Posted Sun. PM prior to end of Golf…
Add-on posted early Tues. AM.
World Cup Quiz: The first World Cup was held in 1930. Name the only eight nations to win the title. Answer below.
MLB
—The Mets fired manager Carlos Mendoza Friday morning, about two months later than they should have.
It’s well-documented, but since the Mets’ 45-24 start in 2025, they had gone 72-102, including 34-47 under Mendoza this season.
The final straw was actually last Wednesday, when in the second game of a doubleheader, having lost the first 10-3 to the Cubs, supposed Mets ace Nolan McLean giving up six earned in falling to 4-5, 4.03, the Mets then proceeded to lose the nightcap 10-5, committing six errors, all in the infield.
In the ninth inning, Mets announcers Gary Cohen and Ron Darling blistered the team and clearly had one figure in mind…team president David Stearns. Both Cohen and Darling talked about a full ‘evaluation’, as Darling put it, “everyone in this organization, from top to bottom, has to be evaluated.”
On Friday, Stearns said he hasn’t considered stepping aside from his role – and that he still has the support of owner Steve Cohen.
“I believe that we are building the foundation of an organization that can deliver what we all want,” Stearns said, when asked why he hasn’t considered stepping down. “I don’t believe that our record on the field this year is indicative of some of the advancements that we have made in the organization, but clearly our record is nowhere good enough.”
Oh, puh-leeze. What advancements? Every Friday night I go through the Mets’ minor-league system, and it is bereft of offensive talent. AA Binghamton is batting .210 this season. High-A Brooklyn, .201! Our AAA talent is also sorely lacking at the moment, with maybe one or two players capable of filling reserve roles at the big-league level down the road.
Stearns has been an unmitigated disaster, with offseason acquisitions like Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr., plus Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette, to replace the offensive production that departed with the trades, or failure to re-sign, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil.
Polanco has played all of 14 games due to injuries, and Robert Jr. 24. Semien has been a mess, and it took Bichette forever to begin to hit.
Stearns also totally dismantled the coaching staff in the offseason, for no reason, leaving Mendoza all alone with a new staff he didn’t pick.
The Mets named Andy Green interim manager. He had been in the front office. Green was manager of the Padres for four miserable seasons, 2016-19.
So then in the Mets’ first game under Green, Friday night, hosting the red-hot Phillies, New York (34-48) fell 2-1, Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler with seven innings, one run, as he moved to 8-1, 2.03 ERA.
The Phils, 46-36, are 37-17 under interim manager Don Mattingly. Rather astounding. They have life in their dugout…you can sense it. The Mets have had zero in theirs all season, which is what happens when you bring in a ton of new faces.
But the Mets won Saturday, 6-2, snapping a 7-game losing streak, as Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, in the lineup together for just the 11th time this season, had run-scoring triples; the Mets’ bullpen with 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
Sunday, the Mets, down 3-0, battled back to take a 4-3 lead, but Kyle Schwarber hit No. 30, a 2-run shot to put Philly on top 5-4.
Mets had bases loaded, one out, bottom of the eighth and didn’t score…Francisco Alvarez striking out to end the inning, Alvarez now 2-for-27 with the bases loaded for his career.
As we say in the ‘burbs…that blows.
Mets go feebly in the ninth…5-4…and leave 14 runners on base. [2-for-16 with runners in scoring position.]
I can’t believe I watched the whole game, while keeping tabs on Canada-South Africa and Golf.
Earlier in the week, as the Cubs were sweeping the Mets in their 4-game series at Citi Field, in the first three games, shortstop Dansby Swanson had 15 RBIs, the most by a Cub in a series of four games or fewer dating to when RBI became an official stat in 1920.
Swanson went into the series hitting .183. Three games later he was up to .202 after going 7-for-12 with a double, a triple and three home runs (including a grand slam) and the 15 ribbies. [He went 0-for-4 in the series finale, Thursday.]
