Sunday, May 17, 2026

Mets Come From Behind to Beat Yankees 7-6 in Subway Series Finale

 


No matter how well or poorly the New York teams are doing, the Subway Series is a highlight of the season.  Until today, the Mets had lost 91 consecutive games when trailing after 8 innings.  The Mets were training 6-3 in the bottom of the 9th when Tyrone Taylor hit a 3-run homer to tie the game.  In the 10th inning, Carson Benge hit a walk-off fielder's choice to win the game for the Mets.

The Mets' record is still poor at 20-26, but they have won 5 of 6 on their concluding homestand after A.J. Ewing was recalled from the minor leagues.  This reminds me of 1983, when the Mets improved after they recalled Darryl Strawberry.  There is still a long way to go to get into the pennant race.

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Today is the 60th Anniversary of Dylan's Blonde on Blonde and the Beach Boys Pet Sounds

 




When Blonde on Blonde was released, it may have been the first double album.  Obviously, the price was double.  I had to scrape up more allowance money to buy it.  It was a very hot day in July when I went to the record department at Alexanders to buy it.

I didn't purchase Pet Sounds when it first was released.  I don't remember exactly when I bought it.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Mets 3 Tigers 2 in 10 Innings

 


Last night's game was part of my 20-game package, so I decided to go.  It was a pretty dull game as neither team could generate an offense.  It was Italian Heritage Night at Citi Field, so John Franco threw out the first ball.  Carson Benge hit a single for the Mets in the 10th inning to drive in the winning run.




Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Should There Be More Rule Changes in Major League Baseball?

 


Rules in Major League Baseball have changed over the years.  A couple of rules in recent years:
  • Banning the shift in the infield
  • A pitcher must face at least 3 batters
  • There is a free runner on second base in extra innings during the regular season
The Athletic (now published by The New York Times recently polled their readers for suggestions on new rules.  You can offer your own opinion as to which of those suggestions makes sense.  I like the institution of a "mercy rule" when teams can "surrender" instead of using a position player as a pitcher.

Here are my suggestions that were not in the article:
  • A starting pitcher can be the winning pitcher after 4 innings instead of 5
  • After strike 2, a batter is only allowed 6 foul balls. After that, he is out.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Some Thoughts on Group Dynamics

 


Over the years, I have been involved in many professional and social groups, both virtual and in person.  Inevitably, people come and go.  Some stay forever, others come sporadically, while a few come just once and disappear as they feel the group is not for them.  In any event, nobody has any obligation to the group.

I have been involved in a video chat group for Bob Dylan enthusiasts.  We started meeting in person at NYU in Fall 2019.  The group became virtual in 2020 when everyone confronted the COVID-19 pandemic.  We use Google Meet once a month for our gatherings.  It allows a free video chat for one hour.  Several people have come and gone over the past 6 years.

I just accessed a Bob Dylan Facebook group to try to recruit new people.  I gave the login information to 5 people who expressed an interest.  Another issue is that people say they will come and then not show up.  We will see what happens.  Many groups disband after losing too many people.

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Happy 80th Birthday to Donovan

 


Donovan has appeared many times in Bruce's Journal.  My readers can refer to my previous comments about him.  I vaguely remember that about 30 years ago, I saw him in concert at Carnegie Hall.  I wish him a happy birthday with many more.

Season of the Witch is more appropriate for Halloween, but I don't want to post songs already in this journal.

Friday, May 8, 2026

Random Thoughts of the Day - May 8, 2026

 


  • I blame the Mets' problems on David Stearns, as I believe he made the wrong moves in the offseason.  Again, he made the mistake of acquiring a future Hall of Fame pitcher at the end of his career.  Yesterday, Craig Kimbrel gave up a grand slam home run in the 8th inning, allowing the Rockies to beat the Mets 6-2.
  • Some of my radio friends are a little too fanatical about oldies countdowns.  How many are enough?  It is very difficult to pick my favorite songs and then view the results.  I agree with the late Philadelphia radio personality Jerry Blavat, who said play from the heart, not the chart.
  • Some radio friends will commemorate the 44th anniversary of the end of the music format on WABC on May 10, 1982.  This is not a milestone anniversary.
  • Some baseball fans are too fanatical about attending games.  Some attended the Yankee game that started at 12:30 PM and then traveled to Philadelphia to see the Phillies at night.  What are these guys trying to prove?

Monday, May 4, 2026

John Sterling Did a Sports Talk Show on WMCA in the 1970s

 

This recording is 12 minutes long, but the segment with John Sterling begins at about 6:45

Today, we received the sad news that long-time broadcaster John Sterling passed away at age 87. I don't want to repeat what has been written on many websites or social media reports.  In the 1970s, WMCA was a talk station.  In 1975, John Sterling hosted a sports talk show. This segment precedes the New York Yankees game broadcasted on WMCA.

