Connery’s Views from a recliner

The last 10 games for the Yankees have been good overall. Playing .700 baseball is outstanding. Unfortunately, the trend needs to continue for the Yankees. Being behinf the 8 Ball sucks. But, rather than focus on the what ifs and feeling the vein in my neck pulsate when I hear the name Altuve, lets focus on the recent positives.

James Taillon: The Dude has been big lately, if for nothing else, he has pitched well and given the Yankees some length, working around inconsistent middle relief.

Gerrit Cole; The Ace has been the Ace. Whether that’s staring down Aaron Boone in Houston, and telling him, ‘No, Im finishing this game, let’s go!’, or pitching his way out of jams against Boston, Cole has been outstanding. He’s earning his contract. This blogger is a massive Cole fan and loves that he is pitching better.

Honorable Mention: Gleyber Torres. I see you and your two home runs in the last two games. Keep that up.

Last by not least: Domingo German. Who would have thought a middle relief stint would help this guy?!? He seems to take the role well and play well in it. It also makes the manager look great, meh, anybody can win the lottery I guess.

The Wildcards Moving Forward: Aroldis Chapman and can Aaron Boone stay out his own head, or own way? My theme with the Yankees all year has been being consistent. How will Aaron Boone manage Aroldis Chapman moving forward? Set up? Closer? 9th inning mop up? The idea of how Chapman is going to be used will be faacinating.

Lastly, what about the offense? Having essentially half your offense in Covid Protocol all at once is a major thing. Will the offense as currently constructed be able to continue this production and winning baseball?

Bottom line, Giancarlo Stanton HAS to be better!

See everybody tomorrow.

Gerrit Cole pitched well and held on late, and the sleepy Yankee offense woke up just a enough to finally get a win against the Boston Red Sox at soggy water-logged Yankee Stadium.

Cole, who last month got shelled in Boston, over his last two starts has rebounded including a complete game gem in Houston 2 Saturdays ago, and then last night’s grinder of a win.

Watching his last two starts, this writer feeks Cole finally got back to being Gerrit Cole. Cole, challenged and questioned about scuffing baseballs and his spin rate, has fought back. You wanna question him? Here’s 98 on the black, try and hit it fellas! In his last two starts, Cole has been Cole.

The other night thing from this Yankee fan’s perspective? The offense produced. Specifically, DJ LeMahieu , Gleyber Torres, and Gary Sanchez produced. LeMahieu came thru with a gane tying run scoring single in the 5th, and Sanchez and Torres followed with back to back, opposite field home runs in the Bottom of the 6th.

The Yankees would go on to win 3-1 in 6 innings after a long rain delay made conditions unplayable and unable to resume. That slow drip you hear? Boston fans weeping and crying ‘we should have played,’ to those ‘fans’, shut up. Wins are wins, they aren’t always pretty or beautiful, but its a win.

To the fan that threw the ball at Alex Verdugo, the whole situation should have been avoided. The fan shouldn’t have thrown at him, I’ve read things that the fan was egged on by other fans and then felt bad, it shouldn’t have even come to that.

But.

Verdugo standing there berating the guy? Just walk away, man. You want to show Boston as this elite class organization? Just walk away, follow your team off the field until it’s safe to return. Then, do your talking with your bat or make a game saving catch. Trying to show ‘I’m Boston tough’, you went right down with that fan with your tough guy act. Take your .275 average, 9 Home Runs and 36 RBI and just play. You are an annoying role player who just happens to play for the Red Sox. You aren’t named Schilling or Nomar or even JD Martinez, in short, speaking for Yankee fans, get over the moment and yourself. End of PSA

Now, the win for the Yankees won’t mean a thing if they don’t win tonight. Win the series and get rolling.

See eceeybody tomorrow with a recap.

Last night’s live blog was different but I felt pretty successful. So, here we go again.

Tonight, the Yankees turn to ace Gerrit Cole. The hope is, Cole can pitch well and get the Yankees their first win against the Red Sox this year….in 8 tries. Particularly, Cole will be looking to rebound after a very poor outing in Boston on June 27th where he was just bad. Hopefully, the Yankee bats wake up a bit and can even the weekend series.

