"Tiny Dancer" Elton John, Toronto 10.23.19

J. Geial Band: Beacon Theatre, NYC 8-26-15 Musta Got Lost with intro

J Geil's Band, Beacon Theatre, NYC- 8-26-2015: "Cruisin' For a Love"

BIG BASEBALL WEEK IN REVIEW: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

Major League Baseball in NY and Boston finished up a big week this past week. With The Yankees , Mets, and Red Sox playing against divisional and inter league rivals we witnessed some of the season's most anticipated games to date. Drama, both on and off the field, some great defensive plays, some horrendous defense that may cause a fan to vomit in his mouth, great pitching, terrible pitching, and of a lot of offense.

Here is what we learned:

1.The Red Sox have, hands down, the deepest, most effective bullpen in the AL and, probably, all of baseball. Led by Jonathan Papelbon, the Sox bullpen leads the majors in ERA. With the likes of Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, Takashi Saito, Jusitn Masterson, and Daniel Bard and his 100 mph fastball with movement, the Sox bullpen shortens the game and puts pressure on the opposition to score early and hold a lead going into the latter innings of the game. With a starting rotation that boasts Josh Beckett and Jon Lester at the top, the Sox depth at pitching cannot be matched. This week will more than likely mark the arrival of John Smoltz to the Sox. And, let's not forget Clay Buchholz lying in the weeds at Pawtucket.

2. The Yankees starting pitching and bullpen have alot to do to catch up with the Sox. AJ Burnett has been a huge disappointment especially against the Red Sox. He blew a 6 run lead in April and couldn't get out of the third inning last week. CC Sabathia pitched well, but tired during an epic 10 pitch at bat versus Dustin Pedroia. Joba Chamberlain can't get on the same page as his catcher and took 100 pitches to get through 4 innings. Chin Ming Wang looks lost and Andy Pettitte continues to show his age.

3. Joe Girardi's moves as manager become more and more curious and questionable. Going into Boston, he set up the rotation to start Wang, coming off a foot injury from last year. He did not go to Mo in the 8th inning vs. Boston while the Yanks had a lead, yet brought in the future HOF pitcher in the 8th inning during a tie game during the Subway Series. He brought in Brett Gardner to pinch run yet chooses to bunt him the speedster to second as opposed to calling for a steal. Playing for a tie on the road is a questionable move at best. Terry Francona continues to show MLB he is one of the elite managers in the game today. Girardi, the Manager of the Year while in Florida, continues to come up small on the big stage as the Yanks continue to look for their first win vs. Boston in 2009, after dropping the first eight games of the season .

4. The Mets have an uncanny ability to steal defeat from the jaws of victory yet show remarkable resilience and continue to hang around in the standings. After the gut wrenching loss on Friday night on Luis Castillo's mind numbing error , the Mets found a way to win with a minor league call up on Saturday. With injuries to Delgado, Reyes, Putz, Maine, and Perez, the Mets have almost $50 million in payroll sitting on sidelines. With all their injuries, the Metropolitans are only one game out of the Wild Card and 4 behind the Phillies. Had Castillo caught AROD's pop up on Friday night the Mets would have gone 3-3 last week; a huge accomplishment given the competition faced and the state of their health. This much is for sure: it is hard to see the Mets contending for a playoff spot if they cannot get a big bat and/or starting pitcher to fill the voids left behind. With Johan Santana's velocity falling faster than the stock market, the Mets look like a boxer who has been staggered with a left hook and praying for the bell.

5. The Subway Series continues to provide NY fans with drama and fodder for sports talk shows. On or off the field, the teams continue to perpetuate the rivalry. Even the players are getting into it. Brian Bruney, the oft injured middle reliever, called out Met closer Franky Rodriguez for his post game antics. It all came to a head on Sunday when the two had to be separated by teammates. One wonders if Bruney also took Joba Chamberlain to task for his antics every time he strikes out an opposing batter.

All in all, the Sox came out of the week with the most impressive performance. They went 5-1 vs. NY and Philly. With an improving pitching staff and prospects to deal, if necessary, they are primed to make another run at the WS. Meanwhile the Yankees continue with a $200 million payroll yet still seem to be several pieces away from solving the puzzle. And speaking of puzzles, Omar Minaya still continues to look for solutions to an ever increasing myriad of problems that be-fall the snake bitten Mets.

-- Steve

Sox/Yanks The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The third series of the year between the arch rival Red Sox and Yankees commenced last night. The first game pitted $82 million Free Agent AJ Burnett vs. Sox ace Josh Beckett. The Sox won the game 7-0, making the season series record 6-0 in favor of the Boys from Beantown. It was the first time the Yanks were shut out this year.

Beckett dominated while Burnette imploded. Someone forgot to tell the former Blue Jay to show up. Burnette yielded 10 base runners, including 5 walks, and 5 runs ( 3 earned in 2 2/3 innings). The Sox got 4 runs in the second inning thanks to David Ortiz' third home run of the year. An error by AROD allowed a potential double play ball place runners at first and second. JD Drew hit a wall ball driving in 2 more; the game was, in effect, over. After being pulled, Burnette took his frustrations out on a water cooler- kicking it, in an ugly display of anger. Perhaps such intensity could have been saved for the Sox hitters.

Beckett meanwhile improved to 7-2 and lowered his ERA to 3.77 He is 5-0 with a 1.70 ERA since May 5, and in his last four starts he is 3-0 with a 0.31 ERA. Beckett is, more and more, returning to his 2007 form. Beckett along with baseball's best bullpen held the vaunted Yankee offense to 2 hits.

