A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews.

 
Worst Mets Losses - Five and Four

5. Mets lose 6-0 to Dodgers on October 12, 1988.

After a regular season in which they won 100 games - including 10 of 11 against the Dodgers, the NLCS came down to a 7th and decisive game. Ron Darling was to start for the Mets, and Orel Hershiser for the Dodgers. Hershiser had already started twice and relieved once in the series, and some wondered whether he had anything left for Game 7.

Hershiser had finished the regular season with 59 consecutive scoreless innings, but the Mets had somehow won in both of his previous NLCS starts.

I have two enduring memories from this game - neither having anything to do with the game itself. First, prior to the game on NBC's pre-game show, Davey Johnson and Tommy Lasorda were each asked what they expected to be doing the next day. Johnson responded, confidently and with a touch of arrogance, that he expected to be preparing for the World Series. Lasorda said that he hoped the Dodgers would win and have the chance to face the A's.

The second memory is of the debut of a TV commercial aired by WFAN. A week before, WFAN had moved to 660 on the dial, replacing WNBC. Don Imus was to bring his morning show to FAN, which had highlighted Pete Franklin in the afternoon drive time slot.

In the commercial, which was broadcast around the 4th inning, Imus tells Franklin that he looks forward to talking sports. A disgusted Franklin angrily replied: "You don't know a bunt from a punt, a pickoff from a kickoff, the Mets from the Jets." Imus defends himself, saying, "Oh yeah, just ask my good friend, Darryl ... ah ... Raspberry."

Pretty silly, but it seemed funny then, and made the loss a little less painful.

The game itself was over pretty quickly. The Dodgers scored five second inning runs, several of which were unearned after two Mets errors in the inning. The Mets never put up a threat, with Hershiser pitching a complete game shutout.

The 80's Mets would never play another playoff game, and within a couple of years Davey Johnson as well as most of the players would be gone. It would be 11 years until the Mets went back to the playoffs. When they did, they experienced the fourth worst loss in their history.

4. Mets lose 10-9 to Braves on October 19, 1999.

It was a great run for the Mets, coming back from a 3-0 NLCS deficit to win two great games at Shea, including the Game 5 15-inning epic. But they would fall short on this night.

Like Darling in '88, Al Leiter just didn't have it. He gave up 5 runs in the 1st inning. The innings went by and the Mets couldn't get anything going against Kevin Milwood.

This game seemed just like Game 7 of the 1988 NLCS.

At least the end came without too much painful drama.

Not so fast.

In the 6th inning, three Mets runs got them back in it. But the Braves came right back with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning for a 7-3 lead.

In the 7th, the Mets jumped on John Smoltz, scoring two runs. Then Mike Piazza came up, and belted a two run game tying homer.

Screams of joy almost loud enough to be heard on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River would emanate from a tenth floor apartment on Riverside Drive. When rookie Melvin Mora's RBI single gave the Mets the lead in the 8th, thoughts of Game 7 came to mind.

And then John Franco came in. And it was promptly tied 8-8.

What a great feeling it was when the Mets scored in the 10th off John Rocker. For one week, nobody was hated more in our great city than Rocker.

But Armando Benitez came in and blew the save, and it was 9-9.

Kenny Rogers came in for the 11th. He gave up a leadoff double, and a bunt put the potential winning run on third with one out.

Bobby Valentine was a fine game manager, but in his worst decision, elected to intentionally walk the next two batters. Rogers wasn't even close, walking in the winning run on five pitches, and ending 1999.

Still to come: The three worst Mets losses.
posted on 10/31/2006

 
Walt Michaels

It was a fitting coincidence that on Sunday, 45 years after his playing career ended, the Browns honored Walt Michaels among a group of their star players on a day when the Jets were in town.

A generation has gone by since Michaels' tenure as Jets head coach ended prematurely. I was somewhat surprised to read yesterday that he is now "only" 77 years old. I remember Michaels as being an old man when he coached the Jets. Of course, he was fired just after I turned 10 years old, an age when 53 seemed ancient. And Michaels had by then already been on the Jets coaching staff for two stints covering much of the previous 20 years.

Michaels was reportedly pleasantly surprised and excited to be remembered by the media covering the Jets. Wearing his Super Bowl III ring (Michaels was a long-time defensive coordinator for the Jets under Weeb Ewbank), he stated that the Jets could win a Super Bowl with Chad Pennington and offered praise for Eric Mangini, but said that the Jets could use Mark Gastineau and Joe Klecko on their defensive line.

Perhaps it is for the better that professional sports coaches do not come like Walt Michaels anymore. He abhorred losing, and would not tell his players how proud he was of their losing effort. After the Jets' devastating loss in the 1981 playoffs - a game from which I have not yet recovered - Michaels walked in and out of the locker room without saying a word. His meltdown after the loss to Miami in the '82 AFC Championship game led to his forced resignation.
posted on 10/31/2006

 
Lakewood Internet Ban

A friend e-mailed me to point out a recent post on the VOS IZ NEIAS blog about a Lakewood landlord who was fined and ordered to serve 40 days in jail.

What's interesting is not the post but that there are now more than 150 comments, many from residents of New Jersey's holiest city.

As the person who e-mailed the post to me wrote: "It seems that the Lakewood internet ban may not be as effective as planned."
posted on 10/30/2006

 
Worst Mets Losses - Ten Through Six

A year ago, readers of this blog were treated to a nostalgic journey through the worst losses in New York Jets history - or at least the worst losses since I started watching the Jets in the late 70's.

Now would seem to be a good time to recall the ten worst Mets losses since the late 70's. Of course, the two worst Mets losses of all-time are Games 6 and 7 of the 1973 World Series.

Enjoy these memories:

10. Mets lose 5-4 to Atlanta Braves on September 23, 2001.

Certain players can sense the importance of the moment, and perform accordingly. Armando Benitez always fit that profile during his tenure with the Mets.

After a 13-2 run, the Mets were 5 1/2 games behind the Braves for the NL East lead. On September 21, 2001, they opened a three game series at Shea against Atlanta.

In the series opener, the first game played at Shea after the horror of 9/11, Mike Piazza's 8th inning homer won it for the Mets. The Mets then won the next day too, and looked for the sweep that would cut the deficit to 2 1/2 games.

The Mets took a 4-1 lead into the ninth, an easy save situation for Benitez, who proceeded to give up 3 runs, including a home run to Brian Jordan. Another Jordan homer won it for the Braves in the 11th, effectively ending the season.

9. Mets lose 4-3 to St. Louis Cardinals on October 3, 1985.

Never since has a regular season series as exciting as this one been played. The Mets came into Busch Stadium behind the Cards by three games with six games to play in the season. They knew they needed a sweep.

In the series opener, Ron Darling and John Tudor pitched an amazing duel, with 10 shutout innings apiece. In the 11th, Darryl Strawberry hit a moonshot off Ken Dayley for a 1-0 win.

The next night, Dwight Gooden pitched his last gem of his amazing season to pull the Mets to within a game.

But the Mets fell a run short in the series finale. Rookie Rick Aguilera kept the Mets in the game, but the Mets could not come up with the clutch hits. Keith Hernandez's five hits against his former team were largely wasted. The Mets would have to wait another year for their glory.

8. Mets lose 6-4 to the Cardinals on September 11, 1987.

After the ecstasy of '86, the 1987 season got off to a bad start. Dwight Gooden was suspended for cocaine use. The Mets endured a torrent of pitching injuries.

They began to make a run in the summer of '87, and were just a game and a half out of first place when the Cards came to Shea for a three game series. Everyone knew that the Mets were about to overtake the Cards.

The Mets led 4-1 going into the 9th. Shea was in a frenzy. The Mets would be within a half game.

Roger McDowell gave up a run. No problem. Then Terry Pendleton stunned the Mets with a game tying two run homer. The Cards scored two more in the 10th. The next day, Dwight Gooden was pounded.

There would be no repeat of '86. The Cardinals would win the division, not the mighty Mets.

Ironically, a generation later, McDowell and Pendleton would be reunited, as the pitching coach and the hitting coach, respectively, of the Braves.

7. Mets lose to St. Louis Cardinals 9-6 on October 13, 2006.

After winning Game 1 of the NLCS, the Mets faced St. Louis' ace, Chris Carpenter, in Game 2. The Mets scored three in the first, but John Maine couldn't hold the lead. They took a 6-4 lead to the 7th, but Scott Spiezio's triple past the reach of Shawn Green tied it. The Mets had scoring opportunities against the Cards bullpen, but failed to capitalize. In the 9th, Billy Wagner gave up 3 runs, including a go-ahead homer to So Taguchi.

The loss wasted an opportunity to take control of the series, and gave St. Louis confidence that they could contend with the Mets.

6. Mets lose 4-2 to the Yankees on October 26, 2000.

It was a fine pitching duel between Andy Petite and Al Leiter. The Mets had numerous opportunities, but kept leaving runners on, and had scored only two unearned runs in the 2nd. The Yankees scored their runs on homers by Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter.

