The New York Yankees are once again spinning their wheels. Baseball’s signature franchise has not won a World Series since 2009 and only one this century, if you are among those who count the 21st Century as starting in 2001. The franchise which used to change managers the way people change clothes, is now hesitant to make a change, when one is needed. I know they beat the Rays, 2-0, yesterday on the Aaron Judge walk-off homer and good for them. Including yesterday, however, the team has scored five runs in their last four games. That is not going to cut it. And they are still six down in the loss column to the Rays. I break it down in the video/commentary.

Never forget

In 2018 I made a trip I will remember forever, visiting Omaha Beach in Normandy. It was a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made to preserve our freedom. Never forget.

Other notes:

• Wyndham Clark certainly made a statement winning the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

• Wow! Closest finish ever in the Indianapolis 500.

• Mets swept by Marlins. How does Mendoza last as manager?

• There used to be a time, when opposing teams feared going into Fenway Park. Now they welcome it. The Twins just completed a three-game sweep against the Red Sox this weekend in Boston, their first sweep there since 1994. The Red Sox have played eight series at home this season and lost seven of them. SEVEN! There is a reason for that “interim” tag in front of manager Chad Tracy’s title. The question is will there be an “interim” tag in front of the replacement for baseball boss Craig Breslow, because it is not working out in Beantown.

• Make that eight straight losses for the Cubs. They are crashing faster than the 1929 stock market.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for being a subscriber!

DAN

The critics are out there saying the New York Giants made the wrong move giving GM Joe Schoen a contract extension. I disagree and explain why in my video/podcast commentary.

Here are some other thoughts on this Saturday of Memorial Day weekend:

• I love these so called influencers. One of them, a huge NY Mets cheerleader, is out there posting on social media, “The Mets should contact the Astros about catcher Christian Vasquez.” With injuries, the Mets have catching issues. My question to the influencer would be, “How do you know the Mets haven’t contacted the Astros about Vasquez?” If you have been around baseball executives - and I have - they are wedded to their phones. They are almost always on them. “The Mets should?” I guarantee you the Mets already have.

• The 2026 Yankees are right up there with the 1967 Yankees of Jake Gibbs, Dooley Womack, Horace Clarke, Dick Howser, John Kennedy, Steve Whitaker, Charley Smith and, of course, Mickey Mantle, Elston Howard, Tom Tresh and Joe Pepitone. #OTD in 1967, just as they are now, they were seven down in the loss column to the first place team. Those Yankees crashed and burned. These Yankees are hitting about the same as that crew. Their only savior? They now play under a contrived system where even a club as bad as the Red Sox are still in the thick of the playoff race. What a game!

• So how is my World Series pick of the Cubs vs. Tigers looking?

• If Jacob deGrom, with a 99-68 2.58 ERA lifetime record is a Hall of Fame candidate, as many suggest, then Ron Guidry, with a 170-91 3.29 ERA lifetime record belongs. BTW, deGrom’s winning percentage is .592, while Guidry finished with a .651 winning percentage.

• I would say Mike Elias, the head of the Baltimore Orioles baseball operations, is in big trouble. He was hired in 2019 to turn around this once glorious franchise. After early success - the Birds made the playoffs twice and won the AL East twice - the team has been a flop. His firing of manager Brandon Hyde a year ago failed to spark the franchise, and they are currently in last place under new manager Craig Albernaz. At some point it comes down to the head honcho and that’s Elias, who has failed to bring the magic to Baltimore that he brought to Houston.

• The Chicago Bears have ruled out building a new stadium near Soldier Field. The team announced yesterday that they will build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, IL or northwest Indiana. Stay tuned.

• Which leads me to the governor of New Jersey, who said this week she wants to convince the Brooklyn Nets to move back to New Jersey. The author of the story stated New Jersey currently has only one major league sports team, the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. I could be wrong, but the last time I checked both the NFL’s Giants and Jets were based in New Jersey. Just sayin.’

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Please don’t wish someone a happy Memorial Day. It is a day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our country. Never forget. Thank you for reading and being a subscriber.

DAN

The NFL is not backing off on putting more games on streaming platforms. There is a way the move can be countered. I explain how in the video and audio podcast.

Here is some of what I miss in sports:

• I miss managers bringing up the lineup cards to home plate before the game

• I miss organ-only music at baseball games

• I miss uncluttered TV screens, while watching sporting events

• I miss Pat Summerall and John Madden

• I miss the NFL Giants being a given on Sunday afternoon TV

• I miss the NBA season ending by Memorial Day

• I miss Tiger Woods being in the center of the action

• I definitely miss $4.50 box seats and 50 cent hot dogs

• I miss Phil Rizzuto, Bill White and Frank Messer calling Yankees games

• I miss Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner calling Mets games

• I miss Kiner’s Korner

• I miss Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek on the NBC Game of the Week

• I miss tuning to 1090 WBAL and listening to Chuck Thompson and Bill O’Donnell calling Orioles baseball

• I miss tuning to KDKA late at night and hearing Bob Prince calling Pirates games

