You have to admit that the NBA off-season is the most fun when it comes to free agency.  Heck, in baseball now, the owners have become very good at ignoring most of the free agents, and in football, the salary cap makes it harder for the top players to even have many decent options.

SU cannot fault LeBron for heading out West.  He gave it his all this post-season for a somewhat dysfunctional ownership situation in Cleveland.  He will have fun playing in the more up-tempo Western Conference but winning in LA is no sure thing.  Paul George is staying put in OKC (SU is not quite sure of his logic there but ok) and even if the Lakers can put together an attractive package for Kawi Leonard, they will either have to give up a lot or hope that Leonard’s recent injury history is not chronic.  And even if they acquire Leonard, that roster is not going to compete with Golden State this year.

Meanwhile, Houston lost Trevor Ariza to the Phoenix Suns  and while they have now invested $40 million a year in Chris Paul for 4 years (when he will be 37 years old – choke), as of today they are worse than last year.  I know Paul is a key guy but he can’t stay healthy at 33; what makes you think he will get better with age?  If nothing else, at least the Lakers can become must see tv again after having fallen off the radar for the past several years.

I thought I saw Sonny Gray’s picture on a milk carton in the supermarket yesterday.  Has anyone seen this guy?  He has been a major disappointment for the Yankees.  You have to assume he is one of those pitchers/players who can’t perform in NY.  He grips the ball too tightly, over-thinks each pitch, wants it too bad, etc.  Cashman really has to pull the trigger now and will have to give up more youngsters than he would like.  SU has seen Miguel Andujar’s name out there – very upsetting if that’s the case.  No way does he move.  Clint Frazier is more likely to go which is also too bad.  SU cannot identify exactly what pitcher is being targeted.  I would steer clear of Cole Hamels – too old and past his prime.  Right now, Severino is top 5 in all of baseball, Tanaka has good credentials in the post-season and CC is very good with extra rest (and by the way, give him the extra rest – this is pretty obvious).  SU likes the youngsters but in October, more in long relief.  This will be a key move and Cashman cannot afford to mess it up while he keeps his eye on the long term.

So, sports fans, who do you see Cashman targeting in a trade?

SU has missed the last several Yankee games as I have been in Evanston attending the MBA graduation and related festivities of long-time subscriber, S. Levine, from Kellogg.  However, as always, SU has its finger on the pulse of the Yankees and followed along for what was a futile weekend in Tampa.  Lots to discuss and worry/complain about for the spoiled Yankee fans:

• Many are calling for the immediate DFA of Chasen Shreve including long-time subscribers M. Hertz and J. Levine.  SU would have to agree.  While he is their only left-handed reliever, he is actually more effective against right-handed hitters.  Word is that he may be out of options and can’t be sent back to Scranton.  He had a bad week and has had a mediocre Yankee career.  SU thought it would happen today but it’s just a matter of time now.
• Gary Sanchez is on the DL with a groin injury.  Not good for catchers.  SU says the silver lining is that he will be fresher come September.  Perhaps he can also work on his hitting and get his eyes checked to catch the ball better.  While he is still below the Mendoza line, he has a lot of big hits this year.  If others don’t step up, this will be a big loss.
• SU must give props to Giancarlo Stanton for his walk-off home run last week and a big day yesterday.  I guess I need to repeat that: props to Stanton.  BUT… SU is still not a believer.  Now, can he rise to the occasion and carry the team during Sanchez’s absence?  That is what a star does.
• SU was disappointed to see Clint Frazier demoted again today.  He was robbed of a home run yesterday by a cat walk in the ridiculous stadium known as Tropicana Field.  They need to find a place for this guy and not just automatically trade him for a starter.  SU likes him better than Hicks and Gardner may be gone next year.
• Greg Bird is killing me.  Blowing his chances now and he is not guaranteed at bats on this team.  He is better than this but if doesn’t show improvement soon, time to go plan B.  SU says put Stanton in there at 1st and open up a spot for Clint Frazier.  Neil Walker is donesville.  First base is a power position.  The solution is Bird gets hot but has to show some sign of life first.  How about starting tonight?
• Houston and Boston are now pretty much even with the Yankees record wise.  Red Sox come in this weekend.  BIG WEEK.
• Finally, if I am Brandon Drury, I am playing 1st base every night at Scranton.  He can hit; put him at 1st then as an option.  Time to be creative.

