Trump Will Always Find a Reason to Threaten Canada with Tariffs

Different day, same old shit!!!

President Trump announced that a 50% tariff would be imposed on Canadian alcohol, dairy and auto parts in 30 days' time because America has been "invaded" by Canadian wildfires. 

But if Trump wasn't ranting about wildfires, he would be ranting about something else.

Trump first announced 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico before he returned to the White House in November 2024. He would back away from those commitments in February 2025 but then implemented much the tariff regime by the following month.

Trump has suspended trade talks on multiple occasions. He did so in June 2025 in protest of Canada's Digital Services Tax. The Carney government scrapped the DST only for Trump to threaten additional tariffs weeks later. Trump suspended trade talks again in October 2025 because of ad run by the Ontario government with the late President Reagan waring about the dangers of tariffs. Carney subsequently apologized for the ads. Fat lot of good that did him.

In January, Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs if Canada entered into a trade deal with China despite having encouraged such an agreement only days earlier. 

Earlier this month, Trump refused to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) although USMCA talks have now resumed with Mexico.

Of course, Trump might very well lift these levies at the last minute only to threaten to impose new levies a few months down the road. Trump might also very well include Canada new USMCA talks only to cut them off yet again. Indeed, Carney says trade negotiations will be intensified with the U.S. Yet it is only a matter of time before Carney's Charlie Brown tries to kick the football only for Trump's Lucy to snatch it away from him.

Trump does this because he does not negotiate, let alone govern in good faith. He treats Canada like the workers and small businesses he refused to pay in his business dealings. Like I wrote back in March 2025, "I tariff you; I tariff you not."

Carney's smartest move would be to walk away and ignore Trump and not return his calls. Yes, that will make Trump angry. But Trump would get angry if his Diet Coke was flat. Canada is getting nowhere with the United States. The United States is wasting Canada's time. Canada's time is better spent engaging in negotiations with countries which actually want to negotiate with it in good faith and for mutual benefit not with a country which begrudges Canadians for forest fires.

Anti-Semitism Will Continue to Thrive in the U.K. Under Andy Burnham

Today, Andy Burnham moved into Number 10 Downing Street and is the U.K.'s new Prime Minister only three days after being anointed the new leader of the Labour Party. Keir Starmer might very well be rendered a footnote.

Last month, I wrote about my brief experience with him as my boss when I interned for the late Tessa Jowell more than 30 years ago. I do not remember those days with fondness. 

In the days which have followed, Burnham has done little to inspire my confidence when it comes to Israel and Jews in the U.K.

Earlier this month, he apologized for his predecessor's stance on Gaza. Considering that Starmer recognized a Palestinian state before all hostages had been released by Hamas, this apology is nothing more than pandering to the Far Left and to the Islamists.

Burnham sought counsel on Gaza from former soccer player turned BBC journalist Gary Lineker. Last year, Lineker departed the BBC after sharing a social media post from a group called Palestine Lobby which described Zionists as rats. That Burnham would seek Lineker's advice on the subject speaks volumes about Burnham's attitudes towards Zionism and towards Jews.

Under Burnham's leadership, we can expect more calls for and acts of violence against the Jewish community in the U.K. Should Jews be murdered at a synagogue, community center or on the streets, I'm sure Burnham will say anti-Semitism has no place in the U.K. when in fact it will take place with his tacit approval. 

Consequently, those Jews who can leave the U.K. will do so. Those who remain may see fit to throw in their lot with Nigel Farage. I have doubts about Farage, but if Burnham insists on singling out Israel while being unwilling or unable to combat anti-Semitism, U.K. Jewry could turn to him if he makes overtures Burnham is unprepared to make. Should Burnham lose to Farage in the next general election, he will only have himself to blame though that might not stop him from blaming the Jews.

A Harry Dean Stanton Centennial Appreciation & A Few Thoughts About "Alien" & "Paris, Texas"

 

This past July 14th marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of actor Harry Dean Stanton. In tribute to Stanton, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 91, The Brattle Theatre showed more than a dozen of his films in a retrospective called "The Stanton Rule: A Harry Dean Stanton Centennial".

The Stanton Rule was coined by the late film critic Roger Ebert (who also attributed the rule to M. Emmet Walsh) stated, "No movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh in supporting role can be altogether bad."

I only viewed two of those films - Alien (1979) and Paris, Texas (1984) which I did last night and this afternoon, respectively. With that, let me discuss these films in reverse order.

Paris, Texas

Those of you familiar with dispatches will know that Paris, Texas is among my favorite films ever made. I wrote about my experiences viewing Paris, Texas at The Brattle in December 2021 so I won't add too much here. It is one of those films which I will pay to see if it is playing in a theatre. I saw it again at The Brattle in November 2024. It was a Saturday night, and it was the longest lineup I've ever been in to see a movie at The Brattle.

I wish Harry Dean Stanton had been given more chances to be a film lead. Yet with that said, if he had more chances to be a film lead then perhaps Paris, Texas wouldn't be as a special as it is. Stanton had a face you couldn't keep your eyes off of and a voice which conveyed authority when it was heard. At the same time, Stanton could go half a film without uttering a word as he did in Paris, Texas and convey the same sort of presence. 

Stanton's portrayal of Travis Henderson is mostly sympathetic, but we get indications of his cruelty and darkness towards his estranged wife Jane (Nastassja Kinski). While Travis never reverts to that state, he knows all too well that is where he will go should he reunite with Jane. So, he makes the decision to reunite Jane with his son (Hunter Carson) with whom he only recently reconnected and disappear from their lives forever. 

It is not a Hollywood ending but it wouldn't be a Wim Wenders film if it was a Hollywood ending. Indeed, most of us will not have Hollywood endings and sometimes the best we can hope for is to walk away for the greater good.

Alien

Let me begin with a confession.

This was the first time I have ever seen Alien.

Of course, I am aware that this film was Sigourney Weaver's breakout role and I am also aware that an alien came out of John Hurt's stomach and would do so again nearly decade later at the end of Mel Brooks in Spaceballs. But I did not know the story.

It was only the second film Ridley Scott ever directed. Much of the film is very deliberate and quiet with brief interludes of classical music. This reminded me a great deal of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey which I saw most recently at the Brattle on New Year's Eve 2022 in a double feature with Everything, Everywhere All at Once. 

Aliens features a seven-person cast aboard the cargo ship Nostromo starring Tom Skerritt (Dallas), Sigourney Weaver (Ripley), Veronica Cartwright (Lambert), John Hurt (Kane), Ian Holm (Ash), Yaphet Kotto (Parker) and Harry Dean Stanton (Brett). OK, there is an orange cat named Jones.

