.
Ryan has signed his name to a Super Bowl promise. He’s incurred more negative attention through his language than positive impression through his team’s performance. The second-year head coach has embraced off-the-field theatre even as it sours the perception of his football team. In the Rex Ryan school of publication communications, all press is good press.
But just how far will bluff and bluster take a flagging on-field product? The Jets continue to balance lofty aspirations with a well-grounded recognition that improvement is imperative. Yet with just one week remaining in the regular season, more questions are emerging than answers. The Jets continue to shoot from the lip, but now opponents are striking them back in the mouth—forcing Jets players to eat their words.
Sunday’s showdown with the Bears suggests Gang Green’s main man may not be ready to honor his own guarantees. Ryan can talk champion, but with a playoff berth on the line in Chicago, he sure didn’t coach like one.
With the Jets ahead by seven points early in the second half, Ryan coauthored one of the most befuddling play calls of the NFL season. Chicago had forced New York into a three-and-out during the opening series of the third quarter, but the Jets head coach wasn’t willing to give the ball back. Despite a one touchdown lead and a field position edge, Ryan authorized a low probability fake punt.
With Steve Weatherford back to punt, the direct snap went to Sanchez instead. The second-year quarterback rolled right and flung a four-yard pass to gimmick formation and return specialist, Brad Smith. Smith ran a four-yard out route. Although the pass was on the money, Smith, who played quarterback in college and has little experience at wideout, muffed the reception.
Ryan had banked on catching the Bears off-guard. And that brave assumption held true. He failed, however, to account for a player with marginal pass-catching experience—one who just so happened to be on the receiving end of the unorthodox play, in a high-pressure situation, no less. Because of Ryan’s overambitious gaffe, the Jets handed momentum straight to the Bears. Then their defense gave away the game altogether.
On the very next play from scrimmage, Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler connected with Johnny Knox in the end zone on a 40-yard strike. For the moment, it was the equalizer. Over the long term, it proved to the be the decider.
Coach Ryan showed Sunday that in his process of decision-making, stubbornness prevails over the senses. Ego trumps logic. The Jets had experimented with a fake punt in an even more bizarre spot earlier in the year against the Green Bay Packers. On a fourth and 18, the punter called his own number. Weatherford took the snap and navigated up the Jets sideline, as if he was going to morph into Barry Sanders midway through the dash. The veteran punter came up inches shy, tantalizingly close, but short enough to shift the tide of the game.
With one failed punt already to his team’s name on the season—even if Rex didn’t sanction the call himself—Ryan went back to the playbook of tomfoolery. He tried to outcoach and outmaneuver Bears’ head honcho Lovie Smith, rather than trust his players to win the game themselves. Ryan, whose personality is rife with as much charisma and easygoingness as it is with fierce competitiveness, had a show to put on, after all. Winning was incidental.
Ryan capped off an afternoon of amateurism in grand style. For an encore, the head coach completely mismanaged the clock during crunch time, wasting his final timeout prior to the two-minute warning for no reason. With 2 minutes and 43 seconds showing on the game clock and a 40-second play clock on cue to begin, Chicago would have had to run another play before the two-minute warning regardless. Unaware, Ryan burnt his final timeout, stopping the clock at 2:43 and affording the Bears the opportunity to burn 45 seconds off the clock after the official’s timeout.
All things considered, Gang Green has plenty to improve just to return to the quality of last year’s nine-win team. To become championship-caliber for the 2011 playoff push, even more must go right.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the green and white.
Remember that last year’s Jets floundered through most of the regular season before they made their mark in January. A season that had at one point seemed like an abandoned cause ended teasingly close to a Super Bowl appearance.
That can happen again this January. Better yet, this Jets team has the personnel to make that final, elusive leap to football’s grand finale.
In the meantime, New York has a playoff berth to digest. Thanks to helping hands and a helping foot in Washington, the Jets managed to squeak into the postseason tournament on the heels of a poor performance.
The first order of business for Rex Ryan’s club between now and next Sunday is simple: shake that bizarre feeling of fulfillment following a disappointing loss. If you lose in the playoffs, after all, you won’t have the urge to celebrate.
Schottenheimer shines as Jets earn first-ever win in Pittsburgh
December 21, 2010
Following consecutive losses to division rivals New England and Miami, queries swirled around the Jets like trash around the Meadowlands.
A hobbled and humbled New York team was visiting AFC stalwart Pittsburgh in pursuit of its first-ever win in the state of Pennsylvania. This, the organization’s eighth try at stealing one in the Steel City, had perhaps the least promise.
Franchise quarterback Mark Sanchez was coming off back-to-back rocky performances. Could the second-year signal caller smooth out his performance in time, or would the Steel Curtain smother him before he even got the chance? More importantly, could Gang Green achieve its first victory in 12 tries in the Keystone State, or would the Jets follow a familiar pattern of December devastation?
Sanchez completed 19 of 29 passes without throwing an interception against one of the league’s stingiest defenses as the Jets escaped Pittsburgh with a 22-17 win and an ironclad grip on a playoff spot. Proof positive that this year’s Jets share at least some traces of last year’s road moxie.
The slumping Sanchez had thrown four interceptions in New York’s two previous losses and 12 interceptions over his last eight games. That slide ended Sunday with the prospects of Gang Green’s season hanging in the balance. In perhaps the biggest regular season game of the young quarterback’s career, Sanchez secured the football masterfully against the AFC’s best takeaway defens. He ended a streak of eight consecutive games with at least one interception by not turning the ball over once.
Though the Steelers were without Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, their battle-tested defense looked to exploit New York’s offensive vulnerabilities while executing what it does best—forcing turnovers. Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau amped up pressure on Sanchez, but the young signal caller held his ground and demonstrated poise well beyond his years.
The Jets intended to shed any lingering memories of the team’s previous two losses. Explosive kick returner Brad Smith was a catalyst of the effort. Smith returned the game’s opening kickoff 97-yards to give Gang Green renewed life.
Smith’s momentum-establishing scamper allowed a flagging Jets offense to relax. New York hadn’t scored an offensive touchdown in 10 quarters entering the game, and the sight of an early 7-point cushion eased the entire unit. At least for the time being.
Pittsburgh stormed back midway through the second quarter. Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger connected with Matt Spaeth on a 9-yard throw-and-catch for the equalizer. Both teams exchanged field goals to close out the quarter and headed into halftime knotted up at 10.
The Steelers answered Smith’s game-opening touchdown with a scoring drive of their own to kick-start the second half. Running back Rashard Mendenhall plowed up the gut of the Jets defense for a two-year touchdown burst, capping off a nine play, 74-yard drive in just less than 6 minutes.
With nine minutes to go, the Jets trailed by a touchdown—a deficit that seemed much larger to a team that hadn’t scored an offensive touchdown over its last 12 quarters. Now more piercing questions were beginning to boil. Doom was once again creeping up New York’s dirt-stained pants. In a pinch, Brad Smith’s 97-yard burst had vanished into the doldrums of Gang Green’s collective psyche.
The Jets had more questions than answers and more problems than solutions. Could New York’s browbeaten offense muster a score at the most pressing time, or did the defense or special teams have to bail it out once more? Mark Sanchez could protect the ball, but could he engineer a critical touchdown drive and make big plays in crunch time to put his team in a favorable position to win?
For two-and-a-half quarters in Pittsburgh, it seemed improbable. Over the last 12-and-a-half quarters, it appeared implausible. When Brad Smith couldn’t return the ensuing kickoff for 6, the implausible had become the impossible. These were the same old Jets, playing in a place they had never won before—a state they had never won before— while up against the most decorated NFL team over the last five years.
Young quarterback, lackluster offense, feeble play-calling and an organization with a checkered history of betraying expectations. That was New York’s arsenal to work with if it was going to defy the impossible. And once the grim reality settled, the Jets were supposed to concede another season of high aspirations and tempered results.
A dogged Sanchez wasn’t willing to roll over just yet. This is not why he wanted to come to the Big Apple. The polarizing quarterback had promised a win, and was going to own up to his promise. But first, more questions had to be answered.
Jets’ offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, stepped to the pulpit, armed and ready to face his inquiry. Was it possible for the super ordinary, painstakingly mechanical play caller to finally get creative at the snap of a finger? Fans pondered what Schottenheimer passed off declaratively: that the five-year offensive coordinator is a “damn good football coach.” Could Schottenheimer back up his bluster against the league’s most sophisticated defense?
On a crucial third and one at the Jets 43, Schottenheimer gave veracity to his strong claim. In an obvious running situation up against the league’s best run defense, Schottenheimer outmaneuvered the best defensive mind in football. LeBeau stuffed the box and ordered pressure from his second and third lines. But Schottenheimer was prepared. A serene Sanchez took the snap, sold a play-action handoff beautifully, then rolled out to his left and found tight end Dustin Keller for an 11-yard completion. First down, Jets.
Later in the drive, as Sanchez piloted the Jets into the red zone, Schottenheimer faced his toughest call of the game. On a fourth and one foot at the Steelers 7-yard line, Jets head coach Rex Ryan kept his offense on the field. LeBeau again loaded the trenches, stuffing eight guys on the line and between the tackles. Schottenheimer was ready again.
Sanchez took the snap, turned right and extended his ball-hand to running back Shonn Greene. As the Steelers defense pinched in, Sanchez pulled the ball back, whirled around and dashed around the left edge into open space. The play, designed masterfully by Schottenheimer and executed flawlessly by Sanchez, pulled the Jets within an extra point of a tie.
This was New York’s first offensive touchdown in 12 quarters. But more than that, it was the bedrock for the Jets’ improbable fourth quarter stand.
On their next series, the Jets were on the prowl once again. With momentum swinging in its favor, Gang Green could sense a rare, but pleasing rush of optimism building. The Jets were facing a 3rd and 4 on the Pittsburgh 32-yard line. Brian Schottenheimer was facing his biggest play-call yet.
The down and distance afforded Schottenheimer the opportunity to get creative. And the budding offensive coordinator took advantage. On the outer edge of field goal range, the Jets needed another first down—easy enough in principle, but distressing difficult in practice.
Third and four falls smack in the middle of the play-calling gray area. The distance is too far for the obvious run, but too close to risk a traditional pocket passing play. There was one bit of statistical context that may sway Schottenheimer one way or another: Pittsburgh presented the league’s toughest defense against the run.
With this in mind, Schottenheimer ordered Sanchez out of the shotgun. He spread his receivers to both sides in a traditional passing formation. LaDainian Tomlinson lined up to Sanchez’s right. But something was off. To the perceptive eye, Tomlinson was closer to his quarterback than usual.
The Jets went to the silent count and Sanchez leaped into the air, arms extended, frantically feeling for the ball. He came up empty.
Tomlinson sidestepped left and took a hard follow-step with his right leg. He snatched the snap with his open palms and darted around the left edge where there was plenty of open space. The Steelers’ defense was slow to react. Two interior lineman bought Sanchez’s Tom Brady impersonation and pursued a ball that just wasn’t there. Tomlinson got to the edge, crossed the first down line with room to spare. Steelers’ linebacker Lawrence Timmons bumped L.T. out of bounds, but not before a crucial third-down conversion on the eight-year carry.
It was this play—straight from the playbook of the rival Patriots—that really proved Schottenheimer’s mettle. Very seldom do offensive coordinators pick off signature players from other offenses, particularly those of division rivals. But Schottenheimer didn’t care. He had a game to win. A season to turn around. A playoff berth to clutch with two hands.
Jets’ kicker Nick Folk nailed a 34-yard field goal to close the drive, lifting Gang Green to a 20-17 lead with 10 minutes to play. Sanchez had done his part. Schottenheimer had added a virtuous performance of his own. Now, the game in the hands of New York’s bend-but-never-break defense.
The Jets allowed 378 total yards Sunday against an offense averaging 335 yards per game on the season. Mendenhall had rushed for more than 100 yards. Wide receiver Mike Wallace had more than 100 yards receiving on the hight. Too many yards, too many bends. But not one break.
New York’s resilient defense was in its prime Sunday evening. In a game devoid of turnovers, the Jets had to find new ways to turn the tables. Although Rex Ryan’s team struggled to generate pressure with its front four yet again, it still managed to force Pittsburgh into 4 punts, one field goal opportunity and a last-minute drive that fell teasingly short.
Following a beautiful Steve Weatherford punt to pin the Steelers inside their two yard-line with less than 3 minutes to play, New York’s opportunistic D made its biggest play of the game. On first and ten, Roethlisberger lined up out of the shotgun and handed off to Mendenhall on a draw. The Jets defense struggled containing Mendenhall the entire afternoon, but it was ready for him then. Veteran defensive end-turned-linebacker Jason Taylor gashed through the left side and swung down the Steelers’ tailback in the end zone for a safety.
The safety extended New York’s lead from 3 to 5, forcing Pittsburgh into a precarious situation. Not only did the Steelers need to regain possession, but they now had to go the length of the field for a touchdown. Following another terrific Weatherford punt, Pittsburgh got the ball back inside its own 10, just before the two-minute warning and with one timeout in-hand. The Steelers had allotted plenty of time for Roethlisberger, who has made his mark in the league with his penchant for orchestrating late, game-winning drives.
Befitting of a late-season Pittsburgh tilt at Heinz Field, Big Ben drove the Steelers right down the field against a staunch Jets’ D. On a 2nd and 10 at the Jets’ 26—the game clock showing 24 seconds—Roethlisberger lobbed a fade into the end zone just beyond the reach of his intended target, Emmanuel Sanders. Replays revealed Jets’ cornerback Antonio Cromartie draped over Sanders, pulling at his jersey just enough to curb the game-winning completion. But no flags were on the field, and instead of a Pittsburgh first and goal from the 2-yard line, the Jets had second life.
After a 16-yard completion across the middle immediately followed by a spike, the Steelers were down to the New York 10 with nine seconds remaining and the clock paused. Roethlisberger had two chances at the end zone, and he would use both of them.
On his first attempt, Roethlisberger threaded the needle between two Jets defenders in the back of the end zone. The ball, which was ticketed for Hines Ward, ricocheted off the fingertips of Matt Spaeth, who cut off Ward along the end line. Gang Green, fortunate again, had third life. Roethlisberger had just one more prayer.
On his second attempt, Big Ben fled the pocket, rolled left and scanned the defense. New York had dropped eight defenders into coverage, and with the end zone congested, Roethlisberger stirred toward the sideline. As a defender closed, Big Ben flung an up-for-grabs ball toward the back of the end zone. Several fingers jostled for the ball, but the pigskin ultimately fell harmlessly to the sideline chalk, securing a heart-throbbing 22-17 Jets win.
Though the matchup had a distinctive road venue feel, the game was a homecoming of sorts for several Jets players.
Taylor, whose forced safety changed the complexion of the game’s final three minutes, is a Pittsburgh native. Darrelle Revis, the league’s best cover corner, is a native of nearby Aliquippa and played his college ball at the University of Pittsburgh. Wide Receiver Santonio Holmes was acquired from the Steelers in April after spending the first four seasons of his career in Pittsburgh. The former Buckeye, whose game-winning catch in Super Bowl XLIII elevated his status in the league, was cut loose by the Steelers for just a fourth round pick because of an off-field incident that resulted in a lawsuit.
The New York Jets entered Sunday’s matchup versus Pittsburgh with history working against them. With a defunct offense, glass jaw mentality and questionable coaching influence, the likelihood of New York ending an 0 for 11 drought in the Keystone State figured to be roughly the same as the team’s touchdown conversion rate over its last two games.
Gang Green faced a flurry of concerns more fierce than the snow at Heinz Field over the weekend. But whether it was Sanchez, Schottenheimer or the homecoming trio, the Jets came up with plenty of answers. And after this statement victory, they’re no longer fielding more questions.
Big Blue It: New York has Giant Meltdown vs. Eagles
December 20, 2010
Step aside, Herm Edwards. There’s a new Miracle at the Meadowlands.
But first let’s refresh.
On a chilly afternoon at Giants Stadium, quarterback Joe Pisarcik and the New York Giants are clinging to a 17-12 lead late in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles. The date is October 19, 1978 and the New York Giants are a kneel-down away from icing the game.
Any ordinary day, the ending is routine. But this was Giants-Eagles at the Meadowlands, during an era that predated the advent of the victory formation. Simplicity was a novelty. And on this soil, it just didn’t apply.
The game clock shows 31 seconds remaining. The play clock ticks under 30. Offensive coordinator Joe Gibson calls for a run off left guard to the steady and reliable Larry Csonka.
Pisarcik takes the snap and turns right. Out of the backfield, Csonka pivots left and scopes the defense. Pisarcik whirls around in a frenzied effort to feed Csonka the ball. Off-balance, Pisarcik leaves the football vulnerably away from his body. Csonka reaches back with his cuffed hands, but comes up with air. The exchange is late, and the ball wobbles to the ground. A young Herm Edwards, darts off the right edge, sheds a blocker and eyes the loose football—his porthole to history. With adrenaline percolating through his body, Edwards scoops up the ball and dashes 27 yards to the west end zone. He spikes the ball in one fluid motion as the Eagles cap off an improbable finish. The Giants, now 5-7, are spiraling toward last place, losers of four games in a row.
Fast-forward 32 years, two months on the nose. The date is now December 19, 2010. The Giants have moved into their new digs at New Meadowlands Stadium, prepared for their final home game of the season versus Philadelphia. New York enters the contest losers of five straight games—postseason included—against the Eagles. Division supremacy is on the line.
Playing in a new stadium, looking for a new streak, Big Blue became a subject of the newest miracle instead. Old storylines were rehashed in a new theatre. And just like the original miracle, the annals of its sequel will not grow old any time soon.
Fueled by late-game Michael Vick heroics and capped off by a DeSean Jackson game-winning punt return for a touchdown as time expired, the Eagles scored 28 points in the final 7:18 to erase a 21-point deficit and shock the Giants, 38-31. The mystifying turn of events puts the Eagles one win away from another NFC East crown and leaves the Giants, who would have claimed sole possession of first place with a win, on the cusp of a second-consecutive postseason absence.
For the first three-and-a-half quarters, the game was a laugher. Standing tall, the Giants made their case loud and proud to the world that the NFC East runs through East Rutherford. Eli Manning had been virtuous, threading the Eagles secondary for four touchdowns and 250 yards passing. The staunch Giants defense had flustered Vick, contained Jackson and made a potent Eagles offense seem quite pedestrian.
With 8:17 to go in the final quarter, Manning zipped an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Boss that put the Giants ahead 31-10. New York was gazing at a 10-4 start, an NFC East championship in the foreseeable future and the inside track to a 2-seed.
But in those final eight minutes of dazed trance, the Giants offense became contagiously inept, the defensive play-calling transitioned from painstaking to predictable, the secondary reverted to 2009 form and the special teams was visibly ill-equipped. The effort may have netted the G-Men more than just a first-round bye. New York’s unrivaled collapse may earn the team a bye throughout the playoffs.
Heartbreak hotel started in style. After Boss’ touchdown grab to extend the Giants’ lead to 21, the Eagles responded in a pinch. Philadelphia ripped off a two-play, 75-yard drive to pull within two scores. Vick hit Eagles’ tight end Brent Celek with a 65-yard strike over the middle. Giants’ safety Kenny Phillips saw Celek juggle the ball and a made a beeline for it. Phillips came up empty on the aggressive attempt, whiffed on the tackle and Celek had an open path to the end zone after securing possession of the ball.
With 7:28 to go in the fourth, the game took a turn for the worse. After Philadelphia took a big bite out of the lead in short-time, the Eagles carried the momentum onto special teams. The Giants set up in standard kick return coverage with five guys positioned along the front line. Coughlin left his hands team on the sideline, ignoring altogether the possibility of an onside kick attempt.
Philadelphia caught the Giants off-guard, lining up in an ordinary kick formation before executing their most deceptive onside kick. As Eagles’ kicker David Akers took his lead step to the ball, the front line of New York’s kick coverage shifted backward into blocking formation. Philadelphia took advantage. Akers rolled over the football with his left in-step and Eagles’ rookie Riley Cooper pounced on the ball at the 43-yard line. The ball had just enough mustard to wiggle the mandatory 10-yards for a legal onside kick.
Coughlin’s lack of anticipation for the trick knotted up the score in another related contest—the struggle for most inexpert coaching performance. With less than 30 seconds to go in the first half and Philadelphia pinned back deep in its own territory, Eagles coach Andy Reid called for a last-ditch passing attack. Down 17-3 and facing a second and long, Vick completed a pass to second-year receiver, Jeremy Maclin. After making a football move with possession of the ball, Maclin fumbled the pigskin on the ground. Phillips recovered for the Giants and took the ball inside the 10-yard line. With nine seconds to go in the half, Manning found Hakeem Nicks at the front corner of the end zone to put the Giants up 21 points.
Reid’s compromising efforts continued into the fourth. With the Eagles trailing 24-10, Vick connected with Jackson for a 31-yard pick-up to midfield. As he hit the ground, Jackson fumbled the football and New York recovered. The officials ruled that Jackson had not been touched by a Giants’ defender, though replays revealed New York linebacker Jonathan Goff had contacted Jackson before he went to the ground. Reid inexplicably decided not to challenge a play that would have been overturned, and the Giants cashed in with Manning’s fourth touchdown of the afternoon to pull ahead 31-10.
Andy Reid spotted the Giants 14 points. He opened the floodgates and implored the Giants to finish off his team. But Coughlin would ultimately have none of it.
Akers’ onside kick invigorated Philadelphia, especially its quarterback. Vick marched the Eagles right back down the field. Highlighted by Vick’s 35-yard scramble up the middle, Philadelphia stormed 57 yards for the score on a 6-play, 2-minute drive. With more than 5 minutes remaining, the Eagles had cut the lead to 7. And they wouldn’t need to pull another rabbit out of their hat to complete the comeback.
Philadelphia kicked it deep on the ensuing kickoff, daring a rusty Giants offense, which had only managed one score in the second half off a turnover, to take charge. Manning and the Giants were able to move the ball into Philadelphia territory, but a slowed running attack on that drive forced the G-Men to punt.
The Eagles took over at their own 12, and Michael Vick took over the game from there. On a pivotal 3rd and 10, Vick evaded an overused Giants’ pass rush, which had become eminently predictable in the fourth quarter. Vick, who averages more yards per pass attempt against the blitz than against non-pressuring defenses, read the rush, tucked the ball, rolled out left and turned up-field for a critical 33-yard gain.
The maligned quarterback continued his effortless assault as an exhausted New York defense begged for mercy. He dissected the Giants’ repetitive blitz scheme with his arm and legs, maneuvering down the field with his feet and capping off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown through the air to Maclin. When New York sent pressure on the edge, Vick fled through the middle. When the Giants blitzed up the gut, the spry quarterback beat them to the outside. If Big Blue sent no pressure, Vick danced around in the pocket and carved up a secondary on its heels.
Tied at 31, New York got the ball back with a chance to answer—the opportunity to spare the team of a new miracle at its new digs. But a Giants offense which had turned off the gas at halftime wasn’t prepared to play hero. With more than a minute to work with and solid starting field position—at New York’s 35—Big Blue went a dismal 3 and out. Manning threw successive incomplete passes nowhere near his intended target before third-year defensive tackle Trevor Laws sacked him on third down.
As the play clock struck one, the game clock showed 14 seconds remaining. Watching from afar, Joe Pisarcik knew firsthand this was too much time for something to go wrong. There was no escaping Murphy’s Law, which had spellbound Giants-Eagles games at the Meadowlands for more than 30 years. New place, new faces, old trends. Anything that could go wrong for the Giants in this rivalry, would go wrong.
Coughlin called a timeout just before the play clock hit zero. With extra time to spare, Coughlin went over with his rookie punter—Matt Dodge—the golden rule: do not punt the ball to DeSean Jackson. Jackson, the league’s most explosive return man, had the capability of doing what no punt returner had done before—return a punt for the game-winning touchdown as time expired.
Dodge took a high snap and angled his punt right as best he could. But as Coughlin’s shrill deportment urged the ball to the sideline and as those Giants fans who remained willed the ball out of bounds, the pigskin landed perilously between the lines. The unthinkable had now become a piercing possibility.
Jackson bobbled Dodge’s sinking line drive punt at the 35, closer to the middle of the field than to the sideline where the ball was supposed to go. In a flurry, the ball trickled to the surface and Jackson snared it at the 34, feverishly eyeing defenders. After collecting his balance, Jackson back-stepped to the 30 and paused—gracefully waiting for the slightest of seams. Two Giants gunners trapped him at the 30, but Jackson slipped up the middle, avoiding two diving arm tackles and then turning on his top gear.
Jackson angled right and beat Dodge to the edge. With only one man left to beat, Jackson turned up-field and received a crushing block from teammate Jason Avant. Jackson extended his right arm and brandished the ball above his head as he strode down the right sideline. For the time being, he was parading in open space. There was nothing between him and the end zone—Jackson and pay dirt. But that soon changed.
As Jackson crossed the 27-yard line, he was no longer running alone. To his left, matching him stride for stride, was Herm Edwards. Each with the ball hoisted in his right arm, Jackson and Edwards raced into the west end zone and right through the heart of Big Blue. Edwards took his ball and spiked it into the ground. Jackson sidestepped the goal line, strutted into the end zone and then hurled his ball into a sea of confounded blue.
Manning, with Pisarcik in his shadow, stood frozen, straining to rediscover images of NFC East supremacy that had absorbed him before. Coughlin, staring blankly into the chilling air, looked down at his play chart. Shots of Bob Gibson, the victory formation and coaching ignominy jumped off the page. Coughlin chucked his playbook aside, ditching memories of the 1978 heartbreaker that set the precedent for his recreation. Palpably distraught, he looked up, his cheeks blushing red, eyes scanning for someone to blame.
In typical Tom Coughlin fashion, the head coach spotted his sacrificial lamb. He hunted down Matt Dodge—eager to leave his rookie punter out to dry—and took him to task. The very disciplinarian who preaches self-accountability would accept none of it for himself. The transparent defensive schemes, lack of offensive discipline and thoroughly unprepared special teams as a unit rested on the shoulders, or foot, of a first-year punter. That’s what the head coach wanted everyone to believe, and so he stormed onto the field and lambasted his punter, right on camera for the world to see.
Tom Coughlin has avoided many bullets in his Giants’ tenure. But he couldn’t dodge a miracle. Not since his punter had something to say about it.
Nets trade swingman Williams, eye Melo
December 18, 2010
The New Jersey Nets sent second-year swingman Terrence Williams to the Houston Rockets Wednesday in a three-team trade that will land them two first-round draft picks and Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Sasha Vujacic. The Nets also sent veteran power forward Joe Smith and two second-round picks to the Lakers as part of the deal.
New Jersey receives the Lakers’ 2011 first-round pick—which is top-18 protected—if Los Angeles finishes with one of the 12 best records in the league. The Nets also acquire Houston’s 2012 first-round selection, which is lottery-protected.
With the trade, New Jersey adds to its heavy stock of draft picks. The Nets now own five first-round selections over the next two seasons. New Jersey acquired the rights to Golden State’s lottery protected first-round pick for 2011 in a trade involving Marcus Williams back in 2008.
The loss of Williams, who the Nets drafted 11th overall in the 2009 draft, is a sizable blow to a team rail-thin in the backcourt. Williams was one of New Jersey’s most skilled perimeter players. His ability to create, strong ball-handling skills, explosiveness on the offensive end and tenacity on defense rendered him the most versatile athlete on the team.
But he was never given much of a chance to prove it.
Williams fell out of favor with the Nets earlier in the season and the writing was on the wall from there. In November, the Nets fined their 2009 first-round draft pick for showing up late to practice. Later that month, tension between both sides began to mount. Later that month, New Jersey placed Williams on the inactive list for “repeatedly violating team policy.” The embattled sixth man missed several games and was demoted to the team’s D-League affiliate in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Mired in an irreconcilable situation, the Terrence Williams experience in New Jersey had to end quite abruptly. A player who was billed as a charismatic leader coming out of college became an unbecoming headache in his brief stint with the Nets. Somehow along the way, untapped potential had morphed into overstressed acrimony.
