"Scouts."

"A Fourth of July firecracker lit in California was heard in The Bronx on Saturday night and signified the latest dagger to the Yankees’ season.

Not only did Melvin Upton Jr.’s towering home run to left leading off the ninth inning carry the lowly Padres to a 2-1 win over the Yankees in front of 42,315 at Petco Park, he hit it off of Andrew Miller’s first pitch of the inning and 20th of the game.

It was the fifth homer allowed by Miller in what has been a sensational season for the lefty reliever, who is a target of the Cubs, Rangers and Nationals as the Aug. 1 trade deadline approaches. All three teams had scouts watching Saturday evening."

What is the purpose of scouts? Anybody can watch the replays on televison. Or the Internet. In fact, it's a challenge to avoid the replay of Upton's HR.


"The scouts on hand also saw Dellin Betances not pitch at his best. With the Yankees ahead 1-0 in the sixth, Betances inherited baserunner Wil Myers from Ivan Nova. Taking advantage of Betances not using a slide step and having a high leg kick, Myers stole second easily. Matt Kemp followed by dumping a check-swing double into right that scored Myers."

For one thing, you're not getting Betances.

For another, was anyone's opinion of Betances diminished? He is coming off back-to-back Mariano-esque seasons and he allowed an inherited baserunner to score on a check-swing double.

He also allowed a stolen base.

He has 72 strikeouts in 40 innings ... this player who isn't even on the market ... and you don't want him anymore because he gave up a whole run?
 

"Pomeranz and Nova pitched very well. Pomeranz gave up a run and five hits in seven frames. Nova, who had pitched poorly in his previous seven outings, went 5 ¹/₃ innings in which he gave up a run and four hits.

Of course, every run counts no matter when it is scored. However, the one Upton delivered was a lot louder than the first Padres run and was heard 3,000 miles away."

Yeah.

Using King's non-logic, maybe the scouts were impressed with Ivan Nova.

Nova for Heyward and Schwarber. Sign me up.