Hillary Clinton can blame James Comey, Russia and sexism for her defeat last November all she wants.
It doesn't change the fact the American people freely voted for Donald Trump to be our 45th President.
Frankly, I don't like the fact that Trump is in the Oval Office.
But the Democratic Party needs to move forward and would be wise to jettison the Hillary albatross which is hanging around their necks. Her time has come and gone. She would be wise to exit public life with grace while she can. Because the more Hillary Clinton complains the more she draws attention to how horrible candidate she was as a candidate. She comes off as if she is entitled to the presidency by virtue of her name and gender. Bitterness breeds neither affection nor loyalty.
Like it or not, we have to deal with a Trump presidency and all that it entails. As such, Democrats would to concentrate their energies on 2018 and 2020 instead of 2016.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
I'm Surprised Sam Mele Never Got Another Chance to Manage in The Big Leagues
Prior to the start of last night's game between the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox, Joe Castiglione announced the death of former MLB player and manager Sam Mele at the age of 95. He passed away on May 1st.
A native of New York City, Mele played baseball and basketball at NYU and did stint in the U.S. Marine Corps before signing with the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1946 and would make the team's opening day roster in 1947. In his rookie season, Mele hit a career high .302 with 12 HR and 73 RBI.
Mele suffered the sophomore jinx in 1948 when injuries limited him to 66 games with his average falling nearly 70 points to .233. During the 1949 season, Mele was traded to the Washington Senators. His best season came while in a Senators uniform when he led the AL in doubles and drove in a career high 94 runs in 1951.
But the Senators would trade Mele to the Chicago White Sox early in the 1952 season. After two decent seasons on Chicago's South Side, Mele would become a member of the newly minted Baltimore Orioles in 1954. But midway through that season he was traded back to the Red Sox. Mele was traded again midway through the 1955 season to the Cincinnati Redlegs before finishing his playing career with the Cleveland Indians in 1956.
In 1957, Mele would return to D.C. becoming a scout for the Senators. Two years later, he would join the Senators coaching staff. The Senators moved north to the Twin Cities in 1961 where midway through their inaugural season in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Mele succeeded Cookie Lavagetto as the team's manager. Under Mele, the Twins became contenders finishing second and third in AL in 1962 and 1963, respectively. After falling under .500 in 1964, the Twins rebounded in 1965 winning 102 games and with it the American League pennant. It was the first time the Twins made the Fall Classic and the first the franchise had won the AL pennant in 32 years. After a taking 2-0 lead, the Twins would fall to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games.
The Twins would have another second place finish in the AL in 1966, but Mele was dismissed by the club a third of the way through the 1967 season. Mele promptly joined the Red Sox for a third time, this time as a scout and instructor. No doubt Mele must have been more satisfied than anyone when the Red Sox edged the Twins to win the AL pennant on the season's final day to cap off their Impossible Dream season. Mele would remain with the Red Sox organization for more than a quarter century before retiring in 1994.
It is amazing to me that Mele never got another chance to manage in the big leagues (or at any level) given his success with the Twins. It isn't every manager who gets to the World Series.
Of course, it's possible Mele tired of the road preferring to stay at his home in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Whatever the case, I don't think Mele got the credit he deserved in turning a moribund franchise into contenders and eventually a pennant winner for the first time in more than a generation.
On a personal note, I had a colleague who knew Mele's family and spoke of him warmly. I am sure she is far from alone in that sentiment. R.I.P.
A native of New York City, Mele played baseball and basketball at NYU and did stint in the U.S. Marine Corps before signing with the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1946 and would make the team's opening day roster in 1947. In his rookie season, Mele hit a career high .302 with 12 HR and 73 RBI.
Mele suffered the sophomore jinx in 1948 when injuries limited him to 66 games with his average falling nearly 70 points to .233. During the 1949 season, Mele was traded to the Washington Senators. His best season came while in a Senators uniform when he led the AL in doubles and drove in a career high 94 runs in 1951.
But the Senators would trade Mele to the Chicago White Sox early in the 1952 season. After two decent seasons on Chicago's South Side, Mele would become a member of the newly minted Baltimore Orioles in 1954. But midway through that season he was traded back to the Red Sox. Mele was traded again midway through the 1955 season to the Cincinnati Redlegs before finishing his playing career with the Cleveland Indians in 1956.
