Random Musings by Len Clark

So, it's 2015...

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Mon, 18 May 2015 14:57:00 +0000

Anything happen while I was away?

What a year...

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 21:54:00 +0000

From Norwich, CT
to Franklin, GA
to Orange City, FL
to Supply, NC
back to Norwich, CT
to Waterbury, CT and finally, (and I mean finally)
to Danielson, CT...

What a long, strange trip it has been. I'm just extremely grateful that God had brought us through.

My 40th birthday present...

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 18:33:00 +0000

The Mets are playing the Philles @Citi Field on my birthday next year.

I plan on being there...

My one and only day @ Shea

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:24:00 +0000

July 31, 1988 -- Mets 2, Pirates 1

Just finding that boxscore brought back a ton of memories. I was there with my dad, my grandfather, my brother, and my uncle. I remember riding the train to Grand Central, then taking the subway to Shea. The seats weren't great; way up in the upper deck down the right field line, but I was at Shea, damnit, watching the Mets play the Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, and Andy Van Slyke-led Pittsburgh Pirates.

Darryl Strawberry hit a huge two run homer in the bottom of the first, and in my excitement, I spilled my soda on the person sitting in front of me. Ron Darling pitched a complete game to get the win.

Unfortunately, I never got another chance to go back to Shea. I haven't been to Citi Field yet, either. Hopefully, an opportunity will come.

My grandfather and my uncle are no longer with us, but it's memories like these (and others) that keep them alive in spirit.

This season sucked....

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 00:30:00 +0000

As we play out the string to yet another losing season (The Mets' fourth in row.), I can honestly say that this season has been one of the most disappointing. I suppose I should be used to this by now, I've been disappointed many, many times as a Mets fan. This season probably hurts more, though, because I broke the cardinal rule of being a fan of this club. I did the one thing I should have learned a while ago not to do.

I got my hopes up.

One June 3rd, this team was 31-23 and in first place. We had young, up-and-coming talent producing for the club. Johan Santana had just thrown the first no-hitter in franchise history. They were 46-40 at the All-Star break. They were in contention. Things were looking up. I had dreams of a playoff appearance in my head.

Shows what I know...

After the All-Star break, everything crashed to earth. Johan, perhaps overworked during the no-no, crashed and burned afterwards and was shut down on August 22nd. And the team has gone 20-42 since the break. Now, I'm sitting here, miserable and sick. This team keeps doing it me. I should know better by now. I should have learned by now to temper my enthusiasm. I should have learned to take a "wait-and-see" approach with this team.

I haven't learned.

And honestly, I know that probably will never learn. I know that this is going to happen to me again. It could even be as soon as next season. This season, however, is fundamentally over. All that remains are 14 relatively meaningless games.

It can't end soon enough.

Don't blame me... I voted for Kodos

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Remember, the only vote that is truly wasted is the vote not cast.

Barack Obama: Evangelical-in-Chief?

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 02:07:00 +0000

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/juneweb-only/barack-obama-evangelical-in-chief.html?paging=off

Obama has shared his reflections on the cross of Christ at his annual Easter Prayer Breakfast—a new White House tradition he started in 2010. At the 2012 event in April, the President described Holy Week as an opportunity to remember "all that Christ endured," to "give thanks for the all-important gift of grace," and to "celebrate that glorious overcoming, the sacrifice of a risen savior who died so that we might live." That's a summary of Easter all evangelicals can embrace.

We are accustomed to hearing politicians offering guarded generalities about the goodness of faith. It's quite another thing for the President of the United States to personally affirm the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If Obama is a secret Muslim, he's really good at making his closet Islamic beliefs sound a lot like crucicentric Christianity.

It's finally happened!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 10:42:00 +0000

Thank you, Johan!

Quick hits...

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:18:00 +0000

Well, first off... The Mets swept a three-game series against Jose Reyes and the Miami Marlins. And I, for one, couldn't be happier.

And to top that... the Rangers fended off a strong challenge from the Ottawa Senators to win their first round series in seven games.

