New York Sports Buff

Another Garden Embarrassment

2010-01-28T09:06:00.001-08:00

Last night, I was in attendance at Madison Square Garden to watch the Rangers fumble away a must-win game against the worst team in the Eastern Conference. The 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes was the Rangers' fourth consecutive loss in regulation and dropped their record at home to a dismal 12-13-4.

The thing that stood out the most to me during the game was hearing Rangers fans chanting "We Suck!" in their own arena. The Canes scored twice within the first 4 minutes of the game, and immediately after, the "Fire Sather!" chants began. At the end of the third period, the Garden faithful were dueling over their favorite baseball teams!! BASEBALL IN JANUARY?!?!

That's how bad things have gotten at the world's most famous arena. Overall, the Rangers are still 24-23-7 and in 8th place, worthy of the final playoff spot in the East. While that may be, the Rangers are clearly spiraling in the wrong direction. If there's one word to describe this team, it's Inconsistent.

Merely a week ago, the Rangers scored 14 goals in 5 periods while dismantling the Canadiens and Lightning at MSG. Since that game, the Rangers have scored three times in 12 periods. They beat Montreal 6-2 at the Garden then lost to the same team 6-0 up north a week later. That's inconsistent.

With the Olympic break coming up and the trade deadline on March 3rd, it's safe to say the Rangers need to make some changes. They need another scorer if they want to compete in the East with teams like Washington and Pittsburgh. The Rangers are extremely soft and often show a lack of desire to finish checks and forecheck the whole game. They need to obtain a guy who checks all game long and can also create some offense (Dustin Brown anyone?).

A friend of mine and I had a chat the other day about who the Rangers need to keep and who needs to go. Out of the list of keepers, we came up with Marion Gaborik, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Sean Avery, Marc Staal, Michael Del Zotto, and Henrik Lundqvist for sure. After watching last night, I might even consider taking of Del Zotto for the right deal. However, if the Rangers are going to trade for a big scorer, they'll likely have to give up Dubinsky or Callahan.

In the end, the Rangers have a few key forwards, two to four young defensemen, and a solid goaltender (who actually looked pretty bad last night). If the Rangers want to be successful, they have to re-tool and get some key role players. The first guy that needs to go though, is probably Glen Sather. Until that happens, I don't see the Rangers getting deep into the playoffs.

The Damon Situation

2010-01-25T09:25:00.000-08:00

Over this past weekend, there were multiple reports on Johnny Damon and his situation with the Yankees. As of now, the teams have not agreed on anything, but it seems there may be a decision approaching very soon.

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated has said that the Yankees have given Damon a deadline to accept an offer (likely a low-base salary plus incentives deal), or the Yankees will move on to other opportunities. Brian Cashman later denied that rumor. Then, Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger tweeted that Damon texted him saying he should have a team within a week.

So here's where it all seems to stand:
Damon either accepts a low offer from the Yankees or declines to go elsewhere for slightly more money and the Yankees choose from one of the following to fill the roster spot:
Xavier Nady
Reed Johnson
Randy Winn
Jermaine Dye and Jim Edmonds have been mentioned, but Brian Cashman basically said neither are on the Yanks' radar.

Here's my opinion and take on the situation:
Damon isn't going to get the kind of money he was seeking from any team. He's going to take a paycut no matter where he goes. So, if he wants to play for the Yankees bad enough, he'll take the low deal with incentives to play with the Yanks again. If money is the bigger concern, he'll decline and go elsewhere.

If Damon does go elsewhere, the Yanks will choose from Nady, Johnson, and Winn. So which of the three is the best? In order:

Reed Johnson

He can play all three outfield positions, has great numbers against lefties, not terrible against righties, and has the experience of playing the AL East. I definitely think he does a good job of getting on base. Johnson seems like someone who gives the Yanks versatility, no one expects amazing things out of, and can provide great upside.

Xavier Nady

When healthy, he has the best bat of anyone in contention for the spot. He can play both corner OF positions, which is where help is needed since Granderson will control CF and play almost every day. The big problem is the second elbow surgery he just had that forced him to miss almost all of 2009. He has risk, and it would be a major blow if he can't hit well or throw the ball from the outfield. If he's healthy, he'd be a steal at the bargain price he'd get.

Randy Winn

He's the oldest of the group at 35 and might command a higher salary out of the three. He has a decent bat but was bad against lefties last year. He's played a lot at each outfield spot, which is a plus. However, I think he'd want a starting job guaranteed, and the Yankees won't want to give him that promise. Could be good, but I don't see him coming to the Yanks, who want to stay relatively young.

Let me know who you think should fill the Yankees' outfield spot and vote in the poll on the right.

When Lost on Revis Island...

2010-01-23T10:18:00.000-08:00

...What would you bring?

There have been a plethora of receivers this year who have gotten lost on Revis Island. You may have heard of a few. The way Darrelle Revis has played this year, I am still in absolute shock he did not get Defensive Player of the Year honors. I think Charles Woodson's a great player but don't tell me his veteran status did not win him that award.

Regardless, as the Jets get set for their match-up with the Colts to decide the AFC Championship and a spot in the Super Bowl, I thought I would take a look back at some of the receivers Revis shut down, and the one thing they would most likely bring if they were to get lost on Revis Island again.

Chad Ochocinco

2009 vs. Revis (2 games): 2 catches, 28 yards
What he'd bring: Himself...because Chad Ochocinco loves to entertain Chad Ochocinco, and only Chad Ochocinco can keep Chad Ochocinco from eating his own words...twice (translation: he loves himself)

Reggie Wayne

2009 vs. Revis: 3 catches, 33 yards
What he'd bring: Marvin Harrison, pre-gun incident...That way, Revis will have to choose which high-profile playmaker to shut down

Terrell Owens

2009 vs. Revis (2 games): 6 catches, 44 yards
What he'd bring: Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick...BECAUSE THOSE ARE HIS QUARTERBACKS!!

Randy Moss

2009 vs. Revis (2 games): 9 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD
What he'd bring: Another slow receiver...to make him look like less of a "slouch"

Steve Smith

2009 vs. Revis: 1 catch, 5 yards
What he'd bring: A quarterback, any quarterback, that throws the ball more often to players wearing the same jersey as him rather than a different one

Andre Johnson

2009 vs. Revis: 4 catches, 35 yards
What he'd bring: A team that is either really good or really bad for him to play on, not one that's always stuck in between

Marques Colston

2009 vs. Revis: 2 catches, 33 yards
What he'd bring: The Hofstra University Football program...because with enough practice against a top-flight cornerback, maybe Hofstra football can play well again and the school will bring the program back

Roddy White

2009 vs. Revis: 4 catches, 33 yards
What he'd bring: A big gift for Mark Sanchez...for allowing the Falcons to stay in that game and eventually win it

Vincent Jackson

2009 vs. Revis: 7 catches, 111 yards
What he'd bring: A congratulatory certificate...honoring him for putting up the best numbers against Revis and the Jets, but he still couldn't help his team pull out a win

I'm Back

2010-01-18T17:05:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

So after the long lay-off for my semester in Los Angeles, I am back here running New York Sports Buff and am excited to contribute my thoughts and feelings regarding all the latest happenings in the New York sports world! I had an absolute blast in LA getting to see what another major sports city was like, and I must say, Los Angelinos are crazy about their sports. I'll definitely post an article on my experiences in LA, but if you don't want to wait, check out the blog I kept: Michael in Los Angeles

Ok, moving on, I figured my first post would be about the hottest topic on the NY sports scene right now, and of course, that would be the New York Jets. After a hot start, the team plummeted to 4-6 and then were written off by their own Head Coach, Rex Ryan, after a terrible loss to the Falcons with 2 weeks left in the season.

My how the tables have turned!

The Jets beat the Colts and Bengals to clinch a spot in the playoffs, upended Cincy, on the road, on Wild Card weekend, and then shocked the Chargers, in San Diego, in the Divisional Round. And now sure enough, here are the Jets, about to face the Colts in the AFC Championship Game, 60 minutes from the Super Bowl for just the 2nd time in team history.

And one question still remains: Do they deserve to be here?

Frankly, I'm sick of hearing everyone claiming the Jets "backed their way in." Did they get a gift from the Colts when they removed Peyton Manning and Co. in the 3rd quarter of their Week 16 game? Sure. Did they benefit from Cedric Benson not playing in the season finale? Perhaps. Will we ever know how the games would have played out otherwise? NO! So stop trying to look back into the past.

No matter how the Jets got to the postseason, they got there by playing well enough to win games. Would the Rams or Lions have beaten the Colts second-string? I don't think so, and they are off golfing somewhere. The Jets did their job, and they have proven the last two weeks they could beat Division Champions who played their starters the whole game.

The Jets ended the year with the best defense and best running game in the entire NFL. Sure, they have a rookie quarterback who has struggled, but had their defense and running game not been as top-notch as they were this year, they wouldn't have come close to making the playoffs. Credit the Jets' talent and their ability to take care of business late in the season (they did win 5 of 6 to close out the season) for the reason they are playing in January. Not the decisions of other teams to rest some starters.

Top 10 Yankee Moments of 2009

2009-11-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

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

2009-08-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-04T10:37:00.001-07:00

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

2009-08-04T07:50:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-31T07:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-29T12:21:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

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!

Yankes and Mets Live-Blog

Omar Brings a New Low to the Mets

2009-07-28T13:20:00.001-07:00

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"

2009-07-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

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)

Yanks and Mets Live-Blog

Early Second Half Thoughts/Live-Blogging

2009-07-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

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!

Mets-Braves Live-Blog

Roy Halladay Chatter

2009-07-17T06:35:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-14T17:13:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone,

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

Enjoy!!

All-Star Game

Midseason Grades

2009-07-14T13:24:00.001-07:00

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.

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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

2009-07-10T08:12:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-07-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

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!

Mets and Yankees Live Blog

MLB Umpires Show They Still Stink

2009-07-07T11:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-04T07:45:00.001-07:00

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:

Hot Dog Contest and Yanks-Jays Live-Blog

Live-Blog of Yankees-Jays

2009-07-03T08:46:00.001-07:00

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!

Yankees-Blue Jays

BREAKING NEWS: Gaborik a Ranger

2009-07-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-30T14:20:00.001-07:00

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

2009-06-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

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

Live Blog 6/30/09

NHL Free Agency Approaching

2009-06-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

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.
------------------------------
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.
------------------------------
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!

2009-06-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2009-06-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-06-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

...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!

Breaking News: Jets Ink Sanchez to Deal

2009-06-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

Just in, the Jets and quarterback Mark Sanchez have agreed on a contract. According to the Daily News, the deal is for 5 years and $28 million in guaranteed money. That would make him the highest-paid player in team history.

It was obviously expected both sides would reach a deal without a problem. The biggest thing, as noted in the article, is that the contract is for 5 years and not 6. Most Top-5 quarterbacks in the draft get a 6-year deal (Matt Stafford, the #1 pick, got 6 years and about $42 million from the Lions). The advantage here is for Sanchez, who can become a free agent a year early.

Nothing further is available at this point, but Sanchez as well as Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum will speak to reporters after the afternoon practice, which began at about 4:10 PM.

Stephen Curry Works Out with Knicks

2009-06-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

News today revolves around basketball as Stephen Curry worked out at the Knicks Training Center in Westchester. Curry had a good workout from all reports, though media weren't allowed to watch the workouts, and he still wants to be a Knick.

The former Davidson stand-out has made it known to all that he would love to play at Madison Square Garden and in Mike D'Antoni's run-and-gun system. Curry, a point guard, has a tremendous three-point shot and can be a big factor in the Knicks' future plans (which include adding LeBron James after this season).

Curry told reporters he was happy with his workout today and hopes he impressed those watching. When asked what kind of player he'll be in the NBA, he responded, "A great one." Curry also noted that he would be able to play better with a lot of talented players around him (who wouldn't?), so it's clear he could thrive adding LeBron to the mix.

With the Knicks picking 8th, the big question is if Curry will be available by then. Other teams have talked about trading up to get him. I think if he's there, and the Knicks don't trade up or down, they'll take Curry. He's a great shooter, can really do well in D'Antoni's offense, and loves the idea of playing in NY. It would be a good fit.

If the Knicks don't take him, other guys in their sights are Jrue Holiday, who also worked out today and said he could've done better, Jonny Flynn, who dominated running the point this year for Syracuse, and Ty Lawson, who helped lead North Carolina to the national championship. I like Flynn, having watched him in person. He can pass, shoot, compete, and lead. He's a great all-around player that will thrive running the point in the NBA. His small size is the only concern.

Jets Open Mini-Camp

2009-06-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Sorry for the lack of posts over the last few days. Have been busy with work and preparing my trip out to California, where I will be spending four months studying and interning in the fall. Should be a great time.

There are several stories around the area today including two big rivalry series kicking off tonight in baseball. However, I'll focus this post on the Jets beginning their three-day mandatory mini-camp at their training facility in Florham Park, New Jersey today.

All the big guns were accounted for, as expected. Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens both threw the ball fairly well today. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington were both there, despite their contract issues (which Leon spoke about), and Rex Ryan once again made his voice heard.

In terms of the first issue, the quarterback competition with Sanchez and Clemens continued to heat up. Both had some good throws in practice, the only blip was an interception thrown by Sanchez to Eric Smith. Either way, after practice, both quarterbacks made it known to the media that this was a competition between the QBs and not a controversy.

My Take: Both players respect each other and are helping each other become better through this. However, it is not like one has a clear edge over the other and that other QB is trying to take the spot. Clemens and Sanchez each have an equal chance of making the team and it should be interesting to see who comes out on top. If one thing's for sure, it's that whoever is the quarterback to start the season will have earned it, as Ryan said afterwards.

In terms of the contract issues, Washington spoke about his situation to reporters after practice. The bottom line with him is that he wants "fair market value." In other words, he demands a contract that is similar to other playmaking runningbacks like Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren Sproles (roughly $6 million). He wouldn't state whether or not he would be at training camp later on or any other plans. He preached his desire for a better contract but also that he loves playing for the Jets and wants to stay there.

My Take: Washington is only making $535,000 this year, and no doubt is a better player than that on the market. I understand his desires to make more money. However, when it comes down to what is best for him and the team, it is best for him to take the field all summer, even if the dispute is still going on. He is an important part of the team's offense and is a player who could become important for the Jets or other teams in the future. Holding out does not bode well for his image. You can be upset but don't stop playing because of it.

Finally, Rex Ryan spoke out again, referencing comments made by Channing Crowder of the Dolphins. Crowder claimed that Ryan was getting too excited about his team and that Ryan was the "OTA Super Bowl winner." Ryan fired back today saying that you do win games in June by the preparation that you do during the summer months. He also noted that he will not apologize for any comments he made, including his famous "I'm not here to kiss Bill Belichick's rings" statement.

My Take: Ryan shouldn't have to take back or apologize for anything he said. Yes, he is a first-year head coach who has not proven that he can be successful in that position yet. However, he has a lot of confidence, which any coach should in his team, and is making his feelings known that he isn't intimidated by the Patriots or anyone else. I see nothing wrong with being excited for what your team can do in June, agree that it's important to prepare well for the season in the summer, and think that Ryan has the ability and the team to be successful.