The last person with 15 RBIs over three games was Sammy Sosa, who tied an MLB record with 16 in August 2002, but the last two of the games were in pre-humidor Coors Field.
Nobody had 15 RBIs over a three-game span vs. the same team since Reggie Jackson (for the A’s against the Red Sox) in 1969.
Back to the Phillies, they came into New York on a major high after stunning ninth-inning wins Tuesday through Thursday down in Washington against the Nationals.
Tuesday, the Phils were down 8-6 heading to the top of the ninth, two outs, nobody on, and just a strike away from a second consecutive loss.
Philadelphia then proceeded to score eight runs, the next 10 batters reaching base, Phillies winning 14-9.
Wednesday, down 4-3 in the top of the ninth, Derek Hill hit a 2-out, 2-run pinch-hit home run, Phillies win 5-4.
Thursday, score tied 5-5 heading to the ninth, the Phillies scored five and win it 10-5. Three straight dramatic ninth innings.
Team of destiny? Why not.
–The Yankees are in Boston for a four-game series. After falling 6-3 on Thursday, the Yanks (48-33) lost again Friday night, 6-1, Payton Tolle with seven innings of one-hit ball for the Red Sox (34-46).
And they lost Saturday, 4-1, as Jake Bennett went 6 1/3, one run, for the Red Sox.
For New York, Gerrit Cole took the loss, giving up 4 earned in 5 1/3. After throwing 12 scoreless innings in his first two starts back from Tommy John surgery, Cole has sucked three of his last four starts and is just 2-3, 4.06, on the season. They need him in top form come the postseason.
Yankees-Red Sox is the Sunday night national game.
—In Milwaukee, Brewers phenom Jacob Misiorowski moved to 9-3, 1.45, with six innings of one-run ball against the Cubs, Milwaukee winning it 6-2.
The Miz threw a fastball 105.5 mph, breaking his own record for a starting pitcher. The only two pitches thrown faster in the pitch-tracking era were thrown by reliever Aroldis Chapman in 2010 with the Reds (105.8 and 105.7).
The Cubs turned the table on Saturday, winning 8-2, as new acquisition, former Met lefthander David Peterson, went 5 2/3, allowing just the two runs for the win in his first start for Chicago. Kind of funny…or not so much, for Mets fans.
–Entering play today, Nick Kurtz was leading the majors in RBIs with 64, with three tied in second with 58. And Kurtz hasn’t really gotten hot yet.
Bazooka Joe says: “Nick went to Wake Forest!”
World Cup
–We’re ready for the knockout stage, beginning Sunday, and later in the week the U.S. will be heavily favored against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Thursday the U.S. lost to Turkiye on a game-winner in the 98th minute, the final kick of the game, 3-2, but it was essentially meaningless, the U.S. having wrapped up Group D with its wins over Paraguay and Australia. The starters were largely rested, though Christian Pulisic saw some important game action to work out the rust.
But the story of the tournament thus far is Cape Verde, which qualified for the last 32, the smallest country to ever earn a spot in the knockout round, thanks in no small part to their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha.
“We are small,” he said. “But we have big hearts and we are fighters.”
Cape Verde advances after three straight draws in the group stage, the last a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia Friday night; after drawing against mighty Spain and Uruguay.
The little nation of 525,000 lies off the western coast of Africa.
–After I posted my Add-on early Tuesday AM, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments by getting two goals in Portugal’s 5-0 win against Uzbekistan.
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi became the only men in history to play in six World Cup tournaments this year, with Ronaldo scoring in his debut in 2006 and then netting goals in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Messi failed to score at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The Round of 32 bracket was then filled out after Saturday’s action. England defeated Panama 2-0, Harry Kane with a goal; Croatia beat Ghana, 2-1; Congo sealed its first-ever knockout stage berth with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan; Colombia wrapped up Group K with a 0-0 draw with Portugal; and Lionel Messi scored again, giving him six goals thus far, in Argentina’s 3-1 win over Jordan.
