STAMFORD, CT – This Halloween we took our daughters to a “Trunk or Treat” event instead of going door-to-door like the old days. For those unfamiliar, a bunch of cars park in a parking lot and adorn their trunks with Halloween decorations. The kids just go trick or treating from car to car. It was a little depressing. What’s wrong with the way we did it – hitting every house within walking distance and then having Mom do a quick spot check for razor blades? I have to admit, it was convenient. No stress and you’re done in an hour. I probably only walked about a quarter of a mile and the kids were happy. I had time to think about some sports figures that have been scaring the hell out of me lately.
A bit of a reach you say? Yeah, go funk yourself.
Dave “Ghoul” Gettleman
I don’t care if he’s a monster the rest of the season, the Leonard Williams trade made no sense for the NY Giants. If they re-sign him, they gave away a 3rd and a 4th for nothing because they could have signed him without trading for him. If they don’t resign him, they gave a 3rd and 5th away for nothing. And if you think they’ll get a compensatory pick, they might not if they go big with their available cap space. Which will be plenty with Eli off the books. The fever dream that Williams will be more likely to sign here now is not worth the risk of two decent draft picks. This was a completely terrifying move.
Wait. Maybe he’s going all in like Brodie V Dubs with Stroman? He’s pushing his chips to the center of the table when everyone thought he was about to fold. Maybe the Giants will beat the Cowboys on MNF and go on a run.(They didn’t). Hey, the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Blues have already come back from the dead to win championships this season, why not the G-men?
I kid.
Sam “Skeleton” Darnold
I’m not sure if Mark Sanchez ever had an interception as frightening as the one Sam had at the end of the first half against Miami. He just shot putted it into a crowd of people in a full-fledged panic. The fears about this guy are looking justified and that was a big red flag there.
The Giants got a lot of heat for taking Saquon because it was supposed to be such a QB heavy draft. And well, they needed one. But it’s possible now that the top four QBs in that class will all go down as busts. It’s no guarantee that Darnold and Mayfield will survive their respective dumpsters fires without severe PTSD. Josh Rosen is on a bullet train to Bustville. Josh Allen has been okay, but he might not turn the corner.
Lamar Jackson was in the second tier of QBs in that class, but he sure looks like the best of them right now. Gettles had a point when he said you can’t talk yourself into a QB just because you need one. They didn’t love any of them and maybe it was smart to pass, especially if the QB they got the next year, with a lower pick in a QB light draft turns out to be a player.
Brian “Corpse” Cashman
I guess Reliever of the Year is more important to the Yankees these days than rings. Aroldis Chapman gave up the walk-off season ending bomb to Altuve and the Yankees reward him with an extra $18 million extension so he wouldn’t opt out. I might have let him opt out and used the extra money to sign Gerrit Cole, who seems a tad disgruntled with Houston about now.
AJ “Headless” Hinch
On the Michael Kay Show the guys opined that baseball might move away from the analytics bent a bit going forward since the Nationals went old school and won the World Series without a huge reliance on analytics.
But the other part of the story is that an analytically driven team would have never let Greinke step on the field for the 7th inning. The third time through the order thing is annoying, but stats don’t lie. And Greinke’s stats the third time through the order have been pretty scary the last few years.
Yankees fans got upset when Tanaka was pulled after 6 innings with a low pitch count in Game 1, but the Yankees won that game. This was a blood-curdling decision by Hinch with Cole fired up and ready to go. You take the six from Greinke and praise your holy being.
Mark “Monster” Staal and Hank “Harpy” Lundqvist
The youth movement has arrived in full for the NY Rangers and I don’t think it’s a coincidence theyhave won two straight (going into Monday’s game) and elevated their play with Staal watching from the press box and Lundqvist glued to the end of the bench.
It’s a shame that stay-at-home defensemen are going the way of the complete game in baseball, but Staal has been an anchor on this team in recent years. Blocking shots and playing physically takes it’s toll. Like Dan Girardi, the guy has been a warrior but his best days are gone.
Having the lightning quick reflexes needed to stop a 100-mph puck redirected at the last instant seems like a young man’s game. Sure, you can get by on positioning and guile for a while, but the Rangers are a better team with Georgiev in the pipes right now. And with one more year on his deal after this one and young Igor Shesterkin winning AHL goalie of the month with a 5-1 record, 1.49 GAA, and a .942 save percentage, there ain’t room for all three of these guys.
Igor (pronounced I-gor) has dominated at every level and it won’t be long before we see him on Broadway. I hate to say it because he’s the best, but they’d be better off without Hank. Or at least if his deal ended after this season instead of next.
Happy Belated Halloween. Come back tomorrow for Angry Ward, who other than a moderate case of pogonophobia (fear of beards), has no fear. Follow us on Twitter at @BenWhit8, @MeetTheMatts, @Matt_McCarthy00, Instagram @MeetTheMatts and like our Facebook page, Meet The Matts.
