Question of the Day (12/1/09)

Undefeated NFL teams have been few and far between. A lot of teams have began their seasons 10-0, 13-0, 8-0, but only four teams in the history of the NFL have gone all the way through the season undefeated, one team in particular, New England, was the last to do it. This season, 2009, the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts are perfect through 12 weeks. The Saints have beaten every team except one by 7 or more points, including the mighty Patriots, the Eagles and the Giants. The Colts, however, have had more close games then they would like, barely beating the Patriots, Jaguars, Ravens, Texans and 49ers. SO, which team has a better chance of going through the rest of the season without a loss???

Taking into consideration the way each team played against the Patriots and how many games each team has had to come back to win, challenging them to have to fight from behind, it is tough to see either of them lose down the stretch.

Question of the Day (11/18/09)

What is wrong with the New York Jets?

Is it the lack of experience at head coach and at the quarterback position?

Could it be a lack of talent?

Are they just not as good as the teams they are playing?

Most of this year's games for the Jets have been close all the way to the end. The Jets Defense has done very well, holding opponents down trying to give the offense a chance to win. Mark Sanchez, in his rookie year, has shown sparks of big game talent and looks like he is here to stay. Braylon Edwards is a huge talent at the wide receiver position and is one of the best one on one, especially with his size. Thomas Jones is a consistent runner and Dustin Keller has become a go to target at tight end. The Defensive Line has put pressure on some of the best quarterbacks and for the most part, they have done very well defending against the big plays down the field. The special teams has been a problem lately, with the loss to Miami sitting solely on their shoulders. This season is wash for the New York Jets, but moving forward, they need to address these issues and build on it for next season.

Question of the Day (11/12/09)

The New Orleans Hornets have fired head coach Byron Scott after a 3-6 start, is that fair? And why does Lawrence Frank still have his job as head coach of the 0-8 New Jersey Nets?

At least Byron Scott took his team to the playoffs in the past two seasons. Scott also won NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2008 after he guided the Hornets to a 56-26 record and the Southwest Division title. The Hornets were within one win of the West finals before losing Game 7 at home to the San Antonio Spurs. Last season they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Nuggets and this season their latest loss came last night to Phoenix, 124-104.  On the other hand, the New Jersey Nets are 0-8...enough said.

Question of the Day (11/11/09)

If Barry Sanders had not retired from the NFL early, would he and not Emmit Smith, be the all-time leading rusher?

How good was Barry Sanders? Better than Walter Payton, Jim Brown, Emmit Smith?

Question of the Day (11/10/09)

This has been a debate around the water cooler, at sports bars, in offices and anywhere baseball and Yankee fans can be found. The question is, who is the best Yankee ever? The debate has usually been between Derek Jeter and Babe Ruth, specifically due to the accomplishments of Jeter this past season.. There have been plenty of very strong arguments for each side. Take into consideration though, the time, the era, the stats, the off the field actions, the championships, the teams and the other players. And remember, the Babe also pitched.....

Questions of the Day (10/27/09)

In St. Louis, the Cardinals have named Mark McGwire their hitting coach......

Is this a good move for the organization?

With questions of his steroid use and cheating still surrounding McGwire and his record setting home run battle with Sammy Sosa years ago, will this bring unnecessary heat to a relatively quiet team??

Will this open the door for players like Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens, Juan Gonzalez, etc, to possibly obtain coaching positions??

Thoughts of the Day (10/27/09)

ESPN has had some really great and creative commercials in the past five years. Whether they involve the College Football Live crew, the Sportscenter anchors, the Baseball Tonight crew, but some of the most memorable ones were with the Pro Athletes. Recently there have been ESPN/NBA commercials, where the analysts and commentators are all riding in an RV across the country to each arena they are calling the next game at. Jeff Van Gundy, who never cracked a smile while coaching in NY, has been involved in a lot of these ads and he has been hilarious. The latest one has Van Gundy in the passenger seat and the Gorilla mascot from Phoenix in the driver seat of the RV, parked waiting for the #1 overall draft pick, Blake Griffin, to get back on the RV via the side door with his fast food in hand. Van Gundy is hanging out of the window yelling to Griffin to get in and let's go! Of course, as Griffin grabs the handle, the RV pulls away and they begin laughing at the rookie, urging him to hurry up. They get Griffin two more times, hysterical and acting like little kids, on the last attempt to trick Griffin, the RV hits an electrical pole and knocks it over and the next shot is of the Gorilla and Van Gundy just looking straight ahead and now they look like two kids who just broke a vase in their mom's house. Brilliant use of all the people involved!
When ESPN decided to use their analysts and commentators and ex-players in their ad campaigns, they looked like marketing geniuses. They have reenacted scenes from sports movies using them, they have simulated fake newscasts and all the while not taking themselves too serious. This is one of the reasons why ESPN is so widely successful. They are a credible sports news source, but at the same time they realize that they are covering sports, not the war in Iraq. Having fun becomes an integral part of ESPN's broadcasts. It was laugh out loud funny, when Peter Gammons and Karl Ravich did the Baseball Tonight parody of the "Bull Durham" scene and when John Andersen switched chairs with Lebron James, giving him the desk chair, taking his "thrown" and pretending he has no idea where Lebron's chair, it makes you wonder how many takes that took. Seeing stars like Albert Pujols, Lebron and Steve Smith dressed in their uniforms, working in the ESPN office cubicles and copy rooms seems almost normal, like it would happen in your office and of course, at work you always have to watch out for Terry Tate "Office Linebacker". He was the funniest creation from the ESPN marketing team.
So, when girlfriends and wives ask their men how can they watch ESPN all day long, over and over again, its because no other channel taps into the male psyche like ESPN. Men love comedy and sports. With the addition of all of these funny and creative ads, parodies and promos, turning off ESPN is now nearly impossible for men to do. ESPN is doing a fine job counteracting the influx of shows like "Real Housewives of Somewhere", "So You Think You Can Do Something", "Bitchy Brides", "Make Me Into Something I am Not" and so on and so on. Women can no longer sit there and say to their significant others, "you have to watch one my shows since I sit through hours of sports for you", because it's not just sports, it's entertaining comedy.

Questions of the Day (10/26/09

Can the New York Yankees keep the powerful Phillie lineup in check in this year's World Series?

Will Joe Girardi be able to handle the pressure of managing in the World Series?

Cliff Lee vs. C.C. Sabathia....who wins this mighty matchup in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium?

Who wins the 2009 World Series?