As for Stanton, Brett doesn't have that much to do in the film as Parker's engineering assistant other than say "yep". His big scene is when he is sent off alone to find Jones on the ship though he does so with his Stantonesque charm making the most of his limited screen time. As soon as he is sent off by himself, you know full well he is going to be eaten alive by the alien.

Ah, yes, the alien. There is a lot of food for thought here though it isn't very appetizing. The crew of the Nostromo is dispatched to a planet where there appears to be intelligent life. Dallas, Lambert and Kane go down to the planet's surface to investigate. During the course of their investigation, an alien life form attacks Kane and clings to his body.

When Dallas and Lambert bring Kane back to the Nostromo, Ripley refuses to let them back in for fear of contaminating the ship citing unspecified quarantine regulations. But Ash overrides Ripley and lets them in with disastrous results which eventually leave Ripley and the orange cat as the only survivors. 

Yet there is no guarantee that disaster would have been averted had Ripley not let them in. While Ripley had an arguable point, I don't think she thought things through. As Dallas and Lambert argued, Kane was near death. Had Ripley refused to allow Dallas, Lambert and Kane into the ship all three of them could have perished as the planet's surface was well below freezing.

But let us suppose that Dallas, Lambert and Kane had survived the quarantine period. It doesn't change the fact that they were dealing with a species of unknown origin. The incubation period could have been well beyond the quarantine. In other words, the Nostromo could have faced the same fate - quarantine or no quarantine.

Even Ripley didn't weigh her choices as she should have, she wasn't faced with a good choice and bad choice but rather several risky choices with no guarantee of success even if Ash hadn't interfered and let the trio aboard. Of course, as it turns out, Ash was an android who had a secret directive to capture the alien and bring it back to them regardless of the crew's safety. Mix this into the equation and the crew of the Nostromo was in a no-win situation. 

Under the circumstances, it is easy to see why Alien held its own with Star Wars in the pantheon of late 1970's space-based science fiction movies precisely because it wasn't trying to be a science fiction movie but rather a horror film. 

Of course, it didn't hurt that Harry Dean Stanton was in the film. It never does.

Spain Triumphs Over Argentina & Other World Cup Thoughts

(YouTube screenshot of Ferran Torres' game-winning goal to give Spain a 1-0 victory over Argentina)

The 2026 World Cup has finally ended with Spain defeating defending champion Argentina 1-0 to win their second World Cup title on an extra time goal by Ferran Torres. Spain previously won in 2010.

Latin America and much of the world were rooting against Argentina for a myriad of reasons - having Lionel Messi, being the defending world champion, being a perceived favorite of FIFA and being the beneficiary of questionable referee calls and just plain old politics. Some of the animus towards Argentina is motivated by anti-Semitism as a sports analyst in Algeria recently claimed the "Jewish lobby" was trying to fix another title for Argentina.

From where I sit, I am deeply troubled by the Spanish government's visceral hatred towards Israel and belligerent mobs running after Jews for being Jews while shouting "baby murderers". Conversely, the Argentinian government wants Latin America to have closer relations with Israel although Jews are in danger there as we are the world over.

In fairness, Spain's soccer team does not represent the Spanish government. There is no question they are the best soccer team in the world. Indeed, Spain conceded only one goal during the entire tournament and that was against Belgium in the quarterfinal. It is the fewest goals ever conceded by a team at a World Cup. Spain has cause for celebration.

The only matchup I watched for any extended period was between Argentina and Cape Verde during the Fourth of July weekend. But with Cape Verde's near upset of the Argentinian squad, I got into the spirit of things if only briefly.

There were certainly some good things about the World Cup which standout.

The first was Scottish fans coming to Boston drinking us under the table until we had no more, cleaning up after themselves and falling in love with the place. I have no doubt the Scots will visit us again - World Cup or no World Cup.

The second was how soccer fans knew John Denver's "(Take Me Home) Country Roads" even if they weren't from this country. Even if people never set foot in West Virginia, most people have an idea of what their "almost heaven" is like. Of course, I set foot in West Virginia last year and now have a first-hand appreciation of what John Denver sang about even if he, Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert had never been there when they wrote the song more than half a century ago.

But then there were some not so good things.

There was President Trump personally demanding FIFA overturn a red card suspension of Team USA player Folarin Balogun which they did. His stifling presence loomed today as he presented Spain with the World Cup trophy to lusty jeers from the crowd assembled in New Jersey.

And then there were was the anti-Semitism. Aside from accusations of the "Jewish lobby" trying to ensure an Argentinian victory, there was the spectacle of a fan with an Israeli flag being confiscated while Palestinian flags were permitted during Iran's matchup against New Zealand. Egyptian fans, egged on by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, blamed Jews and Zionists for their loss to Argentina. Things were considerably uglier in The Netherlands after Moroccan fans chanted, “Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas,” after their team was ousted by France in the quarterfinals. 

Some soccer fans get their kicks out of hate. Yet I shudder to think what is in store for Jews during the 2030 World Cup.

Former Blue Jays Reliever Duane Ward Dies Suddenly Amid Team Reunion

 

Former MLB relief pitcher Duane Ward, who played nearly his entire career with the Toronto Blue Jays died suddenly amid a team reunion in Toronto this weekend. He was 62.

A native of New Mexico, Ward is only one of 35 players from the Land of Enchantment to play in MLB. In 1982, the Atlanta Braves selected Ward as their number one draft pick and was the ninth pick in the nation overall.

Ward would reach the big leagues with the Braves in 1986 on the Opening Day roster. However, by July, the Braves would ship Ward to Toronto in exchange for veteran starting pitcher Doyle Alexander. A little over a year later, the Braves would trade Alexander to the Detroit Tigers for another pitching prospect - future Hall of Famer John Smoltz.

As for Ward, he did not establish himself as a big-league pitcher until the 1988 season when he became Tom Henke's setup man out of the bullpen. Yet Ward would get opportunity to close out games and would reach double digits in saves each of the next five seasons including in 1992 when the Jays won their first World Series title against Ward's old franchise, the Atlanta Braves.

Ward's best big-league season came in 1993 when he became the team's closer after Henke signed a free agent contract with the Texas Rangers. That season Ward would save a club record 45 games earning his lone AL All-Star Team selection and a second consecutive World Series title during which he saved 2 games against the Philadelphia Phillies. To this day, no other Blue Jays pitcher has ever recorded 40 saves in a season.

