Caleb Groen - The Last Jeopardy Superstar of Season 42

Caleb Groen won his 10th game yesterday to qualify as a Jeopardy Superstar.  Most likely, Season 42 will end on Friday, July 24th, so Caleb will be the last big winner of the year.  With his total of just over $300,000, he is already #18 on the all-time winners list for regular-season play.  Most of his victories were runaways.  He will be a formidable contestant in the next Tournament of Champions.

 

I am Not on the Bandwagon for World Cup Soccer and Other Things

 

According to Merriam-Webster, A bandwagon is a popular cause, movement, or trend that attracts growing support. It is most commonly used in the phrase "jump on the bandwagon," which means to adopt a popular trend, activity, or belief simply because it has become fashionable or successful.

It seems that everyone and his brother is following the World Cup Soccer tournament.  But do these people follow soccer at other times?  I never developed an interest in soccer, so I am not following the tournament.  I am not on the bandwagon.

Some other examples:

• The Super Bowl. Many people follow pro football just once a year.  I marginally follow football.  I guess I am so much into baseball that I neglect other sports.
• The Triple Crown of Racing.  So many people follow only the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes.  I was never into horse racing.
• The Knicks' victory parade drew about 2 million spectators.  How many of them followed the Knicks during their losing seasons?  I do follow basketball, but not as closely as baseball.

What a Way to Lose a Game - Red Sox 3 Mets 2 in 10 innings

 

Rookie pitcher Zach Thornton was pitching an excellent game as he pitched 7 innings, allowing only 2 hits, 2 walks, and no runs.  Now, I predict David Stearns will option him to the minors. Luke Weaver pitched a clean 8th inning, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead in the top of the 9th.  With one out and a man on first Francisco Lindor allowed Romy Gonzalez's grounder to shortstop to bounce off his chest. That would have been a game-ending double play.

Caleb Durbin and Andrew Monasterio walked, forcing in a run, and Jarren Duran blooped a tying single that dropped just in front of sliding right fielder Carson Benge.

In the 10th, automatic runner Masataka Yoshida moved to third on Connor Wong’s sacrifice against Brooks Raley (4-4) before racing home on Siegler’s liner to left.  The Mets could not score in the bottom of the 10th, giving the Red Sox a 3-2 victory.

The Red Sox completed a 9-0 road trip while the Mets' record dropped to 40-57 at the All-Star break.

Box Score

Random Thoughts of the Day - July 10, 2026

 

Since we are getting closer to the MLB trading deadline of August 3, there is more speculation about whom the Mets will trade.  I think no team should make a trade for the sake of making one. A good trade benefits both teams.  The deadline trades the Mets made last season did not work out.

I just hate the way David Stearns brings up a pitcher, lets him pitch one game, and then immediately sends him back to the minors.  I never know who is still on the team.  This action will hurt a player's professional development.

Yesterday, I engaged in an online chat with Gary, who was the Court Officer, when I was on jury duty in October 2010.  I am surprised he remembered me.

According to Blogger, Bruce's Journal has received over 10 million hits.  I just don't know how many of those are from bots. An entry I wrote about approaching my birthday in April 2017 received over 300 hits in one day.  Those have to be from bots.

Royals 16 Mets 12

 

Oy vey.  What happened to the Mets' pitching?  First of all, I don't understand the concept of an "opener" when a relief pitcher starts the game and is taken out after one inning.  Cionel Perez was the opener for the Mets last night and just pitched one inning.  He was relieved by Kodai Senga, who was  a disaster as he gave up 4 runs in 3 innings.  The Mets had a 9-4 lead at the end of 4 innings, but Austin Warren gave up 5 runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at 9.  Matt Seelinger made his major league debut after 9 years in the minors and gave up 7 runs in 2 innings.  The hitting came through, scoring 12 runs, but what good is that when the pitching gives up 16 runs?

Tyler Tolbert of the Royals set an MLB record getting hits in 12 straight plate appearances.

Game Recap

Happy 86th Birthday to Ringo Starr

 

I have saluted Ringo on his birthday several times in the past.  For this year, I am featuring the Beatles version of Boys where Ringo sings lead.  The Shirelles had the original version of  Boys in the early 1960s.  

17 Years of the Fans of Cousin Bruce Morrow Page on Facebook

 

Yesterday, I received a message from Facebook stating it was the 17th anniversary of my starting the Fans of Cousin Bruce page.  I never remembered the exact date that I started it.  Since that time, 14,400 people have joined the group.  The overwhelming majority are lurkers, as relatively few post there.  Thankfully, there have been very few inappropriate posts over the years.  Cousin Bruce also set up his Official Friendship Page, which has 85,000 members.