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.

You have to admit that the NBA off-season is the most fun when it comes to free agency.  Heck, in baseball now, the owners have become very good at ignoring most of the free agents, and in football, the salary cap makes it harder for the top players to even have many decent options.

SU cannot fault LeBron for heading out West.  He gave it his all this post-season for a somewhat dysfunctional ownership situation in Cleveland.  He will have fun playing in the more up-tempo Western Conference but winning in LA is no sure thing.  Paul George is staying put in OKC (SU is not quite sure of his logic there but ok) and even if the Lakers can put together an attractive package for Kawi Leonard, they will either have to give up a lot or hope that Leonard’s recent injury history is not chronic.  And even if they acquire Leonard, that roster is not going to compete with Golden State this year.

Meanwhile, Houston lost Trevor Ariza to the Phoenix Suns  and while they have now invested $40 million a year in Chris Paul for 4 years (when he will be 37 years old – choke), as of today they are worse than last year.  I know Paul is a key guy but he can’t stay healthy at 33; what makes you think he will get better with age?  If nothing else, at least the Lakers can become must see tv again after having fallen off the radar for the past several years.

I thought I saw Sonny Gray’s picture on a milk carton in the supermarket yesterday.  Has anyone seen this guy?  He has been a major disappointment for the Yankees.  You have to assume he is one of those pitchers/players who can’t perform in NY.  He grips the ball too tightly, over-thinks each pitch, wants it too bad, etc.  Cashman really has to pull the trigger now and will have to give up more youngsters than he would like.  SU has seen Miguel Andujar’s name out there – very upsetting if that’s the case.  No way does he move.  Clint Frazier is more likely to go which is also too bad.  SU cannot identify exactly what pitcher is being targeted.  I would steer clear of Cole Hamels – too old and past his prime.  Right now, Severino is top 5 in all of baseball, Tanaka has good credentials in the post-season and CC is very good with extra rest (and by the way, give him the extra rest – this is pretty obvious).  SU likes the youngsters but in October, more in long relief.  This will be a key move and Cashman cannot afford to mess it up while he keeps his eye on the long term.

So, sports fans, who do you see Cashman targeting in a trade?