Weekly Mail October 27, 2024

 

Hi:

One of the big news stories that broke over the past day or so is that the Washington Post announced that they would not be endorsing a Presidential candidate for this cycle. I want the readers of Weekly Mail to be rest assured that we will be endorsing a candidate, well, more to the point, we are going to tell you who we are NOT endorsing, as per a decision I made when I started WM way back in 1996. 

We'll have more about WaPo and the LA Times later on in this broadcast. For now, we have much more pressing matters to deal with... namely the demise of my beloved Mets, the subsequent World Series featuring historic rivals, and an actual championship for our fair city. 

RIP-2024 NEW YORK METS...

There will come a time in the next few days where I will acknowledge what a truly great season we had. How we weren’t supposed to even compete for a playoff spot, let alone qualify and win a couple of rounds. How they never gave up how they fought for everything. I’m sure of it.

Not tonight though. Tonight was humiliating. Just humiliating

All 

Facebook post- 10/20/2024 @ 11:26 PM EDT

Well, now it has been a few days, almost a week to be honest, and I have heard all the accolades and congratulations/condolences, everyone reassuring me that there is no need to be sad or angry, that the Mets had an amazing season. Nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. I should be happy for the run they went on, since most people predicted, (as did I) that the Mets wouldn't contend this year, much less end up two wins away from the World Series. 

Whatever. 

Look, here's what I will say about these Mets.

1) They showed enough guts to send the series back to Los Angeles. They could have laid down and saved themselves another trip across the country. Remember, the 2022 Wild Card Series, the 2016 play-in game, the 2015 World Series, the 2006 NLCS and worst of all, the 2000 World Series all ended either at Citi Field or Shea Stadium. Allowing the other team to celebrate on your field in front of your fans in unforgivable. Kudos to the team for not allowing that to happen this year. 

2) They didn't really beat themselves. Lousy fielding, poor baserunning and overall sloppy not ready for prime time play cost them dearly in the two most recent World Series they played in. Their defense and baserunning were OK. They lost because they left too many guys on base and the pitchers walked too many hitters. Walks and LOB's are going to kill you every time. But they are also parts of the game you sometimes can't control. Mental mistakes have to be controlled. 

3) The Dodgers were just too good. Shohei Othani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, I mean we are talking about three all-world baseball stars right there. To say nothing of Teoscar and Kiké Hernandez. And who ended up winning the NLCS MVP? Tommy Edman! Not that we did a bang up job of keeping the above mentioned superstars in check, but in the end, it was Tommy Edman who did us in. 

Sometimes you gotta just give it up to the baby Jesus and say it wasn't meant to be. 

What's going to take a little more time to get over is the fact that we didn't just lose the four games to send us packing for 2024, we got our doors blown off. And while I always say I'd rather get blown out than lose by a run in extra innings (see World Series Game 1), at the time it was happening, it was fucking humiliating. 

9-0, 8-0, 10-2, 10-5. That was an old-fashioned ass-whupping. 9-0 as Mike Vaccaro pointed out, is the score that goes into the record book if a team loses by forfeit. 9-0 means ya didn't even show up. 

The Mets did show up that night, but it was hard to tell. 

I think the Mets, kind of like last season's Knicks, simply ran out of gas. Even if by some miracle, the Knicks would have beaten the Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semis, they would have moved on with Jalen Brunson out with a broken wrist and everyone else banged up. The Celtics would have destroyed them. Like the Mets, the Knicks played with guts the whole year, constantly picking themselves off the mat when it looked like they were toast. But as FS1 showed Sean Manea walking in from the bullpen before Game 6, they mentioned that he had pitched 89 more innings this year than what had been his previous innings high. Luis Severino was coming off a series of arm injuries. Shoot, I thought he had hit the proverbial wall in August. Most sports, (college and pro football being the exceptions) are marathons, not sprints. The Mets made it through 25 miles, they just didn't have enough for the last 1.2. 

So that's where I'm at here folks. I'm hoping there comes a point where I look at this team like I look at the 1985-86 Rangers. Like the Mets, they barely squeaked into the playoffs, (and this was back in the day where 16 of the 21 teams in the league made the playoffs). Then proceeded to knock off two heavy favorites, the conference champion Flyers and runner-up Capitals before losing in 5 games to the eventual Cup champions Montreal Canadiens, led by an unknown rookie goalie named Patrick Roy. There were guys on that Ranger team most people have probably never heard of. But they gave 12 year old me such a ride, that I think of them almost as fondly as I do the Ranger team that finally hoisted the Cup in 1994. One of these days maybe I'll put these Mets on that list. 

