NL Central & NL West Still Unsettled After 162 Games

We have come to the end of the 2018 MLB season and yet 162 games weren't enough to settle either the NL Central or NL West divisions.

The Chicago Cubs will host the Milwaukee Brewers tomorrow afternoon at Wrigley Field to determine the NL Central race. Earlier today, the Cubs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 10-5 while the Brewers squashed the Detroit Tigers 11-0 for their seventh straight win. Will the Cubs win their third straight NL Central title or will the Brew Crew claim the crown for the first time since 2011?

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers will host the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium to determine the NL West. The Dodgers and Rockies both won squash matches as well defeating the San Francisco Giants and the Washington Nationals 15-0 and 12-0, respectively. Will the Dodgers win their sixth straight NL West title or will the Rockies, who have won 9 of their last 10 games, win the division for the first time? The Rockies' previous four post-season appearances including 2017 have all come via the NL Wild Card. 

Speaking of the NL Wild Card, don't feel bad for whoever loses these games tomorrow because they will have the opportunity to vie for the NL Wild Card spot on Tuesday. 

Three Reasons Why David Wright Has a Chance at Cooperstown

Last night before a capacity crowd at Citi Field, New York Mets third baseman David Wright played his final big league game.

Wright went 0 for 1 with a walk and made a play in the field before leaving the game in the top of the fifth to a rapturous standing ovation. Mets fans would lustily boo Miami Marlins first baseman Peter O'Brien for having the nerve to catch Wright's pop up in his final at bat. But Mets fans went home happy when the Mets won the game in the 13th inning on an Austin Jackson double for the only run of the game with Wright addressing the fans after the game.

I spent last night thinking about Wright's chances for enshrinement into Cooperstown. Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen seemed to believe that Wright's injuries which have plagued him since 2014 are likely to preclude him. Wright has had several surgeries on his back, neck and shoulder and also has spinal stenosis to boot.

While I don't think Wright will be a first ballot Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible for consideration in 2024, I do believe he will be one day inducted whether by the BBWAA or by the Veterans Committee. There are three reasons working in his favor.

First, Wright not only spent his entire professional career with the New York Mets but is simply the greatest position player to ever wear a Mets uniform. Wright holds the team's records in every offensive category except for home runs and had Wright been healthy he would have eclipsed Darryl Strawberry's team record. It is true the Mets don't have the storied history of the Yankees, but come 2024 the Mets will be in their seventh decade. This is not an insignificant amount of time and Wright's imprint on the Mets cannot be ignored.

Second, there remains a paucity of third baseman in the Hall of Fame although the induction of Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones over the summer now puts that number at 17. Like Wright, Jones spent his entire career with a single organization. What makes things more interesting is that Wright and Jones careers overlap. They were frequent competitors within the NL East between 2004 and 2012 and during that period Wright supplanted Jones as the premier third baseman in the NL with seven NL All-Star appearances while Jones only had three over the same period. While Wright doesn't have Jones' overall offensive stats, he is certainly the better defensive third baseman. That Wright can be compared favorably with a contemporary like Jones certainly bolsters his case for induction.

Third, character still matters. Even if Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and, for that matter, Alex Rodriguez get their day in Cooperstown there will always be a cloud of scandal over their legacies. The same cannot be said for Wright who has conducted himself in an exemplary manner both on and off the field. This isn't to say that one must be a saint to earn a plaque in Cooperstown, but Wright leaves both the Mets and Major League Baseball a better place than he found it.

Marty Balin, R.I.P.

Marty Balin, a founding member of The Jefferson Airplane and the voice who defined the sound of its successor The Jefferson Starship, died on Thursday at the age of 76.

The cause of death is unknown, but Balin's health declined in 2016 following open heart surgery and complications which resulted in him suing Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City for medical malpractice. I found this quite disturbing given my Dad's life saving experience with the same institution nearly four years ago.