Random notes:

• Novak Djokovic lost in the finals of the run-up grass tournament to Wimbledon and is finally playing well.  SU is feeling big things from him at Wimbledon – he will be in the mix.
• How is Russia allowed to host the World Cup?  It’s just wrong.
• SU is interested in the Knicks’ #1 pick.  Hope he can play with the parent club in his first year.  Also hoping they stand pat and give Trey Burke a chance to be the starter next season.  But SU has its sights on Brooklyn as well.

Many on this blog have been saying all year long that if and when the Yankees finally get it all together offensively, look out.  They have been scuffling of late with many hitters flirting with the Mendoza line of .200 – Sanchez, Walker, Bird, and others just being mediocre.  Andujar has cooled of late as has Torres a bit although he is still hitting home runs.  The bullpen has been solid and they continue to win their share of close games.

But SU finally saw something last night.  True, they only scored 4 runs but there were several long fly balls where the batter “just got under it” as Phil Rizzuto liked to say.  SU saw that from Andujar, Hicks, Judge and Torres.  To me, this is the sign that several hitters are ready to go on a tear and it will start tonight.  Even Giancarlo Stanton got 4 hits last night and MLB was sure to test him multiple times after the game as this was truly shocking (he did strike out his 2 at bats in the continued first game so there was that).

Speaking of my man, SU thought Michael Kay was way off base last night.  Didi tried to steal 2nd with 2 outs and Stanton at the plate and was thrown out.  Kay went off saying there is no way you do that with your “slugger” (sorry, those are my quotes) at the plate.  SU says haven’t you been watching all of the games?  Does he ever hit a home run with anyone on base?  Negatory.  Never.  He is much more likely to hit a single and it made all the sense in the world there to get to 2nd base.  Not every team has Gary Sanchez catching where you can wait for the passed ball or wild pitch.  You need to take some chances.  I wouldn’t do it with Judge at the plate but Stanton?  Absolutely.

Another thing.  Romine is up with runners on 1st and 2nd and 2 outs.  Gray on deck.  6th inning.  No discussion about pitching around him to force Boone to either hit for Gray and go to his bullpen early, or put Gray up there.  The games are long enough and in today’s games where you wait for the home run, this was one of those few times where there was a decision to make strategy wise.  The count got to 3-1 there as well.  SU says pay attention.  Even Al Leiter had nothing to say.  Bad job.

The scoring starts tonight against a good Seattle team.  SU has spoken.

Down 6.6% from a year ago.  SU says consider possible reasons:

• Rainy and cold weather this year.  Many rainouts or games played in miserable conditions.
• Chase Headley being DFA’d.  Surely, this is a factor.
• Shifts: SU says this is a big deal.  Hitters don’t care and still go for their home runs.  But it takes away a lot of offense.
• Some bad, bad teams.  Kansas City, Miami – no doubt not drawing anyone either on the road or at home.
• So many strikeouts.  Hard to watch.  No action.
• Giancarlo Stanton.  Sorry, I am in the mode of blaming him for everything.

Other reasons?  We already know the Millennials can’t sit through a 3-hour game.  Plus people prefer to watch on their 60-inch hi def TV.

What do you think?

Derek Jeter received a lot of criticism in the off season for cleaning out the Miami Marlins roster.  But SU says when it came to Giancarlo Stanton, he was right on the money.  SU has seen enough.  We are nearing the half way point to the season and SU has watched a lot of games.  Aside from the occasional home run bomb, he has a lot of hits that are dribblers or seeing eye singles and very few of them come with men on base.

Let’s look at the stats.  He has 35 rbis,  hitting .213 with RISP.  Strikes out a third of the time but no one cares about that anymore.  Gleyber Torres in 100 fewer at bats has 33 rbis – batting 9th most of the time!  Stanton gets to hide behind the team’s great record but let’s be honest – this was a bad trade even with Miami paying part of his contract.  Somewhere Andruw Jones is sitting with his 325 pounds thinking that he should have played another 5 years as he could have put up numbers like this.

