SU was able to stay up and watch last night’s gold medal men’s basketball game between the USA and France. Now, this Olympics’ US team was not comprised of all of the top players but you would think that they had enough talent to win gold easily. But they have struggled at times starting with the first exhibition games in Las Vegas and in most of the first halves of the Olympic games.

Durant has been the best player in the Olympic tournament and you would have to say, right now, is at the top of the NBA. Consider that he is coming back from an Achilles tendon tear when many questioned if he would be the same player as before. SU does not see a significant difference and credit to him for working hard to regain his full mobility. If he was not on this Olympic team, SU says that the US would have struggled to get a bronze medal. He was the best player in every game – incredibly consistent from game to game – and really had no one else consistently scoring in each game. In the 4th quarter last night, France but Batum on him and they started double teaming him tempting others to shoot – which of course as NBA players they were happy to do. Brick by brick. Lillard missed 2 fouls shots in the last 15 seconds and there was a turnover. The US came away with the gold but France had its opportunities down the stretch to make it even closer.

Also, how did the US put this roster together? Most of the teams had capable big men and the US was a team of guards and small forwards. Not following the thought process there.

Net fans must be salivating for this upcoming season. If Durant, Harden and Irving can all stay healthy (not a given), they are by far the best team no matter what the Lakers put together.

Boston has been choking earlier than usual – I mean it’s early August – but SU says they will right the ship. The Yankees have edged closer – 3 games behind now – but SU is not convinced that Boston will continue its slide and that the Yankees are a lock for the playoffs. Toronto is equally hot and Oakland won’t go away. The good news is that we will likely have meaningful games in September. No doubt Cashman is running daily computer models to anticipate the next player(s) to test positive for COVID.

And the Mets are out of 1st place! They need to find some offense and fast. Lindor’s return should help assuming he resembles something of his Indians’ type productivity but the Phillies are a loose and excited team with Girardi, Didi and Ronald Torreyes.

And finally, Mike Tauchmann was DFA’d by the Giants. SU was wrong on that one – he really regressed this year. He saved a couple of games with his defense stealing home runs over the fence but wasted every opportunity to play regularly on a hot team. Such is life.

The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and unlike past seasons, there aren’t going to be any waivers deals in August to bolster rosters. The Mets added Javier Baez which was a great pick-up as perhaps he can push Lindor to regain his career level form before coming to the Mets. He’s a dynamic player and will add some pop to the offense down the stretch.

What about the Yankees? SU is high on the pick-ups of both Gallo and Rizzo. Rizzo brings some charisma to the clubhouse and obviously made a big splash over the weekend in Miami. SU almost fell out of the chair when he hit an opposite field single off of a left-handed pitcher in the 8th inning to tie the game. Surely, the hitting coaches will take him aside and explain that the Yankees never, ever hit away from the shift. Gary Sanchez demonstrated that in the previous inning when after Gallo led off with a double, he immediately pulled the ball to 3rd base to prevent the runner from advancing.

The Yankees swept the Marlins although every game was close and they should have lost 1-0 yesterday as the Marlins’ defense gave away the game in the 8th and 9th innings. SU’s unsolicited advice to Aaron Boone:

1. The world does not revolve around Giancarlo Stanton.
2. The world does not revolve around Giancarlo Stanton (sorry, that one needed to be repeated). Your best line up is with Stanton in left field and Voit at DH. Play him out there every game. Of course, he will break down with some ailment but it’s not like that’s a loss here. Did you see him in the 8th inning as a pinch hitter. Perfect doubleplay grounder thrown away. And SU says even after the 3rd baseman bobbled the ball, and finally picked it up, Stanton, who was jogging down to 1st, would have been out by 20 feet. You are 31 years old. Please run hard. And the younger teammates are watching and learn from him.
3. Voit will come off the IL soon and what happens if he gets hot? That will be interesting to watch. Do we field the best line up every game? Or do we play to the $30 million egos? Not that Stanton ever complains – he is a good teammate. And perhaps he will get hot now after a month of futility – that is his history. But until then, play the best players.
4. Joey Gallo is a .200 hitter. He is not your #3 hitter. That should be your best hitter. I know you are trying to do the lefty-righty thing in the line up (what a concept!) but do better here. Rizzo is clearly that guy right now. Gallo from what US has seen is a #6 hitter – all or nothing swings plus some walks and a lot of strikeouts. A left-handed Sanchez or Stanton when he’s slumping for weeks at a time. Both belong lower in the line up.

The Red Sox were swept in Tampa but Chris Sale is going to return soon and they also picked up Schwarber. Those 2 teams will battle it out down the stretch. The Yankees are in a position to get a wild card but the offense is still a bit all or nothing. They swept Miami but all 3 games were close and low scoring. SU is not sold but the situation is better than it was before last Wednesday.

Oh, and let’s hope Rizzo is vaccinated.