With two outs and two on and the score 2-2 in the top of the 9th, up came Luis Sojo, who had come into the game in a double switch. Bobby Valentine had John Franco warming up, but left Leiter in. Sojo's hit gave the Yankees a 4-2 lead, and in the bottom of the ninth with one on and two out, Mike Piazza's fly ball to deep center field didn't quite have enough, and the Yankees won their 26th World Series, their third in a row.

For the sin of desecrating Shea Stadium's hallowed ground, the Yankees were punished, never having won another World Series.

Later this week: The five worst losses in the painful history of the New York Mets.
posted on 10/30/2006

 
Same Old Jets

1. Longtime Jets fans had a bad feeling about today's game. Historically, whenever the Jets go on a nice run and get their fans' hopes up, they make sure to lose to a bad team. I hoped today would be different. Of course it wasn't.

2. Let's get one thing out of the way upfront: The refs killed the Jets today. Contrary to the moronic ramblings of CBS' Solomon Wilcots, the pass to Chris Baker in the end zone was the epitome of a forceout and should have been a touchdown.

Wilcots kept saying that there was no conclusive evidence that Baker would have landed in bounds. But the rule is that unless there is no way that Baker could have stayed in bounds, the play is to be ruled a completion. The referees ruled that Baker could not have landed in bounds. They were absolutely wrong. Even if Baker's momentum was taking him toward the sidelines, it's certainly possible that he could have kept both feet in bounds, and the play therefore should have been ruled a touchdown.

The refs also hurt the Jets in the 3rd quarter, when the Browns appeared to muff a punt. While the replay did not show the muff (see more about that below), the Browns punt returner chased after the ball, a clear indication that he touched it.

3. That the refs ripped the Jets off does not excuse the team's terrible performance today, for which there is plenty of blame to go around. Most culpable was the coaching staff.

Let's start with the offensive playcalling. On their opening drive, the Jets drove from their own 9 to the Browns 15 yard line, with Chad Pennington throwing for three first downs and running for a fourth. It looked like the Jets could be off to a quick start. But the Jets then ran three straight plays, taking the ball out of Pennington's hands. On 3rd down, the run was a 1 yard loss by Brad Smith on a QB draw, who had replaced Pennington at QB.

In the 2nd quarter, after an interception, the Jets took the ball at the Cleveland 42. Again, they ran three straight plays, again, on 3rd down and short, in came Smith behind center, and again the Jets lost yardage.

With Smith at QB, the Jets lined up three receivers, but the Browns were not at all fooled. They stuffed the box. Everyone knows that the Jets will not let Smith throw the ball. The result was two stalled drives in the first half.

The Jets also failed to throw downfield slants, despite the fact that Cleveland's secondary, mediocre to begin with, was banged up, and that the Jets receivers have been proficient in turning those plays into big gainers. Most of the Jets passes were short dumpoffs, and they also went for a number of big plays that all failed.

Then, down by 10, early in the 4th quarter, on 3rd and 12 from the Browns 25, the Jets tried a draw play, presumably to set up a shorter field goal attempt. The play lost 5 yards, and the call was terrible. Did the Jets think they could come back from a 17 point deficit by setting up field goals?

Late in the game, the Jets' pass protection was awful. The offensive line could not prevent constant pressure and hits on Pennington, and the Jets repeatedly could neither pick up blitzes, nor call plays to exploit and beat the blitz. Instead, late in the 4th quarter, Pennington inexplicably continued to take seven step drops.

4. In sharp contrast to the Browns, on defense, the Jets again refused to blitz until it was too late. In their first three games, the Jets came up with big plays off blitzes, particularly from free safety by Kerry Rhodes. But starting in week 4, things changed. They refused to blitz Peyton Manning, they refused to blitz Jon Kitna, and today they refused to blitz Charlie Frye. Frye had as much time as he wanted on almost every pass play, since the Jets defensive line can only very rarely create any pressure. The refusal to blitz was again self defeating, as Frye was allowed to drive down the field again and again, and repeatedly convert third down passes, including the touchdown pass to Kellen Winslow.

The Jets finally blitzed late in the 3rd quarter, and for the first time all game, kept the Browns in their own territory when they sacked Frye twice.

5. The Browns came into the game with the NFL's second worst rushing performance. Fortunately for them, Jim Brown came out of retirement at just the right time.

Actually, though Reuben Droughns had been having a terrible season for the Browns, playing the Jets is the cure for whatever ails NFL running backs. Roseanne Barr could run for 100 yards and a touchdown against the Jets.

6. In the 3rd quarter, the Jets lost a timeout when they challenged the ruling that Cleveland did not muff a punt. The Jets had a long commercial break to decide whether to challenge. While the Browns probably did touch the ball, no replay supported the Jets, who therefore had little chance to gain a reversal, and Eric Mangini's challenge was a poor decision. If the Jets had that timeout, perhaps they could have run the ball once or twice during their final drive, or at least made Cleveland think twice before blitzing on every play.

7. Justin McCareins is absolutely gutless. Under a blitz on 3rd and long and about to be hit, Chad Pennington made a bad decision throwing a pass that floated toward an open McCareins. But McCareins just stood there watching, then slipping on his own weight, never making any effort for the ball, instead allowing the Browns to make an easy interception.

8. Some will say that today's game simply proves that the Jets are not a good team. They aren't, but nor are the now 2-5 Browns. The Jets and Browns are fairly close in terms of talent. While the Browns had the home field advantage, the Jets had the momentum of a 4-3 start against a 1-5 start, and the Browns had injuries on offensive line and defensive back.

The bottom line is that the Jets were outcoached, outplayed and outwilled today. While the Jets 4-4 record in the first half of their season is better than most expected, they took a step backward today, looking much more like the awful team Herm Edwards mismanaged last season. With games against the Patriots and Bears following next week's bye, hopes that the Jets could emerge as the AFC's surprise team have been dashed. A 4-4 second half and an 8-8 season are more realistic goals, but even to achieve that will require a much better effort.
posted on 10/29/2006

 
No Modern Orthodox Jew Would Ever Do Anything Like This

Nobody seems to have picked up the serious point of my parody of Harry Maryles' latest post, so here it is:

Of course, Harry is right that charedi hooliganism must be unequivocally condemned, without offering any rationalizations for the perpetrators. The behavior he describes is a shameful chilul hashem.

My objection is to Harry's concocting a scenario in which it was actually a modern Orthodox Jew who acted in such a manner, and then declaring that of course:

I made it up. This scenario did not happen and could not happen... and will never happen. No Modern Orthodox Jew would ever do anything like this.

Really? Didn't a graduate of Yeshiva of Flatbush, Yeshiva University, and even Albert Einstein College Of Medicine shoot dead 29 Arabs?

Wasn't it a Bar Ilan University student who murdered the Prime Minister of Israel?

Who are the extremists who use violence against IDF soldiers and Israeli police officers, and curse them, calling them Nazis?

Perhaps Harry would respond that "modern Orthodox" in North American terms is not exactly identical to "dati leumi" in Israeli terms. The fact that violence occurs in Israel does not mean it would occur here.

Notwithstanding that Baruch Goldstein was American, and that Harry did not limit his "no Modern Orthodox Jew" declaration to enlightened Americans, it is, in any event, equally true that charedim in Israel are generally far more extreme than those here.

Every day, women walk around Boro Park dressed as they wish. Nobody bothers them. When the female rabbi of Boro Park's Reform temple was asked how she liked the neighborhood, the only lament she could muster was that people do not say "good shabbos" to her (as though they say good shabbos to anyone). In Williamsburg, hipsters, yuppies and Hispanics coexist with Satmar chasidim. There may at times be some tension, but there has not been any violence committed by chasidim.

Harry invariably defends his bashing of charedim by reminding readers that his children are mostly charedi (though he takes pains to point out that they are "good" charedim who rejected their modern Orthodox upbringing but were never "indocrinated" by those awful charedi teachers), and that, in any event, he is just as angry at modern Orthodox Jews who act wrongly.

Alas, Harry's declaration that only charedim are capable of behaving violently, in spite of the contrary facts, has greatly undermined his credibility.
posted on 10/27/2006

 
$16 Million For Baltimore Day Schools

The Baltimore Jewish Times reports that the Weinberg Foundation and the local federation will be giving $16 million to area day schools and yeshivas over the next five years.

If more family foundations and community federations follow, this is the type of action that will positively impact Jewish education.
posted on 10/27/2006

 
Righting a Wrong

I could not believe my eyes. There I was at Shea Stadium. There were buckets of paint spilled all over the place as a result of righting a perceived wrong. Apparently some of the Yankee fan relatives of the ticket holders who had come in from the Bronx were bashing the Mets. They were very loud and persistent. All attempts to quite them down had failed as they became louder and more insulting with every breath. They said some of the vilest and most disgusting things one could imagine about Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman. Don't ask!

The Mets fans in section 31 could not take such vile language about pitchers whose blood was spilled on the Shea mound so that New York baseball could return to its glory. It insulted their sensibilities. They were beside themselves! How could any baseball fan talk this way about great players who devoted their lives to bringing a World Series to New York? So, a group (two or three) of zealots decided to do something about it. Justice demanded it! They brought a few buckets of paint from the construction area of the new stadium and poured it all over them.

