SU is back from some badly needed down time in Aruba but has been keeping tabs on the NCAAs and other developments in the sports world. The SU NCAA bracket was especially lame this year, and I have no teams making it to the Final Four. Now, all was not lost here. I was correct about the Big Ten as only Michigan State even made it to the Sweet Sixteen. A mediocre conference was exposed.

There have been some great games and SU is trying to process if having so many upsets and lesser name teams advancing to the Final Four is a good thing. I would have to say it’s a good thing and a net positive but are you going to be glued to your TV on Saturday night to watch San Diego State play FAU? Not sure about that one. UConn has been the most impressive team in the tournament winning all of their games by double digits. Texas was right there but got into the bonus so early in the 2nd half and that seemed to stop their momentum vs. Miami. The Miami vs. UConn game is a good match-up.

What is interesting in college basketball is how the transfer portal can make a team competitive overnight. Kansas State had a team with players who all started their careers somewhere else. It’s like having unlimited free agency. Somewhere out there getting a college degree is important but it is hard to see at this point in college hoops. Bottom line: college basketball is still tremendous fun and this tournament is a hoot to watch.

For SU, the key takeaway from this NCAA Tournament is that you have to have players that can shoot. I know that is an obvious statement but there are so many teams that are firing up 3-pointers and when you watch the shooter’s form and the rotation of the ball in the air, well… that is not how you do it.

Our thoughts now turn to the start of the baseball season, and SU was impressed and quite frankly surprised that the Yankees are taking Anthony Volpe with them to NY and making him the starting shortstop. He clearly earned it but most teams want to have the extra year of control and would wait until June or so to bring up a future star like Volpe. He earned the job and belongs in the lead-off spot in front of Judge. Now, that will not happen as they will want DJ LeMahieu at the top of the order, and it’s likely Volpe will hit 9th to take some of the pressure off for the start of the season. However, assuming he hits, it’s just a matter of time before he becomes a fixture at the top of the order.

The Yankees are badly in need of starting pitchers and if any of you have a son out there who can throw, well Brian Cashman is likely interested. Severino is the latest casualty. The Frankie Montas trade last season is the killer as the Yankees gave up a couple of their top starters in the minor leagues. The thinking is that they will have to trade a couple of the youngsters in the minor leagues or even Gleyber Torres for a starting pitcher early in the season. SU says that will not happen. Cashman will look to piece it together and wait to see if Severino and even Rodon can get healthy over the next few months.

Josh Donaldson looks fitter and thinner – at least on TV. SU will wait until mid-April before calling for one of the youngsters to replace him at 3rd base. Got to give him a shot. Aaron Hicks does not look thinner but we will give him until the end of the month before we get frustrated. The hope here is for all of the youngsters (Cabrera and Peraza) to get regular time in the lineup before too long. No doubt injuries will allow that to happen as it does every season.

For 2023, the Mets are the team to beat in NY. More to come later in the week with our annual, fearless MLB predictions, but this is the year of the Met.