Netflix game snagged 3 million viewers
On the hook for $50M, he’s rooting for UConn
Good morning, all and happy Thursday!
The Netflix foray into MLB started out as a hit, with three million streaming the season-opening game on Mar. 25 between the Yankees and the Giants. The next night’s game between the two-time defending Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks attracted 3.2M viewers on NBC/Peacock. Both games were the highest rated for an MLB season opening game since 2017.
Here are some other thoughts on this first Thursday in April:
The Yankees are off to an impressive 5-1 start and for the most part their pitching has been exemplary. There is no way, however, they can go through the season with Camilo Doval as their setup man and David Bednar as their closer. Both throw too many pitches and neither has a put-away pitch, a must for any pitcher. It would not surprise me, if GM Brian Cashman engineers a big trade for a closer, even if it means giving up one or two of the Yankees top prospects.
The thing about the Yankees is they know, even though Aaron Judge still performs at the top of his game, the clock is ticking, as he turns 34 on April 26. Judge has done it all in his hall-of-fame career except win a World Series. I would be surprised, if the Yankees were not aggressive in attempting to make roster moves this season to help Judge realize that dream, especially with baseball’s uncertain labor situation.
We are getting closer to the Final Four for both the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament and the talk in my neck of the woods is the deal offered by Jordan’s Furniture, a regional outlet based in Massachusetts. The store launched a promotion that if both the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams reached the NCAA championship game, all furniture purchases between Jan. 20 and Mar. 1 would be refunded. Jordan’s is on the hook for $50M, but Eliot Tatelman, the former president of Jordan’s, who recently passed the business down to his sons told the website Front Office Sports: “Of course I want them to win! We buy insurance!”
For the record, here are the officials scheduled for the men’s Final Four in Indianapolis:
The Kansas City Royals have put closer Carlos Estévez on the 15-day IL with a left foot contusion. Here is hoping for a quick recovery for the right hander, who has had a solid career. I have fond memories of Estévez, when he pitched for the New Britain Rock Cats in 2015, then the Colorado Rockies AA affiliate. During a road trip to Binghamton, NY, we took a voluntary day trip to the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and Carlos was among the Rock Cats players who decided to make the journey. While in the hall’s Plaque Gallery, Estévez was taking pictures of each plaque with his iPad. When I asked him why he was doing that, he said, “I want to learn about each player. I hope to be on that wall someday.” Get better, Carlos, so you can continue on your hall of fame journey.
Sometimes I just do not understand the MLB schedule makers. It has always been special, when New York teams play at San Francisco, for obvious reasons. After this weekend both New York teams are done playing in San Francisco for the season. Done! Finished! The Yankees launched the season at San Francisco, the Giants went to San Diego to play three and now return home to host the Mets for four games. San Francisco will play one series at New York vs. the Mets but the New York teams will be done in San Francisco after April 5. I don’t get it.
Just a quick note. My broadcast season for the Hartford Yard Goats begins tonight, so I might not have the time to produce a newsletter over the next few days. I will try to squeeze one in before Easter, but if not, Happy Easter and thank you for your understanding.
That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Have a terrific Thursday and thank you for being a subscriber!
DAN