Does this sound outrageous? ...spilling paint on people just because they were expressing their views? I think it does. They should have just let it go. In a few minutes it would have all been over. But, No... they had to debase their fellow human beings, ruin their clothes, and mess up Shea Stadium! Thank God it never happened.

That's right. I made it up. This scenario did not happen and could not happen... and will never happen. No Mets fan would ever do anything like this. No matter how upset they were at the kind of rhetoric I described. And believe me such rhetoric is extremely upsetting, especially in a Mets enclave like Shea Stadium.

But in the Yankee world things like this are happening right now.

Now, before anyone accuses me of bashing the Yankees again (and I am sure some people will, ignoring that my wife is a Yankee fan, my son is Brian Cashman, my daughter is married to Mariano Rivera, my rabbi is a Yankee fan, I am wearing a Yankees jersey and eating a Baby Ruth candy bar right now, and my screensaver is a picture of Yankee Stadium) ...I am not. Most Yankee fans would no more do this than would any Mets fan. But the difference is that time after time there are a small but significant minority of Yankee fans and only Yankee fans, that take it upon themselves to insult and attack those who choose to root for the Mets.

There are really no words to describe the arrogance, stupidity, and self righteousness of these people. They have decided that only their team is acceptable.

What are these Yankee fans doing about it? They are spraying their victims with paint colored like Yankee pinstripes. Where is this taking place? On Gun Hill Road and on Pelham Parkway.

And it isn't just individuals: "Last week Yankee fans arrived at a Modell's on Broadway and destroyed thousands of dollars worth of Mets merchandise with bleach."

All this because the Mets uniforms have players' names on the back.

If a comparable event, like the one I described above, would have been perpetrated by even a single individual in the Mets community, the condemnations would have been fast and furious. And the loudest among them would have been from Fred Wilpon. And it would have been condemned by all of the Mets leadership, especially Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya. There would have been no defense of it at all. No excuses made. None.

But where are the voices of the Yankee leadership that these fans are loyal to? Why is this not being condemned in the strongest possible terms? I don't mean lip-service with an explanation that begins with the words, "But you have to understand where they are coming from." I am talking about the kind of condemnation I am making right now.

Of course there will be many in the Yankee world that will condemn this. Even very strongly. And rightly so. But that is not enough. George Steinbrenner and Joe Torre must go to the authorities, work with them to find out who they are and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

Right! When that happens I will be the first in line to congratulate them... right after I celebrate the Jets' Super Bowl victory.
posted on 10/26/2006

 
Back To The Jews

I have no time at all to post now, but have been reading so much nonsense on Jblogs that I feel compelled to make an effort in the weeks to come to post about Jewish issues. Here are a few topics I hope to cover:

-Women and Orthodoxy
-Stem cell research, politics and Orthodox Jews
-Charedim Who Don't Fully Accept The Authority Of The Gedolim
-Non-Charedi Schools And The Charedim Who Teach There

In the meantime, I have just re-posted "Is Orthodoxy Economically Viable?," originally posted in November 2005.
posted on 10/26/2006

 
Is Orthodoxy Economically Viable?

Originally posted on November 16, 2005.

In a July 2003 post about the kollel system - in which instead of working, young (and even some middle-aged) men study Talmud full-time rather than work for a living - I wrote critically of an "unsustainable system, in which middle-class parents are expected to subsidize (and sometimes fully support) the lives of their children, while a mother of six or eight works full time for a relatively modest salary. As the size of the kollel families grow and the grandparents age, many families will slip into poverty. Once it comes time for the kollel families to marry off their own children, there will be nobody to pay for the weddings, let along support another generation of kollel families. Even now, young men who intend to learn in kollel usually look to marry a woman whose parents are wealthy, rather than one whose own father is in kollel."

Any objective analysis of the kollel system shows that it is not an economically viable one. Already, there is massive reliance on (and exploitation of) government programs by those in kollel and their parents.

Unfortunately, however, we are fast approaching the point at which even two-income families will routinely face financial crises if they wish to remain fully engaged in the Orthodox community.

The tuition crisis is well known. My father has long been the leading voice for radical changes in funding of yeshivas and day schools. Tuition was also recently analyzed and debated in the pages of Jewish Action.

An area that has gotten less attention is the skyrocketing cost of housing, particularly in Orthodox communities in the New York area.

Presumably, housing prices receive less attention because most frum families have already purchased their home, and are beneficiaries of the extraordinary rise is real estate.

For those who do not own a home, assuming that they choose to buy one in the New York area and prices do not plummet, almost all will struggle financially. A fairly modest home purchased today can easily cost $4000 per month when mortgage, real estate taxes and basic maintenance are combined. Add to that tuition of $10,000 for each of four children, and you have a family that before anything else, is paying around $90,000 in after-tax money on housing and tuition alone.

It is probably fair to say that to even break even, a family like that will need at least $200,000 in pre-tax income, and even that will leave them with little left after basic necessities like food, automobile costs, tolls/public transportation costs and clothing are taken into account.

Already now, young frum people are aware that they will need much more to get by than their secular counterparts. As a result, most choose from among a very small number of professions like law, accounting, and medicine. Fewer and fewer young frum schoolteachers, academics, or journalists are to be found.

Ultimately, like kollel, this too is not a viable economic system. Families with income that among the vast majority of Americans would be considered upper middle-class will need substantial tuition relief just to get by, and will be able to save very little money. In contrast to the secular world, where losing one's job is a painful but usually temporary crisis, in the frum world, it already is often a complete disaster that can almost immediately send a family trying to remain engaged in the community into a state of near poverty. In the future, it will likely result in a large number of foreclosures.

Of course, there is no commandment in the Torah that one must own a home or live in the New York area, or in other very expensive places like Los Angeles and Boston. There is nothing wrong with renting, and if one absolutely wants to buy, housing is still much cheaper (though not cheap) in places with significant frum communities like Baltimore and Atlanta or in suburbs of Philadelphia. And as the success of Nefesh b'Nefesh clearly shows, aliyah is a good option too, since state religious schools are free in Israel and semi-private schools are heavily subsidized by the government, and housing costs in cities like Modiin and Beit Shemesh remain relatively affordable.

Still, the reality is that whether because of their own expectations, societal or spousal pressure, or a belief that it is always better to buy than to rent, many frum people will buy houses that they really won't be able to afford in the long run. And many - probably most - who are from New York will want to stay there, because their jobs, families and friends are there and they have few if any ties to anywhere else.

Doubtlessly, many will have fewer children than they otherwise would, which will result in less of a personal financial burden, but also in serious implications for Orthodoxy in other ways. And fewer children, in any event, may mean three children instead of five; most families will still be larger than the American average.

In the Catholic world - where I believe religious school tuition is much more heavily subsidized by the local church than it is by the community in the Jewish world - there has been a significant drop in the number of enrollees in Catholic schools, with many schools around the country closing.

Unless radical changes occur, in the coming decades, we are likely to see more and more frum families overwhelmed by the cost of living in a frum community be unable to send their children to yeshiva. At first, those on the community's left-wing periphery will be ones sending their kids to public school, but it is almost inevitable that even very committed observant families will have no option but to send their children to public school or to home school their children. Once a significant number of frum children are not in yeshiva, it likely will become socially acceptable (albeit not socially optimal) in the community for children to not be in yeshiva, resulting in less pressure on the families, schools, and the community generally, to find a solution to individual problems. Over time, we may well see a three-tier system, with some in yeshiva, some in small makeshift unofficial schools in someone's home, and some in public school.

Unfortunately, there are no simple solutions. At best, changes in priorities will alleviate the burden and reduce the number of people who face financial barriers to engagement in the Orthodox Jewish world.
posted on 10/26/2006

 
Surgery For Abraham; Pennington's Contract

1. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting on its web site that ex-Jet John Abraham underwent surgery on his injured groin this morning and "will miss the next three to four weeks."

As Jets fans know, this means that Abraham will be out at least six more weeks, and that he may miss the rest of the season.

2. Today's Newsday reports that Chad Pennington will almost certainly recuperate the full $6 million cut in his 2006 salary in incentives for playing time.

Good for Chad, but this is not good for the Jets. The $6 million will accrue on next season's salary cap, and no loophole can avoid this. Additionally, the full prorated amount of Curtis Martin's large signing bonus will be part of next season's cap number, assuming that Martin retires, as appears almost certain.
posted on 10/24/2006

 
Week 7 Comments

I won't be able to post tomorrow, and, having made pre and post game detours to Brooklyn, am quite tired from today's game (I left Queens at 10:15 this morning and didn't get home until after 7), so will limit my comments to a few thoughts:

1. Is anyone still complaining that the Jets "only" received a 4th round pick for Herm Edwards? That pick was used to draft Leon Washington. While it's too early to declare Washington the heir apparent to Curtis Martin, he has revived the previously dormant running game.