What a Game! AL Central Tiebreaker 10/6/09

There have been some big time collapses at the end of a baseball season. The New York Mets have become experts at blowing it the last weeks of the season, after leading their division by more then a comfortable amount of games. Tonight there was a new addition to the choke chapter of Major League Baseball. Not only did the Detroit Tigers blow the division lead they had with less then a month to go, they also blew the "extra" game that decided the division Tuesday night. On September 6th, the Tigers had a 7 game lead in the AL Central and looked as if they were cruising to the playoffs. As most Mets fans know, there is no such thing as cruising or as a "cushion" when it comes to winning a division. And as the Minnesota Twins began to heat up and win 17 of their last 21 games, including the division tiebreaker, the Tigers were going .500 and leaving the door open for the Metrodome Monsters to escape with an AL Central crown. Then, one of the best games in a long time played out and the "Twinkies" stole the final playoff spot. The 163rd game of the year for the Tigers and Twins went 12 innings. There were home runs, plays at the plate, pick offs, web gems, clutch pitching, bad base running and general mayhem in the twin cities. The game was a spectacular way to send off the Humphrey Metrodome to the demolition wrecking ball. In the end though, the Twins showed the resiliency they have shown season after season under Ron Gardenhire, they overcame injuries to their stars (Mourneau, Mauer) and gave 57,000 screaming fans a reason to believe that the Yankees might not sweep them in the first round of the 2009 MLB Playoffs. The Twins organization, their players and their coaches deserve a lot of credit. They kept playing past all of the obstacles and for that, the payoff was a historic game, a champagne bath in the locker room and a ticket to NYC to play at the house that Jorge Posada built, the new Yankee Stadium. Baseball has learned a valuable lesson these past seasons, don't ever write off the Minnesota Twins.

Mets Moving Forward (10/6/09)

First Base. Left Field. Catcher. Starting Pitcher. These four positions will be the main focus of the New York Mets' management and ownership. The Daniel Murphy project at first base needs to be scrapped. Adrian Gonzalez has always been or should always be on the Mets' radar as a replacement for Delgado. Left field can no longer be a platoon situation, the Mets need to spend money and get a power hitting left fielder. Jeff Francoeur was one of the only bright spots this season and he deserves a nice contract to stay on as the starting right fielder. The catching situation is tough because it is difficult to find someone that hits for power or average and can call a game and can throw out base runners. Mike Piazza was half of that, he hit well and was clutch, but he threw out 12% of base runners. Schneider and Omir Santos combined couldn't fill Piazza's shoes offensively and neither were outstanding behind the plate defensively. Before they bring in a catcher though, they HAVE to get a starting pitcher who will complement Johan Santana. Maine, Pelfrey and Perez are all number 3's and lower in a starting rotation. Roy Halladay can be had, but the Mets might have to part with a player they say is "untouchable". The Blue Jays have to trade him now because he will be a free agent after this upcoming year and is going to demand an enormous amount of money when he signs with a team. Jason Marquis and John Lackey are also options, even though they will have to be overpaid. This off-season does not showcase the crop of free agents and players it did last year, so Omar Minaya will have to really earn his paycheck and go out and make some deals to fix the Mets' problems. By now the management and ownership know they built too big of a stadium, with too many outfield gaps and awkward spaces, so their only option is to get players that adhere to the specs and dimensions of the stadium and to work heavily with the stars getting them more acclimated to Citi Field. The Mets must be aggressive with their pursuit of free agents and trades and they have to address the way the medical staff handles injuries and prepares the guys physically for each game. Omar Minaya also must look past his the decisions he made this year like letting Pedro sign with the Phillies, trading away Billy Wagner, the only healthy pitcher at the time who could compete out of the bullpen, signing Oliver Perez, signing Tim Redding and bringing up Fernando Martinez way before he was ready for the big leagues. Minaya did let Luis Alicea, the first base coach, go, stating that he was one of the reasons the Mets had so many base running blunders, but that is really a minor move and a decoy to take the focus off of the real issues. Fix the Mets!! Fix the Mets!! Come to the park and fix the Mets!!

Thoughts of the Day (9/24/09)

The Handshake. When kids played little league or pop Warner or some kind of organized sport, all of the adults and coaches would tell them to shake hands with the opposition after all of the games that they were involved in to show good sportsmanship. "Go shake hands with them. It doesn't matter that they won 17-0, you have to show sportsmanship", they would all say. The kids would line up, with their heads down and slap hands with the other team chanting a low mutter of "good game, good game, good game...". None of them really meant it, they just did it because they were told to and because they were taught that good sportsmanship is part of playing competitive sports. Where and when did this end? Now, only coaches come across the field/court/stadium and shake hands, telling the spectators that they are representing sportsmanship for the sore losers/winners in this competition. The handshake shows dignity and is humbling for all when one side says to the other, "good game". If the teams had kept up the tradition of shaking hands, then the losers get the opportunity to meet with the winners and can take from them the idea that...."hey, no worries, you fought well and you'll get it next time"; the winners on the other hand get a chance to be the better humans and show the losers that it was just a game. Some collegiate sports still continue to shake hands, the NHL has kept it going, but mostly, as the level of sports climb the ladder from youth to the pros it has begun to trickle off and disappear. What makes matters worse, is that some of the coaches are so sore from losing or winning that they won't even look the other coach in the eye or won't even make it across the field to reach out and touch someone. One perfect example is the arrogant coach for the New England Patriots, Bill Bellichick. When Bill wins the Super Bowl he walks through his shake with a stone cold demeanor. When he wins a regular season game sometimes he stops by and gives a shake, sometimes he leaves them hanging. But, when Bill loses, especially to coaches he feels are inferior to him, you might not even find him on the field. Everyone knows how dominant the Patriots have been under Bill and that he is a very good coach and everyone knows that he knows all of that as well, but please show some humility, there are kids watching. Professionals need to realize that they set examples for the younger ones coming up behind them and that if they just made an effort to put that hand out there and grab a hold of that peace offering, then the idea of sportsmanship would be reinforced.
What is sportsmanlike conduct? It isn't punching the opposing player after a loss when he isn't looking like Oregon's Lagarrette Blount. It also is not blowing off a handshake from the opposing teams rookie QB after a loss like Bellichick did to the NY Jets' Mark Sanchez. It is however, sportsmanlike when after a loss, teams huddle together and pray at the middle of the court. Although it is only a handshake, it is a symbol peace and an showing of good faith that after all the play is over, at the end of the day, it was just a game.

Thoughts of the Day (9/17/09)

The AFC East, what can we expect from this division this season? The Dolphins have returned back to Earth. No one is fooled by the Wild Cat offense, nor are they worried about the non-threat Pennington is to throw down the field. It's pretty bad that the defending division champions aren't even talked about to repeat. The Fish caught a Fluke last year. The Bills have their hands full, not surprisingly, with T.O. and his big mouth. Did anyone think that T.O. would change his selfish and "it's not my fault" ways just because he moved to small town Buffalo? After the Bills' loss to the Patriots, T.O. threw McKelvin under the bus for taking the kick off out of the end zone and fumbling the ball, basically losing it for them. He also made it clear that he thinks Trent Edwards should make some improvements. And, he said "throw to me". Did he mention the fact that he dropped an important first down pass that would have kept a Bills' drive alive? No. Come on, it won't be long before T.O. alienates himself again from another team, which only means that you can take the Bills' out of the equation for possibly winning the AFC East. That leaves the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. Tom Brady clearly is back and is very capable of getting the Patriots down field fast. The Pats showed that they can come back and are just as good as they were before Brady got hurt, it's his team, so they will go as far as he takes them. As for the Jets, they gave the Texans a taste of their speedy defense, blitzing pressure and ability to run the ball and throw down the field effectively. Teams still haven't seen some defensive impact players, like Sean Ellis and Calvin Pace yet, and opposing teams also haven't had the chance to figure out Mark Sanchez. If the Jets can contain Brady and continue to mix up the offense utilizing Leon Washington, Thomas Jones, Brad Smith and Chansi Stuckey. This weekend, although it is only week 2, will be the biggest weekend for the AFC Eastern Division.

