Harvey's Innings Limit

Matt Harvey, who was on schedule to pitch tonight for the Mets, will be skipped for a few reasons. For the past few starts he has been pitching with a blister on his right hand. When I first heard about this I got a little bit more worried than most people normally would. I mean yeah it's just a blister on his hand, but if he pitches with it, there is always a decent chance that he would change his delivery, which is the last thing Matt Harvey wants to do. He has one of, if not the smoothest, cleanest deliveries in all of the MLB. I don't want him changing things and experimenting because of a stupid blister on his hand. This man's arm is worth $100 million+ and there is no reason to put that at risk. Then there's the fact that Harvey NEEDS to start the All Star Game. It would be so cool for Harvey to start the game at Citi. The fans want it so badly and I think that TC understands and us die-hard Mets fans understand that this is not the year yet. It's almost here, but it's not yet. They're not going to be a playoff team, so why not skip Harvey and let him start the All Star Game for the fans. It's what the fans really want to see. The most important reason though, is that Matt Harvey needs to be on an innings limit. At the rate he is on, he would pitch way more innings than he ever has in his entire life. There is no reason to risk this kid's arm. Sandy Alderson is brilliant for having the rule that their young pitchers only increase their innings by 30 or so each year. At the pace he is currently at he would throw around 240, which the Mets will not allow him to do this early in his career, nor should they. So instead of just shutting him down completely in September, it would be much smarter to skip a start here and there. Which is why he is being skipped tonight. Skipping a start every now and then is much better and more effective in my opinion than shutting someone down completely in the beginning or middle of September. This is also the perfect time for Harvey to miss a start. Obviously it would be awesome for him to start the All Star Game, which I think it is a lock that he will. Also, with this blister, it just wouldn't be smart to risk him changing his mechanics and messing up his delivery. That's just asking for an injury. So the Mets are making a really smart move skipping Harvey tonight.

All Star? Or Fall Apart?

The MLB all star game is coming up on Tuesday of this coming week at Citi Field in Queens. Dominic Brown and Cliff Lee were the only two Phillies to make it into the mid-summer classic. This is Brown's first appearance and Lee's 4th appearance (his 2nd in 3 years). Many people were fighting in Yasiel Puig for the Final Vote and some even ranked him above pre-selected all star Dominic Brown. On ESPN's Baseball Tonight Nomar Garciaparra spoke of the NL's depth especially at first base.... How about their pitchers?

Madison Bumgarner, Giants

Aroldis Chapman, Reds
Patrick Corbin, D-backs
Jose Fernandez, Marlins
Jason Grilli, Pirates
Matt Harvey, Mets
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
Craig Kimbrel, Braves 

Cliff Lee, Phillies

Jeff Locke, Pirates

Adam Wainwright, Cardinals

Travis Wood, Cubs
Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals

This might not be the Jered Weavers and the Verlanders of the world, but they are pretty darn good enough to play in this game... Also the list above to me looks like the most rag tag group of guys too, being that there are very small names that have just recently shown such such as Jeff Locke, Matt Harvey, and Jason Grilli. 

ONWARD TO MATT HARVEY

It seems like the general public and people I have spoken to all believe that Matt Harvey will start the All-Star game being that is at the stadium in which he plays 50% of his games. But its not just a consulation prize for being a Met in the ASG, but he's an excelent pitcher. With a 2.47 he is ranked fourth in the league in that statistic, fellow NL AS Jeff Locke is 2nd in ERA. This stat shows that both Harvey and Locke have been dominant and deserving of the pick.

Yours truly,

Simon

Pierce, Terry, Garnett, White, AK47, and Plumlee Highlight Nets' Offseason

The Brooklyn Nets have had the quite the offseason thus far. The trade with the Celtics finally became official, making Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, and DJ White all Nets. White was really just a throw-in. This trade alone puts them up there to contend with the Heat. Later on in the article I'll post what I think the depth chart will be, but when you think about that starting 5, it's scary. The addition of those 2 give us a legitimate shot to win the NBA Finals this year. I also think the addition of Jason Kidd, who is arguable the smartest basketball player of all time, is only going to make this team that much better. Then there's the other smaller moves that have been made. Jason Terry is a very good shooter off the bench so that was a good piece to get in that trade as well. Mason Plumlee with the 22nd overall pick could end up being the steal of the draft. This guy should've gone in the first half of the first round, but hey I'm not going to complain about getting one of the better players in the whole draft. Then there's the brilliant addition of Andrei Kirilenko. This guy is so underrated it's not even funny. He's a great basketball player and coming off the bench he is going to have a shot at winning 6th man of the year. Hands down one of the best under the radar signings this offseason. Here's the depth chart for the team that I think has the best starting 5 in the whole NBA:

