Not a Nuggets fan. Joker is a sublime passer. At level of a NFL HoF QB. He puts the ball in pockets where, a) only his teammates (covered) can get it, and b) will get it in full stride — uninterrupted.
Although I love your blogs and the poscast, I think your commentary on the Washington Nationals has been shallow and unfair. You should read Thomas Boswell's commentary in the Washington Post today (May 12). The Nats are not a good team and it is very likely that they will finish in last place again this year. However, there are signs of hope coming from their young players, both in the majors and on the farm. They would not have these players had they not made the trades you have criticized. Juan Soto was not going to resign with them. Rather than leaving themselves in the same place as the Angels are with Ohtani, they made the best of a bad situation. Obviously, they have made some moves that have been disastrous (e.g., the Strasburg signing (although signing Rendon certainly would not have been much better)). It also was unfortunate that ownership allowed Harper to leave without compensation. It is noteworthy that, except for the Phillies, no other team was willing to meet Harper's salary demands. They had a very good run starting in 2012 and ending in the championship of 2019. The year after the championship Covid hit. All in all, things have been much better in DC than your otherwise wonderful commentary would leave one to believe and there is real hope for improvement over the next few years. Note I have not even mentioned the endless TV dispute with the Orioles over the unfair regional network contract and the fact that ownership has been in limbo for over one year.
I've just sent a note to Rainy Day that their website's order page isn't accepting payment information at the moment, Saturday morning 13th. I'm sure it will be corrected shortly and that they'll update me, just an FYI. The rules changes and your (and Molly's) blog have re-kindled a long-dormant interest in MLB and our (see?) Rangers. And old arguments too -- Mays or Mantle? Musial or Williams? Thank you.
I love that you brought up the ipad review! Quite a nugget for your long time readers. Which reminds me, in one of my favorites articles you wrote about the lack of surprise in entertainment media (which was super prescient btw) and you spoke of a song in the radio that you loved but could not remember the name or the band. Did it ever occur to you?
oh my Giants, some days so good, other days? (sigh)... at least we got a rook, Casey Schmitt, who really seems to be something, and Cobb's been a beast on the mound lately, and Duval is one of the best closers in the game- yes i think Thairo does 30/30, he's really something, and no sluch in the field either! didn't get the ipad joke, but thanks to Sean for enlightening me, wonderful stuff (as always) ... i'm an inveterate (and ruthlessly good) Scrabble player, from my youth (i read the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica, all volumes A-Z, between 3rd and 6th grade!), have played literally thousands of games of Scrabble, won most of them (playing w/7 or 9 tiles) and usually score 500+, now i amuse myself each day (right at midnight usually) w/Wordle, quite an addictive little daily diversion...
no, and i don't suppose i'd need to, having actually done so (and reading ALL years in review volumes as well from 1940-1964, when i first started reading it at age of 8)
Ah, the view of pickleball by tennis players. I was in your camp Joe, unhappy that local tennis facility transformed 2 tennis courts to pickleball courts and generally looking down on PBers as a lower caste of citizen. Then one day last summer I hurt my wrist playing tennis. I was pretty much playing 7 days a week and so probably deserved the injury. My group of old farts - I mean silver foxes- tennis players called me the Cal Ripken of our group of 65-83 years old.
Over the ensuing months of dedicated physical therapy, trying to play thru pain, and then rest, my wrist would get better, then worse. Finally diagnosed with a torn ligament fixable only by a surgery. While awaiting surgery I tried pickleball and found it more fun- and physically challenging- than I thought. And pickleball players turned out to be, for the most part, socially fun people. After my surgery later this summer I hope to return to tennis- as my doctor has said it’s not a sure thing- because I love the game. But will probably intersperse a few days of pickleball amongst the tennis to give my wrist some time off.
Joe, someday when you get old like me, you may find yourself faced with one of life’s existential question: retire from racquet sports altogether or swallow your pride and pickle it.
