It looks like there will room on the post-season roster for all comers.  Apparently, Edwin Encarnacion, not an SU fave but a hot hitter, pulled his oblique today and will return to NY for tests.  Well, we know that injury well (see Aaron Judge).  He will be done for the year.  Severino is back – starting Tuesday – and Stanton is hitting in Florida.

Sooooo, it feels like Urshela at 3rd, Voit at first and Stanton either DHing or in left field.  Maybin will get to play now as well.  I still don’t see Clint Frazier making the roster but Mike Ford would be a good addition and he is left-handed.  The team’s record is very impressive considering the injuries.

Here is the issue: if your primary rival in the American League is the Houston Astros, and they feature hard throwing right-handed starters, you want your line-up to have some left-handed hitters.  You also want your line-up to have contact hitters.  The sure-fire way to lose is to roll out a line-up of free swinging, hit for the fences right-handed sluggers who strike out a lot.

Tauchman was a great find by Cashman and he has quietly been an everyday player since the All-Star break.  He was experiencing calf pain for a few days apparently but the Yankee trainers still rolled him out there on Sunday.  Just another curious move on a team with a ridiculous number of injuries.  We got to see Clint Frazier out there the last couple of days.  Wow, is he a bad outfielder.  Nothing is picked cleanly.  He has not hit since being demoted back in July and SU does not see him on the post-season roster.  Too scary to put out there.  Maybin has an injured wrist but apparently can play a bit.  The answer is likely the Generational One, Stanton, who will be returning shortly.  But as we know, he is a big strikeout machine as well from the right side.  That leaves Didi and Gardner.  Unless Jacoby Ellsbury has had a miraculous recovery, SU is not thrilled about the team’s October chances.  And note to Boone: Urshela must play every game at 3rd base in the playoffs.  That is your best line-up.  Let Voit sit.

Somewhere Paul Quantrill was smiling last night.  Tie game, bottom of the 9th, Boone puts in Chance Adams.  He is your pitcher if you have late dinner reservations.  Quantrill did that for Joe Torre in the 2004 Boston series, and Adams is automatic this year.  He cannot pitch a scoreless inning.  Hey, it’s September and if you don’t care about best record, just a loss.  But wait, they do care.

SU did enjoy the Yankees putting Boston officially to rest for 2019.  As noted back in November, the Red Sox starters would struggle health-wise this year due to overuse in the playoffs and World Series by Cora.  I guess the world championship is worth it but some of the starters paid the price.

Great US Open men’s finals.  Medvedev is the real deal as he can play different ways against different opponents.  SU was glad to see both Nadal and Medvedev come to the net time and time again to shorten points and take advantage of the receiver standing against the back wall.  Baseline tennis is fine but having a more varied game is what you ultimately need.  Serena came oh so close again but like Federer, when you are older, sometimes your nerves betray you in the biggest moments.  What worked for you when you were younger is now a disadvantage.

SU is bummed that fave Novak Djokovic had to withdraw from the US Open last night after 2 sets.  He has been battling a sore left shoulder for several weeks now.  He has tried to keep the injury treatment a secret and that came back to bite him last night.  The night time crowd at Ashe Stadium booed him as he left the stadium which is wrong.  SU wonders if when Nadal called it quits in the middle of his semi-final match last year against Del Potro, did the fans boo him?  No way that happened.  Djokovic does not get the love from the fans playing in the era of Federer and Nadal – he just does not – despite being a good guy who looks to engage with the fans at every opportunity.  He is still my guy.

Tennis is a grueling sport – more so these days with how hard every player hits – and a short off-season.  Even though the top players don’t play every tournament, it is very tough and injuries have become an issue.  Nadal has missed long periods and even the GOAT, Federer, has taken off some weeks.  Tennis needs a longer off-season.

