Yanks need Posada back

Jorge Posada has let the Yankees know that he will test free agency rather than accept a conract offer in the next few days. No matter how much money it will take, the Yankees need Posada back in 2008. The other catchers worth talking about on the market are Jose Molina and Yorvit Tarreablla. Neither has the power or batting eye Posada has, and with an Arod-less lineup, Posada's bat will prove to be vital.

Tonight at Joe Torre's Safe at Home Foundation gala, captain Derek Jeter said he feels his buddy Posada will return. You have to feel Jeter knows what he is talking about considering he was the best man at Jorge's wedding. "I think they're coming back," Derek Jeter said about Posada and Mo tonight in Manhattan. "That's the best way I can say it."

Giants back to work after the bye

Head coach Tom Coughlin gave his players off the entire bye week with the exception of a few team meetings. This morning the Giants finally resumed practice, but it was only a light jog-through. The team will again have off tommorrow before returning to full contact practices on Wednesday.

Almost the entire team participated in the jog-through today. Only WR Plaxico Burress did not participate at all. RB Derrick Ward and SS James Butler took limited reps. Burress has not been practicing since week 1 of the season because of a sprained ankle. His routine has been to lay off his ankle all week in order to be ready for the games on Sundays. After week 8 against the Dolphins, it was believed that Plaxico would resume practicing after the week 9 bye. However, it now appears that he will continue to be held out of practice. I think this will be the trend for the remainder of the season. Its not like its hurting his performance anyway- Burress is in the midst of a career year.

Burress, Ward, and Butler are all expected to be listed as questionable for week 10 against the Cowboys when the first injury report comes out on Wednesday. As I said, Burress will almost certainly play, and the other two will likely be limited in practice all week long and will be gametime decisions on Sunday. The Ward and Butler injuries are pretty insignificant anyway. Ward being out just means more carries for Brandon Jacobs, and Butler's replacement (rookie safety Michael Johnson) has outperformed him the past few weeks anyway.

Overall, this is the healthiest a New York Giants team has been this deep into the season in a long long time. KNOCK ON WOOD.

Rangers/Flyers: 4 in a Row

The New York Rangers defeated the division rival Philapdelphia Flyers 2-0 Monday night, again at Madison Square Garden. Chalk that up as 4 Ws in a row for the Rangers, as they now have a record of 7-6-1. After a tough start to the season, New York now finds itself just 1 point behind the first place Flyers. The long homestand really did wonders for the Rangers, as they went 5-1 in 6 games on the Garden ice. Overall, the Rangers are now 7-2 for the year at home, but are a dismal 0-4-1 on the road. They are the only team in the entire NHL without a road win this season.

The key factor in this game was once again the stellar play of Henrik Lundqvist. To tell you the truth, it's getting difficult to write these game recaps without sounding extremely repetitive. But the biggest story night in and night out has been King Henrik's dominance. Tonight, he stopped all 30 shots he faced to earn his 4th shutout of the year, and his 3rd in his last 6 games. Keep in mind, these shutouts are not coming in games in which the Rangers are lighting up the scoreboard. Tonight for example was just a 2-0 victory, but was only a 1-0 game until 4 minutes left in the 3rd period. New York is leaving their star netminder no room for errors, which is okay for now- but only because he isn't making any. What makes Henrik's outstanding start to the season all the more impressive, is that he's started and finished every game this season and still has shown no signs of fatigue. If anything, he's sharper now than he was the first week or so. Flyers' goalie Martin Biron was also outstanding, saving 43 of 45 NY shots. But I guess "outstanding" just isn't good enough when you're facing a goalie who's playing as close to perfect as possible. The Rangers have the fewest goals in the league (25), but are now above .500, because thanks to Lundqvist they have also allowed the fewest (23).

The Rangers' first goal came right at the end of the 1st period. Jaromir Jagr lifted one of his vintage wrist shots over Biron's shoulder for his 4th goal of the season. The goal was assisted by Scott Gomez and defenseman Daniel Girardi. The Rangers' second goal came with just 4 minutes left in the 3rd period, and was scored on the power play by Brendan Shanahan. Shanahan found open ice in the middle of the Philly penalty-kill and received a sharp pass from Jagr. Shanny blasted a one-timer low and past Biron's right pad for his 4th of the year as well.

Stars of the Game:
3rd-Brandon Dubinsky-NYR
2nd-Jaromir Jagr-NYR
1st-Henrik Lundqvist-NYR

I feel like I must once again give honorable mention to Henrik Lundqvist's opposing goaltender, Martin Biron. He played well, but was simply overshadowed by the King.

Next on the slate for the Rangers are the New York Islanders. The Rangers will make the short trip out to Long Island in search of their first road victory of the year tommorrow night.

Pettitte Declines Option for 2008

Andy Pettitte declined his $16 million player option with the Yankees, making him a free agent. The following statement was made by Pettitte's agent Randy Hendricks:

"I have spoken with Brian Cashman, who has reiterated what Hank Steinbrenner said about the Yankees wanting to give Andy all the time he needs to decide about next season," Pettitte's agent, Randy Hendricks, said Monday in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Accordingly, we are declining to exercise the option for 2008 and Andy will declare free agency in order to free up a roster spot for the Yankees."

"If Andy decides to play, I am confident we can reach an agreement with the Yankees within 24 hours. The only options, as Andy has stated, are the Yankees or retirement. He appreciates the Yankees' willingness to give him the time he feels he needs. I do not expect him to make a decision for quite some time."

Things still look ok on the Yankees front, lets just hope Pettitte doesn't take too long to make up his mind. If he waits until mid-December to decide and opts out, it could leave the Yankees without many options. As things stand now, the Yankees are looking at a rotation of Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, Mussina, Kennedy.

Yankee Rumors from GM Meetings

All 30 general managers, some team executives, and most agents are gathered in Orlando Florida right now discussing their team's winter plans. While no major deals or signings are expected, rumors are swirling in Flordia according to major papers and baseball websites. Here are some of the most intriguing Yankee rumors I've read:

1. The Marlins have let teams know that Miguel Cabrera can be had for the right price. Both the Red Sox and Yankees plan to be major players if this is indeed true, but the Marlins are known to covet young Yankee pitcher Phil Hughes, who the Yankees might be hesitant to deal.

2. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays may have interest in trading Scott Kazmir in return for veteran position players and young pitching. It is reported that if he becomes avilable, the Yankees would offer a big package for the 24 year-old lefthander, partly because he is a Red Sox killer.

3. According to Newsday, the Yankees are targetting Hank Blalock, Joe Crede, and Edwin Encarnacion as alternatives at third base if Cabrera doesn't seem like a possibility.

4. Omar Minaya is reportadly courting Jorge Posada hardcore. It might come down to who will offer him more money, the Yankees or Mets.

5. Alex Rodriguez is reportadly telling his close friends that he wants to play for the Red Sox. Whether this is another one of Boras's schemes to raise Arods price tag or an actual desire, the reports are sure to cause GM Theo Epstein to at least think about making a run at the overpayed third baseman. Mike Lowell to the Bronx, anyone?

6. My favorite: Free agent Jon Lieber has interest in returning to New York. A 6th starter?

Sources: Newsday, Rotoworld.com, mlbtraderumors.com, Benmaller.com

Knicks/T'wolves: Crawford shines down the stretch

Jamal Crawford shot a dismal 29% from the floor during the preseason, leaving many Knicks fans to question whether he would be the consistent perimeter threat that he was during the 06-07 season. In Friday night's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Crawford led the way for New York with 25 points. Tonight, he again carried the Knicks with a 24 point performance, eliminating all concern of his woeful preseason carrying into the regular season.