• I miss Eddie Layton playing the organ at the old Yankee Stadium

• I miss Jane Jarvis playing the organ at Shea Stadium

• I miss the 10-team American League and the 10-team National League

• I miss afternoon World Series games

• I miss Harry Carey

• I miss the Super Bowl on Sunday afternoon

• I miss Jack Whitaker’s golf commentaries

• I miss iconic public address announcers like Bob Sheppard, Sherm Feller, Rex Barney - “Give that fan a contract” - and John Condon

• I miss reading Red Smith, Dick Young, Bill Lee, Owen Canfield and Art McGinley

• I miss the Hartford Whalers

• I miss the morning newspapers, the fresh smell of them and the box scores on the sports page

I know things change and nobody is more on board with progress and new tech than I am. How else could I have published this newsletter! But that doesn’t mean I can’t miss things too.

Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter and have a terrific day!

DAN

Kudos to Chris Sale, the Atlanta Braves pitcher and 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner. I explain why this former Red Sox and White Sox pitcher deserves applause, in the video and audio podcast.

Here are some other thoughts on this Tuesday before Memorial Day:

• Among my 2026 predictions was a New York Knicks-Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Final. We are a step closer, as the Eastern Conference finals open tonight between the Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. OKC, defending champions, played Game 1 of the Western Conference finals last night against San Antonio.

• By the way, the NBA regular season has become so tedious, this is usually about the time I start paying attention to a league I used to follow religiously, from the first game of the regular season right through the finals. Things change, I guess.

• The Yankees are memorializing the late John Sterling with a patch they will wear on their uniform sleeve for the remainder of the season. The iconic broadcaster, who retired after the 2024 season, died on May 4, two months shy of his 88th birthday.

• I’m guessing the World Cup is a big deal, no? My neighbor, a native of Bosnia, already has his supersized TV aligned with his patio and swimming pool. I told him I’ll bring the refreshments.

• AI can be good and it can put people out of work. Let’s just say, if I am a sports designer, I am very concerned right now. Some of the art being generated by AI is off the charts. The website Front Office Sports ran an AI-generated piece of Caitlin Clark that was remarkable, and it has sports designers very concerned.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Have a terrific Tuesday and thank you for being a subscriber!

DAN

It is a busy week in sports coming up. So why is the NFL the dominant subject? I break it down in the above video/podcast.

Here’s my five cents worth on some other subjects:

• The Athletic has a superb story about the splitter, the pitch of the 1980s that is making a comeback. The piece - behind a paywall - also explains why very few left handed pitchers throw the splitter. I can speak from first hand experience that more pitchers in the minor leagues are now throwing the splitter. Who can blame them? It is a nasty pitch that baffles the hitter, as the pitch dives at the last instant, just as it reaches the plate.

• The Preakness Stakes will be this Saturday, and as previously announced, Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not compete. There has been talk the Preakness should be held three weeks after the Derby and not two. This is a good idea. More and more, Kentucky Derby winners are not racing in the Preakness because it is so soon after the Derby. I’m in favor of a three-week interval to increase the chances of having a Triple Crown winner. Here’s hoping it happens.

• There was always the prevailing thought one of the reasons Joe Girardi was let go as Yankees manager after the 2017 season, was he looked as if he was about to have a root canal, when dealing with the media. That is a no-no in media-centric New York. So why is he so good as an analyst on Yankees telecasts? It amazes me the number of athletes, managers, etc. - Yes, Michael Strahan, I’m looking at you too - who want nothing to do with the media, until they come over to the other side and collect big money as members of the media. It’s the world in which we live, I guess.

• It would not surprise me if the New York Yankees engineer a trade for a closer and a catcher. David Begnar is not the answer, when the game is on the line, and defensively, catcher Austin Wells is suspect, while his offense has disappeared faster than someone avoiding a bill collector.

• It’s not hyperbole to say this week’s four-game series in Los Angeles between the rival Giants and Dodgers is huge for San Francisco. If the Dodgers sweep or take three-of-four, the Giants could blow the entire thing up early and start trading away what stars they have. Stay tuned.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. I have a week of baseball broadcasts coming up, so I may not be as consistant with the newsletter this week. I will try to pump out as much content as time permits. Thank you for your understanding and for being a subscriber!

DAN

We have become used to walk-up songs for baseball players, whether you are talking at major league or minor league games. When did this practice start? I give my guess in the video/podcast. Here is the link to that May 8, 1966 game:

Here’s my five cents worth - remember pennies are going away - on some other topics:

• You knew it was going to happen. The powers-that-be have rendered their decision and to no one’s surprise they are expanding the field for March Madness for the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, starting this upcoming season. Why? Well, as we speculated, it’s money, namely $50 million. Cha-Ching!

• The hits keep coming for the floundering Red Sox. Roman Anthony, built up as the second Ted Williams by the fawning Boston sports media, is going on the IL with a wrist injury. Anthony is off to a horrible start, just like his team, who lost the first game of an important four-game series at Fenway last night, 8-4, to the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays.

