Stumblin' Along 9/15 '24
Rock 'n' Roll Star
Rock ‘n’ Roll Star
- MiG-17 Jet Fighter
- NY Baseball Report Week 25
- YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Rock ‘n’ Roll Star by Oasis. It was the opening track on their debut 1994 debut album called Definitely Maybe.
Oasis’ reuniting is hot in the European streets and they’ll be playing at Croke Park in Dublin next summer. This has the Irish in a bit of a dizzy, with the tickets selling like mad. As an ignorant stereotypical American, I grew up always hearing about how Oasis is class this, Oasis is class that, but I really only know a few of their biggest hits like Wonderwall. So, checking out their earliest stuff would be pretty cool.
City life moves quickly, especially if you’re going out at night. The band during this time was living in London and the lead guitarist, Noel Gallagher, wrote this song.
He said, “I've pretty much summed up everything I wanted to say in 'Rock 'n' Roll Star,' 'Live Forever' and 'Cigarettes & Alcohol.’ After that I'm repeating myself, but in a different way."
From a thematic standpoint, the stars at night contrast with the sunshine he needs during the day.
Noel Gallagher said that line is more about having dreams above your current situation. Whenever you admit to wanting something more like that, you’re bound to have people tell you it won’t work, or that you’re wasting your time. Those same people then told him he should feed his head with more useful knowledge when he feels quite content with his thoughts in bed.
Again from a thematic standpoint, when you’re out all night you’re in bed all day…dreaming.
People don’t tend to be too concerned when you’re aloof but can sometimes have a problem if you’re confident enough in your dreams.
It’s probably like human nature or something like that, who knows why we are this way?
“The words and the sentiment to that song, that's what it's all about. I remember bringing it down to the lads in the rehearsal studio and rehearsing it until the first time we played it live. There was a hush after it, and it wasn't the hush of people going (bewildered) 'What was that all about?' It was (silenced awe). No one had ever said it in a song before. Tonight, I'm a rock 'n' roll star…
There's six people watching you, right? You're anything but a rock 'n' roll star. But in your brain, you are a rock 'n' roll star. When I hear that song by chance, on the radio or whatever, I just think, D'you know what, man? It's still got it for me, it's wide-eyed and wonderful." - Noel Gallagher
(Source for quotes: SongFacts)
Oasis is class, confirmed. Outstanding tune, wish I heard it ages ago.
Now on to this week’s jet and baseball…
MiG-17 Jet Fighter
The MiG-17 is short for the Mikoyan-Gurevich and it was their 17th edition. Mikoyan-Gurevich was a Soviet Union airspace manufacturer and they still produce Russian planes today. The NATO nickname for the Soviet-originated jet fighter was “Fresco.” MiG-17s were built because of previous Soviet successes with the MiG-15 in the Korean War. It was a single-seat fighter with the updated advancements of earlier models like thinner wings that swept back more sharply, a longer fuselage so the pilot had more room, and a redesigned tail. The Klimov VK-1 engine that the MiG-17 used also had an afterburner, allowing for greater speed and improved handling.
The Soviet Union produced more than 6,000 of the MiG-17s until production of the model ended in 1958. The specific jet, or a variation of it, was used in about 20 air forces worldwide. For instance, the North Vietnamese used the MiG-17 in the Vietnam War. It outmaneuvered American missiles and outflew larger, faster American jet fighters. 3 North Vietnamese pilots became aces while flying the MiG-17. To become an ace pilot, you had to have shot down 5 or more enemy aircraft in combat. The North Vietnamese Air Force created their first MiG-17 unit in February 1964. Their squadron of pilots received training from the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union. Late into the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese started making more modifications to the MiG-17s as they were able to carry bombs. The MiG-17 with bombs was only used in one mission against the US Navy where it attacked a US destroyer and a light cruiser but only minimal damage was done and no casualties. The blue camouflaged MiG-17 on the Intrepreid was built by the Polish.
(Source: Intrepid Museum)
The New York Mets have a rubber game match with the Phillies today. Winners of 12 of their last 15 games, the ballclub from Queens is tied with the Atlanta Braves for 2nd place in the NL East and the 3rd/Final Wild Card spot. The biggest news currently around the club is the status of SS Francisco Lindor.
The Mets’ MVP left their Friday night win early with a back issue and sat out on Saturday for the team’s loss. In Lindor’s absence on Saturday, the Mets called up Luisangel Acuña. The younger brother of Ronald made his MLB debut and got his 1st two career hits. Lindor told reporters after yesterday’s game, “I truly believe it's a day-to-day type thing. Hopefully tomorrow I wake up and I'm in a much better position to come out and be available for the team." From a Mets perspective, you’re hoping Lindor is good to go and Acuña doesn’t play another game the rest of the way, but that’s still a nice debut for the 22-year-old.
Aside from Lindor, another Francisco had a big week at the dish. The Mets catcher hit two 3-run homers this week. In September, Alvarez is hitting .280 with a .400 OBP, however, the team’s hottest hitter would have to 2B Jose Iglesias. The Keystone veteran is currently on an 8-game hitting streak and this month is batting a clean .333 (13 for 39). Iglesias may not hit for much power but has great contact skills. After not playing in the majors for all of ‘23, he’s been an underrated player for the Mets’ bid at a playoff spot and will need to continue to hit with the loss of Jeff McNeil. After their Sunday matchup with the Phils, the Mets get the Nationals this week and then will host the Phillies for 4 games this upcoming weekend.