Canada then faced off against South Africa in Inglewood, CA, this afternoon for the first knockout game, and it’s Canada, 1-0, on a goal at the 92nd minute mark, 1-0; Eustaquio, who plays for LAFC in the MLS, with the game-winner.
The rest of the week will be filled with big contests, including Netherlands vs. Morocco, Brazil vs. Japan, Portugal vs. Croatia; and Colombia vs. Ghana.
The U.S-Bosnia and Herzegovina match is Wednesday night. [The ratings for this one should be massive.]
Golf Balls
–At The Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Ct., the final Signature Event of the season, after 36 holes…there was Scottie Scheffler atop the leaderboard….
Scheffler -16 (64-60!)
Viktor Hovland -14
Akshay Bhatia -12
Eric Cole -12
Great to have Scottie on top. NBC is no doubt happy with this.
After 54 holes….
Hovland -20
Scheffler -19
Patrick Cantlay -15
Bhatia -15
It’s funny how the golf world feels like Scheffler has had a poor season, and he himself would say it hasn’t met his own exacting standards, but as the commentators brought up Saturday, consider this.
This week will be Scheffler’s 35th consecutive Top-25 in a PGA Tour event. Over the last 40 years, the only golfer with a better streak, Tiger Woods, 38.
But today, the action was proceeding nicely until some heavy rain hit and then they suspended play with Scheffler and Hovland on the 14th.
At this point, Scheffler was at -21, but Collin Morikawa was -20 after a 9-under 61!
Wyndham Clark was -19 thru 14, Hovland also -19 playing 14.
And that’s where I need to move on, because this won’t end until well past 7:30.
What a win it would be for Clark.
Results and comments in my Add-on early Tues.
–Aside from the action on the course at The Travelers, however, we had some big news in the world of golf, as the PGA Tour unveiled its final thoughts on the Tour’s big revamp.
And we saw Tiger Woods for the first time since his March rollover crash in Florida.
Woods introduced PGA Tour Ceo Brian Rolapp at a news conference, detailing the extensive overhaul being made to the Tour’s competitive structure, which includes a new two-track system, relegation and promotion, and changes to the playoff system, among other elements. Woods serves as chair of the Tour’s Future Competitions Committee, alongside eight active pros.
Woods did not take any questions during the presser, instead reading a brief, prepared statement about his role and expressing gratitude to his fellow player-directors in helping shape the new direction of the PGA Tour.
Anyway…Track One is to be called the Championship Series and consist of 23-24 events (including the Majors) offering purses of $20 million and fields of 120 players. [The season will commence in February, probably at Torrey Pines, and run through August.]
The top 90 on the season-long points list will keep their status for the following season, while 20 players will be promoted from Track 2, which is to be known as the Challenger Series, consisting of 20 events, 144-player fields, with purses of $4 million.
The Fall season will feature international events in conjunction with the DP World Tour for players on Track One, while there will be a Last Chance series in the fall for pros to keep status on the upper tier and a Q-School to earn status on lower-rungs similar to the current system in place.
While many of the details are still to be worked out, including particulars on eligibility and where events will be held, for both Track One and Two, we know that there will be no more sponsor exemptions as the Tour leans into a more meritocratic model, where you eat what you kill.
We also know that the Tour’s finale will now be match play and instead of being held at East Lake every year, will rotate through prestigious venues, many of which have never hosted the tour. Think Cypress Point and Pine Valley.
All the changes are to be initiated in 2028, with a full schedule to be revealed in the first quarter of 2027. Next year could be a bit of a mess, with some sponsors pulling out and the Tour in discussions to find new ones rather quickly.
As for the fate of LIV players like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, Rolapp wouldn’t comment on Tuesday whether he’s had discussions with either about a possible return, and he stated it wasn’t a priority with LIV players still under contract to the league.
–Meanwhile, back to The Travelers, Rory McIlroy was playing at Royal Birkdale on Thursday, the site of next month’s Open Championship where he tied for fourth in 2017, the last time the tournament was played at the English venue.