Crawford scored 10 of his 24 in the 4th quarter and nailed several circus shots in the lane. He also added 7 assists to his impressive stat-line on the way to aiding NY in beating the T'Wolves 97-93 in the Knicks home opener. It was the Knicks first victory in their home opener since 2001 when they beat the Washington Wizards and then starting SG Michael Jordan. (I'm sorry but that sounds awfully pathetic. The last time the New York Knickerbockers won a home opener was when MJ was still playing- ouch).

I truly believe that the Knicks would be a better team if they allowed Crawford to dominate the perimeter touches rather than Stephon Marbury. Nothing against Marbury, but I think Crawford could put up all-star numbers if he received all-star touches. The man is simply a scorer. He can shoot the rock; he can take it to the rack; he can make you think he's going to drive and then pull up. His greatest quality may be that he's able to adjust his shots in the lane on the fly, which is why he often converts many flashy, jaw-dropping plays. Furthermore, Crawford and center Eddy Curry have consistently displayed a chemistry dating back to their days in Chicago that Marbury and Curry do not share.

As I was saying, this is no knock against Stephon Marbury. Starbury found his scoring touch, as he tacked on 17 points in addition to 7 assists. Marbury seemed to finally back up his statement that he would be looking for his shot more this season. The Randolph/Curry combination was once again effective as they put up 29 points and 17 rebounds combined.

One interesting thing about this game is Isiah's decision to only go 8 deep. The only guys that got off the bench were Nate Robinson, David Lee, and Renaldo Balkman. I guess Isiah is trying to give his horses as many minutes as possible. This trio provided the Knicks with instant energy as usual. Lee had an impressive 14 points and 7 rebounds in just 27 minutes.

While I understand that the Knicks have 2 guys starting in their frontcourt who demand 30+ minutes per game, I really would like to see David Lee get more minutes. While certainly not the best scorer or best pure basketball talent on the Knicks, my assessment is that he does more things well than anyone else on the roster. He provides the intangibles that deserve more than 27 minutes per game. Note to Isiah Thomas: Find a way to get this guy on the court. Good things tend to happen when he's in. Play him more at the 3 if you have to in order to preserve Randolph and Curry's minutes, but you gotta get him in somehow.

Final Thoughts:
While a win in the home opener is certainly encouraging, keep in mind that this is the Minnesota Timberwolves we're talking about. Kevin Garnett and Ricky Davis are gone. Their marquee player is Al Jefferson who is still a little bit raw in the post, and they certainly do not have a consistent perimeter scorer. Tonight was a better defensive effort, but it was against a less capable offense. It was nice to see the balanced scoring again as the Knicks had 6 players and 4 starters in double figures. I'm really liking what I'm seeing from Jamal Crawford. If he continues to get a lot of looks, he will average 20+ points per game- he's too talented not to.

The Knicks next game is Tuesday night at home against Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, and the Denver Nuggets. Talk about a litmus test for the Knicks' defense.

Rangers/Devils Recap: Avery Returns

The New York Rangers hosted the rival New Jersey Devils on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. It was the second meeting between the 2 this year, and it marked the first game a of a key 4 game stretch for the Rangers in which they will play each member of their division once. The big story was the return of agitator and crowd favorite Sean Avery to the Rangers' lineup. Avery injured his shoulder in the second game of the season on a cheap shot by the Ottawa Senator's Chris Neil. Last season the Rangers were hovering on the bubble of the playoff picture when they brought Avery in at the trade deadline. New York then went on a tear, and many attribute the turnaround to Avery's energy and toughness. On a side note, Marek Malik, a member of the Rangers' top defensive pair was out with a knee injury. He is considered day to day. Jason Strudwick took his place in the lineup.

Avery's return to the lineup caused head coach Tom Renney to make some changes in the line combinations. Rookie Brandon Dubinsky centered Jaromir Jagr and Marcel Hossa. Scott Gomez centered Avery and Petr Prucha. Chris Drury centered Brendan Shanahan and Nigel Dawes, to round out a 3rd very dangerous scoring line for the Rangers. The 4th checking line of Blair Betts, Colton Orr, and Ryan Hollweg remained in tact.

Right away, Avery's contribution to lineup was noticable. The Prucha/Gomez/Avery line provided a spark all game long, often holding the puck in the Devils' zone for the duration of their shifts. In fact, Scott Gomez netted a goal against his former team early in the 1st period. Petr Prucha made some nice moves as he carried the puck from end to end. He threw it at Devils' goalie Martin Brodeur, and the puck bounced back out to Gomez, who blasted it through a Sean Avery screen and past Brodeur. Unfortunately, the Devils answered right back as Sergei Brylin jammed one passed Henrik Lundqvist in a scram in front of the Rangers' net only 33 seconds later. Although Avery did not record a point, he registered 5 hits and agitated the Devils into some penalties. He had a pretty typical Avery game, and the crowd was certainly glad to have his energy back on the ice.

While the line changes may have energized the Gomez and Drury lines, I felt like the Hossa/Dubinsky/Jagr line was lacking energy throughout much of the game. Dubinsky and Hossa simply don't control the puck well enough to help Jagr keep the puck in the opponent's zone. Maybe I'm just accustomed to the puck dominance that the Jagr line used to display when Michael Nylander centered Jagr the past 2 seasons. Renney really needs to find the right combination of linesmates to get his superstar winger going.

From then on, the story of this game was all about the 2 outstanding goalies. Lundqvist and Brodeur are arguably the two best in the game, and both certainly played that way for the final 2 and a half periods. Lundqvist made an outstanding save midway through the 2nd period. As he was lying on the ground, the puck was flipped over his head, at which point he bent over backwards and swatted the puck away with his glove just before it crossed the goalline. Brodeur answered a little later on with an outstanding glove snare on Brendan Shanahan. Lundqvist again made an outstanding stop in the 3rd period. The puck rolled slowly into the Rangers zone and a Devils forward and Lundqvist both charged the puck at the same time. Lundqvist attempted to clear it with his stick, but it hit off a Rangers defenseman right to a Devils player. Despite an open goal, Lundqvist dove backwards and made an awesome pad stop to keep the score a tie.

Regulation time ended in a 1-1 tie and the game went to overtime. There wasn't too much offensive action in OT, except for a Chris Drury breakway on Martin Brodeur. Drury received an outlet pass and had a 1 on 1 situation with Brodeur. He wound up and took a slap shot but the Devils goaltender blockered it away. OT also ended in a 1-1 tie, and the game commenced to the shootout.

A shootout in the NHL is always a treat, but its even more exciting when it includes 2 premiere goalies. The first shooter for the Rangers was Marcel Hossa. He deeked Brodeur to the left but then flipped it too high over the top of the net. The Devils first shooter, Zach Parise, got Lundqvist leaning the wrong way, but lost control of the puck and could not get a shot off. The Rangers second shooter was Petr Prucha. Prucha moved in on Brodeur, faked a wrist shot, and then put one into the back of the net just over Brodeur's outstretched left pad. With the Rangers up 1-0 in the shootout, Brian Gionta tried to beat Lundqvist low and to the left, but Henrik stoned him with his right pad. Brodeur then knocked away Nigel Dawes' wrister with his glove, leaving it up to John Madden to beat Henrik Lundqvist to extend the shootout. Madden moved in but shot it well over the net, giving the Rangers the 2-1 (1-0) victory.