There is nothing wrong with Pickleball. Yeah compared to Tennis it is like slow pitch softball compared to baseball, and you can look down on it (as I did Softball when I was a young man playing baseball) but there are a lot more people playing it than the harder version.
I am a former Tennis player. In my 30's I played every week. My regular partner blew out his knee, and it took a few years to find another guy semi close in talent to me. (In tennis, it doesn't take that big of a difference before the better player is toying with the other one and will always win) Then, about 11 years ago, my other partner had a stroke, which took him out of the game, and around the same time I developed foot issues which limited my ability to get to balls (Once the strongest portion of my game) I kind of gave it up after that.
I was introduced to pickleball at a work gathering this year after more than 10 years not playing. After figuring out some of the rule differences, I found it to be fun and enough exercise for me at my age. I also found that my tennis experience, even though far in the past, made me pretty good right away, even though I am older and now overweight. It is something I will pursue more and perhaps even join a league.
Sure, a regular tennis player will look down on pickleball, as I once did at softball, but if you haven't played tennis, or are older or have an injury that kind of inhibits your ability to play well, there is nothing wrong with it. Still fun, still exercise, even if it is not as much.
The iPad review joke was a nice little shibboleth for those of us who've been reading from the Pre-Sports-On-Earth days. Very inside baseball and made me feel terribly old.
i knew about ipads (had several Macs in 80's/90's, many friends have had ipads), but i didn't get the joke about an ipad review, until i read it thanks to Sean...
Not a Nuggets fan. Joker is a sublime passer. At level of a NFL HoF QB. He puts the ball in pockets where, a) only his teammates (covered) can get it, and b) will get it in full stride — uninterrupted.
Are you going to explain it?
DadBod God is his best nickname
I'm in the same place as you with jokic. Hadn't been paying much attention until these playoffs. What a revelation. That was such a great series.
Couldn’t agree more on Jokic---He’s so fun to watch!!
Although I love your blogs and the poscast, I think your commentary on the Washington Nationals has been shallow and unfair. You should read Thomas Boswell's commentary in the Washington Post today (May 12). The Nats are not a good team and it is very likely that they will finish in last place again this year. However, there are signs of hope coming from their young players, both in the majors and on the farm. They would not have these players had they not made the trades you have criticized. Juan Soto was not going to resign with them. Rather than leaving themselves in the same place as the Angels are with Ohtani, they made the best of a bad situation. Obviously, they have made some moves that have been disastrous (e.g., the Strasburg signing (although signing Rendon certainly would not have been much better)). It also was unfortunate that ownership allowed Harper to leave without compensation. It is noteworthy that, except for the Phillies, no other team was willing to meet Harper's salary demands. They had a very good run starting in 2012 and ending in the championship of 2019. The year after the championship Covid hit. All in all, things have been much better in DC than your otherwise wonderful commentary would leave one to believe and there is real hope for improvement over the next few years. Note I have not even mentioned the endless TV dispute with the Orioles over the unfair regional network contract and the fact that ownership has been in limbo for over one year.
I've just sent a note to Rainy Day that their website's order page isn't accepting payment information at the moment, Saturday morning 13th. I'm sure it will be corrected shortly and that they'll update me, just an FYI. The rules changes and your (and Molly's) blog have re-kindled a long-dormant interest in MLB and our (see?) Rangers. And old arguments too -- Mays or Mantle? Musial or Williams? Thank you.
I love that you brought up the ipad review! Quite a nugget for your long time readers. Which reminds me, in one of my favorites articles you wrote about the lack of surprise in entertainment media (which was super prescient btw) and you spoke of a song in the radio that you loved but could not remember the name or the band. Did it ever occur to you?
