Mets Spring Training Report from Port St. Lucie

Game 7 of the 2006 National League Championship Series. That was legitimately the last time the Mets have even sniffed the World Series. There's been plenty of hope since then, but ZERO results. The following year, in 2007, the playoff odor was in the air, up until the very last day of the season when we coughed up the NL East division crown to the Phillies. Of course, this was the culmination of blowing a 7 game lead with 17 games remaining in the season. That offseason, we pulled off a miraculous steal of a trade to obtain Johan Santana, the best pitcher on the planet at the time. Everyone was sure the 2008 season was bound to be the one to finally get us to the mountaintop, until...the entire organization suffered the worst case of deja vu in modern history by losing 6 of the last 9 games in that season only to lose out on the NL Wild Card by one game on the last day of the season, once again. After the 2008 season, I contemplated never watching baseball again because of all the pain I personally suffered. It was getting unbearable. But the 2009 season came and once again, there was hope when Spring Training rolled around. But it didn't last very long. I'd like to call the 2009 Mets season, the year of the injury bug. The only important player on the roster not to spend time on the disabled list last season was our prize of the offseason of winter 2008, closer Francisco Rodriguez. Every core member of the team other than K-Rod: Wright, Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Santana, and JJ Putz (the then hopeful set up man for K-Rod who is now long gone), all spent a significant time on the DL, many of whose injuries put their seasons to an end. Needless to say, we sucked. Trotting out new lineups every day, hoping one would click-- none did. The season was wasted away on the injury bug. Obviously, something needed to be done to put a little juice back into this team.

This winter, Mets fans expected to sign at least one of the top three free agents on the market: Outfielders Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, and Pitcher John Lackey. I'm glad we did end up getting Bay, but the bottom line is that we needed more. I wouldn't expect Holliday as well, another big bat, but Lackey, who was a #1 with the Angels, would provide a much needed #2 punch in our pitching lineup. A 1-2 combo of Johan and Lackey? We could be the favorites to win the division right now had that happened. Now, we're looking at either Mike Pelfrey or Oliver Perez filling the void, which I'm not exactly excited about (although Perez has supposedly reported to spring training in the best shape of his life, and has been getting tips from Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax). Maybe the most puzzling move of the offseason was taking on former Gold Glove outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. Matthews had fallen out of favor in LA, and has $23 million left on his contract, but it seems the Angels paid us to take him off their hands, since they plan on paying $21 of the $23 mill. As a once reliable defender, he's potentially a good utility man to have, but is a liability at the plate. And even though it seemed inevitable that we were bound to grab slugging catcher Bengie Molina to make up for Matthews inability to hit, but instead he declined our offer in order to stay in San Francisco... go figure. So we were left with the last available option at catcher in Rod Barajas, who we signed just this past week. That appeared to be the only alternative to doing nothing and leaving Omir Santos as our everyday catcher, which manager Jerry Manuel apparently wasn't okay with.

Needless to say, I'm not heading into the 2010 season expecting to win the World Series. But, with the addition of Bay, and one year of playing at Citi Field under the belt of most present Mets, I can hope. Of course, this all depends on the overall team health. If we've got some 2009 deja vu going on come June, I'm gonna start focusing on football season early this year. But, if we stay healthy and Wright, Reyes, Beltran, and even Bay are hitting circa 2006, things could get interesting in the NL East.

It seems like everyone knows that staying on the field is a key concern because last years team health was so well chronicled. That being said, Carlos Beltran will be out until late May... great start to the season, and Opening Day hasn't even come yet. Ok, so other than Beltran, we're looking good. After missing most of last year, Jose Reyes has come into camp looking and acting like the veteran presence the Mets need in this clubhouse, along with David Wright, who the face of this franchise, taking a more vocal role as well. But if that talk doesn't turn into productivity on the diamond, heads will roll. GM Omar Minaya and Manuel are on very short leashes this year due to not only scrutiny from the fans, but the expectations of the Mets owners, the Wilpon family. Who despite spending $66 million on Bay, a fraction of the spending of the World Champions, still expect to bring some rings to Queens. In a market such as New York, where revenue is easier to come by for a sports team than in any other city on earth, the Wilpon's decided to only take one pinch out of their pockets this winter to grab Bay. After the Yankees just bought themselves a World Series this past year by spending HALF A BILLION DOLLARS ON ONLY THREE PLAYERS, the Mets decide to sign one top tier free agent, while countless others were available. Among the free agents we passed on: Holliday, Lackey, Ben Sheets, Randy Wolf, Joel Pineiro, Jason Marquis, Orlando Hudson, Bengie Molina. Just to name a few. To Fred and Jeff Wilpon- throw me a freaking bone here.

