SU is not happy. The Yankees have announced that Ronald Torreyes will be the starting shortstop while Didi Gregorius is out. That is actually ok as Torreyes paid his dues last year as the utility infielder and is only 24 years old. But they had the chance to slot in Tyler Wade, a 22-year old prospect, to be the back up and even split time with Torreyes. After all, Wade has hit .357 in spring training but alas, that was not good enough. They have decided to have Pete Kozma be the back up. Kozma was released by the Cardinals last year – great field no hit kind of player and older.
SU says you are at best going to win 81 games this year. The Didi injury was a bummer so why not give Wade some of the at bats? He can also play all of the infield positions and some outfield. It’s fine to have a blend of young and veteran but this was an opportunity and SU hates the decision. Once the season starts, Ellsbury and Headley will get 2 months to be up and running and will get the lion share of those at bats for their positions. I am ready to get excited this year if they play the youngsters. But Cashman has to be more aggressive – especially as so many of these kids had great spring trainings. In a word: annoying.
The Mets luck out with Famillia only getting a 15-game suspension. Given that Chapman got 2 months last year, that has to be seen as a win.
SU caught a little of the women’s college hoops regionals last Sunday. The last 5-6 minutes between Notre Dame and Stanford was so well played. Each team seemed to score on every possession down the stretch. Outside of UConn, I rarely watch the women but this was high quality. It’s unfortunate that the regional finals were played before sparse crowds aside from the sellout in Bridgeport for UConn. ESPN won’t show the crowd but when someone is shooting foul shots, you can see all of the empty seats behind the baskets. Too bad.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
And now it looks like Aaron Judge is going to start the season in the minors as well. This is what I mean: the at bats will go to Ellsbury and Gardner and I suppose Hicks will be the starting right fielder. Does that make Matt Holliday the 4th outfielder when he is not DHing? They want Judge to get his at bats – they want him to play regularly. The team was unwatchable last year – horribly boring. Sanchez is the real deal and I guess we will have to hope that Bird doesn’t cool down in the colder weather as he has options and could be sent down too. I almost hope for a slow start to the season so they will go with the younger guys.
Maybe it’s cold comfort but players like Hicks and Torreyes, while older than Judge, et al, are relatively young when you think about the Yankees over the past 10 years or so. I’ve liked what I’ve seen of Torreyes at the major league level. Nothing spectacular but a decent offensive player with defensive versatility. Championship teams have players like Torreyes. He could be in the Luis Sojo mold. As for Hicks, they seem to have a lot of patience. I like the idea of him and what he supposedly could be. But I haven’t seen it. I don’t know that watching Judge strike out is all that exciting so pick your poison.