Game 5 of the NBA Finals is also tonight. Can Devin Booker, Chris Paul and the Suns rebound? Will their home crowd help them to victory? Or will the Bucks continue their momentum and head back to. Milwaukee with a chance to win it all?

I’ll be back with recaps of everything, including the British Open, and will be following and live tweeting during the games.

G

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The Good: Monty has gone 6 innings, had one bad inning.

The Bad: Monty has gone 6 innings, had one bad inning.

The Absurd: The AAA lineup the Yankees trotted out has a leadoff single in the first, and a double in the 6th, which, of course was stranded with a weak dribbler to short by Gary Sanchez

The Sad Realization and Painfully Sobering Reality: Unless you can clone Gerrit Cole and he can somehow start, set up and then either close ganes himself or call Mariano Rivera, who could then call Andy Pettite, Derek Jeter, and Jorge Posada, unless he can do all that, (spoiler: he can’t), this team right now in its current iteration is abysmal.

The one flickering bulb: German out of the Bullpen has been decent.

Heading to potentially 0-7 against Boston. Christ.

The Milwaukee Bucks evened their best of seven with the Phoenix Suns at 2 game apiece Wednesday night, thanks in large part to Chris Middleton finally showing he’s a clutch shooter, and a huge block by Giannis Antetokounmpo off an alley-oop attempt by the Suns’ DeAndre Ayton.

There are moments seemingly in all Championship series that are defining, and this block, was one of them. The block, combined with Middleton’s shooting helped the Bucks erase an early 4th Quarter deficit, ane spurred on the crowd, The Bucks ended up winning the game, 109-103. The series is tied, heading back to Phoenix for Game 5 Friday Night.

To win game 5, the Bucks have to do what they’ve done all year, shoot well and play good defense. It will again take a team effort, Antetokounmpo can‘t do it all, and Middleton, by no means have to be perfect but he can’t go 4 of 13 and sit with foul trouble.

Similar thoughts can be shared about the Suns path to a Game 5 victory. Devin Booker has to shoot and Chris Paul has to remember he’s a future Hall of Famer, and no moment is too big for him. Paul is the guy his tean looks to for guidance and support and to lead. Now he doesn’t have to go for 50, but Paul has to do the non stat things, play defense, motivate, hit open guys for 3s on the Break, (for some reason I’m seeing Cameron Johnson knocking down a couple of big threes late, maybe its the Carolina fan in me.) If Paul can do that, the Suns have a chance.

In Other Views

The Red Sox come to New York to play the Yankees in 4 huge games for New York. 3 out of 4 is vital for the Yankees. They need timely hits, no wasted at-bats, and they also need to pitch well, a huge ask against a very good Boston lineup. The one thing they can’t do is, they can’t let Aaron Boone and his gut feeling get in the way. If the Bullpen is dealing, stay with the hot hand, stop playing percentages, and if you have no faith in Aroldis Chapman, then give tickets to an escape room at about 9:30 tonight. I guess, as a Yankee fan, I’m pleading with our fearless leader, don’t pull a you! Don’t fuck up a 7-3 lead in the ninth and lose 8-7 or 10-8 in 12 innings, last Sunday in Houston was enough. If guys can play, play em. If your ace says ‘I’m finishing this fucking game’, let him

If and it’s a big if, the Yankees do all that and stay out of their own way, and Boone out of his own head, I can 3 of 4, that’s my hope. But, there’s a difference between hope and what might really happen, lucky for you all I’ll be here tomorrow to recap it all.

See you tomorrow.

Shohei Ohtani went 0-2 last night in his first All Star Game. Disappointing in a way, I waiting for him to take Nationals ace Max Scherzer deep in his first plate appearance. But, cnsider this: The dude also pitched & went on to be the winning pitcher! To me, that’s the coolest thing about his rise to stardom, he hits and pitches and does both really, really well.

