Ladies and gentleman, may I have your fully divided attention! Thank you. Reader G. Wilbur asks a good, though self-dating question: When did MLB telecasts become The David Su skind Show? The David Su skind Show was an interview program seen throughout the 1960s and 1970s on Ch. 11 then Ch. 5. It featured long, pensive questions followed by forgot-the-question answers. This past Saturday, , made for E'Twaun Moore Jersey the wildest second inning we mightve ever seen had we been allowed to watch it rather than an interview show. Each team scored the Yanks once, Boston twice. There was a leaping catch of what became a home run when it was dropped as the right fielder fell into the stands. A runner was picked off third for failure to pay attention while talking to a coach. There was a double-steal, a double play, four hits and a leaping catch at the left-field wall. Matt Damon and Casey Affleck were a distraction during a wild inning during a Yankees-Red Sox game last weekend. Yet, on Fox, the entire inning 17 minutes was sacrificed to an in-booth interview with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck to promote their new movie coming soon on Apple TV+. Yep, more baseball lost to streaming. As Adam Amin and John Smoltz asked forced and meandering questions, Bostons Ceddanne Rafaela, inexplicably standing a foot off the bag chatting with the third base coach, was tagged out to complete an insane center field-to-second to-third double play. But not only did Fox mi s the entire thing, it had no idea what had happened. The interview continued until finally, with Rafalea headed to the dugout, Amin thought hed caught up with game: Were actually getting word that they ruled the runner, Rafaela, out at third base. Word ? Hes getting word? Where is he, Yennenville? Oh, Smoltz said, they might have pulled the old hidden ball on him. More From Phil Mushnick Amin: Oh man, we got distracted in here. We were having such a good time. And all of a sudden they stuck in the old Little League move. Bad gue ses about what just happened from yards away from where it just happened. And if had Fox had been showing the game rather than the actors in the booth, we all would have seen that after Trent Grisham made a shoes-high catch in center, he ran the ball back toward the infield, threw to Gleyber Torres who threw to Oswaldo Cabrera who tagged out an oblivious Rafaela. Well never see such a play again, yet Fox, for no good reason, chose to completely mi s it the first time for all of us. Damon and Affleck got it. They knew theyd become intrusive. One next said, Aw, were ruining your broadcast. Amin: No youre not. Its more fun this way! Smoltz: You dont see that very often. But we didnt see it at all! Atlanta Braves player John Smoltz stands in the dugout after the game against the Detroit Tigers at Turner Field on October 2, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images And Amin continued to call it a Little League play. No, a 12-year-old would have stood on third while looking away to talk to a coach. It was another fundamentally negligent big league play, both by Rafela and third base coach Kyle Hudson, lost from view to Foxs fundamentally negligent production. The next night, Yanks-Red Sox on ESPN. Boston first baseman Romy Gonzalez, normally a third and second baseman, was at risk as he was playing first while attached to a live microphone. It was his turn to play ESPNs Look what we can do! while asking whats-your-favorite-color? questions. Baseball fans are able to distinguish smart from stupid, thus they cant figure out why ESPN, the nations self-anointed all-sports network, relentle sly sells us stupid. Gonzalez was asked if hed shave off his mustache if traded to the Yanks, who havent allowed facial hair since George Steinbrenner ruled. Romy Gonzalez had to remind the ESPN booth that the Yankees allow mustaches. AP But, as several readers noted, Nestor Cortes and Austin have mustaches theyre right there, see? as did Thurman Munson and Don Mattingly. And it was Gonzalez who told the ESPN booth that the Yanks allow mustaches. With two strikes on the batter, Gonzalez reached into a back pocket to pull a card. He read it, moved a few feet, then replaced it. Take it reader Chris Dellecese: Do you think anyone in ESPNs booth thought to ask, What did you just read? to maybe glean some insight for us to consider? Of course, not. Reader Tony Savoia: I dont even talk to my wife, sitting next to me, until commercial breaks. Girardi seems to think Philly has special love for Jazz Other than the usual bad coaching or no coaching from YES shot-callers, I cant figure why Joe Girardi wants to be heard as Foxs John Smoltz, examining every pitch and swing until we no longer hear him. Tuesday, , Jazz Chisolm Jr. batted in the ninth with the Yankees up a run. When applause was heard, Girardi said it was a matter of appreciation that hes getting a little cheer from the Phillies fans. He sounded serious. But not a chance. In Philly, where he managed the Phils? Not a chance. Those were plainly seen and heard as Yankees fans. Jazz Chisholm Jr #13 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 30, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Yankees defeated the Phillies 7-6. Getty Images Apparently, the curveball has been eliminated from MLB. Before the start of last Saturdays Yanks-Red Sox, Fox listed the kinds of pitches thrown by Boston starter Kutter Crawford, including 20 percent sweepers. No curveballs were listed, as if he doesnt throw a curveball, only sweepers, which were invented last season. Reader Bob Dahat figures that Pete Alonso will soon switch to OMFG! And all those SNY shots of fans in Citi Field dre sed as Grimace have quickly grown tired and unamusing. Getting closer but no cigar After Luke Weaver threw a total of seven pitches to make 1-2-3 work of the Phillies on Tuesday, Aaron Boone pulled him for closer Clay Holmes, who blew the lead. Thats the trouble with Boone and most script-addicted MLB managers: They think all their a signed closers, even if for just two or three games until they name the next one, are Mariano Rivera. Wednesday, after was delayed to examine if it cleared the wall, Michael Kay, taking a good shot at himself as LeMahieu cro sed the plate, said, Finally, I can say, See ya! Yankees third base DJ LeMahieu (26) hits a grand slam during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con On the subject of anarchy, the NFLs new kickoff rules should only take three or four seasons for players, coaches and fans to learn. Not sure why SNY last week twice chose to show the same pa sed out Citi Field patron, empty booze cans in front of him, but thats what it did. Charming Sunday afternoon game scene. Again, if NYRA TV and Fox/FS1s engaging and giving thoroughbred analyst Rich Migliore had been an NFL QB rather than an accomplished jockey, hed be known as the best analyst in the country. Reader Joe Napoloeone suggests that biological male vs. women Olympic boxing exceedingly brutal and conspicuous mismatches should be renamed Domestic Violence. Gotta go. My virus has gone viral. Eric Bledsoe Jersey