Top 10 Yankee Moments of 2009

So, I decided to step aside from my LA blog for a moment and discuss the Yankees 2009 season considering they were crowned World Series Champs a week ago. It was a fantastic season for the Yanks with many ups and downs along the way, but in the end, they were truly the best team in baseball. There were so many great moments along the way, but I narrowed the list down to the 10 that stick out the most in my mind. Let me know what you think. What's missing? What shouldn't be there? Should anything move up or down? I'd love to hear your opinion!

#10 - Yanks Open New Stadium


While the Yankee bullpen imploded and the bats were silenced by Cliff Lee, the opening of the New Yankee Stadium could not go unnoticed. The grand facility began a year marked by criticism for expensive tickets and empty seats, but also marked by pies in the face after walk-off wins and a tremendous amount of tribute to the Yankees history. It was the “House That George Built” and it would end up hosting the final game of the Yankees’ World Championship Season.

#9 - Yanks Sweep Away Sox


In early August, the Yanks were sitting in first place, but by just 2.5 games over the Red Sox when the rivals came to town. The Yankees had started the year 0-8 vs. Boston and needed at least a win or two to give them some credibility. What followed was a four-game sweep of Boston that featured a 13-6 blowout of John Smoltz in Game 1, a walk-off homer by A-Rod for 2-0, 15-inning win in Game 2, a masterful performance by CC Sabathia en route to a 5-0 shutout in Game 3, and a Mark Teixeira go-ahead homer in the 8th inning of a 5-2 win in the final game. The Yanks were now up 6.5 games in the east and cruised to the division title.

#8 - Mo Enters 500 Club and Adds 1st RBI


Against the cross-town rival Mets, and on National TV, Mariano Rivera came into the game with two outs in the 8th, needing 4 saves for #500. He gave up just one hit, struck out two, and joined Trevor Hoffman in the 500 club. Not only did he get that milestone, he also got career RBI #1 when he drew a bases-loaded walk against elite closer Francisco Rodriguez. It was the performance that elated Yankee fans and drove Met fans off the side of a bridge.

#7 - Pettitte is #1 on Playoff Wins List


After having to wait an extra day because of rain, Andy Pettitte took the mound in Game 6 of the ALCS looking to get the Yanks back to the Fall Classic. Not only did he win the game, but he won his 16th career postseason game, surpassing John Smoltz for first all-time. Andy threw 6 and a third innings giving up just 1 run and striking out 6 in the victory, sending the Yanks to the World Series, and moving him within four wins from Ring #5.

#6 - Game 2 Heroics




Game 2’s to me are always big momentum swingers. It could end with a team holding a commanding 2-0 lead or in a 1-1 tie, right back like it was at the beginning. In these two, the Yankees were looking to take that dominant lead, and they’d need extra innings to do so both times. In the ALDS against Minnesota, the Yanks were down 3-1 in the 9th. Up came Alex Rodriguez with 1 on, and he unloaded an A-Bomb into the right field bullpen off Joe Nathan to tie the game and send it to extras, beginning his exorcism of the playoff demons that haunted him since 2004. In the 11th, Mark Teixeira lined a bullet to left that hit off the top of the wall and skipped into the stands for another Yankee walk-off and a 2-0 series lead.

In the ALCS, the Angels had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the 11th. Up came A-Rod again against another strong closer in Brian Fuentes. He hit another homer to right, just clearing the wall, and further exorcising the demons, and the game was tied up again. In the 13th, Maicer Izturis inexplicably tried to turn an impossible double play, threw the ball away at second, and Jerry Hairston Jr. scored the game winner.

Then in the World Series, after getting completely shut down by Cliff Lee in Game 1, the Yanks needed AJ Burnett to step up in Game 2 and shut down the Phillies. He tossed 7 innings of one-run ball, striking out 9, and allowing only 4 hits and 2 walks in a 3-1 win. Two excellent walk-offs, which was the Yanks theme of the year, and a masterful performance on the mound, turned the tide in each series.

#5 - Matsui's 6 in Game 6


Game 6 wasn’t a must-win situation, but after losing Game 5, the Yankees no doubt wanted to close out the Series rather than send it to a Game 7. Hideki Matsui was up to his usual tricks against Pedro “Who’s Your Daddy?” Martinez. Godzilla had a two-run homer, a two-run single, and a two-run double, knocking in 6 of the Yankees’ 7 runs to lead the Bombers to a 7-3 series clinching win and earning him World Series MVP honors.

#4 - A-Rod Returns in Style


After missing the first month of the season recovering from hip surgery, Alex Rodriguez made his first start of the year on May 8th in Baltimore. At the time, the team was 13-15 and terribly missing its power bat. With boos raining down from Orioles fans in regards to his steroids admission during the offseason, A-Rod stepped in to face Jeremy Guthrie with two on in the first. The result? A 3-run homer on the first pitch he saw. The Yanks won the game 4-0 and were the best team in baseball from there. This was no doubt the turning point of the season.

#3 - Damon's Double Dash


If there is one play Yankee fans and the media will remember from this postseason, Johnny Damon’s double steal in Game 4 of the World Series is it. The Yanks were up 2-1 in the series, but had just blown a lead in the late innings. After a 9-pitch at-bat, Damon lofted a single into left in one of the great at-bats in postseason history. Then, Damon took second easily on a horrible through from Carlos Ruiz, and with the Phillies infield shifted to right for Mark Teixeira, Damon instantly took off for third after noticing no one was covering the bag. It was the type of veteran, heads-up play that turned the Series around. Brad Lidge’s slider was taken away, A-Rod would later double Damon home, and the Yanks went on to a 7-4 win, their second straight victory in Philly, and a 3-1 series lead.

#2 - Jeter Becomes Yankees Hit King


On the 8th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Derek Jeter once again lifted the spirits of New Yorkers when he became the team’s all-time leader in hits. Jeter’s third inning single gave him 2,722 in his career, moving him one ahead of Lou Gehrig for the top spot. The Stadium gave him a standing ovation, and he rightfully deserved it.

#1 - Title #27, For The Boss


You can’t really argue there was a better moment than this one. After 2000, the team endured a shocking loss to the D-Backs in 2001, an even bigger shocker to the Marlins in 2003, and the collapse in 2004. After missing the playoffs in for the first time since 1993 in 2008, the Yanks completely turned it around and are now at the pinnacle of the sports world: World Series Champions. The phrase “Boss, this one’s for you!” was up on the big scoreboard in centerfield, in a true display of what he means to the team.

Break Time

Hello Everyone,

I am going to be taking a little bit of a break from my blog over the next few months. I will be spending my fall semester in Los Angeles and will be very involved with an internship and classes. However, when some important news breaks, I will do my best to update here and give you my take on it.

Until then, please follow my new blog that I created specifically for my LA Journey. Here's the link.

Enjoy!

Rangers Walk Away from Nik Zherdev

The Rangers today have decided to part ways with forward Nikolai Zherdev after an arbitration hearing on Friday resulted in a figure the Rangers didn't want to pay. The Rangers presented an offer of about $3 million while Zherdev wanted about $4.5 million. The arbitrator went about right in the middle at $3.9 million and the Rangers decided it was best to walk away and let the Russian become an unrestricted free agent.

So what happens now? Zherdev can sign negotiate and sign with any other NHL team or with a team in the KHL in Russia. The Rangers have freed up some cap room, which they will likely use to sign Brandon Dubinsky to a deal and possibly add another winger. Some names involved could be Alex Tanguay, Mike Grier, or Petr Sykora.

This was an expected move, and in my mind, the right move for the Rangers. Zherdev is a talented player who can score and stick handle tremendously. However, he has shown a lack of energy and desire on a nightly basis. Some nights, he'll play well and give it his all. Other nights, he wishes he was elsewhere. This team cannot afford to pay big bucks for a player like that.

Dubinsky is a bigger piece to the Rangers' future and has plenty of talent as well. Lock him up and get a veteran that can provide some experience and scoring to give the roster some depth. However, the Rangers are all about bringing up their talented youth and letting them help the team. Zherdev appears like a guy who would rather play in Russia rather than in the NHL. Either way, you can't fault the Rangers for walking away at this point. It's sad that a guy with so much talent simply doesn't bring it every game.

Lighthouse Project Hopefully Takes Another Step Forward

This morning, there was a rally outside Nassau Coliseum to support the Lighthouse Project. As I write this, a hearing is being held at Hofstra University to discuss the environmental impact of the project. Several people are in attendance from Islanders owner Charles Wang to current and former players (Mike Bossy, Josh Bailey) and County Executive Tom Suozzi. So, the big question is, is this good news for the project?

For those who are unaware, Charles Wang wants to completely renovate the Nassau Coliseum and the surrounding area. His development group has come up with a plan to revitalize the area, completely sprucing up the arena and making a residential and business community around it. There will also be a sports technology center, retail shopping, and other features.

However, the project has been held up for years now and Charles Wang has imposed a deadline of October 3rd to be told whether or not the project can happen and if construction can begin. Nothing has happened as of yet in terms of groundbreaking, and it likely won't happen for a while. However, getting the environmental kinks worked out is a big step in the process. Many people are believed to support the project and they will likely be in attendance at this meeting.

Anything that helps the project toward an eventual decision is a success at this point. The Islanders need this to get done if they want to have any chance at building a successful franchise and attracting talented players. However, there are definitely many environmental concerns. Traffic around that area of Long Island is already heavy, and this project would likely create more congestion. The size of the project is also a concern as is the sustainability factor.

