I spent much of my weekend watching TV, Not all sports, but certainly more than enough for even me. And I am worn down before the Jets and 49’ers take the field in Santa Clara, California. Which isn’t exactly a bad thing.
Let’s preface this weekend of binge watching of sports with the New York Yankees beginning a six game road swing earlier this week in Texas. Where they lost 2 of 3 to the defending World Champions, a team which is not going to reach the playoffs.
When Aaron Judge and Juan Soto hit, the team tends to win. When they don’t, it becomes an invitation for the opponent to feast on the inconsistent bullpen.
Most inconsistent of all has been closer Clay Holmes. Or should I say former closer Clay Homes.
Holmes has 29 saves this season. A very good number. Unfortunately, Holmes has blown 11 saves this year, leading the majors in that category.
Number 11 came in a game which New York led 4-1 at one time. Only to see that lead reduced to 4-3 as the bottom of the ninth approached.
Instead of shutting the Rangers down, Holmes loaded the bases then surrendered a walk off grand slam home run. Which set off the Yankees’ faithful, who had for month been clamoring for a new and reliable face to end the games for the Bombers.
Manager Aaron Boone, a players’ manager, had been in Holmes’ corner no matter how badly Holmes had faltered. But that support came to an end with this flop. While not guaranteeing he wouldn’t use Holmes as a closer for the rest of the season, Boone made it clear that Holmes would not be his first choice going forward.
Perhaps a little late, but there were still over 20 games remaining when Boone made his decision. It was now a question as to who might fill that role.
The Yankees flew from Texas to Chicago to face the Cubs. While New York lost on Wednesday night, three Chicago pitchers combined to throw the first Cubs no hitter at Wrigley Field since 1972 by Milt Pappas. And the Cubs had been demolishing Washington and Pittsburgh with hitting that was averaging over nine runs per game.
I had been looking forward to this rare Yankees trip to the ivy-covered walls on the North Side of Chicago. Historically, New York has owned the Cubs in the World Series with two sweeps in the 1930’s. Plus the Yankees held a big lead in the overall; inter league series.
One of the most majestical playing arenas in baseball is Wrigley Field. Cubs fans are loyal and true blue.
They continue to revel in the stunning 2016 World Series win. This weekend they had the chance to shower their affection to one of the heroes—Anthony Rizzo. This was Rizzo’s first trip back to Wrigley since the Cubs dealt him New York.
As much as Rizzo is beloved by his Yankees’ teammates and the NYY fans, that paled in comparison to how the Cubs faithful felt about him. The franchise honored him with a video tribute before Friday afternoon’s game. He was lustily cheered before each at bat. All of which he deserved. His heart may have left a piece in Chicago—both when he was a Cub and after this weekend.
New York dominated the Cubbies on Friday and Saturday. Luke Weaver recored his first save on Friday; Luis Gill returned from the IL to pitch sterling one-hit ball. On Saturday, Clarke Schmidt also pitched well, backed by former starter Nestor Cortes in relief, who was not too thrilled with his demotion to the bullpen.
Poor plays by Gleyber Torres and Aaron Judge led to two unearned runs and a loss on Sunday. Gerrit Cole pitched well, but the New York bats could not solve former Yankees pitcher Jameson Taillon (a close friend of Cole’s going back to their days in the Pirates’ organization) and two relievers. (A note off interest—in the three games, not one home run was hit in this homer-friendly park, with the wind blowing in from the outfield on both Friday and Saturday)
Judge and Soto aren’t hitting like they did for most of the year. This puts the onus on others—and they just aren’t capable of carrying the team like the the Dynamic Duo.
There are six series left for the Yankees and Baltimore. New York leads the Orioles by .5. The teams meet in the penultimate series in New York to begin the last week of the regular season. It’s all going to come down to which team can win more games—a problem they both have been facing recently. I will be watching as much as I can stand—perhaps not as a beautiful a sight as Wrigley Field in all its sun-splashed glory.
With the Yankees game in the afternoon, I watched my alma mater, Franklin and Marshall College, open at home with nearby rival Lebanon Valley. The Diplomats were too much for the Flying Dutchmen. It was a beautiful scene to see a night game in Lancaster—until Shadek Stadium was built, there had only been one night game with portable lights at venerable Williamson Field. While Saturdays are still golden for F&M football, it was a modern and fun look on an early September evening.
Who else did I watch? Penn State. This was a game I had toyed with attending—a bucket list item since my daughter is a PSU alum. The Nittany Lions struggled with Bowling Green before finally prevailing.
I don’t know if this is a post-rivalry game let down after a trip to Morgantown to defeat West Virginia. Why would I think that? Ask Notre Dame fans about the Mid-American Conference, where BGSU and Northern Illinois reside. For the 38 point underdog Huskies, who received $1.3 million to be a sacrificial lamb for the Irish, didn’t get the memo and gave the MAC its first-ever win against a Top 5-ranked school. Considering that NIU was only predicted to finish third and the Falcons would come in fourth, maybe the MAC is better than people believe.
Next up was the Top 10 match between Texas and Michigan. I thought this was a mismatch and I was right. Texas is as good as any team in the country. As good as the Longhorns may be, Texas must get through Oklahoma before facing #1 Georgia at home on October 19. Circle that date on your calendar if you want to see a possible title preview game.
I saw the end of the Iowa State-Iowa game. This was of interest to me as I had been on both campuses in early June. A 56 yard field goal with six seconds left allowed the Cy-Hawk Trophy to return to Ames in the arms of the joyous ISU players.
My final game to watch was South Florida and Alabama. It was the night that legendary coach Nick Saban would be honored with the naming of the field in the first season after his retirement.
Saban seemed to be very uncomfortable in his luxury seat in Bryant-Denny Stadium. For good reason. USF stayed with the Crimson Tide late into the fourth quarter before its defense began to tire. Maybe he needed to sell some supplemental insurance to the school. AFLAC?
Alabama has a very demanding schedule. While the Tide does not play Texas, the next game at Wisconsin could prove very difficult before a bye week and then Georgia comes to Tuscaloosa. Road games at Tennessee. LSU and Oklahoma are on the schedule along with good SEC teams Missouri and South Carolina coming to visit. I just don’t see Alabama winning the National Championship.
A final college football note—Nebraska pulverized Deion Sanders and his Colorado Buffaloes in a revival of a storied Big Eight rivalry. I think that at least for now, Sanders is in over his head.
Yes, I did watch pro football. The KC-Baltimore game was thrilling. Decided by an overturned call on review to end the game. I dare say the teams went toe-to-toe. (Groan) What I saw was this—don’t anoint the Chiefs to repeat after one game. The AFC is loaded.
The Giants played as ugly as their throwback uniforms. Minnesota isn’t that good. Green Bay played the Eagles thought on the horrible turf in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The loss of QB Jordan Love for eight weeks is essentially going doom the Packers. Dallas looked really good in Cleveland; maybe they are Super Bowl-bound? The Chargers were sluggish in winning over the Raiders; Jim Harbaugh can still coach in the NFL.
As for the Jets and Niners, my expectations are dim for Gang Green. Aaron Rodgers is a 40 year old QB who hasn’t played meaningful moments in two years. Monster DL Haasson Reddick is MIA, his holdout ongoing. The Dolphins, Bills and Patriots all won their openers. While SF is still a legit NFC contender. From my end, the math doesn’t add up for NYJ. 9-8 if they are lucky. Beginning with a loss while everyone else in the AFC East won. Ugh.
I have to put my eye drops in to relieve my aching eyes. From a weekend of TV saturation.
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