Monday, March 18, 2024

MLB 2024 preview, part 2: NL East

 In part 1, we looked at the Mets' prospects for 2024. Now, let's consider the rest of the NL East.

Atlanta has won the last 5 division titles, but hasn't been able to get out of the divisional round, eliminated by Philadelphia in 2022-3. So, how do the Braves respond?

For starters (pun intended), Chris Sale comes over from Boston via free agency to anchor the rotation. Ian Anderson starts the season in the minors and would have to be re-added to the 40 man roster to be called up. The rotation figures to have some combination of Sale, Charlie Morton, Spencer Strider, Max Fried, and any number of candidates for the 5th slot, including Jackson Stephens, Hruscar Ynoa, and Bryce Elder. We will see Anderson in Atlanta soon enough. Luis Guillorme (Mets) adds some infield insurance, and this could come back to haunt the Mets, as Guillorme joins Travis d'Arnaud in Hot-lanta. Ex-Met farmhand Jarred Kelenic (Seattle) has had a rough go in spring training, and could start the season in the minors, which explains why the Braves brought back Adam Duvall (Boston).

As for the Phillies, Bryce Harper moving to 1st base made Rhys Hoskins expendable (Milwaukee). Shaker graduate Jeff Hoffman will be a mainstay in the bullpen. The Phillies added some infield insurance by picking up Roger Clemens' son, Kody (Detroit), and Whit Merrifield (Toronto), who likely can play 1st if Harper is injured. Ex-Brave Kolby Allard adds bullpen insurance, otherwise, the rest of the roster looks the same.

After acquiring AL batting champion Luis Arraez prior to last year, Miami dipped into the AL Central again, this time signing Tim Anderson away from the White Sox. Josh Bell has been here, there, and everywhere the last few years, acquired for Jean Segura back in August. Nick Gordon (Minnesota) reunites with Arraez, and is outfield insurance. Christian Bethancourt (Tampa Bay) returns to the NL East, where he began his career in Atlanta. 

In terms of pitching Miami must make do without Sandy Alcantara, out for the season due to Tommy John surgery. That's what will hurt the Marlins to the point where Arraez, Anderson, and friends will have to pick up the slack.

Washington waved the white flag early the last two seasons. Adding Joey Gallo (Minnesota), another travelin' man, isn't going to help. Gallo is listed as an outfielder, but figure on him playing a good chunk of time at 1st base. There's a reason he's moved around the last few years. Nick Senzel (Cincinnati) will try to provide the offense lost when Trea Turner left for Philadelphia after the 2022 season. Richard Bleier (Boston), he of the 3 balk at-bat vs. the Mets, returns to the division. That shouldn't give DC fans any confidence. Thing is, Bleier is a non-roster invitee, so he could end up starting the season in the minors, barring injuries to current players.

Projected order of finish:

1. Atlanta.

2. Philadelphia.

3. Mets.

4. Miami.

5. Washington.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

YouTube Theatre: The St. Patrick's Day Parade---a WPIX tradition (1949-89)

 When cable television was introduced to homes in the 518 in the 70's, that introduction also included a New York television tradition that was discontinued 35 years ago.

WPIX, now a CW affiliate, began airing the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York as a television experiment in 1949. What started as a hour-long special evolved into a 5 hour marathon by the time the parade broadcasts ended in 1989. The one constant was host Jack McCarthy, who was a children's show host for 'PIX during the 60's, and although McCarthy retired in the 70's, he continued with the parades until 1989.

Would that someone would tape Albany's annual parade, the 2024 edition taking place yesterday, for kicks.

From 1985, we have nearly half of a broadcast, 2 hours and 10 minutes worth, commercials included.


For what it's worth, today, WPIX is carrying a Mets pre-season game, airing locally on WCWN.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

An early NyQuil commercial (1970)

 Vicks, now a component of Procter & Gamble, introduced NyQuil cough medicine in 1966 as a complement to Formula 44, which, it appears, is no longer around, while P & G has expanded NyQuil into a whole of line of products, including a children's version and DayQuil.

In this 1970 ad, an ailing husband (Bill Fiore, predating his Right Guard ad run with Chuck McCann) is introduced to NyQuil by his wife (Louise Lasser). Lloyd Nolan (Julia) is the narrator.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Names making news

 This first item slipped under the radar, under-reported by the hometown press.

It's very rare----aside from movies & novels----for schools to make administrative changes in the middle of the school year. But, that's what happened last month when Troy High principal Joseph Mariano, Jr. left to become the superintendent of the Stillwater Central School District.

