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.