Tony La Russa goes on medical leave, MLB is going to Mexico, the O's call up a top prospect, bad stadiums, unearned second chances, indicting Trump, and saying goodbye to a friend
I’ve been playing that song a lot lately. Right in the feels. Godspeed, David - and thanks for sharing his story, Craig.
PS In more pedestrian matters, the Nats broadcast made a big deal of Anibal Sanchez switching his number back to 19 after the departure of Josh Bell. It probably makes no difference, but Sanchez must have believed it does because he was lights out last night. (Of course, it was the A’s.)
PPS I made a joke yesterday about La Russa suffering from Oldmicron - but heart issues in an old man are no laughing matter. Here’s hoping he gets the help he needs… And maybe the encouragement to hang up the uniform forever.
Thanks for showing us the way to be in this world, honest and kind where it is called for. Your writing about your friend David was exemplary. and thanks for showing us the way in this world by honestly calling out a-holes like Thom Brennaman and the A's owners.
Deepest condolences for your friend. Sounds like he dealt with too much but was also a rare man of courage. RIP
Goosebumps. Utter goosebumps from Timmy Trumpet and Edwin Diaz. Playing that for the third time, though the view on this link is different than the SNY version. That game clearly had a playoff feel, with the trumpets and Nimmo's catch and deGrom on the mound. Amazing.
I think I can clarify what LaRussa is doing. He's going to Mayo Clinic in Arizona (as Mayo is a brand now as much as a renowned hospital in Minnesota). Internet says it's the best hospital in Arizona. I have my suspicions about what might be next for Tony, based on my wife's uncle recent heart surgery, but I am not a doctor and should not hazard a guess. In any case, wishing Tony the best.
Anyone else following Molly Knight's Substack and her harrowing experience with COVID and with our health care system? If I were a Dodgers fan, I would be subscribing to her both to help her and because she's really good. And yesterday, she was the first person I saw link to articles about how other pandemics of novel respiratory diseases are often followed by "long" symptoms. I should not have to get my science news from a baseball writer, but I am glad she is as much of a polymath as Craig. Even if she is writing the Dodgers.
One more bit of Mets news: Bret Baty tore a thumb ligament and will be out the rest of the way. A tough break, but since his first AB home run, he's been kind of meh.
Also, apparently Ronald Acuna is playing through some really bad knee pain. Do we admire him for toughing it out for the team, or think that maybe he should not make things worse?
Acuna, based on reporting from The Athletic, isn’t risking re-injury to his knee. Instead, at this point it is just a matter of time. His play is not up to expectations but he has the highest OBP on the club and is a positive contributor even if he isn’t able to get great torque in his swing.
Or said differently, he is not the automatic out that Freddie Freeman was at the end of IIRC 2019 due to the first baseman’s injuries.
Pros have a big advantage over the rest of us, at least in theory. I feel a twinge in my knee, I have no idea if it's an injury I should rest or an injury I can work around or even one that needs exercise until I manage to get to a doctor. Acuna feels pain, and he's got a medical team and trainers right there to make heads or tails of it. Which doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
if you go on youtube, you can find some crowd video uploads which give an even better sense of how crazy the crowd must have been going. When i went to Citi the other day (Sunday) i was so sad we didn't get a Diaz entrance, my first game there in a decade. When the Mets rule the city (and we have, in very limited supply), the fans are usually going completely apeshite. Imagine this in October. I remember how jubilant the exit ramps at Shea were after a big win (i was there for the Pratt/Agbayani HR's, the Ventura Grand Slam Single, the 9/17/86 clinch to name a few). Mets joy is so contagious when they're going right.
My brother went last Thursday with two of his daughters, but as they are only casual fans and it's a long drive home, they left as the trumpets were starting. He was there mainly for Jake. I am just glad his kids are at least somewhat into the Mets. (His son in law, I am afraid, is a Yankees fan and corrupting my oldest niece.)
And it's still weird that my brother HAS a son in law.