The Rangers have now won 3 in a row to even their record up at 6-6-1. Henrik Lundqvist was once again outstanding in a low scoring game, and again asserted his dominance in shootouts. The stars of the game were as follows: 3rd Star: Scott Gomez, 2nd Star: Petr Prucha, 1st star: Henrik Lundqvist. I also however give honorable mention to Martin Brodeur and Sean Avery. The Rangers now continue with 3 in-division games against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, the New York Islanders on Tuesday night, and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.

Kellen Clemens First Half

At the risk of getting a little too excited a little too early I think all Jets fans should be happy with what they have seen out of Kellen Clemens in this first half. This does not look like a quarterback making only the second start of his career. He has been reading the defense ahead of the snap all day and done a fantastic job of calling an audible when it was needed. I expected to see at least 2 or 3 mistakes that a normal young quarterback would make but so far these have been avoided. Instead of throwing the ball to avoid a big hit he has been tucking it in. On a pivotal third down and seven he kept the drive alive with a very nice run up the middle of the field which was turned into a huge gain when a personal foul against the Redskins was added on at the end of the play. The throws have been reaching their targets with a fairly have level on consistency (11-17), they have been reaching the receivers in stride and everyone is getting involved (7 different players have recorded a catch).

Some people may be concerned that he has only thrown for 98 yards; didn’t we bring him in to use his powerful arm to throw the ball downfield? Yes that is one of the reasons but his arm power has been helping the Jets offense greatly today. The receivers have been spread out wide all over the field, Cotchery has been lining up outside the numbers on several occasions. Eventually this should allow Thomas Jones and Leon Washington to get some much needed yards on the ground and maybe Jones will see the end zone for the first time this year in the second half. I had my finger crossed hoping that we may have seen an epic 2 minute drill at the end of the half to put the Jets up 24-9 but that may have been asking for a little too much. That being said it’s too bad that Mike Nugent doesn’t have a stronger leg. As a huge Ohio State fan I cannot complain about many things he does because the man has nerves of steal but this is the NFL and a field goal in the 50-55 yard range should be something that he can make 25-30 percent of the time.

Damon out?

Brian Cashman let it be known to the media that he is willing to trade one of his outfielders in order to fill a void at third base, first base or in the bullpen. With the White Sox looking for a center fielder (they have reportadly been talking to free agents Aaron Rowand and Torri Hunter), Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune speculates the possibility of a Johnny Damon- Joe Crede swap. The Sox have a logjam at third base with Crede and Josh Field and could potentially get Damon for a lot cheaper than what it would cost to land one of the big free agents. Damon is owed $26 million over the next two years so the Yanks would likely have to send some money to Chicago along with the speedy outfielder.

I think the move would make a lot of sense for both teams. Getting rid of Damon would give the Yankees extra money to possibly pursue Hunter or Andruw Jones, and the team could spin off Crede to another team or keep him as their third basemen in 2008. With Hunter or Jones in center and Melky in left, the Yankees outfield defense would be one of the best in the league. The lineup would look something like this (assuming Jorge Posada re-signs with the Bombers):

Melky Cabrera LF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Torri Hunter CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Hideki Matsui DH
Joe Crede 3B
Shelly Duncan/Jason Giambi 1B

Chicago Tribune article: http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-011103sox,1,2084779.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

Hip, Hip Jorge!

Despite rumors that Jorge Posada doesn't get along with new Yankees manager Joe Girardi, Posada made a statement today saying that he has no problems with the former catcher.

“Girardi was my mentor and he always taught me the value of having a great work ethic and how it was most important to maintain the position year after year. The 2007 season was difficult and bittersweet and all I’m doing right now is evaluating everything,” he said.

Letting Posada walk would be a big mistake, and it would be especially difficult for fans if he signs with the Mets. Omar Minaya, Mets GM, recently said that Jorge is high on his list of free agents. The Yankees should throw a lot of money Posada's way and lock him up for at least four years. With Giambi's contract up after the 2008 season, and Matsui and Damon gone after 2009, Posada could sldie into the DH role after two years behind the plate. With his plate discipline and ability to hit for contact, he will make for a perfect DH at age 39.

We Talkin' About Defense

KNICKS 106- CAVALIERS 110

The New York Knicks season opened with high expectations in Cleveland tonight, but as usual those high expectations came crashing down rather quickly. Sure the Knicks were going into Cleveland to square up against the defending Eastern Conference Champions, but for some reason a win did not seem that unlikely. Only two nights ago LeBron and company suffered a blow out loss to the Dallas Mavericks on their home court. Who is to say that the Cavs of Wednesday night would not carry into Friday against the Knicks? Unfortunately, LeBron actually decided to show up tonight and the Knicks didn’t seem to mind helping the Cavs grab their first win.

The game began optimistically as the Knicks jumped out to a 34-32 lead after the first quarter. Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph were sharing the ball beautifully and for a moment it seemed as if the two could be a deadly combo. Even more impressively, Jamal Crawford was looking on point (unlike his lackluster preseason as he shot 29% from the field) and Nate Robinson provided a spark for the Knicks off the bench with 19 points and 6 bounds. This momentum carried until the end of the 3rd quarter when the Knicks obtained a nice 80-75 lead over the seemingly harmless Cavs. The question was, would another 4th quarter collapse lead the Knicks to a disappointing loss?

Ultimately, I left one major detail luring in my sub-conscious and I refused to admit it: The Knicks were playing terrible defense. From the first quarter, the score was definitely too high, and it was clear that at any moment there could be a slump in the Knicks offense that would lead to a Cleveland surge. Of course, this terrible truth came to life as the Cavs stormed out in the 4th to silence the Knicks hopes. Daniel Gibson led the revitalized Cavs with a demoralizing three straight three-pointers that would mark the end of the game. The frustrating part about Gibson’s 4th quarter havoc is the fact that it seemed more like shooting practice as the Knicks were practically non-existent in the 4th quarter. In addition, Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry both had solid games, but they lost their fire in the last twelve minutes. Randolph especially as he just looked sloppy and lost on the court. To sum it all up, it should be no surprise the Knicks lost tonight because of their complete lack of defense throughout the entire game. Yes, it is true that the score was close until the last quarter, however, when a team does not play consistent defense a collapse at some point is inevitable.

To add insult to injury, the Knicks had one of the worst free throw shooting performances I have seen lately. The only Knick who was able to put it down from the strike was Jamal Crawford, otherwise, the free throw numbers are just painful. As a whole, the team shot 61% from the line going 14/23. Individually, Eddy Curry led the free throw blunder going 0/5. When looking back at the stat sheet, the Knicks should play close attention to the FT numbers because winning games means making free throws.

The last detail that haunted the Knicks tonight was the lack of rebounding during the fourth quarter. During the last four minutes, there were several occasions where the Knicks managed to get a stop only to give up a long rebound. Those kinds of rebounds can be especially frustrating, but when it happens over and over again there is something wrong. As usual, Eddy Curry was lazy when it came to boxing out and he gave up a big rebound that could have given the Knicks a late 4th quarter surge. This could just be a lack of determination to play hard for 48 minutes, but something has to be done about it.

