White Sox Name Venable New Manager to Bring Them From Rock Bottom

(via The Associated Press)

The Chicago White Sox have named Will Venable to be their new manager. 

The Chisox, of course, set a modern MLB record with 121 losses in 2024. The season was split between Pedro Grifol (28-89) and Grady Sizemore (13-32). 

It is curious that the team wasn't prepared to give Sizemore more of a chance given that he was popular with the players. Despite their woeful record, the team did go 8-6 over the past two weeks of the season including wins in 5 of their last 6 games. 

In some ways, Sizemore and Venable are very similar. Both men are 42 with Venable's birthday taking place two days ago. Sizemore played in MLB for 10 seasons while Venable played in MLB for 9 seasons primarily with the San Diego Padres. Sizemore ended his playing career after the 2015 season while Venable finished his in 2016. 

The difference is that Sizemore never expected to be a big-league manager. It was only a year ago, Sizemore was a $15 an hour intern with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Whereas Venable has been groomed to a be a big-league manager. After spending part of the 2017 season in the Chicago Cubs front office, he would join the coaching staff the following year spending two seasons in the dugout followed by two seasons as a coach in the Boston Red Sox dugout before becoming associate manager of the Texas Rangers last year earning a World Series ring under Bruce Bochy's wing. It was only a matter of time before Venable was going to be hired to manage a ballclub.

It would be an understatement to say that Venable has a very tall order in front of him. It remains to be seen if the roster will warm to him as they did Sizemore. Of course, one can be a great communicator, but a manager's words go out the window after the losses start piling up. As such, what are the front office's expectations for Venable to turn the team into a contender in the AL Central? Venable has a multiyear contract, but that could mean two seasons. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is nothing if not fickle.

Then again, Will Venable is already a baseball lifer. His father, Max Venable, played in MLB for 12 seasons as well as in Japan, South Korea and in the Dominican Republic and his son went with him everywhere he went. In a sense, Will Venable has been preparing to be a big-league manager his whole life.

Dodgers Best Yankees to Win 8th World Series Title

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers who defeated the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 of the World Series to win their 8th championship in franchise history. 

The Dodgers were down 5-0 in the fifth inning when Yankees miscues by Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe as well as a miscommunication between Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rizzo on a Mookie Betts groundball sparked a five-run rally. The Yankees would regain the lead on a sac fly by Giancarlo Stanton, but the Dodgers would answer with sac flies from Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts to give the Dodgers the lead for good. 

To the surprise of no one, Freddie Freeman earned World Series MVP tying a World Series record with 12 RBI which was originally set by New York Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson in the 1960 World Series when the Bronx Bombers fell short to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Freeman hit HR in the first four games of the World Series including a walk-off grand slam in Game 1. He actually homered in six consecutive World Series games going back to 2021 when he was a member of the Atlanta Braves. 

Even diehard Yankees fans were hard pressed to root against Freeman, who aside from being among the most beloved players in MLB, had to leave the team during the summer to address his 3-year-old son Max's ordeal with Guillain-Barre syndrome.

The Dodgers won the first three games of the series. Although they were blown out last night 11-4, the lone Yankees victory was marred by a couple of lame fans who tried to rob Mookie Betts of his glove. 

All 8 of the Dodgers' World Series have come in the past 70 years. The Dodgers won their first World Series title in 1955 against the Yankees while they were still based in Brooklyn. Their remaining titles have been in L.A. - 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988, 2020 and now 2024. Of course, the championship in 2020 came during the COVID shortened season in which no fans were permitted during the regular season with limited seating capacity in Globe Life Park in Texas and no celebration to boot. So, actually this will be the first time L.A. gets a World Series parade in 36 years. 

And if the Dodgers look to the sky during the parade they might see Fernando Valenzuela smiling upon them as they sing Randy Newman's "I Love L.A.".

Terri Garr Brightened Both the Big and Small Screen

(YouTube screenshot)

This afternoon, I learned of the passing of actress Terri Garr. She had been afflicted with MS for more than two decades, a condition which would eventually force her retirement. Garr would have turned 80 next month. 

Despite being away from acting in the last decade plus of her life, Terri Garr's performances on the big and small screen endure because her presence brightened not only the proceedings but the medium in which they were presented. She made already great films like Young Frankenstein, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Tootsie even better with her warmth and wit. Her frequent appearances on both The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and especially Late Night with David Letterman were always showcases for her droll wit. Garr kept both hosts on their toes, and they liked her for it.

I remember when Garr appeared on Letterman some years after her MS diagnosis. It was difficult for her to move around, and one could not help but feel for her under the circumstances. But her mind remained razor sharp. There was no pitying her. Terri Garr lived a good life and her talents shall live on. R.I.P.

NDP Hangs on in B.C. While Falling Short in Saskatchewan

More than a week after the people of British Columbia voted, the governing NDP has narrowly prevailed yesterday although it remains unclear if they will have a one seat majority or form a minority government with the Green Party. Either way NDP Premier David Eby has a little margin for error.

I will give B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad and his party for one thing. They reject election denialism. I just hope this view continues to prevail among right-wing political parties in Canada should Donald Trump be re-elected next week. Authoritarianism and authoritarian sentiments have a way of spreading. 

Meanwhile, more than 1,100 miles east in Saskatchewan, the NDP fell short as the conservative Saskatchewan Party won its fifth consecutive majority government last night and second straight for Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. However, the NDP acquitted itself well. While the Saskatchewan is leading and elected in 35 seats, the NDP is leading and elected in 26 seats under new leader Carla Beck. The Saskatchewan Party dominated in rural ridings while the NDP's strength came almost exclusively in Saskatchewan's two largest cities - Regina and Saskatoon. 

Canadian political junkies not satiated with three provincial elections in Saskatchewan, B.C. and in New Brunswick will get a fourth when voters in Nova Scotia go to the polls on November 26th. In a shocking move on Sunday, Nova Scotia's Tory Premier Tim Houston called a snap election only three years into his mandate amid promises of a fixed election next year. It will be interesting to see if Nova Scotia voters punish Houston for his gambit or if he is counting on the opposition vote between the Liberals, NDP and Green Party to be sufficiently divided to give the Tories another term in office. 

Watching election returns in Canada's provinces is, at least for the time being, infinitely more relaxing than watching our own elections.

Today I Voted For Kamala Harris & Tim Walz

 

Today, I voted for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

I had originally planned to wait until after work on Election Day to vote as my precinct is a very short distance from my home. But I decided I want to get this over and done with now. So, I went down the Main Branch of the Cambridge Public Library this afternoon and cast my ballot. 

This wasn't a tough call.

A Harris Administration will govern America in a way which improves the lives of people while preserving American democracy.

