Thursday, December 22, 2022, Freddie Cheng & Caroline Sommers
HEDGE HUNTERS Today's puzzle teams veteran Freddie Cheng with media writer and producer Caroline Sommers , who appears to be making her LA Times debut. Their puzzle invites us to do a little landscape gardening with 3 themers that keep the bushes from getting out of control: 20A. *Strawberry's field, once: SHEA STADIUM . A clever reference to Darryl Strawberr y, the fearsome slugger who played in Shea Stadium for the NY Mets during his heyday. The clue could also be taken as misdirection to lead us to Strawberry Fields in Central Park , a 5 acre section that memorializes John Lennon, who of course co-wrote and did the lead vocals on this song : 38A. *"Listen, I can explain": HEAR ME OUT . A phrase that often pops out of the mouths of perps when they're being grilled under bright lights in detective shows. 48A. *Warning that could come with a "Shush!": EARS ARE FLAPPING . ears are flapping Someone is ...