I know this may not be the right time for non-baseball stories, but I did want to mention the passing of Elia Kazan. Kazan was one of the most influencial theater and film directors of the 20th century. A member of the Group Theater in the 1930s, Kazan was one of the founders of The Actors Studio. He directed the stage versions of "Skin of Our Teeth," "Death of a Salesman," "A Streetcar Named Desire," and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Kazan also made his mark in the movie world, directing the film version of "Streetcar" as well as "On the Waterfront, " "Viva Zapata!" and "East of Eden."

Kazan is perhaps most famous for naming names during Communist witch hunt of the early 1950s. The Times had an excellent, and even-handed appreciation of the director, who was 94, in yesterday's paper. It's well worth reading, as Kazan is well worth remembering.

If you haven't seen "On the Waterfront," I suggest you rent it once the season ends. (Check for Fred Gwynne--aka Herman Munster---in a bit role as a gangster in the begining of the movie.)