A second Trump Administration is not interested in improving the lives of people nor preserving American democracy. It is about seeking retribution against enemies mostly imagined. In the course of seeking this retribution, a second Trump Administration would, among other things, suspend the Constitution giving it the ability to arrest, try and execute their political opponents, shut down the free press, restrict free assembly and speech and otherwise make the lives of Americans as miserable as possible.

Again, not a tough call.

It isn't to say I would agree with every measure implemented by the Harris Administration. I am not without concern regarding how a Harris Administration will approach Israel. However, I am prepared to support the candidate in favor of preserving American democracy. Indeed, if I am dissatisfied with a Harris Administration then I am under no obligation to support it in 2028. Should we choose Trump there is a very reasonable chance there will be no election in 2028. Or if we do have an election in 2028 it will more closely resemble the sort of elections held in Russia. 

This is not a chance I am prepared to take. So, I voted for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

What the rest of the country will do 9 days from now remains to be seen. 

But, for the moment, there is a chance the country will make the right decision.

The Washington Post & L.A. Times Won't Endorse Harris Because They Fear Trump's Retribution

Within days of each other The Washington Post and the L.A. Times declared they would not be making an endorsement in the 2024 presidential election under the guise of independence and neutrality.

The reality is that the editorial boards of both papers intended to endorse Kamala Harris, and their owners or publishers quashed them. 

Both Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong and WaPo owner Jeff Bezos believe Trump will prevail and do not want to incur his wrath. After all, Trump has declared a second term will be about retribution and surely the press, an entity he has repeatedly referred to as "an enemy of the people", will bear the brunt of this campaign.

Had the editorial boards of either paper intended to endorse Trump do you think either Dr. Soon-Shiong or Bezos would have stopped such an endorsement?

Should Trump's election come to pass, I think he will smell blood in the water. Independence and neutrality will not be enough for Trump. He will demand (and receive) the endorsements of The Washington Post and The L.A. Times come 2028. (Yes, I believe a re-elected Trump would suspend the Constitution and effectively become President for Life. But those thoughts will be for another dispatch.) 

While The Washington Post and The L.A. Times might not endorse Kamala Harris; it doesn't the American people have to follow their lead. The story of the American voter in 2024 has yet to be written.

The Yankees-Dodgers World Series Will Be Good for Baseball

 

At this hour, Game 1 of the 2024 World Series is underway between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A Yankees-Dodgers World Series will be good for baseball.

While the two teams have faced off in the World Series 11 times, it is the first time this matchup has come to pass since 1981.

This will serve as nostalgia for the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers albeit one tinged with sadness with the deaths of both Fernando Valenzuela and Rudy May earlier this week. 

The Yankees-Dodgers rivalry can now be introduced to a generation of Millennials and Gen Zers. 

It doesn't hurt that the game's two greatest players are on the field - Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Dodgers powerhouse Shohei Ohtani. 

There's a chance it won't be the last time these two titans face off in October. 

Let the rivalry begin anew.

Rudy May, Who Pitched in the Last WS Between Yankees & Dodgers in '81, Passes Away

Last night, I noted the 2024 World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers has had a pall cast upon it with the passing of Dodgers pitching legend Fernando Valenzuela who pitched in the 1981 World Series - the last time these two teams met in the Fall Classic until tomorrow night. 

Only hours after Fernando's death came word of the passing of another pitcher who took part in the 1981 World Series. Rudy May, who had two stints for the New York Yankees in the 1970's and 1980's, passed away yesterday following a prolonged battle with diabetes. May was 80. 

May bounced around between the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies before making his big-league debut with the California Angels in 1965. May tossed 9 innings of one hit ball while striking out 10 Detroit Tigers. Unfortunately, he would not get the win as the Tigers prevailed in 13 innings. 

Arm troubles as well as back troubles (which would persist for the rest of his career) would put May back into the minor leagues for three seasons before returning to the big league club in 1969 and would become a member of the team's starting rotation for the next five seasons. After struggling towards the latter part of the 1973 season, May was phased out of the starting rotation by fireballer Frank Tanana. 

By mid-June, the New York Yankees had purchased his contract where he pitching fortunes would improve. That is until the Yankees hired Billy Martin in the middle of the 1975 season. May and Martin were like and oil and water and by the middle of the 1976 season, May was sent to the Baltimore Orioles in a 10-player deal. Among those going to the Orioles with May were future stars Rick Dempsey, Scott MacGregor and Tippy Martinez with Doyle Alexander, Elrod Hendricks, Ken Holtzman and Grant Jackson bound for the Bronx. 

In 1977, May won a career high 18 games and pitched a career high 251.2 innings. However, the Orioles would trade the spectacled southpaw to the Montreal Expos in a six-player deal which included a future Expos starter Bryn Smith. Going to Baltimore were outfielder Gary Roenicke, relief pitcher Don Stanhouse and pitcher and future pitching coach/big league manager Joe Kerrigan. 

May would begin his tenure in Montreal as a starter but was eventually moved to the bullpen where he thrived. In 1979, as the Expos were in their first meaningful pennant race, May went 10-3 with a 2.31 ERA in 33 appearances (26 in relief and 7 starts). 

Prior to the 1980 season, May would return to the Yankees signing a 3-year, $1 million contract. May would play a similar role as he did with the Expos the year before and pitched even better. In 41 appearances (included 17 starts), May went 15-5 while leading the AL with a 2.46 ERA reaching the post-season for the first time in his career. Unfortunately, the Yankees were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS although he would pitch 8 strong innings in a losing effort in Game 2. 

May was primarily a starter in 1981, but he would take a step back going 6-11 with a 4.14 ERA in 27 appearances including 22 starts. However, May would make three appearances in the 1981 World Series against the Dodgers pitching 6.1 innings giving up only 2 runs. However, the Dodgers would prevail in six games.

May's days with the Yankees and his big-league career would come to an end after struggling following the return of Billy Martin to the dugout with no love lost between the two. In 535 career appearances (with 360 starts), May went 152-156 with a 3.46 ERA striking out 1760 batters in 2622 innings pitched. 

After his baseball career, May went into business with Circle K before joining British Petroleum. 

The Dodgers will honor Fernando Valenzuela with a number 34 patch during the World Series. I hope the Yankees will do their part and honor Rudy May. R.I.P.

Fernando Valenzuela's Passing Casts a Pall on The Yankees-Dodgers World Series

(via Baseball Reference)

A pall was cast upon the forthcoming World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers with news of the passing of former Dodgers pitcher and Spanish language broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela at the age of 63. 

The last time the Yankees and Dodgers faced off in the World Series was in 1981 - the year of Fernandomania. The Dodgers simply would not have won the 1981 World Series if not for his larger-than-life presence.

Fernando had pitched briefly with the Dodgers at the tail end of the 1980 season at the tender age of 19. While made a good account of himself, few expected the Mexican born southpaw to transform baseball as he did in 1981.

Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda made Fernando his Opening Day starters when neither Jerry Reuss (who finished runner up in NL Cy Young balloting in 1980 to Hall of Famer Steve Carlton) nor Burt Hooton could answer the call. Fernando responded by tossing a complete game, five hit shutout against the defending NL West champion Houston Astros. He then proceeded to toss eight complete games in his first eight big league starts including five shutouts. At one point, Fernando had a record of 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA. 

Could you imagine any big-league manager allowing any starting pitcher, let alone a rookie, pitch eight consecutive complete games? This will never happen again in baseball at any level and the game is pooer for it.

It wasn't what he did but how he did it. The way Fernando looked to the sky before delivering his trademark screwball with his joyous smile. Fernando would finish the 1981 strike-shortened season with a record of 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA leading the NL in starts (25), complete games (11), shutouts (8), innings pitched (192.1) and strikeouts (180) and earn both the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award. No pitcher has done so before or since. On top of that, he would earn a World Series ring as the Dodgers prevailed in six games over the Yankees with a complete game victory in Game 3 of the Fall Classic. 

I would make the case that Fernando Valenzuela was bigger in 1981 than Shohei Ohtani has been this year or any other year. I remember Fernando's teammate the late Jay Johnstone describing Fernando as "a Mexican Babe Ruth" and he did have that aura about him. 

Fernando would make six consecutive NL All-Star Teams between 1981 and 1986. In the 1986 season, Fernando led the NL with 21 wins and 20 complete games. Fernando is the last big-league pitcher to earn 20 complete games in a season. Again, this is something we will never again see in baseball at any level.

Granted, Fernando was never again a dominant pitcher after the 1986 season. While he would earn a World Series ring with the Dodgers in 1988, he was kept off the post-season roster with Orel Hershiser having supplanted him as the team's ace. 

Fernando did have flashes of brilliance as in 1990 when he tossed a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals only hours after his former Dodger teammate Dave Stewart no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays as a member of the Oakland A's. However, Fernando led the NL in earned runs with 104 and would be cut loose by the Dodgers at the end of the season.

Fernando would have stops with the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres where he would return to form with a 13-win campaign in 1996 when the Padres won the NL West under a young Bruce Bochy. However, time caught up with Fernando in 1997 which he split between the Padres and Cardinals finishing the final season of his career with a 2-12 record and a 4.96 ERA. In 17 MLB seasons, Fernando went 173-153 with a 3.54 ERA and 2,074 career strikeouts. 

Fernando would return to the Dodger family in 2003 as a Spanish language broadcaster joining Jaime Jarrin in the radio booth before moving to TV broadcasting in 2015. Shortly before the Dodgers were to begin the post-season, Fernando issued a statement that he was leaving the booth to address a health problem with the hope of returning in 2025. Alas, a return which will never come. 

No cause of death has been released, but Fernando had appeared more noticeably gaunt. Whatever the circumstances, Dodgers fans will want to remember Fernando's glory years in the early to mid 1980s and hope that memory will serve as an inspiration for a Dodgers World Series triumph. R.I.P.

Republicans Claim Harris Accused Israel of Genocide While Running Ads in Michigan Claiming She is Pro-Israel

A couple of days ago, my Mom sent me an article which purported that Kamala Harris had agreed with a heckler who accused Israel of genocide during a campaign stop in Wisconsin last week. The video evidence, however, does not support the author's assertion and is at best inconclusive. For their part, the Harris campaign claimed the Vice-President was in agreement with the heckler regarding civilian casualties rather than the accusation of genocide. 

I will say though that when Harris says, "What he is saying is real," it does open the door to ambiguity. In which case, if Harris believes Israel isn't committing genocide, then she ought to say so when confronted by someone who tells such odious lies.

Yet it is hard for me to take Republicans accusing Harris of anti-Semitism with any degree of seriousness when Republican PACs supported by Elon Musk are running ads in areas with high Arab/Muslim populations which call Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff "America's pro-Israel power couple" and that Harris "leans on her Jewish husband." If Harris is vulnerable, it is not from Jewish voters, but from Arab/Muslim voters in Michigan and the Harris campaign knows it.

For good measure, former President Trump is claiming he would have made a deal with Hamas to prevent October 7th. And what kind of deal would that be? Like the one he made with the Taliban. Whatever deal Trump would have made with Hamas, it would have sold Israel down the river.

New Brunswick Voters Elect Liberal Majority Government Ousting Tories; Susan Holt to Become Province's First Female Premier

New Brunswick voters have rejected the Tories' bid for a third consecutive government by electing a Liberal majority government. Unlike British Columbia, where the results remain unknown, voters made their voices loud and clear. The Liberals have won 31 seats with the Tories reduced to 16 seats while the Green Party won 2 seats. For good measure, the Liberals won 48.2% of the vote.

As a result, Susan Holt becomes the province's first female Premier while current Tory Premier Blaine Higgs would lose his seat. While the Liberals are unpopular throughout Canada after a nearly a decade under Justin Trudeau, Higgs is held in even higher contempt. Higgs had become enormously despised throughout the province and among his own party with his autocratic leadership style. A dozen Tory cabinet ministers declined to run in this election and Higgs made little effort to campaign during the election. While I don't think there is any love lost for Trudeau in New Brunswick, their voters reserved their ire for Higgs and were prepared to give the more personable and team-oriented Holt a chance to govern. 

Tonight's triumph notwithstanding, Liberal Party victories in Canada will become few and far between in the years to come.

Dodgers Win NL Pennant; Will Face Yankees in World Series for First Time Since 1981

(Harry How/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won their fourth NL pennant in past eight seasons as they bested the New York Mets 10-5 in Game 6 of the NLCS. 

In a lineup full of superstars, it was Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman who stole the show hitting .458 (11 for 24) with a homerun and 11 RBIs earning NLCS MVP honors. Edman was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals during the trade deadline in a three-way deal with the Chicago White Sox in which the Dodgers acquired closer Michael Kopech. 

The Dodgers, who won the World Series during the COVID shortened 2020 season, will now face the New York Yankees in the World Series for the first time since 1981. Between 1941 and 1981, the Yankees and Dodgers faced off in the Fall Classic 11 times with the Yankees winning 8 of those contests with the Dodgers winning thrice including the last matchup in 1981. 

The 2024 World Series will commence at Dodger Stadium on Friday. 

The Red Sox Coming Back From an 0-3 Deficit to Best the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS Was Bigger Than Winning The World Series

It was 20 years ago today the Boston Red Sox did the impossible. They came back from an 0-3 deficit to beat the New York Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.

While winning the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals would mark their first championship in 86 years, it was icing compared to the cake of finally beating the Yankees. The Red Sox had come up short against the Yankees in 1949, 1978, 1998, 1999 and especially one year earlier in 2003. 