SU came across this article on espn.com this morning:

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23797027/new-york-yankees-gleyber-torres-too-good-give-up

Trade Torres for Jacob DeGrom or any other starter?  What??????  Torres is 21 years old and is a natural shortstop.  He plays every day.  Starting pitchers today are so fragile.  This is insane.  Now, if the Mets were interested in Stanton who dominated the NL last season, that is a different story.  If Miami is paying about a third of his salary, how about if the Yankees pay another third making him a $10 million a year investment?  Throw in Clint Frazier and another prospect and you can have him.  Your “generational player” for the next 10 years.  I know, this will never happen.  He will be an albatross in the Bronx for the next 10 years and once Sanchez becomes a full-time DH, you have a real problem.  SU thought Stanton was a better outfielder but he’s not.  This dude is a #7 hitter who probably had a poster of Dave Kingman in his room growing up.

I also know he will hit a home run tonight as every time I bash him, he does something.  But SU cannot root for Stanton – just can’t do it.  And you know, that at some point this year, due to injuries, he will need to be front and center and will shrink big time.

Gary Sanchez down in the .180s now.  Crazy.  SU says he is way too bulked up and needs to drop 30 pounds and be more flexible.  And yet they continue to win due to a lot of home runs, decent but short starts and a bullpen that is now getting up to speed from all of the big guns.  Still fun to watch and as the Met fans say, what is your problem?

SU was a bit alarmed to see that the Yankees are bringing up a Double AA pitcher, Jonathan Loaisiga, to take Tanaka’s place for Friday’s game.  Apparently, as he is on the 40-man roster, this was the best choice for this start.  They now have German and this dude pitching back-to-back in the rotation.  SU is all for the youngsters getting their shot but Loaisiga has never pitched at the AAA level for the Yankees.

Now that Miguel Cabrera has torn a bicep muscle, they will no doubt go into full rebuild mode.  SU says keep an eye on the Tigers’ rotation for Cashman to look for a trade.  The problem is that most teams right now are still in the wild card hunt.  SU agrees with S. Goldman who said they should not be waiting until late July to pull the trigger on a deal.  The goal this year is the division title – not the wild card.  I would still find a way to hold onto Clint Frazier who is up to about .330 now in Scranton and look to dangle Hicks as trade bait.

The Yankees did score a run last night not via the home run which is progress.  Austin Romine continues his great season.  Bird now needs to drop down to 7th in the line up and Didi has regained his stroke to go back into the #3 slot.  Of course, we can’t hurt Stanton’s feelings and lower him in the order below 4th.  I am sorry but how over-rated is this guy?  Do you ever feel like he will get the big hit with RISP?

There is still talk that the Yankees would go after Bryce Harper but there is absolutely no way that is happening.  You cannot pay everyone when their time comes.  Steer clear of Machado and Harper unless they turn into 20-game winners.

The Mets are in free fall but their starting pitching continues to be strong.  SU says they need to be buyers, not sellers.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs are ready to entertain offers for Kawai Leonard.  Lots of trade rumors involving him and other big names are out there.  The Knicks are not mentioned in those rumors though which speaks volumes about their roster.

Anyone seeing a must do trade out there?

SU saw this on Twitter last night.  Just wanted to share with the intergalactic subscriber base.  Not looking to make a political statement here.

“Down to the final 2 picks when picking sides at the school yard.”

SU has spoken.  The Yankees performance to date is not as strong as their record would indicate.  The difference is that they are winning a high percentage of the close games, and they come back late and often.  The question is whether that is sustainable, and if you can actually do that consistently in a playoff run.  Here is what SU sees:

• I am not in love with the hitting coaches.  True, you have to say that Andujar and Torres have either overachieved or that they are both really, really good at a young age.  But when you look at the prolonged slumps of Didi and Sanchez, something is not getting through.  I know we are not in the George Steinbrenner Era when you fire coaches on a whim but there is something lacking here.
• Sanchez cannot get the ball in the air and refuses to hit to right field.  Either he is taking his hitting woes on the field where he allows a ridiculous number of passed balls and wild pitches, or he is taking his fielding woes to the plate where he only sees off speed pitches away and fast balls up and in.  His baseball card says he will get hot at some point but he is batting on the interstate right now around .195 and is almost an automatic out.
• Judge is slumping but has still been good with RISP.  You feel he will get hot again.  Gardner was terrible and has recently been much better.  Hicks is expendable and if you are looking to trade for a pitcher, SU would keep Clint Frazier and send Hicks.
• Bird needs some more at bats to see what you have there but SU would move Didi back to 3rd and Bird to 6th or 7th to take the pressure off.
• Bullpen is solid but when you play so many close games, you risk burning out the top guys.  Kahnle is still not right and Warren is injury prone.  Of course, you still need another starter.