Game 143 (9/8)
- Didn’t catch this game live because Finnegan’s of Hoboken had every TV on a different NFL game. Gerrit Cole pitched and gave up 2 runs in the 1st. Anthony Volpe hit a sac fly in the 2nd. No other runs were scored so I’m glad I missed it. The game ended on Austin Wells flying out to Ian Happ, who made a nice catch lunging into Wrigley Field’s ivy. Sorta ironic because YES announcer Michael Kay mentioned the Cubs should add padding into the wall earlier in the series. Yanks lost 2-1.
Game 144 (9/9)
- Jasson “The Martian” Dominguez has been called up from the minors and Jon Berti returns from the IL. Pinch running specialist with a 1940s Jazz artist named, Duke Ellis, was sent down to minors and DJLM was placed on the IL as the corresponding moves. The Yankees face the Kansas City Royals and go down 2-0 early with Carlos Rodon on the hill. In the 4th inning, Dominguez singles and reaches 2nd base on an Anthony Rizzo fielder’s choice. As Oswaldo Cabrera draws ball four, Dominguez steals 3rd base which causes an overthrow and he scores the 1st Yankee run. The very next at-bat, Alex Verdugo hits his 2nd second-half homer to put the Yanks up 3-2. In the top of the 5th, Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto can’t come up with a pop-up to short RF which allows a Royal run. In the following inning, Hunter Renfroe of the Royals hits a solo shot. The Yanks then tie it once more on an Aaron Judge RBI single and then Austin Wells blows the game open with a 3-run homer. After adding 3 more in the bottom of the 8th, the Yanks ended up winning 10-4. Jets lose MNF.
Game 145 (9/10)
- Marcus Stroman toeing the slab in the Bronx. He goes 5.1 innings allowing 3 runs. His opponent, Seth Lugo, goes 7 innings of no-run ball as the Yankees only collect 3 hits. 2 of the 3 hits are off the bat of 2B Gleyber Torres, who’s found a home in the leadoff spot and on an 11-game hit streak. Royals win 5-0.
Game 146 (9/11)
- The Yankees give the ball to Luis Gil in the rubber match of the 3-game series with Kansas City. Gil gets into and out of a 1st inning bases load jam. In the 6th inning, Jazz Chisholm makes a very smooth play at 3rd base, diving, getting up, and throwing a perfect strike to 1st base. It would be huge if he could get more and more comfortable with the routine plays at the new position because he’s already made some great highlights on instinct. Juan Soto hits a 2-run homer in the bottom half of the 6th. In the 7th inning, Clay Holmes (no longer the closer) allows the Royals to tie it up at 2 by giving up 2 singles and some sac flies. The game goes into extra innings with both teams scoring the ghost runner in the 10th. The Yankees bring in Luke Weaver for the 11th and his stuff looks great as he strikes out 2 of 3 batters faced. In the bottom half of the 11th, Soto moves the ghost runner over to 3rd base on a grounder, the Royals intentionally walk Aaron Judge, and Jazz Chisholm walks the game off on an infield single with the Kansas City infield in. Yanks win 4-3.
Game 147 (9/12)
- Nestor Cortes, pissed off from last week being skipped over in the rotation, is on the bump against the Boston Red Sox. Gleyber Torres after having his 11-game hit-streak snapped, hits an opposite-field homer to lead off the bottom of the 1st. Jazz Chisholm makes yet another great defensive play in the 4th inning as he turns 2 by stepping on 3rd and throwing out Trevor Story. Cortes goes 5 innings while striking out 9 Sox batters, which ties his season-high. The game goes into extra innings tied at 1-1. In the top of the 10th, Clay Holmes relieves Tommy Khanle and gets 2 outs without allowing a run. The Yankees in the bottom of the 10th pinch run Jon Berti for Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto ends the game with a RBI single up the middle. It’s Soto’s first Yankee walk-off hit. 2-1 Yankees win.
Game 148 (9/13)
- Clarke Schmidt’s turn to start. The Friday night game is on Apple TV so that means the cameras are HD-HD to the max. In the bottom of the 5th inning, Alex Verdugo grounds out to second base which sets a single-season record of 112 ground outs to the right side of the infield for a season. It’s a scoreless game until the Top of the 6th when Gleyber Torres freezes at a routine chopper between him and Rizzo. The Sox then capitalize on the mistake when Yoshida hits a 2-run homer with 2 out. Boston scored 2 more runs on another 2-run dinger the next inning. The Yankees’ bats come to life out of nowhere as Volpe and Verdugo draw walks to lead off the 7th. Torres then makes up for his fielding mistake by singling home Volpe. Juan Soto then walks which sets up Aaron Judge with the bases loaded. The Yankee Captain hadn’t homered in 16 games until he launched a clutch grand slam into the LF seats. Yankee Stadium looked electric. Luke Weaver closes the game out as the Yanks win 5-4.
Game 149 (9/14)
- Riding a 4-game winning streak and a ton of momentum, it’s Gerrit Cole’s time to toss. In the 1st inning, Cole chooses violence as he plunks 3B Rafael Devers in the back. He then produces a double play and takes a no-hitter into the 4th. With 1 out and nobody on, Cole this time decides to intentionally walk Devers (who has owned Cole). The move backfires as the Sox score 3 runs in the inning. He should’ve just hit Devers again. The game gets totally away from Cole in the Top of the 5th when this time Devers singles home 2 more Sox. Not an ideal performance from the Yanks’ ace as they lost 7-1.
