SU stayed up until 1 am last night watching the Yankees – Royals game so you wouldn’t have to. It was actually quite a game – not exactly the poster child for great relief outings – but it went down to the final pitch in the bottom of the 11th inning. It’s only one game out of 162 but SU has a few observations to share:

1. Luke Voit is on a mission. I mean, the dude swings too hard all the time but he cares. The Yankees traded for Rizzo who started red hot both at the plate and in the field, and apparently Voit was almost traded right before the deadline. He would still be in Scranton today if it wasn’t for Rizzo testing positive for COVID (he is not vaccinated btw). Voit looked terrible on Sunday in big situations and owned it in his post-game comments. He acknowledged that he is aware of almost being traded and that Rizzo is there to play first base. So, last night, after striking out with a man on 3rd and only 1 out early, he knocks in a run with a single, hits a home run in the top of the 9th to give them the lead, and then lines out to deep left in his last at bat. SU says good for him and he has put Boone on notice that he is deserving of playing time. He is a streaky hitter (like most of the Yankee sluggers) and SU says he needs to be out there somewhere every day – and that should continue once Rizzo returns.
2. And that brings us to Stanton. He has been better of late but not hitting for power really. Under Boone, Stanton doesn’t have to earn the at bats. He just has to stay healthy. The question is once Rizzo returns, who plays? The best line up has Voit at DH, Gallo in center field and Stanton in left field. If you don’t want to do that, and you want to play Gardner in center field or Allen (oh wait, we sent him down to the minors so this guy Davis can play???? That is called “over-GMing”), then who sits? SU says you sit the guy who is not producing and if that is Stanton, check your ego at the door and do better. Play the hot hitters. Do it.
3. Rizzo has to play. He is a gold glove first baseman and a left-handed hitter. So does Gallo although SU is not sold on him as of yet. So many strikeouts and while no one cares about that anymore, SU does.
4. Tyler Wade was huge last night and the new shortstop, Velazquez, looked good in the field and is a switch hitter. Torres is out a few weeks now and let some of the young guys play.

Let’s be clear: the Yankees are not a lock to make the Wild Card. Oakland, Boston and Toronto are not going away. The hot hitters need to play and others need to earn their at bats. Let’s see how Boone manages this.

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.

Brian Cashman is emptying the prospect bucket to make a run at the 2021 season. SU is encouraged that he is at least going for left-handed hitters – what a concept! I don’t know much about Anthony Rizzo although he has had a very solid career except for the last 2 seasons. He seems to make contact (I guess they didn’t hold that against him as the Yankees value players who strike out all the time) and is great defensively. Hits to all fields too (no doubt the Yankee hitting coaches will work on that and train him to hit into the shift).

Just kidding – don’t want to go all negative here. Rizzo is a free agent after the season is over so this feels like a rental situation. The strategy long-term has to be to move Torres back to 2nd base and find a solution at shortstop who can field with some range. SU thought they used to have Didi Gregorius in that spot but maybe I am mistaken? That means LeMahieu will move to 1st base long-term. That all feels right to SU.

Now, the addition of Rizzo makes Luke Voit appear to be expendable. Rumors are he will be traded for a pitcher today. But… SU says what about this? Put Stanton in left field and Votto in center. You give Stanton the white glove treatment as a DH but he is flat out bad for long stretches. For $30 million, let him play the outfield too. He was an everyday player in Miami for a number of years and is still only 31 years old. Worst thing that happens is that he pulls a calf muscle and goes on the IL. They have depth now with Gardner and Allen. This would allow them to DH Voit and keep him around in case they can’t make a deal. SU says don’t just give Voit away for nothing.

Bottom line: the Yankees are a station to station team now (still) but at least have some balance in the line-up with the new left-handed hitters. SU would have broken it all down now but clearly ownership wants to go for that 2nd wild card spot and see if they can make a playoff run.

And where are the Mets? The major pieces are now off the board in Scherzer and Turner as the Nationals start over and the Dodgers go all in for 2021 but the Mets have the resources to do something. SU thinks they will be the team to watch today.