Balin would establish The Jefferson Airplane in 1965 out of a club he co-owned in San Francisco called The Matrix along with Paul Kantner, Signe Toly Anderson, Jorma Kaukonen, Jerry Peloquin and Bob Harvey. Anderson would be soon succeeded by Grace Slick. She and Kantner would be the best known members of the Airplane although Balin is probably best remembered for his lead vocal on "Volunteers" during their set at Woodstock. Balin would have a far less pleasant experience at Altamont only months later when he was knocked out by a member of the Hell's Angels gang. Shaken up by the death of Janis Joplin, Balin would leave the Airplane late in 1970 and retreated from music for a time.

Balin would reconnect with his musical comrades in 1974 when Kantner invited him to sing lead vocal on a song called "Caroline" which appeared on Dragon Fly which was the debut album for The Jefferson Starship. He would soon become a full fledged member and would reach his creative peak the following year with the band's second album Red Octopus which featured the group's biggest hit "Miracles" which Balin wrote and sang lead vocal. The Jefferson Starship would later score hits with "With Your Love" and "Count on Me" which appeared on Spitfire and Earth released in 1976 and 1978, respectively before he departed the band.

In 1981, Balin would release his debut solo album Balin which featured the Top 10 hit "Hearts". Later in the decade, he would collaborate with Kantner and Jack Casady in the KBC Band. The last three decades of his career were spent recording 10 more solo albums and occasional reunions with The Jefferson Starship.

One of my everlasting regrets was missing his performance at the Hatch Shell on The Esplanade in Boston in June 2008. He was opening for America and somehow I got there just as his performance ended. The crowd was raving about his performance. Evidently someone saw fit to release this performance on DVD. I must see it one of these days.

The best I can do for now is leave you with Miracles. R.I.P.

Why Republican Senators Won't Delay The Kavanaugh Vote & Other Cynical Notes UPDATE

I did the best I could to avoid the whole Kavanaugh-Blasey Ford spectacle precisely because I knew it would be a spectacle which would make Clarence Thomas & Anita Hill look like a Sunday school picnic. Then again I can't stay off Twitter. It's a character flaw.

As I stated earlier in the month, only Kavanaugh, Blaney Ford and the third person (Mark Judge) truly know what happened. Although the fact Judge wouldn't testify and Republicans didn't want him to testify doesn't do Kavanaugh any favors and it showed.

Four Republican Governors including Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Larry Hogan of Maryland, Phil Scott of Vermont and John Kasich of Ohio have called for a delay in the vote to confirm Kavanaugh until the FBI can investigate the accusations against him. The American Bar Association, which had previously given Kavanaugh its highest recommendation, has followed suit.

But they are not Republican Senators. Honestly, if it were shown that Kavanaugh was a serial rapist and murderer like Ted Bundy, I think they would confirm him to the court. Getting another conservative on the Supreme Court means more than life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness itself for the GOP. Besides there is no guarantee Republicans will control the Senate following mid-terms. If Ted Cruz is in trouble in Texas then no Republican is safe.

Of course, I harbor no illusions about Democrats. Dianne Feinstein nor any other Democrat has any use for Karen Monahan concerning her domestic abuse allegations against Congressman and DNC Deputy Chair Keith Ellison who is currently running for Attorney General in Minnesota. Only 5% of Democrats in Minnesota believe Monahan's allegation. As the Church Lady would say, "Well, isn't that convenient?" Sure, Ellison called upon the House Ethics Committee to investigate the accusations. But he's retiring and Democrats will take charge in the new year. Again, convenience with plenty of decorations to the window.

It's all very depressing. Why would any honest person want to enter a life of public service? I suppose that's why it gets left to the dishonest people. As my former roommate Christopher told me yesterday, "The truth of the matter left the room without anyone noticing." To which I replied, "The truth of the matter didn't leave the room. It never entered it in the first place."