Week 1 Thoughts (9/15/09)

After the last play of Monday night's San Diego/Oakland game, the NFL's first week came to an end and there weren't too many surprises. Most of the teams lived up to what everyone expected, some showed more and some showed much less. Three games that stood out were the defending NFC champion, Arizona Cardinals, losing to the San Francisco 49ers, the Carolina Panthers getting man-handled by the Eagles who forced Jake Delhomme to throw 4 interceptions and lose 1 fumble and of course the New York Jets beating down the Houston Texans with a rookie QB giving a strong performance in his debut. Most of the other games went as we all thought they would, with only a little bit of flare here and there through out each game.

The Bills almost and probably should have beat the Patriots, but of course Brady came up in the end with a win at home, cracking his smile from the Stetson cologne ads. The Saints' Drew Brees showcased his ability to dominate and threw 6 TDs against the Arena Football League Detroit Lions. The Giants did their thing and relied heavily on their defense without exposing the most overpaid QB in the NFL. On the other side, the most exciting player in the NFL, Adrian Peterson, did not disappoint, scoring 3 times while rushing for 180 yards against Cleveland, sparing Brett Favre from having to explain why he threw for a paltry 110 yards. Eric Mangini came up short, like he usually does coaching for the team where began his career as a ball boy. Brandon Stokley saved his Denver Broncos from embarrassment against the Bengals, winning the tip drill on a botched interception, taking it 87 yards to the house in a stunning ending to an otherwise boring game. Aaron Rodgers took the Packers down the field with under 2 minutes to play, beating the Bears, who unfortunately lost Brian Urlacher for the entire season and who saw their new QB, Jay Cutler throw 4 interceptions. Not a great start to your career in Chicago, huh Jay? Green Bay may have a chance in the competitive NFC North if Rodgers plays like that all season. Miami came back down to earth after last year's fluke season. Everyone was caught off guard last year with the Wildcat offense, but not this time Chad. Atlanta quietly took care of the Dolphins, sacking Pennington 4 times and taking advantage of Miami's 4 turnovers. Tony Gonzalez continued his success with his new team, Atlanta, and scored on a 20 yard TD pass after the Falcons intercepted Pennington. And, St. Louis showed fans that the circus left town years ago and that the Rams who were once known as the "best show on turf", have lost that high powered offense they once had. Without the likes of Warner, Holt, Bruce and Faulk, they now have become the Detroit Lions of the NFC West, getting shutout by Seattle this week and continuing the horrendous play from last year.

It is only week 1, but that usually is an indicator of how the season will play out for a lot of teams. There is of course plenty of parity in the NFL and some things will change, but starting the regular season off well can set the tone. Hopefully there will be surprises down the road and that fans will get a chance to see some teams succeed that they are not used to seeing do so. There are a lot of players who haven't had a chance to play yet as well, due to suspensions and injury, so that will bring a new feel and boost to those teams. The NFL is an exciting league and it builds up so much hype during the week, that by the time Sunday comes, the fans have almost forgotten about last week. It is true that "on any given Sunday" any team can look like the best in the league, so keep your hopes up Detroit!

Thoughts of the Day (9/14/09)

What a statement Rex Ryan! Known for his genius when it comes to NFL defenses, Rex Ryan displayed yesterday, why he was so successful running Baltimore's defense for 10 seasons. The New York Jets, showcasing a rookie QB and a rookie coach, gave their fans a glimpse of what might be a dominating defense and a consistent, steady offense yesterday against the Houston Texans. Without their two best defensive players, Sean Ellis and Calvin Pace, the Jets still held Houston running back Steve Slaton to 17 yards rushing, wide receiver Andre Johnson to 35 yards receiving and quarterback Matt Schaub to 166 yards passing with no scores and an interception. Now, Houston is not New England, but they do have a very good offense. The Texans were the 3rd best offense in the league last year, averaging just over 23 points per game, 267 passing yards per game and 115 rushing yards per game. They fell way short of those totals in game one of their 2009 season.

Jets fans on the other hand, should be excited about this season after seeing what happened yesterday (9/13/09). Mark Sanchez, the 5Th overall pick of this year's draft, gave the Jets a chance on every snap and with Brian Schottenheimer calling the plays, the offense stayed balanced and poised. Thomas Jones rushed for 107 yards and scored twice and the versatile Leon Washington added 60 yards on the ground while also making 4 catches for 24 yards. The Jets utilized the tight end position and Dustin Keller produced 94 yards receiving, making two big catches for 25 and 40 yards each. The Jets looked fresh and energized. They kept it simple and executed on both sides of the football. There will be mistakes, like the interception yesterday thrown by Sanchez, but it seems like the coaching staff has really prepared this year's team for almost anything and the players have all responded well. Getting over Brett Favre and his indecisive retirement plans could have stung much more if it weren't for Mike Tannenbaum making the right decisions during this years draft and going with Rex Ryan as the new head coach. Eric Mangini really never fit well in NY, he was too passive and he needed to be with a team and in a city that doesn't care about losing as much. Cleveland is a perfect fit for him and now he can be as quiet and monotone as he wants because that city only really cares about Lebron James, not the Browns nor the Indians.

Watching the Jets, it felt like a new franchise yesterday, moving past all of the drama surrounding Belichick and his former coaches and spy gate. Now it is Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez's team. No more Chad Pennington or Favre or Mangini or Coles. The Jets have now removed any distractions from the team and have turned their focus to winning and consistency. It's just too bad they play in New Jersey. For it has been said before on this blog, the NEW YORK JETS and NEW YORK GIANTS are the only professional sports franchises to play their home games in another state. Could anyone imagine the Pittsburgh Steelers playing in Ohio? Or the Dallas Cowboys playing in New Mexico? Pretty dumb to think about isn't it? Well, all Giants and Jets fans must stay used to the idea because the new Meadowlands Stadium is about to open in 2010 and both teams have locked themselves into playing in Dirty Jersey for years to come. Thanks a lot team ownership! Maybe the Mara's and Johnson's were confused on where the state lines were when they decided to re-up in East Rutherford....guys NYC is on the other side of the Hudson River!

