by Paul Semendinger
February 25, 2024
***
On my podcast, the Dr. Sem Yankees Show, I always begin by saying, "Let's make today, a great day!" I encourage the viewers to seek ways to be kind, to give to others, and, when the chips are down, to search for the good because, even in life's worst moments, one can find good.
Sometimes finding the good is extremely challenging.
Last Tuesday, we lost a dear family member suddenly. Our lives have been upended in many ways. Our lives are forever changed. There is a ton of sadness here. It'll take a long time to get past it.
SSTN isn't the place to share my thoughts on faith, and God, and all of that (I have another site for those writings) but I'll say simply, that in my family's time of great sadness, there was an abundance of support, kind words, prayers, and the like that have helped, a lot, and have been very appreciated. In our grief, we saw, clearly, the kindess of others. And, we also felt God's presence and love.
There is good to be found, even when it seems it isn't there - even in life's most trying circumstances.
***
Needless to say, I did not pay much attention to any Yankees news this last week. I made sure that we had our articles posted at the correct times, here on the site, but I didn't spend much time reading the articles, thinking about them, or discussing and debating in the comments.
I'll always make sure that we provide what we promise here at SSTN, and we did, and we will, but my thoughts right now are elsewhere.
***
I love when Spring Training arrives, but I am probably the least interested of anyone in Spring Training as a "thing." It's often the same year-to-year. It's a great time of hope and anticipation, but I take what happens, what is said, and how the players perform with a grain of salt.
I start to care when the regular season comes. Sure, I like Spring Training, but what I like the most about it is that it signifies that the baseball season is coming.
The best thing about Spring Training is that it ends.
***
If I were Jordan Montgomery, Blake Snell, and Cody Bellinger, I would have fired Scott Boras a long time ago.
In the end, regardless of how much money they get, he failed them. Big time. In so many ways.
If I were a player, I'd want to know where I would be playing. I'd want to know who my teammates are. I'd like the off-season to be able to find a place to live with my wife and family. Those players lost all of that. And so much more.
This was a disaster of an off-season for Boras. And his cleints. They failed, big time. On so many ways.
***
I see that Cody Bellinger got just three years and $80 million from the Cubs.
The Yankees should have been all over that.
Many people have told me how wrong I am about Judge playing in center field, but I read (from a comment on SSTN) that Bernie Williams is also concerned. Maybe I don't know anything about playing centerfield for the Yankees, but I suspect Bernie does...
If Judge gets hurt, or wears down, that $80 million (plus the luxury tax penalties) will seem like peanuts compared to the negative impact it'll have on the Yankees.
***
One last thought...
Heading into the 1996 season, Mariano Duncan's lifetime batting average was .262. He then hit .340 for the Yankees that season. That's a 78 point improvement.
Trent Grisham's lifetime batting average is .216. I predict he'll hit .294 this year.
That's my big prediction for 2024. It's based on no logic, no deep statistical analysis, and nothing other than pure hope.
But I'm sticking with it.
***
Stay positive. Tell the people you love that you love them. And cherish each and every day.
Thanks for being parts of my life. I appreciate all of you.
God Bless.