While Ohtani was the story, there was a game being played as well. I’d also like to point out, I tweeted and correctly predicted Vlad Guerrero Jr as the game’s MVP, what can I say, I might have a knack for writing about and covering sports. Anyways, the kid deserved it, hitting a massive 468 foot Home Run off Milwaukee Brewers starter Corbin Burnes.

The America League would go on to win 5-2, and it means nothing, absolutely nothing. The broadcast was silly too. Players had ear pieces in during play, which is absurd. The only highlight of the presentation was Atlanta Braves First Baseman Freddie Freeman ‘complaining’ during his interview while Yankee Aaron Judge was batting.

‘Aw, don’t walk him, he going to come down here and make me look short’, Freeman said. Judge did walk, and would score the first run of the game. As an aside, Freeman is 6’5 220, Judge is 6’7 282, so I get Freddie’s concern. That exchange made me laugh. But, the rest of it seemed unnecessary. I’m hoping next year, Fox just lets them play and uses stat overlays and analysts, just like games normally.

In Other Views

Game 4 of the NBA Finals is tonight, and I’m intrigued. Will the sharp-shooting Suns regain their form, and take a 3-1 series lead? Or, will Giannis play like Giannis again and go off? Will the Bucks finally get some help, so it’s not all on Giannis? I’m looking at you Chris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. As I said, I’m intrigued.

Back tomorrow with recaps of everything and a preview of Red Sox Yankees, a series the Yankees desperately need to win.

I said I was gonna take a few days off from baseball talk with the All Star Game and festivities.

Enter Stephen A. Smith, ESPN’s resident windbag. On Monday, Smith said:

‘But when you talk about an audience gravitating to the tube or to the ballpark to actually watch you, I don’t think it helps that the number one face is a dude that needs an interpreter so you can understand what the hell he’s saying.”

Smith’s comments were just uncessary. Baseball is trying to grow the game globally, and then you, a face of media giant say this? Now, Smith has apologized, but so what, it was clearly to cover himself. After all, he no problem making the comments hours before, so the apology is jusr damage control.

If I were interviewing Smith, I’d ask him about Ichiro. Did he feel the same way when Ichiro burst on the scene in 2001 and helped carry baseball for a number of years? Oh that’s right, he didn’t First Take to scream about Ichiro or even Dice-K.

The apology is and was bullshit, Window dressing shamlessly masked as sincere. Smith’s comments alienated people, and the process hurt his network and his brand. You don’t think Fox is gonna take every subtle jab at ESPN tonight and really enjoy doing so?

It’s mind-blogging to me in 2021, after last year’s elections and social justice movements, that this sort of inexcusable nonsense can still occur.

We should be focusing on a young phenom who hits for power and pitches. How cool is that? Instead, we’re left to once again having to reconcile and contend with a man’s ignorance. How sad is that?

Back tomorrow with the usual blog.

Still pissed about the Yankees. But. I promised a break on Yankee talk for a few days. So…..

The Bucks won game 3 of the NBA Finals, finally breaking thru in the series. The team shot well and Giannis was, well, Giannis with 41 points and 13 rebounds. I’m telling you, if Antetokounmpo hones his jumper and develops a long range shot, he’ll be scarier than now. Now, he a freight train, if he develops a consistent jumper, he’ll be a freight train with touch. The NBA should be on notice. But, for now, the Bucks are right back in the series, with a pivotal Game 4 Wednesday night in Brew City.

Watching the game and highlights later, the Bucks were carried by their rabid home crowd and seem to make a lot, while the Suns shot very poorly. Suns stars Devin Booker and Chris Paul combined for just 29 points on 11 of 28 shooting.

Game 4 is Wednesday. It will be interesting to see it play out. Will the crowd be a factor again? Will the Suns shoot better, will Giannis be the Greek Freak again?

To me, the X Factor has to be the Suns’ veteran heartbeat, Chris Paul. This is his moment. As much as Giannis makes the Bucks go, Paul makes the Suns go. Yes, they have Devin Booker, and others who can shoot the lights out. Paul though, in addition to being a great shooter himself, he leads and facilitates.

