We can only hope,,,

While the likes of  Mike Pence as the POTUS does not thrill me,,,  he has many Ideas and political beliefs that I totally do not agree with,,,   I do not think him Insane or Morally unhinged as I do tRump.

I have read 2 stories in the past week ,, that tRump is developing an Exit Strategy... that it will lay the blame for the lack of any accomplishments on the Democrats,  but also on the GOP leadership. and that for the good of the Country and the with himself taking none of the responsibility (exactly like he never has) he will resign the Presidency and let Mike P continue to be the GOP standard bearer.  If this is even close to true,, I hope he does it sooner than Later.

This last outburst blaming people that are standing up to Nazi's , white supremacy groups ,  the Aryan nation etc is to me - Just so far over the edge that it seems indefensible,, yet I hear people that agree with this out look...  And I can't believe that in this day we are  still fighting the same old wars..... that a person of some or other skin color is less of an American and in many of their eyes less of a person  because of it...  I don't know where we these people ,, but there seems to be no lack of them....

I firmly believe what MLK said years ago "

“It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation. Not merely for the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say nothing"

I always like the Song verse from "Livin on the Edge"

There's somethin' wrong with the world today
I don't know what it is
Something's wrong with our eyes

We're seein' things in a different way
And God knows it ain't his
It sure ain't no surprise

There's somethin' wrong with the world today
The light bulb's gettin dim
There's meltdown in the sky

If you can judge a wise man
By the color of his skin
Then mister you're a better man than I

The Races -

NO - I do not mean Human races,,,  I meant BASEBALL Races...



Ok,, There are about 47-48 games to play , dependant on rainouts and schedules..... let's look at where we are with a bit over  6 weeks to go

Start with  the NL -

The East - National's are 14.5 games ahead of the Marlins  - OVER
and the Marlins are like 10 out of the Wildcard...

The Central - ok - here we have a race..the Cubs  and Cardinals are tied - although St Louis is 1 game back on the loss side,,, and the Brewers are 2 games behind them,...

The West  - The Dodgers have a 17 - yup thats not a mistype - 17 game lead over Colorado - this race has been  OVER for a while....

Wild Card - The Rockies and the d-Backs are tied , with the Cubs and Cardinals 4.5 games behind them,,,

So - Today - the Rockies and the d-Backs would be your Wildcards teams - with a one game playoff ,  Winner meeting the Nationals... and the Cubs/Cardinal winner playing the Dodgers

On to the American League....

The East  - The Red Sox are 4.5 games ahead of the  Yankees and they will be playing NY one more game today then a weekend series at Fenway - unless the Yankees can get back on a winning track starting today, The AL East Belongs to the Bosox...

The Central - the Indians are 4.5 games up on the Twins, and 5 on the Royals, and I do not see either of them mounting a serious challenge...

The West - The Astros are 12 game up on the Angels - OVER

Wild Card  - now this is sorta wide open,,, the Yankees are 2.5 games ahead of the LA Angels... then the Twins a 1/2 game back from LA,,, then there are Twins, Mariners , Rays, Royals, Orioles within 2.5 game of the Top spot....

So - Today would be the Yankees hosting the Wild Card game against the Angels (who the Yanks can never beat ) IF NY wins they get the 'Stros and Boston plays Cleveland - IF LA wins they get Boston and the Astros play the Indians....  but this Wild card ain't over....

ALL righty now !!!

Listen,,,,listen ,,,I had quite the Week,, and weekend,,,,

1st - my Daughter got Engaged to be married......   not that I spent a lot of time thinking or worrying about this or her cause she is a tough as they come,, no one is getting over on my daughter, ,, but lets say that  I thought my daughter  to be a seriously intense type person,,, taking after you know who (me) and that we can be difficult at times to live with. however,, she met this absolutely wonderful man  that seems to understand  her, love her, and be able to deal with her.
They bought a house a while back, and really have developed a life together, and as a father of a daughter I could not be happier with all these developments... no other way to say it -  I (and my wife) Just love it !

2nd is something that has not been officially announced and IF you are reading this and happen to know anyone in my family (how could you - that would be a one in how many million shot) - ummmmm  ok I can't take even the slight chance that you might tell, so you will have to wait for this one. Just know that I am equally excited about this as I am the 1st announcement !!   but for right now ,, mums the word as they say..

