STAMFORD CT – The New York Yankees are storming through a season that might get shut down before it gets going. The New York Rangers are one game away from being ousted in a Stanley Cup tournament that looks like it will have a champion. I might be a week or so away from going back to binging marginal Netflix shows recommended by my lawn guy. When does Tiger Queen, Carole F*ckin’ Baskin come out?
Bombers Bombing
The Yankees lead the league in dongs in two fewer games than the Dodgers. Aaron Judge and DJ LeMahieu are on fire to start the season. And with all this rain and Covid cancellations, Gerrit Cole might be able to start 20 of the 60 games.
Aroldis Chapman’s absence and now Tommy Kahnle going down for the season, so the bullpen looks a bit thinner than last year. But it looks like they have some depth and potential for some guys to take up key roles. And Chapman will be back soon.
Rangers on the Brink
Things are not going as well in Toronto for the Rangers, who are down two games after being thoroughly outplayed by the Hurricanes. A lot has gone wrong in a short period of time for the Rangers. Wunderkind goalie Igor Shesterkin came up with a mysterious injury and Hank has not been able to recapture past glory.
Jesper Fast, a key grinder, was hurt on the very first shift of Game 1 by former teammate Brady Skjei. Skjei had to be traded to make room for Chris Kreider’s contract and Kreider has been nearly invisible. Head Coach David Quinn said Fast “never cheats a shift,” which is about the best compliment you can give a hockey player. And with Brendan Lemieux serving his suspension for the first two games, the lineup lacked role players with some sandpaper in their games. The lone bright spot has been Kaapo Kakko, who has played with a lot more confidence and assertiveness.
No word yet on whether Igor will be ready for Game 3. They might as well give Alexandar Georgiev a shot if Igor can’t go. The losses aren’t on Hank, but he doesn’t have the ability to steal a game anymore.
The Rangers had better wake up all around or this will all be for naught. And if that’s the way it goes, it will be a sad swan song for The King. It’s hard to see them dragging him back for one more year of the three headed goalie situation. Maybe they’ll trade Georgiev.
Bar-Tool
Douchebag Dave Portnoy tweeted that he doesn’t understand why anyone is excited about these weird sports games. I guess he didn’t see Judge’s moon shot in the bottom of the eighth to sweep the Red Sox or Nazem Kadri’s buzzer-beating goal for the Avalanche. It is going to be weird watching a team pass around a Cup with no fans in the stands but I think it’s great they were able to get it rolling again. If Portnoy wants to see something that’s not exciting, he should watch one of his pizza reviews.
That’s it for me. Come back tomorrow for Angry Ward and his new series of quiche reviews. Follow us on Twitter at @BenWhit8, @MeetTheMatts, @Matt_McCarthy00, Instagram @MeetTheMatts and like our Facebook page, Meet The Matts.