Thoughts of the Day (9/11/09)

On such a somber day, very emotional for all, we must remember what life has offered us and given us and we all must be involved in the present and look forward to the future. When one loses something, one must be confident and aware that there will always be something else to gain. The balance of life works just like a car battery, with one negative side, a positive will counter that. It unfortunately works both ways, so we cannot ignore the fairness and reality that keeps us all level. Being thankful for whatever force we believe governs our existence is all too humbling for many, and it is imperative we pay homage to those who came before us, to those who have sacrificed for us and to those who fight for what we have. Although we cannot understand why some were taken from us and others still remain, there has to be faith in the aura of our world that good can be found in anything and in any situation. We are all just tiny particles when it comes to the big picture we call the Universe, but don't ever be fooled; every action we take, a reaction is right around the corner. The course by which we all travel is paved by what we do on a daily basis. Let's all make choices that will benefit those with us and those coming up behind us, because if we are to learn anything from today, it's that decisions can change not only our own lives, but those around us. Mark D. Hindy lived his life to the fullest and he greeted each day with a glowing smile and an infectious laugh. If we all lived like Mark did, life would be much more simple, much easier and happier. We all struggle with his loss, we yearn for an explanation and for closure. But Mark would only want us to be strong and to accept life's riches. He was too great for this earth and from now until eternity, he will spread his wings above us and will watch over us until we are granted the opportunity to see him once again. Mark, you will live on in all of us and every time that we laugh, make a joke or crack a smile, a part of you shines through.

Questions of the Day (9/8/09)

As the NFL season draws near, what, if any, predictions can be made about the NY Jets?

Can a rookie QB lead the team to the playoffs?

Can a rookie coach do the same?

Without a big down receiver, how will the offense fair?

Can the team do well without Calvin Pace and Sean Ellis? Whom are both out due to suspensions for the first quarter of the season.

How will Leon Washington be used?

Can the Jets compete with the rest of the AFC? (Patriots, Steelers, etc.)

Question of the Day (9/2/09)

Pushing forward, how will the MLB playoff picture look? It could look something like this:


AL EAST: Yankees

AL CENTRAL: Tigers

AL WEST: Angels

AL WILD CARD: Red Sox

NL EAST: Phillies

NL CENTRAL: Cardinals

NL WEST: Dodgers

NL WILD CARD: Rockies

ALDS: Yankees vs. Tigers

ALDS: Angels vs. Red Sox

ALCS: Yankees vs. Angels

AL WINNER: Yankees

NLDS: Dodgers vs. Phillies

NLDS: Rockies vs. St. Louis

NLCS: Dodgers vs. St. Louis

NL WINNER: Dodgers

WORLD SERIES: Yankees vs. Dodgers

CHAMPION: Dodgers

Question of the Day (9/1/09)- THE NFLDL

What if the NFL had a developmental league like the NBADL?

This week is the last week of the NFL pre-season. Now more then 600 players will be cut from all 32 teams and will be jobless, hoping for a team with injuries to call them. These players obviously all had the talent to compete in the NFL at some level and most excelled in college. If they get cut this week, what opportunities do they have? Not many, and a lot of these guys will have to go back home and work on their farms, family business, restaurants, etc. There is the CFL and UFL, but those rosters are pretty full as well. When the NBA cuts rosters, players can play in Europe, or they can continue on in the NBADL and keep their skills and legs fresh. If the NFL were to have a "minor league" of sorts, players could earn a paycheck and keep themselves in good shape and be ready for a possible call up to the NFL if need be. The NFL is very rich, it has to be to be able to give out such enormous rookie contracts and signing bonuses. What needs to happen, is each team should have a "sub" or "minor league" squad like in baseball, that competes against the other "minor league" teams. The NFL could offer real cheap tickets, like the MLB, and each city would be able to create jobs for people looking to break into pro sports on the management, marketing, sales, broadcasting or any other level that a major league team would offer a job in. A lot of coaches and journalists for example, begin their careers in the minor league baseball system, before getting a chance in the big leagues. It is amazing the NFL can't figure out how to do this without losing money. Instead of doing it in the off-season, the NFL should install the "minor league" system to run parallel to the big leagues and keep the money flow constant. So while teams are earning millions from their pro teams, start the football weekend off on Friday and showcase a "minor league" game to get fans fired up for Sunday. Players can compete on the pro fields and scouts and journalists can watch them during the same weekend they see the pro players compete in the same city. If fans are willing to pay full price to watch pre-season games, why wouldn't they pay 1/4 of that to see the same players go at it before Sunday's game? Maybe owners could offer a package deal that gives season tickets holders a discount on "minor league" games. And when the big league NFL players get hurt, each team can just pick someone out of their "farm system", who will already be in game time shape and can basically step right onto the field. There are obviously plenty of things to work out logistically and financially, but this is a good starting point Commissioner Goodell.

Question of the Day (8/30/09)

Who gets the blame for the way the Mets 2009 season has gone so far?

It is hard to blame the players since most of the big name stars and everyday starters haven't even played enough to get the blame for underachieving or under performing. Not since opening day have the Mets looked like the "Mets" with guys like Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Putz, Wright, Santana, Maine, Perez and newly acquired Francoeur all on the DL.

Jerry Manuel gets the pass for the season since he basically was coaching the minor league Brooklyn Cyclones against the rest of the big league clubs. He had no tools, no players and no choice but to deal with it and try to put out the best lineup he could on a daily basis. He actually had some success with the B team.

Omar Minaya looks like the culprit, but not according to the Wilpons. Apparently Minaya has done his job and he has done it well enough to have the owners publicly come out and endorse him for next year. On the flip side to that, Minaya has the say on what happens to the players, coaches, amateur players, trades and contracts. He is responsible for making sure there are a bevy of healthy guys ready to play in the farm system, should something like this year occur (the entire team going on to the DL). He has the last word on giving older players long contracts, not offering younger players opportunities and on making deals to tighten up the bench or bullpen or starting lineup. He has gotten away with it this year since he didn't actually pull Reyes' hamstring or break Delgado's hip, but fans and writers all know that he is skating on thin ice and that his days could be numbered if next year starts off as bad or worse then this year.

The Medical Staff of the New York Mets seems to have won the role of "the scapegoat". Since everyone on the team, including Mr. Met has broken, pulled, separated or concussed some part of their body, there has to be a problem with the training methods or lack there of coming out of the medical offices at Citi Field. How is it possible for almost an entire team to be hurt???
It was like dominoes, one by one players went down with an injury. It was beyond laughable how bad it got this year with the injuries. While the Yankees were hitting home runs out of every corner of their new stadium, across town the Mets were leaving their new ballpark on stretchers and in ambulances headed for doctor's appointments. No one outside the organization could have imagined the inaugural season at Citi Field to look like the ER at Methodist Hospital, nor could they have imagined seeing a lineup featuring Anderson Hernandez, Corey Sullivan and Jeremy Reed.