One day maybe.

For now, the team that knocked us out is playing our crosstown rivals in the World Series. While most Yankee fans have been cool about the whole thing, some have been dicks (a couple guys on the FAN come to mind). So you'll have to excuse me if I'm not glued to the TV for this Fall Classic. 

2024 WORLD SERIES-What's Old is What's New...

And the shame of it is, I've been sort of pining for a Yankee-Dodger World Series these past few years.

It started back in 2017. My father in law having battled brain cancer, would pass on October 30th. Both the Dodgers and Yankees had made it to their respective LCS. The Dodgers would advance to the series, but the Astros cheated their way past the Yanks. It reminded me of when my grandfather had passed in the Summer of 1977, and my dad, who would normally have been rooting for the Dodgers, instead found himself rooting for Billy, Reggie, Thurman and the rest of the Bronx is Burning Bombers in honor of his father in law. I wanted to do the same thing for mine. 

But also, as a baseball fan, there is something about Yankees Dodgers that captures the imagination doesn't it? 

In either 3rd of 4th grade, my mother ordered me from Scholastic Books a book called World Series Thrills. It had a picture of Reggie Jackson on the cover. Ah/, just found it on Amazon! (More on Amazon later in this broadcast)

Well, I must have read this book cover to cover about 3 dozen times, and the author Stu Black discussed Bill Wambgnass' unassisted triple play in 1920, Babe Ruth's called shot in 1932, Willie Mays basket catch in 1954 (VIC WERTZ!), Bob Gibson's 17 strikeouts in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series and Bill Mazerowski's Walk off homer to end the 1960 World Series (sorry Phil Mushnick*)

But my favorite chapters were the ones that dealt with the Yankee-Dodger World Series. By my recollection, which believe it or not has faded over the years. 

There was a chapter about Mickey Owen's passed ball that cost the Dodgers the 1941 World Series. 

Cookie Lavagetto's hit in Game 6 of the 1947 World Series, that not only broke up Bill Bevins no-hitter, but also drove in two runs to beat the Yankees 2-1 (Red Barber's famous call- Here comes the tying run, and here comes theeee winning run!) 

Sandy Amaros' famous catch off of Yogi Berra in Game 7 of the 1955 Series, a game the Bums won 2-0 to give them their first World Series. (Something I managed to forget the other night while playing Jim Medler's/Ed Robinson's World Series trivia contest)

Don Larsen's perfect game. Game 6 1956. 

And last but not least, Reggie Jackson's 3 home runs in 1977.

You guys know that one of my all-time favorite books, perhaps my favorite book of all time is Ladies and Gentlemen. the Bronx is Burning by Jonathan Mahler. The entirety of the book was about New York City in the year of 1977, the mayoral race, the July blackout, the Son of Sam case, the newspaper coverage of all these events (Specifically the New York Post and their new owner-K. Rupert Murdoch). 

But mostly it was about the Yankees. Reggie vs. Thurman, Reggie vs. Billy, Billy and Reggie vs. George and vice versa. 

The stories were interesting enough, but I found Mahler's writing to be extraordinary. 

And how he wrote about the 1977 Series, I mean, at least once a year, I go back and read that chapter.

Game 2, a 6-1 Dodger win to even the Series at a game apiece, was the one in which an abandoned elementary school blocks from Yankee Stadium caught fire, leading Howard Cosell, calling the game with Keith Jackson and Tom Seaver, to say "There it is Ladies and gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning."

It was also a game in which Billy Martin decided to start Catfish Hunter who hadn't pitched since the middle of September. 

Mahler noted that Hunter started the game on 32 days' rest. then wrote the following paragraphs. 

Hunter, who had been driven out in the third inning of the 6-1 Dodger victory, didn't blame Martin for giving him the ball. "I'd rather pitch than ride the pine anytime" he said after the game. Reggie, hitless on the night and three for twenty-two in the post season, was less supportive when a reporter asked him about it "How could the son of a bitch have pitched him?"

The Yankees left for Los Angeles early the next morning. Martin didn't learn about Reggie's comment until the afternoon. By then, the Yankees were working out in the warm sun at Dodger Stadium. The hot foam rose quickly through Martin's knotted stomach. "Reggie has enough trouble playing right field", he told the clutch of reporters. "Why should I pay attention to him? His teammates don't." Martin was by no means finished. "He was told in Kansas City the day of the last playoff game, he would be playing in every game of the World Series, but if he's going to say things to hurt the ballclub and if he doesn't hit (Tommy) John (the game 3 Dodger starter) I may have to think about making a change.”

