Everybody Plays the Fool by the Main Ingredient on April Fools Day

 

I have to be careful about what I read on the Internet on April Fools Day.  Somebody stated that the Mets traded Richard Lovelady to the Baltimore Orioles for Pete Alonso.

Pirates 4 Mets 3 in 10 Innings

Since we hold a Sunday partial ticket plan, we were at today's game after being at the home opener just 3 days ago.  Like yesterday, today's game had to go into extra innings.  The Pirates did not hit well with runners in scoring position in the first 9 innings, but in the 10th inning Ryan O’Hearn singled to left field, driving in automatic runner Bryan Reynolds.  Four batters later, Pittsburgh added to the lead when catcher Henry Davis singled to right-center field, scoring pinch-runner Billy Cook.  With runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the 10th, Juan Soto doubled to left-center field, scoring automatic runner Francisco Alvarez, but relay throws from center fielder Oneil Cruz and shortstop Jared Triolo were able to nail Francisco Lindor at the plate.  Jorge Polanco flied out to Cook in right field to end the game.

The Mets are now 2-1, but there are 159 more games to play.

Box Score

 

Jamie Ding - Latest Jeopardy Superstar

 

Last night, Jamie Ding won his 10th game qualifying him to be a Jeopardy Superstar.  Here are his statistics compiled by The Jeopardy Fan.

Jamie Ding, career statistics:

306 correct, 20 incorrect

22/24 on rebound attempts (on 42 rebound opportunities)

48.42% in first on buzzer (275/568)

12/17 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $34,200)

8/10 in Final Jeopardy

Average Coryat: $25,540

Total winnings for the first 10 games: $272,810

He now ranks #18 in all-time winnings in regular play.  He made one mistake when he bet and lost $30,000 in a Final Jeopardy.

We must take Jeopardy one game at a time, so we don't know how many games he will win.  It depends on the categories, Daily Doubles, and competition.

Opening Day at Cit Field Mets 11 Pirates 7

 

Since we bought a 20-game package for 2026, we got tickets for Opening Day.  There was a full house at Citi Field.  I saw reports of horrific traffic jams in Queens, but, as usual, we took the #7 to the ballpark.  The Mets made several roster changes in the offseason, so this was obviously the first time to see the new players in action.

Freddy Peralta, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers, gave up two home runs in the first inning, but it was uphill from there for the Mets.  They scored 5 runs in the first to knock out the 2025 Cy Young Award Winner, Paul Skenes. The Mets were helped by defensive mistakes by centerfielder Oneil Cruz.

Rookie Carson Benge hit his first career home run, while catcher Francisco Alvarez also homered.  Brandon Lowe hit two home runs for the Pirates.

It is a very long season, but so far, so good.

Box Score

Two Years Later, Whitestone Lanes is Still Open

 

Two years ago, I was interviewed on NY1 about the closing of Whitestone Lanes.  In 2019, I started an online petition opposing the use of that site for affordable housing, as it would create congestion at that intersection and overcrowd the local schools. The reporter was able to track me down and interviewed me and two others for the story.

After two years, Whitestone Lanes is still there.  I see many cars in the lot when I pass there on Saturday mornings.  It must be profitable, or else the owners would have closed it.

I advised the reporter that it may be premature to run the story, but she wanted to do it.  NY1 did a story about the demise of the College Point Multiplex, but in that case, a closing date was announced.

MJ The Musical

 

It is a family tradition to see a Broadway show for Lee's birthday, which is coming up this Saturday.  He picked MJ The Musical.  We decided to go on a weekday since the ticket prices were significantly less.  It is a Tony Award-winning Broadway jukebox musical focusing on Michael Jackson's creative process during rehearsals for the 1992 Dangerous World Tour and featuring 25 of his hits.  The choreography was excellent.

Nervous Breakdown - Eddie Cochran ----- Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown Rolling Stones

 

Bob Dylan covered Eddie Cochran's Nervous Breakdown on his first two concerts of 2026.  According to Joel Whitburn's Top Pop, it was released in 1958, but did not chart.  Eight years later, Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown by the Rolling Stones hit #2 on the Billboard chart.