JML update, plus Israel Baseball Team news

Taking a few days off, but still updating the blog because that’s just the kind of guy I am.

You’re welcome.

Before the JML report, just wanted to say that there are still spaces open for the July 22 fundraiser for the Israel Baseball Team‘s appearance at the WBC qualifier at the City Winery in Manhattan. Tickets are $250 (tax deductible) and include a silent auction  and welcome at 7 p.m., followed by dinner at 8. I’ll be there, so if you see me, say hi — after you meet Art Shamsky, Shawn Green, and Brad Ausmus, of course.

For more information, visit the Israel Association of Baseball site; click here to purchase tickets on-line through JNF. A similar event in Chicago on July 25 has sold out. Come on, NY; are you gonna let Chicago do better than the Big Apple?

Now on with the regularly scheduled portion of the program.

The Mets are in free fall since the All-Star Break, losing another close one to the first place Nationals in Washington, 4-3. The bullpen had given up the lead twice the previous game after Met comebacks, en route to a disheartening 5-4 10-inning loss, the winning run scoring on a wild pitch of all things. Yesterday, the Mets were trailing 2-1, but once again the pen gave up back-breakers, putting the game out of reach late, despite ninth-inning home runs by David Wright and Jason Bay. Ike Davis struck out with a runner on second in the first, grounded into a double play to end the fourth, lined out to lead off the seventh, and fanned to lead off the ninth. On Tuesday, he was 1-4.

Ian Kinsler was 1-5 in the Texas Rangers’ 4-3 loss to the host Oakland A’s. On Tuesday, he was 0-3 with two walks in a 6-1 win. Scott Feldman did not appear in either game.

Ryan Braun was 0-3 in Tuesday’s 3-2 win by the Milwaukee Brewers over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. He came out of the game in the seventh inning after tweaking a groin pull and did not play in yesterday’s 4-3 win. The team is off tonight before beginning a weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Michael Schwimer pitched .1 innings, walking one and striking out one, in yesterday’s 5-3 loss to the host LA Dodgers. The day before he tossed .2 innings in a 3-2 win.

On Tuesday, Kevin Youkilis hit a three-run homer to put the game out off reach for the Chicago White Sox in their 7-5 win over the host Boston Red Sox. He was1-4 in yesterday’s 10-1 loss.

Craig Breslow pitched one inning of scoreless relief (one hit, one strikeout) in the Ariz. Diamondbacks’ 4-0 Tuesday loss to the Cincinnati Reds. He did not appear in last night’s 7-1 win.

Jason Marquis did not appear in the last two games for the San Diego Padres. He’s scheduled to start tomorrow night’s game against the visiting Colorado Rockies.

Finally, this disturbing story regarding a bomb threat called in to Comerica Park, home to the Detroit Tigers, on Tuesday night as the team took on the Los Angeles Angels. Sure we’ve seen this before in books and movies, but really, what if? Granted there’s a lot more security these days at ballparks, but there still seems to be ways to sneak something in if someone really wants to. Rabbi Jason Miller, who frequently blogs about sports, was at the game and offered comments in the AP story, which was published on the Sports Illustrated website.

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Kaplan’s Korner on Jews and Sports © 2012 New Jersey Jewish News

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