Back in 1959 (I was 15 at the time), Syracuse University fielded it's best football team in it's history. It featured running back Ernie Davis and quarterback Dave Sarrett. They finished 10-0 with four shutouts and were named National Champions. They had a great 2nd team with quarterback Dick Easterly, that played quite a bit because of all the routs the team had. So good in fact, that a west coast announcer stated during a game against UCLA, that if the Syracuse # 1 team was the best in the country then the 2nd team must have been the 2nd best.
I tell you this story because it seems to fit the current NY Yankee team. They are playing with about 8 guys who would normally be playing for minor league AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Not only playing, but winning. And not just winning, they're leading the AL East by two games. Stanton and Judge, two guys who were supposed to lead the league in home runs, haven't had 90 at bats between them. The Yanks two top starters are both on the IL. I don't know how long it will last, but I'm loving every minute of it.
It occurred to me watching the game last night, that four or more players on the team are actually fighting for a job. When Stanton & Judge return either Maybin or Frazier will have to go - maybe both. When Didi Gregorious returns, what happens to Estrada or Urshella? They may be looking for work. With the way they have performed, it doesn't seem fair.
**Disaster seems to be haunting the Mets lately. Their hoped-for best slugger Yoenis Cespedes, hasn't played an inning yet this year while he recovers from heel surgery (It didn't take. He's still a heel). Now he broke his ankle at his ranch in what was initially described as "a horrendous fall." Because horseback riding is forbidden as part of his contract, the Mets could stop paying him or even cancel his contract. His agent, aware of this, has come out and said the accident occurred when he "stepped in a hole." That would mean the "horrendous fall" was from a height of 4 feet. Yeah, a hole. That's the ticket.
In other news, Robinson Cano is up to his old tricks, running-jogging-strolling to first base. After being taken to task for it by the press, certainly not the Mets, Cano apologized and said it wouldn't happen again. Two days later, it did. This time, he never even left home plate while he argued that a ball he hit in front of the plate was actually foul. Replays showed it wasn't even close and the call was correct. The Mets manager commented "I can see how that would happen." I can't. You run until they tell you to stop.
**My west coast sister-in-law took me to task this week because I neglected to mention her beloved LA Dodgers in my last blog. Okay, here it is. They have the best record in the National League and lead the NL West by seven games. They lead the NL in runs scored and ERA. They also have an excellent defense. Cody Bellinger may be the best hitter in baseball right now. He's currently hitting .404 and has a real shot at the Triple Crown. I don't care what you sabermetric nuts say, those two stats still mean a lot. But
their best accomplishment to me so far, is that they just beat the Tampa Bay Rays and hopefully will repeat that feat tonight. GO DODGERS! (How's that, Pauline?)
**Ron Gardenhire, manager of the Detroit Tigers (and one of my favorite managers), just got thrown out of a game for arguing after replay review went against his team. Baseball says you can't argue with a replay. The umpires are out of it once it goes to replay, so I guess all you can do is fly to New York and scream at the clowns in the replay room. I still think they should eliminate the replay and go back to the arguments. Youngsters will never get to see a manager turn his hat around and get right up in an umpires face (Earl Weaver), or pick up 2nd base and throw in into right field (Lou Piniella), or throw his hat down and kick around the field (Piniella again) or kick dirt on an umpire's cleats (Billy Martin). These tactics never changed a decision but they were entertaining as hell. There's just no color in the game anymore. I told you I was that old.
***THEY SAID IT***
"Friday morning’s Round 2 internet PGA Championship live coverage
captured Dustin Johnson about to hit from the rough as playing partner
Jon Rahm scrambled into the edge of the woods, where he was seen from
behind, er, watering a tree. Must be what they mean by “live streaming.”" -- Phil Mushnick, NY Post
"The NFL and its players union are studying the use of pot for pain management. So far the league has even managed to find 400 players who are willing to volunteer for the research." - Jim Barach
"My Athlete of the Year for 2019 so far: Bodexpress, who threw his rider at the beginning of the Preakness & then ran the entire race by himself finishing ahead of two other horses. Congratulation, Bodexpress." -- Brad Dickson
"Ex-pitcher-turned-accountant Benjamin Hendrickson, 38, has pleaded
guilty to swindling $145,000 by cooking the books in two business
transactions. Remember when ballplayers were simply content with just stealing second base?" -- Dwight Perry
"Al Unser, Jr. was arrested for DUI in Indiana. Police became suspicious of his driving as he was going unusually slow, being observed traveling down a freeway at only 140 mph." -- Jim Barach
"A 2019 survey found half a million Canadians admitted to using
cannabis at or just before work. In a related story, demands to be
traded to the Toronto Raptors have skyrocketed." -- RJ Currie
"Well, unless officials somehow rule later that they skated out of their lanes, St. Louis Blues are going to Stanley Cup finals." -- Janice Hough
CP-
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