SU is not like one of the tens of thousands of fans lining the streets of Nashville last night to watch the NFL draft.  But I did tune in for the Giants’ first round picks – I was curious to see if they would pick Eli’s successor.  And, it turns out they did.  But tell me: who is Daniel Jones from Duke?  And is he a legit #6 pick in the first round?  SU says the Giants either are incredibly shrewd talent evaluators and have found the next Eli Manning given the endorsements from Eli’s former coach, or this is just another move that will set the team back for years to come.

Many teams seemed to be scared off by Haskins from Ohio State as he dropped to the 15th pick despite great stats this year in his only full year of playing in college.  The Arizona Cardinals need to move Rosen now but he was pretty bad in his rookie season last year.  It appears to be a head-scratching move but SU is prepared to be enlightened.

Meanwhile, Yankee fans have to be enjoying how this team of youngsters is competing for the last week and a half.  They have long at bats, hit to the opposite field, hit in situations to get guys across or in, and even steal bases.  SU looked it up and it’s called “baseball.”  But, alas, the stars are ready to return soon no doubt.  Gary Sanchez has given them 5 strikeouts in 2 games, a passed ball (of course!) and mindless at bats in his first 2 games back.  I know he has potential, and as Michael Kay said last night is seen as a “40-home run guy.”  And you can put him back to back with Giancarlo Stanton and they both will end up with 40 home runs and 81 rbis and 175 strikeouts.

Clearly, the Yankees are better with Didi back, Judge back, Hicks back, Andujar back.  But for SU, Tulo, Sanchez, Stanton – just take your time with the rehab.  No one misses the wild swings on the sliders low and away, and your thoughtful at bats.  I mean, who would try and get you out with that pitch?  I know Romine is not an everyday catcher but you can tell the Yankee pitchers would prefer to throw to him.  If the team needs another starter, SU votes to move Sanchez.

Btw, the Yankees’ bullpen is leaking this year.  Chad Green needs a few weeks in the minors and no one is a sure thing.  But SU likes the spirit and the fight right now – even Tyler Wade is stepping up.  The contrast between the high strikeout, high home run line-up and this style is striking, and Cashman needs to find the right mix going forward as the season unfolds.

If you happen to watch the Yankees of late, it is striking how the current line up of fill-in players seem to all look to hit to the opposite field.  This is truly amazing.  Clearly, if you are a superstar earning more than $25 million a year, you can ignore the batting coaches and just go out hunting for your home runs.  It seems that the youngsters, who mostly make the MLB minimum, actually listen.  SU is very excited to see this.

Btw, give the Yankees credit.  There is no hanging their heads and complaining about all the injuries.  It’s “next man up” and you go with who is available.  While they may not be the 1927 Yankees, they put the ball in play and go with the pitch.  SU says this is so much more entertaining!  Note to Giancarlo Stanton: take your time and make sure your bicep is just right before returning.  SU will enjoy the little guys playing in your place and putting the ball in play.

Meanwhile, you can say the Yankees are having some bad luck, but in this era of sabremetrics and the most expensive strength and conditioning advice and research, available, clearly the Yankees need to change their approach.  This is well beyond bad luck.  This has to be the wrong type of training and strength/conditioning.  Too much weight lifting?  Not enough stretching with all of the calf injuries?  Are the players too muscular?  Time for a major reassessment by the team.

The Judge oblique injury is a killer.  SU says this is likely a 2-month injury and we will see if the Generational One can step in fill the void.  It’s interesting to read that Judge is seen as the one player that they can’t replace.  If you make $30 million a year, how are you not that guy??

You seriously cannot make this stuff up.  Greg Bird is now on the Injured List with a plantar fascia tear.  Clearly, he got this from Jacoby Ellsbury in spring training down in Tampa.  Everyone is worried about the measles outbreak but the Yankees have their own set of health issues.  SU says this will be the end of Bird’s tenure with the team.  They called up Mike Ford who has been tearing it up at Scranton and it’s time for the Bird era to end in NY.  He has blown every chance and this year in particular.

SU says that the Yankees will soon be in the market for a new Head Trainer and a new Strength and Conditioning coach.  What is going on this year?  And did you see that David Robertson is now on the IL with the Phillies?  That makes Chapman, Betances, Kahnle and Robertson from last year’s bullpen all having issues over the past 12 months.  Cashman never felt that Girardi was enough of a communicator but he knew how to manage the bullpen.  Whatever Boone did last year is having some carryover in 2019.  If the Yankees struggle all year, the Boone era may be short-lived.

The Yankees have been unwatchable all season but you have to figure better times are ahead.  However, no buzz with the Red Sox in town – for either team.  The Mets meanwhile have a circular line up and put the ball in play.  They are worth a look.

Did did you see that Golden State blew a 31-point lead last night at home?  The Clippers scored 85 points in the 2nd half.  Crazy.  And the Sixers had 51 points in the 3rd quarter against Brooklyn.  While SU really enjoys the fast pace and high scoring, just a little bit of defense might not be a bad idea.

SU is not a huge golf fan but I must admit I watched much of the final round (and some of the 3rd round) of the Masters this weekend to see if Tiger Woods would win.  I have always been a Tiger Woods fan.  True, he is a flawed human being and much of his trouble has been self-inflicted (at least the porn stars part).  But he has made golf “cool” (as some say) by incorporating fitness and strength into the mix, and has been a model for a whole generation of today’s young golfers.  He is also great for ratings and yesterday’s final round, with so many golfers in contention, was fun to watch (especially compared to watching any Yankee game this year which is truly painful).

SU was trying to recall a greater redemption story in sports but it really is hard to think of one.  There was probably some boxer who late in his career won another championship well past his prime (Ali?) but given that Woods was at a point where he might never play again for health reasons, this was pretty amazing (hopefully there won’t be a Dr. Galea story that pops up in the next few weeks to spoil all of this).  Of course, Ron Burgundy’s great comeback in the movie Anchorman is another heart-warming story of redemption.

SU knows there are a number of Tiger haters on this subscriber list.  Some of you may not be happy about this weekend’s developments.  Thoughts?

SU will post later about the Yankees and the Mets.  The Mets, by the way, are a fun team to watch.  And you know what???  They actually try and hit to the opposite field.  What??  They also must have a training and strength and conditioning staff that knows how to keep players from pulling calf muscles when they move to colder weather.  Anyway more to come on that front.

Stanton clearly could not handle the commentary from SU from last night and has opted to go on the 10-day injured list to rehab.  The Yankees are reporting a bicep issue but we all know better.  Clearly, 3 days in the outfield is taxing.  Clint Frazier gets his shot.  He needs to make the most of this chance – hope Boone puts him out there.

Yankees are now down Hicks and the Generational One.  SU likes this: put the new guy from Colorado out there or Frazier.  It’s another chance to play guys who don’t go for the home run on every at bat and might even hit to the opposite field.  This could be revolutionary.