I was advised we needed to do something outside today. I suggested seeing “Thor” pitch in a rehab assignment in Coney Island. She agreed. The team we all hope he rejoins soon frustrates me. I am sure all the players are trying their best but the record suggests a limit to their collective abilities and it remains a source of frustration. No plans to change teams; just hoping tinkering a bit can lead to improvement.

I find no merit trading off the pitchers who smart GMs can build a winning team around. That means Jacob DeGrom and aforementioned Noah Syndergaard staying put in Citifield; and keeping Steven Matz and Zach Wheeler. This year may be shot other than demonstrating an ability to compete; better decision-making on pitcher utilization and daily batting orders seem to be the best places to start. Despite what my friend Paul (who likes the Bronx based team) tells me about stepping forward to manage my favored team, I maintain no such aspiration.

Still, always a strategist and planner, I observed first hand managing my daughter’s teams back in the day how lineups done smartly enhance a player’s ability to succeed. The player batting 5^thof late should be hitting 3^rdor cleanup. The third-baseman should be batting 7^thand the cleanup hitter needs to be dropped down a slot. I wish Mickey Callaway can reach that conclusion sooner than later.

Meantime, I look forward to experience hope for the future in a visit to Coney Island.