Connery’s Views from a recliner

Throwing the season opening game against Denver out, The New York Football Giants have lost 2 straight games, both on last second field goals, and both by a combined 4 points. 4 points, no 40, 4 from being 2-1 and tied for the NFC East lead.

Instead, as it has played out, they are 0-3, the fanbase wants blood, the highest building ledges are filling up.

Now, after digesting and coming to terms with another heartbreaking loss, I think I am calm and rational to write about this. So, given that, what do the Giants have to do to improve and get a win Sunday in New Orleans.

1. Give the defensive calls to someone other than Tae Crowder. I hate writing that because I really like Tae. I think he has a lot of potential, I really think he could be great. But right now, he’a showing he’s young and inexperienced by taking bad pursuit and tackling angles. You CANNOT have your defensive caller struggling with their confidence. Yes, losing Blake Martinez hurts a lot, but the next man up has to fill in and fill in well, and right now, Crowder is not.

2. Stop the stupid penalties and make the most of your opportunities. I’ve combined these two because the message is the same. John Madden in one of his iterations of Madden NFL Football of the late 90s, during gameplay, a frequent comment, after an offsides penalty would be, ‘Just watch! Don’t listen!’

This goes both way on the offense and defensive lines. This principle if used correctly, would have given the Giants a huge week 2 win in Washington, and let’s face it, in the NFC East, 1-2 looks a helluva lot better and more promising than 0-3.

Catching the ball, I covered on Sunday. But, guys in the secondary, catch the God Damm Ball! The principle of catching the ball would have ended Atlanta drives and given the Giants a chance at victory last Sunday. I’m still mad at that, Adoree Jackson and Logan Ryan, I’m looking your way.

And finally, can we get some creativity in the offensive game plan? Now, admittedlySaquon had a decent game Sunday, 16 carries for 51 yards and 6 catches for 43 yards. Decent, considering its his third game in about a year. But, memo to Jason Garrett, the shotgun delays and the runs directly into the middle teeth of the defense have shown not to work that well. A solution? Move Saquon around! Split him out wide, create a mismatch on a Linebacker, this would free up Kyle Rudolph and Evan Engram to make plays. Final thought for this section, similar to Saquon, get Kadarius Toney involved more. Sunday was a good start because two of your three top receivers were out with injuries. Put him in the backfield, line him up as a Fullback or H-Back. Maybe you fake to Toney, flip to Saquon who then hits Toney on a Wide Receiver Screen, or a medium pass out of the Halfback Option. Something else. You have all these weapons but if you use them in the same way every week, the defense will catch on.

And lastly, STOP FUCKING FUMBLING! I have no more to say other than I’m looking at you Daniel Jones and you Evan Engram. Fumbles are drive killers and/or turnovers.

The Bottom line is the Giants have a TON they need/could and should on Sunday in New Orleans.

Back tomorrow with a Yankee recap.

The New York Yankees are now the first Wild Card in the American League. These are words I really didn’t think I’d writing when I wrote on Friday.

The weekend was bonkers, excluding the Giants, it was great. Pearl Jam performed im California and sounded great, the United States throttled Europe to win the Ryder Cup, and the Yankees went into Boston, swept the Red Sox!

Friday, Gerrit Cole was Ace, and the offense stepped up, 8-3 Yankees. Okay, they took Game 1, they still had 2 games to play. Saturday and Sunday, there was a lot of luck, but one common denominator, Giancarlo Stanton.

Saturday, it was a mammoth grand slam, and Sunday, after a great Aaron Judge at bat, it took Stanton one pitch, and the Yankees were up 5-3, and would go on to win 6-3.

Now, as much as the Yankees were lucky, the Red Sox blew two games, two leads, and lost two games they should have won. Saturday and Sunday, the Red Sox Bullpen let them down. Saturday, it was Darwinzon Hernandez, Sunday it was Adam Ottavino, and a bad break for catcher Christian Vazquez on a dropped third strike. The Red Sox are reeling, and their fanbase is finding ledges and losing hope.

As a Yankee fan, this is glorious!

Back tomorrow with more, trying to compose a rationale Giants blog after Sunday has been brutal. Enjoy Monday Night Football!

‘17-14 fellas, 17-14 okay?, believe it and it will happen‘. That iconic quote was authored by Michael Strahan before the final drive of Super Bowl 42. The Giants would go on to shock the previously undefeated New England Patriots, 17-14.

So, it was beyond fitting that be the final today, on a day where Eli Manning’s iconic No. 10 was retired and Eli was inducted to the Giants Ring of Honor. The ceremony itself was classy, the Giants did it right, I have to say. It was a great send off for a great Giant as he heads to his new chapter as an Ambassador for the Giants.

Unfortunately, the Eli Manning ceremony was about the only thing the Giants did right on Sunday. Remember that 17-14 final score? Well, it was 17-14 with the Atlanta Falcons winning.

