Classic Win for the Jets!

When the Jets have a good team they often win this way. They dominate a half and then become passive (Herm Edwards style) and let the other team back into the game. The offense then needs to turn it on again and bam, 56 points are on the board.

It is nice to have one of these games after a tough loss to the Chargers.

A few game notes:
The Coles Favre connection was rockin' today and it put Coles in the best mood he has been in since Chad was shipped to Miami.

I love some of the odd looks the Jets give. For example, on Darrelle Revis' first interception, the Jets had 2 down linemen and this really confused veteran QB Kurt Warner. I must also mention that it was comical how many turnovers the Cardinals had. I would not expect the dropsies from helping the Jets this much in another decade.

It is good to see that the Jets tried getting the ball into Leon Washington's hands more than just on kickoffs.

Lastly, on Brett Favre's interception, I think he thought there should have been an offsides penalty because a Cardinal DT jumped offsides. If Favre did not think he had a free play then the pass was one of the dumbest passes a QB could make - a 4 yard pass laterally that he throws 20 yards horizontally, across his body, off his back foot and with pressure in his face.

Yaros

Playoff Issues...

There are a few teams with serious playoff concerns. First and foremost, the most elite playoff starter of the generation, Josh Beckett has been pushed off to game 3 against the Angels and may be scratched from that start. The Red Sox need him as they have struggled against the Angels this year. In all likelihood, Beckett's rocky year was caused by various injuries.

Also, the Brewers are in a bit of trouble with their rotation because CC can't throw every day and Ben Sheets is done for the year. I would not be surprised if CC starts games 2 and 5 (if necessary) against the Phillies, but his arm may fall off after the season (not that the Brewers should or will care).

Finally, the Phillies need be concerned with Brett Myers. He has been very up and down this year to the point where he was sent to AAA and he is currently in the middle of a huge down. Big trouble. It will be a war of attrition against the Brewers.

Notes: Yay for Mike Mussina for finding funky ways to get guys out and checking off another item on the list of reasons he should make the Hall of Fame. However, he may have played his final game as a Yankee today.

Yaros

BRUTAL!

I think it warrants all caps. I really don't have much to say other than the fact that the offense was more at fault this weekend than the pen. 5 runs in 3 games when it counts. A total of zero RBIs from Wright and Reyes is pathetic. Well, Yankee fans are relieved for not being the only embarrassed group in this town (in fact, there is no one to bash the Yankees anymore because the Mets are an embarrassment to baseball in general). If I were a Met fan I would have gone berserk after last season, but cmon, humans are supposed to learn from mistakes NOT REPEAT THEM!

Moving on, I think Jerry Manuel should keep his job because the team clearly faired better under his management (yes, even though they choked during the last week). He is well liked by the players and the media and he can't force his team to hit!

In other baseball news, Ryan Braun hit a massive home run that I called in a previous post (Howry gave it up - note to Lou, don't pitch Howry in the playoffs unless you want to look very angry in the dugout!)

Congratulations to Ryan Howard for winning the NL MVP yesterday through a Phillies win.
Other vote getters will be Braun, Delgado, Pujols (who individually had the best season) and CC.

Yaros

Jets Week 4 Preview!

This is pretty much a must win! The Jets are coming into the game on an expected 2 game losing streak and the defense pretty much stunk at any point Kris Jenkins was not in the game.

I expect the Jets to win the field position battle courtesy of the presence of last year's team MVP, Leon "the Jet" Washington (that is a dual reference to Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez of The Sandlot - this is the moment where one reminisces about one's childhood and the classic movies associated with baseball...Rookie of the Year, Little Big League and my personal favorite Angels in the Outfield! (my favorite quote - "Oh look, it's God's thumbnail" by JP... ahhhhhh good times!) anyway back to the NFL. Washington will force kicks designed to start the Jets on the 30 yard line as opposed to the potential of Washington taking it to the house.

Thank you to the New York Post for the picture.

The 2 keys to the game from the Jets stand point.

1) Kris Jenkins will dominate the middle as usual if his back allows him to play. Last I heard he is playing and that makes everything roll on defense. The Jets will have little problem stopping the weak running attack of the Cardinals with Jenkins in the game. That will allow the Jets to create a better pass rush (without the fear of the run), this will cause the Jets corners and safeties to compete with the elite level wide receivers of Arizona. The Jets need pressure of else Kurt Warner can continue to throw deep patterns to Fitzgerald and Boldin.

2) Brett Farve needs to be on the same page as the Jet wide receivers. If he is then the Jets can hide their weak running attack. I don't think Thomas Jones has the ability at age 30 that he had during his solid seasons in Chicago. He was never considered elite which is why he has bounced from team to team throughout his career and he just can't seem to consistently gain yards. I would get the ball to Leon Washington as much as possible through screens, draws and straight runs. If he touches the ball 20 times a game it gives the Jets a much better chance of winning. I think running a bit of hurry up offense and putting Favre in the shotgun to give him more time to scan the field will also help the offense (as it did last week during the comeback attempts).

Prediction: Jets 24 Cardinals 19

Note: The Rutgers football team finally won a freaken game - it was against the lowly Morgan State Bears. It is about time and the Scarlet Knights have seriously failed to meet expectations and are not close to being a big time program. They lost to Navy last week!

I hope the Giants enjoy their week off!

Yaros

Matt Cain's Luck Blows!

Yes I know this has nothing to do with talking New York sports specifically; however, I have never seen a pitcher with such awful luck. The guy lost again today in rediculous fashion. He is 0-2 in his last 2 starts with an ERA below 2 (1.80)! To bring New York Sports into the equation, I would consider trading Cano straight up for Cain. I have heard such ideas floating around and I would throw in a French's bottle of mustard.



So sad, Matt Cain is such a saddy pooh! Tear tear!
(Gotta love the maturity of that line!)

Yaros

Huge Props!

This is why they pay him the big bucks. A complete game 3 hitter on 3 days rest is the epitome of "ace"hood. This was a do or die situation and the Mets delivered. Oliver Perez better show up tomorrow or his last start in the Mets will end with boos as he leaves after 4 and a third, 6 hits, 5 walks, and 5 earned. Don't blow it Ollie because Ben Sheets gave you a gift today by putting the Mets fate in their own hands.

Speaking of the Brewers, CC will try to put the pressure on the Mets to force a 1 game playoff on Monday.

Notes: The Twins need to get props for their impressive run. Whether they make the playoffs or not doesn't discount the fact that they have been successful despite losing Santana, Tori Hunter and Matt Garza this off-season. It is remarkable how this team constantly performs without a large payroll.

Best of luck to Mike Mussina tomorrow in attempting to get his 20th win!

Yaros

The Miracle Mets Are Back - Ha, Just Kidding!

Okay, one at a time but this is definitely a start. The Met relievers actually did a solid job aside from Rincon's first pitch. I put the odds at about 20:1 that the Mets were going to win that game after going down 6-3, but you need to give them props for pulling it out. However, the Brew Crew also won and seem to be on a bit of the good streak. The Brewers have the Cubs to end the season and the Mets of course have those pesky Marlins. I would have thought that the Mets have a leg up in opponent; however, it is quite apparent that Sweet Lou has no interest in consistently playing his regulars and the top guys in the Cubs rotation are all not pitching.

Notes: I give the Phillies the division if they win 2 of 3 against the Nationals. The Mets would need a sweep to tie and that is very unlikely against the Marlins. By the way, it looks like the Mets will have to pitch Johan in the Marlin series because it will be win or go home for them. Also, rain will be a serious factor in this series. I would not be surprised if there is a double header at some point. That would really hurt the Mets because they badly need a sweep and are dead if they lose 2 of 3.

The Cubs should be concerned about Rich Harden because the injury prone stud was not his 95 MPH self tonight against the Mets.

Yaros

Brutal, Brutal Loss!

You see that bag - IT'S THIRD BASE. When a guy is on it with less than 2 outs, you need to knock him in!!!

Hit the freaken ball gentleman! Mets fans can not blame this one on the bullpen. The Met hitters had so many chances (even the big dog himself - Carlos Delgado) to get guys in and they blew the game royally. Are you kidding me, Daniel Murphy hits a triple and they can't score the winning run?

A couple of other things, this was the bad Oliver Perez, but he (and the Cubs pitchers) were squeezed a bit. Also, the Met bullpen was not good, so they can be blamed as well. Finally, Ryan Church has not been the same since he came back. That makes the bottom 4 of the Met lineup very weak. Church, Schneider, a pathetic second baseman and the pitcher is a sad bottom half of the lineup.