UPDATE: Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake agreed to confirm Kavanaugh, but only if the FBI investigated the sexual misconduct allegations against him. President Trump agreed to the investigation which will conclude in a week's time. No doubt Flake made the demand after being confronted in the Senate elevator by two sexual assault victims this morning.

I suspect this will only delay matters. I doubt the FBI will uncover much, Kavanaugh will be confirmed and Democrats and Republicans alike will hate Jeff Flake.

Astros Clinch Back to Back AL West Titles; A's Get 2nd AL Wild Card Berth

The Houston Astros were able to clinch back to back AL West titles with both a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays along with the Oakland A's losing 10-8 in 11 innings to the Seattle Mariners. Notwithstanding the loss, the A's secured the second AL Wild Card berth and will play the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card game one week from today. Where it is to be played will depend on which team has the better record. As of right now the game would be played here in NYC. It is the A's first post-season appearance since 2014.

No one is surprised the Astros won the division. After April 20th, the Astros were never more than a game out of first and had at least a share of the lead after June 13th. But everyone was surprised with the A's. Most pundits expected the Astros to be challenged by the Angels. Then the Mariners showed life in May and early June. On June 15th, the A's were 34-36 and 11.5 games back of the Astros. They have gone 61-27 since and briefly tied the Astros for first place in mid-August.

If given the choice I think the Boston Red Sox would much prefer to play the Yankees than the A's in the ALDS. The A's beat the Sox 4 out of 6 games this season and this was before they got hot in mid-June. Meanwhile, the Astros will play the Cleveland Indians in the other ALDS. Most are going to favor the defending World Series champions. And why not? They've earned back to back 100 win seasons. To put this into perspective, the Red Sox who have won a franchise record 106 games and counting haven't had a 100 win season since 1946. Nevertheless, the Astros won't be taking Cleveland lightly and neither should we even if they are only marginally better than the Tampa Bay Rays.

While the AL playoff picture is clear (save for the site of the Wild Card game), the same cannot be said for the NL. Aside from the Atlanta Braves clinching the NL East last weekend, everything else is up in the air. The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers have a half game lead in the NL Central and NL West over the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies, respectively. If play ended today the Brewers and Rockies would be in the NL Wild Card game. But those standings could easily reverse by this evening. The St. Louis Cardinals are only a half game out of a NL Wild Card berth. This might not be settled until Sunday and even then that might not be enough.

Yankees Earn 3rd AL Wild Card Berth in 4 Years

The New York Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 in 11 innings on a walk off double by Aaron Hicks to clinch the team's 3rd AL Wild Card berth in four seasons.

The Yankees will most likely play the Oakland A's in the AL Wild Card game. If things remain as they are the game would be played in the Bronx. Should the Yankees prevail then they would most likely play the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS.

Despite inconsistent staring pitching and injuries to Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius plus a disappointing first season in pinstripes from Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees persevered with the emergence of youngsters Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres, the acquisition of Luke Voit from the St. Louis Cardinals plus a deep bullpen during Aaron Boone's inaugural season as manager.

The Yankees have been very good this season, but being 10 games back of the Red Sox in the AL East they have much to prove in October.

Braves Clinch 1st NL East Title Since 2013

The Atlanta Braves defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 to clinch their first NL East title since 2013.   Overall, it is their 14th NL East title.

Most pundits presumed the Washington Nationals would run away with the division, but instead the NL East turned into a two team race between the Braves and Phillies. The Braves climbed into first place at the beginning of May, but would relinquish top spot to the Phillies shortly before the All-Star Break. The Braves would reclaim the lead for good on August 13th. Brian Snitker will get more than a few votes for NL Manager of the Year.

The Braves largely won on the back of 20-year old outfielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. and 21-year old second baseman Ozzie Albies. Johan Camargo opened eyes with his play at third base. Nick Markakis had a resurgent season while Freddie Freeman was his usual Steady Freddie.