There is no question that the majority of people support this project. The Islanders do have a dedicated fan base and want their team to remain on Long Island. With all the new arenas that have been constructed or are being built in the area now, the Islanders have to feel neglected. It will be interesting to see if this gets done and what comes out of today's meeting. For updates on what is going on, check out Newsday's live-blog with Katie Strang from the meeting today.

Jets Camp Starts - Leon Washington in Attendance

The New York Jets took the trip up to Training Camp in Cortland on Thursday from their facility in Florham Park, NJ. Everyone went with the exception of running back Leon Washington. On Friday, the Jets took to the field at SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex for their first practice, and guess who was on the field...Leon Washington.

The Jets' 26-year old running back/kick returner was in uniform and on the field in upstate New York despite his contract situation. For those who don't know, Washington is in the final year of a four-year rookie contract and is due $535,000. However, he is demanding a raise to fair market value, which is approximately $6 million. While it hasn't been reported a new deal has been reached, it is likely close between the Jets and Washington's agent Alvin Keels.

Washington likely did not want to hold out from training camp even without a deal. The biggest reason is probably the $17,000 a day fine that he would have to pay for missing camp. Other reason are that he is still under contract, wants to play for the Jets, and the fact that he is not the type of player that will stay away just for money. He loves football and the Jets. He wants fair market value, and he deserves it for the way he has played. Choosing to miss camp would not have helped the situation.

Here are some other notes from the beginning of camp so far:
-Everyone showed up at the team's conditioning test Thursday in Florham Park, NJ and at Training Camp except for Washington (until today).

-Everyone passed the conditioning test and no one will be put on the physically unable to perform list.

-Thomas Jones still did not speak with the media about his contract situation. He wants a raise too, but it likely won't happen since he's already received a lot of money from his contract.

-Rex Ryan claimed that Kellen Clemens was #1 on the depth chart at quarterback ahead of Mark Sanchez and then Erik Ainge. However, he said that could change and that Sanchez would see time with the first team and be given a fair shot at the starting job.

-Calvin Pace spoke to the media about his 4-game suspension for violating the league's banned substance policy for the first time. He said it was from a workout supplement he was using that hadn't been banned before 2008 and was on the list that year. He was unaware and took full blame for not knowing.

Get excited for football season in New York! The Jets certainly should have many storylines heading into this season. Here are a few of those heading into camp.

With Trade Deadline Looming, Yanks Eye Pitching Help

A couple of deals have already been made today as the non-waiver Trade Deadline creeps closer. Here's the biggest move so far:

Phillies acquire Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco from the Indians for Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, and Lou Marson.

Overall, a good trade for the defending champs who get a quality front-end starter without giving up J.A. Happ or Kyle Drabek

Here are other notable acquisitions:
-Mariners acquire Jack Wilson and Ian Snell for 5 guys.
-Reds acquire Wladimir Balentien for Robert Manuel.

Still, many big names remain out there as the deadline approaches. With the Yankees in need for a 5th starter and another reliever as well, here are some names the Yankees have been linked with:

Roy Halladay: Obviously, he's the biggest name on the market right now. The Blue Jays want to part ways with arguably the best starter in the game and want a big return. They've said they won't trade him unless they are "wowed" by a deal and basically want a team's farm system for him.

The Yankees likely will not get Halladay, nor should they. Could he help in the short-term? Definitely. But who knows if he'll be signed long-term? Brian Cashman has been steadfast in not depleting the farm for rentals, and I doubt it will change here.

Jarrod Washburn: This is the guy the Yankees seem to have their eye focused on. The lefty from Seattle is having a solid year and has a low ERA. Washburn would be a better-than-average fifth starter for the Yanks and would provide some more experience in the Yankees rotation.

The only problem for the Yanks is that there are many teams interested in him, so the asking price could be higher than expected. The Yankees shouldn't give up prized prospects or talent for him, but they should definitely try to pull off a trade. Washburn's experience and ability to still pitch well in a fairly tough division is too valuable to pass up.

Bronson Arroyo: The former Red Sox and current Reds starter has been on the Yankees radar. His numbers aren't great, but he does have the experience to provide some help at the back-end of the rotation.

It is unlikely the Yanks will go after Arroyo due to the amount of money he is owed. The Yankees almost never make money a concern, but they don't want to add his high salary to their already large payroll. Washburn would be a better choice.

Heath Bell: In terms of relief help, Bell would be a good choice. Now, the Yankees would prefer a lefty in the bullpen to help spell Phil Coke, but Bell is too good to pass up. He strikes out a lot of batters, walks few, and has been great in the closer role for the Padres.

The only issue here is that the Padres could ask for a lot in return since Bell has been so good. The Yankees don't want to give up big-time prospects, Joba, or Hughes for Bell, so there is a chance the Yankees could be priced out here. There's also a lot of competition for Bell's services.

There may be some other names out there that the Yankees could eyeball. However, these are the big guys the Yankees have been connected to as of now. Do I think the Yankees NEED to make a move? No. I think the roster is solid as is. Mitre isn't going to dominate as the fifth starter, but he'll be better than most guys out there. However, if the Yanks can grab Washburn to fill the void it would help. Same goes for the bullpen. The Yanks have the tools to be successful, but if they can obtain Bell or another solid reliever to help give other guys some rest, it would be a positive.

Let me know who you think the Yankees should or could get.

Live Blogging for Tonight

Hello All! Welcome to tonight's live-blog for the Yankees and Mets game. The Yankees will battle the Rays in the 2nd of three in Tampa while the Mets play the 2nd of 4 against the Rockies at Citi Field. Lots to talk about with the whole Omar Minaya-Adam Rubin fiasco from yesterday and with the trade deadline approaching.

To join the live chat, click the play button on the console below, type your name and comment/question in the box and send it. Simple as that.

Here are the line-ups and pitching match-ups for the games tonight:

Yankees (61-38, 1st in AL East) vs. Rays (54-46, 3rd in East, 7.5 games back)
CC Sabathia (10-6, 3.67 ERA) vs. Scott Kazmir (4-6, 6.69 ERA)
CC Sabathia vs. Rays Hitters
Scott Kazmir vs. Yankees Hitters

Yankees Line-Up:
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Hideki Matsui DH
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Melky Cabrera CF

Rays Line-Up:
B.J. Upton CF
Carl Crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Ben Zobrist 2B
Pat Burrell DH
Carlos Pena 1B
Gabe Kapler RF
Dioner Navarro C
Jason Bartlett SS
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Mets (47-51, 10.5 GB in NL East) vs. Rockies (54-45, 8 GB in NL West, Lead Wild Card by 1 Game)
Mike Pelfrey (7-6, 4.99 ERA) vs. Jason Marquis (12-6, 3.49 ERA)
Mike Pelfrey vs. Rockies Hitters
Jason Marquis vs. Mets Hitters

Mets Line-Up:
Angel Pagan CF
Luis Castillo 2B
David Wright 3B
Daniel Murphy 1B
Jeff Francoeur RF
Cory Sullivan LF
Brian Schneider C
Alex Cora SS
Mike Pelfrey P

Rockies Line-Up:
Dexter Fowler CF
Seth Smith LF
Todd Helton 1B
Brad Hawpe RF
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Ian Stewart 3B
Chris Iannetta C
Clint Barmes 2B
Jason Marquis P

Live-Blog is below. Enjoy everyone!

Omar Brings a New Low to the Mets

Wow! If you haven't seen yesterday's news conference that the Mets held to fire Vice President of Player Development Tony Bernazard, you have to check it out. Click here to see SNY's videos featuring the press conference and reactions. It was a surreal scene for sure.

For those who do not know, Mets GM Omar Minaya announced in the press conference that he had decided to fire Bernazard. However, he then chose to call out Adam Rubin, the Mets Beat Writer for the Daily News, and made a claim that he had "lobbied" Minaya and other members of the Mets organization for a job in Player Development. Minaya said that he had to think about things when Rubin published the first articles about Bernazard challenging Mets minor leaguers to a fight.

When Rubin asked if Minaya was saying he wrote the articles in an attempt to take down Bernazard and obtain his job, Minaya said no. This was a whole fiasco that has now made Rubin incapable of doing his job probably, made Omar look terrible, and bring incredible awkwardness to the Mets and their reporters.

It's a sticky situation. If Minaya is in fact correct that Rubin asked specifically about a job with the Mets, then Rubin has done wrong here and overstepped his boundaries as a journalist. However, if Rubin merely asked for advice on how to obtain a job in baseball (as he claims he did), then there is nothing wrong with that and Minaya is wrong for lying. If you ask me, I think Rubin is smart enough to know what's right and wrong and was just asking for career advice. I trust him way more than I do Minaya.

Regardless, the Mets front office looks absolutely terrible right now. In a press conference to announce the firing of an employee that clearly did some wrong, there is no reason to bring this up in front of reporters and on live television. Minaya apologized later for bringing it up in that forum but didn't back down on his comments. The Mets need to learn how to handle things correctly. They had a chance to do something right and make a simple firing announcement to end a PR issue. Instead, they created an even bigger problem that very well could (and should) cost Minaya his job.

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I'll be around tonight at 7:00 to do some live-blogging during the Mets and Yankees games. See the next post for the chat window, line-ups, and pitching match-ups. Come by to discuss the games, the Minaya-Rubin fiasco, and the trade deadline!

Yankees Having Their "Phil"

Phil Hughes earned his first Major League save last night in the Yankees 6-3 win over the Athletics. Who would've thought that would happen last year? But, that's just how crazy this season has been for the Yankees.

At the beginning of the year, the Yankees bullpen was awful. They couldn't bridge the gap to Mariano Rivera, and even Mo was a little shaky. Phil Hughes had been put into the starting rotation when Chien Ming Wang was on the DL, and Hughes didn't fair well. Despite a 3-2 record, he had 5.45 ERA, giving up 22 runs in just over 34 innings.