As in, Rory wasn’t at The Travelers, a signature event. It is the third time he’s missed such a tournament this year, as is his right.
But Rory is going to fall short of the PGA Tour minimum of 15 events that he is required to play via the “home tour” rule which allows him to get unlimited releases in Europe and the Middle East in exchange for having to meet the minimum on tour.
The PGA Tour, however, provided an out from the player handbook, giving the Commissioner discretion.
Yes, there was little doubt Rory would remain a member for next year, but it is a bending of the rules.
McIlroy, 37, has made clear his desire to play less while not saying he wants to give up his PGA Tour membership.
NBA
—In the NBA Draft…the first ten selections….
1 Wizards…AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
2 Jazz…Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
3 Grizzlies…Cameron Boozer, F-C, Duke
4 Bulls…Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
5 Clippers…Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
6 Nets…Mikel Brown, Jr., G, Louisville
7 Kings…Darius Acuff Jr., G, Arkansas
8 Hawks…Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
9 Mavericks…Morez Johnson Jr., F-C, Michigan
10 Bucks…Brayden Burris, G, Arizona
—Knicks fans are wondering which role players will be returning, especially since owner Jim Dolan said the team cannot exceed the “second apron” of the salary cap, which can bring on severe penalties under the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the players.
As in, they can’t afford everyone, while paying their starters.
So center Mitchell Robinson, the longest-tenured Knick, is going to be a casualty, but the team announced Friday that Jose Alvarado, the back-up point guard who proved to be a terrific midseason acquisition, will be returning, agreeing to a three-year contract.
The Knicks on draft night moved out of the first round with a flurry of deals, picking up five additional second-rounders and cash because of the above-noted cap issues. First-rounders receive guaranteed contracts, while second-round picks do not necessarily receive any guarantees.
–The money disparity in the NBA is almost comical. Take the Lakers’ Austin Reaves, who signed a 4-year, $185 million deal to stay with L.A. I mean Reaves is good, but, you know.
But this is what the players negotiated for. Gotta hand it to them.
–In College Basketball, Michigan opted to name assistant coach Mike Boynton as Dusty May’s replacement, after May suddenly bolted for the head coaching position with the Dallas Mavericks.
Boynton was May’s right-hand man and formerly coached at Oklahoma State. The school is hoping continuity will help convince players on the roster to stay out of the transfer portal.
Boynton recruited Cade Cunningham to play for OSU in 2020 even though they were facing NCAA penalties from rule violations under a former assistant coach. Cunningham stayed because of Boynton and was drafted No. 1 by the Pistons in 2021.
–I admit to not watching the WNBA, but I’m following the Caitlin Clark mess and the cheap shots she’s enduring, which is pathetic.
But Clark is no angel herself and has picked up a slew of technicals.
Stuff
–The NFL slammed the door on any idea that quarterback Brendan Sorsby is eligible for a supplemental draft as the league, rightfully so, wants to conduct its own thorough investigation into his gambling activities in college.
Sorsby then thought, ‘Hey, I’ll play in the Canadian Football League,’ but on Friday, the CFL slammed the door on that idea.
“Upholding the integrity of the league and ensuring fair competition are paramount to the CFL,” the CFL said in a statement to USA TODAY. “The allegations involving Brendan Sorsby are serious and concerning.
“At this time, the CFL will not register a contract for him, and no team will be permitted to add him to its negotiation list.”
Sorsby admitted to betting thousands of times on college and pro sports, including 40 wagers on Indiana football while he was on the team.
Suck it up, Brendan.
—George Russell won the Austrian Grand Prix today, amidst Europe’s intense heat wave that over the weekend shifted east from the UK, France and Spain.
The drivers have cooling and drinking systems built into their fire-resistant gear (a separate layer underneath), but Russell’s wasn’t working, making things a wee bit more difficult.
Career win No. 7 for the lad from Britain.