When the Red Sox were down by a run in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 4, I made a point of turning down the sound on FOX and listened to the radio broadcast by Joe Castiglione and Jerry Trupiano on WEEI. Of course, Mariano Rivera would walk Kevin Millar (who was telling anyone who would listen not to let the Red Sox win this game), pinch runner Dave Roberts (now manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers) would steal second and score on a base hit by Bill Mueller. David Ortiz would hit the walk off HR in the 12th inning. From this point forward, I tuned it exclusively to WEEI. I'd like to think this was one of many small things which tipped the balance of the universe in favor of the Red Sox.

Game 5 was the most difficult to watch. I felt so much stress, I came very close to turning off the game as the clock kept ticking in the early hours of the morning. But I had come this far, so I was going to stay all the way. Besides I was hardly the only one in New England who stayed up until 2:35 a.m. 

Game 6 was the Curt Schilling bloody sock game. Then came the blowout in Game 7. I was working a lot of OT and was walking home at the start of the game. I will always remember Johnny Damon's grand slam HR in the second inning off Javier Vazquez because I was walking by the Corner Tavern on the corner of Mass Ave and Marlborough Street and I remember seeing the patrons in the basement jumping through the roof. 

At the time, I was living in the Fenway. So, no sooner than Alan Embree got Ruben Sierra to ground out to Pokey Reese, I went out and made my way to Fenway Park with tens of thousands of other revelers. The crowd was overwhelming, and I thought to myself, "I hope my shoelaces don't become untied because I might get trampled to death." Sadly, a young Emerson College student named Victoria Snelgrove was shot and killed by a projectile at the hands of a Boston Police officer attempting crowd control. But for the grace of G-d....Given my recent experiences with Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade, this is not something I would contemplate doing now. If the Red Sox go a World Series again, I will celebrate from a safe distance. 

Nevertheless, the morning after the Red Sox triumph, the normally quiet commute on the Green Line was jovial with strangers actually talking to one another. This mood extended to giving homeless people $5, $10 and even $20 bills. Of course, such euphoria is short-lived which makes it all the more special when it comes by in fleeting moments. 

This year, the Yankees go back to the World Series while the Red Sox had to settle for a .500 season. But with four World Series titles in this century, one cannot complain too assiduously. We are part of a generation during which the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics have all won championships and we can savor it in the moment and on anniversary days such as today. Sadly, Tim Wakefield and David McCarty are no longer with us but Big Papi, Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek along with Terry Francona (albeit in a Cincinnati Reds uniform) are still very much with us. 

B.C. Election Too Close to Call

(Screenshot from CBC British Columbia election coverage via YouTube)

A few days ago, I wrote about being glad I wasn't a voter in British Columbia. 

On Saturday night and into early Sunday morning, I was watching the election results via CBC British Columbia online and there will not be an official result for at least a week.

In order to form a government in B.C., a party needs to win 47 seats. As of this writing, the incumbent NDP government is elected or leading in 46 seats, the Conservatives elected and leading in 45 seats with the Green Party elected or leading in 2 seats although their leader Sonia Furstenau was defeated in the Victoria area riding she ran in by NDP cabinet minister Grace Lore. At least two seats will face recounts as the lead for the NDP in these two seats is less than 50 votes. Several other ridings have a margin of just over 100 votes. If things remain as they are, the NDP will likely form a minority government with the Greens as they did when they came to power in 2017. Whatever the outcome, it is a meteoric rise for the Conservative Party, a moribund political force in B.C. for more than 70 years, following the disastrous decision of the B.C. Liberal Party to rebrand as B.C. United.

I was struck by the jocularity of the journalists and commentators for CBC British Columbia as they had copious amounts of junk food while many of their comments elicited delightful laughter from the crew. Perhaps this was a product of an election taking place on a Saturday. 

On a personal note, I have long enjoyed watching election results, particularly from Canada. I have been away from Canada for nearly 25 years but am still interested in what goes on in my home and native land.

I will have two more opportunities to tune into Canadian politics before the end of the month. On Monday, voters in New Brunswick go to the polls where the Progressive Conservative government of Blaine Higgs is seeking its third consecutive term. Then one week later, on October 28th, voters in Saskatchewan go to the polls where the right-wing Saskatchewan Party is seeking its fifth consecutive term in office. 

Interestingly, both opposition leaders are women - New Brunswick Liberal Party leader Susan Holt and Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck. Currently, only one woman serves as a provincial Premier in Canada - Danielle Smith of Alberta's United Conservative Party. This number could treble before the end of the month with representation across the political spectrum. 

These election results will satiate the appetite of this political junkie until November 5th. Perhaps B.C.'s election will be decided by then.

Yankees Win 41st AL Pennant; Cleveland Will Wait Another Year

The New York Yankees have won the AL pennant for the 41st time in franchise history. The Bronx Bombers beat the Cleveland Guardians in five games winning on Saturday night 5-2 in 10 innings. Juan Soto hit the decisive blow with a 3-run HR in the 10th. Giancarlo Stanton was named ALCS MVP with 4 HR and 7 RBIs including the game tying shot in Game 5. The Yankees will play their first World Series since 2009 in which they bested the Philadelphia Phillies. Unfortunately for Cleveland, they will have to wait another year. Their World Series drought will extend to 77 years. 

Speaking of the World Series, the Yankees will have to wait if they face the New York Mets or the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers currently have a 3-2 lead in the NLCS and could clinch their fourth NL pennant in eight years tomorrow night. Should L.A. prevail, it will mark the first time Dodgers will meet the Yankees in the World Series since 1981. However, the Mets still have a chance to win although they would have to win back-to-back games at Dodger Stadium. Should the Mets come back from a 3-1 deficit, we will have the first Subway Series since 2000. 

Either way, the Yankees are vying for their 28th World Series title. Regardless of who they face, they will have to wait six days until they play again which might put them at a disadvantage.

NY Democratic Congressman Torres Tells U.S. Media Not to Eulogize Hamas Leader Sinwar

Israel has killed another terrorist. This time it is Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, one of the masterminds behind the October 7th attacks. Sinwar is considered by many Israelis to be "Gaza's bin Laden."

Sinwar met his demise less than three months after his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh and scarcely three weeks after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. 

Following their deaths there were some in the U.S. and the Western media who saw fit to lionize Haniyeh as a moderate. In the case of Nasrallah, The New York Times attempted to portray him as a champion of equality. 

In something of a pre-emptive strike, New York Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres warned the American media not to cast Sinwar as a martyr. Torres wrote on X:

Dear American Media:

Please do not eulogize Yahya Sinwar as a "father figure" or a "moral compass" or a "charismatic orator" or an Abrahamic egalitarian fighting for "the equlaity of Muslims, Jews, and Christians." Sinwar's legacy of barbaric bloodlust has been deadly for Israelis and even deadlier for Palestinians. He died as he lived - a monster.

Sincerely,

Normal Americans

Bravo, Congressman Torres!!! If only there were more like you. 

I have no doubt the likes of AOC, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Summer Lee and other Squad members will mourn for Sinwar as a means to spite Israel's righteous fight against terrorism and those who would seek to eradicate it from the face of the Earth.