Their pitching won't intimidate anyone, but there is a serviceable rotation with Mike Foltynewicz, Sean Newcomb, Anibal Sanchez, Julio Teheran as well as Kevin Gausman who has been outstanding since being acquired from the Baltimore Orioles. A.J. Minter took over the closer role mid-season after Arodys Vizcaino went on the DL with a shoulder injury. Having two quality closers during the post-season could be of help to the Braves in the post-season.

The Braves will most likely face the winner of the NL West in the NLDS. As of right now that would be the Los Angeles Dodgers who have 1.5 game lead over the Colorado Rockies. No doubt the defending NL champions would be heavily favored in that contest, but it would be a mistake for pundits to write off the Braves in the post-season as they did during the regular season.

Bye Bye Boston; New York New Home

After nearly 18 and a half years in Boston, I have bid the Hub farewell and New York is my new home.

The events which have led me to the Big Apple began in July 2017 when I abruptly lost my job as a federal contractor working with HHS as a paralegal. Seeking a new opportunity as a paralegal I spent 8 months looking for work. In all, I applied for 435 jobs and had 33 job interviews before ending up back to my old line of work as a Records Clerk at a law firm on behalf of yet another contractor.

The work wasn't bad at all. I had my own space and mostly left alone. My boss and I had a very good rapport with baseball being our common language. Unfortunately, my housing situation did not go as planned. My roommate of nearly a decade decided to move to Providence. I spent much of the summer trying to find a successor. More than a dozen people looked the apartment. There was a couple who were interested, but then wavered. Then came an older gentleman who was eager to move in and then 24 hours later told me he could not make a commitment.

By this stage, I did not think I was going to find a new roommate. And even if I had I was at the mercy of a complete stranger or strangers. When Christopher and I joined forces we had already known each other for more than six years. Such a luxury would be unavailable to me this time around.

There was also the reality of the Boston housing market. When we moved into our two bedroom apartment in 2008 the rent was $1150. It is now $1875. A bulk of that increase has come in the past five years. Within a year or two, I would have been priced out of the market.

I also saw that the company was advertising a similar position in New York. So I called my boss to see if the position was available and arrangements were made. I start my new position at a law firm in the Chrysler Building on October 1st.

That gave me all of three weeks to clear out an apartment I have lived in longer continuously than I have lived anywhere else in my life. It was a very difficult, exhausting process. Fortunately, I received critical help from a former co-worker as well as my neighbors across the hall (along with their cat) and some neighbors down the street. So I wasn't entirely alone.

My neighbors' cat is sad to see me go. I shared a back deck with my neighbors and the cat would come to my window and meow in an agonized manner. One of them told me she had never heard him meow like that before. He knew I was leaving. In many ways, cats pick up on things far quicker than people and often feel them more acutely. It's too bad the cat couldn't pay rent. Manny would have been a great roommate.

So I now find myself living with my Dad. This is the first time I've lived with either of my parents in 27 years. It is a weird sensation. I have visited Dad many times, but this time I'm not going back to Boston.

Honestly, I don't know when I'll be back. The past year or so has been one swift kick in the ass after the other. Despite good people here and there, on the whole, Boston was getting me down. It is not a friendly place. There's an aloofness which precludes kindness and warmth and I have not been immune to its effects. As time has passed, I have become more uncomfortable around people and generally more anxious being out and about. In recent years, the St. Patrick's Day Parade and going to Fenway Park. When I attempted to go to Walden Pond on Labor Day, the commuter train broke down and I decided to get out while I could and get back on the T and go home. Boston is not without good memories. But I will need time and space to better appreciate those memories.

I know there are others who have experienced far worse than what I've gone through. I haven't had my home destroyed by a hurricane or a gas explosion. And there are a far less worse landing spots than the Upper West Side. Some people have nowhere to go.

There will be a period of adjustment. I'll need time to establish a new routine and get used to my new job. While I will spend time with Dad and his friends I shall need to find friends of my own. None of this comes easy to me. But what is easy?

