Yankee Universe in panic

Staley builds a powerhouse

Good morning, all. I hope your week is off to a terrific start.

The week is not off to a terrific start for the New York Yankees. I released a podcast episode last week about the injury bug that bit the Boston Red Sox. It was a reminder games are not won on paper and why it is difficult to make predictions because of all the variables that go into a season. Which leads to the Yankees, who have been in a title drought since 2009. With the acquisition of slugger Juan Soto, a healthy Aaron Judge and the free agent signing of pitcher Marcus Stroman, the Bombers appeared poised to make a legitimate World Series run. And they still may be but…

Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced to the media on Monday that pitching ace Gerrit Cole, reigning AL Cy Young award winner, will undergo an MRI.

“His recovery, before getting to his next start, has been more akin to what he feels during the season, when he's making 100 pitches," Boone told the media. "When he's at 45 [pitches] and building to 55, he usually doesn't have the recovery issues he's having.

"I think there's a level of discomfort, but I wouldn't describe it as he's in pain."

Then there is Judge, who missed a third of last season with an injured toe. He will be held out of Yankees exhibition games until at least Wednesday. Boone said Judge may be overworking his body. Who knows? Maybe it is something worse, maybe not.

The Yankees are already down a utility infielder in Oswaldo Peraza, out at least eight weeks with a sore shoulder. The point is no one knows in spring training the end result of a season, regardless of the roster. Just ask the Mets. Last season they were strong contenders on paper to win the World Series. They ended with a losing record, a fired manager and decimated roster. And they are still paying the price. Entering this season the Mets have the highest payroll in baseball at $316M. Making it worse, some of those players, namely Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, are now on other clubs, but being paid by the Mets.

When it comes to sports, nothing is certain. Just ask the Mets, Red Sox and now the Yankees.

Staley builds a powerhouse

Long before the WNBA, there was the ABL and the Hartford-Springfield area had a franchise, the New England Blizzard. I had the chance to broadcast the Blizzard’s games and had a great time. The Blizzard were led by Jennifer Rizzoti and the Philadelphia Rage by Dawn Staley. When those two teams met, the battle between Rizzoti and Staley was worth the price of admission and fun to broadcast.

Staley has coached the University of South Carolina’s women’s team since 2008, building a powerhouse. Her team is the defending national champion, won two NCAA titles and eight SEC tournament titles, including Sunday’s win over LSU.

Yes, the Sunday victory was marred by a fight between the two teams, but the combatants blamed it on how competitive the game was and apologies were doled out afterward.

Staley is in the basketball Hall of Fame as a player and will get there as a coach too. She has earned it by putting a college basketball program on the map. A USC-LSU rematch in the NCAA tournament would be must-see TV.

A picture is worth a thousand words

I leave you with these two pictures I came across on social media. Willie Mays is talking with Leo Durocher before a Giants-Astros game in the 1970s. When Mays was called up to the New York Giants, his manager was Durocher. The two formed an everlasting bond.

Then there is the picture of Yogi Berra and Warren Spahn, two of the best at what they did. The picture was from spring training 1965. Spahn had joined the Mets, after an illustrious career with the Braves. Berra, who had been fired as manager of the Yankees, signed with the Mets as a player-coach. His playing career with the Mets was brief, but he did catch Spahn for one game. Imagine, a Spahn-Berra Hallbattery? It happened and it is what makes baseball history so rich.

That is going to do it for this week’s newsletter. As always thank you for your support and have a terrific week.

DAN LOVALLO