Yankees trade for McCutchen because of their mis-Judge-ment
Yanks admit they misjudged injury to Aaron Judge, who may be lost for the season
When All-Star slugger Aaron Judge on July 26 suffered a chip-fracture in his right wrist, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the right fielder would return to action within three weeks. But Judge is still unable to swing a bat, and Cashman admits he and the team doctor, Chris Ahmad, were unreasonably optimistic. Cashman told the New York Post: “Ahmad recognizes that these things take 4-6 weeks. But for some reason — his experience with Judge – he went the most optimistic three weeks. That’s a mistake, one he has admitted to. Usually we don’t over-promise. In this case we missed on the timeline. It is unfair to the player. The optimism and the timeline were inaccurate.”
Between the Lines: Cashman is no longer promising a return date for Judge, and sources close to him say he doubts the player will be recovered in time for the postseason. Which is why Cashman this week traded for Andrew McCutchen, 2013 MVP who’s slightly faded (.255 BA, .772 OPS) but still valuable at age 31.
Catch-and-release: Lions cut Robert Ayers the day after they signed him
The Detroit Lions signed defensive end Robert Ayers on Monday. Just 20 minutes before Tuesday’s practice, coach Matt Patricia said he liked Ayers’ versatility and added, ”It’ll be a good opportunity to take a look and see how he fits us.” All he took was, at most, a glance. The new Lion did not attend practice and was not in the locker room. Later that day the front office issued a statement saying Ayers had been released. On Wednesday, general manager John Quinn was asked about the move and ignored the question, switching to another subject. The Lions last season had one of the weakest pass rushes in the NFL. Ayers had only two sacks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Pro Football Focus graded him high at pressuring the passer. Despite missing four games with injuries, he forced two fumbles and made three tackles for losses. Reporters covering the team wrote that he was the Bucs’ second-best D-lineman behind Gerald McCoy. There was surprise when the Bucs in March released Ayers, apparently thinking he was not worth his $6 million salary at age 32. Ayers provided little insight on his abrupt dismissal in Detroit, tweeting only “Now that’s hilarious.”
Between the Lines: There has to be more to this story. Ayers did suffer a concussion last year, and that may be an issue. Stay tuned.
US Open organizers ‘regret’ code violation on Cornet for exposing bra on overheated court
The US Open issued a statement expressing “regret” over a code violation assessed against Alize Cornet. The French player exposed her bra while changing her top on an unusually hot and humid day at Flushing Meadows, N.Y. The supervisors said they were clarifying their policy to ensure that “this never happens again.” Cornet said, “I think it’s very fair for them to apologize to me. I think the umpire was probably overwhelmed by the situation.”
Alize Cornet came back to court after 10 minute heat break. Had her fresh shirt on back to front. Changed at back of court. Got a code violation. Unsportsmanlike conduct….. 😳
But the men can change shirts on court. https://t.co/sCN4KDXYTb— judy murray (@JudyMurray) August 28, 2018
Seattle’s Baldwin says his knee ‘won’t be 100 percent for the rest of the season’
Doug Baldwin is arguably one of the most underrated receivers in the NFL. Over the past three seasons he has 247 receptions and 29 touchdowns for the Seattle Seahawks. But he anticipates a dropoff this year due to a slow-healing sprained left knee. He suffered the injury in July and has not played in the preseason, though he expects to start in the season opener at Denver. “I haven’t felt 100% since I was born,” he said. “I’m probably 80, 85 percent right now, and the truth of the matter is I won’t be 100 percent. It’s just something I have to deal with the rest of the season.” Baldwin has missed only two regular-season games in his seven seasons in the pros.
Between the Lines: This is a key injury to a team that lost its other star receiver, tight end Jimmy Graham, to free agency in the off-season.
Browns’ Hue Jackson continues to disagree with defensive coordinator Williams
Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson continues to defend his players against criticisms from hard-driving defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. The team’s first-round draft pick of this year, cornerback Denzel Ward, was reproached by Williams for “stupid” tackling technique, which the coach feels led to a back injury. Jackson’s take: “Gregg doesn’t get to do just what he wants to do. We’ll work through all that, but our players, we do want them to tackle a certain way. We don’t want a guy to get hurt. I’m sure Gregg does advise, but we don’t need to do all that stuff in the media.“
Dear Hue: You’re doing the same thing you’re faulting Williams for doing, telling the media about your internal disputes.
Texas candidates for Senate battle over NFL’s anthem policy
The NFL’s conflict over players kneeling for the national anthem is central to a surprisingly close race for a Senate seat in Texas. Latest polling shows a very liberal Democrat, Beto O’Rourke of El Paso, advancing into a statistical tie with the very conservative incumbent Ted Cruz of Dallas. O’Rourke supports the players’ right to demonstrate against police brutality and a judicial system that produces a prison population that’s 60% African-American. Congressman O’Rourke is running an ad in which he tells a town-hall audience: “I can think of nothing more American than to peacefully stand up, or take a knee, for your rights, any time, in any place.” Cruz answered: “That is a view markedly out of step with a vast majority of Texans. We need to be respectful of our active duty military. We need to be respectful of our law enforcement as well.”
Between the Lines: Peter King, who covers the NFL for NBC, said the players may be willing to give up their right to protest in exchange for Commissioner Goodell relinquishing some of his disciplinary authority.
