Brook Lopez Deserving of All Star

Due to Rajon Rondo tearing his ACL, the Eastern Conference All-Stars had 1 open spot that needed to be filled. They got it right by choosing Brook Lopez. Brook has quickly become my favorite Brooklyn Net. He has been absolutely phenomenal this year. He is averaging 18.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Those numbers are unbelievable. The Nets not getting Dwight Howard was a blessing in disguise. He has really come into his own this season. At the age of only 24, he still was so much room to improve. It is scary to think of how good Brook can be. I'm glad the NBA got it right and chose him to represent the Nets in the All-Star game. So I'll end this post with a fun fact; no team has ever won the NBA Championship without having an All-Star that season. The only time was in 1999 when there was no ASG because of the lockout.

Rangers Score 5 Unanswered Goals; Come Back to Beat Leafs

       Saturday night, the Blueshirts returned home from Philly with a 1-3-0 record and looked to get back on track at The Garden against Toronto. The Maple Leafs got it started early with goals by Gabovski and James vanReimsdyk, and by the end of the first, it was 2-0 Leafs. About a quarter of the way through the 2nd period, Brad Richards put one home on a bang-bang scoring play to make the score 2-1, a score that the two clubs would go into the 3rd period with. Then came an eventful and much-needed third for New York. The Rangers scored 4 goals, with Staal tying the game, Gaborik taking the lead, Boyle putting on some insurance, and Gabi scoring an empty-netter to put it away, and Broadway had sealed the deal with a 5-2 victory.
       This was the exact kind of win the Rangers needed to get back on track. They really played like the team that every team expected them to be coming into the season. The worst period that they had was the first, which really wasn't as bad as it looked. It was no doubt the best defensive game they have had so far, as it was the only gave where I've seen them get out of the defensive zone without their opponent having a scoring opportunity. It was an overall great game by the Rangers to get points 3 and 4 on this young season.

OTHER ATLANTIC SCORES: Philadelphia 7, Florida 1

NEXT GAME: Tuesday vs. Philadelphia

Snub Lopez

That face right there says it all. Brook Lopez not making the all star team is an absolute joke. I think Snub Lopez is a good nickname, as he is the biggest snub in the all star game this year. It is difficult to process, considering he is a top 3 center in the NBA, if not the best. He is averaging 18.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. That is unbelievable! Then there's the possibility of trading Brook. I don't even want Dwight Howard on the Nets anymore. Brook has stepped up big time and has become an elite player in this league. He's only 24 and still has a long way to go before reaching his ceiling. The rumor was that the Nets would send Brook to Minnesota, Minnesota would send Kevin Love to LA, and we would get Dwight. I want no part of this deal. It would literally be a "Dwightmare." In my opinion (which many people disagree with) is that Brook is already better than Dwight. Whether this is true or not, the Nets would probably have to give up more than just Brook and I don't want to see Marshon Brooks go, as he would most likely be asked for in this deal. There is also the fact that this Nets team is playing like a team. They have formed a chemistry and are playing with a confidence that is fun and exciting to watch. Trading Brook should not even be on the table. Deron Williams has said that he doesn't think Brook is going anywhere. If I were D-Will, I would not want the best scorer on the team going anywhere either. Brook and Deron have formed a bond that I don't see the point guard having with Dwight. I just don't see it. So I say forget about Dwight, and realize that the man in the middle we have right now is arguably better than him already.

Wright the Captain? Sure Took 'Ya Long Enough!!!

