What Happened to Kate Smith and Todd Frazier?

Spring break has begun with most it not all schools in the shore area closed until Monday, April 29^th.

In other parts of New Jersey this was actually the week schools were closed for the spring or Easter break.  Drivers will likely notice a bit less traffic around here with school buses off the roads for the most part over the next week or so.

If you’re a fan of the Yankees and watch many of their games you might have noticed that the team no longer plays Kate Smith’s recording of “God Bless America” during the 7^th inning stretch, something they had done since just after 9/11.

The team still plays the song but uses another version and the reason for the change has to do with allegations of racism against Smith who was especially popular during World War II.  The New York Daily News reported this week that lyrics from a couple of Smith’s songs clearly had a racist tone and the Yankees while still investigating the situation “are erring on the side of sensitivity.”  Those who despise revisionist history will likely have a field day with this one.

Many people have been asking me what is happening with Todd Frazier and the answer is he’s close to returning to the New York Mets.  The 33-year old from Toms River missed all of spring training with a strained oblique injury and finished an 11-game rehab assignment with the Class “A” St. Lucie Mets on Wednesday by belting a 3-run homer.

Now Frazier is headed to their triple A affiliate in Syracuse for a weekend series and hopefully he will be back with the Mets when they begin a 10-game home stand next week.  Todd will have a tough time cracking the Mets lineup when he does return and will likely see limited action at third base.

There has been speculation the Mets may try and trade the two-time All-Star and if healthy and productive there are teams that clearly would be interested.