For a second-year player, Williams’ inexperience and immaturity showed. His game, like his attitude, still lacked polish, and as good as he was distributing the basketball, he was equally prone to turning it over. T-Will, as he is best known, was laced with raw potential. But as his hot temper developed more quickly than his game, the organization just wasn’t willing to wait for his on-court skills to catch up.
With Williams out, in comes another Laker guard reuniting with his former backcourt mate in L.A. Vujacic was teammates with current Nets combo guard, Jordan Farmer, during both Lakers championships in 2009 and 2010. Vujacic brings an accurate outside shot to a backcourt in need of another option as well as his active, attacking defense to a team that has had lapses defending the perimeter all season. But more importantly, the Slavic adds a $5.5 million expiring contract to an organization at the core of a rebuilding process.
Vujacic is neither a short-term nor long-term fix. He provides added cap relief for the Nets at the end of the season and serves as another enticing chip in a potential trade before the February deadline.
With a surplus of first-round picks over the next two years and gaping holes at shooting guard and small forward, the Nets are positioned well in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes. New Jersey’s inventory of draft picks seems to lend toward a trade in the making. With more draft picks than roster spots available over the next several years, the Nets will need to cash in on their abundance of riches. But is an Anthony trade even feasible?
New Jersey’s cache of draft picks is certainly appealing to Denver. Some combination of picks and the inclusion of Derrick Favors, the number-three overall pick in the 2010 draft, would indeed pique Denver’s interest. But is there a mutual interest on the player’s end? That’s the key.
In order for a trade to gain steam, the Nets would need a guarantee that Anthony is willing to sign an extension with the organization. New Jersey likely will not fork over young, valuable assets without long-term consideration. After all, a last place team, even with the addition of Anthony, would not morph into a contender overnight.
Anthony doesn’t seem inclined to sign an extension with New Jersey. If he did, a deal would already be done. Although the Nets share a stake in the New York market, they don’t yet have the pieces in place that would cultivate a championship-caliber team. Melo would be taking a major gamble by joining a team coming off an historically bad season. With the ball in his court and his sights set across the river, there’s no reason for Anthony to overcommit.
Let’s reset. The Nets have stockpiled draft picks and slashed payroll over these next two seasons. They have intentionally created a major cleft along the wing to make room for a superstar whom they covert. The trade chips are in place and there’s a natural opening on the roster to usher in New Jersey’s man. It seems like a match made in heaven. Well, except when you throw in this wrinkle—the targeted superstar has his eyes fixed on the other New York area team.
The New Jersey Nets have spent the last several months arranging a Carmelo Anthony trade. But they could have spared themselves the hassle. If the Nets just spent a few days teaching Terrence Williams about professional etiquette, their backcourt wouldn’t be in jeopardy of yet another demotion.
In defeat, Knicks retrace winning pedigree
December 16, 2010
When LeBron James spurned the Big Apple for the Big Three, the New York Knicks appeared destined for another dim-fated decade. The NBA’s best player was unmoved by New York’s self-aggrandizing pitch and the aura of New York Knicks basketball had seemingly lost its luster. If the city’s grandeur, organization’s pedigree and Madison Square Garden’s charm hadn’t registered on the league’s most egoistic name, how would the Knicks lure other athletes with far less to prove?
Perhaps the unthinkable had arrived. The dreaded swan song of Knicks lore was upon us. Was New York’s once revered image now unbecoming to young athletes?
Well, sort of.
The New York Knicks brand certainly hasn’t been restored to what it once was. The mystique of the Garden and eminence of the organization have drifted away, cast ashore by the tide of failure over nine consecutive losing seasons. But the 2010-2011 Knicks are showing that their legacy is not gone for good—that the charm of being a Knick is only as strong as the ebb and flow of success. And even without James, the tide is flowing inland once again.
King James turned down a seat at the throne on basketball’s greatest stage, but New York’s rebuilding empire is finding new ways to reconstruct a fallen image. In Wednesday night’s tantalizing 118-116 loss to the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics, the empire flaunted its bravado. But this time, even in defeat, the Knicks, 16-10 (2nd in Atlantic), have proven they have substance to back up their bluster.
And it starts with the jewel of the 2010 free agency class. No, not James. Rather, the player who truly believed making the playoffs and resurrecting a fallen empire could jibe.
Amar’e Stoudemire hasn’t played half of a season as a Knick, yet he’s already the face of the franchise and an early frontrunner in the nip-and-tuck M.V.P. race. Dubbed STAT (short for Standing Tall And Talented) when he entered the league, Stoudemire has been a stat sheet stuffer since reuniting with head coach Mike D’Antoni.
Stoudemire is tied for second in the league in scoring (26.7 points per game) and has spearheaded the Knicks’ turnaround from crumbling kingdom to rising empire. But he’s not the only one standing tall and talented. Stoudemire’s efforts have been contagious, spreading throughout the roster and reaching a rejuvenated fan base. Now the Knicks, following their leader, stand tall in the top-heavy Eastern Conference. A new skyscraper is towering into the New York skyline, one teeming with talent and promise.
Stoudemire isn’t reviving one of the NBA’s most valuable organizations unilaterally. A revamped supporting cast surrounding STAT gives the Knicks their best starting five since the Ewing era.
Enter into the fold a wily point guard armed with untapped potential after playing under Larry Brown’s very restrictive system in Charlotte. Signed as a free agent over the offseason, Raymond Felton has been the glue of New York’s explosive offense. Felton is fifth in the league in assists (8.9), leads all regularly starting point guards in minutes per game and shoots the ball well. He’s shooting over 46% from the floor and 37% from behind the arc. Felton is a pure point guard looking to facilitate first, then score, and he’s one of the best in the league at getting up and down the court for easy baskets. Factor in his above average defense and the North Carolina product ranks as one of the better, unheralded floor generals in the league.
With a go-to scorer and true point guard already in place, the Knicks have surrounded their two leaders with a well-picked array of complementary pieces. Led by Stoudemire, the team M.V.P., and Felton, the team’s unsung hero, the Knicks have pieces to run the up-tempo offense D’Antoni trademarked in Phoenix.
Wilson Chandler has taken his game to a new level this season. The DePaul standout has steadily improved as a Knick in any role given to him. Chandler adapted well to his 6th man duties earlier in the season, but had no trouble adjusting back to his more familiar role as starter. Chandler has been an explosive scorer in the early goings this season, the four-year pro has upped his three-point percentage ten points from 27% last year to 37% in 2010.
With Stoudemire slotted at center, Danilo Gallinari has had to grow into the power forward’s role this year. Gallinari has had his trouble rebounding the basketball and guarding oversized forwards, but the third-year product out of Italy continues to grow as an offensive player. Although Gallinari’s 40% shooting percentage from the floor is well below average for a power forward, he continues to shoot the ball well from outside. Gallinari is stroking it at a 38% clip from downtown. He’s not your prototypical big, but Gallinari’s points per shot attempt are actually above average for his position. The youngster has been a perfect fit for D’Antoni’s system, which helps camouflage his below average defense.
Perhaps most surprising of all Knicks starters has been second round pick, Landry Fields. Fields has burst onto the scene in his rookie season, earning a starting gig much earlier than expected. The former Stanford star is shooting above 50% from the floor and 36% from downtown. He has good size for the position and gives New York extra length on the perimeter. With Chandler and Gallinari, Fields adds a third wing option to a Knicks’ arsenal loaded with sharpshooters.
As Stoudemire and company continue to accelerate Project Rebuild, New York still needs to modify segments of the blueprint. The starting five as a unit is probably ahead of schedule, and that’s fantastic, but the Knicks are bereft of a bench. Stoudemire and Felton are averaging a shade less than 40 minutes per game while each of the other three starters are averaging between 32 and 35 minutes per game.
Outside of Toney Douglas, the Knicks have received marginal production from their reserves. Felton needs a true backup point guard and the team as a whole needs more depth down low. New York is far from a finished work, and reinforcements on the interior and off the bench would go a long way in glazing the final product.
With visions of the postseason in sight, the Knicks are right on schedule with Stoudemire’s promises of playoff basketball at the Garden this season. Given the team’s lack of size inside, thin bench and weak defense, New York is far from a championship contender yet. But Stoudemire has laid down the building blocks of a project with plenty of promise.
The Knicks could be replete with championship pieces quicker than you think.
Carmelo Anthony has already made it clear that New York is on his mind—it’s where he wants to be. When it comes to NBA free agency, nothing can be taken with absolute certitude. But a marriage between the Knicks and Anthony, who was born in Brooklyn and won a National Championship in his one year at Syracuse, seems like a pretty safe bet. Anthony becomes a free agent this summer, and though Denver could opt to trade him before the February trade deadline to recoup value for its superstar before he darts, Melo will have the final say on where he plays next season.
Hornets point guard, Chris Paul, becomes a free agent the following summer, and there’s reason to believe Paul would follow Anthony wherever he goes. If there was one lesson to learn from the blustery 2010 NBA offseason, it was to take nothing for granted. Anthony and Paul would certainly add extra armor and ammunition to an already rapidly developing empire, but those bridges are well down the line.
Enough with the gossip and conjecture. Speculation was the hallmark of last decade’s New York Knicks. This team, this project, has tangible promise and real results. These new Knicks are living success, not dreaming it.
There’s an ancient metaphor about the mythical phoenix. Once killed, the spiritual phoenix rises anew from the ashes of its own destruction. Only this time, the phoenix rises stronger than ever before.
The New York Knicks, left to dry for the last decade, are following a similar flight as the mythical phoenix. But even more than the metaphor, these Knicks now have their man from Phoenix too.
New York becomes Texas Toast in Arlington
October 24, 2010
As quickly as the New York Yankees proved they could flip the switch at their will, the lights were turned out on the Bombers’ 2010 season.
Everything that clicked, everyone who starred in the American League Division Series dissolved into obscurity in the Championship Series. On the toils of shoddy starting pitching, corrosive relief pitching and agonizing offensive incompetency, the Yankees were promptly dusted aside by a blossoming Rangers club four games to two.
The good graces of an uplifting eighth inning rally in Game 1 to turn a 5-1 Yankee deficit into a stirring 6-5 win were short-lived. What had seemed like a momentous blow on a young, unproven Rangers club ultimately meant nothing at all. A Yankees team that lacked a killer instinct throughout the year continued its passive resistance into the playoffs. New York’s dramatic, heart-wrenching five-run rally in the eighth inning to stymie the Rangers in Game 1 should have been the nail in the coffin. Instead, it was merely the difference between a Texas sweep and a comfortable, six-game series victory on its home terrain.
The Yankees’ postseason fortune turned on a dime between the ALDS and ALCS, but the demise of the 2010 season stems as far back as the offseason. Between the acquisitions of the American League trodden Javier Vazquez, the oft-injured Nick Johnson and down-trending Curtis Granderson, New York made its mission statement loud and proud—recession would be the theme.
A team that was thrust back every time it met adversity head-on during the year capped its season in fitting fashion. The very squad that triumphed in the first round against an unimposing—even more conciliatory—Twins team crouched into the fetal position the instant Texas posed a challenge in the LCS. The Yankees made sure the baseball world caught on to its 2010 blueprint: capitalize on opponent miscues; if said miscues do not happen, better luck next time.
The spry, upstart Rangers outplayed, outclassed and outlasted the Yankees at every facet of the game. The vaunted Yankees offense was supposed to make pitching a chore for the relatively inexperienced Rangers staff. Instead, it made a Japanese League exile seem as imposing on the mound as the team owner. Second-year relievers, Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz, who looked overwhelmed in their playoff debuts against Tampa Bay, grew up very quickly against New York. And not by accident. The Yankees, not the Rangers, appeared out of their element and new to their surroundings. The Bombers played scared. The Rangers played possessed.
Fraught with a cast of young players and the erratic emotions that come from inexperience, Texas was supposed to cower before the mighty, battle-tested Yankees. But the spunky Rangers used their overreliance on youth to their advantage. They played loose and aggressive. The Yankees pressed—allowed the magnitude of the game to rattle their zone. New York’s heralded experience mattered not at all. Although its age advantage showed throughout the series, the comfort and familiarity that so often comes with time did not. The grizzled Yankees just looked old.
Just one year removed from a majestic Alex Rodriguez postseason run, the normally standout A-Rod hid in the shadows of the series. Derek Jeter, revered as one of the best postseason performers of all-time, followed suit—turning a regular season of disappointment into a postseason of comic relief. But both left side infielders saved the spotlight of postseason letdown for the Mark Teixeira playoff experience. Maligned for his inability to hit on the postseason stage and for his struggles against quality pitching, Teixeira threw more logs into the fire with his rancid LCS showing. The flashy, but underperforming Yankee first baseman went hitless in 14 at-bats before the mercy of a hamstring tear spared him from historic failure.
The Yankees spent $98.3 million on their high-profile, veteran-laced infield in 2010, yet it was only the young Robinson Cano—not coincidentally the cheapest of the five players—who delivered against Texas. While his infield teammates wallowed, Cano took charge, belting four home runs and reaching base safely 40% of the time in the series. Similar to another Central American Yankee legend, Bernie Williams, Cano quietly hid behind the brand-name players—cloaking his smooth glove, effortless swing and potent productivity behind a veil of perceived superstars.
The $89.3 million committed to the other four Yankees on the diamond went by the wayside. Between Rodriguez, Jeter, Teixeira and Jorge Posada, the big name, high priced boppers went just 15 for 80 (.188) for the series. That’s roughly $6 million per series hit. The Yankees infield quartet [save Cano] earned more than $30 million than the entire Rangers payroll, yet Texas outhit the foursome 63-15 over the six games.
In what reflected a total team effort, the Yankees pitching staff matched the offense’s knack for blowing up. New York gave up at least five runs in five of the six games including a three game stretch where it allowed 25 base runners to score. After surrendering just seven runs in the three-game sweep of the Twins during the LDS, Yankee pitching imploded against the Rangers. The staff allowed 38 runs and 65 hits over the six games, the most runs and hits it allowed over a six-game stretch all season.
Phil Hughes, the young right-hander who was masterful in his first postseason start against Minnesota, unwraveled in his two road tilts against the Rangers. Hughes allowed 11 earned runs in eight and two-thirds innings—this after the Yankees flip-flopped him and Andy Pettitte because of Hughes’ superior road numbers, especially against Texas. The switch, just one of a litany of senseless managerial decisions by Joe Girardi, hamstrung Pettitte—the team’s best postseason pitcher—to one start. The veteran lefty was virtuous in his Game 3 start against Cliff Lee, the league’s best left-handed pitcher. But Lee was even better, and the unflappable southpaw pitched eight scoreless innings to negate a Pettitte victory.
The Yankees strolled into the American League Championship Series knowing they would avoid Cliff Lee until Game 3. The game plan, it followed, was to win four of the first six contests—only one of which Lee would start. Lee was slated to throw in Games 3 and 7 [if necessary], prompting the Yankees to wrap up the series before a would-be seventh and deciding game.
And New York did just that. The series ended in six games. Lee only got his one start. Yet, in the biggest twist of the 2010 postseason, it was the Yankees who pined for one more start from Lee. Wishful thinking.
Eight innings of Clifton Phipher Lee bookended by quality starts from C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis was enough to send the polarizing Yankees into an offseason of renovation. Texas’ only chance heading into the series, or so they said, was to weasel its way to a do-or-die Game 7 with its ace on the bump. What overstatement. Powered by a claw and antlers rallying cry, Texas scratched and clawed its way to a convincing series win.
The Yankees couldn’t beat Cliff Lee, who becomes a free agent this winter, so now they’ll have to court him. Consistent with their mission statement from Opening Day, the Yanks figure to concede defeat after failing to capitalize on the mistakes Lee just never threw. After all, if you can’t beat him, sign him. The deceptive ace heads New York’s offseason grocery list, even with the contracts of Jeter and Mariano Rivera untendered.
The tried-and-true Yankees were supposed to teach the Rangers a postseason lesson. Instead, the Bronx Bombers will be borrowing a chapter from the Texas manuscript on success. For a sport so complex, the recipe is ever-so simple. If the Yankees are to be the cream of the crop again in 2011, they must adopt the Rangers’ model of getting younger. Better yet, just adopt the Rangers’ ace.
Yankees set ALCS rotation
October 14, 2010
The Yankees have tweaked their starting rotation for the best-of-seven draw with the Texas Rangers. Here’s how the new rotation shapes up game by game.
Game 1- C.C. Sabathia
Game 2- Phil Hughes
Game 3- Andy Pettitte
Game 4- A.J. Burnett
Game 5- C.C. Sabathia
Game 6- Phil Hughes
Game 7- Andy Pettitte
By flip-flopping Phil Hughes and Andy Pettitte, the Yankees line up Pettitte for a potential Game 7. They also couch Hughes, who has far better numbers on the road, in Arlington for two starts. As the rotation sits, Andy Pettitte will oppose his fellow lefty artist, Cliff Lee. Both veteran lefties were exemplary during the regular season and have great postseason track records to their names. It’s no surprise that the Yankees opted for Pettitte over the youngster Hughes as Lee’s nemesis, despite Andy’s very poor history against the Rangers.
Since New York is electing to use a four-man rotation, C.C. Sabathia is only slated to throw two games. The brawny ace pitched on short rest in last year’s ALCS against the Angels, which aligned him for a winner-take-all Game 7 if necessary. If the Yankees are down two games to one heading into Game 4, don’t be surprised if the Yankees skip A.J. Burnett and throw Sabathia on short rest to knot up the series.
With a little creativity and willingness to use an unorthodox rotation, the Yankees could have set up their four-man rotation while still allowing Sabathia to throw three times if need be. New York had the option to switch Burnett and Sabathia, which would line up the big lefty for a potential Game 7 while still keeping Hughes and Pettitte on their regular rest cycles.
Had the Yankees decided to throw Sabathia in Game 4 and skip Burnett entirely, both Hughes and Pettitte would have to start on short rest in Games 5 and 6. Given Hughes’ youth and innings limit plus Pettitte’s age and fallible health, the Yankees should not and did not even entertain such an alternative.
The rotation as it first looks is not set in stone. The tenor of the series will go a long way in dictating how the Yankees handle Games 4 through 7. But we do know that Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes have switched spots to protect Hughes on the road while pairing the savvy veteran with Cliff Lee for Games 3 and 7.
Two hard-throwing lefties with electric stuff will kick things off Friday; two promising young right-handers will follow Saturday afternoon; and two arty, lefty marksmen will roam the mound back in the Bronx. From there, it’s anyone’s guess. Play ball.
ALCS Preview: Yankees-Rangers
v. 
October 13, 2010
Not everything is bigger in Texas. Try postseason experience.
The Rangers enter their first American League Championship Series pairing in franchise history. Texas ace, Cliff Lee, left-handed reliever, Darren Oliver, and slugging Designated Hitter, Vladimir Guerrero, enter their second LCS in as many years (Lee with Philadelphia; Oliver and Guerrero with the Angels).
The Rangers roster is an interesting blend of experience and inexperience. Oliver and Lee have a combined 3,168 innings under their belts including 87 postseason innings. Guerrero (2427) and veteran third baseman, Michael Young (1848), have more career hits collectively than the rest of the Rangers lineup. A 10-year veteran in the league, Young is still virgin to mid-October baseball. He enters the first American League Championship Series of his career.
The remainder of Texas’ roster is rife with inexperience. Lee threw in a pivotal Game 5 against the Rays Tuesday night, which means the Rangers will give the ball to reliever-turned-starter, C.J. Wilson for Game 1 on Friday night. In his first full season as a starter, the 29-year-old Wilson threw 204 innings to the tune of a 3.35 ERA. Wilson will be making just his second postseason appearance of his career. He threw 6 and one-third shutout innings in Game 2 against Tampa Bay in his playoff debut last Thursday.
Following Wilson, 31-year-old Colby Lewis will toe the rubber in Game 2. Lewis has made stops in Texas, Detroit, and Oakland, but he’s spent most of his career in the minor leagues or overseas. The righty spent all of 2005 plus most of 2006 and 2007 in Triple-A. In 2008 and 2009, Lewis was the ace of the Hiroshima Carp of the Japanese League. Now in his first full year as a big league starter in the states, Lewis will be leaned on for two starts in the ALCS. The journeyman was very effective in his first full year as a Major League starter, but he’ll soon learn the ALCS stage isn’t tantamount to Japan. One of the top five greatest Japanese hitters of all-time was let go in the offseason by the lineup he’s about to face.
If Texas opts to use a four-man rotation in the ALCS, 24-year-old Tommy Hunter will take the mound for Game 4. The husky right-hander went 13-4 during the regular season while posting a 3.73 ERA. Like Wilson and Lewis, Hunter had a very solid 2010 campaign, but inexperience will hover over him throughout the playoffs. Hunter has made just 45 career starts. In his first and only career postseason start, the burly northpaw lasted just four innings and recorded a loss against an offensively-challenged Rays team.
The Texas lineup is sprinkled with youth as well. Shortstop and leadoff hitter, Elvis Andrus, turned 22 just six weeks ago. The former Yankee farmhand is a slick-fielding middle infielder and a threat on the bases, but he is still very raw offensively and can be had by quality pitching. Josh Hamilton, led the American League with a .359 batting average, but the embattled center fielder is nicked up with bruised ribs and has only two full seasons of Big League experience to his name. An explosive offensive weapon, Hamilton went just 2 for 18 in his first postseason series against Tampa Bay.
The Rangers have lost all three of their postseason meetings with the Yankees in franchise history and there is a precedent for tickertape in those years. New York took 3 of 4 from Texas in the 1996 ALDS and then swept the Rangers in the 1998 and 1999 divisional series. In all three years, the Bronx Bombers went on to win the World Series. Three October sets with Texas, three strolls up the Canyon of Heroes several weeks later.
Will 2010 follow suit? Here’s how the fourth Yankees-Rangers postseason matchup sets up.
Starting Pitching- The Rangers-Rays five-game marathon will take its toll in the early goings of the ALCS. Cliff Lee, the world’s best left-handed pitcher, is unavailable until Game 3 in the Bronx. A postseason virtuoso, Lee has never pitched on short rest in his career. That means unless the series goes the distance, the Yankees may only have to see the crafty southpaw once.
After making short work of the Minnesota Twins, the Yankees can set their rotation up. Sabathia will start in Game 1 and Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes will follow in Games 2 and 3, though the order is still to be determined. Because of the absence of an off-day between Games 4 and 5—the awkwardly placed bye between games 4 and 5 of the League Championship Series was removed last offseason—A.J. Burnett will get the ball for one start. The electric, but grossly underperforming right-hander cannot be skipped without Sabathia, Pettitte and Hughes all starting on short rest in Games 4, 5, 6 and 7. But the Yankees may not want to skip Burnett this time anyway. The veteran threw 17 innings of 4 run ball against the high-octane Rangers offense during the regular season including a masterful, seven-inning shutout in his lone start against Texas at home.
Texas had the better starting rotation during the regular season, but the postseason is another animal. With shortened rotations, invariable rest patterns taking effect and Texas’ ace out until Game 3, New York has a leg up. Weighing experience, track records, performance during the regular season and the structure of each rotation heading into the series, give the Yankees the edge.
Relief Pitching- Arguably the two best bullpens in the postseason square off in this series. Texas has a ton of capable arms in its pen. Side-throwing right-hander, Darren O’Day, is lights out against right-handed batters and will be used to nullify Alex Rodriguez, Marcus Thames and Derek Jeter. Ageless lefty, Darren Oliver, seems to get better over time. The 40-year-old had a sparkling 2.48 ERA and 1.1 WHIP in 61 and two-thirds innings. He’ll be used as Texas’ go-to lefty specialist to negate Curtis Granderson, Brett Gardner and turn around Lance Berkman.
Texas’ unheralded weapon in that pen is a 27-year-old flamethrower from the Dominican Republic, Alexi Ogando. Ogando has electric stuff. Think ‘Kerry Wood in his prime’ electric. Ogando appeared in 44 games and posted a dazzling 1.3 ERA. He struck out almost as many hitters (39) as innings pitched (41.2). Another product of the D.R., closer Neftali Feliz will be assigned the ninth inning duties. The 22-year-old sniper can dial it up to 100 miles per hour—an advantage that should be outlawed given the raw October climate and slower bat speed that results. Feliz, a shoe-in for the Rookie of the Year award, was the first rookie ever to record 40 saves in his first full season.
Accolades and laurels notwithstanding, Feliz may actually be a liability for Texas in this series. New York touched up the rookie closer for two runs, a blown save and a loss back in an August tilt. The playoff spotlight appeared to touch up the youngster as well. Feliz labored in his lone two appearances of the ALDS. In 1 and one-third innings, he walked three batters, allowed two hits and surrendered one run. It took him 39 pitches just to record four outs.
New York and Texas both have dominant middle relief. New York has a rock solid lefty specialist (Boone Logan), an electric setup man (Kerry Wood) and a lights out, strikeout machine (David Robertson). When push comes to shove, the biggest edge in either team’s favor goes to New York’s ninth inning advantage. Feliz is great. Rookie of the Year deserving, no doubt. But with the game on the line, only the Sandman—the only closer of the 2009 playoffs not to blow a save—is automatic. Because of the difference in closer experience, give the Yankees a slight bullpen edge.
Offense- Bottom line, these are the two best lineups in baseball. Texas stacks perhaps the most imposing middle of the order in the game. A 3-4-5 of Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero and Nelson Cruz is enough to make an opposing pitcher’s hair stand up. Veterans Michael Young and the oft-injured, but very dangerous Ian Kinsler add length and versatility to the lineup. With Elvis Andrus and Julio Borbon bookending the lineup against right-handers (ex-Met Jeff Francouer will bat ninth against lefties), the Rangers also add a speed dynamic to an already explosive offense. Texas’ lineup is right-handed heavy, which works to its advantage given New York’s one-two lefty punch. Sabathia and Pettitte are slated to throw four games in this best-of-seven, and Texas will have the right-handed pop in the lineup to match.
The Yankees have an all-time great postseason lineup top-to-bottom. That’s reality, not hyperbole. Few lineups ever and certainly none in today’s game have a Hall of Famer designated to come off the bench in a late-inning, pitch hitting situation. The 2010 Yankees lineup has just that. With postseason maven, Lance Berkman, coming off the bench during games started by left-handers, the Yankees boast length and depth in their lineup. New York pounded out 17 runs over three games in the Divisional Series even with Alex Rodriguez relatively silent. Ten Yankees drove in at least one run over that three-game set and ten Yankees recorded multiple hits in the series. That’s remarkable balance no other lineup in baseball can match. On any given night, any number of those ten hitters can beat you. New York’s one offensive bugaboo during the regular season was situational hitting, but the Bombers answered the call, hitting over .300 with runners in scoring position during the series.
The Rangers as a team struggled hitting with runners in scoring position during the ALDS. Although the lineup launched eight home runs in the series, hitting with runners in scoring position will be doubly key versus the Yankees, especially against two lefties (Sabathia and Pettitte) who are not apt to surrendering the long ball. The Yankees will run into their share of home runs. They were third in all of baseball in total home runs, 201. But if the Yankees can parlay their situational hitting from the ALDS into the next round, New York will Texas Two-Step into the Fall Classic.
Both lineups are great and can beat you in multiple ways. The Yankees have handled C.J. Wilson this season. The Rangers have handled Andy Pettitte throughout his career. But only one team has one of the league’s best hitters coming off the bench against lefty starters. Only one lineup can beat you from every slot in the lineup. On that note, once again give the Yankees a modest offensive edge.
The Yankees are well rested, perhaps even rusty. The Rangers are riding a tide of momentum—their first American League Divisional Series win ever—but overusing Cliff Lee, who threw 16 innings and 224 pitches during the series, could become an issue. Texas has home field advantage, but that is just a nominal advantage for a team coming off a series in which the road team won all five games. New York stole both road tilts in its opening round series with Minnesota. The Yanks will look to do the same in Arlington with the added luxury of avoiding Lee.
Cliff Lee was nearly New York property back in July. A blockbuster trade with the Seattle Mariners fell through at the last minute and the left-hander ended up in Texas instead. Not only will the Yankees be without the prized jewel that slipped away at the twelfth hour, but now they’ll have to face him. The Yankees are still the proverbial favorites to sign Lee when he becomes an official free agent this winter. They can make their best pitch by beating the ace and his Rangers in what figures to be a tooth-and-nail American League Championship Series.