Yankees vs. Rangers - 6/3

2009-06-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone. Back here for tonight's game between the Yankees and Rangers at Yankee Stadium. This is the second game of a three-game set in the Bronx. Andy Pettitte (5-1, 4.10) will face Scott Feldman (4-0, 3.91). It'll be interesting to see how Pettitte's back is after it stiffened up on him during his last start. Just a note, it is raining in everywhere basically from Cincinnati, Ohio to Boston, Massachusetts right now. It'll be a miracle if the whole game is played tonight, if anything.

Some notes before the game starts:
*The Yanks have won 2 straight and 16 of their last 20 overall, including 9 of their last 11 at home.

*Derek Jeter has a 16-game hitting streak and has raised his average up to .319.

*Hideki Matsui has 3 home runs in 12 at-bats this season against the Rangers.

*Mark Teixeira was scratched from tonight's line-up with a bruised right ankle. He sustained the injury on his hard slide into 2nd last night to break up a double play. He is listed as day-to-day. For the Yankees, they better hope this is nothing major. Tex has been raking the ball lately and cannot afford to lose him in the middle of their line-up.

Back for the start of the game...if it ever does start. Will update you when I find out information on the weather and start time.

UPDATE (6:45): Swisher will hit second in the line-up with Damon hitting 3rd. Interesting there, but I assume it's because Swish was great in the #2 spot on Monday night. Also, they are apparently getting ready to take off the tarp. Might have baseball after-all. Early runs will be important I'm sure!

UPDATE (6:51): First pitch is at 7:15. Good news there. The bad: There is another big blob of green on the radar, with the east-most point at Scranton, PA right about now. I say there is about a 90-minute window before it starts raining heavy again. That could be about the 5th inning. Again, early runs will be important.

UPDATE (7:32): Underway after a 12-minute rain delay. Rough start for Andy Pettitte. Lead-off walk to Ian Kinsler, who later comes around on an infield single by Nelson Cruz. Marlon Byrd had an RBI fielder's choice, and Chris Davis had an RBI single. Could've been worse if Byrd wasn't gunned down trying for 3rd on Davis' single by a great throw from Melky in right. 3 runs, 3 hits, 2 walks in the inning. We'll see if the Yanks can respond. They lead the majors with 18 come-from-behind wins.

UPDATE (7:41): Yankees get a run back on a double by Swisher and a single by A-Rod. Pettitte needs to settle down and give his offense a chance to get the lead before the rains come.

UPDATE (7:54): Rangers get their run back as Ian Kinsler scores Elvis Andrus. Three more hits for the Rangers and a throwing error by Pettitte on a pick-off attempt. Not a good start for Pettitte. He's been good for the Yanks this year, but his stuff is not intimidating anymore.

UPDATE (8:12): WOW! Andy Pettitte gives up a lead-off walk (again) and a single. 2-on, none-out, and Marlon Byrd interferes with Posada by hitting him on the back with his backswing as the runners were stealing. Instead of 2nd and 3rd with no out, the runners have to go back, and Pettitte proceeds to strike out the side, all swinging, to end the inning. Great job by Pettitte!

UPDATE (8:31): Hard to say this with the way the Yanks come-from-behind, but this doesn't look like the Yanks' night. Feldman walks Gardner, Swisher, and Damon all in the same inning, and sure enough, A-Rod grounds into a 5-3 double play to end the inning with nothing. Bad start by Pettitte so far and lack of a big hit. The good news: It's a 3-run game, and it's the 4th inning. The bad: the rain's a-comin!

UPDATE (8:39): Another stolen base off Jorge Posada. He's got one of the best bats among catchers, but my goodness, everyone is going to steal off of him. He cannot throw anyone out. He is airmailing almost every throw to 2nd. Teams are going to start taking real notice of this. Meanwhile, Andy Pettitte NEEDS to stop walking batters. 3 of the 4 lead-off hitters have walked off him.

UPDATE (8:48): Pettitte walks three more to bring his total in the game to 6 in four innings. He does have 6 K's, but he's had to battle in every inning and has thrown 95 pitches. However, it's still a 3-run game, and the offense needs to start capitalizing against Feldman if the Yanks want this game.

UPDATE (9:00): 9 pitches is all Andy needs to get through the fifth. I was shocked he stayed out there, but he finally has an easy inning. The game is still up for grabs. It's up to the Yanks offense now.

UPDATE (9:06): Another 1-2-3 inning for Feldman. He's retired 8 in a row and has been pretty good all night aside from a few walks. It's an official game now, so if the rains come soon, Texas will have a win. Still plenty of time left, but the Yanks need to start hitting.

UPDATE (9:25): The Yankees fail to capitalize again as A-Rod strikes out and Cano grounds out with Damon on 3rd. A-Rod has left four runners on base himself. Yanks just not in it tonight offensively and seem weak without Teixeira in the line-up. Hopefully, he's not out for an extended period. Give Scott Feldman credit. He has pitched great over 6 innings.

UPDATE (9:45): Jorgie juices one to RF, a Yankee Stadium homer on a line drive to the short porch. 4-2 now in the 8th, should be an interesting finish in the Bronx. I'm surprised the rain has held off this long!

UPDATE (9:51): Brett Tomko comes out of the bullpen and throws three scoreless innings, giving up 2 hits, 0 walks, and striking out 3. The Yanks have him, Aceves, and Hughes all who can go long and be effective in the pen.

UPDATE (10:02): A-Rod strikes out again with Swisher on base. Elvis Andrus with a nice play on a chopper by Cano to end the inning. He has been great at the plate and in the field tonight. Yanks have 3 more outs to try and do something at the dish.

UPDATE (10:33): Yanks don't do anything in the 9th and lose the game 4-2. Tough loss for the Yanks who couldn't get anything going at the plate. Pettitte was shaky at the beginning but kept the team in the game. Good relief again from the Yanks. We'll see if Chien Ming Wang can be effective tomorrow.

Wang Back in Rotation; Setback for Reyes

2009-06-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

Interesting news coming from both the Yankees and Mets this afternoon.

For the Yankees, Chien Ming Wang is back in the rotation and will start tomorrow's game against the Rangers at Yankee Stadium. To compensate, Phil Hughes will take Wang's spot in the bullpen. Obviously, Hughes has to be disappointed. While he hasn't pitched amazing since joining the rotation (3-2, 5.45 ERA), he has shown flashes of great pitching. However, Wang has given up just 2 runs in 8 innings of relief, and it appears he has regained the velocity and sink on his pitches he was lacking earlier in the season.

I think the only way the Yanks will know whether or not Wang has his stuff back is if he starts again. He'll only throw 75-to-80 pitches, as per Joe Girardi, to build up some arm strength, so he won't give you much length. Give him a couple starts and see if he can pitch well again. Hughes could be as big of an asset in the bullpen as Alfredo Aceves has been lately. He can go multiple innings, and is much more valuable and reliable than Jose Veras or David Robertson.

As for the Mets, Jose Reyes was removed from an extended spring training game today after experiencing pain in his calf and will return to New York for further tests. This is terrible news for the Mets, as Reyes was on target for a possible return Friday. Now, the team will have to see just how severe the injury is and keep him out longer. The Mets are even thinner at short with Ramon Martinez likely going on the DL, but at least they have Alex Cora back, who will be starting and hitting lead-off tonight against the Pirates.

For the Mets, they need some good news about injuries, and need some fast. I guess you can consider Carlos Beltran returning to the line-up tonight a plus, after being out since Sunday with a stomach virus. However, will he be on his game? Cora's return is good too, but they still are losing players left and right. Pagan on Sunday, Martinez yesterday, it's just too much. The team has some depth, but not enough that will allow them to compete all season long.

I'll be back later to live-blog during the Yankee game once again. I will try and do a Mets live-blog soon. I've just been focusing a lot on the Yankees at work. Catch you all in a bit!

Yanks Take Homestand Opener; Mets Drop 2nd in a Row in Steel City

2009-06-02T19:18:00.001-07:00

For the second night in a row, the Yankees were victorious while the Mets floundered. The Yanks returned to the Bronx to open a three-game set against the Rangers and flexed their muscles in a 12-3 victory.

AJ Burnett got the start and performed well aside from one rough inning. He gave up a 3-run homer in the 3rd to Nelson Cruz, and was very strong outside of that. His final line: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 110 pitches. Another solid start from a Yankee pitcher, which has been the key to their success.

Key Highlights:
*The entire Yankees 4th inning, in which they scored 7 runs off Vicente Padilla and Derek Holland. The big play in the inning: Mark Teixeira sliding into second to break up a potential inning-ending double play with A-Rod at the plate. He slid hard into Elvis Andrus, kept the inning going, and the Yanks ended up plating five more runs. The final three came off the bat of Hideki Matsui, who launched a homer into the right field bullpen. Big offensive showcase for the Yanks.

*Jorge Posada launched a bomb of his own, drilling a Warner Madrigal pitch deep into the second deck in right for a 3-run dinger. This one put the game officially away and was a mammoth bomb.

Key Stats:
*1 walk for AJ Burnett. After winning his first two starts, in which he gave up just 1 walk in each, he has given up under 2 walks in a start just once in 8 starts since. His totals: 2 twice, 3, 4 twice, 6, and 7. He walked 4 against the Rangers last week, and only one tonight. He did a much better job challenging the hitters, and trusting the defense behind him, which was great.

*E2 in the Top of the 4th inning. That would be charged to Jorge Posada when he airmailed a throw to second, trying to catch Elvis Andrus stealing. That was the Yanks' first error in 18 games, ending their record streak.

*Jeter: 3-4 at the plate, extends his hitting streak to 16 games.

*Teixeira: 0-2 at the plate, ends his hitting streak at 14 games. He was hit twice by a pitch, and showed some anger after the 2nd one, yelling at Padilla on the mound, sliding hard into second, and being overly emotional in the dugout after Matsui's home run later that inning.

As for the Mets, they were stymied by Zach Duke, and the Pirates made 3 runs of Johan Santana stand up in a 3-1 win. The Mets were once again without the services of Carlos Beltran, who is still battling a stomach virus, and apparently, an SNY Producer may have the Swine Flu. Not good news for the Mets, neither was losing a second straight game to the Pirates.

Santana was solid again, pitching 6 innings. He gave up 7 hits, 3 runs, walked 1, and struck out 3. He threw just 85 pitches. All the Mets could muster was a sac fly off the bat of Luis Castillo in the 5th inning. In addition, Ramon Martinez was injured, hurting his finger, and left the game after just 2 at-bats.

Key Highlights:
*In the 5th, after the Mets took a 1-0 lead, Jason Jaramillo took Santana deep to left with one out to tie the score. Good way for the Pirates to respond and keep things close against a dominant pitcher like Johan Santana. It was his first dinger of the season.

*In the 6th, the Pirates took the lead for good. Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche hit back-to-back, almost identical doubles to right, plating a run a piece, and giving their team a 3-1 lead. Santana was strong all night up until the 6th, and the Pirates made him pay.

Key Stats:
*0 strikeouts for Pirates pitching. Facing a tough task against Johan Santana, the Pirates pitchers needed to be just as good if not better. The combo of Duke, John Grabow, and Matt Capps threw 9 innings of 1-run ball, and didn't K one Met batter. That's impressive.

*Jeremy Reed: 3-for-3 at the plate. Reed was once again impressive at the dish. 3 hits for him after 2 hits and 2 runs scored last night. Good to see him starting to pick up on the offense, especially when the rest of his team went 5-for-27 at the plate.

That's all for tonight. Yanks and Rangers again tomorrow at 7. Andy Pettitte goes for win #6 against Scott Feldman. Mets at the Pirates also at 7. Mike Pelfrey tries for his 5th victory against former-Yankee Ross Ohlendorf, who is 5-5 for the Bucs.

Checking in with the Jets

2009-06-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

Haven't had a football related blog since my triumphant return, so I thought I'd catch you all up on some happenings around the Jets. They are currently taking part in OTAs (organized team activities) and have made headlines recently regarding the players in attendance.

News continues to revolve around quarterback Mark Sanchez and whether or not he'll be the starter this year. My guess is not right away, as I feel Kellen Clemens has the experience, and Sanchez might need some more time. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sanchez start later in the season.

As for players who have missed time at OTAs, the two stand-outs would be runningbacks Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. Both are unhappy with their current contracts. Jones is set to receive $900,000 this year, but wants more after he was the AFC's leading rusher last season. As for Washington, he's due just $535,000, and wants money similar to that of Darren Sproles and Maurice Jones-Drew (around $6 or 7 million).

Jones sat out all of the voluntary offseason workouts, but returned on Wednesday, May 27th. As for his back-up, Washington also sat out for a while from OTAs, and finally returned yesterday to the practice facility in Florham Park, NJ. According to Washington's agent, the return was "a move of good faith."

It appears unlikely either will get a big increase. Jones has received a lot already from his first two years of his four-year contract and is continuing to age (over 30). Washington could be either an unrestricted or restricted free agent after the season, depending on whether the league develops a new Collective Bargaining Agreement after the 2009 season. The team doesn't want to pay him a lot of he would be unrestricted, and rightfully so.

Either way, both are back working out with the team, both are in great shape as always, and will look to lead a run-heavy offense this season under the direction of new Head Coach Rex Ryan and either Clemens or Sanchez under center.

Yanks Take Series from Cleveland, Mets Drop Opener to Pittsburgh

2009-06-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

The Yankees capitalized on some wild pitching by the Indians and got great pitching from Joba Chamberlain in a 5-2 win. The win gave the Yanks 3 of the 4 games in the weekend wrap-around series with the Tribe and ended the road trip with a 5-2 record. Pretty good once again.

Highlights of the Game:
*Bottom 5: With runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs in the bottom of the 5th, Kelly Shoppach popped up a bunt along the 3rd base line. Joba came out of nowhere, made a full-out dive for the ball and caught it for the out. He then immediately popped back up and fired a strike to 2nd for the double play. It will be on highlight reels for a while and stifled a potentially big rally.

*Top 6: Jeremy Sowers walked the bases loaded, and then was relieved by Greg Aquino. He proceeded to A-Rod, Posada, and Cano without giving up a run. Great job by Aquino and poor hitting by the Yanks.

*Top 7: Yanks get revenge...Aquino then walks three straight, and this time, Nick Swisher doubles off the left field wall, just missing a grand slam, and scores two. After they intentionally walk Teixeira to face A-Rod, former Yankee Luis Vizcaino gives up a 2-run single to Rodriguez as the Yanks extended the lead to 5-1

Key Stats:
*#1 has to be the line of Joba Chamberlain: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 106 pitches, 66 strikes. For everyone who is still whining that Joba should be in the bullpen, tonight's start proves that he does have the stuff to go deep into a game and be economical. Yes, he was facing a weak Indians team without Grady Sizemore, but his stuff was nasty tonight and would've tamed any team. Fastball in the mid-90's, hard-breaking slider, and accuracy. Joba was economical, which was important, got off to a good start too, and really made just one bad pitch.