In 1957, Mele would return to D.C. becoming a scout for the Senators. Two years later, he would join the Senators coaching staff. The Senators moved north to the Twin Cities in 1961 where midway through their inaugural season in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Mele succeeded Cookie Lavagetto as the team's manager. Under Mele, the Twins became contenders finishing second and third in AL in 1962 and 1963, respectively. After falling under .500 in 1964, the Twins rebounded in 1965 winning 102 games and with it the American League pennant. It was the first time the Twins made the Fall Classic and the first the franchise had won the AL pennant in 32 years. After a taking 2-0 lead, the Twins would fall to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games.
The Twins would have another second place finish in the AL in 1966, but Mele was dismissed by the club a third of the way through the 1967 season. Mele promptly joined the Red Sox for a third time, this time as a scout and instructor. No doubt Mele must have been more satisfied than anyone when the Red Sox edged the Twins to win the AL pennant on the season's final day to cap off their Impossible Dream season. Mele would remain with the Red Sox organization for more than a quarter century before retiring in 1994.
It is amazing to me that Mele never got another chance to manage in the big leagues (or at any level) given his success with the Twins. It isn't every manager who gets to the World Series.
Of course, it's possible Mele tired of the road preferring to stay at his home in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Whatever the case, I don't think Mele got the credit he deserved in turning a moribund franchise into contenders and eventually a pennant winner for the first time in more than a generation.
On a personal note, I had a colleague who knew Mele's family and spoke of him warmly. I am sure she is far from alone in that sentiment. R.I.P.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
A Thought for Jimmy Kimmel
Like millions of Americans, I saw Jimmy Kimmel's emotional monologue about his infant son William's emergency heart procedure. Fighting back tears, he managed to balance good humor, the great people who work in our health care system and how no child should ever be denied access to it. For all of Obamacare's flaws, Kimmel made an excellent point regarding coverage for pre-existing conditions noting that his son would have been denied health insurance by virtue of being born with a defective heart. It is not every child who has a father with his own late night talk show.
Yet it ought to be kept in mind even if we find a way for all Americans to have access to health care, if not for one attentive nurse noticing Kimmel's son was the wrong shade of purple this story might not have had a happy ending. Our health care system is only as good as the people in it and fortunately in the case of young William Kimmel there were a lot of good people.
Although he must face more surgical procedures, it looks like William Kimmel will live a long, healthy life and his Dad can look forward to telling stories about his son for many years to come.
Red Sox Fans Should Give Adam Jones a Standing Ovation Tonight UPDATE
I only caught glimpses of last night's game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox. But after Adam Jones made a sensational catch late in the game off the bat of Jackie Bradley, Jr, I saw him being very vocal and I thought it might have been with some fans.
As it turns out it was. A fan had thrown some peanuts at Jones and hurled the N-word at him. This has prompted public apologies from the Red Sox organization, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.
While this incident saddens me it does not surprise me. I remember seeing Albert Belle get heckled with racial epithets in 1999 in Cleveland as a member of the Orioles. That fall, Tribe fans shouted racial epithets to Pedro Martinez as he warmed up in the bullpen during Game 5 of the ALDS. Alcohol and hatred are always a bad mix.
I've been critical of Jones in the past. Last year, he characterized baseball as "a white man's game". An odd comment given the players who hail from Latin America, Asia and now South Africa.
But Jones has made an imprint on the game especially as he led the U.S. to its first World Baseball Classic title in March. That tournament will forever be remembered for when Jones robbed his Orioles teammate Manny Machado of a home run.
Jones' contributions to the game outweigh his shortcomings. As such I think as a gesture of goodwill, Red Sox fans at tonight's game at Fenway Park should give Adam Jones a standing ovation when he enters the batting box for his first plate appearance. It won't erase the transgression and it doesn't erase racism. It will always exist. But it would demonstrate that most decent human beings abhor such views. If Adam Jones is to be booed by the Fenway faithful it should be because he is thorn in the side of the Red Sox, not because he is unwelcome to play baseball.
UPDATE: Evidently I am not the only one calling upon Red Sox Nation to give Jones a standing O. Long time New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica weighs in here.
UPDATE II: Red Sox Nation did not disappoint.
As it turns out it was. A fan had thrown some peanuts at Jones and hurled the N-word at him. This has prompted public apologies from the Red Sox organization, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.
While this incident saddens me it does not surprise me. I remember seeing Albert Belle get heckled with racial epithets in 1999 in Cleveland as a member of the Orioles. That fall, Tribe fans shouted racial epithets to Pedro Martinez as he warmed up in the bullpen during Game 5 of the ALDS. Alcohol and hatred are always a bad mix.