Yankees surge past cowering Twins, march on to ALCS
October 10, 2010
This just confirmed: the law of averages does not apply to any and all Yankees-Twins postseason matchups.
This was the year the Twins were supposed to buck their submission to the Bronx Bombers. This was the year the stars had seemingly aligned. The year the Twins would no longer call the Yankees their daddy.
For the first time in four postseason series this decade, Minnesota had home field advantage. It had finally clinched the A.L. Central before the final series of the season. And diametrical to the previous three postseason square-offs, the Twins, not the Yankees, had the luxury of resting ailing bodies down the stretch.
The league’s best home team during the regular season, Minnesota had christened its new stadium in grand style. It was only befitting of the new era that the Twins begin anew against the team’s greatest nemesis. The scene has shifted, the circumstances had changed and an epoch of Yankees reign was supposed to follow suit.
None of that mattered. The Yankees refused to follow the script. Indeed, the setting was different, but the teams, their uniforms, were not. The words “Minnesota” and “Twins” were stitched across one jersey; the interlocking N-Y was emblazoned on the other. And that was enough. The series had been predetermined by those elementary conditions.
Behind a consistent and potent offense, extraordinary starting pitching and a resilient bullpen, the Yankees flipped the proverbial switch just in time, sweeping the submissive Twins in three games. New York will on to the American League Championship Series beginning Friday night against either Texas or Tampa Bay.
Concerns mounted in dozens regarding the strength of the Yankees rotation behind C.C. Sabathia. That apprehension was silenced and even derided against the Twins. Yankees starters combined for 20 innings while surrendering just five earned runs (2.25 ERA). Even more impressive, Sabathia was the team’s least effective pitcher, allowing three of those five earned runs and lasting just six innings.
Unease about the health of Andy Pettitte simmered Thursday night. The winningest postseason pitcher of all-time was masterfully economical, turning in seven innings of two-run ball on just 88 pitches. Stamina and a high pitch count were concerns coming into the start, but Pettitte put the kibosh on those by going deep into the game without overworking.
Questions about Phil Hughes’ bloated innings total [and accompanying innings cap] were plentiful. Quieting the naysayers, Hughes made his first career postseason start Saturday and failed to disappoint. The young right-hander was noble, tossing 7 scoreless innings on just 99 pitches while allowing a petty four hits.
Even the loaded Yankees lineup—the very offense that led all of baseball in runs scored—was laced with concerns of its own. The lineup, while effective from an absolute standpoint, was painfully inconsistent throughout the year. During the regular season, the offense couched 9 run outbursts in strings of subpar performances to preserve the league-leading total runs scored figure. It was an effective unit, but not especially efficient or consistent.
New York also entered the postseason losers of ten straight decisions against left-handed starters. Minnesota had two lined up in the first three games. No problem. A resurgent Yankees lineup peppered lefty starters, Francisco Liriano and Brian Duensing, knocking both pitchers out before the seventh inning. The Yankees scored 9 runs in 9 innings against the two southpaws, a complete 180 from the team that floundered against lefties during the regular season.
Sleeping giants during the regular season have already awoken for the Bronx Bombers. Future Hall of Famer, Lance Berkman, delivered two crushing blows in Game 2 off Carl Pavano—an interception and a booming go-ahead double. In just one game, Berkman has already erased a letdown second half in the Bronx by living up to his reputation as a postseason virtuoso.
Curtis Granderson, who disappointed for most of the season before elevating his game down the stretch, was probably the team’s M.V.P. of the divisional series. Manager Joe Girardi would not betray his trust in Granderson against left-handers, and the confidence paid off. Granderson delivered a momentum-changing, two-run, go-ahead double off Liriano in Game 1 to give New York its first lead of the night. He followed with three hits in Game 2 and a fourth in Game 3 against the lefty Duensing.
Other key Yankees sluggers chipped in, picking up the slack for star Alex Rodriguez, who was relatively quiet in the first round. Career postseason underperformers, Mark Teixeira, Jorge Posada and Nick Swisher, all added big hits of their own. Teixeira’s two-run blast down the right field line in Game 1 was ultimately the game-winner.
Meanwhile, postseason artist, Derek Jeter, seemed rejuvenated under the playoff spotlight. Jeter drove the ball as well as he had all year. Although he only mustered four hits in 14 at-bats—all singles—there was life in his bat conspicuously absent during the regular season.
Thanks to a familiar foe who perennially cowers in the postseason, the Yankees were able to wake from its September slumber and completely alter the tenor of the season. The opening round series featured a radically different looking Yankees team from the one that moped through the last month of the season.
A series marked by new places, new faces and circumstantial changes offered just one constant—the Minnesota Twins, circumstances notwithstanding, remain New York Yankees property.
Yanks finalize playoff roster
October 5, 2010
The New York Yankees have finalized their 25-man roster for the Divisional Series. Some notable nuggets:
11 Pitchers - C.C. Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett, Dustin Moseley, Sergio Mitre, David Robertson, Boone Logan, Joba Chamberlain, Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera
14 Positional Players - Mark Teixeira (1B), Robinson Cano (2B), Derek Jeter (SS), Alex Rodriguez (3B), Jorge Posada (C), Nick Swisher (RF), Curtis Granderson (CF), Brett Gardner (LF), Lance Berkman (DH), Marcus Thames (DH), Francisco Cervelli (C), Austin Kearns (OF), Greg Golson (OF), Ramiro Pena (IF)
The Yankees will again use a three-man rotation for the ALDS, this time without last year’s #2 starter, A.J. Burnett. Burnett will be skipped in the first round and used out of the pen if needed. In his place, 24-year-old Phil Hughes will get the nod in Game 3. C.C. Sabathia will get the ball in Game 1 and veteran Andy Pettitte will toe the rubber in Game 2.
Failed American League starter, Javier Vazquez, was left off the postseason roster entirely because of his abysmal 2010 campaign. Dustin Moseley, A.J. Burnett and Sergio Mitre will all be available for long relief, if necessary.
New York will carry 11 pitchers in total. Not among those 11 is the electric young righty, Ivan Nova, who looked impressive from a pure stuff standpoint and poised beyond his years in seven starts with the big club. The Yankees favored long-man, Sergio Mitre, who was surprisingly effective in his role this season. Mitre posted a 3.33 ERA with a strong 1.09 WHIP. Mitre also has experience as a member of last year’s playoff and World Series team.
Eduardo Nunez is out, Greg Golson is in. The Yankees could have brought both players as speed options off the bench, but the organization decided on 11 pitchers instead. The Yanks favored Golson over Nunez because of his strong outfield throwing arm, above average outfield defense and ability to play all three outfield positions. Nunez is more limited in his versatility. He has little experience away from shortstop.
Expect to see Lance Berkman as the everyday Designated Hitter against righties and Marcus Thames in that spot against lefties. Joe Girardi will also lean heavy on matchups. Don’t be surprised to see struggling utility outfielder, Austin Kearns, get the nod in Game 1 given Curtis Granderson’s documented struggles against lefthanders. Granderson is 4-22 in his career against Twins’ ace, Francisco Liriano.
Mets can manager Manuel, GM Minaya
October 5, 2010
The New York Mets dismissed manager Jerry Manuel and general manager Omar Minaya on Monday, finally putting a seal on an era of gloom in Mets lore.
Manuel took over the Mets midseason in 2008. Under his reign, New York won 204 games and lost 212. Manuel was at the helm when the Mets coughed up a late September division lead by going 6-9 over their final 15 games. As part of the meltdown, New York also squandered a grip on the Wild Card to C.C. Sabathia and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Manuel’s two full seasons as Mets’ skipper were wrought with underachievement. Ravaged by injuries, the 2009 Mets became a sideshow. The only stories routed from Queens pertained to off-the-field controversy. New York won just 70 games in 2009 and settled with a fourth place finish. In 2010, the Metropolitans were equally disappointing under Manuel. Despite a great month of May, the Mets tapered off in the middle of the season and ultimately faded into obscurity before the stretch run. Chronic lack of execution compounded by late-season injury spiraled a promising season into the tale of a club that peaked too early.
Mets’ owner, Fred Wilpon, appointed Minaya to general manager at the conclusion of the 2004 season. Minaya put his fingerprint on the organization summarily. He inked star center fielder, Carlos Beltran, to a 7-year, $119 million contract—the largest contract given out in Mets history. He then signed three-time Cy Young Award winner, Pedro Martinez, to buttress the Mets rotation. Under new manager, Willie Randolph, the Mets improved from 71 wins in 2004 to 83 wins in 2005. And that was just a building block.
Minaya completed the puzzle the offseason heading into the 2006 season. He molded the franchise into a National League force, one whose window was narrow, but whose potential for short-term success was vast. Minaya added slugging first baseman, Carlos Delgado, closer Billy Wagner and catcher Paul LoDuca to build on the framework. That season, the Mets won a league-best 97 games and came within one win of the World Series. With the bases loaded and two outs, Carlos Beltran was frozen on a nasty breaking ball by then-Cardinals closer, Adam Wainwright.
The bat that was left on Beltran’s shoulders ultimately left the Mets in a downhill tizzy. The Mets aged faster than expected, and traces of decline manifested quickly in 2007. Carlos Delgado fell off the map after a stellar 2006 season, Paul Lo Duca dropped his batting average 46 points between ’06 and ’07, Carlos Beltran became mortal against after his superb 2006 campaign and Pedro Martinez was saddled with injury. The result? An historic collapse over the final 17 games of the season. The Mets unraveled, a once seven-game lead in the division dissipated and New York missed the postseason altogether.
Desperate to rectify a September swoon that left a lingering odor in the organization’s mouth, Minaya sewed his signature transaction. Minaya acquired lefty ace, Johan Santana, for what ultimately amounted to busts and career minor leaguers. Speedy outfielder, Carlos Gomez, and right-handed pitcher, Philip Humber, were said to be the jewels of the trade. But as those young jewels corroded, Santana shined, and the star southpaw carried the Mets to within one win of the postseason.
As 2009 and 2010 came to pass, deals that once looked like masterstrokes of genius began to spoil. Carlos Beltran missed more than 100 games with a knee injury that required surgery. As Beltran’s health dithered, so did his on-field play. Beltran’s production tumbled off a cliff, in part because of his developing knee issues. Johan Santana has been a rock in the Mets rotation all three years he’s been in Queens. He has been the only consistent starter on the team since he arrived in 2008. But as Santana’s play remains steadily productive, his health has become anything but. The 31-year-old has undergone three separate surgeries since joining the Mets—one on his knee, his elbow and most recently his shoulder. He has gone under the knife five distinct times over his 10-year Big League career. Pedro Martinez, a righty with a similar pitching profile and style as Santana, underwent similar health problems over the latter half of his career—problems that ultimately derailed his stay in the league.
Omar Minaya created a niche brand in his seven-year tenure as Mets general manager. He delved into Latin America and dovetailed the Mets with his vision for Latino growth in the league. But the man who diligently built a model befitting his vision ultimately tore it down in the years to follow. Bad contracts mounted, injuries took their toll and Minaya’s product was sullied by poor business handling.
Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, Carlos Beltran and Jason Bay still remain on the Mets payroll. Johan Santana’s health concerns will stick with him the rest of his career. The newest Mets general manager will be burdened with the daunting task of shedding those contracts and rebuilding a failed project.
In Minaya’s place, the Mets are considering a range of alternatives. Fred Wilpon is in the process of interviewing between five and seven candidates—all from outside of the organization—for the position. But buyers beware. Omar Minaya weaved Latin American culture into the fabric of the organization, but he also left you with a baseball team in shambles.
ALDS Preview: Yankees-Twins
v. 
October 4, 2010
On paper, the Minnesota Twins appear to be the dream matchup. Slugging first baseman, Justin Morneau, will miss the postseason because of a concussion suffered in August. Lefty starter, Francisco Liriano, though excellent in his own right, is arguably the least threatening ace of all four American League playoff teams. Minnesota’s bullpen is shaky, if not unstable. Its lineup, while balanced top to bottom, is limited by its home ballpark—a park which plays like a pitcher’s paradise. The team’s best hitter, Joe Mauer, has been neutralized by the spacious outfields of Target Field. Mauer hit just one home run at home all season. Target Field plays big, and that’s as much a home field disadvantage for a team whose offense has been built around the three-run homer over the last five to six years.
Above all, the Yankees have exuded a paralyzing dominance over the Twins, one that makes a prospective matchup with Minnesota utterly irresistible. The Bronx Bombers have knocked the Twins out of the American League Divisional Series three times in the last seven years. The Yankees are 9-2 against the Twins over those three series including a commanding 5-0 record on the road (games played at Minnesota’s old digs, the Metrodome). New York has been no more lenient with Minnesota in the regular season. Before Jason Kubel’s game-winning grand slam off Mariano Rivera earlier in the season that capped a Twins’ comeback win at Yankee Stadium, Minnesota hadn’t won a game in the Bronx since July 4, 2007. The Twins are just 1-12 over their last 13 games [including playoffs] at Yankee Stadium and 5-21 over their last 26.
But digging deeper below the surface, the Twins are more dangerous than generic scouting reports may reveal. For one, they’ll be riding at least a modicum of momentum when they amble into the Bronx for Game(s) 3 (and 4 if necessary). The last time Minnesota invaded the Bronx, it climbed out of a 3-run deficit in the eighth inning and touched up the game’s greatest closer. Jason Kubel’s grand slam off Rivera in the eighth snapped Minnesota’s 12-game losing skid in New York; even more, it quelled the Yankees’ aura of invincibility against the Twins. An event that happened four and a half months ago should not be overblown, but Minnesota’s win on May 16 cannot go without saying. New York’s shield of invulnerability at the new digs may be gone with one Jason Kubel swing.
The Yankees have lost their last 10 games against lefty starting pitchers. The Twins will throw two southpaws of their own—staff ace, Francisco Liriano, and Brian Duensing. Duensing started Game 1 of the ALDS last year. Although he got roughed up at the new Yankee Stadium last October, Duensing has bounced back commendably in 2010. The young lefty hurler is 10-3 in 13 starts with a 2.62 ERA stretched over 130.2 innings. If the Yankees are to win this series, they’ll have to beat one of these lefty throwers at least once. That means the 10-game losing skid against left-handed starters must end, or the Yanks are hitting the links earlier than expected.
New York’s biggest challenge this series is how its high-powered offense handles a ballpark not conducive to big flies. The Yankees managed just 6 runs over 3 games in their only series in Minneapolis back in May. As their title suggests, the Bronx Bombers rely heavily on the long ball—a strength which is nullified by the Twins’ new stadium. The Yankees were very mediocre in terms of situational hitting during the regular season, and if Target Field saps their power, the offense could be in danger. New York managed just one home run in the three-game set back in June, a game-winning bomb off the bat of Nick Swisher. The Yanks will need improve situational hitting in Games 1 and 2 to avoid digging themselves into a hole in this series.
The offensive drop-off on the road was a chronic concern for the Yankees all season. New York scored 473 runs at home, but managed just 386 on the road—over a full run per game difference. The Yankees had a sterling .833 team OPS home, in contrast to a tepid .740 team OPS on the road. Bottom line, scoring on the road, especially in a ballpark that eliminates the home run, is a pronounced concern heading into this short series.
Being due does not exist. If the Twins take 3 of 5 in the series, it’s because they were the better team or simply played the best ball in this series, not because the law of averages dictated they would win. New York can and should win this series, but the Yankees have fallen well short of expectations all season and cannot take the Twins for granted. In a battle of two of baseball’s coldest teams (Minnesota is 3-7 over its last 10 games), one team must heat up and move on.
The Yankees sport advantages at the front end of the rotation, across the lineup top to bottom and in the bullpen. The only discernable leg up the Twins have, excluding home field advantage, would be in the Game 2 pitching matchup. Andy Pettitte is one of the greatest postseason pitchers ever, but he’s made just three Major League starts since returning from a groin injury that sidelined him for two months. Yankee nemesis, Carl Pavano, has been electric at home. In his Game 3 start against the Yankees last postseason, Pavano flustered Yankee bats and stifled the offense before Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada delivered solo shots in the 7th inning to give the Yanks a deciding 2-1 lead.
Also worth nothing—A.J. Burnett, if he’s given a start in Game 3 or 4 of the series, has tremendous lifetime numbers against the Twins. Burnett has had an historically bad season for the Yankees and his status for the LDS is still up in the air, but the inconsistent righty was dominant in his three home starts of the 2009 playoffs. Pair his brief, but successful postseason track record at home with his rich career track record against the Twins, and Burnett may be able to give the Yankees a dominant outing in one of the two home playoff games.
Like New York, Minnesota’s offense has struggled with left-handed pitching. The Yankees will throw two stalwart lefties at the Twins as well. Expect Boone Logan, New York’s lone lefty out of the pen, to play a substantial role in this series. He’ll be charged with getting out Minnesota’s talented trio of lefty mashers—Joe Mauer, Jim Thome and Jason Kubel.
The outcome of this best-of-five is murky, but the series has all the makings of a pitching clinic. That much is clear.
Yankees limp into playoffs as Wild Card, Minnesota next on docket
October 4, 2010
These aren’t your 2009 New York Yankees. Let that be clear.
Armed with as much talent if not more than the 2009 team, the 2010 Yankees completed a regular season of underachievement on Sunday. With a playoff berth already in its back pocket, New York had to settle for the Wild Card ticket to the 2010 Fall Classic after falling to the Red Sox 8-4 at Fenway Park. The Tampa Bay Rays notched just the second division title in organization history, edging the Yankees by one win (96) in the standings.
A division lauded for its dogged competitiveness ended quite inappropriately—with its two top dogs backing into the postseason. With playoff berths no longer on the line, the Yankees and Rays eased off the gas accordingly, coasting in neutral for the final leg of the race for division supremacy.
But it wasn’t your ordinary sprint to the finish line. In fact, judging by the performances of the Yankees and Rays down the stretch, the two teams appeared to have their eyes set on the Wild Card instead. With the division crown hanging in the balance, both teams shared equally curious instincts—halfheartedly eager to win the division and fully committed to resting ailing bodies. What was supposed to be a rugged bout through Game 162 ended up a tap-dance to the end line. Opportunity was plentiful. Motivation was not.
The Yankees let discretion be the better part of valor with the American League East title at stake. When it was firmly in their grasp, they handled it like bar soap. When it was an arm’s length away, they didn’t extend their arm.
Three Yankees wins over the Pawtucket Red Sox would have secured the American League East, and more importantly, home field advantage throughout the A.L. playoffs. A paltry 11-15 record over the final 26 games of the regular season would have done the trick as well. Heck, just two series victories over their final 22 games against divisional opponents is all it took—all that was needed to become division champions and home field hounds in the playoffs again. It was a virtual layup for a team that had knifed and clawed to 114 wins one year ago, on the back of a three-man playoff rotation, no less.
But not for these Yankees. Not for baseball’s biggest enigma in 2010. While the defending World Champions gritted their way to the ‘09 title by pouncing on every opportunity, this year’s squad has but purred when put in similar spots. The signature killer instinct that embodied the 2009 New York Yankees has transfused into instincts to roll over one year later. From ravenous predators on the prowl, the New York Yankees have become guarded prey—seeking refuge, not opportunity.
The Yankees squandered a golden opportunity over the weekend to clinch the most hallowed advantage in the postseason—Home Field Advantage. And because of its sloppy play, the very team that cruised to a 7-1 record at home in the playoffs last year will spend the bulk of its service time on the road this postseason. A team that strolled to a 52-29 mark at home on the year—the second best home record in the league—uniformly passed up on home field advantage up until the World Series. The same squad that finished just 5 games over .500 on the road (43-38) is satisfied with conceding HFA to baseball’s best home team.
The very manager who has stood by his “bigger picture” copout has allowed the smaller picture (H.F.A.) to jeopardize the bigger one (winning the World Series). By surrendering home field advantage, the overarching mission—to win the World Series—has been further compromised. And as a result of this managerial shortsightedness, the Yankees will enter the 2010 arms race with limited ammo.
Since coasting to an eight game win streak at the end of August and into September, New York has won just 9 of its last 26 games. Because the division was sabotaged by half-baked interest and jumbled priorities, the Yankees will have to summarily right their issues with very limited margin for error. Can a team that has sleepwalked through the last month of the season just turn it on again? Sure, but the circumstances don’t lend themselves to such promising fortunes.
Almost poetic in its symbolism of the 2010 New York Yankees, the Bronx Bombers came up short yet again—short of expectations over the full 162 games; short of the division-winning Rays on the final day of the season. But Wednesday night starts anew. It’s the opening of baseball’s second season for the Yankees—a new chapter in the franchise’s ultimate quest. And as long as New York doesn’t come up short on elusive #28, the 2010 regular season will be but a blip on a successful crusade.
This time, the Yankees are hoping the annals of their postseason journey start from scratch, completely independent of the regular season that preceded it. Because if the next handful of games is a sequel to the last 162, the book on the 2010 New York Yankees will be closed before the pen can dab the paper.
Ongoing Melo to Nets rumors die down
September 30, 2010
A proposed blockbuster deal involving four teams that would land Denver Nuggets’ forward, Carmelo Anthony, in New Jersey is now off the table.
The Nets approached the Nuggets about the availability of one on of the league’s most prolific scorers and had a deal in place that would bring Anthony to Newark. But Denver was hung up on New Jersey taking back the contract of Kenyon Martin, forcing a noncompliant Billy King (Nets general manager) to back out of the talks.
As part of the proposed four-team megadeal, New Jersey would have sent Devin Harris (PG) to Charlotte and third-round pick, Derrick Favors (PF), to Denver. The Nets also would have owed the Nuggets a pair of first round picks and the rights to Jarvis Hayes. With Anthony, who is entering the final year of his 5-year, $80 million contract, the Nets had agreed to acquire Bobcats point guard, D.J. Augustin, to fill in as the backup point guard. The Nets had planned to use former Lakers backup floor general, Jordan Farmar, as a starter in place of Harris.
Talks between the four clubs first reached a standstill when Charlotte was reluctant to pawn off Augustin without receiving more in return. Then came Denver’s resolve to forgo the trade unless New Jersey agreed to take Kenyon Martin and the $16.5 million owed to him in the final year of his contract (2010-2011). Although Denver was guaranteed a quality fetch with Favors, two first round picks and the expiring contract of Andrei Kirilenko from Utah, the Nuggets were unwilling to take on additional payroll for the 2010-2011 season while simultaneously losing their star. The deal would have taxed Denver for an additional $9.5 million on the season, a figure too steep for an organization looking to bulldoze payroll and start anew.
For New Jersey, the dissolving of the trade is bittersweet. On one hand, the team secures promising rookie, Derrick Favors, who is just 19-years-old and has already drawn comparisons to Dwight Howard. The Nets protect their youth and stick to a young, cost-controlled nucleus—one that will grow, develop chemistry and mesh much in the same way rising power Oklahoma City did.
Perhaps New Jersey’s greatest gain from the blockbuster that fell through lies in the fact that acquiring Carmelo Anthony does little to distinguish the Nets in the East. The Nets won just 12 games last season, and one offseason later—even with some beneficial offseason additions—the team is still years away from competing for a championship. Remove New Jersey’s most promising player from the equation (Favors) and its starting point guard from last year and that doesn’t give Melo much to work with. Sure, rising star, Brook Lopez, would complete a great inside-out tandem with Anthony. And role players, Troy Murphy, Anthony Morrow and Terrence Williams do add balance and versatility to the roster. But Carmelo Anthony failed to make it out of the first round on a team rife with NBA talent. Teamed with Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith, Nene Hilario, Ty Lawson and Chris Anderson, Melo’s Nuggets couldn’t compete with a batter Utah Jazz squad.
Cue Anthony to Newark. The seats are strewn with vacant cushions. The team is laced with inexperienced youth and players not conditioned to winning basketball. The Eastern Conference is loaded at the top with Miami, Boston, Orlando and Atlanta. Some of the organization’s best assets—draft picks, Derrick Favors and experience at the point guard position—are gone in the trade. The culture in New Jersey handcuffs Anthony in a no-win situation. Nets fans are dissatisfied by the lack of significant improvement. Knicks fans turn on Anthony like they did on LeBron James. And Melo is no better a situation than he was in Denver.
The Nets just may have caught an unintended break by the blockbuster that slipped through their hands. With Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and James joining forces in Miami, the Heat will preside over the Eastern Conference for the next several years. It makes no sense for a young and unseasoned New Jersey team, whose window is still several years down the road, to try to compete with the Heat, a team positioned to win now. By sacrificing the future for Carmelo Anthony, the Nets would effectively be jumping into the shark tank with their floaties on.
More sensibly, New Jersey should let Miami’s window pass. At that point, Lopez, Favors and Williams will all be entering the primes of their careers. This also buys the Nets time to complete the puzzle—to deepen the bench, find the floor general of the future and pair Lopez with a wingman. Instead of plunging into the fish tank with their swim gear, the Nets should learn to swim, then plop into the tank once the big fish have passed. Let James, Wade and Bosh govern the league for the next several years. Even with Carmelo Anthony, New Jersey would never be in a realistic position to challenge Miami. When the book on Miami’s star-studded trio has closed, the first chapter on a fruitful Nets club will just begin. One era will transition into the next. And that’s exactly how the New Jersey Nets should want it.
If New Jersey missed out on a bright opportunity by pulling out of the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes, it was the chance at crafting a dynasty of its own—one similar to Boston’s model in 2007. Rome wasn’t built in a day. The Carmelo Anthony proposed trade was not the end-all, be-all for the Nets. Rather, it was a building block, a step toward becoming a perennial powerhouse. Boston did not become an Eastern Conference mini-dynasty just by acquiring Ray Allen or Kevin Garnett. It added to the Allen-Pierce-Garnett trio, bringing in veteran role players for the vet’s minimum and other key guys with championship experience. With Anthony on board, the Nets could have followed a similar blueprint.
Hornets point guard, Chris Paul, becomes a free agent in 2012, and there’s no secret he’s interested in playing with Anthony. By prying Melo from Denver, New Jersey could then become a major player in the Chris Paul sweepstakes, either via trade streams or free agency. Now, a team that once won just 12 games in a single season would now have the league’s second best trio (Anthony, Paul, Lopez). No, not on Miami’s level. But close. As close as any Eastern Conference team could stake claim.
The Nets are now slumber in their pursuit of Carmelo Anthony, but rumors linking the former Syracuse standout and the metro area are far from over. The New York Knicks still remain Anthony’s preferred destination. But like New Jersey, New York is unwilling to give up or take back more than it has to for what amounts to a one-year rental. That means a package involving both Anthony Randolph and Danilo Gallinari is likely off-limits.
With the Knicks laying in the grass and the [Brooklyn-in-waiting] Nets armored with more attractive pieces to offer than any other team, a Carmelo-New York City reunion could still be in store. But as of now, there is only one certainty pertaining to Carmelo Anthony—a potential Anthony, New York marriage will not involve a pit stop in Newark for the 2010-2011 season.
A taste of New Meadowlands Stadium
September 27, 2010
The blueprint for the New Meadowlands Stadium is far simpler than it may seem. A $1.6 billion monstrosity, the foundation of New York’s new football digs is not the footings buried deep in the soil. The foundation is rooted in the 82,500 fixtures fastened to the seats—the fans. It’s the fans who turn the drab, gray seats into blue or green colored spectacles. It’s the fans who give the venue that ringing buzz, that endless pulse. It’s the fans who turn the fan-friendly cathedral into a legitimate home field advantage.
After scoping the 2.1 million square foot palace and soaking in a full game, here’s my breakdown of the Giants’ and Jets’ new confines.
Exterior-Like the interior, the exterior of the New Meadowlands Stadium is a dull, toneless gray. It’s a very neutral look for two teams with trademark shades of blue and green. But unlike the old Giants Stadium, whose sterile exterior façade and off-shaded red seats bore little relevance to its two cotenants, the new digs uses the latest, state of the art technology to give the Jets and Giants distinct home feels. With the flip of a switch, lights adorning the stadium turn green for Jets’ home games and blue for Giants’. Television screens hemming the stadium display team-related videos while streamers and banners of the Giants [or Jets] shimmer in the swirling winds.
