Morning. Lots of great questions this week, so we are going to try to be quick.
First, to our business.
Rushmore of Cousins – Cousin Eddie, “My Cousin Vinny,” which, when they get hitched eventually would make Mona Lisa Vito also Ralph Macchio’s cousin, Cousin Int and DeMarcus Cousins over Kirk and Kissing because well kissing cousins is kinda gross. Although, on the list of surprising celebs who are cousins, Jenny McCarthy and Melissa McCarthy being first cousins was a bit of a surprise for me.
Rushmore of Jordan – Michael Jordan, Air Jordans, Michael B. Jordan, Jordan Spieth. Sorry to Jordan Peele.
Rushmore of store-bought, pre-packaged ice cream treats – Drumstick, Chipwich, old-school ice cream sandwich, Klondike bar.
Rushmore of worst national anthem performances – Roseanne, Carl Lewis, Christina Aguilera before the 2011 Super Bowl, and while there are several of them, Michale Bolton messing up the words – even after checking his palm where he had written the lyrics before a Yankees-Red Sox game a few years ago was dreadful.
Then there are the rules. Here’s Paschall writing on Will Levis, the returning UK QB who is among a large group photo of experienced and talented QBs in the SEC.
I also saw this on my social media feed as Clay Travis – yes, that one – interviewed Brooks Koepka and Pat Perez during the Pro-Am of the LIV event this week at Trump’s place. Thoughts? And how starved must the LIV be for relatively positive media coverage since in the two-plus minute clip, two of the bigger names on the LIV and Greg Norman also makes a cameo.
To the bag.
From JMader
Will Ronald Acuna ever be good at baseball again? He finally got the ole’ “day off” (Wednesday) (he was benched). His batting average is down to .259. His slugging % is down to .398. He has 2 homers in his last 33 games. Ground ball % is at 47.8%, easily a career high. Hard hit % is at 48.6%, easily a career low. Line drive % is at 21.4%, the lowest in his career. He’s hitting 1 homer for every 31.4 at bats this year. It is astonishing how far he has fallen.
JMader –
He’s been pretty rotten. Last 30 days, he’s at .214 (18-for-84) with 21 Ks and one homer. Been worse in the last two weeks, going 5-for-33 with 10 Ks in the last 15 days.
He has flat-lined, but the lack of success is not as troubling as the appearance of a lack of motivation. Which brings us to the genesis of his struggles.
And that’s the biggest factor in properly answering your question.
Because if Acuña is still not a 100%, then OK. That’s fixable.
If Acuña is suffering through a baseball deal – it’s a cynical game filled with ups and downs, especially for a player that runs on the extreme ends of hot and cold like Acuña – then that’s OK too. It happens.
But the other factors are the ones the Braves leadership needs to be asking themselves about in terms of the 24-year-old superstar.
Is he truly miffed that he’s on a team-friendly deal and Juan Soto is discussing a $500 million extension? If so, that will be a big issue sooner rather than later.
Is he truly got his feelings hurt that Michael Harris is looking the part of future star outfielder and lead-off hitter that we thought Acuña would be for the next decade? Again, that’s person problem not a performance problem.
To be fair, I think Ozzie Albies’ extended absence has hurt Acuña in terms of his joy and his confidence. Not saying either of those are good things. Just offering them up.
And I also think the entire league now knows if you pitch him up and in he becomes skittish and uncomfortable, and that has made him skittish and uncomfortable.
Which has made a five-tool transcendental talent look pedestrian for the last month-plus.
From J-Mac
Hey Jay,
You just said a day or two ago about not breaking the bank and wrecking your cap for a receiver, or something similar. Then comes the Metcalf news. I agree with you, there are so many good receivers out there, why give up that much for one receiver? I think the Bucs could have gotten Julio for less, but someone wanted him.
Mac –
I just don’t get it. Especially with the Metcalf example.
Because a) you wanted to get out of salary cap jail caused by Russell Wilson’s extension, so you dealt him, and b) while Metcalf is a freak, do you need a WR with a $70-plus million extension to catch poorly thrown passes from Drew Lock?
And here’s the crazy think that slips everyone’s mind, look at the dudes that are available every year in the draft in the back half of round one (hello Jordan Jefferson) or in rounds two (Michael Thomas) and three (Metcalf, Cooper Kupp, and a slew of others) so why overpay?