Bottom line: Yankee fans are ecstatic as is SU with the start this year but you can see where the weaknesses are.  Did you realize that in the weekend series, every run for both teams scored on a home run?  What is that?  What happened to manufacturing runs, hitting away from the shifts?  Quite frankly, it’s boring.  SU says if you go into the playoffs with this line up, you will once again come up short against Houston.

The Mets are feeling pressure to move DeGrom – and maybe even to the Yankees.  It could be a good trade for both teams and the Yankees would no doubt give up some top prospects.  SU would not do it as I want to see how the youngsters develop but this could be interesting.  On the other hand, the Mets were supposed to be a Wild Card team this year and they may wait to get some healthy bodies back first.  Todd Frazier rules and is the face of the franchise – at least on ESPN. Btw, what was wrong with that telecast Sunday night?  Too much A-Rod doing his Al Leiter imitation showing how to hide the ball on pitches.  Too much Todd Frazier and we missed the pitch for his home run because of it.  SU is an A-Rod fan but enough of the technical stuff.

We enter the summer doldrums of sports now.  Sure, there are a few major golf and tennis tournaments and a non-US World Cup but until football gets going, time to enjoy the outdoors.  You can get excited about the NBA draft and which international player the Knicks will draft this year.  Or you can leave a light on for LeBron.

OK, as a Yankee fan, it’s hard to really complain about much this season.  Best record in baseball, winning most of the close games, a number of walk-off wins, no Todd Frazier or Chase Headley.  But hey, it’s baseball so let’s complain.

Yesterday, the Yankees played a day/night doubleheader.  Make-up games from back in April in Detroit.  Now, due to recent rainouts, they hadn’t played last Thursday or Sunday in Baltimore, and there is an off day coming up this Thursday.  The Yankees have one of the youngest rosters in baseball.  Boone put out a normal line up for game 1.  He sat Gardner but everything else was fairly normal except for Romine catching.  Clint Frazier got a start which SU liked as well.

Now, for game #2, against another right-handed pitcher, all of a sudden there is no Bird, no Hicks, no Didi.  What do they all have in common?  Oh right, they are left-handed hitters.  It was almost like Boone decided to do a math experiment and see if he could win a game with as few left-handed hitters as possible.  On top of that, he knows Judge has been slumping, Sanchez has been terrible for at least 3 weeks and Stanton is always terrible.  But let’s bat them consecutively 2 through 4.  So, you lose 4-2 in what was really a winnable game against a mediocre starting pitcher.  I know, it’s baseball, it’s one game, it’s a long season, blah, blah, blah.  But SU says at least put out a line up that makes sense and if you are going to rest the left-handed hitters, space it out better across the 2 games.  Being a manager is not that hard.  I feel like I gave more thought to this in designing the substitution schedule for 4th grade rec girls basketball games vs. what Boone did yesterday.

SU did like Stanton’s reaction to getting hit by the pitcher who beaned him several years ago in the face.  He homered the next time up, did a bat flip and then pointed at the pitcher as he crossed home plate.  SU thought that was fair.  I am sure the pitcher wasn’t trying to hit him but this was personal.  Good to see some fire from Stanton there.

Finally, if you have a chance, google the video of LeBron in the Cavs’ huddle at the end of regulation in game 1 before overtime starts.  This is just after the JR Smith bonehead play.  He finds out that they had 1 timeout left and just covers his head in a towel and almost starts to cry.  I mean, come on.  SU says man up and show your teammates you are still in it.  Not his best moment of the playoffs.  Btw, I fully expect Cleveland to win game 3.  After all, it’s the NBA playoffs and home court seems to mean so much.

Say it ain’t so!  John Beilein interviewed for the Detroit Pistons’ head coaching position.  SU always wondered if he would be tempted to try his hand at the NBA.  He is a teacher, generally improves the performance of his players while they are there and is nearing the end of his professional career.  Why not give it a go?

SU says he should stay put at Michigan.  NBA players are out for themselves and will not pay attention to being taught.  It’s a stars’ league and even though Detroit doesn’t have that type of player today, the higher paid players will see themselves as being at that level.  And they won’t pay attention and won’t buy into the team first concept.

Beilein is perfect for the college game.  Why roll the dice and get fired in your 2nd year with 25 wins?  Brad Stevens made the move but it’s rare that the college coaches are successful at the NBA level.

Having said that, SU still believes that Urban Meyer should give it a shot in the NFL.