I am interested to see the coaching moves and the adjustments.

Back tomorrow with Homerun Derby recap. Hard not to root for Ohtani.

Thanks for the read.

Welp.

The Yankees lost Sunday 8-7. It’s not that they lost, its how they lost. German was cruising in relief, the offense clicked, then, Aaron Boone happened.

Boone, who I’ve been very critical of, happened, again. He has no feel for his players, players momentum and game situations. None. German is a starter, he could have gone longer. And, Chad Green has been good lately, and yeah he was bad, Judge could have made a play in Right Field, but it should never have come to that. Beyond that, Boone must have no confidence in Aroldis Chapman, zero. Either that, or he’s hurt. The whole thing sucks. As a fan, I’m still mad and salty.

As he was walking to the mound, Boone should have recalled Saturday Night. He went to get Gerrit Cole, and Cole emphatically said No!, plus some other words. Cole stayed in, the Yankees won and were in position to sweep the Astros and take 5 out of 6 on the road. But, Boone can’t help himself, the Yankees lose, and it’s 4 out of 6. All that momentum, gone, with Boston coming in for 4 games starting Thursday. In the Boston series 3 out of 4 is a must.

If anyone has seen the movie, Dave, with Kevin Kline, it’s a movie where Kline, the President’s lookalike steps in for the real President after he has a stroke. As his staffers are trying to get ahead of the media one says to another ‘what are we going to do with the Vice President?’ ‘Send him on a goodwill tour of Africa or something…’, and he the staffer who suggested it was serious. I tell you, as Boone was walking to the mound, to relieve German, I was thinking ‘what are we gonna do with the manager? Send him to Africa, it doesn’t even have to be a good will thing’.

With the All Star Break, I am taking a breather from the Yankees, but will probably be back Wednesday with a series preview against the Red Sox. Game 3 of the NBA Finals is tonight, so I will be back with a recap of that in the mean time.

Despite some success in 2020, many questions still surround the 2021 iteration of the team.

So far this offseason, the usually frugal Giants and General Manager, Dave Gettleman has spent a lot of money. Hello Kenny Golladay, John Ross, and Kyle Rudolph, and first round draft pick, Kadarius Toney. Golladay this year’s top free agent, will provide speed, size, and athleticism on the outside. Traits which very few Giants receivers have had since Odell Beckham Jr.

Kyle Rudolph provides a big second option at Tight End, something Giants franchise QB Daniel Jones has been lacking since inheriting the reins from Eli Manning.

As for John Ross and Kadarius Toney? Well, I see two young guys with a TON to prove. Ross, a burner coming off some injuries in Cincinnati, and Toney, a rookie the Giants hope to use everywhere on the field.

With the improvements on the offense, the Giants signed Danny Shelton and Ifeadi Odenigbo to enhance the defensive line, and replace Dalvin Tomlinson, who departed for Minnesota in free agency. Add to that linebacker Ryan Anderson and Cornerback Adoree Jackson, it shows the Giants have done a ton to improve the team and give Patrick Graham, Jason Garrett and Joe Judge a lot of hope and optimism heading into the coming season.

Unfortunately, this is all on paper. I can’t wait for training camp to start to see all these guys go to work!

But….that doesn’t answer the Giants two biggest questions heading into the season, Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones.

For Barkley, coming off an ACL tear, can he finally be the explosive back Gettleman hoped for when he drafted him No. 2 overall in 2018?

Can Daniel Jones, another Gettleman early draft pick, can he take that next step, distinguish himself and lead the Giants, something the fanbase has been clamoring for and endlessly debated since Jones was drafted.

I believe the answer to both of these questions has one answer, the offenseive line.

The Giants young offensive line made some progress in 2020 with cornerstones Andrew Thomas, Matt Peart and Shane Lemieux. However, Kevin Zeitler became a cap casualty and was released. So, the young core has a lot of positives to billed on. The key, however, will be their health and if they can stay together, the success of Barkley, Jones and how far the Giants will go in 2021 depends on it.