SU’s main guy Djokovic goes down in the semis in Tokyo so no Golden Slam for this year. I am not surprised as he doesn’t play well in heat and humidity, and Tokyo sells both in July. One wonders why the Olympics are in Tokyo at all given their weather in July but we know those decisions are a bit complex and mysterious.

Met fans, who’s on your wish list today? Yankee fans, are you happy with the moves? The team is clearly excited by losing 14-0 yesterday to the Rays with Cole pitching. Flawed teams don’t sweep.

SU has been trying to monitor the Yankees’ trade for Joey Gallo since it was first being reported last night. At one point, it sounded like it was Clint Frazier plus 8 other prospects for Gallo and some random pitcher on the Rangers. This morning, it seems like it’s down to 4 minor leaguers and NOT Frazier. Medical physicals are still pending before the deal is finalized.

As we know, SU has been on record that Cashman should break down this roster and retool. Well, this is the opposite of that. SU is very disappointed that Frazier was not included in the deal and you have to believe that Cashman wanted to move him. Could it be that Frazier’s value has dropped so far (he is also having vision issues) that no one wants him? That seems likely. None of the 4 prospects are considered to be top tier, although all 4 seem to be having great years on their respective minor league teams. As Yankee fans know, their prospects are always over-hyped so you have to assume they will never have made it to the majors for the Yankees.

So, that brings us to Joey Gallo. SU says this guy is a left-handed version of every hitter on the team. Hits in the low .200s, swings for the home run all the time and strikes out all the time. So, the thinking is rather than have Judge, Stanton, Sanchez in a row striking out right-handed all the time, you can lengthen your line-up and stick in a left-handed batter who can also strike out all the time. That gives you 4 guys now and you know Boone will be chomping at the bit to bat them consecutively.

Is this baseball today? Is that the winning formula? Anyone who has watched the Yankee games of late, sees a team hitting .162 with RISP for about the last 15 games and still winning. In fact, if the bullpen was a little better, they would be on a great streak here. The games are mind-numbingly boring to watch, and SU has observed that the announcers – be it Michael Kay, O’Neill and Cone or John Sterling (totally unlistenable now as he calls the games from the monitor) no longer even comment on their failure with RISP. Rather, it’s expected and the outlier event is a hit. Stanton gets the biggest pass. The dude is either red hot or ice cold. That’s what $30 million a year gets you.

SU goes back to this: what is the goal here? Qualify for the 2nd wild card spot and lose early in the playoffs and be embarrassed again by the Red Sox? And you will have a deep playoff run because your bullpen is lockdown solid? Not following this.

Judge was held out of the game yesterday at the start and that was intriguing. Would they actually trade their best player? He got a big hit in the 10th inning that was a half inch from being a crippling doubleplay grounder. Instead he is the hero and good for him. SU would not trade Judge.

Bottom line: there is one more day to make trades but unless Gallo goes on some type of crazy hot streak for 2 months, this feels like a version of Aaron Hicks in the outfield and he needs to be traded as well. Btw, where are the Mets? The 1st place Mets. Keep your eye out today as Sandy Alderson is usually very good with upgrades at this time of the year.

SU has spoken. As always, interested in what others have to say.

I must admit that I am struggling with the coverage of the Olympics in Tokyo. SU saw that the USA Men’s Basketball team was playing France on Sunday morning, so I figured I would check that out. NBC? Nope. The 2 NBC Sports stations that I found on cable? Nada. USA Network? Negative. I suppose I could have gone to the Peacock site and maybe watched it there but this is men’s basketball. I discovered later – and I assumed this – that NBC wanted to show the game in prime time on Sunday afternoon. The problem is that with media, you can track scores and updates in real time. SU says show it in real time on one of the other NBC networks to reward fans who want to watch it live.

Now, not that this was high quality basketball. SU does get that this year’s team of NBA players is missing some of the top stars – Curry, LeBron, AD, Kawi Leonard, Harden – but it should be good enough to win these games against countries who only have a handful of lesser NBA players. This group may in fact go on to win the gold medal anyway. SU says it’s actually good for the spectator who would prefer to watch a contested game vs. a blowout. Coach Greg Popovich is already getting blasted in the media for being an underachiever in coaching international teams for the US. Seems odd. SU predicts this team will come together as the tournament progresses and will still come away with the gold medal.