Unfortunately, Ward sustained biceps tendinitis which forced him to miss all of the 1994 season. When Ward returned in the 1995 season, it was clear that he just didn't have his stuff anymore and after only four games never pitched again at the big-league level. In 9 MLB seasons, Ward made 462 appearances (all but two games in relief) and went 32-37 with a 3.26 ERA along with 121 saves. Those 121 saves remain second in franchise history only to Henke who recorded 217 in his eight seasons in a Blue Jays uniform.

After his playing career ended, Ward occasionally worked as a color commentator for the Blue Jays on both TV and radio and was involved with the team organizing baseball camps across Canada. In 2020, Ward was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame with his Blue Jays' teammate John Olerud and Minnesota Twins great Justin Morneau.

The Blue Jays held a moment of silence in honor of Ward prior to this afternoon's game against the Chicago White Sox in the presence of his former teammates who will sadly never see him again. R.I.P.

Red Sox Climb Over .500 & Grab 3rd AL Wild Card Berth With 12th Straight Win

The Boston Red Sox have grabbed the bull by the horns and beat the first-place Tampa Bay Rays 7-6 on the strength of two 2-run HR by Wilyer Abreu.

Not only is it the Red Sox's 12th straight win but it puts them over the .500 mark for the first time in 2026 with a 49-48 record. 

That 49-48 record is good enough for the third AL Wild Card berth which they now share with the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians. A mere 24 days ago, the Red Sox were 6 games back of that AL Wild Card berth.

At the All-Star Break, I noted the Red Sox would immediately be tested by the Rays. With yesterday's doubleheader sweep and today's victory, they have passed the test. 

And yet it remains unclear if the Red Sox will be buyers or sellers at or before the August 3rd trade deadline.

At this point, I'm not sure how the Red Sox could be anything other than buyers. Yes, there are arguments for the long term. But right now, the Red Sox have captured lightning in a bottle. This is a team that can make the post-season. How deep they can go is anyone's guess. But this is true of any team up to and including the Los Angeles Dodgers despite back-to-back World Series titles. 

The objective of any team in any sport is to win the championship. Some teams will have a better chance than others. Three and a half weeks ago, the Red Sox's chances didn't look so good. Today, things look very good. 

There are 14 games between now and the August 3rd trade deadline. Boston plays Tampa Bay tomorrow afternoon. The Red Sox then host a 3-game series against the Baltimore Orioles and the 3-game series against the defending AL champion Toronto Blue Jays. From there, the Sox travel to the West Coast to play a 4-game series against the Athletics before facing the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers.

The Orioles have been on a roll themselves winning six in a row. The Jays have been one of the most disappointing teams in the AL this season, yet one cannot discount them. Nor can one discount the Athletics despite the fact they have lost 10 in a row and have been struggling since Memorial Day weekend. Well, the Dodgers are the Dodgers and have the best record in MLB. 

If the Red Sox regress over the next couple of weeks, then they could be sellers after all. But if they play .500 ball or better the Red Sox have to go for it. To do otherwise would be a disservice to the players, the fans and the spirit of competition.

ICE Officer Who Killed Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero Had History of Severe Mental Illness & Violent Behavior

According to a story from the Associated Press, the ICE officer who executed Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in broad daylight in Biddeford, Maine this past Monday had a history of mental illness and violent behavior going back to childhood.

The story identifies the ICE officer as David Brouillette. Long attracted to law enforcement and the military, Brouillette enlisted in the U.S. military about 20 years ago. Initially rejected because of his mental health history, recruiters encouraged him to stop taking his medications and reapply which is what he did. Eventually, Brouillette would be deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 and spent 9 months there.

As one of his relatives put it, "Afghanistan destroyed him - trained him to be a killing monster, a machine. They took someone who was extremely mentally ill and turned him into a killing machine." This would only get worse once he joined ICE:

In late 2025, around the time he joined ICE, he ex-wife Ashley said he left a three-minute voicemail mocking her for taking out a restraining order against him. According to the message she shared with AP, he repeatedly called her "disgusting" and suggested that she and the other women and girls in her "bloodline" should die.

"And all of you should have your f------g throats cut," the voicemail said. "Yeah, you should. Am I threatening that I'm gonna do that? Nope. Nope. But do I think that you should have your f-----g throats cut? Or should have had them cut?" Yep."

In view of these facts, it was only a matter of time before Brouillette was going to kill someone. To be sure, Brouillette's violent tendencies were refined by the U.S. military. But these are qualities which ICE seeks and encourages.

And so long as the Trump Administration or a succeeding administration which shares it mission, Brouillette will not answer for his actions never mind the ICE officers responsible for killing Renee Good, Alex Pretti and Lorenzo Salgado Arajuo. Indeed, there will be plenty more David Brouillettes. Which means there will be plenty more Johan Sebastián Durán Guerreros to follow.

Athletics Lose 10 in a Row After Being Pounded 23-4 by Nats

The Athletics began the second half of the 2026 season last night with a big thud falling 23-4 to the Washington Nationals.

The loss was the club's 10th in a row. During this stretch, the Athletics have been outscored 91-25.

On May 24th, the day before Memorial Day, the Athletics had a record of 27-26 and were atop the AL West leading the division by 2½ games over both the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners.

The Athletics have gone 14-30 since including the 10-game losing skid as well as losing 14 of their last 15 games. They enter action today now in fourth place in the AL West 8 games back of the Rangers. 

Losing All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz to a thumb injury hasn't helped matters, but the team's pitching both of the starting rotation and the bullpen has also been unequal to the task as pitching coach Scott Emerson was dismissed prior to the All-Star Break. But last night's results indicate that it will take a lot more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic to resolve the A's pitching woes. Playing in a minor league ballpark in Sacramento also isn't conducive to long-term success but they will be stuck there until the move to Las Vegas in 2028.

With most teams in the AL still having a fighting chance at the post-season, I suspect the Athletics will be looked upon as sellers with the August 3rd trade deadline coming soon. In which case, it will be another long season in Sacramento.

Ron Hunt Turned Getting Hit By a Pitch Into an Art

Former MLB infielder Ron Hunt passed away on July 15th of complications of Parkinson's Disease. He was 85.

His passing was expected after it was announced he was in hospice care earlier this month.

Hunt was best known for his ability to get hit by pitches and would lead the NL in this category in the final seven seasons of his 12-year MLB career.

A native of St. Louis, Hunt signed with the Milwaukee Braves prior to the 1959 season. After four seasons in the minor leagues, the Braves sold Hunt's contract to the New York Mets where he would become the fledgling team's first star player.

