Foggy Bottom

Cloudy and foggy on Saturday morning at Candler Park. The vet played with me. Mostly played one ball, sometimes two. Just wish I could better follow the flight of my shots. Would make golf a lot more enjoyable. I think.

1. Hit two good hybrids off the tee. Decent distance for me. Approach landed in the front bunker. Decent chip across the green. Good chip back onto the green. Good lag. Double.

2. Tee shot felt good, but didn’t travel as far as I’d hoped. Must’ve popped it up. Chip went right. Chip went past the green. Better chip back. Two putt. Triple.

3. Hit a good 8 iron off the tee, but pulled it left. Chip didn’t make it up the hill to the green. Better chip. Sank the putt for a bogey.

4. Tee shot faded left into the greenside rough. Mulligan didn’t go as far, but I played it from the fairway. Bad chip followed by a better chip. These recaps are painful, aren’t they? It’s just nice to be outside playing golf.

5. Six iron faded left again, but got knocked down by a branch before going into the woods. Bad chip but mulligan was better. Two putt for a “bogey”, if memory serves.

6. Great drive with my hybrid, past the 150 yard marker. Great 6 iron to the front left fringe. Hit an okay chip, then the mulligan was great. Two putted my first ball for a good bogey, and tapped in the second for a “par”.

7. Another good tee shot with my hybrid, a decent ways up the hill. Okay 6 iron stopped under the tree branches. I wasn’t that far from the green, but I poked a 5 iron to the fringe. Good lag putt, and sank the putt for a good bogey.

8. Okay drive, that got a good roll. Decent 9 iron. Decent chip. Sank the putt for a par. There's a dude living in a tent between the 8th green and 9th tee box, under the ivy.

9. Pulled my hybrid left off the tee. Pretty good chip up to the back of the green. Great lag putt. Sank the short putt for a closing bogey.

Sunday sermon was directed at the youth, who were finishing up what used to be called Walking Wisely Weekend. But applicable for everyone. Standing room only in the JFBC gym. We were lucky to find a spot in the back of the walking track, which was also packed. Might’ve been violating some building codes. Only 16 in Sunday School to hear a young lady on furlough from her mission work.

After church I drove over to Truist Park for the A List Play Day. Lunch wasn’t the greatest: bugers, dogs, chicken tenders, curly fries, and salad. Saw Tim Hudson and Paul Byrd. Team store was 50% off but I didn’t get anything. Saw coworker Ginger and her husband Scott. Scott is a big bobblehead collector and dealer. First time parking was open next door at the brand new Truist building, and there was a line of cars to get in there. I parked at the Delta deck, and got a close up spot. Also dipped my arm in an ice bath, in an effort to win an annual pass.

DENISON: 96% of Jews from 13 European countries said they had encountered antisemitism even before the war in Gaza. They worry for their own (53%) and their family’s (60%) safety and security. Europe’s Jewish population has dropped 60% in the last 50 years. This is happening in America as well. According to a new report antisemitic incidents in the US reached a record high since last year’s Hamas attack in Israel. More than 10,000 incidents were reported in the last 12 months, a more than 200% increase compared to the same period a year earlier. This is the highest level of antisemitism since the ADL began tracking incidents in 1979. Calls for “Jew Hunt” preceded attacks in Amsterdam last week

TONY LAZZERI [SABR Bio] was the first player to appear with teams in different leagues in consecutive World Series. Lazzeri played for NYY in 1937 and against them in 1938, playing for CHC. Lazzeri was released by the Yankees on 15-Oct-1927 then signed by the Cubs on 28-Oct-1927. Lazzeri’ hit for the cycle on 03-Jun-1932 with a grand slam home run, but teammate Lou Gehrig hit four (4!) home runs in that same game. Playing for the Bees in the Pacific Coast League in 1925, Lazzeri needed all 197 games to hit 60 home runs. Babe Ruth hit his 60 HR in 1927. Lazzeri’s 60 marked the first time that total had been reached in organized baseball. Salt Lake City’s altitude of 4,200+ feet likely contributed at least some. Lazzeri was plagued by epileptic seizures. Coaches and management knew, but it was hidden from the fans and it never affected Lazzeri’s play on the field. In 1946, after he retired, Lazzeri tragically passed away due to a seizure-related fall.