As a Giant fan, the feeling of watching your quarterback actually run for 2 touchdowns was quite odd after 15 years of not having a mobile QB. SU was an Eli fan – I had no problem with him – but the time was right to make the move to a younger option. It looks like the Giants’ GM and scouts were spot on with Daniel Jones. He’s tall, mobile and hangs in there. Now, he did take some brutal hits and Eli will no doubt need to stay sharp this season as his time will come again. And if Barkley is out for any lengthy period, they will be passing even more. The Giants will need to protect him. But SU says it now gives fans a reason to tune in on Sundays even if they are a sub-.500 team this year (face it: that is one bad defense). Btw, SU loves the QB draw play around the goal line. That wasn’t the call at the end of the game, but with a guy like Jones, you can run that play and the zone read as additional options for scoring.
As one of the 17 people who watches the Tennis Channel, SU was quite entertained this weekend by the Laver Cup. Like the Ryder Cup, it puts individual players from different countries on the same team for a weekend and there is a lot of passion and nerves out there. And do you know who the best teammate is? Nick Kyrgios. He is a nut job in many of his matches the rest of the year but was all in rooting on his fellow players, providing pointers on the changeovers and just being engaged. SU says he showed a different side for sure.
While German is gone, the Yankees are going to get a huge boost from a strong Severino in the playoffs. They can now go Paxton, Severino and Tanaka as the rotation with either Happ or an opener in game 4. It looks like their pitching is now lined up. The problem will be the hitting. Sanchez is on pace to return as is Encarnacion. Urshela is slumping as is Voit. Boone will have some options on lineups. But SU says if they face Houston in the ALCS, putting 7 right handed hitters out there who strike out a ton against Verlander, Cole and Greinke is not what you want. But… SU will be satisfied at this point if they can get to that round and then let the chips fall where they may.
SU was quite disappointed by Michigan’s showing against Wisconsin. Even with a bye week, it didn’t seem like they were prepared. The Badgers have big offensive linemen (as they have for the past 75 years) and try to push you around. Michigan had no answer – on either side of the ball. But… there are other games to come and they are not mathematically out of it. It will take a quick reset for the season and getting players to show they care which was not the case in the 2nd half Saturday.
Finally, long-time subscriber, A. Grossman was on record at the start of the season predicting 105 wins for the Yankees. He has been issuing regular reminders and is now in range of hitting his number. While he will be expecting to receive the official SU-logoed backpack as a reward, we need to check inventory levels to see if any are left.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
I backhanded compliment but I’ll take it.
There has been a drop in the level of strikeouts this year so I am not thinking we will be overwhelmed by Houston’s pitching staff this time around….assuming we both get there.
I am also not concerned with Urshela and Voit’s recent slump. They will come around and be involved in our scoring runs.
I just hope Encarnacion and Stanton are not in the same lineup at the same time.
Meanwhile I can you leave out Gardner in the starting lineup, Great fielder, fast, lefty bat and knows how to take a pitch. If they need to pitch to him because the rest of the lineup is scary he just might be your playoff MVP.
Yes, the Daniel Jones era has begun. His easy run into into the end zone was not a designed play. Tampa’s defense just forgot that it wasn’t Eli in there therefore no need to worry about his running into the end zone on his own. I just hop Barkley is OK to play next week.
Gardner and Didi will be the only left-handed batters in the line up. It looks like Gardner, at age 36, has finally learned to hit with his lower body. The hitting coaches have tried to get him to do this for his entire career. While the juiced ball helps him, he is hitting with his whole body now and should be positioned pretty high in the line up – if nothing else to break up the sluggers. I actually think Urshela will become the late inning defensive replacement in the playoffs. LeMahieu will play first and Encarnacion at DH Stanton in left. Voit and Urshela to the bench.
Definitely good to have Jones in there. Even while they were losing, the play was compelling. I can’t tell if he is fearless in the pocket or if he lacks awareness. It was a blessing and a curse yesterday. He pulled off some nice throws just before getting hit. But he also got hit/fumbled on some plays where he did little/nothing to avoid contact. If he’s just fearless, maybe experience will teach him to get a little more protective of the ball. But if he doesn’t have awareness, things could get ugly.
If LeMahieu plays first, you need Urshela at third.
Anyone remember Jeff Hostetler?
If Eli Manning is a Hall of Fame QB, then what is Daniel Jones, Hall of Legends?