manifested in less transparent ways. The Mets' ERA with him behind the plate (3.48) was nearly a run better than otherwise (4.36). Yes, take catcher ERA with a grain of salt, but maybe a smaller one here since New York didn't employ a personal catcher for any starters in 2024. (The possible exception here is that Alvarez missed May, the month in which the entirety of the Mets' bullpen imploded. It's a little difficult to pin down the correlation/causation meter there.) Advertisement Catching is not an area where the Mets have a readymade next man up. Without Manaea and Montas in the rotation, the Mets can still run a six-man rotation of starters with legitimate major-league experience. Without Madrigal as an infield reserve, they have several younger players to choose from as fill-ins. Without Alvarez, they have no third catcher on the 40-man roster, no prospect on the rise, and one other player with all of eight games of major-league time (Jakson Reetz). Catchers tend to hit the waiver wire late in spring, and there should be opportunities to add outside the organization. What impressed those around the Mets so much in Stearns' first season was his ability to improve the team outside the traditional windows of acquisition (the offseason and the trade deadline). This is another early opportunity to prove it again. Since I mentioned that each of the first two books I quoted from this season ('The Recognitions' and 'The Master and Margarita') were top 10 novels for me, a couple of commenters asked for a complete list. So here it comes, slowly, over the next eight weeks. Just check the epigraphs. Also, maybe we'll end up doing more than 10. The 1998 Mets used a team-record eight catchers that season, though the position was largely solidified by a certain May trade. Before Mike Piazza arrived, which catcher started behind the plate Opening Day, and which catcher finished Opening Day with a walk-off base hit? (I'll reply to the correct answers in the comments.) (Top photo of Francisco Alvarez: Gordon Donovan / Associated Press)