I was actually a bit disappointed by the crowd last night during Narco (at least from the SNY broadcast). It looked like 75% of the fans in the stands were recording with their phones from 200 feet away instead of their usual hooting, hollering, dancing, and air-trumpeting.
And sorry if that sounded a bit too Old Man Yells at Cloud-ish…
as was I, and it seems from the fan videos there was more cheering than the SNY broadcast (which clearly was tied into the house PA which wasn't capturing the crowd noise). And yeah, what a weird sight seeing everyone there video'ing the readily-available-on-social-media entrance :)
I've been following Molly's ordeal also. It's indeed terrifying. Which is part of the reason I'll be at the front of the line for yet another booster, as soon as they'll give it to me (hopefully next week—the reporting says shortly after Labor Day, but we'll see).
I will believe I have the new booster that fast when I see it. Though with any luck, I will be boosted in time for the Jewish high holidays and can go to services and not be so nervous.
But her ordeal is also why I am continuing to mask as much as possible. I want to slap the doctors who are still saying "the old vaccine is effective against death, we don't really need this new one." Anything we can do to prevent infection is good. (Though at the same time, I want to applaud the doctors who are making noise about funding research for a totally new and different vaccine that will work against all coronaviruses regardless of mutations.)
In my experience, a lot of doctors are pretty callous when it comes to quality of life. Which may be understandable in situations where they have to focus on saving lives but is a frustrating mindset outside of the ER or ICU.
I went through several years of troubling dizziness and had my doctor tell me basically, we’ve ruled out all the obvious stuff so what do you really expect me to do? It’s like it doesn’t register that I was still experiencing symptoms impacting my quality of life; in his mind, I didn’t have a brain tumor or a blocked artery, etc, so his work was done.
Sorry to digress…to take it back to Covid, I personally know at least half a dozen people who haven’t gotten their sense of taste fully back after months or years. Even if there were zero other lingering symptoms/side effects from Covid, that’s still awful for quality of life! And something I think is really worth trying to avoid.
In reading Molly Knight's travails, it was clear she encountered such extreme callousness from every quarter. I wasn't surprised at Big Pharma being that way, or her insurance provider, but the way individual doctors and nurses and pharmacists were behaving was atrocious. I really don't know what happened that caregivers stopped caring.
And that really is spilling over to the handling of Long COVID, and then combining with the doctors who are making mildly reasonable but cold assessments of the new booster, to create a message of "you are on your own, we can't be bothered."
Also I think about shingles. When I was a kid, chicken pox was a major inconvenience and really, REALLY annoying, especially when you got sick at a time like over the Christmas holidays like one of my sisters, but it was just something almost every kid got and they were going to miss some school, have to make up assignments, then go on with their lives.
Now we know avoiding chicken pox also means avoiding shingles, and that makes the vaccine a great idea because shingles can be so much more serious. I wonder what covid-related consequences will show up in 10, 15, or 20 years after infection.
Oh yes, I got both shots recently. That's why I was thinking about it, I had chicken pox when I was very little, the only concern my parents had was that I didn't have enough immunity so when my siblings got it in grade school I'd get it again (I didn't though).
The potential of shingles decades down the road wasn't a concern at all, but viruses are sneaky af and for something that doesn't even technically count as a living organism can be extremely devious. Fascinating, but devious.
I had shingles 5 years ago at age 43. My case was not nearly as serious as many out there but I did have the virus making a steady progression towards my left ear. Did I mention I'm deaf in my right ear?
So naturally, I was freaking out a bit but fortunately anti-virals knocked things down before any long term damage was done but I still have reduced sensitivity on that side of my face. Even my relatively mild case really sucked for about 10 days.
My condolences on the loss of a dear friend. He sounds like a delightful man, and I wish the best to his family and friends who are grieving his passing.
Seeing Ohtani turning around a 98 mph fastball from Cole and depositing it in the center field trees, scoring three runs and giving his team the lead as a result, is one of the most satisfying MLB highlights I have seen in a while.