Regardless of the Knicks blunders I have hope for the remainder of the season. I like the starting line-up and the dynamic off the bench can provide a huge boost for the team. I was most impressed with Jamal Crawford (25 points, 6 assists, 2 steals, 8/17 FG, 8/8 FT) and he should be the premiere player on this team. Hopefully, Isiah will realize this and give Crawford 38+ minutes per game consistently. Nate was spectacular off the bench and David Lee provided that omnipresent boost that he always does. I was pleased with Curry and Randolph through most of the game, but their final quarter seemed to overshadow their earlier performances.

FINAL WORD

The Knicks need a lot of defense work. It is going to be hard to get a streak of wins going without a defensive presence on the court. I hope I will see a shift on this end of the court as the season progresses, if not, it could be a long season.

HIGHLIGHT PLAYER
JAMAL CRAWFORD: 25 points, 6 assists, 2 steals, 8/17 FG, 8/8 FT

Yanks to pick up Abreu's option

The Yankees have until midnight tonight to make their decision about whether to pick up RF Bobby Abreu's option. Nothing is official yet, but the Yankees are expected to pick up the $16 million option, and keep Abreu around for at least one more year. Had the Yanks declined the option, they would have had to pay $2 million to buy out Abreu's contract.

Abreu started off slowly in 2007, but finished the year with a .283 average, 16 HRs, 101 RBIs, and 123 runs, which placed him at 2nd in the AL in total runs. Bobby also walked 84 times this past season, which helped yield a very solid OBP of .369.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman said "Bobby Abreu possesses a unique skill set and has proven to be a durable and reliable asset to this club. Consistency has been a hallmark throughout his career."

Abreu now returns to an outfield that already includes Melky Cabrera, Hideki Matsui, and Johnny Damon. Abreu will once again be the everyday RF, and Melky will be the everyday CF. Damon and Matsui will most likely split reps in LF, and both will also share some time at DH. If the Yanks are able to move Jason Giambi at some point this offseason, it will open more time for the members of this crowded outfield. I personally would have liked to see the Yanks begin to part ways with some of its veteran position players, but the option will only bring Abreu back for 1 more year, at which point the Yankees would have to negotiate an entirely new contract if they still wish to keep the veteran RF.

Coughlin's job now secure?

Coming into the season, New York Giants' head coach Tom Coughlin's job was anything but secure. Many Big Blue fans were outraged at new GM Jerry Reese's decision at the end of last year, to extend Coughlin's contract for the 2007 season. A subpar season in 07 was likely to influence the NYG braintrust to kindly show Coughlin the door. Needless to say, his ass was on the line.

However, the Giants are now 6-2 heading into their bye week. Barring a monumental collapse, they seem well on their way to their 3rd consecutive playoff appearance, especially with that cupcake schedule. And now all seems quiet on the "fire Coughlin" front. In fact these rumors have been replaced with whispers of yet another extension.

In an interview with The Daily News, Jerry Reese said that he expects Coughlin "to be here for a long time." Reese went on to say "Tom is my guy. Nobody’s pulling for Tom more than me. (An extension is) something we’re not talking about at this point. You never know what will happen with that, but we’re not looking at months from now. We’re looking at (The Cowboys) a couple of weeks from now. That’s all our concern is. We’re not looking at what the future is for the coaching staff."

Sounds like his job is a little cushier. This semi-vote of confidence from Reese certainly presents an infinitely more secure position for Coach Coughlin than he had entering the season.

Joe Torre Signs with Dodgers

I was running on the treadmill at my schools athletic center harmlessly watching ESPN, when they broke the news that Joe Torre has signed on to be manager of the LA Dodgers. The deal is for 3 years and $13 million. I've been preparing for the news to come, and I am very excited to see what Girardi has to offer, but seeing Torre in a different uniform was a hard thing. Torre is the only manager I've known, taking over soon after my 8th birthday. I feel the same way I would with a high school relationship: I just didn't think he'd move on so soon!

No matter how I feel, Torre will be managing Jeff Kent, James Loney, Rafael Furcal, Russell Martin, and possibly Arod in 2008. Poor Scott Proctor. He finally got away from Torre's bullpen mis-managements, and now Joe follows him to California. The fate of his right arm has never looked worse.

The Dodgers should be a very good team. Andy Laroche will most likely get a full season at 3B, Loney a full season at first, and Andrew Ethier and Matt Kemp will be on either side of speedy Juan Pierre in the OF. With a lot of youngsters, the Dodgers are no guarentee to finish above .500 next year, but with Torre running the ship and a butt load of potential, look for LA to be a contender in 08.

*If Arod signs, contender is far from the right word.
*If Arod signs, the Dodgers will be forced to trade rookie Laroche, and look for the Yanks to be players.

A-Rod and the Mets?

So reports are abound over the past couple days about Omar Minaya and the New York Mets possibly pursuing Alex Rodriguez and all the baggage that comes along with him. Without using stats lets just think about Rodriguez. He is amazing in the regular season there really is not any doubt about that. He produces on all levels and could be a viable candidate for the triple crown in any of the next couple years. That being said he simply does not produce in the playoffs. Scott Boras feels that A-Rod alone can pull in 40-50 million dollars in revenue for a single ball club, more if they have a regional television network. Granted this may be true but who really cares if he doesn't get the team past the division series in the playoffs? At the end of this year the Mets orchestrated one of the greatest regular season collapses of all time. Perhaps if Alex was on their team the situation would have been different and they would have had the privilege of making the playoffs. However if he was the driving force down the stretch and then did not produce in the playoffs the mets would have been swept in the first round. As a Mets fan and in my personal opinion I don't think we deserved to make the playoffs this year and making it and losing in the first round would have been just as bad. Adding Alex Rodriquez is not a solution to the mets problem. David Wright is the cornerstone of this franchise. He may not be as good a fielder but overall he is a great player and the perfect face for the franchise. A few years back the Mets made the giant mistake of moving Reyes to second in favor of Kaz Matsui at Shortstop. Any person remotely familiar with baseball knows how that situation played out, it would be a very unwise move for the Mets to make the same mistake again. The plan I have heard as of now would be to move David Wright to second base. He is to big and not nimble enough for this position, first maybe but Delgado is signed at 16 million a year through next year so it is not really an option. Although David offered to move in case the Mets signed A-Rod this does not mean it should actually happen. A-Rod would destroy the chemistry that the mets are so famous for, I have serious doubts about his ability to master the handshakes the Mets are so famous for. Furthermore singing Alex Rodriquez would take money away that could be spent on pitching, the mets true weak point. We need at least two more starters for next season (assuming Perez, Maine and Pelfry all return) and a ton of help in the bullpen. Instead of throwing a ton of money to third base use it on the mound. The Mets are full of great young players such as Milledge, Gomez and Hernandez and have no need for Alex. Let's see the Met's make some smart off field decisions and compete for the series title next season .

Oh no, not another Joe!

