Baseball Thoughts

With the trading deadline coming up on Friday afternoon at 4 pm EST, 1PST, I have some thoughts on what certain contenders should do.

1) The Washington Nationals need to add one of the three closers that are available on sub-.500 teams, Craig Kimbrel of the Padres, Aroldis Chapman of the Reds and Jonathan Papelbon of the Phillies. Given how the Nats feel about Storen, I think that it would be easiest to call A.J. Preller of the Padres and go after Kimbrel. Also Preller is a new GM so the Nats may be able to deal with him a little more easily than either Jocketty of the Reds or Amaro of the Phillies. Jocketty has been a GM for a long time, so you can't fool him so easily.

2) Chicago's "Lovable Losers" who play at the "Friendly Confines" probably don't need a closer, though I think that Papelbon would be a PERFECT fit for Chicago as he knows Theo Epstein from his time in Boston. If Papelbon is unattainable, then Theo should call up Dave Dombrowski of the Tigers and make a deal for David Price. Price knows Joe Maddon from their time in Tampa together.

3) Other than getting an outfielder, I can't see the Mets doing anything else. A good few days for Sandy Alderson, promoting Conforto, dealing for two professional hitters in Uribe and Kelly Johnson and dealing for Clippard to improve the bullpen.

4) I think that Cole Hamels will go to either the Yankees or the Dodgers or stay put. No one else will get him.

Albertson's closing a big blow

In about a week or so, the Mercer Island Albertson's will be closing for good. This is a big blow for the Jewish community for the following reasons.

1) Albertson's was one of the only places to have a kosher deli and bakery on the same premises. Replacing this at another store is possible, but it will take time for the other store to earn the trust and respect of the long-time Albertson's customers.

2) Because of the geographic nature of the Seattle Jewish Community it is impossible for a Jewish proprietor to set up his or her own deli and have it be profitable. Unlike other communities the Jewish people in Seattle (whether the South End, North End or Eastside) aren't centrally located enough to have a deli be profitable. The South End doesn't have a place where the rent would be cheap enough and the volume of traffic sufficient to make a 6 day a week deli doable.

3) While someone else in the community had tried catering and decided that online retail of Kosher food was more profitable and enjoyable, there are people who enjoy the shopping experience at a deli. Losing Albertson's takes that away.

Postscript: I understand that one of the other supermarkets is "stepping up its game" to expand the kosher deli section as well as the bakery. While this is good news, it will take some time for this supermarket to win over the Albertson's customers.

Brouhaha over Confederate flag- what's the point

I don't get what the whole point of this hubbub over the Confederate Flag is. Just because a lunatic was pictured "worshipping the Stars and Bars" doesn't mean that the Confederate flag is the cause of the mass murder in South Carolina. Yes it was a horrible shooting. But how will our lives be improved by tearing down this flag? Will hate and jealousy be removed from all of our hearts? Will more African-American kids do better in school and be in the National Spelling Bee or the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)?

Spring Cleaning- not just for Passover

Spring cleaning isn't just about cleaning the house and getting rid of leaven and bread-type foods for the holiday of Passover. It's also about assessing sports media members who have outlived their usefulness. Many of these individuals sound like grumpy old men.

Let's start with the New York Yankees radio team of John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. They may have been a fun and entertaining duo in the past, but not anymore. I could barely  listen to them this afternoon in the spring training game in Tampa. He doesn't have it and neither does she.

Lest you think that I am just picking on the Yankees radio team, I suggest that the following people retire in the next year.
WFAN: Mike Francesa, John Minko and Bob Heussler
NY Post: Steve Serby and Phil Mushnick. Maybe in 2017 Larry Brooks, Slap Shots isn't particularly compelling, especially when the best position player in NY plays in Long Island.
NY Daily News: Mike Lupica and Bob Raissman. Your columns are like soggy cereal.
Washington Post: John Feinstein.  Add Tony Kornheiser as well.
ESPN: Bob Ley Chris Berman and Dick Vitale.

Why I have little sympathy for Kesher Israel

Recently, Congregation Kesher Israel of Washington, DC has been in the news because its' former Rabbi, Barry Freundel was accused of illegally videotaping female congregants before going to the Mikvah (ritualarium). He was fired and has a court date next month and faces up to six years in prison if convicted of voyeurism.

Yes it's a horrible crime and yes it never should have happened and I feel bad for the victims.

However, this synagogue, which is supposed to be the Ohev Zedek (OZ, young modern singles shul) of the Nation's Capital had this man as their rabbi/spiritual leader for twenty-five years. Shouldn't there have been some clues that he may not have been fit to lead them? What person would want to take this job of leading this synagogue who seemed to put their eggs in one basket and now the eggs went sour?

At some point, there was a disconnect between the Rabbi and the congregants/board of directors. That never was addressed until it was too late.

Sports Thoughts

1) In my opinion, Washington, Washington State and Gonzaga all NEED to fire their basketball coaches after this season. These coaches are too "nice and polite" and aren't demanding of championship caliber performance enough. That is why Gonzaga always loses early in the NCAA tournament, Washington doesn't win big games and Washington State had one two-year stretch of decent performance before the coach left for Virginia. Gonzaga needs a Bobby Knight-coach who will motivate and occasionally berate referees. You need that in order to gain an edge.

2) How come the NHL Owners and media don't come out against Gary Bettman and demand that this jerk IMMEDIATELY resign for acting like a dictator and alienating players and other sponsors? He is a first-class megalomaniac with a Napoleon complex who has ruined hockey, as an American he doesn't truly understand hockey and is trying to make it sissier. Are people that cowardly against Bettman, Selig and Stern? I suppose so. These men are Napoleon wannabes and I fail to understand why other people don't stand up to them. Just because they went to law school doesn't make them the King of the Universe.

Bachelor versus Bachur

There is a HUGE difference between being a bachelor and a bachur (Yeshiva guy). A bachelor has a profession, or is preparing for one, whether in University or Graduate School, a bachur "takes college" to make a Parnasah (livelihood).

 

Another difference is that for a bachelor, Judaism is a nice hobby, not an all-inclusive lifestyle, to be spent at all hours. A bachur spends his time learning and studying and other "Jewish activities". If it means that Shabbos ends an hour and half after Sundown, so be it. It's not like he has a hot date or a boss who wants him to come into the office to work on a trial or big business deal.

Difference #3: Bachelors and Single Jewish guys are NOT supposed to be eunuchs. That means that we need some socializing time with members of the opposite sex. Because of this, it is UNREASONABLE to expect us to spend 4.5-6 hours EVERY SHABBOS with you older couples and younger couples with young children. It doesn't do us any good. Your priorities are different than ours. It's NOT OUR JOB to be the "community fall-back option" if a Jewish organization needs a "Rabbi" or Chazzan". There's more to that position than reciting the words or singing the notes without vowels.

Difference #4:  Basically, other than being a donor and occasional participant in synagogue, we aren't meant for the Orthodox world. Our priorities are our jobs/careers, living quarters (houses, apartments), transportation (bus, car or trying to buy and maintain one) and socializing with guys and women.Additionally, the types of women and men that we find interesting WON'T BE FOUND in the synagogue and Orthodox Jewish Community. Accept it and move on.