The list is long and full of names when it comes to tyring to figure out who gets the blame for this year's Mets meltdown. The last two seasons were easily pinned on the heartless play of the Mets, but this year is a bit more tricky to understand how it all happened. The worst part about this is that the fans really do lose out the most. With so much hype and so much promised to them this year while paying so much to go to the brand spanking new stadium, fans are let down once again and this time they don't even know by who.

Question of the Day (8/28/09)

What should the NFL do about the Pre-Season?

A. Cut down the amount of games the teams play to 2?

B. Cut down the amount of games the teams play to 3?

C. Leave it alone?

D. If A or B was the answer, should they add the removed games to the regular season and extend it to a possible 18 games?

The NFL Pre-Season has become a long winded and boring part of an exciting start to a new NFL regular season. Only one of the 4 games the teams play showcase the talent fans look forward to seeing. Most of the other games are really for the coaches and scouts, so they can weed out the players that won't make the rosters and to trim down the depth charts. Season ticket holders and non-tickets holders have to pay full price to see these games and they only get to see their favorite players for a full quarter or sometimes only for a couple of series. In game 3 of the pre-season, teams usually give their first stringers the entire first half to work out any kinks and see how they mesh. Otherwise it is a fact that the other 3 games of the NFL pre-season are more like tryouts. There should be a new formula considered by the NFL to either make the regular season longer or cut out some games in the pre-season while simultaneously lowering the ticket prices so fans can actually enjoy these exhibitions. MLB spring training games are drastically lower in price and fans get to experience the fun like they would at minor league games. It's understandable that the NFL would like to make as much money as possible, so lowering the ticket prices could be hard, but Roger Goodell could show some sympathy for the average fan and just consider an alternate option. Also, changing the pre-season and having less games can help teams avoid injuries before the regular season and give teams a fighting chance with a healthy core.

Question of the Day (8/27/09)

In Minnesota, beyond the drama of Favre joining the team and causing chaos amongst the desks of sports writers across America, there is another problem that needs to be addressed....

What will Minnesota do with their other Quarterbacks???

The Vikings made Sage Rosenfels a promise that he would be the main competitor for the starting position when they traded for him from Houston. Tarvaris Jackson was coach Brad Childress' big draft pick during his rookie coaching season and has been a starter for most of his time in Minny, and John David Booty is another young and talented QB waiting for his chance to shine. There are only three spots on the depth charts at the QB position and everyone knows that the Mississippi mud slinger (Favre) has one of those spots. Who will take the other two spots?

Tarvaris Jackson looks like the odd man out and can probably get Minnesota the best return in the form of a trade, so it could get interesting as the pre season comes to a close.

Question of the Day (8/26/09)

Did the Yankees make a big mistake by not putting Joba Chamberlain back in the bullpen?

In Joe Torre's last year, the Yankees organization was grooming Joba to succeed Mariano Rivera as the next Yankees closer. He was lights out during the regular and post seasons. If it weren't for the bug incident in Cleveland, there might have been more of a chance to keep him in the bullpen permanently. Joba has been inconsistent this season and despite having a record over .500, it still remains to be seen if he is more effective coming out of the bullpen with his electric fast ball, than starting.

P.S. they also made a big mistake by not keeping Joe Torre...Joe Girardi hasn't lived up to anything.

Question for the Day (8/25/09)

After the performances of Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens during the NY Jets' second game of the pre-season, has a starter been determined or is there still a QB controversy?

Watching Mark Sanchez, there were good things and bad things, which are normal for most rookie QBs. Sanchez had two early throws that were both off a bit, one was intercepted and ran back for a touchdown, the other fell off of Ray Lewis' chest and should have been run back for 6 points as well. Sanchez did bounce back right away after being plowed by Lewis and other LBs on the Ravens. He threw a good screen pass to Leon Washington and then a very accurate touchdown pass to Leon again, during the same 64 yard drive. Sanchez reacted well, he took the hits and came right back and drove the team down for a score. Kellen Clemens was also shaky, getting picked off as well, with an interception that was run back for a touchdown, but then got back on track and hit Clowney, who made an acrobatic a touchdown catch. Clemens also hit Brad Smith with a great pass, but Smith dropped it in the end zone and the Jets settled for a field goal. It has been stated by most of the analysts watching the game, that Coach Rex Ryan should have left Sanchez in to finish the first half, so he could experience the 2-minute drill. But Ryan decided to bring in Clemens, which could mean he was not pleased with Sanchez's play.

What should happen? Should Mark Sanchez, the 5Th overall draft pick, sit this season and learn the ropes while Clemens get his much deserved chance to start? Or, will Ryan do what most believe he is leaning towards, will he name Sanchez the opening day starter?

The Jets have a good defense, with strengths at the defensive back positions (Lito Shephard, Darrelle Revis, Dwight Lowery, Kerry Rhodes and Jim Leonhard) the line backer positions (Bart Scott, Calvin Pace, David Harris, Brian Thomas and Vernon Gholston) and the defensive line positions (Kris Jenkins and Sean Ellis). The offense has some questions at the receiver position, otherwise it is solid at running back, tight end and the offensive line. So Sanchez and Clemens have a lot of pressure to step up and balance the offense, if they can succeed and keep the mistakes to a minimum, the Jets should be in the thick of things. Also, they might even be able to keep pace with the Gisele and the mighty Patriots.

The Unassisted Triple Play

How much worse can the Mets season get? Not at all now, since the Phillies turned a game ending unassisted triple play yesterday to take the series lead and push the Mets further into the dumps of the NL East. This season has had its embarrassing moments, like Luis Castillo dropping the pop up from A-Roid's bat, or when Fernando Martinez got his cleats stuck in the grass and fell down missing a routine fly ball or just the overall play of the back ups on a daily basis. But having 2 men on in the bottom of the 9Th inning, with no outs and the go ahead run at the plate is the situation all teams would want to have, giving themselves the best chance to comeback. Although it is not a negative reflection on the Mets, really, it still is just another example of how the team has made mental and physical errors. If Jerry Manuel had not sent the runners with Francoeur up to bat, his hit would have gotten through and the inning would have continued on with either bases loaded or a run in. Just more mistakes from the managers and front office keeping the Mets from achieving anything. Oliver Perez is another example from yesterday, of how the Mets have not made the right decisions throughout this season. Instead of having a quality pitcher out there yesterday, the Mets had to turn to Perez, their biggest bust of a signing since Mo Vaughn, who again was shelled and ineffective. Even the mighty Pedro looked good at Citi Field, going 6 innings and picking up the win. This season has been a big let down for fans and all the players and what really needs to happen is for it all to just end.

What happens to fans when their team is down in the dumps, losing and a far cry from the playoffs?

It's been very clear what happens to most fans at stadiums around the country during their favorite teams' losing seasons. Sports fans deserve a lot of credit for being loyal and faithful, even during the worst times.

