The Basement View

 Baseball’s Christmas Morning is here! Welcome to Spring Training! It seems incredible that baseball has reached the point where they can make their second go-around with a pandemic season. Baseball is trying to be the second sport to have two attempts at a season with one being a “normal” regular season. Major League Baseball is attempting to play a full 162-game schedule with most of the protocols from 2020 in place.   MLB will be lucky if they have the same fortune as they had in the the abbreviated season in 2020 it would be remarkable if they finish the plan that they have for 2021 without an incident that would be a major setback for the league and the country. Baseball is also eyeing the next decade with the young fan in mind. The rule changes that will be under scrutiny because of the expiring CBA are:             Seven-inning double headers return.             The ball is “deadened” to try to cut back on homers and have the ball in play more often.                     

The most important Yankee in 2021 is Aaron Judge. It’s not Gary Sanchez, Corey Kluber, Gleyber Torres, Stanton, or Gerrit Cole. It’s Aaron Judge. Judge is the most important player on the roster. If Judge can stay healthy throughout 2021, they will be the most dangerous team in the American League, and the top contender to dethrone the Dodgers. When Judge was healthy in 2017, not only did he set the rookie record for homers, but the Yankees were also the best team in baseball. If not for some trash cans Mission 28 would be complete. Getting Judge back healthy, might not produce 52 bombs, bur it will allow the Yankees to dominate the AL East. Getting LeMahieu back was important—a healthy Judge trumps bringing back DJ. Judge is the key to unlock the Bombers offense. LeMahieu can be a table setter while also being a run producer but having Judge in your lineup for about 160 games (including playoffs) Judges run production is some of the best in the game. On top of allowing Sanchez, S

 Brooklyn’s Big Three can work. The first quarter against Cleveland showed just how scary they can be. James Harden didn’t have a point in the quarter, scored his first basket almost halfway through the 2 nd quarter, but given time the Nets will be scary. This Nets team isn’t even close to being the team that will start in the playoffs (barring injury) and the chemistry will only get better. With time the turnover problems will be fixed as the spacing gets better, the guys get used to being on the floor together, and the rotation becomes clearer—this team will be next to impossible to deal with offensively. The ceiling of Brooklyn’s offensive firepower is unlike anything the league has seen. This is Golden State’s Death Lineup x10. All three of Brooklyn’s Big Three can take over the game and carry the team solo for the entire game. There hasn’t been a threesome like this in league history. The problem will be defensively and on the boards. Kevin Durant can hold his own defensive