While the former Giants Stadium covered just 900,000 square feet of real estate, the new spans more than double the area. And whereas parking lots and streets encroached on the old digs, the New Meadowlands Stadium is enclosed by wider outdoor walking concourses. Pregame entertainment just outside the stadium was an untapped art back at the former Giants Stadium, but at East Rutherford’s newest castle, it’s now commonplace. Bands, vendors and stadium personnel enfold the stadium and its giant property, adding extra flavor and flair to the event.
The tailgating scene is perhaps the best it’s been since Giants Stadium opened in 1976. With only one parking spot granted to each owner of a parking pass, each guest is afforded the same opportunity to tailgate. Don’t let the supersized pickup truck or RV put a damper on your parking and tailgating plans. There are enough parking spots to accommodate everyone and there is enough space to fit your grandest tailgate setup. The lots are lined with Porta Johns, snack stands and the most ardent Giants and Jets enthusiasts, making your tailgating experience as complete as possible. If you’re a football fan or just enjoy a grilled brat, smoked ribs and a brew, there is something for you outside the New Meadowlands Stadium prior to kickoff. Just remember to arrive early. Lots start filling up three to four hours before afternoon tilts and even sooner before nightcaps.
Interior-When the seats are empty, there is a mundane, listless feel inside the stadium. That is, until the seats fill up and the concourses swarm with people. The seats are spotted with shades of charcoal grey, adding a neutral element to a stadium that formerly had an inappropriately rosy tint. The bland color allows Jets and Giants fans to match better with the backs of their seats. Empty seats of this shade camouflage well in this state of the art facility as well. Whereas unoccupied seats stuck out like sore thumbs at Giants Stadium, the New Meadowlands Stadium gives a deceptively congested appearance, making this football bethel seem fuller than it really is.
The concourses within the stadium are wider and more open, permitting easier movement within the facility. The New Meadowlands Stadium opens the concourse to the field, affording those not in their seats the luxury of watching the game as they walk around the inside. Bystanders, food-goers and restroom refugees have more room to manipulate the lines and navigate the concourses comfortably as well. At the old digs, lines stretched from wall to wall, effectively impeding the flow of movement on the concourses. But between the wider walkways, smaller lines and openness of the concourses themselves, traffic within the stadium is few and far between during games.
Exiting the stadium is irritatingly inconvenient. Some escalators were out of service, amplifying the traffic on the others. Lines took upwards of fifteen minutes just to board the escalators. Ramp traffic for those who chose to walk was little better. Fans on foot moved at a snail’s pace. Because of the low decline of the ramps, fans traveled dozens of feet horizontally for but the slightest dip in elevation. To avoid this kind of traffic, consider leaving earlier than usual.
Parking, Accessibility-Sixteen parking lots flank the stadium ranging in distance from facility. Separate lots are allocated around the neighboring IZOD Center to improve the ingress and egress times on game day. Parking permits are required to enter any of the sixteen lots. Permits are offered to regular season ticket holders, though permits do not necessarily entitle holders to reserved spaces. Game attendees without permits may park anywhere available outside of the complex. The arrangement of parking areas enclosing the New Meadowlands Stadium is set in such a way that reduces congestion and traffic buildup in the complex. Still, budget plenty of time for arriving at and leaving the premises. Traffic is somewhat controlled, but certainly not absent. For what you spend on parking, you’ll want to make the most of your time at the complex anyway. Parking lots P and K, while furthest from the stadium, provide the quickest exit time for non-reserved parkers. Shuttles are available to transport fans from those lots nearer to the stadium, but lines for busses after the game wrap around the facility. If you plan to park far from the stadium and shuttle over, be prepared to walk following the game just in case.
Accessibility to the Meadowlands Sports Complex has always been a boon. With close proximity to Newark, Secaucus and the major New Jersey highways, the New Meadowlands Stadium accommodates car, bus, train and air travel. Travelers from the Rockland County are best off taking I-287 south to the Garden State Parkway and then merging onto Route 17 South. Access to the stadium off Patterson Plank Road is smooth and seamless.
Seating and viewing-The New Meadowlands Stadium offers one to five inches more leg room than the old stadium did. Seats range between 19 and 22 inches depending on the section. Each corresponding seat is larger in the new facility than it was in the old one, though the difference is not appreciable. There are three types of seats—suite seats, which offer cushiony, tall backs and are only available in suites; club seats, which are padded, standard size and only accessible in reserve areas of the stadium; general seating, which is the traditional, hard seat that makes up most of the stands.
Sight angles at the New Meadowlands Stadium are modestly better, especially in the wings of the building and down low in the end zones. But there are also obstructed views at different parts of the mezzanine level (the 200 level). The lower bowl of the stadium is steeper, providing better sightlines of the field. Rows in the upper deck are steeper as well, and it’s less likely your view will be occluded by a tall man in front of you. The press box is lower to the ground and further from the field. Meanwhile, luxury boxes and suites appear on four levels in far greater numbers than they did in Giants Stadium. The suites hold between 16 and 24 people.
Food and beverages-While hot dogs, hamburgers and beer used to pass as a stadium menu years ago, modernized venues have raised the bar on stadium grub. There are more than 800 concession areas or stands on the premises offering a range of foods from your typical ballpark hot dog to Italian cuisine. Some of the higher-end culinary choices include antipasto, corned beef on rye, roast pork sandwiches, sausage and peppers and Nonna Fusco’s meatballs—not your finer gourmet grub, but certainly above average variety for a standard concession window. Suites and luxury boxes offer more elaborate menus—headlined by marinated prime rib sandwiches and grilled lobster tail—but the casual fan will have to settle for the $8 garden variety sandwich instead.
If you’re going to drink alcohol, do it in the parking lot. Twelve-ounce beers go for around $9 a pop. For two beers, you can get an entire 30-pack to share in the parking lot during the tailgating festivities that flank the stadium. A simple hot dog-beer combo in the stadium will put you out $14.25—the same price of an average dinner at Outback Steakhouse.
Restrooms-There are 1350 toilets and urinals in the new megaplex, a 56% increase from the old place. On the whole, bathroom lines are shorter and more controlled, and the rooms themselves are cleaner [for now]. A security guard is employed at most restroom exits to ensure a linear, organized flow of fans into the area. The on-duty guard also makes sure fans do not cut the lines by entering the restrooms through the exit doors. Bottom line--at any point during a game other than halftime, you shouldn’t have to wait any longer than three minutes.
Technology, Amenities-Mounted in all four corners of the stadium are 30 x 118 foot HD television screens. The video screens display replays in high definition, out of town score updates, around the league highlights, fantasy stats, player profile packages, plus catchy graphics intended to rouse the fan base. HD televisions showing game footage line the ceilings of the concourse so that the fan doesn’t miss a minute of the action while waiting for concessions or an open restroom stall. Also staggered throughout the corridors are digitally-enhanced food menus with special graphics, images and descriptions.
Up-to-date sound systems are wired throughout the stadium. Public address feeds, television feeds and sounds from around the league enhance the pure football feel at the game. A selection of sport-themed music, stadium anthems and a blend of modern hip hop and classic rock adds a variety of sound and flavor to the event.
More than $100 million was invested in stadium technology of some sort. One of the chief investments still in the workings is FanVision—a handheld device for fans that toggles through various video angles of the game as well as real-time information, fantasy updates, around the league footage and customizable features. FanVision carriers can personalize their devices to satisfy their taste and specific sport preferences.
Conditions-Although the orientation and construction of the new digs are different, the trademark swirling winds at the Meadowlands Sports Complex are still present. The new stadium is higher, so the swirling winds may be less pronounced and more predictable than they were at the old one. But similar current patterns that vexed quarterbacks, kickers and punters for decades should again be in effect at the new digs, especially as the season rolls into winter.
Security, Safety-The New Meadowlands Stadium meshes security and technology to provide maximum comfort and protection for its denizens. Guests are encouraged to text a five-digit number to report unruly behavior or threats to their personal wellbeing. Heightened, highly trained security maximizes stadium safety. Football bouts in the stands are common, and these security officers are frequently put to the test. But who has time for fights in this $1.6 billion colossus?
Staff-The service is satisfactory, but not exemplary. In terms of quality, marginal improvement was made between the old digs and the new one. The lines move just as slowly, ushers are no more or less helpful and venders are equally as pesky. While the food, merchandise and commodities themselves have expanded and improved, that’s in no thanks to the service itself. The staff, which nearly doubled in size from last year’s crew, is personable, affable and enthusiastic. The New Meadowlands Stadium staff will neither make nor break your game day experience.
Atmosphere, fan experience-The New Meadowlands Stadium is conducive to an energetic, loud and engaging crowd, but it will take a full-fledged fan effort. Because of the steeper slope of the seating, the noise engulfs the field. The potential for decibel decimation is great. But given the interior structure, it’s far less likely that maximum volume will ever be reached. The open concourses, improved amenities and concessional attractions in the walkways draw more fans to the tunnels than to the seats. More now than in the old place, fans at the new megaplex spend extra time strolling through the concourse and socializing in the halls, the game in sight. Just as it played out at the New Yankee Stadium, the added luxuriousness, larger space and broader viewing flexibility at the New Meadowlands Stadium is steering fans from their seating perches into friendlier, more sociable locations. The New Meadowlands Stadium is also more corporate than its predecessor. Expect to see more suits than usual ambling through the corridors. The boisterous, face-painting, beer-guzzling, chant-starting fan is not extinct—you’ll find plenty of those diehard traditionalists especially in the upper deck—but with the prices of personal seat license skyrocketing, the crowd leans a bit more favorably to the high brow, upper class than it did before.
Field-The new synthetic turf left a lasting impression the first day it was tested. Giants’ receiver, Domenik Hixon, was the learning lesson. Hixon suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the team’s first practice at the new digs. After its devastating blow in the opening practice, the synthetic turf struck again in Week 1 of the regular season. The victim this time was 360-pound nose tackle, Kris Jenkins, who suffered the same injury as Hixon (note, the surface played less of a role in Jenkins’ injury). It was an ironic baptism for a field surface that was carefully paved to reduce the risk of injury. Unlike the old park, the New Meadowlands Stadium has a cushiony layer below the playing surface which is there to limit injuries. The surface has played soft to this point, but should harden as the weather cools. The Giants and Jets hoped that the field would play to their strengths and that it would bolster their home field advantages. Instead, it’s been a treacherous pasture. What the two New York football teams hoped would play to their advantage has instead landed two of their key players on Injured Reserve.
Yanks’ ship sinks as captain continues to crumble
September 16, 2010
Derek Jeter has towered over the New York pulpit for the last 15 years. A five-time World Champion, 11-time All-Star, former World Series M.V.P. and one of the most productive postseason performers of all-time, Jeter has been nothing shy of mystical throughout his career in the Bronx cathedral.
Yet not even New York’s most hallowed sports icon is a match for Father Time. Jeter’s production in 2010 is at a career low, not the least bit surprising for a 36-year-old shortstop with more than 2200 big league games under his belt. The 10-year contract Jeter signed in 2001 will expire at the end of the season, a fitting parallel to his career, which seems to be coming to a standstill as well. The Yankees’ all-time hits leader has already broken archives of records for the nation’s most prestigious and tradition-rich organization, but even he has fallen short in competition with an aging body and declining skill set.
The accomplished Yankees shortstop is coming off one of the best seasons of his Hall of Fame striped career. He was instrumental in leading the Bronx Bombers to their illustrious 27th title. He won his fourth Gold Glove—the first he actually earned—and had the best defensive season of his career by most statistical metrics. He finished third in voting for the American League’s Most Valuable Player award and was the starting shortstop for the A.L. in the All-Star Game.
But now the page has turned. The calendar has flipped. The first decade of the 21st century is over. And Jeter’s career might be too.
The longtime face of the New York Yankees has undergone one of the biggest drop-offs from one season to the next in the league. Less than twelve months since posting an M.V.P. résumé, Jeter may no longer be the most valuable shortstop on his own team. In 2009, D.J. was a linchpin on a championship-winning team and a postseason maven. Now, he’s one of the game’s least productive players.
But just how far has the seven-year Yankees captain fallen? Is it as simple as an age-induced regression?
Hardly.
In Wednesday night’s loss to the now division-leading Tampa Bay Rays, Jeter took a Chad Qualls fastball off the knob of the bat which unlatched the bat from his grip. Jeter immediately flinched, bent over clinching his hands and grimaced, suggesting he was stung somewhere on the lower hand by the pitch. He sold it well, so much that the home plate umpire awarded him first base. Replays clearly showed the ball clanking off the knob of the bat and trickling several dozen feet to first base, which would certainly not have happened if the pitch really struck Jeter on the hand. Sound from the play resembled a loud thud that could not be mistaken with a ball hitting a bone or other body part.
How down is Derek Jeter? The best shortstop to ever don the pinstripes was so desperate to reach base Wednesday night he faked a hit by pitch to pass the baton. Under the subterfuge of timely acting and a pristine reputation, Jeter was given the benefit of the doubt. Curtis Granderson followed up the at-bat with a home run that at the time put the Yankees ahead 3-2, adding further significance to Jeter’s Emmy audition.
The better question is why Jeter, a lifetime .314 hitter, needed to con his way to first against a relief pitcher with the league’s highest ERA over a minimum of 30 innings pitched. But maybe it’s not so tough to answer.
Jeter entered last night riding a 12 for 79 (.159) slump. Since his hot start in April, the Yankee captain is hitting .249 with a ghastly .326 on-base percentage. In those 504 at-bats, he’s driven in just 43 runs. With his .643 OPS since May 1, Jeter is the worst regular shortstop offensively in the American League since the first month of the season. Since June 1, Jeter is hitting .239 and has been the single worst run producer per at-bat in all of baseball.
Of the 14 American League leadoff hitters, Jeter ranks third to last in on-base percentage. A leadoff hitter’s principle job is to get on base—to set the table for the base cleaners in the middle of the lineup. But with a .330 OBP, the Yankee captain has been one of the worst at his job, a stark change from his M.V.P. campaign just one year ago. In 2009, Jeter got on base at a .409 clip, distinguishing him as the best shortstop and leadoff hitter in the league last year. Therein lies the rub.
Jeter’s groundball rate is also up 9% from his career mark (65.8%, 56.9%). This season, number-2 has been proficient at grounding out harmlessly to second base and rolling over pitches to the left side of the infield with regularity. Lo and behold, it was just last year when Jeter was spraying balls all over the field—on a line, in the air or on the ground. If there’s one tangible explanation for his drop in production, it’s his struggles to get lift on the ball and square up hittable pitches.
The New York Yankees have withstood stark underachieving from the core of last year’s lineup—Jeter, Teixeira and Rodriguez. This has led to pronounced offensive inconsistencies and uncharacteristically long Yankee droughts from the plate, plus a major spike in strikeouts from last year. But when you dissect the New York Yankee struggles—shaky starting pitching beyond C.C. Sabathia, an agonizingly fickle offense and suspect managerial decisions—look no further than the top of the vaunted New York lineup. A team rife with leadership and cohesion during its championship charge in ‘09 is rudderless here in 2010, sinking in the American League East to the tune of a 2 and 8 stretch over its last 10 games.
Just one year removed from a heroic 2009 campaign, Jeter is now nearing the crossroads of one of the most interesting contract negotiations in Yankees history. The very player who was a catalyst for five championship teams is unintentionally doing his best to disrupt a run at his sixth. With the young and hungry Eduardo Nunez making the most of his playing time, almost in Jeter-like fashion with his high batting average and inside-out swing, the Yankee captain has done little to merit the starting shortstop position on the team. As is the case with most veterans approaching the twilight of their careers, Jeter is coasting by on reputation alone.
As the Bombers wade through the motions down the stretch with the lumber, don’t expect Jeter—by far the team’s worst starting hitter—to be bumped from his leadoff perch. No, not because he’s earned the spot. Because his name is Derek Jeter.
In season opening loss, Jets lose Jenkins for season
September 15, 2010
The New York Jets spent the offseason talking. Following a momentous run to the AFC Title game and an active offseason strewn with big names and big contracts, the Jets were the center of the football realm. But they not only basked in the spotlight; they were their own spotlight.
That is until Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens came calling on Monday night.
The Ravens invaded the New Meadowlands Stadium and turned “Hard Knocks” into a reality series of their own. In this episode, a staunch Baltimore D outmaneuvered Jets’ coach and former Ravens’ defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan. With calculated blitz schemes, suffocating coverage and “hard knocks” of their own, the Ravens held the Jets out of the end zone, limited Mark Sanchez to 74 passing yards and allowed just six New York first downs.
Baltimore nipped Gang Green 10-9 on Monday’s built-up showdown, exposing flaws in a team that marketed and promoted itself as something not far shy of infallible. We learned Sunday that Sanchez still has ways to go before becoming a household name in the league. At best the second-year signal caller is below average in all facets of the game, undeserving hype notwithstanding. We learned that the Jet’s offensive line, impermeable a year ago, has holes on the left side. We even learned that the league’s best defense from a year ago—one that got even better over the offseason with the additions of corner back, Antonio Cromartie, and rookie corner, Kyle Wilson—has chinks in its armor. New York looked vulnerable in its much ballyhooed secondary Monday night.
The Jets were bombastic in how they publicized and broadcast the Darrelle Revis holdout and ensuring negotiations late in the offseason. Rex Ryan added that the team was content heading into the season with the rookie Wilson and veteran Cromartie. But both corners failed to live up to their general’s billing. Baltimore exploited New York’s first round pick, who the Jets tried to camouflage on the strong side of the field but to no avail. Even with Revis on lockdown for most of the game, Wilson consistently got beat by Baltimore’s strong receiving corps. Cromartie, one of the league’s best defensive playmakers, looked suspect himself. Although he finagled an interception, Cromartie struggled covering Baltimore’s number-one receiver, Anquan Boldin.
Starting running back, Shonn Greene, was as ineffective as anyone Monday night. Named the starter in the offseason despite only one season of work to his name (75 carries in 2009), the second-year player out of Iowa came out flat against the unbending Ravens defense. Greene rushed for just 18 yards on five carries and fumbled twice (one was lost). He was removed in favor of LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson was effective, but the early onus on him this season is not what the Jets had hoped for or expected. Now 31, Tomlinson has little left in the tank and can’t carry the bulk of the load like he once did in San Diego. If Shonn Greene fails to emerge as a legitimate number-one back, the Jets could have troubles executing their ground and pound offense.
While the Jets suffered a tough blow in their season-opening defeat, perhaps their biggest loss came when 360-pound defensive tackle, Kris Jenkins, went down with a torn ACL. The bruising lineman instrumental in New York’s 3-4 defense will miss the remainder of the season nursing the injury. At age 31, Jenkins’ career could be over too.
Nicknamed “War Machine,” Shonn Greene embodies in title the story of the Jets season. The bruising defense led by their pompous general hope to fight their way to the top of the league. Monday night carved a large wrinkle in those plans though, and the Jets will have to regroup during the short week for incoming Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Rex Ryan admitted last year that sometimes teams must lose a battle to win the war. But just how many battles can New York afford to lose? Already losers at home against one of their main competitors in the AFC and now without the anchor of their front seven for the season, the Jets are already down two. In fact, the team’s moxie could be a third casualty with a loss Sunday afternoon.
For most of the offseason, the Jets beat their chests. They pontificated about their greatness to the rest of the league. But now the very team that elevated itself over the rest of the playing field will be fighting an uphill battle the rest of the way.
More charges mount on Mets’ K-Rod
September 15, 2010<
Just weeks after he was accused of assaulting his father-in-law, Mets’ closer, Francisco Rodriguez, is now facing a new charge. Rodriguez reportedly violated a restraining order by sending his girlfriend—the daughter of the man he allegedly assaulted—dozens of text messages.
Earlier in the week, Rodriguez appeared in court for on third-degree harassment and assault charges. He will face further charges of criminal contempt because of his texting spree.
The Mets have already placed K-Rod on the disqualified list, which lifts the $3 million Rodriguez would have been owed over the final six weeks from the Mets’ payroll. The team has also converted the closer’s contract from guaranteed to nonguaranteed. This allows the Mets to release Rodriguez in Spring Training on 30 days’ termination pay.
Rodriguez has missed the last four weeks after tearing a ligament in the thumb of his pitching hand during the altercation. He underwent surgery in August which will sideline him until sometime this winter.
Nadal adds fourth major trophy for career Grand Slam
September 14, 2010
He’s only 24, but the world’s top ranked tennis player has enough hardware to furnish a store. With his win at the U.S. Open Monday night, Rafael Nadal became just the seventh player in tennis history to win all four major tournaments.
The Spaniard defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets (6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2) to capture his first U.S. Open championship and ninth Grand Slam. In a thrilling, topsy-turvy match, Nadal outlasted Djokovic at Flushing Meadows to creep within seven major titles of Roger Federer’s record 16. In doing so, he surpassed tennis legends, Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors, who share 8 career Grand Slams apiece.
For years seen as Federer’s archrival, Nadal has created his own legacy for himself. Now at the top of his game despite chronic knee issues that have hampered him in prior tournaments, the nimble lefty is the unanimous top player in the world. At 24, Nadal is one year younger than Federer when he captured his ninth slam. He joins Bjorn Borg as the only other tennis pro with nine major tournament victories by that age.
After Sunday’s scheduled finale was washed away, Nadal appeared even more sprightly Monday night. He chased down strong, Djokovic forehands with creative returns of his own—mixing lob shots and slices with crosscourt winners. Even Nadal’s serve, which consistently sits in the 120s, broke 130 with regularity Monday in Flushing. Between his hard serve, signature ability to shag balls on both sides of the court and his mechanical consistency in volleys, Nadal rounded into form as the match rolled along and played his best match on U.S. soil in his career. Representative of his consistency, the Spaniard had a stretch in which he went 40 points without committing an unforced error.
Nadal, who admits his Achilles heel has always been hard surfaces, mastered Monday’s finale like a hard court veteran. On a surface where most shifty European players have had to tailor or reinvent their game, Nadal stuck to the one that had made him an eight-time major champion. And for the first time in his eight-year professional career, he beat some of the sport’s best hard court players.
At the onset of his career, Nadal was labeled as a clay court maven, an agile player whose style only lent itself to soft surfaces. Then, after upsetting Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon Final, perhaps the greatest tennis match of all time, his qualifiers changed. He was tagged as Federer’s greatest nemesis—the player who posed the greatest threat to Federer, but still wasn’t on his level. As early as 2008, Federer’s dominance over the field began to thin, and after adding more titles to his collection, Nadal emerged as the world’s best player. The world’s best player yet to win on American terrain, that is.
Fast-forward to September 14 and the superlatives attached to Rafael Nadal are not so constraining and conditional anymore. Now, Nadal is not just the best player on clay. He’s not simply Roger Federer’s best competition. And he’s no longer the world’s best player yet to win on a given surface or triumph at a certain major.
Rafael Nadal is now the benchmark for pro tennis. He is the face of the sport. Now on the heels of his third consecutive major championship, the Nadal is on the fast track to becoming the best tennis player ever.
He’s not just a crafty lefty, a rival, an up-and-comer or a clay specialist. 24-year-old Rafael Nadal is already an all-time great.
Giants axe Panthers, avenge last season’s home finale
September 14, 2010
When the New York Giants bid farewell to Giants Stadium last December, the Carolina Panthers refused to cower or cooperate. The Panthers bullied the Giants in East Rutherford 41-9 and eliminated Big Blue from playoff contention. In 2005, the Panthers followed a similar script, bludgeoning the Giants 23-0 in a divisional round game at the same venue.
But on Sunday, New York made sure Carolina didn’t spoil homecoming at its new digs too. Behind Eli Manning’s three touchdown passes, the Giants clipped the Panthers 31-18 in the first regular season game at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Manning completed 20 of his 30 passes for 263 yards, adding three touchdowns and three interceptions to his line. But Sunday wasn’t about the former Super Bowl M.V.P. Big Blue’s home opener was all about two emerging receivers the seven year signal caller threw to.
Second-year wideout, Hakeem Nicks, caught just four passes, but made the most of his touches. He connected on the receiving end of three touchdown passes, all in the corner of the end zone. The former North Carolina standout will be huge for the Giants this season. With Steve Smith most effective out of the slot, New York will lean on Nicks to stretch the field and make big plays similar to the three Sunday afternoon.
At the other side of the field, third-year receiver, Mario Manningham, caught four passes himself, but again maximized the value of those receptions. He racked up 85 receiving yards, 31 of which came on a huge 3rd and 16 conversion that ultimately led to the Giants’ first score. Smith was New York’s only reliable receiving option on the wing in 2010, and if the Giants can add two more playmakers to an already strong Kevin Boss, Steve Smith tandem, the G-Men could showcase one of the league’s most efficient air attacks.
Not to be outdone were New York’s secondary and pass rush, two units on the defense that grossly underachieved a season ago. The Giants held Carolina to a measly 15 of 34 completion rate and limited Steve Smith (Carolina) to just five receptions. They nabbed three interceptions off opposing quarterback, Matt Moore, who had diced Big Blue’s defense in last year’s throttling. The Giants got tremendous penetration and put pressure on Moore all afternoon, mustering four sacks, forcing several hurried throws and flushing Moore out of the pocket.
On a day laced with themes of revenge, the Giants left their largest vengeful mark on Moore. They knocked the third-year quarterback out of the game with a concussion late in the fourth quarter—satisfying a personal vendetta but making a larger statement to the league.
The message read loud and clear. Big Blue’s defense won’t be playing small in 2010.
Mets’ Santana shut down for season with shoulder tear
September 10, 2010
Johan Santana will miss the remainder of the 2010 season after an MRI revealed a tear in the anterior capsule of his throwing shoulder. The Mets’ lefty ace will undergo shoulder surgery sometime in the near future and will not be able to resume throwing until January at the earliest.
Santana had experienced discomfort in his chest and left shoulder prompting the two-time Cy Young award winner to seek medical attention. Scans of the area Thursday revealed a partial tear at the bottom of his shoulder, right above his left pectoral muscle.
This is Santana’s second consecutive season cut short due to season-ending surgery and will be his third successive year under the knife. Last September, he underwent microscopic surgery to repair bone chips in his left elbow. In October of 2008, Santana had arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Although Santana has undergone four surgeries since making his big league debut in 2000, the fifth figures to be the biggest of all. The 31-year-old lefthander has seen the velocity and sharpness of his arsenal steadily diminish over each of the last three seasons. With less zip and bite on his fastball, Santana has shied away from the fastball out of necessity. This season, the southpaw threw his fastball only 29.5% of the time, more than half as often as he used it in 2007 and 2008.
Even assuming successful surgery, the life on Santana’s fastball is likely bound for its biggest drop-off in 2011. Santana has had problems with the elbow, shoulder and knee of his throwing side, injuries that tend to twiddle with mechanics and impede velocity. By Spring Training of next year, the Venezuelan native will be 32, his velocity already snowballing downward. The one staple, lone constant of the Mets pitching staff over the last three seasons may now become the team’s biggest liability.
Santana has three years remaining on the six-year, $137.5 million contract he signed in 2008. The Mets, strapped with several bad contracts already—Bay, Perez and Rodriguez—owe their surgery-riddled ace $77.5 million over the next three seasons, a hefty price for a pitcher with a laundry list of injuries exacerbated by diminishing stuff. If he can execute a diligent offseason workout and recovery program, Santana can return as a top-flight pitcher again. But the shelf life on that tag isn’t long. With his innings log mounting, injuries taking their toll and the age when most pitchers naturally slip up from a production standpoint fast approaching, the elite lefthander could be entering the twilight of his career as an ace.
The Mets may or may not have Santana back by Opening Day next season. Precisely when the deceptive ace begins throwing again remains unknown. But the Mets can prepare for one thing: don’t expect the same pitcher back.
Johan Santana is never to be confused with fellow southpaw, Oliver Perez. But with $77.5 million still remaining on his deal and a host of injuries gnawing on his body, the 31-year-old ace may be the latest Met lefty to handcuff the organization with an immovable contract. Once the game’s best lefty, Santana may have just become the Big Apple’s biggest burden.
