Jamaal Bowman Should Be Disciplined For Pulling a Fire Alarm on Capitol Hill, But Republicans Are In No Position to Punish Him

I've never been impressed by New York Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman and I'm even less impressed by him now for his sheer stupidity in pulling a fire alarm as Congress was trying to and eventually succeeded in averting a government shutdown on Saturday. 

Bowman might have attempted this as a delaying tactic, but it caused the evacuation of the Cannon Building as well as unnecessary panic. For his part, Bowman claims he made an "honest mistake", but his given the signage was clear his explanation seems implausible. His actions do certainly warrant an investigation by U.S. Capitol Police. 

Bowman's Squad ally AOC does him no favors when she makes excuses for his conduct. Yes, AOC is right to take Republicans to task for sticking behind New York Republican George Santos who has been charged with actual crimes, but that still doesn't absolve Bowman of his behavior. Bowman certainly didn't help himself when he circulated a list of talking points which referred to Republicans as Nazis.

While Bowman's Nazi analogy is out of line, Republicans aren't covering themselves in glory either. The aforementioned Santos called Bowman "an insurrectionist." House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (at least for the moment) likened Bowman's actions to January 6th. Mind you, McCarthy also supplied Tucker Carlson with thousands of hours of videotape in an attempt to make January 6th look like a normal tourist visit. Defeated, former President Trump also compared Bowman's actions to that of January 6th rioters. Of course, Trump has also called the January 6th rioters had "love in their heart." As such it is hard to take them with any degree of seriousness.

Ditto for New York Republican Elise Stefanik, who is also the third ranking member of the House Republican Conference. Stefanik claimed Bowman committed a felony. Nonsense. At most, Bowman could be charged with a misdemeanor which could result in 6 months in jail and/or a fine of $1,000. While Bowman is clearly in the wrong and not above the law, Republicans don't help their cause by exaggerating Bowman's actions while turning a blind eye to their own.

It is worth noting another New York Republican Nicole Malliotakis has put forward a resolution calling for Bowman's expulsion. But as long as Santos is welcome in Congress, her resolution is DOA. 

Despite GOP posturing and shenanigans, Bowman is a headache Democrats don't need. They might want to police themselves and get behind Bowman's primary challenger Michael Gerald so as to avoid further embarrassment in the long run.

Miguel Cabrera & Adam Wainwright Call It a Career

(Photo credit: Bill Greenblatt/UPI/Shutterstock)

Game 162 of the 2023 MLB season featured the career finales of both Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright. 

Cabrera, 40, went 0 for 3 with a walk against the Cleveland Guardians. In a 21-year MLB career which began with the Florida Marlins in 2003 (where he would earn his lone World Series ring) while spending 16 seasons in Motown, Cabrera collected 3,174 hits (17th on MLB's all-time list) with 511 HR (25th on the MLB all-time list) and 1881 RBI, finishing 13th on the all-time MLB list in that category. His 627 career doubles are also 13th on MLB's all-time list. Last year, I noted Cabrera's propensity for hitting doubles. 

Cabrera won four AL batting titles (2011-2013 and 2015). In 2012, Cabrera became the first MLB player to win the Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski 45 years earlier. It would earn Cabrera the first of his two back-to-back AL MVPs. Throw in 12 MLB All-Star selections and you have a future Hall of Famer. 

However, there is a possibility he might not be inducted on the first ballot when he is eligible for Cooperstown in 2029. Cabrera was involved in a domestic violence incident in 2009 for which he was not arrested but was arrested in 2011 for DUI. However, Cabrera has been a solid citizen since and when the Oakland A's saw fit to buy him a cheap bottle of wine, it was the A's who were the villains in that story. By the time Cabrera is eligible for Cooperstown nearly 20 years will have passed since these incidents. So, he could catch a break. In any case, it's the Hall of Fame not the Hall of Saints. 

Adam Wainwright has no such problems with his reputation although that will not get him to Cooperstown. But don't feel sorry for him. Wainwright is a beloved figure in St. Louis even though he finished his career with a 5-11 record and an unseemly 7.40 ERA in a season which saw the Redbirds finish in last place for the first time in 103 years. 

However, Wainwright did finish his career on a bright note earning his 200th and final big-league victory on September 18th against the Milwaukee Brewers. Only two Cardinals pitchers earned more victories than Wainwright - Bob Gibson (251) and Jesse Haines (210). Wainwright would spend his entire 18-year MLB career with the Cardinals. The Georgia native was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2000, but would be dealt to St. Louis following the 2003 season in a trade for J.D. Drew. 

