The Washington Nationals, despite having lost 4 games in a row, still have a 4 and a half game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. The Philadelphia Phillies, who will miss the post season for the first time since 2006 did sweep Washington in a 3 game weekend series in Philadelphia. However, it is far too little and far too late for the Phillies. The Braves have a 2 and a half game lead for the higher wild card and a 4 game lead for playoff qualification.
Though the NL Central story in the past week were the World Champion, St. Louis Cardinals (more on them in a bit) the Cincinnati Reds still have an “until further notice” sign as very likely division winners. They lead the Cardinals by 6 games. Now St.Louis did go (5-1) this past week, first sweeping the woeful (40-88) Astros and then winning 2 of 3 games in Cincinnati. The results give the Cardinals a one and a half game lead for the 2nd wild card spot. Of course, last year the Cardinals as the NL wild card went on to win their 11th World title. The Pirates are 2 games out in the wild card race and have fallen 8 games behind Cincinnati in the division.
The Giants swept a 3 game series in Los Angeles and still have a 2 game lead over the Dodgers. However, while the Dodgers have added such players as Hanley Ramirez and Adrian Gonzalez, the Giants lost All Star Game MVP Melky Cabrera so which team is more likely to win the division? The Dodgers are also one and a half games behind the Cardinals in the wild card race.
Even though the Tampa Bay Rays won 14 of 19 and allowed but 67 runs in 33 games at one point, it is still the New York Yankees leading the AL East by 4 games. Both the Rays (one half game ahead) and Baltimore Orioles (tied with the Oakland A’s ) are slightly ahead or tied in the race for one of the 2 wild card berths in the American League.
The Chicago White Sox, though considered co-favorites with the over rated Detroit Tigers, lead the AL Central by two and a half games. This past week, the White Sox swept a 3 game series at home from the Yankees for the first time in 21 years. Detroit is also very much in the middle of the wild card race, just a half game behind Baltimore and Oakland.
Out West, it is likely it will be the 2 time AL Champion Texas Rangers going virtually “wire to wire” to win a 3rd straight divisional title. Texas has a five and a half game lead. The Oakland A’s after a (4-2) week are as stated above, in the wild card scramble. I am not ready to count out the Los Angeles/Anaheim Angels but they are a disappointing nine and a half games behind Texas and 4 out in the wild card race that will be among at least 4 other teams with two spots available.
If you are looking for a real surprising, wonderful “sleeper” of a show, look no further than “National Pastime,” which is playing at the Peter Jay Sharp theater. The play was written by Tony Sportiello with music and lyrics by Al Tapper. National Pastime is humorous with wonderful musical selections.
Times are tough in 1933 Iowa but WZBQ station manager Barry (Gil Brady) wants to keep going especially with people’s jobs dependent upon it. He teams with an at first, reluctant co-owner (Karen), played by the stunning Janice Landry, and devises a scheme to increase revenue. Baseball is the answer but how they do it is the question that sustains a plot that produces laughter and genuine emotions.
I remember 5 names from the team’s lineup and I wonder if Mr.Sportiello named them and their positions with some homage to actual major league players. One would think such names and positions as Weiss at shortstop (Walt Weiss ) and Lowenstein in left field (John Lowenstein ) were no coincidence. Continuing in a Baltimore Orioles vein, Hendricks or Hendrix is the catcher. Conceivably, this is in memory of good catcher Elrod Hendricks and not superb guitarist Jimmy Hendrix, (both men gone too soon with varying degrees of impact on our culture.) More common names, Miller in center field (Rick for sure, perhaps Bing?) and Sanders in right field evoking Reggie Sanders are more likely to be coincidence.
I truly enjoyed National Pastime for its likeness and legitimate simulation of the year 1933 and a radio station in that time. It brought out wonderful music, humor and some baseball. I suggest seeing it and I hope the play gains more publicity and a bigger spot. It certainly is good enough to warrant such progression and National Pastime just may do so.