In 1963, Hunt finished runner up to Pete Rose in NL Rookie of the Year balloting hitting .273 with a career best 10 HR along with 42 RBI.

The following season, Hunt became the first Met to ever be elected to the NL All-Star Team as its second baseman besting Pittsburgh Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski. Hunt would also earn a trip to the All-Star Game in 1966.

However, following that season the Mets would trade Hunt along with outfielder Jim Hickman to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for outfielder Tommy Davis and Derrell Griffith, the latter of whom would never play a big-league game in a Mets uniform.

Hunt only played one season with the Dodgers before being traded yet again to the San Francisco Giants along with fellow infielder Nate Oliver in exchange for catcher Tom Haller. It was while wearing a Giants uniform when Hunt began to find his niche as a big-league player - getting hit by pitches. In each of his three seasons in San Francisco, Hunt would lead the NL in this category. 

Prior to the 1971 season, the Giants traded Hunt to the Montreal Expos for first baseman Dave McDonald. Curiously, the Expos purchased McDonald back from the Giants during spring training.

The trade would prove a double-edged sword. In 1971, the Giants would win the NL West thus depriving Hunt of a post-season opportunity. Nevertheless, Hunt had a remarkable inaugural season in Montreal setting a MLB record when he was hit by a pitch 50 times that season breaking a record set by Hughie Jennings for the old Baltimore Orioles in 1896. However, years later, researchers discovered that Jennings had been hit by a pitch two additional times that season thus giving the record back to him.

Nevertheless, it was a remarkable achievement for Hunt. The closest anyone has come in the modern era to being hit that many times in a season was when Don Baylor got plunked 35 times for the AL champion Boston Red Sox in 1986. 

Hunt remained with the Expos until he was released late in the season and was picked up on waivers by his hometown Cardinals. He would only play 12 games with the Redbirds before calling it a career. In 12 MLB seasons, Hunt collected 1429 hits for a lifetime batting average of .273 with 39 HR and 370 RBI while being hit by pitch 243 times which is 6th on MLB's all-time list.

Several players would surpass Hunt's career total - Jason Kendall (254), Don Baylor (267) and Hall of Famer Craig Biggio (285). Jennings has the all-time record with 287 with fellow 19th Century player Tommy Tucker ranking third at 272 HBP.

To put Hunt's achievements into perspective, Kansas City Royals outfielder Starling Marte leads active players being hit by pitch at 169. After Marte, it is Boston Red Sox first baseman Wilson Contreras with 143 HBP followed by San Diego Padres catcher Ty France who is tied with five other former players at 134 HBP.

Unfortunately for Hunt, some of those HBP were in the head. Coupled with several baserunning collisions, it is believed to have contributed to the onset of Parkinson's.

Yet Hunt took it all with good humor. He famously said, "A lot of people give their body to science. I gave mine to baseball."

It is a fitting epitaph. R.I.P.

The Guess Who is Back While Don Felder Soars Higher Than The Eagles

 

(The Guess Who with Randy Bachman (L) & Burton Cummings (R) performing at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston on July 17, 2026)

For me when I think of Canadian rock 'n roll the first act that comes to mind is The Guess Who. 

I first remember listening to them earnest in the late 1970's when Dad would play an 8-track of the Share the Land LP in his Buick LeSabre when we moved from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Victoria, B.C. for his sabbatical, the year we spent in the provincial capital and when we returned to Thunder Bay the following year. 

The two core members of The Guess Who are Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings. I had the great privilege of watching then perform at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts (now known as the Xfinity Center) three days after the 9/11 attacks. While Cummings was eager to get even with al Qaeda, it wasn't going to stop them from performing "American Woman".

In the years that followed, The Guess Who became little more than a glorified cover band as the name was owned by bass player Jim Kale who hired players who had no connection with the band and yet represented themselves as the ones who had hits with "These Eyes", "American Woman" and "Laughing".

Bachman and Cummings had enough and filed a poison pill lawsuit prohibiting the public performance of songs that they wrote or co-wrote thus chloroforming the fake Guess Who. The rights to the Guess Who were restored to Bachman and Cummings in an out-of-court settlement in 2024 and the pair are now touring as The Guess Who for the first time in a quarter century. 

When I learned that The Guess Who would be playing in Boston down the street from where I work, not only did I determine I needed to be in attendance but also invited two of my co-workers to join me. For one of those co-workers, it would be his first concert in 13 years.

So, the date of destiny arrived last night when the three of us left work and made our way to the Leader Bank Pavilion. I had been there once previously a quarter century ago when it was known as the Fleet Pavilion and when Boston's Seaport District was essentially an industrial area. In July 2001, I saw Crosby, Stills and Nash in concert and sat in the fifth row. Aside from a James Taylor concert that I attended in Ottawa in 1997, it was the best seat I ever had at a show. 

Of course, much has changed in 25 years. Concert tickets are now on your phone. What complicated things was that I either had to access them through the Ticketmaster app or through Google Wallet. I managed to access them through the latter. But my tickets would not scan. Fortunately, the staff at the Leader Bank Pavilion was helpful and we were soon on our way.

Opening for The Guess Who was former Eagles lead guitarist Don Felder. Best known for co-writing the music to "Hotel California", Felder mostly played a short set of Eagles tunes - "One of These Nights", "Victim of Love", "Seven Bridges Road", "Life in the Fast Lane" and the aforementioned "Hotel California". 

Felder, who turns 79 in September, looks and sounds decades younger. Whatever problems Don Henley and the late Glenn Frey might have had with him, Felder comes across as a positive guy who is a downright mensch. Before his set concluded, Felder is sponsoring a contest in which a lucky winner will spend a weekend with him in Nashville at the Musicians Hall of Fame, at the Gibson Guitar garage along with a guitar lesson. The proceeds benefit St. Jude's Hospital.

Following Felder's set, I overheard several fellows in the washroom praise his performance saying he was much better than The Eagles are live these days. Given the unceremonious circumstances which led to his ouster, I am sure such sentiments would hearten Felder who appears to have soared higher than his former bandmates.

The Guess Who brought equally positive energy to the stage. Burton Cummings clearly loves what he is doing with his life and is as happy to play music in front of enthusiastic audiences as he was 60 years. Cummings, like Felder, will turn 79 later this year. Randy Bachman isn't as gregarious as Cummings but is also having a good time and still plays guitar with the best of them. 

Of course, Bachman, who turns 83 in September, has been actively touring for many years, and I had the good fortune of seeing him front Bachman-Turner Overdrive in Medford in March 2024. A good many of the songs Bachman played that night were Guess Who songs so it was only natural that we would hear some BTO songs at this Guess Who concert including "Let It Ride", "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" and "Takin' Care of Business" which closed the show.

