SU is sure that you all recognize that line from the move, Gladiator, where Russell Crowe asked the fans just that after carving up a bunch of opponents. I have been asking myself this question after watching a few Yankee games this weekend. The answer is “No!” Not even close. Let me tell you why:
- Sports is more than wins and losses. As a fan, I want to be entertained and inspired, and I want to enjoy how the game is played. Rolling out a bunch of big dudes who are only thinking about hitting home runs no matter what the situation is not fun or inspiring. Guys on base, have a plan. Watch where the shift is. Make contact. Move a runner over. Some on this blog are happy with the record and if you extrapolate out, you have 100 wins in a full season. Maybe. But now the Yankees are 10-6 and face the truth: Tampa Bay is not a good match-up for the Yankees. They roll out reliever after reliever who is over 6 ft. 7 inches tall and throws 97 mph. And of course, they are all right-handed. They can’t hit at all but aside from home runs, neither can the Yankees.
- SU will not get on Stanton. He tried to lose weight and some muscle mass. But clearly playing 7-inning games as the DH in a doubleheader was too much. He pulled his hamstring running to 2nd base on a wild pitch. The solution is to only hit home runs. And take your time walking around the bases. But they can slot in plenty of guys (Frazier, Ford) who might actually hit the other way.
- I don’t mind no fans – I have become used to it. Michael Kay, Cone and O’Neill keep me entertained enough. But every game must have 25 strikeouts and a ton of foul balls. Just not interesting.
- The season just passed the quarter mark. Judge, Urshela and LeMahieu are carrying the team. But they can’t do it forever. As the standings tighten up, we will see who rises to the occasion.
Looking like college football will be canceled without even trying to play any games. SU says at least give it a shot. The NFL is full steam ahead. I get that once students return, there is no enforceable bubble. It just seems like they should have tried. But the major conferences are going to announce tomorrow apparently. Bummer.
SU did watch the final round of the PGA in almost its entirety. That was great. So many players in contention. Older guys, younger guys. Brooks Koepka made the mistake of dissing Dustin Johnson on Saturday and came up very small Sunday. Not a good move – and hey, this is golf. You guys don’t talk smack like that. He didn’t back it up.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Hey SU, what about the Rangers winning the draft lottery? The biggest fix since the frozen envelope landed Patrick Ewing in New York.
I agree with you on the boom or bust baseball being played by the Yanks and most other teams. As the saying goes, chicks dig the long ball. HRs are fun to watch but 25 Ks per game gets a bit monotonous. Here’s to good old fashioned National League small ball. May she Rest In Peace.
Stanton out of the lineup will help. But we’re mostly talking about how the game is played. 20 years ago the Sabermatricians determined that strikeouts and homers were the key to success and we’re seeing that realized as we see the players that were raised, trained and scouted with those metrics in mind. I’d like to think the pendulum would swing the other way at some point but there are many factors that are reinforcing the current themes including highlight reels, bat flips and growing rosters.
I’m sure I’m in the minority here but I’d like to see college football return the day after every student gets to attend in person classes.