Wainwright made his MLB debut in 2006 earning a World Series ring against Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers as the team's closer. He would be converted into a starter the following season. Between 2009 and 2014, Wainwright finished runner up and third in NL Cy Young balloting twice apiece. Unfortunately for Wainwright, he was also injury prone missing significant amounts of time in 2008, 2015 and 2018 while missing the entire 2011 season due to Tommy John surgery. What made that hurt even more is that Wainwright was unable to contribute to the Cardinals' World Series championship that season. 

Had Wainwright been healthy he would probably have more than 250 victories and be at or near 3000 strikeouts. As it stands, Wainwright finishes his career with 200 big league wins, 2,202 strikeouts and a 3.53 ERA along with three NL All-Star selections and two Gold Gloves. Wainwright won't be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, but he will most certainly be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame. 

My Thoughts on the 2023 MLB Post-Season & Possible World Series Matchups

Although I have scarcely watched an inning of the 2023 MLB season, I have kept my eye on the standings. While the Miami Marlins and New York Mets do meet for a makeup game tomorrow, the 2023 MLB post-season is all set.

American League

AL East - Baltimore Orioles

AL Central - Minnesota Twins

AL West - Houston Astros

AL Wild Cards - Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays

I am happiest for the Baltimore Orioles. Two years removed from losing 110 games, they won 101 games, had the best record in the AL and have a chance to win their first World Series title in 40 years. Of course, their ownership leaves much to be desired with the way they treat their announcers or hint the team might be broken up before they've had a chance to win a championship. In which case, there is a certain urgency facing the Orioles not facing other teams.

I also wouldn't object to triumphs from the Twins, Tampa, Texas and Toronto. The Twins and Blue Jays haven't won the World Series since 1991 and 1993, respectively while the Rays and Rangers have never won a World Series in their franchise histories.

Which leaves us with the defending World Series champion Houston Astros who have also won back-to-back AL pennants. Should the Astros win it all this year they will become the first team to repeat since the New York Yankees from 1998 through 2000. 

I didn't like the way they won the AL West. The Astros and Rangers have identical records of 90-72. But because the Astros won the season series, they get a bye in the Wild Card round while the Rangers must face the Rays with the winner facing the Orioles in the ALDS. Meanwhile, the Astros will get to face the winner of the Blue Jays-Twins Wild Card matchup. 

National League

NL East - Atlanta Braves

NL Central - Milwaukee Brewers

NL West - Los Angeles Dodgers

NL Wild Cards - Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins

The Braves, Brewers and Dodgers are familiar post-season faces. The Dodgers have won 10 NL West titles in 11 years, the Braves have won six straight NL East titles while the Brew Crew have reached the post-season for the fifth time in six years.

The defending NL champion Phillies are back in the Wild Card hunt joined by the D'Backs and Marlins. Like the Orioles, the D'Backs are also two years removed from losing 110 games. Although the Marlins did make the post-season during the COVID shortened 2020 season, it is only the fourth time in the past 30 years they've played October baseball. Should the Marlins win it all or least get to the World Series, it will be quite a feather in the cap for Kim Ng, who is MLB's first female GM. 

The Phillies haven't won the World Series in 15 years while the Marlins last won it 20 years ago with the D'Backs winning their only World Series title in 2001. The Brewers, like the Rays and Rangers, have never won a World Series. While I was happy when the Braves won it all in 2021 after a 26-year drought and being only a few months removed from living there. But that was then. The Dodgers are also only three years removed from winning a World Series albeit during COVID conditions. 

The Braves and Dodgers have earned byes. Atlanta faces the winner of the Marlins-Phillies Wild Card matchup leading to an NL East showdown in the NLDS while the Dodgers will face the winner of the Brewers-D'Backs contest. 

World Series Possibilities

Should there be a Houston Astros-Philadelphia Phillies rematch it will mark the first time two teams have faced each other in back-to-back to World Series since the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers did so in 1977 and 1978. Astros manager Dusty Baker was on the losing end of both of those World Series as the L.A.'s left-fielder.

Should the Milwaukee Brewers face either the Texas Rangers or Tampa Bay Rays, it will mark the first Fall Classic in which neither team had previously won a World Series title since 1980 when the Phillies prevailed over the Kansas City Royals.

