Steve Somers Addresses The New York Giants Preservation Society at Finnerty's on 33rd Street in Manhattan

 

The New York Giants Preservation Society has been discussed several times in this journal.  For a few years, the group met at Finnerty's, a San Francisco-themed sports bar located at 2nd Avenue and 13th Street in Manhattan. During the COVID pandemic, the group had to meet online via Zoom.  The group thrived, but Finnerty's had to close.

Recently, Finnerty's reopened at 33rd Street, directly across from the Empire State Building.  Today, for the first time in 6 years, the group reconvened at Finnerty's with Steve Somers as the guest speaker.  He spoke about his recent book, Me Here, You There, which I reviewed a few weeks ago in this journal.  I bought the book on Amazon Kindle, but Steve was signing books for many of the 60 attendees.

A cake for the occasion 

The front of Finnerty's

..

Sometimes in Winter by Blood Sweat and Tears - Song of the Day

 

I've been thinking about this song since winter will be here in four days.  Steve Katz, formerly of The Blues Project, was the singer.

I Read the News Today Oy Vey!

 

Which one is worse?

1. At least 15 people have been killed, and 27 are in hospitals after a shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach yesterday. The attack, declared a terrorist incident, targeted Jewish Australians and is the country’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.  Report in the New York Times
2. Two students were killed and nine were injured in a shooting at Brown University.  Police are still looking for the shooter as of 3 PM on December 15.
3. Rob Reiner and his wife were allegedly killed by their son. Latest from the New York Times. Chutzpah is when a person murders his parents and pleads for mercy on the grounds he is an orphan.  There are too many nuts with knives and guns out there. What really gets me is the statement made by Donald Trump, who attributed Hollywood director and progressive activist Rob Reiner’s death as the likely result of the “anger he caused others” through “TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.” Even some Republicans concurred that this was an insensitive and disrespectful remark about someone who died tragically.  Below is what Rob Reiner said about the tragic death of Charlie Kirk.

All of this qualifies for an "Oy Vey"

The Queens Baseball Convention Was Within Walking Distance of Home

 

For the third year in a row, Lee and I went to the Queens Baseball Convention at the Four Points by Sheraton, a 10-minute walk from home.  Today's gathering was significant after the recent losses of Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz, and Pete Alonso.

The first event of the evening was an interview with retired Met reliever Jesse Orosco, as seen below. He reminisced about his appearances with the 1986 World Champion Mets.

There were two panels, State of the Mets and Till Mets Do Us Part.  The losses of Diaz and Alonso and the trade of Nimmo were considered, as well as future moves that David Stearns should make.  The consensus was that the Mets must plan for the future and not give long-term contracts to players in their thirties.

Former Mets manager Terry Collins was honored with the Gil Hodges Award and discussed the incident in the video seen below.  Tom Hallion, the umpire who argued with Terry from that game in 2016 also appeared. Adam Hamari was the home plate umpire who tossed Terry while Tom Hallion was the crew chief.

There was a feature called Mets Make a Deal based on the game show with a similar name.  It was Lee's lucky day as he was called out for wearing a Mets hockey jersey.  He won a Mets Connect Jersey and a Home Run Apple hat.

The day concluded with Kelly Franco interviewing current Met Brett Baty.  She runs a podcast called Three Inning Fan.

Random Thoughts of the Day - December 12, 2025

 

• Like everyone else, I am disappointed by the loss of Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, and Edwin Diaz.  As I read Facebook and other stories, there is plenty of bitching going on.  There is no sense in writing anything more about this.  I will hear plenty of it at the Queens Baseball Convention tomorrow.  I just hate rumors and speculations.
• My Bob Dylan friends are all excited about the tour resuming in the spring.  Some are willing to travel long distances to see him.  The longest I traveled to see Dylan was in April 1997 when I went to William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ.
• My excellent autobiographical memory hurts me more than it helps.  I have too many flashbacks to unpleasant experiences and disappointments of the distant past.  Too often, I second-guess myself.
• Does the media report the news or create it?  For example, so much attention is given to Luigi Mangione while there are thousands of murders in the USA each year.

The Mets Lost Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso - Who is to Blame?

 

Yesterday, the Mets lost Edwin Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will be paying him $69 million over 3 years.  Today, they lost Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles for $155 million over 5 years.  After trading Brandon Nimmo a few weeks ago, 3 fan favorites are gone.

I thought Steve Cohen had bottomless pockets and would at least match other teams' offers.  He promised us a World Series winner within 5 years of his becoming owner in 2020.  He obviously has not come through.  Is he holding back David Stearns?  Are they just afraid to give long-term contracts? Is Stearns afraid to make a counteroffer?

In any event, MLB salaries are absolutely outrageous.  Edwin Diaz pitched 66 innings for the Mets last season.  That would mean he gets about $350,000 an inning.

What are the Mets going to do?  They have already signed relief pitcher Devin Williams, who will be the closer, but they must shore up the bullpen.  Will they try to sign free agents or see if their farm system will come through?  How will the Mets replace Pete Alonso's 38 home runs and 126 RBIs? Will they sign Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker?  Will they move Mark Vientos to first base.

There is still plenty of time before spring training so obviously more moves wil be made.

Stay tuned.

The Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour Extends to 2026

 

My Bob Dylan friends are all excited that spring 2026 dates were announced for the Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour.  All the stops are at small cities except for Detroit, Cleveland, and Columbus, Ohio.  Sue already mapped out her trip and will buy her tickets as soon as they go on sale this Friday, December 12.  Unfortunately for me, there are no stops in or near NYC.

03/21/26 Omaha, Nebraska - Orpheum Theater

03/22/26 Sioux Falls, South Dakota - Mary W. Sommervold Hall

03/24/26 Rochester, Minnesota - Mayo Civic Center Arena

03/25/26 Iowa City, Iowa - Hancher Auditorium

03/27/26 La Crosse, Wisconsin - La Crosse Center

03/28/26 Rockford, Illinois - Coronado Theatre

03/30/26 Waukegan, Illinois - Genesee Theatre

03/31/26 Muncie, Indiana - Emens Auditorium

04/02/26 Grand Rapids, Michigan - De Vos Performance Hall

04/03/26 Saginaw, Michigan - Dow Events Center - The Theater

04/04/26 Detroit, Michigan - Masonic Temple Theatre

04/06/26 Louisville, Kentucky - The Louisville Palace

04/09/26 Columbus, Ohio - Palace Theatre details

04/10/26 Cleveland, Ohio - KeyBank State Theatre

04/12/26 Dayton, Ohio - Winsupply Theatre

04/14/26 Knoxville, Tennessee - Knoxville Civic Auditorium

04/16/26 Bowling Green, Kentucky - SKyPAC

04/17/26 Chattanooga, Tennessee - Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium

04/19/26 Asheville, North Carolina - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

04/20/26 Spartanburg, South Carolina - Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

04/22/26 Macon, Georgia - Macon City Auditorium

04/23/26 Dothan, Alabama - Dothan Civic Center

04/25/26 Jackson, Mississippi - Thalia Mara Hall

04/27/26 Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Raising Cane's River Center

04/28/26 Shreveport, Louisiana - Shreveport Municipal Auditorium

04/29/26 Tyler, Texas - Cowan Center

05/01/26 Abilene, Texas - Abilene Auditorium