Then in early June, Hughes was shifted to the bullpen when Wang returned, and rather than complain about his new role, he embraced the idea of a new challenge and sought to help cure one of the team's biggest problems.

The results have been simply amazing. As a reliever, he is 1-0 with an ERA of 0.74 in 17 appearances. His line: 24.1 IP, 12 H, 2 R, 5 BB, 28 K. He has now gone 15 straight games without allowing a run, dating back to June 10th in Boston, totaling nearly 20 innings of scoreless baseball. He has no doubt taken grasp of the set-up role and filled it admirably, creating a nearly unbreakable bridge to Mariano Rivera.

However, he is not alone. Phil Coke has also helped out tremendously since Hughes was moved to the pen. Hughes' first relief appearance was June 8th. Since then, Coke has given up a total of 6 runs in 18.1 innings, an ERA of 2.95. He has become much better against lefties and is striking out batters much more frequently. Coke has joined Hughes along with Alfredo Aceves (23 IP, 6 ER, 2.35 ERA since Hughes' first relief appearance) to build one of the best bullpens in baseball.

The Yankees still have some kinks to work out. Brian Bruney is nowhere near the pitcher he was early in the season. David Robertson still has had some rough outings. However, the Yankees bullpen has become one of the best in baseball. With their line-up and starting rotation, if the Yankees have a lead through 5 or 6 innings, the game is pretty much over. This is why the Yankees have a 2.5 game lead in the AL East and are playing the best baseball in the league.

I still think Phil Hughes is going to be a starter down the line. His stuff is just too good to keep him in the bullpen for an inning or two here and there. However, right now, the need isn't for a starter, it's for a set-up man. Hughes is providing that for the Yankees and isn't complaining about it. What more could the Yankees ask for?

Live-Blog for Tonight

Hey everyone, thanks for coming by tonight for the live-blogging. To join the live blog, click the play button below, type your name, and your comment or question.

Yankees and Orioles play the 2nd of 3 at Yankee Stadium while the Mets and Nationals do the same in D.C. Here are the line-ups along with the pitching match-ups for each game.

Yankees (55-37, T-1st in AL East) vs. Orioles (41-51, 5th in AL East)
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Jorge Posada C
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Melky Cabrera CF
Cody Ransom 3B
Pitching: Sergio Mitre (Season and Yankee Debut)

Brian Roberts 2B
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Aubrey Huff 1B
Luke Scott DH
Melvin Mora 3B
Nolan Reimold LF
Matt Wieters C
Cesar Izturis SS
Pitching: Rich Hill (3-2, 7.22)

Mets (44-48, 4th in NL East) vs. Nationals (26-66, 5th in NL East)
Angel Pagan CF
Luis Castillo 2B
David Wright 3B
Jeff Francoeur RF
Fernando Tatis LF
Daniel Murphy 1B
Omir Santos C
Alex Cora SS
Oliver Perez P (2-2, 7.99 ERA)

Nyjer Morgan CF
Cristian Guzman SS
Ryan Zimmerman 3B
Adam Dunn 1B
Josh Willingham LF
Austin Kearns RF
Alberto Gonzalez 2B
Wil Nieves C
John Lannan P (6-7, 3.64 ERA)

Early Second Half Thoughts/Live-Blogging

Well, the second half is officially underway with the Yankees and Mets each having completed a series and beginning a new one as well. For the Yankees, they rebounded nicely from being swept in Anaheim by taking all three from the Tigers at home, then walking off with the first of three against the Orioles. As for the Mets, it's been the same old story: Losses in games and players. The fact that they are 2-3 since the break is shocking. Here are three things to keep an eye on in the second half for each team:

Yankees

1) Will they be able to stay healthy?
-Last season, the Yankees were decimated by injuries all season long, and it led to them missing the playoffs for the first time since 1993. This year, while they have still had their share of DL trips, they have remained much healthier and will need to continue to do so if they plan on going deep in the playoffs. They will battle the Red Sox the rest of the way for the division, and Tampa Bay is lurking as well. I think it'll come down to which team stays healthier in the end as to who wins the division.

2) The 3-5 spots in the Starting Rotation
-While inconsistent for most of the season, the rotation has still been solid enough to put the Yanks in the position they are in right now. CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett have both pitched well for most of the season and are known for dominating second halfs throughout their careers. Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte have shown flashes of strong pitching, but they have largely struggled with command and length. The Yankees will need much more consistency and length from them in the second half. Finally, the 5th spot is up for grabs now. Sergio Mitre will attempt to take hold of the spot that Chien Ming Wang has vacated with 2 DL trips and poor pitching. If Mitre can't hold it, the Yanks will likely have to take Phil Hughes or Alfredo Aceves out of the bullpen, which they don't want to do.

3) Back end of the bullpen
-What was once the biggest problem for the Yankees has turned into one of their greatest strengths. The trio of Phil Hughes, Alfredo Aceves, and Phil Coke have all joined with Mariano Rivera to solidify the relieving corps for this team. Throw in some good performances by David Robertson and Brett Tomko, and the Yanks are pretty solid in that department. But there are some questions left: Will Bruney return to his early-season form? Will Rivera stay dominant? Will Hughes or Aceves be moved to the rotation? If the answers to those questions, in order, are no, no, and yes, the Yankees could be in some trouble late in games.

Mets
1) Getting players back from the DL
-If this team has any chance at making the playoffs, let alone competing for a spot, they will need to get some of their big players back off the disabled list. I'm talking about Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, and John Maine. Not only do they need to get back, but they must be able to put up strong numbers. The Mets offense is mediocre at best and their rotation has faltered. Overall, the team has lost credibility and is not intimidating at all. Getting any of these guys back will put at least some fear in their opponents.

2) Trade deadline moves
-This is the point where we will see if Omar Minaya succumbs to the pressure from fans to sign a few bigger "rent-a-players" or holds onto his prospects. If Minaya is smart, he will realize this season is already unsaveable and keep what little farm system he has left in tact. Fans want Roy Halladay to be put into the rotation, and there were rumors of a deal involving Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell. Doing this would've been stupid for a player who can't save this season anyway. The Mets need to build up their young talent rather than rush them up and hope the team is healthier next year.

3) Back end of the rotation
-The Mets have a similar problem to the Yankees, except they have only one solid pitcher. Johan Santana is going to provide the Mets with a great chance to win every fifth day. After that, the group of Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, Livan Hernandez, whoever fills the fifth spot (Niese, Figueroa), and John Maine if he returns will need to do better than a good start followed by a terrible one. This has been the case all year so far. Pelfrey, Perez, and the fifth starter will be here for the near-future. If they don't show consistency on the mound, the Mets will have serious rotation issues for the next few years.

My early predictions for the second half:
-The Yanks will win the AL East by no more than three games with the Red Sox taking the Wild Card.

-The Mets will finish no less than five games out of first and will not make the playoffs.

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I'll be back with some live-blogging during tonight's games. Come talk Yankees, Mets, the trade deadline, etc. See you at 7:00.

Mets-Braves Live-Blog Today

Hey Everybody!

I'll be around at 4:00 today during the Mets game against the Braves in Atlanta. Stop on by to discuss what is going on with the boys from Flushing, who suffered another injury last night when Gary Sheffield pulled up in left field with "right leg cramps." He clutched his hamstring and noted that the cramps were in his hammy. The team is saying it is not serious though, and he hopeefully won't miss too much time. With this team, you never know.

In the end last night, the Mets dropped their second straight to the Braves, this one by a score of 11-0. Mike Pelfrey was awful again, allowing 9 runs in 4.1 innings. The line-up managed just 2 hits off Jair Jurrjens win 6 innings while the rest of the Braves bullpen threw 3 hitless innings. It was another ugly loss.

Today, Johan Santana will try to stop the bleeding as he has a favorable match-up against Kenshin Kawakami. Santana comes in at 10-7 with a 3.09 ERA. He won his last start, a 4-0 triumph over the Reds. He's 0-1 vs. Atlanta this year, losing 8-3 on May 11th. He gave up 2 unearned runs in 6.1 innings; then the bullpen collapsed. Kawakami is 5-6 with a 4.26 ERA. He beat the Cubs 4-1 in his last outing. He's 0-1 against the Mets this year, losing 4-3 on May 5th. He gave up 2 runs in 5 innings before Mike Gonzalez blew it late.

Here's the Mets line-up this afternoon:
Angel Pagan - CF
Luis Castillo - 2B
Daniel Murphy - 1B
David Wright - 3B
Jeff Francoeur - RF
Jeremy Reed - LF
Omir Santos - C
Alex Cora - SS
Johan Santana - P

See you at 4:00!

Roy Halladay Chatter

Yes, by now I'm sure you all know that the Blue Jays may be putting Roy Halladay on the market and teams are definitely going to be interested in trading for arguably the best pitcher in baseball. After looking through most of the teams interested, it appears the Phillies are the front-runners for him. They have the most need for solid starting pitching and have the pieces to trade in return. However, the Yankees and Mets could certainly use a starter, and fans are begging their team to pull of the 2009 Summer Blockbuster. Here are, in my mind, what both teams need to give up to get him back:

Both teams will likely need to trade at least one player who is MLB-ready and has proven that he is MLB-ready. The Blue Jays want someone in return who can jump right into action and play a role in this team's line-up. A top prospect will likely also have to go in the deal as well as another minor leaguer, likely in the upper tiers. With that being said, I think the Mets have no chance at this deal simply because they do not have the prospects to trade for him. Even if they put Reyes in the deal, getting rid of two upper level prospects (Wilmer Flores, Jenrry Mejia, Brad Holt) would kill the Mets farm system. It's already very weak. However, here is a possible trade for the Yankees.

-Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes:
Both of them have shown they are ready to pitch in the big leagues and can take Halladay's spot in the rotation. If not the rotation, both can provide help in the bullpen as well. At this point, I think the Yankees would rather give up Joba. He hasn't panned out the way they had hoped, though they, and I, still believe it's too early in his career. In addition, I think the Yanks would want to end having to listen to the bullpen vs. rotation argument.
-Jesus Montero
Yankee fans won't want to give up this stud, but to land possibly the best pitcher in baseball, you have to give up something big. Montero isn't ready yet, but he's getting closer and closer. He has put up solid numbers since getting promoted to AA Trenton and was 2-for-2 in the All-Star Game. The Yankees are very deep at catcher, so they likely will not have need for Montero. However, losing a bat like his could hurt.
-Zach McAllister
This is another good prospect in AA Trenton that could help the pitching situation in Toronto. He has put up strong numbers so far and can be a durable starter in the near future. The Yankees have some strong pitching prospects, so they do not desperately need McAllister. Again, you have to give up talent to obtain supreme talent.

If you ask me, the only way I do this trade is if the Yankees can sign Halladay to an extension. It is pointless to give up strong, young players like this for a year and a half of Halladay. I also don't think it happens because Brian Cashman's philosophy is to hold on to youth rather than trade for a quick fix. If the Yanks can lock him up for the long term, then it can be considered. Otherwise, the deal is not smart in my mind.

Another option is that the Yankees would have to take Vernon Wells' big contract off the hands of the Jays. Wells is still a pretty solid center fielder, but no one wants his obscenely large deal. If the Yanks do that, they maybe don't need to give up too many of their bigger prospects or players, and instead, could give up either Gardner or Melky, and maybe one of the other prospects.

Anything is possible in baseball, but like I said, I don't see the Yankees giving up the guys they have built up in their farm system for Halladay, especially if he isn't signed to an extension. The Yankees can give him all the money he wants, but there is no sense in getting him as a quick fix. I think he goes to the Phillies when all is said and done, but Yankee fans can dream!

Rangers/Islanders Schedules

The NHL released the 2009-10 season schedules today. Here are the links to the two schedules:

NY Rangers Schedule
NY Islanders Schedule

Here are the season/home openers for both teams:
Rangers Season Opener: Friday, 10/2 @ Penguins - 7:30
Rangers Home Opener: Saturday, 10/3 vs. Senators - 7:00
Islanders Season/Home Opener: Saturday, 10/3 vs. Penguins - 7:00

Here are the Rangers-Islanders games:
Wed. 10/28 @ Nassau Coliseum - 7:00
Wed. 12/16 @ MSG - 7:00
Thur. 12/17 @ Nassau Coliseum - 7:00
Sat. 12/26 @ MSG - 7:00
Wed. 3/24 @ MSG - 7:00
Thurs. 3/30 @ Nassau Coliseum - 7:00

Rangers Longest Homestand: 3 games, 7 different times
Rangers Longest Road Trip: 6 games, 3/25-4/6, All East Coast

Islanders Longest Homestand: 4 games, 2 different times
Islanders Longest Road Trip: 7 games, 11/11-11/23, 5 East, 2 Midwest

Rangers end season with home-and-home against the Flyers
Friday, 4/9 @ MSG - 7:00
Sunday, 4/11 @ Wachovia Center - 3:00

Islanders end season with back-to-back road and home games
Saturday, 4/10 vs. Devils @ Prudential Center - 7:00
Sunday, 4/11 vs. Penguins @ Nassau Coliseum - 5:00

Live-Blog for the All-Star Game

Hey Everyone,

Live Blog for the game tonight is below. I'll post the starting line-ups momentarily.

Enjoy!!

Midseason Grades

Hey everyone. On the day of the All-Star Game in St. Louis, it is time to hand out grades to the Yankees and Mets for their midseason report cards. Now, the season is a little more than half over for both squads, but it is still close enough to give official grades. We'll break down by the grade and list the players on both squads who deserve that grade and why. Here we go:

Yankees Grades:

A
Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Alfredo Aceves
Explanation: These are the only two that I would consider have been consistently good and have overachieved all season. Jeter was criticized after last year and has since been hitting the ball well and playing much better defense. In a clubhouse with many new faces, he has helped lead and make them feel welcome. Rivera continues to dominate at his age and outside of tie games, has been brilliant. Aceves has been one of the team's best relievers and stabilized a bullpen that was once awful.

A-
CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira, Phil Hughes
Explanation: Here resides all of the Yanks' big free agent signings. They all have done well, though each has shown some signs of struggling. CC and AJ have been much better after rough starts and the same goes for Teixeira, though he tailed off slightly recently. All have still been impressive and a big part to the team's success. Hughes was rough as a starter which lost him the "A" grade, but he's been the Yanks' best reliever other than Mo.

B+
Alex Rodriguez, Phil Coke, Francisco Cervelli
Explanation: A-Rod missed part of the year, but has come in since and has helped lead the Yanks' offense for the most part. He did have a really bad stretch in there which knocks him down, but part of that can be attributed to not resting him enough. Coke has been very strong out of the bullpen, though he has given up a few too many homers. Cervelli opened eyes with how well he handled the pitching staff behind the plate with Posada and Molina being injured. His bat still needs work, though it was surprisingly decent.

B
Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardner, Ramiro Pena
Explanation: Posada's arm is still weak and his defense has suffered, but he still calls a good game and his bat is vital. Cano has been much better on both sides of the ball this year, but still has struggled mightily with runners on base. Melky has become the team's clutch hitter, but he too had a slump and has been battling with Gardner for the starting spot. Gardner's bat has been up and down but his speed is still important. Needs to make better mental decisions. Pena was a surprise as well, but his defense could use work. All have been good, but not "A" worthy.

B-
Nick Swisher, Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, David Robertson
Explanation: Swisher was an offensive boost early on, but has fallen off since and his defense is not very good. Still can get some big hits. Matsui's bat is coming on lately, but was bad early, and the fact that he can't play the outfield hurts. Damon's defense is very poor and his bat has slumped of late after starting off very well. Still pretty good though. Robertson has had some strong appearances out of the pen, but he has been roughed up a bit lately.


C
Joba Chamberlain, Andy Pettitte
Explanation: Joba came in with very high expectations after showing positive signs as a starter last year. He has had a lot of trouble attacking the zone and dominating hitters. Too many walks and high pitch counts. Hasn't been flat out awful though. Pettitte has racked up a lot of wins, but that's mainly because of his offense. Pettitte's stuff is not good anymore and he's bene getting hit hard lately. He's not terrible but isn't really helping either.

D
Brian Bruney, Brett Tomko
Explanation: If both pitchers hadn't shown some strong performances here and there, they'd be failing. Bruney had good stuff, but he lied about an injury, has been hurt most of the year, and walks way too many batters. Tomko hasn't been good either and usually comes in for mop-up duty.

F
Chien-Ming Wang, Edwar Ramirez, Damaso Marte
Explanation: Wang has been the biggest disappointment. He had 3 awful starts coming off his injury last year and hasn't impressed since. He then got hurt again. Edwar is no longer with the team because he was awful at the beginning of the year. Marte has been hurt most of the year nad was really, really bad as well early on.

Incomplete
Jose Molina, Cody Ransom, Xavier Nady, Eric Hinske, Mark Melancon, Jonathan Albaladejo
Explanation: Molina, Ransom, and Nady have been injured most of the year, Hinske just got here, Melancon and Albaladejo have barely been here.

--------------------------------------------------

Mets Grades:

A
Johan Santana
Explanation: He has been the only Met who has done his job all season. Sure, he's had a few not-so-stellar starts, but name me an ace who hasn't. He's been the victim of zero offense and still has been one of the best pitchers in baseball.

A-
Francisco Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield
Explanation: K-Rod has been very strong as the closer, but hasn't been brilliant. He's had a few blown saves and near-blown saves, but he's still gotten the job done often and been the best bullpen pitcher. Sheffield has been a very pleasant surprise with his offense and has helped keep this team afloat. He's still not an everyday player though.

B+
Omir Santos, Luis Castillo, Alex Cora, Fernando Nieve
Explanation: Santos, Castillo, and Cora have all been surprisingly decent at the plate. While all of them have gone through slumps this year, they all still have gotten some timely hits and kept this team somewhat respectable. Nieve came in the rotation and started off very strong. He's tailed off a bit since, but he's still pitching fairly well.

B
Pedro Feliciano, Sean Green, Bobby Parnell, Brian Stokes
Explanation: "B" is for bullpen and that's where all four of these guys hail from. Each one has done an average job in the bullpen with some ups and downs along the way. Neither has been dominating, but no one has been downright dreadful. They are an average group that has also kept this team from utter failure.

B-
David Wright, Livan Hernandez, Mike Pelfrey
Explanation: David Wright has been way below average this year. He'd be lower if not for the fact that his presence and high average has given the team some credibility. His power numbers are way down though, and his strikeout totals are way up. Livan had a solid start, but he's been getting roughed up big-time since and has fallen back to where many thought he was. Pelfrey too has been getting beaten up on lately but is still providing the team with some good starting pitching here and there.

C
Brian Schneider, Jeremy Reed, Nick Evans, Elmer Dessens, Pat Misch
Explanation: Schneider was hurt for a while but has since come back and been the same guy. He's got some power but doesn't hit for average. Reed has been okay defensively, but doesn't provide much offensively. Evans also was not good at the plate and was probably rushed up. Dessens and Misch have put up some okay numbers out of the bullpen but neither has been more than a mop-up guy.

