BRONX, NY – A nice crisp autumn Tuesday evening here in the Bronx, as I just remembered I have a Wednesday column to write. I have Game 4 of the World Series on as background noise and, I have to admit, that marathon Game 3 made me almost grateful that I didn’t have to stay up and watch the Mariners in a similar tilt. You know what they need to knock off? These in-game interviews with managers as the game is being played. Get that garbage out of here and let these guys watch the game! Here are some other things we need to tend to.
Pitch to Shohei Ohtani! I know, like most sports, baseball is a game of strategy. There are certain situations that call for a pitcher not to pitch to a hitter, and that’s fair. BUT… you have to draw the line somewhere. We are in the middle of a really entertaining World Series where the Blue Jays are seriously considering pitching around or intentionally walking Shohei Ohtani as often as needed, even if it’s all the time. Major League Baseball is going to have to address this in the off-season. You can’t have your sport’s marquee player on its biggest stage being passed over time and again. It’s like having a big name star in a movie and the supporting cast having all the dialogue. Sure, Ohtani got to pitch Tuesday, but you gotta let him swing the bat. It’s what fans want to see. For the sake of the Ohtanis and Judges of this league, MLB may have to institute a limit on how many times a team can pitch around a particular player, whether intentionally or not.
Scrum Bums. As was covered here yesterday, the Philadelphia Eagles’ “Tush Push” or “Brotherly Shove” or whatever the hell you want to call it, has GOT… TO… GO. There is nothing remotely “football” or “entertaining” about it. If my Dad witnessed this back in the 1970s he would have simply said, “knock off the grab-ass, already.” Outside of Philly, no one wants this. In fact, I’m pretty sure there’s at least one guy in Philly who definitely doesn’t want it, and his name is AJ Brown. For those who don’t know, AJ Brown is a pretty damn great wide receiver. He’s already put up some pretty impressive performances, stats, and won a Super Bowl. Everyone thinks he should just shut up and be happy, because his team is winning. But the way this team’s offense is currently playing offense is going to keep him OUT of the Hall of Fame. I get why he’s pissed. Just like with Ohtani, you want to see great players get to do the great things they can do. Wake up, already.
MTM Movie Corner. At Meet the Matts Meet The Matts, all movie tickets are General Admission nosebleeds, the way God intended. I’m gonna close today recommending three Wes Anderson flicks perfect for this time of year. The first is Fantastic Mr. Fox. Like Bugs Bunny Looney Toons comedies of yore, you can watch this one with little kids and all enjoy. The second is Rushmore. This one bleeds into winter/Christmas, but centers around a prep school outcast who is more interested in putting on plays and starting new clubs than, y’ know, grades. The final one is the best Wes Anderson movie ever, for my money, The Royal Tenenbaums. An amazing cast all the way around, but Gene Hackman absolutely crushes it. If you haven’t seen it, or if you have, watch it.
That’s it for today, watch out for Buddy Diaz tomorrow. His Knicks are in a dogfight (eventually losing) with the Bucks as I close this one out.
NOTE FROM MANAGEMENT:
Speaking of the Dodgers and Hollywood, a consortium of Hollywood producers and biz men are trying to by the Cardiff pro rugby team, which is in administration/bankruptcy. They want to bring the team back to life, and script a Ted Lasso show around the whole thing. Short Matt caught up with one of the principals on MLR Weekly.
