Baez, Lindor "Apologies" Not Enough for Battered Mets' Fanbase

 48 hours after Javier Baez admitted that a "thumbs down" gesture among he and his Mets' teammates was directed at the fans for booing them, Baez and Francisco Lindor publicly apologized -- even though it felt half-assed. 

Lindor struggled to find a way to spin reasons why the thumbs down was used as a target for the fans, stuttering and pausing to explain that the thumbs down to him resembles the "adversity" the team has gone through this year. 

As for Baez all he said was he "didn't mean to offend anyone." 

Too late bud. 

What's worse was the tone-deaf response from manager Luis Rojas and owner Steve Cohen. Rojas said that the matter was handled in house, players are being held "accountable," adding that it was a "teachable moment" the exact "kick the can down the road" words Cohen used to describe the situation when pressed by the New York Post the other day. 

To make matters worse, Cohen -- who has become synonymous for issuing tone-deaf Tweets like they are going out of style, implored fans to get behind the players. 

"Glad to hear our players apologizing to the fan. Let's get behind our players today and go out and win two today!" 

How inspiring Steve! Seriously, this is the same guy they based the Bobby Axelrod character off of when they wrote "Billions"? Really? 

Cohen has come off as a totally out of touch buffoon with his latest missive, acting more like school teacher in the playground than an owner of a billion dollar baseball franchise, who should be furious that his players basically waved the middle finger at his customers. 

If anyone believes the Mets are sorry for what they did, I got a stack of Lindor jersey's to sell you.  

Lindor and Baez aren't sorry they insulted the fans, they are sorry they got caught in their own stupidity. Sorry that their little game inside the clubhouse got exposed. Maybe letting Baez in about about how much the players hate the fans was a bad idea, otherwise nobody would know what the hell was going on out there. 

Let's face it, this has been an issue that has been brewing in the Mets clubhouse for some time. Earlier in the year Lindor expressed how much he hated getting booed, and has even hinted at how disturbed he is that struggling outfielder Michael Conforto would hear it from the fans. 

The problem is the Mets seems more worried about what the fans think of them than what is going on between the lines. That is a huge issue that goes beyond the stats sheet. 

There is a lack of leadership in the Mets organization. It seeps from the top on down. From Steve Cohen to Sandy Alderson and Zack Scott to Rojas -- who has done more damage to his reputation by pleading ignorance on all controversial matters. 

Remember this is a organization that in the last eight months hired a  GM, Jared Porter, who was accused of sexual assault before firing him, and was more than willing to toss $400-plus million at Trevor Bauer before he went to the Dodgers instead, who was also accused of sexual assualt. 

This is also the same organization that decided it was not worth going for it when they were four games ahead in the NL East, instead trading for a 41-year old slow ball pitcher in Rich Hill and of course sending a former first round pick to the Cubs for Baez. Oh, and they also screwed up the Jacob deGrom injury on a regular basis. 

Now we have this disaster on the heels of the Mets 8-19 record in the month of August.

And this is a disaster, don't let anyone tell you different. The damage is done. 

If the Mets are smart, and if Javier Baez is smart, neither side even thinks about talking extension and Baez walks away at the end of the year. As for Lindor, he is stuck here for the next decade. He is getting paid $341 million, or $32 million a year. He needs to play out of his mind from here on out if he wants to fans to forgive him for his idiocy. Otherwise he will continue to hear it. 

Maybe Lindor should have realized that he was too thin skinned for New York, and not signed that mega deal in March. Guess, the ravioli with Steve Cohen wasn't the problem.

Javier Baez, Francisco Lindor & Mets Show Thin Skin in Ripping Fans

 There is an old saying that the customer is always right. 

And in the case of Mets fans, they don't deserve to be kicked in the dirt by their own players who thought it was a good idea to start a protest of the fans by gesturing thumbs down whenever the crowd started cheering for something positive. Makes sense? No. Neither to us. 

According to multiple reports, Javier Baez, in his post game press conference explained "It just feels bad ... when I strike out and get booed. It doesn't really get to me, but I want to let them know that when we're successful, we're going to do the same thing to let them know how it feels." 

Huh? How can you be that sensitive? Doesn't Baez, or Lindor, or Kevin Pillar who was in the midst of doing this, understand that fans are going to boo when the team isn't playing well? Fans reserve the right (rightly or wrongly) to cheer and boo whenever they want. 

Yes, we understand that players are people. They want to do well. They want to have success and share in that success with a cheering fanbase. But there are times when things don't go well, and you are a million dollar athlete, you should expect the fan to boo, especially in New York City. 

What this says is that Baez is a player who is too thin skinned to play in New York City. As a free agent he is free to leave the Mets after the season, and considering how poorly he has played here since the Mets acquired him from the Chicago Cubs back on July 31, he won't be missed. 

A player like Lindor is more complicated. He is here for the long haul. He signed a 12-year $341 million contract. I have never heard of any player requesting a trade or wanting out of his contract that he just signed. This would be a first if Lindor is this thin skinned and hates being in New York City. 

This is a huge problem for the Mets. 

Sandy Alderson can issue statements denouncing the team's behavior on Sunday. Bottom line is the Mets need a change in culture. They need accountability across the board.

