Boring Game as the Astros Beat the Mets 2-0

 

It was another weekday afternoon game at Citi Field, so I am there taking advantage of the pleasures of retirement.  I couldn't go to this game or watch it on TV if I was still working. It was a pitchers duel with Justin Verlander facing Taijuan Walker.  It was scoreless after eight innings,  Manager Buck Showalter made a strange move by bringing in closer Edwin Diaz to get two outs in the eighth inning.  Drew Smith came in the ninth and gave up a single to Yuli Gurriel followed by a home run by Jason Castro.  It was Castro's first dinger of the season.  The Mets only got two hits in the game.

Astros left fielder Yordan Álvarez and shortstop Jeremy Peña were hurt when they collided in the eighth while running down Dominic Smith's popup. Both called for the ball and as Peña caught the pop, they hit each other in the face with their gloves. They both left the game and were evaluated for possible concussions.  No replays of this accident were shown on the video screen at the stadium.  I had to go to Twitter to see the replay from SNY.  Hopefully, they will be OK.  I never like to see any player experience an injury.

Game Recap

Passing of Two Facebook Friends - James Benson and Dennis Frank

 

I have discussed several times in this journal how Facebook friends are at best acquaintances with a common interest.  I just read about the passing of two Facebook friends.

James Benson was a Professor of Library Science at St. Johns University who eventually become the Head of the Library Science program and then Dean of Libraries.  In the late 1980s, I took a continuing education course with him while I worked at NYPL.  I don't remember having contact with him while I worked at St. Johns from 1990-92.  He became Dean after I left.  Obviously, librarianship was our common interest.

Dennis Frank was an oldies radio enthusiast and one of the "Survey Guys".  I vaguely remember meeting him at a few of the oldies Meet and Greets that we had at Ben's Deli in Manhattan.  Oldies music was our mutual interest.

My condolences to their respective families.

Green Green Grass of Home - Elvis Presley Song of The Day

 

This was not a hit for Elvis, but I have heard it several times on Elvis Radio on SiriusXM.  Tim Jones had the hut version of this that peaked at #11 on the Billboard Charts.  I believe Tom Jones hit #1 with it on the British charts in 1967.

Lee and His Dad Saw the Elvis Presley Movie Today

 

I documented in 2008 that Lee is the biggest Elvis Presley fan in the family.  When we visited Graceland in 2003, I distinctively remember that most of the visitors were not yet born in 1977 when Elvis died.  We found out about this biopic while listening to Elvis Radio on SiriusXM in the car.  Lee insists on listening to this channel in the car.

Baz Luhrmann does an excellent job of directing this film that features Austin Butler as Elvis and Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker.  They certainly did an excellent makeup job on Tom Hanks.  It was certainly impossible to cover every aspect of Elvis's life in 2 1/2-hour film.  His appearance on the Ed Sullivan show was not covered.  There was no mention of Elvis's part in the Million Dollar Quartet with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.

I certainly recommend the movie for all, including very young people who are not familiar with Elvis.  Perhaps the movie will generate new interest in his music.  Classic Hits stations such as WCBS-FM still would never play his music.

Lee and Elvis and Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum in 2013

Take a Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed

 

I am following up on my visit to the Lou Reed exhibit at NYPL.  I remember hearing this for the first time on WPRO - Providence when I was a student at the University of Rhode Island.

Lou Reed Exhibition at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

 

Lou Reed: Caught Between The Twisted Stars is the full name of the exhibition at the Lincoln Center library.  It includes musical recordings, videos, posters, interviews, books, vinyl records, cassette tapes, photographs, and personal correspondences that are the archives that he donated to NYPL It covers his entire career from his start as a doo-wop singer to his passing in 2013.

I first found out about Lou Reed after hearing his hit Take a Walk on the Wild Side in 1973.  I didn't hear much about him until October 1992 when he sang Foot of Pride at the concert for Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary.

