SU watched the Yankee game last night – even saw the end after the rain delay and dozing off. Luckily, I coordinated my nap with the rain delay almost exactly. Takes skill to do that. A few thoughts:
- JA Happ must be happy about the shortened season so he doesn’t have to worry about giving up 50 home runs this year. He is not to be trusted.
- There is something about the Yankees this year that makes them unexciting. I think it’s a combination of pitchers taking too much time between pitches, catchers giving 127 signs for every pitch and guys striking out at a high rate. Actually, if you scan many box scores so far, not a lot of scoring or base hits in most games. Has the sport become waiting for the home run?
- So, managers now have a 30-man roster to play with. SU likes that. And with COVID, you know you are going to have games canceled all over the place. It’s like playing outside in Miami or Seattle with the rain and no roof – not every game will be played if you didn’t have a roof. Boone brings in Loaiziga after the rain delay in the 6th inning and makes him pitch 3 full innings. He has a rested bullpen as the Yankees hardly ever play, and he has extra relievers as well. I know there is the 3-batter minimum but why bring him out for a 3rd inning in the 8th protecting a 1-run lead? Sure enough, he gives up a 2-run home run and if not for the heroics of Judge in the 9th inning, that’s a loss. In a 162-game season, no big deal but in a 60-game season, big deal. And no comments from Kay, Cone or O’Neil.
- Commissioner Rob Manfred has just ruled that Gary Sanchez’s at bats will no longer be televised. Just too painful to watch and he doesn’t want to scare children watching him swing at low and away sliders over and over again. Now, I know now that I have ragged on him, he will hit 2 home runs tonight against Boston. He is red hot or ice cold. But SU has tired of the act.
SU likes the SNY Met broadcasts showing fans in the bleachers and they have the cut outs behind home plate. When you combine that with piped in crowd noise, a much better viewing experience.
MLB has announced that doubleheaders will start tomorrow with only 7 inning games. SU says go for it! This actually makes managing a lot more interesting with the challenge of when to take out your starter and how to manage relievers with 3-batter minimums. Great idea. Think about how Boone will manage JA Happ in that situation? Boone will be limited to 7 innings to make up for any early deficit. SU says late 1st inning is not too soon to take him out.
It’s annoying that the Astros have escaped the booing for their cheating the last 2 years. Opposing teams need to be more creative with piped in booing.
SU watched some of the NBA game last night between the Lakers and the Clippers. Good stuff. Very up tempo and the viewing experience is good. Ready to ramp up my NBA interest as they near the start of the playoffs.
It will be interesting to see what MLB does with the Miami Marlins. SU does not know the full story but players need to be smarter with what they do and where they go away from the stadium.
Still hoping for college football this Fall. But not feeling it.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
If the Marlins finish the season 2-1, do they win the NL East based on winning percentage?
Yes, absolutely. And MLB is going to end up doing this anyway I think as there is no way to make up for all of the games that will be canceled based on how they are treating the teams with positive tests. Should be interesting.
Can’t argue with any of your points except for Boone’s decision to let Loaiziga go out for another inning. There will be an announcement today from the Yankees (regarding Kahnle) but he was unavailable according to Boone in post-game and I assume that had something to do with his decision.
Oooh, that would be bad. He looked good in his first appearance vs. the Nationals. There is no bottom for the Yankees on injuries for the last several years.
The NBA games felt like the first three quarters of an NBA All Star Game when the players jack up 3’s and play minimal defense. I assume as we get closer to the playoffs, and into the playoffs, the teams will lock it down a little more.
Agree, Pete, there were a lot of 3s going up but I am OK as long as the pace is there. You have to assume the playoffs will bring out the tougher play. What’s interesting is that home court doesn’t count like it does in a normal year and in the playoffs, that’s a huge advantage for the home team.
I don’t see any love given to the former MVP in the National League as he is batting close to 500 so far for the Yankees.
We are 4-1. I’ll take it.
You are right. I just can’t go all in for Stanton quite yet although he looks much better and slimmed down. Time will tell but we are certainly not used to this with him.
Boone was very cryptic about Kahnle- have to wonder if it is COVID-19 related. Need Sanchez to pull a groin muscle loafing down to first base (of course when you strike out all the time, that’s pretty hard).
Yes, that’s what I was wondering. Better that vs. Tommy John surgery. Have to hope if it’s COVID that he didn’t infect the rest of the bullpen. Or maybe he got it from Chapman.
I am a little torn about the Joe Kelly pitches against Bregman and Correa. I am always fearful of the 95+ mph fastball at the head, it’s not cliche to say you could kill someone. On the other hand the Astros got away with mealy mouth apologies for the cheating scandal and Correa and Bregman are poster boys so hats off the Kelly for saying to Correa, “nice swing b__ch”. They should all be made to feel uncomfortable at the plate for the entire shortened season. Kelly’s cry baby face was priceless
I’d like to make the parallel on your not so keen on enjoying today’s philosophy on baseball focusing much more in playing for the long ball with more strikeouts and less hits overall. I get it. I’d like to have more balance too. However with that said when you look at all the injuries we had and still won 103 games and the year before 100 games does it really matter how you get there as long a you get there?
The parallel here is how basketball is played. Whatever happened to the team concept of passing the ball around and finding someone to take the open shot? And what about defense? Its played by few too many. On offense its simply penetrate and dish… penetrate and dish…. or hoist one up from close to mid court. Is that fun to watch? I say no, but what can you do. That’s the game today. take it or leave it. I’ve chose to basically leave watching professional basketball because its boring. I do love college basketball both men’s and women’s. The team concept still lives.
On a side note hockey was, is and will always be a team concept sport. Though there aren’t as many “points” scored just watching how goals are set up, including some of the moves and strength these players have is very exciting. And when it comes to injuries these guys are tougher than the other big time sports. I won’t even get into soccer because there are more obvious fake falls and injuries than all the other sports combined… including that rugged sport known as Bacci Ball.