Saturday, May 2, 2026

Inappropriate Oldie of the Day - Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum

 


I heard on the news this morning that Spirit Airlines has ceased operations effective immediately.  This situation does not affect me at all.  I never flew on this airline, but since I live only a few miles from LaGuardia Airport, I have seen their planes in the sky with the distinctive yellow fuselage.  They could have given their customers some notice before they shut down.





Friday, May 1, 2026

Since it is May 1, Why Not May I by Bill Deal and the Rhondels

 


May I by Bill Deal and the Rhondels first charted on January 8, 1969 and stayed on the charts for 10 weeks.  Thus, it was not on the charts on May 1, 1969.  It peaked at #39 on the Billboard national chart, but did better on the WABC and WMCA charts in early 1969.

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Beer For My Horses - An Obscure Willie Nelson Hit for His 93rd Birthday


According to Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, this song peaked at #22 on the Pop chart in 2003.  It likely peaked higher on the Country Music chart.  I don't think I ever featured a hit from the 2000s in this journal.  The video above is from a tribute to Willie on ABC-TV.  It was a duo with Toby Keith who sadly passed away in 2024 at the age of 62.

Happy Birthday Willie!

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

The 30 Greatest Living Songwriters - What is Your Choice? - Pick up to 10

 


There was an article in the New York Times discussing this unranked list.  Of course, it is very debatable who is the absolute best since the 30 chosen by the New York Times are from different genres of music.  Deceased songwriters were not evaluated for this list.

You can vote for your 10 favorites.  I even included Leonard Cohen who paased away.  I even included a few songwriting teams.


Sunday, April 26, 2026

Congratulations to Mike Casiano for Attending His 10,000th Baseball Game

 

He made the message board at Citi Field
It Looks Like He Is Sleeping

I have observed Mike at Shea Stadium and Citi Field for years.  I assume that it took him about 60 years to attend so many games.  As I have followed him on X (formerly Twitter), I observed:
  • Very often, he attends 2 games in one day.  He can go to a Mets game in the afternoon and travel to Philadelphia to see a night game.
  • He often sees regional minor league teams, such as the Brooklyn Cyclones and Somerset Patriots.  There could be a Yankee game during the day and a Patriots game at night.
  • He takes many road trips.  Perhaps he has visited all 30 MLB parks and many defunct stadiums.
He certainly deserves to be interviewed by Steve Gelbs on SNY.  It is a shame that game 10,000 was a loss for the 2026 Mets, who are rapidly becoming the worst team money can buy.  Game 10,001 will be the second game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies.

Detailed article about Mike and his enthusiasm for sports.

Article in MLB.com about Mike's quest to attend 10,000 games


Saturday, April 25, 2026

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly by Hugo Montenegro - Random Instrumental Hit of the Day

 


This movie theme actually hit #2 on the Billboard chart in 1968.  I don't remember seeing the movie.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Bob Dylan Will Play at Forest Hills Stadium in July and I Got Tickets

 


Bob Dylan will be 85 years old next month and continues to tour.  The Never Ending Tour will stop in Forest Hills this July, and I got my tickets today.  I paid close to $200 for each ticket, but I only see him once a year.  I reported in this journal last December that I am aware of some fanatics who travel to all ends of the earth to see him in concert.  To each his own.

We did see Dylan in Forest Hills in July 2016.  He was supposed to return in July 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of that concert.  There was a controversial concert at Forest Hills in August 1965, when he went electric while the folk music fans hated it.

There are 3 months to go.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Thinking of 77 WABC Radio on My 77th Birthday

 



So, I am 77 years old today.  Where did all of these years go?  I remember listening to Music Radio 77 WABC all those years ago.  They had plenty of legendary personalities, including Cousin Bruce Morrow and Dan Ingram, but the playlist was very short.  You can read about Music Radio 77 in this detailed article written by Allan Sniffen.  In 1982, the station dropped the music and became a talk station.  Talk radio was never my "cup of tea," so I stopped listening.

In 2020, Cousin Bruce Morrow returned to WABC and is heard every Saturday from 6 PM - 10 PM.  I listen to his show whenever I can.





Sunday, April 19, 2026

Bruce's Journal is Always Free - No Patreon or Substack for Me

 


Since October 2005, I have published this journal to freely share my thoughts with others, whether or not they are acquainted with me.  The entries may be about:
  • My Background
  • Baseball Games
  • Bob Dylan
  • Oldies
  • Radio broadcasting
  • Unusual experiences
  • Anything else
I can consider it a vanity press.  I don't have to worry about fact-checkers or copy editors.

I never wanted to monetize this journal.  I write it mostly for fun and am not concerned about making money from it.  I always wonder if my writings have any impact on anybody.  Do people think I am some kind of a nut?

