Lee Lowenfish

During my more than a half-century of being a loyal Oriole fan, I tried to see my team on major birthdays even though I have been living in my home town of NYC since 1976. I remember well my 40th birthday in 1982 when the Orioles behind Jim Palmer routed Jack Morris and the Tigers, 13-1, with Storm Davis, dubbed Cy Future by fellow Bird pitcher Mike Flanagan, mopping up the victory. (Davis never developed into an ace but he will be inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame this summer along with slugger Chris Davis.) Ten years later in 1992, I saw Kevin Appier of the Royals shut out Mike Mussina in a 2-0 pitcher's duel. In 2002, Jason Giambi's 2 homers accounted for all the Yankee runs as David Wells bested Scott Erickson, 3-2. (Thanks as always to baseballreference.com for confirming my memories although I didn't remember the exact scores.)

 

I am proud to share June 27 with Jim Johnson, who earned 50 and 51 saves for the Orioles in 2012-13, and infielder-outfielder Jeff Conine who is better known for his earlier work for the KC Royals and the world champion 1997 Florida Marlins. Sadly, this year I didn't even bother to watch the Birds on TV on my birthday.  I chose instead good Cuban food at Guantanamera a couple of blocks south of Manhattan's Columbus Circle and then walked with special friend Maria Patterson (who celebrates her birthday today July 1) a half-mile south to hear a solid jazz quartet led by master tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm who exhibited astonishing range and sound on his impressive instrument that he told me dates from 1955. It was good to attend the new Jazzcultural venue just east of 9th Ave/46th Street (where Swing 46 once held forth). It was filled with a solid mixture of old folks and young'uns who are fueling the latest jazz resurgence in the Big Apple.  

 

As readers of this blog know, I never expected much from the current Orioles.  The mirage that this team is a wild card contender has vanished as June turns into July.  We have lost two series at home to surprising contenders Washington Nats and Chicago White Sox.  I'm happy for their long-suffering fans, especially the South Side Sox.  Maybe Pope Leo XIV's fandom has added magic elixir to a young, athletic, and hungry team. Whatta moment recently when the Pontiff received in an autographed jersey from his favorite Pale Hose player, retired slugger Paul Konerko who incidentally wore #14.  The White Sox on August 11 will giveaway Papal hats on what will undoubtedly be the hottest ticket in town.     

 

Meanwhile, the Woerioles have returned.  Incumbent "President of Baseball Operations" Mike Elias - who evidently convinced inexperienced new owner David Rubenstein that he doesn't need a General Manager below him in the management structure - has had eight years to prove that he isn't the man for the job. None of his top draft picks have developed into true stars. If only this drunk-on-analytics crew understood the wisdom of the scout that signed former Oriole star Adam Jones: "You are only a number one draft pick for one day." (Adam is listed as an adviser to the Orioles but I doubt he is consulted very much.) The Birds' top overall pick in 2019, catcher Adley Rutschman, 2019 second rounder shortstop Gunnar Henderson, and 2022 top overall pick infielder Jackson Holliday are not truly developing. (Holliday may deserve a pass because he is only 22 and still recovering from that enervating hamate bone hand injury.) 

 

Sadly, Gunnar Henderson is becoming a grouchy underachiever who cannot understand why he is not doing better.  Short answer, Gunnar: The opponents know you have difficulty with lefthanded pitching and so far you have not been able to adjust. On defense, too often you fall into the maddening category, The Guy That Makes The Great Play But Not The Basic Play.  Most of Elias's bargain basement mound additions especially in the bullpen have usually imploded after deceivingly promising starts.  Elias's forays into the free agent market have either been outright disasters like oft-injured outfielder Tyler O'Neill or trending negative like this year's addition, closer Ryan Helsley.       