       After officially becoming the no-doubt guy that his team will build around, there has been talk lately about 3B David Wright about becoming the fourth team captain in New York Mets history. Apparently, Wright's Met teammates will decide whether to nominate him for the position. David's leadership role on this team that has gone unrewarded by the front office throughout the past few years will probably win him the "C" sewn into his uniform. However, Wright seems to already seems to have this position in the minds of the organization, which is probably why it has taken so long for them to make this move. At the Winter Meetings, Mets GM Sandy Alderson was quoted saying that he thinks Wright is already the captain. "It doesn't need somebody to say you're the captain." he went on to say. David is currently 4th on the active games list with one team, behind Jeter, Colorado's Todd Helton, and Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins. He as well was recently engaged,
       I know that in many people's mind, he's been the captain for years now. However, I see no reason why the Mets haven't given David this honor yet. If Terry Collins, Sandy Alderson, and the Wilpons feel this way about their veteran infielder, they might as well let him know physically so he knows for sure that this franchise is counting on him to a great extent to lead his club and help lift his teammates up when they're down. Yes, Wright is definitely the captain, but I think the formal announcement is way overdue.  

2013 WBC Preview

       In March of this year, MLB will hold its 3rd ever World Baseball Classic and its first in 4 years (from now on, it will go on a 4-year rotation). There will be plenty of new talent, including 3 Yankees, 1 current Met, and a very recent Met in R.A. Dickey.
       Here's a quick preview at each team:

1. Australia
       There's no one on this roster that really pops out at you, as Australia isn't very much of a baseball country. Don't expect them to be a team that will contend with the big boys.

 2. Brazil
        A team with a couple of older guys and a fairly young pitching staff. No big names, but Brazil is one of my "surprise" teams for this tournament.

3. Canada
       This is a squad with a lot of individual talent. There's John Axford, Bret Lawrie, Justin Morneau, and Russel Martin. However, Joey Votto is not on this roster which could end up hurting them in the long run.

4. China
       Royals pitcher Bruce Chen will likely be the ace of this otherwise no-name China team. However, China is one of those countries that has improved within the past few years or so and will always be in the conversation.

5. Chinese Taipei
       This is a country that has faced Major League competition within the past few years in certain All Star series. The only name familiar to most American baseball fans is former Yankee Chein-Ming Wang. This will be a squad that will contend.

6. Cuba
       Cuba has always been a team that is tough to beat with talent like Aroldis Chapman and Yoenis Cespedes. With no Major League talent on the WBC roster, however, the Cubans will have to rely on some young and athletic stars to come up big if they want a shot at the title.

7. Dominican Republic
       Probably one of if not the most stacked lineup in the Classic. A staff  with pitchers like Octavio Dotel, Joel Peralta, and Fernando Rodney. An infield of Aybar, Cano, Encarnacion, Reyes, Ramirez, Beltre, and Tejada. An outfield with Melky Cabrera and Nelson Cruz. The Dominican team can and WILL be in the Championship game.

8. Italy
       The Italian national team is the most successful European teams in recent years. They have young talent like Nick Punto and Yankee C Francisco Cervelli. This is a young team that may surprise people.

9. Japan
       Japanese superstars Hiroki Kuroda and Ichiro (both Yankees) will sit out this time around, but Japan does have veteran and former Met Kazuo Matsui, who will head the infield for this team, which won the first two Classics. They are definitely a quick squad, as the biggest person is only 200 pounds! Expect Japan to get past the first round and have a good shot at the Final Four.

10. Netherlands
         The Netherlands have a few Major Leaguers in infielders Andrelton Simmons and Roger Bernandina and Braves pitcher Jair Jurjjens. They have some good talent young and old which should balance itself out. They should be a team that will not go down easy.

11. Korea
         Korea currently has 17 players signed to pro contracts, including Reds OF Shin-Soo Choo, but there are no names that pop out at you. However, they are always a pesky team. Expect this team to be tough to beat.

12. Mexico
       This is another team that should go far. A pitching staff with Romo, Gonzales Gallardo, Estrada, Ayala, and Aceves. Adrian Gonzalez, Ramiro Pena, and Danny Espinosa help make up a potent infield. And the outfield has veteran Karem Garcia. However, they play in a tough division with the U.S., Italy, and Canada. So, if they want to get past the first Group Round, it won't be easy.

