Except you think about unhealthy climate or an early season damage sizzling stuff, the primary few days of a brand new baseball season not often generate earth shaking materials. It took a chunk of wooden and the Yankees model to alter all that.
Whereas it seems to be coincidental, the “birth” of the torpedo bat passed off final Saturday at Yankee Stadium within the Bronx — solely on YES — with Anthony Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. utilizing mentioned persist with hit two of the Yankees team-record setting 9 homers in a 20-9 rout of Milwaukee.
And throughout the onslaught, it simply so occurred Michael Kay, YES’ play-by-play voice, turned the primary to disclose how the particular bat was created. “They moved a lot of the wood into the label so the harder part of the bat is going to strike the ball,” Kay mentioned on YES.
As issues would prove, this needed to be MLB commissioner Rob Manfred’s dream situation. Through the first week of the season, it was baseball, not another sporting occasion or story that was sucking up all of the media oxygen. And the story was propelled by baseball’s most storied franchise.
Naturally, on social media, they have been instantly leaping to conclusions. Like, this was not a coincidence. The repair was one way or the other in. In spite of everything, it was former Yankees analyst, and MIT physicist, Aaron (Lenny) Leanhardt who had developed a bat that has sufficient wooden, in the proper locations, to show a baseball right into a leaping bean. It certain appeared like one other chapter of The Evil Empire Strikes Once more.
But, upon additional assessment, it was reported by many retailers that gamers — like Alec Bohm (Phillies), Oneil Cruz (Pirates), and Junior Caminero (Rays) — have been additionally utilizing the torpedo bat.
And, in keeping with Kay, his bat revelation was a product of his personal reporting. He was not in cahoots with the Yankees group. Kay mentioned as a lot on the Tuesday version of his 880-AM radio present.
“It was articulated to me [by someone in touch with Yankees suits] that they wondered ‘Why did he say that [about the bat]?’” Kay mentioned on the air. “… I think it would have been noticed at some point. … They would have preferred to have this fly under the radar until the end of April.”
That may have solely delayed the media buzz the torpedo story created. It was all good for MLB. Even ESPN fits, who just lately jettisoned their “Sunday Night Baseball” package deal, had to concentrate to the torpedo bat. “First Take,” which has No Tackle baseball, truly did a phase on the bat.
Sure, there have been various events, by way of media, when a participant transcended the game of baseball, however the story of a bat?
BAD FOR THE BRAND
Is that this “feud” between LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith nonetheless on?
Does anyone care?
But, it’s reached a ridiculous level the place others are leaping on board — like FS1’s Nick Wright. He’s a giant LBJ fan and has been verbally dogging SAS. Wright additionally, at his personal expense, bought two courtside tickets to Lakers-Grizzlies final Saturday night time in Memphis hoping for an “interaction” with King James.
Wright’s want got here true when James stopped by the seats and hugged him after a Lakers win. It in all probability didn’t harm that Wright is represented by Klutch Sports activities, the identical company representing James, based by his buddy Wealthy Paul.
These items his lame. We notice Wright will not be a journalist. He sees nothing unsuitable with fan-boying James. Nonetheless, when “media personalities” or gamers, play main roles in off-court tales, they’re a detriment to the game they play or cowl.
Nets ahead Cam Johnson sees these “side” tales as dangerous to the NBA. He known as the tales “slightly” entertaining.
“But they should never overtake the spotlight of what’s going on with the actual product we are looking at,” Johnson mentioned on the “Young Man and the Three” podcast.
On the media, Johnson mentioned: “Don’t make yourself the story. It could get messy that way.”
Agreed. Sadly, it seems like a few of these twisted cats suppose the messier the story, the higher it’s for his or her model. Unhappy.
PREZ CREDITS PREZ
There’s one other “crisis” President Donald J. Trump can take credit score for settling: The YES-Comcast carriage dispute.
In a latest assertion, Yankees prez Randy Levine talked about Trump “and his administration,” first, in a gaggle of office-holders and politicians who “…Worked tirelessly to urge us to stay at the table and reach a deal.”
How quickly earlier than Levine presents DJT with a pinstriped torpedo bat?
In the meantime, one of many extra aggressive strikes on this carriage dispute was YES CEO Jon Litner commandeering the printed sales space on Sunday throughout Yankees-Brewers in an try to discredit Comcast fits. For sure, Litner went on uninterrupted.
We’ve seen Yankees gamers become involved in carriage disputes earlier than. But none of them acknowledged YES’ case throughout a full sales space/microphone takeover.
EARLY BOOTH REVIEW
It’s too early to judge Suzyn Waldman and Dave Sims, the brand new broadcast group on the Yankees Radio Community.
However right here’s some stuff:
1) Sims leans in the direction of over-informing (not a nasty factor). Sadly, it results in him speaking a lot too quick and being onerous to comply with. He ought to discover a approach to sluggish issues down.
2) Sims doesn’t attempt to dominate the printed, which provides Waldman time to carry her insights to the sport. That was not all the time the case when she labored with John Sterling.
3) Sims says he might be “judicious” along with his “Hey, Now” dwelling run name. He says he will get a “feeling” when it’s applicable to make use of.
LOW WATT-AGE
No expertise? No drawback.
CBS Sports activities mantra is alive and nicely with its latest resolution to maneuver J.J. Watt to its No. 2 NFL broadcast group with Ian (The Fowl) Eagle. Watt has a wealth of game-analyst expertise — one whole sport.
That’s a lot for CBS Sports activities fits. Bear in mind, they employed Tony Romo as their No. 1 NFL sport analyst with no expertise. Watt spent the previous two seasons as a part-time studio analyst on “The NFL Today.” Let’s simply say he didn’t mild up the room.
Watt replaces Charles Davis who has flown with The Fowl since 2020. Davis will change into CBS No. 1 school soccer analyst in 2026 changing Gary Danielson who will retire following the 2025 season. CBS says Davis will nonetheless be part of its NFL protection this season.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: PETER SCHRAGER
His work on NFLN’s “Good Morning Football,” and in Fox’s NFL studio, wasn’t consumed with sizzling takes. And now that he’s headed to ESPN, the place there’s loads of determined “perspective,” Schrager ought to be bringing his extra balanced method.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: A’s
Internet hosting a postgame press convention in a software shed area appears applicable for this cockeyed group. Subsequent, will probably be extolling the virtues of the Sacramento warmth to their “new” fan base.
DOUBLE TALK
What Tom Thibodeau mentioned: “We’re capable of beating anyone. We’re capable of losing to anyone too.”
What Tom Thibodeau meant to say: “We can’t beat Boston, Cleveland or Oklahoma City.”
