This Week on the Blog

It was a weird week.  First, the Yanks didn't add a big league pitcher at the deadline, after paying lip service to the idea since the offseason. But that was just weird, not stupid, and no prospects were lost in the process.  The Giants seemed to have fewer injuries in week 2 of camp.  The Rangers gained control of their cap. And the Knicks were probably off practicing somewhere. Let's take a look at the week to come.

Yankees: The Yanks got an encouraging start from James Paxton last night. Let's see if he can keep it going and give German some company in the "reliable starter" group. Gleyber Torres at 22 is doing what 22 year old Hall of Famers do. Whoever thought the Yanks should consider trading him for anyone on the market not named Mike Trout was an imbecile. I think he's also making Didi unnecessary. That will be an interesting situation this offseason.  Cashman said Severino might start pitching from the mound this week. They need him. Betances is further behind and Giantcarlo Stanton isn't even taking part in baseball activities at this point.  As the season goes on the Yanks really could add sustantial  talent for their own IL.

Giants: The Giants have their first preseason game tilt this coming Thursday against the Jets.  Jets have been the third game for a long time, but not anymore. The Pats are still the last game and the two other opponents are the Bears and the Bengals.  I suppose we'll get our first look at Daniel Jones come Thursday. Let's hope no one cheap shots him, like the Panthers did Eli in his first preseason. That will be exciting, but if the Giants are to have any luck this year, that young DL is going to have to produce and they have the horses to do just that.  So let's look for signs of an emerging DL.  On the OL, at least they have 2 great guards for the first time since the days of Snee and Seubert. We'll need to find out if we have a C and an RT. I don't think we'll see much Saquon Barkley through the preseason, but it feels like we could see the rebirth of Paul Perkins. He's faster and has better hands than Wayne Gallman. So it would be nice if he could replace Gallman in the rotation.

Rangers: Everyone's mad about the buyout. All buyouts are suboptimal, perhaps this one more so than most because of the big cap charge next season. But it was the one move that could make them cap compliant without getting help from another team.  Now they can make trades and add more talent or not without other teams using their cap status as leverage against them.

In happier circumstances, K'Andre Miller's combination of size, skating and power is blowing minds at the Summer Prospect Showcase. Not sure why he's not a top 10 prospect in all of hockey, but he will be. He is the Ranger Unicorn. Rare.

Knicks: The Knicks are off, but they're probably still practicing. They traded their Unicorn.

So there it is.  Yanks have to keep finding ways to win. The Giants have to start progressing. The Rangers could still make a trade, and the Knicks have to keep doing whatever it is they do between posting practice videos.  Have a great one.