That included 13 runs in one inning against Lefty O'Doul. And maybe that contributed to O'Doul's existential crisis in which he switched from pitching to left field and moved to the Pacific Coast League for four years. He then played in the National League from ages 31 to 37, with over 1000 hits and an average of .353, including one year when he led the league with .398. Never played for the Akron Bridegrooms, though.
O’Doul has a solid HOF case, much in the style of Buck O’Neil. Lefty was a good but not great player who then was a champion of Japanese ball in the post war years. And he was a longtime storyteller who kept the memories of what was then an independent PCL of near MLB quality alive. I’ve never been but I heard mixed reviews of his restaurant in SF.
I looked it up, too, but as usual, you beat me to it.
The last time the *Phillies* scored 18 runs without a homer was in 1941, against the Giants. Those giants were mediocre (74-79 with three ties) but the Phillies were god-awful, 43-111-1, worst in MLB by a LOT. That was twice as many runs as they scored in any other game that season.
That was the second game of an August 17th doubleheader (they won the first 6-2, with Si Johnson going the distance, somehow allowing just those two runs despite 14 hits and a walk).
In the latter game, the Phillies got a CG out of their starter, Lee Grissom, who won his first game after 11 straight losses to start the season. That was the second-to-last Win of his career, as he would finish 2-13 in 1941 and then spend the next four years in the military during WWII, not returning to pro ball when he was discharged at age 38.
The Giants started Bill Lohrman, who gave up 7 runs in an inning and change, and then the ironically named Ace Adams (his real first name, BTW) entered the game in "relief" and surrendered 11 more runs in the last 6.2 innings. He would prove to be a relief ace over the next several years, leading the NL in appearances three times, games finished four times and Saves twice over the War years, but at this point he was just a 31-year old rookie being forced to wear it in a meaningless August contest.
CF Joe Marty had 5 hits and 5 RBI. RF Johnny Rizzo was the only starter without a hit, and even he had 2 runs and an RBI.
That lineup had two Dannys, a Johnny, a Bobby, a Pinky, a Mickey and a Heinie. Plus a Bernie and a Wally on the bench, and a pitching staff that included a Johnny, a Tommy and a Lefty. You don't see a lot of -y or -ie ending first names anymore, and I always thought it was because people think of them as childish now, but maybe it's because the 1941 Phillies kinda overdid it, and they sucked.
Thanks for writing beautifully, and beautifully about loss. If I may lighten the note, as I mentioned, one of my favorite parts of publication day was seeing Craig's blurb on my book. And now to get space in Cup of Coffee? Too kind, sir. Then again, perhaps Coffee readers will enjoy. Cheers.
Marcell Ozuna has been in only one game - two ABs, both Ks - since his DUI arrest two weeks ago. Before that, he had played almost full time appearing in 107 of the club’s first 115 games in spite of both his guilty plea in a DV case and his atrocious on field play.
Craig, i'm so sorry to hear about David. He sounds like an amazing, special person. Mental Illness will become an even bigger issue after the last 3 or so years we've had. My family has long struggled with it. There are great therapists out there helping where they can but it's still such a struggle. I'm glad you had this great story of David's costume and some great memories of your friend. 50 years is way too young. I hope you find some comfort today in your wonderful memories of your friend. Rest in Peace David.
Lovely tribute to David and thank you for sharing it with us. It's a perfect and beautifully moving reminder of the old truth that there really is no such thing as an "ordinary" life when we consider the extraordinary ways in which each of us - for good and for bad - are destined to touch the lives of those around us.
It also reminds us that however much we crave the simple satisfaction of a "happy ever after" resolution, life with all its messiness and fragility does not always comply with providing the easy linear narratives we want. Sometimes things don't get better. Or if they do, time just damn runs out before anything can be done with it. Sometimes what looked like a safe harbour is just a temporary stop before even worse storms.