*#2 will be that Indians pitchers walked 11 batters. The Yankees showed patience at the plate and didn't bite when the Indians' pitchers were wild. Back-to-Back innings, the Yanks had the bases loaded on walks. However, the Yankees were also 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position. That's pretty bad, but they still found a way to win.

*The final key stat would be the #0. As in, 0 errors for the Yanks defense. That's the 18th straight errorless game for the Yankees, who broke the all-time record for consecutive errorless games, surpassing the 2006 Red Sox who went 17 games without an error. Nice team record to have and a big reason why the Yanks have won 15 of their last 19 games now.

Didn't catch much of the Mets game tonight, so this recap will be much shorter from what I did watch and could dictate. Either way, they blew a 5-0 lead and lost 8-5 at Pittsburgh to open their road trip. The story of this game was, once again, woeful pitching by J.J. Putz, after he struggled Sunday against the Marlins. Here's my highlights and stats:

Highlights:
*Big Met highlights would have to be the RBI Triple for Wilson Valdez in the 2nd and his 2-run double in the 4th. For a guy that isn't expected to do great things for the Mets, he plated 3 of the Mets' five runs out of the seventh-hole and ignited the Mets' offense tonight.

*For the Pirates, it would have to be their entire 8th inning. Adam LaRoche started it all with a lead-off double, trailing 5-3. After that, the Bucs put together four singles, a walk, a fielder's choice, and a sac fly to take an 8-5 lead. Great hitting by the Pirates to take advantage of bad pitching by the Mets' pen.

Key Stats:
*Biggest has to be the line of J.J. Putz, who was not effective once again in a big eighth inning role: 0.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 12 pitches. That is awful, and something that will not bode well with his manager, especially against the Pirates, and especially after Jerry Manuel told reporters he still will go to Putz in the 8th inning.

*The combo of Daniel Murphy, Gary Sheffield, and David Wright (hitting 3-5 in the order with Beltran missing another game with a stomach virus): 0-10, 3 walks, 1 RBI, 1 R. With Beltran out, the middle part of the line-up needs to step up, and they didn't tonight against Ian Snell and the Pirates. If the Mets are going to be successful with all of their injuries, they need to get production from these spots.

Maine Event Success and Coke-head Pitching

2009-05-31T17:45:00.000-07:00

Quick blog today folks. John Maine pitched six shutout innings and the Mets topped the Marlins 3-2 to close out May on the right note. Maine did have to leave as he came down with a stomach virus, presumably from Carlos Beltran who left mid-game on Saturday with the same ailment. However, Maine was strong all day long.

J.J. Putz struggled late in the game again, giving up two runs in the 8th, but Bobby Parnell got out of it and K-Rod closed the door in the ninth to win it. Big win for the Mets who continue to nibble out victories despite injuries up and down their line-up.

As for the Yanks, they came from four runs down to tie up the Indians in the 8th, but awful pitching from Phil Coke and David Robertson gave the Tribe a walk-off 5-4 win in the 9th. Mark Teixeira was the Yankees offense, hitting a 2-run homer and a 2-run double. He has raised his average from about .190 to .281 in May.

Carl Pavano silenced the Yanks almost all afternoon, and was removed in the 8th when he started to struggle. Phil Hughes again wasn't economical, and lasted just 5 innings, giving up 4 runs. He wasn't terrible, but wasn't great, especially against a line-up without Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore.

The Yanks ended the year on a sour note. They had 1st and 3rd with one out in the 8th for Posada. Gardner, who was on first, missed a steal sign, and then Posada hit into a double play to end the rally. Coke then walked the leadoff batter, #9 hitter Trevor Crowe. After getting sacrificed to 2nd, Robertson came in, walked Ben Francisco, then gave up the game-winning double to Jhonny Peralta. Bad way to close a very, very good May for the Yanks.

Yankees @ Indians - 5/30/09 - CC Returns

2009-05-30T15:12:00.001-07:00

CC Sabathia will make his first ever start as a visitor at Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs Field) tonight. He spent 7 and a half years with the Indians before he was traded to the Brewers last season and then signed on with the Yanks. He'll face former teammate Fausto Carmona.

CC threw against Cleveland on Opening Day in the Bronx and wasn't economical in a 10-2 loss. Fausto Carmona was the winner in the Indians 22-4 romp of the Yanks two days later. The teams split that four-game set back in mid-April.

Some quick little tidbits:

*The Yanks have a chance to go 1.5 games up on the Red Sox, who lost again in Toronto 5-3 this afternoon.

*The Yanks are 14-11 on the road, which is the best mark in the American League and tied for third in all of baseball with the Brewers.

*The Yanks have gone 15 straight games without making an error. That is the longest stretch in franchise history and two short of the Major League record of 17 by the Red Sox in 2006. This courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau

*Robinson Cano ended a streak of 54 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout last night when he went down in the 1st.

Back with thoughts as the game begins later. 7:05 start in Cleveland.

UPDATE (6:32): Some brief medical notes I read...Pettitte is fine after hurting his back yesterday, will make his next start. Melky took swings and is planning to return Monday. Molina and Nady both played in Florida. Molina could be activated later next week.

UPDATE (7:08): According to the Yankees game notes, Jeter had picked up a hit in the first inning in the Yanks' last five games (all leading off). Sadly, it ended on the groundout to Fausto, but that's impressive.

UPDATE (7:11): Teixeira now has a hit in 12 straight games with a single to right. Amazing how he has turned it on in May since A-Rod returned. Hopefully for him, he keeps it going into June.

UPDATE (7:31): Victor Martinez fouls a ball of his leg, is down for a while, and decides to stay in after about 5 minutes on the ground. He almost fouls another ball of his foot, then grounds out to second and limps halfway to first. I doubt he stays in. It's not worth risking further injury on May 30th! 1-2-3 for CC is a good start. ...And on cue, Kelly Shoppach is into the game. I'll update if I hear what the injury is.

UPDATE (7:35): Jorgie juices one to right. Long homer for him. 2 hits and a walk last night, and now a homer in his return from the DL. Good to see from the veteran catcher! 1-0 Yanks

UPDATE (7:39): Nick Swisher launches one over the centerfield wall. Yanks showing the power in the 2nd. 2-0 NYY

UPDATE (7:48): Carl Pavano (starting tomorrow against Phil Hughes) has won 5 games in May for the Indians. He won 9 total over time in three different seasons with the Yanks. Hmmm...Anyway, CC looks good so far. Gets a double play after a 1-out walk.

UPDATE (8:22): Yes, it's been a long time, but that's because the Yanks pounded away against Carmona in the 4th, a half-inning that lasted nearly 20 minutes. Jeter knocked home two with a single that extended his hit streak to 13 games. Damon brought in another with a single to right. Then, Cano had a two-run single to left, though A-Rod was thrown out trying for 3rd. 5 runs on 4 hits, and they were helped by two errors, including a big one on a throw to second to try for a force by Garko. Yankees up 7-0

UPDATE (8:32): Meanwhile, CC continues to deal on the mound. Four strikeouts and a walk over four innings. Back to the Yanks' fourth, one play you'll notice if you look at the play-by-play is Teixeira grounding into a fielder's choice to first and Jeter getting out at home. On that play, Jeter knew he was done for, but got into a decent rundown and directed the baserunners to move them each up a base despite getting out. That great play lead to two more Yanks runs. That's the Captain for you.

UPDATE (8:40): Of course, it wasn't weird enough that the Indians finally retired the Yanks in order in the 5th. A flock of seagulls all of a sudden flew into right centerfield and appeared to be feeding on something atop the wall and on the warning track. Crazy stuff!

UPDATE (8:50): Interesting as Shin-Soo Choo grounds one up the middle that Cano tries to bare-hand and can't come up with. They rule it a hit, I say Cano might've had a chance if he gets the glove on it. That's the first one of the day for the Indians. DeRosa then grounds one into the hole on the right side, Cano stops it but can't get the out. Infield single and Choo goes to 3rd...barely. Finally, Garko gets a clean single to center to plate Choo. 7-1 Yanks

UPDATE (9:04): Sorry for the delay...Indians scratch across another on a single to left by Carroll. CC goes from 0 runs and 0 hits to 2 runs and 4 hits in one inning, all after the dribbler up the middle which did scrape CC's hand. 7-2 Yankees

UPDATE (9:06): That's what Gardner can do for you. Works a lead-off walk, then as he's stealing second, Jeter singles to left. Gardner then scores on the grounder to 1st. 8-2 Yanks

UPDATE (9:16): Grady Sizemore absolutely obliterated that one into the right centerfield bullpen. CC definitely has lost his dominance after giving up that first hit. However, his offense has given him plenty of support and he's still going to go 7 most likely. 8-3 Pinstripes

UPDATE (9:22): CC gets out of the inning with a 4-6-3 DP after a walk to Peralta. He has 94 pitches through 6. Do you bring him out for another inning or go to the pen? I say, one more, then bring on Wang for 2 or Coke/Robertson.

UPDATE (9:42): CC strikes out Asdrubal Cabrera for the 3rd time to end the 7th and most likely, his night. 7 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs (earned), 3 walks, 8 strikeouts, 113 pitches. Pretty good again for CC, who was dominant early, then limited damage while laboring late. I say with a five-run lead, let Coke and/or Robertson finish this out. Or perhaps get Wang some work.

UPDATE (9:50): And it is David Robertson on to pitch. He' s been alright so far this year, and got all five batters he faced in Texas out. Let's see if he can shut the door on this one.

UPDATE (9:57): Nice play by A-Rod ends a 1-2-3 inning. Ranging to his left, Rodriguez stabbed it and made a strong throw to 1st to get Peralta. To the 9th we go!

UPDATE (10:10): Yanks pick up some insurance. Teixeira leads off with a bloop double then comes home on a Robbie Cano single. Matsui would later double Cano home. Godzilla with 3 hits tonight, but looks awful running the bases. Don't think he has much of anything left in those knees. Either way, Jose Veras comes in to finish off the game. Yanks up 10-3

UPDATE (10:11): Even with a 7-run lead, Jose Veras gives up the required home run (solo shot to Choo) whenever he pitches. Then, he hits DeRosa. I think it's about time for Veras to go to the minors and Mark Melancon to join the team. He can't be any worse than Veras has been. 10-4 Yanks

UPDATE (10:23): Veras gives up another run on a Ben Francisco double, but strikes out Carroll and gets Cabrera to ground to short. Yankees win the game 10-5 to move a game and a half ahead of the Sox in the AL East.

Some final notes:
*The Yankees have won 3 straight, 4 of 5, and 14 of 17. They are rolling right now.
*Yanks now have not commited an error in 16 straight games...they'll look to tie the record tomorrow
*CC Sabathia improves to 5-3. That's five straight great starts by CC, and he's gone 7 innings or more, giving up 3 runs or less in all of them.
*Jose Veras needs to go, as does Angel Berroa as Berroa does nothing and Veras only makes things worse. Bring up Melancon to help the pen and bring up another bat for the bench (Shelley Duncan anyone?? He leads the International League w/ 16 homers)

That's all for tonight. Yanks and Indians go again tomorrow with Phil Hughes against Yankee Fan Favorite (NOT!) Carl Pavano. I won't be live-blogging that one, but YES will have all the action at 12:40 (odd start time).

Recapping a Day at Citi

2009-05-30T14:59:00.001-07:00

Hey all. Spent today at Citi Field with my internship. Got the opportunity to sit in the press box for the whole game then go down to the clubhouse afterward. It was a pretty cool experience. The game was a stinker for the Mets, who lost 7-3 to the Marlins. However, they did have Tim Redding start as well as a AAA line-up (minus Carlos Beltran, who left with a Stomach Virus). Here are some thoughts from my experience:

*The press box at Citi Field is much bigger, cleaner, nicer, and media-friendly. There is more than enough space for the media, even in NY, and enough game notes, media guides, and other info. for everyone. I had a front row seat and had a tremendous view of the field. Windows open to get a sense of the crowd, and there are even people in the seats right in front of the press box who were friendly and greeted you. Nice to see this change.

*The Mets clubhouse is gorgeous. I liked the old one, and even thought it was a little roomier over at Shea. However, the lockers were very big, and there was plenty of space for the players.

*This was my second trip to Citi Field, and I really do like this ballpark. Today, the place was packed and had a good, energetic crowd with a lot of families in attendance. The sightlines are great, the scoreboards are easy to see and informative, the food is delicious, and there is a good variety, and it's just a great place to go watch a ballgame.

*My thoughts on the teams themselves: The Mets are very banged up and won't last all season if they keep getting injured. Everyone from Delgado to Reyes to Beltran all have some sort of ailment. However, they do have fight in them and won't go down easy it seems. The Marlins need pitching to be consistent, but they have the tools to begin being successful. The middle of their line-up is very strong (Hanley Ramirez, Jeremy Hermida, Jorge Cantu, and Dan Uggla). A few more additions to solidify their rotation would make them a playoff contender.

I'll be back to live-blog during the Yankee game again tonight. Probably won't have updates every half-inning, but will chip in with thoughts throughout.

Yankees vs. Indians - 5/29/09

2009-05-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone. Back to do some live-blogging of tonight's game between the Yanks and Indians in Cleveland. It'll be Andy Pettitte pitching for the Yanks and Cliff Lee for the Tribe. Big news is that Jorge Posada will return to the line-up tonight, after being out since early May with a hamstring injury. He'll bat 6th.

The game is currently in a rain delay. Radar shows a small thunderstorm moving over the area. Should pass quickly...hopefully. Also, after looking through some other blogs, I read that the midges are back in Cleveland! For those who don't remember, these small bugs descended upon Progressive Field (then Jacob's Field) in the 2007 playoffs and were a big problem for Joba Chamberlain. He would give up the tying run and eventually, the Yanks would lose the game and the series. Good thing he's not pitching tonight.

UPDATE (7:32): Interesting fact from Kim Jones of YES...Tonight (if the game is played) would be the first time that Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, and Alex Rodriguez are all together in the same line-up since June 22nd of last year. This shows how much injuries have taken a toll on the major players of the Yanks.

UPDATE (7:47): Still raining in Cleveland. Some additional notes from around baseball to mention. Matt Wieters is making his ML debut for the Orioles tonight at home against the Tigers. He is highly touted and could be a major force in turning the team around. I still think they need pitching bigtime. Brett Myers could miss the rest of the season for the Phillies with a hip injury. And the Rockies fired Manager Clint Hurdle after a dismal start finds them in the basement of the NL West. Hard to believe he was in the World Series in 2007. Stay Tuned...

UPDATE (8:10): Word is that they are getting the field ready to play and first pitch will be at 8:30! There will be baseball in Cleveland tonight!

UPDATE (8:43): Underway at Progressive Field. Delay lasted 1 hour and 23 minutes. Couple hit streaks extended right away. Jeter to 12 games with a single to left-center and Teixeira to 11 with a blooper to right. Yanks load the bases for Cano and Posada and both go down swinging. Nice rebound by Cliff Lee.