13. Puerto Rico
       The two most powerful parts of this roster are the catcher position and the outfield. Both Jose and Yadier Molina will participate in the tournament, and the outfield includes former Met teammates Carlos Beltran and Angel Pagan. That plus a strong pitching staff will make for a contender.

14. Spain
        This is a young team that only made it to the big tournament by winning their qualifier. They probably won't be going for the title this time around.

15. United States
        This roster is probably the strongest one the U.S. has ever had in the WBC. The pitching staff has a strong relief core with Jeremy Affeldt, Heath Bell, and Craig Kimbrell and a starting staff that includes reigning Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, Kris Medlen, and Ryan Vogelsong. They have a big name infield as well with Arrencebia, Lucroy, Mauer, Bloomquist, Phillips, Rollins, Teixeira, Wright, and Zobrist. Then comes a powerful outfield with Ryan Braun, Adam Jones, Giancarlo Stanton, and Shane Victorino. This team is going to the FINALS!!!

16, Venezuela
            Quite a few big names on this roster with the ace of the staff being Mariners' Felix Hernandez and a strong infield of Elvis Andrus, Asdrubal Cabrera, Miguel Cabrera, Pablo Sandoval, and Marco Scutaro. They will be a good team.

My round-by-round predictions:

ROUND 1

Group A:
1. Japan advances to 1 seed pool
2. Cuba advances to 2 seed pool

Group B:
1. Korea advances to 1 seed pool
2. Chinese Taipei advances to 2 seed pool

Group C:
1. Venezuela advances to 1 seed pool
2. Dominican Republic advances to 2 seed pool

Group D:
1. United States advances to 1 seed pool
2. Mexico advances to 2 seed pool

ROUND 2

Group 1:
1. United States advances to Final Four
2. Venezuela advances to Final Four

Group 2:
1. Mexico advances to Final Four
2. Dominican Republic advances to Final Four

FINAL ROUND

Final Four:
1. United States advances to Championship
2. Dominican Republic advances to Championship

Championship:
1. United States defeats Dominican Republic to win Championship

Devils are back!

So hockey is finally back! I am so excited to see the Devils this season. They played extremely well in their opening night win against the Islanders and I expect more of the same when they play the Flyers in their home opener. I also really liked what I saw from rookie Stefan Matteau against the Isles. He didn't do anything totally special, but he looked like he belonged in the NHL. And I know that in a previous post I stated that I sometimes root for the Rangers. I completely 100% take that statement back. I'm all Devils no matter what. It's always been that way and it always will be.

Two Staright Nights of Sloppy Play

       The Blueshirts played their home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday night, and for the second time in as many nights, the Rangers did not play their best game. The Penguins got it started early when James Neal got one through Lundqvist less than 2 minutes in, and the score was 1-0 quickly. The Ranger captain Ryan Callahan tried to put his team back on track with a goal eight minutes later, but there was no stopping the Pens tonight as both Kennedy and Niskanen had gotten their names on the board by the time the first period was over. The Penguins cooled down for the next 20 minutes, as their only goal came from Pascal Dupuis on the power play, and Marty Biron entered in net to replace Henrik Lundqvist. Then came the 3rd period in which James Neal had scored yet again to put his team up 5-3. New York came back from a defecit to make it a game with scoring from Taylor Pyatt and Rick Nash's first goal as a Ranger. In the final few minutes, Biron left the net empty, and Kris Letang took advantage by scoring from his own zone, and the Penguins had come into MSG and won their fifth straight against the Blueshirts.
       Another sloppy affair for the Rangers tonight. Although Lundqvist had an awful game after his brilliant performance the other night that went without a win, he is without question not all to blame. Much like last night, New York was skating really slowly and without any need to win. I guess the one week training camps didn't give John Tortorella enough time to get his team into shape, as they have been playing sloppy the past couple of nights. There has been no chemistry. Each player has been in their own little world/ Welp, they better pick it up and pick it up fast before they see the Bruins again in a few days.