 

One slightly encouraging news item is that Cal Ripken Jr. who owns a small slice of the team is becoming more actively involved with player development in the minor league system. This development is long overdue not just because of woeful W-L records throughout the system but because young players arrive in the big leagues with an astonishing lack of fundamentals.  But unless something drastic happens in the next two weeks, Oriole fans will have to watch Elias and minions supervising another draft on Sat July 11, televised nationally on Fox.  It will be part of commissioner Rob Manfred's ardent desire to make the All-Star Game on Tu Jul 14 part of an extravaganza matching Super Bowl week.  Lotsa luck on that. After the Minor League Future All-Star Game on Sun Jul 12, Netflix will be exclusively televising the Home Run Derby on Mon Jul 13 and paying more than Fox does for the ASG itself on Tu Jul 14.  Another sign of the times, alas. 

 

The Orioles, of course, are not the only organization in disarray.  Record-wise, the Mets are even worse but at least their young players like

outfielder Carson Benge and first baseman Jared Young have the makings of future contributing MLB players. I am not sure that I can say that about any of the Elias-drafted crew. There is no guarantee, of course, that blowing up an organization will succeed.  But I think it is time for the self-styled "patriotic philanthropist" owner Rubenstein to make a philanthropic gift to us frustrated fans of a new front office that understands psychological makeup in evaluating players and will not be afraid to practice "tough love" throughout the entire system.  With the lockout looming on Dec 1 that will shut down all MLB baseball activities indefinitely, it would be a good idea to act sooner than later.  

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ALL HAIL TO BASEBALL'S O'BRIEN FAMILY:  The print issue of the New York Times on Mon June 30 had Tyler Kepner's lovely piece about Riley O'Brien, the surprisingly effective closer for the equally surprising St. Louis Cardinals who are definitely in the NL Wild Card race.  Riley is the grand-son of Johnny O'Brien and the grandnephew of Eddie O'Brien, the O'Brien twins who starred at Seattle University and then played middle infield for the Pirates in the 1950s. Kepner tells us that they returned to the Northwest to have notable sports lives, Johnny as manager of the Mariners' first stadium the Kingdome and Eddie as athletic director at his alma mater.  In my happily never-ending research on Branch Rickey, I received some years ago a nice letter from Eddie who remembered the  Catholic Bible signed by the 1953 Pirates to Branch Rickey Mr. Methodist. It miraculously turned up at a flea market on the central California coast and now resides in Rickey's home area of Portsmouth, Ohio. It was probably the idea of Fred Haney, baseball lifer in Southern California who worked in Pittsburgh organization and later managed the 1957 world champion Milwaukee Braves and was GM of the first California Angels franchise and probably with his wife created the team's halo cap.

   

Here are some TCM BASEBALL MOVIE TIPS:

Th Jul 2 930P "Diamond Demon" (1947) - 15 min display of onetime minor leaguer Jackie Price's dexterity decades before the Savannah Bananas  

 

F July 3 6P "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" (1949) with Frank Sinatra/Gene Kelly/Esther Williams/Betty Garrett.  A lively musical set in early 20th century with

Esther Williams as a baseball owner wooed by Frank and Gene.

735P "Donkey Baseball" (1935) another showing of Ray Doan's novelty event during the Great Depression

750P "Looney Tunes: Baseball Bugs" (1946)

Followed by 3 great Film Noirs hosted every Friday in July by Eddie Muller, host of the Sunday Noir Alley.

8P "Force of Evil" (1948) Abe Polonsky directs brothers John Garfield and Thomas Gomez in a gangster film with Marie Windsor

930P "Act of Violence" (1948) Fred Zinneman directs Robert Ryan out to avenge POW incident by superior Van Heflin with Janet Leigh as Heflin's wife

11P "Criss Cross" (1949) the great Robert Siodmak directs Burt Lancaster trying to save ex-wife from Dan Duryea

 

After some recent weak choices, Muller's Noir Alley has some classics coming up:

Su July 5 12M, repeated at 10A "Angel Face" (1953) Otto Preminger directs Robert Mitchum/Jean Simmons/Mona Freeman

Su July 12 "Blues In The Night" (1941) Anatole Litvak driects jazz band members trying to help a member fight addiction with Priscilla Lane/Richard Whorf/Betty Field/Elia Kazan very effective as band clarinetist.