• Poor Jasson Dominguez of the Yankees, who seemed to be hitting his stride. He was placed on the IL yesterday with a sprained shoulder, after slamming into the fence in left field at Yankee Stadium, making a spectacular catch. He had to be carted off the field. Manager Aaron Boone admitted Dominguez could be on the IL for a while

• This is why I always say things will work out. Yankees fans have been screaming for left hand hitting power hitter Spencer Jones to be called up. Now they will get their wish. Jones was promoted to the big team yesterday. He is a left hand hitting Aaron Judge, who Jones told me, when he played against the Hartford Yard Goats the last two seasons, has had a big influence on him, during spring training.

• Making schedules is not the easiest thing in the world, even with computers. That stated, could someone please tell me how MLB could permit a schedule that has both the Yankees and Mets on the road, during a May weekend? Neither New York club is home this Mother’s Day weekend. The Yankees are at Milwaukee and the Mets at Arizona. That makes no sense.

• I’m beginning to think Mike Vrabel might not be the coach of the New England Patriots, come the kick-off to the 2026 NFL season.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for subscribing and enjoy your Friday!

DAN

This might be the weirdest I have ever seen the MLB standings at this stage of the season. I explain in the video/podcast and also look into the possibility the Yankees might entertain trade talk for Anthony Volpe.

Here are some other thoughts on this first Thursday in May:

• Current New York Yankees fans believe their favorite team always plays in the postseason, in a clean, beautiful stadium and never has a losing record. Such was not the case on this date sixty years ago. The once, proud Yankees, whose home games were being played in a dilapidated Yankee Stadium, fired manager Johnny Keane on May 7, 1966 and replaced him with GM Ralph Houk, who had managed the Yankees to three straight pennants and two World Series championships from 1961-63. The night before, New York lost to the California Angels, 7-4, tumbling into last place with a 4-16 record. The once mighty Yankees had become baseball’s laughingstock. When the Yankees won that night’s game, Cardinals announcer Harry Caray turned to his partner Jack Buck and stated: “The Yankees won today,” to which the witty Buck replied, “Break up the Yankees!”

• Ratings for the NBA and NHL playoffs are up. In some cases they are way up. Could it be the lousy weather in the northeast and midwest has kept people inside? Could it be the country’s appetite for live programming? Could it be the gambling now permitted on these sports? Who cares? The ratings are up. Period. What we can learn from this, however, is other than diehard fans, people start paying attention to sports - other than the NFL - when the playoffs start. The games are intense, there is no tanking and everything is on the line. We have become a nation where the regular season is relegated to second tier status.

• Disney, the parent company of ESPN, states it has not moved to engage the NFL in reopening negotiations for a new TV contract. Even though its current deals with the TV networks do not expire until later in the decade, the NFL believes its product has become so popular it undersold the rights to its last contract and wants to renegotiate. Disney is claiming, despite increased revenue for ESPN, its sports profits have slipped. Remember, when the NFL succeeds in getting the networks to pony up more money, and it will, those costs will be passed along to us.

• Do not look now, but in beating the AL champion Toronto Blue Jays yesterday, 3-0, the Tampa Bay Rays completed their fifth series sweep of the young season and improved to 24-12. They play the Red Sox tonight in the start of a four-game series at Fenway Park.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. As always, thank you so much for being a subscriber!

DAN

The floundering New York Mets made it be known yesterday Carlos Mendoza is their manager, like it or not. Without saying so directly, the Mets essentially admitted the problems of their sub .500 team go well beyond the manager.

When Mendoza and the Mets got on the plane to Anaheim on Thursday, following yet another series loss, this time to the Washington Nationals, it got me to thinking what happened to the manager of another New York team 60 years ago, almost to the day. In 1966, the last place New York Yankees were heading to Anaheim and like the Mets were visiting the Angels. Their manager, Johnny Keane, who two years earlier had managed the St. Louis Cardinals to a seven-game World Series win over the storied Yankees, was also sitting in the lead seat. But things changed. I detail it in the above video and audio commentary.

Here are some other Saturday thoughts:

• The Philadelphia 76ers have entered 18 previous Game Sevens, after trailing in a series 3-1, and lost all of them. Trailing the Boston Celtics, 3-1, in this year’s NBA first round playoff series, the Sixers have rallied to win the last two games, setting up today’s Game 7 in Boston. The Celtics are stellar in seventh games, although they did lose a seventh game to Miami three years ago. Boston is a 7.5 point favorite and if they make their three-point shots, they will advance to play the New York Knicks in the second round. That said, watch out for Philly’s Joel Embiid.

• Do not underestimate Amazon’s latest move, securing three Duke basketball games next season for its PRIME sports package. I guarantee you the all sports networks didn’t underestimate this latest sports move by Amazon.

• Enjoy the Kentucky Derby today. The weather looks to be perfect for the race.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for being a subscriber! It means so much!

DAN

The baseball universe is still trying to process the firing of Alex Cora as Red Sox manager, along with five of his coaches. With several other big league clubs floundering, will one of them reach out to hire Cora? I explore it all in the video and audio commentary.

