SU caught the documentary on CC Sabathia on HBO a few days ago. I thought it was very well done and went deep on Sabathia’s alcohol addiction which he kept out of the media for most of his career. He is very frank in the show. Pretty amazing that the media did not pick up on it as he talked about basically binge drinking between starts for a number of years.

It’s definitely worth checking out. CC is a good guy and was well-respected by his peers in the clubhouse. Possible future managerial material? Not clear he has the interest but something to watch.

SU stumbled across this article this morning on http://www.espn.com on Gary Sanchez:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30588020/i-know-why-playing-gary-sanchez-getting-benched-playoffs-future-new-york-yankees

Sanchez was interviewed down in the DR where he is playing winter ball and getting ready for the 2021 season. The upshot here is that he didn’t know why he was benched in the playoffs this year. So, first of all, he hit .148 this season, played his usual bad defense and refused to hit to right field. Other than that, all good. But if you read the article, he sat down with Aaron Boone at the end of the season and they talked it out. And he still doesn’t understand? Sanchez is a good guy basically – he is not a troublemaker in the clubhouse and trying to catch guys like Chapman and Britten can’t be easy with the movement on their pitches. But SU says he needs to step up and be accountable. No one hits .148 and plays regularly other than you. He says he struck out 3 times in game 2 vs. the Rays but felt good. It’s not good enough – especially in New York.

SU understands that baseball is all about strikeouts and home runs now. I suppose Sanchez feels that if he hits 30 home runs, hits .220 and strikes out 150 times, that’s fine. The Yankee brass need to make it clear that Sanchez needs to make contact and should only hit to right field. Do that and we can tolerate the defensive lapses. He needs your help.

SU caught Michael Kay on one of the Hot Stove shows. He is advocating for some radical changes to baseball. For example, how about if you strike out 2 times you have to come out of the game? Jack Curry countered that fans pay to come see Aaron Judge and he strikes out a ton. They would not be happy to see him come out after 2 at bats when he could still be a hero later in the game with a home run. SU likes the out of the box thinking and baseball needs to speed up the action or just have any action. Watching strikeouts and the occasional home run just doesn’t cut it. Hitting to the opposite field, bunting for hits, stealing bases is fun to the fan. It may not be the analytics approach anymore – and there is the rub.

Same issue in the NBA. Some of the 3-point shooters are so good that you are better off driving and dishing to the likes of Duncan Robinson to launch 3-pointers at a 48% make rate vs. taking mid-range jumpers or driving to the basket. SU likes the high scoring games and getting shots up in less than 15 seconds. It is true that some games become 3-point contests and you have 25% shooters hoisting up ugly looking shots so it’s not for every player and every team. But I am OK with this style of play if the pace is fast and teams mix in the drives of course. The days of the post up big man are gone from the game today as you have players like Durant who are 6-10 playing like guards.

The NFL playoffs are going to be great. There just aren’t any truly dominant teams this year. Green Bay is peaking and you can make the case they are that team – especially with games played at their field in January. Kansas City is amazing on offense but not on defense. Btw, the Giants can win the Division and host a playoff game at 6-10 if they beat Dallas and Washington loses this coming weekend. That is a disgrace. Too bad they didn’t seem interested in playing yesterday or perhaps that is just who they are. Dallas is starting to find its way on offense now and could actually be a force if they make the playoffs. SU will entertain playoff predictions a week from today.

Finally, SU has watched several NBA games so far. The quality of play from the same teams is very uneven over the course of a few days. SU says do not underestimate the impact of the pandemic on the players who are no doubt restricted to their hotels on the road. The bubble in Orlando was one thing but at least they set it up with various distractions. I wonder how this season will unfold for teams traveling around the country in the winter.

Happy to hear what everyone has to say as we near the end of 2020. Thank goodness.

Before SU comments on baseball and the lack of action on the free agency front, I have got to weigh in on James Harden. First of all, he has finally reported to training camp and it’s clear he did not step up to the salad bar during his time off. Either that or he has outgrown his warm-up outfit. It’s not a good look if you are looking to be traded. And SU says buyer beware – he’s in his early 30s now and for an NBA team to get him, you have to match salaries which means a combination of contracts of other over paid players and no doubt some studs plus draft picks. He will only deteriorate from here on out as he gets older and remember, he has never won a championship.

Actually, Harden reminds me of Giancarlo Stanton. You over-pay to get him and then your roster is hamstrung from there on out. SU did have a laugh out loud moment this morning when I read that Brian Cashman said that Stanton is a “beast.” Sure, he had a few good games in the playoffs but he can’t stay healthy. Cashman says the goal for 2021 is to keep him healthy. I mean, you only play him at DH – what else are you supposed to do? Have a designated runner for him once he gets on base? Sorry, SU just warming up for the 2021 MLB season. I know he’ll be here for the next 23 years.