–This is cool. Former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski knew that Pope Leo had attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series [White Sox sweeping the Astros, 4-0], so he arranged a trip to the Vatican and an audience with the pope, and shocked the pontiff by presenting him the ball from the final out of Game 1.
“I know he was at the game. It was just sitting on my wall,” said Pierzynski, now at Fox Sports.
“I was like, ‘It’s better at the Vatican with him than sitting on my wall.’ I figured it was the perfect thing.”
Pope Leo’s reaction to receiving the ball Pierzynski caught to end Game 1?
“Oh my gosh, he was like, ‘This is unbelievable.’ He was like, ‘No way, this is the ball?’ And he literally said, ‘I was at Game 2, too. But nobody knows that. They didn’t find me.’”
—Congratulations to my high school alma mater, Summit High School, which not only won its fourth consecutive state title in boys lacrosse the other day, but it was then named No. 1 in the nation in the final USA Lacrosse Magazine Public High School Top 25 rankings!
And talk about going out on top. My former next-door neighbor in my building, Coach Jim Davidson, is retiring. A great guy.
High school sports in not just New Jersey, but all over these days, is a mess, with so many good athletes going the private school route…like the Yankees’ Anthony Volpe, who should have stayed at nearby Watchung High School, instead of choosing a private school.
‘Coach,’ however, figured it out.
When I was growing up…we had Willie Wilson at Summit High School, playing, and starring, in all three major sports. And nearby, I went to Wake Forest with Syd Kitson (New Providence High School…I am very connected to this school these days…) and Billy Ard (Watchung HS) and they both ended up in the NFL; Ard winning a ring as a starter on the 1986 Super Bowl-winning Giants.
And that’s my rant.
–I didn’t have a chance last time to note the passing of the legendary music executive, Clive Davis, 94.
One of the few nonperformers in music to become a household name, Davis maintained a visible role as a starmaker for half a century. In the late 1960s he propelled a reluctant Columbia headlong into the rock era with acts like Janis Joplin and Blood, Sweat & Tears. He also encouraged the jazz trumpeter Miles Davis to connect with the Woodstock generation.
Later, at the Arista and J labels, he championed R&B-leaning pop divas like Whitney Houston (for whom he is best known), Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson, and he orchestrated career revivals for Carlos Santana and Rod Stewart.
But he also brought Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, Santana, Chicago, Aerosmith and Barry Manilow to Columbia.
“At 22 years old, he changed my life when he signed me to Columbia Records. He treated me with the same respect and kindness as a 22-year-old nobody as he did after all my success. A great man. All our prayers and love,” Springsteen said after learning of Davis’ death.
Joel, another Columbia artist, said: “He recognized the talent of great musicians and understood the power of contemporary music. I will always be grateful for Clive for his recognition of the critical importance of songwriting. He undoubtedly enhanced the stature of the music industry during his tenure as president of Columbia Records.”
Top 3 songs for the week 6/24/78: #1 “Shadow Dancing” (Andy Gibb) #2 “Baker Street” (Gerry Rafferty) #3 “It’s A Heartache” (Bonnie Tyler…eh…)…and…#4 “You’re The One That I Want” (John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John) #5 “Take A Chance On Me” (Abba) #6 “You Belong To Me” (Carly Simon) #7 “Use Ta Be My Girl” (The O’Jays) #8 “Love Is Like Oxygen” (Sweet) #9 “Still The Same” (Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band) #10 “Dance With Me” (Peter Brown with Betty Wright…I was in Oklahoma that summer, selling books door-to-door, and doing a miserable job of it…but stuck it out to the end. It was hot as hell, and I learned how to ask for water after ringing the doorbell….)
World Cup Quiz Answer: The eight to win the World Cup (which was not held in 1942/46 due to World War II), were….
Brazil 5 times
Germany 4
Italy 4
Argentina 3
France 2
Uruguay 2
England 1
Spain 1
Brief Add-on up top Tues. AM….