I've been critical of Jones in the past. Last year, he characterized baseball as "a white man's game". An odd comment given the players who hail from Latin America, Asia and now South Africa.
But Jones has made an imprint on the game especially as he led the U.S. to its first World Baseball Classic title in March. That tournament will forever be remembered for when Jones robbed his Orioles teammate Manny Machado of a home run.
Jones' contributions to the game outweigh his shortcomings. As such I think as a gesture of goodwill, Red Sox fans at tonight's game at Fenway Park should give Adam Jones a standing ovation when he enters the batting box for his first plate appearance. It won't erase the transgression and it doesn't erase racism. It will always exist. But it would demonstrate that most decent human beings abhor such views. If Adam Jones is to be booed by the Fenway faithful it should be because he is thorn in the side of the Red Sox, not because he is unwelcome to play baseball.
UPDATE: Evidently I am not the only one calling upon Red Sox Nation to give Jones a standing O. Long time New York Daily News columnist Mike Lupica weighs in here.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Trump & Duterte Are Two of a Kind
While the State Department and the National Security Council might have been surprised President Trump invited Filipino strongman Rodrigo Duterte to the White House, I am not at all.
Trump and Duterte are two of a kind. He has long admired leaders who "get things done" and someone who kills criminals (even if such a thing can never be proven) earns high marks in Trump's book. If Trump is comfortable with Putin killing journalists and Erdogan quelling a coup then why wouldn't Trump admire Duterte? After all, Duterte is a man who has bragged of killing people, wishing he had raped a murdered Australian missionary worker and has no qualms about "corrupt journalists" being assassinated. I'm sure Trump loves that last one. After all, it wasn't so long ago that Trump referred to the media as "enemies of the American people."
Sometimes America has to align itself with leaders who are less than savory. Indeed, we had a long standing alliance with the notorious Ferdinand Marcos. But let us not roll out the red carpet and publicly condone their behavior. Unfortunately, Trump sees America in his own image. The only virtue is strength even if that strength is gained at the expense of innocent people.
At this point, Duterte won't commit to accepting Trump's invitation. But Duterte is every bit as mercurial as Trump. So don't be surprised if he changes his mind and Trump honors him with a state dinner.
It is worth noting that Duterte's campaign of terror in the name of ridding The Philippines of drugs has claimed the lives of innocent children. One can only hope that Ivanka Trump will intercede on behalf of the beautiful babies of The Philippines as she did with the beautiful babies of Syria.
Trump and Duterte are two of a kind. He has long admired leaders who "get things done" and someone who kills criminals (even if such a thing can never be proven) earns high marks in Trump's book. If Trump is comfortable with Putin killing journalists and Erdogan quelling a coup then why wouldn't Trump admire Duterte? After all, Duterte is a man who has bragged of killing people, wishing he had raped a murdered Australian missionary worker and has no qualms about "corrupt journalists" being assassinated. I'm sure Trump loves that last one. After all, it wasn't so long ago that Trump referred to the media as "enemies of the American people."
Sometimes America has to align itself with leaders who are less than savory. Indeed, we had a long standing alliance with the notorious Ferdinand Marcos. But let us not roll out the red carpet and publicly condone their behavior. Unfortunately, Trump sees America in his own image. The only virtue is strength even if that strength is gained at the expense of innocent people.
At this point, Duterte won't commit to accepting Trump's invitation. But Duterte is every bit as mercurial as Trump. So don't be surprised if he changes his mind and Trump honors him with a state dinner.
It is worth noting that Duterte's campaign of terror in the name of ridding The Philippines of drugs has claimed the lives of innocent children. One can only hope that Ivanka Trump will intercede on behalf of the beautiful babies of The Philippines as she did with the beautiful babies of Syria.
MLB Notes for April: A Royals Mess
The first month of the 2017 MLB season has concluded and not a moment too soon for several clubs, most notably the Kansas City Royals.
The Royals, who won back to back AL pennants in 2014 & 2015 and a World Series title in 2015, own MLB's worst record going 7-16 in April. They ended the month with nine consecutive losses. The Royals are 6½ games back of the defending AL champion Cleveland Indians. The Tribe has a ½ game lead over the Chicago White Sox, a 1½ game lead over an improved Minnesota Twins squad while the Detroit Tigers are two games back. The Royals, while not out of it by any means, have some catching up to do in a competitive division.