Yaros

Ambiguity In Plaxico Situation!

I am really confused about why Plax is suspended for the Giants next game. Simply, no one is talking. His agent said it was a family matter that he didn't view as worthy of a suspension (that is not a surprise coming from an agent's mouth), However, if the act was so egregious then the Giants likely would have said what it is. In all likelihood it is something very personal.

My guess is that on appeal the suspension will be altered to a fine and Plaxico will be playing in the Giants next game.

Yaros

Looking For AL MVP...

Okay, so it appears that Josh Hamilton is no longer the "Sick Stats But No Wins" AL MVP candidate as he has not had an RBI in 14 games and statistically has been surpassed by Miguel Cabrera.

Could it go to Justin Morneau. He has great stats and is a consistent run producer for the Twins. If they make the playoffs he is a candidate. However, the have only been 2 2-time MVPs not to make the Hall of Fame thus far (although Juan Gonzalez - otherwise known as Juiced-Up Juan - [note that my new nickname for Juan Gone works much better if the J is pronounced American style] will likely be the 3rd) and it is hard to see Morneau making Coop.

The Youk is another option, but does he deserve the honor over K-Rod?

Who knows?

I guess the writers will have a tough choice to make on this one.

Note: Omar Minaya deserves squat if the Mets don't make the playoffs this year - check that, he deserves a seat on the next Greyhound out of town.

Also, Peter Gammons said tonight on Baseball Tonight that Albert Pujols will certainly be the NL MVP. I definitely don't think it is a certainty. I have another question about the really cool dude with an amazing job (fine, the cool dude part is stretching it about Peter), if you are an avid BT fan, it is noticeable that he often sits in front of some baseball books. Where is he sitting?


Look at that smile! How cute!

Yaros

Arg!!! Same Old Knicks!

Apparently the new plan is for Marbury and Allan Houston (what?? Allan Houston??) Yes, Allan Houston will be in camp next week according to the GM, Mr. Walsh. Oh boy, I sure hope neither of them are on the team come the regular season.

Yaros

Phil Cuzzi Is The Worst Umpire In Baseball!

This guy ruins games! He gets his jollies with the above move!

It seems like the guy hates players and managers. He loves getting into fights with players and umpires and gets a huge power trip throwing them out. He even threw out Jim Edmonds in a playoff game when Edmonds played with St. Louis. After that Cuzzi never was asked to ump a championship series again.

Cuzzi deserves to be umping little league not the bigs. He is a joke and should never ump another MLB game again!

Yaros

Go To Italy, Go Anywhere...Just Get The ____ Out Of Town!

Goodbye for once and for all! Stephon Marbury will be shipped out of New York for the last time this week (we hope) and will never play a game in a Knicks uniform again.

The guy has (perhaps had) tremendous physical talent; however, he is a ball hog, an egotistical player who forgets he is not the only guy who can score points on his team and a guy who only cares about himself!

The Nets made one of the best trades of the last decade when they traded this losing player for a winner like Jason Kidd. For some idiotic reason the Knicks thought it would be a great idea to bring him to N.Y. Newsflash - they were wrong!

So, good riddance sir and hope you enjoy long walks on the beach and 3 hour massages on someone else's time and payroll. Finally, adios!!!

Yaros

Mets in a heap of trouble!

The Mets are seriously playing with fire as they continue to lose. This time it wasn't the fault of the pen, but either way it is a loss.

The Cubs changed their rotation to have Sean Marshall face Johan tomorrow, the Mets NEED that game. Then Z and Harden pitch. The Mets need to pray that the Brewers keep choking.

Note: Josh Beckett has had a really bad years based on his standards. 10 losses with an ERA over 4??? cmon!

Yaros

Giant Jet Frustration!

As in huge, not as in Giants! Wow, a couple of notes:
-The Jets should have ran a QB sneak from the 9 inch line on the 2 point conversion down 45-29.
-Also, after making the game 38-23 with a field goal early in the 4th, an onside kick should have been attempted. Look, it was a long shot to begin with, but without Kris Jenkins in the game, the Jets had no shot at stopping the Chargers. So, trying to get the ball back was the only hope. Of course, the Chargers ran down the field and scored a TD anyway.
-It was obvious that Brett Favre and his receivers were not on the same page.
-It is rather obvious that Kris Jenkins is by far the most important piece of the defense. He left in the second quarter and the Chargers started eating up yards like The Schwab eats hot dogs and fries.

Yaros

Random Football Thoughts...

-Derek Anderson may be working his way to the bench. The high draft pick, Brady Quinn can also start 0-3 and throw 3 interceptions against the Ravens.

-The Bills have been very impressive. The Raiders are not good, but better than people think. The Bills have won big games thus far, they are not a particularly weak 3-0.

-It seems that the drubbing the Giants gave the Rams last week is more a reflection on the beyond bad defense of the Rams as opposed to the prowess of the Giant offense. Seattle learned today that playing the Rams is the easiest way to right a season that was on the verge of falling apart.

-O wait, the Rams are the second best way to right a season...drum roll please... the Kansas City Chiefs are having trouble remaining competitive. It looks like a USC Trojan vs. Sacramento State college football game. The Chiefs simply do not have the players to compete with other NFL teams. I would expect that Herm Edwards' seat is very hot right now.

-The NFC East is 8-0 outside the division and is clearly the best division in football.

-The Saints need to start playing with a sense of urgency. Last season was an utter disappointment and some critical pieces have been added. Shape up!

-Peyton Manning looks really bad right now. Do you want to know why? He is injured. Knees don't heal that quickly. He will get better as the season moves on, but his numbers will be way down from his typical statistical production. Fantasy owners who picked a QB early have had a rough beginning to the year. Drew Brees and Tony Romo are the only top QBs who have performed well this year. Peyton, Carson Palmer and obviously Tom Brady have all been disappointments.

-Finally, I have no clue how the Dolphins absolutely destroyed the Patriots today. Ronnie Brown essentially won the game himself. He scored 3 times on the exact same play. A direct snap and the run up the middle. I would think that by the third time the Pat defense would have gotten the idea.

Yaros

Rough Day In Queens!

Wow, could it have gotten worse?

The Phillies win and extend their lead in the division...The Brewers actually win a game and therefore climb to within 2 in the loss of the Mets in the wild card...ALL BECAUSE THE METS' BULLPEN BLEW ANOTHER ONE!!!

I have never seen anything like this disaster.

The Mets incredibly do not have a particularly favorable pitching match up against the Cubs in the upcoming series even though Johan and Perez are pitching. In the opener, Jason Marquis has the experiential advantage over Jon Niese. Rich Harden has unbelievable stuff when he is healthy (so does Johan - but it is basically even money for any one game). Oliver Perez is pitching against Carlos Zambrano who got plastered during his last start, but in general is having a good year. It is hard to say the Mets have an advantage in that match up. In the series finale, the Cubs have a significant advantage pitching Ted Lilly over the Met starter, Pedro Martinez.

I expect the Mets to lose 2 of 3 and the Phillies to either win 2 of 3 or sweep. (The Phillies have won 13 of 15 against the Braves this year). The Wagner injury has clearly hurt the Mets and will cost them the division. I am saying it, the Mets blew the division by losing 2 of 3 to the Braves. It is over!
__________
That of course does not mean the Mets will not make the playoffs. The Brewers are still playing like the '62 Mets in September and will likely waste away another great 5 months with a horrific September!

Yaros

Giant Notes...

-Antonio Pierce's odd looking push of the Bengals' center shows why he is the defensive captain. It was incredibly impressive that a player would have such awareness of what his teammates are doing.

-Ely Manning is showing everyone that the way he played at the end of last year has carried over. He will never put up great stats and will occasionally make hair fall out; however, he has the stones to stand up to pressure and make great throws when necessary (ala, that sick throw to Amani Toomer on 3rd and 10 in OT).

-Speaking of that catch, I have no idea why Toomer was that wide open, but it was an incredible catch (note: footwork) and really won the Giants the game (they would have had to punt).
Thank you ESPN. This doesn't show the feet, but he did get them down with possession.

-As I feared (see preview), the Bengals' talent nearly won them the game. T.J. and Chad are a great tandem and Carson Palmer is a stud. The running game blows and often, so does the passing game, because the O-line can't block anyone. I would not be surprised if the 0-2 start was a wake up call and the Bengals finish 7-9 or even 8-8.