Lou formed the Velvet Underground with John Cale in October 1965.  Between 1972 and 2011 he released twenty studio albums, seven live albums, and three collaborative albums.  I found out from viewing this exhibit that Lou Reed was also a poet as some of his works and readings were displayed,

Lou Reed with Allan Ginsberg

I highly recommend this exhibit to all reading this journal entry.  There is no fee to view it.  It will be at the library until March 2023.  Please also see the following websites:

NYPL site describing the exhibition

Digital Collection of the archives  - some of the material can only be accessed from the library

Our Second Trip to Citi Field in Two Days is a Winner as the Mets beat the Marlins 6-0

 

I am certain sometime during the Shea Stadium days I went to two games in a row.  It was likely when the ticket price was $1.30 to sit in the upper deck.  Today for the first time I attended consecutive games at Citi Field.  I prefer going to day games since night games end at about 10:30.  I will get to the bus stop at 11:00 when they run very infrequently and get home extremely late.

The Mets played small ball their way to a 4-0 lead against Trevor Rogers (3-6) with two sacrifice flies, Mark Canha's bases-loaded walk and McNeil's scurry home on a wild pitch. McNeil left the game at that point with right hamstring tightness. They scored two more runs on an RBI single by Eduardo Escobar in the eighth inning.

David Peterson (4-1) was on top of his delivery and covered 5 1/3 innings with a season-high seven strikeouts on 100 pitches. He allowed six hits and two walks as the Mets won the four-game series 

Game Recap

Mets Lose to Miami Marlins 6-2 as Jerar Encaranacion Hits a Grand Slam in His MLB Debut

It was a beautiful Father's Day afternoon for a ball game, but the Mets disappointed us by losing 6-2.  The game started out as a pitchers' duel between Chris Bassitt and Sandy Alcantara.  The Mets scored first in the 6th inning after Starling Marte tripled and was driven in by a Francisco Lindor single.  Bassitt faltered in the 7th inning by issuing two singles and a walk.  He was relieved by Seth Lugo who yielded a grand slam to Jerar Encarnacion in his first major league game.

Encarnación became the first player since at least 1901 with a grand slam and an outfield assist in his debut.

All fans received a pale blue version of the Mets cap.  On the way to the subway, I saw two guys asking people to give their caps to them.  A few hours after the game I saw the caps offered on eBay for up to $50.

Game Recap

 

Happy 80th Birthday Paul McCartney - With a Little Luck is My Favorite Post-Beatles Hit

 

Sir Paul has hit the big 8-0 and is still going strong. With a Little Luck that he recorded with Wings is my favorite of his post-Beatles hits.  It meant a lot to me in 1978 when it hit #1 on the Billboard Chart.  I wish Paul the best of health in the future.

Paul McCartney was at Met Life Stadium Last Night, but I Wasn't There

 

Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen sing Glory Days

It is certainly a major event when a mega superstar like Paul McCartney gives a concert.  Last night he performed at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey.  At least two of my Facebook friends, Leslie and Don were there.  It must have been a big surprise when New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen joined Paul to sing Glory Days.

I didn't go since it would have been a pain to travel to East Rutherford.  If I drove, I would have to pay a fortune in parking and tolls and would have to fight traffic to get there.  The other alternative would be to take New Jersey Transit from Penn Station.  As I have documented many times, I had enough of that agency commuting from NYC to Newark for 25 years.

I am sure that everyone at the concert enjoyed themselves.  One must view the large video screen at such a large venue to see the performers.  I did see Paul McCartney in concert at Citi Field in 2009.

Random Thoughts in the Middle of June

 

I think it is inappropriate for people to post pictures of themselves in hospital beds on Facebook.  Also, they should not discuss the details of their medical problems.  I do not confer any of my medical issues on Facebook, Twitter or this journal.

Rich Appel wrote a fine article in Inside Radio on the resurgence of radio station WABC under Red Apple Media.  I have never been a fan of conservative talk radio, but I always listen to Cousin Brucie on Saturday nights.  It is a shame that the proprietor of a certain radio message board has bashed Rich, his radio show, and the article.  I enjoy That Thing with Rich Appel which I usually hear on Pop Gold Radio on Sunday evenings.  The show can be heard on many terrestrial and internet radio stations.

This leg of Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour ends on July 6.  Will it resume in Europe, Japan, or Australia?