UPDATE (8:51): Good start for Pettitte as all he allows is a Grady Sizemore single.

UPDATE (9:07): Hits keep coming for the Yanks, and this time, they cash in. Derek Jeter is 2-for-2 as he singles to left to bring home Swisher. Then, Teixeira knocks in Gardner on a groundout to 1st. 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk for the Yanks. A-Rod however strikes out after the Tribe elect to face him with 1st base open instead of setting up a lefty-lefty with Cano. Odd choice, but it works out.

UPDATE (9:16): Pettitte works into and out of trouble. A walk and infield single is followed up with a fly out and a 6-4-3 double play. Walking the lead-off hitter is never good, but Pettitte did a great job to get out of the jam.

UPDATE (9:26): Yanks squeak out another run. Back-to-Back infield singles to short by Cano and Posada followed by a Sac Fly off the bat of Swisher after Matsui advances them to 2nd and 3rd on a groundout. Good, fundamental baseball by the Yanks.

UPDATE (9:41): Pettitte again works into trouble by walking Martinez and Peralta to load the bases, but gets out of the jam when DeRosa grounds to second. Pettitte has been good and relatively economical (50 pitches in 3 innings), but has walked 3.

UPDATE (9:53): Quiet inning for the Yanks...3 up, 3 down. Meanwhile, it's all over in Toronto as the Red Sox lose to the Blue Jays 6-3. The win ends a 9-game losing streak for Toronto. Now, a Yankee win vaults them into sole possession of 1st place in the East. Also, Mets and Marlins are in extra innings in a 1-1 battle. Good starts from Mike Pelfrey and Sean West.

UPDATE (9:59): Pettitte allows only a single to Kelly Shoppach. Still 3-0 Yanks after 4. Pettitte should be able to go at least 6 as he has only 67 pitches. The bullpen is rested to after an off-day yesterday. Meanwhile, I found that if the Yanks do move into first, it would be the first time they'd be alone there since the last game of 2006.

UPDATE (10:08): Posada is now 2-for-3 as he doubles to right-center with 2 out, but Matsui gets caught looking on a borderline pitch.

UPDATE (10:15): Only a single to Cabrera (who's 2-for-3) and Pettitte gets through the 5th with 76 pitches. He's been solid once again. Meanwhile, Lee is at 102 but is out there for the 6th.

UPDATE (10:22): Yankees hit the ball hard, but a Nick Swisher lead-off single is wasted. Jeter and Damon both hit it hard to the corner outfielders, but both balls were caught.

UPDATE (10:30): Pettitte gets into trouble in the 6th, giving up a hit and a walk, then gets to 2-0 on Carroll before he's removed. Looks like he might have something wrong with him as Steve Donahue comes out with Girardi. Shame after such a good start. We'll see if Aceves can hold the lead.

UPDATE (10:41): Aceves comes in, walks Carroll to load the bases with no out and gives up a run on a sac fly that gets charged to Pettitte but maintains the lead...barely. Cabrera grounded out to Jeter, but he made a poor throw that Teixeira did a great job of scooping. That's why the Yanks paid the big bucks for him. 3-1 into the 7th.
Final Line on Pettitte: 5 innings, 6 hits, 1 run (earned), 5 BB, 1 K, 84 pitches, 45 strikes
Final Line on Lee: 6 innings, 9 hits, 3 runs (earned), 2 BB, 5 K, 112 pitches, 71 strikes

UPDATE (10:50): A-Rod singles, and Posada walks, but Yanks can't add to the lead. Posada has now been on base in 3 of his 4 plate appearances with 2 hits and the base-on-balls. Not a bad return at all.

UPDATE (10:53): Some other stats - Yanks are 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and have left 10 on base. Yet, they still lead. Yanks pen needs two more innings before Rivera. If Aceves gets through the 7th, the 8th will be interesting wiht the bullpen. I say, leave Aceves in or bring on Wang.

UPDATE (10:57): 1-2-3 go Sizemore, Martinez, and Peralta. Very impressive 2 innings by Alfredo Aceves. It appears like the Yanks might have found their late inning guy. Now, do they keep Aceves for the 8th or go to another guy? Wang? Coke? Veras? I say either Aceves or Wang.

UPDATE (11:05): Yanks go quiet in the 8th. Now, the big question of who pitches the 8th to try and bridge the gap to Mo. And the answer is...Alfredo Aceves. They leave him in for a 3rd inning of work. I say, Good Choice!

UPDATE (11:15): Aceves gets the job done. Gives up a hit to Francisco for the only blemish over 3 innings. 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks (it was charged to Pettitte), and 3 strikeouts. Tremendous job by him after Pettitte left. Yanks may have finally found their guy late in ballgames.

UPDATE (11:19): After reading Peter Abraham's blog, Andy Pettitte apparently has lower back stiffness. We'll see if it's anything that will keep him out, but I don't think so. At his age, though, you never know.

UPDATE (11:25): Yanks do nothing in the 9th, and now it's up to Mo to close the door. He hasn't pitched since Sunday in the Yanks 4-3 extra-inning loss to Philly.

UPDATE (11:36): Mariano comes in and after a lead-off blooper by Choo, strikes out Cabrera and Sizemore and gets Martinez to grounds to first to end it. Yanks win 3-1 and are in sole possession of first place in the AL East. Pettitte moves to 5-1 on the year. Thanks Everyone!

The Return

2009-05-29T13:30:00.001-07:00

After a long time away from the blog to finish up schoolwork and get settled back at home, I have returned to revive this blog. I want to get back up and running, giving you all the best I have to offer regarding NY-area sports. For my first post, I want to look at all the of current head coaches/managers and take a look at who has done the best job. Few have been around for a while (Coughlin) while many are just getting started (Manuel, Tortorella, Gordon). However, let's take a look at what they've done so far, see who's done the best and worst job, and who has potential for future success:

Joe Girardi

Team: New York Yankees

Arrived: October 30, 2007 (hired by Yankees)

Record: 116-93

Playoffs: None

Overall Consensus: Girardi had big shoes to fill after Joe Torre left, and has been okay so far. The Yanks didn't make the playoffs in his first season, missing out on October baseball for the first time since 1993. In '09, the Yanks have shown some signs of life and increasing chemistry. He continues to make questionable decisions but overall has done a decent job. I think he'll continue to have success, find his way back into the playoffs, and has a chance at a championship. However, he won't have the same success that Torre did.

Jerry Manuel
Team: New York Mets

Arrived: June 17, 2008 (replaced Willie Randolph)
Record: 72-52
Playoffs: None
Overall Consensus: Manuel took over for Randolph midseason in '08 and helped stabilize a struggling Mets team, only to watch them collapse in September for a 2nd year in a row. The team removed his interim tag, and he's started 2009 off okay despite the team being riddled with injuries. It still seems like he has some relationship issues with players in the clubhouse, namely Jose Reyes, but overall he has held down the fort. If he's going to be successful, he needs to find a way to get the team focusing on the fundamentals of baseball (baserunning especially) and prevent another choke job late in the season. I think it's possible.

Tom Coughlin

Team: New York Giants
Arrived: January 6, 2004 (hired by Giants)
Record: 47-33
Playoffs: 4 times (Super Bowl Champs in 2008, lost NFC divisional game to Eagles in '09, lost NFC wild card games to Panthers and Eagles in '06 and '07, respectively)
Overall Consensus: Tom Coughlin has been around the longest among the NY sports coaches and has done a fine job. The team has made the playoffs in four out to his five seasons at the helm and has won a Super Bowl as well. Not much to complain about here. As long as he keeps the team in the playoffs, he has the talent on the roster to keep them mentioned in Super Bowl talks year after year.

Rex Ryan
Team: New York Jets
Arrived: January 21, 2009 (hired after Eric Mangini was fired)
Record: None, was with Ravens who were 5-11 in 2008
Playoffs: None, won Super Bowl in 2000 with Ravens as Defensive Line Coach
Overall Consensus: Eric Mangini didn't fulfill the dreams of Jets fans, and now, Rex Ryan has the chance to do that. He stresses defense, a major issue for the Jets last season, and brings in a lock-down package that has been lacking in recent years. He still has to figure out who will be the starting QB in 2009 (Kellen Clemens or Mark Sanchez) and who his wide receivers will be, but he has the foundation for a playoff team. He has the potential to succeed but needs to build up his offense a little more.

Mike D'Antoni
Team: New York Knicks
Arrived: May 10, 2008 (hired by Knicks)
Record: 32-50
Playoffs: None, made playoffs previous 4 seasons as Head Coach of the Suns
Overall Consensus: D'Antoni has a major, major task to try and build this Knicks team into a winner. The organization is banking on a big free agent signing in 2010 (namely, Lebron), but as of now, the team is very weak. They have some bright spots in David Lee and Nate Robinson, and showed brief success in 08-09, but not enough to warrant a playoff berth. I don't think he finishes his time in NY with an NBA title, but I do think if he's around after 2010, he can lead the team back to the playoffs.

John Tortorella
Team: New York Rangers
Arrived: February 23, 2009 (hired by Rangers after firing Tom Renney)
Record: 12-7-2
Playoffs: Once in 2008-09, Rangers lost to Capitals in 1st Round
Overall Consensus: He was brought in after Tom Renney was let go to lead the Rangers into the playoffs, and he accomplished that. After blowing a 3-1 series lead, it is now his job to help restructure the team to his liking and use a full season to build a team that can go deep into the playoffs. He has a good style of play that's aggressive and stresses scoring, but lacks a big-time scorer. If he can nab someone like Ilya Kovalchuk, the Rangers have a great mix of young and old talent that can lead to success. He can have a temper though, and he needs to learn to keep his cool. No more squirting water on fans behind the bench! I say he brings the Rangers back to the playoffs, but won't win a Stanley Cup during his time at The Garden.

Scott Gordon
Team: New York Islanders
Arrived: August 12, 2008 (hired by Islanders after firing Ted Nolan)
Record: 26-45-9
Playoffs: None
Overall Consensus: Just like D'Antoni, he has a tall task to take this team of youngsters and bring them to the playoffs and beyond. The Islanders are the joke of the league and will not get any true, proven talent as long as they are playing at Nassau Coliseum. Until they get their new arena, IF they get a new arena, they will continue to struggle because simply, no one wants to play there and fans don't want to go and watch. I don't see a bright future for Gordon and the Islanders, and I think he's gone before the end of the upcoming season.

That does it for this debate. I left out Lawrence Frank (Nets) and Brent Sutter (Devils) since they're mostly NJ. However, Frank had some early success with the Nets but has struggled since, and Sutter has helped the Devils continue making the playoffs and will do so with the teams he keeps producing. Let me know your thoughts on all of the coaches.

In addition, since baseball is in high swing, I will try and do some liveblogging later on tonight with the Yanks at Cleveland and the Mets hosting the Marlins. I will especially be active with this when the Yanks and Mets play each other in June. Until then, I plan on being more active once again!

Yankees Hit the Newstands with Force

2009-03-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

When is this not the case?

However, the Yankees had a lot of headlines in the media this afternoon that are all very pertinent. First of all, Joe Girardi named CC Sabathia the official starter for both the regular season opener on April 6th at Baltimore and the Yankee Stadium home opener on April 16th. I think it was obvious he was gonna start opening day, but I like the idea of him starting the home opener. In a new stadium, the Yankees will be starting a new era for the team. CC's long-term contract makes him one of those player sof the new era, so to have him start the game is appropriate. The Yankee fans will surely cheer him loudly.

The next bit of news is that the Yankees will have a new-look line-up when they open the season...most likely. When Jorge Posada had to bat clean-up, the team moved Johnny Damon into the second hole, and he did a great job of hitting and advancing runners. Therefore, when Derek Jeter came back from the World Baseball Classic, Girardi decided to lead him off and bat Damon second.

I like this idea to start the season. While the team will tell you differently, the first few games do not matter in a 162-game season. Start off with this line-up and see if it works for you. I think both Jeter and Damon do a great job of getting on base. Damon can bunt the ball better at this point I think and could even pull of a drag bunt here and there. Jeter has a good eye to work walks and clean up the bases if the bottom of the order starts off an inning. Start the season with this new look and see where it takes you. If both struggle, switch it back.

Unfortunately, there was some sadder news. Bob Sheppard, long-time public address announcer for the Yankees, will most likely not be at the new Yankee Stadium for opening day. While he would love to be there, his stamina apparently is not at the point it needs to be yet to muster up a trip to the ballpark. Sheppard is 97 years old, and it seems like he just might not be able to continue doing what he does best. It is sad to see, but at the same time, Sheppard was Yankee Stadium. Now that the team is moving to a new park, maybe it's time for a new voice.

Finally, George Steinbrenner is planning on attending the home opener. The 78-year old Yankee owner is still struggling health-wise and is not in the best of shape for the trip up to New York. However, he does want to be there and is planning on doing so. I am glad to hear this. The new stadium was Steinbrenner's gift to the fans, and he wnated to make a place that was supreme to all others. I really think this place will be so to have him be there when it officially opens for regular season baseball is great to hear.

Let me know your thoughts on any of these pieces of news. Are you glad CC is starting both openers? Do you like the line-up change? Will Bob Sheppard ever return to the PA Booth? And are you glad George will be at the opener? Also, vote in the new poll over to the right!

Brodeur Stands Alone

2009-03-18T19:35:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Marty Brodeur on winning his 552nd NHL game on Tuesday night against the Blackhawks! The win moved him past Patrick Roy for 1st place all-time among NHL goaltenders in history. This truly cements his place as the best goaltender in the history of the game. Throughout his career, he has proven to be the straw that stirs the Devils' drink.

It's scary to think where the Devils would be this year if Brodeur wasn't injured. I didn't think they'd play very well without him, but they did and having him back has only certified their place as one of the elite teams in the East. In 9 games since coming back from injury, Brodeur has only lost once. He has been phenomenal since his surgery and has found a way to keep performing despite getting older. It's been impressive to watch.

Since his first full season in 1993-94, Brodeur has always had a goals against average below 3. His highest was 2.57 in 2005-06, but he still picked up 43 wins and swept the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. Since then, his GAA has dropped each year. That's just a statement to how Marty keeps playing better and better while he gets older.

He's only four shutouts away from being first all-time on that list as well. That would 100% cement him as the best netminder of all-time. While he may not get that this year, I certainly doubt this will be his last considering the way he's playing. He will get those four, and he will be celebrated again.

The New York-area has had its share of solid goaltenders recently (Mike Richter, Henrik Lundqvist, a healthy Rick DiPietro), but Marty Brodeur has been the one consistent member of the bunch. He's been the face of the Devils for years and for good reason. Now, he stands alone above all the others, and he deserves all the accolades!

He's Back...

2009-03-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

...from a very eventful (not really) spring break. I was fortunate enough to spend the first part of it with the famed cold that was traveling around the Northeast. Therefore, I was confined to my bed with a big box of tissues and various medication. The second part was much better. I got the chance to see a couple of Big East Tournament games, including the awesome Marquette-Villanova match-up. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the 6-OT thriller between Syracuse and UCONN live but watched the end on TV. Amazing game!