We could be treated the following World Series rematches.

Houston Astros vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2022)

Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves (2021)

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2020)

Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2017)

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2008)

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies (1993)

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Atlanta Braves (1992)

Minnesota Twins vs. Atlanta Braves (1991)

Baltimore Orioles vs. Philadelphia Phillies (1983)

Baltimore Orioles vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1966)

Minnesota Twins vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1965)

Or perhaps we'll see new a World Series matchup such as the Rangers vs. D'Backs or an all-Florida World Series between the Rays and Marlins. 

I'm not sure how much of it I'll actually watch if any of it at all. But I will keep my eye on the ball.

Will Democrats Bail Out McCarthy Again After Gaetz Challenges His Speakership?

Yesterday, a federal government shutdown was averted after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy offered 45 day continuing resolution spending bill which did not include any cuts but offered no new money for Ukraine. Despite misgivings and reservations from Democrats concerning Ukraine, all but one caucus member went along with the bill and the federal government's doors remain open. 

This has prompted Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz to announce he will file a motion to vacate against McCarthy in an attempt to oust him as Speaker. Of course, it was Gaetz who was primarily responsible for it taking 15 ballots for Republicans to get behind McCarthy as Speaker in the first place and even included a heated face to face confrontation. One of the concessions McCarthy granted to Gaetz is that it would only take a single Republican to challenge McCarthy's status as Speaker and Gaetz is now exercising that provision.

The question is would Democrats save McCarthy's job, or will they allow Republicans to sacrifice him? Democrats have indicated that it will cost McCarthy more concessions if he wants their support (i.e. reverse course on Ukraine). 

I am inclined to think Democrats would rather deal with the devil they know in McCarthy. Because if Democrats throw McCarthy to the wolves, then there's a good chance they'll get someone a lot worse. Now I don't know if Republicans would back Gaetz as Speaker or heaven forbid Marjorie Taylor Greene, but they might back someone less controversial who will do their bidding. In which case, it would probably take more than one Republican to challenge the authority of the new Speaker. After all, who would accept such terms? Well, other than Kevin McCarthy that is. 

The long and the short of it is that if McCarthy is replaced then he or she will have more wiggle room to do damage and Democrats will be less of a position to stop it namely when the threat of another government shutdown lurks come November 17th. On the other hand, such damage could further motivate voters to return control of the House of Representatives to Democrats in 2024.

Tim Wakefield, 1966-2023

Former MLB pitcher and broadcaster Tim Wakefield passed away today of brain cancer. He was only 57. 

Wakefield's death comes only days after his cancer diagnosis was revealed against his wishes by his former Red Sox teammate Curt Schilling much to the ire of the Red Sox organization, former teammates and their families and humanity in general.

In the course of this breach, Schilling also disclosed that Wakefield's wife Stacy is battling pancreatic cancer. As contemptible as Schilling's behavior was here, it is sad to know that Trevor and Brianna Wakefield might soon be without both their mother and their father. 

As for Tim Wakefield, he leaves a remarkable legacy both on and off the field. Originally drafted as an infielder by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988, Wakefield reinvented himself as a knuckleball pitcher and when he came up in 1992, he was nearly unhittable going 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 13 starts and winning two games in the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves and would finish third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting behind Eric Karros and Moises Alou. 

However, in 1993, Wakefield lost his mojo and would end up being sent back to the minor leagues where he spent all of the 1994 season before being released by the Bucs. Signed days later by the Red Sox, Wakefield would go on a 14-1 run before finishing 16-8 with a 2.95 ERA as the team would win the AL East title in 1995.

Wakefield would spend the next 17 seasons with the Bosox in bad times and in good. He is remembered for giving up the walk off HR to Aaron Boone in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the New York Yankees. But Wakefield is also remembered for earning two World Series rings with the Red Sox in both 2004 and 2007 working both in the starting rotation and out of the bullpen. 

When he finished his career in 2011, Wakefield had 200 big league wins, 186 of which were in a Red Sox uniform. Only Cy Young and Roger Clemens had more wins with Boston. Wakefield's 3006 inning pitched for the Red Sox are the most in franchise history. He would remain a familiar sight to Red Sox fans with his appearances as a color commentator as well as during the team's pre-game and post-game shows.