OTHER ATLANTIC SCORES: Philadelphia 3, Buffalo 5

NEXT GAME: Wednesday vs. Boston - 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Blueshirts Leave Boston with Bad Tatse in Their Mouths

       Saturday night was the first day of the 48-game hockey season, and the Stanley Cup favorite New York Rangers were in Beantown Massachusetts for the first of 3 games this year against the Bruins. Tuhkka Rask was out to prove to Boston he could successfully take Tim Thomas's starting spot, while newly-acquired Brad Richards was playing his first ever game as a Ranger. The game, however, was a sloppy one for New York. Late in the first period, Mario Lucic scored on the day of the birth of his daughter and put the Bruins up 1-0 after a hard-hitting 1st period. The 2nd was mostly the same but a little more offensive, as Boston pulled ahead 2-0 after a deflection goal by Daniel Pialle. A few minutes later, the Blueshirts scored their first goal of the season which came off the stick of Brad Richards (Nash got an assist for his first Ranger point). In addition to the two minor penalties in this period, there were two consecutive fights in which the Rangers and Bruins split, and the score was 2-1 going into the third. Then came another Boston score in the third by Johnny Boychuck, and the final was 3-1 as the Blueshirts got off to a bad start.
       Although the scoreboard doesn't make it seem like this, the obvious star of the game for New York was Henrik Lundquvist who made 30 saves and what might've been the save of the year. Everyone else played a pretty cruddy game. Other than the one assist, Rick Nash did not shine on the starting offensive line with Richards and Carl Hagelin. The defense didn't play too great either. Marc Staal had an overall bad game not really performing very well and stumbling in key moments of the matchup. So, the Rangers will have to get back up on their feet for their home opener tomorrow night.

OTHER ATLANTIC SCORES: Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh 2
                                                    New Jersey 2, Islanders 1

#hockeyisback

       After waiting for almost 130 extra days, hockey fans' prayers have been answered. The NHL will begin their season Saturday with 13 exciting games on the starting slate. There will only be 48 games per team due to the shortened season, so it's even more important for every team to get off to a good start and stay hot for as long as possible. Another thing to note is that there will be no inter-conference play, so those exciting matchups that the reigning champ Kings would've played against Eastern Conference teams won't be happening.
       Here's a quick look at some of today's top matchups:

1. Flyers vs. Penguins
        This 3:00 game may be the game of the day. Crosby, Evgeni, and the crew are going to try it for the Cup again this time without Jordan Staal, as they will head into Philadelphia to take on the state-rival Flyers who had the best of the Pens in 6 games in the first round of last year's exciting Playoffs. Sir Sidney will have to prove he can come back from multiple injuries to play a "full" season. Expect a blood fest in the City of Brotherly Love and a close game that can go either way.

2. Senators vs. Jets
           Daniel Alfredson will return for at least one more season and will try to get Eric Karlson and Ottawa back to the Postseason where last year they lost to the Rangers in 7 in the first round. They will take on a young Winnipeg club that's not yet experienced enough or ready to be a serious contender, even in a terrible Southeast division. This one should be a Senator victory.

3. Kings vs. Blackhawks
       This one will be a good one. The reigning Stanley Cup champions and the home of the NHL's new young goalie superstar will go for another one, as they will open up against Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks who have been on the decline since they won the Cup in 2010. The Hawks have bowed out of the Playoffs in the first round the past 2 seasons and are definitely vulnerable. I think that LA will pull through yet again.

4. Bruins vs. Rangers
       Two teams who are looking at how the loss or acquisition of a star player will affect their performance. Tuhkka Rask will have take Tim Thomas's place as the Bruins' starting goaltender this season, as Boston will take another shot at the title after an early playoff exit last season. The Broadway Blueshirts, on the other hand, are fresh off trading away Dubinsky, Anisimov, Erixon, and a draft pick for a guy they've been wanting for a while now: Rick Nash. The amazing thing is the Rangers organization kept their young core while getting Nash which is why they are many people's Cup picks.

5. Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs
       These two Canadian teams had disappointing non-Playoff seasons last years that have some young talent. Phil Kessel will be the star in this one, as the Maple Leafs will skate their way to a victory.

