The New York Yankees are slight favorites to win the A.L. East.
As was the case last season when they won it all, the Boston Red Sox are the second choice.
I believe that race is far too close to call. Thus no prediction.
However, I feel strongly that the three teams given little if any choice to win the division, the Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles will all improve.
Almost certainly, the Red Sox will not win as many as 108 games–I say they will win around 92 and the Orioles will almost certainly improve on last year’s (45-117) mark.
Let’s say they will lose less than 100 games.
Last night the Denver Nuggets, the current second seed in the NBA Western Conference, defeated the L.A. Lakers, all but ending the playoff qualification hopes for the (30-35) Lakers.
They now trail the also Los Angeles based Clippers by 6 and a half games for the 8th and final ‘offs spot in the conference.
The Lakers, of course went out last summer and annexed LeBron James, he the switch teams, “king.”
In his first season with L.A, James and the Lakers almost certainly will fail to even qualify for the NBA playoffs.
At 2:00 am on March 10, 2019, Americans will turn their clocks ahead one hour, marking the beginning of Daylight Saving Time.
“Don’t forget, 2 am, Sunday, March 10th,” purred Athena, who dances at the world famous Rick’s Cabaret New York gentlemen’s club. “Here’s a couple of photos to help you remember. Everybody Spring Forward!”
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It was not “Dallas,” with Larry Hagman, nor was it “The Sopranos,” with James Gandolfini and its individual, in this case, Luke Perry, who very sadly, died far too young at age 52 two days back, was not quite as central.
However, “Beverly Hills 90210” was one of my favorite shows and Mr. Perry, as “Dylan McKay,” was the biggest reason.
Remember, as one reads the relative statements above, I was 10 to 15 years older than the projected “90210” demographic, however, the show’s fine writing, cast and adult story lines made it compelling.
Again Luke as a “cool hand,” one born a year before Paul Newman portrayed another, and evoking James Dean, certainly in “Rebel Without A Cause,” was the biggest reason, easily translating “Dylan’s” angst, cool, power, depth (he read Lord Byron) into a character, one could maturely admire.
Much had sailed by the ’90’s, lessons learned late, if not too, but in watching each week, “90210” brought perspective and Perry by all accounts a truly fine individual, brought much of it home on many Wednesday nights, as I recall.
I have included Kristen Baldwin’s tribute to Mr. Perry’s very full career including his fine turn on “Riverdale.”
In her tribute’s first paragraph, Ms. Baldwin cites that after a long day of doing publicity, Luke was so gracious to her. I can relate to that in a big way and my admiration and now unfortunately, my mourning regarding Luke Perry is vastly increased.
Click below to view Kristen Baldwin’s tribute to Luke Perry with her fond, heartfelt remembrance of his kindness.
A tribute to Luke Perry: From dreamy bad boy to TV’s best dad
Luke Perry, pictured above.
I predict pretty big improvement from the Baltimore Orioles this season.
Of course they were so far down last season, (47-115), one of the worst records ever, that it would be hard not to improve.
I am sure they will wear a tribute to the great Frank Robinson on their uniforms (I hope the Cincinnati Reds do as well) and perhaps they will remind us of his great play.
Let’s not expect too much, even a near miss such as the one the 1989 Orioles under Frank provided would be a miracle.
Significant improvement, say 15 more wins can be attained.
This Monday amidst snow, thoughts dart back to #5, 1968 World Series and I am in English class.
Yes, the World Series on another Monday, an AFTERNOON!
Early, it looks as though the St. Louis Cards will repeat as baseball’s champions, the great Lou Brock continuing his hitting rampage for St. Louis.
However, the Detroit Tigers’ Mickey Lolich settles down and does not allow a run, after St. Loo’s three tallies in the top of the first.
NBC had its cameras on Jose Feliciano’s “different” version of the U.S. national anthem for a scant 13 seconds. (“proudly” being extended was the “switch” point).
