My Thoughts on the 2024 Mets Season

 

Let's turn back the clock to May 29 when the Mets' record was 22-33. 2024 would be a repeat of 2023 when their record was 75-87.  But at that point, the team started to turn things around.  For the rest of the season, the Mets' record of 67-40 was the best in MLB. David Stearns made several roster changes that helped the team.  About 60 players were on the roster for all or part of the season.  The team clinched a spot in the playoffs on the day after the regular season ended.  They beat Milwaukee in the Wild Card series and then the Phillies in the Division Series.  They were tough against the Dodgers in the LCS, but lost the series 4-2.  The Mets have nothing to be ashamed since they improved so much over last season.

As we look ahead to 2025, five pitchers and five position players, including Pete Alonso, have contracts expiring. My gut feeling is that Pete will re-sign with the Mets.  They should look for bullpen help.  Some of their top prospects may be ready to be promoted to the team.

I will be rooting for the Yankees in the World Series.  Shortly after it ends, the Hot Stove League commences with free agent signings.  We'll have to wait and see what happens.

My Girl by the Temptations - Original vs Citi Field Version

 

Late this season Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets made My Girl by the Temptations as his walk-up music.  Since it has become very popular with the fans, the Temptations were invited to Game 5 of the NLCS to sing it before the game.  Sadly, most original Temptations who recorded the song in 1965 have passed away.

The fans sang My Girl when Lindor came up to bat during the game.

Shake by Sam Cooke - Oldie of the Day

 

Today's Question of the Day on WFUV asked for Shake songs.  Listeners can suggest songs on the WFUV website or on a Facebook page.  By the time I finish breakfast at about 7 AM I look at those pages and all the most relevant songs are already listed.  For that reason, I rarely respond.  Shake by Sam Cooke was played.

Today is the 19th Anniversary of Bruce's Journal

On October 15, 2005, I started this journal and continued.  The entries range from the ridiculous to the sublime.  Let me try to classify the 5000+ entries:

• Autobiographical
• Baseball especially the New York Mets
• Music especially Bob Dylan - I posted many YouTube videos that were later taken down
• Radio
• Facebook
• Movies
• Family

I will think of other categories later.  According to Blogger an entry titled TGIF was my number 1 hit, but I don't why. Some of my entries were "classics" while others were just trivial.  Blogger states that my journal was hit over 3 million times, but I don't know how many were real hits and how many came from robots.

I am only aware of a few regular readers of  Bruce's Journal.  Most people are anonymous when they surf the web.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

 

Super/Man The Christopher Reeve Story at the AMC Empire 25 at Times Square

 

For the first time in at least five years, I traveled to Manhattan to see a movie since Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story was not playing at any local theater.  It was a documentary tracing Christopher's career emphasizing his role in the Superman movies.  The focal points were his treatments after his tragic accident and his relationships with his family who were supportive of him. Many were interviewed for this documentary.  He fought back after the accident and served as a role model for those suffering from similar injuries.

The film is quite sad when it shows Christopher in poor physical condition.  The saddest part was at the end when he and his wife Dana passed away.

I have always been a fan of Superman since the George Reeves TV series of the 1950s.  I certainly enjoyed the films where Christopher starred as The Man of Steel in the 1970s and 1980s

Review in the New York Times.

Mazel Tov to the Shapiros of Walnut Creek, CA

A hearty Mazel Tov to my nephew Justin Shapiro and his wife Rachel on the birth of their daughter Paige Harper.  She joins her brothers Ethan and Teddy seen above.  They will have their hands full with three kids, but the more the merrier.

Justin was born in Bergen County, NJ,, and went to school at Duke University.  He relocated to northern California some years back and lives close to his twin brother Scott and their sister Faith.

 

Can the Mets Go All the Way in 2024?

 

Anything can happen in a short series.  The Phillies were six games ahead of the Mets in the regular season, but they just beat them 3 games to 1 in the Division Series.  Francisco Lindor was the hero in last night's game with a grand slam homer.  In the NLCS the Mets will play either the Dodgers or Padres who are now tied at two games each in their Division Series.

In 2022 the Padres beat the Mets 2-1 in the Wild Card Series even though all three games were played at Citi Field.  In 1988 the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Mets 4-3 in the NL CS.

Let's take a look at the American League.  Currently, the Yankees are leading the Kansas City Royals 2-1.  The winner will play the winner of the Cleveland-Detroit series.

I would love to see another Subway Series so the Mets can get revenge on the Yankees for the 2000 World Series.

The key for the Mets or any other to win the World Series is to get hot at the right time.  Last years World Series participants, the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks were wild card teams.  To advance and win the World Series, Lindor, Alonso, and others must stay hot and the pitching must not fall apart.