Nevertheless, the presence of folks such as Congressman Torres and Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman gives me a small measure of hope for the Democratic Party when it comes to Israel.

Why I'm Glad I'm Not a Voter in British Columbia

As much despair I have at the prospect of the return of a Trump presidency, there remains a viable alternative in Kamala Harris.

With that, I am grateful that I am not living in British Columbia (known to most as B.C.), Canada's westernmost province. B.C. voters will choose a new government this Saturday and their choices are just awful.

Before I get into the specifics, I should mention that I briefly lived B.C.'s provincial capital, Victoria, during my Dad's sabbatical in 1978-1979. In fact, we lived just down the street from the provincial legislature. I do remember a lot of gatherings and that there was a both a federal and a provincial election going on concurrently. Being all of six-years-old, my understanding of politics was in rudimentary form. 

Now to the present day. B.C. has been governed by the New Democratic Party (NDP) since 2017 first under John Horgan and now under David Eby. The B.C. NDP is seeking its third term in office. 

Their main opposition is the B.C. Conservative Party which up until a few short months ago was a moribund organization and had been since the 1950s. From the 1950s until the early 1990s, right-wing voters supported the Social Credit Party which was the main governing party in the province (including during my family's brief stint there). Following the collapse of the Socreds in the early 1990s, the B.C. Liberals (which were not associated with their federal counterparts) picked up the pieces and governed the provinces for most of the 2000's. 

Late last year, the B.C. Liberals changed their name to B.C. United in an effort to further distance themselves from Justin Trudeau's unpopular Liberal government. The result was a collapse in support of B.C. United in favor of the B.C. Conservatives now led by John Rustad, once a B.C. Liberal MLA who was kicked out of caucus for his extremist views by B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon. Late in August, B.C. United all but disbanded with Falcon throwing his support behind the man he tossed out of caucus. Support for the B.C. Conservatives further surged.

There is only one problem. The B.C. Conservatives are out of their fucking minds. For a time, Rustad wanted to put public health officials on trial likening it to Nuremberg 2.0.

Then you have the B.C. NDP government led by Eby who fired a Jewish member of his cabinet for being pro-Israel following the October 7th attacks while anti-Semitism was allowed to flourish within the NDP under his watch. 

While B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau is seeking to attract Jewish voters alienated by the NDP, the Green Party of Canada has an appalling record where it concerns anti-Semitism. With that said, the Greens are unlikely to form the next government in B.C.

If I lived in British Columbia, I doubt I would cast a ballot for any party. I wouldn't want to support a right-wing party which trades in conspiracy theories instead of seeking to be a reasonable governing party. I also wouldn't want to support a left-wing party which tolerates anti-Semitism within its ranks.

It is not beyond the realm of possibility that I might find myself facing such a choice in the not-too-distant future and it is a choice I would just as soon not face.

If Trump Wins It Will Mean Americans Have Given Up on Democracy

Consider what defeated, former President Donald Trump told Maria Bartiromo on her FOX News program "Sunday Morning Futures" yesterday:

I think the bigger problem is the enemy from within, not even the people that have come in and destroying our country, by the way, totally destroying our country, the towns, the villages, they’re being inundated.

We have some very bad people. We have some sick people. Radical left lunatics. I think it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military, because they can’t let that happen.

Trump doesn't specifically define this "enemy from within", these "very bad people", "sick people" or whom he deems to be "radical left lunatics". Nor does he tell us what crimes the aforementioned groups have committed.

Whomever they might be and whatever they might have done, Trump thinks they ought to be "handled" by the National Guard or the military.  

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Fascism 101, and it could very well be what Trump does should he return to the White House and become a dictator on day one starting with suspending (or as Trump has put it "terminate") the Constitution. 

But what would it say about us if we see fit to return Trump to the White House once more notwithstanding his open call about utilizing military forces against our fellow citizens for holding views contrary to his own?

It would tell me that we as Americans have given up on democracy. 

Most Americans have lived their lives as free people. Meaning they have never lived in either an authoritarian or a totalitarian regime. Democracy is all they have ever known, and they would like to try something else.

There are a great many people who are unsatisfied with their lot in life be it in a material, spiritual, familial or perhaps simply believe their destiny is not their own. I suspect many of these people have asked themselves, "What has democracy ever done for me?"

These are also people who want easy answers and the man giving the easy answers is Donald Trump up to and including pledging to be a dictator and dealing with "the enemy within." Some Americans will get pleasure out of Trump dealing with these enemies, real or imagined. However, I bet some of these Americans aren't counting on Trump turning his ire against them. 

Of course, once one "chooses" dictatorship you cannot "choose" to go back because "choice" ceases to be. What we will have "chosen" is to learn the hard way. Dictatorships mean death. Lots of death. Mostly innocent people.

Mind you, more than 1 million Americans died of COVID and a great many of us not only haven't learned but believe Dr. Fauci and other public health officials committed "crimes against humanity".I shudder to think how many millions of people would needlessly be killed under a Trump dictatorship before we collectively ask ourselves, "What have we done? What can we do to stop it?" 

However, it would be a state of affairs we have brought upon ourselves by choosing Trump knowing full well what he intends to do. Perhaps we do get the government we deserve. 

Yet for the moment we still have a choice. 

We can still choose to elect Kamala Harris as our next President.

Should we choose Kamala Harris in 2024 we are under no obligation to choose her in 2028. 

Should we choose Donald Trump in 2024 the choice might not be ours to make in 2028. 

If you think democracy is a good thing then there is only one choice that we have in 2024. 

A vote for Kamala Harris is a vote for democracy.

A vote for Donald Trump is a vote for dictatorship.

Cleveland Advances to ALCS vs. Yankees; Mets & Dodgers to Meet in NLCS

(Screenshot from MLB.com)

And then there were four.

This afternoon, the Cleveland Guardians put an end to the Detroit Tigers' Cinderella story beating them in Game 5 of the ALDS 7-3 as Tigers ace Tarik Skubal was roughed up for five runs in the fifth inning including a grand slam by Guardians right fielder Lane Thomas. 

Cleveland advances to the ALCS against the New York Yankees who bested the Kansas City Royals in four games in their ALDS. The Yankees-Royals harkened back to their rivalry in the late 1970's and early 1980's when benches cleared in the deciding game after Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia slid hard into Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe. It wasn't quite Hal McRae taking out Willie Randolph in Game 2 of the 1977 ALCS, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees and Royals meet in the post-season again in the not-too-distant future.

Game 1 of the ALCS commences Monday night at Yankee Stadium. 

Meanwhile, Game 1 of the NLCS between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers commences tomorrow night at Dodger Stadium. The Mets dispensed with the Philadelphia Phillies in four games while the Dodgers defeated the Padres in five games. 

This leaves four possible World Series matchups.