That being said, I still think this team has the pure talent in their lineup to reach the postseason for the first time since 2006. At full health, with all our bats performing to the best of their abilities, the Wilpon's expectations could come to fruition, and the rest of NL East should at least have some concern about facing the Mets. If we can trade for a big name #2 starter midseason (Dan Haren anybody?),  the Metropolitans can make some noise. Our lineup at full strength should look something like this:
1. SS Jose Reyes
2. 2B Luis Castillo
3. 3B David Wright
4. LF Jason Bay
5. CF Carlos Beltran
6. RF Jeff Francoeur
7. 1B Daniel Murphy
8. C Rod Barajas
9. SP Johan Santana

Now there's been some talk out of Port St. Lucie that in the wake of Beltran's injury, Jerry Manuel is considering plugging Reyes into the 3 hole to have some more pop in the middle of the lineup in Beltran's absence. Beltran's replacement during that time will be either Angel Pagan or newly acquired Gary Matthews Jr.. Whoever it is will most likely bat first or second, with Castillo filling one of those spots as well. So even without Beltran, this team could still provide some serious firepower. We're gonna have to live without him for the first two months of the season, and no way will a slow start out of the gate be acceptable. The boys of summer are back again, and I've never been so unsure of their future.

Players to watch at the NFL Combine (Part 3)

Who Will the Giants Take?

Rolando McClain

Middle Linebacker- Alabama

McClain is in fact the very best linebacker prospect in the 2010 draft class. At 6'4" 260 lbs, he has a monstrous presence on the field. A disruptive blitzer, McClain can also be effective in zone coverage, while simultaneously making calls for the whole defensive from his middle linebacker position. He was the primary leader of the Alabama Crimson Tide 2009 championship defense. While he needs work on his man coverage skills, McClain still projects to be the first linebacker taken in the draft. If he falls to the Giants at pick number 15, they would be foolish not to take him considering the fact that ever since former Giants defensive captain Antonio Pierce was released, middle linebacker is one of the Giants most glaring weaknesses. McClain would be a steal for New York should he drop that far. If anything, I almost hope McClain falters at the combine so that less teams may be inclined to take him (other than the Giants of course). But I don't see such an athletic specimen such as McClain faltering very much in Indy. 

Earl Thomas

Strong Safety- Texas

Thomas is widely regarded as the second best safety in this year's draft after Eric Berry. But because Berry is expected to be drafted in the top 3 picks perhaps, Thomas's projected draft stock is noticeably lower, yet still in the first round. But the Giants pick at number 15 seems like a fair spot for Thomas to be selected. Like Berry, Thomas is undersized, but an outstanding tackler with an great eye for the ball. A wonderful player in coverage, if he ever picks you off, he has great big play potential. If Thomas shines at the combine, the Giants could warrant selecting him at pick 15.

Players to watch at the NFL Combine (Part 2)

Never Heard of Him

Vlad Ducasse

Offensive Lineman- Massachusetts

Ducasse has only been playing football for a few years now, but until now, his massive frame has made up for any fundamental flaws. A three-year starter at Offensive Tackle at UMass and a 2009 All-American at the Division I-AA level, Vlad has all the physical tools to be a productive offensive lineman in the NFL. However, because he has not yet been able to consistently prove himself against top level competition, many believe Ducasse is better fit sliding inside a spot on the O-Line to Guard, where his potential weaknesses are less likely to be exposed. Although while playing OT Ducasse is not at the top of his class, he is commonly considered the top rated Guard in 2010. If Vlad can make positive use of his extremely powerful body during the combine, he has a chance to become the first UMass football player taken in the first round of the NFL Draft in 40 years.

Mardy Gilyard

Wide Receiver- Cincinnati

The final game of the 2009 regular season turned into Mardy Gilyard's coming out party. In a game for the ages, a game in which Cincinnati narrowly edged Pittsburgh 45-44, Gilyard combined for 381 all-purpose yards with 2 touchdowns. A combination of 118 receiving yards with a touchdown, and 256 return yards with a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown. Gilyard is a top-flight athlete and furthered that case in the 2010 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, where Gilyard shined once more in his final college football game, leading all receivers with 103 receiving yards and a touchdown. He was named offensive player of the game. While Gilyard's 40 yard dash time at the combine will undoubtedly be great, he needs to improve his route running and ability to break off from his defenders at the line of scrimmage. If Gilyard can make those strides and show them off at the combine, he could work his way into the first round.

