SU is back from my 2022 Yankee Stadium debut with 5 esteemed long-time intergalactic SU subscribers on a night that featured a 3-hour, 45 minute game (typical for the Yankees), extreme sweating in the heat and a foul ball corralled by long-time subscriber and commenter, A. Grossman. Per usual, the Yankees scored most of their runs via the home run but ultimately came up short.
The Yankees had a busy 48 hours and SU is generally fine with the moves. The one I do not understand is the trading of starter Jordan Montgomery for Harrison Bader, centerfielder, who before yesterday I had never heard of. Sounds like a speedy, defensive minded player from Bronxville who has plantar fasciitis and won’t be available until September. The Yankees are already down Severino who may return in mid-September at the earliest, and Montas, who they just acquired, has had shoulder issues as recently as July. I think I get the logic of Cashman though. He is building the roster for October where you don’t need 5 starters. He fortified the bullpen, got rid of Joey Gallo (or his new eternal name “the struggling Joey Gallo”) and appears to be ready to move on from Aaron Hicks in center field which all Yankee fans can get behind. Hicks responded well last night with 2 double plays and a 9th inning strikeout as he is in the midst of another 0 for 20 streak. Btw, how he does not bunt down the 3rd base line every single time up batting left-handed is a mystery.
When you go to a game in person, you really see the shifts and how much room on the infield is ignored by hitter after hitter. The TV broadcasts don’t show that enough. For the .200 hitters (who dominate baseball these days), you just have to wonder (looking at you Struggling Joey Gallo).
Meanwhile, the Mets did not go big yesterday. JD Martinez was the prize but the Mets thought otherwise. We know money is not the issue. On the other hand, with Scherzer and deGrom, you are really built for the post-season. If they can both stay healthy, you do not need that much more – especially with a lights out closer in Diaz. The Mets have a legitimate shot but things will need to break right offensively and medically for them to pull it off. The Yankees need to get past Houston and SU is still not seeing that. Happy to be proven wrong.
Finally, not surprised that the Yankees did not get Soto. Just too expensive long term with Judge, Stanton and Soto. The Padres, on paper, have some offense now but let’s see how that plays out.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
I praised Cashman yesterday but Bader makes no sense when looking at the opportunity cost. Taillon/German guaranteed to start at least one game in a playoff series now, possibly two if one of Cole/Nestor/Montas gets hurt. And I wasn’t buying anything Cashman said during his presser where he emphasized Badger’s defense. Hicks is fine on defense. Bader is nowhere near a significant enough offensive upgrade (if an upgrade at all) to warrant losing your insurance policy in JoMo. We can guarantee none of the series will be sweeps since we know Taillon or German are starting, and losing, at least one game.
Erik, thanks for weighing in. I have concerns about Cole without the Spider Tac. He is not the lockdown pitcher since MLB cracked down. It also seems like the Montgomery trade upset Taillon who was close to him. And now Severino is unhappy about being on the 60-day IL until mid-September. Unusual for unhappy Yankee stories to leak out into the media but when you turn over the roster like this, bound to happen.
The Montgomery/Bader trade was a real puzzler but I think you hit it on the head saying this is a move looking at a playoff rotation. A very high risk move IMO given inevitable injuries, big or small, to pitchers. Bader is a very exciting defensive player but if you wanted a good field little hit speedy OF you could have had Jankowski for nothing. Not a local kid from Bronxville but he did play at Stonybrook U.
Aside from Soto, the biggest August 2nd roster addition is Jake DeGrom!
Starting pitching has been a Mets strength and if Jake can stay healthy the Mets will have the most dominant pitching in the game. Again, looking to the playoffs and a 4 man rotation means Peterson and either Bassit or Carrasco give the bullpen two quality arms. Still, it is an inexcusable dereliction of duty that Epler did not upgrade with a competent lefty reliever. Perhaps Jake Fishman, a lefty just DFAed by the Marlins can be hooked and provide some help. Joely Rodriguez is awful and needs to be replaced. Loop or Chafin would have been good pick ups and I can’t imagine they would have cost a top 20 prospect. A good GM has a plan A, B, C, D and E. Seems like the Mets got blocked with the Cubs late Monday on Contreras/Robertson and ended up at the dance without a good looking date.
It feels like the Mets were out-maneuvered at the trade deadline. On the other hand, sometimes the best moves are the ones not made. Time will tell.
All good points. Surprised u didn’t mention the other highlight of the evening with John receiving a free 22 oz bottle of water from one of the Venders. This is as rare a moment as bunting a ball where there is no one around.
If the Yanks win that’s 3 out of 4 against KC and 2 out of 3 against Seattle. I’ll take that.
I think an SU report on the passing of Bill Russell would be of interest.
Would your stats give us an idea on how many assists he averaged?
It’s very strange how the penetrating straight forward drive to the basket made possible only by speed and little finesse was the standard back then. Back in the early to mid 60’s as compared to today’s B ball athlete it seems like today we look like Avatar people in comparison.
Bill Russell was a great man. Think about what he accomplished in his life. Checked his ego at the door. Won in all phases of his life. A great role model. Some of those Knicks – Celtics playoff games in 1968 and the early 70s were so great. Wish those were out there to watch. No big hugs going on between those teams.
Seattle is a wild card team and a possible opponent. They have a real good bullpen and of course Castillo owns the Yankees now in 2 starts. Maybe it’s not just Houston to worry about come October?