Trying Times Today …

If you look at the MLB standings as of this morning, your attention must be drawn to the two Western Division races.  The top two teams there – – Dodgers/Padres and Astros/Mariners – – are in a virtual dead heat.  However, there is another division race that could become very interesting over the next several weeks; I speak here of the NL East.  For the moment, the Phillies lead the division by 6 games over the Mets.

Moreover, the Mets have been in a tailspin; back at the beginning of August, the Mets were leading the NL East and here they are 6 games back at the end of the month.  However, the schedule might be set up for the Mets to make a run.

• Last night the Mets led off a three-game series in Philly winning 13-3 cutting the lead to the 6-game mark as of this morning.
• After two more games in Philly this week, the two teams meet again for a 4-game series in NY starting September 8^th – – just 12 days from now.
• In 7 games head-to-head between the Mets and the Phillies this season, the Mets lead the series 5 games to 2.
• In addition to the six games against the Mets, the Phillies other opponents include Brewers (3 games), Dodgers (3 games) and the D-Backs (3 games).

This schedule situation comes on the heels of some seriously bad news for the Phillies’ pitching staff.  Last week it was reported that Phillies’ ace Zack Wheeler had a blood clot in his throwing shoulder.  Subsequent tests and diagnosis revealed that surgery would be needed on that shoulder to alleviate venous thoracic outlet syndrome.  Any folks reading this who have medical training of any kind should go and get a cup of coffee for the next couple of paragraphs as I explain what I think venous thoracic outlet syndrome is:

1. In some people, the muscles – or even a bone sometimes – can apply pressure to veins in the shoulder area that restrict the blood flow there causing clotting.
2. People who use their arms in repetitive motion are significantly more prone to this condition than other folks – – consider swimmers, bowlers, baseball pitchers.
3. Estimated rehab time is 6-8 months, meaning Wheeler is out for the rest of the MLB regular season and the playoffs.

One report I read said that pitchers who have to undergo this type of procedure have an 80% recovery rate.  That is good news for Phillies’ fans.  Let me offer one word of caution here:

• Remember, I come to you from “Curmudgeon Central” and not “Palazzo Pessimismo”; nevertheless, this is the surgery that ended the career of Stephen Strasbourg about 5 years ago.
• Obviously, I hope Zack Wheeler comes back from his rehab regimen in the 8-month window and can start for the Phillies on Opening Day 2026.
• However, …

Moving on …  I spent some time yesterday watching part of the final Exhibition Game between the Rams and the Browns.  I was interested because reports said that Shedeur Sanders had “struggled” in the game and that he might lose his place on the Browns’ roster as a result.

Sanders did indeed struggle; here is his stat line for the game:

• 3 of 6 for 14 yards with 0 TDs and 0 INTs

He also took a huge sack on a play where he needed to throw the ball out of bounds because he had three pursuers and had no chance of escaping them.  I don’t know that he jeopardized his roster spot with his performance last weekend – – we’ll know that later today as cutdowns are coming – – but I came away with the conclusion that I was right back in April when I said this about my assessment of Shedeur Sanders as a QB prospect:

“Shedeur Sanders – Colorado:  Most folks have him as the second QB off the board.  My comments were ‘very accurate on short passes’ and ‘plays the screen game well’ and ‘far less athletic than his genetics would imply’.  He will go in the first round, but I think he is ‘a project – not a Day One Starter’.

Obviously, I got the “Round One” part wrong, but as for the rest, I think it is correct.  Some folks have argued that there was some sort of conspiratorial activity back in the Draft that dropped Sanders to the 5^th round before he was picked and then others – – or maybe the same conspiracy theorists using a different nom de guerre – – were sure that Browns’ coach Kevin Stefanski was intentionally trying to make Sanders look bad because he only let him play with the third and fourth stringers in the Browns’ camp.

I think all of that is unadulterated Balderdash.  Shedeur Sanders is not a stiff; he is not someone whose only claim to fame is his father’s accomplishments.  He may some day become a good NFL QB – – but that day is not likely to be in 2025 or even 2026.  I think he needs to learn how to play QB from the pocket and how to give up on a play when that play is blown up by the defense.  He did not do those things when I watched him at Colorado, and he will have to learn to do those things if he hopes to hone his skills and become an NFL starter.

This may be a level of humiliation that is beyond tolerance, but I think Shedeur Sanders would benefit greatly from a season in the UFL.  It is too early for NFL teams to write him off, but he needs to play against competent-if not-great defenders to raise his own game skills.

Finally, having mentioned the surgery on Zack Wheeler above, let me observe that it does not fit the definition of “Minor Surgery”:

“Minor Surgery:  Any surgical procedure that is carried out on someone else.”

But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………