SENGA YES OR SENGA NO

BY MARK HALPERN

     Kodai Senga, who went 12-7 his first year got Met fans excited. But it’s been downhill ever since. Whether it’s injury or just bad pitching, Senga has not replicated his rookie season. He also hasn’t adjusted to MLB, and pitching every fifth day or every sixth day, as he did in Japan. So, there are two sides to every coin and right now it is clearly the side of failure. However, the Mets didn’t trade him (no offense I don’t think he was ever brought up) so the question became what to do?

     The first question you need to ask is his starting days behind him? Yes, I don’t believe that Senga should be a starter again. We have seen Senga now regulated to the Bullpen and he has had a few shots out of it as a long reliever with the results being the same. If we were to go back and analyze every game, he pitched his first inning is usually his best, 2nd-5th is where he usually falls apart. So, the fact he failed at being a long reliever surprising not really. Over the last week we have seen Senga now come out towards the end of the game either as a setup pitcher or as a closer. We have seen Starting Pitchers who had lost their ability to go deep into games turned into closers and that’s Kerry Wood of the Cubs and John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves. Both had huge success and were able to extend their careers by 3-5 years each. The question becomes is Senga willing to accept this role. Well, while he is under contract with the Mets, it’s the Mets way or he just won’t pitch. The second option makes no sense because one day he will be a free agent and most teams won’t pay for someone who hasn’t preformed. Senga has to embrace this chance because it very could be his last not as a Met but in the MLB as a whole. 

     As I said Senga is at his best in the first inning. His velocity is at it’s best (just as with any starting pitcher) as he hit triple digits on his first pitch against the Braves. but all of his pitches are crisp and on target. Is this the answer to solve all problems with Senga no but, if can tackle a few of the major internal problems with his pitching and with the fact that Devin Williams (Mets current closer) now on the IL this gives the Mets a chance to see if Senga can adapt to the role before the end of the season. If he’s successful than that’s one piece off the Mets offseason needs.

THE DUGOUTS BREAKERS

BY MARK HALPERN

    For over 40 years now I have been buying, selling and trading all different types of sports and non-sports cards. I truly focus on the big four : MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL Over the last few years we have seen the surge of MLS cards, partly because of the World Cup but, Soccer has gained so much popularity over the last decade that the want for more is definitely there. Now Nascar, F1, WWE and UFC are beginning to gain popularity and with new licenses will definitely challenge for a good part of this hobby.

    There are so many ways to collect/buy cards these days but, I am here to talk about the companies that make the Dugout (my company) still noticeable after all this time. Breakers make it somewhat easy for you to try and collect your team or your player through different kinds of breaks. One thing you have to realize is that buying from breakers is the same as buying from your local LCS just you get to specify what you want to get and if your fast enough to comment for your team or player then kudos but, remember there are most likely a lot of people waiting to claim the same thing you are so timing is key. This article is dedicated to the companies below that I am still with to this day.

TOP NOTCH SPORTS CLUB

   Top Notch was the first breaking company I ever joined. I had been watching for some time and I liked Anthony’s demeanor and personality so kept watching until I was ready. I have been breaking with Anthony for almost 10 years now and have built a close business relationship and friendship with Anthony and has been featured many times on the network for amazing pulls and we will feature some of them at the end of each company we use. Along with Anthony is Justin Valentini and they together make a great breaking duo. Justin has been featuring more of the autograph memorabilia side of the breaks and the it gives the company a well-rounded breaking team. John Selbuski is the man in charge of sorting, shipping and with his team get all of our eBay consignments up and done very quickly. Here are a few of the hits they have landed us over the past year.

HAT TRICK BREAKS

     Hat Trick Breaks LLC chief breaker is Joe Knapp. Joe breaks anything his customers will pay for. This goes for older product to current product. Joe has been an amazing friend and business partner. Joe is a Super Dad. When Joe is not pulling The Dug Out of major pulls, he is securing autograph signings with some of today’s up incoming stars and celebrity signings as well. Joe also while doing all of this is coaching his sons ball team that travels all over. Joe like the other breakers I will mention have had a close friendship with me and during the time I was in the hospital dealing with yet another surgery on my back and wasn’t even buying would check in with a DM to see how was doing and also offering help if needed it. Mind you none of these breakers have ever met face to face and treated me as family. Joe has pulled me some big singles but what hangs in my bedroom is two of my most prized collectibles. 