-Finally, congrats to the Giants, but I don't really understand why the Bengals couldn't have run another play at the end of regulation. The previous play (catch and then tackled at 3 yard line) ended as the game clock struck :06. A time out was immediately called, but the clock was run down to :04 before it was acknowledged. The Bengals likely could not run a play in 4 seconds; however, a play could easily be run in 6 seconds. I'm not saying the Bengals would have scored a TD, but they deserved the chance.

Yaros

Baseball Update!

The Brewers blow! Losing a 5 game lead in September is an absolute joke, but to lose it to the Mets who have their own serious problems is downright pathetic!

On happier notes, congratulations to the Rays for clinching a playoff birth. As I watched them celebrate on ESPN it occurred to me that the Yankees never celebrate for that. It was just such a normal occurrence. Anyway, props to the Rays.
Tear tear, it is actually sad that the Stadium in the Bronx will never have a baseball game played in it again after tomorrow night. It is a good thing Jeter's wrist is not broken - he got hit in the 9th inning today. That amazing smell of urine, beer and hot dog juice (that watery stuff the "meat" is cooked in) combined will be dearly missed. I will have a bit more extensive goodbye tomorrow with a few memories of mine.
Moving on, the Mets have an issue with their rotation. Johan could pitch the final game of the season or be pushed off to game 1 of the the NLDS. Obviously if the game is meaningless than the Mets will push him off. What if the game means playing the Dodgers at home if the Mets win? Either way, 2 Johan Santana games in the NLDS is the way to go. The Mets need some serious length from their starters in the post season and Johan is where that must start.

Yaros

Jets Will Have Their Hands Full! Giants May As Well?

Flying cross country to play is challenging enough, but to play a Charger team that is far better than 0-2 and an angry Charger team at that ... talk about a challenge.

On a positive note, LT will likely play a very limited role in the San Diego offense and Merriman is out. That being said, poor Ed Hochuli blew the game for the Chargers last week and Norv Turner and Co. are just a wee bit ticked off about that.

But, this game will be a lot closer than expected because...1)The Jets have a stout defense (especially the defensive backs - notably Kerry Rhodes and the corners Darrelle Revis and Dwight Lowery) and will hold the Chargers to less than 30 points. 2) The Jets are also ticked off after getting slammed this week in the New York papers for not playing well (in fact they played like garbage) against the Patriots last Sunday.

Prediction: Chargers 24 Jets 16

By the way, I really hope the Jets win (but I'm trying to be honest - I will be elated if this pick is wrong.)

The Giants have been a rockin' and a rollin' since the season started. After an outstanding defensive performance, but inconsistent offensive one against the Redskins in week 1, the Giants destroyed the Rams defense. This week's foe is one big collective group of wasted talent. The Bengals have a top 5 QB, a top 5 receiver (Chad 85) and another top 10 receiver (the Hoosh) yet can't manage to win squat! However, the shaky Giant secondary should be wary of getting taken to school by the Bengal offense.

The Bengals need to make this one a shoot out to have a shot, but they won't be able to stop the Giant running game (by the way, no one can!) and will therefore not have enough possessions to give themselves a chance to win. O well! Too bad the Bengals are not good at football, but hey, at least they are good at something - getting themselves arrested (10 times in the past couple of year!)

Prediction: Giants 27 Bengals 13

Yaros

Throw Him In - Nothing to Lose!

With the Met bullpen in serious disarray, John Maine may be on his way to save the day. A couple of issues still need to be worked out (will pitching this year have a permanent effect on Maine's arm? - if so FORGET the idea! - and, the Mets need to determine whether Maine can be consistently effective). Maine may be able to pitch hard with his injury; however, the next day he is in serious pain. As a reliever, a pitcher naturally needs to be able to throw almost every day. This may be a problem and would nix the plan.

The Mets will soon need to assess who will be in the pen if the team makes the playoffs and needs to cut the roster back down to 25. Just another thing to look for in the upcoming 11 games.

Yaros

Good Morning! Wow, I hope last night never happens again!

That sickening feeling we have all awoken with after a beyond brutal loss in the middle of a pennant race is the feeling Brewers and Rays fans have today. This is the type of loss that either derails a team completely or is something a team looks back on and says - it's time to shift to the next gear!

When every win counts, giving up 5 and 4 runs in the 9th inning of their games (Rays and Brewers respectively) to blow them is about as brutal as it could get. I don't question the mental make-up of the Rays because they have persevered a lot this year. Their pitching can fail them at any time and that is the only worry the Rays should have - the hitting is consistently good.

On the other hand, the Brewers could be in the middle of another awful collapse (if you recall, they did this last year as well) and may not have the "stones" (the vernacular term for guts) to play meaningful September baseball.

Yaros

Santana Halves Manuel's Blood Pressure

The Mets cruised to victory tonight against the lowly Nationals as the Mets managed a pathetic split of the 4 gamer in D.C.

Santana's easy 7 innings and a comfortable lead enabled Jerry Manuel to sit in the dugout and not ware out his completely out of place sneakers (who wears sneakers to a baseball game?).

Thank you Reuters. Jerry, if you wear the high socks, you gotta get some cleats! Sorry, just a pet peeve!

Moving on, Philly won behind Cole Hamels, but the Brew Crew lost so the Mets have extended that lead.

Notes: Evan Longoria has officially clinched the AL Rookie of the Year award. Tonight he has 3 homers and is clearly as talented as the hype had predicted last year - congrats in advance.

Yaros

Brewer Problem Is In Pen!

The Brewers are having serious bullpen issues during their awful 4-13 September games. The pen is 2-6 with only 1 save over that time. With Brad Lidge being so dominant throughout the entire season, the Mets and Brewers are likely to be fighting for that last playoff spot because the bullpen is a huge part of September success.

Yaros

To Fix Aaron Heilman!

The guy has really never been the same pitcher from 2006 ever since he gave up that huge home run to Yadier Molina in the 2006 playoffs. If you are curious or a Mets fan interested in inflicting personal pain upon yourself, click to watch Molina hit the dinger.

Moving on, Heilman has a mechanical issue with his pitching form and a couple of mental issues involved. First the mental issues. Many argue that Heilman doesn't pitch well because he has always wanted to be a starter, is very spiteful and therefore "intentionally" (perhaps subconsciously) pitches poorly to "show" the Mets. If that was ever true, it no longer is. He would have been more vocal about his complaints after this long a stint in the pen, if he was really that spiteful.

The other mental issue is his confidence. A lot of pitching is the confidence that you are going to be effective. Throwing the same pitch with less confidence gives a hesitancy to the release which can effect the spin of the ball. Basically, pitching with no confidence makes a pitcher much worse.

Those issues need to be dealt with by a sports psychologist - not me.

Now on to the part I actually understand...Aaron Heilman is throwing his pitches from a very flat angle. He is blessed with great movement and a very hard fastball. The problem is, at his current arm slot, the movement is side-to-side as opposed to on both the vertical and horizontal planes. Last night is a great example of how his flat pitches simply are not effective.

Throwing from a higher arm slot should help that problem.

Yaros

A Few Baseball Thoughts...

Any Mets fan should go to the doctor after the season to see the jump in blood pressure. Folks, tonight's game was against the lowly Nats. The bullpen certainly makes every game interesting.

Something I have noticed about the Met bullpen: No one does marginally well. Either a pitcher is awful (Like Heilman and Joe Smith were tonight) or really good (Schoeneweis or Feliciano).

Bottom line, if the Mets hit home runs they win...if not they don't score.

Notes: Ben Sheets should be called Captain Injury - c'mon, your team is in a huge game and you come up lame with another injury. If my muscle is tight - I STRETCH IT, Ben Sheets - DO THE SAME!

Houston is out of the race. Ike really did them in with the unfair games in Milwaukee, but they have also played like junk against the Marlins.

Finally, I like Gary Cohen's nickname for the Mets:
Team Tightrope. I think we will stick with that.

O' yea, A-Rod hit another useless home run to make it 11 straight 35 homer seasons. Congrats on being the most talented player in baseball history.

Yaros

Ryan Howard's Batting Average Rising...Fast!

Ryan Howard had 1 dreadful statistic attached to his year that was preventing him from being included in MVP talks. With a batting average below .240 it is very tough to win the MVP. However, the batting average is up to .249 and rising at a rapid pace. Also, Howard hits .315 with runners in scoring position - clearly, he gets his hits in big spots (especially last night).

Note: Howard hits .192 with no one on. That is probably because he is less focused as a hitter in those spots and tries to hit more home runs. That makes him strike out a lot.