D
Tim Redding, Fernando Martinez
Explanation: Redding would be failing if not for a few good starts. Aside from that, he was terrible and hasn't been much better out of the bullpen. F-Mart is hurt now, but before that, he didn't provide the offense the Mets front office and Mets fans were hoping and now is hurt.

F
Fernando Tatis
Explanation: He's a double play machine. He was nowhere near where he was last year. Mets fans wish he wasn't on the team anymore. Yup, that's worth a failing grade.

Incomplete
Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, John Maine, Oliver Perez, JJ Putz, Angel Pagan, Jeff Francoeur, Argenis Reyes, Ramon Martinez
Explanation: All have been injured most of the season, just came on with the team, or have barely been on the team.

Let me know what you think!

Pitching Match-Ups for Yanks-Angels and Mets-Reds

Here are the match-ups, times, and media info. for the weekend sets at Angels Stadium and Citi Field:

New York Yankees (51-34, T-1st in AL East with Boston) vs. Los Angeles Angels (46-37, 1/2 GB of Rangers in AL West)

Friday, July 10th
Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 4.04) vs. Joe Saunders (8-5, 4.44)
10:05 PM - YES/WCBS 880 AM

Saturday, July 11th
Andy Pettitte (8-4, 4.53) vs. Jered Weaver (9-3, 3.15)
4:10 PM - FOX/WCBS 880 AM

Sunday, July 12th
CC Sabathia (8-5, 3.70) vs. John Lackey (3-4, 5.18)
3:35 PM - YES/WCBS 880 AM

New York Mets (40-44, 5.5 GB of Phillies in NL East) vs. Cincinnati Reds (41-43, 4.5 GB of Cardinals in NL Central)

Friday, July 10th
Fernando Nieve (3-2, 2.73) vs. Bronson Arroyo (8-8, 5.85)
7:10 PM - SNY/WFAN 660 AM

Saturday, July 11th
Johan Santana (9-7, 3.29) vs. Johnny Cueto (8-5, 3.45)
7:10 PM - WPIX/WFAN 660 AM

Sunday, July 12th
Mike Pelfrey (6-4, 4.52) vs. Aaron Harang (5-8, 3.89)
1:10 PM - SNY/WFAN 660 AM

Yanks Sweep; Mets Stumble; Rangers Signing

Couple updates to get to on the blog today:

The Yankees edged out the Twins 6-4 at the Metrodome yesterday to complete the three-game road sweep and the seven-game season series sweep of Minnesota. The Twins have to be wondering what it would take for them to beat the Yankees.

Alfredo Aceves got the start and wasn't that great, but the bullpen did a great job for him. Outside of David Robertson's three walks, the combo of Albaladejo, Coke, Hughes, and Rivera combined for 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. That's pretty impressive once again. The big story offensively was Mark Teixeira ending his homer drought with a shot to left in the 5th. It was his first dinger in 96 at-bats.

Overall, a solid sweep for the Yankees who have won 3 in a row, 6 of 7, and 13 of 15. They begin a 3-game series in Anaheim against the Angels before the All-Star break.

As for the Mets, they continued to be the Mets of 2009. They lost 11-2 yesterday to the Dodgers and lost 2 of 3 to LA at Citi Field. The Mets were outscored 23-7 in the series, showing minimal offense at the plate and poor starting pitching.

Livan Hernandez was terrible yesterday in starting, lasting just 4 innings. Here are the starters' lines for the three games for the Mets:
Mike Pelfrey - 3.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Oliver Perez - 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 2 K
Livan Hernandez - 4.0 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

That's pretty terrible, and somehow, they still won a game. No one expected the Mets' depleted offense to put up much against the MLB-best Dodgers, but the pitching might have been the bigger issue this week. However, the offense was still lacking outside of Tuesday, and the Mets didn't even face Chad Billingsley.

The Reds come to Citi Field for 3 games this weekend. Cincy's 2 games under .500, so it's a chance for the Mets to win some games, especially with Santana and Nieve pitching, and gain some confidence back.

Finally, the Rangers made some news by signing Ales Kotalik to a three-year deal. He will earn an average of $3-million a year. The signing basically signals the likely end of Nik Zherdev in a Rangers uniform.

I think this is a fairly good signing for the Blueshirts, but nothing amazing. They got a guy who can do an average job and can score some goals, but nowhere near that of Alex Tanguay, who I think would have been better. However, the Rangers don't need to go out and spend a ton of money on a guy and risk him being a failure. In addition, it was clear they wanted Zherdev out, and Kotalik could fill in nicely for him. It doesn't seem like much risk for the Rangers, but could prove to be a good reward if he does well by reuniting with former teammate Chris Drury.

Not much else going on right now. Check out the post above which will have the pitching match-ups for the Yankees and Mets for their final series before the All-Star break. I'll also update during the day if any other big news pops up.

Baseball Blogging Once Again (UPDATED)

Back again this evening as the Mets open a 3-game set at home with Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Very likely Ramirez gets booed in New York and will have a much less welcoming reaction than he got in San Diego this past weekend. Here are the pitching match-ups/media info for the Mets-Dodgers series and the line-up for tonight's game.

Tuesday, July 7th:
Mike Pelfrey (6-3, 4.26) vs. Clayton Kershaw (5-5, 3.49)
7:10 PM - SNY/WFAN 660 AM

Wednesday, July 8th:
Oliver Perez (1-2, 9.97) vs. Hiroki Kuroda (3-4, 3.91)
7:10 PM - SNY/ESPN/WFAN 660 AM

Thursday, July 9th:
Livan Hernandez (5-4, 4.56) vs. Randy Wolf (3-3, 3.49)
7:10 PM - SNY/WFAN 660 AM

Tonight's Line-Up:
Luis Castillo - 2B
Alex Cora - SS
David Wright - 3B
Gary Sheffield - RF
Fernando Tatis - 1B
Ryan Church - CF
Nick Evans - LF
Omir Santos - C
Mike Pelfrey - P

Will also have some live-blogging of the Yankees-Twins game tonight in the same one as the Mets. That game will begin at 8:10 PM as they are in Minnesota. Here are the pitching match-ups for that series and tonight's line-up:

Tuesday, July 7th:
CC Sabathia (7-5, 3.85) vs. Scott Baker (6-6, 4.99)
8:10 PM - MY9/WCBS 880 AM

Wednesday, July 8th:
A.J. Burnett (7-4, 3.83) vs. Glen Perkins (4-4, 4.38)
8:10 - YES/WCBS 880 AM

Thursday, July 9th:
Alfredo Aceves (5-1, 2.03) vs. RHP Anthony Swarzak (2-2, 3.90)
1:10 PM - YES/WCBS 880 AM
**Aceves threw a bullpen session today and was told after he would start on Thursday**

Tonight's Line-Up:
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Hideki Matsui DH
Nick Swisher RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Brett Gardner CF
Francisco Cervelli C

See you at about 7:00 for the games!

MLB Umpires Show They Still Stink

Instant replay couldn't save baseball umpires from the disastrous day they had in the Bronx yesterday. Let's recap the three "questionable" calls made at Yankee Stadium in the Yankees' 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays that weren't so "questionable":

1) Bottom 1st - Derek Jeter attempts to steal 3rd and is called out by umpire Marty Foster. While the ball beat him to the bag, replays show he clearly avoided Scott Rolen's tag. Had Jeter been safe, the Yanks would have scored a run when Swisher singled to left.

2) Top 3rd - Vernon Wells hits a grounder to short. Jeter makes the play in the hole and makes a jump-throw to 2nd to try and force-out Aaron Hill. Wally Bell rules Hill safe, when replays show the throw clearly beat him to the bag by about a foot or two. After Rolen struck out, Alex Rios hit a 3-run homer and the Jays were up 4-0.

3) Bottom 7th - Brett Gardner hits a grounder to 2nd with 2-on and 0-out. John McDonald makes a bad throw to second, pulling Marco Scutaro off the bag, as seen in replays. Only problem: Bell didn't see it that way, saying his foot was still on the bag, and called the runner out. Swisher plated two with a single, but that was all.

Three bad calls by one umpiring crew was bad enough, but after the game, we found out the explanations were even worse. Neither Foster or Bell wanted to speak with the media after the game and instead made crew chief John Hirschbeck talk to reporters. That's a lack of class right there by umps who know they screwed up.

Then, Jeter tells reporters that Foster told him he didn't have to get tagged out because the throw beat him to the bag. Ummmm...WHAT? The last I heard, you needed to be tagged on an attempted steal. If Jeter's telling the truth, then Major League Baseball needs to discipline these umpires somehow. That's just disgraceful.

It's hard to say whether any of the calls had a direct effect on the game. The Yankees lost, and I'm sure were not too happy with these calls and how they were handled, but they won't tell you that's what lost them the game. Regardless, it was pathetic to watch how blatantly wrong these umps were on three different calls. The plays weren't even that close aside from Jeter's steal.

I don't know what's worse: the fact that the calls were bad or that the umpires failed to take responsibility and explain themselves to the media. Either way, it was a new low-point for professional sports officiating yesterday at Yankee Stadium.

Yanks-Blue Jays Live-Blog Part 2 and Hot Dog Contest

Happy July 4th Everyone! It's another day of afternoon baseball here as I'll be live-blogging a pair of events. First, I'll be here for the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, which will take place at 12 on ESPN. Then, I'll chat for the Yankees-Jays game at 1:00. Chien-Ming Wang will search for his second straight win, after throwing 5.1 solid innings against the Mets last Sunday. However, his task will not be easy, as his opposing starter will be Roy Halladay. Halladay is making his second start since coming off the DL. He allowed 2 runs in 6 innings vs. Tampa on Monday. He also through a complete game against the Yanks on May 12, out-dueling AJ Burnett.

