paul secor

Many times I can't remember if I've read a Maigret before until I read a fair number of pages. And by then it doesn't matter. I just end up rereading and enjoying.

Wives are like that.

Her Nibs, Miss Georgia Gibbs Alabama Watson Minnesota Fats

First one of the season:

Simenon: My Friend Maigret

I read that but that was just plaiin stupid. They parlayed Dickey into one of the best catching prospects and the 11th best prospect over all, plus a prospect who could potentially be a top of the rotation pitcher. So what's wrong with that? They were probably going to finish next to last again. Reminds me of the story Ralph Kiner told when he went to see Branch Rickey about a raise after he had a good year but the Pirates finished last or near the bottom. Rickey said no to a raise and reportedly said "Ralph, we finished last with you and can finish last without you." The trade also brings to mind Graig Nettles' quip about Sparky Lyle the year after Sparky won the Cy Young when the Yankees brought in Goose Gossage: "From Cy Young to Sayonara.". The Pirates may have finished last with Kiner, but at least he gave the fans someone to come out and see. The Mets have no one worth seeing, with the exception of Wright, and other teams will just pitch around him. Wilpon should sell the team to someone who can and will put a decent team on the field.

A lot if IFs there. I doubt that the Mets will have one of the best rotations in baseball in a year or even two. We shall see. Given the Mets' track record over the past four seasons, one has to be doubtful.

Don't you mean trading away your "best" pitcher who had one good year in his entire career and just turned 38 from a team that has no chance of going anywhere in the two years the Blue Jays signed him too? Has your friend been paying attention to just how much money the owners of the Mets have lost as a result of the whole Bernie Madoff thing? Just this year they agreed to pay $162 million on top of all the other money the lost. Even if they had both Reyes and Dickey they were not going anywhere anytime soon. Never mind in the next two years. Mets fans aren't responsible for the Mets owners' financial wheeling and dealing with Madoff. If they can't afford to put a decent team on the field when they're located in a large population/big market area, they should sell the team. Mets fans deserve better. They're the ones who are buying the tickets and paying for cable TV. Are they supposed to feel sorry for the owners? Wilpon and company made their deals with Madoff. No one forced them to be greedy. And, regardless of his age and career record, Dickey was still the Mets' best pitcher - not their "best" pitcher.

I heard Ed Blackwell play live a couple of times with Jane Ira Bloom in the 1980's. I was impressed by the subtlety of his playing and his use of dynamics in his playing. He never overwhelmed the other musicians in the band.

I'll believe that - Aaron has a great voice and impassioned delivery, when he wants to. But have you heard Oscar Toney Jr's version of the song? It's one I've never bought, but still remember from the 60s. MG I do have Oscar Toney Jr.'s version. I remember it as being a very good one, but not not quite up to Aaron Neville's. I'll have to give Mr. Toney a spin tomorrow - first one in a long time. Thanks for the reminder. (Re)listened to Oscar Toney Jr.'s version today and it's very very good. But Aaron Neville's version is transcendent - at least to these ears.

Even on badly recorded live performances, Bird's sound came through.

Dickey probably won't have another year like he did in 2012, but he's a guy who will go out and give you everything he's got every time he takes the mound. He gave the Mets a chance to win just about every time he took the mound last year. Dickey was the only bona fide major leaguer in their starting rotation. He (and David Wright) gave Mets fans a reason to come out and root for their team. The rest of the Mets' starters would be long relievers - that's probably a stretch - or in the minors if they were on a team that was a contender. And their starting lineup - with the exception of Wright - would be bench players or in the minors if they played for a contender. A good friend of mine is a loyal Mets fan and he's disgusted by this. Trading your best pitcher for some might be's/could be's is spitting in your fans' faces.

This says it all: from the N.Y. Times http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/r-a-dickey-climbs-mountains-the-mets-dig-holes/ "The Mets now have pulled off a perverse daily double, in consecutive seasons dumping the National League batting champion, in Jose Reyes, and the Cy Young award winner, in Dickey." Reyes did leave as a free agent, but the Mets weren't even in the chase to resign him. The Mets now have David Wright surrounded by players who are essentially minor leaguers.

I'll believe that - Aaron has a great voice and impassioned delivery, when he wants to. But have you heard Oscar Toney Jr's version of the song? It's one I've never bought, but still remember from the 60s. MG I do have Oscar Toney Jr.'s version. I remember it as being a very good one, but not not quite up to Aaron Neville's. I'll have to give Mr. Toney a spin tomorrow - first one in a long time. Thanks for the reminder.

I saw a clip Mr. Greene's daughter singing a piece while accompanied by her brother on the evening news tonight. They touched my heart.

Jerry Buss brought the Lakers 11 championships. I don't see that as a liability, TBH. I believe that the "j. buss" aloc was referring to is Jerry's son, Jim, who seems to have usurped control from Mitch Kupchak.

Aaron Neville: Orchid in the Storm (Passport) With all due and proper respect to Jerry Butler, Aaron Neville's version of "For Your Precious Love" on this record is the best I've ever heard.

Amos Milburn: Let's Have a Party (Pathe Marconi)

Ad Reinhardt Talleyrand James Talley

Good points, Peter. Might be a good thread for you to initiate.

Who needs record stores? They're just messy places where you have to deal with people. Who needs in person contact? We can all meet on line and avoid it.

Tiny Grimes Doctor Filth Sigmund Freud

Then a question for you. Why do you show us photo of individual recordings with performers, conductors included? Why not just post the name of the composer and the composition?

One of my favorite Mosaics.

Barbi Benton Klaus Kinski W.P. Kinsella