51 Comments
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

I only counted two typos. We're off!

Expand full comment
Aug 17, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

In the first official newsletter, of all places

(I really hope somebody gets/appreciates this light-hearted dig...)

Expand full comment
author

Frankly way better than I figure I'd do.

Expand full comment

These trash mets I swear.... the moment I found out Wheeler was starting I knew this was the only result that could be

Expand full comment

"These trash mets I swear"

Evergreen comment.

Expand full comment

I really wonder if Mets fans will rejoice that the Wilpons are gone, fret that A-Rod is going to be worse, or find some combination of things that allows them to moan and groan while remaining loyal to the team. (There are times when the hard part of being a Mets fan is not the team but the other fans.)

Expand full comment

Someone posted this on twitter last night, but i can't remember the source. How the hell is MLB going to approve Arod as an owner after all the jack-booted absurdity they pulled trying to get him suspended for PEDs?

Expand full comment
author

All they care about is if the money is right.

Expand full comment

Touche, someone should probably write a blog about how it's all about the money ;)

Expand full comment

The second Rays-Jays game was only 7? Friday night’s non-suspended Nats-Os game was a full 9 ... maybe because different teams were the home team in each game? Calvinball or TEGWAR - either way, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Expand full comment

I think it's the difference between resumed game and scheduled doubleheader. The O's and Nats only had to play four or so innings to finish the first, so they came out ahead anyway.

Expand full comment
Aug 17, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

I have a friend who takes pride in finding the absolute worst garbage music, so when you shouted out 100 gecs, I stopped reading and jumped over to Spotify, excited to have something to show him.

They're...not that bad? I mean, they're not "good," to my older ears, but they're recognizably music, they have melodies, a sense of rhythm. They're listenable. Which I realize is a low bar, but I feel like I could dig through some chat history and find a couple dozen tracks that don't reach that level.

100 gecs more reminded me of a photonegative of Johnny Cash, or a better version of the early 2010s electronic mashup scene. I'm into it.

Expand full comment

Wow, the first couple newsletter came in my email fine and this morning it was in the spam folder. You must have written too much today, Craig!

Expand full comment
author

Hmmm. That's not ideal. I will check into this today and see what I can do about it.

Expand full comment

I'm realizing that I haven't gotten an email at all ... in spam or inbox. Not complaining (I'll likely click through the Twitter post each day), just heads-up for your troubleshooting.

Expand full comment

Never mind - I accidentally disabled the emails in my profile #UserError

Expand full comment
author

Ah, whew!

Expand full comment
author

Hmm. Let me try to figure that out.

Expand full comment

I think I have flagged it now as "not spam" so I shouldn't have any issue moving forward, but just in case someone else has an issue, I thought I would bring it up.

Expand full comment
Aug 17, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

In my case Gmail put you in the "Promotions" category, (I suspect Gmail did this because of the Subscribe button inside the email). I had to create a filter to send it to my "Sports" folder. My way of making you "stick to sports"

Expand full comment

Mine went to spam this morning, too! I didn't realize it until about 10 minutes ago when I thought "Hey! Where's my First Official Cup-o-Coffee?!". The practice ones went to my Inbox but today's went to spam. Weird.

Expand full comment
Aug 17, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

Glad to have you back, Craig. Enjoyed this immensely.

Expand full comment

Don't try to deny what you feel.

Expand full comment

A morning cup of coffee and baseball. Yes, everything sucks but this is still pretty good. Some things are constant: coffee, baseball-good. Mark Grace-idiot. The world is still recognizable.

Expand full comment

The imagery of the Dodgers pulling catchers from the ground reminded me of Jeremy Irons, in Watchmen, (do I have to do a spoiler alert for a long completed show?) pulls baby clones from the sea and tossing them aside. This is not a bad thing.

Expand full comment
founding

Terrific semi first day

Expand full comment
author

Thanks!

Expand full comment

RE: kids and their music.

At first listen, 100 gecs sounds like the Beastie Boys on AutoTune and Red Bull. As a crusty old guy, this is kid's stuff (pun intended). Back in my day we'd put on some Hawaiian Pups and hit the dance floor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3er04ITs8cQ

Expand full comment

Re: aging. My best guess beyond smoking is sun protection. I was slathered with sunscreen as a kid during the 80's. I was digging through my parents old crap and found suntan "oil," that had basically no SPF protection and smelled like cheap pina colada (coconut oil). So while I only had the occasional sunburn, my folks were almost literally basting themselves. It's no wonder that Wilford Brimley could play the Geriatric King at 50.

Expand full comment

I think style has a lot to do w/ it, too. Leyland had the same haircut and mustache as a young man that he does now. Put him in a vintage mesh cap, he looks like an old dude. Put him in hipster glasses behind a keyboard, and suddenly he's a cool middle aged dad jamming w/ the National.

Expand full comment
Aug 17, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

I might become a baseball fan after all this. Who knew? A great newsletter, I believe you are off to a good start.

Expand full comment
Aug 17, 2020Liked by Craig Calcaterra

Craig, it's great to be able to continue reading your words, and probably in a location that can generate a commenting community more akin to the wonderful one from HBT's earlier years, before the rest of the internet came for it. I don't ask for much, but I look forward to the new site's first Zero Effect reference.

Expand full comment
author

It'll be an upset if we go a week without one, frankly.

Expand full comment