A few tidbits from Yankee land in the hot stove arena:

1. Didi Gregorius has professed his love of New York and would love to return if they move on from DJ LeMahieu. He is a perfect fit for the Yankees. In the perfect world (and we don’t live in one), you move Stanton and DH Voit. LeMahieu plays first base, Torres returns to 2nd base (he is not a great shortstop) and Didi plays short for a few years. They desperately need the left-handed bat in the line up. But it will never happen. But Cashman should keep an eye on Didi in case they can’t reach a deal on LeMahieu.
2. Apparently, the Yankees are $25 million apart on LeMahieu. Sounds like $5 million a year for a 5-year deal. SU says he is the best player on the team – and not sure it’s that close. When you are already paying $30 million+ a year for Stanton for 10 years, now you want to be fiscally conservative?
3. Cashman is high on Hicks. SU says move on from that. Until he learns to hit to the opposite field left-handed, why is a .220 hitter who walks a little so great?
4. Cashman wants to bring back Gardner – yet again. SU says Gardner holds back Frazier’s development. Give Frazier a shot for a full-time job in 2021.
5. The Yankees are committed to Sanchez in 2021 apparently. Hard to be believe he is 28 years old now. Time flies when you are striking out and chasing balls back to the backstop.
6. Tanaka needs to come back for 1-2 years. No-brainer. And Hal has to have a heart-to-heart conversation with German who has to show some contrition for what he did which apparently was very bad. He could be a difference maker but his head needs to be right and he needs to show he’s a good guy – which apparently is not the case.
7. Say what you want, but the all right-handed line up is just dumb. It’s not a winning formula. You can make the playoffs and hit a ton of home runs in the regular season but sooner or later, you will get mowed down in the playoffs. As in every year.
8. The Mets have a new GM who is highly regarded in MLB circles. SU likes the way Cohen is biding his time and not jumping. I still feel the Mets are the Club to watch going forward in 2021 and the competition for the back page of the NY tabloids (is that still a thing?) is going to be great.

That’s all I got for this morning. I know Yankee fans are feeling LeMahieu anxiety but I can’t believe the team will be out-bid there. But that only gets you to the status quo of 2020 – not good enough. Oh, they did sign Adam Warren to a minor league deal – he is coming off Tommy John surgery.

Anyone have some inside scoop?

Let’s face it: right now, the NFL is the only game in town and football is limping to the end of the season due to COVID. College football has been less than inspiring – especially for Michigan fans who will escape this week without having to play Ohio State. That would have been devastating. SU has watched enough games this year and teams like Michigan State who beat Michigan are not good, so you are what your record says you are and 2-4 is about right.

The Big Ten will find a way to let Ohio State play in the Big Ten championship game against upstart Northwestern and that is appropriate. It’s a COVID season – just change the rules and go with the flow. No one will object. I guess we can hope for Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama and Clemson for the BCS playoffs. But it’s been a crappy year for college football – so few good games each weekend.

SU is excited about the NY Giants. They come to play every week and have a legit defense. They are going nowhere with Colt McCoy at QB and hopefully Daniel Jones can return soon although a bad hamstring in cold weather is not what you want as Joe Girardi would say.

SU is anxious for baseball free agency to pick up speed. The Yankees are apparently all in on DJ LeMahieu and you have to assume that will be it for the Bombers this off season. Just not enough money to go around for anyone else. SU is encouraged that German will return (if Steinbrenner will have him which is not clear) and they should be able to get Tanaka for a 1-year deal. Michael Kay doesn’t think so but where is he going to go? He likes it here and he’s been solid. They will pick up Gary Sanchez’s option and try one more year for him to hit to right field and block pitches in the dirt. SU says he goes 0 for 2 there. That ship has sailed. But the Yankees will be terrified to ship him off for nothing and then have him dominate for some other team.

SU predicts the Mets will strike first in free agency and set the market. And that time is coming soon.

One thing about the NFL this year: there are no dominant teams. Pittsburgh was an unimpressive undefeated team and Seattle was exposed vs. the Giants. That actually means a more entertaining post-season with no home field advantage given the absence of fans. No reason a team should not win on the road. Kansas City is still the most fun team to watch plus Green Bay at home in the cold could be their ticket to roll. SU is not a Tom Brady fan per se but it would be great to see him make a playoff run with Tampa Bay. He is still a bit uncomfortable but the pieces are there on offense for him.

SU is ready to go all in on college hoops but I think the season is going to be derailed by COVID and soon.

To fill the void, SU recommends:

1. The Man in the High Castle on Amazon. Excellent – although a bit scary. Half way through.
2. The Crown. I got through it although I dozed off during almost every episode. Very subtle, not a lot of action, but interesting.
3. Queens Gambit. That was excellent. Makes you want to dust off the chess set.

If you have anything else to recommend as we enter the winter months in COVID, the floor is yours.