There were some additional treats in the form of "Proper Stranger", a deep cut from the American Woman and "My Own Way to Rock" which was a modest solo hit for Cummings in Canada in 1977. I was also delighted by the inclusion of bassist Jeff Jones in the touring band. Jones was briefly a member of Rush before joining the Canadian gospel-rock group which had a hit with "Put Your Hand in the Hand". Jones has also had a long association with Tom Cochrane.  

But most of the evening was devoted to songs which invoked the best memories - "These Eyes", "Albert Flasher", "Undun", "Laughing" and "Bus Rider".  And for those songs which didn't such as "Star Baby", Cummings cheekily reminded us it was straight up rock 'n roll which would be over in 2 minutes and 57 seconds. 

The audience would be up on its feet with the slow jam into "American Woman" which includes references to The Doors' "Roadhouse Blues" and would remain on its feet for "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature", "No Time" and an encore of "Share the Land" and the Bachman led "Takin' Care of Business".

It is fair to say that the audience left the Leader Bank Pavilion happy. Don Felder, Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings are happy and at peace in their minds and in their hearts and that goodwill spread like a groundswell. We should all be so fortunate to be in the presence of such good energy.

The Guess Who and Don Felder will be parting ways temporarily. Bachman and Cummings will be returning to Canada to perform at the Ottawa Blues Fest on Sunday while Felder has shows later this month in Hallowell, Maine and in Columbus, Ohio. The two acts will reunite in Atlanta on August 6th for the first of 9 shows on the same bill over a 17-day period.

I have no doubt both The Guess Who and Don Felder will continue to spread joy wherever they perform.

Democratic Congressman Smith Admits Voting for Anti-Israel Amendment Because of "Far Left" Violence

Yesterday, more than 100 Democrats supported soon-to-be former Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie's amendment to strip Israel of all military aid. 

Massie has had a long history of anti-Semitic behavior which has only intensified since he lost a GOP primary for his seat back in May.

Among the 103 Democrats who sided with Massie was Adam Smith, a 30-year veteran of Congress in Washington's 9th District which covers parts of Seattle. 

Smith, who is the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, had originally planned to vote against Massie's amendment but ceded that he voted in favor of Massie's because of threats of violence against him and his family by what he described as "the far left":

I am deeply concerned about the tactics used by those on the far left to advocate for cutting off aid to Israel. To date, my family and I have had our home vandalized, a fire has been set in my driveway, my neighbors’ lives have been disrupted by demonstrations in the middle of the night, town halls meant to be forums for dialogue have been shut down, and a staff member has been physically assaulted.

Guess what.

The tactics of the far left worked and they will continue to deploy these tactics against members of Congress and their families if it gets them their desired results.

If the far left is prepared to commit vandalism, arson and assault in the name of ending military aid to Israel then it is only a matter of time before they will commit murder. Perhaps an October 7th-style massacre. 

Some Democratic member of Congress has to stand up to the far left and tell them what they can do with their violent tactics. Sadly, such profiles in courage are few and far between.

Trump Validated President Biden's Warning About MAGA Republicans

 

I did not catch all of President Trump's prime time address, but I really didn't need too. 

I got the essence of it.

Trump claimed China interfered in our elections, asserted that voting lists were full of fake electors, dead people, decried mail-in voting and angrily denounced networks which would not air his speech threatening to take away their broadcast licenses. 

While ABC, NBC and CNN did not air the speech on broadcast and network TV, it was available on their streaming services.

In other words, anyone who wanted to watch Trump spew bullshit could do so online at the touch of a fingertip.

Trump also did not see fit to mention that the networks refused to air President Biden's speech on democracy in September 2022. Perhaps they ought to have:

MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people. They refuse to accept the results of a free election, and they’re working right now as I speak in state after state to give power to decide elections in America to partisans and cronies, empowering election deniers to undermine democracy itself.

President Trump proceeded to spend this evening validating Biden's points. Trump will do everything he can to prevent an election result he doesn't like and, if that result comes to pass, to move Heaven and Earth to ensure there is no peaceful transfer of power starting with the November midterms. 

Had we only listened to President Biden.

JD Vance Amplifies & Legitimizes Joe Rogan's Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories

So, the Vice-President of the United States makes an appearance on a conspiracy theorist's podcast and proceeds to amplify conspiracy theories.

Of course, the oldest conspiracy theory of them all is anti-Semitism:

Joe Rogan: Most people think Epstein was Mossad.

JD Vance: Ya. Mossad or CIA or some other deep state, whether in America or Israel. He certainly had connections to the highest levels of American intelligence. He clearly had connections to the highest level of Israeli intelligence.

As with most conspiracy theorists, Rogan makes an unsubstantiated assertion and instead of challenging the premise of the assertion, Vance dives in head first and makes equally unsubstantiated assertions.

Vance also did so by design and in so doing gave anti-Semitism both amplification and legitimacy.

The only purpose this sort of amplification and legitimacy serves is to stir up public opinion against both Israel and the Jewish community in the United States.

There is nothing good which can come of it.

I wish I could say I was surprised by Vance's remarks. Yet this is a man who has dismissed out of hand the surge of anti-Semitism in the United States and around the world since October 7th. This is a man who has claimed there is a difference between anti-Semitism and, in his words, "not liking Israel"  This is also a man who does not see fit to talk about Jews when speaking about The Holocaust, 

In view of these facts, it is not a surprise that such an individual would casually accuse a convicted sex offender of being an Israeli spy without a shred of evidence in support of such a claim.

As appalling as left-wing anti-Semitism is, the fact remains that JD Vance is a heartbeat away from the Oval Office. A Vance presidency would present an enormous danger not only to Israel but to the very standing of Jews in the United States. G-d help us!!!

Boston Skies Get The Sights & Smells of Smoky Air From Northwestern Ontario Wildfires

 

Today, Boston and other parts of the Northeastern United States and the Midwest got the sight and smell of smoky air from wildfires raging through Northern Ontario and Minnesota. But most of the fires are taking place in my neck of the woods in Northwestern Ontario, just north of Thunder Bay.

For any inconvenience which may be caused over the next couple of days here, it pales in comparison to what is happening in Thunder Bay. My mother tells me that decks and sidewalks are covered in ash. The skies have been considerably darker than ours. Even with keeping the doors and windows closed one cannot escape the smell of smoke. Unfortunately, she does not have air conditioning which further compounds the situation. The long and the short of it is I'm glad that I'm here and not there.