 

For NYC folks who love the adventure of going to movies:  July 4 thru July 10: The classic Paris Theatre now owned by Netflix, located at 4 W 58 St just west of 5th Ave, will rotate showings of 5 baseball film classics: "42", "Field of Dreams", "A League of Their Own", "Eight Men Out", and "The Sandlot".  Check paristheaternyc.com for exact times.  

And then starting F Jul 10, Paris Theater will start a Noir Film festival hosted by Eddie Muller.

The first night features "Blues In The Night", followed by a live band, and then "Dark Angel" (1946) with a Cornell Woolrich script, with Peter Lorre/June Vincent/Constance Dowling.  For more on this series, again check out paristheaternyc.com  

 

That's all for now.  Stay Positive Test Negative, still my mantra, and Take It Easy But Take It!

 

There is so much negativity in today's world that this blog tries to accentuate the positive. Fun Galore In 24 is my new motto (while being aware that there is an election in November in the USA that we should participate in.) 

 

As I await the arrival of pitchers and catchers to spring training in just a little over a month, I can report that my two favorite college basketball teams, Columbia women's basketball and Wisconsin's men's basketball, are on winning streaks. They offer genuine hope that league championships and post-season appearances are absolutely achievable goals. 

 

Both teams played tough non-league schedules which is always a good idea. "To be the best you have to beat the best" and Christy Mathewson's adage, "I've learned nothing from winning and everything from losing," may be cliches, but they are truer than most. 

 

In the fascinating landscape of rapidly growing women's basketball, Columbia is starting five guards, led by nationally acclaimed senior Abby Hsu from Parkland, Florida. In high school, she was in an adjoining building when the horrible Feb 2018 school massacre occurred.  The following year her father was the first medical professional in the state of Florida to die from covid. 

 

The resilient Hsu has overcome these tragedies to become a co-captain and all-around contributor to Columbia's hard-driving, good-passing team. Her rebounding, assist-making, and all-around court awareness make her a complete player. 

 

Youthful Lions coach Megan Griffith, a 1000-point scorer in her years at Columbia, has recruited far and wide in building the program. Joining Hsu in the starting lineup are two athletic Australians, junior co-captain Kitty Henderson and her first-year sister Fliss Henderson.  With Kitty and Abby, Cece Collins, a junior transfer from Bucknell, has become another consistent scoring threat.

 

And let's not forget senior Nicole Stephens, finally healthy who is often playing key moments at the end of the game.  Only 5' 7", the Pickering, Ohio (near Columbus) sparkplug always seems to get key rebounds and even blocks at crunch time. 

 

As a lifelong sports fan, there is a special joy in watching players develop over their college careers. l know that the stubborness of the NCAA - it stood for Never Compromise Anything Anytime - has led to NIL opportunities (Name, Image, Likeness) for the most promising players.  There is also the transfer portal available for every player after every season, but there is something to be said for players and teams growing patiently. 

 

"The grass is not always greener on the other side" is another old cliche that still should be considered.  

 

Whether Columbia can finally beat Megan Griffith's former employer Princeton and win the outright title and automatic NCAA bid remains to be seen, of course.  As long as the Lions don't look too far ahead to the matchups with the Tigers - Sa Jan 20 at 4P at Princeton, Sa Feb 24 at 2P last regular season home game - there should be exciting times at Morningside Heights gym on Broadway and 120th Street. 

 

The Columbia men are showing improvement too and may have an outside chance of making the four-team post-season tournament that Columbia will host this year, over the Mar 15 thru Mar 17 weekend.   For more info on both teams, go to gocolumbialions.com

 

The Wisconsin Badgers and The Big Ten - becoming the Big 18 next season with the addition of four West Coast teams - are another story, of course. That is big time college sports these days and it is not likely you will watch teams grow patiently.  Gotta enjoy every season moment by moment because players can leave quickly. And not necessarily wisely. 

