WHACK BACK AT VAC

Carlo A. Trimboli: I have seen it all in my 68 years, and just once before I go I want to see it again in the way you described, one of our teams led by a homegrown star. Yeah, just once more and I don’t care which team, Daniel Jones, RJ Barrett, the hockey kids, one more Mantle/Jeter/ Taylor/Eli/Leetch/Clyde/Dollar Bill. Then I can die in Peace. Vac: For your sake, Carlo, I will root for the over. No need to aim so low! Peter Dowd: Question: Since when has throwing 5 2/3 innings of no-run baseball become a gem (as you recently described a Jacob deGrom start)? That wasn’t even a complete game when I played in Little League (1963-65). Just saying. Vac: I must admit, Peter: I think you have forced me to reevaluate my word choices as they pertain to modern baseball. @BartBusterna: Why is contending Tampa Bay giving away pitching depth for nothing? @MikeVacc: I must admit up front I like the Mets getting Rich Hill. But when a sharp team like the Rays agrees to part with a player … it does make you want to check the expiration date twice. Alex Burton: Thanks for reminding everyone again about Bernie Williams’ beyondessential contributions. I am saddened and, frankly, stunned at his frequent (unintentional/ absent-minded?) exclusion whenever the Core Four are cited as the homegrown heart of the ’90s Yankees dynasty. They don’t win those trophies without him. Vac: Sadly, unlike the others, Bernie cut his teeth toiling a few years on some awful Yankees teams. Too bad he couldn’t trade those in at the back end.