Be sure to tune in on Tuesday night to see Medvedev play Wawrinka.  The fans love Stan the Man, Medvedev loves to play the villain in New York – apparently.  This will be more entertaining that Kyrgios.  Some say it’s refreshing for tennis to have a guy like this.  Maybe but SU prefers the mutual respect that Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have for each other.

Naomi Osaka offered up a stark contrast to Serena the other night with Coco Gauff after the match.  A terrific display of sportsmanship by bringing Coco out on to the court for the post-match interview.  She learned a lot from her finals experience with Serena “YOU OWE ME AN APOLOGY!” Williams last year.  Osaka is a true sports person – showed a ton of class, empathy — gets the bigger picture.  Serena has always been all about herself.  SU is not fooled by the talk of defending all women’s rights and wanting women to be treated the same as men in tennis.  I get all that but her over-riding agenda is always what’s best for her.   That can mean threatening to shove a ball down the throat of a lineswoman a few years back at the US Open or screaming at the umpire over and over again.  For SU, in any tournament, it’s always “anyone but Serena.”  Just cannot ever root for her.

Now, Coco Gauff is very good and some day she will be a great player. But SU says do not lose sight of Katy McNally.  She took a set off of Serena and at 17 years old, is really, really good.  SU says she is better than Gauff and has the complete game.  It’s refreshing that both of them can volley and over time, will no doubt make coming to net part of their games.  Taylor Townsend has made a living of that in this year’s Open and is a great story.  Women’s tennis can use some fresh, young American faces who have more diverse games.  Now if only the American men can find those players.

SU was sorry to hear that Edwin Encarnacion is coming back later this week.  Here is the reality: for the playoffs, the best line up is Urshela at 3rd and LeMahieu at 1st base.  You can flip a coin between Voit and Encarnacion to DH – both will strike out 2 times every game.  Tauchman has cooled in left field but there is no talk about Hicks returning any time soon.  SU actually prefers Tauchman over Hicks – more contact.  Boone and Cashman will be tested in putting together the post-season roster.  And if the Generational One returns, well that will be a total mess.  SU says you just cannot, cannot, cannot go overly right-handed.

The Yankees have had a great run but they need to get to the World Series this year.  And that means not pitching CC in October or probably Happ either.  Severino is very key and we will know in a few weeks if can be a factor.

… the Yankees took 2 out of 3 from the Dodgers this weekend.  Never question or doubt SU.  And what did we learn?

• ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball continues to be unlistenable.  Once again, SU had to turn off the sound – just can’t take it after a while.  And remind me why I care about Cody Bellinger’s 18 degree loft angle on his swing?
• Note to MLB: about those uniforms this weekend.  First of all, SU really did not know any of the Dodger hitters after 3 games because I can’t read their numbers or their silly names.  College basketball teams have worn the all neon uniforms with the same problem.  Surely, someone noted that and said, “whoa, we don’t want to have that problem too.”  Second, on a sunny day, hard for the batters to see the ball against the white uniforms.  Just a bad move all around that is easily avoidable.
• Really, all 3 games were home runs and strikeouts.  It’s a problem.  Not much action in between.
• SU loves Aaron Judge but does he really carry this team as A-Rod keeps saying?  I don’t think so – not this year.  And enough of A-Rod’s stories about Gary Sanchez calling him “Poppy” and saying “I am about to go off on a tear.”  Maybe but he’s still hitting .230.
• Too much talk about a possible World Series match-up.  True, the Dodgers should get there – not a lot of competition in the NL this year for them.  But the Yankees will struggle to get past Houston and apparently, Oakland and Cleveland.  SU continues to be concerned about the match-ups with the hard throwing right handed starters on the Astros.  Especially if Stanton comes back.
• It is funny that no-one talks about Stanton and Hicks being out.  The team is just better with Tauchman playing every day.  The acquisition of Stanton was a huge mistake – and a 10-year one.