2. I've taken a bit of flack for purportedly being "pessimistic" about the Mets, even though my predictions were exactly on target. Will anyone credit me for being "optimistic" about the Jets? I was just about the only person to predict that Chad Pennington would return healthy and lead an improved team, and the only person who believed that the Jets could compete for a wildcard playoff berth.

3. Today's Jets win was nice, but it didn't take away the sting from the opportunity the Mets blew. As I've written and as has now been demonstrated, the Tigers are beatable.

4. The Jets defense continues to play soft with leads. The offense picked up its play whenever the defense allowed Detroit back into the game. Clearly, the Jets will have a tough time beating good teams. On the other hand, if the Jets can win their games against inferior opponents and secure one upset victory, that might be enough for them to sneak into the playoffs.

5. We can criticize the lack of a pass rush against a team with poor pass protection (Jon Kitna was sacked 22 teams coming into today's game, but only once today), the poor coverage by the cornerbacks (Kevin Dyson being the exception), and the offense's failure to take advantage of two Lions turnovers. The bottom line, though, is that this team, which was 4-12 last season, has started off the 2006 season with a 4-3 record.

6. Next week's game in Cleveland is huge. A 5-3 record going into the bye would be a fantastic first half of the season. While 4-4 would still exceed preseason expectations, a loss would make the playoffs very unlikely.

7. I love that John Abraham missed another game today. He's now played in only two games for the Falcons.

8. I also love that the Redskins lost today and are now 2-5. The Jets have Washington's second round pick in the '07 draft.
posted on 10/22/2006

 
The End

While I reserve the right to change my mind, after this post, I'll likely take a break from baseball for a while.

1. Last night I thought of the picture Harry Maryles posted last week of his three-year old grandson, Reuven, in which Reuven is wearing a St. Louis Cardinals cap. Previously, Harry wrote about how wonderful the St. Louis community has been for his family during their challenging time. This surely keeps things in the proper perspective, and those in St. Louis should enjoy their team's NL pennant.

2. I've always wondered whether the result of the 1988 NLCS would have been different had Bob Ojeda not chopped off a finger on his pitching hand late in the regular season. Thanks to Oliver Perez, we can comfortably know that it wasn't the injuries to Pedro Martinez or Orlando Hernandez that kept the Mets from winning the NLCS. The hitting came up very short - a combined five runs in Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 - and the bullpen, while pretty good, wasn't good enough, losing Games 2 and 7.

3. Carlos Beltran received a $119 million contract after his extraordinary performance during the 2004 playoffs. But when Beltran came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth, he looked frightened, like he'd rather be anyplace else. His three pitch strikeout was feeble.

4. David Wright has not been the same since he signed his big contract in July. One wonders whether Wright is enjoying the New York nightlife too much, and whether that took a toll on his stamina.

5. As I said before both the NLDS and the NLCS, Lastings Milledge should have been on the roster. The Mets bench was terrible, with not one threat.

6. After the game, I needed to wind down, so I turned to ESPN and SNY's postgame coverage.

I thought SNY had more integrity than MSG or YES, but I guess I was wrong. The studio hosts insisted on stating what a great year the Mets had. Even worse, Mets announcer Gary Cohen said the Mets deserved lots of credit for even making it to Game 7 given the injuries to Martinez and Hernandez. What nonsense. Could Martinez or El Duque have pitched better than John Maine and Oliver Perez did in Games 6 and 7?

7. For most of the season, Elster and I have debated whether the Mets will make it to the World Series. Will Elster concede that I was right? Will he defer to my superior instincts in the future?

8. A huge number of people suddenly jumped on the Mets bandwagon this month. Presumably, today they've all left for more interesting things.

Most of these people have insisted on calling me a pessimist for predicting a Mets NLCS loss. In contrast, most real Mets fans were, at the very least, quite anxious about this series, and I believe my analysis has been representative of a majority of long-time Mets fans. Those who have no idea what Terry Pendleton, Mike Scioscia, Luis Sojo or hedge clippers represent in Mets history have no business telling Mets fans what to expect.

Indeed, privately, even Elster was doubtful. The difference between me and Elster is that while I call it as I see it, he believes that expressing negative thoughts represents "bad karma" and that "bad karma" somehow affects the actual results. (Apparently, Elster does not believe that "bad karma" applies to posting negative thoughts about the IDF in middle of a brutal war.) In any event, one thing that is clear is that The Elster Jinx is alive and well, and played a key role in the Mets' demise.

9. Looking toward 2007, the Mets have many big decisions. Their starting staff is full of holes, and several of their relievers are free agents. The Mets also can use help at second base and in the outfield. With Pedro Martinez taking up a huge portion of the payroll budget and the Wilpons known for being much more frugal than their counterparts in The Bronx, GM Omar Minaya will have to come up big during the offseason.

One thing Minaya must not do is trade any more prospects. As it is, the Mets minor league system has been decimated by Minaya's trades. It is particularly noteworthy that of the huge number of pitchers who started for the Mets this season, only Brian Bannister and Mike Pelfrey came up through the Mets system.
posted on 10/20/2006

 
Stay Tuned...

I've got a bunch of meetings and conference calls today, so my attempt to write a song based upon Don McLean's American Pie will have to wait for another sporting disappointment. However, I will do my best to post some thoughts later today about the Mets NLCS loss.
posted on 10/20/2006

 
Orthodox Blogs and Agudah

Several people have mentioned to me that the next Agudah convention, which I believe is the annual Thanksgiving weekend event, will feature as its theme, Orthodox blogs. I have no clue whether this is true or not. But I would love to be in attendance and hear the following keynote speech:

Gedolei Roshei Yeshiva, Chashuva Rabbanim, Morai V'Rabbosai.

I have been asked to speak on the subject of Orthodox Blogs. As you all know Agudah is opposed to the internet in all contexts, so this subject is a non-starter. (Speaker begins to sit down and then immediately arises and says... Just kidding. (laughter)

Yes, today we have the unusual phenomenon of Orthodox Jews participating in blogs. This has caused tremendous Bizayon HaTorah in many cases. And it is a very negative development in the world of Torah. Indeed, many a Ben Torah can be found commenting on some of these blogs. Who gave them permission?! Why do they not listen to Daas Torah about the internet?!... But I digress.

The key point which I wish to make is that are some Orthodox blogs that are quite enlightening. And their value to the sports world is immeasurable. I have been given printed copies of some of the discussion on the better blogs, those like The Zionist Conspiracy, Elstersworld, MoC, Jewboy and a few others, which have a tremendous amount of sports content which can be accessed at any time and any place. But more importantly these blogs have opened up a window to segments of Orthodoxy here-to-fore closed off to the world of Yeshivos. We now realize that there are a great many serious sports fans in all segments of the Torah world; and that being a Mets fan is a legitmate Hashkafa, albeit different than our own. Bloggers who use the internet for these purposes are making huge Kiddush HaShem on a daily basis.

And even those blogs which some people feel are fostering Apikursus by talking about issues like the "age of El Duque" are also providing a valuable service. After reading some of the discourse and debate on these blogs we have come to the conclusion that it indeed enables conversations between people with serious questions about just when Orlando Hernandez was born and knowledgeable Talmidei Chacahmim who have studied these issues within the framework of a vast sports and Torah education. Matters of faith and doubt regarding pitching Oliver Perez on three days rest in Game 7 can be aired out and addressed by many knowledge people in the context of an intelligent, if sometimes spirited and even heated debate. And this just scratches the surface of what some of the better blogs have done for Klal Yisroel.

As a result of blogs like The Zionist Conspiracy, we have come to appreciate these contributions and I can say with a clear concience, Kein Yirbu and may Hashehm grant Orthodox bloggers much Hatzlacha in all their future endeavors.

Thank you. (Polite applause turns to wild cheering as many in attendance remove their hats and jackets, take out their Chad Pennington jerseys and Mets caps hidden in their briefcases, lift them in the air and do a "wave".)
posted on 10/19/2006

 
3-3

I went back and forth on whether to attend Game 6. Ultimately, I couldn't do it. I couldn't deal with the possibility of being there to watch the Cardinals defiling the Shea Stadium grass like the Yankees did six years ago. For that reason, I can't go to Game 7 either.

Nothing beats pitching duels. Last night's game was a classic, marred only by Billy Wagner's awful performance. Do any Mets fans still have confidence in Wagner? Right now, with the exception of Steve Trachsel, Wagner is the Mets least effective pitcher.

The key last night was John Maine's ability to get out of the first inning jam. If two runs scored there, Maine's confidence would have been shaken, and Chris Carpenter could have taken control.

Eric Mangini's five second rule should apply to the Mets. Momentum doesn't seem to exist in the playoffs. 18 years ago, the Mets won Game 6 against the Dodgers, but Ron Darling was awful the next night in Game 7 and the Mets were shut out by Orel Hershiser. Nobody knows what we'll get tonight from Oliver Perez. The offense will probably have to come up big, with more than four runs.