The Giants are 0-3. This was a horrible loss, so much went wrong today. Stupid penalties, vanilla play calling, bad pursuit angles, no pass rush, turnovers, and oh yeah injuries.

Blake Martinez, a defensive leader, and both Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton left the game with injuries. And, again, it was the Giants lack of the big play that hurt them offensively. Two first half trips inside the 20 yard line yielded 6 points, it should have been more.

God, it’a infuriating. Evan Engram returned today….that’s all I got. He fumbled, again endearing himself to the Giants faithful. Logan Ryan and Adoree Jackson both dropped interceptions.

The offense line was it’s usually shitty self. Penalties, lack of push, it was brutal. Unfortunately, defensively was worse.

The defense was awful today, injuries aside. Tae Crowder can’t be the defensive play caller. Logan Ryan and Adoree Jackson are buds, and they both dropped picks, as previously mentioned. It was awful.

If I’m the Giants, I’m looking at eveeybody. Joe Judge, whom I will follow to hell, I’m even mad at him. I know he’s a Belichek guy, don’t give the media anything, I get it. But, Joe, get mad, brother. You’re a Giant! Mediocrity is not okay, and in his post game, Judge sounded okay with the loss, which is unacceptable. The worse part is, mediocre would be a step up. The Giants are just a bad football team.

Fuck. Be back tomorrow with a Yankee recap.

The Yankees have clawed their way back, lately. Yesterday was no exception.

The Yankees yesterday turned to young gun, Nestor Cortes for game 2 of their huge series against Boston. Cortes, was ok, giving up 2 runs in 4 and 1/3 innings. However, as we have seen with this team all year, ok, is not good enough.

The Yankees would need that formula, timely hitting, good pitching and a little luck to the get back into the game. After giving the Sox a two run lead, the Yankees got on the board, thanks to a wild pitch making the game 2-1 Boston.

Now, during this time, the Yankee bullpen really did their job. Michael King, Lucas Lutege, and Luis Severino kept the game 2-1 with near flawless pitching until the top of the 8th. The Pen stepped up, plain and simple. I don’t think I have used the words ‘near flawless’ to describe Yankee pitching since I began this blog! But, that’s what it was, and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.

Fast forward to two outs in the top of the 8th. Brett Gardner, worked a two out walk, Aaron Judge the same, a batter later Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch, and the Yankees had the bases loaded.

Enter Giancarlo Stanton. Now, admittedly, I saw Stanton up and wasn’t optimistic. I figured he’d swing at the first pitch and line out, or worse, work like a 10 pitch at bat and strike out looking.

Welp, he swung at the first pitch, holy shit did he swing at the first pitch!!! Stanton crushed the first pitch high over the Green Monster seats in left center for a go ahead grand slam, making the score 5-2 Yankees. What a moment, what a blast, what an absolute bomb!!!

The Yankees would hang on 5-3 to take the second game of the series and even the Wild Card standings. They go for a series sweep tonight in Boston, a sentence I honestly didn’t think I’d be writing this weekend. Wow!

Back later with a Giants recap and tomorrow with more Yankees talk.

Gerrit Cole was money. Yielding only three runs in 6 innings against the Boston Red Sox, in Boston, this is exactly why he’s a New York Yankee. Well, that and $300 plus million he signed for.

The Yankee bats came alive against Nathan Eovaldi last night, pounding the big righty for 7 runs in the first three innings. The scoring highlighted by a long 3 run Home Run by Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees had a good game plan last night. They didn’t waste at-bats, and they stayed focused and relaxed at the plate.

The seven runs was all Ace would need. Six strikeouts over six innings, three runs and five hits yielded by Mr. Cole. Cole even walke 3, so he was good, but not even great by his and his fans standards. But, it was enough.

The Yankees would go on to take Game 1, 8-3, stay second in the Wild Card and cut Boston’s lead to one for the home field advantage in the American League Wild Card Game.

Today, the Yankees have Nestor Cortes Jr on the bump, thru 4 and a half, 1-0 Red Sox. Plenty of time for a comeback.

Back tomorrow with a recap of Gane 2.

So, the Yankees again won last night, again beating a team the should & more importantly, need to beat in the Texas Rangers, 7-3.

The win itself was big for a few reasons, with Toronto losing earlier in the day, the win allowed the Bombers to creep back into the second wild card spot, heading into a critical series against the Boston Red Sox this weekend.

While the win was huge, it was they way they won that was impressive. Guys like Gary Sanchez, hitting a 2 run Home Run, and Gleyber Torres lacing a run scoring and tie-breaking double, that’s going to be necessary moving forward. These two have had tough seasons, so when a good thing happens, you say good for them.

Lastly, the Bullpen. The Yankee Bullpen had been good, especially during their long winning streak, but lately, they have been inconsistent at best. In fact, lately, every time I see Chad Green, I cringe. Last night was no exception, going to bed I saw Green coming in. I thought to myself, Oh shit. I decided, ‘nope, going to bed, not going to be angry before trying to sleep.’