Bob Dylan Covers Grateful Dead's Friend of the Devil

 The setlist of the 2021-22 leg of Dylan's Never-Ending Tour was constant until last night in Oakland when Friend of the Devil replaced Every Grain of Sand as the last song of the concert.  Dylan has played this Grateful Dead song in concerts many times over the years.  Below is a version played at Amherst in 1999.

Below is the Grateful Dead's version.

The January 6th Hearings and the Electoral College

 

Last night at 8 PM I decided to watch the January 6th hearings instead of a sporting event.  The actions of that day were a disgrace, to say the least, and all who participated should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  This includes the former president of the United States.  Hopefully, these hearings will prove criminal liability on his part and that he be sent to jail.

The cause of this tragedy and its aftermath is the Electoral College.  Since the results were close in several battleground states, Trump thought he could change the election results even though he lost the popular vote by 7 million.

I have called for the Electoral College to be abolished in journal posts in:

• March 2017
• July 2020
• January 2021

I am still disappointed that there has not even been a grassroots effort to eliminate this relic of our republic's early days.  This would be extremely difficult to achieve since an amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one, by a convention called for that purpose. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures or three-fourths of conventions called in each State for ratification.

I still say there should be some public discussion of this even if it is quite unlikely to succeed.

Combination Bob Dylan/Baseball Vacation in Tulsa in July

 

I made the flight and hotel arrangements through Expedia today.  Since there is no direct flight from Laguardia Airport to Tulsa, we will have to make connections in Dallas.  I booked a hotel just two blocks away from the Bob Dylan Center which has been discussed in several May entries in this journal.  I found out that there is a minor league team called the Tulsa Oilers that plays in a stadium near the hotel.  We had seen minor league games on previous vacations in Nashville and Memphis.  If time permits, I will visit other attractions in the city such as the Cain Auditorium, Gilcrease Museum, and Woody Guthrie Center.

Eduardo Escobar Hits for the Cycle for the Mets

 

For my readers who are not baseball fans, a cycle is when a player hits a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game.  It is a relatively rare feat as Wikipedia reports it has only been done 336 times in the history of Major League Baseball. As I was sleeping Eduardo Escobar accomplished it for the New York Mets.  The game in San Diego started at 9:30 PM and I went to sleep at 11:00 PM so I missed it. Scott Hairston was the last New York Met to do it in 2012.  The Mets won 11-5.

Yankees 5 Tigers 4 in 10 Innings

 

Even though I am a big Met fan, I like to go to Yankee Stadium a few times a year.  I am not a Yankee hater and only root against them in the Subway Series.  It was a nice day, and I could get tickets in Section 420A behind home plate from StubHub at a reasonable price.

Jordan Montgomery started the game for the Bronx Bombers against Rony Garcia for the Tigers.  The Tigers took an early 2-0 lead that was erased by a two-run home run by Joey Gallo.  The score was tied 4-4 at 9 innings.  Aaron Judge was the "ghost runner" on second base in the 10th inning and advanced to third base on an infield single by Anthony Rizzo.  Judge scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Josh Donaldson.

The Yankees are now 39-15 which is the best record at 54 games since the Seattle Mariner in 2001.  The Mets also won 5-4 in 10 innings today.  Is there a Subway Series coming in October?

Game Recap

Zoom Conferences - Live vs Archived

 

Right now I am virtually attending Dylan and the Beats, a conference from the University of Tulsa.  If I attended the conference, I would entail traveling expenses including airfare, hotel, and food which is likely very high. By attending the online version, I am only spending $40.

I just cannot spend three days being tethered to my computer watching the various sessions.  I attended a few sessions live, but since the weather today is fantastic, I just have to spend some time outdoors.  Thus, I missed a few sessions.  I have plans for tomorrow, so I just will not be able to attend the conference.

The organizers are recording each session and will make them available to attendees.  This makes it more convenient for me so I can view the missed sessions in the future at my convenience.

The Jim Irsay Collection was On Display at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC

 

Jim Irsay is best known for being the owner of the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL.  He assembled a robust collection of historic and culturally significant artifacts over several decades.  This collection was on display at the Hammerstein Ballroom which is on 34th Street just west of 8th Avenue.  One nice thing was that there was no admission charge.  I used my cell phone camera to take photos of some of the exhibits.

John F. Kennedy's Rocking Chair

Jim Irsay's collection of guitars was the most popular exhibit.

