"Tis the Season

     It is that time of year. August. The Dog Days of Summer--although my spoiled Sheltie spent most of her time inside on air conditioned tiles which cooled her little body.  It is supposed to be hot but the temperatures for the next few days are going to be average or below average.

     This is when the confluence of college and professional football converge and intrude on baseball as it reaches its crescendo. (Side note--the word "confluence" is indelibly etched in my mind from the gravelly New York voice of the indomitable Howard Cosell as he described the merging of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers in Pittsburgh where they form the majestic Ohio River) This is the time where hopes spring eternal yet are destined to be extinguished rapidly, at least for the majority of teams I root for.

     Yes, the Yankees are still very much in the hunt for the A.L East title or one of two Wild Card spots. They had been on a bad streak for awhile, then seemingly righted themselves to reappear at the top of the division standings in front of arch rival Boston. Significant trades were made to bolster weaknesses in the bullpen, starting rotation and at third base. Chase Headley vacated that spot for New Jerseyan Todd Frazier and took residence at first base where he magically began to finally hit. Dellin Betances seems to have moved on from his mysterious mechanical failures which caused him to pitch himself into repeated jams. But Aaron Judge seems mired in a post-All Star Game slump, while catcher Gary Sanchez, another participant in the Home Run Derby at the ASG, appears to have located his potent swing. Lately, the Yankees have made opposing pitchers look like Hall of Fame hurlers when they throw against New York, and the paltry offensive output does not win games.

     There is something about this team which makes me skeptical, even dubious about their chances to play in October. The Yankees are in the midst of a rough schedule in August--currently they are visiting A.L Central leader Cleveland. The road trip continues in an always tough Rogers Center versus the Toronto Blue Jays. Then Boston comes to Yankee Stadium for 3 games, directly followed by the annual home and home 4 games against the Mets. Which provides no breather, as the Bombers journey to Boston for 3 more games against the Red Sox. Ten games with 2 teams. Rivalry Week as proclaimed on the YES Network. A visit to Comerica Park in Detroit comes next; the Tigers just took 2 of 3 from the Yankees in New York. Seattle, another wild card hopeful, makes its annual trek to New York. Cleveland comes to town the last week of the month. A 4 game series leading up to Labor Day hosting Boston is on tap. Thirteen of the remaining 25 games are at home; almost all are against division opponents except for Texas, Minnesota and a make up game at home with the streaking Kansas City Royals.

     It is a daunting task for a team which needs desperately to learn how to win. The new pieces to the puzzle must fit in quickly. Starting pitching must improve. The established players have to perform better. If not, my abundant fear will be realized--the New York Yankees will be missing out on the big October party baseball throws for its elite teams.

     Training camp has begun in Florham Park. That is because the New York Jets must play 4 pre-season games in addition to the 16 regular season schedule. The NFL mandates this. Coming off of a miserable season in 2016, the hopes and desires of Jets' fans like me for a winner is not going to happen. There are too many holes on the roster where the talent gap between the Jets and the rest of the league is just too great. At quarterback, Josh McCown, a journeyman at best, battles Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty for the starting spot. Whoever wins the open competition will be given the opportunity to lead the Jets, behind a porous, unproven offensive line which will not provide much help to the running game the coaching staff envisions. Moreover, the receiving corps features a bunch of unknowns, making the success of the QB even more problematic.

     The defense is better than the offense and will keep New York in some games. Even so, the defensive secondary is not a strength like the defensive line is, and the linebackers are questionable.

     Two things happened to the Jets on Friday. Miami Dolphins starting QB Ryan Tanehill injured his knee, ostensibly sidelining him for the year. While Matt Moore is a capable replacement, the Dolphins now are more like the Jets. Which gives New York 2 actual chances to win an AFC East game or two. Certainly not against New England and G.O.A.T. Tom Brady.

     And the second noteworthy event was that owner Woody Johnson was confirmed by the Unites States Senate to be our ambassador to Great Britain. Mercifully, we fans will not have to see him this potentially horrid season, happily smiling in the stands, promoting Jets football. His joyful presence added to the dismay associated with this moribund team.

     Knowing the Jets as I have during my now 41 years as a season ticket holder, my level of enthusiasm is minimal at best. If they are indeed tanking the season to try to get a stud college QB in the 208 NFL Draft, the Jets will probably win too many games to get the top pick who many assume will be USC QB Sam Darnold, or he will opt to stay in school for one more season rather than be associated with this franchise. Such is the lot of the Jets fans as the rigors of the 2017 season have begun--for them.

     New Jersey major college football is all about the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Entering his second season as head coach, Chris Ash is looking for improvement on the 3-9 record of a year ago. That would include perhaps winning a Big 10 clash or 2. More of the pieces are on the Banks of the Raritan this year--a bevy of fairly talented signal callers are competing for the starting job. Offensive coordinator Jerry Kill, a former head coach at Minnesota, must find ways to make the Knights' offense jell. They have some good running backs, which include a transfer from the University of Miami. Plus the recovery from a leg injury by Janarion Grant, who was a standout wide receiver and kick returner seems to be complete. Rutgers must have a healthy Grant to make big plays in order to win games. The defense, which is not too bad, can be a positive for RU, as long as they are not on the field too long and tire out chasing down the superior talent of Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan. Washington comes to Piscataway to open the season. One can only hope for a credible performance by Rutgers on national TV and no more blowouts like the 78-0 whooping Michigan put on RU last season.

     Improvement is what Rutgers fans should be looking for--like the men's basketball team showed in 2016-17. That is the level of optimism they should have. Challenging for championships is just not in the immediate future.

     My alma mater, Franklin and Marshall, plays in the Centennial Conference, which has a group of nice academic small colleges in Pennsylvania and Maryland.  Johns Hopkins is the giant in the CC--in sports and in enrollment; Muhlenberg is always just a notch or two below Hopkins on the football field. Rivalry games against Dickinson and Gettysburg make the 10 game schedule quite tough for dear old F&M.

     A new stadium opens mid-season at F&M for Homecoming. Dickinson is the foe. Maybe the entry into Shadek Stadium era will be the foundation for a even better F&M team than last season's 7-4 squad, which counted losses to Hopkins , Muhlenberg and Susquehanna as well as heartbreaking post-season loss to Albright College. At least here I have greater confidence--after all, Hopkins is ranked only 13th in the DIII Football poll. F&M has knocked them off before, so why not again? F&M could be 5-1 or even 6-0 heading into the October clash in Baltimore. Unless I am looking at the F&M eleven and the schedule with rose-colored glasses...

     So if the Yankees can hold on to at least a Wild Card spot; the Jets can either win more games than ever expected or tank the season for a top draft pick; Rutgers improves an wins a Big 10 contest or 2; and F&M contends for an NCAA berth, then the fall will be better than I could anticipate.

     Otherwise, I am left with my dreams for a better winter season, starting with the rudderless Knicks, New Jersey Devils, RU and F&M hoops and thankfully, the Golden State Warriors. That does not start until October for the NBA and NHL teams and November for college basketball.

     Yes, it is August.  4 more weeks to enjoy swimming, Jersey tomatoes and sweet corn. Savoring the good things of summertime. The warm weather makes my mood better when I think of fall baseball and football. 'Tis the season for crossing my fingers (and toes) as far as my teams go. I pray that the wintry chill that comes in November isn't gloomier because my teams did not perform. Such is the mindset of this fan when it is August. I can defer my annual dose of despair for now.