ghost of miles

Already speculation that the just-started 2020 season could ultimately end up being canceled because of what’s going on with the Marlins. More immediately, not sure if fielding their “practice team” is a viable option or not. Probably not, from what I’m reading so far. Behind a paywall at the Athletic, but if you’re a subscriber, a very good piece re the Marlins’ situation, and a bleak outlook for sustaining the season: Why did the Marlins play baseball on Sunday? Gist of the headline is that they already had enough positive tests back to indicate a very high likelihood of a team outbreak.

We re-aired Late Art: Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers In The 1980s last week, and it remains archived for online listening.

Justin Verlander out for at least the next several weeks with an elbow strain—initial Houston Chronicle report that he was out for the year has been corrected by the Astros. Still, not a good situation for Houston, especially in such a shortened season. Also: At least four Miami Marlins test positive for Covid-19

I actually ordered it last night! Darryl Pinckney had recommended it during the online talk he gave recently about No Name In The Street for the Library of America.

Loving all the Television references--incredible band that I still listen to quite a lot from time to time. Same-era, same-scene band on my CD player right now. It's the 2001 Rhino reissue and includes a blistering live set from the Roxy in August 1976:

Friend and Mets fan texted me earlier that Diaz set an MLB record last year with 15 HRs given up in the 9th inning. That's pretty bad, for sure. Paxton looked terrible for the Yankees tonight. Velo down considerably, couldn't spot his pitches... hopefully just an off-night and not some underlying physical issue. Damn, though, that Giancarlo Stanton HR... 121.3 mph exit velo, 483 feet.

The Braves' Adam Duvall socked a home run that hit a cardboard "fan" (a large-sized dog in a Mets jersey) in the face: Duvall hits HR off cardboard fan's face

Yep. And what’s “political” here is the deliberate attack on the USPS as outlined in the article that Medjuck posted and this one from Fortune Magazine. So if one wants to complain about how much “the USPS sucks” (which has never been my experience btw, despite the challenges they’ve faced), one might wish to call one’s representatives and the seat of national leadership regarding the issues mentioned in these articles. Package delivery has been slower since the pandemic began, but everything’s eventually arrived. Given all that USPS has had to deal with, I’m not upset. Hopefully they can somehow ride out the next few months.

Baldwin’s No Name In The Street from this collection: And rereading this entry in the 33 1/3 series:

Check out this baseball-themed Toyota G commercial! https://youtu.be/OpWUEj5RoGc Edit: can’t seem to embed the video. Normally doesn’t simply pasting the link into the post work?

Well, that’s one way for the Rays to finally get some fans in the stands... How Fox Sports will fill empty stadiums with virtual fans

deGrom already hitting 99-100 mph on his first few pitches.

From several days ago, somehow missed this--Braves all-star Freddie Freeman feared he was going to die from Covid-19. His temperature hit 104.5 degrees. Damn... I don't think I've ever run a temperature anywhere close to that. Glad that he's recovered and is in the lineup today.

Loved watching Gerrit Cole’s pre- and post-game commentary last night—guy is just so jazzed to be a Yankee. Via the Athletic: As Cole crouched behind the mound in preparation for his long-delayed debut, he tried to steady the emotions that had surfaced in the time since the team arrived in D.C. Gary Sánchez was tasked with what Cole described as “steering the ship” while he settled in for his five-inning debut. His joy was unmistakable as he recapped his outing after the game was called following a two-hour rain delay. He beamed while announcing “I had so much fun!” multiple times. In what seems to be a rare occurrence for Cole, he hardly dove into the particulars of his performance. Instead, he was consumed by how it felt to take the mound for the Yankees at all. Cole said he called his wife, Amy, to tell her how he felt about his first experience of pitching for the Yankees in a game that actually counted: “I can’t believe I’m gonna get a complete-game one-hitter in my debut.”

Emperor Palpatine, er, Commissioner Manfred delivering news of expanded playoffs last night:

The Nats’ Juan Soto out of commission after testing positive for Covid-19. Happy Opening Day, 2020-style! Mookie had sure sounded determined in the past to test free agency once his contract ended. Just speculation, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he foresaw a dismal FA market this winter and decided to go ahead and lock in with the Dodgers. I mean, isn’t that deal fairly close to what Boston had offered him? EDIT: just doublechecked and it was 10 yrs/$300 million that Mookie rejected from Boston. So the Dodgers contract is almost exactly the same annual salary but two years longer. I still think he must have had concerns about what the market will be like for free agents in 2020-21.

I remember being thrilled to come across this as a new import at the Washington Square Mall's Listening Booth circa 1979. "Hey! We're the Ramones, this one's called 'Rockaway Beach'!!"

You can also factor in that deaths from Covid-19 are significantly underreported (not for conspiratorial reasons, though I have no doubt present U.S. leadership is trying to artificially lower the count for political reasons). The toll is likely even higher than what the official numbers reflect.

MLB will allow fans to use app to cheer or boo from home ... which will influence the piped-in crowd noise the stadiums are using. I'll definitely be watching Yankees-Nats this Thursday evening after work.

We re-aired After The All-Stars: Live At The Lighthouse 1960-1972 this past week, and it remains archived for online listening.

My girlfriend and I don't live together, but we share a great deal of taste in music--she really likes jazz, for starters. Some of her favorite artists include Howlin' Wolf, Booker T and the MGs, Prince, David Bowie, Ray Charles, Frank Zappa, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Yo La Tengo. I can't remember ever disliking anything she's had playing while I've been at her house. We've also attended concerts of artists we both enjoy such as Beck, Patti Smith (Mark Stryker knows about this one!), the Stone Roses (w/Public Enemy and Buzzcocks as opening acts--BillF knows about this one!), and Elvis Costello. I definitely feel lucky in more ways than one about this relationship (which passed the five-year mark this spring).

Here's the photo of Jabbar, age 19, with Monk:

Heads-up for any T-Mobile customers out there—this Tuesday they’ll once again be offering free MLB.TV for the regular season, *and* a free 12-month subscription to the Athletic (the online sports publication which several friends regularly rave about to me). Only catch with the Athletic is that it will auto-renew in a year and you’ll be billed $59.99, but you can opt out before that happens if you’d prefer... a catch I can live with! Just watched some highlights of yesterday’s Yankees-Mets game and am feeling some excitement for Thursday, despite deep reservations about whether or not they’re going to be able to pull this off, especially with worsening conditions in so much of the country.

Very in-depth overview of Central Avenue in its heyday, with some excellent photos as well (and check out the shot of a 19-year-old Jabbar with Thelonious Monk!): Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Central Avenue