PG: D-Will/Shaun Livingston/Tyshawn Taylor
SG: Joe Johnson/Jason Terry
SF: Paul Pierce/AK47/Toko Shengelia
PF: KG/Reggie Evans/Mirza Teletovic/DJ White
C: Brook/Andray Blatche/Plumlee

That team right there looks way better than good for next season. Looks like a championship team if you ask me.

Metta World Peace: A Solution to Knicks Defensive Struggles

It is clear that if the Knicks struggle in one area, it is most definitely on the defensive end. With a lack of size and consistent defensive stopper, the Knicks vitally need to make some acquisitions this offseason in order to attain a stronger defensive presence that can be relied on to grab rebounds, get stops, and most importantly, play with fire and heart.

When looking at available players for the Knicks to acquire, one of the most intriguing options seems to be Metta World Peace. Despite having an abrasive personality and issue with anger, World Peace can be counted on to, not only provide stops defensively, but also play with heart; something the Knicks have lacked for years know.

When it comes down to it, Knicks fans are in desperate need of a championship and the only way the team can provide one is to improve defensively. The unreliable defensive performances from Iman Shumpert and Tyson Chandler are not enough. The Knicks need someone who will work hard at all times and as a result will motivate those on the Knicks who do not appear to frequently give 100 percent (Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith and others). The addition of Metta World Peace will not only provide a much needed defensive presence that is for the Knicks as a team but also an energy that is much needed for everyone in Madison Square Garden.

Wright Chooses Alvarez For Derby, Still Hears Boos

David Wright chose his team of sluggers to swing for the fences with him to represent the National League on Monday night in the Home Run Derby. He chose Carlos Gonzalez, Michael Cuddyer, and Bryce Harper. All 3 of those guys are very reasonable picks. However, the city of Pittsburgh was in the mood to throw a hissy fit about it because their beloved Pedro Alvarez wasn't picked by David to battle against Robinson Cano and his squad. Cano picked Chris Davis, Yoenis Cespedes, and Prince Fielder. Knowing that the Mets were going into Pittsburgh for a 3 game set right before the All Star Break starts on Monday, the Pirates' broadcasters decided to get in on the act. They told Pirates fans on the air to boo David Wright whenever he was at-bat. Boo David Wright? Captain Wright? In Pittsburgh!? It doesn't get much more unprofessional than this. David Wright is a pro's pro, and real class act. A man among boys. I've met David and he's one of the nicest guys ever. Even if I hadn't met David, it doesn't take a genius to see how nice this guy really is. The Pirates announcers embarrassed themselves by telling fans to boo him for something as silly as this. The whole thing is for the fans. It doesn't count in the slightest, so why make such a big deal about it? Not only is it embarrassing, but it gets worse. Carlos Gonzalez hurt his hand, and David chose Alvarez to replace him in the Derby. This makes it that much more embarrassing for them. The worst part about it though is the fact that they actually did boo him last night. From this point on no one should look at the Pirates as a cool story and a fun team to root for, because they're a bunch of scumbags and so are their fans.

Jeter Returns; Suffers Another Setback

    