New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

New York Yankees vs. New York Mets

Cleveland Guardians vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Mets

Let's take a brief look at each.

New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Yankees and Dodgers have faced off in the World Series 11 times - more than any other two teams. But if they do face off it will be the first time they have done so since 1981 when the Dodgers prevailed in six games. It was only the third time the Dodgers won the Fall Classic against the Bronx Bombers.

Obviously, this will be ratings gold for FOX. Aside from the history between the two franchises, this matchup will feature the two best players in the game today - Aaron Judge of the Yankees and the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani. 

This World Series will be good for baseball.

New York Yankees vs. New York Mets

FOX will also be happy with this matchup as the world revolves around New York. 

This will be the second time the Yankees and Mets have faced off in the World Series with the Bronx Bombers blasting the Mets in five games in 2000. However, it will be the 14th time MLB has seen a Subway Series. While the Yankees and Dodgers have faced off in the World Series 11 times, 7 of those times the Dodgers were based in Brooklyn. The Yankees also faced the Giants in the World Series 6 times when they called the Polo Grounds home. 

In the present day, both teams are powerhouses with the Yankees featuring Aaron Judge and Juan Soto while the Mets feature Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor.

Cleveland Guardians vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

I think FOX will still be happy with this matchup as Cleveland has not won a World Series since 1948. So, there's a story to tell.

It would mark the first time these two franchises have faced each other in a World Series since 1920 when the Cleveland Indians bested the Brooklyn Robins 5-2 in a best of nine series (a format which lasted between 1919 and 1921). The 104-year gap between World Series would topple the 102-year gap when the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers faced each other in the 2018 World Series. 

While most of the hype would be centered on Ohtani, the matchup could become a showcase for Jose Ramirez who is probably the best player in MLB to have never won an MVP. 

Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Mets

This would mark the first ever World Series matchup between these two teams. 

The Mets have gone 38 years without a winning World Series, but the Guardians drought is exactly twice as long at 76 years. So, FOX will take this World Series over another Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks matchup any day of the week.

I think much of the focus would be on Francisco Lindor as he began his career in Cleveland spending his first six seasons with the Tribe before being traded to the Mets prior to the 2021 season. 

One other interesting fact. It would mark the first time both World Series team were led by first year managers with Stephen Vogt and Carlos Mendoza for the Guardians and Mets, respectively. 

Conclusion

I shall be watching from a distance.

Some Questions for CBS News Re: Tony Dokoupil Questions to Ta-Nehisi Coates Regarding His Anti-Israel Book

(YouTube screenshot)

CBS News has come under scrutiny after revelations it had reprimanded CBS Morning News co-anchor Tony Dokoupil following an interview segment with author Ta-Nehisi Coates regarding his anti-Israel polemic The Message.

Days after the interview, Dokoupil was taken to task during a weekly staff call at CBS and admonished for not being up to the network's "editorial standards". However, CBS News legal correspondent Jan Crawford jumped to Dokoupil's defense. The audio of this call was leaked and publicly released on Bari Weiss' The Free Press. 

Dokoupil was not formally disciplined but apologized to staff including executives from the network's race and culture unit. 

It is worth noting that the network's top shareholder Shari Redstone publicly defended Dokoupil's interview and took CBS brass to task for their heavy handedness. 

I have some questions of my own.

1. How exactly did Dokoupil violate the network's standards?

2. Why was Dokoupil publicly criticized for his bias while other CBS employees openly question Israel's right to exist?

3. Why was Dokoupil compelled to apologize to people at the network who don't think Israel should exist?

4. Coates compares Israel to the Jim Crow South. Are CBS' journalists prohibited from questioning such a view in the same way they are not allowed to mention Jerusalem is in Israel?

5. Is Coates himself (or other authors who share his viewpoint) simply above criticism or questioning by CBS journalists?

Whatever the answers to those questions, it would appear that CBS has an institutional bias against Israel as strong as exists across the pond with the BBC. This does not bode well for CBS or mainstream American journalism at large.

If Hurricane Milton Can Tear the Roof Off Tropicana Field I Shudder Think The Damage It Will Cause

It remains to be seen if Hurricane Milton will cause more death and destruction than Hurricane Katrina did nearly 20 years ago. Even if it doesn't, it will be forever remembered for tearing off of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida - home of the Tampa Bay Rays. Well, probably former home. 

With the Rays not making the MLB post-season, Tropicana Field was to be used as a makeshift shelter for rescue personnel. Not no more.

If this is what Milton is capable with a fortified facility, I can only shudder to think what it can do to homes, neighborhood and, of course, people. 

Complicating matters is how Milton struck so soon in Florida and Georgia after the ravages of Hurricane Helene which has also affected the Carolinas, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia as well as Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

Helene and Milton are one deadly couple. This deadliness is compounded by misinformation spread by defeated, former President Trump and his quislings.

Hurricane Milton might be able to tear off the roof of Tropicana Field, but Trump is trying to tear down the very foundation of American democracy. The former is far more easily repairable than the latter.

Luis Tiant's Pitching Was Poetry in Motion

This afternoon I learned that former MLB pitcher Luis Tiant, who enjoyed his greatest success with the Boston Red Sox during the 1970s, passed away at his home in Maine today at the age of 83.

His passing comes just over a week after that of Pete Rose whom he pitched against during the 1975 World Series between the Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. 

"El Tiante" dazzled Red Sox fans with his unorthodox pitching delivery in which he would look at second base before delivering the ball to home. 

Born in Cuba, Tiant's father Luis Clemente was a legendary pitcher in his own right playing in the Negro Leagues during the 1930s and 1940s when he wasn't pitching throughout Latin America. 

The younger Tiant followed in his father's footsteps pitching both in Cuba and in the Mexican League. In 1961, the Cleveland Indians purchased Tiant's contract from the Mexico City Tigers. 

Tiant would make his MLB debut in July 1964 at Yankee Stadium where he bested Whitey Ford tossing a complete game 4-hit shutout striking out 11 batters. A power pitcher in his years with the Tribe, Tiant's best season in Cleveland came in 1968 when he went 21-9 with a league leading 1.60 ERA along with 9 shutouts. However, this was also the year Denny McLain won 31 games for the Detroit Tigers. So, no Cy Young consideration, but Tiant did finish fifth in AL MVP balloting which was also won by McLain.

However, Tiant would experience a dramatic reversal of fortune in 1969 going 9-20 with a 3.71 ERA. Not only did Tiant lead the AL in losses, but he also led the league in walks (129) and homeruns surrendered (37). Prior to the 1970 season, Tiant was traded to the Minnesota Twins in multiplayer deal which included former Cy Young winner Dean Chance and future New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles.