Jets acquire Shaq Lawson from Texans for 6th Rounder

 Needing to bolster their pass rush before the season opener in two weeks, the Jets acquired former first round pick Shaq Lawson from the Houston Texans for a sixth round pick. 

Lawson never took a regular season snap for the Texans, who initially acquired him from the Miami Dolphins in a trade back in March. 

The Texans were trying to shed payroll, and Lawson was available. In a lot of ways Lawson has been a slight disappointment in his NFL career, bouncing around from the Bills to the Dolphins and Texans. The most sacks he's had in a season is 6.5 with Miami last year. 

Still the Jets are in dire straits for a pass rusher after Carl Lawson (no relation to Shaq) was lost for the season with a torn Achillies Tendon. By adding Shaq Lawson (again, no relation to Carl), the Jets can head into opening day knowing they can put some heat on their old quarterback Sam Darnold when they visit Carolina on September 12. 

Not to mention the Jets aren't giving up a whole heck of a lot for him, only a sixth rounder, and New York will be on the hook for only $900,000, with Houston paying Lawson $7 million. Good deal for the Jets.

Mets Lose Another 1-Run Ball Game, This Time to Nationals

 NATIONALS 2 - METS 1 

We all know the Mets season is all but over at this rate, but can this offense figure things out? 

The Mets were once again punch-less, managing only four hits against the scraps of the Washington Nationals. The Mets were so putrid offensively that they were 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position and left only three men on base. They couldn't get anyone on against the likes of Paola Espino and company. 

To make matters worse, the Mets had the heart of their order up in the bottom of the ninth inning and did absolutely nothing with it. 

Pete Alonso walked, Francisco Lindor grounded into a fielder's choice, and Javier Baez grounded into a double play. Ball Game over. 

Three All Star players, and nothing as a result. 

New York has now lost 12 of its last 14, and they look like a team completely and totally lost in all facets of the game. The month of August where the Mets are 6-19 in, can't end sooner for this disaster of a team in the second half.

Jets End Preseason in Tie with Eagles

JETS 31 - EAGLES 31 

An evening that started off in a torrential downpour, ended deadlocked in a tie as the Jets wrapped up their preseason schedule with a 31-31 tie with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Zach Wilson and most of the starters did not play in this game; neither did Jalen Hurts and company for Philadelphia. Good idea, considering it was the final preseason tilt before the regular season begins in a little over two weeks. 

Instead what fans got was a battle of backups. Philadelphia built a 24-10 lead behind ex-Jet Joe Flacco's two touchdown passes, but New York crept back into the game on a touchdown run by Ty Johnson in the third quarter that cut it it 24-17, and a James Morgan touchdown pass to Kenny Yeboah that made it a one-point game at 24-23. 

It looked as though the Jets were well on their way to a loss when tight end Daniel Brown fumbled a pass by Morgan into the hands of Michael Jaquet, who ran it back into the endzone for a touchdown with 1:15 to play. 

However Morgan, a Green Bay native, decided to pull one out of the Aaron Rodgers playbook tossing a Hail Mary into the waiting arms of Yeboah for the score. Josh Adams plunged into the endzone for the two-point conversion with triple zeroes on the clock.

Mets Total Collapse Continues vs. SF

 GIANTS 3 - METS 2 

Another night, another one-run loss for the New York Mets. 

It has become a common occurrence for New York during a stretch of games we all knew were going to be incredibly difficult. In 13 games against the LA Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, the Mets were 2-11. 

2-11!!! 

In eight of those losses, the Mets lost by two-runs or less, meaning that each and every single night has been more excruciating than the night before. Take the past two games for example. 

The Mets had every chance to do something against the Giants on Wednesday, but couldn't do it. They had the bases loaded twice, and managed only one run, only because of a Kris Bryant throwing error at third on a Pete Alonso grounder.  

Alonso, by the way, the man who tried to do his best Kevin Bacon in Animal House impression last week when the Mets were in the midst of losing to San Francisco and LA on the road,  grounded out twice in that contest, including with the bases full in the 9th inning. 

He isn't the only culprit. 

There is plenty of blame to go around. How about manager Luis Rojas pulling starting pitcher Taijuan Walker from the game Wednesday when he was cruising with a 2-0 lead, only to see the bullpen blow it. He followed that horrible decision with a ridiculous press conference in which he channeled his inner Art Howe, saying his players "battled." 

Nice job Luis. 

How about the rest of the struggling Mets? Jeff McNeil? Michael Conforto? JD Davis? Javier Baez? And the $340 million man himself, Francisco Lindor? All of them have struggled with runners in scoring position all season. All of them have struggled to produce this year. 

In fact, the Mets are hitting only .212 as a team with runners in scoring position and two out. 

It has been that kind of season for the Mets. One that started out with so much promise has come crashing back down to earth in so many inexplicable ways. 

New York is now 14-26 since the All Star break. They are 61-66 on the season; 7.5 games behind the surging Atlanta Braves, who now sit atop the NL East. 

The season is all but over. 

For new owner Steve Cohen, now is the time for him to jump off Twitter, accept blame where he has to, such as allowing his front office to do virtually nothing to improve this team at the All Star Break, and screwing up the Jacob deGrom injury, and hold others accountable. 

It's time for Steve Cohen to show that he is going to be a different owner than his predecessors. This off-season, which for all intents and purposes begins now, is about getting this ship fixed and moving in the right direction. 

