Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones thinks it might be in the best interests of everyone involved if they trimmed the preseason to just 2 games, 3 for the teams playing the Hall of Fame game, obviously, and expanding the regular season to 18. His son disagrees, and so do I.
Now, Jones wants to err on the side of player safety, but if he thinks most injuries occur in August, he's way wrong. The only way an 18 game schedule works, in this writer's opinion, is if you move the start of the season to before Labor Day, in lockstep with college football.
But, who is Jones kidding? Some teams pamper their millionaire stars by letting them choose when they'll play in the preseason (i.e. Patriots, Giants) to better protect them from injuries. As it is, the season starts the weekend after Labor Day, and runs through the holidays, thanks to the addition of bye weeks in recent years. In short, this ain't gonna work.
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Mets owners Fred & Jeff Wilpon have already waved the white flag on the season, and for the second time this month, made a trade with division rival Philadelphia, this time sending outfielder Jose Bautista to the Phillies for cash or a player to be named later. The Mets pulled "Joey Bats" off the Atlanta scrap heap earlier this year, and he helped the Phils in his first game Wednesday night as they beat Washington.
Meanwhile, the Wilpons are catching heat from representatives for minor league infielder Peter Alonso, who's been tearing up the minors this season. Apparently, the no-name agents don't understand the whole concept of teams preserving major league service time for prospects like Alonso, who will not be with the big club come Saturday when the rosters expand. There's already a logjam at his position, first base, as the Mets are using Wilmer Flores, who has played all four infield positions with the team, and erstwhile outfielder Jay Bruce, and Dominic Smith will likely get some time when he returns on Saturday. Then, they were also looking at Yoenis Cespedes at first before he was sidelined for the year. That said, the Mets feel there wouldn't be enough time for Alonso to get a look in the final month of the season, and he'll have equal opportunity for a shot in spring training next year.
It wasn't so long ago that baseball's biggest pain in the neck, Scott Boras, was crying the blues on the same subject when it came to the Cubs' Kris Bryant, one of his bazillion clients. Boras doesn't care about team policy. He just wants more than his fair share for himself, moreso than his clients. That's been a reality for a long time. Teams are looking to protect their investments in players before they hit the free agent market, but it wouldn't surprise me if Alonso's agents decide they want their guy moved to another team. Do yourselves a favor, guys. Your 15 minutes are already up. Go away.
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Took a look at the Class A predictions posted by James Allen in today's Albany Times-Union. Despite one returning starter (sophomore DB/RB/KR Xavier Leigh), Allen sees Troy High running the table again, winning the Capital Division. If Allen's math is right, it'd be Troy vs. old nemesis Burnt Hills in the A Super Bowl in November at Shen. LaSalle is tabbed to finish 3rd in the Capital, but I'd not be surprised if John Audino's club actually exceeds expectations.
Meanwhile, Troy High's other sports teams are looking for a win.
The boys' soccer team opened on the road Tuesday morning, and were shut out, 7-0, by Ballston Spa. The Scotties also blanked Troy's women's team, 2-0, and swept a volleyball match in straight sets. As of press time, the result of Troy's volleyball match vs. Averill Park, while it may be in today's Times-Union, isn't in El Cheapo Press just yet. The volleyball team opened with a non-league win, also in straight sets, over Catholic Central last week, so they're 1-1 on the season overall, 0-1 in the Suburban Council. The girls' tennis results have not been reported, but given recent history, I'd say they're also winless.
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As of this morning, the Tri-City Valleycats are on the verge of ending a two year playoff draught.
Jason Bell's club beat Lowell, 7-0, Wednesday, to lower their magic number for clinching the Stedler Division title to 2, meaning a Valleycat win tonight, coupled with a Vermont loss, would give the 'Cats their first division title since 2015. This after getting blown out of Bruno Stadium on consecutive nights by Aberdeen. The team is so sure of a postseason that they started selling "potential" playoff tickets a week ago. Five games remain, still enough time for a collapse, but you just never know.
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