Jets, CB Revis finally settle stalemate
September 6, 2010
The New York Jets added the final piece to their 2010 puzzle Sunday, ending an offseason of standoffs, disagreements and squabbling with All-Pro cornerback, Darrelle Revis. Revis and the Jets reached an agreement on a four-year, $46 million extension with $32 million guaranteed. Given Revis’ current contract, which owes him $21 million over the next three seasons, the lockdown corner is under Jets’ control for the next seven years.
Sunday night’s contract effectively resolves an ongoing holdout that sidelined Revis for the last five weeks. The three-year veteran even threatened to hold out into the regular season while insisting that he wanted to be the league’s highest paid defensive player. But as the dust settled, Revis neither held out into the season nor became the league’s highest paid defensive back, rendering the Jets clear-cut winners in the saga.
Center, Nick Mangold, the anchor of the Jets’ frontline, signed a seven-year extension in August that makes him the highest paid snapper in the league. Bruising left tackle, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, also cashed in on a lucrative extension, earning a six-year, $60 million bonus in July. Linebacker, David Harris, considered by the team to be the fourth member of Gang Green’s “Core Four,” is in the final year of his rookie contract but doesn’t figure to work out an extension with the club until the end of the season.
With three of the Core Four under wrap, Revis was left in contractual limbo as both sides were unwilling to dovetail or compromise contract proposals. The Jets were unwilling to exceed $140 million in total salary, a figure that fell $20 million shy of Revis’ stated threshold for negotiations, $160 million. While Revis remained adamant about becoming the league’s highest paid defensive player (ahead of Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha), New York held firm to a budget for its star defensive player.
Just when it looked like the Jets would be without the league’s top cover corner in the team’s home opener against vaunted Baltimore, general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, swooped in to nab the league’s most valuable defensive back for a bargain price. The kicker? Revis will be ready for Week 1.
By inking Revis before the start of the season, Tannenbaum and the Jets avoid a leveraging standoff that would have thrust pressure onto Gang Green’s defense, specifically first round draft pick, Kyle Wilson. The Jets have high hopes for the rookie corner back, but easing him into the league as a nickel back remains their primary objective. Without Revis in uniform, New York would have been forced to start Wilson on one end, a move with the potential to open a can of worms if Wilson was to prove he isn’t ready to start. Shaky secondary play compounded by an 0-2 start against AFC rivals, Baltimore and New England, would have driven up the value and price of Revis exponentially.
But a farsighted and proactive Tannenbaum wouldn’t let it reach that point. He hedged his bets and locked up Revis on a short-term deal, giving the standout corner an opportunity in the future to revisit his contract one more time.
In the short-term, Sunday’s move straps the Jets with the missing piece in their blistering, stout defense. New York’s Super Bowl chances rise exponentially with the signing and the team renews the league’s best secondary tandem (Revis plus newly acquired Antonio Cromartie). The one chink in Tannenbaum’s offseason, which was otherwise a masterstroke of ingenuity, is that he allows Revis and the Jets to explore another contractual stalemate in a few years.
The Mike Tannenbaum, Darrelle Revis standoff in 2010 lasted seven months, featured a five-week holdout and cost $46 million. But this was just a warm-up. If Revis wins a ring before his contract expires, you can bet the ranch he’ll be demanding a king’s ransom. He may ask to be the league’s highest paid Super Bowl winner.
However it plays out, Tannenbaum and the Jets can enjoy the NFL’s best defensive back on a premium discount. Darrelle Revis may have wasted the Jets’ time and effort over the last seven months, but judging by the specifics of his latest contract, he certainly won’t be wasting their money over the next seven years.
Giants name Bradshaw starter, acquire QB Rosenfels for depth
September 5, 2010
The New York Giants have addressed their backup quarterback and running back situations through two separate moves. The Giants added much needed depth to the quarterback position Saturday by acquiring Vikings’ backup signal caller, Sage Rosenfels, for future conditional draft picks. But how the Giants determined their backup running back—through demotion, not acquisition—has ruffled feathers within the organization.
The Giants named Ahmad Bradshaw their number-one back Thursday, rendering three-time starter, Brandon Jacobs, a backup. Jacobs rushed for more than 1000 yards in 2007 and 2008 before his production scaled back last season. After back-to-back seasons in which he rushed for 5 yards per carry, Jacobs averaged just 3.7 yards per carry in 2009. The barreling back was less explosive, easier to bring down in the open field and though he had more touches in 2009 than 2008, found the end zone 10 fewer times (15 in 2008 versus 5 in 2009).
In place of one of the league’s least productive backs from last year, the Giants will ride the short, nimble legs of the 5’9” Bradshaw. The shifty tailback was more efficient in 2009 than his bruising backfield mate, averaging almost 5 yards per carry and finding the end zone 7 times. Bradshaw’s efficiency is expected to dip in 2010, just as it has in each of the last two seasons as the 24-year-old Marshall product has gotten more carries. But given the short shelf life of NFL running backs, the 28-year-old Jacobs can no longer be expected to be a #1 guy. Bradshaw is better suited as a dynamic, change-of-pace backup, but New York’s thin backfield has dictated his new role.
Once a strength during New York’s Super Bowl run during the 2007-2008 season, Big Blue’s running game has become a chink in the offense’s armor. That means the G-Men will lean more heavily on quarterback, Eli Manning, who is coming off perhaps the best season of his career. The Giants lack a big play receiver, and will rely favorably on wideout, Steve Smith, and tight end, Kevin Boss, to foster the load. Smith ranked second in the league in receptions (107) behind New England’s Wes Welker, while Boss led the team in yards per reception. Big Blue is counting on a breakout year from second-year receiver, Hakeem Nicks. The former North Carolina standout can stretch the field, and if he can establish himself as a playmaker in 2010, he will divert attention from Smith and Boss.
Behind Manning, the Giants have tweaked their quarterback depth chart. They cut ties with Rhett Bomar and promoted the veteran Rosenfels to second string. Jim Sorgi, the popular backup whose career has been spent shadowing both Mannings, is out for the year with a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder. New York seemed reluctant to head into the season only safeguarded at the quarterback position by a signal caller with no professional experience in his career.
More team news and nuggets: In conjunction with Rosenfels, the Giants also acquired return specialist, Darius Reynaud, as part of the trade with Minnesota. Domenik Hixon, the team’s stellar kickoff and punt return staple, tore his ACL during the team’s first practice at the New Meadowlands Stadium. Reynaud, after passing his physical, will compete for the job left open by Hixon. Undrafted rookie wideout, Victor Cruz, who shined in New York’s preseason opener against the Jets with three flashy touchdowns, made the final cuts. Duke Calhoun, another undrafted rookie receiver, will join him on the 53-man roster. The Giants cut defensive tackle, Jay Alford, a former third round pick in 2007 who missed the entire 2009 campaign with a knee injury.
Yanks recall three players as rosters expand
September 1, 2010
The New York Yankees activated designated hitter, Lance Berkman, from the 15-day DL Wednesday, and three minor leaguers will follow Big Puma to the Bronx.
As part of September call-ups—a period beginning September 1st when teams can promote any minor leaguers situated on the 40-man roster to the big league team—the Yankees recalled reliever, Jonathan Albaladejo, speedy outfielder, Greg Golson, and veteran catcher, Chad Moeller. As closer for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees, New York’s Triple-A affiliate, Albaladejo took the league storm. In 63 and 1/3 innings, he recorded 43 saves while posting a 1.42 ERA and sub-1 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched). The versatile Golson, who plays all three outfield positions, was scorching in the month of August for Scranton. The 24-year-old hit .330 in the month, belted four home runs, reached base at a 40% clip and converted all six of his stolen base attempts.
Not so hot was the veteran Moeller, who New York surprisingly tacked on to its roster to add more catching depth. Since Moeller was not on the 40-man roster prior to the promotion, the Yankees will need to clear a spot on the 40-man roster to accommodate him. Given the Yankees’ surplus of catching talent in the farm, the decision to open a roster spot for a player who had cleared waivers earlier this season is at the very least curious. The Bronx Bombers designated Moeller for assignment earlier in the season, but since no team claimed the veteran catcher, he was able to accept an option assignment to the minor leagues.
Conspicuously absent from the list of call-ups was the hottest hitter in the minors—the very player Chad Moeller backed up in Scranton. Super phenom, Jesús Montero, was left off the 40-man roster in favor of Moeller, affording the 20-year-old more time to sharpen his defensive skills behind the dish. Montero, who struggled early in the season during his recovery from a broken finger, has made child’s play of the International League (where Triple-A Scranton plays) now that he’s healthy. Since July 1, the stout slugger is hitting a tantalizing .357 with a .430 on-base percentage. He’s belted 13 home runs, including a walk-off, two game-tiers and a fourth go-ahead shot all in the month of August. An established big-game performer and big-time hitter in the minor leagues, Montero’s advanced bat recorded hits off several major league mainstays—Josh Beckett, Rick Porcello, Stephen Strasburg, Fu Ti Ni, Andres Galarraga and Luke French. Although he’s young for the league, Jesús has already outgrown Triple-A, and the superstar in the making is primed to take his final vault to the big show.
But that won’t happen in 2010, as Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, refuses to give the kid the chance. Cashman, notorious for overprotecting young prospects, has been reluctant to let the rising star loose despite telltale signs that he would come up and contribute summarily. With Berkman joining a sizzling Marcus Thames to patch up the DH spot, the Yankees have little space to accommodate Montero this late in the season. And while Montero could top the production Posada has posted since fracturing his foot in mid-May, it would too much to ask for a 20-year-old super prospect to split time with a potential Hall of Famer at the position.
More reinforcements loom in the foreseeable future for the Yankees, ones of much greater stature than the minor league crop. Star third baseman, Alex Rodriguez, took batting practice before Wednesday’s game against Oakland and is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list as early as Sunday. Veteran starting pitcher, Andy Pettitte, threw a side session Sunday in Chicago and felt no discomfort in his groin, though he admitted he felt mild tenderness the day after. The crafty lefty who was instrumental to New York’s success in the playoffs last year threw 55 pitches in the bullpen Wednesday. He took a five minute recess after his 30th pitch to simulate the end of an inning. No timetable has been set for a return, but Andy is scheduled to throw from an elevated mound later in the week and could be on track for a return sometime toward the middle of the month.
The Yankees head into Thursday’s matinee with Oakland winners of five games in a row, this despite the recent rash of injuries and compounded by a turbulent last few weeks for the starting rotation. The Bombers have begun their patented second half surge as they gear up for postseason play. As more healthy bodies return to the expanded roster over the next few weeks, the AL East leaders continue to gain steam in their late-season push. And while optimism in New York percolates as the Yankees heat up down the stretch, a 20-year-old catcher in Scranton, Pennsylvania is shaking his head. He’s been this hot for several months.
Mets ship Francoeur to Texas for former New York farmhand
August 31, 2010
The New York Mets accelerated their youth movement Tuesday, sending outfielder, Jeff Francoeur, to the Rangers for utility infielder, Joaquin Arias. The 25-year-old Arias is no stranger to New York. Once an esteemed prospect in the Yankees organization, he was used as a chip in the blockbuster trade that sent Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees for a package headlined by Alfonso Soriano. Texas was allowed to choose a second player in the deal from a crop of Yankees prospects, among which was an overlooked [at the time] second baseman, Robinson Cano.
The Mets have much milder expectations for Arias than Cano. In fact, the light-hitting infielder doesn’t figure into the Mets future plans as an impact major player at all. New York acquired the young second baseman as part of an addition by subtraction deal. The Mets were able to unload Francoeur, who was hitting a paltry .236 with a .293 on-base percentage in 401 at-bats, and the $1 million remaining on his 2010 contract. Francoueur is eligible for his final year of arbitration in 2011 and likely would have been non-tendered (released into free agency) by the Mets anyway.
The trade saves the Mets $1 million on an unproductive player congesting the outfield depth chart and hauls in a 25-year-old who at worst can serve as a viable utility infielder for the team. New York had high hopes for the young outfielder when it acquired him from the Braves in 2009 for Ryan Church. But Francoeur’s bat never came around to match his arm. He hit .268 with a .314 OBP and 21 home runs in 690 at-bats. Loaded with potential, Francoeur amounted to nothing more than a right-handed fourth outfielder with a rifle for a throwing arm.
Although he is still relatively young and cost-controlled for one more season, Omar Minaya couldn’t wait any longer for Francoeur to come around. The Mets organization has been too forgiving to a fault in its handling of players over the last few years. It gave Oliver Perez a second chance with a lopsided second contract with the team. Now that contract is unmovable. It gave slap-hitting second baseman, Luis Castillo, extended opportunity to prove he belongs as a starter on the squad. That latitude only proved that Luis Castillo is not a starting caliber player anywhere in the Major Leagues. There goes his trade value. The Mets even allowed embattled closer, Francisco Rodriguez, the opportunity to resume his closing duties after serving a petty two-game suspension for allegedly striking his father-in-law. Rodriguez sustained an injury in the scuffle that will sideline Rodriguez for the rest of the year, but it doesn’t erase an inherent flaw in New York’s far-too-forgiving policy on handling underperforming talent and players with poor character.
The Mets had lay down the lumber, to send a powerful message that jobs are at stake and auditions have begun. While ridding Oliver Perez’s cumbersome contract would have served to benefit the team financially the most, the Metropolitans made an even stronger message by trading away a player revered by his teammates as a high character guy and great clubhouse presence. There are players on the Mets who warrant a trade far more than Francoeur, but few who had the charm in the clubhouse like the young right-handed hitter. With Francoeur out, the writing is on the wall for the rest of the team. Either perform or follow the leader (Francouer) all the way out the door.
The Mets are in a feverish process of evaluation over the final month of the season as they must determine who fits in with the organization’s future plans. That first verdict came down on 26-year-old Jeff Francoeur. Prized, young outfielder, Fernando Martinez, will assume Francouer’s position for the remainder of the year. It’s an opportunity for the Dominican-born outfielder, who turns 22 in October, to show the organization more of what he has to offer. But even as a promising prospect, Tuesday’s decision to cut ties with Jeff Francoeur shows the Mets are no longer giving Martinez and his fellow teammates unlimited opportunity to prove their worth. No pressure, youngster. You’re now on the clock.
Ex-Yankee Damon nixes waiver claim by Red Sox
August 24, 2010
Who says Johnny Damon has no loyalty? The former Yankee outfielder nixed a waiver claim by the Boston Red Sox Tuesday that will keep him in Detroit for the duration of his one-year contract.
A sixteen-year journeyman in the league, Damon made stops in Boston and New York before settling in Detroit this offseason—a marriage that wasn’t on the veteran’s intended terms. The pesky outfielder had rejected a two-year, $20 million offer from his former team in hopes of finding a three or four-year deal elsewhere. But after a career-high strikeout total (98) in 2009, Damon struck out on the market as well. When the Yankees settled for oft-injured first baseman, Nick Johnson, to fill the DH void instead, Damon was left barren and without any bargaining leverage. The two-time World Champion eventually agreed to a modest one-year contract worth $8 million with the Tigers, a team transitioning toward the future and with reserved expectations for the postseason.
Damon will now finish the year with that team in transition, one riddled with injuries and sprinkled with young talent. By spurning the Red Sox, the self-proclaimed idiot has demonstrated his first semblance of loyalty since becoming a major leaguer in 1995. He remains allegiant to the organization that bailed him out of an offseason miscalculation; allegiant to the organization which offered him a reasonable, market-value, two-year contract proposal last winter; and allegiant to his own admission that the Red Sox treat their players poorly.
No, Damon could never be mistaken for a baseball martyr. Heck, he is living proof baseball is indeed a business and not an oath. But after stops in five baseball cities, Damon is finally paying his respects to organizations that handled him the right way. The man instrumental in stealing the ’09 World Series (quite literally) has paid tribute to his former team by shunning an opportunity to play for its biggest rival.
Damon has toed the rivalry line before. He’s even vaulted the treacherous fence and turned coats. But not this time. Not again. After hopping the fence the first time, Johnny Damon found greener ($) pastures on the other side. He met an organization that treated its players fairly and loyally. It was a team run in opposition of Boston where longtime mainstays were kicked to the curb as soon as they shed a grey hair or saw a dip in production. Tuesday night was Damon’s turn to say thanks.
In Boston, Johnny Damon was notorious on a biblical scale. While sporting his caveman beard and dangled hair, Damon looked like Jesus, betrayed like Judah and threw like Mary. But in New York, Damon was a mere disciple following an elusive 27th championship. And though he did turn down the Yankees over the offseason, Johnny has made it clear where his heart remains. The 36-year-old Damon created his Yankee legacy in Game 4 of the 2009 World Series. On Tuesday night, that legacy was cemented and framed.
Melo open to playing for Knicks, Nets
August 20, 2010
Denver Nuggets star, Carmelo Anthony, has made it clear he’d be in support of finishing his career where it started—at home. Anthony, who has already been linked to the Knicks because of his New York City ties, recently gave the thumbs up to playing in Newark/Brooklyn as well.
Melo added the Nets and Rockets to a list of trade destinations he would sign off on, a list that presumably is headlined by the Knicks. Anthony, 26, is entering the final year of a five-year, $80 million contract with the Nuggets, but whether he wants to honor that contract through its life remains unclear. Denver proposed a three-year, $65 million contract extension earlier this summer, but Anthony has yet to make a decision on whether to accept it.
With LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining forces with holdover hero, Dwyane Wade, in Miami, the pressure on Anthony to win his coveted first championship has intensified. The three-headed monster in South Beach has seismically shifted the balance of power in the NBA, putting former contenders, like Denver, on the backburner. The Nuggets won 53 games last season, but became first round fodder in the postseason after the Utah Jazz brushed them aside in six games. After taking the eventual champion, Los Angeles Lakers, to six games in the Western Conference Finals the year before, Denver took a sizable step back in 2010. A season that was dedicated to taking that final step toward a title now has the league’s number-three scorer striding toward the exit.
Step forward the New York Knicks and Newark/Brooklyn Nets
Anthony was born and raised in Brooklyn, then matriculated into Syracuse University where he delivered a championship in his first and only season. Flash forward to 2010 and Anthony’s ticket back to his roots is not only possible, but probable.
Melo has made it no secret he’d like to return home. Want proof? The three-time All-star flew cross-country to wed his wife in Manhattan. Between the formal nomination of the Nets as a team he’d sign a long-term deal with plus Chris Paul’s playful toast at Anthony’s wedding suggesting the two team up in New York, the writing is on the wall for Melo’s next career stop.
Whether or not the Hornets point guard, Amar’e Stoudemire—who was also at the wedding—and Anthony team up to form the league’s newest three-headed empire, the Empire State appears ready to embrace Carmelo Anthony. But will it be the Knicks or Nets who woo Melo’s services?
If Anthony hits free agency in 2011 [that would imply he rebuffs Denver’s extension offer and isn’t traded before the February deadline], he’ll almost certainly be Manhattan-bound again, this time as a newly married man. Although Anthony is Brooklyn-born, even the potential of playing in his native borough is not enough to steer Anthony from the bright lights of the Garden and the glamour of playing alongside Stoudemire and potentially Paul.
But don’t preorder your road #15 jersey just yet. The chances of Anthony hitting free agency in 2011 remain infinitesimal.
The Nuggets are the only team in the league with a general manager vacancy, but you can bet the man who fills it will have a foolproof game plan on how to handle the Anthony sweepstakes. Denver figures to remain moderately competitive this upcoming season, but the organization’s proverbial championship window has closed. The ultimate winner of the GM candidacy will likely have the best trade configurations involving Melo in mind. Denver can ill-afford to lose one of the sport’s most prolific offensive players for nothing next offseason. And with an NBA title improbable next season, Denver’s strongest play is to fetch value for Anthony before he darts.
Cue New Jersey.
Like the Rockets, the Nets have an abundance of attractive, young talent to dangle for Anthony. Promising combo guard, Terrence Williams, can play the point, shooting guard or small forward and offers a versatile skill set. He is super athletic, has good size for the position, has tremendous court vision and can rebound and defend the basketball. Williams would complement sharpshooting, J.R. Smith, in Denver, forming a backcourt tandem of the future along with second-year point guard, Ty Lawson. With Williams, the Nets have a trio of promising pieces to go with him. New Jersey could offer Devin Harris to match salaries, but Denver has little need for another point guard with Lawson and Chauncey Billups on board. More likely, GM Billy King has several appealing forwards to bait Denver.
Troy Murphy-Murphy’s $11 million contract helps the two teams match salaries while offering Denver an ever-valuable expiring contract. The productive Murphy would excel in George Karl’s offense, then would come off the books in 2011 giving the Nuggets freedom to pursue other free agents in the class.
Derrick Favors-The third pick of the NBA Draft is bursting with potential. Favors has an athletic, tall frame that he’ll fill over time. In offseason workouts, Favors teased his high ceiling when he bested many of the marks set by Magic center, Dwight Howard. Favors, 19, is the league’s youngest player, one who would seal a deal between Denver and New Jersey.
Damion James-The former Texas Longhorn has been a man among boys in summer league action. James has tremendous size for a small forward, can shoot the ball from the perimeter, explodes to the hoop and rebounds well for his position. New Jersey traded up in the draft to nab the former Big XII standout. Now the Nets could use James in another trade to reel in Denver’s popular superstar.
The Nets have an abundance of young, cost-controlled talent, several expiring contracts, a pair of trade exceptions from the Vince Carter deal and multiple picks over each of the next three years. New Jersey could make Carmelo Anthony a Net by tomorrow if it offered rising star center, Brook Lopez, in any proposal, but the team shouldn’t have to go that far. Realistically, the Nets could construct various packages to land Anthony. Determining the option that least taxes the wellbeing of the organization moving forward remains Billy King’s biggest project.
While professional hoops in the metro area is beaming with promise again, it must be reminded that this is not uncharted territory. In fact, both professional basketball teams in the greater New York area had recent experience dealing with other NBA moguls. And from that those inner-dealings, both organizations were humbled through failure and rejection. The Knicks thought they were the frontrunners for LeBron James, and New Jersey was the vaunted dark horse in the LeBron-a-thon. But both organizations came up empty for the league’s best player.
If recent history is any indication, bank on Melo agreeing to that three-year extension with Denver or a surprise trade to Houston sometime midseason. But don’t expect a move anytime soon. LeBron James stalled, piqued expectations and then stalled some more before piercing the hearts of Knicks and Nets nation on his nationalized decision show. As the hype and glow mounts surrounding Carmelo Anthony builds, anticipate the New York native following James’ lead. No, not forming the league’s second star trio in the Empire State. Spurning the Garden for greener pastures.
Ex-Yankee Clemens indicted on perjury
August 19, 2010
Roger Clemens was headed to Cooperstown—a first ballot lock for the Hall of Fame. Now, the seven-time Cy Young winner and two-time World Series champion could be headed to jail instead.
Clemens was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly lying to Congress about his involvement with performance enhancing drugs. The jury alleges Clemens lied 15 different times under oath in his 2008 testimonial. To prove innocence, baseball’s most dominant pitcher of the late 80s and early 90s would have to debunk each of the 15 allegations individually—a tall task for a man whose lone defense in the case has been adamant denial.
Clemens voluntarily brought himself to Capitol Hill in 2008 to testify, hoping to clear his name from the accusations. But as evidence mounted from Clemens’ former trainer in New York, Brian McNamee, pleas of innocence fell on deaf ears. Two years later, while tainted slugger, Barry Bonds, is flying under the scope of a congressional hearing, Clemens isn’t so fortunate.
The electrifying starter could face up to 30 years in prison, although a sentence somewhere between one and two years is the normal length for similar charges. Clemens could make a plea bargain to reduce the sentence and even eliminate jail time altogether, but the right-hander has stood by his defiance and appears willing to defend his innocence tooth and nail.
Roger Clemens had always provoked the ire of the public because of his petulant and arrogant persona. Now in 2010, those character flaws could ultimately keep the man notorious for ruffling feathers in federal prison.
Jets bloody Eli as Giants bludgeon Gang Green
August 17, 2010
The Jets drew first blood as football christened the New Meadowlands Stadium, but the Giants ultimately came out victorious in the battle of New York. Led by three touchdowns from an unlikely hero—Victor Cruz—Big Blue toppled Gang Green 31-16 in the preseason opener for both teams.
Lost in the skirmish was Giants’ quarterback, Eli Manning, who had to leave the game in the second quarter after suffering a three-inch laceration on his forehead. On a third and five play on the Jets’ 5-yard line, Manning dropped back to pass on a designed running play with a fade option and collided with stocky running back, Brandon Jacobs. Manning bounced off Jacobs into Jets’ linebacker, Calvin Pace, who drilled him in the back. With his helmet coming undone, Big Blue’s signal caller stumbled into the facemask Jets’ safety, Jim Leonard. The left side of Manning’s forehead oozed a floor of blood down his face forcing the six-year quarterback to the locker room. Manning showed no signs of a concussion and X-rays came out negative, but the M.V.P. of Super Bowl XLII did need 12 stitches on the gash.
Second string quarterback, Jim Sorgi, who backed up Eli’s brother Peyton in Indianapolis, excelled in Manning’s place. Sorgi completed 8 of 14 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. In back of Sorgi, third string QB, Rhett Bomar, completed 6 of his 7 throws for 67 yards and a third touchdown to Cruz.
While both offenses struggled to matriculate the ball down the field on the ground, both passing attacks had eminent success on secondaries that were supposed to be revamped in 2010. Jets’ franchise quarterback, Mark Sanchez, threw for 119 yards and converted 13 of 17 passes. Sanchez struggled out of the gate, throwing an interception on his first pass returned to the goal line by Big Blue’s biggest offseason defensive acquisition, safety Antrel Rolle. Sanchez was great, especially in the short passing game, thereafter. He picked apart the flanks of the Giants’ defense, carving up a secondary that had trouble staying in front of the talented Jets’ receiving corps.
With an outcome that means absolutely nothing, the biggest story of Monday night’s baptism of the New Meadowlands Stadium was that neither team sustained a major, long-term injury. In a highly contested scuffle between two teams scrumming to stake claim as New York’s number-one team, only the left forehead of Eli Manning paid the price. The ceremonious inauguration of New Meadowlands Stadium started off with a bang. Eli Manning serves as firsthand evidence.
Mets’ K-Rod out for season after altercation with father-in-law
August 17, 2010
Embattled Mets’ closer, Francisco Rodriguez, will miss the remainder of the season after a run-in with the grandfather of his children turned violent. Rodriguez allegedly struck his father-in-law during a scuffle in the family room at Citi Field last Wednesday. But also a part of that melee, unbeknownst to the Mets or K-Rod at first, was that the veteran closer tore a ligament in the thumb on his pitching hand. Rodriguez will undergo season-ending surgery on that thumb, although a date has not yet been set for the procedure.
Rodriguez has not shied away from negative press in his Mets’ tenure. In 2009, K-Rod engaged in a heated back-and-forth through various media with former Yankees’ reliever, Brian Bruney. Earlier this season, Rodriguez reportedly tussled with bullpen coach, Randy Niemann, in an Interleague tilt against the Mets’ cross-town rivals.
K-Rod was suspended without pay Thursday and Friday for his role in the fracas, but pitched Saturday when he experienced discomfort in his right thumb. The Mets will likely look into voiding the remainder of his contract and will have a compelling case since Rodriguez injured himself as a result of his own off-the-field tomfoolery. But the player’s union will fight hard in the closer’s defense making the Mets’ latest struggle an uphill battle. Only one known contract has been successfully voided to date. The Houston Astros voided the contract of starting pitcher, Shawn Chacon, after the righty threw to the ground team general manager, Ed Wade.
Francisco Rodriguez’s contract owes him $11.5 million for this season. He is due to make $17.5 million next year and has a $17.5 million vesting option for 2012 if he plays in 55 games in 2011.
NBA dismisses Knicks hiring of Thomas
August 16, 2010
Updating a previous item—The NBA front office has rejected the Knicks intended hiring of Isiah Thomas as a consultant. The league deemed the new position a conflict of interest with Thomas’ holdover job as coach at Florida International University.
According to the New York Post, other league owners actually triggered the decision. At least two league owners, according to the Post, complained to the league immediately while a handful of other league executives acknowledged in less formal ways it was an outrageous situation.