Here's the Yankees line-up this afternoon, they enter the game just 2 back of Boston:
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Cabrera RF
Gardner CF

Guess Posada's thumb is feeling a little bit better.

I'll be back here at about 12:00 with the live-blog below. Until then, enjoy the things we love here in America today:

Live-Blog of Yankees-Jays

Hey Fans.

I'll be back here today at about 1:00 for a live-blog of today's Yankees-Jays game. It's the first of four games at Yankee Stadium as the Yanks wrap up a 7-game home stand. Here are the pitching match-ups and media info for the series:

Friday, 1:05 PM, YES and WCBS 880 AM
A.J. Burnett (6-4, 3.93) vs. Brian Tallet (5-5, 4.47)

Saturday, 1:05 PM, YES and WCBS 880 AM
Chien-Ming Wang (1-6, 10.06) vs. Roy Halladay (10-2, 2.56)

Sunday, 1:05 PM, YES and WCBS 880 AM
Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 3.89) vs. Scott Richmond (6-5, 3.69)

Monday, 1:05 PM, YES and WCBS 880 AM
Andy Pettitte (8-3, 4.25) vs. Ricky Romero (6-3, 2.85)

And, here's the line-up for this afternoon's game. Jorge Posada out again with the sore thumb from the foul ball on Wednesday night. There's swelling, and he's day-to-day:

Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Matsui DH
Cervelli C
Gardner CF

Back with the live-blog below at about 1:00. See you then!

BREAKING NEWS: Gaborik a Ranger

That's the latest report from a number of outlets. Sources say the Rangers have nabbed the free agent winger from the Minnesota Wild. The deal is reportedly a five-year contract worth $37.5 million. That's an annual hit of $7.5 million. After trading Scott Gomez away yesterday, the Rangers had stayed quiet most of the day but finally came up with their big prize this evening.

Analysis: When Marian Gaborik is healthy, which he hasn't been at points in his career, he is arguably one of the ten best players in the NHL. He has great skating ability, a lot of speed, can handle the puck, and can shoot, which is what the Rangers care most about. I can see him playing on a line with Dubinsky that will work really well. The money is a lot, but if Gaborik is healthy, which I believe he can be, it will be worth it. The Rangers needed a scorer, and they got it.

As for the other pick-ups thus far, the Rangers signed enforcer Donald Brashear earlier in the day. It was a two-year contract with an average hit of $1.4 million a year.

Analysis: Umm...why? I know the Rangers needed to get tougher, especially with Pronger signing in Philly (and now LaPerriere), but Brashear is one of the biggest punks in the league and cheap shots guys left and right. Re-signing Colton Orr would have been better (ended up in Toronto for $1 million/year) and fans actually like Orr.

As for the Islanders, they nabbed free agent goaltender Dwayne Roloson from the Edmonton Oilers for 2 years and $5 million. He will likely be the back-up to Rick DiPietro, though we all now with his injury problems, Roloson could see some more playing time.

Analysis: Islanders fans should have no problem with this signing. Sure, he's 39 years old, but he ended up playing 63 games for the Oilers last year and nearly led them to the playoffs. If DiPietro is hurt and has to miss time at any point, Roloson should do a decent job filling in. Better than Joey MacDonald or Yann Danis for sure.

Will keep an eye out for other deals if they are made by either team. Otherwise, here are some other notable signings of the day:

-Marian Hossa --> Chicago Blackhawks: 12 years, $62 million...WOW!!!!
-Mike Cammalleri, Hal Gill, Jaroslav Spacek, Brian Gionta --> Montreal Canadiens: Talk about big spending there!
-Henrik and Daniel Sedin --> Vancouver Canucks (return)

UPDATE (9:29): Former Ranger Freddy Sjostrom signs a two-year deal with the Flames for $750,000 a year. If Betts goes, the Rangers will have lost their two key penalty killers, and their PK this coming year might not be as dominant as it was.

BREAKING NEWS: Rangers Trade Gomez

Still getting details on the specifics of the trade, but Scott Gomez is off to Montreal to play with the Canadiens. In exchange, the Rangers get Long Island-native Chris Higgins, Ryan McDonagh, and Pavel Valetenko. Rangers also sent Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto. Higgins is a forward, McDonagh and Valentenko are defensmen. More as it comes...

UPDATE: Just got off a conference call with Glen Sather and Chris Higgins. Here were some highlights from both:

Sather:
-First talked about at Canadiens Society Dinner on the 22nd of June. They finalized the deal at about 3:00 today.
-Said that Higgins is a goal-scorer and can be a great asset to the team this year and in the future. Future success could also be seen IN McDonagh and Valentenko.
-The deal gives the team a lot of options for today, tomorrow, and in the future (now that they lost Gomez's 7+ million-dollar salary)
-Doesn't have any regrets about Scott Gomez. Said he was a great player, great guy, and will do well in Montreal

Higgins:
-Said there was no more pressure playing in New York than in Montreal
-Excited to return home and play in front of his family
-Was surprised about the trade, didn't think he would get traded, but if there was one place he wanted to play besides Montreal, it would be with the Rangers
-He was a big Canadiens fan when he grew up, heard it from friends when Rangers won the Cup in 1994, always enjoyed watching Brian Leetch (who went to the same high school as him)
-Plays a relentless style where he's moving the whole time, takes a lot of pride in his work ethic, likes the way Tortorella's teams play, and the Rangers were always one of the hardest teams to play when he was in Montreal

Sounds like Higgins is excited to play in NY, but it's not final that he'll stay there, though Sather said he didn't foresee a problem signing him (he's a restricted free agent). Reports are that Heatley will be coming to NY tonight, though with the cap room, they could possibly trade for Heatley and/or go after Vincent Lecavalier, Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa, or even Martin St. Louis. The possibilities are much greater for the Rangers now with the cap room that was just alleviated.

Come discuss tonight on the live-blog as the Yanks and Mets games are going on starting at 7 PM. Live-blog is in post below.

Live Blogging Tonight

Hey all, just so you know, I'll have a live-blog going again tonight here on the blog. Come to discuss anything you'd like. I'll be focusing on the Yankees-Mariners game at Yankee Stadium, but will have an eye on the Mets as well. Will be glad to discuss Yankees, Mets, and NHL or NBA Free Agency talk. Whatever you'd like to debate or ask, come to the blog tonight at about 7:00 for some fun!

Here are the Yanks and Mets match-ups tonight, as well as the line-ups for both teams:

New York Yankees (43-32, 3.5 GB of Red Sox) vs. Seattle Mariners (39-36, 3.5 GB of Angels)

Starting Pitchers:
NYY- Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 3.81)
SEA- Brandon Morrow (0-3, 5.64)

Yanks Line-Up:
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Hideki Matsui DH
Nick Swisher RF
Melky Cabrera CF

New York Mets (37-38, 3.0 GB of Phillies) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (41-35, 1st Place)

Starting Pitchers:
NYM- Johan Santana (9-5, 3.08)
MIL- Mike Burns (0-1, 3.72)

Mets Line-Up:
Alex Cora SS
Fernando Tatis 2B
David Wright 3B
Gary Sheffield LF
Ryan Church RF
Nick Evans 1B
Fernando Martinez CF
Omir Santos C
Johan Santana P

NHL Free Agency Approaching

July 1st is a huge date on the calendars of NHL fans everywhere. This is the date that the free agency period opens, and unrestricted free agents seek big dollars while teams look for the next player that could help lead their team to a title. This season is set to be another interesting one in terms of the names on the market. However, we'll look at who the locals might go after.

We'll start first with the Rangers, who have all eyes on Dany Heatley of the Ottawa Senators. While this isn't a free agent signing, the Rangers are seeking to make a trade to obtain the two-time 50-goal scorer. Heatley's numbers aren't what they were, but he still has the finishing ability that the Rangers have severely lacked.

To obtain him though, Rangers fans might have to succumb to the fact they might lose one of their beloved young talents. It has been rumored that either Brandon Dubinsky or Ryan Callahan would go to Ottawa in a deal. Other possibilities to be included are a big contract, namely that of Michal Rozsival, Scott Gomez, or Nik Zherdev and a first round draft pick. Ottawa wants a fair return and says they'd wait till after Heatley is due $4-million tomorrow, but I would be shocked if that happened. One side will have to budge first, and in my mind, Ottawa would be that side.

As for free agent possibilities, the big name has been Marian Gaborik of the Wild. Gaborik is a tremendous talent, possessing great speed and scoring ability. He would be a big help to the Rangers because of that. However, Gaborik has been spending a lot of time injured lately and may experience the same problems in NY. Other names that have surfaced are Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk. To me, the Rangers have a better shot at Hossa. He helped bring the Penguins then the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup finals, though he lost both years, and has a tremendous scoring ability. The Rangers would be smart to bring him in as he is less likely to be injured and has played in the Atlantic Division before.

As for the Islanders, they already cashed in with their biggest acquisition of all: John Tavares. Taking him first in the draft was the dream of the fans and Isles management made it a reality. I can't see any other player on the free agent market providing the type of excitement and energy as well as production that Tavares could bring. However, here are some thoughts.

The Islanders really need a back-up goalie that can help do a solid job in case Rick DiPietro is injured once again. To me, the best fit would be Ty Conklin. Conklin was Marc-Andre Fleury's back-up and then Chris Osgood's over the last two seasons, and went to the Stanley Cup Finals both years. He's a great goaltender that would be a solid back-up to DiPietro and could take over no problem if DP struggles or is hurt. Craig Anderson of Florida is another option, as he has a strong skill set and great save percentage.

