SU says competition for playing time is a good thing. It used to annoy me when Nick Swisher was guaranteed his starts and at bats towards the tail end of his Yankee tenure. Well, now Greg Bird who was given 1st base as a badly needed left-handed bat in the line up has had 100 at bats and is really struggling. While he is still an SU fave, Aaron Boone has every right to start platooning him or even allow Brandon Drury to win the position. Last night, bottom of the 10th, bases loaded, 1 out, Boone could have pinch hit for Bird with a tough lefty on the mound but he allowed him to hit. Struck out on 3 pitches. SU says it’s time: competition for playing time is a positive and the let the games begin.
Speaking of competition, we have seen the Brett Gardner hot streak when he got up to .265. Well, now as they say in the Passover story, it’s 7 years of famine and he will hit .150 for the next month. SU says bring up Clint Frazier and let’s have that competition. If nothing else, you showcase Frazier for a possible trade for a starting pitcher. Speaking of that, good comments from the SU faithful yesterday. SU would have to agree that there really aren’t any slam dunk, must have pitchers out there. I would be perfectly happy going with the rookies and let them grow this year. You could certainly throw Sonny Gray in the mix – someone might like him and his salary is probably pretty reasonable. SU would still do the Giancarlo Stanton trade for a high priced pitcher – you lose nothing there. But of course I am biased.
Twitter was alive last night with the Demarcus Cousins signing by the Golden State Warriors. SU has no problem with this one. The reason is that Cousins is a team culture killer. He is a hot head and he needs his 20+ shots a night to be happy. I am sure he will behave on this roster but can you really tolerate both Draymon Green and this guy? This was not a no-brainer move – it does carry some risk although it’s just a 1-year deal. I still say Cousins is a cancer type player – great on paper but so bad in the locker room. He has never played in the playoffs in 7+ years.
Finally, did you realize that John Sterling, the voice of the Yankees on radio, is turning 80? And that he has not missed a Yankee broadcast since 1990? Still going strong although he has the eyes of a 120-year old. Thank goodness you can listen to the crowd noise on the radio broadcasts to know what happened.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Completely agree with the competition thing. I was praying that last night would be Bird’s signature break out moment. He looked like he was just flaring at the pitch being thrown…..like Gardner did earlier. Drury, Frazier in… let the games begin.
I can’t agree with you on Stanton. He is quietly nearing 279 and with a somewhat better second half will have 40 homers and 105 RBI’s. I believe the 2nd half of the season the Yankees will have an easier schedule. We will feast on this and still end up 1-3+ wins.
I know Tanaka is coming back next week but whose to say another pitcher might go down. We need a starter now. The Braves had 2 better lefty relievers than our pathetic lefty so when the “world’ says we have such a great bullpen… where is our lefty stopper? This remains a problem as well.
I have not been watching the NBA for many years now because of the group of individuals… and I say individuals versus a team put out there. If we can obtain 1 solid player in free agency I might give the Knicks another chance.. at least for the first few games.
With the whole NBA shift 100% to be dictated by the players is just so horrible for the sport yet they claim the NBA had their best season fan-wise. I don’t get it. Cleveland now will go back to being a crappy team as no one wants to play there anymore. I’m thinking that in a few years during the draft when bad teams select players you’ll see those specific players want an immediate trade or suck it up for one season…. have solid stats and then test free agency so they too can play on a winning team. It will happen. The owners have no say anymore.
BTW… sure Cousin’s is financially set so its all about the ring now. He will fall in line and play nicely in the sandbox for the most part. Though I can’t blame LeBron for going to LA… he will not win a championship for the next couple of years with Golden State so, so deep with talent. I won’t lose any sleep over this as I’m just hoping the Knicks can climb to 500….. what a victory that will be. It all depends on how healthy Porzingus remains.
Don’t forget that Stanton almost never plays a full season. Always finds a way to get hurt. I know the stats project out that way but tell the truth: when he comes up with RISP or in a big spot late, do you really ever feel like he will get a hit? He is like Todd Frazier to me – his hits are not in the clutch. Agree about the lefty reliever and yes, another starter would be great but it’s not obvious who that is and they should not overpay to get that guy.
Great comments. Agree I love Frazier and would phase out Gardener. But nothing wrong with Judge, Hicks, Stanton and rotate Frazier and Gardener to Keep everyone fresh.
Jacoby Ellsbury. We hardly ever knew you.
If Stanton passes Judge in home runs and RBIs at any point this year (could be soon), will SU print a Mea Culpa?