Wakefield was also known for his philanthropic efforts off the field particularly with Franciscan Hospital and the Jimmy Fund which earned him the Roberto Clemente Award in 2010. Following his career, Wakefield was the honorary chairman of the Red Sox Foundation. 

Wakefield was as selfless in his everyday life as he was in the clubhouse and the dugout. When he retired after the 2011 season at the age of 45, he was seven wins away from tying Young and Clemens for the Red Sox franchise record for wins. When asked about it, Wakefield stated, "And to be honest with you, seven wins isn’t going to make me a different person or a better man.” That is a fitting epitaph to Tim Wakefield's career and his life. R.I.P.

Brooks Robinson, 1937-2023

Brooks Robinson, arguably the greatest third baseman in the history of Major League Baseball, passed away today. No cause of death was released although his longtime Baltimore Orioles teammate Jim Palmer noted that Robinson had been ill for some time. Robinson was 86.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Robinson signed with the Orioles right out of high school in 1955 and would make his big-league debut with the team that September. However, Robinson didn't begin to make an impact until 1960 when he won the first of 16 consecutive Gold Gloves at third base. His next closest competition in that department are Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt and St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado who each have 10 Gold Gloves at the hot corner. 

Robinson would win the American League MVP in 1964 while finishing third in AL MVP balloting in 1965 and runner up in 1966 behind teammate Frank Robinson en route to the Orioles' first World Series title when they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in four games. He was a central part of an Orioles team which won three consecutive AL pennants between 1969 and 1971. Of those three years, the O's would only prevail in 1970. But it would be Robinson who almost singlehandedly subdued the upstart Cincinnati Reds hitting .429 with 2 HR and 6 RBIs and vacuuming up anything hit anywhere near him. The Orioles would win the Fall Classic in five games and Robinson would be named World Series MVP.

In all, Robinson would spend his entire 23-year MLB career with the Orioles. While many of his offensive achievements would be supplanted by Cal Ripken, Jr., Robinson finished his career in 1977 with 2,848 hits for a lifetime batting average of .267 with 268 HR and 1357 along with 16 Gold Gloves and 18 AL All-Star appearances. Robinson would be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1983 with 92% of the vote. 

While Robinson's passing will cast a pall over the Orioles organization, it will give the team an extra spark. The Orioles have reached the post-season for the first time since 2016 and will likely win the AL East. The O's are seeking to win their first World Series title since 1983, the year Robinson was inducted into Cooperstown. With that, I leave you with his Hall of Fame acceptance speech. R.I.P.

Russia & India Wallow in Delight as Canada & Ukraine Embarrassed Over Salute to Nazi

Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky's trip to Canada last week ought to have been triumphant moment for both countries. 

Instead, it has turned into a fiasco. In the midst of Zelensky's address to Canada's House of Commons in Ottawa, Speaker Anthony Rota acknowledged in the gallery a 98-year-old man named Yaroslav Hunka who he described as "a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero."

The problem is that Hunka served in the Waffen-SS during WWII. So Zelensky, Prime Minister Trudeau and every other MP unwittingly gave a Nazi a standing ovation. Earlier today, Rota resigned as Speaker. 

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre blamed Trudeau for the fiasco stating, “Canada’s reputation is broken. This is by far the biggest hit Canada’s diplomatic reputation has ever taken in its history, and it happened under Justin Trudeau, his watch.”

The problem is Poilievre and the Tories applauded Hunka just the same as Liberal MPs as well as MPs from the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois. No one covered themselves in glory. Government House Leader Karina Gould, whose grandparents survived the Holocaust, applauded Hunka too as unknowingly as everyone else who was assembled until Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies brought it to light.

While Canada and Ukraine recoiled in embarrassment, Russia and India wallowed in delight. Of course, Russia has been trying to paint Zelensky, who is Jewish, as a Nazi. Now that Zelensky inadvertently saluted a Ukrainian Nazi, the Russians will be playing that image on state TV with their Republican apologists in the United States amplifying that image for the duration of the war, not to mention Russian online propaganda machine.

As for India, its ire is directed at Canada. It was only last week when Trudeau publicly accused the Indian government of killing a Canadian citizen of Sikh heritage on Canadian soil last year. Needless to say, the Indian press is having a field day with Trudeau over this incident. That doesn't make Trudeau's allegation false, but it certainly complicates matters. 

The fact remains that Russia invaded Ukraine and Ukraine is defending itself with help from the West. No amount of Russian propaganda nor indignation from India against Canada can change this fact.