The Mets cannot bring back a roster that has players like McNeil, McCann and Conforto on the roster. It can't have pitchers like Rich Hill and Jeryus Familia on staff. It can't have Luis Rojas managing, or Zach Scott running the show as Sand Alderson's puppet GM. 

Things need to change, and now is the time for Steve Cohen to live up to it.

Velazquez, Voit Power Yankees to 9th Straight 'W'

 YANKEES 7 - TWINS 1 

Alexander Velazquez was just a kid from the Bronx, who loved his Yankees. Now the 27-year old is making a child's dream come true: his own, as a member of the Yankees. 

Since getting the call up a couple weeks ago, it has been a whirlwind for Velazquez, but on Saturday his Bronx story took center stage when he launched his first Yankee Stadium home run into the seats in right. His family was scene visibly emotional in the stands as Velazquez rounded third for home. 

While the homer only added to another Yankees' onslaught over the Minnesota Twins, it was another moment where the young Kid from the Bronx delivered in a bid spot.

And speaking of delivering in a big spot, how about Luke Voit? Coming off a four hit performance on Friday night, Voit was 2-for-4 with a two-run double in the  fifth inning that blew the game wide open. 

Tyler Wade and Giancarlo Stanton also contributed to the victory with RBI base hits. 

All of this went to the good of ace Gerrit Cole, who blanked the Twins over six innings of five hit ball. 

The Yankees remarkable August run continues. They are now 72-52, twenty games over .500 on the year, and hold a two-game lead over Oakland for the top wild card slot. They are also creeping up to the Tampa Bay Rays, only four back after play on Saturday. 

Sunday's game against Minnesota was postponed til September due to Hurricane Henri, but the Yankees will try to take this nine-game winning streak, and all this good feeling to the road for a big trip against Atlanta, Oakland and the LA Angels.

Wilson Looks Sharp as Jets Top Packers

 JETS 23 - PACKERS 14 

Zach Wilson took a major step forward in his development with a very solid effort against the Green Bay Packers, Saturday in New York's 23-14 victory. 

Wilson was efficient and accurate once again for Gang Green, completing nine of 11 passes for 128 yards, two touchdowns and a perfect quarterback rating of 154.7. It was exactly what the Jets had hoped for from Wilson as opening day is a little over three weeks away. 

In a week where the Jets have been hit by negative headlines, particularly on the injury front with regards to the season ending loss to Carl Lawson, Wilson's effort was one of a few positive takeaways for the Jets on Saturday. 

One thing that became very apparent was the connection that Wilson is developing with veteran receiver Corey Davis. Davis caught four passes for 70 yards from Wilson, including a huge 24-yard completion on third and eight on a drive that led to a Jets field goal. 

However it was the two touchdowns drives that really stood out for Wilson and the Jets offense.

With the Jets trailing 7-3 Wilson hit Davis for a 27-yard completion down the sideline that spotted the ball inside the Packers 16 as the first quarter ended. Three plays later, Wilson found Tyler Kroft in the end zone for the touchdown to give the Jets the lead at 10-7. 

 

What's more impressive was the Jets ability to respond to adversity. After Green Bay quickly scored to retake the lead 14-10, Wilson engineered a three-play, 30-yard scoring drive, assisted by a 73-yard return by Corey Ballentine on the kickoff. 

Wilson again found Kroft, this time on a rollout for the scoop and score to put the Jets back in front 17-14. 

New York would never look back. 

Aside from Wilson's stellar night, you had to love the fact the tight end position got heavily involved in the game, Kroft had the two scores and Trevon Wesco had a catch for 17-yards. 

Left Tackle Mekhi Becton had a good game for New York. He was called out a bit by offensive coordinator Mike LeFlure earlier in the week, who pointed out that Becton had been struggling in camp this summer. Becton did a nice job in pass protection and was a big reason for the Jet success.

Moreover, Jets special teams was, well, special. Not only did Ballentine's kick return set the Jets up with a touchdown, kicker Matt Ammendola was impressive, connecting on field goals from 46 and 54-yards, respectively. 

The glaring issues from Saturday's win were two fold: 1) the injuries were a major problem once again. They have been a problem all week since the Jets were out there in Green Bay. On Saturday the Jets lost Jarred Davis (ankle), back-up quarterback Matt White (ribs), offensive tackle Connor McDermott to a knee injury, and defensive end Ronnie Blair to a hamstring. This after the jets lost two players for the season earlier this week. Gang Green can't afford any more injuries that is for sure. 

The other issue was the Jets defense, which got carved up in the first half by third stringers and back-ups for the Packers. Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love didn't play in this game. Yet, Kurt Benkert found open guys all over the field, while Patrick Taylor and Kylin Hill were gashing the Jets front seven for huge chunks of yards. 

To say not having Lawson out there, as well as a number of other starters was an issue would be an understatement.

Yankees Win Streak Hits 7; Build on Wild Card Lead

 YANKEES 7 - TWINS 5 

It got a little hairy late, but the Yankees held on to beat the Minnesota Twins 7-5 to secure their seventh straight victory, all while increasing their lead over Oakland for the top wild card slot to one whole game. 

Luke Voit, who had campaigned through the media for more playing time got just that, and leading off for that matter. Voit's two run double in the third inning, plated Tyler Wade and Kyle Higashioka to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead. They would not look back. 