Johnny Cash's Guitar

Bob Dylan's 1965 guitar (upper center)

There were two pianos of interest

John Lennon's Piano

Elton John's piano

Tomas Nido is the Hitting Star as the Mets Beat the Nationals 5-0

 Since I am retired, it is easy to go to mid-week afternoon games at Citi Field.  Everything is going their way as they completed a perfect homestand and are now 35-17 and lead the National League East by over 10 games despite losing their best two pitchers to injury.  They have now won 5 consecutive games.

Carlos Carrasco started the game and pitched 5 shutout innings with his father in the stands.  Catcher Tomas Nido hit 4 for 4 and dove in 3 runs.  Francisco Lindor extended his RBI streak to 10 games, matching Hall of Famer Mike Piazza for the second-longest in franchise history.

Now the Mets must go to the west coast to play the Dodgers, Padres, and Angels.  It is a long season and you never know when any team can go into a losing streak,

Recap

I Encountered a Cyber Panhandler on Twitter

 In the 15 years that I have been on Twitter I have tweeted about 9000 times which includes references to this journal and random comments.  I am following 1371 people while 418 follow me.  Most of these people share an interest with me, but occasionally I will follow unknown people.

A few days ago, a young lady whom I will call BM followed me.  I don't know her at all, but just for the heck of it I followed her back.  She started a chat with me and stated she was 34 years old and a single mother with a 5-year-old daughter.  I told her that I was 73 years old, but she said the age difference didn't matter to her.  The chat was pleasant for a while, but all of a sudden she said her refrigerator was empty and she asked me for money to buy food.

I don't know if this story is true, but appears that she follows people on Twitter, is friendly to them, and then asks for money.  I will not send her any money as it seems likely that she has done this to many of her Twitter followers.  I am calling this "Cyber Panhandling."  I guess there are all kinds of cyber citizens, and we must be careful as we surf the web.

Rockabilly Star Ronnie Hawkins Passes Away at 87

 

Ronnie Hawkins with the Band Singing Who Do You Love

at The Last Waltz

This obituary from the New York Times best tells the story behind Ronnie Hawkins.  One of my favorite groups, The Band, was Ronnie Hawkins' backing band for many years.  I have a CD of Ronnie's best-known songs released by Rhino Records.

In the video above Ronnie sang with The Band at the Last Waltz which was supposed to be The Band's farewell concert.  Some years later the group reformed and recorded albums and gave concerts.

RIP Ronnie.

It is Sad to See People Scrounging Garbage Cans for Bottles and Cans

 

People buying soda and beer must pay a five-cent deposit for each item.  This is done to prevent thousands of pounds of plastic and aluminum from entering the waste stream and to allow them to be recycled.  Many consumers don't want to be bothered and through the bottles and cans into garbage pails.  I regularly see people scrounging garbage cans to look for items that can be redeemed for cash.  They take big shopping carts with recyclables to the local supermarkets.  It is so sad to see people doing that.  It would take 200 items to get $10 in cash.

I usually generate about 20 bottles and cans each week, resulting in $1.00.  Whenever I went to the supermarket, I saw lines of people waiting to redeem bottles.  Since it is not worthwhile to wait so long for just a buck, I place my bottles and cans into the recyclable bin in my building.  Obviously, someone will break through the large transparent plastic bags and take out the bottles.  I see it as a donation to charity.

Ryan Long - Jeopardy's Latest Big Winner

 

Ryan Long last night became the 14th Jeopardy contestant to win ten or more games with four of them coming this season.  He drives for Uber and Lyft and really needs his winnings as he lives from paycheck to paycheck.  It shows Jeopardy contestants need not hold advanced degrees to succeed.  Apparently, he gains his knowledge from reading or maybe even from conversations with his customers.  He recovered from a long bout with COVID-19 in early 2021.

Everybody wishes Ryan well in his future appearances in Jeopardy as he has attained celebrity status.  We never know from one game to the next what will happen.  A contestant must be knowledgeable, but luck can be a factor.

Stay tuned.

