Random thoughts for a Monday morning:
- SU saw that the Mets hired Chili Davis as their new hitting coach. SU says good move – he had a good run with the Red Sox and seems to connect well with players. I like that hiring.
- All quiet in Yankee Land but don’t be fooled by that. The market is still being “set” for the big free agent names this winter. The Yankees are being linked to both Harper and Machado on Twitter but who knows? As a fan, their biggest need is still pitching and while they passed on Corbin, Happ is still out there. Kuechel says he will cut off his beard for 2019 but SU says he is over the hill – no longer as effective and definitely one to steer clear of in this market. Eovaldi was not worth the money as he has already had 2 Tommy John surgeries. The Yankees were right to stay away. I guess the Sonny Gray trade is going to have to yield someone who can make the rotation. If the Yankees want to sign either Harper or Machado AND trade Stanton, well then SU is all in. But to sign one of these guys and still need to find starting pitching, then it makes no sense.
- The Giants are showing signs of life late in the season when only draft pick positioning is on the line. The Redskins are in free fall and their defense just gave up yesterday – obviously not inspired by having Mark Sanchez as your 3rd string QB.
- Jeremy Lin rumors are swirling. Only SU cares but he is playing well and can help a contender. Still one of the players that I tune in to watch.
- Only one more game to have to watch Urban Meyer run his hand through his hair to keep from imploding on the sideline. He says he will never coach again but there are going to be a lot of NFL slots opening up after this season and we will see if that holds.
- Harold Baines has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. That one is a head scratcher for SU. Solid player in his career but was he one of the top hitters at his position for an extended period? I don’t think so.
- Finally, you had to love that Miami Dolphins win on the hook and ladder play that never, ever works over the Patriots. That one play could cost them home field in the AFC playoffs – not insignificant.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
One of the beautiful things about baseball is the way you can find special performances everywhere. This has been abused by scoreboard operators for decades: ‘[Current Batter] is hitting .385 vs. left-handed pitching over his last 6 games.’ It’s also been abused by agents looking to prove their clients’ greatness and 24-hr sports channel hosts looking for something to talk about. It turns out that the Hall of Fame has also succumbed to the pressure to look at “good” and see “great.” Baines was a good hitter. I’m sure they’ll be able to slice the numbers one way or another so that he will have “the most” something or be “the first” something else. But he played for 22 years and topped 100 RBIs only 3 times. He never hit 30 homeruns This is not greatness. It would bother me more if Baines were an isolated example. But he is joining Biggio, Yount, Carter, Blyleven. I’m kind of a stickler on this. Dave Winfield was one of my favorite players for a long time and I’m not sure he belongs in the Hall…and he was twice the hitter that Baines was.
All the talk of the resurgence of Eli Manning. It wouldn’t matter if it was him or Brady or Montana. When u have protection u can be effective. When u dont have it and a 320lb monster is beating down on u there is little u can do unless u have the speed to get away. None of the great QBs of yesteryears have/had that ability… Prescott…a mediocre accurate QB has that protection so he can look good statically. Eli is very good when he has the time. It’s the O line which should be getting the credit. Hey….they even opened up holes for Barkley.
Maybe our line now isn’t the disaster it was back in September thru mid Oct.
Lou Piniella missed being elected into HOF with Baines by 1 vote…think about that one
Interesting. Now, Piniella had a long managerial career on top of a solid playing career. I suspect Baines had better numbers as a player but Lou managed for a number of years including a world championship with the Reds. Baines’s numbers just don’t stack up to many others and will no doubt bring many others into the mix at least on sports talk radio now.