This Week on the Blog

This week, the Yankees played poorly,  the Giants scrimmaged, the Rangers laid low, and the Knicks got boofed in the lottery again. Let's take a look at what's next.

Yankees: They are really starting to miss  Judge and Stanton. They blew a Cole start and were not terribly competitive in other games this week. I don't know if it's raining Covid in NYC, but this weekend Yanks/Mets series has been postponed. Hopefully, the Yanks can use the three days to catch their breaths and recommit to winning. Also, the trade deadline is looming, and it will be interesting to see if the Yanks make any moves and, in a larger sense, if anyone does because they can't really scout minor leaguers right now. We'll see.

Giants: The Giants held a scrimmage yesterday, and the defense seemed to be making most of the plays. What's exciting about that is that the defense played with high energy and seemed to be executing an actual defense that allowed them to make plays. The Giants haven't really had an effective defense since Spags 1, and the splurge year of Spags 2. Young players Julian Love, TJ Brunson, Dexter Lawrence, and Darren Holmes where making big plays.  On offense, there seemed to be no bad snaps between Gates and Jones, and  second year wideouts Alex Bachman and David Sills both continued to shine. In any event the team finally seems like it's coached again, and they really seem to be coming together.

Rangers: The Rangers have some housekeeping to do. First, they have to decide if they are comfortable with Gord Murphy as their defensive guru, or they have to find a new one. If they keep Gord, they have to replace him on their AHL staff.  They also have to develop a versatile plan that allows them to add what they need: a 2nd line C, and a first pair LHD, while keeping their cap in order for all of the kids they'll have to extend in the coming years. That probably does mean trading Buch and maybe Tony Deangelo. It could be a little painful, especially with Tony D, but they have more RHD's coming, and Nils Lundkvist, for example is a great 2 way defender who'll be arrive in 21. And K'Andre Miller is a potential monster, and he'll arrive some time this coming season,

Knicks: The Knicks fell the number 8 in the draft on Thursday Night. That's suboptimal, but this is a pretty crappy draft on the face of it, so if the Knicks and their new scouting base can out scout some other teams, they could end up with three effective players at 8, 27 and 38, or maybe even a weapon or two. Interestingly, after the Rangers won their lottery, MSG almost immediately had media with Gorton, JD and Quinn. When the Knicks got number 8, MSG got Wally and Pidto but couldn't even get Alan Hahn, let alone, Rose, Perry or Thibs. Interesting. The good news is that the Knicks will be allowed to practice starting 9/14 and continuing into October. So this will give Thibs, Payne, Bryant and whoever else they can poach to coach. Also, they've only got 6 guys on the roster as of now, so maybe they can host some tryouts.

So there it is, Yanks need to get players back, the Giants need to keep growing, the Rangers need a great, big picture plan, and the Knicks need to prove they're not the same old Knicks. Have a great one.