So for my first post back, I suppose it's only fitting to talk about March Madness. Anyone see how many New York schools got into the tournament? Well, if you didn't, here's a list of them:
Binghamton Bearcats - America East Champs
Cornell Big Red - Ivy League Champs
Siena Saints - MAAC Champs
Syracuse Orange - At-Large Bid

Ok, so it's only four, but that's not too shabby. For Binghamton, they draw Duke in the first round with the chance to pull off a performance like Belmont did against the Dukies but actually get the win. Cornell and Siena win their conference titles for the second straight year. The Big Red have a tough draw again with Missouri but Siena can certainly top Ohio State in the first round in a good 8-9 game. Syracuse came oh-so-close to winning the Big East title, but gets a 3 seed and a favorable first round match-up with Stephen F. Austin. I personally think Syracuse and Siena move on, but no one ever knows in March Madness.

Let me know what you think of the New York teams' performances this season and how far you think they can go. Leave comments or see the poll to the right. I'll have a more extensive look at some first round games later this week.

Spring Break

2009-03-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone. So spring break is officially upon Ithaca College, and I will be engaging in some much needed relaxation. This especially after Ithaca's embarrassing loss in the 2nd round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament to DeSales on Saturday night. I will be around though, so if something big happens that deserves some recognition, I will do my absolute best to post. Enjoy the week off...I certainly will!

Trade Deadline Happenings

2009-03-04T20:08:00.001-08:00

So the trade deadline came and went on Wednesday afternoon with all of the New York teams getting involved some how. I'll list the trades made and give some analysis:

New York Rangers:
-Acquired C Nik Antropov from the Maple Leafs for a 2nd round pick and a conditional pick.
-Acquired D Derek Morris from the Coyotes for Dmitri Kalinin, Petr Prucha, and Nigel Dawes.
Analysis: The Rangers gave up a lot, especially for Morris, but they were all expendable parts, at least in the eyes of John Tortorella and Glen Sather. Antropov and Morris both bring physicality and should help boost the league's 2nd-worst power play. Kalinin was pretty weak and wouldn't be a Ranger much longer. Prucha and Dawes were not going to get much playing time and were seen as not having a real future in New York. Good luck to them elsewhere! The Rangers got what they needed, which is what's important.

New York Islanders:
-Traded RW Bill Guerin to the Penguins for a conditional draft pick
Analysis: Really Garth Snow? Really? You trade away an aging veteran, get a draft pick, and don't try to get rid of any other garbage for a decent player or more draft picks? This is why the Islanders struggle year after year. They rely on using draft picks to help the team get better, but the picks never seem to pan out, and no one wants to come play on Long Island. The Islanders did basically nothing again on deadline day and now will have to hope they get the draft picks they want come the summer and hopefully a decent free agent or two.

New Jersey Devils:
-Acquired D Niclas Havelid and F Myles Stoesz for Anssi Salmela
Analysis: The Devils really did not need to improve too much as they have been playing great without and now with Marty Brodeur in net. This team helped fortify the blue line a little bit which certainly helps and brings some more veteran experience to the team. The Devils are set to make a strong playoff run if Brodeur keeps playing well in net and the forwards keeping scoring like they are.

Buffalo Sabres:
-Traded RW Ales Kotalik to the Oilers for a 2nd round draft pick
-Acquired C Dominic Moore from the Maple Leafs for a 2nd round pick
-Acquired G Mikael Tellqvist from the Coyotes for a 2010 4th round pick
Analysis: It doesn't seem like the Sabres did only a little to help improve themselves tremendously to make a big playoff push. Getting rid of Kotalik loses 32 points of production in exchange for what could be a good draft pick next year. Moore is having a great season and can certainly help, but I'm not sure he's the type of player who can carry give the team that extra spark to get ot the playoffs. Tellqvist could help in the goaltending as Ryan Miller is still hurt. He was having a solid year with and will split time with Patrick Lalime. However, I still don't think this is a big move. I think the Sabres could've done a little better.

Jets Stacking Up on Defense

2009-03-03T18:35:00.000-08:00

It has been a pretty tremendous couple of days if you are a New York Jets fan. The team, which clearly had huge holes on the defensive end all of last season, has bolstered their roster since signing former-Ravens Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan. After nabbing former-Raven Bart Scott and trading for former-Eagle Lito Sheppard, the Jets added Jim Leonhard, another Raven from last season, to their secondary today. All-in-all, Jets fans have to be happy with all three signings.

Leonhard agreed to a three-year deal on Tuesday. He has the tools to be a good safety and will start alongside Kerry Rhodes. That's a pretty good safety combo. Leonhard hasn't been the most consistent starter, but last year was a big player late in the season for the Ravens. He is familiar with Ryan's defense and that will likely help him in his transition to New York.

The Jets traded for Sheppard and only gave up a couple draft picks. Sheppard is a very good cornerback and will slot in nicely with rising star Darrelle Revis in the secondary. Sheppard wanted out of Philly for a while, and now he gets the chance for a fresh start. The Jets corners and safeties had big problems last year, especially in the second half, covering receivers and making big plays. Sheppard is the type of playmaking corner that can improve these problems.

Finally, Bart Scott was brought in to help the linebacking core with a 6-year, $48 million deal. While his numbers have decreased slightly over the last two seasons, he is a solid blitzer and will be the true fixture in the center of the Jets' defense. He'll likely start as a middle-linebacker with David Harris to give the Jets another solid combo at that position. He has the familiarity with Rex Ryan which is another added bonus and will no doubt be the go-to guy on the Jets defense.

Jets fans should celebrate these signings, but there are still a few question marks with the team. Is Kellen Clemens really going to be the quarterback? Can Leon Washington be a solid enough back behind Thomas Jones or do the Jets relegate him to the kick returner role and get another RB? Another wide receiver to replace Laveranues Coles? And is the defensive line good enough to put pressure on the opposing QB? They certainly weren't last year.

My predictions: Clemens is the QB, Jets get another RB but Leon starts the season as the #2, They absolutely get another wide-out, and I think the D-Line stays the same as the linebackers and even safeties will do a lot of blitzing this season. But then again, that's just my take. Let me know what you think!!

Tough Weekend for Bombers Basketball UPDATED

2009-03-01T19:31:00.001-08:00

**UPDATE** The Men's team has been awarded an at-large bid and a first round bye in the tournament. They will play on Saturday, March 7th against the winner of DeSales/St. Joseph's (L.I.). Guess they only need five wins and not six to get the national championship. The women's team did not get into the tournament. However, they did get a spot in the ECAC Upstate NY Championship Tournament at SUNY Cobleskill. They received the #2 seed and will play #3 Potsdam Friday night. If they win, they face the winner of the St. John Fisher/SUNY Cobleskill game from Friday on Saturday afternoon.I return to focus on Ithaca Bombers basketball today after what was a disappointing weekend for both the men's and women's teams in the Empire 8 Championship Tournament. The men, who had lost just one game all season and had obviously earned the right to host the tournament, were upset by Nazareth 82-76 on Saturday. RIT ended up going on to win the conference title over Naz. The women beat St. John Fisher in the semifinals 73-59 but couldn't complete their championship run, losing to Stevens 59-57 in the finals.

The loss for the men was very unexpected. The Bombers had beaten Naz 122-90 and 113-86 this season but managed just 76 points as the Golden Flyers completely threw the Bombers off their game with a slow-paced offense. Nazareth would take the shot clock down under ten seconds every offensive possession, limiting the Bombers chances on offense. This worked well as IC shot just 16% from behind the arc. It was without a doubt the worst shooting display for Ithaca's men this season.

As for the women, an impressive win over St. John Fisher in the first game. They had lost two games to the Cardinals during the regular season, showing little to no life. On Friday, they played much better, and it showed. However, the Bombers fell behind early and struggled to rebound in their championship game loss on Saturday night. Ithaca kept it close, as was expected, but just couldn't seem to get over the hump. Both teams struggled shooting from downtown, and it came down to who could sustain a lead. Obviously, Stevens was victorious and deserved it.

For the men's team, they will still get into the NCAA Tournament and will likely be a #1 seed. No team in the East Region is anywhere close to the Bombers right now. d3hoops.com projects Ithaca to be the top seed in Bracket #2 and would face SUNYIT, who won the NEAC with a victory of Wells College today. Here are the men's projections for this year.

It originally didn't look like the women had a shot at making the NCAA's unless they won the E8 title and got the automatic bid. However, the Division 3 bubble this year seems to be very weak as d3hoops.com has projected the Bombers to sneak in with an at-large bid as the #5 seed in Bracket 2, facing Eastern Connecticut in the first round. It would be shocking if the Ithaca women got in, but at this point, the weak bracket is helping them out. Click here for a look at the women's projections. If they don't get in, they will almost certainly get an ECAC Tournament bid.

Should be interesting to see how far the men's team can go. They won 12 games and lost to RIT, won 12 more then lost to Nazareth. Now they only need 6 wins and they are National Champs. If they women do get in, they will have a long, tough road to the championship. While I doubt they will get past the first or second round, anything is possible during March Madness!!

Around New York on a Wednesday in February

2009-02-25T19:55:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone. So today I figured I'd cover a whole mess of New York sports news considering there were so many teams in action and other news today. So, here we go:

Yankees:
Beat the Blue Jays 6-1 in their first spring training game of the season. A-Rod was booed and responded with a homer. Brett Gardner hit one as well. Very impressive to see the little guy show he has some power and on the second pitch of the game no less. I think this guy desperately wants to make the team and will have a monster spring to prove he deserves the center field spot. Pitchers threw fairly well so that's a good sign. Overall, solid start for the Yanks.

Mets:
Also started off the spring well with a 9-3 rout of the Orioles. Biggest surprises were four RBI's for Luis Castillo and three for Ryan Church. It would be huge for the Mets to have a good campaign from Castillo after a mediocre start with the team. It's also important that Church shows he can still play well after his concussion problems last year. Pitching was alright but no one very important threw. Again, good beginning.

Rangers:
In their first game under new Head Coach John Tortorella, the Rangers showed more of the same and lost in a shootout 2-1 in Toronto. The team is just incapable of scoring. They had a ton of opportunities and got more shots on net but failed to capitalize. Nice to see Wade Redden get in the goal column for the first time since the home opener on October 10th. The team looked a little more lively but continues to struggle scoring goals every game.

Knicks:
Another game that looked close at the end, but a lackluster effort at the beginning did them in. Mike D'Antoni was as irate as I've ever seen in the first half when his team failed to shoot well from the field and lacked communication on defense. It was like the Knicks just came out half asleep. The second half was much better, and I was impressed with Danilo Gallinari's shooting. However, Larry Hughes and Chris Wilcox failed to impress, and the team as a whole will need to play well for 48 minutes every night if they want to get in the playoffs.

Jets:
The long relationship with Laveranues Coles is over after the Jets and the receiver parted ways. Now, he can still come back as a free agent, but I think the Jets might go after a guy like Marvin Harrison or someone else to help boost a struggling Jets offense. Coles is a great receiver, but he was never part of the Jets' prime plans last year. It would be smarter for the Jets to get someone who can be more of a primary option.

Giants:
Brandon Jacobs was locked up for four years in a deal that was important to keep the Giants running game as superb as it's been. Jacobs has had to deal with injuries, but he provides a power running game that not too many have in the NFL. Not much to say about this, but the Giants made the right move by keeping him in a blue jersey.

Ithaca Bombers Basketball Caps Off Great Regular Season

2009-02-22T20:35:00.000-08:00

I decided today to focus more on colleges again and this time, I'm turning my attention to the place I call home for a good part of the year: Ithaca College. This winter has been one of the most memorable for the men's and women's basketball teams. Now with the regular season over, both teams are getting set for big playoff runs after a tremendously successful year.

The men have gotten the most attention, ranking 9th in the country as of today and likely on the way up to 7th or 6th after the final regular season poll is released tomorrow. Their record: 24-1 with their only loss being a very controversial one at RIT. A last second buzzer-beater was the only Bomber blemish, but replays clearly showed the ball did not leave the hand of Nate Korinchak before the buzzer sounded. Either way, Ithaca exacted revenge with a 101-74 blowout of RIT today to end the season.

The Bombers' run and gun offense, led by senior Sean Burton, the defending Empire 8 Player of the Year, has averaged 90 points a game and the team has an assist to turnover ratio of +1.5. Six players are averaging 10 or more points a game as well. There is no question the Bombers have been the best team in the East Region this year. They are hosting the conference tournament, likely the first round of the NCAA tourney as well, and could very well make it to the Division III Final Four this year.

As for the women, the Bombers shook off a rough start out of conference and have finished the year 17-8 overall and 13-3 in the Empire 8. The Bombers have done well against most of their conference foes, with St. John Fisher being the only team to beat them twice this year. The one problem: St. John Fisher is their first round opponent in the Empire 8 Championship Tournament.

Tracy Bradley and Katherine Bixby are both averaging close to 12 points a game and have had a lot of depth off the bench. Junior Jeanine Burke and sophomore Jordan Confessore along with freshmen Jessica Farley and Riley Dunn have filled in when needed and held down the fort when starters have run into foul trouble or injuries. The Bombers have the chance to reach the NCAA Tournament, as they've done several times under Head Coach Dan Raymond, but they'll need to at least get past the first round of the conference tournament.

Overall, Ithaca Bombers fans have to be happy with how their teams have played this year, especially the men's team. It has no doubt been one of the best winters for the Ithaca basketball teams. Fans are excited at how far these teams can go and at the chance to see a lot of playoff basketball at Ben Light Gymnasium. We'll see if Ithaca can make some noise during March Madness.

Knicks Make Splash at Deadline

2009-02-21T17:33:00.000-08:00

Maybe a ripple instead of a splash, but they did go out and make a couple decent moves. First, they traded a bunch of players who really had no role on the team for a pair of guys who could be instrumental in getting the Knicks to a playoff spot. The Knicks sent the trio of Tim Thomas, Jerome James, and Anthony Roberson for Larry Hughes, then traded Malik Rose and cash for Chris Wilcox.

Now, neither of these players the Knicks obtained have done much of anything this year. However, now in a new system, they have the chance to thrive again. The Knicks have not had a player that can function well enough as a 2-guard since they traded Jamal Crawford to Golden State. Hughes can fill that role and create a strong backcourt with Chris Duhon. He's had success, averaging 12 points per game this season and the previous two. Chris Wilcox can help add another big man and has the potential to be another factor off a solid Knicks bench.