Yaros

Chaos in Baseball!

Well, the Mets couldn't hit a lick today but at least Pelfrey pitched well. It is shameful that the Mets have lost this series, but every game counts, so the Mets need to focus on tomorrow's game and move on really quickly.

Met fans better hope that the cause of the lack of offense is not due to fatigue. The Mets have no more off days and can't run on adrenaline for that long.

Moving on, it is beyond me why Terry Francona took his ace, Josh Beckett out of a huge game in Tampa after only 95 pitches and 3 hits. Although his replacement, Justin Masterson, has pitched well, the guy is inexperienced and gave up the game winning bases loaded single after only recording one out.

In quite the typical Matt Cain start, through 6 innings the Giants have managed a whopping 1 hit against Dan Haren. The guy has the worst pitching luck in baseball!

Yaros

See Ya Mr. Aussie Punter Dude!

Cheers to Ben Graham who has seen his last day in Jet Land. After a horrific couple of weeks, Ben Graham - who has seen far better days - will need to find another team looking for the much needed services of a punter.

The punter position is basically a merry-go-round as teams try to find the guy who played badly for another team and may play well for them. The punter is a critical position to a football team as the Jets can attest to after getting crushed in the field position game this week against New England.

Hopefully for the Jets, the team's next punter will consistently kick well as opposed to the erratic play of Graham (sometimes great and sometimes, well, awful).

I hope everyone appreciates my efforts to make the posts prettier with pictures!

Yaros

Pettitte Should Retire, Jeter Saves His Season and...Mets - LOOK OUT!

Andy Pettitte has been extremely consistent of late - tons of hits, way too many hits, a lot of pitching from the stretch and a lot of losses. Pettitte has 1 win since July 26th - talk about consistency. It's time to call it a career and start teaching the kids back home in Texas how to play the game he used to be great at.

Jeter is known for his .300 seasons, clutch hits and leadership. Of those 3, the only easy attribute to judge is Jeter's batting average. Well, Jeter is now batting comfortably over .300 and has thus had another solid year. Those days in mid August with an average in the low .280s are well over and Jeter will have his 10th .300 season (out of 13) and 4th in a row. He is a first ballot Hall of Famer (yes, even statistically) and he appears still have a few years left in that
Thank You to AP for the photo of Mr. November (O, shut up Michael Kay) Derek Jeter
body. In those 13 seasons, Jeter has missed 15 or more games only once. He takes good care of himself, but the Yankees may want to look for a position that gives Jeter more of a break in the field (after next season or the one after that) if they want his bat in the lineup after 2011. I know that is a few years away, but the Yankees need to prepare now so Jeter's body doesn't quickly fall apart.

Regarding the team with a shot at the playoffs this year, (that would be the Mets), they may want to start playing a lot better or they will be home in October again this year. The Phillies will be in first place after tonight if the current scores hold up and C.C. is pitching a huge game in Chicago against Ryan Dempster. The NL is far more exciting these days than the American League because it is fun when teams fall apart (unless you are a fan of those teams (Mets, D-Backs and Brewers). A couple of Met starters need to step up and throw 8+ innings a piece in their upcoming starts for the Mets to hold on!

Yaros

Wild Win For the Boyz!

Yep, it's definitely Boyz! That game epitomizes the excitement that the NFC East will bring this year. Back and forth and back and forth. The Giants, Eagles and Boyz all looked great so far. All three teams may make the playoffs. The Giants have looked surprisingly good. The run was not a surprise - check my predictions - but the Tuck led D-line has surpassed my expectations.

Notes:
Desean Jackson made one of the cockiest and most idiotic plays I have ever seen tonight. He started to celebrate before crossing the goal line into the end zone. Dallas could have picked up the ball for a fumble. He should be fined for such moronic behavior!

Everyone is loving the analysis of the 3 run plays of the Jets at the end of the first half against New England at the goal line. I think a pass play would have been recommended there Eric. The Jets failed and made the coaching staff look really bad in doing so.

If punter Ben Graham doesn't shape up, the Jets should cut him because punters who kicked like he did against the Pats can be found on every street corner in New York City.

Yaros

Houston to Wisconsin = Close???

Note that the "End" point of Miller Park in Milwaukee is far closer to Chicago where the Cubs - the away team - plays than the "Start" point where the Astros - the home team - plays.

I never knew that the obvious place to move a baseball game that was scheduled for Houston would be to Wisconsin. Aside from the angle that the Houston players should be more focused on their homes and families than being forced to play in games under such circumstances (obviously their minds were elsewhere as they got no hit for 15 straight innings!)

Also, the games over the weekend could have been played in Arlington because the Rangers were out of town until this evening. The last game could have been played this afternoon or have been rescheduled. Putting the games in the backyard of the Cubs (during an away game) is pathetic. Shame on Bud Selig and his incompetent cronies.

Speaking of Milwaukee, interesting and gutsy move firing Yost. I was impressed with the ownership's motivation to win this year at all cost.

Lastly, Pedro pitched poorly and doesn't deserve a start before game 4 of a playoff series (if, BIG IF, they make it)! Loses to Washington are not acceptable, losing the series would be a travesty.

Yaros

The New Yankee Youth Movement!

The 2008 version was an utter failure as the 0 win total between Hughes and Kennedy attests to. Thus, a new 2009 version must await eager Yankee fans - and it can not include reliance of any kind in Ian Kennedy!

Who may that man be? Alferdo Aceves is a 24 year old large right hander who has pitched very well in his limited opportunities.

The Yankees should bring the guy to spring training next year to see what he has to offer.

Look, I'm trying to find angles about the rest of the Yankees season. It is pretty boring, so I'm trying really hard. Joe Girardi's way of making it interesting is saying that the Yanks still have a chance at the playoffs. Between me you and the lamp post, THEY HAVE NO SHOT!

Check out Aceves as he pitches tonight against the White Sox.

Yaros

Heck of a Day in Sports...

There are so many important things that happened today that I was really not sure what to call this post. Anywho, I'll rant on whatever comes to mind...

-Kyle Farnsworth still blows (as in the modern term for stinks) as he blew (pun not intended - but acknowledged) another game by giving up a granny to Dewayne Wise - a career minor leaguer. However, I can't say the Yankees made a good trade getting rid of the guy, what they got in return was beyond worthless (3 RBIs in 86 at bats).

-Anyone recall one of the most embarrassing moments in NFL history-when the Giants were not given the right to attempt a field goal to win a game because the referee did not know that a game can not end on a defensive penalty (regardless of whether there was an offensive penalty on the same play)? Well, the sick feeling that game gave, is the same one any Charger fan (and for that matter any football fan - including me) after today's debacle in Denver. Quick recap - Middle of first half, Chris Chambers (Charger WR) catches a pass and lands. Champ Bailey may have caught the ball at the same time, rips the ball from Chambers' hands and runs for a defensive TD. Norv Turner (Chargers' Head Coach) wants to challenge the play - problem - Denver's replay system "malfunctioned". What kind of _____ (insert choice words) is that? The result is moot and unclear, but I would like the league to explain that one! Finally, Denver is down 38-31 making their final attempt to tie/win the game. If they don't score a TD on this drive - game over. The ball is on the SD 2 and Jay Cutler (Bronco QB) rolls out to about the 10 yard line and looks to throw. The ball slips out of his hand before throwing and he moves his arm forward well after losing the ball (this is what we call a fumble). The Charger defense picks up the ball and is tackled by Cutler himself - preventing a TD. The ref however, had blown the whistle - a huge blunder - and called the pass incomplete. The play was challenged by the booth and the ref was forced to admit that he made a mistake that cost the

Thank you to the AP for photo.
See Cutler's hand move forward
without the ball! Dumb call!

Chargers the game. He interpreted the rule that the Broncos should get the ball back; however, he admitted he should have never blown the whistle. THAT MAKES ME SICK! If a team loses a game based on some bad refereeing during a game, I could deal with it. But on such an obvious call and more importantly, on a play that would have ended the game - it is just wrong.

I know it is rough being a ref, but you get paid the big bucks to make the right call. For the future, don't call a pass incomplete when it may be a fumble. If the ball is called a fumble and the booth challenges the call, it can always be ruled incomplete. But the opposite is not the case - just swallow the whistle for once!!!

-In the Sunday night game, the Browns deserved to lose that game based on sheer stupidity. They actually looked like the Herman Edwards led Jets. Any college kid can yell at the TV to call a time out - so do it faster or don't do it at all!

