About the Off-Season: Meanderings of My Mind

By Tim Kabel

January 27, 2024

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There is less than a week left in January and 2024 is already one month down. Spring Training will begin in less than three weeks. We have almost made it through the long, cold winter. Baseball is around the corner. I will now sample a wide variety of topics like Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. 

• The Yankees are reportedly among the teams interested in third baseman Matt Chapman. I'm not in love with the idea but it would improve the defense at third base. Brian Cashman has always advocated improving the infield defense. This could be a step in that direction. 

• I plan to watch the new Wonka movie this weekend as I just found out it is streaming on TV. I'm keeping an open mind but, in my opinion, there is only one Willy Wonka, and that's Gene Wilder. Perhaps there will be a few Oompa Loompa musical numbers. Who knew those little fellows were so talented? 

• With so little time left before Spring Training opens, I imagine the Yankees will sign at least one of the major players who are still available. I'm sure these players want to be under contract as soon as possible, and the Yankees could strike quickly. My guess is that it would be Blake Snell. 

• I baked banana bread this week. I used a recipe from Paul Prudhomme. The first cookbook my mother ever gave me was Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen. My mother was an excellent baker and cook. The first time I baked that banana bread for her, she ate a slice, and told me that she would never bake banana bread again because I would be the one doing it from that recipe. 

• If the Yankees do sign Matt Chapman, he will be the third player named Chapman to play for the team joining Ben and Aroldis. Matt would be the first one without character issues. 

•  Thank goodness the Yankees were able to retain Oscar Gonzalez and Jeter Downs. Oscar, Oscar, Oscar, we missed you. If they decide they don't want him again, instead of releasing him, they could just send him to work for Margot Robbie, since everyone says she was cheated out of an Oscar, 

• Speaking of Oscars, if you have a few weeks to spare, Killers of the Flower Moon is a good movie. It is somewhat unusual to see Leonardo DiCaprio playing an unlikable character, although he has done it before. Robert De Niro wears a perpetual scowl during the movie but was somehow nominated for an Academy Award. I think it's comparable to when older, faded players would get Gold Gloves based solely on their reputations. Lily Gladstone was excellent in the movie and received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for best actress. 

• I think it's a rule that no Leonardo DiCaprio film can be less than 4 hours long. Perhaps Commissioner Manfred will have to intervene and come up with plans to shorten his movies. 

• I'm interested to see if any of the Yankees' young pitchers make enough of an impression in spring training to stick with the team. Clayton Beeter seems like he could have a chance if he was converted to a reliever. It will be interesting to see how he is used in spring training, and if he is switched to the bullpen, how quickly he will make it to the Major Leagues. 

• I have decided to make a list of my top 15 favorite television characters. The ground rules are that it had to be something broadcast on television and something I have seen. In other words, it can't be a movie that was played on the ABC Monday night movie of the week or something like that. They are not listed in any particular order. There is one tie. 

1) Tie- Archie and Edith Bunker-All in the Family, because you can't have Archie without Edith. 

2) Saul Goodman- Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul. 

3) Augustus McCrae- Lonesome Dove. 

4) Sandor Clegane "The Hound"- Game of Thrones. 

5) Dr. Frasier Crane- Cheers, Frasier, Frasier Reboot *Honorable Mention for Niles Crane. 

6) Nelson Van Alden-Boardwalk Empire. 

7) Chalky White-Boardwalk Empire. 

8) Titus Pullo-Rome. 

9) Mr. Bean 

10) Basil Fawlty-Fawlty Towers. 

11) Tyrion Lannister-Game of Thrones. 

12) Felix Unger-The Odd Couple. 

13) Captain Hawkeye Pierce-M*A*S*H* 

14) Barney Fife-The Andy Griffith Show. 

15) Bob Newhart in either the Bob Newhart Show or Newhart. 

• There is a rumor that the Yankees reportedly made Aaron Hicks give up golf when he played for them over the past few years. They should have made him give up baseball and let him play golf. Hicks is also unsigned. Don't look for a reunion with the Yankees. 

• Among the many relief pitchers in whom the Yankees are reportedly interested is Ryan Brasier.

•  I have successfully trained my kitten, Nut, to ignore all commands, requests, admonishments, and essentially everything else. It only took me ten minutes to do this. 

• Which Yankees have the most to prove in spring training? My nominees are Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Rodon, DJ LeMahieu, and Anthony Rizzo.