I don't recall a more chaotic opening to an MLB season than this one. A look at the standings on Monday morning April 13 reveals that only the filthy-rich but well-run Dodgers possess a record comfortably over .500 at 11-4. The Braves are at a solid 10-6, but no other team is more than three games over .500. Contenders like the Yankees and Brewers are dealing with 5-game losing streaks and a marginal contender like the Astros has lost 7 in a row. The non-contending Athletics - in a holding pattern for 3 more years playing in a minor league stadium in Sacramento before they move to Las Vegas - came into NYC last week and won the last 2 games and the series over the Yankees and then over the weekend swept the Mets and are now 8-7. The St. Louis Cardinals who I thought would be non-contenders this year are holding their own a game over .500 Their fans have been historically among the most loyal, but have been turned off by poor teams in recent years. They are still skeptical but if they win enough, they'll likely come back to the ballpark. Patience may have been rewarded with the development of exciting outfielder Jordan Walker.
What explains this early example of genuine competitive balance where no team is yet truly buried? It is, of course, only a small sample size of around 15 games, but I think part of the reason is the new ABS system (automated ball-strike) has empowered pitchers, catchers, and batters to appeal plate umpire calls at least twice a game. And if players win the appeal, theoretically a team could get positive calls for the entire game. There is no doubt that walks have increased with the new system, but in the firm opinion of L.D. (Lively Dinosaur) Lowenfish, MLB doesn't need more of the Three True Outcomes - Home Runs, Strikeouts, Walks. ABS at its worst is creating another break to the rhythm of a beautiful if difficult game that shouldn't be more robotized and constantly bombarded with questionable new statistics (sigh).
Cold weather has probably also been a factor in so many bad offensive performances by supposedly good teams. Mets owner Steve Cohen was surprised that most fans didn't take up his offer of free tickets for day games last week that were played in 35-degree weather. He shouldn't have been surprised except by an odd 410P starting time for one weekday game. Cold weather probably is a big factor in the number of injuries this early in the season. I fear that too many players have been either unprepared or overprepared in their pre-game physical work.
Oh, for the days when the season opened in mid-April not late March and was "only" 154 games equally spaced among the teams in two leagues of eight teams and then one World Series. Of course, that schedule is not ever coming back because of expansion to 14 more teams. At least, MLB will commemorate again Jackie Robinson Day this Wed April 15, the 79th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color bar. He was playing a position new to him, first base. Branch Rickey's close friend, Hall of Famer George Sisler, had helped teach JR the defensive basics in spring training. Although he went hitless in his debut, Jack sparked the game-turning rally in the bottom of the 7th with a walk and a stolen base as the Dodgers won 5-3 over the Boston Braves. Lanky Howie Schultz did go in for defensive purposes at first base in the 9th inning but before the end of the month, he was traded to the Phillies and Robinson soon settled into full ownership of first base. For that year alone - with the development of onetime catcher Gil Hodges, Jack moved to second in 1948.
Here's a little plug - I've been invited to appear on a panel at Stamford CT's main Ferguson Library on Fri Apr 24. The evening opens with a 6P screening of
"42", starring Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey and the late Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson. It will be followed by a panel with Keith Evan Crook. author of the recent OPENING THE DOORS FOR JACKIE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF BASEBALL'S INTEGRATION (McFarland) and Peter Eisenstadt who just came out with JACKIE ROBINSON AND THE QUEST FOR BLACK CITIZENSHIP (U of Virginia Press). The Ferguson Library is located at ! Public Library Plaza in the historic DiMattia Building that is about a 10-minute walk from the MetroNorth train station. All buses at train station head there. More info at 203-964-1000.
One more plug: I'll be discussing another chapter in My Rehabilitation of Frank "The Fordham Flash" Frisch Tour at SABR's meeting this coming Sat Apr 18 at the Y at 344 E 14th St, SW corner of 1st Ave. Also on the program will be Jay Goldberg discussing his First Baseball Game project; author Ken Davidoff discussing his new book with pediatrician Harley Rotbart 101 LESSONS FROM THE DUGOUT (Bloomsbury) and Professor Seth Tannenbaum, recently tenured at Manhattanville U and author of the new book BLEACHER SEATS & LUXURY SUITES: DEMOCRACY & DIVISION IN 20TH CENTURY AMERICA (U of Illinois Press).
And now for some TCM Tips for the later part of April. Get your recording devices or get up early on:
W April 15 at 530A -a rare showing of "The Joe Louis Story" (1953) starrng former boxer Coley Wallace, who once beat Rocky Marciano as an amateur plus
a bevy of great character actors including John Marley/Paul Stewart/James Edwards (who was so riveting in "Home of the Brave" as a WW2-soldier suffering from PTSD and brought back to health by compassionate doctor played by Jeff Corey)/referee Ruby Goldstein playing himself (how I remember as a kid growing up in late 40s/early 50s watching on TV his dance-like backward movements around the ring!) And on the soundtrack, Alec Wilder's lovely tune "I'll Be Around" sung by Anita Ellis backed by the Ellis Larkins trio. How I remember in the last decades of 20th century, overly unassuming Baltimore-born Larkins, one of Ella Fitzgerald's favorite accompanists, holding forth at the Carnegie Hall tavern.
Later on Apr 15 at 930P tax day is commemorated by Robert Benchley's 1938 short, "How To Figure Income Tax"
Followed at 945A by the cartoon "Symphony in Slang" (1951)
F Apr 17 8P Peter Bogdanovich directs Boris Karloff in "Targets" (1968) - an aging star wonders about his life while a Vietnam war vet goes on shooting spree.
Sun Apr 19 at 12M and 10A - Noir Alley shows "His Kind of Woman" (1951) with Robert Mitchum probably playing a deported gangster to Mexico getting into some more trouble with Vincent Price/Tim Holt. Directed by Mia's daddy John Farrow.
For the night owls at 415A Tom Ewell plays a Little League coach in "The Great American Pastime" with two Anns, Francis and Miller
And looking ahead to Noir Alley of Su Apr 26: "711 Ocean Drive" (1950) starring underappreciated Edmond O'Brien as telephone repairman who gets mixed up with gambling group. With Joanne Dru a couple of years before she plays Mrs. Dizzy Dean (not a well-conceived part) in "The Pride of St Louis" & always-fearsome Otto Kruger.
Note this sequence of films after Noir Alley on Apr 26.
12N "The Stratton Story" (1949) with Jimmy Stewart & June Allyson & Frank Morgan as the scout who signs Stratton.
Followed at 2P by "Blackboard Jungle" (1955) that I saw in junior high school and will never forget my metal shop teacher Mr. Walsh sternly warn some rambuctious students to cut out the hijinks because he wasn't gonna allow his classroom at Joan of Arc JHS at 154 W 93rd St turned in a blackboard jungle.
Directed by the estimable Richard Brooks with Glenn Ford/Louis Calhern (the memorable Ambassador Trentino in "Duck Soup" sparring with Groucho & also Marilyn Monroe's sugar daddy" in "Asphalt Jungle"/and a memorable Sidney Poitier.
That's all for now - stay positive test negative, and Take it Easy But Take It!