-Also, Al Michaels (who doesn't know too much about football) and John Madden (who is entertaining for his extremely dumb and repetitive comments) are amusing but difficult to listen too. The Browns elected to kick of field goal to make the game 10-6 instead of attempting a 4th and 7 with 3 minutes and change to play. Needing to still score a TD to win is one reason to go for it and not being able to stop the Steelers run game the entire night is another. Of course, the Browns never got the ball back!

Al Michaels thought the Browns should kick the field goal because the Browns would feel bad if they didn't make the 4th down and did not score on the drive. THEY WOULD FEEL BAD?? Last time I checked....take it away Herm (drum roll please) "You play to win the game!" not to feel good inside!

-Finally, Mike Shanahan has alot of guts going for the 2 point conversion. Playing with house money (the Broncos should have already lost) allows you to do those things!

Yaros

Silence, Quiet! Just How They Like It!

The Giants are still trying to use that underdog mentality to pump themselves up. It is clearly overused by this team, but they continue to get no press.

Today's win was certainly expected, but the resounding fashion of the 41-13 victory may help springboard the Giant offense which was stagnant during the week 1 win against the Redskins.

Really Impressive!

Yaros

Jets D Solid, Quick Q - Where was the Offense?

The offense was nowhere be found for the second week in a row. The Jets did win last week, but a lucky throw by Brett and a really nice one to Jericho early were the only passing highlights. The Jets played well on D (although they could not stop Lamont Jordan - another classic guy who had talent and is washed up - then resurrects his career with the Patriots) but the offense needs to start showing up consistently during games.

This was not an awful loss and the defensive backs played really well again - especially against Randy Moss who only had 2 catches.

The Jets are in a lot of trouble next week because the ticked off Chargers really have their backs against the wall.

Yaros

A View From The Shea Stadium Stands!

I have always loved watching minor league games. I recall going to Pawtucket Red Sox games as a youngster and loving the relative cleanliness in comparison to the urine smelling Yankee Stadium. Don't get me wrong, I love the ballpark in the Bronx, but it has its own flair. Anyhow, that brings me to my last Shea experience today. Walking up the walkways to mezzanine, I saw the huge park outside the stadium. It has this minor league feel to it, I was trying to place the feeling and I think it lies in the criss-crossing structural wires that line the stadium's outer wall. It gives a very open feeling and that reminds me of the minor league stadiums I've been too. Also, the Shea announcer does not have a booming voice, this also has a minor league feel.

Regarding the game, I'm ticked off because Oliver Perez is on my fantasy team. He pitched a classic Perez game (not many hits and not much control), but got through 7 only to watch Luis Ayala completely blow the game in the 9th (without getting a single out). It was a classic Met game from this year. On the bright side, the Mets usually bounce back from the brutal ones, so look for the Mets to run off a couple in a row now.

Also, the Brewers need to start winning or the Mets and Phillies may both make the playoffs.

Yaros

A Few More Baseball Notes...

The first in this series certainly got some great back and forth between readers, so here comes edition number 2!

-Aaron Harang will have a record far superior to his 4-16 embarrassment this year. His ERA is not good at 4.96; however, the guy gets strikeouts and has had Matt Cain-esque luck this year. For example, in his last 4 starts, the guy has a 3 ERA and has pitched 7 in 3 of those starts...he is 0-3. The homers are up, but the guy is much closer to the pitcher who came in 4th in the Cy Young last year, than this paltry pitcher.

-If the D-Backs make the playoffs, Brandon Webb will win the Cy Young, if not it is will to Little Tim Lincecum. (The Dodgers look to be pulling away with division - much to my bewilderment)

-If the Milwaukee Brewers actually blow their Wild Card lead than the Astros would likely get the spot over the Phillies. The Astros are playing fantastic baseball right now and are only a half game behind the Phillies. Also, Lance Berkman's name could replace Ryan Braun's on the list of MVP possibilities if the Astros make it.

-Ryan Howard has no chance at the MVP because of his 200 strikeouts (note: he is not a pitcher) and .243 batting average. Leading the league in the power stats only gets a guy so far.

-If one basis his/her choice for MVP based solely on numbers than Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols are the easy choices for the award.

Yaros

Mike Francesca Accuses Delgado of Using Some Sort of Juice!

The logic is clearly there, an older guy who lived through the steroid era struggling to the point where people think he should be released (or retire). Then, out of nowhere, a "second half for the ages". However, such organizations are harsh and need to be investigated before any conclusion is made. No one can argue with the statistical evidence but who knows???

Yaros

Jets Will Have Their Hands Full; Giants...Not So Much!

The Jets would have certainly lost to a healthy Patriots, but the Brady-less version gives hope. This team has immense talent at many positions, and Matt Cassel is not in the NFL because he can't throw the ball when he has loads of time. The key to this game is whether the Jets can create penetration against the Patriot O-line. The Jets also need to run the football effectively, but I don't think that should be a problem. I would run a bunch of off-tackle and pitch plays for Thomas Jones and Leon Washington respectively to spread out the Pats defensive front.

I expect the Jets to win because of the secondary (Cassel will throw a couple of picks which will be the difference in the game.) Another nail-biter, Jets 24 Patriots 17

The Giants will run the ball for 200+ yards against the awful Rams. The "Greatest Show on Turf" has closed and a new, really bad, show is now the only one in town. Steven Jackson is the only chance the Rams have. If he runs superbly in the first half and the Giants start needing to put 8 in the box, then maybe, just maybe, the Rams could pull it out on the arm of Marc Bulger.

To snap back into reality, the Giants will cruise - Giants 27 Rams 13.

Note: An interest trivia question is who is the Pro-Bowl QB to be drafted in the 6th round of the 2000 draft not named Tom Brady?

Answer - Marc Bulger. Its a good one because everyone thinks it's rediculous that Brady was picked so late (which it is considering he is one of the top 5 QBs of all time). But, what are the odds of 2 Pro-Bowl QBs being picked in that same round. There were 2 other Pro-Bowlers picked in that round as well - Adalius Thomas and Neil Rackers (gotta love being bored and perusing through wikipedia.)

A Preview of Next Year...Some Notes!

The American League is no longer interesting to an NY sports fan as the Yankees have faded into oblivion.

Looking forward to squeezing some French's Mustard along with some ketchup and relish onto my hot dog while watching a Yankee game in April.

Here are some interesting notes that I think about next year...

-Liriano will win 20 games and the CYA. Ever since he has come back from the injury to his elbow he has pitched amazingly well.

-The Rays will again be a playoff contender and will likely sign a big player during the off-season and have a full year of Evan Longoria.

-The Angels will sign another mega contract, but I don't think it will be with Mark Teixeira. And, the Angels will resign K-Rod.

-The Mets will easily win the NL East with the best rotation in the NL (the best pitcher in Johan and amazing depth - even without Perez), but will struggle with the bullpen.

More to come. Care to comment???

Yaros

Is Johan A Cy Young Candidate?

Well, Little Tim pitches for a horrendous team (that makes his numbers more impressive, but still is a serious knock against him because of the lack of pressure.), Brandon Webb is 9-7 with a 3.82 ERA since the middle of May (is that CYA worthy? I think not!) and of course C.C. (but a half a season??? cmon)

So...why not Johan? He is 5-0 with a 2.47 ERA and 2 complete games in the second half! He has had terrible run support which lowers the win total, but with a top 5 ERA and WHIP and a playoff bound team, he may be one of the best options available.

If Johan finishes with 2 or 3 more wins, I'd say give it to him. The biggest 2 weeks of the season are still ahead of us and almost every major reward (in both leagues) is still up for grabs.

Yaros

Where Was Papelbon??

When a team has the second best reliever in baseball sitting in the pen, why would he not pitch in a big game? Granted he blew the game yesterday (got the loss), but he is undoubtedly the Red Sox best option and should have been available after pitching only 20 pitches yesterday. It is bizarre and may be very costly. I have almost no doubt the Red Sox would have won the division title had they won tonight. Cutting the Rays lead back down to half a game would have put intense pressure on the Rays - it is very unlikely they could withstand that kind of pressure.

Yaros

Huge Game in Fenway!

A huge game is going on right now in Boston (Game is currently in bottom of 12th with Ortiz at bat). The Rays have been going south and the Sox are close to taking over the division lead (for good if they get it). On an immediate level, the Rays are in a bit of trouble because Papelbon has not pitched yet tonight, so he may come into the 13th and pitch 2 innings (if it goes that far). The Rays don't have that fire power and their relievers are far more likely to blow the game.