After a Anthony Rizzo sac fly later in the third inning made it 4-0, Higashioka's two-run bomb to left put the Yankees up 6-0. 

For a while Jamison Tallion was cruising for the Yankees. He held the Twins scoreless on one hit through five innings, but couldn't get out of the sixth when he allowed three runs to score as Minnesota crept back into the game. 

The Twins would get as close as 6-4 on a Jorge Polanco  RBI single in the eighth inning before Giancarlo Stanton answered in the bottom half of the eighth with a solo homer to make it 7-4. 

The Yankees are now the 4th American League team to hit the 70-win mark, joining the Rays (75), A's (71) and White Sox (71). 

New York is a remarkable 29-11 since they were at .500 back on July 4. 

Jets Lose Lawson for the Year with Achillies Tear

 It has not been a good week so far for the New York Jets up in Green Bay. 

On the second and final day of joint practice between the Jets and Packers before their preseason clash on Saturday afternoon, Jets defensive end Carl Lawson ruptured his left achillies tendon. He is done for the season. 

Lawson injured his leg during a red zone period between the two teams according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. 

This is a huge loss for the Jets, who signed Lawson as their premiere pass rusher this past off-season via free agency.  New York signed Lawson to a three-year $45 million deal, which at the time was viewed as a gamble considering Lawson had never before been a top flight pass rusher in his time with the Cincinnati Bengals.

However, Lawson was reportedly having a very good camp this summer, and expectations were sky high for the 26-year old out of Auburn, who was featured extensively in the franchise's "One Jets Drive" season premiere last week.  

Lawson is no stranger to injuries. He suffered a left ACL tear in 2014 while at Auburn, and tore his right ACL with the Bengals two years ago in 2018. His best season in the NFL came in 2017, his rookie year, where he recorded 8.5 sacks. However injuries and lack of playing time cut into his production the past couple years in Cincy. 

Lawson wasn't the only Jet to go down with a season ending injury. The Jets, who were already shorthanded in the secondary lost safety Zane Lewis to a MCL sprain and torn Patella tendon in his knee. 

Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (knee) and wide receiver Denzel Mims (hip) suffered minor scraps in practice with Green Bay. 

So in a summer that has been dominated by the quality of play of rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, the Jets now enter the season with their first real bout of adversity.

Yankees Jump Ahead a Game on Red Sox for Wild Card

 YANKEES 5 - RED SOX 2 

The sizzling New York Yankees completed a three game sweep of the Boston Red Sox with a dominating 5-2 win over Boston at the Stadium. The victory caps off an incredible two days that saw the Yankees catch and pass the Red Sox for the lead in the AL Wild Card race. 

To think back on July 5 the Yankees were 10.5 games behind Boston in the standings. It looked like New York was well on their way to a horrible second half. Aaron Boone would be fired. Brian Cashman's job at stake. Instead New York has gone 27-11 since their 10-5 loss to the Mets in the first game a double-header back on July 4. 

This team is on fire, even if there is a clubhouse schism in the works between Luke Voit and Anthony Rizzo. 

Voit has hit .280 with a pair of homers and seven runs driven in over the past week. His solo shot in Tuesday's nightcap of a double header spearheaded the Yankees 2-0 victory. After the game he said he wanted to play more often, acknowledging there would be an issue with Rizzo around. 

On Wednesday, Rizzo was back in the lineup after dealing with COVID-19. Voit was on the bench. Here we go with some controversy.

But it hasn't slowed down the Yankees just yet. 

After Xander Bogaerts put Boston out front early 1-0 on a solo blast off struggling Andrew Heaney in the first inning, the Yankees knocked out Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta in the bottom of the second plating four runs, while batting around the order. 

The inning started on a single by Giancarlo Stanton, a walk to Rougend Odor and a single by Gary Sanchez. Three batters into the inning, Pivetta had already tossed 16 pitches, and there was nobody out. Brett Gardner followed with a sac fly, scoring Stanton to tie the game. 

Rookie Andrew Velazquez kept the momentum going with a RBI single of his own to plate Odor to make it 2-1 Bronx Bombers. Two batters later Rizzo reached on an infield single to score two runs to push New York to a 4-1 lead. 

At that point Pivetta was done. 1.2 innings pitched; four earned runs. 

The Yankees would cruise the rest of the way, with Heaney putting in seven solid innings of work, allowing only a run on two hits. He is 8-8 on the season. 

The Yankees have now won six in a row. They remain five back of the Rays for first in the AL East. They hold a half game lead over the A's for the top wild card slot, and a full game over Boston. 

The Yanks welcome the lowly Twins into town on Thursday for a four game series.

Mets Finally Break Skid After Cohen Challenges Team

 METS 6 - GIANTS 2 - 12 innings 

The Mets have had a miserable time of things since the All Star Break. They were failed by a front office that wasn't aggressive at the trade deadline, failed by injuries that keep propping up, and failed by an offense that can't hit consistently. 

On Wednesday morning, with the season hitting the skids amid a five-game losing streak against the Giants and Dodgers combined, owner Steve Cohen put out a missive on Twitter blasting his players.

"It's hard to understand how professional hitters can be this unproductive. The best teams have a more disciplined approach. The slugging and OPS numbers don't lie." 

