Let the Lance Lynn Era begin.  SU predicts this will last for one start.  Lynn will get rocked and Gray will come in and will pitch lights out.   You just know it and then you are back to square one.  OR with Happ on the DL with his disease, both Lynn and Gray will be in the rotation.

When you stack up this rotation against Houston or Cleveland, it doesn’t give you the warm fuzzies.  As Joe Girardi likes to say, “It’s not what you want.”  Nope.

Sonny Gray is taking a beating this morning from all sides following yesterday’s bad outing.  The fans are demanding that Lance Lynn be put into the rotation and Gray sent packing.  Even Aaron Boone seemed to be hinting that a change was coming in his post-game remarks.  SU is not on board with the move:

• OK, Gray was bad yesterday but he was decent in his last few starts.  Plus what else are you going to do with this guy?  He does not pitch out of the bullpen – has always been a starter.  SU says keep him in the rotation but with a short leash.
• I am telling you that Lance Lynn is not the answer.  He was good yesterday but he has not been good for several years.  SU says have both Gray and Lynn both warm up for the next start and have one of them on call throughout the first part of the game.  The reality is that neither of these guys is the answer or can be trusted.
• Gleyber Torres made two mental errors yesterday.  His head was not in the game.  But he is still only 21 and these things happen.  He also hit 2 home runs and is probably your best hitter right now.  Give him a pep talk but do not discipline him.
• The injuries call out for Stanton to do something, anything.  He struck out with the bases loaded early and then struck out on 3 pitches in the 9th inning.  Clearly, not feeling generational in the heat yesterday.  SU says let’s see what he’s got this weekend.  But they should move him down to clean-up.  What’s the point of him batting 2nd when your 8th and 9th hitters are Romine and Robinson?  And tell me why Robinson is playing again?  Better off having Walker as the DH and putting Stanton in the field.

Things do not look great heading into Boston but baseball is not a momentum type sport.  Anything can happen here.  Look for Bird to hit at least two home runs over the Green Monster – he seems to be finding a left field stroke.  Sale is out and the Red Sox are not putting out any Hall of Famers this weekend.  SU will take a series split and move on.

Will Urban Meyer have to step down?  SU says no way.  Ohio State has no track record of doing the right thing (see Republican Rep. Jim Jordan and his history as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State).  SU says winning trumps all else.  He will be suspended the first two games of the season against bad teams and will then return in all his glory.  But perhaps, perhaps, it puts him one step closer to the NFL for his next move.

Wait a minute, the Nationals just scored again vs. the Mets.  The score is now 500 – 4.  What an embarrassment.  They need to show some pride.  This is a big moment for Callaway who does not want to be a one and done manager.

But moving on.  SU has been monitoring the Yankees’ moves over the past week.  My thoughts:

• Lance Lynn: SU is not a fan.  He hasn’t been good for several years.  Hard thrower but his fastball is very straight.  He reminds me of Joba Chamberlain.  And not in a good way.  But… maybe he will be like Phil Hughes and when used out of the bullpen, his speed goes up into the high 90s.  Can’t see him as a starter.  I guess he is the Tommy Kahnle replacement.  And what happened to him?  SU suspects his pitch speed never returned this year and that is why he is languishing in the minor leagues.
• JA Happ: they gave up nothing basically other than Drury who also didn’t have a position.  No downside here – even if he’s a rental which is likely the case.  Andujar is the future and SU is glad they kept him.  If Happ can produce, good move given what you gave up.
• Adam Warren: He’s a nice guy and a good soldier.  His stats seemed to look better than he actually pitched this year.  I think the Yankees think he is brittle and can’t stay healthy.  SU does not have a problem moving him out.  It clears room for Justus Sheffield to be brought up.
• Zach Britton:  Good move.  He will settle in and be a factor down the stretch and in October.  SU predicts he will get more prime time activity late in games and very soon – starting this weekend.
• Loss of Tyler Austin: let’s face it: he was never going to get a real shot as he didn’t have a position.  This should be good for his career and SU hopes he can take advantage of it.

OK, big series on tap now in Boston.  No Judge, no Sanchez.  This is the time your true generational players step up and show everyone that they are the man and need to be feared.  Will Giancarlo Stanton do that?  SU says it’s highly doubtful but is ready to be proven wrong.  Let’s speak plainly: when you are paid $30 million a year, these are the games when you are expected to produce.  A-Rod often struggled in these games – especially in October.  Stanton likely has little experience with this given that the Marlins rarely contended.  Of course, I would love to see him come through.  Just not feeling it.

Will he?

Given the injuries, SU says a 2-2 split would be a victory this weekend in Boston.  You really can’t hope for more than that.  Actually, a couple of early inning rain delays would work in the Yankees’ favor where the starter can’t return.  That would be ideal with the new bullpen which is loaded.  Also worried Severino will get lit up again.  His slider has disappeared and he can’t win with his fastball alone.