Watching sports has been absolutely painful. And it isn’t going to get any better. Even with the Warriors stirring win over Sacramento in Game 7 of their first round playoff series.
Look at the Yankees. This is a team decimated by injuries. Most notable is the hip strain suffered by Aaron Judge on his birthday in an awkward slide into third base. Everywhere one turns, there is some position player out with an injury. Moreover, starting pitching is relying on three guys who should not be starting unless the team can score 6 or more runs a game. Which, in its current state, is almost unthinkable for this Yankees team.
As bad as things are after getting the doors blown off in the series finale in Texas by a score of 15-2, the bullpen had been superb until Sunday, leading or at the top of most pitching categories. With the way things are going, this, too, will not last.
If the state of injuries wasn’t already enough, the most bizarre injury happened on Saturday. Jake Bauers, who clubbed 9 homers to lead the International League, was rewarded for his early season success by being summoned to the big club to ease the outfield situation, exacerbated by the absolutely poor play of Aaron Hicks, who has a gigantic salary and is just eating up space on the bench. In the first inning, Bauers made a spectacular catch in left field; at the same time, he injured his knee against the wall and had to be removed from the game. He was replaced by…Hicks. It figures.
I am not writing this team off right now. The Yankees may sink into last place soon in the toughest division in baseball, led by the still surging Tampa Bay Rays. If the Yankees can avoid more injuries, the pitching gets healthy and the hitting returns, anything is possible.
Remember, the team is not below .500 and there is panic among the fans and the media. Some are calling for the departure of long-time GM Brian Cashman. His teams may not have won a title since 2009, but when healthy, they are as potent as anyone. Sure, Hicks and Josh Donaldson have not lived up to expectations. But Anthony Rizzo and Anthony Volpe have.
Right now it is excruciating to watch the team play. They are home for the Guardians, then travel to Tampa, where, for the first time in ages, the stadium’s upper deck will be open.
Maybe home cooking might help. Hopefully Judge won’t end up on the IL. For if the losing continues through next weekend, the hole will stat to become almost too deep.
Aaron Rodgers is here, to the relief of Jets fans. The price paid may have been steep, but he is saying all the right things and participating in voluntary workouts. I was wondering if he would even be able to find his way to the team’s practice facility in Florham Park; he’s there every day with a big smile on his face. And Rodgers is enjoying himself on his off time—he was spotted at the Devils-Rangers Game 6 on Saturday night and the Heat and Knicks opening game of their series on Sunday at noon. Rodgers has proven he can find both Florham Park and Madison Square Garden. And he has played in Met Life Stadium before, so finding that location on the team bus shouldn’t be any problem. This is hopeful news for long-suffering Jets fanatics.
I have felt the ebb and flow of the Ranges and Devils series. New Jersey couldn’t get it right on home ice, trailing 0-2 when Game 3 was played at MSG. The young group of Devils players suddenly got hot behind the insertion of 22 year old Akira Schmid in between the pipes. The series became 3-2 in favor of New Jersey.
After the first period of Game 6 in New York, the roof caved in for the Devils. The Rangers star-studded lineup played like they were supposed to.
Game 7 is in New Jersey on Monday night. Devils coach Lindy Ruff will mull over if he wants to keep Schmid as the goaltender in the pressure-packed finale, along with tinkering with his lineup.
I wonder if the Devils, making such a major turnabout this season, don’t have the poise and maturity to win the series. New York should be the favorite to win and escape to play Carolina in the next round.
A little different scenario led to a Game 7 between the Kings and Warriors. Golden State had played notoriously bad all season on the road. Yet the team won in Sacramento and returned to the Bay Area to finish off the young and quick Kings. Except that the Kings destroyed the Warriors, setting up a winner-take-all finale back in the state capital on Sunday, with the momentum seemingly on the side of the Kings.
Golden State is the defending champion. They have future Hall of Fame stars in Play Thompson, the villainous team leader, Draymond Green, and of course Curry, the all-time leading three point shooter.
The speed of Sacramento and the defensive pressure of the Kings resulted in too many forced shots and turnovers. Golden State appeared to be a step slow and looked out of sync.
However, I repeat that the Warriors are the defending champs. On Sunday, they played like champions. Led by two players in a total team effort which throttled the young Kings.
Those players are Curry and Kevon Looney. Curry set an NBA record with his 50 point effort on 20 for 38 shooting—with Curry actually missing a pair of free throws in the first half that had him talking to the rim, ball and himself. He was acrobatic, energetic and clearly the best player on the floor.
Looney had a third game of over 20 rebounds, which gave the Warriors second, third and fourth chances to capitalize on a tired Sacramento defense, which they did. He plays in all 82 games every year. He is an unsung hero, revered by his teammates. The guy flat out played great ball.
Golden State turned the tide by reducing its turnovers while forcing the Kings into many more. Now the Warriors have home court advantage as they host the Lakers with Lebron James and Anthony Davis in the next round. Advantage Golden State.
I want to say something about Stephon Curry. He has made me a Warriors fan by his athleticism and accuracy. The guy is a winner. How he ended up playing at Davidson instead of Duke and being drafted sixth is mind-boggling.
Pundits can talk all they want about Michael Jordan and Lebron James being the greatest players of all time. Perhaps they are.
What a 6’3”, undersized kid, now 35 years old, can do is beyond compare. He reminds of the intensity of the late Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
I loved Jordan and was mystified with his style of play. It was far different from that of Curry.
Pundits have put down Curry, just as they found fault with Derek Jeter, my favorite baseball player. Somehow, those guys knew how to win and star in the big moment. Which is why I always watch them and why I am enamored with Aaron Judge, too.
At least the Toronto Maple Leafs finally won a series, downing the Tampa Bay Lightning in a thrilling Game 6. I was pulling for the Leafs, even if they did have home ice.
Now I have to lock in on the New York-New Jersey Game 7, the start of the Los Angeles-Golden State rivalry being renewed in the playoffs for the first time since 1991, and the Yankees. Plus the weather has played havoc with my plans to see F&M take on number 1 Johns Hopkins in a home doubleheader. First it was on Saturday, then Sunday, then Monday. Now if the weather cooperates, the games will be played in Lancaster on Tuesday. I have never seen a #1 team in person in college baseball.
I am trying to decide what all this is for me—agita or angst?
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