I might be the only person to ever move to NYC to save money. However, the savings might take awhile to realize. Unfortunately, our landlord didn't accept our terms of surrender. So we are still obligated to pay rent until the landlord re-rents the unit. Lord knows how long that will take. I spoke with an attorney earlier in the week to see if there was any relief available to Christopher and I. Alas we are at the mercy of landlords and realtors.

On a lighter note there is baseball. I shall root for the Red Sox for the duration of 2018 even if it means missing a World Series parade. Well, I've been to three of them. But starting in 2019 I shall follow the New York Mets. Pulling for the Yankees is a bridge too far and the wound of Bill Buckner and Game 6 of the 1986 World Series is long since healed. Fittingly, my last game at Fenway took place last Sunday (on my birthday) between the Red Sox and Mets. While the Mets have had a bad season you wouldn't know it by the number of Mets fans in attendance. I'd say a good 40% of the crowd were Mets fans. When the Mets tied the game there was a sizable "Let's Go Mets!!!" chant. After a back and forth of "Let's Go Red Sox!!!" and "Let's Go Mets!!!" there was a pause. Red Sox and Mets fans chanted in unison, "Yankees Suck!!!" The transition from Red Sox to Mets might be the most seamless part of my move.

A new chapter has now begun. I don't know if this chapter will go as long as Boston but I shall have my share of New York Stories before this chapter closes. Hopefully most of these stories will be happy ones.

Red Sox Clinch 3rd Straight AL East Title On My Last Night in Boston

The Boston Red Sox have clinched their third consecutive AL East title with an 11-6 victory over the New York Yankees. While the Sox would have preferred to clinch at home as they did last year (I was there to see it in person) there is always a satisfaction in beating the Bronx Bombers at Yankee Stadium.

Home runs by Brock Holt, Jackie Bradley, Jr. & Mookie Betts (who belted his 30th of the year) contrubuted to the Sox's 104th victory of the season. It is the most the Red Sox have won since 1946 & are one victory away from tying their franchise record 105th victory set back in 1912. To put it in perspective, the Red Sox already have 11 more victories than they did a year ago with 9 games remaining in the regular season.

It has been a remarkable season for first year manager Alex Cora. Of course, it will be quickly forgotten if they fail to get past the ALDS for the third straight year especially if they fall to the Yankees. But for the moment there is a chance for the 2018 Boston Red Sox to be the greatest Red Sox team ever.

Should they go all the way I shall not be attending my fourth World Series parade. You see this is my last night in Boston. I won't go into the details now. But I am moving to....New York City.

Rest assured if there's Red Sox vs. Yankees ALDS I will be rooting for Boston. Rooting for the Yankees would be a bridge too far. But in 2019 I will be rooting for the New York Mets. Fittingly my last game at Fenway was on Sunday (my birthday) as the Sox hosted the Mets. There was a large contingent of Mets fans. I'd say about 40%. When the Mets tied the game late there was a large "Let's Go Mets!!!" chant. After a minute of "Let's Go Red Sox!!!" & "Let's Go Mets!!!" there was a pause. Red Sox & Mets fans chanted in unison "Yankees Suck!!!" So becoming a Mets fan won't be such a stretch.

But that will be next year. This year I will see the Red Sox through even if Boston will no longer be my home.

Kavanaugh vs. Blasey Ford Will Make Thomas vs. Hill Look Like a Sunday School Picnic

Like most people, I don't know if Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford three decades ago.


The only people who do know for certain are Kavanaugh, Blasey Ford and an unnamed accomplice.  Of course, the accounts from all parties are guaranteed not to be the same.


Should these accounts be recounted in detail before the Senate Judiciary Committee, it will make the Anita Hill vs. Clarence Thomas hearings nearly 27 years ago look like a Sunday school picnic. For of all Hill's accusations against Thomas none involved the use of physical force.


It is possible that Blasey Ford's letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein could be true. In which case there is the danger of having a sociopath sitting on the Supreme Court. As if having one in the White House isn't bad enough.