Now, off to... do... other... um, stuff.

Sports and... things.

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:20:00 +0000

First things first,
Mets losing streak hits three games...

So, yeah... a 4-0 start has turned into 7-6... the pessimism is starting to creep back...

In other sports news that matters to me:

The New York Rangers are involved in a tight first-round playoff battle against the Ottawa Senators. With the way the Rangers have played this season, anything less than a trip to the Stanley Cup finals I would consider to be a disappointment.
The New York Knicks have clinched a berth in the playoffs. I don't see them making a deep playoff run, however.
The NFL season is months away, but the draft is only days away... I used to care a lot more about the draft than I do now.

Oh, and Dick Clark and Levon Helm died.

Are they REALLY that out of touch? Part Deux

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:45:00 +0000

Meet the people who didn't know that the Titanic disaster was a real historical event.

*FACEPALM*

I weep for this generation.... yes, kids, the Titanic was real, and it really sank.

Faith... Then and Now

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:07:00 +0000

Okay, let's get this out of the way,
Phillies: 8, Mets 2

I never had any intention of turning this blog into anything Mets-centric. But, I will say that the Mets mean a great deal to me. I have been following them faithfully since 1985. They are my team, my only team (well, baseball-wise, that is.), an I will live live and die with them. I'm proud to say that I bleed blue and orange.

So while the Mets are a part of my life, they are not my entire life.

The most important parts of my life are my faith in God, my redemption through Jesus Christ, and my family. Nothing on this earth can compare with that.

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, " (1 Peter 1:8 ESV)

Mets shut out Phillies

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:47:00 +0000

Game 8 of 162

New York Mets (6-2): 5, Philadelphia Phillies (3-5): 0

David Wright's swing looked just fine, even with the broken finger on his right hand.
Wright homered on the first pitch he saw after missing three games, Jonathon Niese and two relievers combined on a six-hitter, and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 on Saturday.

Wright was 3 for 5, including a long homer on the first pitch he saw after missing three games with a broken pinkie. Lucas Duda also connected for the Mets, who are off to a surprising 6-2 start.

"I felt good," Wright said. "I got a little confidence after the first at-bat. I felt real good in the cage earlier today. I wouldn't have gone out there if I didn't think I can contribute."

R.A. Dickey outduels Cliff Lee to end Mets two-game skid.

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:17:00 +0000

Game 7 of 162

New York Mets (5-2): 5, Philadelphia Phillies (3-4): 2

Dickey (2-0) allowed just one run despite nine hits. The righty struck out seven and lowered his ERA against Philadelphia to 2.40 in seven career starts.

"I had a lot of baserunners, that's for sure," Dickey said. "But ultimately the game comes down to four or five pitches. Fortunately I was able to make the pitch. Cliff Lee is one of the best. He outpitched me in a lot of ways. But we were able to make the big pitch and minimize the damage."

Dickey has compiled 14 straight quality starts -- six or more innings with three earned runs or less -- dating to July 25."

You come to expect that from him," manager Terry Collins said. "When he takes the mound, his sole purpose is to keep the team in the game for as long as he could."

View Condensed Game

Are they REALLY that out of touch?

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:34:00 +0000

Olympics Organizers Ask Keith Moon to Play Closing Ceremony

"Organizers of the London Olympics approached the Who's manager to inquire about having Keith Moon play at an Olympics event despite the drummer being dead for nearly 34 years, the Sunday Times reports"

SERIOUSLY!?! None of these people had a clue that Keith Moon has been dead since 1978!?!

*FACEPALM*

Mets losing streak hits two games...

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:36:00 +0000

Game 6 of 162

Washington Nationals (4-2): 4, New York Mets (4-2): 0

Stephen Strasburg threw 108 pitches in outlasting Johan Santana for six innings in a marquee matchup of aces on the mend, and the Nationals' bullpen made the lead stand up on the 50th anniversary of the Mets' first game.

View Condensed Game

Game 5 of 162

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:36:00 +0000

Well, they had lose eventually...

