• This is a very bad sketch of Benjamin "Benny" Kaplan. He is 20 years old and is getting married in two months (mazal tov!). He is a computer proigrammer. He recently returned to Israel after spending a year in America, and resides (for now) in Har Nof. He likes playing baseball more than watching or following it--he's a shortstop--but when he does he roots for the Mets. He has a brother living in my neighborhood on Nachal Shimshon Street. And he thinks "Giant Boogers from Outer Space" is a funny name. How do I know all this? From a 20-minute conversation we had on the 416 bus today, coming home from work. He started it by complimenting me on my mustache--always a good opener in my book.
• It seems I've gotten my wish: taking Matt Wise's place in the Mets' bullpen while Wise goes on the 15-day DL is Carlos Muniz, the 24th bearer of uniform #32 in Mets history. Muniz, 2-for-3 in saves with no earned runs allowed in Spring Training, has responded by allowing only one hit and striking out one in two IP, in two games so far. Dark horses sometimes do pull through: Muniz had three IP in Spring Training, 25th on the roster (and less than 11 more guys yet to debut this year).
• Wakka. Wakka, wakka. Wakka? Wakka! Wak wak wak. Wakka wakka wakka. Wakka, wakka. Wak!? Wakka wak wakka wak wakka! Wakka!! Wakka wak wak wakka.
• And a great big howdy-doo to the blog's first Greek visitor (17 seconds, Apr. 9th).

TODAY'S BOOK: "City on Fire", by Sorah Shapiro ((c) 2002)

Labels: 32, random, wakka wakka

# posted by MetFanMac @ 2:44 PM