And that can all feel pretty shitty for those who have to watch the story unfurl and who just wish everything could be ok again and beautiful like it used to be, when - as one of my favourite Cohen songs go - "When the victims are singing
And the laws of remorse are restored....When the day has been ransomed
And the night has no right to begin...when I am clean and I am sober...."
But of course if that were all there was then we would all descend into terminal despair. It's the fact that there is always hope and that people are as I said, capable of the most extraordinary goodness as much as bad, that even if tomorrow is going down the pan, all we have is today and its precious allotment of time for us to spend on whatever heroic adventure (however mundane it may appear to others) that life is giving us.
And I use that word "heroic" intentionally. We are called to be heroes and although we may not have dragons to vanquish any more, this world still has plenty of monsters for us to fight. Both externally and indeed as many will note on reading David's story, we know many monsters within our hearts and minds.
And clearly David was one of the heroes in your life Craig and it's good to celebrate not only what he did but the important role that you played within his all too short quest. For what is a knight without his merry band of men and women to help and support him as his faithful posse?
Anyway! That was a far too long an answer as usual and not sure what I ended up trying to say! But that notwithstanding, suffice to say I send my deepest condolences to you and all of David's loved ones. Perpetual light shine upon him and may he rest in peace!
A little over 14 months ago, Gunnar Henderson was a 19-year-old kid in Low-A Gunnar hasn't faced a pitcher younger than him in 2 seasons. He's now the youngest player in MLB. . Mike Elias as a GM doesn't exactly rush prospects. His rise to the majors has been extraordinary.
I’ve been playing that song a lot lately. Right in the feels. Godspeed, David - and thanks for sharing his story, Craig.
PS In more pedestrian matters, the Nats broadcast made a big deal of Anibal Sanchez switching his number back to 19 after the departure of Josh Bell. It probably makes no difference, but Sanchez must have believed it does because he was lights out last night. (Of course, it was the A’s.)
PPS I made a joke yesterday about La Russa suffering from Oldmicron - but heart issues in an old man are no laughing matter. Here’s hoping he gets the help he needs… And maybe the encouragement to hang up the uniform forever.
Craig: I’m sorry for your trouble
Thanks for showing us the way to be in this world, honest and kind where it is called for. Your writing about your friend David was exemplary. and thanks for showing us the way in this world by honestly calling out a-holes like Thom Brennaman and the A's owners.
Very well said.
Thom Brennaman should note that Jon Gruden recently said he "attends church."
Urban Meyer on line 3.
fuck these fuckers.
Deepest condolences for your friend. Sounds like he dealt with too much but was also a rare man of courage. RIP
Goosebumps. Utter goosebumps from Timmy Trumpet and Edwin Diaz. Playing that for the third time, though the view on this link is different than the SNY version. That game clearly had a playoff feel, with the trumpets and Nimmo's catch and deGrom on the mound. Amazing.
I think I can clarify what LaRussa is doing. He's going to Mayo Clinic in Arizona (as Mayo is a brand now as much as a renowned hospital in Minnesota). Internet says it's the best hospital in Arizona. I have my suspicions about what might be next for Tony, based on my wife's uncle recent heart surgery, but I am not a doctor and should not hazard a guess. In any case, wishing Tony the best.
Anyone else following Molly Knight's Substack and her harrowing experience with COVID and with our health care system? If I were a Dodgers fan, I would be subscribing to her both to help her and because she's really good. And yesterday, she was the first person I saw link to articles about how other pandemics of novel respiratory diseases are often followed by "long" symptoms. I should not have to get my science news from a baseball writer, but I am glad she is as much of a polymath as Craig. Even if she is writing the Dodgers.
One more bit of Mets news: Bret Baty tore a thumb ligament and will be out the rest of the way. A tough break, but since his first AB home run, he's been kind of meh.
Also, apparently Ronald Acuna is playing through some really bad knee pain. Do we admire him for toughing it out for the team, or think that maybe he should not make things worse?
Acuna, based on reporting from The Athletic, isn’t risking re-injury to his knee. Instead, at this point it is just a matter of time. His play is not up to expectations but he has the highest OBP on the club and is a positive contributor even if he isn’t able to get great torque in his swing.