Tonight will be remembered as either one of the greatest wins or most painful losses in Shea Stadium history.
posted on 10/19/2006

 
Mets Doom: A Winter Of Elster's Lost Musings

If yet again I am proven right and the Mets lose tonight, their elimination and the end to their 2006 season will not be the only cause for disappointment.

This morning, Elster has already privately written to me expressing doom and gloom over the Mets poor prospects. Even the mighty Elster believes the Mets have struck out.

While we at The Zionist Conspiracy are ready for the NFL, NBA and NHL, with the Mets gone and Elster in a dour mood, Elster's posts will likely feature his 'Storytellers' series for his purported female readership, as well as his pontifications about the latest episodes of Lost and Desperate Housewives.

Enjoy the next few hours. Pray for a Mets win. But brace yourselves for a long winter.

Pitchers and catchers are four months away.

When the first spring flowers bloom, Elster will be back, once again promising victory for the New York Mets.

Wait till next year.
posted on 10/18/2006

 
Jets/Mets Comments

I'm writing in the bottom of the 6th inning of tonight's Mets game. Perhaps to make the game more competitive, Willie Randolph left Oliver Perez in, and Perez has given up another two home runs. Seems like a good time to take a break to post.

Unless passing by Upper West Side bars counts, I did not see Games 2 or 3 of the NLCS, and also missed almost all of today's Jets game. So my comments will be brief.

For the Jets, while today's win came against another lower tier opponent, the bottom line is that they have defeated all three bad teams they have played. At 3-3, they are clearly a much better team than the one we saw in 2005. If the defense improves, a wildcard playoff berth remains an outside possibility.

Today, the running game performed decently for the first time, and Chad Pennington and Laveranues Coles again hooked up for big plays.

The obvious big negative was the defense's blowing a 20-3 fourth quarter lead to allow a potential game tying field goal attempt. The Jets have been way too soft late in all three of their wins, as well as in their loss to the Colts.

If I get a chance to watch the DirectTV 30 minute replay, perhaps I'll offer more thoughts.

Next week I'll G-d willing be back at Giants Stadium for the Jets vs. Lions game.

As for the Mets, I'm still very upset about their Game 2 loss. When you score three runs off Chris Carpenter in the first inning, and five off of him overall, you had better win.

Willie Randolph's obsession with Guillermo Mota cost the Mets when Mota blew a 6-4 lead in the 7th inning. Billy Wagner's 9th inning meltdown was hardly surprising. Those who have followed the Mets know that Wagner has been hittable all season.

In Game 1, which I attended, Mets fans serenaded ex-Met Braden Looper with chants of "Looper sucks." That was bush league. Looper pitched well in 2004. In 2005, he was terrible down the stretch, playing a key role in the Mets late season slide, though Randolph's stubborn insistence on using Looper as his closer was no better than Looper's performance.

Overall, Looper was never supposed to be more than a stopgap for the Mets. He's a better than average (but not great) setup man, and a bottom tier closer. I always felt as though he worked hard and there is no reason for him to be an enemy of Mets fans.

While I'm all for trying to rattle opposing players, the chants of "Looper, Looper" (to the Red Sox fans' '86 World Series tune of "Darryl, Darryl") sufficed.

When did the Mets start playing "Sweet Caroline" at Shea? I don't think it belongs there. There's more than a bit of Sweet Caroline overkill at sporting events. Though I do like it late in close Jets games.

I probably won't be able to update for a few days, so assuming they hold on tonight, let's hope that the Mets can continue their momentum with a Game 5 win. I happen to be skeptical about pitching Tom Glavine on three days rest. Given their performances in Games 2 and 3, Mets fan cannot be confident about either John Maine or Steve Trachsel in Games 6 or 7, making Game 5 almost a must win.
posted on 10/15/2006

 
Back Next Week

I probably won't be able to post tomorrow, meaning that there most likely won't be any updates until at least Monday (and next week is going to be very busy in the office). Hard to believe that between now and Sunday night, the Mets will play four playoff games, two of which I'll completely miss. And on top of that, the Jets have a big home game against the Dolphins, a chance for them to at least show that their awful performance last week - and not their two victories - was aberrational.

Chag sameach and a good weekend to all.
posted on 10/12/2006

 
Thurman Munson

The airplane crash that killed Cory Lidle is a reminder of Thurman Munson's death in a 1979 accident. The following was posted on August 2, 2004, the 25th anniversary of Munson's death:

My family spent the summer of 1979 in Israel. At six years old, I already didn't like the Yankees. In addition to the Mets, I also liked the Cubs, because they were the Mets' main competition for last place and because I liked Wrigley Field. Bill Buckner was my favorite player.

Perhaps because it was my first understanding of death, I vividly remember - or at least think I do - the death of Thurman Munson from a plane crash on August 2, 2004, 25 years old today. It is possible that I'm wrong about all of this, but I am pretty sure it was on Tisha B'av, that it was a Thursday, and that my father was hospitalized that day with a kidney stone. I remember reading extensive reports about Munson in The Jerusalem Post the next morning, and listening to the Yankees game and an emotional pre-game memorial the next day, presumably on a Voice of America station. My recollection is that the Yankees played the Orioles and lost, and that the game was on a Friday night.
posted on 10/12/2006

 
Let's Go Mets

"Joe, it's not '86 anymore," Elster said to me.

Well on this blog it is.

Therefore, in case you are not yet excited enough about the NLCS, you must immediately watch and listen to the following:

-Let's Go Mets video

-SNY tribute to the '86 Mets (Taken from 'A Year To Remember,' the Mets '86 video, to Glenn Frey's 'You Belong To The City'

And let's not forget the Amazin' Mets from '69:

-Miracle Drive (Ballad Of The '69 Mets)

And last but not least:

Meet The Mets - original version; and

Meet The Mets - 1984 version (scroll down)
posted on 10/12/2006

 
Game 1 Rainout: Bad For Me, Terrible For The Mets

1. Even though my tickets to last night's game are clearly marked "NLCS Game 1," the Mets are only honoring those tickets to tomorrow's game, which will be Game 2.

MLB has still not announced the game time for tomorrow, which has resulted in a massive number of people holding Game 1 tickets trying to trade or sell them, but little demand.

Fortunately, thanks to the miracle of Craigs List, I managed to trade my tickets for similar seats to tonight's game. Dozens of others sought similar trades, but I did the logical thing and coughed up an extra $50 to entice the other guy to deal.

2. I'm afraid that the Mets will be less fortunate than me, that Omar Minaya's inattention to the starting rotation and Willie Randolph's refusal to start Aaron Heilman will result in a Mets NLCS loss.

The rainout is terrible for the Mets. They now have no Game 5 starter - they already have no Game 4 starter - unless Oliver Perez is considered major league material. Randolph has indicated that he will start 40 year old Tom Glavine on three days rest in Game 5. Does he know that Glavine is 40, and that he has pitched abysmally on short rest?

3. Glavine is also stubborn about following a routine and always pitching on 4 days rest. The rainout broke his routine, and now he will pitch on 6 days rest tonight.

4. The rainout also allows the Cardinals to pitch ace Chris Carpenter on full rest in Games 2 and 6.

5. Bottom line: With Glavine and Maine, I expect a split of the first two games.

If I'm right, and the Mets don't win both games at Shea, they will probably lose the series. Steve Trachsel, terrible in LA, pitches Game 3, and he will be followed on the road by Perez and probably Glavine on short rest. If the Cards split at Shea and then win two of the games in St. Louis, they will then have Carpenter in Game 6 with a chance to close the series.

6. All season I have maintained that the Mets starting rotation was too thin, and that Heilman in particular was more valuable in the rotation. I hope the Mets prove me wrong.
posted on 10/12/2006

 
Cory Lidle

Several hours after the Upper East Side plane crash (the fire engines continue to race by my midtown east office building), it is now being reported that the pilot of the plane was Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle. Lidle started his major league career with the Mets in 1997, when he had a strong rookie season.

This will be remembered as a sad and bizarre day in New York City history.
posted on 10/11/2006

 
Shea Stadium and Prayer For Rain

It has started to rain in Manhattan, and it is likely to rain for much of tonight. That could cause tonight's Mets game to be rained out, or to be unpleasant to attend. Not good news for me.

18 months ago, I posted the following:

We are supposed to pray for rain, but I have tickets to the Mets vs. Marlins game in Miami next Thursday night. If neither team is rained out before then, the matchup is scheduled to be Pedro Martinez against Al Leiter. My four month old son - who has no idea that Pedro has not always been a Met or that Leiter for seven years was - already has his Mike Piazza jersey and is looking forward to attending his first sports event (pending his mother's approval, which has not yet been obtained). Must I recite the prayers for rain with sincerity?

At the time, Gil Student responded that "The parnassah of Jews in Israel is more important than sports." However, MoC explained that "This is BASEBALL. I hold you can daven AGAINST rain."

While I hold like MoC, it is fortunate that until Shemini Atzeres this Saturday, we are praying only for dew, and not for rain.
posted on 10/11/2006

 
2006 Mets: World Series Victory Or Oblivion

Can the Mets win the World Series with a depleted starting pitching staff? Can Willie Randolph defeat the baseball minds of Tony LaRussa and Jim Leyland?