This season for the New York Yankees has been all about new faces in familiar places. Ever since the beginning of 2013, the main question for Yankee fans has been, "So when does Jeter come back?" Well, fortunately for them, Captain Clutch returned to the Bronx on Thursday in a matinee finale of a for-game set against Kansas City.
       Derek's return back to the Bigs began when he broke his ankle diving for a ground ball up the middle in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers last season. Originally, Jeter was supposed to be back by Opening Day of this year, but the doctors continued to find more injuries in the Yankee Captain's ankle. This lead to more and more setbacks, and as offseason turned to Spring Training, and as Spring Training turned to Opening Day, there was still no timetable for Derek's return.
       Eventually, at the end of June, Jeter began minor league rehab at the Yankees' AAA affiliate at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Playing mostly at DH, Derek played in 4 games and went 1 for 9, hitting the ball well and running out ground balls. At the beginning of this week, there were rumors that he might be called up before the All-Star Break, which begins Monday. And Thursday morning, Yanks GM Brian Cashman announced that the Captain would be in the starting lineup as the DH for that day's game batting 2nd.
       Derek in his first AB with 1 out and nobody on, Jeter hit a soft grounder on the third base side that no one was able to get to in time for an infield single. His next 3 ABs were mostly uneventful, but he did get his first RBI of the year on a groundout that brought home a run in New York's 8-4 victory. However, Joe Girardi elected to take Derek out of the game after 4 ABs for what was called a tight quadriceps. He got an MRI immediately after the game. Originally, Jeter joked about it saying, "Ya know, they give you an MRI for everything in New York!"
       On Friday afternoon, Brian Cashman addressed the media about the situation. He said it is a Grade 1 Tight Quad (The least serious of grades) and that Jeter will sit out this weekend's series against the Twins to wrap up the first half. He will not be transferred to the DL, but it is not out of the question. Cashman went on to say that Derek will be examined during the All-Star Break.
       Honestly, I cannot stress how important Jeter is to have in this Yankees lineup if they want to contend come September. For one thing, even in his very late 30s, he can still produce, and, until I see otherwise, I still believe he is a good shortstop. Also, he is one of the lone veterans on this team that are actual "veterans." No matter if you're a Jeter fan or not, he is plenty experienced in situations down the stretch and has proved that he knows what to do, as he handles pressure so well. most importantly, it's a huge boost to any lineup knowing that you've got Derek Jeter on your team. Whether he produces like he was 5-6 years ago or struggles mightily, the fact that you have such a historic and great baseball player in your lineup is a huge boost, no matter who you are!

Play By Play Sports Broadcasting Camps #SBCNation

As usual summer is the best time of the year for every kid. But what comes along with summer: SPORTS AND CAMP! Some kids go to camps in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, some go to basketball camp at Saint Joe's, and some go to Play By Play Sports Broadcasting Camps. Yes ladies and gentleman, there is a camp for sportscasting and it's all over the country.

Students from all over the US of A travel to Philadelphia, North Jersey, Boston, Chicago, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Los Angeles to meet sports players and announcers while working on activities to help boost public speaking skills and sports knowledge. While the final goal is to have all kids become successful journalists in sports, fun is being had, of course. Games like Stump the Schwab, In Your Face, and Scattegories are used to add a competitive, yet exciting, atmosphere in between visits from stars. Lunch is delicious being brought to you every day of the week so campers don't have to bring a bagged lunch every day. Past guests include:

Michael Barkann, Neil Hartman, Gregg Murphy, Ray Didinger - Comcast SportsNet anchors
Marc Zumoff- Sixers
Jim Jackson- Flyers
Sal Paolantonio- ESPN's preeminent football reporter
Glen Macnow and Paul Jolovitz – 610 WIP hosts
Dave Spadaro – PhiladelphiaEagles.com
Mike Missanelli- 97.5 The Fanatic
Joe Lunardi – ESPN Bracketologist
Jerrold Colton – Sports Agent
Scott Graham-ESPN/Eagles PBP
Jeff Skversky-ABC Sports Director

Maurice Sutton- 2009 East Regional Champion Villanova Wildcats men's basketball player
Lavoy Allen- Philadelphia 76ers

Lou Williams - Atlanta Hawks

Jon Kincade – 680 The Ticket

Steve Holman - Atlanta Hawks

Leo Mazzone – Sports talk radio host and former Altlanta Braves coach

Chris Rose- Host Fox Best Damn Sports Show

Bob Miller- Los Angeles Kings announcer

Steve Lyons- Dodgers

Dave McMenamin- ESPN Los Angeles

Without a doubt the camp is an excellent way for kids to get their feet wet in the broadcasting field. The counselors are excellent, young, smart guys who help the kids through presentations and activities. Please go to:

http://playbyplaycamps.com/ for more info.