It is also possible that Blasey Ford's letter isn't true at all. Politics in this country is played for keeps. Do I think Democrats would knowingly lie or suborn libel to prevent Kavanaugh from being seated on the Supreme Court? I certainly do.


It is very likely the truth lies somewhere in between. But in this day and age there is no room for grey areas. You are either part of Team Red or Team Blue. If you criticize Trump, the Right brands you a Hillary supporter and seeks to ruin you. If you criticize Hillary, Obama, Black Lives Matter or #MeToo, the Left brands you as racist, sexist and homophobic and seeks to ruin you.


Politics is the nastiest of all human endeavors.

Indians Clinch 3rd Straight AL Central Title; Tenth Since 1995

The Cleveland Indians earned their third consecutive AL Central title with a decisive 15-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers. This is their 10th AL Central title. They won five straight AL Central titles between 1995 and 1999 and earn their other two titles in 2001 and in 2007 before this current streak.

The Indians really had no competition this season taking control of the division on April 21st and never looking back. They currently have a 15.5 game lead over the Minnesota Twins.

Frankly, the Tribe is lucky they are in the AL Central. The team is marginally better than the Seattle Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays and have a record inferior to both likely AL Wild Card teams - the New York Yankees and the Oakland A's. If the Indians were in the AL West they would be 9.5 games back of the Houston Astros and if they were in the AL East they would be 18.5 games back of the Boston Red Sox.

Yet with all that said, the Tribe has two bonafide AL MVP candidates in Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez and two time AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber along with a lights out bullpen and an experienced manager in Terry Francona. The Tribe will most likely face the Astros in the ALDS and while the Astros would be overwhelming favorites, it would be a mistake to dismiss a franchise seeking to win their first World Series title in 70 years.

Killing bin Laden Before 9/11 Wouldn't Have Prevented 9/11

This morning marks the 17th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001 which claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people in New York City, Washington, D.C. and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Every so often when the events leading up to 9/11 are discussed we hear about the missed opportunities to have assassinated al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden particularly during the latter part of the Clinton Administration. In a recording revealed in August 2014, the day before the attacks former President Clinton told an audience in Australia there was an opportunity to kill bin Laden in Kandahar in December 1998, but opted not to because of the civilian casualties which would have been involved and that having done so would have made him no better than bin Laden. A debatable proposition, but it does reinforce the argument that killing bin Laden before 9/11 would have prevented 9/11.

I don't share this view. Killing bin Laden would have turned him into a martyr and would have increased al Qaeda's resolve to carry out the attack. The attack itself might not have occurred on September 11, 2001. It might have taken place before or after that date, but given the state of our preparedness at the time I believe that a large scale attack would have happened in this country whether bin Laden was dead or alive.

Let's put it this way. Did Islamic terrorism stop when bin Laden was finally assassinated in 2011? No, it adapted and mutated. Can you say ISIS?

The truth of the matter is that evil will always be among us. The individuals and organizations perpetuating that evil come and go, but the evil itself never does.

Blue Jays to Part Ways With Gibbons -- Again

It appears that John Gibbons' second stint as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays will be over at the conclusion of this season. Gibbons has been at the helm since 2013 and previously managed the club between 2004 and the middle of the 2008 season. The writing was on the wall when Jays GM Ross Atkins announced that he would be revisiting Gibbons' status at season's end even though he was already under contract in 2019. It is worth noting that Gibbons signaled he wasn't keen on going through another rebuilding process. After appearing in back to back ALCS match ups in 2015 and 2016, the team has not been the same since the departure of Edwin Encarnacion. Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson have followed him out the door and lord knows if Troy Tulowitzki will ever play again.

Had Gibbons remained he would have eclipsed Cito Gaston as the club's longest serving manager. But that doesn't mean much when Gaston can boast of back to back World Series titles.

