The SEVEN
by Mack Williams
5 September 2016
I. A-Rod
I’m not sure, given the history of the relationships between Alex Rodriguez and both MLB and the Yankees during 2014 and 2013, that there could have been a better send-off for A-Rod than that which he got. Unless they had let him first stick around to get the four homers that would bring him to 700, a milestone number only reached by Barry Bonds, Henry Aaron and Babe Ruth.
It had to have been hard for Yankee manager Joe Girardi, a former teammate of A-Rod and his manager during the last World Series championship season of 2009, to come to the conclusion that this guy who carried the team for stretches as late as last year could no longer consistently help the team more than as a wise clubhouse veteran. Then, when management decided to go youth, they probably didn’t foresee the team hanging in the wild card race nonetheless.
If they had, I wonder if they wouldn’t have put A-Rod on the disabled list with a broken fingernail or something like that until the September expansion of rosters. He might have been an interesting guy to have on the bench for a long ball situation down the stretch.
II. Mets & Royals
If they ended the season today, both 2015 World Series teams would be watching the postseason from home. Maybe neither was a truly outstanding team – certainly the Mets were not prior to acquiring Yoenis Cespedes – but the point is that teams should always try to give themselves a chance to make the playoffs until there is no hope. Once in the playoffs you never know what can happen. We all know the San Francisco Giants are in that mindset, especially since this is an even-numbered year.
III. Walls Of Jericho
I’m still trying to figure out when Barack Obama co-founded ISIS along with Hillary Clinton, as stated by Donald Trump. Was it when they were in the Senate together, or was it during a quiet moment while they were campaigning against each other in 2008, or possibly even when he was President and she was Secretary of State?
And regarding that oft-mentioned wall that the President of Mexico has confirmed they will not pay for…why would they pay for a walk to keep in the murderers and rapists Trump has said Mexico is sending over? If Trump had happened to be right in saying that, the last thing they would want to do is keep such criminals in.
Of course, since Trump was wrong in saying that, one has to ask if he was intentionally lying, or just mis-informed again? One thing is for certain: had Obama campaigned with as little competence and knowledge as Trump has shown, he would have lost by a landslide.
IV. Registration and ID, Please
I so wish our Republican friends were as vigilant about easing voters’ access to the polls (instead of curtailing early and weekend access) as they are about using voter ID laws to combat “voter fraud” (which happens about as often as a Cubs World Series win). As we approach this election, know that there’s a reason they don’t want certain people voting…and act accordingly.
V. Note 7
The expression “blowing up,” as in “so and so is blowing up,” is taking on a whole new meaning – or maybe just the old one – with respect to Samsung’s Note 7.
VI. Colin Kaepernick
Why does it seem people are more upset about Colin Kaepernick sitting and kneeling during the national anthem than they were about all of the deaths of the people of color that Kaepernick is attempting to call attention to?
Why, for some people, is protest with regard to African-Americans always wrong? BLM: too violent (though it isn’t). Kaepernick (who killed nor injured no one): unpatriotic (though he isn’t). For the record, an attempt to move our country closer to fulfilling its ideals is actually the definition of patriotism and love of country, not standing silently when a song is played and again when injustice is done.
VII. Doc
Let’s hope Darryl is wrong about Doc’s addiction, and if he isn’t, let’s pray he gets the help he needs.
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