I Dream of J.D. With the Unpublished Books

Nattering Naybob: First, my apologies to Stephen Foster about the title of this post. The Red Ranger, I know you are not much of a reader (not that there’s anything wrong with that necessarily), but you may have heard about a new documentary and companion biography that are being released next week about the near-mythic author J.D. Salinger, whose “Catcher In the Rye” is considered by many to be the quintessential story of 20th century teen angst and disillusionment (other than your own real-life experiences in these areas, Red Ranger).

Salinger was probably as famous for his self-imposed withdrawal from public life in the mid-Sixties, as he was for his actual body of work. During this period of seclusion he did not publish any new material whatsoever, despite rumors that he still was in fact secretly writing, with the intention of this work being published only after his death.

He died in January 2010. In the 3-1/2 years since then there has been no indication whatsoever of any such “hidden treasure” of new material, and Salinger fans such as myself had pretty much given up hope that this would ever happen.

However a story in the New York Times (and other media outlets) over the weekend reports that the upcoming book and documentary will reveal that Salinger did indeed finish at least five major works during his seclusion and has left specific publication instructions for their gradual release, starting in 2015. Some of the books’ titles have even been leaked (one such title is purportedly “The Last and Best of the Peter Pans”.)

Just as last year I considered the Yankees’ re-signing of Ichiro Suzuki as the Christmas present you no longer had to buy for me, Red Ranger, consider this spine-tingling announcement as a similar reprieve from your having to purchase a gift for me this coming Christmas. That alone should turn you into a Salinger fan.

The Red Ranger: I am glad to hear that I do not need to buy you a holiday (I want to be PC in keeping with the paradigm of your ilk) present again this year.  My guess is these books will be published and then there will be some battle amongst his heirs for the proceeds.

I am anxiously awaiting the release of some as yet unfound writings of my favorite author, Dr. Seuss.

Nattering Naybob: Thank you, Red Ranger, I’ve always wanted to be part of an “ilk”.

 

Ichiro under the Christmas Tree

Nattering Naybob: Don’t worry about doing any last-minute shopping to get me a Christmas gift, Red Ranger. I got my gift this past week courtesy of Brian Cashman and the Bronx Family Steinbrenner when the Yankees broke their vow to sign free agents exclusively to 1-year contracts, and brought back Ichiro Suzuki to the Yankees for a 2-year contract that, barring injury, will see Ichiro get his 3,000th major league hit as a Yankee. I admit that I was never much of an Ichiro fan previously, but my mind was changed when he came over to the Yankees last year in mid-season. His work ethic and professionalism really impressed me, and word is that he and Derek Jeter struck up a fast friendship. If you get the Derek Jeter stamp of approval, that’s good enough for me.

Here is the classy statement Ichiro put out after news that the final details had been worked out and he was officially back with the Yankees:

“The Yankees are the kind of team that I always envisioned being a part of. Everyone in the world of competition has a strong desire to win, but the Yankees also have an atmosphere where losing is not an option. These two observations may sound similar, but I believe it is a rarity to find both coexisting in the same organization. I believe the Yankees organization appreciates that there is a difference between a 39-year-old who has played relying only on talent, and a 39-year-old who has prepared, practiced, and thought thoroughly through many experiences for their craft. I am very thankful, and I will do my best to deliver on their expectations.”

Check out this You Tube video of a very young-looking Ichiro actually pitching the final inning of the 1996 Japan League All-Star Game. The man can do it all. And notice that our old friend Hideki Matsui makes a cameo appearance….

Baseball incompetence in the Bronx

Nattering Naybob: I have been a fan of the New York Yankees for about 40 years now, Red Ranger (roughly the same time as you have been, I’m sure). In all these 40 odd years, including the dark days of the early 90s / Oscar Azocar Era,  I do not think I have ever seen anything quite like the sickly offensive output that the Yankees have been putting on this post-season, in particular during the first two games of their current series with the Detroit Tigers. The four biggest culprits are, in order of least work to most worst, in my opinion: Nick Swisher, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, and starring Robinson Cano as the biggest perpetrator of hitting malfeasance. Cano set a major league record that is sure to stand for a long time, as longest hitless streak (26 at bats) without a base hit, in a single same-year post-season.

But at least Cano is making contact, albeit resulting in weak ground balls directly at infielders. Granderson, A-Rod, and to a lesser degree Swisher, seems to have literally lost the ability to make contact with a pitched baseball by means of swinging a bat. All throughout this season we were told by Joe Girardi and others that there was no need to worry about the Yankees’ season-long ineptitude at situational hitting, since they were able to pummel their opponents with home runs (they set a team record for home runs in fact). Now during the playoffs, when they run into better, smarter teams, and their hitters’ weaknesses are pre-scouted more thoroughly by their opponents, some observer’s fears are being realized. The ability to hit home runs to remedy a multitude of sins does not come into play as much during the playoffs.

Maybe the Yankees will shock me and the rest of their fans by somehow, some way beating Justin Verlander Tuesday night, in Detroit no less. But the way things are looking, I sense yet another whimpering Yankees exit in the playoffs at the hand of a younger, more resourceful and nimble team than themselves.

At least your Giants beat the 49ers on Sunday.

The Red Ranger:  Live by the sword, die by the sword.  It takes heart and not just the highest payroll to win the World Series.  Lately, I do not believe the Yankees have the heart needed to drive for the championship.  Look who won it for them in the first round.  Raul Ibanez, someone who has not been with the Yankees that long and who is still hungry for the championship and for whom it probably matters whether they win or lose.  Not having Rivera and Jeter on the field will certainly diminish the experience factor but may lead to some more hungry play on the field.  Although Derek Jeter has time and time again come up with some incredible plays in the playoffs.

Nattering Naybob: Now yesterday comes a story from the New York Post (whose credibility in some issues over the years has, admittedly, proven to be “fluid”) saying that during Game 1 of the Tiger series, A-Rod was sending mash notes via a transcribed baseball to two ladies in the field box seats behind the Yankees dugout. Historically I have been an A-Rod supporter, some might say “apologist”, but if this story is true, I have to say it should represent the point of no return for A-Rod’s tenure with the Yankees. Unless he redeems himself for whatever is left of the Yankees’ playoff run, I think they need to engage in some sort of buyout of the remainder of his contract, or if all else fails, simply release him, swallow the rest of his contract (thanks, Hank Steinbrenner), and find a new third baseman for next year and beyond. I said last season that they should have tried out Jesus Montero at third base. If Miguel Cabrera can play third base serviceably, Montero could have as well. Too late though, as Montero was traded to Seattle this past winter for pitcher Michael Pineda, who has missed all season with a potentially career-threatening injury.

UPDATE: The Yankees lost Game 3 last night, 2-1 in a typically pathetic display of offensive malpractice. On a night where Justin Verlander actually did not have his 100% “A” game, the Yankees still managed only 2 hits until the 9th inning (by Ichiro Suzuki,who I think must be retained by the Yankees next year). Now the Yankees have to win four straight games with their offense in a shambles, to proceed in the American League playoffs. Pretty sad.