According to the New York Daily News, the Yanks have held priliminary discussions with the White Sox about trading for third baseman Joe Crede. Crede underwent back surgery in June and missed almost all of the 07 season. He is a wiz defensively and would compliment Jeter on the left side of the infield, but with his always injury prone back and inability to hit for average, I think he is exactly what we don't need offensively. With high contact guys like Jeter, Abreu, Matsui, Cano, and Melky in the lineup, the Yanks need one of two things from the third base position.... average or tons of power (or ideally both). Adding another contact hitter would make the Yankees a very different (but succesful) kind of team than we've seen in the past. It would be a team of hit and runs and bunts, a tactic that has worked for the Oakland Athletics for year. Arod is the only player who hit over 25 HR in 07, so the Yanks want to have the same offensive dynamic as last year, they need a big power guy (a.k.a. Colorado's Garrett Atkins). Joe Crede does neither of these things. He has hit over 22 HR only once in his career and constantly bats around .260. Unless Cashman has big plans for first base, I say stay away for Crede. Besides, if the Yankees want a .250 hitter with the power to hit 30 home runs, Wilson Betemit already has his jeresey fitted.

On my wish list:

Chone Figgins (contact)
Garrett Atkins (power)
Miguel Cabrera (both)
Miguel Tejada (contact)
Mike Lowell (contact)
Edwin Encarnacion (youth and contact)

Henrik keeping the Rangers afloat

The Rangers took to the Madison Square Garden ice tonight coming off a 3-1 home win Monday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Coming into tonight, the Rangers were still yet to win consecutive games during the young 2007-2008 season and their overall record stood at 4-6-1. Entering the season, the Broadway Blueshirts were a popular choice to eventually represent the Eastern Conference in the battle for Lord Stanley's Cup. On paper it certainly seemed that way. New York was coming off 2 straight playoff appearances, and in the offseason they added the offensive talents of centers Chris Drury and Scott Gomez. The newcomers in addition to captain Jaromir Jagr and top-line scorers Brendan Shanahan and Martin Straka were supposed to form a formidable scoring attack. However despite a high payroll filled with scoring threats, the Rangers have struggled to find the net in the early stages of the season. In fact, coming into tonight, New York had the lowest amount of goals in the entire NHL at just 19 in 11 games. The only reason the Rangers have managed to stay afloat has been due to the stellar play of Vezina Award candidate Henrik Lundqvist in net.

Tonight's game against the Washington Capitals was no different. Washington is a team that is typically easy to gameplan against. They feature 2 top scoring lines, and 2 checking lines that get limited ice time. Their top line includes veteran center Viktor Kozlov and superstar Alexander Ovechkin and the second scoring line features former Ranger Michael Nylander and the up and coming Alexander Semin. The key to beating teams structured with 2 elite lines rather than 3 or 4 deep lines, is puck control. The Rangers gameplan was likely to try to control the puck for as long as possible while the Ovechkin line was on the ice by matching the Jagr line up against them. By doing so, the Rangers hoped to keep the puck in the Cap's zone and limit the shots on King Henrik.

Unfortunately the Rangers have not been able to do this all season. They have been outshot in practically every game. Tonight Washington also outshot the Rangers, putting 31 on Lundqvist including 6 from Alex Ovechkin (so much for limiting his touches). But just as he always does, Henrik Lundqvist once again stood on his head for New York. He saved all 31 shots he faced, including an awesome pad stop late in the 2nd period that robbed Viktor Kozlov of a goal. Lundqvist tacked on his second shutout of the season, as the Rangers were able to scrounge for 2 goals. Free agent addition Chris Drury scored early in the 2nd period, assisted by Shanahan and rookie defenseman phenom Marc Staal. It was only the talented Drury's second goal of the season, and first since opening night. The Rangers second goal came on the powerplay midway through the 3rd period from their top defensemen Michal Rozsival, this time assisted by both free agent additions- Chris Drury and Scott Gomez.

As I said, the Rangers currently have the least goals in the league, however they have also let up the least. One might attribute this to stingy defensive play, but not when Lundqvist has still faced the 6th most shots in the entire NHL. Henrik currently boasts a .930 save percentage and a paper thin 1.82 goals against average. Such credentials are typical of a Vezina Award winner (best regular season goalie). Last season Lundqvist finished third in the Vezina voting to the Devil's Martin Brodeur and the Canuck's Roberto Luongo. However the Rangers' anemic offense this season has prevented Lundqvist from gathering up the Ws early, which is a key statistic toward winning the award. Award or no award, Henrik Lundqvist is the reason the Rangers aren't winless this season.

Take tonight for example. New York still only netted 2 goals. On average, that is not enough to win a hockey game. The Rangers have only scored more than 2 goals in 2 of their 12 games this season. Yet they still have 5 Ws and 1 OT. This is evidence of Henrik Lundqvist's contribution to his team this year. He practically IS the team. I personally believe the Rangers will eventually find their stride offensively this season. They simply have too much offensive talent not to. Its all about finding the right combinations. And perhaps the iminent return of Sean Avery will provide a spark just as it did when the Rangers acquired him at the trade deadline last season from the Los Angeles Kings. Perhaps it will come when Martin Straka and Ryan Callahan return to the lineup in a couple of weeks. While I believe that it will happen eventually, for now all the Rangers can do is lean on their outstanding netminder. Long live Henrik Lundqvist, the King of Sweden.

Knicks 2007-2008 Season Predictions Part 2

BENCH PLAYERS

SF/PF: #42 David Lee aka D-Lee
Last seasons statistics: 10.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg
Where do I start with David Lee? Lee has proven that he is ESSENTIAL to the success of the team with his hard work ethic. If there is a rebound up for grabs, count on David Lee to get you that ball. I don’t think there is one moment where Lee is on the court and not running. He has often been compared to Dennis Rodman as one of the best rebounders in the game. I’m pretty confident that Isiah realized Lee’s importance to the overall chemistry of the team and his minutes should not suffer with the addition of Randolph. If anything, Lee should be great support for an incredible NBA backcourt. Not to mention, Lee is one of the best defenders on the team and he can make up for some of Curry and Randolph’s defensive flaws. To add to Lee’s credentials, he has been working on that mid range jumper that he somewhat struggled with last year. With his improvement in offense and his rebounding and defensive capabilities, Lee remains one of the best/ most important Knick’s. So don’t be afraid to go and get yourself that David Lee jersey because I know I will purchasing one sometime soon.

PG: #4 Nate Robinson aka Nate the Great
Last seasons statistics: 10.1 ppg, 1.4 apg, 2.4 rpg
Yes he is only 5’8 and he can beat Andre Iguadola in a dunk contest. Forget all the glamour because Nate is all grown up now. With an extremely impressive showing at the Las Vegas summer league, Nate is ready to become an NBA point guard (not an undersized SG like he was his first 2 seasons). Nate proved that he can be that pass first point guard the Knicks need. In addition, he is now able to make smart decisions with ball, not just throwing it away on a careless pass or launching a poor three-pointer. Not only that, but Nate will now make sure he finishes a play before adding glitz. In several preseason games he passed up a ridiculous dunk to finish a play by simply putting in a lay-up to get the two points. I think this is a good sign as Nate moves away from his former role as an entertainer. With his energy and popularity, Nate should have his best season yet…. So get a Nate Robinson jersey while you’re purchasing that David Lee one.

SF: #32 Renaldo Balkman
Last seasons statistics: 4.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg
All questions about Balkman as the Knicks draft choice in 2006 were put to rest quite quickly. I was one of the doubetrs yelling at the TV that night as I looked at Marcus Williams and Rajon Rando’s names still on the board when the Knicks selected Balkman. But you know what, Balkman is what this team needs now. A solid defender with hustle and determination that resembles David Lee, Balkman is great off the bench. In one of his earliest performances last year in a November game against the Bulls (I was at this one), my brother and I watched Balkman almost single handedly lead the Knicks back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter. He made big defensive stops and ran the court like an all-star point guard. When given the playing time, I’m certain Balkman can be a major asset to the team. Anybody want a Renaldo Balkman jersey? It might be a wise investment.