6. Islanders vs. Devils
       The two other New York teams will face each other tonight. New Jersey is fresh off a Stanley Cup Finals appearance but now have the challenge of trying to do it again with a new captain as Zach Parise now a member of the Minnesota Wild. The Isles, who will move to Brooklyn after the 2014-15 campaign, have a lot of young talent with their main man, John Taveres, is coming off another great season. However, Long Island isn't there yet, as I take the Devils in this one.

More Moves for the Mets?

       Over the past week or so, the New York Mets have seemed as if they want to make some more moves before the offseason comes to a close.
       The main news came on Friday when GM Sandy Alderson said that he would be willing to look at deals to possibly trade LH starter Johan Santana. This came a little early as most people who follow New York believe that he shouldn't be traded until the season gets underway. I would have to agree with these people. Johan has really only had one full healthy season with the team, 2008, and he's coming off major shoulder surgery and a shortened season in which he was shut down. Because of this, his value is seriously down which is probably why we haven't heard too much about this possible outcome. I really think that New York would not get the max out of Johan if they traded him now. His value is obviously down to just about the minimum. If the are as widely speculated out of it by the trade deadline and Santana is having a good season, the way of trade is a definite legitimate option for the Mets.
       There has also been talks over the past few days of a particular man with a certain beard might be on his way to Flushing. Free agent closer Brian Wilson reportedly worked out for the Mets this week. Alderson has said that he is "not sure" if he is willing to sign Wilson to a possible contract. Brian won 2 World Series rings with San Francisco but only made 3 appearances in 2012 due to a major arm injury which lead to Tommy John Surgery. Personally, I think this move would be an extremely smart move. The past couple of seasons, the Mets have just been going through the motions when they play, really not playing with any energy or excitement for what they play. However, Wilson has that "swagger"  that could bring up any team. For example, the same case was upon the Yankees before 2009 before they got the talents and attitude of Nick Swisher.
       New York may as well take another dip into the FA pool. On Thursday, there was a wave over the internet when Sandy Alderson said that the Mets "may be in on a big-time outfielder." A lot of people would automatically connect this to a possible trade for Justin Upton. However, with Harvey, Wheeler, nor Familia on the table, a trade probably won't happen. The only "big-time" outfielder still on the market is Braves OF Michael Bourn. With New York's current main offensive problem being the outfield, Bourn would be a great fit in Queens. Although there are these characteristics that would make him a good fit, there are a few things that make the Mets cringe at this possible signing. Of course, money is a huge problem, as New York doesn't have very much of it. Another big one is the compensation draft pick the team would have to give up, a thing that has seemed to carry a lot more importance in baseball the past few years. Additionally, if the Mets would have to enter a bidding war with any team for Bourn, they have no choice to bow out. There is no way New York would try at Bourn if they have any trouble trying to acquire him.

1/4/13-1/10/13 Weekly Recap

       For the New York Mets, it was not a very eventful week in the transaction category, but it was quite the few days in the category of Mets Baseball history, as former Met and the best hitting catcher of all time, Mike Piazza had a shot at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The ballot was stuffed with many stars of the 90's like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Craig Biggio, and many others. However, due to the proven steroid use in some and the alleged use in others like Piazza, absolutely nobody received the necessary 75% of the vote to enter this upcoming July. Although Mike was a powerful player in the "Steroid Era", he was never officially proved. Therefore, I think it's fair to say that the about 58% that he did receive was not enough.
       The Yankees' principal owner Hal Steinbrenner said Thursday that the team would be willing to go over the $189 million tax threshold to get another bat from the free agent market. The really only big bat still on the market is Atlanta Braves OF Michael Bourn. Of course, the Yanks lost bats such as Raul Ibanez and Nick Swisher earlier in the offseason.
       Now that the National Hockey League is right around the corner, the New York Rangers are set for the 2013 season. All 23 members of the team have arrived at unofficial team practice and the official team training starts on Sunday. These players include newly acquired Rick Nash (if anyone remembers the Blueshirts trading Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov for him), who will play his first game as Ranger when the year gets underway. The season will start for New York in Boston on January 19 and will open at home the next night against the Penguins.
       In Scarlet Knight news, Rutgers QB Jawan Jamison has declared for the NFL Draft. He may not be one of the higher 1st round picks, but there will be plenty of teams that will need a quarterback.
        One week after Notre Dame was demolished as predicted by 'Baba in the National Championship Game, Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly was interviewed this week by the Philadelphia Eagles for their coaching void. Apparently, there was mutual agreement and liking to the fit between the two sides. Kelly has spent the last 3 seasons with the Irish.