Although Thomas is out of the Knicks’ hair for now, at least in principle, that doesn’t necessarily make this ordeal any less disconcerting for the organization. James Dolan in recent weeks has praised Thomas, lauding his role in the organization over his half-decade reign in New York. Nothing can stop Dolan from reaching out to Thomas through more informal streams on future matters regarding the team. And there’s nothing forbidding Thomas from resigning from his FIU post and joining New York as a full-fledged commitment.
On the surface, the NBA bailed out the New York Knicks by denying the reemployment of Isiah Thomas, but even David Stern cannot keep Thomas out of the shadows of the organization. Truthfully, as long as Dolan sits at the helm, the league’s unstated intention of rescuing the Knicks from a murky situation did anything but. James Dolan will just have to be more guarded with his contacts now.
Nets land Pacers’ Murphy in four-team deal
August 11, 2010
The New Jersey Nets, laden with youth, will now have a veteran presence to complement Brook Lopez in the post. In a mega, four-team deal, New Jersey acquired 30-year-old power forward, Troy Murphy, from Indiana. As part of the trade, the Nets shipped second-year shooting guard, Courtney Lee, to Houston. The Rockets unloaded the pricy contract of Trevor Ariza on the Hornets and sent sixth man specialist, James Posey, to Indiana. Completing the deal, the Pacers acquired promising, young point guard, Darren Collison, who previously backed up Chris Paul in New Orleans.
Murphy, a product of Sparta, New Jersey, is a versatile power forward who can stretch defenses with his long-range shooting ability and crash the glass with vicious intensity. The 9-year veteran is a double-double machine, racking up double figures in points and rebounds in each of his last two seasons and four of his last six.
The 6’11” Notre Dame alum will fit nicely alongside the up-and-coming Lopez. Murphy, a lifetime 40% shooter from three-point range, will force defenders to split out and contest his shot. This should create more space for Lopez, a well-versed post presence, to work with in the paint. The acquisition also buys time for rookie power forward, Derrick Favors, to get his feet wet in the league before becoming a regular starter.
Murphy has just one year remaining on his contract, which will make him an enticing and easily movable piece at the trade deadline if the Nets choose to trade him. The lanky veteran is due $11.9 million this season, but will be off the books in 2011 affording the Nets even more wiggle room under the cap. With Courtney Lee’s rookie contract off the payroll, the Nets no longer will be owed the $1.6 million Lee would be owed in 2011-2012.
The skinny on the trade is threefold. For one, it makes the Nets better this upcoming season. Murphy deepens the frontcourt, adds size and veteran leadership to the team and makes the Nets a stronger rebounding squad. The four-way deal also opens up the formerly congested shooting guard position on the roster. With Lee out, swingman, Terrence Williams, will now have the latitude to explode in his second year in the league. Between Williams and sharpshooter, Anthony Morrow, New Jersey will have a variety of skills and styles at its disposal for the 2. Perhaps most importantly, the deal affords the 19-year-old Favors a year to ease into the NBA. Favors enters as the league’s youngest player, having just turned 19 last month. Instead of forcing Favors into the starting lineup, the Nets will allow the young phenom to develop his raw talent, build an NBA body and learn a complicated professional system.
Recently appointed general manager, Billy King, has big shoes passed on by Rod Thorn to fill. King has more than held his own in his first major transaction as a member of the organization. It will take more moves of this kind to return the lowly Nets to playoff form. Players like Jason Kidd aren’t passed around at minimal cost like they once were.
Isiah Thomas returns to Knicks in new role
August 10, 2010
It was too good to be true. For two years, it seemed the New York Knicks had cut ties with Isiah Thomas and the cataclysmic era he’s associated with in Knicks lore.
But that changed Friday.
As the organization was steadily beginning to restore equilibrium from within, the newest wrinkle in Big Apple basketball caught even those closest to the organization by surprise. The Knicks, who were slowly returning to sea level under Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni, rehired the man responsible for a five-year recession. New York appointed Thomas to a consultant position Friday, welcoming back an era of gloom into an organization pining to look beyond the past.
Thomas, who still coaches at Florida International University, will assume an advisory position on the Knicks and play a role in negotiations with some of the league’s younger players who once looked up to him during his playing days in Detroit. Pending league approval, Thomas will juggle two jobs at once—the head coach at a small Divisional 1 school and a position on one of the NBA’s brand-name organizations.
Friday’s hiring isn’t Thomas’ first foray back into the organization since his firing. The Knicks had called on Thomas in their recruitment of megastar, LeBron James, and other lesser name free agents. Thomas’ consultant position appears to be just one rung on a long ladder the ex-Knicks G.M. will climb within the organization. But just how high Thomas can make it in the franchise he almost singlehandedly undermined remains the biggest question.
Notorious for New York’s inability to win even one playoff game under his watch despite one of the league’s highest annual payrolls, Thomas ushers in a new wave of controversy within the high ranks of the organization. During his time as general manager and interim coach, Isiah wrote his own tutorial on G.M. miscues.
Isiah dealt an undervalued Kurt Thomas for Quentin Richardson and Nate Robinson, then traded unprotected lottery picks for Eddie Curry [who at the time of acquisition was laced with health concerns and was rumored to have a heart condition]. He traded promising, young forward, Trevor Ariza, and Penny Hardaway for the malcontent, shoot-first, body double of Stephon Marbury—Steve Francis. Thomas employed Larry Brown as head coach, but after the team struggled in Brown’s first season, didn’t give Brown the opportunity to clean up his own mess like he had done in San Antonio. Brown had turned a 21-win Spurs team into a 56-win team in his second year with the organization, but wasn’t granted the same opportunity in New York. Isiah Thomas himself chose to run damage control instead. But emblematic of the Thomas regime, that only made the situation worse.
Perhaps worst of all, Thomas sent four players, the rights to a fifth and two unprotected first round picks to Phoenix for Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway and a filler. Triggering an era of salary cap torment, Thomas added a boatload of salary to a team already well above the salary threshold.
But then came a mishap not even years of basketball incompetency couldn’t top. In a lengthy and publicized scandal, Thomas was found guilty of sexually harassing a team official. The stench of Thomas’ bad administration had diffused across the organization. Not only had Isiah made the on-court product worse and handcuffed the organization financially long-term, he added unnecessary attention to an already tumultuous organization.
After dragging the Knicks into the ground during his five-year tenure as coach, general manager and team official, Thomas will begin his flight up the organization’s ranks again starting this season. And for every peg Isiah Thomas moves up in the hierarchy, the Knicks will sink that much further. For a team that needed several years of solid drafts, payroll slashing and free agent signings just to break even, the decision to throw it all away with just one signing has set back New York-area basketball even further.
Maybe Nets’ owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, wasn’t kidding when he said he would convert Knicks fans to Nets fans. With Isiah Thomas back in play, now would be the time to make the switch.
With season in freefall, Mets look toward future
August 9, 2010
The New York Mets have not won a road series against a National League adversary all season. The team has not won back-to-back games against N.L. opposition in two months, when the team bested San Diego and Florida in successive games on June 6th and 8th. Even Pittsburgh, Houston and Arizona, the riffraff of the league, have not suffered a longer drought.
The Mets dropped road series to the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies last week, series they almost had to have to entertain any realistic aspirations of catching the two teams they’re chasing. Losers of 8 of their last 27 games and 9 of their last 11 series (one of the remaining two series was a four-game split), the Mets find themselves on the fast track to an ending of disappointment. The proverbial white flag has finally been raised.
But that hasn’t stopped the Mets from making moves—not moves in the standings, but changes nonetheless. The Mets made shakeups to the roster, recalling outfielder Fernando Martinez and infielder Ruben Tejada from Triple-A Buffalo. With Jason Bay on the shelf nursing a concussion and Luis Castillo loafing at the plate and in the field, Omar Minaya infused more youth into a team looking ahead, not behind.
Catcher, Josh Thole, has already given the Mets a youthful spark in place of the sluggish Rod Barajas and Angel Pagan has more than earned his stripes wherever he’s been asked to play this season. On the whole, the Mets farm system has been a rare beacon of light in a cloudy 2010 season. Although key farmhands, David Wright and Jose Reyes, have underperformed, other, nondescript players from the system have left warm impressions. Thole, Pagan and the new call-ups will have more opportunities to turn strong first impressions into lasting reputations as the Mets wade through the remainder of the season leaning on the youngsters.
For a team with a bloated payroll littered with bad contracts, the Mets are in a position to jettison the deadweight and rely on farmhands the rest of the way. A feasible starting lineup would feature seven homegrown positional players (Wright, Reyes, Tejada, Davis, Thole, Martinez, Pagan) leaving a washed up Carlos Beltran as the lone free agent signee. No, this revamped lineup will not play like world beaters, but it will further distance the Mets from the albatrosses of Luis Castillo, Jason Bay and Rod Barajas. New York has already cut ties with the Ollie Perez failed experiment, auctioning his rotation spot to Jonathan Niese, a promising, young lefty who can recognize a strike zone.
The 2010 season for the New York Mets is quickly spiraling toward a finish that could rival the 2009 disaster. But the future is not lost. With sights set on 2011 and beyond, the final two months of this season can serve as a building block for the future. And who knows? The team may set a few more records of futility along the way.
A-Rod joins 600 club, climbs home run ladder
August 4, 2010
On August 4, 2007, Alex Rodriguez struck his 500th career home run off Royals pitcher, Kyle Davies. A-Rod reached a new milestone on the same date three years later, belting his 600th long-ball in another afternoon tilt, this time against the Toronto Blue Jays.
It took 47 clamorous and anticlimactic at-bats between Rodriguez’s 599th and 600th home runs, by far the most of any of the seven players to reach the plateau. A-Rod went 9 for 46 between home runs and was riding an 0-17 drought—the second longest of his career—entering the at-bat. On a 2-0 count, he pounced on a hanging slider by Jays’ starter, Shaun Marcum, and deposited it into Monument Park, a fitting prelude to the day Rodriguez’s silhouette is etched onto a plaque in center field.
And when that day happens, Rodriguez will be an elite among the elite, having accomplished a feat only one other notable Yankees retiree has ever done.
At 35, Rodriguez has become the youngest player in baseball history to reach the 600-mark. He joins Babe Ruth as one of only two Yankees’ sluggers to ever hit 600 home runs. And at this rate, Rodriguez will eclipse a figure even Ruth couldn’t attain. After this season, Rodriguez has 7 years left on a deal that will pay him until he’s 42. If A-Rod averages 25 home runs over those final seven years, a modest estimate that takes into account his inevitable decline, Rodriguez would finish with 775. The three-time M.V.P. and 13-time All-Star projects to hit between 8 and 10 home runs this year too, which would put him in the 783-785 range. That would break the mark set by record-holder, Barry Bonds, by 20+ home runs.
Already, Rodriguez has tiptoed into the discussion for best hitter of all-time. He’s not there yet, and his connection to anabolic steroids could ultimately sully his case, but A-Rod will never be omitted from the discussion, steroids or not. Four of the top nine home run hitters in baseball history have been tied to steroids. Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Bonds and Rodriguez, all moguls of the modern era, are admitted or accused steroids users. But you cannot simply remove their achievements from baseball lore. We remember Bonds’ record-breaking home run. It was celebrated in San Francisco, after all. We remember the race between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire as they chased down Roger Maris’ hallowed 61. The race left an indelible imprint on our memories of the game, and knowledge in hindsight that both players were steroids users cannot erase that.
With Rodriguez’s flight up the home run charts, a wave of hypocrisy has flooded his pursuit of 762. What is forgotten, ignored or not known is that Willie Mays and Hank Aaron were not immaculate players themselves. Mays and Aaron used greenies (amphetamines) before games to battle fatigue and maintain focus. Before anabolic steroids became fads, lesser banned substances were prevalent instead. Yet rarely is there backlash toward those pastime baseball icons. Because those greats were detached from the steroid era, the assumption is that they were clean and pure.
Baseball may never forgive Alex Rodriguez for his steroids admission. But as part of an era littered with steroids, controversy and question marks, it would be poor judgment to use A-Rod as a paradigm of punishment. Major League Baseball has glided around the banned substance issue for far longer than this most recent steroids era. And Rodriguez is not worth an exception. Since testing has begun, A-Rod has remained one of the most lethal power hitters in the game. If lost in the fog of the steroid era is that Alex Rodriguez was, with or without the juice, one of the best hitters to ever play the game, then perhaps all records set in this era should be branded with asterisks.
Starting Friday, a clean A-Rod will begin his quest for 700, a plateau only a select few major leaguers will ever threaten to reach again given the boom of minor league systems, growth of player development and quality of pitching league-wide. As for when it will happen this time: if history is any indication, Alex’s newest milestone is due in three years on the dot.
Jets’ CB Revis absent from training camp
August 2, 2010
The New York Jets opened training camp Monday without a familiar face. Lockdown corner back, Darrelle Revis, began a holdout and was absent from the team’s first mandatory practice. The three-year veteran out of Pittsburgh is said to be in search of a new contract that would make him the highest paid corner in the league. Revis says he is looking for a contract offering an annual salary worth more than that of Raiders’ defensive back, Nnamdi Asomugha, who signed a three-year $45.3 million extension last summer.
According to ESPN New York, Jets’ general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, made two contract offers to Revis last week—a long-term option that would make Revis a Jet for life and a short-term alternative that would raise his 2010 salary of $1 million. Revis spurned both offers, firmly holding to his stance that he will not return to training camp without a new deal.
Revis is arguably the league’s top cover corner back. His ability to shut down opposing teams’ #1 receivers and virtually cut off half the field is invaluable to the Jets’ defense, which ranked atop the NFL in points allowed in 2009. Revis is looking to be blown away by an offer that would make him the league’s highest paid defensive back, as he should be. Tannenbaum has already committed to left tackle, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, agreeing to an extension that will pay Ferguson $5.3 million in guaranteed money this season.
Veteran center, Nick Mangold, the anchor of Gang Green’s front line, is also seeking a new contract. The All-Pro Mangold was at camp Monday, although he is still adamant about reaching a new deal. Tannenbaum’s commitment to Ferguson, the least valuable of the three players pining for new deals, is somewhat curious. Although Ferguson is an anchor on the left side of the line, he is not the captain of his unit like Mangold is to the O-line and Revis is to the secondary. With Ferguson locked up, the next logical step would be to appease Revis, who is instrumental in the Jets’ defense which figures to be the league’s best again in 2010.
Mike Tannenbaum has played hardball in the past, but this is not the time to flex his power. With the start of the NFL season just weeks away, Gang Green’s brain trust is losing leverage. Revis has made it clear he will not suit up until his demands are met. Tannenbaum, who has danced around the issue for some time, knows what he must do. Now it’s time for him to put his bravado aside and act. The entire outlook of the 2010 New York Jets hinges on Mike getting Revis back in uniform.
Cashman comes up money at non-waiver trade deadline, Minaya inactive
August 2, 2010
Yankees’ general manager, Brian Cashman, has always done his best work hawking around the trade deadline. Across the river in Queens, Mets’ G.M., Omar Minaya, is notorious for his idle tendencies this time of year. Both men lived up to their reputations on Saturday, as the Yankees added three pieces to an already formidable team while the Mets sat on their hands, watching aloof as division rivals grew stronger.
Cashman hit the jackpot Saturday, acquiring five-time All-Star first baseman, Lance Berkman, from Houston for minor leaguers, Jimmy Paredes and Mark Melancon. The Astros will pay $4 million of the $7.15 million due to Berkman over the remainder of the season. Berkman, who has been one of the league’s best offensive first baseman over the last decade, will be used primarily as the Designated Hitter.
While strengthening the lineup, Cashman also bolstered his bench and lengthened his bullpen by adding Indians’ outfielder, Austin Kearns, and reliever, Kerry Wood, for players to be named later. Kearns, who hit third in Cleveland’s lineups, is a veteran who can play both corner outfield positions and provides some right-handed punch off the bench. Despite his starting experience, he will be the team’s fourth outfielder moving forward where he will be counted on to hit lefties in lieu of Curtis Granderson, who struggles against southpaws.
Wood, a two-time All-star who closed in Cleveland, adds length to the backend of the Yankees’ pen. While Wood has struggled this season (he sports an ERA over 6 and a 1.6 WHIP), he brings a veteran arm with a ton of upside to New York’s bullpen. Wood is not a suitable candidate for the eighth inning role as of now, but he will certainly pressure Joba Chamberlain to get his act together.
In two deals, Brian Cashman acquired a potent switch-hitting bat to fill [and upgrade] the spot Nick Johnson left behind. He also added veteran depth to his bench and bullpen, which, if nothing else, will give Joe Girardi more flexibility. All three players have been centerpieces on other ball clubs—Berkman a star in Houston, Kearns a pivotal #3-hitter in Cleveland and Wood the closer for the Tribe. In New York, the trio will only need to fill niche roles for a team already rife with All Stars.
Cashman acquired all three veterans for a net package of two minor leaguers—neither of whom the Yankees consider legitimate prospects—plus two players to be named later. He also lands Berkman and Wood on discounts, as Houston and Cleveland have agreed to pay part of the remaining salaries owed to each player. In what virtually amounted to two salary dumps—only half-baked ones at that—the Yankees significantly upgraded their offensive arsenal while deepening a bullpen in need of a shakeup.
Cashman, prudently proactive, followed a similar blueprint laid out on this site. As recommended in the July 12th piece on Cliff Lee, Cashman answered the DH void by acquiring Berkman in a salary dump. While most buyers were feverishly pursuing Washington slugger, Adam Dunn, Cashman swooped in and nabbed an overlooked, Hall of Fame caliber, first baseman. Cashman also double-dipped in one trade as outlined in my July 27th piece, acquiring a reliever and a bench bat at a reduced premium.
The Yankees exploited a market of sellers looking to shave payroll and dump players on the final year of their deals. Berkman and Wood both have vesting options for 2011, but both options can [and will] be bought out for a small premium. In fact, Houston has already agreed to finance Berkman’s $2 million buyout so he can return to the team in 2011.
All in all, Cashman was able to secure his marquee prospects, specifically Jesus Montero, by using the organization’s best asset, money, to pluck top-flight but undervalued talent for cheap. The Yankees G.M. flawlessly executed a financial leveraging ploy that only the Yankees, led by an open wallet, could pull off. A general manager’s foremost responsibility is to improve the Major League club as much as he can while forfeiting as little in the way of prospects and other players as possible. Brian Cashman followed that formula better than any general manager last week, receiving $10 value for spare change.
In Queens, meanwhile, Omar Minaya remained mum.
After the Phillies acquired Houston ace, Roy Oswalt, Minaya responded with a tacit “well done.” When Atlanta snagged Royals’ reliever, Kyle Farnsworth, and power bat, Rick Ankiel, from Kansas City, Minaya didn’t counter. Minaya was even presented an opportunity to dump Oliver Perez’s cumbersome contract on the Cubs in exchange for Carlos Zambrano, a better pitcher with an equally bad contract. But again, a slumbering Minaya became stubborn, insisting Chicago take Luis Castillo as well. Even firesale Florida made a buyer’s move, acquiring Orioles’ lefty reliever, Will Ohman.
The Mets? They stayed true to their mistaken belief that flaws laced throughout their roster will self-correct. That must have been the logic behind resigning Ollie Perez to that albatross of a deal.
August has arrived. Playoff positioning is beginning to intensify. And now both New York teams have shed light on where they intend to be in October. Cashman has enhanced his 25-man roster and kept his farm system intact with eyes keyed on the Fall Classic. Minaya’s sights are fixed on postseason baseball too, but given the roster he has assembled, he’ll need a television or a ticket this fall to keep it that way.
Little goes right as Mets leave left coast
July 30, 2010
The New York Mets stormed out of the second half gates and made two very clear statements. One, there is nothing like home; and two, the Mets are nothing away from home.
Jerry Manuel’s club won just two tilts on an eleven-game west coast swing that covered San Francisco, Arizona and Los Angeles. The Mets were on the verge of getting swept by the Giants when a would-be game-winning run was waved off. Replays confirmed what the naked eye detected in regular speed—David Wright’s throw home was late, the San Francisco runner was safe and the Mets, who ultimately won the game in extra innings on an Ike Davis RBI double, should have lost.
Trips to Phoenix and Chavez Ravine didn’t end up any better. Facing an inexperienced, grossly flawed Diamondbacks squad with dreadful pitching, the Mets were ignominiously swept. When the Mets were given an opportunity at vindication against a reeling Dodgers team which entered the series losers of 6 of their last 7, the Mets flubbed again. Jerry Manuel’s team lost 3 of the 4 games to complete a 2-9 road swing.
The Metropolitans, even undeserving of one of their two wins on the 11-game rodeo, limped back to Queens with their tails between their legs. There waiting for the Mets were minted bats that the team forgot to bring on the flight across the country. New York’s 11-day strife very simply reduces to one common thread—invisible offense. The Mets set new record lows at each pole on the trip. Here is a quick overview of just how reproachful the offense has been:
Four- That was the number of times the Mets were blanked on the west coast swing. It was also the number of runs knuckleballer, R.A. Dickey, gave up over three starts (19 and 2/3 innings) on the trip. The Mets lost all three of his starts.
23- The number of runs the Mets scored in 11 road games since the All-star Break. That’s just a hair over 2 runs per game.
24, 17, 16- In three separate stretches, the Mets went scoreless for 24, 17 and 16 consecutive innings. All on one road trip.
.082- New York’s average with runners in scoring position on the left coast voyage.
15 of 16- In 15 of their last 16 games extending to a home stand before the west coast rodeo, the Mets scored 4 runs or less. They won just four games in that span.
38- The number of games the Mets have been trailing after eight innings.
0- The number of games the Mets have won after trailing after eight innings.
For a team sprinkled with as many question marks on the pitching front as the Mets, it’s been an unstable and underachieving offense that has caused the most self-destruction. While hurlers, Dickey and Jonathan Niese, continue to transcend expectations, underachieving bats—notably Jason Bay—and nonexistent offensive production out of catcher, second base and right field have nullified their success.
That is until the Mets headed home where the team continued a season-long offensive conundrum by touching up National League Cy Young favorite, Adam Wainwright. The Mets scratched across 6 runs over 5 innings off a pitcher who hadn’t given up more than 4 earned runs in any game all season. The next day, again in the cozy confines of Citi Field, Johan Santana plunged the Mets into an inauspicious 6-0 hole after one inning. But a revamped Mets offense clawed back and eventually tied the game at 7. Although the Metropolitans ultimately lost the game in extra innings, the offense showed new punch that was absent out west.
After dropping 2 of their first 11 on the road, the Mets bounced back strongly on their home turf and took a three-game series from the Central-leading Cardinals. That’s seemingly reason to be encouraged, though the Mets should be anything but. While New York has finally grown into its ballpark with strong pitching (the Mets’ 2.85 home ERA ranks third in the league), failure to translate its success at home to the road has dragged the team down the NL East hierarchy.
The Mets have the largest discrepancy between home and road records in the National League. Sitting at 15 games above .500 at home (32-17) and 13 below on the road (20-33), the boys from Queens have performed like spoiled children during the regular season—requiring the comfort of their home venue to succeed while unreceptive to uncharted territory. As such, New York’s World Series aspirations are bleak.
Championship-caliber teams win in spite of their surroundings. No team in the last 10 years has won a World Series with a sub-.500 road record. If the Mets are serious about contending in 2010, it starts with winning series outside of New York. Drubbing quality pitching and pounding top-tier teams, while impressive, means very little if it only happens at home.
But are the Mets done? Can a team that succumbs so much on the road radically transfigure into a contender? The short answer is no. Omar Minaya will not wave the white flag so prematurely and for good reason. He shouldn’t. But he does need to act cautiously, realistically and diplomatically over the coming days.
The Phillies are on the rise with the addition of Roy Oswalt and the Braves sit 6.5 games up on the Mets. Mortgaging everything to win this season isn’t prudent given the state of the team. While Minaya and his brain trust walk the tightrope on what to do before Saturday’s trade deadline (history says they’ll do nothing), the crux of New York’s future hinges on its road gray uniforms.
The Mets will hit the road next week for a six-game pocket against the two teams ahead of them in the NL East. It’s a perfect chance to gain ground and erase trailing trends. Maybe this time they’ll remember their bats, too.
Baseball’s best Bombers aim to get even better as trade deadline approaches
July 27, 2010
With the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline right around the corner, Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, is feverishly in the process of improving his 25-man roster. Cashman tried landing the league’s best lefty starter, Cliff Lee, but the Mariners spurned New York’s offer and shipped him south to Texas instead. Cashman then made a play for Arizona’s Dan Haren, but the Diamondbacks restricted their struggling ace to the west coast when they dealt him to the Angels for a rather unappealing package headlined by left-handed starter, Joe Saunders. Even without Lee or Haren, the defending World Champs are still primed to get even better for the stretch run, and it can be done at a marginal cost.
When Nick Johnson hit the 60-day Disabled List because of wrist surgery, a hole opened up in the Yankees’ lineup. Without their Designated Hitter, the Yankees have gone to a DH-by-committee, using the position to rotate bodies and give veteran positional players half days off. But the Bombers rely on bopping, and an incomplete lineup is not their signature. With Johnson on the shelf, Curtis Granderson failing to produce and four of the five star infielders underachieving offensively, the Yankees should, and likely will, look to add an impact bat. No, not a slugger. Perhaps not even a starter. Whether it’s someone to stabilize the bench, assume Jerry Hairston’s super-utility role from last season or to plug into the DH vacancy, the Yankees ought to pursue an offensively-minded positional player before July 31st.
Even with Andy Pettitte sidelined for four to five weeks with a grade-one groin strain, the Yankees have enough starting pitching depth to survive. CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Javier Vazquez and a fresh Andy Pettitte should be enough to anchor the rotation down the stretch and in the postseason when Hughes will likely be optioned to the bullpen upon reaching his innings cap. The Yankees could add a starting pitcher and then move Phil Hughes to the bullpen to strengthen two areas at once, but they probably don’t have to. Since the bridge to Mariano Rivera has crumbled for much of the year, the Yankees should be scouring for relief for their ailing relief pitching. New York’s bullpen ranks eighth in the league in bullpen ERA (4.17), thanks almost exclusively to Mariano Rivera, who continues to pitch at an unparalleled level. Without Rivera’s sugarcoating numbers, Yankee middle relief has floundered all season, and must be addressed before the postseason.
In 2008, the Yankees killed two birds with one stone by acquiring corner outfielder, Xavier Nady, and left-handed reliever, Damaso Marte, from the Pittsburgh Pirates in one transaction. The trade filled the team’s left-field vacancy left when Matsui went down with a season-ending wrist injury. It simultaneously shored up a bullpen that had struggled for most of the year. The Yankees have similar needs in 2010, which means a combo package involving a pitcher and batter in the same deal seems to make the most sense. With this in mind, here are several foolproof stratagems to bolster the Yankees roster and position the team well for a strong championship push.
Fish in Florida- The Marlins have three hitters and two bullpen arms worth pursuing. Relievers, Leo Nunez and Clay Hensley, are having outstanding seasons in Miami. Either player would strengthen the back of the Yankees’ bullpen, which has suffered because of Joba Chamberlain’s inconsistency and injuries to Damaso Marte and Alfredo Aceves. Third baseman, Jorge Cantu, second baseman, Dan Uggla, and center fielder, Cody Ross, pique interest on the offensive side. Uggla could slide right into the DH spot in the Yankees’ lineup and would provide be an appreciable upgrade over Marcus Thames and Juan Miranda—current shareholders of the position. Cantu and Ross profile more as bench bulwarks. Cantu would add power and experience to the Yankees bench—a welcome offensive upgrade over Ramiro Pena. Ross gives the team more flexibility with the outfield alignment. He plays a good defensive center field and hits lefties very well. Given Granderson’s struggles against southpaws, Ross could assume the lion’s share of at-bats against them, which would improve the team’s overall production out of the center field position. Florida is perhaps the most enticing trade partner for the Yanks. Some combination of Nunez/Hensley and one of Cantu/Uggla/Ross would stabilize the Yankees bullpen and improve the lineup, all in one move.