F: #21 Wilson Chandler
Last seasons statistics (at DePaul University): 14.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.4 bpg
The 6’8 forward out of DePaul could be a nice addition to the team. He was quite impressive when I watched him during the Las Vegas Summer League and preseason. The one problem for Chandler is minutes. As for any late first round pick rookie, minutes are often an issue in their first season. Hopefully, Isiah can get him some playing time when it matters. Overall, I like the pick and I think it was the right move. One more thing to remember: Isiah may not make good decisions for the franchise as a whole, but he is great at drafting young prospects. As I’ve learned with Balkman, DON’T DOUBT THE PICKS!

SG/SF: #20 Jared Jeffries
Last seasons statistics: 4.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Well, I think it is obvious that Jeffries was a bad acquisition. He is an awful offensive player and his defensive capabilities are not very impressive. He doesn’t add the energy of Lee or Balkman and he only takes away valuable time from these players. I really hope Isiah can swallow his pride and give Balkman and Chandler minutes over Jeffries. Overall, a contract that I wish was wiped off the Knicks salary. O, and I also hate that he has Allan Houston’s old number, for some reason it really pisses me off.

C: #31 Jerome James
Last seasons statistics: 1.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg
I sometimes try to forget that James is even on the team, but unfortunately every few games the camera passes by his face on the bench. There is not much to say about Jerome James because he simply does not belong on the Knicks. In addition, he is one of those inflated veteran contracts that Isiah seemed happy to take on. This year he is set to make 5.8 million dollars (next two seasons, 6.2 million and 6.6 million). To make you all understand how awful this is, take a look at the salaries of the young VALUABLE players on the team. (Nate: 1.268, Balkman: 1.234, Chandler: 1.091, and one of the Knicks MOST IMPORTANT AND BIGGEST ASSESTS DAVID LEE: 990,600 dollars. All of these players are making substantially less than the useless Jerome James).

PF: #13 Malik Rose
Last seasons statistics: 3.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg
I’m not going to say much about Malik because my feelings on him are similar to those of Jerome James. He is slightly better than James, but the the 7.101 million dollars he is set to make next year take away any value he has to this team. I can’t believe he is making that much.

SG: #25 Mardy Collins
Last seasons statistics: 4.5 ppg, 1.6 apg, 2.0 rpg
Better than both James and Rose, Collins is set to make only $932,760 next year. I like Collins, he comes from a solid Temple basketball background and he has some knowledge about the game. In the midst of the Knicks injuries woes at the conclusion of last season he stepped up big time. During those games Collins had stellar numbers, resembling those of a starting guard. So it is clear, if he gets minutes, Collins can be quite valuable.

C: #5 Randolph Morris
Last seasons statistics: well, he really didn’t play.
Morris played well in the Las Vegas summer league and he could be a solid backup for Curry. The kind-of-rookie should be getting more playing time this year and I can only hope that he gets all of Jerome James’ minutes.

G: #2 Fred Jones
Last seasons statistics: 4.8 ppg, 2.2 apg
An Isiah Thomas pick from the Indiana days, Fred Jones showed some promise during the preseason. In several games Jones showed that he can actually be of use to the team, not just a name that came with the Zach Randolph deal. I don’t know how it is going to work with minutes for him, but I would be happy if he got some playing time.

CONCLUSION
So what about the team as a whole? How are these 15 guys going to fair in the seemingly harder Atlantic division? Well, when it comes down to it, I really believe the team will have another improved season. In fact, I think the Garden lights will shine into the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The addition of Z-Bo to the frontcourt makes the Knicks a great offensive threat. Also, Isiah has a deep bench that provides a great deal of energy and chemistry to the team. My one concern lies in defense, especially with the starting line. NBA teams are lacking defense right now and those teams that do have a solid defense can go far in this league. Overall, I think the Knicks are going to surprise those NBA analysts who are all buying the Celtics to destroy the Atlantic division. The team has now had time to mesh together and the youth and capability of this team can lead to big things for the upcoming season. I think Curry and Randolph will defy critics who say that they cannot play together, and they will not be another Steph-Francis blunder. Wake up NBA because here come the New York Knickerbockers.
Predicted record: 42-40.

GO NEW YORK GO NEW YORK GO!

One more thing to add: Jeff Van Gundy is currently unemployed and making kind of funny commercials on ESPN. I know this is a long shot, but if Isiah really wanted to be a good President he would step aside and let Gundy take over. Gundy would turn this predominantly offensive team into a defensive powerhouse. We all know how Gundy makes defensive teams and that is what the Knicks need. Lets get some “HIRE GUNDY” chants going this season.

Check out the team salary at: http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/new_york.htm

Brandon "The Beast" Jacobs takes home honor

Much has been made of the departure of former New York Giants' all-world RB Tiki Barber. From the announcement of Tiki's retirement plans midway through the 2006 season, through the offseason, and continuing into the present 2007 season, the critics have claimed that Giants would be unable to replace their loud-mouth retiree's production. Granted, Barber had a 4 year stretch in the NFL that few have been able to duplicate. He ended his career as 1 of 3 men(Marshall Faulk and Marcus Allen being the others)to gain 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards. During the 2006 season Barber accounted for over 60% of the Giants' total offense. To the casual observer and even to many "experts," the Giants were about to undergo a long, difficult year. But after a shaky start, the 6-2 Giants are one of the major contenders in the NFC, and boast the 7th ranked rushing offense in the NFL despite the absence of Barber... but how?



The reason is quite simple. The Giants have simply consistently fed the ball to their 6'-4" 264 lb. monster of a RB, Brandon Jacobs. Jacobs has had to deal with his own share of doubters and haters coming into the season. Common critiques included: "He's just a battering ram, he has no ability." "He's never carried the load before." "He looks for contact, and thus he's going to be injury prone." I personally believed that Brandon Jacobs was going to be a star in this league. He posesses physical capabilities that nobody else in the NFL has. He is not simply a "battering ram," but in addition to his size, also demonstrates quick feet, an ability to make cut-backs, and a timed speed of 4.4 in the 40 yd dash. But while my hopes were high entering the season, Jacobs was in fact injured on one of his first carries from scrimmage in week 1 against the Cowboys. Perhaps the whispers that he was too injury prone to carry the load were true.



I for one refused to believe that. Jacobs missed the next 3 games after the Dallas game, but then returned to the lineup for the the Giants' week 5 showdown with the New York Jets on October 7th. Jacobs led the way offensively for the G-men, running for 100 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. The following week against Atlanta, Jacobs only carried the ball 13 times largely due to a pass-heavy gameplan, but still gained 86 yards with a 6.6 yards per carry average. The next week against San Francisco, Jacobs again cracked the 100 yard barrier with 107 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. The Beast also added 3 receptions in this contest.

This past week, in a game (or match as the British call it) against the Dolphins played across the pond in London's Wembley Stadium, Jacobs true value to the team was unveiled. The weather was brutal- cold with scattered downpours throughout the game. The Wembley Stadium pitch (that's what the Brits call a field) may as well have been a swamp. A field typically used by 160 lb. soccer players, built in a stadium where the roof is closed half the time, simply could not handle the weather and the mammoth men which occupied it. In such conditions, a passing attack is rarely evident. In a game where QB Eli Manning only threw for 59 yards, the Giants were still able to pick up 19 first downs thanks to 13 from the running game. Brandon Jacobs simply put the team on his back this past Sunday in London, running for a career high 131 yards on 23 carries.