Tiant had a decent season (7-3 with a 3.40 ERA in 18 appearances) with a Twins team which won the AL West. However, the Twins would release him. Tiant briefly hooked on with the Atlanta Braves, but they would release him before he ever pitched in a game with them. Days later he signed with the Red Sox. Tiant would have an inauspicious start with Boston going 1-7 with a 4.85 ERA working both as a starter and a reliever.

But Tiant's renaissance would begin in 1972 when he went 15-6 with a league leading 1.91 ERA. During his next four seasons, Tiant won 20 or more games thrice. The only year he didn't win 20 during that stretch was in 1975 when the Red Sox won the AL pennant. Tiant would have a sensational post-season tossing a complete game against the Oakland A's in the ALCS, a complete game shutout in Game 1 of the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds and another complete game victory in Game 4. He would also start the legendary Game 6 going 7 innings although he would give up 6 runs, but Bernie Carbo and Carlton Fisk would bail him out. For good measure, he would see his parents for the first time in 14 years when they were granted permission to travel to the U.S. to see him pitch in the World Series. Still, the Red Sox would fall short in their quest for a World Series title and Tiant would never get another opportunity to pitch in the post-season.

Tiant's tenure in Boston would end after the 1978 season when he signed as a free agent with the archrival New York Yankees where he would pitch for two seasons. He spent the strike-shortened 1981 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and his final season in 1982 with the California Angels. In 19 seasons, Tiant pitched in 573 games (484 starts) with a record of 229-172 with an ERA of 3.30 striking out 2416 batters tossing 187 complete games and 49 career shutouts. 

Tiant's candidacy for the Hall of Fame has been the source of considerable discussion. He was on the BBWAA ballot between 1988 and 2002 but never garnered more than 30% of the vote. His candidacy has also been rejected by the Veterans Committee on six occasions between 2005 and 2018. Chances are Tiant will be up for consideration on the 2025 ballot via the Classic Baseball Era Committee. But why elect someone to the Hall of Fame when they are not around to enjoy the ceremony?

Luis Tiant's numbers are comparable to those of his contemporaries Catfish Hunter (224-166 3.26 ERA, 2012 strikeouts) and Jim Bunning (224-184 3.27 ERA 2855 strikeouts) who were inducted into Cooperstown. It is true that Hunter and Bunning had more All-Star Game selections with 8 and 9, respectively, while Tiant was only chosen thrice. Then there is the question of Hunter's Cy Young and 5 World Series rings. They also accomplished their feats in fewer seasons - Hunter (15), Bunning (17) and Tiant (19). 

Whether Luis Tiant ever gets a plaque in Cooperstown, there is no denying that his pitching was poetry in motion, exciting to watch and will be enjoyed with delight for decades to come. R.I.P.

On October 7th, I Am Full of Remembrance, But Not Much Hope

 

It was a year ago today that Hamas terrorists murdered nearly 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians while taking more than 200 hostages. As of this writing, 101 people are still being held in captivity.

This evening, I attended an event at the Wang Theatre organized by Combined Jewish Philanthropies in commemoration of the October 7th attacks with the theme "An Evening of Remembrance & Hope".

The evening was highlighted by various speakers including members of the IDF, Bonnie Polin Pomper (the aunt of murdered American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin), Nova Music Festival survivor Daniel Vaknin and 94-year-old Holocaust survivor Magda Bader. In between speakers, there was song in remembrance of those who lost their lives and those who are still unfree and in the spirit of hope and survival.

From where I sit, I am full of remembrance but don't have much in the way of hope. Now perhaps I have no right to feel this way. After all, Bader endured Auschwitz and managed to escape and has led a life in America with two children, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and fifth on the way.

The reason I don't feel a lot of hope is because of what was unspoken at this evening's proceedings. Much of the world and a critical mass of people in this country (including some Jews) either deny the events of October 7th or believe the Jews of Israel had what was coming to them and hope for more while standing with Hamas and Hezbollah. With anti-Semitic incidents at an all-time high in this country, hatred towards Jews is in its ascendancy and is being legitimized. 

Indeed, when Vice-President Harris was interviewed by 60 Minutes on this anniversary of October 7th attacks, Bill Whitaker's question was not on the conduct of Hamas, Hezbollah let alone Iran but how we could justify supporting Israel as if it were solely responsible for all the death and destruction in the Middle East.

Yes, I understand the need for Jews to uplift our individual and collective spirits so that we can live our lives fully. But I am not yet ready to hope. Certainly not while Hamas holds 101 Jews in captivity as the world sneers at Israel and the Jewish people.

Macron Calls for West to Impose Arms Embargo Against Israel; Netanyahu Says "Shame on Them!!!"

(via Christophe Ena / POOL / AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron is calling upon Western countries to impose an arms embargo against Israel. Macron stated:

In an interview on French radio, Macron stated, “I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza.”

Macron then elaborated during remarks at the Francophonie Summit:

An immediate ceasefire is essential in Gaza as in Lebanon. We must avoid the escalation of tensions, protect civilian populations, free the hostages and find political solutions necessary for the security of Israel and all.

For bad measure, Macron added, "Lebanon cannot become a new Gaza."

Needless to say, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not pleased stating on X:

As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side. Yet, President Macron and some other Western leaders are now calling for an arms embargo against Israel. Shame on them.

I would go further and point out that Macron makes no mention of either Hamas or Hezbollah much less Iran. Indeed, reading his statements, one would be under the impression that Israel is solely responsible for the ills in the Middle East.

As with claims promoted by Democrats such as Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy that Netanyahu is trying to influence the election by not negotiating a peace deal, imposing an arms embargo on Israel is not only unhelpful but throws a lifeline to Iran and its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.

I Just Couldn't Get Into "Shaun of the Dead"

 

Tonight, I went to the Brattle Theatre to attend a 20th anniversary screening of Shaun of the Dead starring Simon Pegg.

At the time of its release, I was tempted to go to see it but ended up not doing so and never viewed it until tonight.

Frankly, I wish I had resisted the temptation.

Shaun of the Dead is a horror film in the guise of a romantic comedy. Unfortunately, I just couldn't bring myself to see the humor of the situation and even the presence of Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton (who would go onto greater fame in the role of Isobel Crowley in Downton Abbey) couldn't save the film for me. Most horror films particularly of the zombie genre are one dimensional for my taste. 

The only interesting aspect of the film to me is when Pegg's protagonist is oblivious to all the carnage around him as he makes his way to and from the convenience store. His character was in a different sort of daze. But the film started going downhill as soon as he became aware of the zombie apocalypse. Because if you've seen one zombie film you've seen them all.

Now I am doing my best to get Shaun of the Dead out of my head before I go to bed. 

Yankees & Royals to Face Off in Post-Season for First Time Since 1980

The Division Series in both the AL and NL begins tomorrow.

Last night, the New York Mets bested the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card matchup on a 3-run HR by Pete Alonso.

The other wild card series were sweeps with the San Diego Padres ousting the Atlanta Braves, the Detroit Tigers upsetting the Houston Astros while the Kansas City Royals swept the Baltimore Orioles.