In my mind I remain skeptical, but I can't avoid feeling the excitement of October baseball, especially now that my tickets to Game 1 of the NLCS (courtesy of an eBay auction) have arrived.

Throughout the season, Elster and I have agreed that an NL pennant would entail a successful season, anything less a failure. We both assumed that the Yankees or Red Sox would win the ALCS, and that the Mets could defeat neither in the World Series.

The Red Sox faded away, and now the Yankees have unexpectedly been eliminated. Should the Mets win the NLCS - and I think the Cards have a good chance of winning - with the AL unfairly holding the home field advantage, either the Tigers or A's would probably be favored over the Mets in the World Series. But not by much - the Mets can beat those teams.

As a result, I now will be satisfied with nothing less than a World Series victory. If the season ends with a loss, I'll be bitterly disappointed, as all Mets fans should be.

There's an aura about championship teams that can never be replicated. After Game 2 of the NLDS, I turned to SNY's post-game coverage. I instantly recognized the middle-aged man nervously offering commentary to be Tim Teufel. 20 years later, Teufel's Game 7 sixth inning walk to load the bases for Keith Hernandez almost seems like it happened yesterday.

Find any big Mets fan who was around to enjoy '69, and mention the names Al Weis or Gary Gentry. So much time has gone by, and yet all the great memories will return immediately.

In contrast, the '73 Mets had an incredible run, falling just short when Tom Seaver and Jon Matlack could not win the World Series in Games 6 or 7. As a result, that team could never compare in Mets history to those from '69 and '86. Instead of a Mets immortal like Gil Hodges and Davey Johnson, manager Yogi Berra is identified only by his Hall of Fame playing career with the Yankees.

Even the 2000 Mets are receding in memory. Mike Bordick? Yeah, he played shortstop. Why the heck did we trade Melvin Mora (and three others) for him? Timo Perez? His Game 1 baserunning blunder and his subsequent mediocrity, not his September hot streak, is what is remembered. Turk Wendell? We loved him, but we hardly remember him.

If the 2006 Mets win the World Series, decades from now Endy Chavez and Pedro Feliciano will remain Mets heroes. If the Mets fall short, most of this team will merely be among a very long list of those who have worn the Mets uniform.
posted on 10/10/2006

 
New York Times Letter

The name of only one Jblogger appears in today's New York Times. No, not Gil Student (at least, I don't think so). Not Elster, who would not take a few minutes to defend the honor of the New York Mets.

(UPDATE: MoC notes that he appears in today's Wall Street Journal. Well, congrats to him, but was it about a topic as important as the New York Mets?)

The edited, higher-brow version of my anti-David Brooks rant appears in today's Times as a letter to the editor. It reads:

Shortly before the start of the 2005 baseball season, after the New York Mets had endured three consecutive dismal seasons, David Brooks declared his readiness to “switch my allegiance from the beloved Mets to the new team of my adopted town.” He wrote, “I will become a fan of the Washington Nationals” (“Whose Team Am I On?,” column, March 29, 2005).

Now that the Nationals have completed an awful season and the Mets are in the playoffs, Mr. Brooks has thrown a changeup, writing of the tortured life of an angst-ridden Mets fan.

Mr. Brooks now writes of the “true Mets fan.” But he can’t be “a true Mets fan.” For true Mets fans, wherever we are in the world, and wherever the Mets are in the standings, during times of misery and times of euphoria, our allegiance is unconditional and eternal.

I don't mind the edit, except for the change from Brooks "is not a true Mets fan" to "he can't be a true Mets fan."

This is only the second time the Times has published a letter from me. The first was four years ago, when I was still living in the Upper West Side, and wrote in response to an article stating that Orthodox synagogues were becoming the majority in the outer boroughs, with only Manhattan remaining dominated by the non-Orthodox. That heavily edited letter appeared in the Times as follows:

Orthodox Judaism is flourishing not only in outer boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens ("Judaism Takes Different Turns," news article, Sept. 27), but very much also in Manhattan.

In particular, the Upper West Side includes modern Orthodox, "black hat" Orthodox and Hasidic synagogues, many with multiple services at which worshipers of all levels of religious observance are welcome.

Over the years, my letters have also appeared in The Jerusalem Post, The Sporting News, The New Republic, New York Magazine, and elsewhere. But my favorite letter appeared in 2002 in the Washington Post, in response to criticism of Israel supporters rallying on Capitol Hill. I wrote then:

"Thousands Rally for Israel" [front page, April 16] refers to "hostility" by participants in this week's pro-Israel rally in Washington in reaction to the speech by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul D. Wolfowitz.

I was among the many who loudly chanted "No more Arafat" and "No double standard" during Mr. Wolfowitz's speech. Our intent was not to heckle him or to express hostility but rather to express a desperate and pained plea for the United States to support Israel's defensive war against terror.

We chanted similar slogans throughout the rally, including during the speeches by Natan Sharansky, Binyamin Netanyahu and William Bennett, but we were particularly passionate during Mr. Wolfowitz's speech because we knew that it would be the only opportunity for us to express our feelings directly to the Bush administration.

posted on 10/10/2006

 
Rav Soloveitchik, Charedim and Yom Haatzmaut

Contrary to the opinion of many non-charedi observant Jews, few charedim go around referring to Rav Soloveitchik in a derogatory manner. Rather, particularly among the masses in the charedi world, Rav Soloveitchik is largely irrelevant.

Indeed, during my four years in the high school of a major charedi yeshiva, I can recall the name of Rav Soloveitchik being mentioned only one time. It was in May 1989, on Yom Haatzmaut. The following exchange took place in the 11th grade class. (While I am paraphrasing, I can represent that the substance is accurate.)

Rebbi: Okay, let's start the gemara.

Student: Rebbi, can I ask a kasha?

Rebbi: Go ahead.

Student: Why don't we celebrate Yom Haatzmaut today?

Rebbi: What does this have to do with the gemara?

Student: It doesn't have to do with the gemara. I just don't understand ... don't we love Eretz Yisroel?

Rebbi: We need to show we love Eretz Yisroel by keeping a Zionist yontif?

Student: But why davka do we not keep Yom Haatzmaut?

Rebbi: Because the gedoilim said so.

Student: But what about Rav Soloveitchik?

Rebbi: What about him?

Student: He's a gadol and he holds that Yom Haatzmaut should be celebrated.

Rebbi: Is he a gadol? I'm not so sure that he's a gadol. He's ... a big talmid chocham. But I don't know if he's a gadol.

Student: In YU they consider him a gadol.

Rebbi: And that makes him a gadol? Their hashkofas are different.

Student: What about for them, they can keep Yom Haatzmaut and we can't?

Rebbi: No. Let's say he is a gadol. The other gedoilim say we don't hold by Yom Haatzmaois. So we go by the roiv. Now, let's get back to the gemara.
posted on 10/09/2006

 
Traitor Brooks Throws A Changeup

Who does New York Times columnist David Brooks think he's fooling?

In a column just before the start of the 2005 baseball season, Brooks declared his intent to "switch my allegiance from the beloved Mets to the new team of my adopted town. I will become a fan of the Washington Nationals."

Brooks implicitly indicated that his abandonment of the Mets was largely due to their poor play.

In an outraged post, I declared that Brooks's "status as a Mets fan is ended, and he is to be placed on the Mets Ineligible List, never to be eligible for reinstatement."

And yet now that the Nationals have completed an awful season and the Mets are in the playoffs, Brooks has thrown a changeup, writing in yesterday's Times that "no one can describe the agony I feel" as "a true Mets fan."

True Mets fan? I don't think so. The real Mets fan remains a Mets fan wherever we are in the world, and wherever the Mets are in the standings. During times of misery and times of euphoria, however much we complain and curse them, our allegiance to the New York Metropolitans is unconditional.

As for Brooks, I guess he's no longer a Nationals fan either. Good riddance from both New Yorkers and Washingtonians.
posted on 10/09/2006

 
Sunday Morning For The Frum Mets Fan

It's 6 A.M. on Sunday morning, early on the second day of Succos.

I'm in my parents Boro Park home. My wife and son are asleep. It's still dark outside, and shul doesn't start for three more hours, but I won't be going back to sleep.

I need to know whether the Mets won Game 3 of the NLDS.

I check to see if the newspaper has arrived. It hasn't, as I expected.

When I was younger, in situations like this, I'd walk to the Arab-owned newsstand about an 8 minute walk away, where the newspapers are conveniently placed outside.

But I'm too old for that now. Instead, I'll just wait. Doesn't matter. Mets either won or lost and I'll know soon enough.

I keep myself occupied by reading an article about elephants in the New York Times Magazine.

The Times finally arrives at 7:40. My father takes the sports section.

"They lost," he says.

I know he's referring to his Yankees, whose season has come to a shockingly swift end. I feel bad, but this is good for the Mets. They weren't going to beat the Yankees. The Tigers and A's? Those teams are far from invincible.

But did the Mets win Game 3? I know not to ask.