US Open predictions: Djokovic, of course, on the men’s side although SU does not like his draw.  Medvedev in the quarters, Federer in the semis and Nadal in the finals if the seeds hold.  That may be too much to ask for.  SU does not understand why the #1 seed gets the #3 seed in the semis, and #2 gets #4.  I do believe it’s a drawing but should it be?  #1 should play #4, and #2 should play #3.  But watch out for Dominick Thiem – could be his time to break out and have someone other than the Big Three win a major in tennis.  On the women’s side, anyone but Serena is SU’s wish.  I think Osaka finds her groove again.

A lot being made about Andrew Luck’s retirement.  SU gets it: his body is falling apart and he is always rehabbing and in pain.  At some point, you don’t need it anymore.  I must say that it feels like the quality of QBs this year is way down from other seasons.  There are just not that many good ones.  It’s almost like the game is in an in-between state.  You have the more traditional pocket passers who are getting old, and then the Mahomes types who are emerging but the NFL coaches have not all bought into that style of play yet.

As we know, the baseball season is a long slog.  There will be ups and  downs, winning streaks and losing streaks.  The key is not to panic.  The Yankees have had their share of extended winning streaks, series won, and have minimized the losing.  They have a great record against good teams, and have killed the bad ones this year, e.g., the Orioles.

However….. the last 2 series vs. the Indians and the A’s, both potential playoff teams, have exposed what we knew were the problem areas.  Now, SU is generally an optimist and I refuse to be overly concerned, but I do note the following:

• Starting pitching: man, it’s just not very good.  The team’s record is great considering how mediocre the starters are.  German was great in the first half of the season and has plateaued a bit.  Tanaka has not been great of late and Paxton gives up 10 runs in the 1st inning every game (OK, so I am exaggerating a bit).  CC is running on fumes and Happ, well Happ is the kind of pitcher when you go to a game in person, you buy tickets for seats in the outfield.
• Right-handed Line-up: as noted by SU all season, this continues to be a problem.  When Boone bats Judge and Sanchez back to back, it’s not a good look.  Situational hitting?  How do you spell that?  They are not interested.
• Giancarlo Stanton was in the dugout last night: whaaaaaatttt???  I thought he was down in Tampa working out with Ellsbury.  You know, running side-to-side, the occasional sit-up, throwing off flat ground for a distance of 7 feet, breaking for lunch and snacks.  Stanton is the key for the playoffs – in a negative way.  We do not want him coming back.  Can you imagine, Judge, Sanchez and Stanton back to back in the 9th inning?  A foul ball would be an achievement.  Perhaps he his rehabbing in California.

But here is SU’s prediction.  While it looks bad today (4-game losing streak) and CC starting one of the games this weekend against the powerhouse Dodgers, SU predicts the Yankees take 2 of 3.  The good news is that they are not hurt by the absence of the DH.  I mean, Mike Ford doesn’t play – no loss there.  The starters will shine and get into the 5th inning every game – whoo hoo!

The reason SU is still somewhat upbeat is that both Severino and Betances will be back in September.  Huge difference makers.  If Severino can get enough arm strength to go 4 innings, he is on par with the regular starters and no doubt Happ will be jealous by that type of length.

Steady as she goes.  Is SU delusional?  Are Yankee fans feeling confident?

Check out ESPN’s special on last year’s US Open Women’s Finals – “Serena and the Umpire.”  It is very good.  Not a good look for Serena.  Stay tuned for SU’s fearless US Open predictions coming this weekend.  I am studying the draw sheet and running outcome models as we speak.

So, explain this to me.  Gary Sanchez, who was out since July 23rd, had been in a terrible slump at the time of his injury (as mentioned by SU at the time).    He plays 2 games in his rehab assignment and you have to rush him back and put him in at clean-up today?  Aaron Boone does this all the time.  Players who come back off the IL (of which there have been many this year) are never given a chance to ease their way  back into things.  Rather, let’s put them in the middle of things so that they can screw up the line up for several games until they regain their footing.

