SNY's The Warm-up: Manfred's comment — WNBA's return — Game 5, 2017 ALDS

Get Today’s New York Sports Here Tweet of the Day --------------------------------------------------------------- Good morning. Despite the recent turmoil, the NBA season is still expected to return. [Here's]( SNY's Ian Begley with the details. --------------------------------------------------------------- New SNY originals... BNNY: Living Room Edition - [Will there or won't there be an MLB season?]( What Are The Odds? - [Assuming there will be a season, who will have the more productive 2020: Jeff McNeil or Michael Conforto?]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's word count: 585 words (about five minutes) --------------------------------------------------------------- 1. After last week's promise, Rob Manfred is 'not confident' in 2020 season SNY graphic Last Wednesday, on ESPN's draft broadcast, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said this: - “I can tell you unequivocally we are going to play Major League Baseball this year." Yesterday, also on ESPN, he said this on the same subject: - "I'm not confident. I think there's real risk. And as long as there's no dialogue, that real risk is gonna continue." That's quite a 180 in the span of five days. Here's how Tony Clark, executive director of the MLB Players Association, responded [via a statement]( on Monday: - "Players are disgusted that after Rob Manfred unequivocally told Players and fans that there would '100%' be a 2020 season, he has decided to go back on his word and is now threatening to cancel the entire season. - "Any implication that the Players Association has somehow delayed progress on health and safety protocols is completely false." (Who knows what will happen, but the word disgusted rarely suggests a resolution is on the horizon.) Not to rub it in, but: If we were in normal times, the Mets would be starting a three-game series with the Cubs tonight at 8 p.m. There's always [the Virtual Mets](. On SNY.tv: [Will Rob Manfred's shocking comments spur further MLB negotiations, or end them?]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The WNBA quietly announces its return Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA Today: New member of the New York Liberty Sabrina Ionescu While the NBA grapples with its immediate future and MLB's two sides grow further apart, it appears the WNBA is on its way back. The league announced its plan on Monday, which has been agreed upon by the players' union, to start its season next month. Details: - A 22-game regular season (down 14 games from a normal year), followed by a postseason, to start in late July. - Games will be held at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fl. - The postseason will be the same format as usual: Single-elimination games for the first two rounds, and best-of-fives for the final two rounds. - Also of note: Players will receive 100 percent of their 2020 salaries. (The average salary last year was about $115,000.) Reminder: The Liberty drafted potential superstar Sabrina Ionescu first overall in April. We won't have to wait much longer to watch her debut with New York ... albeit in Florida. --------------------------------------------------------------- DAILY TRIVIA Who had the best record in MLB when the players went on strike in 1994? 3. Highlights from the archive MLB/YouTube This week's Highlights from the archive theme: The most important game of the 2010s for the Mets, Yankees, Jets, Giants and Knicks. Today's game: Game 5 of the 2017 ALDS, Yankees 5, Indians 2. GIF'd above: Didi Gregorius's first-inning home run off Corey Kluber. Its importance: The Indians broke the American League record for longest winning streak (22) in the regular season and took a 2-0 ALDS lead. The Yankees won the next three and almost beat the trash can-banging Astros, giving New York fans [and players]( an alibi for the rest of eternity. Best performances from the game: - Didi Gregorius: 3-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 runs. - Brett Gardner: 3-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 run. - Aroldis Chapman: 2 inn., no runs, 4 Ks, 1 save. FYI: The Yankees reached the ALCS four times (2010, 2012, 2017, 2019) in the 2010s compared to three times in the '90s. Other arguments: Derek Jeter's final home game; Mariano Rivera's final home game; Game 5, 2017 ALCS. --------------------------------------------------------------- 4. The New York Minute - [READ]( Yesterday was the 37-year anniversary of Keith Hernandez's trade to the Mets. - [READ]( The Mets signed Brandon McIlwain yesterday, an UDFA who played football and baseball at Cal and South Carolina. - [READ]( Should the Yankees bring back Masahiro Tanaka for 2021? - [WATCH]( Gerrit Cole has been throwing bullpens at Yankee Stadium. - [READ]( Nets exec J.R. Holden could be poached by the Detroit Pistons, sources tell Ian Begley. - [READ]( Could Carmelo Anthony be back in the Garden next season? --------------------------------------------------------------- Trivia answer: Montreal Expos (74-40); the Yankees (70-43) were next That's the buzzer, folks. Stay safe and enjoy your Tuesday. This email was sent by: SportsNet New York (SNY) 150 Greenwich st 50th floor New York, NY 10007 US [Unsubscribe]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Facebook](