Over the past month, Jacobs has transformed the Giants into a power-running team. The early season offense was built on a pass-first approach, which included a lot of Eli to Plaxico. The running game consisted of draws and delays to Derrick Ward, which are typical running plays in a pass-heavy offense. The Beast has reconfigured the entire Giants offensive gameplan. And why not? How can you ignore the figures? In 4 games in October, Jacobs ran for 424 yards on 74 carries with 2 touchdowns, yielding a dazzling 5.7 YPC. Today, Jacobs received the award for NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. I expect many more honors to be thrown Brandon's way in the future. Ladies and Gentlemen, you heard it here first. A star has been born in this league. There will be a new elite back in the NFL for years to come, and he comes in a 6'-4" 264 lb. package of pure and utter beastliness.

Pettitte, Arod, Torre.... and Kerry Wood?

It was reported today that Andy Pettitte has made a decision on his future. While its not the announcement we were hoping for, Yankees fans should still be relieved by the news. According to Newsday, Pettite told Houston's KRIV television that he will either play for the yankees in 2008 or retire.

"The New York Yankees committed an awful lot of money to me and put it in my hands, gave me a player option and trusted me with that option," Pettitte said. "It probably wouldn't be real honorable for me not to do anything other than if I shut it down or go back and play for the New York Yankees. I gotta figure out in my mind exactly what I want to do."

With Torre reportedly headed for LA, I was nervous Pettitte might opt out and follow his beloved manager to the Dodgers. Hopefully he will decide to keep his pinstripes rather than hang them up. (How could he throw away $16 million?)

Speaking of Torre, it is said he will take the helm of the LA Dodgers in 2008. With a reported 3 year/ $15 million in place, it looks as though he will hold onto it through 2010. If rumors are true, it wouldn't be a suprise if Mattingly, Larry Bowa, Ron Guidry, and Lee Mazzilli follow Torre to make up the LA coaching staff. Talk about the the west coach Yankees. If Arod joins the crew (the Dodgers are said to have interest), the team should change their name to "Yesterday's Yanks." First they take on Grady Little, Dave Roberts, Nomar Garciaparra, and Derek Lowe in 2005 as an attempt to imitate the Red Sox of 2004, and now this. If only the Dodgers executives knew how succeed on their own. Next we'll see the entire 2006 St. Louis Cardinal team in Dodger blue.

Kerry Wood is a free agent and is coming off a September in which he constantly hit 98 mph with his fastball and allowed only 2 runs in his final 22 innings. With Chamberlain headed to the rotation, the Yanks need a suitable set-up man for soon to be signed Mo. If Wood commands anything close to his 1 year /$8 million contract he had last year, the Yanks should bite. That's less money than Kyle Farnsworth will be making in 2008, and Wood has a gigantic upside. Let's just hope Cashman wouldn't bite on a multi-year contract. I think he's smarter than that.

In unrelated news, how scary is the woman in the red bonnet on the front of raison cartons?

A Miggy to take over in the Bronx?

Arod’s departure leaves the Yankees with a gaping hole at third base and a lineup dominated by lefties. Assuming Jorge Posada re-signs, other than captain Derek every player is either left-handed or a switch-hitter. Sure, Wilson Betemit hit some big home runs in his 2007 tenure with the team, and he has an above-average glove at third, but he is no suitable replacement for A-Rod in the lineup. If I’m Brian Cashman, I stick Betemit, a switch-hitter, at either first (platooning with Doug Mientkiewicz) or third and find a good bat for the other position. Here are two suitable, but possibly unattainable, players who could even out the Yanks lineup and fill the large shoes Pay-Rod left behind.

Miguel Cabrera:
The Yanks should do everything they possibly can to try to pry the 24 year-old third baseman from Flordia. He is due to make somewhere between $10-$12 million in arbitration this winter, money that Florida has but may be hesitant to spend. While Cabrera’s ever-growing belly is a known concern among baseball executives, it shouldn’t be a problem for the Yankees.
His ability to hit for power and average, his youth, and his right-handed bat would be welcomed in the Bronx. If his lack of mobility really makes his third base defense unbearable, new manager Girardi can move him over to first base (Think Albert Pujols). Then, in a few years, Giambi will be out and we have a hall of fame caliber DH.
Sounds perfect, right? No here’s the hard part: how do get him? The Yankees have a core of young pitchers whom they have been reluctant to trade for quite some time. It looks like a good idea that they didn’t get rid of Hughes, Chamberlain, and Kennedy as they will all be key additions to the rotation in 2008. To me, Hughes and Chamberlain are untouchable, and the Marlins have loads of young pitching so it’s unlikely they would demand to get one of the two.
I would offer the Marlins a package of Melky Cabrera, 22 year-old Tyler Clippard, Edwar Ramirez, and minor-league phenom outfielder Jose Tabata. Not enough you say? Cabrera gives the Marlins the center fielder they’ve needed for some time, Clippard dominated in the minors and is an above-average prospect who will slide right into the Marlins bullpen, Edwar Ramirez joins Clippard in the pen, and Tabata becomes one of the best players in the farm system. The Yanks could then sign Aaron Rowand, Torri Hunter or Mike Cameron to fill the vacant CF spot.
In addition, this gives the Marlins some extra money to maybe pursue Miami native Alex Rodriguez; maybe he’ll put some fish fan’s tushies in the seats. A swap of third basemen sounds good to me.


Miguel Tejada:
The other, less likely, option is the O’s clutch hitting shortstop Miguel Tejada. Tejada is almost a guarantee to be traded this winter, and it’s a good bet he’ll move to third base on whatever team lands him (rumored to be the Angels, Cubs, and Tigers). It is unlikely the Orioles would trade Miguel within the AL East, so in order for this to happen, a third team would have to come into the deal. But with Miguel Tejada at third base next season, batting fourth after Jeter and Abreu, he would be a lock for 100 RBI’s. No one would have to worry if he will do an Arod imitation and pop up to short with two outs and the bases loaded; Tejada has always been Mr. Clutch. So what would it take to land the shortstop with three years left on his contract, you ask?
I propose: Yanks send Mike Mussina, Alberto Gonzalez, Melky Cabrera and Cash to the Twins who send Matt Garza to the Orioles, who send Miguel Tejada to the Yankees. The Twins get a center fielder to take Hunter’s spot, a much-needed veteran pitcher with money to cover his salary, and a future average shortstop or backup guy. The Orioles get top prospect pitcher Garza and lose Miggy’s salary, and the Yanks get their gold glove third baseman and cleanup hitter, and can then pursue one of the center fielders listed above. As the saying goes; hey, it could happen.

Here Comes Kellen

It’s really about time that Kellen Clemens took over the starting role for the Jets. I’m currently a New York Sports fan residing in a small New England town. It’s painful enough to watch the Patriots run over every team in the NFL but on top of that I’m allowed the pleasure every week of watching the Jets blow a first half lead. Chad Pennington’s arm is not up to NFL standards. C’mon people before he had one surgery on his shoulder the arm was weak, after two it’s dead. On several occasions this past weekend he missed open receivers simply because the ball did not have enough velocity. Granted he was able to escape with many poor throws last year while leading the Jets to the playoffs. This could be attributed to the fact that last year the Jets were near the bottom in the league in strength of schedule (.465) and had an element of surprise because everyone expected them to suck. This year is different; the team comes in high on everyone’s radar with schedule strength near the top of the league (.516). Weak throws that tend to sail high above receivers hands as Chad tries to make up for a lack of arm strength are no longer going to cut it; it’s time for the Kellen Clemens era to begin.