Here are some other thoughts on what could be a manic Monday in the baseball universe:

• If Carlos Mendoza is still the Mets manager on Tuesday, when the Mets host the Washington Nationals, I will be surprised. It may not be Mendoza’s fault, but the manager always takes the fall. Just ask Alex Cora.

• With today an off day for the Mets, expect changes. There is no way owner Steve Cohen will allow the status quo. The Mets were just embarrassed by the Rockies this weekend, swept a three-game series, including dropping a doubleheader yesterday, at a near-empty Citi Field. The boos reverberated throughout the ballpark, as the Mets managed just one run in two games. Cohen cannot permit this to continue. I would not be surprised, if David Stearns, president of the Mets baseball operations, also is put on notice by his boss. Heck, he might also get fired.

• There could be several scenarios here. Maybe Mendoza stays and Stearns is shown the door. Maybe both go. But I do not see both of them still on the job come Tuesday.

• There have been rumblings that Carlos Beltran will replace Mendoza. Perhaps. Remember, the Mets hired him as manager, only to cut him loose, when he was connected to the cheating scandal in Houston. But I do not see the Mets going to someone who has never managed before, as their next manager, even though Beltran will be inducted in the Hall of Fame this summer.

• Enter Cora. I would be surprised if Cora is named Mets manager on Tuesday. My guess is he is still trying to process Saturday’s events. If the Mets ax Mendoza, perhaps they name an interim, while Cohen works out a deal with Cora. I do not see Mendoza lasting much longer. Watching his postgame news conference, after the doubleheader sweep yesterday, was revealing. His body language spoke volumes. Expect a change.

• I get the idea, watching Juan Soto in his postgame news conference, that he wishes he was crosstown with that other baseball team. Just sayin.’

• Some other numbers on which to chew. The Mets have lost 15 of 17 games, been shutout five times, including the second game of yesterday’s doubleheader, and have scored two runs or less in 14 of their 28 games.

• As of this writing, the Mets have the second highest payroll in baseball and the Phillies the fourth highest. They have the worst records in baseball at 9-19, tied for last place in the NL Eastern Division, 10.5 games behind Atlanta. Change is coming.

• By the way, give credit to the Rockies. This club has turned it around and I am not surprised. I saw a lot of these players, when they were with the Hartford Yard Goats. That Chase Dollander had the Mets eating out of his hands yesterday is not a shock. The guy can pitch. That Zach Agnos slammed the door in the ninth is also not a surprise. He has that closer’s mentality. Colorado is an improved club.

• These Red Sox players, who are peeved that Alex Cora was fired and shocked at the timing of his dismissal? And some of them upset that ownership didn’t consult them first? Get real.

• While Citi Field was more than half empty for the Mets Sunday doubleheader, Yankee Stadium was going Bananas over a certain NFL QB:

• Yankees fans have their issues with manager Aaron Boone, but I have always found him to be a class act. Yesterday, without revealing what was talked about, Boone admitted he had a long conversation in the morning with Cora. Despite being rivals on the ball field, the two have remained close friends, dating back to when they both worked as broadcasters for ESPN.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. By the time you read this, perhaps the Mets have a new manager. Thank you for subscribing!

DAN

After examining the first round of the NFL draft, we are once again reminded how championships are won in the trenches. I offer a perspective in the video and audio podcast.

Here is my nickel’s worth on some other sports items:

• If the Red Sox do not turn it around this weekend in Baltimore and next week in Toronto, things are going to get awfully interesting in Beantown.

• Off the Philadelphia Eagles drafting of WR Makai Lemon in the first round, I would be surprised if A.J. Brown does not become a New England Patriot.

• If the Knicks get ousted in the first round of the NBA playoffs - and they are down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks - how many fans are going to be wondering what might have been had Tom Thibodeau remained as coach? Remember, Knicks fans were told Thibodeau was ousted in favor of Mike Brown, because Brown was the coach who would take the Knicks “to the next level.”

• 320,000 people attended the first round of the NFL draft in Pittsburgh. That was a record, once again reminding us why the NFL is the most popular sports league in the world - 320,000 people not for a game but for an event connected to the NFL. Amazing!

• I could be wrong, but if things go south for Mike Vrabel, do not be surprised if Matt Patricia is the next coach of the New England Patriots. The Pats former DC and OC, as well as the former head coach of the Detroit Lions, has undergone a revival as DC at Ohio State. Just look at the number of defensive players from Ohio State who have been drafted in the first two rounds.

• You have to love the ESPN scroll, during the draft. When it was time for the New York Giants second round pick, the scroll reminded us among the “key departures” for the Giants in 2025 was coach Brian Daboll. He “departed” all right. Daboll was fired!

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for being a subscriber and have a wonderful weekend!

DAN

The experts say the field in this year’s NFL draft is not the quality that will be highlighting the 2027 draft. Whatever. In the above video and podcast commentary, I explain why this draft still has my attention.