Or said differently, he is not the automatic out that Freddie Freeman was at the end of IIRC 2019 due to the first baseman’s injuries.
Pros have a big advantage over the rest of us, at least in theory. I feel a twinge in my knee, I have no idea if it's an injury I should rest or an injury I can work around or even one that needs exercise until I manage to get to a doctor. Acuna feels pain, and he's got a medical team and trainers right there to make heads or tails of it. Which doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
if you go on youtube, you can find some crowd video uploads which give an even better sense of how crazy the crowd must have been going. When i went to Citi the other day (Sunday) i was so sad we didn't get a Diaz entrance, my first game there in a decade. When the Mets rule the city (and we have, in very limited supply), the fans are usually going completely apeshite. Imagine this in October. I remember how jubilant the exit ramps at Shea were after a big win (i was there for the Pratt/Agbayani HR's, the Ventura Grand Slam Single, the 9/17/86 clinch to name a few). Mets joy is so contagious when they're going right.
My brother went last Thursday with two of his daughters, but as they are only casual fans and it's a long drive home, they left as the trumpets were starting. He was there mainly for Jake. I am just glad his kids are at least somewhat into the Mets. (His son in law, I am afraid, is a Yankees fan and corrupting my oldest niece.)
And it's still weird that my brother HAS a son in law.
I was actually a bit disappointed by the crowd last night during Narco (at least from the SNY broadcast). It looked like 75% of the fans in the stands were recording with their phones from 200 feet away instead of their usual hooting, hollering, dancing, and air-trumpeting.
And sorry if that sounded a bit too Old Man Yells at Cloud-ish…
as was I, and it seems from the fan videos there was more cheering than the SNY broadcast (which clearly was tied into the house PA which wasn't capturing the crowd noise). And yeah, what a weird sight seeing everyone there video'ing the readily-available-on-social-media entrance :)
Isn't that why we have phones? (I am filming myself typing this right now!)
Still got goosebumps, which my wife thinks is weird. "But...the Mets are COOL! That never happens!"
I've been following Molly's ordeal also. It's indeed terrifying. Which is part of the reason I'll be at the front of the line for yet another booster, as soon as they'll give it to me (hopefully next week—the reporting says shortly after Labor Day, but we'll see).
I will believe I have the new booster that fast when I see it. Though with any luck, I will be boosted in time for the Jewish high holidays and can go to services and not be so nervous.
But her ordeal is also why I am continuing to mask as much as possible. I want to slap the doctors who are still saying "the old vaccine is effective against death, we don't really need this new one." Anything we can do to prevent infection is good. (Though at the same time, I want to applaud the doctors who are making noise about funding research for a totally new and different vaccine that will work against all coronaviruses regardless of mutations.)
In my experience, a lot of doctors are pretty callous when it comes to quality of life. Which may be understandable in situations where they have to focus on saving lives but is a frustrating mindset outside of the ER or ICU.
I went through several years of troubling dizziness and had my doctor tell me basically, we’ve ruled out all the obvious stuff so what do you really expect me to do? It’s like it doesn’t register that I was still experiencing symptoms impacting my quality of life; in his mind, I didn’t have a brain tumor or a blocked artery, etc, so his work was done.
Sorry to digress…to take it back to Covid, I personally know at least half a dozen people who haven’t gotten their sense of taste fully back after months or years. Even if there were zero other lingering symptoms/side effects from Covid, that’s still awful for quality of life! And something I think is really worth trying to avoid.
In reading Molly Knight's travails, it was clear she encountered such extreme callousness from every quarter. I wasn't surprised at Big Pharma being that way, or her insurance provider, but the way individual doctors and nurses and pharmacists were behaving was atrocious. I really don't know what happened that caregivers stopped caring.
And that really is spilling over to the handling of Long COVID, and then combining with the doctors who are making mildly reasonable but cold assessments of the new booster, to create a message of "you are on your own, we can't be bothered."
