Mets Beat the Padres 7-3 to Tie the Wild Card Series

 

I paid big bucks for tickets to last night's game.  We sat in section 507 on the upper deck between home plate and first base.  It was less expensive to get tickets through Stub Hub than through the Mets ticket office.

Jacob deGrom started the game and allowed two runs and five hits in six innings.  The game featured home runs by Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso.  Trent Grisham hit a home run for the Padres.  The Mets took a commanding lead in the seventh inning featuring a double by NL batting champion Jeff McNeil that drove in two runs.

Manager Buck Showalter made an unusual move by bringing in closer Edwin Diaz in the seventh inning.  At that point, the Mets had a one-run lead.  The situation became a little scary in the ninth inning as Adam Ottovino loaded the bases as the Padres scored a run to make the score 7-3.  Seth Lugo got the last out facing the potential tying run and got the save.

The game lasted four hours and thirteen minutes.  There were a total of 15 walks and numerous deep counts, foul balls, and throws to try to pick off runners.  I am looking forward to the pitch clock next season.  Games are just too long.

Game Recap

Box Score

Can the Mets Bounce Back after a Terrible Loss to the San Diego Padres?

 

Max Scherzer got a three-year contract worth $130 Million but pitched very poorly last night as he allowed four home runs to the Padres in Game 1 of the wild-card series.  This was only the second time that a pitcher allowed four home runs in a post-season game.

Greg Prince the author of the blog Faith and Fear in Flushing made the following observation on Twitter:

The Mets lost Game One of...

• 1969 World Series
• 1973 NLCS
• 1986 NLCS
• 1986 World Series
• 2000 NLDS

I especially remember 1986 when the Mets lost the first two games of the 1986 World Series at home and rallied to beat the Red Sox in 7 games.

I will be at Citi Field tonight as Jacob deGrom will take the mound.  But which de Grom will we see tonight?  He pitched poorly in his last two starts in the regular season.

Will Bob Dylan Perform at The Beacon Theater in NYC This November?

For several years Bob Dylan has performed at the Beacon Theater in late November or early December.  At that point, the Never-Ending Tour took a hiatus and resumed in the spring.  At present, Dylan is touring in western Europe with the last concert scheduled for November 7th in Dublin, Ireland.  There is nothing scheduled at the Beacon Theater from November 20 until December 1.

Does this mean Dylan will come there?  I think it is possible but unlikely.  He is now 81 years old and should rest longer between the legs of his tour.  I think if he were to perform there, the concerts would have been announced by now.

We'll have to just wait and see.

 

With 101 Wins the Mets Had to Settle for the Wild Card

 

On June 1 the Mets had a 10 1/2 game lead in the National League East.  Since that time, the Atlanta Braves were as hot as fire as they overcame the Mets in the last week of the season.  The Mets failed by

• Losing four games to the Chicago Cubs in the middle of September
• They performed poorly playing against the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins
• Losing three games to Atlanta during the last week of the season.  Winning just one could have given them the NL East title.
• The trades they made at the deadline did not help the team.

When I look back at the standings in 2000, the Mets were second place team behind the Atlanta Braves and got to the World Series when they lost to the Yankees.  Let's hope for a Subway Series this year.

I got tickets for the second wild card game against the San Diego Padres.  They are in Section 507 in the upper deck of Citi Field.  The prices on Stub Hub were less than those offered by the Mets.  I had to buy two single tickets four rows apart, so I can't have everything.

Full Measure by the Lovin' Spoonful - Random Oldie of the Day

 

For some strange reason, this song came to mind this morning.   It was from the album "Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful" and was also released as a single but only reached #87 on the Billboard chart.  I believe Steve Boone who co-wrote the song was the lead singer.  It was discussed on the Vancouver Pop Music website.

The 2022 Oldies Meet and Greet is Set for Saturday November 12 at Ben's Deli in Manhattan

After a three-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic we are pleased to announce the Oldies Meet and Greet will return on Saturday November 12^th from 2-4 PM at Ben’s Deli, 209 West 38^th Street in Manhattan.  In the past we have featured radio personalities and oldies recording artists including Broadway Bill Lee, Pat St. John, Bobby Jay, Jim Kerr, Carol Miller, Big Jay Sorensen, Sue O’Neill, Cool Bobby B, Louise Murray of the Jaynetts, and Tony Middleton of the Willows.

Our special guest this year will be Barbara Harris of the Toys. Barbara was born in North Carolina but as a child moved to Jamaica, Queens, NY. In high school she began singing with classmates and they were discovered by the Brill Building songwriting team Linzer-Randell-Crewe who gave the newly created group The Toys, their first top 10 hit "Lovers Concerto" in the fall of 1965. Barbara Harris and the Toys had three other charted hits "Attack," "Silver Spoon," and "Sealed with a Kiss." The Toys appeared on American Bandstand, Shindig and Hullabaloo and still perform today.

Luncheon Menu

Choice of ONE

Corned Beef, Roast Beef, Brisket, Pastrami, Turkey, Smoked Turkey, Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, Salami, Vegetable Burger, 2 Hot Dogs, House Salad

SERVED with FRESH CUT FRENCH FRIES

INCLUDES:

Cole Slaw and Pickles

 Fresh Baked Rye Bread

Choice of Bottomless Fountain Soda or Iced Tea

  The Cost is $29 for all attending (Cash only please) that includes the meal and drinks, tax, tip and chipping in for the special guests. This has been our tradition since this event began in 2006.

 

For further Information contact Bruce Slutsky (BruceS8852@aol.com) or Jeff Scheckner (jmandjs@aol.com)

 

Please register at Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/1768628143488449/

If you are not on Facebook, you can register at https://forms.gle/hKeG5vVx81zBLUBF8

 

The Bob Dylan Tribute Concert at Town Hall was Superb

 

Last night we went to Town Hall in Manhattan and Joe Henry to see A Tribute to Bob Dylan produced by T-Bone Burnett and Joe Henry.  It was part of the Town Hall Centennial Celebration.  It featured covers of Dylan songs by artists including:

• The Punch Brothers
• Bill Frisell
• Margaret Glaspy
• Joy Harjo
• The McCrary Sisters

Songs written by Bob Dylan have been covered and interpreted by numerous recording artists over the years.  I have many CDs in my collection with covers in many genres of music.  In the past I have attended the following performances that covered Dylan songs:

• Dylan Different by Ben Sidran at the Highline Ballroom
• The Complete Unknowns at The City Winery
• Tomorrow is a Long Time – Songs by Bob Dylan’s 1963 Concert at Town Hall

Last night’s concert at Town Hall did not repeat the songs at the 1963 Concert but offered a playlist of songs that represented Dylan’s works from his brilliant 60-year career.  The setlist:

• Blowin’ in the Wind
• Masters of War
• Gotta Serve Somebody
• Positively Fourth Street
• Every Grain of Sand
• The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
• Tangled Up in Blue – got the biggest applause
• All Along the Watchtower
• It’s Alright Ma (I’m only bleeding)
• Mississippi
• A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall
• What Good am I?
• Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
• Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright
• Not Dark Yet – from Time Out of Mind that was released exactly 25 years ago
• The encore was Rainy Day Way Women #12 and #35 which was an audience sing-along

I must say the performances were superb both vocally and instrumentally.

At the show's beginning, it was stated that the performance would be recorded for posterity.  I hope it will be released as a DVD and CD.

Kathy Fortier took this Photo