Here’s my nickels worth on some other sports topics:

• I have refrained, other than a passing mention in the newsletter, of commenting on the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini story, but the latest developments are not a good look to say the least. The New York Post has now published photos showing Vrabel and Russini getting cozy, while enjoying drinks together at a New York bar. This was in March of 2020, when Vrabel was still coaching the Tennessee Titans. Three days later Russini had the scoop that the Titans were not interested in free agent QB Tom Brady. At the time those pictures were taken, Russini was not married and Vrabel was. That is not the point. From where I sit, what people do is their own business. But when pictures show a reporter - at the time Russini was covering the NFL for ESPN - and head coach of an NFL team, kissing and getting cozy in public, while having drinks at a bar, and a few days later said reporter has the scoop over other media outlets, it is not a good look. Period. We can talk about double standards, how male reporters are buying off certain sources to get scoops and clicks on the internet, etc. Although those are all topics worthy of discussion, the bottom line is photos of a reporter covering the NFL, seen being kissed by a head coach of an NFL team in public, six years before the same reporter was seen with the same coach, sitting in a hot tub, is tough to defend, no matter how you slice it. It is not a good look for the reporter, for journalism nor for the head coach. Russini resigned from The Athletic when the hot tub photos emerged, or she was going to face the inevitable - that her contract was not going be renewed. It is only fair to ask if Vrabel is about to lose his job too.

• If you don’t think Vrabel might be facing some heat about his job status, even though he led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in his first year as coach, then maybe the name of former New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway will ring a bell.

• WOW! Watching the start of the NFL draft from Pittsburgh last night and the thousands in attendance is really astounding. The NFL does own the sports world.

• So the Yankees go up to Boston and sweep the Red Sox a three-game series, winning by scores of 4-0, 4-1, 4-2. I do not want to take anything away from the Bronx Bombers, who took care of business. Their pitching, particularly the starting pitching, is much improved. That said, this is the weakest Red Sox lineup I can recall in a long time. Maybe the Bosox turn it around, but without a big bopper in the lineup, I do not see how. It is why I picked them not to make the playoffs this season.

• Talk all you want about the financial woes of LIV Golf, but it was the PGA Tour that announced yesterday that it was laying off 56 employees or four percent of its workforce. The Tour’s new CEO Brian Rolapp has a town hall planned next month to explain the layoffs. In the meantime, it does not take a financial wizard to reach the conclusion the PGA Tour has been hurt by the numerous big names who left for LIV Golf and how it has impacted the sport here in the U.S.

• Momentum is growing to expand the college football playoffs from 12 to 16 or even 24 teams. Count on it happening. There is too much money to be made.

  That is going to do it for today newsletter. Thank you for being a subscriber and have a fabulous Friday!

  DAN

The NFL draft launches tonight with the first round starting at 8:00 ET. ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN Deportes and the NFL Network will all carry the event. Coverage of the draft has grown from a cottage industry to must-see television, while serving as an economic boom for the host city. I break it all down in the video and audio podcast, as well as remember what the draft once was.

A couple of other draft notes:

• The second and third rounds of the draft will be held Friday, April 24, starting at 7 p.m. ET.

• Rounds 4-7 of the draft will be Saturday, April 25, starting at noon ET.

Royals announce new stadium plans

I am old enough to remember when the Kansas City Royals played at Municipal Stadium in downtown Kansas City, then opened their brand new Royals Stadium in 1973. Watching a game on TV from Kansas City always brought the “Wow” factor for me, such as: “Wow, what a sparkling new stadium,” “Wow, look how clean everything looks,” “Wow look how pristine the artificial surface is.”

Royals Stadium is now Kauffman Stadium, named after the late owner of the franchise, Ewing Kauffman. And the stadium is no longer new, although it looks pretty nice to me, whenever I watch a Royals game.

Nice no longer matters. These days, it’s how can a MLB club maximize revenue? If it means a new ballpark with more luxury boxes, then build a new ballpark. After months of stories that next door state Kansas was trying to lure the Royals with a new stadium, the way they attracted the Kansas City Chiefs, the team announced yesterday they are staying put, but building a new stadium just southeast of downtown KC.

The stadium will be designed along the lines of Dodger Stadium, according to officials, in that fans will enter the park through the upper deck, then look down on the stadium, with “striking” views of the city skyline. The location will be on the site of Hallmark Cards, which will be working with the club on the project. Coincidentally the location is also near the old Municipal Stadium site, which was home to the Kansas City Athletics, before the expansion Royals played there, while the new Royals Stadium was being constructed in the city outskirts.

Again, what is wrong with the “old” ballpark?

To repeat, it is all about maximizing revenue, which is why I wonder…

How much longer can the Red Sox call Fenway Park home?

Ownership has done a superb job of renovating MLB’s oldest ballpark, but one has to ask have the Red Sox become prisoners of their own historic venue?