It would be nice to see the Rays win the division, but it seems that their great success has somewhat ran out and they have been a bit inconsistent. Making the playoffs will not be an issue - but the division is getting really slippery.

Yaros

Mets Inching Closer!

Another big time performance by the Mets as the Phillies lose another one to the "playoff hope killing" Florida Marlins. The Mets do play those same Marlins (the same Marlins that gave the Mets big time trouble during last year's collapse), but a 4 game lead with 17 to go (and none against the Phillies) in theory means the Mets are closing in on the division.

Note: Elijah Dukes is absolutely crazy! He is also a really big dude, so that makes him doubly scary! I guess that shows that Mike Pelfrey has some serious guts.

Yaros

To Demolish The Odds!!!

What are the odds of being the best team in a given sport and the front runner to win the league's championship when...
-The team's best player is having his worst season
-The team's best pitcher missed 1/3 of the season
-The team's second best pitcher last season hasn't thrown a pitch due to injury
-No player on the team hits .300
-No player on the team hits 30 home runs
-No player on the team has 100 RBIs
-No pitcher on the team has 18 wins

It is pretty amazing that the Angels have played this well. Cruising to a division title allows the Angels to set up their rotation, get healthy and prepare for the Rays or Red Sox ALDS match-up. This team resembles a slightly lesser version (statistically) and frighteningly similar team (mentally - they are scrappy with good pitching, timely hitting and always put pressure on their opponents.) to the 1998 Yankees. Just like the '98 Yankees, the Angels love to play for their manager and both teams have dominated the American League. Congrats on the division!

Yaros

Don't Resign Pettitte!

Andy Pettitte has given up an absurd amount of runners this year, and last year and the year before that. Giving up far more than a hit an inning means a pitcher taxes his arm by throwing far more pitches. The Yankees need to move on even if Pettitte doesn't want to retire. I expect the Yankees to find another lefty to throw in the rotation instead of Andy, his name is C.C.

The Yankees lose 2 of 3 to the Angels - no one cares though. The Yankees are currently a complete afterthought and simply need to start over.

Note: One of the oddest things I have seen in a while occurred in a meaningless A's and Tigers game today. Sean Gallagher started for Oakland and threw a 4 inning no hitter, but left because of 6 walks. I think it is worth mentioning because you just don't see that kind of stat line every day - check it out!

Yaros

A Second Half For The Ages!

Carlos Delgado's face has appeared in the right hand box called "Top Batters" in the second half. Tonight is just another example of a monster performance in a big game. I'm getting more and more tempted to pick Delgado for MVP because of these ridiculously clutch performances.

On a broader note, the Mets won a huge game today because their starter pitched poorly and bullpen was able to pitch 5+ solid innings. The bullpen has been stellar of late, but I'd be weary as the pen could collapse at any moment.

Yaros

AL MVP Award!

As Boston inches closer to the division title, it seems more and more evident that Dustin Pedrioa is emerging as the favorite to win the AL Most Valuable Player award this year. Alternatives are teammate "the Youk" (but he recently got injured - which has impacted his numbers), Carlos Quinten (who is done for the year so he will not get it) and K-Rod (who won't win the Cy Young Award (Cliff Lee) so there is not way he will win the MVP). Vlad's numbers are not quite MVP worthy.

Pedroia has been outstanding of late and likely deserves it - he is a second baseman for crying out loud and he hits like a corner outfielder!

Yaros

Typical Yankees - LaTroy Hawkins of All People!

In typical Yankee fashion, a player is traded for nothing and then pitches brilliantly with no pressure on for another team. LaTroy Hawkins has not given up a run in Houston since being traded there. It is impressive; however, the next classic Yankee move would be to sign him again for next year based on his Houston performance - DON'T. The guy can't pitch under pressure.

Note: The Yankees had a brawl today against the Angels. Clearly, this brawl was started for 2 completely opposing reasons. The Angels are just bored of winning so they need to find something to do. The Yankees can't win at baseball so they are trying other sports (boxing and wrestling to name a few) in order to win something!

Yaros

Giradi Staying! Manuel Should Too!

It was announced that Joe Girardi is safe for 2009 as Yankee manager. This was a relatively obvious move because it is rare for a first year manager to get fired unless his team absolutely falls apart (like the high expectations Mariners did this year). The Yankees have been woefully mediocre this year, but decent enough for Girardi to keep his job.

Also, Brian Cashman has always indicated that the young pitching is a multi-year plan, from the start that made it clear that Girardi will be back.

Jerry Manuel should be back as well. Barring a collapse similar to last year's, Manuel should be back as Mets' manager. The Mets are currently 40-25 with Manuel as manager. His no-nonsense and honest attitude has awoken this team (especially Carlos Delgado). A collapse does not mean the Mets don't make the playoffs - it means that Manuel should only be fired if the Mets build a large lead (at least 5 games) within the next 9 games and then proceed to blow it. Logically, he should keep his job even under that circumstance; however, the memories of last year would force the Mets to fire him. That likely will not happen, so I expect Manuel to be a Met manager (and a successful one at that - a full year of Pelfrey, Santana and Maine as a big 3 is fantastic!) next year.

Yaros

My Lone Comment on a Sport I love- Tennis!

As anyone who would ever be bored enough to read through the things I like on facebook.

Below is the sports related stuff: some of it is funny considering recent events have changed things dramatically!

THERE IS SOME ACTUAL TENNIS CONTENT AT THE BOTTOM - I JUST THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A FUN EXERCISE - DON'T MIND ME...I HUMOR MYSELF!

In red is my commentary...

I like sports - still do
Yankees -but o so frustrated
Jets - potential
Nets
Devils
Rutgers Football
Duke Basketball
Watching Federer is as phenominal as a back massage in tahiti. - still is, but nadal has caught up
Woods is great although not as good as Roger
I also like Luke Donald
I really dont like the Patriots but they are so good its almost like watching Roger. - um...where is Brady?
I throw harder than Pennington can. - still can, but he is gone, so don't care as much... wahoo!
the yankees need to get younger -still do. it is true that Kennedy is not as good as projected, but Hughes and Joba are. The Yankees stink because they can't hit consistently. that is due to age!

So Roger wins his first slam of the year. Congrats buddy, you just saved your season. Federer's play is gorgeous to watch and he is, in my opinion, still the best player in the world. Novak and Nadal are both superb (Novak is still not polished enough), but when Federer is playing with the passion needed (which he did not do at points this year - perhaps he got bored, BUT THAT IS NO EXCUSE) he could beat Nadal at anytime (perhaps even on clay). Federer plays with a coolness like no other and can hit shots no one else can bother trying. I am glad people can not write him off anymore (pple were saying that he is over the hill after Wimbeldon). He did have an off year in the majors (1 win, 2 finals and a semi! - not so off for anyone else!).

I'm glad to see him on top again!

Yaros

Wagner Done For The Year, Next Year and Maybe Forever?

Billy Wagner was just told that he has a tear in a ligament below his left elbow. He is out at least a year which puts his next outing in the spring of 2010 at the earliest. He will have surgery soon and will try to rehab the injury and continue his career.

I expect Wagner to make a comeback in 2010, but the Mets need a closer in the interim and K-Rod will be available after this year. If the Mets decide to sign K-Rod, they would severely overpay because of K-Rod's luck this year. The Angels play so many close games that K-Rod has gotten a ridiculous number of saves. He will parlay that luck into a mega contract that he isn't worth. He is one of the best closers in the sport, but is certainly behind Mariano, Joe Nathan and Papelbon.

The Mets may have issues making the playoffs without Wagner, the role of Luis Ayala has increased dramatically and his success or failure will likely determine whether the Mets beat out the Phillies for the division.

Notes: Brandon Webb seems to have hit a wall and will blow the Cy Young if he loses 3 of his next 4 divisions. A 20-10 with a 3.70 era will not get it done against Lincecum.

Yaros

NFL Notes!!! Is Cassel the Man???

BRADY IS DONE FOR THE YEAR! Those words are ringing in everyone's ears as the magnitude of them begins to process. According to Yahoo! (I'm not a fan of their patented ! - it annoys me), Brady's ACL is torn and the Pats need a new QB. Those are kinda hard to come by and winning with Matt Cassel against KC doesn't say much (KC is the worst team in the league)! The injury looked really nasty as Brady's knee went sideways.

Other notes:
The Jets O-line looked very good today. Even the old and slow Thomas Jones managed more than 100 yards.

