Category Archives: sports

2019 Mets were a fun watch despite the bullpen

This is 2 or 3 years now that I’ve gotten back into watching a decent number of baseball games. I’m still really enjoying it, though I wish the Mets had been better. The obvious Big Story of the 2019 season will be Big Meat Pete Alonso setting the rookie HR record with 53(!). Here is a quick recap of that:

Jacob deGrom lived up to the hype and big contract with another Cy Young-caliber season. I really do enjoy watching him pitch. In fact, he’s the only Met I enjoy watching pitch. The other starters always seem to have a bad inning or two every game and the bullpen, with the exception of Seth Lugo, was extra-extra bad this season. Historically bad. Ugh.

My dad and I had had another running text conversation about the Mets again this season. There are lots of high-five-emojis after good wins a plenty of “I can’t believe I stayed up to watch this” notes after bullpen meltdowns.

I’m looking forward to the 2020 season. I think my dad and I will try to get up there for some games. Maybe even a couple over a weekend home stand. It’ll be fun.

Jurgen Klopp, 2 years ago

Top of the table with plenty of positive momentum.

I’m in with the Believers.

Daniel Sturridge with a point-saving goal.

I also enjoy the music from Titanic as an overlay.

No Offseason

NYT on the Mets broadcast team: Gary, Keith, and Ron

This NYT profile on Gary, Keith, and Ron is a fun read on the Mets’ television broadcast team. The Mets’ win/loss record has been bad but I like watching baseball and these guys have helped soften the blow(s).

It figures that they tank it hard in the season I spring for the MLB package to watch them. And, like it says in the article, the Mets have been just good enough down the stretch that I’ll sign up again for next season.

Champions League is under way!

European soccer has a lot of tournaments, but the big one is the Champions League. Liverpool played in the final last year and it was very exciting. The new Champions League season started this week and this stoppage-time goal from Bobby Firminho was a tremendous capper to a great match.

Training Diary 11

Here’s a 90%-of-contest-weight axle clean and press. That 2-step move to get the axle to my shoulders is called a continental clean. It’s uncomfortable. The contest event is a 225 lb. axle that I have to press for the maximum number of reps in a minute. I’m not the strongest presser so I’m shooting for 3 reps on contest day. I’m a lot better than I was thanks to all of the Olympic lifting I’ve done in the last year. I’ll get another session of heavy work before the contest.

So much of strongman looks like brute strength (and it def. helps to be strong) but damn if there isn’t a ton of technique involved.

Based on this video, I need to work on a couple of things:

  • the 1st step of the clean is sloppy and I need to stay on the bar a little longer
  • the transition from my belly to my shoulders needs to be faster. At contest weight I won’t want to waste time resetting before I go to my shoulders.
  • I need to work on getting lower in the snatch. I’ll be tired after the first rep and I need to give myself a chance at keeping the bar up.