At what point does reality intersect with nostalgia and the Red Sox make the inevitable decision to build a new ballpark? My guess is not in my lifetime, especially since ownership announced last season plans to build a 250,000-square-foot complex across from the Green Monster on Landsdowne St. to house team headquarters and retail. That doesn’t sound like an organization that has designs on a new ballpark in my lifetime.

But while others build new, it leaves one to wonder how much money the Red Sox are leaving on the table? I suspect, with the Royals the latest team to get new digs and the Athletics new Vegas ballpark slated to open in 2028, others will be asking the same question.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Enjoy the draft and as always, thank you for subscribing and have a terrific day!

DAN

The New York Mets are a mess, even if they won last night’s game against the Minnesota Twins. I am not surprised, as I explain in the above commentary.

Here is my nickel’s worth on some other thoughts:

• I could be wrong, but I think the NFL draft, starting tomorrow, will have ratings going through the roof, even though the talent pool is not as strong as what next year’s is projected to be.

• Illinois lawmakers are racing faster than those who ran in Monday’s Boston Marathon, with a $5B stadium plan to keep the Chicago Bears from moving to northwest Indiana. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

• Word is the PGA Tour is ending its Hawaii swing. For years the tour would open a new year by playing two tournaments in Hawaii but no more, according to Sports Business Journal. Word is The Sentry tournament is ending and The Sony Open will switch to the Champions Tour. Remember, the only constant in life is change.

• Billy Donovan is leaving as coach of the Chicago Bulls. The NBA team had wiped out the front office, but wanted Donovan to stay. He decided, after six years as Chicago coach, it was time to move on. It will be interesting to see, where Donovan lands. It was rumored that he would resign and become the next coach at the University of North Carolina, but that position has already been filled. Fear not. We have not heard the last of Billy Donovan as a coach.

• Yankees-Red Sox on a Tuesday night at Fenway with temperatures in the 40s does not excite me. You?

• So Churchill Hills Downs, Inc., owner of the Kentucky Derby, has just bought the second leg of racing’s Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. We live in a different world.

• Mike Tomlin on Sunday Night Football? Let’s just say he would not be the first coach to diss the media, only to join the media, once his ties were severed from the rough-and-tumble world of the NFL.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

DAN

Jackie Robinson Day is always a special day throughout baseball and the Hartford Yard Goats, AA-affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, make it extra special. For example, in 2025, the Yard Goats invited Jackie Robinson’s grandson to the game. This season, the Goats did it again, welcoming Mo’ne Davis to throw out the first pitch and speak to the crowd, before the game with the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

Davis set the sports world ablaze at the 2014 Little League World Series, when she became the first female to win a LLWS game, pitching a shutout and gaining international attention. As one of the Yard Goats broadcasters, I had the chance to interview Mo’ne before the game, which you can access above.

Making the evening more exciting was the fact, Mo’ne’s catcher in the LLWS game was Scott Bandura, who now plays for the Flying Squirrels, the Giants AA affiliate. Mo’ne threw out the first pitch to Bandura, whose dad coached that LL team and was also in attendance. Trey Wilson, the “Voice of the Flying Squirrels,” did a great job of capturing the moment and juxtaposing the pictures on social media with the two, when they were LLWS teammates. The post has already received tens-of-thousands of views on X. Here it is:

All in all, it was a special night and Mo’ne, who spoke glowingly of Jackie Robinson in our interview, served as an inspiration to all of us.

As always, thank you for subscribing to the newsletter and I hope you enjoy the interview, as much as I enjoyed doing it.

DAN

The push is on by the NFL to launch a Wednesday night football broadcast. Why? I break it down in the video/podcast and why WNF and an 18-game regular season go hand-in-hand.

Azzi Fudd first pick

UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd was the first pick in last night’s WNBA draft, chosen by the Dallas Wings. It marks the second straight year Dallas has used the number one overall selection to draft a UConn player. Last year the Huskies drafted Paige Bueckers first.

Rooting for Dickie V

Dick Vitale has been an inspiration for millions, not the least of which is because he has been an open book. In recent years, the 86-year-old Vitale has battled cancer. Yesterday he released the results of his latest pet scan and how he is in another cancer-battle. ESPN also added a social media post on X.

Here is hoping for nothing but the best for this true sports icon.

You are not seeing things

Here is Garrett Crochet’s pitching line for the Red Sox in last night’s game at Minnesota:

Crochet threw 55 pitches, as the Twins essentially took batting practice against him.

How often do you see this?

The top four active home run leaders in MLB were in last night’s Yankees-Angels game at Yankee Stadium:

Clicks…clicks…clicks

We live in a media world of clicks and no more proof of this are the numerous social media posts about MLB. It’s not just the fans, either. Supposed reputable sites like The Athletic are going into a deep dive about what is wrong with New York’s MLB teams.

Chill, please. It is not even mid-May. After Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay, which completed a three-game sweep of the Yankees, New York had lost five straight after an 8-2 start. Reading these stories, you have thought it was the end of the world.

Can you imagine if social media was around in 1961? The ‘61 Yankees, reputed to be one of the best teams in MLB history, started out 17-15-1. Imagine the outrage with a team just two games above .500 20 percent through the season?

