imagine …
Imagine if MLB players spent as much time practicing winning fundamentals like bunting as they did practicing and perfecting the elaborate aspects of their home run celebrations.
Imagine what would happen in the bottom of the 10th inning of a close game, with an automatic runner on second, and the leadoff hitter sent to the batting cages to practice bunting a few times to advance the runner to third with one out.
Imagine what would happen if the media and sports authorities, especially on the biggest stages, stopped pandering to those who oppose sports. Imagine what would happen if people like Serena Williams, Snoop Dogg, Megan Rapinoe and LeBron James were excluded from even the most basic consideration for further glory or wealth because of their self-centered, self-serving, public misconduct.
Right-wing Americans are now routinely and pointlessly made to do unpleasant and unpleasant things in order to represent the US at international events.
Snoop Dogg, a sleazy convict, pornographer, proud misogynist and former Crips member, has been chosen as the final torchbearer for the opening of the Paris Games.
One would imagine he would use the flame to light his marijuana cigarettes.
How did Dog get passport permission to enter France with such an extensive criminal record? He was refused entry to Norway for international travel violations, and was denied entry to Australia, with the immigration minister explaining, “He seems like the type of person we don’t want in this country.”
But Roger Goodell and the folks at NBC see him as a great representative of American sports.
Carbondale, Pennsylvania, is holding its annual Pioneer Day Parade next month. This year’s grand marshal? Former Mets and Philadelphia ace, steroid user, and felon, Lenny Dykstra, who has been convicted of fraud, theft, and various other scams.
Reader Joe Miegoch of Carbondale suggested that if Dykstra were to accept the keys to the city as a reward, “residents would have to change their locks.”
Either way, Michael Kay and his select YES buddies were not pleased that on Monday, with the team down 4-0, the Rays’ Jose Siri hit a home run on a throw that sounded like he was awesome, as if the score no longer mattered.
Juan Soto surpassed Siri after hitting a home run.
Yet this kind of extremely selfish behavior has been tolerated, even celebrated, in the Yankees booth for years. In fact, during the same broadcast, a promotion for Soto’s “Bobblehead Night” aired, with the highlights selected featuring Soto showing off, including a flashy bat flip.
After the game, manager Aaron Boone explained that such indiscretions were out of his control: “This is a new world. … The guys just do what they have to do.”
So put it back, Captain! You’re in charge, aren’t you? Demand dignity! What’s the worst that can happen? The Yankees will be known for their class again? Imagine that!
The next night, the Mets and Yankees were trailing 1-1 after five innings, but Boone, who had been thinking that way before the game, replaced starter Luis Gil after all pitchers had had at least four days of rest for the All-Star break.
He brought in Michael Tonkin, but Tonkin quickly gave up three home runs, one of which was a two-run homer, and the Yankees lost the game, 3 to 2. The Yankees then brought in three more relief pitchers.
If David Cone, who pitched 56 complete games and was celebrated on his perfect game anniversary while with the Yankees, wondered what on earth Boone was thinking, it would have been another pointless surprise.
Cone said nothing. Aaron Boone baseball, business as usual.
On Saturday, the Mets beat the Marlins, 1-0, despite the efforts of Carlos Mendoza, who was coached by Boone, after the sixth inning and replaced Luis Severino, who had allowed just two hits.
On SNY, Gary Cohen offered an unconvincing explanation that Severino was about to face a crucial “third batting order,” as if both Cone 25 years ago and Don Larsen in 1956 should have been replaced in the sixth inning.
Plus, with a lineup filled with hitters batting .215, the Marlins are all Rod Carew by the seventh inning.
By the way, imagine how much better Cohen would be if he went back to his pre-know-it-all days, before he spoke condescendingly to us, quickly identified (or misidentified) “four-seam” and “high-leverage relievers,” and ruined Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling’s mildly amusing commentary with his bad habit of trying to play the top diss.
On Monday afternoon, the Mets played in Miami on SNY, which makes sense, as part of MLB’s plan to give the smallest crowds the most TV viewing opportunities while keeping the most-attended games from being pay-per-view.
In the second inning, when the Marlins’ Vidal Bourjani hit a high fly ball down the right field line, Cohen immediately called it foul, but the call was fair: Bourjani was out while trying to reach third base.
But then, during the replay, Cohen raged in disbelief that the ball was “clearly a foul!”, when the only thing clear was that it was smeared — too close to be clear.
A close-up of the line immediately revealed a scratch on the chalk line that could reasonably and logically have been caused by a ball. It was only the second innings, and Buljan’s fly had caused the initial movement around that line.
But Cohen stuck to his guns, and we should have believed what he said, not what we saw.
Either way, it’s holdout month in the NFL, a time when players under contract, including the new Jets “edge rushers” formerly known as DTs, demand more.
When it comes to Aaron Rodgers, I, like many others, no longer care what he thinks or says. The two men are very different and subject to selfish changes. Imagine that.
If you can’t beat it, join it
Bill Belichick has been irrationally hostile towards the media. Remember when he attacked and injured a Boston Globe cameraman in the eye socket for no apparent reason after a Patriots win? He’s part of the media now. He was hired to be on “Inside the NFL.”
On Sunday, it wasn’t enough to hear that Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman had thrown nine pitches to the current batter: YES added a vertical graph listing each pitch in order, giving you exactly five seconds to read, comprehend and apply that information before the 10th pitch.
NBC lists Tiger Woods He was the top player to miss the cut at the British Open, finishing 14 over par.
A new statistic for pitchers: WAER — Wins After Elbow Replacement.