Also I think about shingles. When I was a kid, chicken pox was a major inconvenience and really, REALLY annoying, especially when you got sick at a time like over the Christmas holidays like one of my sisters, but it was just something almost every kid got and they were going to miss some school, have to make up assignments, then go on with their lives.
Now we know avoiding chicken pox also means avoiding shingles, and that makes the vaccine a great idea because shingles can be so much more serious. I wonder what covid-related consequences will show up in 10, 15, or 20 years after infection.
Thankfully, we also have a shingles vaccine that everyone over 50 should get.
Oh yes, I got both shots recently. That's why I was thinking about it, I had chicken pox when I was very little, the only concern my parents had was that I didn't have enough immunity so when my siblings got it in grade school I'd get it again (I didn't though).
The potential of shingles decades down the road wasn't a concern at all, but viruses are sneaky af and for something that doesn't even technically count as a living organism can be extremely devious. Fascinating, but devious.
I had shingles 5 years ago at age 43. My case was not nearly as serious as many out there but I did have the virus making a steady progression towards my left ear. Did I mention I'm deaf in my right ear?
So naturally, I was freaking out a bit but fortunately anti-virals knocked things down before any long term damage was done but I still have reduced sensitivity on that side of my face. Even my relatively mild case really sucked for about 10 days.
Get the vaccine as soon as you are eligible.
My condolences on the loss of a dear friend. He sounds like a delightful man, and I wish the best to his family and friends who are grieving his passing.
I’m sorry for the loss of your friend.
Seeing Ohtani turning around a 98 mph fastball from Cole and depositing it in the center field trees, scoring three runs and giving his team the lead as a result, is one of the most satisfying MLB highlights I have seen in a while.
i think for once, 'Tungsten Arm' O'Doyle is smiling from up above.
The Phillies are the first team for 12 years to score 18+ without any home runs. The last was a bad Houston team, some unfamiliar names there...
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN201008030.shtml
But the record seems to be 27 runs by Cleveland against the Red Sox in July 1923.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE192307071.shtml
That included 13 runs in one inning against Lefty O'Doul. And maybe that contributed to O'Doul's existential crisis in which he switched from pitching to left field and moved to the Pacific Coast League for four years. He then played in the National League from ages 31 to 37, with over 1000 hits and an average of .353, including one year when he led the league with .398. Never played for the Akron Bridegrooms, though.
O’Doul has a solid HOF case, much in the style of Buck O’Neil. Lefty was a good but not great player who then was a champion of Japanese ball in the post war years. And he was a longtime storyteller who kept the memories of what was then an independent PCL of near MLB quality alive. I’ve never been but I heard mixed reviews of his restaurant in SF.
I looked it up, too, but as usual, you beat me to it.
The last time the *Phillies* scored 18 runs without a homer was in 1941, against the Giants. Those giants were mediocre (74-79 with three ties) but the Phillies were god-awful, 43-111-1, worst in MLB by a LOT. That was twice as many runs as they scored in any other game that season.
That was the second game of an August 17th doubleheader (they won the first 6-2, with Si Johnson going the distance, somehow allowing just those two runs despite 14 hits and a walk).
In the latter game, the Phillies got a CG out of their starter, Lee Grissom, who won his first game after 11 straight losses to start the season. That was the second-to-last Win of his career, as he would finish 2-13 in 1941 and then spend the next four years in the military during WWII, not returning to pro ball when he was discharged at age 38.
The Giants started Bill Lohrman, who gave up 7 runs in an inning and change, and then the ironically named Ace Adams (his real first name, BTW) entered the game in "relief" and surrendered 11 more runs in the last 6.2 innings. He would prove to be a relief ace over the next several years, leading the NL in appearances three times, games finished four times and Saves twice over the War years, but at this point he was just a 31-year old rookie being forced to wear it in a meaningless August contest.
CF Joe Marty had 5 hits and 5 RBI. RF Johnny Rizzo was the only starter without a hit, and even he had 2 runs and an RBI.