Really? Are You SERIOUS?!?

       Wednesday, the game of baseball saw its darkest day in quite a while. The Hall of Fame final ballot came out today, and the amount of players who received the necessary 75% of votes is......... 0, nada, el ZIPPO!!!!! No Bonds, no Clemens, no Schilling, no NOTHING! Obviously, this was due to the fact that all of these players played in the "Steroid Era." However, there were only a few guys who have been positively linked to PED's. These are players such as Barry Bonds (a 7-time MVP and the all-time HR leader) and Roger Clemens (a 3,000+ strikeout man and a 300-game winner) who have been released in things such as the Mitchell Report. In these two cases, however, I believed that these two were Hall of Famers without steroids (as I expressed earlier this week).
       Even though there are cases like these, there are plenty of players who are no-doubt Hall of Fame caliber but were not voted in because they were talented and powerful players who played in the Steroid Era and were never proven to be PED users. These were guys such as Curt Schilling, Craig Biggio (who has 3,000 career hits) and the greatest hitting catcher who ever lived, former New York Met Mike Piazza. The fact that these players who should be destined for Cooperstown are left out just because they were born at the wrong time even if there's no proof that they did cheat honestly makes me absolutely SICK!
       And then there are those other guys who I just have no idea why they didn't get voted in: Tim Raines, Jack Morris, and Alan Trammel. Raines is the second-best base-runner/stealer behind Ricky Henderson, Morris was a big-game pitcher, and Trammel was a consistently legitimate hitter. And for guys like these, especially Morris who will have his last shot next year, it doesn't get easier as the years go on. Next season's first-year ballot includes 3 guys who are no-doubt going in next year: Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Frank Thomas. Additionally, former Yankee Mike Mussina is as well on the ballot in 2014, and he may get in based on his winning percentage. Of course, only a certain amount of players can enter The Hall a season, as each writer can only vote in a max of 10 players within a single year.
       Obviously, today is a day that America can look down and frown upon our game and its problem when it comes to Performance Enhancing Drugs. 

Hey, Ya Can't Win 'Em All!!!!!!!!!!!

       Last night, for the first time since 1988, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish came into South Florida looking to achieve College Football immortality. The only thing that stood in their way was the defending champ Alabama Crimson Tide who was looking for their 3rd championship under coach Nick Saban. Notre Dame came into the game huge underdogs but were ready for the challenge. By the end, they wished they hadn't showed up. 'Bama got started early scoring on their first drive, a drive for 82 yards which was, to that point, the only 75+ yard drive the Irish had given up in this historical undefeated season. After going 3 & Out on their first possession, the Fighting Irish punted off, but a controversial call turned what should've been an Alabama fumble to a Tide TD, and it was 14-0 quickly. It was all downhill from there with Irish punts and missed tackles galore. The final score was 42-14 Alabama, and the dream season had come to an abrupt end. After the game and the Crimson Tide had taken the trophy, they were ranked #1 by AP and Notre Dame had fallen to fourth.
       It might've been a sad ending to a great season for Notre Dame fans, but nobody can complain about their season. They were 12-0, and they weren't supposed to compete until next season! Sure, guys such as T'eo and Tyler Eifert won't be in South Bend in 2013, but they still have some young, thriving talent that will play to their potential for tenured coach Brian Kelly. One of the young stars who will don the Fighting Irish uniform next year is Torii Hunter's son, Torii Hunter Jr. Everett Golson is getting nothing but experience throughout big situations like the one he was in last night, and now the offensive line has seen some better competiton than they had over the regular season. It wouldn't be to far-fetched to say that we could the Irish in Pasadena for the National Championship next year, the last in the BCS era. Overall, as announcer Brent Musberger said last night, "It may sting now, but there is a bright future for Notre Dame."