Utilize the farm system- Brian Cashman has spent the last several years repairing a farm system that was neglected and dismantled because Steinbrenner preferred overspending on the free agent market over drafting and developing homegrown talent. Cashman’s new wave of commitment to the farm has produced Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes, Brett Gardner and Joba Chamberlain, but perhaps the most promising of the bunch is a 20-year-old slugger in Triple-A. Prized catching prospect, Jesus Montero, now considered the best offensive prospect in baseball by Baseball Prospectus, has gone torn up the Minor Leagues over the last two months. Since June 4th, Montero has been the best hitter in the International League, hitting .365 with 7 home runs, 25 runs driven in and a sparkling 1.07 OPS during that frame. Montero’s bat has been Major League ready for over a year, but the Yankees are adamant about grooming him as a capable defensive catcher. That’s still no excuse for keeping Montero, who can make up time behind the dish in winter ball, off the Major League roster. The 20-year-old phenom can split time at DH and catcher, relieving backup Francisco Cervelli, who is mired in a huge offensive slump.
On the pitching front, most of the Yankees’ biggest prospects are in the lower levels of the system (Double-A or lower). Zach McAllister and David Phelps are highly touted prospects throwing in Triple-A, but both are new to the ranks and have plenty to prove still at that level. Ivan Nova, who had a cup of coffee on the big league club earlier in the year, has been outstanding for Scranton. Nova projects to be a solid middle of the rotation starter, and could [should] be used to fill Pettitte’s spot if Sergio Mitre and Dustin Moseley are ineffective. Jonathan Albaladejo has been equally as impressive as the closer in Scranton. Albaladejo has struggled in previous stints with the Yankees, but should be worth another look. He was sent down after a brief, three-day call-up, although he certainly deserves a roster spot more than Chan-Ho Park or Chad Gaudin.
Whether the Yankees choose to touch up the roster with help available on the market or from within, shoring up the bullpen and solidifying the bench with a strong bat remain tops priorities. The Yankees may make a big splash for an Adam Dunn or Roy Oswalt, but it certainly won’t be out of necessity for a team that should win 100 games as currently constructed. As the Yankees sit comfortably atop the American League East, there’s but one thing Brian Cashman must come to grips with before the 4 p.m. trade deadline on July 31st. Instead of using Jesus Montero as a trade chip to bring in a big piece, let Jesus Montero be that piece.
NHL spurns Devils’ 17-year contract agreement with Kovalchuk
July 22, 2010
The National Hockey League has rejected a contract agreement that was in place between the New Jersey Devils and free agent left wing, Ilya Kovalchuk. The deal, which was worth about $102 million over 17 seasons, would have been the longest contract ever handed out to an NHL player. The league spurned the agreement because it was disproportionately frontloaded in an effort to circumvent the salary cap at the end of the contract. Over the final six years of the contract, Kovalchuk was only due to make $3.5 of the $102 million.
The 27-year-old Kovalchuk was traded from the Atlanta Thrashers to the Devils in February after he rejected a 12-year, $101 million extensions. The crafty left wing is one of the NFL’s premier goal scorers, amassing a league best 338 goals since 2001.
An arbitrator will review the league’s rejection and determine if it was indeed appropriate. If the termination of the contract is upheld, Kovalchuk will again become an unrestricted free agent. The loss would be a major blow for a defensive-oriented Devils team that was looking to re-up one of the best attackers in the game. New Jersey, normally reluctant to dole out large contracts, would have to work out a new, restructured contract with Kovalchuk to fortify its front line.
Yanks’ midseason report card
July 16, 2010
The first half of the Yankees season has been a series of melodramatic mysteries. The Bronx Bombers have puzzled more than they have entertained. They have begotten more questions than highlights.
Andy Pettitte’s rejuvenation is inexplicable. One of New York’s most consistent pitchers over the last 15 years, Pettitte is having his best season as a Yankee at 38. Here’s the kicker—he’s historically been a second half pitcher. Brett Gardner’s surge is not to be outdone or upstaged. The pesky Yankees left fielder was doubted entering the season. Pundits and analysts said he would be a platoon outfielder who couldn’t handle a full season’s work load. Gardner, they said, would not hit lefties well enough to earn an everyday starting gig. Lo and behold, the new Yankees’ center fielder—the man who nudged Gardner off his center field perch—has looked like the platoon player. While Gardner’s consistency has made him irreplaceable in New York’s loaded lineup, Curtis Granderson is tiptoeing towards the bust list in just his first season in pinstripes.
Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher, both All-Star selections, are in the midst of career years. The super-talented Cano seems to have finally tapped his potential thanks in part to the departure of friend and distraction, Melky Cabrera. Swisher, meanwhile, is building on a strong first season in the Bronx. A lifetime .250 hitter, Swisher is hitting about .300 at the break. Go figure.
But perhaps the greatest conundrum of all is one that shouldn’t be surprising at all: the New York Yankees are in first place, five games ahead of their pace on this date last year. But how? The Bronx Bombers have been laced with underachieving stars, Javier Vazquez and AJ Burnett had historically bad months, several key starters have missed extended time and the bridge to Mariano Rivera has been a chaotic mess. Analyze the Yankees player-by-player and you would be concerned, not impressed. For every pleasant surprise or breakthrough season, there have been two players who have underperformed thus far. Whether New York’s success is because of synergy or the graces of great starting pitching, the defending World Champs must be elated with the position they’re in.
While the team itself has aced its midterm, most Yankees veterans will not be satisfied with their progress reports at the midway pole in 2010.
Jorge Posada- Grade: C Posada has been a nonfactor offensively (.212 BA, .348 OBP, .337 slugging %) since returning from his foot injury that cost him a 15-day stint on the DL. The aging Yankee backstop is substandard defensively and not fleet of foot making his bat that much more important. Cano's sizzling first half demands protection, and if Jorge cannot provide that, he offers little value to the Yankees. As good as Posada is offensively, Father Time and nagging injuries could begin to interfere with his production.
Mark Teixeira- Grade: C- The first three months for New York’s #3 hitter, including a categorically hideous month of April, were substandard. The notoriously slow starter carried over a poor postseason performance into April again, but this year it’s taken longer to rebound from. Nevertheless, Mark has been flaming hot in July, and his stat line is beginning to resemble the lofty numbers that have made him one of the league’s finest first basemen over the years. Because of his slow start, it’s impossible to rate Teixeira favorably on his midterm, although he is expected to fare much better on his final exam.
Robinson Cano- Grade: A+ Philadelphia’s Chase Utley has been baseball’s best second baseman for several years, but that’s changed in 2010, at least so far. Cano has been stellar defensively thus far and offered one of the best and most consistent bats in the first half. Immersed in a pool of underachieving, veteran infielders, Cano has put the All-Star cast on his back and salvaged an otherwise dismal offensive showing in the first half. There is nothing more Cano, a midseason MVP candidate, can do except prove his mettle in the postseason.
Derek Jeter- Grade: D Not surprisingly, Jeter has been below average defensively through the midway point of the season. But while strong defense has never been a DJ trademark, his bat has. Offensively, Jeter has struggled since the get-go. He hasn’t been able to hit for his normally high average, he set a career mark by going 19 consecutive games without driving in a run and his on-base percentage sits at a pedestrian .338. Jeter’s average is 45 points below his career average, and he’s in line for the worst statistical season of his career. He is also in jeopardy of losing the leadoff role to Brett Gardner, who outproduced the Yankee captain in the first half.
Alex Rodriguez- Grade: C+ Relative to expectations, A-Rod is having a letdown year following his 2009 heroics. Rodriguez has been his usual clutch self, leading the team with big hits and in most clutch metrics. Still, for personal achievement, the American League’s best overall player needs to boost his overall numbers, perhaps by performing better in low-leverage spot. Alex has looked his best in the field in 2010 since moving to third base in 2004. On a layman’s scale, Rodriguez has been great. But A-Rod is a superstar and still has room for large improvement. Scary.
Brett Gardner- Grade: A Gardner was expected to play like a platoon fourth outfielder, yet the speedy left fielder has proven his worth as an everyday player. He has been the toughest out in the Yankees lineup, seeing more pitches per plate appearance than anyone in baseball. Gardner’s glove has been sensational, his speed has been a tremendous asset, if for nothing else but to distract opposing pitchers, and the young Yankee has maintained a .300 batting average for most of the season. While he’ll never have the career of the Yankee captain, Brett Gardner is looking more and more like an outfield version of Derek Jeter, intangibles and all.
Curtis Granderson- Grade: F Cashman’s biggest offseason acquisition has been an absolute abortion at the plate. Granderson’s defense has average and he doesn't utilize his speed nearly enough [in part because he doesn't have enough opportunity on the bases]. The Yankees center fielder was never especially great to begin with, and expectations that a stacked Yankee lineup laced with protection and the short porch in right field would bolster his numbers look silly now at the midway pole. Granderson has looked juvenile against left-handers all year long, but he’s never hit them in his career, so it seems only Brian Cashman was fooled. The reeling Yankees outfielder has been trending downwards for three-and-a-half years since his anomalous 2007. Not good for a player who cannot get much worse.
Nick Swisher- Grade: A Not only is Nick Swisher a high character guy with a great clubhouse presence, he has also been instrumental on the field. 2010 has been a breakout year for the jubilant Yankees’ rightfielder, so much that he has begun to look like Giambi [in his prime] lite at the plate. His average is a notch less than .300, 50 points higher than his career average. Swisher is now a complete hitter. Not only will he hit 30 home runs, get on base at a high clip and work pitch counts, but now he is beginning to hit for a high average too. But one caveat—if there's one player on the Yankees vulnerable to a big second half plunge, it's probably Nick.
Nick Johnson- Grade: N/A It’s not the first time an injury has derailed Nick Johnson and put him on the shelf for an extended period of time. Nick was struggling offensively in large part because of a sore wrist which eventually required surgery. But even a struggling Johnson was able to produce a high .388 on-base percentage, a perfect fit in the 2-slot of the Yankees order. Believe it or not, Johnson has been missed, and if he is not able to return at some point down the line, the Yankees will likely have to trade for another bat to fill his shoes.
CC Sabathia- Grade: A The burly ace was not sharp in May, yet his numbers in that month were still passable. That’s how effective the normally slow-starter has been. Sabathia’s April, June and July have simply been outstanding. C.C. is on pace for a career year, and consider he's a second half pitcher. If Carlston Charles has his usual strong second half, he’ll win 20 games for the first time in his career while posting up gaudy numbers in a hitter’s haven. Impressive, though you should expect nothing less from the ace.
AJ Burnett- Grade: B- Burnett’s holistic numbers for the first half are not pretty, but he has been better than what his player page says. Burnett was outstanding in April and July, and his May was decent as well. Only an atrocious June, far and away the worst month of his big league career, has tarnished Burnett’s numbers in 2010. With pitching coach Dave Eiland in the dugout, AJ has been particularly productive (he imploded when Eiland took a leave of absence in June). If we toss out Burnett’s anomalous month of June, #34 has otherwise been ace material. Burnett, like Sabathia, is a second half pitcher, and will only get better down the stretch. On a related note, run support would be greatly appreciated. AJ doesn't get any.
Andy Pettitte- Grade: A+ Andy has reshaped himself into a reliable ace so far this season. Pettitte always pitches his best down the stretch and typically comes up large in the postseason. AP has been the best pitcher in the Yankees’ rotation and one of the best in the entire league. 2010 was supposed to be a last hurrah for Pettitte, but amid the best season of his career, how could he possibly leave after this stroke of magic? While Pettitte’s Hall of Fame credentials have become stronger, his legacy continues to grow.
Javier Vazquez- Grade: B- Vazquez looked was close to flunking out of the Bronx after his disastrous first month. But after the Yankees skipped his start against Boston so he could clear his head, Javy has been on point. Vazquez’s ERA has dipped each month. Since May 12, he has lowered his ERA from a ghastly 9.78 to a modest 4.45. Vazquez has been one of the team’s most consistent pitchers since April, eating innings, maximizing run prevention and helping the team win games despite virtually no run support. More rough patches may be on the horizon in the second half for Vazquez with better offenses on the schedule, but Vazquez doesn’t need to be light’s out to be an effective #4 starter
Phil Hughes- Grade: A- Hughes must get better pitching at home and cannot fear the long ball in his own ballpark. He also needs to feature his offspeed stuff more instead of just overpowering hitters with cutters and moving fastballs. Phil's offspeed stuff, specifically his curveball, looked the best it has all season in his last two starts before the break. That’s something to build on for a pitcher who blazed hitters with raw stuff and great control for the first three months of the season. Overall, even despite a very rough stretch in the month of June, Hughes has dwarfed expectations and given indications that he does have the potential to be an ace in this league. In the meantime, with the Yankees set at the top of the rotation for the next several years, Hughes can continue to be one of the backend starters in the game.
Mariano Rivera- Grade: A+ The greatest of all-time just keeps getting better, even at a ripe 40-years-old. How good will he be when he’s 50?
Bridge to Mo- Grade: D New York’s middle relief and bridge to Mariano Rivera struggled tremendously prior to the All-Star Break The bullpen ERA sans Rivera was 4.7, which would’ve ranked second-to-last in the league in the first half. The Yankees will need to get Joba Chamberlain, David Robertson and Damaso Marte straightened out before the postseason beckons. With hybrid reliever Alfredo Aceves likely out for the year with a back injury, Sergio Mitre will bear the onus as the team’s go-to long-man.
State of the Mets address
July 15, 2010
Following a turbulent 2009 campaign, the New York Mets have returned to the thick of a pennant race at the midway pole in 2010. The Mets, who were 6.5 games out of first in the division and 7.5 behind in the Wild Card at the same time a year ago, are just 4 games in back of the NL East leading Braves and one game off the pace for a playoff spot this season. While New York hobbled into the All-star break 3 games below .500 in 2009, it was able to stay afloat in 2010, heading into the break 8 games over .500 despite injuries to two-fifths of the starting rotation and the absence of the team’s best overall player, Carlos Beltran.
The postseason is a realistic aspiration for this year’s Mets team. Since an up-and-down April, the Metropolitans have never separated from the playoff picture. But a berth in the playoffs is only a feasible possibility if the Mets are willing to make changes—fairly big ones.
The Mets need, not would appreciate, another starting pitcher, preferably a front of the rotation arm. Mike Pelfrey was ace material for the first three months of the season, but his treacherous last three starts (13.1 IP, 15 ER, 33 this, 8 walks, 6 strikeouts) elicit justified concerns. Is this really a new, refined Mike Pelfrey finally tapping his potential, or will Big Pelf revert to 2009 form? Pelfrey, with his notoriously high WHIP (now up to 1.44), is much more suited to be a #3 starter than a #2 on a championship-caliber squad.
The Mets certainly cannot count on a pair of 35-year-olds—journeyman R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi—the way they did in the first half. Dickey will not maintain a 2.77 ERA [or anything close] in the second half. With a 1.3+ WHIP, an earned run average that low is not sustainable. Takahashi, meanwhile, seems destined for a return to the bullpen where he rightfully belongs. Although he is slated to start in Arizona next week, the reliever-turned-starter has been trending downwards since his last start in May.
In an ideal rotation, Santana anchors the staff as the #1, Omar Minaya acquires a frontend starter to insert behind his lefty ace, Pelfrey and promising southpaw Jonathan Niese are each bumped back a spot in the order and Dickey bookends the rotation. The rewards are innumerable. For one, bumping back Pelfrey, Niese and Dickey each one spot enhances their value. The trio would comprise one of the best backend rotations in the league. By acquiring a #2 starter, Minaya also strengthens his bullpen by allowing Takahashi to pitch in shorter stints and more selectively against lefties. Takahashi’s ERA jumps from 2.3 to 5.6 when hitters see him for a second time, and the veteran lefty has an outstanding .615 OPS against when facing left-handed hitters. By facing more lefties and without hitters having the benefit of seeing him a second time around, Takahashi’s value increases exponentially.
But enough hypothetical scenarios and hollow visions. What pitchers fit the bill? Who can the Mets add to complete the puzzle? Cliff Lee is now off the market, although the Mets didn’t have the pieces to acquire him anyway. The next tier of frontline starters is headlined by Houston’s Roy Oswalt, followed by Arizona’s Dan Haren, Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona and Chicago’s Ted Lilly.
Haren is a west coast kid. He grew up in southern California and has spent most of his time playing for Oakland and Arizona. The Diamondbacks’ ace has spent his entire career in small markets, pitching for non-contenders. He’s a big market unknown and has no experience pitching for a winning team. The kicker—he’s not even having a particularly good season. Cross him off the list.
Carmona is similar to Haren. Cleveland’s #1 is having his best season since he burst onto the season in 2007. Carmona pitched in the postseason for the Indians, who had three chances to win one game that would have sent them to the ‘07 World Series. While he shined against the Yankees in the Divisional Series, Carmona was instrumental in Cleveland’s disappointing loss in the ALCS. Carmona has done his worst work pitching in and against Boston and New York. He has had anxiety issues in the past, so he doesn’t appear to have the gall to handle the Big Apple. Carmona is still young and cost-controlled, and likely would cost a lot in return. Hesitantly cross him off the list too.
Lilly is a crafty veteran who has experience pitching in New York (he pitched for the Yankees from 2000-2002). Lilly struggled in 2001 in his first work as a starter for the Bronx Bombers, but he came along nicely in ’02 before being traded to Oakland in a midseason deal. But in numbers, makeup and style, Lilly is far too similar to Jonathan Niese. In fact, Niese has been better in 2009. While Lilly would improve New York’s rotation, it’s not the first Minaya is looking for. Bump him down the list, but don’t cross out his name.
Oswalt is the perfect match for Queens. The ten-year veteran has been a stable ace his entire career, pitching on several great Astros teams. Oswalt is proven in the postseason as well. In seven starts, Roy is 4-0 with a 3.66 ERA. Playing for a contender would likely invigorate the polished Oswalt. Houston’s ace is due to make about $7 million over the last two and a half months of the season and $16 million in 2011. If the Mets, who have the National League’s highest payroll, swallow the remaining $23 million on Oswalt’s deal, the star righty could potentially be had a reduced fee. A package surrounding Josh Thole or Fernando Martinez [plus some low-ball arms] would allow the Mets to acquire Oswalt without giving up prized 20-year-old flamethrower Jenrry Mejia. If Minaya exercises one of the organization’s greatest streams of leverage—the ability to eat salary—the Mets could have one of the game’s best pitchers backing Johan Santana for nothing more than money plus a pair of easily replaceable, but highly touted prospects. The Mets have the potential to assemble one of the game’s best rotations. Prospects are best put to use as currency for proven Major League talent when teams are one or two pieces away from getting over the hump. No prospect in the Mets system, including Jennry Mejia, is worth sheltering from a deal for a legitimate ace. The time is now for New York to make its move in the division, not overvalue its prospects.
Offensively, the Mets have little to worry about if the team can acquire a frontline starter. Carlos Beltran’s return to the Mets lineup will bolster an otherwise average offense from top to bottom, though it may not be the difference maker many are awaiting. It is ambitious to expect Beltran to immediately resemble his former self and replicate the numbers he was putting up as a Met before injuring his knee. In fact, the 33-year-old Mets’ center fielder may never be the same player again after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in January. But Beltran does not need to play superhero for the Mets to make the playoffs. If he showcases his characteristically smooth outfield defense, posts solid offensive production for his position and poses a distraction on the base paths, he would effectively be like a big deadline acquisition.
Second to David Wright, who had a sensational first half of the season with the lumber and the leather, Mets’ center fielder Angel Pagan was the team’s most valuable positional player. With Beltran out, Jeff Francoeur struggling and Bay off to a miserable first half, Pagan fortified the outfield with his silky smooth defense, savvy baserunning and surprisingly potent bat. Beltran’s return will likely push Pagan to right field in lieu of the inconsistent Francoeur, but Angel will still see plenty of time in center relieving Beltran, who the Mets will monitor carefully. If Jason Bay can meet his career line in the second half, the Mets offense should receive a jolt from two of the league’s best outfield bats. Runs, if all goes according to plan, should not be what holds the Metropolitans back.
We will have a strong idea where the Mets stand exactly one month from now (August 15th). By that date, the boys from Queens will have completed an 11-game West Coast swing, a pair of series with the Phillies and a span that included 23 of 29 games (17 of which are on the road) against teams with .500 or better records. The next two weeks prior to the trade deadline will be pivotal. With a strong showing out on the left coast, the Mets would become active buyers for starting pitching. But if the Mets bury themselves in the division and lose their tentative grip of the Wild Card, New York may instead opt to wait out the season and not take on anymore payroll.
The Philadelphia Phillies, saddled with injures, are reeling, but no other team appears ready to usurp their throne. With the National League in flux, the winner of the deadline could position itself as the team to beat. The Mets, as currently constructed, do not resemble a championship roster. But with a few Minaya masterstrokes and a touch of good luck, the New York Mets could vault from the middle of the pack to the cream of the crop before August 1st. The Metropolitans passively sat back as bad fortune crippled their 2009 club. Will they aggressively take up the reigns in 2010 and position themselves for a championship, or will the 21st Century Mets perpetuate a growing legacy of wasted opportunity.
Steinbrenner dead at 80
July 13, 2010
George Steinbrenner, whose legacy as the founding father of free agency and whose unquenchable thirst for winning by any means necessary made him the most polarizing owner in sports, died of a heart attack just nine days after celebrating his 80th birthday. Steinbrenner was rushed to a hospital early Tuesday morning after suffering a heart attack in his Tampa, Florida home. He died shortly later.
Dubbed “The Boss” for his radical ownership reign, Steinbrenner built a disheveled organization into the most powerful empire in sports. He brought back interest and intrigue to an organization left to languish in the 60s and to a flagging sport that could no longer find room on the back page. A middle-aged entrepreneur, The Boss had visions of resurrecting a franchise and salvaging America’s pastime. And with stylish pizzazz and an unrivaled commitment to success, he did, like none other.
In a league littered with owners searching for excuses rather than high prized free agents, Steinbrenner was the golden standard for how sports organizations should be run. The Boss placed loyalty and sentiment on the backburner; winning, however it took, was his only creed. Steinbrenner spent money only when it facilitated winning, and though it drove up the value of the colloquial baseball “star,” it did so in the best interest of the sport. He encouraged a league that rewarded its players and triggered a fierce market of buyers lining up for their services. The 37-year Yankees owner did what most of his contemporaries refused to do—invest sumptuously into the organization and reinvest all revenue streams into the fabric of the team. Steinbrenner was the owner most baseball fans hated, but only because he was better and more driven than their own.
The Boss separated himself from other lavish spenders in sports by how he handled himself within the organization. While Cowboys’ owner, Jerry Jones, and Mavericks’ owner, Mark Cuban, make certain they are front and center, Steinbrenner carefully kept his distance. When Jones paraded the Dallas sidelines and Cuban heckled officials from his front row seat, George sat reticently in his luxury box, yielding to his team, not his image. Steinbrenner would enter the media fray only to spark his team, never for narcissistic revelry. He was baseball’s biggest corporate fan—a business mogul who hooted and hollered as much as any beer-guzzling bleacher creature inhabitant.
While Ruth and Gehrig built the Yankees from the ground up, it was George who kept the organization flourishing. Mantle and DiMaggio join Ruth and Gehrig as New York’s Mount Rushmore of baseball immortals, but The Boss left as large of an imprint on the organization as any of those four. Without Steinbrenner’s momentous purchase of the New York Yankees from CBS for $10 million in 1973, the organization would not resemble the modern giant that is recognized today.
Perhaps no individual, player or not, has been as influential on America’s pastime as Steinbrenner since the 1970s. No Yankees icon has meant as much in perpetuating the organization’s storied lineage into the modern era than The Boss himself. Not Yogi. Not Jeter. Not even the game’s all-time greatest closer. While Mantle and DiMaggio cashed in at a time when the Yankees were at their crest, Steinbrenner took over a reeling Yankees franchise near its lowest point. Big George, maligned for his perceived impatience, withstood an 18-year championship drought to construct one of the finest dynasties [including baseball’s best team ever] in sports history.
George Steinbrenner the philanthropist was indeed the best of all. For every dollar he invested into his baseball team, two were given as charitable donation. And for as much flux and changeover as Steinbrenner promoted on the diamond, his life off of it was emblazoned by loyalty, family and charity off it. The very tycoon who spent more money on his ballclub than most organizations combined was even more proactive as a benefactor away from the sport he loved.
On July 13th, 2010, George Steinbrenner died a World Champion, so very befitting of the life he lived and legacy he left.
Yankees miss out on Cliff Lee, avoid major blunder
July 12, 2010
The Seattle Mariners had agreed to trade Cliff Lee to the Yankees on Friday for a package surrounding elite catching prospect, Jesus Montero. According to the New York Post, the league’s best pitcher was destined for the Bronx to join forces with fellow lefty ace, CC Sabathia, a friend of Lee’s since the two played together in Cleveland. Indeed, the deal was so close that the wives of the two standout southpaws convened for lunch to help pick out a house for Lee in Alpine, New Jersey, where Sabathia resides.< p>
Several hours later that Friday, Lee received a call from Mariners’ general manager, Jack Zduriencik, informing the ace he had been traded to the Texas Rangers, not the Yankees. Lee was dealt to the Rangers for a package of minor leaguers, most notably first base prospect, Justin Smoak. Zduriencki had successfully executed his ploy, using the Yankees as leverage to drive up the price on Lee and lure the Rangers into the fold. Seattle had preferred Smoak to Montero and conned Yankees’ general manager, Brian Cashman, into a dog and pony show that would ultimately bring Smoak to the Emerald City.
But where there’s Smoak, there’s fire, and the Cliff Lee trade whirlpool had plenty of it. While Zduriencik thinks he is getting away with highway robbery, Cashman and company should be thanking the stars for narrowly evading a catastrophic mistake.
Sure, Lee has been the best pitcher in baseball over the last two and a half years, posting a sparkling 2.62 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over that span. And yes, no pitcher is more proven over the last three seasons, flourishing under every conceivable condition. Lee was equally impressive hurling in small ballparks (Philadelphia) and big ballparks (Seattle), the American League (Seattle, Cleveland) and National League (Philadelphia), playing on a contending team (Philadelphia) and teams out of the playoff picture (Seattle, Cleveland) and in the regular season versus the postseason. Lee’s dazzling 91:6 strikeout to ball ratio even puts him on pace to shatter the all-time mark (note that the league average K:BB ratio is approximately 2 to 1). But even the league’s most reliable ace is not worth the price Brian Cashman was willing to meet.
Lee, who turns 32 at the end of August, is a free agent at the end of the season. The 2008 American League Cy Young award winner has been clear he will not sign an extension midseason and wants to test the free agent waters. That means a midseason deal for Lee guarantees only three months of his services. Cashman is enamored with the lefty ace, and almost traded for him over the offseason when he was a member of the Phillies.
While they’re 0 for 2 in their efforts to swoop Lee so far, the Yankees appear to be the proverbial favorite for Lee this coming offseason. They have the money to spend, the desire for another playoff proven ace and Lee himself appears to share a mutual interest. Lee is buddies with former Arkansas native, AJ Burnett, and ex-teammate CC Sabathia. Getting paid, winning a championship and comradeship appear to be Lee’s biggest priorities, in that order. No team offers a better blend of that formula than the squad who defeated Lee’s Phillies in last year’s World Series—a ballclub anchored by two of his friends and financed by North America’s highest spending sport organization.
Lee is Yankee property this winter. That he was eager to buy a house in northern New Jersey before a trade to the Yankees was even finalized signals the smoking gun of the Cliff Lee free agency saga. Over the offseason, Lee will cost just money and two compensatory draft picks. Is an extra three months of his service in 2010 really worth the most advanced hitting prospect in all of baseball?
The 20-year-old Montero is already playing for the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees. After mashing in Trenton, a notorious pitcher’s park, as a young 19-year-old catcher, Montero has already drawn comparisons to Major League sluggers Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and the retired Edgar Martinez. While his defense is subpar and his position in doubt (he stands at 6’4”, 225 pounds, which is considerably large for a catcher), Montero’s bat will play him at the Major League level very soon. Even if Montero is eventually forced to move from the position, he has a once-in-a-decade bat and projects to be one of the league’s biggest sluggers over the next 15+ years.