Kovalchuk Silly To Retire

Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk decided to retire at age 30 in the middle of a contract with the Devils. I really believe he is making a mistake. I'm not writing this to say that he's dumb to leave all the money on the table, as he is walking away from 12 years and $77 million. I think he let down the Devils organization. He really hung them out to dry and as a Devils fan I think what he did was selfish. If he knew he was going to go back to Russia I don't get why he couldn't tell the team right when the season ended. Now all the best free agents have already signed. He is still one of the best players in the world and I think he made a mistake. There is nothing like the NHL. The Stanley Cup is the best trophy in the entire world. Also, he says he has been considering this for a long time. So basically he cost us our 2 best players from our run to the cup a few years ago. The huge contract we gave him should've been given to Zach Parise, who is not only a better player than Kovalchuk, but he would never put the Devs in a situation like Kovy did. With all this being said, I am very confident that the Devils will be fine. Now we have a ton of money to spend. We now can resign Adam Henrique. And then there's the fact that we have the best GM in hockey and arguably the best in all of sports. I have all the faith in the world in Lou Lamoriello. The Devils will be fine. We just need Henrique to come into his own and take the next step in his development. We still have Zajac, Patty Elias, and now some of our younger players will finally be given significant ice time. I wanna see what we have in guys like Tedenby and Josefson and Loktionov. Kovy will be missed, but it's a waste of time to continue to be mad about it. He let us down. That's his fault, not ours. And then we have guys like Reid Boucher and Stefan Matteau working on their games and even though they're both still likely not ready, they're not too far away. Kovy leaving is not such a bad thing for us in the long run. This season might be tough, but considering we can actually spend money now, it might be a blessing in disguise.

Wheeler Looks Strong; Mets Sweep Giants

       The New York Mets, winners of their last 3 and 7 of their last 10, were looking to bring out the brooms on Wednesday against a struggling Giants club and had newcomer to the Majors and former Giant prospect Zach Wheeler on the mound looking to rebound after 2 straight shaky starts. The two teams had played a pair of interesting games leading up to Wednesday's matinee, the first won by the Mets on a Brandon Crawford error in the 15th (Yes yet another Mets game gone to extras), and the other that was close for awhile until New York put it away in the final few innings.

       The Mets batted around to score 3 in their first at-bat on an RBI single from Daniel Murphy and then a 2-run single by John Buck. The sudden offensive explosion continued in the 5th when Marlon Byrd (who will probably be shopped by the Mets) hit a 2-run shot to make it 5-0. In the 6th, RBI doubles came from an unlikely source in Wheeler and then from a more usual source in Murphy which made it 7-0! This would be all the Mets would score in a 7-2 rout of San Francisco.

       As for Zach Wheeler (pitching wise this time around), he dazzled in his first ever start against his former team. He went 7 strong innings allowing only 3 hits and 1 ER while walking only 3 and striking out 5. Wheeler as well lowered his ERA to 3.54 and improved his record to 3-1.

       Well I think it's fair to say that the Mets have been playing some very good baseball of late. It really all started on that road trip about a month ago in which the team went on a 7-4 run in Atlanta, Philly, Chicago, and Denver. The pitching staff stepped up its game and so did the offense which up to that point had basically been dreadful. Yes they had a mostly bad home stand when they returned back to Citi Field, but throughout the Arizona series, they put up a fight in every game against a tough DBacks team that is battling for the lead in a wild NL West. They won 2 of 3 in Millwaukee and just dominated a struggling yet talented Giants club. If they keep it up they could be dangerous.

       Call me crazy but the Mets may have a 2nd half miracle!

Hagelin Stays a Blueshirt

       One of the things that the New York Rangers, who struggled offensively last season, will need if they want to improve their offense is a speedster. And with their main transaction today, the Rangers will keep one of hockey's fastest skaters.
       On Wednesday, New York resigned RW Carl Hagelin to what is reportedly a 2 year/$4.5 million contract. Hagelin, who was a big part of the Rangers offense in 2013, is coming off a 10-goal 24-point regular season playing in all 48 games and a 3-goal 6-point Postseason playing in all 12 of the Rangers playoff games. He is part of a busy week for the Blueshirts as they have signed 2 of their main RFAs that are on the roster (Hagelin and Ryan MacDonaugh) but are still yet to sign others such as Derek Stepan.