Unfortunately, the Yankee games are on when they are supposed to be. The Boston series was interesting. They could have been swept and they could have won 3 of 4. Winning one game is about right for this year’s team which always falls short in some category in most games. The Division title is officially out of the question now as they will not catch both Boston and Tampa Bay. Not even close. And the Wild Card, while still possible, seems like a big lift for this team of misfits. As a lifelong fan, I cannot just turn them off completely but it is a hard watch. SU must note that the YES Network crew of Kay, Cone and O’Neill have stopped talking and must be under orders to stop being so negative. You watch Stanton come up with RISP over and over again and it’s not like he puts the ball in play and gets robbed. He just strikes out over and over again. With so many players out, this was his time to be the man. His numbers vs. Boston this year: 7 for 45 (.156) and 21 strikeouts. Cashman really needs to find a way to move him but SU can’t picture any team wanting to take on his salary length, size and limited mobility.

The next 5 days will be interesting for Brian Cashman who needs to decide if he should unload his major pieces for prospects.

The Mets added Rich Hill – a solid pick-up as they need starters – and no doubt Steve Cohen is not done yet. They will be the team to watch in NY down the stretch as the Yankees fade from view.

SU appreciates the input from the intergalactic subscriber base to our previous question of whether the Yankees should be selling or buying at next weekend’s trade deadline. There is some cause for optimism this week given the modest 4-game winning streak and the performance of mostly journeymen players who have contributed with a few timely hits, stolen bases and — wait for it — sacrifice bunts.

SU has observed and has these thoughts:

1. The general level of unathleticism (I know, probably not a real word) of the Yankee roster makes a stolen base or a runner scoring from 2nd base on a single to be so remarkable that you think you have seen something never done before in baseball. Fans have become used to waiting for the home run and excited when Gary Sanchez or Gleyber Torres run hard on a doubleplay grounder. And when Giancarlo Stanton runs hard, well, you almost jump out of your seat! Baseball has always been built around hitting, running, stealing, taking the extra base, etc. Not in the Bronx but elsewhere. SU says calm down. Enjoy it but it’s not sustainable once the COVID and injured players return.
2. The performance of the journeymen players and the youngsters this week has been energizing and fun to see. SU has more faith in the real youngsters vs. the older guys who will have trouble sustaining a high level of performance. Florial in center field is good and needs to play every day. I mean, is anyone waiting on the return of Clint Frazier? I rest my case on that one.
3. I like this guy Allen. A switch hitter (WHAT? A left-handed hitter? How did that happen exactly? Must have been a clerical error). He needs to stay for the rest of the season.
4. The bullpen is officially a disaster area now. The Yankees do not have a reliable closer anymore. Chapman has some issue with his finger nails that makes throwing his cut fastball hard and he clearly misses the Spider Tack stuff. Britten has no idea where his pitches are going. Chad Green can set up but is a fire starter in the 9th inning. Last night’s loss was bone crushing … and predictable for SU. He can’t be trusted. Line drive after line drive in the 9th. Cessa had pitched a 5- pitch 8th inning and many wanted him to stay in. It’s an easy second guess – especially after Green’s implosion – but you can’t blame Boone entirely on that one. Green is supposed to perform. On the other hand, SU doesn’t trust Green so it was certainly worth a shot. And if Chapman was available, he would have been in there and we would likely have the same result. That is SU’s point.
5. Stanton had a big single in the 8th inning – bloop single – but he has not risen to the challenge with a depleted line up this week. That is what $30 million a year players do. He ain’t that guy and never will be.

Meanwhile, other contenders are adding to their rosters. The Rays picked up Nelson Cruz yesterday – huge and smart move for them. The Yankees will have to get red hot to just get a wild card and then will be bounced early in the playoffs. That cannot be the goal here. SU would rather retool for the future than eke into the playoffs and exit early.