Playing two different men at opposite ends of the wealth ladder on two great shows is a distinct memory I have of the great character actor William Windom, who died at age 88 on August 16th (there is that date again, see 35 Years since Elvis died August 16th).
On the greatest and certainly the most groundbreaking television series in this country, “All in the Family,” Windom is an Army buddy of “Archie Bunker” and has made a great financial success of himself. However, while being lauded by Archie and other “Army buddies,” it is revealed that Windom’s “Eddie Frazier” not only does not think much of the guys but is terribly hurt because his son does not want him in his life. When Rob Reiner’s “Mike Stivic” asks what does your son want from you? Windom delivers “He wants me to leave him alone,” providing the pathos that made “All in the Family” the great show that still endures in reruns and remains highly relevant over 40 years later.
On “Dallas,” Windom as a down and out man is seeking money from the very rich “Jock Ewing.” It is Windom’s “Amos Krebbs” who tells “Jock” that he is “Ray Krebbs'” father. After a terse conversation with Jim Davis’ “Jock,” the down and out Krebbs leaves the revealing diary of Ray’s mother with Jock. This he thinks will help his chances of getting money. Windom leaves by saying “you will take care of the check.” The check was just for 2 coffees at a diner near “Jock’s” workplace. The effect was tremendous. So many different times in almost countless roles, Windom delivered what was needed.
It had been a long while since I had dinner at the famous Carnegie Delicatessen located on 7th avenue at 55th street in Manhattan. It is still a great, albeit, slightly expensive place to visit. The food is beyond great.
I savored a pastrami sandwich (no nickname) and it was big and delicious. Two people ordered the “Woody Allen” which is a combination sandwich consisting of pastrami and corned beef. The reviews were excellent. One other person; a younger, growing football player could not come close to finishing the open brisket sandwich that he ordered. He loved it and took it home as at did 3 of the 4 men at the table.
Once there was a time I went to the “Carnegie” and ate late and unhealthy well past midnight. Celebrities were there, so many of them pictured on the walls of the Carnegie Delicatessen right now. Those times are likely gone for me, but young or old, go in early or late and “mangia” as we say in French. (laugh?) The food is still incredible, the portions huge and the atmosphere great.
There will be less editorializing and more baseball in our American League review. The New York Yankees had a (5-2) week playing at home vs the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox. They maintained a 5 game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays, who also went (5-2) with one loss a perfect game pitched by the Seattle Mariners’ Felix Hernandez. The Rays bounced back and swept the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a 4 game series in Anaheim.
By the way, the Angels were once the Los Angeles Angels then the California Angels while the Rays were once the Devil Rays. The Angels, a preseason “darling,” have fallen 9 games behind Texas and 4 games (5 in the loss column) behind the Oakland A’s in their division.
As with the N.L. West, no significant lead in the A.L. Central but likely the winner will be the three seed in the A.L. tournament, ahem, playoffs. Starting the week the Chicago White Sox, just swept by the lowly Kansas City Royals, lead the big preseason division favorite Detroit Tigers by one and a half games.
This is our first baseball week in review and playoffs update. It is not like the good days of no wild card teams, in fact there are two in each league now, but it is baseball. Once I would have said that loud and clear as James Earl Jones did with his booming voice as a character in “Field of Dreams.” Now even though I know every World Series result by heart and had unmatched intensity for this once great action, I still say “it is baseball” but in hushed and significantly less reverential tones.
The Reds managed by Dusty Baker, whom I first called at the NY hotel 40 years ago looking to speak with Ralph Garr, lead their division by six and a half games. I spoke with Baker this year and told him I liked his team and that they had a great chance to be in post season. The rest I said is a “crapshoot” and he agreed. The Reds in all likelihood, will be in the playoffs, probably as either the NL 1 or 2 seed.