The Toronto Blue Jays experienced a similar fate to the Royals in the AL East. After winning the AL East in 2015 and the AL Wild Card in 2016, the Jays find themselves 8 games back of both the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. Injuries to Marco Estrada, Aaron Sanchez and 2015 AL MVP Josh Donaldson haven't helped matters. Like the Royals, the Jays have dug themselves a hole in a competitive division with the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays 2½ and 4½ games off the pace respectively.
In the AL West, the Houston Astros appear to have regained their 2015 form ending the month of April with a three game lead over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Dallas Keuchel appears to have regained his 2015 Cy Young form going 5-0 with a 1.21 ERA in MLB's inaugural month. But the Angels, after underachieving in both 2015 and 2016, have won 7 of their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Oakland A's, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners are bunched together at 5, 5 and 5½ games off the pace, respectively. Like the Royals and Blue Jays, the Rangers have thus far shown little of their form that earned them back to back AL West titles in 2015 and 2016 while the Mariners have not yet had the breakout season for which fans in the Pacific Northwest have longed hope. Meanwhile, the A's are very streaky and it is unclear which side of the streak will prevail in 2017.
Over in the NL, the Washington Nationals own MLB's best record at 17-8 which was capped off with an astounding 23-5 shellacking of the New York Mets yesterday in which third baseman Anthony Rendon went 6 for 6 with 3 HR and 10 RBI. Rendon had a good month one afternoon. But the Nats have been good all April and own a 5 game lead on both the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies with the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets bringing up the rear. Yes, the 2015 NL champions and 2016 NL East winners have lost 7 of their last 10 games and have lost one of their top starters in Noah Syndergaard who sustained a lat injury during the 23-5 debacle. Syndergaard had missed a start several days earlier, but had refused to undergo an MRI and now he and the club are paying the price. The Mets still have Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Steve Matz, but it isn't enough to overcome a NL worst .217 team batting average.
The NL Central is thus far MLB's most competitive division. The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs (never thought I'd write that sentence) have a one game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals and the upstart Milwaukee Brewers led by Eric Thames. After stints with the Blue Jays and Mariners in 2011 and 2012, Thames has spent the four years playing in South Korea where he has become a home run machine. In 103 plate appearances, Thames has slugged 11 home runs. Thames must have the Cubs spooked because pitcher John Lackey and pitching coach Chris Bosio not so subtlety suggested Thames was juicing without evidence. The Cubs and Brewers rivalry could make the Red Sox-Yankees look like a Sunday picnic by comparison. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates had a so-so 11-13 record in April, but they are only 2½ games behind the Cubs. The Reds and Brewers are undoubtedly grateful they aren't in the NL West.
Since 2010, the only teams from the NL West to have made the post-season are the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. This could change in 2017. April ended with the Colorado Rockies leading the Arizona Diamondbacks by ½ game. The Rockies and D'Backs are helmed by new managers - Bud Black and Torey Lovullo, respectively and seem to have given their clubs new life. The Dodgers are a respectable two games back, but the Giants who have won three World Series titles this decade have the worst record in the NL. To make matters worse they are 1½ games back of the San Diego Padres which have a payroll $100 million lower than the Giants.
Can the Giants, Mets, Royals, Blue Jays and Rangers rebound in May? Or will teams like the D'Backs, Rockies, Brewers, Yankees and Astros which rode high in April get shot down in May? We'll find out in a month's time.
The Royals, who won back to back AL pennants in 2014 & 2015 and a World Series title in 2015, own MLB's worst record going 7-16 in April. They ended the month with nine consecutive losses. The Royals are 6½ games back of the defending AL champion Cleveland Indians. The Tribe has a ½ game lead over the Chicago White Sox, a 1½ game lead over an improved Minnesota Twins squad while the Detroit Tigers are two games back. The Royals, while not out of it by any means, have some catching up to do in a competitive division.
The Toronto Blue Jays experienced a similar fate to the Royals in the AL East. After winning the AL East in 2015 and the AL Wild Card in 2016, the Jays find themselves 8 games back of both the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. Injuries to Marco Estrada, Aaron Sanchez and 2015 AL MVP Josh Donaldson haven't helped matters. Like the Royals, the Jays have dug themselves a hole in a competitive division with the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays 2½ and 4½ games off the pace respectively.
