Exciting finish to last night’s NL Wild Card game.  The Nationals were dead in the water but Brewers’ manager Craig Counsel decided to summon his inner Goose Gossage and get 2 innings out of his closer.  Now it’s true that this guy had closed a few times during the year for 2+ innings, but he was overly amped and missing badly.  If the Nationals hadn’t gone ahead that inning, he would have likely thrown over 50 pitches in total for a 2nd inning.  SU says good for the Nats who have a long history of failure in the post-season.

SU is a little nervous about the Twins’ series for the Yankees.  The crack research team has been running thousands of scenarios through our state-of-the-art analytics system using AI.  I know all about the history of beating Minnesota in the post-season but this year’s Twins’ team feels a bit different.  Both teams slug and the Yankees will need to score a lot to win.  The loss of Tauchman and Hicks means an almost totally right-handed line up.  And there are just so many strikeouts up and down the line up.  This will not be a cake walk.  SU says Yankees in 4 but some nervous moments along the way.

Earlier in the season, SU felt it was necessary to get to the World Series to say this season was a success but I revised my thinking to just getting to the ALCS and play Houston.  This is a bad match-up for the Yankees.    Too many hard throwing, right-handed starters.  Losing German is a problem.  Getting Stanton back is a problem.  But playing a long, competitive series would be great to see.  Losing in 6 feels like the outcome there and SU can live with that.

In the NL, the Dodgers are due.  An LA – Houston World Series would pit the 2 best teams against each other.  That would be entertaining.  SU sees the Astros ultimately prevailing in 6 games.

Of course, I am all in on the Yankees.  Keys to watch for:

• Boone rested the relievers a lot in September.  That is either a good thing or guys like Chapman and Britton will be wild.  SU is a little worried about that.
• Encarnacion is still not 100%.  Prediction here is that the Yankees will not put him on the roster for the ALDS but will for the ALCS.
• Voit should sit.  Put Ford on the roster for another left-handed bat.
• Great to have CC on the roster but not looking for him to pitch.  Let him root a lot instead.
• While he has also been slumping, SU feels Didi will have a big post-season.  He is also a free agent and will want to make a statement.  Also look for Gleyber to come up big.
• Paxton needs to be 100% for game 1.  They cannot afford to go to to the bullpen early.  Happ is the long guy but the Twins are heavily right-handed and Happ gives up a ton of dingers.  Not a good fit there.  The Yankees don’t have a true long man reliever right now and that is a problem if you have to burn the relievers in game 1.

OK.  As always, SU opens up the Comments section for your predictions.  This is your chance to become famous and qualify for the drawing for the SU logoed backpack for being right.  Have at it.

As a Giant fan, the feeling of watching your quarterback actually run for 2 touchdowns was quite odd after 15 years of not having a mobile QB.  SU was an Eli fan – I had no problem with him – but the time was right to make the move to a younger option.  It looks like the Giants’ GM and scouts were spot on with Daniel Jones.  He’s tall, mobile and hangs in there.  Now, he did take some brutal hits and Eli will no doubt need to stay sharp this season as his time will come again.  And if Barkley is out for any lengthy period, they will be passing even more.  The Giants will need to protect him.  But SU says it now gives fans a reason to tune in on Sundays even if they are a sub-.500 team this year (face it: that is one bad defense).  Btw, SU loves the QB draw play around the goal line.  That wasn’t the call at the end of the game, but with a guy like Jones, you can run that play and the zone read as additional options for scoring.

As one of the 17 people who watches the Tennis Channel, SU was quite entertained this weekend by the Laver Cup.  Like the Ryder Cup, it puts individual players from different countries on the same team for a weekend and there is a lot of passion and nerves out there.  And do you know who the best teammate is?  Nick Kyrgios.  He is a nut job in many of his matches the rest of the year but was all in rooting on his fellow players, providing pointers on the changeovers and just being engaged.  SU says he showed a different side for sure.

While German is gone, the Yankees are going to get a huge boost from a strong Severino in the playoffs.  They can now go Paxton, Severino and Tanaka as the rotation with either Happ or an opener in game 4.  It looks like their pitching is now lined up.  The problem will be the hitting.  Sanchez is on pace to return as is Encarnacion.  Urshela is slumping as is Voit.  Boone will have some options on lineups.  But SU says if they face Houston in the ALCS, putting 7 right handed hitters out there who strike out a ton against Verlander, Cole and Greinke is not what you want.  But… SU will be satisfied at this point if they can get to that round and then let the chips fall where they may.

SU was quite disappointed by Michigan’s showing against Wisconsin.  Even with a bye week, it didn’t seem like they were prepared.  The Badgers have big offensive linemen (as they have for the past 75 years) and try to push you around.  Michigan had no answer – on either side of the ball.  But… there are other games to come and they are not mathematically out of it.  It will take a quick reset for the season and getting players to show they care which was not the case in the 2nd half Saturday.

Finally, long-time subscriber, A. Grossman was on record at the start of the season predicting 105 wins for the Yankees.  He has been issuing regular reminders and is now in range of hitting his number.  While he will be expecting to receive the official SU-logoed backpack as a reward, we need to check inventory levels to see if any are left.

Well, that didn’t take long.  MLB is going to announce that Domingo German will not pitch again this year.  Big blow to the Yankees’ chances.  You can go with Severino, Paxton and Tanaka and then an opener for game 4 or perhaps CC/Happ.

As Joe Girardi used to say, “It’s not what you want.”  But clearly a bigger issue at work here than just pitching for the Yankees.

SU says enjoy the rest of the regular season and hope for the best in October.  The Twins feel like the better match-up in the ALDS round vs. either Tampa Bay or Oakland.  SU is lowering its goal now to just making the ALCS round and facing Houston.  Getting to the World Series now seems awfully challenging.

Yankee fans, you may not have seen the last of CC Sabathia.  While Domingo German didn’t pull any muscles last night, he did something a lot worse and has been placed on administrative leave by MLB for domestic violence.  SU says this could be a major problem.  One of the few healthy players and now his ability to pitch in the post season will either be stopped or even if he can pitch, he will be majorly distracted.

SU is starting to think that Yankee fans should enjoy the next week and a half because once the playoffs start in 2 weeks,  hard to know what type of line up they will be putting out there.

Can’t we all just get along?  And can’t we all just stay healthy?  SU predicts Sanchez is a no go – and I am ok with that.  Romine calls a better game and puts the ball in play.  The team has enough swing and miss hitters in there already.  Encarnacion vs. Volt?  SU would go with Edwin and his parrot.  Better experience.  Stanton?  Hit the ball hard twice last night and also flashed a flailing swing at the low and away slider.  In mid-season form.

SU says clinch the division tonight and then rest guys down the stretch.  They will not catch Houston now and better to be healthy.

The Giants just announced that, once again, they are moving on from Eli Manning and will give Daniel Jones a shot at QB.  For SU, this is a step up from Geno Smith – I mean that was an embarrassment.  We don’t know about Jones at this point but SU likes the move.  Clearly, there is nothing to lose – like the Jets, the Giants are going nowhere this season.

It’s hard to go out on your own terms in work or in professional sports.  If you stick around long enough, someone will take your spot and it won’t be pretty.  Eli is a good guy and a great teammate.  No doubt he will take the high road here.  Of course, you do wonder if some other team might want to trade for him given the absence of quality QBs in the NFL right now.  It is pretty amazing how many teams have a less than average quarterback.  It’s also possible that Jones will get hurt and Eli will be right back in there in a few games.

So, what do you think?  The right move, right time?

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.