I won't bore you by re-writing the chapter about Reggie's 3 home runs in Game 6, but again Mahler tells that story in such a fantastic way. I will include this antedote... Fran Healy, a backup catcher on that Yankee team, and Reggie's best friend on the team (believe it or not) was watching Reggie launch batting practice pitch after batting practice pitch into the upper decks of Yankee Stadium the night of Game 6, and thinking about the superstition that a great BP was usually a bad omen, thought to himself, "Boy, is he gonna have a horseshit game." 

Aaron Boone is no Billy Martin. (for better or for worse) 

Aaron Judge is no Reggie Jackson (by the time he's done, he'll be a whole lot better I'm sure.)

And mostly, Hal Steinbrenner is no George Steinbrenner. So I don't think there will be any press conferences in which Hal will be talking to reporters about beating up a couple of punks who insulted his team in a Los Angeles elevator, as George claimed to have done after Game 3 of the 1981 series. (You can read all about that caper in Bill Madden and Moss Klein's Damned Yankees) 

I'm a die hard Met fan, but I've read more books about the Yankees, especially those 1970's- early 80's teams because, well, you couldn't make some of that shit up if you tried. And like I said, I don't think with guys like Judge, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton, as well as the Dodgers I mentioned in the previous topic, you are going to get anywhere near the off the field shenanigans you got from the 77, 78 and 81 World Series. I'm sure the writers are relieved about that. 

What you should get is some exciting baseball, and if Game 1 was any indication, well fasten your safety belts. Freeman hit a walk off grand slam off Nestor Cortes, who come to think of it, hadn't pitched since September 18th due to an elbow injury.  

37 days rest?

How could the S.O.B have pitched him?  

Somehow, I don't think Aaron Judge is going to ask John Heyman that question. But I know people are going to call the FAN and ask Boomer and Gio.

They're comparing Freeman's grand slam to Kirk Gibson's game winning home run off Dennis Eckersley in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, which if I wasn't already pulling for the Yankees, I would be now. I didn't watch Game 1 Friday night just like I didn't watch the Kirk Gibson game, as in both cases, the Dodgers advanced to the World series at the expense of my Mets. (Though 1988 was about 100 times worse. At least here in 2024 the Dodgers were the heavy favorites. The Mets had beaten the Dodgers 11 out of 12 games in 1988-until the playoffs) 

I’ll take Things I didn’t need to see” for $500 Ken.

I'm not necessarily boycotting this World Series, in fact I caught a good chunk of Game 2. Tommy Edman going deep, the Yanks leaving the bases loaded. 

Welcome to my world peeps.

Keep this in mind, the Yanks were down 2-0 in 1996 and those losses came at home. Also, the last time these two teams met in the World Series, the Yanks took the first two at home, then the Dodgers took the next 4. It’s taken 43 years, but payback could be in the offing here. 

I've come to the conclusion that if my four major teams were people, the Jets would be Fredo Corleone. And that’s all I have to say about them.

CHAMPIONS! 2024 NY LIBERTY

We had a parade down the Canyon of Heroes this week though! Indeed, while the Mets were knock, knock, knockin on heaven's door and the Jets were pooping the bed in Pittsburgh (again), our very own New York Liberty came from behind to beat the Minnesota Lynx to win their very first WNBA Title. They were the last of the original WNBA Franchises to win one because, well. of course they were. They became the first pro team in New York City to win a title in 51 years (Vaccaro pointed out that the Nets won an ABA title in 1976, even said he was at the title clinching game, but also pointed out that the Nets were considered a Long Island team.)

I didn't watch too much of the title clinching game, but I did watch the last couple minutes of regulation and all of overtime. I understand that Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was upset that her team lost, and she may have even had a legitimate beef with the foul call that sent Breanna Stewart to the line. My attitude is this. If it's a foul at the beginning of the game, it's a foul at the end of the game. Also, the call was reviewed, so not only did the refs call it, but it was also looked at again. It's one thing for a fan or even a broadcaster/writer to claim a game was stolen, for the coach to come out and say that it total bush league. In the NHL, if you question the integrity of the league, you could face a lifetime suspension. Reeve came awfully close to doing that.**  The Lynx had ample opportunity to win that game and the series. But in the end the Liberty were just better. And they got to party like it was 1999. 

Good for them. 