A Season Without A-Rod?

       After it was leaked to the media that he was supposed to have gone in in January, Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez still has no time set for his hip surgery. If it is procrastinated long enough, Rodriguez may be out for the entire season. So, news like this makes you think: What would this team be like for a whole year without A-Rod? Well, if he was planning on playing the same way he did in the Postseason last year, I think everybody and their dog would choose to postpone his surgery until the day his contract expires. However, having a guy like Alex Rodriguez, one of the greatest hitters of the last decade or so, in your starting lineup puts confidence into the lineup from top to bottom. Even though there are some who would enjoy having Rodriguez on the active 25-man, they signed former Red Sox corner man Kevin Youkilis to take his place as the Opening Day starting Third Baseman. Overall, I think the Yanks will be no worse than they were already were going to be in the upcoming season without Alex Rodriguez.

Locked Out!

January 6, 2013 - Day 114: After a painful 3 and a half months for Hockey fans, the ongoing labor dispute between the players and owners has come to a quick and unexpected end. A tentative deal was worked out at 5 a.m. this morning after 16 consecutive hours of tireless negotiations. The league is going to take this coming week to get all of it's players back from whatever leagues they were playing in and plan a 48-50 game season.

January 5, 2013 - Day 113: For the second time in nine years, the National Hockey League has been locked out and over half the season has been cancelled. The two sides are very far apart in working out a revenue split. However, the two adversaries only have one week at this point to work out a Collective Bargaining Agreement  if they want to get in a proposed 48-game season which would be scheduled to start on January 19th.This is the shortest season that commissioner Gary Bettman has said he will go. Bill Daly has said that any season must start in "mid-January". So, if no deal can be worked out within the next week, it's definitely the end of any chance at a season.

2 Guys the Mets Should Go After

       Over the past few weeks, baseball has seen some trade rumors around the Diamondbacks' Justin Upton (who has been in rumors for quite a while now) and the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton. The main reason Stanton has been in talks due to his disliking of owner Jeffery Loria decision on the franchise's future. Upton has been mentioned with a few teams, including the Mets at the All Star break last year, most recently in a possible 3-way trade between Arizona, Texas, and Tampa Bay. Although the Diamondbacks have come out and said that he will probably be there Opening Day, Upton will probably be traded by the 2013 July 31 Trade Deadline. As for Stanton, teams such as the Mariners, Rangers, and Yankees have expressed interest, as he will probably be changing uniforms by Spring Training.
       One team that hasn't said anything to either of these teams are the New York Mets. However, I think they should be knee deep in both of these guys. I know that they don't have too much money right now, but after next season, they don't have to pay Jason Bay or Johan Santana anymore. So, after next year, New York is going to have some money to spend.
       Both of these guys are power-hitting outfielders, which is exactly what the Metropolitans need right now. Of course, with any trade, the question arises, "Who do you give up?" Well, the Mets have a ton of middle infielders right now: Ruben Tejada, Daniel Murphy, Jordanny Valdespin, and some talented Minor League prospects.
       Additionally, Giancarlo/Mike Stanton has been a Met killer since coming up to the Majors, so if they trade for him, they wouldn't have to worry about him anymore.