Hey- Saturday night we traveled to the booming metropolis of Port Chester NY.....   for a concert at the Capitol theater.  Amos Lee - now I have been a fan for a few years since,,a CD called Mission Bell in 2011 and a song called Windows are Rolled down....  and he is now touring in support of  a CD - SPIRIT ....  I was not prepared for how good he would be in concert,,,  I had seen him - Live at Daryll's house,, and a PBS special,, . In a word I was blown away ! The music is the thing in concerts, and he had a great band with him - outstanding musicians. I am NOT one of those concert goers that has to hear every song I like off every album,,, or the night is ruined,,, however,,, I was hoping for several of Windows are Rolled down, Violin, Jesus, Spirit, Keep it loose keep it tight, Ticksters, Hucksters, and Scamps, Black river,  Chill in the Air,,, and the only one he did not play was the Chill in the air.   IF you ever want to listen to some really excellent music,,, punch up some of these on Itunes, YouTube or Spotify,,,  the show started with  One Lonely light, went into Jesus, Tricksters, Hucksters & Scamps, Keep it loose - Keep it tight, Spirit/Down by the Riverside. He played an acoustic set of Southern Girl (an audience request) , Violin.. and Arms of a Woman.... the band returned to an Irish stomp lead by one of the Creegan brothers who plays everything from pedal steel to a sax ,,, Played Supply and Demand, Baby I want you, Sara Smile (cover)/Pony , Cup of Sorrow, Change is gonna come, ,,, Closed the Set with Sweet Pea... Played 3 encore songs,,, the Band played what they said was a Happy Birthday to Gerry Garcia -with "Franklin's Tower"  then Amos played Black River which led into What's Going on..with the members of the Warm up band (Bailen) on background vocals. and he Closed with Windows are Rolled Down - that the audience sang right along with Amos...   Maybe the best show we have seen in years or EVER !!


Ok,, Yanks are 3 games out of 1st place with 52 games to play,,,,, SO I expect them to either win the AL East outright or at worse the 1st Wild card spot,,, but need as EVERY team does - more consistent pitching and better situational hitting,,,

What Else ??? You tell me,,,  I'll leave you with Windows are Rolled  Down,,,
Is it what you dreamed it'd be 
Are you locked up in this fantasy 
Oh this miles that have 
torn us apart 
My new found faith 
and my broken heart 

Windows are rolled down 
Sun is rising high 
Windows are rolled down 
Feel that wind rushing by hey-ay-ay-a... 

Dead Line

SO - at the NON waiver trade deadline - Cashman pulls off the Sonny Gray deal.

Yankees get Sonny Gray - and they send 3 Prospects to Oakland, outfielder Dustin Fowler, right-handed pitcher (on the 60 day DL) , James Kaprielian and infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo.  Mateo had been one of the Jewels of the Farm system,, but has diminished recently,,, Fowler , I think the best of the Bunch - but hey you gotta give something to get something. Other teams are not in business to make YOUR team better...  and thru Cashman's work,, he has built a great Farm system. Oh yea,,, do not forget that the Yanks, got David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, Todd Frazier, Jamie Garcia and now Sonny Gray in  the last few weeks. Good work Brian !!  now that puts the pressure on Girardi to deliver - has to at  minimum win the AL east.

Gray, 27, went 6-5 with a 3.43 ERA (97.0IP, 84H, 48R/37ER, 30BB, 94K, 8HR) in 16 starts with the Athletics this season. He tossed at least 6.0 innings in 12 of those 16 starts and has allowed 2ER-or-fewer 10 times this season. Over his last six outings (since June 25), he has gone 4-2 with a 1.37 ERA (39.1IP, 6ER), 36K and .164 (23-for-140) opponents' batting average, throwing at least 6.0 innings and allowing no more than 2ER in each of those six starts.  You like 32 things out of those stats - 1) the Strike out to Walk ratio...  94 K's to 30 BB.... 3 to 1... and 2) 13 less hits to innings pitched..  Those are good Stats......  and this is not a rental - the Yankees control him for 2017, 18 & 19....  he is Arbitration eligible in those 18, 19 years.

SO we will see,,, thats gives them CC, Tanaka, Severino, Montgomery, Gray, Garcia. 6 pitchers for 5 spots. and the Bullpen of : Chapman, Betances, Robertson, Warren, Green, Kahnle, Shreve - Should be enough arms to win..