— If you have HBO, there is a great documentary about Billy Joel on there “And So It Goes”
This is a two-part show, think it is four hours in all; it is like taking a college course on the history of music in this country, especially if you’re from New York, like I am.
One part is more personal, about his upbringing; the second part is about once he became a star, how he met Christie Brinkley and how MTV starting in the 80’s propelled his career.
If you like music, this will be right up your alley.
— Baseball’s trade deadline is this coming Thursday; what teams will be sellers, what teams will be buyers? It is really hard to tell right now.
There are only three American League teams that are further than 5.5 games out of the last Wild Card spot; there are only four NL teams further than six games out of the last Wild Card spot.
How many players on those seven non-contenders will be valuable trade chips?
Which teams on the cusp of contending will throw in the towel and sell players?
Should be an interesting week…….
— There was only one baseball game Sunday that started at 4:00; weird scheduling; there was the Sunday night game on ESPN, but only one 4:00 game?
Why???
— A’s 7, Astros 1
A’s went to Houston and swept the four-game series, holding Houston to seven runs.
A’s are 9-7 in their last sixteen games.
Houston leads the AL West by four games, over Seattle/Texas.
— Our fantasy baseball league has a 10-day week the game after the All-Star break; A’s rookie Nick Kurtz had quite a game this week:
He went 22 for 37, with 51 total bases.
13 runs scored, 15 RBI
His on-base percentage was .634.
Tremendous performance.
— Pirates 6, Arizona 0
Streaky Pirates have won five of their last six games.
Under is 9-1 in Paul Skenes’ last ten starts.
Arizona scored one run in three games since they started selling players off.
— Reds 2, Rays 1
Tampa Bay got swept in Cincinnati, scoring 2-1-2 runs.
Reds are 16-6 in their last 22 home games.
Rays have lost 10 of their last 13 games.
— Brewers 3, Marlins 2
Marlins led 2-1 after the 7th inning.
Blake Perkins had the game-winning hot for Milwaukee.
Eury Perez allowed only four baserunners, one run in 5 IP for Miami.
— Famous birthdays, July 28th:
Bill Bradley, 82
Sally Struthers, 78
Doug Collins, 74
Clint Longley, 73
Carmelo Martínez, 65
Elizabeth Berkley, 53
Hannah Waddingham, 51
Manu Ginobili, 48
DeMeco Ryans, 41
Darin Ruf, 39
Walker Buehler, 31
Malik Nabers, 22
— Watching the Hall of Famers get introduced on YouTube, it has to be pretty amazing to be one of those guys; for one weekend a year, you’re an immortal.
If you’ve never been to Cooperstown and you really like baseball, put it on your bucket list, it is worth the trip, and it is quite a drive.
— Sunday night, I crossed paths with two younger guys wearing Mariners’ caps; they had just come back to Albany from seeing Ichiro Suzuki getting inducted in Cooperstown- they loved the experience, said it was well worth the cross-country trip.
— Speaking of which, the person who didn’t vote for Ichiro to get into the Hall of Fame should step forward and say why. It is a free country, but it would be nice to know why the person was an idiot in his voting.
— Rangers 8, Braves 1
Texas is 8-1 since the All-Star break; they’re tied with Seattle for the last AL Wild Card spot.
Rangers are 34-20 at home, 22-30 on the road.
Atlanta is 18-34 on the road.
— Tigers 10, Blue Jays 4
Detroit led 3-0 after seven innings, scored 7 more in 8th inning.
Jack Flaherty tossed six scoreless innings to get the win.
Just the second win for Detroit in their last 14 games.
— Kansas City Royals signed P Seth Lugo to a two-year, $46M contract extension; 35-year old Lugo is 23-14, 2.98 in 52 starts for the Royals the last two seasons.