I wait for a few minutes while my father goes through the ritual of absorbing the bitter details of his team's demise.

He relinquishes the sports section. Nothing about the Mets on the front page. Nothing in the rest of the sports section either. Late edition of the Sunday Times must print pretty early.

I very quickly get dressed and walk even more quickly toward the newsstand. There's a cool breeze and the streets are almost empty.

Three minutes later, I see the word "sweep" on the back page of the Post.

Later this week: Why the Mets must win the World Series.
posted on 10/09/2006

 
Week 5 Disaster

The Jets were so awful yesterday that frum fans must be thankful to have missed the entire game.

I'm especially unhappy with the defense, which has actually regressed significantly this season.

The Jets next three games are against the Dolphins (1-4) and Lions (0-5) at home, and the Browns (1-4) on the road. All three games are winnable, but the Jets run defense has to stop mailing it in.
posted on 10/09/2006

 
Israel, the Jets and the Jews

The stated purpose of this blog is my posting of thoughts about these three topics, with "the Jets" including sports generally.

Lately, I've posted a lot about the Jets (and the Mets), but not so much about Israel or the Jews. There are two primary reasons for this.

First, while I can very quickly type up thoughts about sports, posting about religion or Israel requires more consideration. On a number of occasions just in the latest few weeks, I started drafting something about Israel or a Jewish issue, but was interrupted by other responsibilities and didn't have time to finish, and have not been able to get back to the topic.

Second, after nearly 3 1/2 years of blogging, I've already said much of what I have to say about Israel and the Jews. Readers likely have an idea of where I stand on most issues and I certainly don't want to be redundant just for the sake of posting.

While I surely will at some point post more about serious topics, the result of my recent shift toward sports has been my de facto virtual elimination from the mainstream Jblogosphere. Instead, I'm now among a relatively small group (including Elster, Jewboy, MoC and a few others) who post about whatever we choose.

I think I like it better this way. It's not just that the Jblogosphere has become a nasty place, but that the nastiness really doesn't reflect the reality of Orthodox Jewish life. In real life, there are differences of hashkafah and practice and sometimes strong disagreements, but most people get along fine. Indeed, many extended families have members who are very charedi and members who are non-observant and/or marginally religiously observant. Most people also have a heterogeneous group of friends, acquaintances and co-workers.

In the warped world of Jblogs, the modern Orthodox hate the dark aged charedim (chasidim especially), the charedim think Rav Soloveitchik was a buffoon, and Rabbi Natan Slifkin is either the godol hador or a heretic.

We have plenty of problems in real life, but fortunately most people are a lot more nuanced than the blogosphere would suggest.

So I don't think it's a coincidence that when it comes down to it, my Jblog friends are both sports fans and people who have demonstrated not only tolerance but respect for observant Jews to their right and left, as well as to less observant Jews and to non-Jews, who, at last count, comprise more than 97 percent of Americans.

As a result, we can focus on topics other than bashing each other based upon religious differences, and instead argue about Chad Pennington, Willie Randolph, Walter O'Malley and Herm Edwards.
posted on 10/06/2006

 
Six Comments

1. Yankees lose. Rangers win. Mets win. Islanders lose.

Thursdays don't get much better than that.

2. There was a bit of a domestic dispute in my household last night.

While I intended to watch Game 2 of the NLDS and check in on the Rangers between innings, another party was insistent on watching Curious George.

Long ago, I too was a fan of Curious George (in my case, the books, not the television program), so was inclined to offer a compromise. We would flip back and forth, watching Curious George between pitches.

Alas, that did not suffice.

The dispute was never fully resolved, and appears likely to recur quite frequently.

3. Yesterday I e-mailed MoC. He responded, matter of factly, by writing, "I'm at the Yankee game."

"Next you will inform me that you're fasting during Ramadan," I wrote back.

Turns out that a Yankees fan couldn't make it to the day game and gave MoC a pair of $206 seats a few rows from the field. Can't blame MoC for going.

At Wednesday's Mets game - also a day game - I couldn't help but notice at the start of the game that while the upper deck was just about full, there were a fair number of empty seats on the field level.

One of the ironies of life, I suppose, is that those who can afford to pay for the very expensive seats can't afford the time to watch the game from those seats.

4. For the second time, Carlos Beltran looks uncomfortable at the plate. His legs are clearly not nearly 100 percent.

If the Mets can win tomorrow, that will get their starting staff back in order, and give Beltran a few days off before the NLCS. A loss and the Dodgers are right back in it, with Oliver Perez probably starting Game 4.

If the Mets lose Game 3, Willie Randolph has indicated that they might start John Maine in Game 4 on three days rest. Maine only threw 80 pitches on Wednesday, but I hope they don't start him on Sunday. Pitchers these days rarely do well on three days rest, and a Game 4 loss would require Tom Glavine to pitch Game 5 on 3 days rest.

5. Clearly the double play that wasn't was the key play in last night's game. Instead of getting out of a bases loaded nobody out jam, the Dodgers ultimately gave up two more runs. The Mets still need to do a better job of taking advantage of opportunities for big innings.

6. Sunday's Jets game against the Jacksonville Jaguars will be a key test on the road for them and for Chad Pennington.

The knock on Pennington has been his performance against good defenses. The Jags have the best defense of the teams the Jets have played this season, and there's little reason to think the Jets will be able to run on Sunday. Last week, the Redskins, playing at home, were able to throw the ball against Jacksonville. For the Jets to win, they will have to score early to quiet the crowd. While the Jets have insisted on running the ball early, they should use the pass to set up the run on Sunday. Pennington will face a tough defensive line and constant blitzes against the defense that ended his and Jay Fiedler's season in Week 3 last year. He'll need solid pass protection and for his teammates to pick up blitzes, and to beat those blitzes by getting the ball to his receivers, who have demonstrated a propensity for picking up solid yardage after the catch.

On defense, the Jets will have to at least contain Fred Taylor and Byron Leftwich, and do a better job of holding Jaguar drives to field goals rather than touchdowns. I'd like to see Derrick Strait get a chance at cornerback. Justin Miller simply looks lost on coverage.
posted on 10/06/2006

 
New York National League Baseball

At Shea yesterday, the fans - at least those in the upper deck - were yelling at and sometimes throwing things at those wearing Dodgers jerseys.

Near my section, they weren't quite sure how to react to a fellow, probably in his 60's, wearing a Mets cap and a Brooklyn Dodgers jersey. Common sense prevailed and they left him alone after a couple of very brief and relatively mild insults.

With the exception of 1958-1961, New York has had a National League team since 1892, when the NL absorbed teams from the American Association, which was founded in the 1870's. The New York Gothams - soon to become the New York Giants, were joined by the Dodgers in Brooklyn (initially called, of all names, the Bridegrooms).

It is fitting that the Giants last World Series victory was in 1954; they have never won it in San Francisco.

Almost instinctively, I've always considered myself a fan of the Mets and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Sure, the Dodgers moved long before I was born, but having lived my first 24 years in Brooklyn, they're still part of my history, just like the '69 Mets, the '68 Jets and (l'havdil) the Six Day War.

A few months ago, when Elster confused the Polo Grounds with Ebbets Field, I was horrified.

I don't know whether Walter O'Malley was simply evil, or if Mayor Robert Wagner was arrogant. Likely a little of both. But regardless of who was to blame for the loss of the Dodgers, Brooklyn has only recently been recovering.

After nearly 70 years, the Dodgers won their first (and only in Brooklyn) World Series in 1955, defeating the Yankees in Game 7. The pain of all the World Series losses to the Yanks, and of the 1951 debacle against the Giants, was finally alleviated.

And then two years later they were gone. It would be like the Rangers leaving in '96, or the Red Sox moving to the West Coast this year.

Or the Jets finally winning a second Super Bowl - 30 years from now - and going to LA.

Other good sports cities have suffered the pain of teams leaving, like Baltimore, Oakland and Cleveland in the NFL. But all three of those cities got NFL teams back within a few years.

The Dodgers, in contrast, were gone forever, but yet they still have sort of played on 3000 miles away.

Being an avid sports fan might be very silly in some ways, but it's a shared link between fathers and sons, a connection that was severed when the Dodgers and Giants left the city.

I think that's why playoff baseball at Shea is so special. Unlike Yankee fans, who by now are spoiled and used to making the playoffs every season (after their long dry spell prior to '95), New York fans of National League baseball know to appreciate the good times.

NL baseball in New York (and AFC football too, of course) is a lot like life itself. There are tough times, sometimes lasting for what seems to be an eternity. And those tough times make one especially appreciate the good moments.

When the Mets open their new stadium, it will be much more difficult to get tickets to a playoff game, since there will be more than 10,000 fewer seats. More importantly, that new stadium will lack the memories of October baseball at Shea. The '69 playoffs, the three consecutive World Series home victories, the scuffle between Pete Rose and Bud Harrelson in Game 3 of the '73 NLCS, Tom Seaver's masterpiece to win the series two days later, Lenny Dykstra's homer in Game 3 of the '86 NLCS and Gary Carter's winning hit in Game 5, the pain of Games 1 and 2 of the '86 Series and the euphoria of Games 6 and 7, Todd Pratt's homer to win the NLDS in '99, the incredible NLCS Game 5 against the Braves the following week, Benny Agbayani's homer against the Giants in '00, the way the stadium shook when Todd Zeile hit a three run double in the pennant clincher vs. the Cardinals in 2000.