When the Green Bay Packers were in the midst of a horrendous start to the season and the NY Jets came into town to visit for a little football game, the fans showed more loyalty then anyone could have ever imagined. The Jets had put up 31 points in the first half, creaming the Packers and turning Lambeau Field into their own practice field. But sitting their in minus 19 degree weather, we witnessed something that every sports fan should see. As the Packers came out of the locker room for the second half, the fans began cheering and rooting for their beloved "God" like quarterback, to throw one touchdown pass. If Favre had done so, he was inching closer to beating Dan Marino's record for most TD's thrown. No one in Green Bay that day cared at all about the massacre on the field, all they cared about was watching their favorite guy make history. It was a beautiful sight to see, sports fans just caring and just being able to find something positive to cheer for when things during the season were so negative.

Last night at Citi Field, the Mets were on their way to another loss and the fans had obviously become accustomed to seeing that this season. But as the 8Th inning began, Billy Wagner emerged from the bullpen to pitch and he received a very warm, standing ovation from the crowd, who only a year ago was yelling for his head as he was blowing save after save. Wagner was just activated from the disabled list and had not pitched yet this season, so seeing him was something new for fans. It could be called desperation or it could be called loyalty, whatever it was, it was positive energy. Citi Field lit up as if it were a playoff game and Wagner was out there to hold a one run lead. If you weren't aware of the actual score or had been in a hole all season, you might have thought that were true, just by hearing the cheers from the stands.

Although, these are only two examples of how fans stay true to their teams, surely there are others out there. Even during the Detroit Lions season last year, fans were finding something to cheer for. Because what else is there? Once fans know its over and they usually do before the players do, they re-group and turn their attention to something else. Maybe a record of some sort, a spoiler game, a new rookie making his debut, or just something that will evoke some happy emotions when things seemed so bleak. Sports fans can be happy knowing that they are real and are honest to themselves when it comes to their favorite teams. If this only trickled into real life, our world might be utopia.....

Question of the Day (8/20/09)

What will it take for the main stream sports media to cover something else other then Vick or Favre in the NFL?

There are plenty of other stories out in the NFL during this pre season that deserve to be looked at. For example, Jay Cutler in Chicago. Or Shawn Merriman coming back to San Diego and what the Chargers' chances are this season to go to the playoffs. Or what the Titans will do with Vince Young?

Hopefully the media will give it up by the half way point.

Question of the Day (8/19/09)

What about baseball excites fans on a daily basis?

The NY Mets did something yesterday that they haven't done in over a year. With a starting lineup excluding such stars as Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and David Wright, the Mets scored 8 runs on 10 hits in one inning, overcoming a 4-0 deficit to pound the Braves into the ground. The last time they scored 8 runs in one inning, was August 13Th of 2008. The Mets did not hit one home run during this offensive surge and the three players with 9 of the 17 total hits, Francoeur, Castillo and Sheffield are the hottest hitters of the teams right now. Most Mets fans would never have thought that Luis Castillo would be hitting so well, consistently through out this season. Francoeur has been the happiest player in the Majors since being traded to the Mets and his play has reflected as much and Sheffield not only leads the whole team in HR's, but has also been a steady, veteran force in the lineup. What this showed to fans yesterday, is that the Mets, even being out of any playoff contention, are still playing baseball. They showed heart and they displayed the thing that draws us all to the sport. That baseball is a game of streaks, winning streaks, losing streaks, hitting streaks and slumping streaks. In one game, a baseball team can exude excitement and tough play and for one day, fans can cheer and forget about the rest of the season. Fans should take pride in a win like yesterday and just enjoy baseball for all it's glory and all that it has to offer.

This game yesterday, was a bright spot in a very dark NY Mets season. It is always a pleasure to watch your team explode for 8 runs in one inning, beating a division foe. That is what still excites this fan about baseball.

Question of the Day (8/18/09)

John Smoltz, the only pitcher in MLB with 200+ wins and 150+ saves is currently out of a job. At first blush, this looks like a big mistake by Boston, to part with such a talented pitcher during the height of the playoff battle, but looking deeper, this could be another Brett Favre situation. Smoltz, this season, went 2-5 with an 8.32 ERA in 8 starts for Boston, prior to his release by the team. Historically, John Smoltz has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the league, as a starter and as a closer/reliever. He spent 20 years in Atlanta and only in Atlanta, winning the Cy Young award and making multiple All Star teams.

But at 42 years old, is he past his prime?

Like, Brett Favre, "Smoltzy" has had a hall of fame career, has won championships and MVP awards (Cy Young), while playing for one team up until the end. "The end", meaning when his career was coming to a close. Favre showed football fans and players that he just isn't the same football player he once was. He was only able to keep it up for half of a season for the NY Jets last year, ultimately going 1-5 the last 6 games of the season and missing the playoffs. Favre has told the media, fans and teams that he has retired (AGAIN), which apparently isn't true at all, because Minnesota Vikings' players say differently; that Favre will be on the team before the start of this season. Smoltz, fortunately hasn't gone in and out of retirement like Brett Favre has, but the question still remains....

Should Smoltz take this release by Boston as a sign and hang up the cleats, ending a glorious career, or, should he jeopardize his reputation like Favre, and play past his prime, possibly embarrassing himself?




***It is hard for someone who hasn't played pro sports to understand what it's like to finally quit the only thing you have ever known, but as a spectator and as a fan, it looks to be detrimental to players like Favre and Smoltz's image to continue to try and compete beyond their capacity.

Question of the Day (8/17/09)

Why is Brett Favre continually changing his mind about retirement? A story was leaked from Minnesota's training camp, saying that Favre hinted to some of the players that he is going to come back out of retirement to play for the Vikings. He probably watched the Vikings' first pre-season game and said to himself, "I can do better then that". So, will Brett Favre stay retired or is he going to be wearing the awful purple and gold?

Question of the Day (8/14/09)

How will the NFL play out this year? I know this is a tough thing to predict, but it's fun and it is a great way to get excited for the 2009 season. Here are my predictions (just educated guesses):


NFC EAST

1. Philadelphia
2. New York
3. Washington
4. Dallas

NFC WEST

1. Arizona
2. Seattle
3. San Francisco
4. St. Louis

NFC NORTH

1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. Green Bay
4. Detroit

NFC SOUTH (this one is hard)

1. Atlanta
2. Carolina
3. New Orleans
4. Tampa Bay

AFC EAST

1. New England
2. New York
3. Miami
4. Buffalo (TO can't make a team)

AFC WEST

1. San Diego
2. Denver
3. Oakland
4. Kansas City

AFC NORTH

1. Pittsburgh
2. Baltimore
3. Cincinnati
4. Cleveland

AFC SOUTH

1. Tennessee
2. Indianapolis
3. Houston
4. Jacksonville


PLAYOFFS:


NFC

1. Arizona
2. Chicago
3. Philadelphia
4. Atlanta
5. New York
6. Carolina

AFC

1.Pittsburgh
2. New England
3. Tennessee
4. San Diego
5. New York
6. Indianapolis

Question of the Day (8/13/09)

Pedro Martinez has arrived once again. Last night, pitching for his 4th team, the Phillies, he went 5 innings while striking out 5 and only walking 1 batter. Pedro scattered 7 hits and gave up 3 earned runs against the slumping Chicago Cubs. This was a quality start for Pedro, his last Major League start was for the Mets last September and other then that, he had only pitched 3 other times during the World Baseball Classic. Pedro showed little to no rust and was as effective as the Phillies had hoped for, hitting 92 mph on the radar gun. The question of the day here has two parts to it:

1. With the Phillies potent offense behind him, scoring runs in the double digits most of the time, is this the only fit for Pedro as he extends his time in the Majors, before joining the Hall of Fame??