The Bills looked really good!

Carson Palmer and Vince Young looked really bad!

Yaros

Playoff Predictions!

What the heck, why not go all the way? By the way, these, and all my other predictions are based on healthy QBs. The an injury at the most important (maybe hockey goalie?) position in sports will hurt any team's chances.

Wild Card Weekend
Jets over San Diego 20-16
Indianapolis over Jacksonville 31-24

Giants over Minnesota 20-14
Seahawks over Bucs 27-17

Divisional Weekend
New England over Jets 24-19
Indianapolis over Pittsburgh 27-24

New Orleans over Seahawks 24-20
Dallas over Giants 31-14

Championship Weekend
New England over Indianapolis 21-17
New Orleans over Dallas 35-31

Super Bowl
Patriots over Saints 31-20

NFC West

Seahawks 9-7
49ers 4-12
Cardinals 4-12
Rams 3-13

Another awful division in the NFC. The Seahawks could win this division if they play only 75% of their games. The 49ers have serious QB issues. So do the Cardinals who are trying to see if the Matt Leinert experiment will work - by the way, it won't.

The Rams need to start over and will have a pathetic season. But, Steven Jackson will rake in the fantasy numbers.

Yaros

NFC South

Saints 12-4
Bucs 10-6
Panthers 7-9
Falcons 4-12

The Saints are a very good and have added a couple of important pieces. Jeremy Shockey has all the talent is the world as a catching TE, and just needs to get his head screwed on properly. Sean Payton should be able to tighten those screws. Also, Jon Vilma has success in the 4-3 defense and will again. The defense needs to prove itself, but I think that it should do so successfully.

The Bucs are a solid team, but nothing too special. They still have grit and a good D.

The Panthers have the skill to get some surprising victories, but will not be consistent enough to make the playoffs.

Look for Michael Turner to play very well in Atlanta, but Matt Ryan is a rookie so the team will struggle alot.

Yaros

NFC North

Vikings 10-6
Packers 6-10
Bears 5-11
Lions 5-11

This division just plain old stinks! Everyone thinks the Vikings will be amazing, but in any other division they would likely finish no higher than 8-8, but there is no one else in this division to compete with them. The Vikings have a great defense and AP, but the QB is not good and that will hurt the Vikings playoff chances.

Aaron Rodgers is overrated and will not take the Packers far. He may be good in the future, but he is essentially a rookie QB.

The Bears need an air attack to help Matt Forte who is just a rookie running back.

Yaros

Don't Get Swept!

In reality, the Mets have built up enough of a comfortable lead in the division (3 games) to not find it disastrous if they lose 2 of 3 to the Phillies this weekend.

On a positive note, the likelihood of the Mets getting swept just got much lower as the weatherman said that Tropical Storm Hanna will whip through the northeast on Saturday. Therefore, there will be a double-header (in all likelihood) on Sunday (1pm and 8pm) and the odds of getting swept in a double-header are remote as teams generally don't play their starting lineup in both games. All that is good news for the Mets as they make their charge that will likely lead to a division championship. It shouldn't have been this hard for the Mets to take the division, but they are finally putting their act together under Jerry Manuel.

Yaros

Solid Defensive Victory!

The Giants played pretty solid on D and scored enough (against a better team they need TDs instead of those FGs), but a win is a win even if it is ugly. Nice start for Big Blue!

Brandon Jacobs day was pretty classic for the Giants. His smash mouth style, just running over guys, is the way the Giants will win all year long!

Yaros

Giants Will Win Tonight!

This division is just really tight. The Giants will win this game largely due to the home field advantage. Pounding the ball into the heart of the Skins defense will create a low scoring affair and make up for the few huge pass plays the Giants let up. The Skins will not gain much on the ground and the Giants will win by a field goal 20-17!

Yaros

NFC East

Well, this is the last division I need to get out by tonight because the only game tonight is Giants/Skins. So, here it is...

NOTE: I did the whole prediction in a bunch of posts, so scroll down to see the AFC!

Cowboys 12-4
Giants 9-7
Eagles 9-7
Redskins 8-8

This is a great and very even division. It is tough to predict how well each team will perform because the games are more often won in the "trenches" than by the division's skill players.

Dallas has the most offensive fire power. Marion Barber finally will get most of the carries - he is a beast and will not break down. Romo is unquestionably great during the regular season and he has fabulous receivers to throw to. TO is still in tip top shape, so age is not an issue with him - he just needs to lose the dropsies. The defense, aside from Roy Williams' pass defense (Rumor is that he won't play third downs), is very good and the addition of Pacman Jones (I will not call him Adam because it is not fair to compare Adam Jones of the Orioles to a thug). He was a good cornerback when not 'making it rain'. If he returns to form than the defense will be outstanding.
The Giants have a big defensive problem. The CBs are not that good and Osi was really important last year. Justin Tuck must take a lot of double teams this year and may struggle with that. The LBs are still really good and this defense needs to be led by Antonio Pierce.

The offense reminds a lot of the Jaguars (that is a really good thing). The QB is more than serviceable (although he does throw far more picks than Garrard) and there are bruising RBs who chew up yards. A RB injury will not hurt this team because they are at least 3 deep. The receivers are still solid (Amani may take a step back this year - he is just plain old) and Plax and Steve Smith are still just as strong.

The problem with this team is that fans have super high expectations. Last year was very lucky but it was a great experience for this team. They will struggle at times defensively stopping the pass and Manning will be inconsistent at times. Kevin Boss is not nearly as good as Jeremy Shockey, but I don't think it matters much. If this team pounds the ball, eats a lot of clock and keeps the chains moving than they will once again make the playoffs (but have almost no shot of winning the Super Bowl again). BTW, if I was a Giant fan I would not expect another Super Bowl birth. Just be happy making the second round of the playoffs if Big Blue gets that far.

The Eagles are the same team they have been for years. Solid defensively with little talent at WR and the ridiculously good Brian Westbrook at RB this team will win their share of games based on Westbrook's playmaking ability alone. If McNabb stays healthy than this team has a shot at the playoffs.

An NFL team needs a QB to make the playoffs and Jason Campbell is not that caliber player. They will play with grit, run the ball a lot and make some big pass plays, but the brutally inconsistent QB play will plague the Skins in this tough division. Campbell may be good enough one day - but not this year.

Yaros

AFC West

Chargers 12-4
Broncos 8-8
Raiders 5-11
Chiefs 2-14

What a boring division. The Chargers are a really good team with a great defense. LT is well, the best running back in the league (possibly ever - but I don't think so, Sanders was better). Phillip Rivers has had an entire off season to work with Chris Chambers (the Chargers stole him last year from the Dolphins) and still has the best tight end in the league. Those targets and his intensity will make him a more than serviceable QB.

The Broncos are not too bad. Jay Cutler has a sick arm and continues to improve, but is still not ready for the big time. Brandon Marshall is okay and the corner backs are the best set in the NFL. However, the rest of the team is just not too good and this will lead to a weak season a mile up.

The rest of this division will be terrible this year. The Raiders have a lot of young talent (QB, RB ect.) and some solid veterans. But Russell will be very inconsistent in his first full season as starter and may spend some serious time on his back. The defense is not too bad, but victories will be difficult to come by.

The only positive thing to say about the Chiefs is that Larry Johnson will definitely have a come back year. He will not have as many yards as in years past because there is no passing game, but he will play better and end with 1300ish yards and 10 TDs. Brodie Croyle should not be an NFL starter and there is not much talent around him. Better luck next year Herm! O' good old Herm - Check this out!

Yaros

AFC South

Colts 12-4
Jaguars 12-4
Texans 9-7
Titans 8-8

This is arguably the best division in the sport (NFC East). The Colts have long been the cream of the crop in this division, but the rest of the bunch have become solid teams as well

(My posts for the rest of the predictions will be shorter because I am a very busy man, with places to go and people to see)!

The Colts will have Marvin Harrison back on the field this year (unless he gets arrested for an incident in Phili - likely won't happen because the people that were there are not talking.) and that will take some double teams off Reggie Wayne (although it shouldn't because Wayne is now better than Harrison) and give Peyton even more places to throw. Joseph Addai is a fabulous back (I think anyone is a great back is Manning at QB). The defense is solid and the team will be as good as usual.

The feisty Jaguars play fundamental ball on both sides. They are huge on the lines and pound the ball on offense. Garrard is more than just a protector of the ball (but, he is still a protector because he never throws interceptions) and the team is just solid through and through. The match ups with Indy will be classics as the 2 completely opposite playing styles clash.