In his short tenure with the Jets Clemens has shown that he can be calm and composed on the field while at the same time being vulnerable to the mistakes a young quarterback makes. As he drove down the field this past weekend Clemens threw a pass a little out in front or his intended receiver that landed in the hands of a Buffalo Bills cornerback. These are the growing pain that come with a new quarterback. It would be nice to see Kellen come out and win his start this Saturday against Washington but there is a good chance he will not. It may be two or three weeks before he gets to put a notch on his belt. However what Jets fan will see this coming weekend is a second year quarterback out of Oregon who has a feel for football and one hell of a throwing arm.

Knicks 2007-2008 Season Predictions

It's hard to say when the Knicks began their downward spiral to become one of the worst teams in the east. Some may site the Scott Layden era, others might attribute the failure of the team to the departure of Patrick Ewing. Whatever the case, the Garden no longer seems to be the feared arena of the great Knickerbockers. The last time a playoff series was played on the Garden floor was 2004 and the Knicks were easily embarassed in a 4-0 sweep against the cross-water rival New Jersey Nets. As Isiah Thomas' youthful squad enters the 2007-2008 season, Knicks fans may have something to finally cheer about it. The team is young, energetic, and surprisingly deep. Most importantly, the east is looking especially vulnerable this year and there are going to be several surprise teams that emerge from the ashes; the Knicks could be one of those teams. Last year, the team finished 33-49 (2 games short of my predicition made on 10/11/06), and I think that number could have/should have been higher were it not for an unlikely amount of injuries the team suffered towards the end of the season (Remember: D Lee, Steph, Jamal...) With the addition of Zach Randolph, there should be a clear increase in the number of victories the team records this year. I don't want to sound overly optimistic (as most Knicks fans do during preseason), but I do have more hope than the beginning of last year. The Knicks sill have the highest payroll in the league, and they will probably not make a big splash in the playoffs, but I do believe the Knicks will turn some heads with their new lineup and developed team chemistry. The following is my analysis of the team for the upcoming season:

STARTING LINE-UP

PG: #3 Stephon Marbury aka Starbury
Last seasons statistics: 16.4 ppg, 5.4 apg
Coney Island's own has been greatly scrutinized by the media lately. The day after the Knicks acquistion of Portland's Zach Randolph, Steph was interviewed and displayed less than favorably. His preacher style praise for the Portland forward did not seem to gain favor with those who were already questioning his Jesus revival ways. However, off court issues should not be the focus and despite his questionable behavior, the media and others should be focusing on his on the court attributes. Now, Steph has definitely matured quite a bit. His defense is remarkably better than previous years, he defers to his teammates more, and most importantly, it is now clear that he will adapt his game in anyway for the better of the team. I don't know if the Knicks would be better without Steph and I don't know if things will ever work out with him, but he is the starter now and there is no changing it. The most important thing for Steph to be seen as a success this year is his leadership capability. He is the team veteran and soul of the New York Knicks right now and he needs to be that on court leader. Basically, for this former all-star, it is no longer about the numbers, it's about doing what he can to make this team win.

SG- #11 Jamal Crawford
Last seasons statistics: 17.6 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.2 rpg
Well, let me start by saying that I'm very VERY happy that Steve Francis is no longer on the team and we don't have to act like he is the starting shooting guard anymore. With that said, I like Jamal Crawford and I think he showed last year that he fits on this team. Jamal has also matured with his shot selection and ball handling abilities. He has become a secondary distributor that is able to drive into the paint and break down a defense. Don't forget, Jamal still has that smooth shot and he is coming off a season which saw some of his best games (In Denver, 3 pointer to win 109-106, check it out on youtube if you don't know it; and his 50+ game against Miami at the Garden). Jamal should fit nicely again as a main piece to the puzzle for the Knicks this season.

SF- #23 Quentin Richardson aka Q-Rich
Last seasons statistics: 13.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg
All I got to say is that it is a very good thing that Q stepped it up last year, otherwise, he could have become a Knicks blunder. After a dismal first season in 2005-2006, Q has possibly found his niche on the team. He is a solid defensive player that is able to guard tough match-ups, such as Lebron James or Carmelo Anthony, and he is a good rebounder at the 3. However, things could get a little tricky with playing time for Q this year. Balkman and D Lee are guys that will be sharing the time with Q this year, and rightfully so. This spot on the team seems to be well filled and possibly the only position with some defensive presence this year. I think Q should be the starter and his defensive prowess should keep him as a primary player.

PF- #50 Zach Randolph aka Z-Bo
Last seasons statistics: 23.6 ppg, 10.10 rpg
I think Spike Lee said it best on draft day after the announcement of the trade for Randolph: "It's a good day in New York." The horror that was Steve Francis gets shipped away (Unfourtunantely Channing Frye had to go to, despite a dissapointing second season), and a 20 10 guy steps up in New York. This almost got Isiah back in the Garden faithful's favor until his sexual harassment scandal. However, there is no doubt Randolph adds something to this team, as to how much we will find out. Randolph is a great low post player that has a sweet jumper from mid range. This addition gives the Knicks one of the most formidable front courts in the East. Randolph and Curry together should be able to frustrate other teams big men and get them in a lot of foul trouble. One worry that is clear is how they will share the ball. When it comes down to it, I really believe that this 4-5 combo can work, and that it will be a threat, not a blunder. Randolph seems willing to defer to Curry and he has made it clear that he wants to win in New York and if that means sharing, sharing he will do. Randolph's numbers will most likely suffer from last year, but that does not mean that this is taking away from his importance and value to the teams success. Another concern is that of defense. Randolph is definitely not known for his defensive capability and it is one of his only flaws. I think this should be more concerning then the offensive end with Curry in the paint. It should be interesting to see how it plays out.

C- #34 Eddy Curry
Last seasons statistics: 19.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg
Eddy Curry finally had the season that he has been waiting for as he led the team in points per game. In addition, Curry was clearly one of the best centers in the Eastern Conference last year (if not the best, sorry Shaq). This season should be no different. Curry has those quick feet and soft hands for a big guy. He is able to break down the interior defense of opposing teams and make swift moves on the other centers in the NBA. I think this year should be no different for Eddy in terms of capability, although his numbers might also suffer with the presence of Randolph. But again, Curry is greatly lacking in defense. He is not a threat in the middle and teams do not fear him when they drive in the paint. Curry and Randolph working together on D down low could be dismal to watch, but hopefully it won't be as bad as it seems. Also, Curry should take some lessons with D Lee on how to rebound the ball. He is not strong enough when boxing out and he should be getting more bounds as the starting center for the team. I clearly remember a game last year (I think against Detroit) where the Knicks lost due to a tip-in by the opposing team because Curry didn't box out.

MORE TO COME ON BENCH PLAYERS AND CONCLUSION TOMORROW NIGHT
HERE IS A VIDEO TO GET YOU FANS PUMPED

Knicks Season Preview on NBATV

A video discussing the Knicks condition for the 2007-2008 season.