Random Thoughts of the Day

 

It takes me about 5 hours each week to do the laundry.  I wish I could use that time doing other things.  Nobody wants to wear dirty clothes.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear WKCR (89.9 FM affiliated with Columbia University) played all Dylan on his birthday.  I was disappointed that WFUV did not do something similar.  I listened for about 40 minutes on Tuesday and there was no Dylan at all.  Today at about 6:40 AM Delphine Blue played Maggie's Farm.  Corney O'Connell has been out much lately from his morning shift on WFUV.  I am sure there is a legitimate reason for it.  I hope he is not ill.

This weekend Rewound Radio  will be playing WABC Rewound and continue a Memorial Day tradition.  It is fun to hear how radio sounded in the 1960s and 1970s.

For Bob Dylan's Birthday - Do the 81 by Candy and the Kisses

 

At 81 years young Bob Dylan is still very active.  In four days the Never Ending Tour will resume in Spokane, Washington.  Will there be a new album or Bootleg Series in 2022?  Radio station WKCR (89,9 FM in NYC or wkcr.org elsewhere) is playing only Dylan music all day.

Exhibition of Sports Memorabilia on the East Side of Manhattan

 

Bruce and Lee at the Exhibit

Neil Scherer. the proprietor of https://goinggoinggonesports.com/ is displaying sports memorabilia on the east side of Manhattan.  This show will run until June 20.  Includes photos, tickets, programs, and art work featuring:

• The New York Yankees
• Polo Grounds
• Brooklyn Dodgers
• New York Giants (Football)
• National Basketball Association

For information, please contact Neil at njsart@msn.com

Here are some samples:

Ted Williams

Mickey Mantle

1941 Brooklyn Dodgers

Happy Birthday to Mary Shaw Radio Enthusiast Extraordinaire

 

Mary Shaw with Cousin Brucie at a

Palisades Park Reunion

Mary is certainly New York radio's greatest enthusiast.  I think everyone knows her.  Back in the mid- 1990s I met Mary on the WCBS-FM folder on America Online.  The people in that folder got together every year.  Later, she came to most of the Oldies Meet and Greets that we had at Ben's Deli.

I wish her a happy and healthy birthday.

Pete Alonso Hits a Walk-Off Home Run as the Mets beat the Cards 7-6 in 10 innings

 

A nice benefit of retirement is the ability to go to weekday afternoon games.  I really got a bargain today as I was able to get a ticket from Stub Hub for $10.66 to sit in the upper deck of Citi Field.

Chris Bassitt was the starting pitcher for the Mets as he allowed 4 runs and 9 hits over 6 1/3 innings.  It was a seesaw battle as the lead changed four times.  Jeff McNeil had a run-scoring infield groundout in the first and a two-run single in the fifth off Nick Wittgren that put the Mets ahead 5-3.  His fielding excelled as he climbed the wall in left-field foul territory to grab Paul Goldschmidt's seventh-inning sacrifice fly, pushed off with his right foot, and threw to second to nail Brendan Donovan, who tried to tag up from first. Then, with a runner on first in the eighth, McNeil made a sliding catch on a soft liner to deny Dylan Carlson and threw to second from his back.

Edwin Diaz blew his second save opportunity in 11 tries as the Cards scored in the ninth inning to tie the game.

In the top of the 10th, Albert Pujols hit into a double play to drive in the "ghost runner" to take a 6-5 lead. Francisco Lindor was the "ghost runner" for the Mets in the bottom of the inning.  Pete Alonso hit a slide off Giovanny Gallegos into the left-field stands to win the game for the Mets who are now 26-14 which is tied for the fourth best 40 game start in team history.

Game Recap

My Latest Walking Tour of Rego Park

 

Corner of Booth Street and 63rd Drive

A sporting goods store named Harley's

was at this location decades ago

I have certainly written a lot about Rego Park in this Journal.  After my dentist appointment today, I decided to take another walking tour as I have done several times in the past.  Obviously, nothing in this world stays the same.  Many retail establishments have come and gone over the decades.  Some observations:

• The site of the Tower Diner on Queens Blvd. was demolished.  The site of the Trylon Theater next to it which is now a synagogue is also slated to be demolished.
• Parkside Chapels at 66th Road and Queens Blvd. was also demolished.
• The Shalimar Diner on 63rd Drive was also demolished.