Washington Nationals (3-2): 6, New York Mets (4-1): 2

The Mets said during the game that David Wright's right pinkie was broken a night earlier when he dived back to a base. The fracture to the middle bone of the finger is small enough that it can't be surgically reduced, so doctors put it in a splint and cleared Wright to return to baseball activities as soon as he can tolerate them.

"I couldn't grip a bat today -- pretty easy decision today," Wright said. "It's always frustrating to miss time, kind of breaks up the momentum we had."

View Condensed Game

Game 4 of 162

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:31:00 +0000

New York Mets (4-0): 4, Washington Nationals (2-2): 3

Daniel Murphy's RBI single in ninth keeps Mets unbeaten

"Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit his first major league homer for the Mets, who are 4-0 for the first time since 2007. After a surprising sweep of Atlanta, New York rallied from a three-run deficit before a crowd of 23,970. Several fans filed out chanting "Undefeated! Undefeated!"

"Everybody is excited. We know that it's a long year, but we want to show our fans that maybe we are better than everyone expects us to be," manager Terry Collins said. "It's never about the effort with these guys."

View Condensed Game

Game 3 of 162

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:47:00 +0000

Mets (3-0): 7, Atlanta Braves (0-3): 5

Mets cap sweep of Braves as Jonathon Niese takes no-hitter into seventh

"New York has played 7,971 games in its 51-season history and is the oldest team in the majors without a no-hitter, startling for a club that produced stellar pitchers such as Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan and Dwight Gooden."

Let me just say, on a personal level, it feels REALLY good to sweep the Braves...

View Condensed Game

Happy Easter...

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:24:00 +0000

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”

Then they remembered his words.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Luke 24:1-12 (NIV)

Game 2 of 162

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 23:14:00 +0000

Mets (2-0): 4, Braves (0-2): 2

Duda Powers Mets Past Braves

The New York Mets heard it all winter -- critics lampooning them, certain the club would hit a wall from the get-go.

On Saturday, the Mets got busy hitting balls over the wall. Lucas Duda homered twice and became the first player to take advantage of the pulled-in fences at Citi Field, David Wright also connected and the Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2.

View Condensed Game

Game 1 of 162

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:54:00 +0000

Mets 1, Braves 0

Johan Santana pitches five scoreless as Mets shut out Braves

"It's one game but it's very, very important for us," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We pitch, we can compete."

View Condensed Game

Good Friday...

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:25:00 +0000

Luke 23:26-49

New International Version (NIV)

The Crucifixion of Jesus

²⁶ As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹ For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ ³⁰ Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!”’^[a]

³¹ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[b] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷ and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[c]”
⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”^[d] When he had said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. ⁴⁹ But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Opening Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:47:00 +0000

So, the Mets' season starts today against the Atlanta Braves....

I'm not very optimistic about our chances this year. The team has had to shred payroll because of the whole "Madoff mess", resulting in the loss of Jose Reyes to the Miami Marlins. There's no guarantee that the team will be able to re-sign David Wright.

Honestly, if everything breaks right, I think we'll win 75-80 games. If things don't break right, we'll be lucky to win 70-75.

Peyton Manning > Tim Tebow

noreply@blogger.com (Len Clark) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:12:00 +0000

Pat Robertson: "Broncos Deserve Peyton Manning Injury For Treating Tim Tebow Shabbily"

Okay, first of all, Pat Robertson is an idiot.

Secondly, as I have admitted in my last two posts, I am a Christian. I am also an avid sports fan. To those of you who are not football fans and know Tim Tebow as a Christian who plays quarterback, let me make one thing perfectly clear that you may not understand:

TIM TEBOW IS NOT THAT GOOD!

He is a running back who plays quarterback, he has too many flaws in his game to succeed as an NFL quarterback. He's a great guy, a devout Christian, and is the kind of guy you'd want your daughter to marry. That doesn't make him capable of throwing a twenty yard out pattern.

Let's get one thing straight, here, my friends. Peyton Manning is a vast upgrade, and if I were a Denver Broncos fan, I would be thanking God that my team got him.