While the fires themselves are mostly occurring in sparsely populated areas there are some rural communities, particularly Aboriginal reserves, which have had to be evacuated. Many of these fires could burn for months on end. In which case, the snow cannot come soon enough.

From where I sit, the one positive from these disconcerting sights and smells is that it had the effect of lowering the temperature thus avoiding yet another 90 plus degree day. But this is a very, very small consolation.

AL Limits NL to 3 Hits in 4-0 Shutout Victory in 2026 MLB All-Star Game

(Screenshot of Cody Bellinger's two-run single in the 1st inning of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game)

The American League has prevailed in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game besting the National League in a 4-0 shutout victory at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies.

AL pitching limited NL batters to three hits. The NL managed only three singles - one from New York Mets slugger Juan Soto in the 4th, one from Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong in the 8th and one from Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. 

If not for Lopez's last-minute hit, the NL would have tied the 1990 NL squad with two hits when Will Clark and Lenny Dykstra collected singles for the Senior Circuit in a 2-0 loss to the AL during the mid-summer classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Speaking of Wrigley Field, the 2027 MLB All-Star Game will be played there barring a lockout by MLB owners. 

As for the AL, they scored three runs in the 1st inning on a two-run single by New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger followed by another single from his Yankees teammate Ben Rice. Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas provided an insurance run with a solo HR in the 8th. 

As a result of his 2 RBI performance, Bellinger was named the All-Star Game MVP.

The second half of the 2026 MLB season will resume on Friday.

Johan Sebastián Was Not ICE's Intended Target But They Killed Him Anyway

Less than a week after ICE fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Arajuo on the streets of Houston, ICE murdered another man in cold blood nearly 2,000 miles away in Biddeford, Maine.

On Monday morning, ICE shot and killed Johan Sebastián, a 25-year-old Colombian national legally authorized to work in this country. As with Salgado Arajuo, ICE claimed Sebastián tried to use his vehicle as a weapon, and he was eliminated in the interest of "public safety." Again, as with last week's incident in Houston, ICE agents were not wearing their body cameras. 

A pattern is emerging and it is reasonable to conclude that ICE agents are either not wearing their bodycams or disposing of bodycam evidence. Either way, ICE is not conducting itself in a way which inspires public confidence nor for that matter is DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Indeed, Mullin initially told Maine Independent Senator Angus King that Sebastián was the target of an ICE removal order. But hours later, Mullin had to call King to tell him that Sebastián was not the target of the investigation. However, Sebastián was seen leaving the address of the targeted person and ICE being ICE judged him by the color of his skin, presumed him guilty and saw fit to execute him in broad daylight.

This incident could have significant ramifications in Maine's Senate election even if Republican incumbent Susan Collins does not have an opponent. Collins voted to support funding ICE and she will have to answer for ICE killing someone in a state with a population of less than a 1.5 million people. For her part, Collins has said she urged to ICE "to cease all non-urgent vehicle stops." But the damage has been done and what Collins considers non-urgent might be very different than what ICE and the Trump Administration consider to be non-urgent.

After all, I knew Lorenzo Salgado Arajuo would not be the last person to be killed by ICE, and I am even more certain that Johan Sebastián will not be the last person killed by ICE. The only question is how many more people ICE will kill in their relentless, reckless disregard for human life.

Those Who Are Glad That Lindsey Graham is Dead Are Engaging in Trumpism

When I commented on the sudden passing of Lindsey Graham yesterday morning, I was very critical of his words and deeds which will be part of his legacy.

Yet I do not celebrate nor gloat in his passing.

Those who choose to make it known that they are glad that Lindsey Graham is dead are engaging in Trumpism.

Yes, President Trump behaved abhorrently after the deaths of Robert Mueller, Rob Reiner and, for that matter, John McCain many months after the fact. You could add Cokie Roberts and Colin Powell to the list.

So, what would possess anyone emulate Trump?

If you tell me that you are glad Lindsey Graham is dead because said and did things with which you disagree, then how are you any better than President Trump, let alone any different from him?

A Bad Sign in Cambridge

 

A couple of months back I wrote about bad signs in my old stomping grounds in Jamaica Plain.

On Saturday afternoon, I saw a troubling sign here in Cambridge. I spent that afternoon attending the second edition of Cambridge Porchfest. Amid the proceedings, I noticed an unusual number of people wearing keffiyehs. 

Late in the afternoon, I made my way to the Cambridge Community Center to take in a performance by my friend Don Hammontree. Approximately 100 feet away from where Don was performing, I figured out why I had seen so many keffiyehs. There was an event called Cambridge for Palestine.

There was a lot of commotion coming from that way. Fortunately, Don has a big voice and was able to drown out most of the nonsense. Later in his set, however, a large number of people began dancing in the street. At the end of his set, they began chanting, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

It is not the first time I have come across such a chant in the past couple of years in Boston and in New York. But every time I hear this phrase, it is said with more and more confidence. After all, they have the wind at their back. They now have a majority of Americans on their side, not to mention the rest of the world.

When I hear the phrase, 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,' what this tells me is that not only will there be more October 7ths in Israel, but that we will see it here in the United States. I have already predicted such an event will happen in Zohran Mamdani's New York. I also cannot rule out the possibility of such an event coming to pass in other American cities - Los Angeles, Chicago and, of course, Boston and perhaps across the river in Cambridge.

In which case, I must view my neighbors with the utmost caution. To be sure, most people in this community would not see fit to kill Jews. But were the murder of Jews in Boston and Cambridge were to come to pass, I can easily see those neighbors either looking the other way or looking on in approval.

Ro Khanna Pulls a Tucker Carlson in Israel

California Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has pulled a Tucker Carlson in Israel.

Khanna claims he was detained by settlers and the IDF during a visit to Israel last week.

In point of fact, Khanna and the group he was with approached an IDF base near the West Bank off limits to civilians. He and his group were questioned, warned against trespassing and sent on their way without incident.

If Khanna had done the same with regard to a U.S. military base, he would be subject to the same treatment and he knows it. This is nothing more than a cheap publicity stunt to launch a White House bid.

Khanna took a page out of Tucker Carlson's book. Back in February, Carlson claimed he was detained by Israeli authorities at Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. In point of fact, Carlson was asked standard questions by Israeli officials as he entered the country. Given Carlson's notoriety was done in a VIP lounge. Quick!!! Invoke the Geneva Conventions. 

The problem, of course, is that anti-Israel sentiment runs so deep that both Carlson and Khanna can make up a bullshit story to whip up their anti-Semitic followers as well as drive mainstream media attention.