As for other positions, their other big need is an enforcer to help protect Tavares. They could go after Colton Orr, who is a free agent after serving as the Rangers' enforcer for several seasons. Another option is Chris Neil from Ottawa. Neil has been a tough player against the Isles in his career and Orr served well with the Rangers. Either would be a fine addition for the Isles.

So that's what local fans can expect. I can see the Rangers getting Heatley, but I am not sure if it is worth it to get him if you have to give up Dubinsky or Callahan. Several teams need good, young cores. I would consider giving up Marc Staal before I gave up the other two since the Rangers have tremendous depth of young defensemen with talent. To me, Heatley would be a better addition than Gaborik, but is it worth it to trade away the talent rather than just signing one? I say no, but I'm no GM.

Yankees Take 2 Straight in Subway Series Part 2

If the Yankees offense was a disappointment earlier this week, the Mets offense over the last two games is downright pitiful!

The Yanks blanked the Mets 5-0 on Saturday night at Citi Field, after taking the first game on Friday 9-1 in the second half of the 2009 Subway Series. AJ Burnett followed up an excellent performance from CC Sabathia with 7 great innings of his own. Burnett had a no-hitter through five innings before Alex Cora led off the sixth with a single to right center. Sabathia had a perfect game on Friday through four frames before Gary Sheffield went deep to left.

Once again, the Yankees flexed their muscles, as they scored five runs and hit two more homers in the cavernous new ballpark in Queens. Nick Swisher opened the scoring with an opposite field shot to left-center in the third, and Jorge Posada also went the other way to left-center in the sixth for a three-run blast. That brings the total to 33 runs in the last four games for the Yanks.

As for the Mets' offense, it has absolutely disappeared. They blew out the Cardinals 11-0 on Wednesday, they have totaled 4 runs over the last three games (they hung on to beat the Cardinals 3-2 on Thursday). In the two games against the Yankees, here are some of their offensive numbers:

18 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 4 walks, 17 strikeouts. In those 18 innings, they have gone down 1-2-3 in 14 of them. That is not going to get the job done at all. Granted, their line-up has been depleted with the losses of Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, and Carlos Beltran, but they are still expected to be better than this.

My three players of the game:
1) AJ Burnett - Final Line: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R 3 BB, 10 K, 108 pitches, 64 strikes
Burnett was on target all night. His fastball averaged about 94 miles an hour and his curve was biting and diving from start to finish. Had he attacked a little more early in the game, his pinch count might have been lower and he could've gone deeper in the game. But only 1 hit and a season-high 10 strikeouts over 7 innings is nothing to complain about.

2) Jorge Posada - 1-4 HR, 3 RBI: Posada has been criticized of late for struggling at the plate and being unable to catch up to pitches. While this didn't change things as a whole, it showed Posada still had some pop. An opposite field shot over a high wall in an already deep part of the ballpark was impressive.

3) Nick Swisher - 1-3 HR, RBI, 2 BB: Hard to go with someone else, as Swisher worked the count to get on base and also went yard. After not playing yesterday in favor of Damon, Gardner, and Cabrera, he gets into the line-up with Damon having the flu, and makes it count. Nice performance from him.

The Yanks will try and take all three at Citi Field tomorrow when they send Chien-Ming Wang out to face Livan Hernandez. Wang is still winless with an 11.20 ERA, but has been improving slowly start-by-start. Against a weak line-up that's playing even weaker, he has a good shot for win #1. Hernandez faced the Yanks back on June 12th and was tagged for 6 runs on 7 hits, including 3 homers, in 5.1 innings. The game would later be decided when Luis Castillo dropped a game-ending pop-up and the Yanks won 9-8. More drama in the works tomorrow?

NBA Draft Recap; NHL Draft/Trades Talk; Subway Series Part 2

As you all know, last night was the NBA Draft at Madison Square Garden, and the Knicks left the draft without any of the player they truly wanted, but not empty-handed either. Stephen Curry was their top choice, and he was drafted the pick before at 7 by the Warriors. After that, they had their eye on Jonny Flynn of Syracuse or Ricky Rubio from Spain. The two went in the two picks before Curry.

That left the Knicks to take Jordan Hill, the power forward from Arizona with the 8th pick. Hill is a solid player who rebounds well and can operate in the fast-paced Mike D'Antoni offense. The sad new means it could spell the end for David Lee, but Hill provides a strong skill set who said he's excited to play in D'Antoni's system.

The Knicks traded $3 million to get the 29th pick from LA, and had the Lakers pick Toney Douglas, the guard from Florida State. Douglas was a force in the ACC and is a great scorer as well as a solid defender. We'll see if it translates to the NBA, but he was a solid pick.

Overall, fans seemed discontent at the draft with their two picks and mainly that the team didn't trade up to get Curry or Flynn. However, they picked the two best players available in the draft at the time they picked, so it's hard to fault them. And don't forget, trades can happen, and you have to trust what Donnie Walsh is doing.
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Moving on to the NHL, which has their draft tonight. The Islanders are the biggest story as they have the #1 pick, which will likely be either John Tavares or Matt Duchene. Tavares is the pick the fans want, as he has been touted to be the #1 pick for months and is an amazing talent. However, Duchene has put himself in the mix with a strong end to this past season. From the way I see it, if the Isles don't take Tavares, fans will riot and the team will likely be gone from Long Island. But that's just me!

As for the Rangers, they have the 19th pick, and will probably look to trade up. They want to get more young talent, especially in a forward as they are stacked at defense. If they do not trade, they can expect possibly Carter Ashton, Chris Kreider, and maybe Zack Kassian if he falls.

The bigger news is if the Rangers will make a trade for Ottawa's Dany Heatley today, or even Tampa's Vinny Lecavalier. While Lecavalier is unlikely, the Rangers have been in talks with Heatley, and Ottawa wants to get rid of him before July 1st, when he's due a $4-million check. Heatley has asked to be traded.

If they do trade for him, some talks I've heard include giving up Rozsival, Zherdev, and 1 or 2 draft picks, if not more. The Rangers are giving a lot for Heatley it seems, but the biggest thing they're losing is picks. Rozsival has gotten old and slow on defense, and doesn't take enough shots. Zherdev has a ton of skill, but sometimes doesn't seem into the game and isn't a fan of Tortorella and vice versa. The Rangers would be glad to make the trade, as long as it doesn't involve losing any of their three "untouchables" (Callahan, Dubinsky, Staal).

Should be a fun night in Montreal as many other trades are possible as well.
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And of course, Round 2 of the Subway Series begins tonight at Citi Field. Here are the pitching match-ups, times, and media channels for the games:

Friday, 7:10 PM, My9/SNY, WCBS 880, WFAN 660
CC Sabathia (6-4, 3.71) vs. Mike Pelfrey (5-2, 4.74)

Saturday, 7:10 PM, YES/WPIX/MLBN, WCBS 880, WFAN 660
AJ Burnett (5-4, 4.24) vs. Tim Redding (1-2, 6.08)

Sunday, 8:05 PM, ESPN, WCBS 880, WFAN 660
Chien Ming Wang (0-6, 11.20) vs. Livan Hernandez (5-2, 4.05)

I predict the Yankees win 2 of 3. Both teams are coming in off series wins. The Yanks took 2 of 3 from the Braves in Atlanta, their first legitimate series win against an NL opponent this season (Luis Castillo's blunder not counting). The Mets took 3 of 4 from the Cardinals at home despite losing Carlos Beltran to the DL. Will their be any leftover issues between Brian Bruney and Francisco Rodriguez? I doubt it, but we'll sure see. Should be a fun three games at the ballpark in Queens.

The Dual Blogging is Here!

For the first time ever, I will be dual blogging the Yanks-Braves and Mets-Cardinals games. For those who are unsure how the format will be, I will post thoughts on both games in the same update. The only changes to this will be if something is happening in just one of the games. Either way, I will have my thoughts on what is going on in each game.

Here are some big storylines for each game...
Yanks-Braves:
1) Can Chien-Ming Wang regain his dominating form? If he doesn't have a solid start tonight, it seems like Phil Hughes will take his spot in the rotation. Wang's been improving as of late, but he needs to have a quality start at worst to stay in the rotation.
2) Will the Yankees break out of their offensive funk? It's been the same old story over and over again. The Yankees have struggled against pitchers they haven't faced before. They haven't been able to make young starters pay with their strong line-up.

Mets-Cardinals:
1) Can the Mets stay strong without Beltran? Losing him is a big, big loss in the middle of their line-up. There's no way anyone will fill that spot in the line-up, but the win last night was encouraging. It'll be interesting to see if they can keep winning.
2) How will Fernando Martinez do back in the line-up and in centerfield? First time in the middle outfield position for the youngster, and it should be interesting to see how he does if he gets balls hit to him. Also, can he be better offensively the second time around in the majors?

Live-blogging will get underway once the games start. Enjoy both contests here on a Tuesday night, in what is now officially, summer!

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SURPRISE!!!

Surprise fans! I will actually be doing a dual live-blog tonight, covering both the Yanks and Mets games. Here's a little background on both games:

The Yankees begin the first of three games in Hot-lanta against the Braves. The last time these two teams played at Turner Field came back in 2000 where the Yanks took 2 of 3 games. The bigger history between the two squads is more focused on the match-ups between the teams in the 96 and 99 World Series. The Yankees won both, winning the first in 6 games and the second in 4. At this point, the only remaining players from either series on the current rosters are Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada for the Yanks and Chipper Jones for the Braves.