I hope not, of course, but it's possible that the last playoff game ever played at Shea will be tonight.

One day, whatever the new stadium is called, we can hope that it will produce unforgettable memories like the ones that have been provided from one generation to the next at the Polo Grounds, Ebbets Field, and Shea Stadium.
posted on 10/05/2006

 
Saving Wacky Willie

Kudos to the Mets for surviving some very bizarre managing by Willie Randolph.

While the Mets were right to remove starter John Maine in the top of the 5th, surely, even Elster (assuming he could see the game from his seat several rows behind Bob Uecker) will admit that Willie's decision to use three pitchers in that inning, and then to pinch hit for Chad Bradford with one out and nobody on in the bottom of the 5th after Bradford had thrown two pitches, made little sense.

Then, in the bottom of the sixth with the Mets leading 4-1 and the bases loaded, Willie did not pinch hit for reliever Guillermo Mota, as though a three run lead is insurmountable. Mota, of course, popped out, and then gave up three runs in the top of the seventh.

Speaking of Elster, he was dressed up for the Succos holiday, not a baseball game. I too was dressed a bit too formally for my liking, but had to go to court this morning, and at least picked up a knockoff Mets cap on the way to the office. And I'm from Boro Park, so it's okay anyway for me.

Other quick thoughts:

Maine was unimpressive. He lacked poise with runners on base, and a pitcher like that can't be trusted in October. He was lucky to have made it out of the 2nd inning when two Dodgers were tagged out near home plate on what should have been a double to deep right, and looked ready to implode in the 5th.

At the plate, Carlos Beltran looks disturbingly like the '05 version, not the '04 Beltran or the player he was for most of this season.

I continue to maintain that Billy Wagner's fastball is not what it used to be. Sure, he struck out Nomar Garciaparra to end the game, but the Dodgers were catching up to his fastball today and hitting it hard, even when fouling it back.

The Mets' decision to use Oliver Perez in September rather than the much more effective Dave Williams made little sense, and has now culminated in Perez's inexplicably getting a playoff start in LA. Between that and tomorrow night's weather forecast for a low of 49 degrees, and that fact that tomorrow night's starter is Tom Glavine, who has a history of pitching poorly is colder weather, today's game was an absolute must win, and the Mets still have a long way to go in this series.

They'll need better managing than they got today.
posted on 10/04/2006

 
The Scope of the Anti-Metsitism

Note: The following is merely a spoof of another blogger's post, and is not intended in any way to make light of another person's pain.

Recently, I presented a guest post from an individual who is going through some very trying times dealing with personal issues. He is a Mets fan, a rather brilliant analyst of sports, and is going through a painful divorce from his wife of 25 years. The marriage produced many happy times, including the 1986 World Series victory.

But there is more to the story. The scope of the issue involved goes far beyond the tragic personal circumstances of this case. The following is written based on several e-mails I have received recently.

His current situation began when his wife first mentioned divorce to him by saying one night, "someone said we should get divorced." He called one of the Rabbonim (mentioned in his original post) whom he thought might be behind this and after making some strong remarks and was absolutely stunned by the sarcastic retort: "Chaim (not his real name), you're a Gevaldike Mets fan. You're right. And your wife is wrong. You're right and your children are wrong. You're right and Mike Francesa is wrong!"

That was the first indication that there were forces outside of the personal issues of his 25 year marriage that were being brought to bear on him… Issues relating to the New York Metropolitans!

This unprovoked mention of Mike Francesa in the context of his domestic dispute certainly suggested that the Mets were the motive behind his words. Apparently this Rav had discussed it with this individual's wife whose own attitude had been formed at least in part by a standard Yankees indoctrination.

There is more.

His wife now asserts that he has given the children "confusing messages" about which baseball team to root for. In her court claims she has written that he suffered a "crisis of faith" and that he "hates Omar". This is absolutely untrue.

The bottom line here is that the anti-Metsitism while not the entire cause of his problems is certainly the final hammer blow that is ending his 25 year marriage to a woman he still loves.

This is so sad. He wants to try and make the marriage work and is undergoing professional counseling. His wife has been discouraged from doing so. Why have these Rabbanim ruled this out as an option? I'm afraid we all know the answer to this question.

Do a person's honest thoughts about baseball deserve such treatment and such contempt just because it is not considered mainstream? His views are no different than those of some of the greatest fans in baseball history, and some of the greatest sports minds of our time. Is this the future of New York baseball? From this vantage point on this day after Yom Kippur, it certainly looks that way.
posted on 10/03/2006

 
Mets Quandary: Elster Hopes Ebb, But Vinny Coming To The Rescue!

Throughout the 2006 season, Elster has insisted on viewing the Mets through rose-colored glasses. Billy Wagner blowing saves? Who cares! Pitching staff a mix of 40 year olds, a broken down Pedro Martinez and guys with no business being on a major league field (see Oliver Perez, Jose Lima, Alay Soler, Jeremi Gonzalez)? Why should that matter? Omar Minaya got rid of the starting pitching depth and Willie Randolph refuses to give Aaron Heilman a chance to start? Don't bother Elster with details. Come playoffs Pedro will be ready! Pedro's out for the season? Well, we've got El Duque! And the best bullpen is baseball history! With Darren Oliver, Guillermo Mota and Roberto Hernandez (Omar's trade deadline savior!), Dodgers hitters will be shaking like it's the end of Neila on Yom Kippur!

Finally, now that Hernandez succumbed to an injury while purportedly jogging (one day we'll realize how hilarious that really is), even Elster appears to realize that things are a bit murky, though he still won't admit that the Mets were, as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (may he be speedily martyred) would say, weaker than a spider's web all along.

Omar and Willie appear disinclined toward my suggestion that they bring Ron Darling (only 46 years old) down from the broadcast booth, reasoning that Darling is too valuable up there, even though SNY will not be broadcasting any playoff games.

I therefore propose that the Mets quickly call none other than Vinny from Elmont.

That's right, Vinny Testaverde. The Mets can use a power pitcher, and the man has a cannon for an arm. Word is that Vinny has been watching the NFL and today's MLB playoffs from his couch in Long Island. If Omar and Willie are interested, Vinny can start tomorrow night, fill in as the Kansas City Chiefs backup on Sunday, and then be back at Shea for the decisive Game 5, if necessary.

Ya gotta believe.
posted on 10/03/2006

 
Week 4 Thoughts

1. When Justin Miller returned a kickoff 103 yards for the go ahead touchdown with under 2:30 left, the crowd went crazy. I didn't get it. Don't Jets fans realize that Peyton Manning vs. the Jets defense (in particular, Miller, who was terrible again at cornerback) is a losing proposition? Apparently not. To his credit, Chad Pennington looked disappointed by Miller's touchdown. I too had hoped Miller would be tackled at midfield, giving Pennington a chance to win the game while running out the clock.

2. It's time for the Jets to shake up the defense. Miller should be replaced by Derrick Strait. The defensive line is, to a man, a complete disaster. They can't stop the run, and can't generate any pass pressure.

3. On the Colts' two late fourth quarter touchdown drives, the Jets never blitzed. I know that Manning can pick up the blitz and exploit it for a long touchdown pass, but how is that worse than letting him pick the defense apart and inevitably score a touchdown anyway?

4. After Miller's TD, Mike Nugent's kickoff was short, and the Colts started from their own 40. Nugent remains a complete failure.

5. Hopefully Eric Mangini will prove to be a better game coach than he was yesterday. The decision to go for it on 4th and goal wasn't as bad as the play call - a Chad Pennington draw, scramble to his right, and pass to fourth string tight end/long snapper James Dearth. According to Pennington, the play was actually designed for Dearth, who the Jets presumably thought would be left uncovered.

After three straight runs up the middle, that's all the Jets could come up with? Why not a play action on 2nd down and goal at the 3?

The Jets also used two timeouts in the second half, ensuring that they would have no chance for a tying field goal on their final drive. I thought Mangini abhorred wasting timeouts.

6. Admittedly, Leon Washington's foolish decision to take the ball out of the end zone on the final kickoff doomed the Jets in any event. Instead of getting the ball at the 20, the Jets started from their own 2 with 50 seconds left. The kickoff was actually short, yet nobody would catch it - in fact several players avoided it - and it went all the way to the end zone. Bad job all around by the return team on that play.

7. Cedric Houston was looking pretty good before sustaining a knee injury. Houston didn't look good on that cart.

8. Once again, the Jets started very conservatively on offense, stubbornly running between the tackles. The Jets need to understand that their three best players on offense are Chad Pennington, Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery. While they can't quit on the running game - which actually picked up from the 2nd quarter and was finally effective - they need to give Pennington and his receivers a chance to lead the offense.
posted on 10/02/2006