Theoldmole

And rooting for the Wolverines.

This is, of course, yesterday's game, as I realized after watching for a couple of minutes, but I missed the guy running backwards on a leash yesterday.

Why is a guy on the Nationals running backwards on a leash in the outfield?

Is it on TV?

Are there really that many black guys in the Netherlands?

Fred Wilpon has not yet decided who'll throw out the first pitch on Opening Day, so I figure he's waiting to hear from us. Perhaps Edgy in honor of his birthday? Rachel Robinson? Certainly not Rudy Giuliani. Oldest living Met Yogi Berra? Too much of a Yankee. Lorinda de Roulet? Gary Carter? My real vote would be Ralph Kiner.

I seem to be with Magadan and the majority.

Top down.

9-0 now but I just came back in so I don't know how they got the last two

I actually do remember that Castro story. It was Phil Linz who told Yogi "Play me or keep me."

Tater - a home run

No-no. A no=hitter. (also slang)

Nickel curve -- a slider.

Low Strike Zone -- instance of this bizarre idea that a strike zone should be a reflection of an umpire's personality.

IMHO

That is great.

I believe T. S. Eliot's ex. Vivian, picketed his plays carrying a sign reading "I am the aggrieved wife."

Thanks for that great article. And thanks for the box score -- I was wondering who those hapless young Sox were. They actually proved to be a pretty a hapless bunch.

Who pinch-ran for Joe DiMaggio?

I always love to see the Yankees trashed, but I'm surprised. Torre never seemed like the kiss and tell type.

And Fast Eddie?

Buffalo affiliated with the Mets now?

I've been replaying the 1948 season on Diamond Mind. I did the 1947 season, and the Giants, with their incredible home run power, beat out the Dodgers for the NL pennant -- outside of Branca, the Dodgers' pitching really fell apart. The Giants also outslugged the Yankees in the World Series. 1948 is an interesting year for a Dodger fan, because most of the ingredients for their great teams were there, but not quite in place yet. Carl Furillo is their regular center fielder. Duke Snider comes up in midseason, but doesn't win an everyday spot. Billy Cox starts more games at third than anyone else, but that means only 70 games. It's a revolving door, with Spider Jorgensen nearing the end of his career, but still hanging in, Tommy Brown getting one of several shots to win a regular position, Eddie Miksis getting a bunch or starts. Gil Hodges becomes pretty much a regular at first, but still catches a few games -- they haven't entirely given up on their 1847 lineup of Hodges catching and Robinson at first. Preston Ward actually starts the season as the regular first baseman. Campanella shares catching duties with Hodges, but mostly with Bruce Edwards, who also plays third, outfield, and even fills in a couple of times at first. Robinson is pretty much the everyday second baseman, with Miksis his main replacement, and Reese is the one day in, day out player. The outfield is in a huge state of flux, with aging veteran Arky Vaughan and prematurely aging veteran Pete Reiser still around. Gene Hermanski in left is actually their closest thing to an everyday player, and he stays around for a while. My Dodger fandom began in 1950, and fanaticism in 1951, so Hermanski is the first left fielder i remember -- he went in mid-'51 in the Andy Pafko deal. Their closest thing to a third regular outfielder is Marv Rackley, with both George Shuba and Dick Whitman getting more playing time than Snider. They will try to get rid of Rackley in May of 1948, trading him to the Pirates for Johnny Hopp, but the deal is voided three weeks later and the players returned toi their respective teams. I wonder that that was about? The Dodgers do get rid of Rackley after the 1949 season, selling him to the Cincinnati Reds for sixty bucks, and one has to wonder how they arrived at that figure. But by 1949, the Dodger everyday lineup is set. Pitching - they don't have Newcombe yet. Rex Barney is actually their ace. Branca's in the regular rotation, as is Preacher Roe. Erskine a spot starter/reliever.

Yes, a Sports Academy and Bobby Valentine and the city of Stamford is a good marriage, indeed. Bobby V, good fit?

Happy Birthday to the champ of Met bloggers.