It makes no sense to SU.  Austin Romine has been on a tear and Higashioka had 3 home runs in his time as a back up.  Clearly, Sanchez is the best hitter of the three but….. he also is stubbornly hitting only to left field again and striking out at a high rate.  Romine has been on fire.  Why not let Sanchez play several games in rehab to regain his timing?  Of course, he may go out and hit 2 home runs today and Boone will look like a genius.  It just does not seem like he is setting him up to succeed.  He is also batting just 2 spots behind Judge who is in a bad slump of his own.  SU is worried about Judge.  Since returning from the oblique, he has not hit with much power.  You wonder if he has tinkered with his swing to account for the oblique.  Something to watch.

Jonathan Holder, who was extended into a 3rd inning the other night, is now on the IL with shoulder inflammation.  SU says you can say it’s bad luck this year — to a point — but at some point it’s mismanagement of the talent by the coaches and the training staff.  Gleyber Torres should also probably be on the IL – SU is wondering what they will do with him and his core injury.

Meanwhile, the Mets are on a tear and back in the wild card hunt.  That will be the best race this year as the NL has several teams close in record for the wild cards slots.  But that’s baseball.  A manager can go from being on the hot seat to now being safe again.  Joe Girardi is on hold for the moment – at least until the off season.

SU is loving how Mike Tauchman has taken advantage of his opportunity with the Yankees.  He hits close to .500 against left-handed pitchers by going to the opposite field (WHAT?????), hits with power, shows fire and is a very good outfielder in all 3 outfield positions.  He also has a cheap contract.

While Clint Frazier has potential, he is an edgy guy and really doesn’t fit the Yankee mold of good corporate citizenship.  You know he is dying to grow his hair long and sport a beard.  SU says he will get his chance soon enough in the off season as he is traded for a young pitcher.  SU likes Frazier and he will do well somewhere else.  If they really valued him, he would have been called up by now with all of the injuries.  Just not going to happen here for Clint.

Meanwhile, the bigger question is: why do you need Giancarlo Stanton then?  SU will help you with that answer: You don’t.  His $30 million salary can be better spent on pitching.  The Yankees will have only one starter this year with an ERA under 5.00 (German).  Not exactly the formula for post-season success.  Once Stanton returns in September, he will struggle but Boone will be pressured to put him in there for the playoffs.  You can only imagine how he will match up with Houston’s hard throwing right-handed starters.  Will Boone be brave enough to start Tauchman?  The same goes for Urshela who is a better fit (with LeMahieu going to first base).

Decisions, decisions.

We all know that the Yankees have had a ridiculous number of players on the injured list this year.  It’s way out of hand and it’s a testament to Brian Cashman that they have one of the best records in baseball at this point in the season.  But SU says that there is something wrong with the strength and conditioning program for the players that must be contributing to all of the injuries.

For example, whoever heard of a “core” injury before this year?  SU did not.  Luke Voit, an avid weight lifter, had a core injury and now a sports hernia.  He may need surgery.  Last night, Gleyber Torres goes out for a “core” injury.  Aaron Hicks was out for a long time with a back injury earlier in the year and now has a shoulder issue.  Judge had the oblique injury.  Stanton had the bicep injury earlier in the year.  To SU, these all sound like issues that come up from too much weight lifting.  And if that’s not the cause, then how do you explain it and is the team investigating?  It’s more than bad luck.  There is something wrong with how they keep the players fit.

If Torres is out for an extended time, the Yankees will be putting out a spring training type of line up every game now.  The silver lining is that the players who are taking advantage of their opportunities are not the free swingers but rather guys who put the ball in play and hit to the opposite field.  What a concept.  Maybin, Tauchman, Ford, Romine are all contributing.  SU is almost disappointed that Sanchez is coming back now.  He kills them in the middle of the line up.

Note to ESPN: your Sunday Night Baseball broadcasts are unlistenable.  It’s like having 3 Al Leiters talking at once.  SU had to turn off the sound last night and I never, ever do that.  Cut back A-Rod’s caffeine intake and have Jessica Mendoza stop with the technical talk.  So many words, so little quality anything.  SU enjoyed the silence.