Players to watch at the NFL Combine (Part 1)

The NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis is dedicated to allowing college football players who are ready to make the jump to the next level, an opportunity to display the extent of their physical ability leading up to April's draft. Attending players run through a variety of drills, with professional scouts watching closely. Some of the drills, such as bench pressing and running a 40-yard dash are generic drills that many players partake in. But many of the drills that are most important at the combine are position specific (ie. Quarterback throwing drills, Wide Receiver catching drills, etc.). While NFL teams follow the events of the combine closely, many believe that such drills don't truly measure any skills because they are not real game situations. Nonetheless, the combine is still a determining factor in terms of where a player may eventually be drafted. That being said, let's take a look at a few groups of players, some who are at the top of their class, others, waiting to be the next diamond in the rough. In this segment we focus on two of the top-rated players in the upcoming draft class:

The Alpha-Dogs


Ndamukong Suh
Defensive Tackle- Nebraska
A Heisman finalist and the first defensive player to ever win the Associated Press player of the year award, Suh is currently the favorite to be the #1 overall pick by the St. Louis Rams in April's draft. All the evidence needed to make a case for Suh can be found in his performance in the Big 12 Championship game against Texas this past season. Although Texas won the game in the closing seconds, it was Suh who won MVP of the game as his disruptive presence caused fellow Heisman finalist and Texas QB Colt McCoy to have one of his worst performances of the season. Suh's combination of brute strength, and quickness, along with an outstanding football IQ, put him in position to make an immediate impact at the next level, regardless of his team. I expect him to firmly cement these thoughts when he takes part in the combine this week.

Eric Berry
Strong Safety- Tennessee
For the past year, Berry has commonly been referred to as, "the next Ed Reed". That's damn high praise for any incoming pro, but there's no doubt about it, Berry's got game. Like Reed, he's not huge, standing only 5'11", but he weighs a solid 203 lbs, and the power he has shows when you see him hit. He is an absolute ball-hawk, making his way into every play. He can easily turn any passing play into a touchdown going the other way, and is just as phenomenal at stopping the run. Berry is a complete athlete, and as he will show in Indy, he's got all the tools to excel in the NFL.

Two words define an entire franchise: July 1st

It has become common knowledge in most NBA circles. Come July 1st, some of the league's most elite players can put themselves on the open market. That's right, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, among many other All-Stars will have the opportunity to become unrestricted free agents, and earn max-contracts, in what is being called the greatest free agent class in NBA history.

Thanks to the recent trade deadline deals by our guru of a GM Donnie Walsh, my Knicks are in position to have the financial capabilities to sign two of the aforementioned FAs. For those hearing this for the first time, let me reiterate once you regain consciousness... The New York Knicks, who have been the laughing stock of the NBA for the last decade, are currently positioned to make a run at maybe the greatest player on the planet, in addition to either a NBA Finals Champion and MVP, 6-time All-Star, and All-Star Game MVP or a 5-time All-Star who is having a career year, averaging 24.4 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 1 bpg, and is shooting nearly 53% from the field. Any of these tandems would immediately turn the Knicks into a championship caliber team, along with the likes of our young phenoms Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler. Those guys are currently two of only four players on the roster who have guaranteed contracts going into next season. Toney Douglas, the rookie point guard from Florida State, who has gotten minimal floor time for much of the season, is the third and final player of the four who will ever matter on the court. The last of these four is Eddy Curry, who's player option will allow him to earn nearly $11 million next year, should he exercise it. While Curry will almost surely never actually play for the Knicks ever again, he may be a useful asset otherwise. But we've got options. If Donnie decides to buy out the remainder of Curry's contract, we could save close to $2 million this offeason to have a little extra spending money. Alternatively, with an expiring contract next year, the Knicks could keep him. Then, they could use him as a trading chip come Trade Deadline time and receive other valuable long-term assets such as young developing players and draft picks, much like the Rockets just did with Tracy McGrady in their deal with Knicks and Kings. It was this deal that cleared enough space for our potential super-duo as I like to call them.