Coincidentally, THS hosted Stillwater in the 2023 Class D football title game vs. Warrensburg/Lake George/North Warren on November 3. Three months later, and Mariano takes the Stillwater job.

On February 8, Mariano was given a send-off at Troy after 11 1/2 seasons as principal (2013-24).


Mariano began his new job February 9, but the deal was completed two months earlier.

After a few weeks without an executive principal, the Troy district earlier this week named veteran math teacher Joshua Monk as Mariano's successor. Best wishes to both Monk & Mariano.
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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis can breathe a little easier. She'll still get to prosecute former president Donald Trump

Judge Scott McAfee ruled today that either Willis or her ex, attorney Nathan Wade, had to basically recuse themselves from the case due to objections raised by another defendant in the case, Michael Roman. Wade, hours later, decided to step down. Team Pampers' attempt to smear Willis didn't work the way they'd hoped, and, now, they're stuck on the path to prison.
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It seems that anyone associated with Trump develops an unhealthy aversion to confinement.

Consider, then, the case of one of Trump's former advisers, Peter Navarro. After a request to further delay his imprisonment was rejected by an appeals court Thursday, Navarro decided, like an idiot, to take his case to the Supreme Court.

No, you shouldn't be doing that, pal. Unless you've got extreme claustrophobia, you serve your time, and then you get to go home. Four months is chump change for first time offenders. 

No, the problem is that Navarro, Steve Bannon, and others think that, like Trump, they're entitled to executive privilege, but they're not. They think they're above the law, but they're not. What is wrong with a simple sentence of four months? 

That old ad campaign was right. The mind is a terrible thing to waste.
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Jests QB Aaron Rodgers is being offered an opportunity to be a vice president.

Independent candidate Robert Kennedy, Jr., who has turned his back on his famous family due to his vaccine denials, reached out to fellow anti-vaxxer and former State Farm pitchman Rodgers, who then had to deny reported claims that he believed the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax.

The idiocy of some people.......!!

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Musical Interlude: Baby One More Time (1998-2024)

 Ex-Mouseketeer Britney Spears exploded onto the pop charts at the end of 1998 with "Baby One More Time", the title song from her debut CD. The video was shot in the same high school that housed the cast of "Grease" 20 years earlier.


In recent days, a few YouTube "geniuses" decided to do comparisons and mash-ups of Britney's original version against or coupled with Tenacious D's cover from the movie. "Kung Fu Panda 4", whose star, Jack Black, is the vocal half of Tenacious D, and hams it up at the premiere with his musical partner, Kyle Gass, and co-stars James Hong, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman, & Awkwafina, among others.


Two generations of "Baby". Can't go wrong.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Names making news

 You've probably seen Capital One pitch-doll Jennifer Garner (ex-Alias) doing an end-around toward the end of last year's writers & actors strikes to use Capital One to promote her own business, Once Upon a Farm. The ads are still running some six months later, but in a lighter rotation.

Anyway, Once Upon a Farm has a line of products that are readily available in places like Walmart. The product line includes smoothies and baby food. Once Upon a Farm & Garner are also partnering with Save The Children. 

Honestly, I think I may try one of those fruit smoothies......
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Country icon Dolly Parton has linked up with Conagra Brands to produce a line of pastry and cake mixes. Some of the pastry mixes are stand-alone items, but the cake mixes also bear the equally iconic brand of Duncan Hines, which Conagra, formerly Nebraska Commercial Mills, purchased in 2017.


Photo courtesy of Conagra Brands.

Yep, they're also at Walmart and other retailers. The Parton line launched in January, and serves the additional purpose of keeping the Duncan Hines name relevant. 
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You know of course that Timmy Trumpet composed "Narco", the entrance theme for Mets reliever Edwin Diaz, and is also heard at other sports arenas.

Well, last year, Trumpet got his own baseball card, courtesy of Topps.

The company, now a unit of Fanatics, included Trumpet in its 2023 Allen & Ginter set, both in regular size, and in a smaller parallel insert. With Diaz back on the mound for the Mets, the sound of "Narco" will be heard once more at Citi Field this season. You can bet that Mets fans will be yearning for the Trumpet card to add to their collections.

With Topps/Fanatics getting back in the NFL game, perhaps as soon as this year, maybe we'll see a Taylor Swift card in that set?

Musical Interlude: Ship of Fools (1987)

 World Party scored its only American hit in 1987 with "Ship of Fools". Karl Wallinger's retro-soul sound was right in tune with the times.


In memory of Wallinger, 66, who passed away Monday. Rest in peace.