       I think this was a very important sign for the New York Rangers. As anyone who watched this team last year would know, they played well under expectation, as many expected to be the team hoisting Lord Stanley's historic trophy in late June. However, from the very first game of the shortened season, the team looked slow, didn't seem aggressive, and just weren't getting the job done. The team seemed to hit their stride near the end of the season and were able to grab the 6th seed in the Playoffs.
       As the season came to an abrupt end in a 5-game series loss to the Bruins, all Ranger fans could hope for was that the team would find a way to become more aggressive, especially on the offensive side, yet keep the core amount of guys that could one day be serious Cup contenders. Well I think all they needed was to stay with what they have. Hagelin is one of Hockey's best all-around players right now. He is aggressive on both sides of the rink (something this team needs to do more), brings some serious speed to a club that at times loses its edge (he is the reigning Fastest Skater at the Skills Competition), and he puts up some offensive numbers with double digits in goals and assists.

       Now obviously Hagelin needs to be a leader in the Rangers offensive push next year, but it was also clear that now-fired Rangers coach John Tortorella was not the guy who would help make that happen. His system just didn't work for the strengths of the team and was openly disliked by many of the players. However, the Blueshirts new head coach Alain Vigneaux is coming off of 7 mostly successful seasons in Vancouver and has a reputation of being a players' coach, so I think good things will come from this busy months or so of transactions from the Rangers.

I Still Like Ike

The Mets finally sent down Ike Davis on Sunday after another extra inning loss to the Marlins. I understand why they did it and I think it had to be done, but it was kind of upsetting to me. Ike has been my favorite Met since his rookie season. I hate seeing a kid with this much potential struggle the way he has. I just hope that he can go to Vegas and turn things around and become the player we all know he can be and expected him to be when he was one of this organization's top prospects. Hopefully he'll be back soon, and I can't wait for his return.

Thank You Brooklyn

After having a little time to get over the heartbreak, I think I'm ready to be able to put this whole season into perspective. I was absolutely devastated after game 7; I even shed a tear. But looking back on the season, it was awesome! No other way to describe it. Earning the 4th seed in the East after finishing near the bottom last season. It was a magical 1st season in Brooklyn.

That being said, I think letting go of P.J. Carlesimo was a mistake. He went 35-19 for us after taking over for Avery Johnson. He deserved to stay. And please, during this offseason, I don't wanna hear Dwight Howard's name. He's literally the last person I want on this team. I like what we currently have. A few pick-ups here and there and I think we could win a championship. Dwight Howard is not what we need. Brook Lopez is the key to future of this team.

"I'm Coming Out!"

     

On Tuesday, the NHL made a marketing move that has to this point has the support of the fans and ticket sellers across the country.
       It was announced by the NHL that the number of outdoor games per season from the 1 Winter Classic game to a total of 6 games per season. The point of this move is so that all 30 teams can play an outdoor game within a reasonable amount of time, since every club has stated that they want to participate in the Winter Classic. Therefore, now every one will be happy, and more fans will get to see their team play out in the open.
       They as well released the outdoor schedule for the 2013-14 season. You New York hockey fans are going to find this really exciting:

1. Winter Classic: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings - Michigan Stadium
       Well, this game was supposed to happen this year, but of course, yet another debate of money distribution caused a 1-year delay of hockey at The Big House. This is how every Winter Classic should be: a classic rivalry that's taken to a really big stadium in a really cold place (not just 2 big-money clubs at a big-money stadium no matter the location). This will be just the 2nd WC with 2 Original Six teams playing each other, the other being Red Wings-Blackhawks at Wrigley in 2009. Needless to say, this will be a quality game, no matter the level of the two teams.

2. Anaheim Ducks vs. LA Kings - Dodger Stadium
       I'm going to be honest about this: I'm a bit apprehensive about this game. First off, these two teams are from a big market, but the entire country may not be interested in this game, as a lot of their players are not household names to hockey fans (with the exceptions of Cory Perry, Dustin Brown, and Jonathan Quick). Most importantly, I'm wondering how sure the NHL is that they can play an outdoor hockey game in Los Angeles. Hockey is most certainly not their top priority and it's definitely not easy to be sure that the weather will be cold enough to keep the ice from melting completely. Don't expect many more hockey games in LA after this, as it will most likely not work out.