Not only is there no meaningful difference between the Far Left and the Far Right, but they end up meeting at the same place.

Red Sox Reach All-Star Break With 9 Straight Wins & In The AL Wild Card Hunt

The Boston Red Sox bested the New York Mets 3-2 in 10 innings to finish the first half of the 2026 MLB season with 9 wins in a row. 

Although the Red Sox have an overall losing record of 46-48, they have enjoyed a remarkable reversal of fortune over the past 2½ weeks. They are now only ½ game back of both the Seattle Mariners and the Minnesota Twins for the third AL Wild Card spot.

After earning an AL Wild Card berth last season, the Red Sox struggled to get out of the gate. After a 10-17 start, the Red Sox abruptly fired manager Alex Cora and nearly the entire coaching staff. The team Chad Tracy, who had been the manager of the Red Sox's Triple-AAA affiliate in Worcester as their interim manager.

Things were little better under Tracy. Between April 25th and June 24th, the team went 21-29 under Tracy's stewardship. As of June 24th, the Red Sox had just lost two out of three games to the Colorado Rockies who had the worst record in all of MLB. Overall, the Bosox were 32-46 & 15½ games back of the New York Yankees and in last place in the AL East, 6 games back of the third AL Wild Card spot. For bad measure, they also had the worst record in the AL.

But then a funny thing happened. The Red Sox hosted a four-game series against the Yankees at Fenway and swept the Bronx Bombers. The sweep was highlighted by a near no-hitter by veteran pitcher Sonny Gray.

However, the good feelings appeared to have been short-lived after the Red Sox lost two of out of three games against the Washington Nationals. In both losses, Red Sox first baseman Wilson Contreras was ejected. In the latter game, Contreras exploded after Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli uttered a racial epithet against him. Contreras has been the team's best offensive player hitting .285 with 20 HR and 61 RBI earning him a second career All-Star selection.

The long and the short of it is that the Red Sox have rallied around Contreras and have not lost since the incidents in question. Since June 25th, the Red Sox are 14-2 and have forced themselves back into contention.

What is remarkable is that outside of Contreras, the Red Sox do not have much of an offense. They do have a good outfield with Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela & Wilyer Abreu with third baseman Caleb Durbin filling the lofty shoes left by Alex Bregman in free agency. But their offense has been generally anemic with their 382 runs scored the second fewest in the AL. The Cleveland Guardians have scored two fewer runs although they go into the All-Star Break tied for first in the AL Central with the Chicago White Sox.

The Red Sox strength has been in their starting pitching led by a resurgent Sonny Gray who did not get selected for the All-Star Team despite his 11-1 record. The back end of their bullpen in Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman has to be among the very best in baseball.

Come Friday, however, the Red Sox will be tested as they host a four-game series against the first place Tampa Bay Rays. Despite the Red Sox recent resurgence, the team has struggled at Fenway going 17-27 as opposed to a 29-21 record on the road. Both All-Star Ranger Suarez and Connelly Early are on the IL as is Garrett Crochet. How far can Gray and Peyton Tolle go before the bell tolls? And will four days off halt the momentum they have built up since late June?

At least for the moment, the 2026 Red Sox are headed in the right direction. If the Red Sox continue to excel then perhaps Chad Tracy will be get the interim tag removed and become the team's full-fledged manager.

Thoughts on the Sudden Passing of Lindsey Graham

Before I went to bed, I learned of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham's sudden passing.

At that moment, I was too tired to write anything. One ought to be as clear minded as possible before expressing oneself.

Now that I have had some sleep and time to reflect, here are a few thoughts.

For starters, I do not care for the glee with which Graham's demise was celebrated on Bluesky.

To behave in such a manner makes one no better than the MAGA acolytes they claim to decry.

Because of this I appreciated the sober commentary provided by sportswriter Jeff Pearlman on his Facebook page. 

Like Pearlman, I have profoundly disagreed with many of the things he has said and done in the service of Donald Trump over the past decade or so. 

Among other things, I took issue with Graham disputing the results of the 2020 election up to and including his improper call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. He exhibited similar behavior in the 2022 mid-terms on the Nevada Senate election between Democratic incumbent Catherine Cortez-Masto against Republican challenger Adam Laxalt. Graham claimed that any result which didn't see Laxalt elected to the Senate was "a lie".

I took issue with Graham when he called for the impeachment of President Biden over the U.S. withdrawal in Afghanistan. Policy disagreement isn't grounds for impeachment and Graham, an attorney, knew that full well.

I did not care for Graham's treatment of Ketanji Brown Jackson when President Biden nominated her to the Supreme Court in 2022. Graham claimed, "The radical left has won President Biden over yet again." Mind you, Graham was perfectly happy to confirm her to the D.C. Circuit Court less than a year earlier.

Nor did I care when Graham called any prosecution of Doanld Trump over the handling of classified documents would result in riots. As I argued at the time, Graham's statement was far more damning of MAGA than it was of the DoJ under President Biden.

After Trump returned to the White House, I did not care for Graham's role in the Venezuelan coup. Oh, I don't lose a minute's sleep over Nicolas Maduro. However, Maria Corina Machado is the rightful President of Venezuela. But the will of the Venezuelan people counts for nothing. 

After Trump and Vance publicly berated Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House, Graham publicly mused if Zelensky was "redeemable" and suggested that Ukraine "send us somebody else we can deal with." It is worth noting that Graham died only hours after meeting with Zelensky who stated, "America and the world have lost a resolute leader." Zelensky treated Graham with far more grace than Graham extended to him.

All of the above words and deeds of Graham to which I object were done in the service of Donald Trump, not in the interests of the United States.

A decade ago, Graham (who had sought the White House himself) declared, "If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.......and we will deserve it."

And then he kissed Donald Trump's feet.

After the events of January 6th, Graham declared, "All I can say is 'count me out.' Enough is enough."

And then he came back for more.

Yet it must be remembered that Lindsey Graham was a politician. And what do nearly all politicians covet more than anything else?

Power!!!

Graham is not the first politician to go down this road, and he will not be the last.

For Graham, this meant becoming Trump's humble servant. Even if it meant having to suck it up when Trump denigrated his close friend John McCain. Like many other Republicans, Graham made excuses for Trump's behavior claiming they simply hated Trump. Well, I think Trump questioning McCain's service to this country is fairly contemptible and, at one time, so did Lindsey Graham.

Of course, Graham's words and deeds in the service of Trump must be remembered because Trump is transitioning this country from democracy to authoritarianism. They will be a significant part of his legacy.