While Cohen isn't totally wrong, the Mets have been one of the worst offensive teams in baseball this year, it is kinda tasteless for the owner to just randomly throw his entire team under the bus, especially in a season where he has constantly tweeted and sounded more like a fan than a guy in charge of a Major League franchise. 

To say Cohen's attack worked would be give in to the corniness of it all. But the Mets did, finally, have their moment on Wednesday. 

It all started when Pete Alonso was hit by a pitch in the top of the ninth inning, and would advance to third on a single by Michael Conforto. A sac fly by JD Davis scored Alonso with the game-tying run. 

In extras Michael Conforto put New York in front with a RBI double to right, scoring Jeff McNeil to make it 2-1. Unfortunately the  Mets coughed up the lead quickly when Tommy La Stella drove in they tying run for the Giants on a double to right. 

That set the stage for some rare Mets dramatics in the top of the 12th when Kevin Pillar, a Mets hero from earlier in the year, crushed a Tyler Chatwood fastball over the left field wall for a three-run homer. 5-2 Mets. That's right a 3-run lead for the Mets in the late stages. 

Rookie Chance Sisco added a run for good measure on a double of his own. And just like that New York was on its way to a much needed victory. 

With a win in hand, the Mets are back to .500 (60-60), but the task in front of them is very difficult. The Braves are red hot, blowing out the Marlins yet again on Wednesday night. Atlanta maintains a 4.5 game lead on the Mets. The Phillies are also playing good ball. It's going to be very difficult for the Mets to make this comeback happen, but at least they got a win to get themselves moving as they head to LA.

 

Yankees Tie Red Sox in Loss Column with Game 1 Victory

 YANKEES 5 - RED SOX 3 

They may have another game to play later this evening, but the miracle Yankees continue to make their case for a postseason ticket. 

Behind a two-run single by Luke Voit in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Yankees stunned their rivals, the Boston Red Sox, 5-3. 

Voit's single was part of a three-run rally by New York in the fifth inning that included a RBI single by Giancarlo Stanton. 

The Yankees would hold on for dear life in the top of the seventh when Jonathan Loasiga lost his command and found himself in a bases loaded jam with no one out after singles by Kyle Schwarber, Christian Vasquez and Alex Verdugo. 

Loasiga came back to jam Travis Shaw on a hard line-out to Brett Gardner in left field that was not deep enough to drive Schwarber in from third. Next, after falling behind 2-0 to Kike Hernandez, Loasiga found a way to work the count to 3-2 before striking Hernandez swinging for the second out. Finally, Loasiga struck out Hunter Renfroe after falling behind him 3-0 in the count.

New York grabbed the early lead Tuesday on a two-run single by Andrew Velazquez in the bottom of the second inning. The Red Sox would tie it at two a piece on a two-run single by Xander Bogaerts an inning later. Boston took its only lead in the fifth on a solo shot by Christian Vasquez. 

With the victory in hand, the Yankees stand at 67-52. They are tied in the loss column with the Red Sox  (69-52). The two teams will play later tonight in game two of this double-header with rookie sensation Luis Gil toeing the rubber for the Bronx Bombers. 

To think back on the 4th of July this was a Yankees team left for dead. They are 26-11 since that point, and are very much in the mix in the AL East and the AL Wild Card. 

Jets' Wilson Shows Poise in Gang Green Preseason Debut

 JETS 12 - GIANTS 7 

So much for the doubters. After getting grilled by the New York media and Jets fans for his poor performances in last week's Green-n-White scrimmage, Zach Wilson turned out an impressive debut in his first game action as the Jets starting quarterback, Saturday night against the Giants. 

While it wasn't flashy, Wilson was poised, accurate and and efficient in Gang Green's 12-7 victory. 

Over two series, Wilson was 6-of-9 for 63 yards, and led the Jets to a field goal and a 3-0 lead they would hold for almost three whole quarters. 

He helped the Jets convert three huge third downs with precise throws to Corey Davis, Keelan Cole and Jamison Crowder. The Jets offensive line, and the running combo of Ty Johnson and Michael Carter gashed the Giants for a grand total of 55 yards on the ground. It was an impressive showing for an offense that kept it fairly close to the vest, especially with speedy wide receiver Elijah Moore out of action. 

Defensively, the  Jets held their own against a Giants team that played strictly back-ups, as the starters didn't see any action on Saturday. 

Wilson drew a lot of heat from beat reporters after his two pick performance a week ago. And with the likes of Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields lighting it up in camp, many fans are worried they got the wrong guy once again. 

We won't know for a while. Fields, whom the Jets passed on to get Wilson, had a rocky start in his first couple of series out in Chicago on Saturday before settling into a groove the rest of the way to lead the Bears to a 20-13 victory over Miami. 

The point is these are rookies. They are going to go through a lot of ups and downs. Wilson especially with the franchise putting so much weight on his shoulders without a back-up quarterback behind him. 

We will see how Wilson does against Green Bay next week. As for Big Blue, hopefully the starters get into the action against the Brown.

Yankees vs. White Sox Field of Dreams Game Is Exactly What Baseball Needed

 WHITE SOX 9 - YANKEES 8 

It had all the earmarks of one of the greatest baseball events we have seen in a long time, and it lived up to the billing. 