Overall, these aren't any jaw-dropping moves. However, Knicks fans are happy over this and they should be. The team got two improvements over the crop they gave up and did not trade Nate Robinson, David Lee, or Wilson Chandler to do so. I feel like the Knicks rely so much on how these three have been playing that giving up any of them would've been stupid. Take a look:

Robinson (off the bench): 17 points, 4 rebounds a game, 45% shooter
Lee: 17 points, 12 rebounds a game, 56% shooter, Tied for 1st in the league in double-doubles.
Chandler: 14 points, 5 rebounds a game, 43% shooter

Each of these players brings so much energy and talent to the team each night that losing them at this point would not be smart. Mike D'Antoni is a head coach who wants to win now. Even if they're not the best team in the league, they will be led to give their best effort every night. The Knicks kept this version of the "Big Three" and got two players who can give an added boost in their attempt to return to the playoffs.

Another Fun Rangers-Islanders Match-Up

2009-02-18T21:06:00.000-08:00

I always enjoy watching the Rangers and Islanders do battle. On Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, fans got to witness another nail-biter between these two teams. This was a game the Rangers needed to win to keep fighting for a playoff spot and one the Islanders wanted to help put a knife deeper into the Rangers' wound. The Rangers ended up with a 3-1 win, but the game featured a lot of good fight between both sides.

On the Rangers side, Nigel Dawes got to return to the line-up with Lauri Korpikoski out with an injury and didn't miss a beat. He scored the first goal of the game, burying a great feed from Chris Drury to put the Rangers in front. Getting the first goal was key for the Rangers. They were able to get a power play goal in the second via Scott Gomez, who was in desperate need of a goal and some life. And you gotta love Petr Prucha's fight with the much bigger Sean Bergenheim. Prucha brings energy and grit each time he's out there. Defensively, they still had some holes, and the Islanders ended up with several great chances that Henrik Lundqvist thwarted with a great game in net. Against a better scoring team, the Rangers would probably have lost, but a win is a win and the Rangers won't complain.

As for the Isles, scoring was an issue again. They were given many chances by the Rangers sloppiness in the defensive zone but failed to capitalize. Their lone bright spot came when Mark Streit knocked home a one-timer off a nice pass from Blake Comeau for their only goal of the game. The Islanders have some skill without question, but they lack consistency and a true leader. Rick DiPietro is the face of that team, and without him, they are nothing. The Isles played alright defensively but were also benefits of the post. The Rangers rang the puck of the pipe twice in one shift during the first period. If those go in, this game's a clear blowout. However, give the Isles credit for playing tough, matching the Rangers for most of the game, and not rolling over against their hated rivals.

With the win, the Rangers won the season series from the Isles and they have one more game together on March 5th at the Nassau Coliseum. For the Islanders, the season is obviously lost. They should focus on finding some talent at the trade deadline as a building block toward next season. As for the Rangers, they have so much to play for with a playoff spot nearly slipping away. While they too need talent at the deadline, they must focus on building off this win and getting a streak going to get back higher in the standings. They also should focus on those two games left with the Sabres, one with the Panthers, and four with the Flyers!

A-Rod Speaks

2009-02-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

So Alex Rodriguez sat in front of a ward of media today in Tampa and finally gave the speech everyone wanted to hear. Well, while he said might not have been the most believable thing, he did say what he wanted to and now reporters and fans can all take this entire issue, put it in the rear-view mirror, and worry about baseball in 2009.

There will surely be talk over the next few days regarding some of the things Alex said. He noted that his cousin introduced him to the stuff and that he did not know what he was injecting. I can buy that someone like his cousin got it from the Dominican Republic, but I am still skeptical on him not knowing what he put in. He had to have had some inkling, and definitely did by saying "We knew we weren't taking tic-tacs." The extent of knowledge he had on the steroids will only be known by him, so everyone else should just forget about finding it out.

It's also hard to believe him when he says he was "young and foolish." At that point in his career, he was no longer young. Foolish? Probably. But he knew better. The problem with all of his bashers is that they don't realize how baseball was all about steroids at this point. Most players probably didn't take any, but there was no doubt a good portion who did. In a society where everyone wants to be better at what they do, people will do whatever they can to get to that level. Ballplayers were willing to take the risk of health problems to get that extra edge. A-Rod wanted to prove he was worth all that money Texas threw at him, and did whatever he felt was necessary.

Rodriguez made a mistake, and now it is time to move on. Is he wrong for taking steroids? Yes. Has he placed another black mark on the game? Probably. Should he be punished, criticized, and have this hanging over his head the entire season? No. The guy screwed up, he apologized, and he admitted to the mistake. People need to focus on what this guy is going to do on the field this upcoming season rather than worrying about what happened back from 2001-2003. It's over, it's done with, it's time to move on!

Is The End Here for Tom Renney?

2009-02-16T12:47:00.001-08:00

I'm sure all Rangers fans are starting to think that his time has come. It certainly sound that way yesterday at MSG when the Rangers were embarrassed by the rival-Flyers and the entire crowd was calling for Tom Renney and Glen Sather's heads. While it's hard to blame front office personnel for poor play on the ice, I think some of this blame needs to go their way.

Sather deserves a lot of the fault for this past off-season. He went out and spent a ton of money and made trades to bring in players like Wade Redden, Dmitri Kalinin, and Nikolai Zherdev along with Scott Gomez and Chris Drury the year before. While getting talent is nice, he didn't get someone who has a nose for the net like Jaromir Jagr did. None of the guys on the team right now are willing to shoot the puck, as evidenced by poor power play after poor power play. Redden was given a ton of money and doesn't move the puck well-enough except when he turns it over. He got talent, but not scoring talent really.

Renney told reporters after yesterday's game that he takes the blame for everything that has happened and said it was he who has to be the one to turn the team around. Renney has made several questionable moves this year. He finally puts in Petr Prucha, not a physical player for the most part and sits Aaron Voros, a physical player, against a team that is traditionally very physical in their game. Renney also doesn't seem like he has a lot of fire in him to yell at players and hold them accountable for mistakes on the ice. If he wants to stick around, he needs to infuse some sort of energy and life into what seems like a completely dead team.

However, with everything that has gone on, the players still deserve a ton of blame for the way they have played. Chris Drury is supposed to be the captain, but he is far from it right now. He doesn't seem to play with the energy and drive for the net like he had in Buffalo. Scott Gomez hasn't provided much and seems almost invisible on the ice at times. I've already mentioned the problems with Redden and Kalinin.

Bottom line is: when you give up a goal while on a 5-on-3 power play, something is clearly wrong. This team doesn't have a will to win or any energy at all. If that doesn't change anytime soon, like with wins against the Blues and Islanders, it's gonna be time for some changes.

A Trophy Comes to New York...

2009-02-14T20:03:00.000-08:00

...and it comes courtesy of Nate Robinson who on Saturday night topped Dwight Howard to become the 2009 NBA Slam Dunk Champion. Robinson's winner came when he jumped clean over Howard (who was dressed in a Superman cape) and slammed it home. Tremendous performance by the little man to top Howard.

Robinson silenced critics who claimed he did not deserve his championship in 2006 when his final try took too many takes. However, this year, he had a couple beauties that all came within the time limit.

One of my favorites was when Nate jumped on top of Wilson Chandler and dunked it. Yes, he did get a vault-like affect by using Chandler, but it's not like he has springs in his back. Nate is also 5'8'' at best so his jump was still remarkable. Nate switching to a green outfit was also a funny point for me as he sported his "kryptonite" look to Dwight Howard's "superman."

His other two dunks featured a nice run up and slam after tossing it up and then another where he tossed up, lept up and grabbed it facing away from the hoop, and dunked it behind him over his head. Very nice performance by Mr. Robinson for sure.

Dwight Howard had a couple of beauties too including a slam after bouncing it off the side of the backboard and windmilling it as well as one when he easily soared up and jammed the ball home on a 12-foot hoop. He made it look so easy while the rim was a whole 2 FEET higher!! That's impressive.

So Knicks fans, celebrate while you can!! A trophy was brought back to Madison Square Garden by one of the biggest factors on this year's team. Now, let's see if he can lead his team to the real reward during the second half of the season!

Looking at the New York Rotations

2009-02-12T20:53:00.000-08:00

So with today being a fairly slow news day among the New York sports teams, and with pitchers and catchers reporting this week, I figured I'd take a look at the Yankees and Mets in terms of their pitchers. I will try over the course of the next week or two to look at both teams and compare where they stand as a whole.

The Yankees Projected Rotation (in my projected order):
1. C.C. Sabathia
2. Chien Ming Wang
3. A.J. Burnett
4. Andy Pettitte
5. Joba Chamberlain

Analysis: The Yankees have one of the top rotations in baseball after spending an absolute fortune to get Sabathia and Burnett. With two power arms like that, I think it would be in the Yankees' best interest to split them up and stick Wang in between. Wang can throw the ball hard, but his heavy pitch is a sinker, not a fastball. Bringing Pettitte back (finally) was a good decision to slot him into your number four spot. He will give you a lot of innings, barring injury, and can still get you about as many wins as he will losses. Who knows what can happen with him? Mike Mussina won 20 games last year when many said he was washed up. The move also allows Joba to slide down to the number five spot. The Yankees can watch his innings by easily skipping over his turn if need be and throwing Sabathia out there on short rest. He certainly had enough experience with that in Milwaukee last year.

Big Key: AVOID THE INJURY BUG! The Yankee rotation spent last season without their ace for half the season when Wang was hurt running the bases. Joba went down toward the end of the season with a shoulder problem. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy also suffered injuries early in the season and weren't really seen at all the rest of the year. If the Yankee rotation is going to be as dominant as it looks now, they are going to need to stay healthy.

The Mets Projected Rotation:
1. Johan Santana
2. John Maine
3. Mike Pelfrey
4. Oliver Perez
5. Freddy Garcia/Tim Redding/Livan Hernandez

Analysis: The Mets come in with another solid rotation, especially in the NL East for 2009. Santana is arguably the best pitcher in baseball and would have had 20 wins or more if not for his team scoring few runs or his bullpen blowing games. He'll be splendid again. John Maine and Mike Pelfrey both have shown flashes of great pitching but both are very inconsistent. Same can be said for Oliver Perez. They all have the ability to be very dominant at times. However, Maine has seemed to lose a lot of his brilliance after suffering through injuries last year. Pelfrey is still very young and inexperienced to be a number three starter in New York. Perez seems to do well in big situations but struggles against teams he should be able to beat. Garcia and Redding will compete for the number five spot. I think Garcia gets it unless he struggles coming back from shoulder surgery. Redding is just not that good. Overall, nothing amazing, but certainly solid enough in the NL East to compete with the Phillies.

Big Key: Develop consistency among starters. There is no question the Mets have the guys that can perform and have in the past. The problem is, aside from Santana, neither of the other starters have shown any consistency. For the Mets to be successful, they need to have John Maine pitch fairly well each start, keeping his team in the game or have Oliver Perez find more consistency after getting signed to a fairly large contract. If the Mets starters continue to pitch like they did last year, it will be another disappointing season for the "other" New York team.

So Long Brett

2009-02-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

News reports say Brett Favre has told the Jets he plans to retire. Cue the celebration in New York! Jets fans today should be rejoicing over the fact that Favre will not, at least as of now, be coming back at his old age and with his old arm to help lead the Jets to great mid-season success only to follow it with another catastrophic failure.

Favre was brought in as the final piece to help lead the Jets not only into the playoffs but deep into it. A veteran presence in a talented line-up was exactly what appeared to be a great decision by the Jets. However, we all now how much bad luck has surrounded the Jets throughout their history, and this past season was no different. After moving to 8-3, first place in the AFC East, by handing the Titans their first loss of the season in blowout fashion, the Jets finished the year a dismal 1-4 and found a way to miss not only the division title but the playoffs as a whole. And a lot of that responsibility rested on Favre and his less-than-stellar performances.

I was saying throughout the last few games that the Jets needed to put in Kellen Clemens when Favre was at his peak struggling point. Sure Clemens has barely played in the NFL and Favre is arguably the greatest of all-time, but shouldn't the goal be to win and secure a playoff spot? I'm not saying Clemens would have definitely performed better, but at that point, when Favre was throwing interceptions left and right, a change had to be made. Look what happened with Donovan McNabb! He was playing terrible, got benched for a half, then came back and led his team to the NFC Championship game.

For this coming season, unless the Jets can find another solid QB, I say give Kellen a chance. He has yet to play a full season in the league and has been learning from the likes of Chad Pennington and now Brett Favre for years. Put him out there, see what he can do, and take it from there. He's got a great arm but just needs work on his accuracy. I'd say that's something Favre could have taught him with his laser-like passes, but after the amount of interceptions Favre threw last year, I can pretty safely say that didn't happen!

A-Rod Admits Taking Steroids

2009-02-09T21:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I think it's safe to say that I'm more surprised Alex Rodriguez admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs just days after the story broke than I was about the report that he had a positive test. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I really was not shocked to hear he had tested positive for PEDs. In this generation with many big-time athletes getting caught for steroid use, I could never say I felt he was clean.

To see him go out there and tell Peter Gammons straight up that he took them, and for three years as well, was shocking to me. We look at guys like Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Mark McGwire deny steroid use time and time again when it is so clear that they have and evidence is pointing against them. To me, A-Rod seemed like the type of person who would try and deny it and not go right out and admit his use and apologize.

Him doing that was clearly the right thing to do. It hasn't helped Clemens, Bonds, or McGwire that they refuse to admit it. A-Rod is following what Giambi and Pettitte did and getting it out of the way now. All of them recognized their mistake and how it was part of the culture back then, apologized for it, realized how foolish they were, and moved on. That was the best possible way to handle the situation.

Now, it doesn't help that he'll still face scrutiny and questions all through spring training and the season, especially if he performs poorly. He lied on CBS in the past when he said he never took any PEDs. However, he told the truth to Peter Gammons and will do his best to move on. Him coming clean gained back a little bit of respect I had lost.

At this point, telling the truth was all he really could do. When it comes time to play ball, he better bring his best game. If he doesn't, the NY fans will surely boo him...Loudly!

Can Sean Avery Help the Rangers?

2009-02-08T18:53:00.000-08:00

In recent days, reports have surfaced that the Rangers are thinking about reacquiring forward Sean Avery from the Dallas Stars. Avery was not re-signed by the Rangers this past off-season and ended up signing in Dallas for a good wad of money. Only a few months into his new job, he made an inappropriate sexual remark about his past girlfriends and never saw the ice again with the Stars. The team waived Avery on Friday after he completed the league's behavioral modification program.

So the question becomes: Would the Rangers really benefit from bringing Avery back? In his year and a half on Broadway, Avery won over the good majority of the fans. He had a knack for bringing a physical, though sometimes overboard, presence each game and found a way to score big goals in the process. Who could forget how much he frustrated Marty Brodeur in last year's playoffs to the point where the veteran goalie refused to shake Avery's hand after the Rangers took the series in five.

Avery had some problems though. Ownership wasn't really convinced he meant that much to the team. He took a lot of unnecessary penalties that put the team in tough spots. In Dallas, the Stars started the season miserably but are a solid 17-7-3 since he left the team. Avery brings a gritty and feisty presence to the team but can also be a distraction.