RBI BREAKS

  RBI Breaks is run by Mark Mariano. I was recommended to Mark by Anthony Loparo from Top Notch. Mark has to be one of the most patient breakers ever. While Mark likes to do basic hobby cases, Mark also dabbles in Retail side of cases and opening these for a break takes longer than a random hobby case. Retail cases are more boxes and packs per case with much higher odds-on inserts, retail breaks give you the same chance at getting regular base and same rookies in the more expensive hobby packs at a more affordable price. Mark is the master because I just watched him do 4 cases of a retail product that took over 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES and then he has to sort it all and when the sorting is done time to throw up another 5000 card break to sort. We all tip our cap to Mark.  Mark has been featured just like the two companies above me but, Mark has pulled me something that no other breaker has. While getting a 1/1 these days on a card is much easier then when they were first featured back in the end of 90’s. However, Mark pulled me a 1/1 for the ages. A SUPERFRACTOR 1/1 ON CARD AUTO OF FRANSICO LINDOR. (I believe that was what the article was called.)  https://thesportsinsanitynetwork.com/2026/04/30/a-1-1-for-the-ages/ 

Card Breakers are everywhere from your local LCS to Facebook/YouTube and now Fanatics live which is an application for only Trading Card Breakers as breaking has become of the biggest part of the hobby that is collected today. It’s never to late to start and you may remember having cards when you were a kid just to have your mother or father throw them out when you moved away to your own spot. Breaking can be an expensive hobby but, in today’s market I think each breaker wants to be able to sell all products at affordable prices but, when you pay X amount you have to make a profit or what’s the point. Breakers don’t set the prices the Hobby does buy the prices they have to pay. 

LAND OF TWO EXTREMES

BY MIKE RIFKIN

The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and all everyone is talking about is the Los Angeles Dodgers acquiring back to back CY Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is bad for the game and how it might cause a lockout for 2027. But something else caught my eye on Monday during the deadline. Since it’s inception the third wild card spot has been good for the game, it allows more teams to feel that they have a chance to make the playoffs. 

The Miami Marlins entered Monday 1.5 games out of the third wild card spot, and after taking three out of four from the Mets, the Marlins sold off pieces. They traded Catcher Liam Hicks to their in state rival Tampa Bay Rays. Hicks was hitting .282 with 14 homers and a team leading 62 RBI’S. Hicks still has two years of arbitration left, before becoming a free agent. 

Now, if Hicks was like Skubal an impending free agent I would understand the move, even if it’s to get a look at a younger player, but he leads the team in RBI’S and you’re in the race. The Marlins are not the only team to sell in a weird spot, the Tigers also sold pitcher Casey Mize, the Orioles traded Adley Rutschman. The Marlins have the second lowest payroll in the sport, yet 1.5 games out they got rid of one of their better hitters. 

Tarik Skubal met with the media for the first time as a Dodger on Monday, and said “ Every team  could trade for me. I don’t sympathize with people that blame the Dodgers for anything they’ve done. It’s a winning organization, I don’t sympathize with people that are complaining because the Dodgers do the right thing.” Skubal is correct on both counts. Yes, any team could’ve traded for him and yes the Dodgers are doing whatever it takes to win, and didn’t do anything illegal.  All they did was find the loophole of deferred money and have used it to their advantage. 

Now, do I like the fact the Dodgers got Skubal? No, but they’re showing us they’re trying to be the first National League team to win thee consecutive World Series. Now for smaller market teams trading for Skubal would be as a rental and they’d lose him as a free agent in the Winter, look at what the Brewers did in 2008 with CC Sabathia. But I don’t love what the Marlins did either. We can scream and yell about the Dodgers, but small market teams can’t do that and do the same thing the Marlins did, you have to show you want to win. I’m not sure what’s on the horizon when it comes to Baseball, but I’ll say this if the Dodgers find a way to win a third consecutive World Series and they re-sign Skubal it might be a long time before we see Baseball, thanks Rob Manfred.