Chien Ming Wang faces knuckleballer Tim Wakefield tonight. The series finishes up tomorrow with Brad Penny going against $162 million "Free Agent" CC Sabathia. Although there are 2/3 of the season remaining, the Yankees are looking at what amounts to the closest thing to "must wins" the next two games. The two teams will not face each other again for two months. Another series loss to the Sox will certainly have the Yankee brass' bowels in an uproar.

- Steve

Brady on Cover of SI again- OH NO?!

Tom Brady was on the cover of SI last year just prior to the season. He proceeded to blow his knee out on a questionable hit by The Chief's Bernard Pollard. Although the Pats managed a very good record of 11-5 they failed to make the playoffs. The bad news is Brady is back on SI's cover. The good news is Tom Brady appears to be back and if he is WATCH OUT NFL!
Once the future HOF QB went down last season the balance of power was said to have shifted. The Jets, with antique QB Brett Favre, were supposed to win the AFC. Unfortunately the Dolphins dashed both the Pats and Jets dreams.
This year Brady seems determined to prove to the league once again his greatness. The sixth round draft pick is accustomed to having doubters and nay- sayers about his abilities. This season, assuming a healthy receiving corps headed by Randy Moss and Wes Welker, along with other added offensive weapons in Fred Taylor, Joey Galloway, Fred Taylor and a healthy Laurence Maroney, and a versatile Kevin Faulk, the Pats are pissed off and poised to make another run at the Big Prize.
With a younger defense short on linebackers, the Pats may just have to bludgeon teams to death as they did two years ago when the entire NFL whined about them " running up scores".
With a younger more athletic defensive backfield the Pats hope to re-capture a Dominating Defense, confusing opponent's QBs along the way. Jarod Mayo is coming off a stellar season and the Pats will be counting on him to lead the "D" along with the likes of Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork , and Tedy Bruschi.
We still have a long way to go before NFL season heats up but look out world Brady is Back.

Has Papi Lost His "Pop"?

In 2005 David Ortiz was given a plaque from Larry Lucchino, Red Sox President and CEO. The plaque read:"The Greatest Clutch Hitter in the History of the Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz, #34."

Since his arrival in Boston in 2003, Big Papi has hit 231 HRs with 820 RBIs. He has thrilled the Fenway Faithful with numerous game winning hits and has been a formidable foe in the Sox line-up.
A force to be reckoned with.
In 2004 Oriz hit Game winning home runs in game 3 of the ALDS versus Anaheim ( actually a series winning HR). He followed that up with a game winning extra inning blast in game 4 of the ALCS vs. the Yankees to become the first player in MLB history to hit two walk off HRs in the same post season. That victory put in motion the chain of events that led to the precedent setting historic series come back from the brink of elimination. Game 5 of the '04 ALCS presented Papi with another opportunity to chisel out his legacy. His epic 10th inning, 10 pitch at bat ended with a single which plated Johnny Damon with the game winning run.

A legend was born and thrived for the ensuing 4 years.

Until this year Ortiz has more than lived up to his "clutch" hitting reputation. From 2003- 2008 seasons with the Sox, he has 16 walk off hits, including 10 homers. His reputation and place in Red Sox and MLB history have, like the bricks at the front gates to Fenway Park, been cemented into immortality.

But, alas, a wrist injury incurred last season, coupled with the departure of Manny Ramirez, have left Papi with no "pop". Ortiz played in only 109 games last season with 23 Home runs and 89 RBI's. Papi entered the 2009 season, looking leaner and determined to show the world he could still hit without the dread locked doofus Ramirez protecting him in the lineup. Thus far, in 35 games, the big fella has a paltry 27 hits with zero home runs and 15 RBIs. It all came to a head last week in Anaheim when a miserable 0-for-7 performance, leaving 12 men on base, tying a Red Sox record. This led to manager Terry Francona giving the DH the entire weekend series against Seattle off to refresh and reflect.

Last night his offensive struggles continued- going 0-3 with 2 K's, watching his batting average fall to 203.

The question now becomes: Is Big Papi finished? Has he fallen faster than guys like Cecil Fielder, Mo Vaughn, and Jim Rice? Has his swing slowed to a snail's pace making him incapable of getting around on the inside fastball? Has his swing gotten too long? What do Theo Epstein et. al. do with Ortiz? None of the options is pleasant. Placing him lower in the lineup. A stint with Pawtucket and former hitting coach Ron Jackson? Trade for another DH? Victor Martinez of the Indians and The National's Nick Johnson have been involved in trade whispers. It's not like Ortiz has no protection in the lineup. Jason Bay, Boston's cleanup hitter, has been on fire this season with 11 HRs, 40 RBIs batting almost 300 with an OPS of 1.054.

For now Red Sox management seem willing to stick with #34. I'm inclined to do the same. The guy has produced too much for too long. Too often, in the sports community we as fans and media are quick to the trigger to either anoint a rookie as "the next great superstar" or an aging veteran as "finished". Remember Mike Lowell. Everyone said he was washed up to the point where The Marlins forced him on The Sox in the Beckett trade. Since arriving in Boston Lowell has been all All Star and -oh by the way- won the World Series MVP in 2007.

I'll stick with Big Papi. After all he has contributed to the Sox I think we the fans owe him a little loyalty..... but Theo- let's also keep that cell phone charged just in case.
- Steve