The Soto-in-Hell, Volpe-Rising, Met-Yankee Continuum goes on

An iron law of juju is to always, always, always embrace good sportsmanship and never never never mock an opponent - at least until the ass wipes have boarded the team bus after being swept. 

Then, let the feces rain!  

On that note, let's withhold our wanton cruelty toward the Mets and their beloved superstar left-fielder, the smiling and warm-hearted human ATM, Juan Soto. Watching the Juanster grimace malevolently, while occupying LF like a butter sculpture of Trump, is a new 9/11 memory night that I shall cherish, at least through Sunday.

But nothing today and tomorrow could change my view of the great Soto auction of 2024: Thank God the Mets outbid us. 

Ten Takeaways from last night.

1. Anthony Volpe continued to hit - 1-4 with a single. Maybe, just maybe, his near future isn't at 2B? 

Clearly, Jazz Chisholm's thumb will decide Volpe's fate, hopefully by the four-game Tampa series. If Jazz can hit, the Yankees could try Volpe at 3B, where Ryan McMahone - (the Yankee, not the Onondaga County Executive) - has for most of the season pounded out infield grounders. We could learn why Volpe played both 2B and 3B at Scranton. 

2. Last night, both McMahon and Volpe went 1-4. McMahon drove in a run with a dink pop fly into left field. (Looks like a line drive in the box score.) If Jazz comes back with any vinegar in his swing, it might be McMahon who loses his job.

3. But let's be clear: Two games does not a Volpe resurgence make. To be anything more than an infield selfie, he needs to excel through the next eight games.

4. Is Carlos Rodon finally peaking as a Yankee? It's been four years. Last night, aside from the HR - (which is an automatic for Yankee starters this season) - Rodon looked - dare we say - in command? In fact, he looked like a better chance of pitching the seventh and eighth than the Yank bullpen.

5. For the record, in his fourth Yankee year, Rodon's ERA is for the first time under 3.00 - (that's 2.96.) At 33, he seems to be getting stronger. Before coming to NYC, Rodon was a three-time all-star with a no-hitter on his resume. Over the years in NY, he's been a steady disappointment. Dare we hope?

6. Speaking of the bullpen, Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick are clearly showing signs of Boone Abuse Overuse. It's a bad time for Boonie to be channeling Scott Proctor. 

7. Ah, yes... there's a name. Scott Proctor. The man who torched his jerseys at home plate. There's a Name That Yankee for Joe Girardi to ponder, eh?

8. Last night's game hinged on one nutso play, and the Yankees were just damn lucky. With the bases loaded, Headrick snared a line-drive back at him, a ball that would have scored at least one run, maybe two, and rejigger the game. Damn, we wuz lucky. 

9. Spencer Jones botched another play in CF. Well - checks lineup, sighs - we have nobody else. Up the middle, the Yankees are a carnival of uncertainties - Wells, Lombard, Volpe and Jones. So be it. 

10. Afternoon game today. Prediction: Knicks in five.