A super slugger in the making plus a promising young arm, Zach McAllister, and quality second baseman, David Adams, is a price too steep for just three months off Lee. Seattle reportedly asked for the Yankees #1 shortstop prospect, Eduardo Nunez, in lieu of Adams, whose sprained ankle became a prominent concern. New York is in no position to trade perhaps baseball’s best offensive prospect, a candidate for the heir apparent to Derek Jeter and a starting pitcher projected to be a serviceable middle of the rotation arm.
For a team that ranks second in the league in starters’ ERA (3.68, only behind Seattle which is now down Lee), a starting pitcher ranks at the bottom of its needs. The Yankees offer the league’s best rotation with two lefty aces, a young one in the making (Phil Hughes) and two pitchers who have been very effective by and large, but were each plagued by one bad month (Burnett and Javier Vazquez). New York has four frontend starters plus Vazquez, a horse who eats innings and keeps the team in games at the back of the rotation. Adding Lee to the mix would be overindulging an abundance of riches. And come the postseason, the rotation wouldn’t necessarily be much better off.
A.J. Burnett dazzled hitters in his three postseason starts at home, throwing 19.1 total innings and only giving up 4 earned runs. On the road, Burnett showcased his trademark inconsistency, imploding in his two postseason starts away from home (8 IP, 12 ER). Bringing Cliff Lee into the equation would effectively bump Burnett to Game 3 or 4 of the ALDS and ALCS, which would be played on the road, not at home, assuming the Yankees secure home field advantage. While Lee will likely do little better than Burnett has done at home in the postseason already, Burnett’s treacherous history away from home would render starting him on the road in the postseason a major mistake.
No, the Yankees do not need Cliff Lee in 2010. An above average hitter who can fill the DH void and make spot starts in the field would suffice. Lance Berkman, Houston’s star first baseman, would be an ideal substitute for Nick Johnson, and Berkman could be had in a virtual salary dump as the Astros look to shave payroll. Next in line on the Yankees trade deadline checklist is a reliable bullpen arm. Middle relief has been a pest for the Bronx Bombers. While Mariano Rivera has been, well, ordinarily supernatural, the gas cans below him have not. Sergio Mitre and Phil Hughes should give the Yankees depth in the bullpen in the postseason, but if the Yankees cannot straighten out either David Robertson or Joba Chamberlain, they may look to acquire some insurance.
July 9, 2010 will go down in Yankees lore as yet another boon in the organization’s salient history. When Jesus Montero is sending souvenirs into the Yankee Stadium grandstand for 15+ years while the pinstriped Cliff Lee anchors the rotation for the next five, Brian Cashman can laugh guiltily at the time he almost tossed away a future Yankeeography fixture for a player he has won without. A player he was going to sign three months later anyway.
LeBron spurns Big Apple, follows Wade and Bosh to Miami
July 10, 2010
NBA megastar, LeBron “King” James, sat uneasily on his throne at his self-appointed free agency special. Ending months of frenzy and empty speculation, James pierced the hearts of millions of Cleveland fans when he announced his intention to join forces with fellow superstars Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in Miami. For the New York area, where fans have been starving for basketball success since the advent of the Jason Kidd era and prime of the Patrick Ewing reign, it was a not-so-subtle reinforcement that pro hoops will take a backseat to the pigskin and America’s pastime, even in a region that craves the roundball. Here’s a look at the offseason work of the Knicks and Nets now that the major free agent dominoes have fallen, plus a peak at what the future may hold for both postseason-parched clubs.
New York Knicks- Head coach Mike D’Antoni welcomes back a blast from the past in former Phoenix Suns star, Amar’e Stoudemire. Stoudemire was a staple to D’Antoni’s up-tempo, helter-skelter system out west, and will again be the focal point of the offense in New York. But Stoudemire was brought in to be a supplementary piece to an even bigger star, ideally James. Without a go-to playmaker at the helm, the Knicks merely replace David Lee with a marginal offensive upgrade in Stoudemire, leaving similar holes in the roster that were present last year. The Knicks bulldozed cap space in hopes of having the league’s best one-two punch, with emerging role players in Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler waiting in the shadows to complete the puzzle. They didn’t shave payroll, pawn off draft picks and deal young talent just to swap one top-flight power forward for another. President of basketball operations, Donnie Walsh, aspired to make James his legacy when he came on board in 2008, but his failure to coax the NBA’s biggest name renders years of preparation moot. Instead, Walsh has created the Phoenix Suns of the East, a recreation lacking the two most important positions on the floor—point guard and center. On this abbreviated version, there is no Steve Nash to facilitate the offense and create easy scoring opportunities for Stoudemire. There is no inside presence to steer defenders away from Stoudemire like there was a Boris Diaw in Phoenix. Missing too is an explosive offensive guard similar to Leandro Barbosa who can attack the tin and coast in the open floor. And absent on Phoenix East is a defensive stopper like Grant Hill who can lock down the opponent’s best player when D’Antoni calls for a rare defensive stop. No, there’s not much to like on Donnie Walsh’s visionary master plan. In laying out a grandiose formula for success, Walsh completely disregarded contingency plans in case James wasn’t wooed by the New York limelight. And now the Knicks are left with nine planets without a sun, a new convertible without the keys. New York is strapped with more cap space than it can possibly use in one offseason, and will now to look toward the 2011 free agent class to put it to use. Even with Eddie Curry’s abominable contract coming off the books next summer, there is little promise for an organization that sacrificed the last several seasons to construct a blueprint of the future. Oklahoma City and Kevin Durant agreed to a 5-year extension Thursday which takes Durant’s name off the 2011 free agent list. The Knicks will summarily shift attention to Carmelo Anthony, the lone prize of the class of 2011. But with Anthony and Denver making progress on a potential three-year extension, the Knicks could be left with clusters of money to spend on mid-level talent. When laying out the next blueprint of the future, the Knickerbockers ought not to assume they are entitled to any player on the market because of the glow of the Garden and prominence of the city. The Dolans should form a competitive basketball team that doesn’t rely on the league’s biggest names and exorcise the delusional belief that simply playing the New York card trumps all. Losing, even if it’s in the Big Apple, certainly isn’t any more special.
New Jersey Nets- Nets’ owner Mikhail Prokhorov made two bold promises at the onset of his reign—that the Nets would win a title within the next five years and that he would convert Knicks fans to Nets fans. Prokhorov took steps toward achieving the latter when he pitched a billboard promoting the Nets just outside Madison Square Garden. That, combined with New York’s lofty free agent blueprint which self-destructed when James committed to South Beach, leaves Prokhorov’s second pledge at least plausible. But Prokhorov’s most appealing promise, that New Jersey would win a title within the next five years, took a major hit when the confident owner struck out on all the major free agents of the 2010 class. Chicago landed New Jersey’s contingency plan to James, Carlos Boozer, one of the four best power forwards on the market and a perennial 20 and 10 player. When the Knicks agreed to a sign-and-trade that sent David Lee to the Warriors for a package headlined by Anthony Randolph, a young forward with a ton of promise, New Jersey was totally closed out from the top tier of the market. Holdover general manager, Rod Thorn, who announced his decision to resign July 5th, signed Travis Outlaw, a small forward, to a 5-year, $35 million offer sheet. New Jersey’s first splash in free agency appears to be a move just for the sake of making one, as if the Nets felt compelled to sign someone, anyone, after whiffing on the big names. But Outlaw, who averaged 9 points on 39% shooting for the Clippers last season, certainly did not fit the bill of a contract that will pay him an average of $7 million per season over the life of the deal. The versatile Outlaw, who can also play shooting guard and power forward, will push Terrence Williams, a promising second year player, to shooting guard and allow newcomer Damion James, the Nets’ second first round selection, to earn backup minutes at forward. With an overabundance of youth on the roster, the prospects for the Nets don’t suggest rapid growth in 2010 and 2011. Even with Avery Johnson running the show and cap space to spare, New Jersey will need to rely on Brook Lopez, Devin Harris and its prized first round selection, Derrick Favors, to step up and contribute immediately. Yi Jianlian and Chris Douglas-Roberts were let go in trades intended to open up more cap space to potentially sign two free agents to maximum deals, but the Nets thus far have only filled that available financial wiggle room with one mediocre player. The Nets continue to explore trade possibilities for big names, the latest which have included Chris Paul (New Orleans point guard) and Danny Granger (Indiana small forward). But it appears the Nets will head into the 2010 season, prepared to defend a crown of futility, with a roster similar to the one that won only 12 games last season. Prokhorov has an unlimited cache of money to spend, but the newest NBA owner has learned it takes more than a free flow of cash to assemble a quality basketball team.
Yanks, Mets both snubbed in All-Star voting
July 4, 2010
Major League Baseball revealed on Sunday both rosters for the 2010 All-Star Game to be played July 13th in Anaheim. David Wright was the lone Met to make the starting roster for the National League team, but teammate Jose Reyes will join him as an infield reserve. The Yankees sent six of their own to the American League squad, though the names themselves may have been jumbled in the voting. Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano will man the middle of the infield as starters in Anaheim and Alex Rodriguez will come off the bench. CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera will represent the Yankees pitching staff at the Midsummer Classic, although Sabathia is ineligible to pitch because of a new rule that prohibits starters who throw the Sunday before the game from participating (Sabathia throws next Sunday in Seattle). The burly ace is likely to be replaced by teammate Andy Pettitte.
Although New York will send eight total players to the game, and possibly two more if Swisher is selected for the final vote and Pettitte is added in lieu of Sabathia, several Yankees and Mets players should be wondering why they were left off the roster. Meanwhile, two undeserving Big Apple stars who were selected to the Midsummer Classic should be paying for tickets to the game instead.
Snubs
Andy Pettitte--The crafty southpaw is seventh in the AL in ERA (2.82), tenth in WHIP (1.15) and tied for second in wins (10). He leads all Yankees starters in earned run average and has decided advantages in ERA, WHIP and innings pitched over fellow teammate, Phil Hughes, who made the All-Star Game. If the 23-year-old Hughes, who gives up a full run more per game than Pettitte, is All-Star material, then so is baseball’s winningest postseason pitcher.
Mike Pelfrey--The Mets’ biggest power arm was tenth in the NL in ERA (2.93), one of only three pitchers with 10 or more wins and even has a save under his belt. Pelfrey, who emerged as a reliable ace in the first half of the season, anchored a Mets rotation in flux. Perhaps Pelfrey didn’t impress the voters because of his low K/9 ratio (less than 6 strikeouts per 9 innings), but that’s no basis for leaving one of the National League’s steadiest starters off the roster.
Brett Gardner--The Yankees left fielder wasn’t guaranteed a starting spot in Spring Training. Yankees’ General Manager, Brian Cashman, signed veterans Marcus Thames and Randy Winn as depth in case Gardner couldn’t handle the everyday outfield duties. But Gardner has proven to be more than just an everyday starter at the Major League level. He’s been All-Star caliber. The dynamic outfielder ranks second out of all AL outfielders in batting average (.319), first in on-base percentage (.401) and third in steals (24). As a center fielder, a less premium offensive position and Gardner’s natural spot in the outfield (he was moved to make room for the underachieving Curtis Granderson), the numbers Gardner has put up are elite. But because Gardner plays a corner outfield spot rife with offensive sluggers, Gardner will use the All-Star break to rest his legs instead. Granderson owes him at least a massage.
All-Stars in name only
Phil Hughes--If Hughes throws a single pitch in the All-Star Game, he’d become the youngest Yankees pitcher to ever throw in the Midsummer Classic. But it would be a pitch the young right-hander doesn’t deserve to deliver. Entering the season as the Yankees #5 starter, Hughes squashed expectations with surgeon-like precision and ace-caliber results. Through his May 12 start in Detroit, Hughes was the league’s best pitcher statistically, having allowed just 6 runs in his first 6 starts (1.38 ERA in 39 innings). But after a rough outing against Boston in mid-May, Hughes’ fortune turned. Lineups began to have more success against Hughes after seeing him once before, and the power fastball with sharp movement that sawed bats began finding holes in the outfield. In his last 9 starts, Hughes has posted a 5.9 ERA during a spurt which has boosted his overall ERA to 3.83. Run support (a league best 8.5 runs per game) has made Hughes’ record as a starter wickedly deceiving, and an inflated home run per nine innings ratio has spoiled the young righty’s peripherals. Andy Pettitte has Hughes beat in every relevant category. The nifty veteran is certainly more deserving of an All-Star invite than his 23-year-old teammate.
Jose Reyes--One of the league’s most dynamic infielders, Reyes exploded offensively in June after poor showings in April and May. Reyes hit .314 and belted 5 home runs in the month, improving offensive numbers which had rivaled those of Rey Ordonez for the first 50 games of the season. Still, a hot June notwithstanding, Reyes’ .277 average, .321 on-base percentage and .741 OPS are not All-Star worthy. Rafael Furcal, who is hitting .338 with a .386 on-base percentage and .889 OPS for the Dodgers, is far more deserving of the vacancy. Troy Tulowitzki’s broken wrist left an opening at shortstop on the National League bench. The spot should be filled by a player who has simulated Tulowitzki’s production, not someone who has struggled for most of the season excluding an 11-game hit streak. Reyes’ legs are All-Star caliber. His body of work in 2010 resembles nothing close.
Poor officiating extends to World Cup, beckons instant replay expansion
June 20, 2010
The nuances of instant replay in sports are booming. The technological potential is at its apex. The effectiveness of referees and officials across sports is not.
The U.S. men's soccer team nearly completed an improbable comeback down two goals in the second half against Slovenia in group play of the FIFA World Cup. In fact, the Americans did complete the comeback, lacing three balls in the back of the net before the final whistle. But only two of those goals stood up, as an egregious foul call made by referee, Koman Coulibaly, negated the Americans' third score. A splendid surge by U.S. was soured and overshadowed by a faulty whistle and a phantom foul that was, well, foul.
The U.S. did earn one point with the 2-2 draw, a point the U.S. will take begrudgingly just days after it triumphed over a 1-1 tie with England. The Americans can still advance to the second round with a win against Algeria, but even the most convincing U.S. victory Wednesday would not disguise the eminent problem at hand. Whether or not the United States advances through to the second round, the plight of officiating across sports is an issue demanding attention and reform.
If not unforgivable, Coulibaly's inexcusably hideous call was certainly timely. Poor officiating has pervaded, indeed eclipsed, the sports world over the last month. In early June, Detroit starting pitcher, Armando Galarraga, was robbed of a perfect game when first base umpire, Jim Joyce, inexplicably called a baserunner safe at first on what would have been the final out. The 2010 NBA Finals featured a fierce rivalry, stifling defense and an invariable presence of bad officiating which sucked any rhythm out of the series. Horrid officiating wasn't a foreign notion to FIFA either even before the US-Slovenia drama. In a World Cup qualifying match between France and Ireland, France's Thierry Henry got away with a blatant handball that led to an illegitimate French victory. The play was not reviewed and the call was not reversed, ultimately cheating Ireland out of a berth into the 2010 World Cup.
The championship-clinching goal in overtime of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup was even missed in real time. But because of a sound instant replay system in place, the NHL reviewd the play and correctly made the call. It was a delayed, anticlimactic conclusion to a championship, but it guaranteed the right call was made, and most importantly, the right team won the game.
There are two ways to correct the habitual mistakes and misjudgments made by referees across sports. Either overhaul the officials or impose a technology-based checks and balances system in sports that oversees and amends human error. Correcting the former seems implausible, as human error is an incorrigible element to the game.
An instant replay system doesn't have to be elaborate and it will not necessarily slow games down to an unbearable pace. In an age of technological innovation, there is no excuse for armchair fans watching on High Definition televisions to know the right call, but those actually responsible for mediating the game must make instinctual judgments. The foremost objective of the referee is to get the call right. The technology is there to maximize good judgment and to supplement an official on difficult calls. Letting it go by the wayside is ineffectively sacrificing accuracy for simplicity.
Purists and traditionalists insisting the human element should not be removed from sports seem to mistake the intention of instant replay altogether. Instant replay eliminates human error, not the human element. A system as such would not supplant officials altogether; it would merely provide more opportunity to enhance the judgmental effectiveness of officials worldwide.
Technology is not meant to replace referees. It is intended to ensure Koman Coulibaly is never in another position to singlehandedly cost a soccer club two points. If used properly, it would've preserved a perfect game for a young Major League pitcher instead of deflecting the attention to Jim Joyce and his gaffe. All this rectified by a one minute glance at a monitor. Maurice Edu's go-ahead goal against Slovenia didn't earn another look, but instant replay policy across sports certainly did.
Yanks remain King, best boys from Queens
June 20, 2010
Winners of seven straight games including six in a row on the road, the scorching Mets swaggered into the Bronx, attempting to usurp the New York throne. No ballyhoo was needed for the second edition of the 2010 Subway Series. For the first time in several years, there was more at stake than city bragging rights. First place in the AL and NL East was on the line.
The Bronx Bombers, losers of two straight against the Phillies, returned the favor on their inner-city rivals. Phil Hughes and CC Sabathia kicked in strong performances on the hill as the Yankees took 2 of 3 from the Mets at Yankees Stadium.
It was a backwards week for the defending World Champions. After thumping Phillies' ace, Roy Halladay, for six runs over six innings, the Yankees' offense floundered amid the post-beatdown glow. Over the next three games against middling, soft-tossers--Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick and Hisanori Takahashi--the Yankees managed just 3 runs over 21 innings (resulting in three losses). The Mets brought their pair of aces to the Stadium on Saturday and Sunday hoping to add to the Yankees' struggles, but capping off a warped week in New York, Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey became the antidote for the slumber Yankees bats. The Bombers touched up Pelfrey for 5 runs on Saturday, then a Mark Teixeira grand slam on Sunday taxed Santana for 4 runs over 6 otherwise steady innings as the Yanks' salvaged the series 2-1.
Overall, it was a successful week for both the Yankees and Mets. As the overachieving Rays continue to tumble back to normalcy, the Yankees have made their move, attaining sole possession of first place Sunday for the first time since April 21. CC Sabathia took a big step in righting his season last week, outdueling aces, Roy Halladay and Johan Santana, over a five-day stretch. If A.J. Burnett can follow suit in two starts on the West Coast next week, the Yankees rotation will be steady and reliable after Javier Vazquez was able to resurrect his season. The Yankees' pitching was outstanding over the weekend; although he took the loss, Javier Vazquez gave the Yankees 7 strong innings of one-run ball. Alex Rodriguez's hip seemed to stifle him throughout the week, but that remains the Yankees' only glaring concern assuming Mark Teixeira's two-homer weekend is a sign of a long-awaited turning point in his season.
The Mets, meanwhile showed their mettle during the week. A team that looked hapless on the road for the first two months coaxed a 7-2 road trip. The two losses to end the 9-game, American League swing hardly detract from an otherwise outstanding week for the Metropolitans. And even in defeat, the boys from Queens exposed minor roster flaws that can be corrected as the team marches forward.
The oft-used Fernando Tatis was totally ineffective as the DH. Tatis was crisp last year when used consistently to fill in for ailing bodies. He doesn't figure to remain a Met through the season if Carlos Beltran returns sometime mid-season. Although Santana and Pelfrey struggled, the Mets had to be most encouraged by the continued success of Takahashi. Facing a potent Yankees' lineup for a second time, Takahashi's prospects were far more inauspicious the second go-around. Surprisingly, the southpaw was every bit as effective as he was in his last start against the Bombers in Citi Field, posting 6 scoreless innings and earning the victory. Any scenarios drawing Takahashi back to the bullpen to make room for John Maine [who suffered a setback Sunday] can be scratched. The Tokyo native is a fixture in the Mets rotation. It's his starting gig to lose.
Nets land new coach, future outlook continues to soar
June 15, 2010
The New Jersey Nets made a strong push for the worst record in NBA history last season, yet the future is ironically beaming promise in the Garden State. In perhaps the organization's greatest triumph since back-to-back Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003, the Nets announced Tuesday the signing of former Dallas Mavericks head coach, Avery Johnson, to a three-year contract.
With Johnson at the helm, New Jersey’s future prospects continue to blossom. Though diminutive in stature, the longtime San Antonio Spurs point guard carries grand expectations, even for a team coming off only the fifth 70-loss season in league history. Johnson also brings with him the highest regular season winning percentage of all-time (73.5%) among coaches. The New Orleans native led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2006 in his first season as a head coach. Johnson made the playoffs twice more in Dallas before owner Mark Cuban fired him following a first-round playoffs series loss in 2008.
The Nets’ new boss has a familiar history with some of the team’s players. Johnson coached Devin Harris in the Finals in 2006, though their relationship was unsettled. Harris publicly criticized Johnson for riding him too hard and eliminating his freedom in the Mavericks' offense. Harris, a speedster with the dribble who excels in the open floor, was denied leeway within Johnson’s system and had to sacrifice some of his up-tempo flair for methodical defense. But Harris also credits Johnson for polishing his career as a young player in the league. He was surprisingly one of Johnson’s most vocal lobbyists internally in the Nets organization.
Johnson enters a promising situation amid organizational turnover. The renaissance began when Russian billionaire, Mikhail Prokhorov, purchased majority ownership in the team. Unlike holdover owner Bruce Ratner, Prokhorov brings with him visions of transforming the Nets from a metropolitan stepchild into a global brand. Prokhorov has brandished his willingness to spend lavishly and at any cost to improve the team’s on-court quality. With a commitment to globalizing the New Jersey Nets icon, Prokhorov has opened visions of immediate success.
The organization would not renew its lease with the IZOD Center (formerly the Continental Airlines Arena) in East Rutherford, so the Nets will call Newark their new home in 2010. The Nets will move south to the deluxe Prudential Center for at least two seasons while construction on the Barclays Center in Brooklyn is in the works. With sights on another transition to Brooklyn in 2012, the nomadic Nets should enjoy an upgrade in home court advantage and heightened fan support due to the state of the art facility.
But Johnson’s promising potential isn’t limited to off the court luxury. The Nets have enough flexibility under the cap (currently about $23 million) to sign two max free agents if Kris Humphries waives his player option or the team can pawn off another player currently under contract. New Jersey also offers a solid, young core, headlined by emerging center, Brook Lopez, who has already established himself as one of the premiere centers in the league (and a potential 20 & 10 player to boot). With Harris facilitating the offense, Lopez manning the post, plus a talented crop of young role players including Terrence Williams, Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Yi Jianlian, the Nets have the potential to summarily improve by great lengths.
The Nets own the third, 27th and 31st picks in the 2010 NBA Draft. A balanced combination of draft picks, free agent signings and the development of the young, holdover talent puts the Nets in a promising position moving forward. With a super-savvy general manager (Rod Thorn) scouring for talent and a spirited owner willing to win at any expense, Avery Johnson is in an envied position where he can do no wrong—where the only feasible direction is up.
In all three seasons of his career, Johnson’s teams have finished in the top ten in scoring defense. Johnson’s emphasis on defense, an area where the Nets struggled tremendously during the 2009-2010 season, bodes well for defensively-deficient New Jersey, which should improve by leaps and bounds even if significant changes aren’t made to the its personnel. With a few Thorn strokes of ingenuity in the free agent pool, Johnson may be the frontrunner for 2011 Coach of the Year, and his team may be a viable contender for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Avery Johnson has not won a single game as coach of the New Jersey Nets, but his addition already makes the offseason a victory. If the organization plays its cards right, success can become something even more than a variable offseason occurrence.
Yankees stay hot as Posada heats up
June 14, 2010
One of baseball's worst teams strolled into Yankees Stadium riding a rare 3-game winning streak. The Houston Astros came rolling into the Bronx, winners of 8 out of their last 10 games. But on the power of two Jorge Posada grand slams in back-to-back games, the Bombers put the 'Stros back in place by winning all three games in an otherwise routine series sweep.
Posada, who missed 15 games with a fractured foot, forwent a rehab assignment and rejoined the Yankees on June 2nd. Since his return, Posada had struggled greatly with the bat, accumulating just 3 hits in his last 27 at bats coming into the series. A Houston pitching staff, which ranks 23rd in the league with a 4.57 team ERA, was the perfect tonic. Posada belted two grand slams in successive days, helping the Yankees slug their way past the Astros.
Posada took his first crouch behind the plate Saturday since injuring his foot in mid-May. Promptly, Posada, who is a lifetime .281 hitter with an .871 OPS when catching, finally got going at the dish. Although most catchers hit better out of the Designated Hitter's role because it eliminates the wear and tear of catching in a crouch for 9 innings, Posada is a marked exception. The longtime, Yankees backstop is hitting a mere .213 with a .683 OPS in 240 career at bats as the DH.
Sprightly reserve catcher, Francisco Cervelli, who filled in admriably as Posada's replacement, will take his young charisma back to the bench as a reserve. But with Nick Johnson, the Yankees everyday DH coming into the season, on the shelf with a wrist injury, the Yankees' best lineup is with Posada at DH and Cervelli behind the plate. Posada needs to rectify his struggles hitting as the DH soon because Cervelli's nimbleness and defensive prowess cannot be replaced by the ungainly, offensive-minded Posada.
Posada's return to catcher does have a silver lining. On one hand, the move signals the imminent end of interim backup catcher Chad Moeller, who the Yankees will Designate For Assignment and replace with a better bat, most likely Juan Miranda. More importantly, it provides much needed rest for Cervelli, who was beginning to tire and struggle offensively because of consistent playing time which he, as a backup catcher is not conditioned for. Cervelli was hitting .400 in mid-May, but saw those numbers plummet when the everyday catching duties took their toll, inducing a 13 for 71 (.183) slump.
Mets end road woes, sweep O's
June 14, 2010
The New York Mets hadn't won back-to-back road games since July of 2009. Eleven months later that hallmark of futility finally came to an end when the Mets swept the lowly Baltimore Orioles in Camden Yards over the weekend.
All three Mets' starters picked up wins, spearheaded by the pleasantly surprising R.A. Dickey. The 35-year-old knuckleballer sports a 2.78 ERA and 4-0 record in five starts and has gone at least 6 innings in each of those appearances. Hisanori Takahasi was effective over the weekend as well, throwing seven innings of one-run ball in a 3-1 Mets win.
Given the somewhat unexpected success of Dickey and Takahashi, the Mets have a dilemma on their hands with John Maine set to come off the Disabled List soon. Maine threw four scoreless innings in his rehab assignment Sunday, but with a healthy Jonathan Niese back, there is no room for Maine in the Big League rotation.
Takahashi has been a tremendous asset as a reliever for the Mets in 2010 and is the likely candidate to leave the rotation for the bullpen. The Mets' middle relief has been less effective with Takahashi in the rotation. The bullpen has allowed almost a full run more per game in Takahashi's absence. Takahashi is 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA as a reliever, so by moving to the pen, the Mets can strengthen their middle relief better than they could by placing Maine in the pen.
While Dickey's knuckleball could be a great gimmick pitch in relief, his style provides more value in the rotation where he can keep lineups off balance in a series following the hardthrowing Mike Pelfrey and staff ace, Johan Santana. Dickey adds a great dynamic to the rotation that should not be fiddled with unless hitters begin to figure him out. The Mets are best off riding the hot hand and utilizing Takahashi's versatility in the bullpen when Maine is ready to return. One or two 6+ inning starts from Dickey per week are more valuable than invariable relief apperances, especially in blowout situations.
Injured Howard shines as U.S. earns draw with England
June 14, 2010
A fortuitous goal that ricocheted off English goalkeeper Robert Green fueled the U.S. men's soccer team to a 1-1 draw in its opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. But while a lucky bounce boosted the United States to a free point in group play, the news was less auspicious for American goalkeeper, Tim Howard. On a night in Rustenburg, South Africa highlighted by two plays that put both goalies in pain--mental or physical--Howard's misfortune left him writhing on the ground for minutes.
Howard bruised his ribs when the foot of English forward, Emile Heskey, struck Howard below the chest while sliding for a ball. After spending several minutes on the ground in anguish, Howard, who is considered one of the world’s best goalkeepers, got to his feet and returned to the game. It was another moment of good fortune for the United States, one necessary to keep alive its aspirations of moving deep into the tournament. Howard received a cortisone shot at halftime and was outstanding in the net thereafter, amassing five saves down the stretch to keep the game tied.
According to ESPN, Howard is cleared to play in next Friday's match against Slovenia. With Howard in goal and a free point in the books, the United States is in great shape moving forward. Wins against Slovenia and Algeria would guarantee the U.S. a spot in the Round of 16.