Burt Reynolds Delivered in Deliverance

Actor Burt Reynolds has passed away of cardiopulmonary arrest at the age of 82 after many years of health issues.


Whether Reynolds appeared in Gunsmoke or on a guest spot in Burn Notice, he had a larger than life presence about him.


His box office peak came during the mid-1970's through the early 1980's with several Smokey & The Bandit films, The Longest Yard, Semi-Tough, The Cannonball Run and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. In the early 1990's, he starred in the CBS TV series Evening Shade with Marilu Henner. Reynolds would finally earn an Oscar nomination for his performance in Boogie Nights with Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.


But the film for which he should have received an Oscar nomination was Deliverance. Reynolds more than held his own with Jon Voight and newcomers Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty. Lewis Medlock was the most outwardly dark and cynical among the foursome, but this darkness and cynicism was accompanied by a world weary wisdom. Unfortunately for Reynolds and Deliverance, this was the year of The Godfather and there was simply no stopping it.


Reynolds never appeared to take himself too seriously whether during his many appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson as a guest or a host or his involvement with the game show Win, Lose or Draw hosted by his friend Burt Convy. While it's lamentable that Reynolds didn't take on more substantive roles in his career as he did in Deliverance, he was nevertheless a movie star and people came to see him and came away happy. In this respect Burt Reynolds always delivered. R.I.P.

Geoffrey Owens Is Today's Gene Tierney

There has been a huge reaction on social media over the past several days after someone took a picture of former Cosby Show alum Geoffrey Owens bagging groceries at a Trader Joe's in New Jersey and Fox News bashing him for it.

I guess there is an expectation that everyone who appears on TV or in the movies is a millionaire or very well to do. This perception hasn't changed very much in the last 60 years. All of the attention Owens has received reminded me of when actress Gene Tierney was photographed working as a sales clerk in a department store in Kansas which was circulated in Life Magazine. After being one of Hollywood's premier leading ladies during the 1940's and early 1950's earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in Leave Her to Heaven, she suffered a bout of mental illness and working in a department store was part of her therapy. Tierney would eventually return to Hollywood in the 1960's working as a character actress before retiring altogether by the end of the decade save for a single role in the NBC mini-series Scruples with Lindsay Wagner. 

The reality is that "working actors" don't work regularly and if they do it isn't for very much money. If there is money to be made it is in commercials. You've got to make a living somehow.

Of course, there are occupations people tend to look down upon - grocery store clerks, janitors, file clerks. These positions seldom lead to upward mobility and I've had more than my share of attorneys look at me as if I worked in an amusement park. It makes living with trying to make a living that much harder. Politicians and those who aspire to public office speaking of working people, but in reality they look at working people with contempt except when it comes time to get votes. 

Being wealthy, having power or otherwise having good fortune doesn't make you better than everybody else let alone make you a good human being.

With that, I hope Geoffrey Owens is offered some lucrative acting work.

MLB Notes for August: Cardinals Surge Into Top NL Wild Card Spot; Have Shot at Cubs in Central

When August began, the St. Louis Cardinals were in fourth place in the NL Central 7.5 games back of the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers and now looking up at the surging Pittsburgh Pirates.

But after going 22-6 in August, the Cardinals now own the top spot in the NL Wild Card race and are only 3.5 games back of the Cubs and could conceivably win the NL Central before it's all over. New manager Mike Shildt's easy going, low key approach helped Matt Carpenter have a power surge and Harrison Bader has made the most of his opportunities after Tommy Pham was dealt to Tampa Bay. Miles Mikolas is a legitimate Cy Young candidate, rookie Jack Flaherty is getting better with every start and who knew that Bud Norris could close games?

Still, the Cubs have the best record in the NL and have played their best baseball since acquiring Daniel Murphy from the Washington Nationals and will be tough to knock off. Meanwhile, the Brewers who are currently four games back of the Cubs and hold the second NL Wild Card spot are fortifying the team by adding longtime Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Curtis Granderson and White Sox reliever Xavier Cedeno to the roster. The Brewers narrowly missed the post-season in 2017 and do not want history to repeat itself.