2. Is this another example (Derek Lowe, Randy Wolf) of Omar Minaya missing the boat on getting a quality pitcher cheaper than other ones he has acquired (Oliver Perez, Tim Redding)?

Question of the Day (8/11/09)

The New York Jets, like many other NFL teams, have a Quarterback competition going on this pre-season. Kellen Clemens, a four-year member of Gang Green and the rookie out of USC, Mark Sanchez will fight to the end for the starting job. New coach Rex Ryan has expressed confidence in both players, giving Clemens credit for being more NFL ready, while also saying that Sanchez's arm is stronger. Both QB's are lacking in other categories, but the team and Ryan are confident that either one can run the Jets' offense. Ryan is a defensive minded coach, who loves the running game. Also, the Jets have downgraded in the wide reciever position with the loss of Laverneous Coles, moving the focus to the running game. So, if you were Rex Ryan, who would you start, Kellen Clemens or Mark Sanchez?

Question of the Day (8/10/09)

Which NFL team, if any, is going to sign Michael Vick? Or will he go to the UFL and take the pay day they are offering him of $2 million?

Question of the Day (8/6/09)

The Yankees and Red Sox are about to begin a pivotal 4 game series in the Bronx tonight and the NY Daily News, in preparation for the series, has attempted to compare the match ups at each position. Is the paper accurate in its prediction and has the Daily News fairly compared each category between the two teams?

The Daily News' picks:

FIRST BASE: Mark Teixeira vs. Victor Martinez/Kevin Youkilis (DN-even)
SECOND BASE: Robinson Cano vs. Dustin Pedroia (DN-even) ?????
SHORT STOP: Derek Jeter vs. Jed Lowrie (DN-Yankees)
THIRD BASE: A-Roid vs. Mike Lowell/Kevin Youkilis (DN-Yankees)
LEFT FIELD: Johnny Damon vs. Jason Bay (DN-Red Sox)
CENTER FIELD: Melky "the milkman" Cabrera vs. Jacoby Ellsbury (DN-even) ????
RIGHT FIELD: Nick Swisher vs. J.D. Drew (DN-Red Sox)
CATCHER: Jorge "rat boy" Posada vs. Jason "tek" Varitek (DN-Yankees)
DH: Hideki "Godzilla" Matsui vs. David "i took steroids...so what" Ortiz (DN-Red Sox)
STARTING PITCHERS: Yankees vs. Red Sox (DN-Yankees)
BULLPEN: Yankees vs. Red Sox (DN-even) ????
MANAGER: Joe "huh" Girardi vs. Terry "nice windbreaker" Francona (DN- Red Sox)
OVERALL: Yankees vs. Red Sox....the series match up gives way to the Red Sox edging out the Yankees because of their 8-0 record against NY this season, but the Yankees have a 2.5 game lead in the division and have been playing their best baseball.

YOU DECIDE!!!!

Question of the Day (8/5/09)

Prominent and big name baseball players have been identified as steroid and performance enhancing drug users. Some have admitted it, some have not. Some were part of the 104 players that tested positive in 2003 and some just look unnaturally like pro wrestlers giving way to the curiosity of how they got to look like that. It has become a way of life for fans and players to find out almost daily that another player tested positive at some point or that he has been linked to BALCO or that he has just drastically grown in size and his power numbers are through the roof. The saddest part is that baseball has been changed forever, it's integrity will never be the same and the time when players and gamers alike gave all they had and exposed their true love for baseball, is now gone.....

Should this current time in baseball really be known as the "Steroid Era"?? And is it an acceptable way to look at the records achieved during this "era" as tainted???

Question of the Day (8/4/09)

How will the AL East play out?

1. Yankees win division, Red Sox get Wild Card.
2. Red Sox win division, Yankees get Wild Card.
3. Yankees win division, Rays get Wild Card.
4. Red Sox win division, Rays get Wild Card.
5. Rays make a comeback and take the division, Yanks/Red Sox get the Wild Card.
6. Only one team makes it with the division title and the Wild Card comes out of another division.

Question of the Day (7/31/09)

Adrian Gonzalez, a power hitting, young, first baseman is on the trading block. Should the Mets try to land him?

Question of the Day (7/30/09)

Can the Mets get Roy Halladay?



*The Phillies traded for Cy Young award winner, Cliff Lee and that solidified them as the cream of the crop of the NL and it basically closed the door on the NL East crown for them as well. Carlos Beltran is supposed to come back in 2 weeks, Reyes, possibly sooner and if....if....if...the Mets continue to win more then they lose, Halladay joining the team will do two big things other then give them a fighting chance at the Wild Card. It will bring fans to the expensive Citi Field this season and it will sell tickets for next season, because isn't it all about selling tickets???

Question of the Day (7/29/09)

The NFL has reinstated Michael Vick. Should all professional sports follow the same set of rules when it comes to felons, criminals and cheaters being allowed to have their jobs back?


*Other examples: Plaxico Burress, Dante Stallworth, Pacman Jones, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada, Antonio Pierce.....etc.

Question of the Day (7/28/09)

Should Pete Rose be allowed into the Baseball Hall of Fame?


*I have written an article pertaining to this, and I personally feel he should be. He is the hit king and was one of baseball's fiercest competitors. Take into consideration that him cheating, was betting on his team to win.

Question of the Day (7/26/09)

The World Champion Phillies beat the spit out of the St. Louis Cardinals yesterday (7/25/09), pushing aside the idea that getting Matt Holliday and Julio Lugo would push the Cardinals' lineup into hyper drive, while protecting Pujols and securing the NL Central. The Cards did show a lot of pop with Lugo and Holliday getting hits, but the Phillies showed how they could handle the best teams in the NL (Cubs, Dodgers and Cards).

So how good are the Phildelphia Phillies?

They said no to a deal for Halladay, so can they keep this going all the way to the end again without him?

*The Phillies are the Mets rivals through and through, but there is respect for great baseball and solid players here on my blog.

Question of the Day (7/24/09)

Omar Minaya...what are you going to do? That is my question for the day. If Omar Minaya were to answer my little blog, what would he say? Omar, are you going to sell off some chips for the future or are you going to pretend the season is still in reach and are you going to buy players before the trade deadline? Omar, you have made too many shaky decisions pertaining to contracts, how can we (as fans) trust that you are going to make the right ones now?