STARTING TO THINK

BY MIKE RIFKIN

Saturday the Mets honored the 40 year anniversary of their 1986 World Series Championship. For the franchise it was their second and last championship. The 2026 Mets had championship aspirations and well have failed miserably. But watching the ceremony got me thinking about how close or far away this team could be to being a contender. And with the trade deadline looming on Monday, the Mets can make a 2027 statement before the Winter. 

There were a lot of takeaways from the ceremony about the 86 team, about being together and how close knit they were. And while parts of the team were homegrown (Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden, etc…) they also made two massive trades : Keith Hernandez (who should be in the Hall of fame) and Gary Carter (who should have his jersey retired). The Mets that year had a sensational pitching staff led by Doc Gooden. Gooden, Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez, and Bobby Ojeda had a combined 3.16 ERA. Throughout the history of the Mets franchise they’ve always done a good job in developing Starting pitching. 

Fast forward to 2026 ( and into 27) I think the Mets have three fifths of a rotation (yes they’ll need more for depth purposes) but right now Nolan McLean, Christian Scott and Zac Thornton could all be in the rotation. The Mets added Freddy Peralta to be the ace of the staff, and it’s failed and he is certain to be dealt by Monday, so will Clay Holmes, who was the best starter for the team until his injury. 

Yes, the Mets are sellers, but they should also consider a long term buyer. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN reported teams are calling the Mariners about starting pitcher George Kirby, meanwhile others are reporting Hunter Greene of the Reds is also available. These are two guys David Stearns should absolutely be all over. Greene is under contract through 2030 at a very reasonable salary, now I am not sure why the Reds would dump Greene a former second overall pick, but he’s still just 27 years old. For the Mariners they have a lot of pitching and Kirby is 28 years old and the Mariners need offense. 

Now there are reports the only untouchables for the Mets are Juan Soto, Carson Benge, Francisco Lindor, AJ Ewing, Nolan McLean, and Christian Scott. I think the Mets catchers should be off the table too, but that’s just me. David Stearns wants run prevention and the Mets stink at preventing runs, so why not add a starting pitcher who has over eight K/9( Kirby :8.6, Greene 11.2).  The Mets have six players they won’t move, Stearns should call on both. As mentioned earlier Greene is signed through 2030 and Kirby is still arbitration eligible. 

There are people who would like for the Mets to sign Tarik Skubal and while that’d be nice it’s definitely not a guaranteed thing. Yes, the Peralta deal didn’t work out, but you call on one of these guys, who fits the Mets young staff, the Mets could have one of the best rotations in Baseball in 2027.

MLB PLAYERS BUY THEIR OWN CARDS

BY MARK HALPERN

     As most of you who follow the network and my podcast the 1/1 known I have been a sport card trader for the past 36 years. Started when I was 12 and built a great small business that I still have but done on much lighter scale. I used to attend a lot of trading card shows a year from New York to California as a buyer and dealer. I participated in over 10 major conventions and anyone who had a bad comment on how I did business (meaning the ones who I wouldn’t make a deal with) you have to just ignore it. 

   One of the greatest moments of my life was at the 2004 East Coast National and I sold a 1/1 of Ivan Rodriguez to a celebrity ( I did not receive permission to use his name) He was a major celebrity. One of my greatest moments was selling to a non-common buyer that I was used to.

   Once the Sport Card game went to breaking online, the first company I was with was Top Notch Sports Club which is owned by Anthony Loparo. Anthony had made a post (Name of player will not be named) about a certain card that has sold on eBay and it just so happens the owner of the card is the actual Player. I collect the player my self and I reached out to Anthony and asked him “Is the first time that you have seen this?” Anthony replied “It happens way more often than you think.” I find this to be not just cool but to be the business that help untie this card with the player has to be one of the better stories that could be floating around the Card World today.

https://topnotchsportsclub.com/

WHAT A STAND UP GUY

BY MARK HALPERN

     Last week I reported on the horrific car accident that involved 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and you can go read this article here ( https://thesportsinsanitynetwork.com/2026/07/27/get-well-kyle/)  the other day the great 49er coach spoke to the media and did something that he didn’t have to do and should set an example to every driver. After reading the accident report he went on live media with reporters stating that the accident was NOT the result of the other driver. He admitted that while in his Tesla and not going more than 25MPH, his cell phone slid off his lap and he reached down and just after he grabbed it and sat up he was greeted by his air bag and visor which caused the 40 stitches. 