My Thoughts on The Hall

       After hearing so much about it, I have personally developed my own opinions about this year's controversial National Baseball Hall of Fame first-year ballot. With the final decision coming up in just 5 days, I thought it was time I show you my ballot (if I had one).
       I have my own personal way of figuring out what steroid players deserve a spot, and I know there will be plenty of people who will disagree with me. I believe that players can be looked at by their individual cases. There are no doubt more players from the 90's steroid area who took PED's than we will ever know. However, I cannot not vote for a player who has HOF-caliber numbers who was not convicted. For those who did get caught and used the excuse "Everyone else is doing it," well sorry, you got caught! So, here's my ballot:

1. Barry Bonds
        I know there are going to be many people who will disagree with me, but there is an argument for this one. Other than being the all-time HR leader, there are some other reasons. At the beginning of his career, mostly with Pittsburgh, Bonds was not only one of the league's best hitters but was also a great base-runner and fielder. He was a 30-30 threat every year. Anyone who digs deeper into the numbers would see that Barry Bonds would be a Hall-of-Famer without ever touching any steroids. However, the PED's turned this man from an All-Star to a superhuman!

2. Roger Clemens
       To me, there is no way I could leave out a guy with such great numbers. He stayed so consistent throughout his career and has achieved multiple pitching accolades. He's one of the great pitchers of his era and should not be left off this list.

3. Curt Schilling
       This guy is a no-doubter for me. He was a big-game pitcher and came up in the clutch when his team needed him most. He was as well a huge part of two World Series teams and was even a co-MVP of the '01 Classic

4. Craig Biggio
       In my mind, 3,000 hits gets you into the Hall of Fame, no matter what. He was maybe the biggest part of the Astros "Killer B's" of the 80's and 90's, and was a Major League force until his retirement in 2007.

5. Mike Piazza
       Since I cover and closely follow the New York Mets, I might feel a little biased, but I think this guy really deserves a spot in Cooperstown. You can't overlook some of his career statistics. He may not have been the best defensive backstop this game has ever seen, but with 420+ career big flies, he is no doubt the best hitting catcher of all time.

6. Jack Morris
       I know there are many people who think that Morris is not a HOF pitcher with his ERA over 3 and other stats like that, but this guy was one of the greatest big game pitchers of his time. This is something he proved when he pitched 10 innings in a winning effort in the 1991 World Series for the Twins.

7. Tim Raines
       This guy should've been in The Hall a long time ago. He has 800+ steals, one of the most exclusive clubs in the game, and throughout his entire career was always a threat to get on base and score 2 or 3 runs within the blink of an eye!

8. Alan Trammel
       Trammel was a hitting machine in Detroit consistently for 20 seasons and a 5-time All Star.

9. Lee Smith
       Only one statistic is needed to put this guy in the Hall of Fame: Before Hoffman and Mariano, Smith was the all-time saves leader at 479. Case closed!

10. Edgar Martinez
       2200+ hits and over 300 career home runs as a designated hitter! This guy is the best DH in baseball history.

Giants Miss Playoffs But Go Out with a Bang

       The New York Football Giants came into Sunday needing a win over the Eagles in East Rutherford and losses by Minnesota, Chicago, and Dallas for a Playoff position. New York put on the heat early by scoring on their first three possessions, and the score was 21-0 after only the first quarter! After Jeremy Maclin scored a touchdown in the 2nd, Bradshaw ran for a 1-yard TD and Victor Cruz caught a 24-yard pass from Eli Manning, and it was quickly 35-7 going into the half. Then, halfway through the fourth, Henry Hynoski (The Hynocerous) caught a 1-yarder for his first career score, and the Giants had wrapped up a 42-7 victory that as well ended Andy Reid's Eagles career.
       The Giants did absolutely destroy Philadelphia, but that's not all that needed to happen for New York to get into the Postseason. Although the Redskins did defeat Dallas to win the NFC East, the Bears defeated the Lions in Detroit and the Packers could not top the Minnesota Vikings. Adrian Peterson was just short of the single-season rush record by just 34 yards. Because of this Minnesota victory, they will take that #6 NFC spot and will rematch against the Packers for Wild Card Week.
       Well, that ends the Giants season with a bittersweet win.