The deal, which was in the works for weeks, eventually sent Tracy McGrady to the Knicks from the Rockets, along with Sergio Rodgriguez of the Kings. Houston received Jared Jeffries, 2009 8th overall pick Jordan Hill, the option to swap first round picks with the Knicks in the 2011 Draft, protected in the top 5, and our 2012 first round pick which is #1 pick protected, in addition to swingman Kevin Martin from the Kings. Knick Larry Hughes was sent to the Kings, along with young Rocket Carl Landry. Had we not been able to unload Jared Jeffries contract in that deal (who is owed nearly $7 million next year), we would have roughly $24 million of cap space to spend next summer, which is not enough to afford two max-contract players. Now that Jeffries is off next year's books, the Knicks will have anywhere from $31-35 million in cap space depending on the range of next year's salary cap and how they handle their own free-agents-to-be: including newly acquired players Tracy McGrady, Sergio Rodriguez (Restricted Free Agent), Eddie House, JR Giddens, Bill Walker (Team Option), along with veteran Knicks Chris Duhon, Al Harrington, Jonathan Bender, and newly minted All-Star David Lee. In order to acquire one of the super-duos, we would need to renounce the rights to all of them.

Obviously target number one is LeBron James, plain and simple. In the eyes of many, if the Knicks do not get LeBron, everything Donnie Walsh has worked towards will be considered a failure. LeBron or bust so to speak. But, once he's secured, aren't their other possibilities for his Scottie Pippen other than either Wade or Bosh? Those are definitely the ideal scenarios. But does it have to be only one guy to help the King? And would superstars such as Wade and Bosh be willing to act as second cog to the newly crowned God of basketball. Ok, I'm getting a little ahead of myself. But if such a scenario were to occur, there are still several favorable possibilities.

My personal favorite theory is that once LeBron is secured, the Knicks bring in Joe Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks at a price below that of LeBron's, leaving us enough room to re-sign David Lee as well. Again this is entirely theoretical, but with a core of Lebron, JJ, DLee, Gallo, Ill Will, and perhaps a new point guard, this could be an amazing team. And after two years of Chris Duhon, boy do we need a point guard. Speaking of point guards, among next year's free agents is this one guy who has been severely overlooked. He's getting up there in age, but somehow he's pulling the old aging wine technique and has somehow improved his numbers this year at the veteran age of 36. Who is this player you might ask? Well, he happens to be a 7-time NBA All-Star and a 2-time NBA MVP, who won the prestigious award twice under current Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni when he ran his run-and-gun 7 seconds of less offense in Phoenix. If you haven't guessed that I'm talking about Steve Nash yet, I'm pleasantly surprised that you've read this far in the first place. But yes, Steve Nash will also have the opportunity to be a free agent this summer. Bringing him to New York would pair him with the greatest teammate he could ever have, while running his old coach's offense which he thrived so greatly under. And with a rotation looking like this:
PG- Steve Nash
SG- Joe Johnson
SF- Danilo Gallinari
PF- LeBron James
C- David Lee
backups- Wilson Chandler, Toney Douglas, 2010 Draft 2nd Round pick
Title contenders? I think so. If the Knicks look anything like this going into next season...I'm sorry I just froze up at that thought. If the Knicks look anything like this going into next season, I'm gonna be one happy New Yorker.

The First of Many

Welcome to a new blog, devoted to delivering a fresh opinion regarding the 411 on the favorites of yours truly. Among my New York professional favorites you'll be reading about: Knicks, Giants, Mets, and Rangers. And as for the "others": Yankees, Jets, and Islanders; while I am not a "fan" of these teams, I can still respect passionate New York sports fans, and appreciate anyone who proudly represents a great sports city such as New York. Thus, I have no problem discussing their news as well (depending on the fact that I actually care about a given story regarding these teams). 


Most likely, a majority of the posts here will be basketball related. Often regarding the Knicks, but also in relation the rest of the NBA and Division I College basketball. During Football season, there should be weekly reports regarding the Giants, and other significant NFL occurrences, as well as important Division I-A College Football news. As for baseball, the Mets are very important to me. But in recent seasons, I've just given up come August. If the Mets keep things interesting this season, I'll be talking about them. If not, well, I don't think I'm quite ready to discuss that possibility just yet. While I am an avid Rangers aficionado, the same can't be said for the rest of the NHL. But I'll do my best, especially come playoff time. You can also be sure to find detailed information regarding both the NFL and NBA drafts. And, in a semi-rare occasion that a significant event occurs outside of the four major American sports, I may make my voice heard (I'm talkin' to you Tiger). Specifically, Champions League and World Cup Soccer are incredibly exciting for me to follow, so you'll get a taste of that as well. 


Hope this thing catches on...enjoy.