The Yankees finished 109-53-1 and beat the Cincinnati Reds in five games to capture the World Series.

The point is, quit dividing the season into 162 World Series games. A baseball season has its ups-and-downs and clubs that can identify the rhythms of a season, while pinpointing how to address a team’s particular weaknesses, will win out in the long run. In other words, ignore the click bait.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. With a busy schedule coming up with Hartford Yard Goats broadcasts, I will not be as consistent with the newsletters this week. Thank you for your understanding and support.

DAN

Two-and-a-half weeks into the 2026 MLB season and already some fans are in a panic. Now is a good time - as I state in the video/podcast - to remind the baseball faithful that with a 162-game season, it is a marathon not a sprint.

“Moving Day” lives up to expectations

There is a reason they call the third round at the Masters “moving day.” That is when scores can move in a nano second. Such was the case yesterday, when defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy blew a six-stroke lead, the largest ever in Masters history entering the third round. At one point McIlroy fell behind by one stroke but by the time the sun set at Augusta National, he was tied for the lead with the hottest golfer anywhere, Cameron Young. Both will enter today’s final round tied for the lead at 11-under-par.

It should be quite a finish, with several golfers within shouting distance, including one of my picks, two-time Masters winner Scottie Scheffler. The world’s number one golfer rejoined the conversation with a seven-under-par 65. At seven-under for the tournament, he is four strokes off the lead.

The leaderboard is populated with several big name golfers, including Justin Rose, former Masters winner Patrick Reed, former U.S. Open and PGA Tournament winner Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka. Today’s final round should be fun to watch.

By the way, in case you are wondering, when you factor in endorsements, etc. here are golf’s recent top money earners over the last year:

FDR was a big baseball fan

On this date in 1945, as World War II was nearing an end, the world was shocked, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, GA. Roosevelt was a big baseball fan, who was known to run World Series pools out of the White House. He also loved throwing out the first pitch at Washington Senators games.

No investigation is going to stop the NFL

The story broke on Friday that the U.S. Justice Department is investigating the NFL’s practice of removing more games from legacy television and offering them to streaming services. Well, the latest word has the NFL yanking five more games from over-the-air television to put together a package for Wednesday nights, Christmas Eve and an additional game on Black Friday. The legacy networks can bid on the package but streamers are the league’s target.

If you think the country’s most popular sports league has tapped out its television revenue, think again. Not even a government investigation can stop the greed that is the NFL.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. As always, thank you for subscribing and have a splendid Sunday!

DAN

Over the last 48 hours a couple of stories, involving Major League Baseball have emerged that is good news for the sport. I break it down in the video and podcast.

Here are some other thoughts on this “turn day” at the Masters:

• No golfer has ever had a six-stroke lead after two rounds of the Masters - let that sink in for just a moment - until now. Defending champion Rory McIlroy enters today’s third round with a six-stroke lead. He is in the catbird seat.

• By the way, only three golfers have defended their Masters tournament victories: Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

• How great is it to watch a sporting event and not see one spectator, excuse me, patron, on their cellphone? If you watch the Masters this weekend checkout the crowd - sorry haughty Masters Pooh-bahs. “Patrons” attending Augusta National cannot have cell phones. Watching those in attendance not holding up their cellphones and actually focusing on the golfers is a throwback to a more innocent time.

• Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut at the Masters. Of course he did. He was among the three golfers I picked to win. Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm were the others.

• To those opposed to the city connect uniforms in MLB, you are entitled to your opinion. My opinion? I like them. Yes, it is all about marketing and creating more revenue for MLB, but what is wrong with that? Besides, the creativity on display with these jersey is awesome. I just wish the New York Yankees would not be a lone hold out. What they should do is start a contest and let the fans design a New York Yankees city connect jersey. I think the contest itself would be a grand slam.

• I hope the New York Giants football players are prepared, because they are in for a training camp the likes they have never experienced. Maybe that is the real reason Dexter Lawrence wants out.

• IMHO, I do not give a rats piece of cheese if a New York Times (The Athletic) reporter is seen hanging out at a hotel pool with an NFL head coach. That said, in this day and age one must assume they are always on camera. Just sayin’.

• If the New York Yankees lose two out of three at Tampa Bay this weekend, expect some lineup changes. We no longer live in an era, when the mantra is “The season is young.” These days the season ceases being young after 10 games.

• Put me on record as rooting for Tony Vitello, the new manager of the San Francisco Giants. You cannot tell me there is a certain element out there that is hoping he fails, simply because he never played, managed or coached in the major leagues until now. Vitello is making headlines because he went from college coaching (Tennessee) directly to managing a major league team. On that premise alone, there is a certain faction rooting against him. Sad! I am rooting for him. I know there are people out there claiming you have to pay your dues, but it’s not as if Vitello was pulled off the streets and hired to manage the Giants. He was plying his trade at the collegiate level and there is nothing wrong with that.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for subscribing and have a sensational Saturday!

