Aaron Boone is a rookie manager.  He is not always going to get things right.  Clearly, he is a player’s manager.  He lets everyone swing on 3-0 in the count, he doesn’t call anyone out publicly or even privately it seems, and he respects the veterans.  That’s all good.  You can’t argue with his record to date – right up there with the best teams in 2018.

But SU says the problem is this.  Lately, he has been rolling out the Clay Bellinger line-ups for certain games.  Joe Torre loved to do this.  If Torre won the first two games of a series, he would start Clay Bellinger and every other scrub to try and lose that third game.  The logic was that he had to rest his veterans.  Most times, he lost that 3rd game.  But hey, he’s in the Hall of Fame and he had a great run in NY.

Boone had largely avoided that strategy until lately.  SU says the difference with this year’s team is that he has a very young roster – there are no 35-year old players other than Gardner who need so much rest.  Yesterday was a case in point.  OK, it’s a doubleheader against the Orioles, who while they stink, they play the Yankees tough.  In the first game, he started Wade, Higashioka, Clint Frazier, Neil Walker and Drury.  SU has no problem playing the bench players in these games but why not try and balance the line-ups?  You don’t have to go all in with the bench guys in the same game.  Predictably, they lose.  He also left CC in one batter too long and while SU was not watching live, I was following on the internet and my sense was OK, he’s at 99 pitches, two men on, no one out, get him out.

And if anyone needs a day off, it’s Didi.  He plays every day.  He could legitimately use a blow.

The issue this year is that Boston is beating up on the bad teams and there are so many bad teams out there.  You don’t want to be the wild card as it’s one game and then you never have home field advantage in any series in the playoffs.  This season may come down to the last series up in Fenway but it’s the games that you lose now that are really important and will ultimately determine playoff positioning.

OK, time for a few predictions:

• Clint Frazier has pretty much gotten himself traded now.  Just not taking advantage of his opportunities.  Not his fault necessarily as it’s hard to have that pressure and produce.
• Brandon Drury is also going to be traded.  The Yankees have to hold on to Andujar -he’s the better player with more upside.  Be smart here and resist, Cashman.
• They are going to keep Neil Walker as painful as that is.  He is too versatile and fills the spots that they need to fill at 3rd, 2nd and first.
• I think Bird is going to get demoted.  SU says he is either injured and not telling anyone or else he forgot how to hit.  The Yankees’ productivity at 1st base is truly awful and I think they will give Tyler Austin another shot even though they have no left-handed bats in there.  If Bird is sent down, he earned it.  Boone gave him every chance.
• And….. Sonny Gray is going to turn it around starting tomorrow night.  You heard it here first.  SU just has a feeling.  The time has come.
• While the Yankees are rumored to be in mix now for Manny Machado, I think that is just to drive up the price for whichever team acquires him.

SU knows Met fans feel Yankee fans are spoiled this year but right now, as currently constituted and even if they are fully healthy, the Yankees are not as good as Boston or Houston.  Offensively, too much reliance on the home run and they will not be able to manufacture runs in close playoff games against the elite pitchers.  Cashman will earn his salary in the next 21 days.

As previously stated here, SU tends to stay away from putting trivia questions out there as many are tempted to access the internet very quickly to look up the answers.  But SU thought this was a good question which came up on the Yankee broadcast on Wednesday.

“There have been 3 pitchers who have started both for the Yankees and against them in the World Series.  Can you name them?”

Hint: think modern day era – from the 1970s onward.  Have at it.  SU was able to get 2 of the 3 and was annoyed that I didn’t get the third one.  Neither Michael Kay or Paul O’Neill got any of them which was odd as O’Neill was a teammate of one of them.

SU is a little concerned about Glayber Torres’ injury.  He seems pretty young to have a hip flexor injury but apparently he has been dealing with this for years and does regular exercises to take care of it.  I guess we will see if keeping Neil Walker on the roster will pay dividends now as he slides into 2nd base.  Ronald Torreyes is out on the inactive list – medical issue for a family member.  Brandon Drury will also get some at bats – still waiting for him to show me something.  SU likes the way the Yankees don’t dwell on the injuries – it’s next man up.  That should be the mindset.

As far as getting that starting pitcher, SU does not see anyone out there who is that much of an upgrade other than DeGrom on the Mets.  Cashman and Omar Minaya are friends and that is one to watch.  The worry here continues to be that they will trade Andujar in that deal which SU feels would be a major mistake.

Giancarlo Stanton is hot.  History says watch out for the injury now.  But Clint Frazier is waiting in the wings and is also hot.  He deserves a shot and soon.

SU says competition for playing time is a good thing.  It used to annoy me when Nick Swisher was guaranteed his starts and at bats towards the tail end of his Yankee tenure.  Well, now Greg Bird who was given 1st base as a badly needed left-handed bat in the line up has had 100 at bats and is really struggling.  While he is still an SU fave, Aaron Boone has every right to start platooning him or even allow Brandon Drury to win the position.  Last night, bottom of the 10th, bases loaded, 1 out, Boone could have pinch hit for Bird with a tough lefty on the mound but he allowed him to hit.  Struck out on 3 pitches.  SU says it’s time: competition for playing time is a positive and the let the games begin.

Speaking of competition, we have seen the Brett Gardner hot streak when he got up to .265.  Well, now as they say in the Passover story, it’s 7 years of famine and he will hit .150 for the next month.  SU says bring up Clint Frazier and let’s have that competition.  If nothing else, you showcase Frazier for a possible trade for a starting pitcher.  Speaking of that, good comments from the SU faithful yesterday.  SU would have to agree that there really aren’t any slam dunk, must have pitchers out there.  I would be perfectly happy going with the rookies and let them grow this year.  You could certainly throw Sonny Gray in the mix – someone might like him and his salary is probably pretty reasonable.  SU would still do the Giancarlo Stanton trade for a high priced pitcher – you lose nothing there.  But of course I am biased.

Twitter was alive last night with the Demarcus Cousins signing by the Golden State Warriors.  SU has no problem with this one.  The reason is that Cousins is a team culture killer.  He is a hot head and he needs his 20+ shots a night to be happy.  I am sure he will behave on this roster but can you really tolerate both Draymon Green and this guy?  This was not a no-brainer move – it does carry some risk although it’s just a 1-year deal.  I still say Cousins is a cancer type player – great on paper but so bad in the locker room.  He has never played in the playoffs in 7+ years.

Finally, did you realize that John Sterling, the voice of the Yankees on radio, is turning 80?  And that he has not missed a Yankee broadcast since 1990?  Still going strong although he has the eyes of a 120-year old.  Thank goodness you can listen to the crowd noise on the radio broadcasts to know what happened.

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.”