SU is fine with the Yankees not making any moves at the trade deadline.  And it’s not because they don’t have the need to add a pitcher or two.  SU’s perspective:

• The starters are clearly running on fumes at the moment.  Paxton has not figured out NY, Tanaka is in a bad stretch, CC is breaking down and Happ is hapless.  Only German gives you confidence right now.
• Full disclosure: SU has no confidence in Chapman.  Mariano looked good in Cooperstown.  Maybe he can be a September call-up?  Chapman walks the first batter in every appearance, cannot throw his fastball for a strike and is not getting many swings and misses anymore as virtually every reliever throws as hard as he does.   All of the Yankee relievers are gassed as the starters can’t go more than 5 innings, and the Yankees keep winning thanks to their offense.
• Chad Green is pretty bad.  Nice guy but the League has figured him out.

However, SU is in it for the long-term, and I agree with Cashman not to trade some of the top prospects.  The hope here is that Severino and Betances both return and that would be ideal.  SU prefers that they stay the course.  Now, the Astros just added Greinke today and that is another tough right-hander to face in the playoffs.  Verlander, Cole and Greinke.  The Yankees undoing will ultimately be having too many right-handed batters.

Apparently, the Yankees were willing to trade Andujar for a pitcher – interesting.  But this kid Garcia who was just promoted to AAA as a 20-year old is worth keeping and let’s see what he can do.

SU says stay with the program.  Others may disagree and say go for it all this year.  What say  you?

Full Disclosure: SU stayed up until 1:20 am last night to watch the end of the Yankee game.  I was going to pack it in when they took the lead at 14-12, but the wireless went out and the thought of waking up in the middle of the night and being unable to find out who won the game was too much to take.  Wild game.  It was a great win for the Yankees but some causes of concern:

• German had nothing all game which was fine.  He’s been great.  But it was troubling to SU that Boone did not take him out earlier.  It was clear he could not throw any pitch for a strike.  He finally gave up the 3-run home run to make it 8-2.  That was avoidable.  Bad job there.
• Chapman was throwing around 95 mph for most of his inning.  SU is right about this: he no longer is lights out.  Always lets the first guy on base.  He cannot throw his fastball for strikes.  SU says watch for the stint on the IL coming up.  Something is wrong with him.
• Britton was no better nor was Ottavino but they have generally been good so you just have to acknowledge the occasional bad game.
• SU likes the offense but I must admit that in a ballpark that is not a band box like Minnesota, there were so many home runs (again) last night and a number of doubles that just missed.  What is going on with the ball?  And can the Yankee hitters please run it out?  Even Judge was caught admiring one of his blasts that just missed and he should have been on 3rd base in the 8th inning.

This brings me to my biggest concern/complaint.  Gary Sanchez.  He is hitting .100 for July and is pulling everything.  Now, truth be told, he has hit a few hot shots to the left side that were caught or turned into a double play but SU says: HIT TO RIGHT FIELD.  You are capable of it.  You have done it in your career.  Boone puts him right in the middle of the line up and he is a rally killer.  Now, mercifully, it looks like he sprained his ankle last night and should go on the IL which will help him.    Watching LeMahieu hit should be an inspiration for his teammates like Sanchez.

Btw, Tauchman has been great and now that Maybin is rehabbing, it’s a tough call for Cashman what to do.  SU says Tauchman gives you another left-handed bat (which they desperately need) and he is red hot.  He is 13 for 29 against lefties this year to boot.  SU would play him ahead of Gardner while he’s hot.

Bottom line: SU says this season is all about reaching the World Series.  You don’t have to win it but you have to make it.  The offense is great but the starters inability to pitch past 6 innings is catching up with the bullpen now given that the top line guys may be tiring.  The next week will be interesting to see what Cashman does.  SU is fine with Severino and Bettances being added to the mix assuming that they can get there with their rehab program.