3. New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers &
    New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers - Yankee Stadium
       Yes, New York Ranger fans, you heard me right: you will be getting 2 outdoor matchups in just 4 short days! With these games happening in the Bronx on January 26th and 29th, it is of course a marketing scheme to promote Super Bowl 48 which will be right across the Hudson River at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. The last time the Blueshirts played outdoors was at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for the Classic in 2011, and neither of the other 2 NY teams have ever played a game outdoors. These two games will without a doubt be on every sports fan's calendar. Two of hockey's best rivalries will be on display at the second installment of America's most historic stadium. This will definitely be one of, if not the, top event on the 2013-14 NHL calendar.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Chicago Blackhawks - Soldier Field
       The last time outdoor hockey came to Chicago, it was at Wrigley Field in 2009 for the 2nd Winter Classic. Currently, both of these clubs are leading their respective conferences, and neither of them show signs of slowing down by next season when they will meet at the historic home of the Chicago Bears. This will be another game that will have the entire hockey world on their toes (I think it's fair to say at this point that the NHL scheduling crew did a fine job of putting together these games).

5. Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks - BC Place
       With two Canadian teams in this game, it will most likely go under the name the Heritage Classic, as have other intra-Canadian outdoor games in the past. There will probably be one outdoor game set aside each year for an all-Canada matchup so that this formerly occasional game can happen every year. Well, that will definitely create some big-ticket games.    

An Apology Long Overdue

To all of the loyal fans of NY Sports Today
It is with all of my heart that I apologize for an over 3-month post drought. I know I have lost some readers and I feel awful for letting them down.
As you may or may not already know at the beginning of February an upcoming site known as GetReal Baseball (which is well worth a checking out of) picked me up to write about the Yankees and Mets. Because of my involvement with this site I was not able to post here about the multiple teams and leagues I write about. It is because of this that I am deeply sorry for not posting since late January. I hope that you the readers will forgive me.
Additionally I would also like to announce that I will be covering the New York Knicks during their Playoff run.

Johan don't gohan

Hearing the news about Johan Santana today made me feel sick to my stomach. Hearing that he re-tore his anterior capsule and surgery being likely  I honestly couldn't feel worse for the guy. I really hope this doesn't end his career, but can't help but think this is the end. This man will forever live in the history of this franchise that all Mets fans love to death. I know that being a Mets fan for my whole life, and for the rest of my life, I appreciate this man because of 6/1/2012. That night was magical. Honestly Johan is one of the hardest workers on this planet, and he is an incredible competitor. I just hope for his sake that this isn't the end. He shouldn't go out this way. He is the last person that deserves this. I'll be praying for him. I hope this isn't the end.

Captain Wright

A few days ago, the Mets officially made David Wright the 4th captain in Mets history. Everyone was waiting for this to happen, including myself, but it honestly wasn't even necessary. Everyone knew that David was the captain. He didn't need to be it officially. Either way, this was already his team. It certainly took the Mets long enough to get this done though. I am also very happy that he decided not to wear the "C" on his jersey. It just looks weird on a baseball jersey. It is also a little bit obnoxious. I hate when baseball players wear the "C" because it just doesn't look good, and it also is a little bit obnoxious. In Mets history, David and Gary Carter are the 2 captains that didn't wear the "C" and the 2 that did are Keith Hernandez and John Franco. While I love all 4 of these players, for what they do on and off the field, I think that David and Gary go about their business in a more admirable way than Keith and John. Also, look at Derek Jeter vs. Jason Varitek. That should be enough said right there. Obviously Derek Jeter, no matter what team you are a fan of, is just a pro. There's no better way to put it. He is a great player, but an even better leader and person. Jason Varitek was a good player, good leader, but cannot be compared with Derek Jeter. That's just silly. Nobody looks at Jason Varitek like they look at Derek Jeter. I just feel like wearing the "C" is obnoxious and sort of stuck-up.

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.  

