Perspectives: 9/16/24

by Paul Semendinger

September 16, 2024

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The Yankees are three games up with 12 to play. Three of those games are against the Orioles. The others are against the Mariners, A's, and the Pirates.

It's right there in front of them. Destiny is in their own hands.

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There was a lot of debate over who called the intentional walk the other day against the Red Sox. Many people disagree on many of the points. Different members of the Yankees have had different takes from day to day.

What does seem kind of clear is that Aaron Boone didn't seem make that call. It also seems clear that Austin Wells, the catcher, didn't know about it. It also seems clear that some people did talk about it before the game. Bottom line... one reason Aaron Boone was hired was because he was supposedly a great communicator.

That whole situation doesn't sound like one where there was good communication.

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The manager is supposed to be, by definition, the person responsible for the lineup, the pitching decisions, and the in-game decisions.

"Does he have the green light on 3-0?"

"Will he call for a bunt here?"

"Does he send the runner?"

"It looks like he is getting a lefty up in the bullpen."

"Will he challenge the call?"

On and on.

The "he" in all of those instances is the manager. Or it is supposed to be.

Many will disagree with me on this, but, I see it as a sign of weakness if the manager doesn't have control over the stratigical decisions that take place in a baseball game. If the manager isn't running the team, why is he there?

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Aaron Boone has the chance, right now, in 2024, to change much of the narrative about him. It comes down to one simple thing - he needs to win. And by winning, I'm not saying just finishing in first place or getting to the ALCS. Coming up small is coming up small. That won't change any narrative. In fact, that is the narrative.

It's right there in front of him.

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On Friday night, Aaron Judge hit a huge grand slam to basically win the game for the Yankees. Most fans didn't see it because the game was on a "pay again" (many fans are already paying for YES) channel. (By the way, I just invented that term. I like it. I think it'll catch on. Remember where you heard it first. "Tonight the Yankees are on a "Pay Again" channel...")

I stated that the game was taken away from the fans. There were those who disagreed. I wasn't wrong as this graphic proves. The game was originally supposed to be on YES:

They absolutely did take this game away from millions of fans. 100%. It is not debatable. At all. This game was supposed to be on YES, but they got greedy and moved it to a pay channel.

This is the definition of taking a game away from the fans. And it's wrong.

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Some fans then said that it wasn't a big deal (taking the game away) because fans could see the highlights later.

Really?

Its watching the highlight of something you already know is going to happen the same as seeing it unfold in real time?

I find that line of thinking absurd. There is no comparison to seeing an event happen live. None. It's not even close. The drama, the emotion, the excitement, all of that happens in real time. No highlight can ever capture the actual moment. At all.

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The Yankees are 7-3 over their last ten. Maybe, just maybe, they're getting hot at the right time.

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I absolutely want the Yankees to get the bye in the playoffs. I don't buy into the narrative that the team that's off loses their edge or sharpness or whatever.

There are instances across all sports where the team that was off longer lost. And there are instances where they won. This is one of those situations where anyone can point to examples to prove their point.

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Aaron Judge now has 53 homers on the year. He has 132 runs batted in. Wow.

I was very concerned about him playing centerfield regularly this year. It is clear that I was very wrong about that.

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This year I am running the New York City Marathon to support the Sesame Workshop.  Unlike most runners who run for charities so that they get into the race, I am not running for the Sesame Workshop to get into the race.  I am already in.  With or without the Sesame Workshop, I’ll be running those 26.2 miles through the five boroughs of New York on the first Sunday in November.

I am running to support all the Sesame Workshop does to support education, kindness, and more. PLEASE help out with a donation by clicking the link above. (You can read more about my efforts by reading this article.

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