 

See under Davis, Johnny, who had one breakout 2021-22 season in Madison and left after his sophomore year.  The #10 first round pick of Washington Wizards has not established himself as a pro and may even be back in the G league.  The money obviously was too good to turn down, but there is something to be said for more experience in college ball before you enter the NBA which stands for No Boys Allowed.  

 

This year's Badgers are exuding hope. Veteran coach Greg Gard has brought back the entire starting lineup from last season's disappointing team that failed to make the Big Dance for first time in 20 years. They did show improvement in the NIT losing in the semis to eventual champion North Texas State. 

 

Seven foot center Steven Crowl and versatile forward Tyler Wahl are providing good front court work and even making more foul shots than last year.  Point guard Chucky Hepburn has improved his all around play and backup Kamari McGee has really stepped up his game.  And AJ Storr, a transfer from St. Johns, has done it all and is coach Gard's dream because he accepts the challenge to improve each day.  

 

The Big Ten is a 20-game mosh pit + a league tournament before the Big Dance.  This is the part of college basketball I've grown to loathe.  The extra games just for TV money.  To me, league titles should mean something.  No need to bay into the wind.  I must remember Fun Galore in 24. 

 

More next time about the arrival of the true hot stove season with the 57th Annual New York Pro Scouts Association banquet on F Jan 19 at Leonard's of Great Neck.  Tickets available through F Jan 12 via Billy Blitzer at BBSCOUT1@aol.com  

 

Can't resist this Memo to owners of LA Dodgers and their superficial supporters.  You can have too many All-Stars and you still have to win on the field.  

Staying positive, here's a tip of the cap to the classy retirement statement of Astros outfielder Mickey Brantley, 36, who applauded Larry Pardo, the area scout who originally signed him for Cleveland.

 

Kudos also to Adam Jones, now a podcaster in Baltimore, for his longtime tribute to area scout Tim Reynolds who signed him for Mariners with the

wise counsel, "You're only a number one draft choice for one day." 

 

Before I leave, here are some TCM tips for January. The sports themed films are few in January but here are a few:

Tu Jan 9 215P "Three Little Words" (1950) the story of the musical and personal friendship of Bert Kalmar and baseball-loving Harry Ruby

   with Fred Astaire and Red Skelton as Kalmar and Ruby and Keenan Wynn in a rare benign (and boring) role as their manager. 

 

Sa Jan 13 415P "Knute Rockne, All-American" (1940) with Pat O'Brien in title role and Ronald Reagan as the Gipper -

   dir. by workmanlike pro Lloyd Bacon

 

Tu Jan 23 1130A "You Said A Mouthful" (1932)  Joe E Brown as a swimmer with young Ginger Rogers/Preston Foster

 

Every Tuesday and sometimes spilling into Wednesday is Robert Mitchum Night. Check tcm.com/schedule although there are sometimes

    annoying gaps in the schedule and at times two films listed for virtually same time slot. 

Two classics are back to back on Tu Jan 23:  8P "Night of the Hunter" (1955) dir. by Charles Laughton

945p "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" (1957) dir by John Huston with Deborah Kerr

 

Eddie Muller's Noir Alley is back Sa midnight or sometimes a little later and repeated at 10A Sundays. 

Jan 14 "I Died A Thousand Times" (1955) remake of "High Sierra with the interesting duo of Jack Palance and Shelley Winters

 

Jan 21 Hitchcock's "Stage Fright" (1950) with Jane Wyman/Marlene Dietrich/Michael Wilding

 

Jan 28 "Woman in Hiding" (1950) with Ida Lupino/Howard Duff (soon to be Ida's husband)/Stephen McNally who epitomized evil in "Johnny

     Belinda" 

 

That's all for now.  Remember to take it easy but take it, and stay positive and test negative.