A moment 32 years in the making when the film Field of Dreams came out in theaters and gave us the goosebumps, the tears and the joy of "playing a catch." A movie that -- still to this day -- rings true in the ethos and meaning of the sport of baseball -- a game passed down over the generations. 

Thursday's Field of Dreams Game between the Yankees and White Sox had all the pageantry and feel of a major event. For a non-World Series game, or non-All Star Game, this was an event that felt as big if not bigger than any of those. And in many ways it was. 

It was a huge night for Major League Baseball. It was a chance for the sport to connect its past and present in the most intimate of ways, and they did so with flying colors. 

It all started with Kevin Costner walking through the cornfield and onto the baseball field, walking around with a baseball in his hand gazing up at the stands before turning around to catch the glimpse of the Yankees and White Sox making their way through the cornfield themselves much like the movie Costner starred in 32 years ago. 

 

If you didn't get chills, goosebumps or even a lump in your throat watching that, your pulse needs to be checked immediately. 

It was poetic, beautiful and exactly what baseball is truly all about. 

The game itself -- an all time classic. Yes, the Yankees lost. Yes, it was gut-wrenching. And, yes, Aaron Boone left everyone scratching their collective heads as to why he left Andrew Heaney in to pitch five innings when he clearly didn't have it and the White Sox were using him for batting practice. 

By the time the Yankees finally pulled the plug on Heaney he had already given up three homers and the Yankees were down 7-3. 

Then, slowly the comeback started. Brett Gardner's solo shot brought the Yanks to within 7-4, and it would stay that way up until the ninth when White Sox closer Liam Hendricks couldn't close the door on the victory. 

He gave up a single to Tyler Wade to open the frame, and two batters later Aaron Judge made him pay with his second homer of the night, this one to left field to cut the Sox lead down to 7-6. 

After Hendricks lost Joey Gallo to a walk on five pitches, Giancarlo Stanton needed just one pitch to send into the cornfield to push the Yankees out front by a shocking 8-7 score. 

It looked like the Bombers were on their way to stealing the Field of Dreams game away from the White Sox. Then a miracle happened. Only in Iowa! 

A walk to Seby Zavala who came back from being down 0-2 in the count was soon followed by a majestic two-run home run to right-center field by Tim Anderson, sending 8,000 spectators into bedlam. Fireworks exploded out of the cornfields and Anderson rounded third to a conga line of smiles and gatorade at home plate.

 

It was as if it was written. 

On the Field of Dreams. The story second chances for Shoeless Joe Jackson one of the greatest White Sox players of all time, blacklisted for his role in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. 

And in case you are wondering, Anderson's walk-off homer against the Yankees was the 15th ever by a White Sox. 

The first? 

Shoeless Joe Jackson.

Mets Swept by Phillies, Season Collapsing Around Them

 PHILLIES 3 - METS 0 

The Mets were once in first place, 4.5 games ahead of the Phillies. Now they are in third place, 2.5 games out. 

The season is spiraling out of control, and there seems to be no end in sight. The Mets were lifeless and listless on Sunday against the Phillies, and Zach Wheeler, who carried a one-hitter into the ninth inning. 

A team that has struggled to score runs all season managed only five runs in the three games over the weekend, and there is reason to believe -- as the schedule gets tougher that this season is all but over. 

Wheeler never broke a sweat against his former team. The Mets were 0-for-3 with RISP, as he fanned 11 and walked only one. 

Javier Baez, the July 31 trade deadline piece the Mets added was 0-for-2. His average dipped below .181 since joining the Mets. 

Pete Alonso who struck out swinging last night with the tying runs aboard, was 0-for-4 on Sunday with two strikeouts. It was pathetic to watch. 

Even Taijuan Walker continues to look like a shell of his former self. He served up three solo home runs on Sunday to Jean Segura, JT Realmuto and Bryce Harper. Somehow this was dignified as a decent outing. I don't know how. It was just awful, and not nearly enough. 

Worst of all is the tone deaf nature of this team off the field. According to the New York Post's Mike Puma, he quoted Alonso as saying "I think we are in a really good spot, because we're hitting the ball hard, they just aren't falling right now." 

Really Pete? A good spot? Being in third place is a good spot? This team has failed to hit with runners in scoring position all year, and you consider this a good spot? Are you out of your mind. 

Then there is the tone deaf owner, Steve Cohen, who chimed in on Twitter, as he always does, with "I just visited the players in the clubhouse. They are ready and in a good frame of mind for this game." Well Nostradomus, they looked really ready as they were two-hit by a pitcher the Mets deemed unworthy of their uniform. 

They Mets should be ashamed of themselves. They are every bit a three-ring circus that they have been for years upon years, and decades upon decades. Mets fans are used to having the wool pulled up over their eyes from this franchise, but that is typically reserved for September. 

Not August. This year, the Mets decided to make an exception. They stink. And with the Dodgers and Giants coming up, they will be totally buried.

Yankees and Mets Going in Opposite Directions ... Again

 It has been a season of contrasts between the Yankees and Mets this season. 

For more than half the season, the Mets appeared to be the team destined for October baseball. They had the best pitcher in the game in Jacob deGrom. Marcus Stroman and Taijuan Walker were worthy number 2 and 3 starters behind deGrom. And oh, by the way, the Mets had Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard coming back soon enough. 

While the Mets weren't a consistent offensive force, they fought back in games, and you never got the feeling they were ever out of a ballgame. 

