ESPN gives Yanks cold shoulder

BEAUTIFUL DAY Sunday, sunny, nearly 70 degrees; great afternoon for baseball. But insane greed turned a Red Sox- Yanks game into a cold, Sunday 8: 05 p. m. start for ESPN money.

As a matter of common sense and decency — and to slow the extinction of both— commissioner Rob Manfred months ago should have insisted that ESPN instead show Royals- Angels, Giants-Padres or Dodgers- Diamondbacks. But he didn’t. Small wonder he claims to admire his predecessor, beancounting, bottom- liner Bud Selig.

Not coincidentally, A’s will hold a Mark McGwire Bobblehead Night, thus teams continue to exploit the achievements and legacies of those who placed the game in disrepute. Oh, well, Yankees fans cheer Alex Rodriguez, jeer the other teams’ juicers.

Questions that begin, “How important is it ...?” are headed to Silly town. After Saturday’s Masters, CBS’ Bill Macatee to Justin Rose: “How important is it to be in the final pairing?” I’ll take this one, Justin: Well, Bill, it means that you’re either in first or second place.

Thursday on SNY, Keith Hernandez seemed surprised Nats starter Stephen Strasburg twice didn’t bother to back up home. At $ 7.4 million per? Get real! The more you make, the less you do! What if he pulls a hammy? He’s paid to pitch, not catch.

After Phil Mickelson made a good putt, on Sunday, CBS’s Peter “Safely In” Kostis: “That bodes well for him, going forward.” Nurse!

Butch Goring, Saturday on MSG- whatever, was delighted by a fight between Islander Eric Boulton and Columbus’ Dalton Prout. The same Butch Goring won the Lady Byng and Bill Masterton Trophies — both for sportsmanlike play.

Reader Bill Liederman: Jordan Spieth now qualifies to be referred to only as “Jordan” ormaybe “Jordie” by his new, imaginary pal, Mike Francesa.