Steve Cohen and David Stearns have already attached the “Viewer Beware” sign to the 2024 edition of the Mets. That’s what happens when your strategy is all about lowering expectations.
There is no such “luxury” in the Bronx. Despite the irrational ravings of Gasbags, the Yankee mission statement never changes. For those who pretend to have forgotten (or deny its existence), it’s: World Series or Bust!
Since 2009, “bust” is all this storied franchise, fans and the media covering the team, has known. The mantra is the same this season, which begins March 28 in Houston. But after missing the playoffs in 2023, the first time since 2016, the level of anticipation is even higher.
Will pinstriped eyeballs tune into the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network in record numbers to see if the Bombers can turn things around? Or will viewers bail if the Yankees don’t get off to a fast start turning YES into a must avoid?
Brian Cashman has fortified YES’ product with star power by acquiring a must-see-TV attraction, Juan Soto, to pair with another ratings magnet, captain Aaron Judge. And on the nights he (eventually) pitches, Gerrit Cole brings plenty of hardcore and casual eyeballs to TV sets expecting to see the Cy Young winner do something special.
Unfortunately, reality has a way of showing up to deliver uncertainty.
Cole was diagnosed with nerve inflammation in his elbow and edema (swelling caused by too much fluid trapped in the body’s tissues), speculation mounted that Judge is not 100%, and DJ LeMahieu goes down with a bone bruise. Then there’s health issues that invariably surround Giancarlo Stanton.
If anything, injuries, or just the perception of them, reveal how physically vulnerable the Yankees are.
Yet a negative vibe can’t lower expectations. And Bombers brass is hoping Soto gets off to a lot faster start than he did in San Diego last season. If, for whatever reason, the Yankees start slowly, the seat under Aaron Boone is going to start getting warm. After last season’s failure the Yankees won’t have much wiggle room.
This will create another type storyline and a different type of anticipation.
With so much at stake YES voices won’t be able to ignore any pressure surrounding the Yankees manager or general manager. See, after last season they know how quickly a road, paved with optimism can turn into a dead-end street.
YES BOSS DESERVES HALL CALL
The executive who sets the course for YES’ booth, win or lose, is John J. Filippelli, the regional sports network’s president of programming and production.
Last week, Filippelli celebrated his 50th anniversary in sports television. Since the sports TV business is pitted with giant potholes surrounded by massive egos, this is an incredible achievement.
Filipelli survived in the unpredictable environment. He thrived too, working for three network sports departments (NBC, Fox, ABC) before joining YES when it started in 2001. His broadcast roots are in producing baseball games, where his accomplishments could fill an entire column.
Yet when we think about a producer/baseball lifer like Filippelli, or guys who ran the show from the director’s chair, like the late legends Harry Coyle and Bill Webb, there is some sadness.
Absent from their accomplishments, is a place in Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Cooperstown’s powers that be, for reasons known only to them, won’t make baseball producers and directors eligible for the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually to a broadcaster for major contributions to baseball.
During the longest of seasons, directors and producers make these contributions on a nightly basis. They construct the stories on live TV.
It’s time for the Hall to recognize them.
NEED GUS ON THE MADNESS
With Fox and Turner Sports, two of the founding members of the new sports streaming initiative (which includes ESPN) set to launch before the end of the year, there’s a move the Foxies should make.
It should be a no-brainer for Fox to lean into Turner next winter and get Gus Johnson assigned to March Madness broadcasts.
If there is one thing Gus should be calling each March, it’s the unpredictable world of college basketball’s postseason tournament.
THE BETS ARE IN
Had a vision the other night.
Rob Manfred was on a Zoom call with his MLB investigative staff, lawyers for the Los Angeles Dodgers and representatives of Shohei Ohtani.
They were discussing how to handle the gambling scandal featuring Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, when — suddenly — commissioner Manfred excuses himself from the discussion.
“Pardon me. I need to finish filling out my March Madness bracket,” Manfred said.
The same vision appears every time we hear a radio Gasbag, in one breath, talk about protecting the “integrity” of the game, and the next, read a commercial hyping parlay betting on some wagering service.
This Ohtani situation won’t stop MLB from partnering with gambling companies. And it won’t stop Gasbags and other “salesmen” from extolling the virtues of betting over your head.
AROUND THE DIAL
On the WFAN show he co-hosts with Sal Licata, Brandon Tierney, who also is the radio analyst for St. John’s basketball, called the NCAA hoops Selection Committee, “A room full of crooks.” That’s rather harsh. Unfortunately, BT provided no evidence to prove the Committee did anything illegal. … Give Michael Kay and his ESPN-98.7 crew (Don La Greca, Pete Rosenberg) credit for not letting the consistent play of the Knicks blind them to the fact that Leon (Sphinx) Rose still won’t speak with the media. … On “X” Howie Rose wrote “the New York media would not stand” for Shohei Ohtani freezing them out. Then how come they allow L. Rose (no relation) to do it? … What a difference a few days makes: During his Angry Dog segment on Wednesday’s “First Take,” Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo ripped the Selection Committee for picking six Mountain West teams for March Madness while only inviting three Big East squads. Yet last Sunday night on his SXM selection show with Steve Torre, Doggie conducted a very cordial interview with committee chairman Charles McClelland and even praised the man for providing quality answers to all his questions — including one about why the Mountain West received more bids than the Big East. … Mike (Sports Pope) Francesa had a creative beef with Big East administrators. On his podcast, The Pope said Bob Hurley Sr. should not have been allowed to sit in such close proximity to the Connecticut bench during the Big East Tournament. Francesa inferred that Hurley Sr. was helping his son Danny coach the National Champion Huskies.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: TOM CREAN
For chiding schools that turned down an NIT bid. The coach, now an ESPN analyst, not only made a good case in under a minute, but delivered his spiel with passion. Among his reasons: Players, who may never play again, get a chance to produce lasting memories by appearing in a few more games.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: MARK DONOVAN
Is there a wealthier, or more successful, NFL franchise these days than the one in Kansas City? What a joke for Donovan, the Chiefs president, to float the notion that the team might slither out of town if $500 million in taxpayer funds are not approved for stadium renovations.
DOUBLE TALK
What John Calipari said: “I mean, they took it [the loss to Oakland] really hard, and I took it hard.”
What John Calipari meant to say: “Let the speculation about my future at Kentucky begin.”