A true sign of a team playing for October. 

They took four of seven from the Padres; took two of three from the Yankees and Brewers, and had outlasted both the Phillies and Braves in the first half. All was looking 'A-ok'. 

The Yankees on the other hand were a mess. A lineup that was too right-handed heavy, and loaded with hitters struggling to hit over .220 let alone .250, the Yankees were a shell of the term "Bronx Bombers."

 Giancarlo Stanton wasn't healthy.

 Neither was Aaron Judge. 

On the pitching front they couldn't keep guys away from COVID (and still can't as Jordan Montgomery, Gerrit Cole, and even catcher Gary Sanchez are battling the virus). 

But a month ago the Yankees looked lost. Cole was struggling; adjusting to life without the "sticky-stuff" to help him on the mound. Corey Kluber hit the IL shortly after his no-hitter, and Jamison Tallion and Domingo German were proverbial batting practice. Oh, and least us not forget the struggles of Aroldis Chapman. 

In early July the rumblings started that Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman were on the hot seat. Hal Steinbernner issued a missive pinning responsibility on the players for their lackluster efforts and worse results. 

The fans wanted blood. 

Then on the afternoon of July 4 when Mets first baseman Pete Alonso lifted a Chapman fastball into the seats in left that tied a game between the Yankees and Mets at five, en route to a six-run eighth inning for the Metropolitians, en route to a 10-5 Mets win, the Yankees were a .500 team. 

41-41. 

Since that time the Yankees are 19-8.  The Mets, by contrast, are 13-17 since that game.

This is not to say that 2021 hasn't been streaky for the Yankees. It has been. After a 5-10 start to the year, the Yankees rolled off 23 wins in 32 games between April 20 through May 23, before hitting a wall again. 

This team has been in third place practically all season, and they still are. They got a long way to go to catch the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox in the East; a better shot at the A's in the Wild Card. But the point is they got a chance. 

It isn't fair to say the Yankees season turned around in the nightcap of the Mets-Yankees double-header on July 4; remember this team ended up losing three of four to the Red Sox in late July before the trade deadline, but since the deadline things have changed. 

It all started with the Yankees sending prospects to the Texas Rangers for Joey Gallo and the Chicago Cubs for Anthony Rizzo. 

For the first time all year, the Yankees feel like THE YANKEES again. 

While Gallo is struggling to get his footing in New York. He is hitting at .161 with five hits in 31 trips to the plate, Rizzo has been amazing. Rizzo is hitting at .321 with three bombs and six RBI. And this is not a knock on Gallo who crushed a game-winning three-run bomb of his own against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. 

The point is both give the Yankees a complete look on both sides of the plate. There is no easy out anywhere in the lineup. From Gallo to Rizzo to Judge to Stanton, Gleyber Torres, Gio Ursehla and even Sanchez. Nobody is an easy out. Even the workman-like Brett Gardner is getting in on the fun with a game winning hit Friday night against Seattle. 

On the pitching front, Tallion has been pitching better. Montgomery (before COVID) was solid. Cole had returned to his early season self in some respects. But the depth and quality of the Yankees starters in the minors are showing through. 

Luis Gil who dominated earlier this year in Somerset was brilliant in his MLB debut.

Luis Severino and Clarke Schmidt both had successful rehab outings and are on their way back. Suddenly, the Yankees look like a team that has enough pitching for the stretch drive. 

They look like a team destined for October. 

The Mets? They have fallen out of first place. They can't hit the ball. deGrom is probably out for the season as the Mets keep misdiagnosing whatever ails the right hander's elbow. Stroman and Walker have both hit a wall. Syndergaard? Who knows if we will see him this year. 

The front office failed to address a serious need for starting pitching and relief help at the deadline. The owner pops off with total nonsense on Twitter at the drop of a hat, and somehow Luis Rojas is going to end up getting blamed for all of it come the end of the season.

The Mets look like and feel like dead team walking. 

The Mets look like they'll be watching the Yankees from their collective couches come October -- as usual.

Steve Cohen in First Real Crisis as Owner after Mets Front Office Flounders

 When Steven Cohen bought the New York Mets last fall, he did so with full adulation from a Mets fans base beaten down by the buffoonery and penny-pinching ways of Cohen's predecessors, Fred and Jeff Wilpon. 

When it came to free agent follies, missteps in player health, mistakes at the deadline, and otherwise one baffling decision after another the Wilpon's were always -- seemingly -- at the center of it. 

Now for the really the first time, Steve Cohen is facing his first REAL crisis as owner of the New York Mets. And it didn't take long. 

While he quickly put out his first fire when he diligently fired disgraced former General Manager-for-a minute Jared Porter after allegations of sexual abuse against female journalists was revealed last winter, Cohen now faces another problem: working around an incompetent front office. 

The New York Mets didn't sign their first round pick, former Vanderbilt phenom Kumar Rocker after the team expressed concerns over the health of Rocker's arm. As a result the $6 million deal they had in place with Rocker, whom many considered a "generational talent" fell through. 

While the Mets still got some good compensation for it, the 11th pick in next year's draft after Rocker didn't participate in the league's pre-draft MRI program, they also have egg on their face. How is that a player of Rocker's caliber slips past nine teams, and the Mets are the one holding the bag of you-know-what when it comes to a player's health? 