Tough Loss Ends the Season for the Knights

       After just missing out on a spot in the BCS, RU Football had a chance to go out in style with a win in the Russell Athletic Bowl, the number 2 bowl game for the Big East (a conference which the Scarlet Knights will be leaving as early as 2014). Their opponent was Virginia Tech, who was 6-6 overall in the regular season. 17 seconds into the game, Khaseem Greene recovered a fumble in the end zone for the early score, and it was 7-0 Scarlet Knights. Near the end of the quarter, Nick Borgese added onto the lead with a 36-yarder to make the score 10-0. This was the score until an exciting 4th QTR. VA Tech kicked a 25-yard FG and a 21-yard pass to Corey Fuller to tie the game at 10 apiece. This bowl was destined for overtime. It didn't take long after that as the game quickly ended on a Virginia Tech field goal ended the game and Rutgers' season by the score of 13-10. Gary Nova, the Knights' QB, did not play well under the pressure of the big bowl game. At one point, in fact, he had 5 consecutive incompletions and he didn't score a single touchdown.

RA the Blue Jay

As sad as it was for me to see RA Dickey get traded, it was a good move for the Mets. I've had my RA Dickey jersey since his first year as a Met. He is such an inspiring human being. No one should root against him. I don't know if rooting against him is even possible. There's nothing to dislike about this man. I'm wearing my RA Dickey Blue Jays shirt that my brother had to go to a custom tshirt store to make to be sure I would have for Christmas. They also sent Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas to the Blue Jays, so that someone will be able to catch the knuckleball Dickey throws. As for the Mets, the package they got back is one they could not pass up on. John Buck should be able to be a serviceable catcher until d'Arnaud is ready. Travis d'Arnaud is going to a star for this team. Noah Snydergaard could be a very good pitcher and Wuilmer has the potential to be a good major league outfielder. While the Mets got a fantastic package of prospects, it is highlighted by d'Arnaud. He is the #1 catching prospect in all of baseball. He started with the Phillies and went to Toronto in the deal that landed the Phillies Roy Halladay. So d'Arnaud, 23, has twice been traded for Cy Young Award winners. That says a lot about what people think of this young man. I can't wait for him to debut. I also can't wait for Wheeler. With young players like these 2, Harvey, Ike, Tejada, and others on the horizon, it should not be long until the Mets are contenders again. I know that diehard Mets fans, like me, could never dream of switching teams. Mets diehards, we just need to stay positive and be a little bit patient, and it won't be long until we are playing meaningful baseball down the stretch. Also, check out the Mets new BP hat. It is very cool. The new alternate jerseys and hat are also very stylish as well. This is the BP hat.

Mark Was Treated Unfairly

Really? Are we serious? Mark Sanchez getting death threats on Twitter? First of all, threatening someone's life... Never okay. Second of all, Sanchez works hard and does his best. His best wasn't good enough this year. But honestly, he was set up to fail. He was not given the pieces to surround him that he needed. The Jets were not fair to him. They kept telling him he was their guy, and then they went and tried to get Peyton Manning, and then they got Tim Tebow. Every single time Sanchez threw an incomplete pass, fans would chant for Tebow. Tebow is not a good quarterback. So, here's Mark, afraid that one pass he might make would just get intercepted and make everything worse. Now, afraid to make certain throws for fear of making the situation worse, he stopped making the throws that deep down he knows he can make. In his 1st 2 seasons he played with enthusiasm, heart, confidence... I didn't see that at all this year after the first game. Is it really Mark's fault? In my opinion it is not. I think he can still salvage his career and become a very good QB for Gang Green. I would hate to see Sanchez go. Also, Tebow never should have been a Jet. Tannenbaum, who is expected to be fired Monday, never should have brought him in. The Jets are hoping to keep Tannenbaum in a cap management role. But Tebow acted like an absolute baby after the Jets chose to go with McElroy instead of him. Refusing to play? The Jets don't owe this guy anything. Him saying that he won't play if he isn't the starting QB is unacceptable. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGBDgQl2xNI

After McElroy suffered a concussion, the Jets are going with Mark Sanchez in the season finale. I really really really hope Mark has an amazing game. I think he deserves another chance next season. He is a good player and a good QB. He didn't fail the Jets, the Jets failed him. Bringing in Tebow messed up his whole psyche. He deserves another chance next year. He was drafted #5 overall for a reason. He took this team to 2 straight AFC Championship games. The Jets should not give up on this young man.