Tonight, it'll be Chien-Ming Wang for the Yanks against Tommy Hanson for Atlanta. Wang is still winless in 2009 and despite some improvement, is still not the pitcher he was the last two and a half seasons. The bigger story though, is that it was in a national league park last year (Minute Maid Park in Houston) where Wang hurt his foot running the bases and missed the rest of the season. He has yet to recover.

Hanson will be the seventh straight starter the Yanks have never seen before, so it would seem likely the Yanks are in trouble (they are 2-4 in those previous 6). Hanson is 2-0 this year with a 4.08 ERA. He poses a good test for the Yankees tonight to try and break their streak of poor offensive showings.

A couple of notes for the Yanks:
*CC Sabathia had some treatment today on his biceps and will thow a short bullpen session tomorrow. He's still sure he will start on Friday against the Mets.
*Johnny Damon is out of the starting line-up tonight as his calf is still sore. He did say, however, that he could pinch hit.
*Major League Baseball declined Joe Girardi's protest of Sunday's game against the Marlins. This was expected.
*Cody Ransom will re-join the team tomorrow, meaning someone's gotta go. If it's between Pena and Berroa, it no-doubt should be Berroa. He's useless on this team.

Onto the Mets, who play the second of four against the Cardinals at Citi Field. The Mets took last night's game 6-4 despite placing Carlos Beltran on the DL earlier in the day with a bruised knee. It was the first win against the Cards this season for the Mets, who were swept in St. Louis back on April 21st-23rd.

Livan Hernandez starts for the Mets tonight, looking to improve on his 5-1 record. He has been a pleasant surprise this year for the Mets and will look to avenge his only loss of the season, which came against the Red Birds back on 23rd of April. Hernandez was roughed up for 7 runs on 9 hits in just 4 1/3 innings, in a 12-8 loss.

The Cardinals will start Joel Pineiro, who is 5-8 on the year, but has an ERA of 3.76. He was a tough luck loser in his last start, giving up just 1 earned run (4 total) in 7 innings, but losing to the Tigers. Pineiro threw 8 solid innings against the Mets on 4/22 in a 5-2 win.

Some Mets notes:
*Fernando Martinez will get his first career start in centerfield tonight.
*Jose Reyes will take ground balls and batting practice today prior to the game. However, he still hasn't started any running program, which is key.
*John Maine will throw a bullpen tomorrow and could re-join the Mets on Saturday. Oliver Perez will also throw a bullpen session tomorrow.

Here are the line-ups for the games tonight:

New York Yankees (38-31, 4 GB of Red Sox)
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Melky Cabrera LF
Brett Gardner CF
Chien Ming Wang P

New York Mets (35-33, 1.5 GB of Phillies)
Alex Cora SS
Daniel Muprhy 1B
David Wright 3B
Fernando Tatis LF
Ryan Church RF
Omir Santos C
Fernando Martinez CF
Luis Castillo 2B
Livan Hernandez P

I'll have the live updates in another blog post. Enjoy Folks! I'm Excited!

Brian Leetch is a Hall of Famer

Sorry for the lack of posts over the last week or so. Things have been very busy lately, with prepping for my fall semester in Los Angeles, turning 21, and an assortment of other things. Either way, I'm back, and will do my best to keep you updated as much as possible.

Big news in NY today as Brian Leetch was elected to the NHL Hall of Fame. He will join a very strong 2009 class featuring Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, and Luc Robitaille. Leetch starred as a defenseman for the Rangers, leading them to the 1994 Stanley Cup. He was given the Conn Smythe Trophy for the MVP of the Playoffs that year too. He is the only American ever to have won that award. He's also arguably the best American-born defenseman to ever play the game.

His #2 hangs in the rafters at Madison Square Garden, and he will now forever be immortalized in Toronto at the Hockey HOF. A well-deserved honor...Congratulations Mr. Leetch!

I'll be around tonight as I will bring you a live-blog of the Yankee game agains the Braves. Chien-Ming Wang still looking for his first win this year. Over in Queens, Mets and Cardinals play the second of their four-game set. Livan Hernandez will face Joel Pineiro. From what I hear, Fernando Martinez will make his first career start in centerfield. Should be interesting to see.

See you all later tonight. Don't forget to vote on the new poll over to the right!

The Subway Series is Back...

...with a new twist this year as all six games will be played in new stadiums. The first three will take place this weekend at the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. First the pitching match-ups and which team has the edge in that game:

Friday - 7:05 PM - YES/SNY
Joba Chamberlain (3-1, 3.79) vs. Livan Hernandez (5-1, 3.88)
Edge: Yankees. This is tough because Livan has been very good so far this year, a pleasant surprise for Mets fans. However, Joba has had two solid starts in a row and still has the better stuff to tame the Mets line-up. Livan's also 0-3 in his career against the Yanks with a plus-6 ERA.

Saturday - 4:10 PM - FOX
Andy Pettitte (6-2, 4.22) vs. Fernando Nieve (0-0, -.--)
Edge: Yankees - Pettitte has struggled at points but is still better against a weak offensive line-up than a guy who hasn't started in the majors since 2006. However, the Yanks often struggle against guys they haven't seen before.

Sunday - 1:05 PM - YES/WPIX/TBS
A.J. Burnett (4-3, 4.89) vs. LHP Johan Santana (8-3, 2.39)
Edge: Mets - The ace, and arguable best pitcher in baseball, goes against Mr. Inconsistent, who just got beat by the Red Sox...again!

Now, one of the things I always like to do around this time is look at each position and part of a team and see which of the New York teams has the edge. So, here we go:

Catcher:
Jorge Posada vs. Omir Santos/Brian Schneider
Edge: Yankees - Santos has been great for the Mets this season, but Posada still has the better bat and veteran presence that Santos lacks.

First Base:
Mark Teixeira vs. Daniel Murphy/Fernando Tatis
Edge: Yankees - This is simple. Teixeira is one of the hottest hitters in baseball now and has been the best Yankee of the first half. No one in baseball other than Pujols is better at 1st.

Second Base:
Robinson Cano vs. Luis Castillo
Edge: Yankees - Cano has been much better this year than last, and though he's tailed off some, he's still got a good bat and glove. Castillo gets on base, but injuries have also been a problem.

Shortstop:
Derek Jeter vs. Alex Cora
Edge: Yankees - There is no question Jeter is losing both his offensive and defensive prowess. However, he's still the best leader in baseball, hits close to or over .300 still, and has actually improved defensively from last year. Cora isn't bad, but he's nowhere near the type of player and presence Jeter is.

Third Base:
Alex Rodriguez vs. David Wright
Edge: Yankees - Mets fans will cry over this, saying A-Rod's a cheater and can't hit in the clutch. Maybe so, but he still has one of the best bats in baseball and best arms among infielders. He's arguably the best player in the game, despite recent struggles at the plate. Don't forget: Wright was struggling bag too!

Left Field:
Johnny Damon vs. Gary Sheffield
Edge: Even - Damon has a good bat and gets on base, but has a very poor arm. Sheffield still has some pop and has been a force in a very weak offensive line-up. Because of this, I say they are even right about now. Damon has surprised with his offense but so has Sheff.

Centerfield:
Carlos Beltran vs. Melky Cabrera/Brett Gardner
Edge: Mets - No doubt Beltran is one of the best CF's, offensively and defensively, in the game. He's had some injury problems, but he's still superior. Both Melky and Gardner are solid defensively, and Melky has impressed offensively, but neither are near Beltran.

Rightfield:
Nick Swisher vs. Ryan Church/Fernando Martinez
Edge: Yankees (slightly) - Swisher has been a surprise with how good he has been hitting, though he did have a slump in May. However, Church has been hurt and hasn't impressed much, and F-Mart hasn't played enough to gauge how good he is. Both Church and Swisher have issues running the bases though. I give the edge to the Yanks here.

Starting Pitching:
Edge: Even - Yes, Johan Santana is the best pitcher in baseball. CC's not as good, but he's pitched like an ace should. After that, both teams have a lot of questions. Burnett's underachieved, and so has Maine. Wang's been terrible, and so has Redding. Livan's been surprising, and so has Pettitte. Joba's been good and bad, and so has Pelfrey. To me, they are just very even among the starters the way they have played.

Bullpen:
Edge: Even - Earlier in the year, I would've said Mets with no questions asked. However, lately, the Yanks have closed the gap. With Putz going down and Parnell starting to struggle, the Mets have dropped. The Yanks have gotten a small boost with Hughes and Aceves in the pen. K-Rod's been better than Mo, so if I had to choose one, I'd go slightly to the Mets.

Managers:
Joe Girardi vs. Jerry Manuel
Edge: Yankees - I give Manuel credit for keeping this team in the chase despite all the injuries, but it seems to me Girardi's club has more chemistry and confidence right now. Manuel's had issues with Church and Reyes that have stuck out, though Girardi hsa had some too with veterans. I still give the edge slightly to Girardi.

And, just for fun, we'll match the stadiums up against each other:
Yankee Stadium vs. Citi Field
Edge: Even - Both buildings have many positive attributes, and both have many flaws. The Yanks have made a grand stadium with a great video board, wonderful tribute to their history, and overall feel similar to the old Yankee Stadium. However, the food is still not anything amazing, prices are high, and people are still complaining over the abundance of homers.

Citi Field is a very nice ballpark with some of the best food around, an intimate feel, and quirky features. However, fans are complaining about a lack of tribute to Met history and the fact that there are almost no home runs hit.

I couldn't honestly give an edge. They are two different things. One's a stadium, and one's a ballpark. It all depends on what a person wants more in a game.

With that, enjoy the Subway Series: Part 1!