Did the Mets even do their due diligence before selecting Rocker with their first round pick? 

Couldn't they have asked for medical records before hand?

 Certainly they could have. 

What makes matters even worse is that Kumar is represented by super-agent Scott Boras, who exclaimed in a press release that his client is "healthy according to independent medical review by multiple prominent baseball orthopedic surgeons." 

Boras continues, "Immediately upon the conclusion of his collegiate season, he had an MRI on both his shoulder and elbow. When compared with his 2018 MRIs, the medical experts found no significant change." 

If that is true, the Mets look ridiculous. Of course the Mets and Sandy Alderson mouth-piece, Acting GM Zack Scott issued the political mea culpa of "we wish Kumar nothing but success moving forward." Nice job Zack, nice job. 

Rocker by the way is likely on his way to Indy ball to prove himself before next year's draft.

Speaking of misdiagnosing injuries, let's talk about Jacob deGrom. deGrom is out until September with inflammation in his elbow. deGrom's injuries this year have been the most mysterious and mythical we have seen in some time.  It's been that bizarre.  

deGrom has suffered five injuries this year. First it was right side tightness. Then it was right lat tightness. Followed by flexor tendonitis, a shore shoulder and now this. deGrom hasn't pitched since before the All Star Break last month. 

Who is to say that deGrom will even pitch again this year? The Mets keep pushing things back. They even let deGrom self-diagnosis himself early in his process; who knows what kind of damage has already been done?

If deGrom, who has already gone under the knife for Tommy John Surgery, is indeed lost for the season, then the Mets season is effectively over. Especially after the same front office (Zack Scott? Sandy Alderson?) opted not to pursue a top flight starter during the trade deadline. Instead they told their fans and the media that they just couldn't find a good deal. 

Jose Berrios? Traded to Toronto. German Marquez? Stays in Colorado. Kyle Davies? The Mets didn't want him. This from a team that is somehow hanging onto first place in the NL East. And even though they act and play like they don't want to be in first, the bad news for the Mets is neither does Atlanta nor Philadelphia. 

Washington even gave up, and traded away Max Scherzer and Trea Turner. 

There probably is a lot of truth to that statement from the Mets. New York doesn't have a lot of depth in the minors. And outside of the likes of Brett Baty and Matthew Allen, there isn't a lot of depth -- unlike the Yankees who had plenty of trade chips from which to use when they nabbed Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo. 

That being said, if you expect this team to remain competitive in the National League with the likes of 41-year old Rich Hill, and fringe Major League starter Trevor Williams (whom they got in the Javier Baez deal), you really must be delusional. 

The Mets didn't do enough at the deadline. 

And this leads to Javier Baez. Yes, Baez is a solid addition. He is one of the best hitters in baseball, and is a decent fielder too. He wanted to come to New York, and loves playing with his World Baseball Classic buddy, Francisco Lindor, who is still on the injury list until the later stages of this month.  

Baez has already shown a flare for the dramatic with a two-run bomb in his third at bat as a Met on Saturday against Wade Miley of the Cincinnati Reds. He also struck out a handful of times, and is 1-for-8 in his two games in a Mets uniform. He'll be fine. The question is will he help this team get to the playoffs? Can he be a difference maker? 

And if he is, is he willing to take less money to play second base this off-season? We'll find out how much he loves playing with Lindor when the off-season comes rolling along. 

No matter how one slices it, things are not pretty in Metville right now. Yes, the Mets are in first. But with a brutal August schedule ahead that includes 13 straight games against the Dodgers and Giants, and no help in sight, it's clear now, more than ever, that Steve Cohen is facing his first real crisis as Mets owner.

Rizzo Providing the spark the Yankees Needed

 Anthony Rizzo was already an established superstar before he ever donned Yankee pinstripes. A four time Gold Glover, All Star and World Series Champion with the Chicago Cubs, Rizzo has caught fire since his trade to New York last Thursday. 

One of two powerful left-handed bats that the Yankees obtained before the trade deadline, Rizzo is quickly becoming a fan favorite after pounding out five hits-in-nine at bats, with two homers and three RBI. One could argue easily that Rizzo's efforts over the weekend spurred the Yankees to a sweep of the Miami Marlins down in South Beach. 

Heck, Rizzo's efforts certainly dulled the lackluster efforts by Joey Gallo who carried his 2-for-30 slump with him from the Texas Rangers. Gallo is 1-for-12 since donning pinstripes this weekend. 

Had Brian Cashman not obtained Rizzo at the deadline, we almost certainly would have heard nothing but anger from Yankees fans over Gallo's efforts. What would one expect from a guy who is a career .211 hitter? 

As for Rizzo, he has balanced the lineup, and provided the kind of pop from the left side of the plate that the Yankees haven't seen in years. 

Granted it's only one series, and one weekend, but already its a different feel for these Bronx Bombers, who have sliced their deficit for the final wild card slot to only 2.5 games.  The Yankees are 6.5 out of the first in the AL East. 

Could things be turning around for the Yankees? Certainly could. It helps playing the Marlins, and later this week, the Baltimore Orioles to fatten up on some much needed victories. But with Rizzo lighting things up in the lineup for the first time this year it feels like there is reason to hope in Yankeeland. 

That alone is reason enough for the Yankees and Rizzo to give each other a long look and consideration for an extension down the road.