Happy Friday folks! We made it through another week, and it’s been a wild one in sports. I fought the urge to talk more about the Jets (they could have qualified as the best and the worst) and I didn’t want to beat up on the Giants anymore. It’s been a sleepy week in college football, so we’ll let this sleepy weekend slate surprise us. I thought this week I would take it back to the diamond and stick to the New York locals, so let’s get after it.

Worst of the Week: Big Apple Circus

Never did I think the Yankees would be my sworn nemesis in life, but here we are. Instead of the front office and ownership, this time it’s their big offseason addition, Carlos Rodon. Full disclosure I wanted Rodon badly this winter and was overjoyed when the Yankees secured his signature, coming off his two best seasons in the league. Rodon and Gerrit Cole projected to be a lethal two headed monster at the front of the Yankee rotation but to borrow a phrase, Brian Cashman plans and the baseball gods laugh.

Rodon began spring training with an injury that was deemed “manageable”, and the plan was he would be ready near the start of the season. But that injury snowballed into a lengthy absence that saw him return shortly before the All-Star Break. Since the big lefty came back, he has yet to get going on the mound and even suffered another injury during this time. However, my issues go beyond his performance and more to his attitude.

I am not sure I have seen a player huff and puff and complain more on the mound than Rodon has to this point as a Yankee. Rodon referenced Randy Johnson’s tough start as Yankee in 2005 off the field as a cautionary tale he was trying to avoid repeating. Aside from not being blessed with the big unit’s talent, he seems to have his penchant for kicking the New York hornets’ nest. His on-field antics reached their pinnacle the other night at Fenway Park when he decided to show up the opponent.

Call me an angry old man, you’re probably right, but here is a guy who has hardly pitched this year, and when he has, it’s to the tune of a 2-5 record and a 6.60 ERA. He labored through another start against the worst Red Sox team in years, while pitching for the worst Yankee team in years. In addition, his wife is arguing with umpires on Twitter (I wish I was kidding). Somehow, one of the best rivalries in sports has been relegated to an underperforming pitcher showing up a team full of Triple A players.

I remain hopeful that Rodon can turn it around next year, but this signing has all the makings of another Yankee bust. Next spring training is a chance to wipe the slate clean, do away with the drama, and endear himself to the fans…or risk joining the elite company of Carl Pavano.

Best of the Week: A League of Her Own

While it’s been a lost season for the Mets, Steve Cohen and company have spent the week making some positive highlights. The hire of David Stearns to join the front office is a game changer for the franchise as they try to build a consistent winner. Monday night saw them recognize heroes and victims of the 9/11 attacks, something that is always very moving at the ballpark. On Tuesday they celebrated New York hockey season being around the corner with members of Rangers, Islanders, and Devils in attendance. They even went viral with their first edition of “Simba Cam”, for the fans that brought their dogs to the game.

Thursday night they outdid themselves as they handed out the first Amazin’ Mets Foundation Legacy award to 96-year-old Maybelle Blair. Maybelle received the award for her pioneering legacy in women’s sports as a star in All American Girl’s Professional Baseball League. If this rings a bell, it’s because Maybelle played in the league that inspired the terrific baseball film, A League of Their Own. Since her time as a player Maybelle has worked to help fund the International Women’s Baseball Center, an effort to help advance the game for women everywhere.

The Mets, aside from a sizeable charitable donation in her name to a number of organizations, gave her the thrill of a lifetime with her own locker at Citi field and the chance to throw out the first pitch. Pretty solid first pitch for someone approaching the century mark, and as a side bar, her baseball bat cane is awesome!

Her pregame media availability with Met manager Buck Showalter produced some great quotes, none better than “I can’t ever remember not loving baseball.” A life lived in the game, is a life well lived. Remember folks, there’s no crying in baseball.

Time for some football picks, where I’m looking to rebound off of a 1-3 week. While we lost on Texas A&M, The Steelers, and the Seahawks, the Longhorns saved us from a 0 for 4 week with their win at Alabama. Here’s my plays this week.

College Picks

Pittsburgh @ West Virginia -3: The backyard brawl is back as this once great rivalry returns to Morgantown featuring a pair of struggling 1-1 programs. While neither is great, I like the Mountaineers to knock off the Panthers, as the team tries to save head coach Neil Brown’s job. I’m a bit biased but there is no way former Notre Dame quarterback, and professional whiner, Phil Jurkovec leads Pitt to a win at Milan Puskar Stadium…cue John Denver!

11 Tennessee -6.5 @ Florida: Speaking of not very good, I don’t see the Gators beating Tennessee this weekend. The Gators come in having won 14 straight against the Vols in The Swamp but Billy Napier’s group is going through a rebuilding year and don’t look capable of much, even if Graham Murtz plays well under center. Joe Milton has been okay so far in this Volunteer offense, I think he hits his stride this week for head coach Josh Heupel, Vols win and cover. It may be a long year in Gainesville but at least they have Tom Petty.

NFL Picks

Seahawks @ Lions -5: Our first NFL pick of the week is mostly down to home field. As much as I liked the Seahawks preseason, and I still do long term, I can’t see them going to Ford Field and beating the Lions. Especially not after last week’s results. Seattle looked sloppy at home against a weak Rams team and now has to travel to that wild scene in Detroit Rock City as the Lions look to make it 2-0. Expect a lot of points in this one, but the Lions and their run game should wear the visitors out, Detroit wins and covers.

Dolphins @ Patriots +3: To quote the great Mike Valenti on the Cash the Ticket Podcast, “we’re looking for the three D’s, Desperate, Divisional, home Dog’s.” The Patriots check all those boxes, as they come in off of a tough loss to the Eagles in week one. Mac Jones looked like he was back to his rookie year form and the Pats defense is legit. The Fins have a good-looking offense that flexed its muscle last week in LA, but this is a tough travel schedule for the Miami squad. I think Belichick and company cook up a gameplan to grind out a W here. No shot they lose while rocking the “Pat the Patriot” alternate uniforms this week.

Let me know what your favorite moments of the week were on Twitter @YNWA9623 and subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner of your screen and entering your email address. Enjoy the weekend everyone!