Unfortunately, the Pirates are going in the opposite direction. Acquiring Chris Archer from the Rays has not paid dividends and following a 10-17 effort in August have parted ways with both David Freese and Adeiny Hechevarria sending them to the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, respectively. Despite this setback it doesn't appear that Clint Hurdle is going anywhere. After two straight winning months, the Cincinnati Reds played like a last place team in August going 9-19. But make no mistake. Things are a lot better with Jim Riggleman in the dugout with better things to come in 2019.

The Atlanta Braves hold a two game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. Certainly no one expected the Washington Nationals to be under .500 and 7.5 games off the pace. After a disastrous 5-21 mark in June, the New York Mets have played .500 ball since and can take some comfort that they will likely finish the season ahead of the Miami Marlins, who like the Reds, played like a last place team in August going 7-19.

The NL West is MLB's tightest race with the Arizona Diamondbacks holding a one game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers and a 1.5 game lead over the Colorado Rockies. Unlike 2017 when all three teams made the post-season only one team is likely to make it this year. If this is the case then the Dodgers could miss the playoffs for the first time since 2012. At 68-68, the San Francisco Giants could theoretically get back into the race but having just traded Andrew McCutchen to the New York Yankees this is an indication the team is looking towards 2019. As for the San Diego Padres, with 83 losses under their belt they will have 8 straight losing seasons.

Although the Boston Red Sox finished August losing 7 of their last 12 games, the Red Sox have 93 wins. They had 93 wins in all of 2017. The Red Sox might not eclipse the 1906 Chicago Cubs or the 2001 Seattle Mariners, but they will likely have their first 100 win season since 1946 and eclipse the franchise record 105 wins set all the way back in 1912.

To give you an idea of how good the Red Sox are, the New York Yankees' 85-50 record would have them in the first place in any other division in MLB. But in the AL East they are 7.5 games back of the Red Sox. Of course, for Red Sox Nation that isn't nearly enough.

The Tampa Bay Rays end August 21 games back of the Red Sox. But don't tell that to the Red Sox. The Rays are the only team to sweep the Red Sox in 2018. I'm not sure how Kevin Cash does it with a no name roster and having no rotation outside of Blake Snell with middle relievers starting games. But he's done it and he deserves to be named AL Manager of the Year.

The fate of Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons and Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter is far from certain. Although Gibbons has a year left on his contract, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins says Gibbons will finish this season with the club putting 2019 very much in doubt. The Jays are having a bad season, but they are 21.5 games ahead of the Orioles who after going 8-20 in August are 52.5 games back of the Red Sox. The Orioles might not be the 1962 New York Mets, but they will certainly exceed the 107 loss season in 1988 and might even exceed the 111 losses suffered in 1939 by their predecessors the St. Louis Browns.

Last month, I chided the Cleveland Indians for being lucky to be in the AL Central. The Tribe responded with their best baseball of the season going 19-9 in August and have a cozy 14 game lead over the Minnesota Twins. Their magic number to clinch the division is 15. Of course, the rest of the division is utterly mediocre although the Chicago White Sox did have a 17-12 August. They began August only four games ahead of the last place Kansas City Royals Royals and eight back of the Detroit Tigers. They begin September tied for third place with the Tigers. It might not mean much now, but it could be a sign of good things to come in 2019.

The Houston Astros are still in first place in the AL West, but have only a 1.5 game lead over the Oakland A's. The teams were tied for first as late as August 21st. Unless the Seattle Mariners can regain their form of April through June at the expense of one of these teams then their playoff drought will extend to 17 seasons. But at least the Mariners have something for which to fight unlike either the Los Angeles Angels or the Texas Rangers.

September will undoubtedly be an exciting, but nerve wracking month for baseball teams and fans alike.