There are services called Patreon and Substack where writers charge readers.  They offer a few paragraphs for free and then ask the reader to subscribe, usually for a year, to read their entire articles.  This is just not for me.


Saturday, April 18, 2026

Casey Stengel Chapter of SABR Holds a Meeting at the 14th Street Y

 


Every year, the NYC Casey Stengel Chapter of SABR holds an in-person meeting.  This year the meeting was held at the 14th Street YM-YWHA on East 14th Street.  There were several speakers on topics of interest to New York baseball fans.

  • Eric Weiss ran his yearly trivia contest
  • Jay Goldberg discussed his project, The Memory of America: Remember Your First Baseball Game. He interviewed many fans who talked about the first game they saw in person.  My first game was on July 15, 1957 as the Brooklyn Dodger beat the Milwaukee Braves 20-4 at Ebbets Field.
  • Lee Lowenfish, a noted author, discussed his biography of Frankie Frisch who once played for the New York Giants.
  • David Fenichel talked about his campaign to build a statue of Jackie Robinson at the site of Ebbets Field.
  • Journalist Ken Davidoff discussed his book 101 Lessons from the     Dugout: What Baseball and Softball Can Teach Us About the Game of Life
  • Scott Tanenbaum, Professor of Sports Studies at Manhattanville University, discussed his book, Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites, which examines Americans’ changing understandings of urban areas, inclusion, and the body politic.
The turnout at this meeting was somewhat disappointing since only 30 or so people came.  When I was first involved with the chapter, it drew over 100 people to meetings held at the New York Public Library.  It remains a challenge for the chapter to get more involved in the society.

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Are Mets Fans Too Critical Over the Lack of a Jewish Heritage Day?


This website lists Theme Games and Heritage Nights at Citi Field in 2026.  There is no Jewish Heritage Night.  Does this imply anti-semitism by the Mets management?  The last such event was held in 2023.  Was there an outrage in 2024 or 2025?  I have seen many posts on social media criticizing the Mets.

Sadly, anti-semitism has grown tremendously in recent years.  My only comment is that Met owner Steve Cohen should address this issue.  He was raised in a Jewish household, but I have never observed him expressing a Jewish identity.

OK, Steve - let us hear you.

 

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

I am Glad I Didn't Stay Up to Watch the Mets Last Night

 


The Mets just started a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the West Coast, meaning the games start at 10 PM in NYC.  They lost 4-0 and were able to get just 3 hits as they lost their sixth game in a row. Will Sammon of The Athletic gives a good analysis of the Mets' woes.  Juan Soto is not expected back anytime soon, but one player can't turn the team around.  There are 145 games to go.

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Athletics 1 Mets 0 as the Losing Streak Hits 5

 


The only scoring of the game was a home run by Nick Kurtz in the third inning.  The pitching of Freddie Peralta and Sean Manaea was good, but the offense was limited to 4 hits.  Posters on social media are already calling for manager Carlos Mendoza to be fired after a record of 7-9.  I think it is a little premature, but podcaster Kelley Franco, aka @threeinningfan, explains what the Mets need to do to turn things around.


My Comments on Bruce's Journal

 


This is journal entry #5400 since October 2005, so I thought I should make some comments about this journal:
  • There have been over 8,500,000 hits to this journal, but how many of them are real and how many of them are from robots?
  • What people access this journal regularly?  I understand that people choose to be anonymous when they surf the web.  I am aware of a few regular readers who access it after I post the most recent entry on Facebook. Are my readers acquaintances or complete strangers?
  • Very few people make comments either on the journal directly or on Facebook.  Does my journal have any impact on anyone, or is it just a vanity press for me?
  • Some of the things I reported never happened.  Paul McCartney never teamed up with Bob Dylan.  There was never a movie based on Dylan's album Blood on the Tracks.
  • Many of the YouTube videos I posted were taken down for various reasons.  It would be a very time-consuming project for me to revise the entries with "defunct" videos.
  • Likewise, many of the linksin my entries are no longer valid.


Friday, April 10, 2026

Diamondbacks 7 Mets 1 at a Cold Citi Field

 


Last night's game was part of our 20-Game package, so we went and dressed warmly as the temperature was in the 40s.  The two earlier games in this series were moved up to 4 PM due to the cold weather, but Thursday's game started at 7 PM.

The game started well as Luis Robert Jr. hit a first-inning home run.  That lead held up until the 7th inning when the starting pitcher, Nolan McLean, began to falter.  The following relief pitchers, Luke Weaver and Luis Garcia, were ineffective.  The Mets lost 7-1.




Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Bob Dylan and Question Mark

 


The other day Bob Dylan performed in Saginaw, Michigan, the home of Rudy Martinez, professionally known as Question Mark.  His group, The Mysterians, had a big hit in 1966 called 96 Tears.


Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Len Levin of SABR Has Passed Away at Age 95 (Society for American Baseball Research)

 


For several years after my retirement, I was active in the SABR Games Project.  Authors would research and write accounts of professional baseball games.  As Coordinator of Fact Checking, I either reviewed the game myself or sent it to another team member.  After the game was fact-checked, I would send the manuscript to Len Levin to copyedit before publication.  I must have exchanged hundreds of emails with him over the years. I did meet him at two SABR National Meetings. It was always a pleasure to work with him.

Obituary by Jacob Pomrenke, SABR's Director of Editorial Content

Comments about Len by John Fredland, Coordinator of the Games Project:

Sad news for the Games Project and SABR in general: Len Levin, who served as copy-editor on a remarkable variety of SABR publications, including nearly every Games Project article during my five-and-a-half years as committee chair, died today at age 95. Len's reviews of our articles facilitated our weekly output until he broke his hip last December, and he struggled with his health after that.

I will miss how Len's revised articles arrived in my inbox overnight, with countless improvements in phrasing and citations brought into compliance with the SABR Style Guide. He once told me he worked on the articles after his wife Linda went to bed at night. He was born about a month after Ernie Banks and three months before Willie Mays, when the Philadelphia Athletics were defending World Series champions. He was a great teammate, and it is heartbreaking that he is gone.





Saturday, April 4, 2026

Radio Log Saturday April 4th

 


Here is a list of radio stations I heard today:
  • 1010 WINS
  • WFUV
  • Classic AT 40 with Casey Kasem
  • Elvis Radio on SiriusXM
  • Rewound Radio
  • 60s Gold on SiriusXM
  • WBGO - Rhythm Revue with Felix Hernandez
  • WABC - Cousin Brucie

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Passover Seder in the NYC Subway

 


The story on the TV News last night states that this seder took place on the #6 train.

  • A rapper known as Kosha Dillz started hosting pop-up Passover Seders on subway trains three years ago.  It is obviously an abbreviated version.
  • The moving celebration brings together riders of different backgrounds, including some attending their first Seder
  • Organizers say the quick, unconventional format is designed for people who might otherwise skip the holiday
  • Participants say the experience is both meaningful and uniquely New York
I think there should have been a seder on a New Jersey Transit train.  With their history of long delays, there could have been a complete seder.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

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.

Sunday, March 29, 2026

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.




 

Friday, March 27, 2026

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.



Thursday, March 26, 2026

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.


Wednesday, March 25, 2026

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.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

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.


Sunday, March 22, 2026

Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour Resumed Last Night in Omaha, Nebraska

 It is still branded as the Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour that started after the COVID-19 pandemic.  Within minutes after the end of the concert, the setlist was posted on the Internet. As you can see below, most of the songs were from Dylan's latest album.  There were a few older Dylan songs played along with covers of Bo Diddley and Eddie Cochran songs.  Will future concerts on this leg of the tour have the same setlist?

  1. Play Video
  2. (First Live Performance Since 2013)
    Play Video
  3. Play Video
  4. Play Video
  5. Play Video
  6. Play Video
  7. Play Video
  8. Play Video
  9. (Bo Diddley cover)
    Play Video
  10. Play Video
  11. Play Video
  12. Play Video
  13. Play Video
  14. Play Video
  15. (Eddie Cochran cover)
    Play Video

Saturday, March 21, 2026

Tribute to Miles Davis at Flushing Town Hall

 


It is nice to have a concert venue in the neighborhood.  Last night we walked over to see a tribute to the late Miles Davis.  Led by trumpeter and 2012 NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Owens, the FTH stage welcomed pianist and 2010 NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron, drummer and 2021 NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington, bassist Kenny Davis, saxophonist and 2022 NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison, and guitarist Michael Howell. This suite of brilliant, acclaimed musicians championed Davis and his contributions to the field.

I have his CD Bitch's Brew in my collection.  His works are heard on WBGO.  From 1988 to 2007, his recordings were also played on CD101.9.  WFAN is now heard on that frequency,

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Howie Rose calls Pete Alonso's Go Ahead Home Run 2024 Wild Card Game 3

 


Today, Howie Rose announced that he will retire from being the Mets' radio voice at the end of this season.  He has been with the team since 1987.  He said his father introduced him to baseball, and sadly passed away in 1978, and never saw or heard any of Howie's broadcasts.  Hopefully, Howie will announce a Mets World Series victory to end his phenomenal career.  

I am posting Howie's call of Pete Alonso's Go Ahead Home Run 2024 Wild Card Game 3.  Ironically, Devin Williams who threw the pitch is now on the Mets while Pete Alonso left.

 
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