Charles Dickens clearly had the 2018 Yankees in mind when he wrote his classic many years ago.  No doubt Aaron Boone who had his opening spring training press conference yesterday would agree.  It will be all downhill from here on out.  In February, you can be a potential genius new manager with no experience.  Most everyone is healthy, there are no personality issues with players or between players and perhaps even Dellen Betances (slimmed down to 265 pounds from 280 last year) can find the plate now.

Last year’s team was one game from making the World Series and anything short of playing in the World Series will be considered a failure in 2018.  That means a lot more pressure on the youngsters.  If Aaron Judge does 2 months again striking out almost every at bat, that will be a lot worse than it was in 2017.  There are still unknowns at 2nd and 3rd base where rookies will be competing for the starting jobs.  SU is looking for both Torres and Andujar to get a shot and hopes they can avoid injury to win the jobs.  Also looking for a big year from SU fave Greg Bird.  And Jacoby Ellsbury is still here and is clearly untradeable.  But SU says you know someone will get injured and he will be thrown into the mix to hit .269 with no power and no rbis.  It’s a living at $23 million a year.

The good news is that baseball is here.  The Mets also unveiled their new manager and if their pitching can stay healthy – a big if – they are contenders in the NL.  Goose Gossage has been banned from the Yankee camp.  Let’s face it: he’s an idiot.  Bad mouths everyone, hates everyone and he shouldn’t be there.  SU would keep him away from the Old Timers Day game as well.

Did you see the story about former Yankee pitcher Esteban Loaiza?  Busted with 43 pounds of cocaine.  Dude made $43 million in his career.  How does that happen?

Hope springs eternal.  SU is ready.  The Knicks are playing for draft positioning, Jeremy Lin is out another year and the NBA won’t get interesting until May and June.  Bring it on.