I believe in all three cases there will be high-rise apartment buildings constructed.

In any event, everyone I knew in Rego Park has either moved away or passed on.

I'll Remember You by Bob Dylan

 

This appeared on the album Empire Burlesque in 1985

But do you remember me?

I’ll Remember You

WRITTEN BY: BOB DYLAN

I’ll remember you

When I’ve forgotten all the rest

You to me were true

You to me were the best

When there is no more

You cut to the core

Quicker than anyone I knew

When I’m all alone

In the great unknown

I’ll remember you

I’ll remember you

At the end of the trail

I had so much left to do

I had so little time to fail

There’s some people that

You don’t forget

Even though you’ve only seen ’m one time or two

When the roses fade

And I’m in the shade

I’ll remember you

Didn’t I, didn’t I try to love you?

Didn’t I, didn’t I try to care?

Didn’t I sleep, didn’t I weep beside you

With the rain blowing in your hair?

I’ll remember you

When the wind blows through the piney wood

It was you who came right through

It was you who understood

Though I’d never say

That I done it the way

That you’d have liked me to

In the end

My dear sweet friend

I’ll remember you

Copyright © 1985 by Special Rider Music

9th Inning Rally Falls Short as Mets Lose to the Mariners 8-7

 

Lee and I were supposed to go to the game last night, but since it rained at 6 PM we decided not to go and attended today's game instead.  Last night's game eventually began at 8:18 PM and ended close to midnight.

The highlights of the game for the Mets were:

• A home run by Francisco Lindor that landed in the second deck of the left field stands.
• In the bottom of the fourth inning J.D. Davis and Brandon Nimmo hit two-run triples that gave the Mets a 5-4 lead at that point.

Julio Rodriguez tied the score when he homered in the 6th inning.  Cal Raleigh, in a 2-for-33 slump, added a go-ahead, two-run drive against Drew Smith later in the inning for a 7-5 lead. Rodríguez tacked on an RBI single in the seventh.

In the 9th inning, the Mets scored two runs to make the score 8-7.  Pete Alonso stuck out the bases loaded to end the game.

It is the first series that the Mets lost this season.  They still lead the National League East by 5.5 games.

Game Recap

Video Biography of Joe E. Ross of Car 54 Where are You Fame

 

Car 54 Where are You which was only on TV from 1961 to 63 was one of my favorite TV series.  In December of 2012, I wrote a journal entry reviewing a book written by Martin Grams about the TV series.  Today, I discovered a video biography of its star, Joe E. Ross.  He was a stand-up comic appearing in nightclubs and similar venues for most of his career.  His other TV credits included Sgt. Bilko and It's About Time.

Joe very often forgot his lines and said Ooo, Ooo instead.  He passed away in 1982 at age 68.

Going Nowhere by Los Bravos - Random Rare Oldie of the Day

 

For some strange reason, this rarity came to mind today.  It charted on Billboard in 1966, but only got to #91.  I likely heard it back then on WMCA.  Los Bravos is a Spanish group best known for Black is Black.

Bob Dylan Center - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

 

This video runs for about 43 minutes.  It includes several speeches by people associated with the Center.  It was explicitly stated that Mr. Zimmerman did not come by last month while he was in Tulsa for a concert.  Does he care about how his works have impacted people for 60 years?

Bob Dylan: Retrospectrum at the Frost Art Museum

 

This exhibition in Miami closed last month, but it is supposed to travel.  Will it come to NYC?

Bob Dylan Cards - 2022 vs 1965

 

This is a follow-up on my journal entry of May 6.  Subterranean Homesick Blues was released as a 45 RPM single in 1965 but peaked only at #39 on the Billboard chart.  It is best known for its iconic video with Allan Ginsberg seen at the beginning of the documentary Don't Look Back.

If you go to https://www.dylan60.com/ the people at Sony Music have offered a website where you can see the cards from the 2022 video.  If you click on the card, you will see the card from the original video done in 1965,

Higher Love by Steve Winwood - Classic Hit of the Day

 

Any song that charted in 1986 is not an oldie but a classic hit.  Scott Shannon played it this morning on "America's Greatest Hits", a syndicated show heard on WCBS-FM.  I hardly listen to that station any more as I dislike their music mix.

