Mike Lupica

It sounds as if David Stearns, who runs baseball operations for the Mets, isn’t inclined to deal Francisco Lindor at this year’s Trade Deadline, even if he didn’t completely shut the door on the notion on Friday. Of course, this has been a much tougher season for Stearns than it

There are no gap years for the Yankees, especially not in the summer of 2026, with no guarantees that there is going to be a next year in baseball. There is always World Series urgency for them, even though they've only played in one since winning it all 17 years ago. The urgency is only heightened because Aaron Judge turned 34 in April, and had begun playing his 10th full season as a great Yankee, until he wasn't playing the season because of a stress fracture in his right rib.

So we know where the story starts: It starts with Harbaugh and Dart. Coach and quarterback, in a coach-quarterback league. But if there is a through line from the start of the story to the Giants making it back to the playoffs — as early as this season — it has to run through the defense.

It was just under 22 months ago that the Mets won their last postseason series. It was a National League Division Series against the Phillies. Francisco Lindor hit a rousing grand slam to effectively end that one, Sean Manaea pitched seven strong innings in winning a crucial Game 3 and

Maybe Run It Back II, the sequel, turns out to be a blockbuster for Brian Cashman. Maybe Aaron Judge comes back and is the slugging immortal he once

Everything began to change in the American League East on the night of June 25 at Fenway Park, Yankees against the Red Sox, beginning of a 4-game series. The Yankees young ace, Cam Schlittler, was on the mound. The Yankees were 48-31, in first place in the division. The Red Sox, at 32-46, were 15 ½ games behind the Yankees. You see where both teams are now. There was one season before that night. There is the season we have now. That's the one in which the Bogeymen are back for the Yankees. Or Bogeyman. You pick. But once again, that's who the Red Sox have become for the Yankees.

It is the Red Sox who have done the most so far this season to remind us -- as if we ever need reminding -- of the magic of the long season in baseball. Even in what has turned out to be a long week for them. They became the

Whatever the Giants are going to be — and whether or not they can be what they once were — all begins on Saturday afternoon against the Vikings. Preseason game or not. This is where the John Harbaugh Era begins, with the new coach under more pressure on his way through the door as any Giants coach has ever faced.

Whatever the Giants are going to be — and whether or not they can be what they once were — all begins on Saturday afternoon against the Vikings.

Here's a spoiler alert: The next time you hear a single baseball owner tell you that they need a salary cap or all will be lost in the national pastime, they're lying to you. You know why so many of the robber barons who run the country keep buying into sports? Because even more than not paying their fair share of taxes, they love a sure thing. And they see sports as a sure thing, now more than ever.