    Honesty in this world with everything going on honesty isn’t something people rely on. People today are saying one thing but, do something different. Kyle Shanahan was being given special treatment he believed and changed the rhetoric and will fully be taking care of the people involved in the accident through his insurance and I am sure a couple of 49er tickets would help too. It just goes to show you that in this world today there are 100% honest and good people.

QUARTERBACKS UNDER PRESSURE

BY MIKE RIFKIN

It’s the end of July which means one thing Training camp is upon us. Every fanbase is excited for their favorite team to get going. Here are my top ten Quarterbacks with something to prove this season. Sidenote ( Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are not on this list, they’re only pressure is to get to or win the SuperBowl.) The ones on this list are under pressure to win and elevate themselves to that level for the most part.

  1. CJ STROUD – TEXANS – Stroud had a sensational rookie season, and the last two seasons have been okay. His touchdowns have dropped the last two seasons. And he was awful in the playoff loss to the Pats. With how good the Texans defense is, Stroud can’t be the guy holding them back, otherwise the Texans might be looking elsewhere for a Quarterback. 
  1. JUSTIN HERBERT  CHARGERS – Unlike Stroud, Herbert has a long term contract and is the face of the Chargers. In last year’s playoff loss at the Pats, Herbert was down his two starting tackles. Now in Mike Mcdaniel’s offense Herbert should flourish, to a point where not only the Chargers should win a playoff game, they can be a real Super Bowl threat. Then the media can do what they love to do and that’s throw Herbert in the same conversation as Allen, Burrow, Jackson, and Mahomes. 
  1. BO NIX – BRONCOS – Nix didn’t play in the AFC title game due to injury, but he was solid last season for the Broncos. Nix was top ten in yards and touchdowns last season, but he doesn’t have to be the savior with how good the Bronco defense is. But the addition of Jaylen Waddle puts added pressure on Nix and the Broncos, who want to take that next step. 
  1. CALEB WILLIAMS – BEARS – Williams was fun to watch last season, his first under Ben Johnson. He spread the wealth around, and he still has a ton of weapons minus DJ Moore. But Williams was so spectacular he landed the Madden cover, so there’s some lofty goals in Chicago. 
  1. DAK PRESCOTT – COWBOYS – This is all about one thing, getting over the hump. Dak was in the top five in yards, touchdowns and QBR. Dak also has a plethora of weapons with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Jake Ferguson. At 33 how much longer can Dak play at this high level?
  1. BAKER MAYFIELD  – BUCS – The Bucs collapsed at the end of the season. Part of that was Baker got hurt and tried to play through it. The Bucs lost four of their last five games and Baker threw at least one interception in each game. He won’t have old reliable Mike Evans to help him, so Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka need to have good years. Other reason this is a big year for Baker, he’ll be a free agent after the season, so if he plays well he can cash in. 
  2. KYLER MURRAY – VIKINGS – Kyler basically went to the place all free agent Quarterbacks want to go. He goes to a team that has an outstanding coach, defense and offensive scheme. He gets one of the best receiving tandems in the game with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Kyler needs to prove the Vikings right if he wants to be the long term solution. 
  1. TUA TAGOVAILOA/MICHAEL PENIX – FALCONS – Here’s the thing both of these guys have pressure on them, Penix to prove he’s not a bust and Tua to prove he can still play at a high level. The NFC South is actually winnable, but these are two guys who need to stay healthy throughout camp and it’s a QB battle worth watching. But either way they have so much talent on that offense, they need to prove themselves. 
  1. PATRICK MAHOMES – CHIEFS – Yeah, I know what I said at the top. Mahomes isn’t under pressure to win, what I want to see from Mahomes is how he handles coming off the ACL surgery. This is his first major surgery in the NFL, and if you think about it most of his injuries have had to deal with his legs. Luckily for him the Chiefs signed Kenneth Walker to take some pressure off. 
  2.  TREVOR LAWRENCE – JAGS – 2025 was the best season of Lawrence’s career. He was in the top ten in yards and touchdowns. He led the Jags to the playoffs, where he went toe to toe with Josh Allen. Can Lawrence do it again, and this time without Travis Etienne, who had been his running back since college.

