Good morning, all and happy Saturday!
The injury to Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is a wake-up call that plays right into the hands of owners. I explain why in the video/commentary. My apologies for the video cutting off part of my head.
Remembering D-Day
Eighty-two years ago today, Allied Expeditionary forces landed on the beaches of Normandy. Eleven months later Nazi Germany surrendered. 4,414 Allied soldiers died in the invasion. Thousands more were wounded.
Not many MLB players were involved in the initial invasion, but one famous player was: Yogi Berra. He was a 19-year-old Navy Gunner’s Mate, part of a six-man crew on a 36-foot Navy rocket boat better known as a LCS (Landing Craft Support boat). Berra and his crew were under heavy enemy fire. During his service in World War II, Berra earned a Purple Heart, a Distinguished Unit Citation, two battle stars and a European Theatre of Operations ribbon.
The Bears a step closer to leaving Chicago and Illinois
It would seem all but a given the Chicago Bears are going to pull up stakes and not only leave Chicago but the entire state of Illinois for greener pastures in next door Indiana. The team’s board of directors voted Thursday to proceed with plans for a stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana. I’m guessing if the Bears depart Illinois, that great Chicago Bears fan, Abe Lincoln, will be rolling over in his grave.
Here are some other thoughts on this first Saturday in June:
The Stanley Cup Final has the elements of being a classic, following Carolina’s overtime, 4-3 win over Vegas on Thursday night. Game three is tonight in Las Vegas. The series is tied, 1-1.
The third leg of thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, the Belmont, is at Saratoga today. The Belmont track in New York is still undergoing a massive renovation. There used to be a time when I got into horse racing but these days I do not even pay attention. If you are watching the race, enjoy and I hope your horse wins.
A subscriber to this newsletter from the San Francisco area tells me the chatter in those parts has fans discussing a Rafael Devers-to-Yankees trade. Now that would add some spice to “the Greatest Rivalry in Sports.”
Since I wrote the SF Giants are in need of massive changes, they have scored 30 runs in their last two games, beating Milwaukee on Thursday, 12-9, and clobbering the Cubs yesterday, 18-3. They are still 12 games under .500 (26-38).
And what of the Cubs, who lost yet again? They fall to 33-31. Once in first place in the NL Central, they keep alternating in the cellar with the Cincinnati Reds. It is not a stretch to say highly-paid manager Craig Counsell, in the third year of a $40M contract, is on the hot seat. It would not surprise me if Counsell was shown the door, if the Cubs swoon continues.
That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Have a sensational weekend and thank you for being a subscriber!
DAN
