and you’re not as bad as you look when you are losing.” That is the old adage in sports and SU is a big believer in that. The Yankees won 13 games in a row after a lackluster first half of the season, and all of a sudden they were world beaters that were threatening the Rays for the Division title. Now, they have lost 3 close games and are 7 games back and the Division title is no longer in play. What to think?
- The Yankees have a great record in 2021 in 1- and 2-run games. It’s not sustainable and this losing streak is all close games.
- The Yankees have players who run hot and cold. Yes, there are some who have been very consistent like Judge (and Joey Gallo, of course) but more of the players are like Stanton and Voit. The problem with Voit is that Boone sat him so many games in the last week that he has now cooled (good job there).
- Boone is a great communicator but he seems to have no feel for in-game decisions. Kluber sailed through the first 3 innings last night although he seemed to hang a number of curve balls. In the 4th, it was hit after hit and you could see that he had lost it. Maybe after the long layoff, he had hit his limit at 45 – 50 pitches? Take him out? Nah. Better to give up the grand slam. Going forward, do you risk pitching him again when it will take some time for him to potentially regain his form from earlier in the season? Or do you go with the guys who have been very consistent for a month? As the division is now out of reach, maybe you can keep rolling him out there now but if German returns with any effectiveness, we will see.
- One thing is for sure: Heaney should never pitch. And in a close game last night?
- Gallo now .105 with RISP for the Yankees. SU gets the analytics and his on-base percentage but the reality is that in a rally, the best you can hope for is a walk. The guy strikes out 40%+ of the time. Please bat him 7th and while you are at it, put Sanchez 8th.
Here is my fear: a wild card game against the Red Sox and Chris Sale starts for Boston followed by Eovaldi. Season over.
Did you see Andy Murray’s comments yesterday after losing to Tsitsipas in 5 sets? Tsitsipas took a 20-minute bathroom break to change his clothes after the 4th set (and to potentially get some coaching from his dad) and Murray was hot happy. Murray is also a big advocate of the players getting vaccinated and Tsitsipas is not vaccinated and will not do so (SU comment: he’s an idiot). However, apparently, about half the men’s players are not vaccinated at the US Open – amazing. Of course, all of the workers there are required to be vaccinated as are the fans. Anyway, Murray was very blunt with the media after the match and said he had lost respect for Tsitsipas. SU has never been a big Murray fan as he is always grousing on the court and yelling at his box, but he plays hard and cares. He’s a good guy off the court and speaks his mind. Apparently, the other men’s players don’t like Tsitsipas either. It’s good for the sport as you need less hugging and kissing and more edginess here and there.
Zverev is the hottest player coming into the tournament and he is the subject of sexual abuse charges from his former girlfriend that the ATP Tour has not addressed. SU is rooting for Djokovic but he has a tough draw. The cooler weather will help him and he may even get some love from the NY fans with Federer and Nadal out of the tournament.
Finally, what’s going on with the Mets and the “thumbs down” signs led by Javy Baez? Sandy Alderson will not stand for it and the fans won’t be happy either. SU says in New York, you can get the money but you have to perform or you will be booed. If you don’t want that, take less money and play in Baltimore or some other city. SU always thought the Met fans were not quite as tough as Yankee fans but apparently not the case? Let’s see if this rallies the team to make a late season run. They have a favorable schedule.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
The Yankees were bound to lose a few games. Though I will concede winning the division at this point I am not that afraid of Sales nor Evoldi. This is of course assuming we go with our Ace. Hey, the Wild Card name will live up to its reputation if we play the Sox……..excitement, anxiety, drama rolled into one. No better way than sticking it to the Red Sox directly. I’m still not over losing to them losing at home after up 3 games when Johnny Damon hit a grand slam against us. That was the worst loss ever against these guys. Of course the Sox has 2 huge disappointments against us which both took place in Fenway park so i guess we are slightly ahead of them.
Still a full month to go. Ironically, if the rays clinch the top spot before we play them in the final 3 games of the regular season they just might rest some of their key players. If need to win 1, 2 or all 3 games in order to win the top wild card slot then that does help our home filed advantage position.
Chris Sale career stats vs. Yankees: 6 – 8 record; 2.98 ERA; 157 strikeouts in 120 innings. It’s not what you want if you are a Yankee fan. Prefer if Oakland could catch the Red Sox and come to the Bronx again. I do not like a wild card vs. Boston.
The Met players thumbs down protest is pretty lame. Guys making millions of dollars a year but performing poorly and getting upset because they are not getting non stop adulation is the definition of weaksauce. Especially Baez who has been in town for just a few weeks. I guess he is going to have trouble making it in the big city.
Agree in its lameness. Find another way to bring the team together. Whining is not a winning formula in NY.
New York needs at least one team in the playoffs so let’s hope the Yanks can hang on to the wild card and maybe the Mets can go on a streak and at least make things interesting.
So what is at the root of the Mets problems? I’d say a lack of accountability and pressure from an obvious failure to live up to increased expectations. Rojas may some day become a great manager, he really knows the game well, but right now his does not seem to be commanding respect nor driving players to perform to their best potential. A change is needed and someone like Buck Showalter may be the kind of manager to push this team to the next level.
Two years ago the Mets had a great mojo with young players that seemed to truly like one another. This was a brash bunch of young guns lead by Pete, Dom, JD, Conforto, Nimmo and McNiel, AKA the Cookie Club. There was a great vibe that seemed to be thrown off by the acquisition of Lindor. This was no longer Pete’s LFGM team,. It was superstar Lindor’s team now. And as they struggled with injuries this year the team doubled down by importing his best friend Baez to create a spark. Little did we know that the spark would be a self imposed blowup and a 13 game reversal in the standings.
Things better change and other guys need to step up instead of stepping back. Hopefully uncle Steve’s money can repair some of the damage to team chemistry.
LFGM!