Around 11:30 I woke up and laid there, smiled, rubbed my wife’s back who let out a contented sighly ‘I love you’. I continue grinning, laughing quietly as I noticed our dog, Pearl had repositioned herself, head on my neck, I whispered Babygirl, what are you….hey, should I check the game, tell me ‘no, Dad!’ The response I got was a yawn and sigh that said ‘I’m tired you are on your own.’

So, I checked the game, all Pearl’s fault. To my surprise, no only had the Yankees won, but they got clutch hits and the bullpen was good enough, I slept great!

The Yankees are off today, then head to Boston for the crucial 3 games.

Back later with a Preview of and some early keys to a Giant win Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

Luis Severino….welcome back, welcome home, ya beautiful Son of a Bitch!! Yankee fans missed you! 2 innings 2 Ks, welcome back Sevy! That arm and fire will be needed in Boston this weekend, I’m guessing.

The Yankees did what they needed to do, they beat a team they should have last night, beating the Texas Rangers, 7-1. They were paced by home runs by Giancarlo Stanton, Joey Gallo and Aaron Judge. Can I just tell you, when Giancarlo hits a Home Run, they aren’t cheap! They are rockets!!!

Jordan Montgomery was good for 5 & 2/3 innings, striking out 6. For some reason, it felt like a big win, a big night for The Bombers. Severino is back, and they won. All good things. The Yankees will need more wins and help because Boston and Toronto keep fucking winning!!!

Back tomorrow with a recap of it all.

In Other Views, the New York Giants play at home against Atlanta on Sunday. I’m hoping/predicting big days for Kenny Golladay, and for the love of Christ, can Jason Garrett find a way to get Kadarius Toney involved? Christ, don’t keep the kid in timeout, this isn’t Pre School. Involve the rookie ya bastards!

Lasty, Patrick Graham, you need to step up. Thru 2 games, the defense has sucked. Fix it. Counsel Adoree Jackson and for the love of God, get some pressure on Matt Ryan.

Back tomorrow with more.

Last night, the New York Yankees did what they had to, they won a frigging baseball game! They now sit a half game back of Toronto for the 2nd Wild Card in the American League.

Remember when The Yankees were leading the Wild Card? Remember, how I went on and on, about the importance of playing well enough to host the Wild Card Game? Shit!

Now, there’s still time, but these next games, particularly this weekend against Boston, in Boston, are huge.

Jordan Montgomery takes the hill for the Yankees this evening. The Big Lefty, much like the Yankees all year, has been good at times, and maddening other times. Here’s hoping Monty is the good Monty this evening.

The Rangers counter with Dane Dunning, he has a record of 5 wins and 8 losses this season. Look, analysis and preview over, if you can’t beat a guy with a 4+ ERA, in a game you have to have, you don’t deserve October Baseball!

Back tomorrow with a recap and something different.

The first hint of a brutal weekend occurreed late Thursday Night when the Washington Football Team snuck by the Giants 30-29. It was a game the Giants should have won period. Their defense better start stepping up, and their fucking wideouts needs to have pass catching drills all week. Good God.

The weekend has continued to be bad sports wise. The Yankees are about to lose again, and unfortunately, as much as I love Gerrit Cole, when Ace is bad, he’s not just mediocre, he gets roughed up.

This weekend has sucked sports wise. The only saving grace is San Francisco beating Philly currently, and hoping (praying) that Justin Herbert craves up the Cowboys at 4:25.

The silver lining? Mahomes against Jackson on Sunday Night Football. A game, as a fan, I am delighted to be watching.

Back tomorrow with more NFL week 2 thoughts and irrational takeaways.

Ok, I know, I know…..I get it. I know the 7 seven readers of this blog, and to you seven, thank you for the support, I know you 7 will say ‘But Justin, its the God Damned Orioles!!! A competent College Team could be them!!’’

To that, I say 🤷‍♂️. Point is, The Bombers needed Gerrit Cole last night to be Gerrit Fucking Cole, and he was. Yes, you detractors are correct, only 5 Innings and 3 walks. You Cole fans will counter with 1 run, 4 hits and 7 Ks. I’ll stick with the Cole fans, thank you.

See, Gerrit, he doesn’t need to be The Ace all the time. Especially when you consider Aaron Judge is hitting everything and others in the offense are stepping up, it must be nice to Cole to finally understand the value of run support and pitching with a lead!

But…it must continue. Last night, both the Blue Jays and Red Sox won, therefore, the Yankees need to keep finding a way. This is paramount, especially today, Toronto aleeady won, and Boston? They’ll find a way, against the Mariners. Here’s hoping the Yankees good play continues.

Tomorrow, it’s two for the price of one here from my Recliner, a Yankee recap, and a prayer (I mean a preview), of Giants vs WFT. God I HATE must win games in September!!!