Houston is an up and coming team with a QB (Matt Schaub) and some solid wide outs (actually Andre Johnson is fantastic, but a lack of running game (the ancient Ahman Green is the starter; and don't talk to me about Steve Slaton - he was injured in college and is too small to start in the NFL) will hurt this team.

The bottom feeder of this division is Tennessee. The Titans are actually good and would have a much better record if they didn't play Jacksonville and Indy 4 times a year. I don't think Vince Young is the answer. His throwing motion hurts him and his decision making is bad. He likes to move around and needs to find a happy medium between running and passing (he also needs to realize that he is not as athletic and fast as Michael Vick, so he needs to play smarter to win). But, Young won't so they will be mediocre.

Yaros

AFC North

Steelers 12-4
Browns 9-7
Bengals 9-7
Ravens 3-13

Pittsburgh is the same old, same old. A solid defense (although they are aging) and Big Ben at the helm always puts them in the playoff hunt. The division is clearly a level or 2 lower on the totem pole than the Steelers. The key to this team is Roethlisberger's maturity as a QB. Everyone forgets that he is not ancient because he won a ring at a very young age. He lost his mojo for a while after his motorcycle accident (Ben – use a freaken helmet!) and a couple of years removed from that incident, he will play very well this year. His numbers will not be fantastic but he will win a lot of games.

Cleveland lacks the skill of either the Steelers or Bengals; however, Derek Anderson doesn’t make too many mistakes and feels very comfortable with one of the elite receivers in football – Braylon Edwards. This team needs Kellon Winslow to stay healthy the entire year to give Anderson a second option. The defense is mediocre as is the running game (Jamal Lewis will start breaking down after years of close to 300 carries – this will hold them out of the playoffs.

The Bengals are a tremendous waste of talent. The receivers have immense talent (especially Chad Ocho … Just shut up you idiot. Stop thinking you are the greatest gift mankind has ever received and run your freaken route. Shave the stupid blonde Mohawk, lose the ego and actually care for a change). The running game has one of the NFL’s fastest players in Chris Perry and the stout Kenny Watson. And oh yea, the Bengals QB is top 5 in the league. All this adds up to offensive and fantasy greatness, but not wins. The defense is seriously lacking and will be the cause of the Bengals demise. Also, if the team would spend more time on the practice field and in the weight room during the off-season than in bars and jails (after getting arrested outside the bars) then the Bengals would have a shot at the playoffs. But, you can never count this team out based on their offensive prowess.

Note to all teams: Do not play a rookie QB (especially one who did not play high level college football) and expect to win many games. Joe Flacco may be a very good quarterback in a few years, but not now. The speed will be something he has never seen before and it will hit him like a ton of bricks. The defense is not bad and neither is the running game. But with 8 guys in the box and no passing game, this team, which will probably be good in a couple of years, will be bad this go around.

Yaros

The Moment of Truth - The League of All Leagues...

And now for my NFL season predictions! The way this thing will work is that I will list the divisions in order with the win loss record of each team. After each division I will have a blurb about that division. I came to my conclusions after analyzing each and every regular season game that will be played this year. Keep that fact in mind. If you want to know my logic about any specific team, ask in a comment and I can explain.

It is going to be long so I will post the predictions division by division.

Here we go...

AFC East
Patriots 14-2
Jets 11-5
Bills 8-8
Dolphins 4-12

Okay, this division is pretty well rounded. The Patriots are still outstanding. Granted they lost one of their best players (Asante Samuels - the guy who blew the Super Bowl) and have O-line health issues as well as QB health issues. But hey, they cheat and they have Tom Brady, so they will be really good. Period.

Moving on, the Jets are a team clearly on the rise. They paid a lot of money to be on the rise and there are few question marks with this team. There are not many particularly weak spots on the roster. The Special Teams is very good (Nugent and Ben Graham are very solid and Leon Washington can break any play wide open).

The offensive line will be one of the best in the league assuming D'Brick continues to improve. The QB is Brett Favre (who will not have nearly as good a season as last year, but he will have lots of time to make decisions and will play well enough). The Wide Outs and Tight Ends are not outstanding (except Dustin Keller may turn out to be - time will tell) but they are better than average. Jericho and Coles each have good ands and run very solid routes. Chris Baker is a solid blocker and a big Red-Zone target with good hands for a guy his size. The questions about the offense revolve around Thomas Jones. Is he good enough? Last year may have been a fluke as the offensive line was awful, but will he be the 1200 yard guy he was in Chi-Town? Probably not, but he will bruise for about 1100 yards and 7 touchdowns. Leon Washington is a Brian Westbrook wanna-be with speed and athleticism. He will make big plays and the Jets will attempt to get him the ball in various ways. FB Tony Richardson will help block for Jones and may get a few TDs himself.

(Wow this is a long one, note that they will not all be this long, but this is an NY sports blog.)

The D is solid all the way through. Kris Jenkins is a stud and can now play at a weight he feels comfortable at (340s). He will be the middle clogger that will allow Calvin Pace and especially David Harris (a sure-fire Pro Bowler this year) to make many many tackles. Shaun Ellis still has skill. Playing with Vernon Gholston will take some pressure off Ellis and allow him to excel once again. The young secondary is led by Revis and Rhodes who are both great. The other CB is a little shaky and that may have an impact on the season.

The biggest flaw in the Jets is their lack of cohesiveness. Coles has been upset all pre-season because of the Pennington fiasco and Brett Favre doesn't know the playbook all that well. But, this team is a playoff contender!

The Bills are a mystery. The team has QB confusion because management’s long term plan was to invest in JP Losman (because he has excellent natural skills); however, he seems to have been a failure over the past couple of year. Trent Edwards has been more effective and I expect that he will be the starting QB all season long. He is consistent and doesn’t make many mistakes.

The team’s best offensive player, Marshawn Lynch must touch the ball on a very high percentage of plays. There are some solid players on this team; the Bills record will depend on how they do in close games. Special Teams will play a large factor in their success or failure.

The Dolphins are just bad. The defense is not terrible, but Ted Ginn Jr. is the team’s best receiver and he is young, inexperienced and likely doesn’t have the ball skills to ever be a true number 1. Chad is cerebral but do not forget how bad he was on the Jets (who had a lot more talent than this team). The Dolphins will play hard and win more games than last year (it would be a challenge not to), but they aren’t going anywhere for a while.

Yaros

Big Sweep of the 'Politans!

I don't particularly care for Steve Summers, but I always find myself referring to the Metropolitans, ISlanders (Ice-Landers) and Knickerbockers. I guess it is just a bad habit.

Anyway, moving on...

The Mets got off to a great start today with their biggest first inning of the year (6 runs). This sweep puts the Brewers in a far more pressured situation finishing up the season. The lead is down to only 4 games over the Phillies and the teams are going in opposite directions.

This may have been the worst series of the year for the Brew Crew. They lost the games, their ace, their mojo (they were hot all of August) and Prince Fielder seemed uninterested in the game on Tuesday.

Fielder say out today's game for 2 reasons: Oliver Perez is great against lefties and because Fielder didn't run out a GIDP yesterday.

Notes:
The Marlins are done. They are not consistent enough to make a charge and there are just too few games to make up the difference.

Little Man Dustin Pedroia is now batting fourth in Kevin Youkilis' absence. He has had 5 games out of his last 6 with at least 2 hits. His average has gone up .016 to .333 during that stint (that is an absurd jump this late into the season) and he has hit for an incredible amount of power. If he has a great September, he may be in the MVP race.

Yaros

A-Rod Hits a Big One!

Only kidding! Nice tack-on solo shot by A-Rod to make the game 7-2. Note the cynicism!

I guess this blog is official, this is the 100th post. Keep coming back, spread the word and keep commenting! Btw, only if you are interested in what I have to say, if not don't force yourself. But, if you do like it then pass it on to friends, the more viewers the stronger my motivation to keep going!

Yaros

F for Niese Experiment!

As I listen to the game on WFAN, Jonathan Niese has been ousted with 2 on and none out in the 4th. After 11 runners in in 3+, it is quite clear that the guy will have a short leash during his next start (if he gets 1). The Mets are in the middle of a playoff race (and they wild card is not an option!) and can not afford to a)waste the "good" bullpen pitchers (good based on the Mets standards) with a dreadful start like this one b)pitch a rookie when they could find a crafty veteran who could pitch instead.

Yaros