The Mets and Padres will face the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, respectively while the Tigers and Royals will face the Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees in the ALDS, respectively.

It is the latter matchup between the Yankees and Royals which fascinates me the most as it marks the first time the two teams have faced each other in the post-season since 1980.

Yes, the ALDS is a best of five series. But when the Yankees and Royals faced each other in the ALCS it was also a best of five series. Plus ca change.

Between 1976 and 1980, the Yankees and Royals faced off in the ALCS four times. The Yankees won each of the first three contests from 1976-1978 - the most famous being 1976 when Chris Chambliss hit the walk off homerun against Mark Littell with Chambliss being mobbed by thousands of Yankees fans. There was also the brawl between George Brett and Graig Nettles during the 1977 ALCS. Incredibly, neither man was ejected from the game. After both teams failed to make the post-season in 1979, they would meet again in 1980. This time the Royals would sweep the Yankees winning their first AL pennant.

The two teams had an intense rivalry into the early 1980's reaching its peak with the infamous George Brett pine tar game in 1983.

During this period the Yankees had the likes of Reggie Jackson, Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry and Goose Gossage led by Billy Martin and later Bob Lemon while the Royals had the likes of George Brett, Frank White, Hal McRae, Dennis Leonard and Paul Splittorff led by Whitey Herzog and later by Jim Frey and Dick Howser. 

Today, the Yankees are led by Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Rodon and rookie Luis Gil with longtime manager Aaron Boone while the Royals are led by Bobby Witt, Jr., Salvador Perez (the one holdover from the Royals 2015 World Series championship team), Vinnie Pasquantino, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha led by Matt Quatraro.

It remains to be seen if the Yankees and Royals will have the sort of rivalry which they had in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but it is good to see the two teams face each other in the post-season again.

Democrats Need to Stop Floating Conspiracy Theories That Netanyahu is Influencing The Election

On Wednesday, Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was trying to influence the outcome of next month's U.S. elections. Murphy told CNN's Erin Burnett:

Listen, I certainly worry that Prime Minister Netanyahu is watching the American election as he makes decisions about his military campaigns in the north and in Gaza.

I hope this is not true, but it is certainly a possibility that the Israeli government is not going to sign any diplomatic agreement prior to the American election as a means potentially to try to influence the result. I hope I’m wrong about that, but I don’t think you have to be a hopeless cynic to read some of Israel’s actions as some of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions as connected to the American election.

Today, President Biden said he "didn't know" if Netanyahu was trying to influence the outcome of the election but didn't do much to discourage such talk. 

This is simply unhelpful.

First and foremost, last I checked it was Hamas who has taken hostages. The public pressure should be put on them, not upon Israel. Whatever concerns President Biden, Senator Murphy or any other member of the U.S. government have with Israel should be kept in private. Casting blame on Israel gives Hamas no incentive to release the hostages.

Second, Murphy himself is making a political calculation when he pushes Netanyahu to produce a ceasefire because it operates on the assumption that this would help the Biden Administration and by extension Kamala Harris. But even if such an agreement were to come to pass before the election that it would influence voters in supporting Harris. The Camp David Accords didn't do much for Jimmy Carter's political fortunes while the Oslo Accords didn't stop the Republican Revolution of 1994. Most Americans aren't basing their voting decisions on the Middle East. And among those that do, I doubt a ceasefire agreement would assuage the uncommitted vote. 

Third, in suggesting Netanyahu is trying to influence the outcome of the election it gives legitimacy to anti-Semitic tropes of Jewish control and undue Jewish influence in American politics. Anti-Semitic incidents in this country reached an all-time high last year and show no signs of slowing. Publicly musing about Jews influencing the outcome of the election undermines the efforts of the Biden Administration to counter anti-Semitism.

I have a bad feeling that Democrats, including Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, might push this narrative. They would be wise not to do so.

Reds to Name Francona New Manager Exactly One Year After Retirement from Guardians

A year ago today, Terry Francona announced his retirement from managing when he stepped away from the Cleveland Guardians after 11 seasons amid a myriad of health problems.

Francona's retirement lasted exactly one year as the Cincinnati Reds will name him their new skipper succeeding David Bell who was fired during the last week of the 2024 MLB season.

This will be the fourth MLB club Tito has managed. Aside from the Guardians, Francona has also managed the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox. Tito guided the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years back in 2004 and replicated that success in 2007 remaining with the club through 2011. Francona took over the reins in Cleveland in 2013 and led the team to an AL pennant in 2016 losing the World Series in seven games to the Chicago Cubs.

Currently, Francona is 13th on MLB's all-time wins list by managers with 1950. All MLB managers with 2,000 or more wins are in Cooperstown save for Dusty Baker and current Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy. They will surely have their plaque in the Hall of Fame and so will Tito. But now Francona will focus on getting the Reds their first World Series title since 1990. Francona is not a stranger to the Reds having played for them in 1987 when the late Pete Rose was managing the team.

I do hope that Francona's health problems are behind him or are at least manageable enough that he can take on the rigors involved with the job. Francona is a baseball lifer and probably doesn't know what he would do without the game. I'm sure he's been restless and chomping at the bit to get back into a big-league uniform. I just hope it doesn't end up killing him. Then again, I'm sure he'd rather go out on a baseball field than anywhere else.

JD Vance in 2022: Trump Won The 2020 Election

During the VP debate 48 hours ago, when Tim Walz asked JD Vance if Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, Vance refused to answer saying, "I'm focused on the future."

Well, as it turns out, Vance did answer that question back in 2022 when he was running for the Senate in Ohio. Comedian Jason Selvig of The Good Liars confronted Vance and asked if Trump won the 2020 election. Vance said, "Yes." Selvig then asked, "He did win?" "Yup", Vance replied.

Two nights ago, in the words of Walz, Vance gave "a damning non-answer."

Two years ago, Vance gave a damning answer.

And now we definitively know where he publicly stands on the question.

Of course, Vance doesn't believe Trump won the 2020 election. But Vance wants a political future in the Republican Party. So he says Trump won.

At the same time, Vance knows that most Americans don't believe Trump won but also cannot say Trump lost in front of millions of people lest he anger Trump. So hence his non-answer Tuesday night.

Either way, Vance cannot say that Joe Biden won the 2020 election.

To say that Donald Trump won the 2020 election is like saying the sun rises in the west, the Earth is flat, water isn't wet, and that the Cincinnati Reds have won 10 consecutive World Series. 

If Vance cannot tell the truth about the most basic facts, then how can we believe he would tell the truth about anything?

After all, this is the man who said he would "create stories" about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.

Should Trump lose the 2024 election then we can be sure that Vance will say that he and Trump won. And he will know that is not true.

The voters cannot reward this behavior by electing Trump and Vance. If we do, then we give them license to lie to us in perpetuity and we will only have ourselves to blame.