GET OVER IT

BY MIKE RIFKIN

Do you remember the episode of “Family Guy” where Peter joined the news team for his segment “What Really Grinds My Gears”?  December 8th 2024, 596 days ago that’s a day that has haunted the state of New York Sports. It was the day Juan Soto and the Mets agreed to his 15 year 765 million dollar contract, and there are people who can’t get over it. 

For the first time ever the Mets outbid the Yankees for a player both teams coveted, especially after what Soto did in his one season in the Bronx. Now, Soto’s time in Queens has not been great, the Mets missed the playoffs last season and will miss again this year and that is definitely not the fault of Soto. As a Met has a slash line of .270/.400/.530 with 64 homers and 157 RBI’S. It’s not Soto’s fault the Mets are where they are, that’s on David Stearns, who really needs a good trade deadline. 

Soto, is a generational player, he is one of the faces of the sport, but yet people on Social Media or the media as a whole want to talk about if he made a mistake leaving the Bronx for Queens. So this is what “Grinds My Gears” Soto obviously was sold on whatever the vision Steve Cohen and Stearns have mapped out. And let’s be honest most of what has happened has not worked out in the Mets favor, but 600 days later we’re still talking about if it was a mistake? I know The Yankees have their shills in the media and Yankee fans are not used to losing out on free agents, but people need to get over this. Michael Kay on his program Monday claimed Soto has “wasted two prime years” The guy will be 28 years old in October, so he is just entering his prime. 

This notion that leaving the Bronx for Queens being a mistake needs to be looked at like this, the media and Yankee fans are not used to losing out on star players, especially to the Mets. And while the Mets are the biggest disappointment in the sport, the Yankee fan feels it’s cool to flex their muscle at being better than the Mets. But at the end of the day Juan Soto is the King Of Queens.

MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT

BY MARK HALPERN

     To be high up in the social media game you have to be known or do something to get known. Now there are right ways and wrong ways of doing it. We have seen YouTube sensation Mr. Beast turn his life into millions of dollars from his wild antics to cash winning games. Others rely on other talents from looks to personality. To be in SPORTS as a respected YouTuber it takes a lot and it takes dedication and there are ways of doing it and Fred Beyer found out the wrong way to do things.

    During the 2026 NFL Draft Fred Beyer ran on stage during the Pittsburgh Steelers pick and grabbed the microphone. He thought this would be his viral moment and it is but not in a good way. Fred was greeted by an NFL Attorney who gave him a sheet of paper explaining to him if he ever shows up at any NFL venue he will be arrested on the spot. There’s good publicity and bad publicity and whether or not Mr. Beyer believes his viral moment was worth it, it wasn’t. The Attorney requested he sign that he received the notice and he did, instead of fighting this in a court room. In my personal opinion it kept him out of jail and out of any other trouble with the law that he has been dealing with.

    Social Media has changed many a way we do things. We get information and sometimes you get recognized for things you do and sometimes other people are watching and a job opportunity presents itself. The moral of the story is there is a right way and a wrong way to break in to the media side of things. I just explained to you the wrong way.

GET WELL KYLE

BY MARK HALPERN

      This past weekend Kyle Shanahan, the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers was involved in a serious car collision. The collision involved four cars including Shanahan and the accident is not related to  DRUGS & OR ALCOHOL suspected. Just how serious was the crash you may ask? Well, when all said and done car totaled, A severe concussion, 40 stitches to his face, 3 broken ribs and fractures in his wrist. John Lynch who is the General Manager of the 49ers has stated that all these injuries thank goodness were non-life threatening and they will be taking a slow and careful approach to how he coaches in this preseason. Chris Foerster will be at the helm. Foerster has been an Offensive line coach around the league and has been in San Francisco since 2019. All of us here at the network wish for Kyle to have a safe a healthy recovery.