Yet I don't see how delighting in Graham's death accomplishes anything. Someone else, presumably his successor in the Senate, will gladly worship at the altar of Trump and there's a good chance that such an individual will have far less scruples than Graham. R.I.P.

ICE Killed Lorenzo Salgado Arajuo for Making a Living

 

Lorenzo Salgado Arajuo was just trying to make a living as he had done for over three decades as a resident of Houston, Texas.

While on his way to work a construction job two days ago, Salgado was confronted by ICE agents and killed in cold blood.

For their part, ICE claims that Salgado was evading arrest and using his vehicle as a weapon and that their officer shot him in self-defense.

I do not believe ICE.

Given ICE's dishonesty in the cold-blooded murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis earlier this year, ICE is not entitled to the benefit of the doubt.

As it happens, the individuals who assailed and assassinated Salgado were not wearing their bodycams.

Well, isn't that convenient.

Salgudo's son Ronaldo believes his father may have believed he was being carjacked for his tools as he was approached in unmarked vehicles which is ICE's stock and trade.

The notion that a man who had no criminal record in the 35 years he resided in this country was a lunatic intent on murder doesn't pass the smell test.

Lorenzo Salgado Arajuo was a productive, hard-working member of his community who raised a family send his three American born children to college.

In other words, he was the embodiment of the American Dream.

But for the Trump Administration, his brown skin and his immigration status made him subhuman and thus unworthy of life and liberty let alone any notion he might have of pursuing happiness. 

He would have been happy to live a quiet life, but the Trump Administration wasn't going to allow that happen.

Salgado's family will clamor for an independent investigation. Of course, the Trump Administration might decide to target them next for daring to keep their father's memory alive.

Worst of all is that Salgado won't be the last person to be murdered by ICE. Not as long as it operates as Trump's secret police.

R.I.P. Lorenzo Salgado Arajuo.

Justin Verlander to Retire at End of 2026 Season

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander announced on Wednesday that he will retire at the end of this season. 

The announcement came after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred selected Verlander as the legends pick for the AL All-Star Team. The 2026 MLB All-Star Game will be played in Philadelphia next Tuesday.

In February, Verlander returned to the Tigers with whom he pitched from 2006 through most of the 2017 season before he was traded to the Houston Astros with whom he would win two World Series rings in 2017 and in 2022. 

At the time, I expressed excitement about Verlander joining a Tigers rotation with back-to-back AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and his former Astros teammate Framber Valdez. I mused that Verlander, who is eighth on MLB's all-time strikeout list, had the chance to surpass Don Sutton, Tom Seaver and Bert Blyleven. 

This proved to be a rose-colored assessment. Verlander has only pitched in one game this season back in March against the Arizona Diamondbacks who roughed him up for five runs on six hits in only 3.2 innings pitched. He went on the injured list with hip inflammation in April. Then last month, as he was set to return to action, he strained his hamstring. 

But he could still help the Tigers who for the most of this season have been arguably the most disappointing team in the AL especially after going 6-22 in May. However, the Tigers have won four in a row, 7 out of their last 10 and are only 4 games back of the third AL Wild Card spot. The Tigers are not out of the playoff picture by any stretch of the imagination, and neither is Justin Verlander.

Phil Regan Was Truly a Baseball Lifer

Former MLB pitcher, scout, coach and manager Phil Regan passed away today at the age of 89.

A native of Michigan, Regan signed with the Detroit Tigers prior to the 1956 season and would reach the big-league club in 1960. Regan spent parts of six seasons with the Tigers primarily as a starting pitcher. Hi best season in a Tigers uniform came in 1963 when he went 15-9 with a 3.86 ERA striking out a career high 115 batters. However, by 1965, Regan had lost his form, and the Tigers demoted him to their Triple-AAA club in Syracuse.

Following the 1965 season, the Tigers traded Regan to the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Dick Tracewski. Regan would thrive in Chavez Ravine working exclusively out of the bullpen as he was a crucial component of a Dodgers team which would win the NL pennant in 1966. Regan went 14-1 with a 1.62 ERA while leading the NL in saves with 21. He would earn his lone All-Star selection, finish 7th in NL MVP balloting and earn NL Comeback Player of the Year honors.

It was during that season that Regan would earn the nickname "The Vulture" from teammate Sandy Koufax. When Regan would come into the game, the Dodgers would often be tied or down a few runs only for the Dodger bats to wake up to earn him the win. Unfortunately for Regan, the Dodgers would be swept in the World Series by the upstart Baltimore Orioles.

Early in the 1968 season, the Dodgers dealt Regan along with utility player Jim Hickman to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pinch hitting specialist Ted Savage and pitcher Jim Ellis. Regan would save a career high 25 games for the Cubs that season along with a 12-5 record and sterling 2.27 ERA.

By 1970, Regan's effectiveness began to diminish. He would finish his pitching career in 1972 splitting the season in Chicago between the Cubs and the White Sox. In 13 big-league seasons, Regan made 551 appearances (including 105 starts) for a record of 96-81 with a 3.84 ERA along with 92 saves in 1372.2 innings pitched.

In 1973, Regan returned home to Michigan to become the baseball coach at Grand Valley State University, a position he held for a decade. In 1983, Regan returned to the professional ranks as a minor league pitching instructor and advance scout for the Seattle Mariners. The following year, the Mariners would appoint Regan as their big-league pitching coach. 

After three seasons in Seattle, Regan returned to the Dodgers organization as an advance scout from 1987 through 1992. In 1994, Regan served as the pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians and the following year was hired as the manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Regan was on hand when Cal Ripken, Jr. surpassed Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak. Unfortunately, the O's left Regan go in favor of Davey Johnson after a single season.

In 1996, Regan rejoined the Dodgers yet again to manage their Triple-AAA affiliate in Albuquerque. He would return to the Cubs organization in 1997 and serve as their pitching coach for two seasons before returning to the Indians as their pitching coach in 1999. 

In 2000, Regan was the pitching coach for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Sydney. In 2002, Regan rejoined the Tigers organization to manage the West Michigan Whitecaps, their High-A affiliate for two seasons.

After managing several Venezuelan winter ball clubs, Regan would eventually join the New York Mets organization in 2009 and serve mainly as a minor league pitching coordinator. In the middle of the 2019 season, Regan would return to the big leagues as the Mets pitching coach after Dave Eiland was dismissed. Unfortunately, Regan's relationship with the Mets ended on bad terms and he ended up suing the club and then GM Brodie Van Wagenen for age discrimination and wrongful termination in 2023.

Phil Regan spent parts of eight decades in baseball. He was truly a baseball lifer. R.I.P.