OF SEVERAL THINGS ... LIKE 'SAME OLD YANKEES'

 

Add reasons not to watch ESPN or major league baseball 

any more: First, your New York Yankees were at it again. 

(How does manager AARON BOONE keep his job, 

anyway?)

This time JORBIT VIVAS tagged up and ran (jogged?) 

into a double play by ignoring third base coach LUIS 

ROJAS’ motion to slide. OK, so Atlanta rightfielder

 RONALD ACUNA JR., made quite a throw – from 

deep in the corner at the warning track – on the fly to 

third baseman NACHO ALVAREZ JR., who suckered 

Vivas into believing he had it made … Then again Rojas, 

67, former Mets’ manager (2021-22) and son of ex-MLB 

outfielder FELIPE ALOU, could have been more 

emphatic with his signal to slide. Check the replay. He 

was pretty darn casual about the whole thing. 

Sorry, Jorbit, no excuses, especially for lack of hustle 

which has been a Yankees’ trademark in recent years … 

Even consummate homer/TV Voice of the Yankees

 MICHAEL KAY called it “inexcusable,” then blew his 

cover by noting it had been a problem only “for the last

 month or so.” … YANKEES LOSE … YANKEES LOSE 

7-3.

As for The Worldwide Leader ...

ESPN’s two, never-heard-of-them, fast-talking, say- 

virtually-nothing, laugh-it-up yappers on SportsCenter 

never bothered to identify Jorbit, the loafer. Like we 

should have been surprised.

On the same telecast (see below) they failed to recognize 

the pitcher (who viewers could see up close and personal) 

being ripped for four early runs was a Cy Young Award 

winner, league and Word Series MVP.

And, while we’re at it, did they really decide the MLB 

all-star game with a home-run-derby? Time to turn off the 

lights, Mr. Commissioner, and you go home!

**** Richmond Flying Squirrels’ parent team, the San 

Francisco Giants, finished the All-Star break a half-game 

from third … despite (or because of) a winless JUSTIN 

VERLANDER and hit-deprived “slugger” RAFAEL 

DEVERS … At least Verlander, 42, the Hall of Fame-

bound righthander from Goochland, had an excuse (sort 

of) for an 0-7 won-lost record and 0-8 in no-decisions. 

The Giants averaged about two runs in his starts. In his 

last outing before the break, Verlander, who signed a one-

year contract as a free agent for $10 million (really!), 

reportedly “tweaked” his delivery and had the Phillies 

“off-balance” (according to eye-witness reports) … Since 

coming from the Red Sox in mid-June, Devers is batting 

.202 in 25 games, with two home runs, 10 RBI and is 

likely to wind up at first base … which he now says 

Boston management never asked him to play.

By the way … Verlander lasted 2 2/3 innings against 

Toronto Friday night. While the Giants committed three 

errors, he was touched for nine hits and four runs in a 4-0 

loss that was otherwise typical. They now are averaging 

1.7 runs in games Verlander starts.

**** The 2025-26 NHL season doesn’t get underway 

until Oct. 7 … but the little old schedule maker already is 

being accused of favoring the Edmonton Oilers. Because? 

Well, they will make their last trip to the Eastern time 

zone December 18 … In all, Edmonton, Stanley Cup 

runnerup each of the last two years to the Florida 

Panthers, plays 21 of its first 35 games on the road.

Your New York Rangers will play 23 of their first 41 

games away from the friendly confines of Madison 

Square Garden. 

**** Prior to the start of the British Open … sorry, THE 

Open … runaway winner SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER sat 

down with reporters and said, while he couldn’t be 

happier playing golf for a living, it had proven quite 

unfulfilling for him. “Is it really worth my entire life to be 

good at this sport ... and have [only] that sense of 

accomplishment?" he said.

"Why do I want this [Open] championship so badly? 

Sometimes I don't get the point. [Golf] is one of the great 

joys of my life ... but it doesn't fill the greatest joys of my 

heart ... If golf ever affected my home life, that would be 

the last day I play. It is not the be-all, end-all. This is not 

the most important thing in my life. I would much rather 

be a good father than a great golfer.

"I love being able to compete, but it is not what satisfies 

me. This is not the place to look for satisfaction."

To which Fox News BILL HEMMER said Scheffler 

“has become the most interesting man in all of sports.”

Naturally, BRANDEL CHAMBLEE, the Golf Channel’s 

Mr. Skeptical, was … well, somewhat less than 

understanding. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t question his 

sincerity one bit,” he said, “but it's easier to feel that way 

... and say those things ... when the wolf is not at the 

door."

BRIEFLY: Washington Commanders signed defensive 

end … sorry, edge rusher VON MILLER to a one-year 

contract, a decision met with skepticism …. that the 

former Super Bowl MVP and leader among active players 

in sacks (129.5) is (cliché alert) all washed up. At 36 

Miller makes the league’s oldest team – average age 27 – 

even older … Richmond’s RUSSELL WILSON hasn’t 

taken a snap … and already he’s become daily fodder for 

the New York press … which can’t decide if the Football 

Giants should go to camp this week with him the starting 

quarterback (as planned) rather than have a three-way 

competition with rookie JAXSON DART and scheduled 

backup JAMEIS WINSTON. Guess they haven’t seen 

Winston, always an interception waiting to happen. 

Until next time ...