Joe, can’t wait to take my 10 minute drive from 44th and Jefferson to pick up my inscribed copy of the book. 😎
Joe, we need the iPad review. I am still on the fence about whether to get one.
oh my Giants, some days so good, other days? (sigh)... at least we got a rook, Casey Schmitt, who really seems to be something, and Cobb's been a beast on the mound lately, and Duval is one of the best closers in the game- yes i think Thairo does 30/30, he's really something, and no sluch in the field either! didn't get the ipad joke, but thanks to Sean for enlightening me, wonderful stuff (as always) ... i'm an inveterate (and ruthlessly good) Scrabble player, from my youth (i read the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica, all volumes A-Z, between 3rd and 6th grade!), have played literally thousands of games of Scrabble, won most of them (playing w/7 or 9 tiles) and usually score 500+, now i amuse myself each day (right at midnight usually) w/Wordle, quite an addictive little daily diversion...
Have you read The Know it All by AJ Jacobs? It's about his attempt to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica.
no, and i don't suppose i'd need to, having actually done so (and reading ALL years in review volumes as well from 1940-1964, when i first started reading it at age of 8)
It's very funny. You should give it a try.
Joker is what happens when the best player during noon ball at the YMCA steps into a phone booth and comes flying out as Superman
https://medium.com/joeblogs/yes-it-is-the-ipad-review-df699108fbc8
thanks for that, Sean...
Ah, the view of pickleball by tennis players. I was in your camp Joe, unhappy that local tennis facility transformed 2 tennis courts to pickleball courts and generally looking down on PBers as a lower caste of citizen. Then one day last summer I hurt my wrist playing tennis. I was pretty much playing 7 days a week and so probably deserved the injury. My group of old farts - I mean silver foxes- tennis players called me the Cal Ripken of our group of 65-83 years old.
Over the ensuing months of dedicated physical therapy, trying to play thru pain, and then rest, my wrist would get better, then worse. Finally diagnosed with a torn ligament fixable only by a surgery. While awaiting surgery I tried pickleball and found it more fun- and physically challenging- than I thought. And pickleball players turned out to be, for the most part, socially fun people. After my surgery later this summer I hope to return to tennis- as my doctor has said it’s not a sure thing- because I love the game. But will probably intersperse a few days of pickleball amongst the tennis to give my wrist some time off.
Joe, someday when you get old like me, you may find yourself faced with one of life’s existential question: retire from racquet sports altogether or swallow your pride and pickle it.
There is nothing wrong with Pickleball. Yeah compared to Tennis it is like slow pitch softball compared to baseball, and you can look down on it (as I did Softball when I was a young man playing baseball) but there are a lot more people playing it than the harder version.
I am a former Tennis player. In my 30's I played every week. My regular partner blew out his knee, and it took a few years to find another guy semi close in talent to me. (In tennis, it doesn't take that big of a difference before the better player is toying with the other one and will always win) Then, about 11 years ago, my other partner had a stroke, which took him out of the game, and around the same time I developed foot issues which limited my ability to get to balls (Once the strongest portion of my game) I kind of gave it up after that.
I was introduced to pickleball at a work gathering this year after more than 10 years not playing. After figuring out some of the rule differences, I found it to be fun and enough exercise for me at my age. I also found that my tennis experience, even though far in the past, made me pretty good right away, even though I am older and now overweight. It is something I will pursue more and perhaps even join a league.
Sure, a regular tennis player will look down on pickleball, as I once did at softball, but if you haven't played tennis, or are older or have an injury that kind of inhibits your ability to play well, there is nothing wrong with it. Still fun, still exercise, even if it is not as much.
actually, pickleball looks rather fun!
The iPad review joke was a nice little shibboleth for those of us who've been reading from the Pre-Sports-On-Earth days. Very inside baseball and made me feel terribly old.
Totally agree about the feeling old part. 59% had no idea what he was talking about!? It was kinda depressing seeing that number.
i knew about ipads (had several Macs in 80's/90's, many friends have had ipads), but i didn't get the joke about an ipad review, until i read it thanks to Sean...
Totally agree on Zac Gallen (though not for long, because I think he's gonna win the Cy Young this year). That Cardinals trade is just mindblowing...