It is still the Washington Nationals in their division, (up five games on the Atlanta Braves, against whom they play next, in a 3 game series) and even though they could win it all without Stephen Strasburg, what are the odds with him and what are the odds without him? As stated in our August 14th post, it has been 79 years since a Washington D.C. team was in the baseball post season and now they decide not to use a top pitcher when they get there. What would Walter Johnson say? I say abandon hope all ye who want bills passed or sense made regarding the fans or for that matter, the people. This selfish decision epitomizes the bottom line greed, big business that makes its capital in Washington D.C. That said, the Nationals will be in post season and do not rule them out. I did not think they would win it their first time in the playoffs–but this is not basketball and it surely could be done. Odds say less likely without a top pitcher, who incredibly was not hurt but shut down due to an innings pitched restriction.
No NL west indication, save to say the winner will likely be the 3 seed in the tournament. It is a tournament now. Right now the Los Angeles Dodgers have a half game lead over the San Francisco Giants (those long time rivals clash next, also in a 3 game series).
It was a tremendous final concert of the season in Brooklyn starring the double bill of The Commodores, who performed first, and Gladys Knight who came out second. There was an overflow crowd for the free concert which was staged in Coney Island as part of the Seaside Summer concert series. These and other free concerts have long been presented by Brooklyn borough President Marty Markowitz.
The Commodores with original members William King, Walter “Clyde” Orange and J.D. Nicholas performed many of their hits and King, who named the group by randomly picking a word from the dictionary, is still sensational. The crowd was urged to talk to the people near them and responded by being lively throughout the performance. The Commodores’ songs included a rousing version of “Brick House.”
Gladys Knight is an all time great and she told the audience how much she loved them. She recently appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” and still looks great. The show closed with “Midnight Train to Georgia.” As the song concluded ending the show at at about 11 P.M. I thought about the songs and memories I associated with both The Commodores and Gladys Knight. It is getting toward “midnight” in so many ways. Seeing the songs performed live combined with the memories was a big positive. The concert was well worth the long trip.
Thirty five years have passed since Elvis Presley died on August 16th. I heard the terrible news on WXLO Radio (99X) with Bob Slade making the announcement. I try to remember it each year and while not one to go to Memphis (Elvis’ home), I do miss the one of a kind performer, Elvis Presley.
Last night on the eve of the sad anniversary both Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley joined the crowd in Memphis. It was the first time that both Priscilla (Elvis’ wife) and Lisa Marie, his daughter, attended the vigil which is held every year on the anniversary of Presley’s death.
Last week when the new “Dallas” ended its first TV season I thought about Priscilla Presley who played a major character (Jenna Wade) on the original show. It was nice to see her looking so well last night.
That August 16th when Elvis died in 1977, the New York Yankees took a (9-4) lead into the top of the 9th inning at home vs the Chicago White Sox. But the White Sox rallied for 6 runs to take the lead. However the Yankees won the game 11-10 on Chris Chambliss’ 2 run home run in the bottom of the 9th. Perhaps the Yankees received divine intervention from Babe Ruth, who also died on August 16th. For many fans around the country that game was a “horror” experience. Horror evokes the memory of Bela Lugosi, who also died on August 16th.
On Tuesday August 14, 2012 a truly moving service was held for Marvin Hamlisch at Temple Emanu-El in New York City. Marvin was a prolific song writer and as Bill Clinton said at the ceremony that drew about 2,000 people, that extremely rare combination of genius and being a truly good person.
Marvin Hamlisch exhibited kindness time and again as he literally did not say no to helping others. This unique person helped whether it was at White House receptions or tutoring people without pay in their musical studies.
A great chorus was assembled and two of Mr. Hamlisch’s greatest pieces of work “The Way We Were” and “What I Did For Love” were sung and it was as moving a moment as I have felt in a long time. I also wish I had the tissue concession. My tears alone would have “sold” many tissues.
Marvin Hamlisch lived a great life. He accomplished so much, helped others, and found true love with his wife, Terri. All of those things and then some, resonated through the massive hall in the synagogue. Whether listening to people around me talking, hearing his music or Terri speaking about him, I knew Marvin Hamlisch was a mensh. Well deserved, high praise indeed.