I'm not sure he is what the Rangers need at this point. Their biggest problem is scoring, especially on the power play. Avery will not really provide the scoring, but could provide a body in front of the net that is more frustrating for opposing goalies than Aaron Voros. The Rangers really need a guy like Jaromir Jagr who will just set up and blast shots on net and is not afraid to shoot. Avery is not that guy, although I do think he could inject a little more life into this team. So if you ask me, I say no, unless the Rangers don't have to pay that much for him. He's not worth the investment. Just look at Wade Redden.

A-Rod is A-Idiot

2009-02-07T19:54:00.000-08:00

I never could've imagined writing this blog entry, expressing my opinions over a report that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroid use in 2003. However, here I sit, on a warm Saturday night, trying to comprehend how a player as talented as A-Rod doing something so stupid. But now, once again, a big-time Yankee is confronted with yet another steroid controversy and baseball turns again toward A-Rod and the Bronx.

First and foremost, I personally don't care that much. I've been bombarded all day by Red Sox fans telling me that A-Rod is a cheat and that this will get to his head, he's going to suck, and it's going to destroy the Yankees season. Give it a rest everyone! Is Rodriguez a cheat? Yes. Did he destroy his career? Yes. But come on, barely anyone's reported for Spring Training yet. The story's less than 24 hours old. How about we wait a few weeks when teams are getting ready to start the season or even wait until the season starts before saying A-Rod and the Yankees are done for.

Why don't I care? I've never been a fan of him. While he's a tremendous all-around athlete and one of the best ballplayers of all-time, he has failed time and time again in the clutch. That's one of my biggest factors in determining my appreciation and identification with an athlete. A-Rod, since coming to the Yankees, has done poorly with runners in scoring position and in the playoffs and has yet to obtain the respect of Yankees fans.

Now, it's hard to write a lot and give a firm opinion on everything since there haven't been many details released. I want to wait and see everything related to the situation and how nothing was said until now almost 6 years later. A-Rod has damaged his career, and honestly, probably doesn't have any reason to play if this is all true. I highly doubt he'll be voted to the Hall-of-Fame if he was in fact a steroid user. Whatever happens, he's damaged his career and brought unnecessary attention to the Yankees.

Garden Greatness

2009-02-05T19:31:00.000-08:00

I know, I'm focusing a lot on Madison Square Garden this week, but that's what happens when a Rangers great has his number retired and the Knicks play host to the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Celtics all in the same week. However, I will give my take on the tremendous performances we saw on the hardwood from Kobe Bryant and LeBron James on Monday and Wednesday nights.

19,763 fans packed the Garden on Monday night and proceeded to watch Bryant drop 61 points on their hometown team, breaking the record for most points scored at the current version of the World's Most Famous Arena. Two nights later, another sell-out crowd, another brilliant display of talent, as James put up 52 points of his own, finishing with a triple-double as well (10 rebounds, 11 assists). It was two of the best performances the building has ever seen.

What stood out to me was the love the fans showed for both of them. On Monday, fans chanted "M-V-P!" for Kobe when he was taken out of the game, and he saluted the crowd in appreciation. Wednesday's game was much closer, so the fans were still cheering the Knicks' effort, but you could tell there were several spectators who were applauding every shot made by LeBron. It was a site that you will rarely see anywhere else other than the mecca of basketball, MSG.

With the "Boston Three Party" coming to the Garden on Friday, can we expect another dominating performance by one player? If so, by who? KG? Ray? The Truth? Whatever the case, I don't think you'll see the types of games KB and LJ had. They make their teams, they are the focus, and they control the tempo. With Boston, it can be any of the three.

It's a shame the Knicks lack the type of talented player like these guys. David Lee, Nate Robinson, and Wilson Chandler are all talented, but neither of them come near these guys. For a team with history like the Knicks, you would think they'd have one. Well, 2010 isn't too far off is it? Pretty soon, LeBron will put on the orange and blue, and if not him, Chris Bosh or another big name basketball star will. It would be shocking and damaging if the franchise didn't nab one of them.

Wrapping Up an Emotional Night at The Garden

2009-02-04T14:08:00.000-08:00

Adam Graves was bestowed with the New York Rangers' highest honor on Tuesday night as his #9 was raised to the Madison Square Garden rafters, joining Rod Gilbert, Ed Giacomin, Mike Richter, Mark Messier, and Brian Leetch as the only Rangers with their numbers retired. While some question whether his numbers are good enough to warrant his number being retired, I think there is no doubt that his play on the ice along with his contributions off it make him one of if not the most worthy candidate. He truly is a very admirable person for his work while playing and his extra effort in the community.

Last night, the Rangers put together another stirring ceremony, theming the evening "Heart of a Ranger." They had some of the trophies he had won on display: The King Clancy and Bill Masterson Memorial Trophies along with the Stanley Cup, which he famously helped win the Blueshirts back in 1994. They introduced Graves, and showed him walking in, in what was one of the first emotional moments of the night. Several fans lined the hallway to the arena, and he shook many of their hands, stopping to give a big hug to several handicapped children there. That was the first tear-jerker of the evening.

He walked out to a thunderous ovation, and was soon flanked by several teammates of his (Tie Domi was an fun one to see along with Darren Langdon, Stephane Matteau and Jeff Beukeboom also got loud applause, and a nice ovation for the cast of the Sopranos and Police Offer Steven McDonald as well). He was then joined by the other Rangers with retired jerseys and then his family. Then came a wide variety of gifts, from a mosaic made by fans, to a Bruce Springsteen guitar, to a collage by the Sopranos cast.

Messier spoke after the gifts, and his emotions got to him once again and made the fans tear up as well. It's amazing how emotional Mess is, but it just shows how he always wore his heart on his sleeve. His speech was beautiful and spoke a lot about how Graves really was a true leader on the team and was someone who everyone should try to emulate.

After that was the man of the hour. Graves was applauded loudly throughout and all the fans screamed their praise. He spoke about how great it was to play in front of the fans in New York, how much they meant to him, and how much his teammates helped him become the man he is. He was overwhelmed by "the weight" of the honor being bestowed on him that night. Graves spoke beautifully as well and was visibly emotional but never let it stop him from saying what he wanted.

Then, the Banner Raising. This was the most emotional of all in my mind. I have never seen a banner get raised to the rafters before, and getting to see it live was unbelievable. The applause and cheering was so loud and seeing Graves and even his son crying made even the toughest of men shed some tears. Seeing him in a Rangers jersey one more time as he took pics with the other retired Blueshirts and then with Richter, Messier, and Leetch was another great capper on the evening that could never be duplicated.

Graves then walked off to thunderous applause, and tapped his heart, letting all the Garden Faithful know how much he loved them and how much he appreciated their love for him. It was heart-warming for sure.

Although the current version of the Rangers was fairly unimpressive in a 2-1 shootout loss to the lowly Thrashers, the night's main focus was that of Adam Graves and all he has meant to the Rangers organization, Madison Square Garden, and Rangers fans everywhere. He truly has the "Heart of a Ranger" and is someone who I admire tremendously. I wish there were more people like him, who go out every day and strive to make a difference in someone's life.

YAY Football!!

2009-02-01T14:34:00.001-08:00

So here it is. Super Bowl XLIII. It comes as a dud seeing the Cardinals and Steelers. Not only is there much less hype about it considering the lack of big market teams, but I personally could not care about it at all except to hope that we see a good game. Here's to great commercials and a great half-time show by Bruce.

For me, I take the Arizona Cardinals. Kurt Warner has the experience and seems like a man on a mission as does the entire team. They look a lot like the Giants of last season. Larry Fitzgerald is having a great postseason, and I see that continuing. I think it'll be close, very close, but they eek it out. I'm just hoping I get money from one of my boxes.

Enjoy the Game! I'll be off until Tuesday as I return home for Adam Graves night but will write about the evening on Wednesday most likely.
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Check out a new poll asking which Super Bowl was the better of the bunch------------------------------------------->

Heartbreaker in Boston

2009-01-31T12:28:00.000-08:00

A tough week for the Rangers got tougher on Saturday as they lost a 1-0 battle with the Eastern Conference-best Bruins in Boston. Not only did they not get a point, but they also were shut-out by not Tim Thomas and not Manny Fernandez but Tuukka Rask. Rask was making just his fifth NHL appearance. Rask was strong, stopping all 35 shots and the Rangers lost their second in a row after getting pasted by the Penguins earlier this week.

Things also got bad for the Rangers when Dmitri Kalinin went down with a knee injury in the first period and did not return. Now, Ranger fans are probably rejoicing over the fact that Kalinin may be out for a bit because he was the brunt of boo's almost as bad as Marek Malik this season. However, he had been playing much better as of late and has improved his plus/minus slowly but surely.

If he misses time, newly-acquired defenseman Eric Reitz will likely fill his spot. Should be interesting to see if he can provide a spark at the blueline. Either way, the Rangers are slumping a bit right now. They get an easier opponent with the Thrashers as they celebrate Adam Graves Night, but they can't look past them. I'll write a piece on Graves night, which I will be attending, later in the week.

Red Hot Knicks

2009-01-28T21:02:00.001-08:00

On a night when the Rangers collapsed again at the Igloo in Pittsburgh and Syracuse basketball could not win on the road at Providence, it seems only fitting to talk about the Knicks, who won their second straight game and fifth in the last six, 112-104 over the Hawks. Not only did the team improve to within five games of the .500 mark, but they leapfrogged into a virtual tie for 8th place in the East with the Bucks.

Even though the Bucks own the tiebreaker, it still puts the team in a position where even the most pessimistic Knicks fan has to believe this team has a true shot at making the playoffs. Let's take a glimpse at some of the teams the Knicks have beaten since the start of the new year:

-100-88 win vs. the Celtics, who are 2nd in the East, at MSG
-101-95 win vs. the Hornets, who are 3rd in the West, at NOR
-114-109 win vs. the Suns, who are 7th in the West, at MSG
-104-98 win vs. the Rockets, who are 6th in the West, at MSG
-112-104 win vs. the Hawks, who are 4th in the East, at MSG

If one thing stands out to me, it is that the Knicks are playing much better at home, feeding off a newly energized crowd and taking care of business, even against some of the best in the league. Now, while there are losses in that mix to teams like Washington and Oklahoma City, there is a clear step in the Knicks game right now. And to me, two players have been the key factors in this.

1) David Lee: The forward from Florida is the workhorse for this team, posting double-doubles night after night (9 straight now), no matter if the team wins or loses. He's competed with the best in the league down low, and it is clear how much his game has improved. I've already commented on this blog that he should be an all-star this year, and we'll find out soon whether or not he will be. He's been a catalyst and has done everything asked of him and more!

2) Chris Duhon: Coming into a new system and a new team after serving as a back-up with the Bulls, Duhon has put the team on his shoulders and helped control each game. He's averaging close to 13 points and 8 assists a game, helping share the ball (unlike Marbury) and hitting big shots, especially at the free throw line (where he's 86.9% on the season). He's arguably the most valuable player right now on Mike D'Antoni's team.

There's no question the impact guys like Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, and Al Harrington have had on the team. However, Lee and Duhon have risen their game in such a short amount of time to the level it needs to be if this team wants to succeed.

After a road game at Indiana, the Knicks will be tested to the max, facing the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Celtics in a five-day span. In case you didn't know, those are the three best teams in the league. Fortunately for the Knicks, they are all at home, where the team is 14-9 this year compared to a dismal 6-16 on the road. The team has to improve away from MSG, but winning at least two of these three games at home would be a huge statement as to how good this team really is.

Start Me Up!

2009-01-27T19:12:00.001-08:00

After the All-Star Game this past weekend in Montreal, it's time to look forward to what the second half of the season has in store for New York area hockey teams. While the Islanders are clearly out of it (barring a miraculous comeback...which is highly unlikely), the Rangers, Devils, and Sabres are all clearly in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Here's an outlook on the second half for each of the teams and what their goals should be (records and standings include Tuesday night's games):

New York Rangers (29-16-4, 62 points, 2nd in Atlantic, 4th in East)
Analysis: The Rangers started the year sky high, from their opening games in Prague through the first few weeks. However, the Rangers have since returned to earth but are still proving they are a solid team. This team has a great mix of veteran leaders (Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Markus Naslund) along with solid young talent (Nikolai Zherdev, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Nigel Dawes), and good goaltending (Henrik Lundqvist, Steve Valiquette). The team's had stable defense and tremendous penalty killing, but the power play has been inconsistent and often times, the team struggles to score. Still, they've won 5 of their last 6 and find ways to win games.
Second Half Goals: Find consistency on the power play, shoot the puck more, maintain solid penalty kill, and earn home-ice advantage in the playoffs.

New Jersey Devils (30-15-3, 63 points, 1st in Atlantic, 3rd in East)
Analysis: The Devils haven't done anything except get better after Marty Brodeur went down early in the season with an injury. The Devils have found the net and played great defense, getting great goaltending from Scott Clemmensen in Brodeur's absence. The power play and penalty kill are both good but could be better. They also have a good mix of veterans and younger players. When Marty Brodeur comes back, if he can regain the Hall-Of-Fame form he's had, even at his age, the Devils will be very hard to beat.
Second Half Goals: Improve the PP and PK, continue scoring, do not burn out Scott Clemmensen, and finally, win the Atlantic Division.

Buffalo Sabres (25-18-5, 55 points, 3rd in Northeast, 7th in East)
Analysis: Right now, the Sabres are the closest to falling out of the playoff race. Like the Rangers, their penalty kill has been excellent, and like the Devils, their power play has been above average. They've struggled to score at points this year, and the defense has been inconsistent. Basically, inconsistency is the best word to describe the boys from Buffalo. Their big struggle has been holding leads. They only have a .600 win percentage when scoring first. That's been one of their biggest problems.
Second Half Goals: Find ways to maintain leads, improve the power play, stay healthy, and hold onto a playoff spot while praying not to finish 8th and being forced to face the Bruins (most likely) in the first round.

And because I shouldn't leave them out...

New York Islanders (13-29-5, 31 points, Last in Atlantic, Last in East, Last in NHL)
Analysis: It's another one of those years for the team on Long Island. Aside from problems scoring goals, they've allowed a ton, and just haven't been able to develop any momentum. Oh, and on top of that, their starting goalie is done for the year with persistent problems from surgery, and their back-up was injured against their arch-rivals and will also miss time. And, on top of that, they couldn't regain their former back-up because he was picked up off waivers by the Blue Jackets. Oh, and on top of that, there have been rumors they might move to Kansas City. Just complete disaster right now at the Nassau Coliseum...or Mausoleum.
Second Half Goals: Get some talent at the trade deadline, avoid serious injury, develop the talent of younger players, get started on the Lighthouse Project, and get on a winning streak that could start a miracle run to the playoffs.

Pettitte Puts on the Pinstripes One More Time!

2009-01-26T13:02:00.001-08:00

A deal has finally been reached on Monday afternoon and Andy Pettitte will come back to pitch one more year in pinstripes. Anyone who has followed the ongoings of this entire drama knew that he would come back to the Bronx. That's where he wanted to play, and while it looked like money was a big factor in all of it, Pettitte made sure he came back to help open the New Yankee Stadium.