DAN

I always liked Kevin Pillar and what he brought to the table as a baseball player, but his take on the fight between the Los Angeles Angels and the Atlanta Braves is way off base, as I explain in this video.

Here are some other thoughts on this second Friday in April:

• MLB released its latest city connect uniforms. What do you think? I like the Orioles, as long as you are asking:

• Dodger Stadium opened on this date in 1962. The defending NL champion Reds beat the Dodgers, 6-3, before 52,564 fans. The game featured five future managers. Eddie Kasko, Cookie Rojas and Frank Robinson were in the Reds lineup, while Maury Wills and Frank Howard played for the Dodgers. Once considered the Taj Mahal of baseball, the stadium is now the third oldest in MLB. Only Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are older. The park recently underwent a half billion dollar renovation to bring it up to 21st Century standards.

• To those who like to disparage the WNBA, as a league that has a minimal fanbase, well everyone is entitled to their opinion. The league, however, is a big deal and all you need do is look at what the cost is to buy a franchise. That is a measuring stick. That said, check the upgrade of the Indiana Fever’s practice digs, beginning with this entrance:

• Cable-TV maybe near life-support, but the NCAA men’s national championship basketball game between Michigan and UConn was the highest rated in seven years. The game was televised on TBS, a cable tv-only outlet.

• The U.S. Justice Department’s investigation of the NFL is an attention grabber, as the government examines whether a shift to streaming is another money grab. My take? It’s a money grab and nothing is going to happen.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. As always, thank you for subscribing and have a fabulous Friday!

DAN

The Masters tees off today. Now you know spring has officially arrived.

In the video I talk about the following:

• The golfers to watch

• Why picking a winner is a challenge

• The Norman-Faldo feud has returned

Here are some other thoughts on this second Thursday in April:

• The Masters has a no cell phone policy and they mean it.

• Word is golfer Mark Calcavecchia was kicked off the Augusta National grounds, because he had a cell phone. Rules are rules.

• Scottie Scheffler may be the world’s number one ranked golfer, but he came in third in total earnings last year, behind Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy. Don’t feel sorry for any of them, however, as they each brought in $80M over the last year.

• We brought you Dawn Staley’s statement in yesterday’s newsletter, so in the interest of fair play, Geno Auriemma issued his second statement in the aftermath of last Friday night’s fiasco, and this time he mentioned Dawn by name:

• The NCAA men’s basketball national championship game between Michigan and UConn brought in 14.2M viewers, according to reports.

• Best of luck to my Richmond, VA compadres in the opening of their brand new ballpark, CarMax Park. The new digs for the Eastern League’s Richmond Flying Squirrels opened on Tuesday night, in front of a sellout crowd. Altoona furnished the opposition:

• And speaking of the Eastern League, how about the Portland Sea Dogs opener against New Hampshire on Tuesday night? New Hampshire, Toronto’s AA affiliate, scored eight runs without benefit of a hit with two outs, as part of a 10-run inning against the Red Sox affiliate. Walks and wild pitches were the culprits in the inning of all innings.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. As always, thank you for subscribing and have a terrific Thursday!

DAN

Michigan is the national champion in men’s college basketball. How did I do in my bracket? I break it down in the video. Below is the bracket.

Here are some other thoughts on this second Wednesday in April:

• South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley says “It is time to turn the page,” following Geno Auriemma’s dust-up with her in Friday night’s semifinal game against UConn. Below is the statement:

• To be honest, I liked my solution better. Geno needed to invite Dawn up to his Italian restaurant in Manchester, CT. The two could have broken bread, had dinner with some of Geno’s branded wine and then met the media, as they departed from the restaurant. The story would have played much better IMHO.

• Speaking of dinner…The champion’s dinner at the Master’s was last night, hosted by defending champion Rory McIlroy. Word is elk was on the menu. Wonder how this dinner tradition started? Glad you asked. Ben Hogan was the catalyst. Below is the invite letter he sent out for the first dinner:

• Word is more than 2,000 players have entered the transfer portal for college basketball next season. To think, I am old enough to remember when college athletes went to school to get an education.

• Can we stop with the comments about the Big 10 trifecta? Yes, the winners of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball titles and the college football national championship were all from the Big 10 Conference. A qualifier needs to be added, however. The Big 10 now has 18 members, including four former Pac 12 schools. In fact, the winner of the women’s hoop title, UCLA, was a member of the Pac 12.

• UCLA’s dismantling of South Carolina in the women’s national championship game drew almost 10M viewers on ABC. The 9.8M viewers drew a 3.9 rating on Easter Sunday.

• Two weeks into the MLB season and my pick of the Cubs to win the NL Central does not look good. One injury after another is decimating the lineup. The latest player to go down is one of the Cubbies top pitchers, Cade Horton, who finished runner up in last season’s NL Rookie of the Year voting. Horton will miss the season, after suffering damage to his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He will go under the knife soon, but what type of surgery has not been determined. He did have Tommy John surgery in 2021, while a freshman at Oklahoma.

That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for being a subscriber and have a wonderful Wednesday!

DAN