Cashman did this in 2016 – there is precedent here. Pitching coaches have big egos and someone will know how to fix Chapman. He can go. Luke Voit is a young guy but just another DH. Stanton has a no trade – he is here until 2049 so get used to that. Voit has value. Someone will also take a flyer on Clint Frazier. Let the rebuild begin.

SU is back in action after a week of R&R up in the Finger Lakes which I would highly recommend this summer. Per usual, SU kept tabs on the developments in the sports world including the NBA playoffs which are very good by the way, and my man, Djokovic, winning another Grand Slam title.

And SU has also been following the Yankees and their fits and starts as they try to establish some pattern of success. My observations:

1. Even when winning in 2021, this team does not look good. They just don’t. They can’t score and thus wins are low scoring and close. They are worst in the baseball with RISP – something like .224 – last in stolen bases, at the bottom in so many offensive categories.
2. They have now won a few series in a row and have gone 7-3 against better quality teams. The Red Sox could have buried them once and for all this weekend but missed out on that golden opportunity. Could this be the Minolta Turning Point of the Season? SU will comment on that shortly.
3. With 6 players now on the COVID injured list (unclear how many were not vaccinated by the way), and Luke Voit hurt yet again, the Yankees have brought up a lot of minor league players. What’s interesting to SU is that almost none of them are considered real prospects. Rather, they are journeymen players in their late 20s to early 30s. That is a statement right there of the organization’s talent pool. The answer is that the younger players are on the Major League roster (Torres, Sanchez, Judge) and the “prospects” are in their late teens and early 20s and not quite ready. That means a gap in the pipeline.
4. Chapman seems to have regained his velocity – he was up to 102 last night – although if you are a left-handed batter you might not stand in the actual batter’s box as Chapman doesn’t really know where those pitches are going. SU would put him back in the closer’s role now.
5. The younger players who were out there this weekend can actually run fast – it was almost shocking to see someone go from 1st to 3rd or score on a single. SU likes this guy Greg Allen who has bounced around among a few teams and is a switch hitter with speed. And here is the thing: he got a few hits. As a regular fan this year, it was a real surprise to see a hit from a center or right fielder. Really. Cameron Maybin filled in nicely a couple of years ago, and Allen could be that guy this year.

So, back to our original question. Sell or buy? Was this the Minolta Turning Point? SU say no, and I would sell. And here is who I would sell:

• Clint Frazier – put him out of his misery. Over-hyped. Let him thrive somewhere else and I hope he can do that.
• Miguel Andujar – SU favorite but he also needs a new venue.
• Luke Voit – I think you could actually get some value for him. Good guy in the clubhouse but for me, swings way too hard and now can’t stay healthy.
• Odor – I know he’s hit a couple of home runs of late but he is a .212 hitter who swings for the fences mindlessly.
• Stanton – I know he’s untradeable because of the contract but I would eat the salary and free up the roster for future years. He also has a no trade contract which makes this difficult. Did you see the stat last night that in his last 77 at bats at Yankee Stadium, he has 1 extra base hit? He is either red hot or ice cold, and when he gets hot and gets on base, his legs can’t handle running the bases and he gets hurt which means he goes cold again. Rinse and repeat for the next 2 months. Enough.

I would keep Gleyber – fix him. And seriously, bring in new batting coaches. SU has nothing against the current team but at some point, the players tune you out and it’s time for a change. I would also keep Sanchez as you don’t have a capable replacement. But if they traded him, SU is ok with that too.

Bottom line: I am ready for a change. The season will not be satisfying with a late season charge to get a wild card and then lose in the first round to Tampa Bay. That does not cut it.

The floor is open. Buy or sell?

