By Ryan “The Goose” Gosiker
Each baseball season, the first true checkpoint of a team’s year is done at Memorial Day. So, let us check-in on the locals. The Yankees are red hot and heating up with the summer-time weather. Aaron Judge looks like 2022 Aaron Judge right now, just mashing baseballs like others cannot. The acquisitions of Alex Verdugo and Juan Soto, in the offseason, have paid major dividends to offset injuries and slow beginnings. Giancarlo Stanton looks useful this year. Anthony Volpe continues to grind out his sophomore season. Their starting rotation has been one of, if not, the best in baseball. Oh, that’s right, WITHOUT the best pitcher on planet earth when healthy, Gerrit Cole. He is due to return before the all-star break. Their bullpen has been lights out too. There is not much concern for the Yankees at this point. They will need to continue to destroy teams as they are expected to be in a division race with the Baltimore Orioles until the end of the season. The concerns for this team start and ends with injuries. Can they stay healthy all the way to the end? Judge has the toe, Stanton has always missed time, amongst others. If this team can stay healthy, they will be there in the end. Over in Queens, the Mets have been nothing short of a disaster. Now, they do seem to have direction and leadership from Owner Steve Cohen to President of Baseball Operation David Stearns to Manager Carlos Mendoza. Stearns has already ousted players brought in on one-year deals because they have not performed like Joey Wendle and Zack Short. The team is struggling on the field with closing games. As much as people will focus on their current record and say, “well they got lucky in these 5 games that could be losses,” the same could be said the other direction that they should have 5 more wins (5 is just an example number). Edwin Diaz has reverted to 2019 Diaz that almost got thrown out of town. Brooks Raley, their star lefty reliever, is out for the season with Tommy John surgery. Reed Garrett has returned to Earth. The offense has not been much better. However, Carlos Mendoza shook up the lineup last week and dropped Brandon Nimmo to the 3 spot while bringing Francisco Lindor to the leadoff spot, amongst other moves. It has worked a little bit, but not enough as they continue to invent ways to lose. Mets fans can deal with losing, we have done it for much of our lifetimes, but when you find, dumb, lazy ways to lose, that is when we, diehards, stand up and boo loudly for all to hear. So, at first check, NY baseball is going in opposite directions. Check out my sports show: “Game Time with The Goose” every Saturday from 8:00 to 9:00 AM on WTBQ AM 1110 FM 93.5 and on WGHT Radio with co-host Zach Kruk, Sports Director of WTBQ and WGHT!
