SU admires the continued discipline of Brian Cashman as he refuses to enter into panic mode and over-react to the Yankees’ pitching situation.  The news about Severino is not good.  He throws 99 mph into the 7th inning and has not had any real arm or shoulder issues to date.  Shoulder soreness is common in March but as we know, can lead to much more worse things.  He eats up a lot of innings.  Time will tell.  SU was not aware that CC would not be ready for Opening Day.  He is on his last legs but if you get 12 wins out of him, that is a good investment plus he is a leader in the clubhouse.  You just don’t want him pitching an elimination game this year in the playoffs – for a 3rd straight season.

Should the Yankees go out and overpay for an over-the-hill Keuchel?  SU says absolutely not.  Unnecessary.  They actually have some good young arms who can fill in and they showed some flashes last season.  Roll them out there and see if you can get 5 innings from them with 3 runs.  The line-up has more than enough pop – especially if Stanton can get some meaningful hits this year which you expect will be the case.  He needs to cross off “not familiar with the AL pitchers” from his excuse list for 2019.  This is the season where you will learn:

1. Can Stanton handle the NY spotlight?
2. Is he truly generational outside of Miami?
3. Is he, as SU has said from the beginning, overrated?

Aaron Boone is already talking about having some games where the Yankees will pitch only relievers.  Interesting.  You would think a $200 payroll avoids that situation.  The projected roster indicates only one of Bird/Voit makes the team (early money has Voit as something will surely happen to Bird related to his feet) and Clint Frazier likely does not make it either.  Packaging Bird and Frazier will return a good pitcher as necessary.

SU likes the Mets’ recent move of signing Jessica Mendoza as an advisor to the GM.  It shows imagination and forward thinking.  Good for them.  Also, Al Leiter will also be a special advisor but the hope here is that will take him off of all Yankee broadcasts in 2019 so we don’t have to see the circle change grip for the 500th time.

Michigan vs. Michigan State for the Big Ten Championship Saturday night (or at least a potential share of the title with Purdue).  Good stuff.  John Beilein retools after losing 3 key guys last year and has amassed a great record with a less than stellar roster.  For SU, this is my favorite sports viewing these days.  Following college basketball, like high school hoops, is a journey with many twists and turns over the course of the season.  Highly enjoyable.  In contrast, the NBA season feels like a long grind over many months.

Looks like LeBron will miss the playoffs.  It serves the Lakers right by bringing in malcontents like Rondo and Lance Stephenson this season.  Luke Walton will lose his job over this.  SU is looking forward to the playoffs.  Golden State is either bored or not quite as good this year and the East is wide open.

SU caught an ESPN interview with Antonio Brown.  Whoa.  He is playing the “respect” card with the Steelers a bit too much.  He has been handsomely rewarded in Pittsburgh and has been the focal point of the offense for years.  SU says take the high road and move on.

Finally, SU says there is no truth to the rumor that Robert Kraft is seeking to have his solicitation case moved to T.S. Ellis III’s court in Alexandria, VA for more favorable treatment.  No doubt Ellis would throw out the charges and compliment Kraft on his prowess at 77.