Question of the Day (7/23/09)

In the past 2 seasons, the Mets have collapsed in the last weeks of the season, choking away division leads and playoff hopes. This season is a whole new ballgame (no pun intended). With injuries to most of the team and with losses coming in large bunches, what will be the hand the Mets play at the trade deadline? Will the Mets sell off their pieces (whatever those might be) and try and re-tool for next year or will they try and convince themselves they can still make a run and be buyers?

*If the Mets offer a complete package of players to Toronto, they might be able to steal Halladay away from their division rivals, but that would mean throwing in the towel for this year (which is inevitable), but it would mean they could secure the two best pitchers in the league as their 1, 2 punch. One of the Mets big stars would have to be part of that package, along with Niese and F. Martinez, which should be fine if the team brass decide to turn their focus towards defense and pitching. Citi field is not a hitters ball park and if the Mets have Beltran in center, Francoeur in right and if the deal with Toronto goes the way its thought to go, Alex Rios in left. Matt Holliday could be an option, but Oakland will want real prospects in return. A solidified defense in the outfield means the infield would need to be fixed, mainly at first base. Delgado is an injury ridden star that can't be trusted to stay healthy all season and is 37 and Daniel Murphy is a huge gamble because he hasn't hit well and his defense is shaky. Minaya (if he is there next year) will have to make another deal for a first baseman, not David Ortiz and not Mo Vaughn. The Red Sox might deal, since they just traded for Adam LaRoche in Pittsburgh or maybe a guy like Nick Johnson in Washington. Whatever the Mets decide, they have to realize that this season is a bust and the future is too important to ignore. Too many NL teams are getting younger and better (Braves, Giants, Dodgers, Phillies, Marlins, Houston, St. Louis) and if the Mets don't follow suit, they will be in the bottom of the barrel for a long time.

Question of the Day (7/22/09)

Are David Wright's struggles at the plate a product of him altering his swing to try and hit for power in a stadium (CITI FIELD) that doesn't warrant any power or is it because he has no protection in the lineup and is pressured to try and carry the team on his shoulders?

*Either way, he has only 5 HRs and his average, which lead the league at one point, is dipping rapidly. Thanks a lot injuries.

Sad Days Are Here to Stay...

It has been coming for a while, ever since the Met's three big stars went down with no return date in sight, the END. It was made worse by two starting pitchers and a reliever going down with injures as well, the END. It was crazy to think that the Mets could move past these injuries and try to keep up with the rest of the division, without Beltran, Reyes, Delgado, Maine, Perez and Putz, it is the END. It sounds negative, but the reality is just setting in. The Mets, without their stars, cannot score runs, cannot get the big hits, cannot pitch past the 4th inning unless it is Santana on the mound and cannot hold games with a makeshift bullpen. The pressure on David Wright has been too much for any one player, but in his defense, he has kept up his all star numbers and even without the power he is used to having, has produced better then any other third baseman in the National League. Unfortunately, it's never enough to keep an entire afloat. The other problem is that Omar Minaya did not fill the Met's minor leagues with any efficient reinforcements to replace the injured stars. Preparation is important, losing three of your teams big stars is very unusual, but there needs to be a middle ground when it comes to keeping a team staffed with healthy, productive players. The most important next step the Mets need to make is to think about how they are going to have an everyday lineup that is younger and less prone to injury next year. Omar Minaya has a lot of work to do, while trying to keep the Wilpons from going completely bankrupt, he will have to try and make some moves that will keep the fans in the seats. Citi Field was expensive, the Wilpons lost a lot of money to Madoff and with the Mets at the bottom of the division this year, fans are reluctant to pay for the high priced tickets to watch them lose. It is a tough spot for Minaya, but that is how it goes in the life of a baseball GM in the big city. New York is town that can't wait for next year, the fans and media are impatient and if your team isn't winning now, you're going to be ripped apart daily in the news, on the radio and in the street. No one wants to be in Omar Minaya's shoes right now, he has a lot of work to do. Maybe, he should call up Donnie Walsh and find out what he did and what he said to keep from being chased by angry mobs.

Question of the Day (7/14/09)

How will the season pan out for your NY baseball teams? Will the Yankees win the AL East or the AL Wild Card? Will the Mets even make the playoffs?

Are You Kidding Me?

So this is how Omar Minaya deals with this season? He trades one of the only outfielder producing and hitting from the left side of the plate for another right handed slumping OF with 100+ strike outs. And, he did this fantastic deal with division rival Atlanta. So now the Mets will start right hand hitting Sheffield, Francouer and Tatis in the outfield. How does this solve any problems?

Question of the Day (710/09)...BUT FIRST A RANT!

Pedro Martinez is not the pitcher he once was. Pedro is not the ace of a staff anymore. He might not have anything left in his tank to pitch in the big leagues, but why would Omar Minaya allow him to go to the Phillies? Watching pitchers like Livan Hernandez, Tim Redding, Brian Stokes, some guy named Misch, is painful to sit through. One thing Pedro was good at, was that when he got into trouble, he was usually able to work himself out of it and give the team an opportunity to fight back. Pedro was a good fit in a clubhouse, he was a veteran presence that could help alleviate the stress of losing streaks and a fan favorite (TICKET SALES).
Baseball GM's have to work the phones and look for prospective deals as if it were a chess game. Blocking their enemies from obtaining pieces that might improve their teams chances. Omar Minaya, regardless of Pedro's final destination, has been stagnant and for the past couple of seasons has made some very questionable decisions or has not made any at all. Whether it was the Luis Castillo contract, the Oliver Perez contract, not pushing for Lowe and allowing him to go to a division rival, firing Willie in the middle of the night on a West coast swing, allowing Ryan Church to travel and play with two concussions and finally giving Jerry Manuel the Managers position. Manuel is great guy, but he is soft, he is sometimes too complacent with the below average play and heartless effort from the team. Manuel also puts too much faith in a pitching coach (WARTHEN) who also seems to not know too much about getting a pitcher out when he is in the game way too long, ie...Livan Hernandez last night pitching through the 5th inning. It's understandable that the bullpen is over used somewhat, but you have to stop the bleeding before it hemmorages into another embarassing 11-2 loss.
Injuries are a way of life in professional sports and in baseball especially, as it has been apparent with the Mets, but there is always an opportunity to pick up a player from a team that is selling. The Yankees didn't really need Eric Hinske, a versatile player and former rookie of the year, but they grabbed him before other teams (RED SOX/TAMPA BAY) could. The Mets were putting guys like Jeremy Reed, rookie Fernando Martinez and Fernando Tatis as their everyday outfielders. Couldn't Eric Hinske be an option instead? Also, there is another problem that Minaya has not addressed. The Mets farm system is depleted and mediocre. Which means there aren't many bargainning chips when it comes to trades (ROY HALLADAY). So Omar Minaya has shot himself in the foot by either not making moves to acquire young prospects or for putting faith in scouts who must be getting drunk at these minor league games instead of watching out for talent. So...this rant leads into today's Question of the Day (7/10/09).....



Should Omar Minaya keep his job?