Reports that I've heard are that the deal will be incentive-laden, guaranteeing $5.5 million, which is less than the previous offer of $10 million the Yankees had on the table. However, with incentives, the final figure could increase up to $12 million. That is if Pettitte remains healthy and puts up solid numbers. He will likely be the fifth starter in a rotation that as of now already includes C.C. Sabathia, Chien Ming Wang, A.J. Burnett, and Joba Chamberlain.

I think this was the right way to sign Pettitte to a deal. Let's be honest, at his age, he's not worth double-digit millions of dollars. He just simply is not that dominating despite some flashes he showed last season. In addition, at his age, who knows if he can continue to stay healthy? Giving him a decent amount of money up front with the ability to make more than was originally offered if he stays healthy and performs makes sense.

If Pettitte can remain healthy and win his fair share of ballgames, he'll be a great fifth starter for the Yanks. He brings a veteran prescence into the clubhouse to not only help continue mentor the young pitchers in the team's system but also can help in the adjustment process for newcomers C.C. and A.J. I was certain a deal was going to get done, as were many, and now that it is, Yankee fans can rest easy knowing who will more than likely be their starting five in 2009.

Rough Week for Syracuse

2009-01-25T13:30:00.000-08:00

Well, all the good feelings the Orange and their fans must have had after they romped Notre Dame last Saturday at the Carrier Dome are likely gone. Since that win, they were beaten 78-60 at Pitt on Monday and then again today 67-57 at home against Louisville. While both opponents were ranked highly, the 8th-ranked Orange still have to be frustrated to not have earned a win in at least one of those games.

Now, let's be realistic, there was no way SU was winning at the Petersen Events Center on Monday. Pitt is too good at home and despite a great performance against Notre Dame, the Orange could not handle DeJuan Blair and Levance Fields. Pitt did lose to Louisville, but after today's game, it doesn't seem so shocking anymore.

Syracuse once again was stymied defensively by the Cardinals and had trouble with Earl Clark. Andy Rautins was a shocking 1-6 from 3-point range and left the game with an injury. Who knows where that will leave 'Cuse if he's gone for any length of time?

The schedule doesn't get easier. The Orange travel to face a Providence team that's 5-2 in the Big East. Then they host a West Virginia team that won at Georgetown. Following that, they visit Villanova and Connecticut, both of which are ranked right now, before coming home for a Valentine's Day affair against the same G'town team that romped the Orange 88-74 back on January 14th. Oh, then they play Nova again. At least that one will be at home.

This should be a fun few week Syracuse fans. It's time for the Orange to prove whether or not they are a legitimate contender or pretender as one of the elite teams in the Big East.
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Who do you think has been the MVP for SU so far this season? Vote over on the right-------------------------------------->

Yanks Front Office Moving Day

2009-01-23T20:37:00.000-08:00

No big news today, so I'll write a short piece on the Yankees front office moving today from the Old Yankee Stadium to the New Yankee Stadium. Nothing huge, but a monumental event considering the Yanks have spent the last 85 years in one stadium and are now moving to something new.

The biggest thing was seeing employees moving World Series trophies from 1977 and 2000. Videos and photos are posted on Newsday's site as well as several others from newspapers and stations in the New York Area.

For me, while I loved the Old Stadium and called it my second home for 20 years, I certainly am excited to see the grandeur of the New Yankee Stadium and this is just another step toward the eventual opening. It's a small event, but seeing pictures updated frequently of the construction continues to impress me and get me excited. Hopefully, the new place will create just as many memories as the old one did!

Manny a Met? Why Not? (UPDATED)

2009-01-22T17:06:00.000-08:00

Since not much is going on in the New York sports world today, I figured I'd focus on talks surrounding Manny Ramirez becoming a New York Met...or lack thereof.

According to Mets Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon, GM Omar Minaya hasn't even brought up the idea of signing the free agent left fielder. My question is: WHY NOT?

The Mets are in need of a power hitter in their line-up, especially as they move into the hitter-friendly Citi Field. Not to mention, the team needs another outfielder and one that can stay healthy after the few disastrous seasons with injury-riddled Moises Alou. In addition, players such as David Wright have said that they would be happy with Manny in the clubhouse.

Of course, Ramirez brings with him all the "Manny Being Manny" antics that have made him infamous over his career. The Red Sox wanted him away from their clubhouse and made sure it happened. However, Manny played great in the National League for the Dodgers, and could likely do the same with the Mets despite playing in a significantly tougher division.

If the Mets are smart, adding another big-name guy like Manny Ramirez, who consistently posts great numbers, will not only bring an added buzz to the "other" New York team but will also fortify a line-up that is not as scary as it once was and help support a rotation that was not as stellar as it once was.
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UPDATE: The Mets have made a signing. No, it wasn't Manny. The team agreed on a minor league contract with Pitcher Freddy Garcia. He will compete for a rotation spot with the team as expected. The Yankees were among the other finalists for the veteran, who had shoulder surgery in 2007. A fine signing for the Mets if he can return to be the 17-game winner he was in 2006 with the White Sox.

Could Marbury Finally Be Gone?

2009-01-21T19:16:00.001-08:00

Reports are saying it is possible the Knicks guard could be headed to Greece. The Greek club Olympiacos spoke with the Knicks earlier in the day about a possible move to get Marbury to play across the Atlantic. The team lost star Josh Childress to surgery for a sports hernia and are looking for a replacement.

The Knicks need to get this move done and get him out of town. He's not distracting the team because they've been playing well as of late, and he's been nowhere in sight. However, it is ridiculous that the team is paying him close to $21 million to not come anywhere near the team. A buy-out needs to happen and he needs to get as far away as possible. Therefore, his name and stories about him will not be the daily ritual.

Sticking with the Knicks, I'm impressed with their play as of late. With their 114-109 win over the Suns on Wednesday, they hit the half-way mark with a record of 17-24, just two games behind the Nets for the 8th spot in the East. While it's not amazing, you have to notice the improvement. They're just six wins shy of last season's final total with 41 games left to play. Is it safe to say they'll improve on last year's record?

My other question is: Does David Lee deserve to be an All-Star? If you ask me, I say yes. The guy is averaging over 15 points and 11 rebounds a game and has 30 double-doubles this season. Only Dwight Howard has more. Not to mention, he just outdueled Shaq at the Garden, with a 25-point, 16-rebound performance. Those are all-star numbers folks! He puts bodies in the seats at Madison Square Garden and ignites the team with his energy night-in and night-out. He has my vote!

Let me know what you think!

DP Done...Again! And Yanks/Mets Signings

2009-01-20T14:39:00.001-08:00

Sorry to share the news Islander fans, but goaltender Rick DiPietro, the face of the franchise, will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 season due to continuing problems with his left knee. DiPietro had surgery on the knee in June, but swelling has continued throughout the season.

According to the team, they felt it was the best decision for him considering the team is not in playoff contention. General Manager Garth Snow commented, "This will allow Rick ample time to make a full recovery for next year." With the problems he's had recovering from other injuries, the Islanders are smart to let him take all the time needed to get fully healthy.

DP was signed to a 15-year contract in 2006 and since that point has had to have four surgeries. His hip was repaired once, along with his right knee as well as left knee twice. With all these problems, even DiPietro himself knew this was the right move. "This has been one of the most frustrating situations I have ever had to deal with, but this is the right decision for me and the team," said the 27-year old goalie in a statement on Tuesday.

For the sake of Islander fans everywhere, DP and the team definitely made the right choice. The team is going nowhere higher than the bottom five teams in the league. Rather than risk further injury, let him rest and recover as best as he can and be ready for next season. Then again, who knows with DP?
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Briefly just wanted to note some contract signings the Yankees and Mets made today. The Bronx team agreed on a one year $6.65 million deal with Outfielder Xavier Nady, avoiding arbitration. This allows the Yanks to move him a bit easier now that he has a set salary. However, I wouldn't be shocked if both he and Swisher went to camp as Yankees. Melky Cabrera also signed late today. Not sure how much the deal was for. Report is that he asked for $1.7 million while the team offered $1.2 million. Shocking considering he made just $461,200 last year and was flat out awful. The other Yankee who went to arbitration was Brian Bruney. He apparently request $1.55 million while the team offered $1.1 million. No deal was done as of yet.

As for the Mets, they avoided arbitration with Ryan Church and Angel Pagan. Church got a one year $2.8 million deal while Pagan got $575,000 for a year. Both players suffered from injuries last year. Church played just 90 games due to a pair of concussions while Pagan appeared in only 31 before having surgery to fix a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Rex Ryan Goes to the Jets

2009-01-19T08:08:00.000-08:00

Well, that certainly happened in a flash.

Not even a full day after the Ravens lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game, Baltimore's Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan has agreed to become the next Head Coach of the New York Jets. Ryan's deal is said to be a four year contract, similar to the one Steve Spagnuolo got from the Rams to coach there. That deal was worth $11.5-million.

When it came down to it, I thought the best candidates for the Jets job (once Cowher took himself out and Shanahan wanted to go on vacation) were Spagnuolo and Ryan. I liked Spags' recent success with the Giants and how he won over a lot of respect from his defense. However, it showed this year that without Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan, the defense struggled late in the season and in the playoffs.

Rex Ryan was the easier option because he ran a 3-4 in Baltimore already and the Jets had been running the 3-4 since Eric Mangini came to town. Ryan has also been the forefront of the Ravens' success because their defense has been one of the stingiest in the NFL. The team has been one of the top teams defensively year after year and Ryan's aggressive style is something the Jets needed after this past season's collapse.

The biggest thing with Ryan was that he was also an Assistant Head Coach to John Harbaugh. Now, that's not necessarily experience as a Head Coach, but I'm sure it helped better prepare him for what he'll face as a head honcho. Being in New York is definitely a tough place to be a head coach. This past year, Willie Randolph, Eric Mangini, Ted Nolan, and Isiah Thomas all lost their jobs. Ryan's seat will be hot from the start, especially with the quarterback situation so cloudy. He'll need to take a team with significant talent and mold it into a true playoff team and Super Bowl contender. It may not happen in Year 1, but I think he can definitely take this team deep!

Big Red = Red Hot

2009-01-18T18:19:00.000-08:00

No team in College Hockey is any hotter right now than the Cornell Big Red Men's team. With a 3-0 blanking of the RPI Engineers last night, the Big Red improved to 13-1-3 on the season and remained unbeaten in ECAC play at 8-0-2. Their 18 points are good for first in the conference and they're ranked 5th in the nation. Pretty impressive start for the club.

Cornell, has only lost on the road at powerhouse North Dakota, losing 7-3 but rebounding the next night to win 2-1 against the same Fighting Sioux team. The Red haven't lost at historic Lynah Rink, their home, which happens to be one of the rowdiest places in college hockey. However, all the team's success comes down to the man between the pipes: Ben Scrivens.

The Junior from Spruce Grove, Alberta has built off of success early in his career and is off to a stellar start in 2008-09. He's started each game for Cornell, posting an unbelievable 1.18 Goals Against Average. Want an even more shocking stat? His GAA in conference play: 0.69! That's best in all of college hockey. Impressive numbers in goal for him, and he is the sure-fire reason why Cornell has been so strong to start the year.

This team has great leadership, vision on the ice, and overall excitement night in and night out. I pose to you: go to a game and see for yourself. This team is for real and will be a big contender all season long! Not to mention, Lynah Rink's one of the best places to go watch a college hockey game.

To get a closer perspective on Lynah, take a look at this feature I compiled along with two buddies of mine.

First Post (Updated)

2009-01-17T18:35:00.001-08:00

Alright, so for my first post, I'm gonna focus on a game I attended today that was quite the good time. The site was the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY where #8 Syracuse hosted #12 Notre Dame in a huge Big East match-up. Not only was the place amped up for the implications of a win here, but 30,021 people filled the Dome to watch this game. It wasn't the biggest crowd ever at the place, but my goodness, 30,000+ people to watch a basketball game?! That's impressive! It's hard to think how loud Madison Square Garden can get when there's a sold-out crowd of 19,763 and then you add another 10,000+ to that to get the size of the dome!

Syracuse dominated ND 93-74 and the place was rocking from start to finish. I give the 'Cuse a lot of credit. After a sloppy showing against Georgetown earlier in the week, they came out and exploited the Irish from start to finish and got help all around. Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson both played strong and dominated Luke Harangody down low. Kyle McAlarney was solid for the Irish, but Johnny Flynn played great once again as well.

My game ball goes to Jim Boeheim, the Orange Head Coach, however. Twice late the game, the Irish were threatening to tie the score, and Boeheim called much needed time outs. After both stoppages, Syracuse came out flying and dominated Notre Dame, energizing the crowd and separating the two teams once again. Great job by Syracuse, who I would not be shocked to see beat Pitt on the road Monday night. Still not likely, but I wouldn't be as surprised!

Other Tidbits:
For you football fans, the Giants lost defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to the Rams today. Now, we'll see if the G-men D can still be as good as they were. The pass rush was pretty abysmal against the Eagles and it showed how much Osi and Strahan meant to that team. As for Jets fans, it seems pretty obvious Rex Ryan will follow Eric Mangini's reign in New York. He's a fine choice, especially with how good the Ravens have looked. He could be hired as early as Monday if Baltimore loses to the Steelers tomorrow.

And finally, Knicks lottery pick Danilo Gallinari took the floor tonight against the 76ers at MSG, his first action since October 31st, which coincidentally was also against Philly (a 116-87 road loss in which he had 2 points in just under 8 minutes). The Italian had 6 points in 15:14, shooting 2 of 4 from the field with both baskets coming from downtown. Good start for him. For the Knicks' sake, I hope he starts doing well. This team could surely use something positive to build on and look forward to!

One other thing, you really gotta feel bad for the Islanders. They sign Wade Dubielewicz to play goal for them with Rick DiPietro and Joey MacDonald already out with injuries. However, a rule said he must go through waivers first, and of course, he gets picked up by the Blue Jackets to back up Steve Mason. Tough break for Dubie who wanted to go back to the Isles, and even worse for the team, who had to recall Peter Mannino to back-up Yann Danis. Can things get worse for this franchise? Maybe they should move to Kansas City after all!

That's all folks. Until Tomorrow!

Welcome

2009-01-17T17:00:00.001-08:00

Hey Everyone,

I'm Michael Polak. I reside in New Hyde Park, NY, located in Nassau County on Long Island. I have recently been inspired to start my own little blog, focusing on the New York sports scene. You may think it's just going to follow the nine pro sports teams that call the metro-NY area home. Oh No! I will be covering everything from pro to college and maybe even some high school as well. We'll see where life takes me.

I'll be doing my best to post daily, trying to focus on the big news from teams in the metro-NY area and all around New York state. Sometimes, I'll focus on one team for that day. Other days, I'll spread it out and cover several. Posts also might be more than once a day. Sports never sleeps, so when I find out about something big, I'll do my best to post it here.

Keep an eye out for my first post either later tonight or tomorrow! Feel free to comment on anything I post here. Enjoy Everyone! This Blog's For You!!

-Mike