That lineup had two Dannys, a Johnny, a Bobby, a Pinky, a Mickey and a Heinie. Plus a Bernie and a Wally on the bench, and a pitching staff that included a Johnny, a Tommy and a Lefty. You don't see a lot of -y or -ie ending first names anymore, and I always thought it was because people think of them as childish now, but maybe it's because the 1941 Phillies kinda overdid it, and they sucked.
Sorry to hear about David - it’s the random stories that make friendships, I guess.
My condolences on their loss of your friend. Way too young.
Thanks for writing beautifully, and beautifully about loss. If I may lighten the note, as I mentioned, one of my favorite parts of publication day was seeing Craig's blurb on my book. And now to get space in Cup of Coffee? Too kind, sir. Then again, perhaps Coffee readers will enjoy. Cheers.
i can't wait to read your book! i love random (for me) out of nowhere stories like this. Well done sir!
Thank you and enjoy!
Marcell Ozuna has been in only one game - two ABs, both Ks - since his DUI arrest two weeks ago. Before that, he had played almost full time appearing in 107 of the club’s first 115 games in spite of both his guilty plea in a DV case and his atrocious on field play.
My condolences on your loss, Craig.
Craig, i'm so sorry to hear about David. He sounds like an amazing, special person. Mental Illness will become an even bigger issue after the last 3 or so years we've had. My family has long struggled with it. There are great therapists out there helping where they can but it's still such a struggle. I'm glad you had this great story of David's costume and some great memories of your friend. 50 years is way too young. I hope you find some comfort today in your wonderful memories of your friend. Rest in Peace David.
Lovely tribute to David and thank you for sharing it with us. It's a perfect and beautifully moving reminder of the old truth that there really is no such thing as an "ordinary" life when we consider the extraordinary ways in which each of us - for good and for bad - are destined to touch the lives of those around us.
It also reminds us that however much we crave the simple satisfaction of a "happy ever after" resolution, life with all its messiness and fragility does not always comply with providing the easy linear narratives we want. Sometimes things don't get better. Or if they do, time just damn runs out before anything can be done with it. Sometimes what looked like a safe harbour is just a temporary stop before even worse storms.
And that can all feel pretty shitty for those who have to watch the story unfurl and who just wish everything could be ok again and beautiful like it used to be, when - as one of my favourite Cohen songs go - "When the victims are singing
And the laws of remorse are restored....When the day has been ransomed
And the night has no right to begin...when I am clean and I am sober...."
But of course if that were all there was then we would all descend into terminal despair. It's the fact that there is always hope and that people are as I said, capable of the most extraordinary goodness as much as bad, that even if tomorrow is going down the pan, all we have is today and its precious allotment of time for us to spend on whatever heroic adventure (however mundane it may appear to others) that life is giving us.
And I use that word "heroic" intentionally. We are called to be heroes and although we may not have dragons to vanquish any more, this world still has plenty of monsters for us to fight. Both externally and indeed as many will note on reading David's story, we know many monsters within our hearts and minds.
And clearly David was one of the heroes in your life Craig and it's good to celebrate not only what he did but the important role that you played within his all too short quest. For what is a knight without his merry band of men and women to help and support him as his faithful posse?
Anyway! That was a far too long an answer as usual and not sure what I ended up trying to say! But that notwithstanding, suffice to say I send my deepest condolences to you and all of David's loved ones. Perpetual light shine upon him and may he rest in peace!
Charlie
Interested in your thoughts on Paul Lukas's treatise on booing (no paywall): https://paullukas.bulletin.com/some-thoughts-about-booing-at-the-ballpark
I agree 100 percent. Always been a Lukas fan. Now more than ever.
A little over 14 months ago, Gunnar Henderson was a 19-year-old kid in Low-A Gunnar hasn't faced a pitcher younger than him in 2 seasons. He's now the youngest player in MLB. . Mike Elias as a GM doesn't exactly rush prospects. His rise to the majors has been extraordinary.