SU checked out the Yankees out West for their last 2 games in Seattle. Now, I only watched the first part of Tuesday’s blowout win and then the start and end of last night’s 5-4 win (I did get some quality nap time in between there). A few observations:

1. Seattle cleverly started 2 left-handed pitchers against the Yankees’ all right-handed line-up. I mean, who makes these decisions? SU would have brought up any random right-handed pitcher from the minor leagues to face them. And to top it off, one of the starters was a former Yankee minor league prospect, Justus Sheffield. He was really bad. Just another over-hyped Yankee prospect.
2. The team had a lot of hits! Amazing. 18 hits on Tuesday night including many to the opposite field against the shift. This proves to SU that the hitters are capable of doing it but have resisted it for half a season. That’s on them – and Boone and the hitting coaches. Go that way or you don’t play. Is that so hard to enforce? Luke Voit had 5 hits. How is that even possible? Because he hit to right field. Hopefully, he made a note to himself to do that again.
3. Chapman pitched the 9th inning in the blowout game – 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Did not see it. Green closed last night’s game. No doubt, this was a hard decision for Boone to make as he usually makes the wrong move. But SU says no way to do you bring in Chapman to close until he is 100% right. They cannot afford to blow any more games.
4. And how is Chapman still going to the All-Star game? Actually, SU rarely watches the game but if I knew he was going to pitch, I would tune in just for that.
5. The true test for the team will be this next series in Houston. SU says this is a season-defining moment and will inform Cashman on his moves in July. Take 2 of 3 and they are all in. Anything less should be a case to be sellers come the trade deadline.

Good stuff on the men’s side at Wimbledon. Federer went out but it was a very windy day and even the best players, like Djokovic, were struggling to hit the ball cleanly and maintain their footwork. SU believes Federer will announce a farewell tour for one year and a visit to each major one more time. As we all know, it’s hard to go out on top in sports. It just doesn’t work that way. SU is all in on Djokovic but keep an eye on the Italian, Berrettini. He serves close to 140 mph and probably has the hardest forehand in the game. He pushed Djokovic in the French Open and now is in the semis at Wimbledon showing his game translates across all surfaces. His backhand is not as good but he has a real shot here on grass.

The movie, Airplane, is a great comedy that SU has seen many times over the years. Just a lot of laughs. Leslie Nielsen plays the doctor on the plane who multiple times goes into the cockpit to say, “I just want to tell you both, good luck. We’re all counting on you.” The best is at the end of the movie once the plane has landed, he comes in again for one last time.

Well, SU says that is what Aaron Boone has become with his media appearances after every Yankee game, er, um, loss. His comments that “our play is unacceptable, we have to do better, our fans expect more, …” are now in rinse and repeat mode night after night. It reminds me of Airplane.

Now, I know you might say: what do you expect him to say? And that is actually correct. It’s not his roster and if you look at the players he can put in there, the combinations are so limited or just look the same. I mean which right-handed hitters should I start today? And in which order? I don’t want to bunch my right-handed hitters together, i.e., where do I put my only left-handed hitter, Brett Gardner, in the line-up?

Boone has failed miserably with his in-game moves. Chapman is a lost soul. Have him pitch in middle relief a few times to get his confidence back. He has now eclipsed Dave Righetti when it comes to blowing important games. You cannot keep rolling him out there (although I must say it is fascinating to watch as his confidence drops from pitch to pitch). He was the best reliever in baseball for 6-7 weeks and now is a fire starter for the team.

SU noted that the Yankees sent down Tyler Wade, one of the few left-handed bats. He should have gotten some starts at shortstop to give Gleyber Torres time to work out his issues – same way that they did that for Gary Sanchez.

SU says time to blow up the roster. The best you will do this year is make the wild card and with this line-up, they would lose early in the playoffs. The team is not built to win, and it’s not enough to just qualify for the playoffs and then strike out 15 times a game. Admit defeat and start over – again for the 2nd time in 5 years. Eat some payroll and trade Stanton – his body will only calcify over the next several years. Let someone else deal with him jogging to first base. SU would also trade Voit and Chapman. For Chapman, you will again have to eat salary.

Should they fire Boone? SU is ambivalent on that one. They don’t seem to play hard for him but I can’t see them playing hard for anyone – even Buck Showalter.

The Mets fielded a line-up over the weekend that had alternating left and right-handed batters, and they put the ball in play. What a concept. True, they got some lucky seeing eye hits but if you don’t put the ball in play, you never know what might happen.

Blow it up now, please. Yankee fans are checking out in droves and it hasn’t been entertaining all year.