HERE AND THERE

** I've commented in the past about the very brief costumes women wear to compete in various events such as track, pole vaulting and beach volley ball, but now I've run across the ultimate: Italian Women's water polo team. Of course, once they're in the water, none of this is visible, but what could possibly be the reason for this?

 ** Franciso Cervelli, former Yankee catcher now with the Miami Marlins, went on the IL a couple of weeks ago with a concussion. That's his SEVENTH concussion. He's a very tough guy but he's 34 and 7 concussions are way too many. He really needs to retire but he won't. The Marlins would have to release him and no other team sign him to save his life. I hope that happens.

**I am really glad the YES Network live broadcasts of the Yankee games are over. Yesterday, Michael Kay tried to explain who the Yanks could play and got so tangled up in the possibilities, I wasn't sure if the Yanks were playing Chicago, Cleveland or Oswego High School. He ended by saying there were 64 permutations on how the season could end up. Sorry I asked. Wait, I didn't.

**Well, the MLB playoffs begin tomorrow with 4 games on the schedule, from 2:00 PM thru 7:00 PM, in four different cities, on three different networks. Not enough baseball for you? 

On Wednesday, there are eight games scheduled in eight different cities at eight different times on four different networks. Of course, the games will overlap, so no matter what game you choose, you will end up seeing parts of 4 games, maybe even 5. Add in pre-game and post-game shows and it becomes about 15 hours of baseball.

Thursday is the same, except there are no times scheduled,  no networks programmed and not all of the games may be necessary.

**I know baseball managers always try to stay positive in post game press conferences, but can get pretty ridiculous. In the midst of the Yankees 10-game win streak, they administered a real shellacking to a couple of teams. These are actual quotes from the managers of the losing teams:

"I'm proud we made them use their closer."

"We did a nice job of getting his pitch count high."

What's left to say? "We sure had their tongues hanging out from running the bases. They'll think twice about scoring that many runs against us next time."

** I'll say this one more time. When is MLB going to do something about umpire Angel Hernandez? Some of his mistakes are so egregious that you can't believe someone pays him to do this. Joe West may have rabbit ears, look for arguments and have a quick thumb, but he really doesn't make that many mistakes. Not so with Angel. By the second inning, BOTH teams were furious with him. 

**The Boston Red Sox has this to say about manager Ron Roenicke: "Do not diminish how strongly we feel about Ron. He is a man of the highest character who cares about our players and the Red Sox organization."   Then they fired him. Wonder how he feels about the organization now?

***THEY SAID IT*** 

"Because of the Coronavirus restrictions, only 1000 fans per day will be allowed into this years French Open in the 35,000 seat Roland Garrus Stadium. In other words, plenty of good seats not available."  -- Dwight Perry

"So along with the college football polls after this week’s games, can media also publish a list of the top five universities for COVID-19 cases?"  -- Janice Hough

"Bill Belichick in ads for Subway sandwiches? I figured he’d endorse something closer to his persona, like a stool softener."  -- Phil Mushnick

Asked what he thought about a Yankee game in the playoffs in Chicago: "Oh yeah, great restaurants in Chicago. I can't wait to have a deep dish pizza."  -- David Cone [Sorry David, they're playing in Cleveland - CP]

"Scott  Bayless teams with Shannon Sharpe on FS1 in a concocted debate show format called Undisputed.  The program name is ironic in the sense that Bayless and Sharpe never agree on anything including: 1)The day of the week 2)The compass point at which the sun sets3)Who put the ram in the ram-a-lam-a-ding-dong."  -- Jack Finarelli, The Sports Curmudgeon

"A robot created by high school students recently threw the first pitch at a Milwaukee Brewers game. The pitcher lacked polish but had good mechanics."  -- RJ Currie 

"The Big Ten announced Ohio State and Wisconsin are the Cornhuskers’ first two opponents. After getting a look at the schedule, Nebraska parents are heading back to court seeking an injunction to stop the football season.”  -- Brad Dickson

"Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler had to be scratched from a start after he tore the nail of his right middle finger while putting on his pants. As any good Philadelphian knows, what good is a guy if he can’t use his middle finger?"  -- Dwight Perry

 "The Washington Football Team played like a group of guys determined to make a name for themselves.”  -- Rob Maaddi, AP

Chad Picasner