It was a Monday afternoon, over 50 years ago and in future posts more on game 5 of the ’68 W.S.–the first of three straight Tigers’ wins that manifested in their first title in 23 (Willie Horton, their left fielder, wore it) years.
Willie Horton’s throw retired Lou Brock at home plate, denying the Cards a big insurance run, in the 5th inning of #5-’68 World Series.
The Hall of Fame and super clutch player, Dick Duff alive and hopefully well, recently turned 83 years old.
Duff played on 6 NHL title teams, all with the original two teams from Canada, first playing on two with the Toronto Maple Leafs and then four with the Montreal Canadiens.
Among other great feats in his storied career, Dick Duff scored a true Stanley Cup winning goal, the last goal in the Leafs’ game 6, (2-1) win at defending champion Chicago (Blackhawks, then I believe listed as Black Hawks) on April 22, 1962.
The Leafs motto that years was “Stanley Cup too,” and with 2 goals being enough on the 22nd day of April, they accomplished their goal.
Speaking of two goals, Duff followed his 1962 Cup Final “gamer” with the first two goals of the 1963 Final vs the superb Gord Howe and the Detroit Red Wings.
Incredibly, Duff tallied twice in the first 47 seconds of game 1 in Toronto, a record for the two fastest goals to start an NHL Final game, that still stands.
His 3 consecutive goals over 2 Cup Final series were a big factor in the Maple Leafs winning two Stanley Cups in a row.
Duff was traded during the ’63-’64 season and without him Toronto won a third straight crown. In the 53 completed NHL seasons since, (no NHL season in ’05), Toronto has won just one crown, that in their only Final appearance in those 53 seasons, 1967.
Dick Duff, a member of 6 Stanley Cup winning teams, pictured below.
Today, as is always the case on this date, my thoughts turn to Wilton Norman Chamberlain’s incredible, unprecedented, 100 point game on March 2, 1962.
Also, though I am far from religious, I note today is the day to say the Jewish memorial/mourners prayer (Kaddish), for my father Norman.
Among my links between Wilton Norman and my father Norman, is that Dad was a Boston Celtics’ fan and of course, almost every time, they prevailed vs “my” Wilt teams.
Dad and I did watch Wilt, as playoffs’ MVP, leading the Lakers to the 1972 NBA title, each of us rooting for him and the team.
We had some nice discussions over the years and maybe Dad and Wilt are having one now. Maybe.
Click below for a previous post on Wilt’s 100 point game.
55, 100 And Wilt Chamberlain | Andy B Sports
Time: Mom and Dad faintly pictured above, when they were married nearly 70 years ago.
It is one week shy of 25 years since my father died and nearly 20 years since Wilt passed away.
Regarding Mom, it is a less round, nearly 19 years, since she passed on.
For round, for living, how about 100, as in the incredible 100 points Wilt scored in one NBA game, on the night of March 2, 1962, in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Last night the Orlando Magic handed the defending, two time, NBA champion Golden State Warriors, a second defeat in as many “Florida nights.”
The night before Dwyane Wade hit a shot lifting the Miami Heat to a win vs Golden State.
“G.S.” now has 19 losses and with one more loss, will officially fail to exceed their projected regular season wins total.
Currently, the Warriors lead the Denver Nuggets by a half game in the race for the best mark in the NBA Western Conference.
The Warriors are still top heavy favorites to win a fourth NBA crown in five seasons, but one can see some obstacles ahead.
The great playing career of Dwyane Wade, pictured above, will end after this NBA season.
I truly fondly recall the pitcher, Gary Peters, whose best years were with the Chicago White Sox.
Peters was part of the White Sox team that stayed in contention until the final week of the great 1967 American League pennant race.
Twice, Peters led the American League in E.R.A. and once in 1964, led the league in victories.
Gary was also a fine hitting pitcher. He was often used as a pinch hitter, once winning a game with a home run in that role.
Andy B Sports 