In the AL West, the Houston Astros appear to have regained their 2015 form ending the month of April with a three game lead over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Dallas Keuchel appears to have regained his 2015 Cy Young form going 5-0 with a 1.21 ERA in MLB's inaugural month. But the Angels, after underachieving in both 2015 and 2016, have won 7 of their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Oakland A's, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners are bunched together at 5, 5 and 5½ games off the pace, respectively. Like the Royals and Blue Jays, the Rangers have thus far shown little of their form that earned them back to back AL West titles in 2015 and 2016 while the Mariners have not yet had the breakout season for which fans in the Pacific Northwest have longed hope. Meanwhile, the A's are very streaky and it is unclear which side of the streak will prevail in 2017.
Over in the NL, the Washington Nationals own MLB's best record at 17-8 which was capped off with an astounding 23-5 shellacking of the New York Mets yesterday in which third baseman Anthony Rendon went 6 for 6 with 3 HR and 10 RBI. Rendon had a good month one afternoon. But the Nats have been good all April and own a 5 game lead on both the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies with the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets bringing up the rear. Yes, the 2015 NL champions and 2016 NL East winners have lost 7 of their last 10 games and have lost one of their top starters in Noah Syndergaard who sustained a lat injury during the 23-5 debacle. Syndergaard had missed a start several days earlier, but had refused to undergo an MRI and now he and the club are paying the price. The Mets still have Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Steve Matz, but it isn't enough to overcome a NL worst .217 team batting average.
The NL Central is thus far MLB's most competitive division. The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs (never thought I'd write that sentence) have a one game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals and the upstart Milwaukee Brewers led by Eric Thames. After stints with the Blue Jays and Mariners in 2011 and 2012, Thames has spent the four years playing in South Korea where he has become a home run machine. In 103 plate appearances, Thames has slugged 11 home runs. Thames must have the Cubs spooked because pitcher John Lackey and pitching coach Chris Bosio not so subtlety suggested Thames was juicing without evidence. The Cubs and Brewers rivalry could make the Red Sox-Yankees look like a Sunday picnic by comparison. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates had a so-so 11-13 record in April, but they are only 2½ games behind the Cubs. The Reds and Brewers are undoubtedly grateful they aren't in the NL West.
Since 2010, the only teams from the NL West to have made the post-season are the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. This could change in 2017. April ended with the Colorado Rockies leading the Arizona Diamondbacks by ½ game. The Rockies and D'Backs are helmed by new managers - Bud Black and Torey Lovullo, respectively and seem to have given their clubs new life. The Dodgers are a respectable two games back, but the Giants who have won three World Series titles this decade have the worst record in the NL. To make matters worse they are 1½ games back of the San Diego Padres which have a payroll $100 million lower than the Giants.
Can the Giants, Mets, Royals, Blue Jays and Rangers rebound in May? Or will teams like the D'Backs, Rockies, Brewers, Yankees and Astros which rode high in April get shot down in May? We'll find out in a month's time.
Trump Messed Up on Andrew Jackson & The Civil War, But Biden Messed Up on FDR Going on TV During The Great Depression
President Trump deserves all the mockery he can get for claiming that President Andrew Jackson was "really angry that he saw what was happening with regard to the Civil War" despite the fact he died 17 years before the first shots were fired at Fort Sumter. It is only a matter of time before Ken Burns weighs in.
But the Left shouldn't get so smug. Remember when VP candidate Joe Biden told Katie Couric during the 2008 campaign that FDR went on TV to talk about The Great Depression despite the fact there was no such thing as TV and that Herbert Hoover was in the White House?
Let me refresh your memory.
Somehow I doubt this prevented most on the Left for casting a ballot for Biden in 2008 much less 2012.
The point here is there is plenty of ignorance to go around from out leaders and it does not speak well of our knowledge of basic American history. This is nothing in which anyone, Democrat or Republican, Left or Right, should take any pride in whatsoever.
But the Left shouldn't get so smug. Remember when VP candidate Joe Biden told Katie Couric during the 2008 campaign that FDR went on TV to talk about The Great Depression despite the fact there was no such thing as TV and that Herbert Hoover was in the White House?
Let me refresh your memory.
Somehow I doubt this prevented most on the Left for casting a ballot for Biden in 2008 much less 2012.
The point here is there is plenty of ignorance to go around from out leaders and it does not speak well of our knowledge of basic American history. This is nothing in which anyone, Democrat or Republican, Left or Right, should take any pride in whatsoever.
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