Subterranean Homesick Blues - 2022 and 1965 Versions

 

Above is a re-recording of Subterranean Homesick Blues with a new video tied to a new audio project from producer T-Bone Burnett who has developed a new analog sound technology that he says, “possesses a depth, resonance and sonic fidelity that exceeds that of vinyl, CD, streaming or any other means of experiencing recorded music.” It certainly sounds a lot crisper than the original 1965 version.  That video seen below was the opening scene of the documentary Don't Look Back.

Do Newscasts Turn Off Listeners to Music Radio Stations in Morning Drive?

 

I regularly listen to WFUV from 6:25 AM until 7:10 AM when I turn on the Today Show on NBC.  Until recently the station had a brief newscast at 6:50 AM.  For the last week or so this newscast was dropped.  Several years ago, the station dropped NPR news but kept a local newscast.  I don't know if this situation is permanent or temporary.  Is the station trying to cut its costs by eliminating a newscast or is there evidence the listeners turn to another station to avoid hearing the news?

Later in the morning, I listen to WBGO which plays jazz.  There is an NPR newscast at the top of the hour followed by local news.  At the bottom of the hour, there is only local news.

Both not-for-profit radio stations are excellent but obviously differ in their approach to the news in the morning.

Mattea Roche - The Latest Jeopardy Superstar

 

Mattea is the fourth contestant this season to win 10 or more games:

1. Amy Schneider - 40
2. Matt Amodio - 38
3. Mattea Roche - 20 (still going)
4. Jonathan Fisher - 11

With 20 wins she ties Julia Collins for the second-biggest winner in the number of games won for women.

For winnings in regular season play, she now ranks #6.

But how many more games will she win?  You never know if she will miss a Daily Double or Final Jeopardy and lose.  I observe that she is gaining more confidence as she wins more games.

I hope that the final three in the Tournament of Champions in November will be Amy, Matt, and Mattea.

From Ringo Starr to the New York Mets - The No-No Song

 

I sent Cousin Brucie an email yesterday afternoon requesting him to play this song in honor of the Mets no-hitter.  I listened to his show until 8 PM when I switched to watching the Mets.  I am guessing that he didn't play it since he gets so many requests.

Five Pitchers Combine for a No-Hitter as the Mets Beat the Phillies 3-0

I was not at the game last night, but I saw most of it on TV.  When you watch a game, you never know what will happen.  Last night five Met pitchers combined for a no-hitter against the Phillies.  The five pitchers were:

• Tylor McGill
• Drew Smith
• Joely Rodriguez
• Seth Lugo
• Edwin Diaz

itching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA	BF	Pit	Str	Ctct	StS	StL	GB	FB	LD	Unk	GSc	IR	IS	WPA	aLI	cWPA	acLI	RE24
Tylor Megill, W (4-0)	5	0	0	0	3	5	0	1.93	18	88	53	28	11	14	3	7	3	0	69			0.277	0.97	0.22%	1.26	2.4
Drew Smith, H (6)	1.1	0	0	0	1	4	0	0.00	5	36	24	13	7	4	0	0	0	0		0	0	0.087	0.90	0.07%	1.17	0.7
Joely Rodriguez, H (2)	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	5.87	4	17	8	5	0	3	2	0	0	0		0	0	0.019	0.79	0.01%	1.02	0.2
Seth Lugo, H (4)	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.32	2	5	2	2	0	0	0	2	0	0		1	0	0.045	0.85	0.03%	1.10	0.5
Edwin Díaz, S (4)	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	1.80	3	13	11	5	6	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0.032	0.42	0.03%	0.54	0.5
Team Totals	9	0	0	0	6	12	0	0.00	32	159	98

 

It was only the 17th combined no-hitter in MLB history and only the second by the New York Mets.  On June 1, 2012, Johann Santana pitched a no-hitter for the first time in the 50-year history of the Mets.  There was some controversy as a ball that hit the foul line in left field was called foul.  Had there been replay in 2012, the batter would have been awarded a double.  The pitch count for Santana was 132 which may have ruined his arm.  The pitch count for the five last night was 159 included 6 walks and many 3-2 counts.

It is certainly a time for Met fans to celebrate as we are 15-6.