Ex-Aggie who accused Jimbo Fisher’s staff of NCAA violations is dismissed by Arizona for racism
Santino Marchiol’s attempt to play football for the Arizona Wildcats ended Monday when coach Kevin Sumlin dismissed him after video emerged of the linebacker referring to two black players as “monkeys.” Marchiol transferred from Texas A&M and applied for permission to play immediately rather than sit out a season, which is the usual procedure for athletes changing schools. In his application Marchiol cited “mitigating circumstances” that included his claim that A&M assistant coach Bradley Dale Peveto gave him and another player “hundreds of dollars” to host recruits on unofficial visits, which is against NCAA rules. “He was informed this morning that he’s no longer on the team,” Sumlin said. Marchiol did not deny making racist comments. His lawyer said the player is “heartbroken” but understands Arizona’s decision.
Between the Lines: This incident may damage Marchiol’s credibililty as it casts shade on his character. A&M announced last week it’s cooperating with the NCAA and SEC to investigate Marchiol’s allegations.
Boston’s JD Martinez misquotes Hitler in Instagram opposing gun control
Boston’s Triple Crown contender J.D. Martinez is the latest ballplayer to evoke outrage over a political viewpoint. Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy expressed concern to Martinez about his Instagram posting of a Hitler meme giving a Nazi salute and saying that “to conquer a nation, first disarm its citizens.” Martinez followed that picture with a comment: “This is why I will always stay strapped. #thetruth.” But the truth is that Hitler never said such a thing, and in fact he loosened gun control laws in Germany except as they applied to Jews. Although Major League Baseball has a stated policy of not disciplining players for social media commentary, individual teams are allowed to discourage their players from using language that might offend some of their fan base. Kennedy said, “We work with our players regularly to reinforce that their social media interactions can be interpreted in ways that are unintended.”
Dear JD: You live in a state that’s resolutely anti-gun . You ‘re making the same mistake former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling made in expressing extreme right-wing sentiments that cost him a job in network television.
Sins of the father: Racial slur of 35 years ago puts Conor Daly’s NASCAR ride in jeopardy
Lilly Diabetes has pulled its sponsorship of Conor Daly’s stock-car because of a racial slur uttered by his father before he became a father. Conor Daly, 26, is seeing his racing career threatened because a story surfaced last week that Derek Daly, former CART and Formula One driver, blurted a racial slur on radio soon after he immigrated from Ireland. OK, if you must know, he said when asked about upcoming competition, “There’s no nigger in the woodpile.” He was using a colloquialism common in his almost totally Caucasian homeland. Well, to be fair, not so rare in America in the 1980s. When informed seconds after his faux pas of the emotional and historical freight carried by the N-word in this country, Daly apologized profusely. But this is too much history for Lilly Diabetes, which said the resurfaced slur distracts from the company’s focus on health, “so we have made the decision that Lilly Diabetes will no longer run the No. 6 at Road America this weekend.” The Daly car competes in in the Xfinity series which is, basically, the Class AAA of NASCAR. At the Road America track, in Wisconsin, Conor Daly graciously tweeted: “Lilly Diabetes has been a big part of my career, and I’m very thankful.“ He pointed out, “I’m still here and I’m still racing.”
Dear Lilly: Why would a company as culturally sensitive as yours link with NASCAR in the first place? This is the sport of Duck Commander and Ted Nugent, with a CEO, Brian France , who in a presumably sober moment endorsed Trump for President.
Eagles coach Pederson getting testy over Wentz inquiries
The Philadelphia Eagles are keeping the Atlanta Falcons – and everybody else — guessing about the availability of Carson Wentz for their Week 1 matchup on Thursday night, Sept. 6. Wentz, the Eagles’ No. 1 QB, is recovering from December ACL surgery. Reporters covering the Eagles doubt Wentz will be starting at the start of the season. There’s informed speculation that head coach Doug Pederson will hold him out of the next two games, against presumably weak opponents Tampa Bay and Indianapolis. Pederson has been evasive and prickly when questioned on the subject: “He’s getting evaluated every day. He’s part of the rehab process. He’s getting evaluated at practice, he’s getting evaluated by the medical team, he’s getting treatment, just like Jason Peters is, just like Darren Sproles is. You guys don’t ask me about Jordan Hicks, Chris Maragos. Those guys are in the same boat.”
Dear Coach: Not the same boat. Few of us care about Chris Maragos’ physical condition, but Wentz was likely MVP of the league before he wrecked his knee . And his backup, Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles, has lost his groove in the preseason.
Brady again hangs up on his radio show when a sensitive topic – Alex Guerrero – is broached
Tom Brady is contracted to be interviewed weekly by WEEI Radio in Boston. But Monday morning, for the second time this year, the New England Patriots QB cut an interview short when he did not approve of the questioning. He was prodded about the new policy regarding his personal trainer, Alex Guerrero, who had been exiled by coach Bill Belichick but is now permitted in the team’s locker room and on team flights. “I’m not getting into all that,” Brady said. “Have a great day, I’ll talk to you later.” And he ended the call.
Dear Tom: You made a much publicized attachment to a fitness guru who an official for the FTC called “a glorified snake oil salesman.” Your refusal to defend your friend reflects poorly on both of you.
French Open bans Serena’s all-black attire
The black catsuit that Serena Willlams wore at the French Open – to improve blood circulation — has been banned by the president of the French Federation. This is a sport that formerly required participants to dress in all-white, and some of the traditionalists are slow to open their minds. The Williams attire, Bernard Giudicelli said, “goes too far. One must respect the game and the place.”
Dear M. Giudicelli: You’ve given no legitimate reason for your action. No one is complaining of the suit being indecent. It offends nobody but the very narrow-minded.