FAST FOOD: HOW CAN YOU EAT THAT $H!T? (Literally)

The CDC announced they were opening an investigation after several people fell ill after consuming McDonald's Quater Pounders. As of this writing, 75 people have reported to be sick, with 22 of those having to be hospitalized and 1 person dying. The investigation has found that sliced onions on the Quarter Pounders were contaminated with e-coli. 

Per Today.com...

At least 75 cases of E. coli have been reported in 10 states so far, which is up from 49 reported on Oct. 22, but "the true number of sick people is likely much higher," the CDC said.

Everyone interviewed as part of the investigation reported eating a McDonald's burger before developing symptoms, with most specifically mentioning Quarter Pounders.

In a statement released on Oct. 22, McDonald's said it was taking “taking swift and decisive action.”

Quarter Pounders are temporarily unavailable for purchase at McDonald’s stores in 12 states, per the CDC, and investigators are working to determine which specific ingredients are contaminated with E. coli.

Two ingredients used in Quarter Pounders are currently being investigated: fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties, the CDC said. Preliminary data suggests the fresh onions are a "likely source" of contamination, the FDA said.

McDonalds president Joe Erlinger appeared on the Today show on Thursday and said that customer can "confidently go to McDonalds today and eat the classics without getting sick."

Sure. 

Instead of having McDonalds kill you slowly, now you can opt for the quicker, more painful death. 

I don't eat McDonalds nearly as much as I used to, but probably a little more than I should. Their Sausage Egg McMuffin is a guilty pleasure. I rarely eat Big Macs or Quater Pounders anymore, and after this, I may not eat one again. 

Jeez, over the summer it was Boars Head cold cuts. Now it's McDonalds. I guess Chocolate Ice Cream is next. 

Damn!

Ok, we'll end where we started. 

POLITICS- No More Endorsements

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times announced they would not be endorsing anybody for President in 2024. An endorsement of Vice President Harris had reportedly already been drafted and approved, but the paper's owner, Dr. Patrick Shoon Shiong, informed the papers editorial board that the endorsement would not run in the paper. 

Two days later, the Washington Post also announced that they would not endorse a candidate. I hadn't really heard about the LA Times decision, but the Post's decision was met with outrage from many of my friends and folks I follow on X. Several people canceled their on-line subscriptions to WaPo, and believing that the paper's owner Jeff Bezos was responsible for the decision, decided to really give him a kick between the thighs and cancel their Amazon Prime Subscriptions. 

I understand the anger, I do. And being how quick certain Trump supporters are to boycott anything and anyone who dares challenge their golden orange calf, (see Bud Light and Taylor Swift) I have no doubt that if a newspaper was to cancel their endorsement of Captain Orange at the last minute, he would immediately take to Truth Social to order his cult to boycott said newspaper forthwith. 

And while you'll get no argument from me that both Bezos and Dr Shoon Shiong are gutless turds for pulling their endorsements, I mean in the long run, does it really make a difference? 

You're not going to change your mind because of this are you? You've made up your mind, probably made it up months ago. So has most of America. The undecideds are really low. 

And of those undecideds, do we think that they would make up their mind based on what the Los Angeles Times or Washington Post wrote in an editorial? Maybe I'm wrong, but I really can't imagine that. especially in the case of the LA Times. The Washington Post is more of a national newspaper, so yeah, maybe someone in flyover country might be swayed, but in this day and age, I can't even imagine that. The NY Post came out and endorsed Captain Orange on Friday. They may as well have reported that the sun was going to rise in the east the next day. 

You want to cut down on your Amazon'ing because you want to support local businesses and keep a mom and pop shop open in your neighborhood, I get that and totally think that's admirable. But I'm not going to lie, giving up your Amazon shopping is a big ask and quite frankly in this day and age, not really feasible. Chances are, if your not getting it at Amazon, you're getting it at another major chain store, owned by someone, while maybe not Jeff Bezos rich, probably a lot better off than you are. 

Again, we here at Weekly Mail will make our own endorsement/non endorsement next week. I also don’t own anything you can boycott, so I guess I’m not going into the guts hall of fame for doing it. 

Till then my friends, go Yanks

Stay Safe

and Have a Great Week

*Mushnick still loses sleep at night because someone once reported on ESPN that Bobby Thompson hit a walk off home run to win the 1951 NLCS. (The first LCS was contested in 1969)

**Coach Reeve wasn’t quite as distraught about the ticky-tack foul called in Game 4 on Sabrina Ionescu.