Tuesday, August 28, 2012

2012 Jets: A Preview

With Sanchez and Tebow manning the offense as Quarterbacks, and Shonn Greene, possibly in his final season with the Jets, leading the running game, the Jets offense has a new look in 2012. The Offensive Line, if healthy, can either make or break the team.

With the recent departure of Wayne Hunter, the O-Line seems as stable as ever, and if the defense can be as good as a Rex Ryan defense should be, the Jets look like a lock to have a supra-.500 season in 2012.

Nick Folk won the kicking job, as I predicted. With Conley and Jeremy Kerley manning the special teams unit, the Jets are in good hands.

The Jets need their safeties to remain healthy and the offensive line to click. If that happens, I feel that you will see vast improvements in Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow, helping to lead the Jets back to the playoffs.

Three Players need improvement in 2012:

-Shonn Greene-In the final year of his rookie contract, Greene must show signs of improvement in 2012 to stick around.

-Antonio Cromartie-In my opinion, Cromartie is one of the most underrated players in all of football. However, last season, the amount of penalties levied upon him and the Jets was unbelievable. Lessening the penalties will go a long way in helping the Jets in 2012.

-Mark Sanchez-Part of the problem with Sanchez last season was the lack of protection by his offensive line, which I feel is part of the reason for his increased sacking and interception rates last year. However, over the last few years, there has been a revolving door at Wide Receiver. With the exception of Santonio Holmes, Sanchez has been flanked by Braylon Edwards, Plaxico Burress, David Clowney IV, Brad Smith, and Jerricho Cotchery, just to name a few. He needs consistency, given to him by Santonio Holmes.

I have the utmost faith in Mark Sanchez and Antonio Cromartie to improve this season. Shonn Greene, not so much.

I have never really seen what Mike Tannenbaum and the Jets saw in Shonn Greene when they drafted him back in 2009

All Star Announcement

It's official, the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held in...Target Field!

This caught me off guard, as I was expecting either Wrigley Field or the New Yankee Stadium. Target Field is a huge ballpark, definitely built for pitchers, so the scoring may be affected by the dimensions.

I've never shied away from my distaste for the "Era of Expansion", the time period that claimed such architectural masterpieces as Tiger Stadium, Shea Stadium, Comiskey Park, and eventually even Yankee Stadium. However, the Metrodome was not built for baseball, period. Retractable roofs are all the rage nowadays. The Twins had to leave, period.

Target Field is a better venue for baseball. With the Vikings moving in 2016, the Metrodome may meet a sad end.

But, consider this, the Metrodome was built in 1982, making it 34 years old at the time of its replacement.

The city of Minneapolis/Vikings/Twins spent $124,000,000 (million!) for a venue that lasted just 34 years. This total does not include any renovations, such as patching the roof after it collapsed in 2010.

In STARK contrast, the Red Sox spent $650,000 for a venue that has lasted 100 years, not including the $285 million spent to improve the park over the years, such as the added Green Monster seats (.406 Club).

New stadiums do not have HALF, not even HALF, of the craftsmanship, artistry, and care that was put into the old ballparks. After 34 years, the Metrodome is being abandoned. In 2011, cracks were discovered in the concrete at the New Yankee Stadium ($1.4 Billion). After just 13 years, rumors are surfacing that the Rays are thinking of leaving the Trop (please be true!).

New Stadiums are just that, stadiums. Built to attract fans and promotions, all about the cash and trying to entice people into visiting the park.

Case in point, Citi Field.

After New York, the Mets, and NYC spent $900,000,000 for the stadium, and playing three years in the venue, following the 2011 season, they spent an additional fortune (only stated as under the original $800,000,000 estimated for the renovations) to move in the fences.

Let this be both a warning and a lesson to future teams. Before breaking the bank to build a stadium that will last 30-40 years, think for just a few moments: Is it really worth it to spend all that money on a venue just to tear it down before it's 50th anniversary?

With that said, I will leave the taxpayers of America to ponder the very questions that I have posed and the evidence supporting or denying them. Leaving them with the writings that show the terrible quality of new venues...

...an this picture of the collpase of the Metrodome roof.




Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Meet the Mets!

Meet the Mets

It's Now or Never for New York

The New York Mets are in a position now that can make or break them. New York, which has no chance at a playoff berth this season, has to make a HUGE, potentially bank-breaking decision.

David Wright is considered one of the best third basemen in the league, and his 2013 option is a virtual lock to be activated, but afterwards, he is set to be a free agent. The Mets need to take a page out of the Bills' book and spend money to improve the team.

Wright needs to be extended following this season without a doubt! Here is a look at the Mets payroll next year and beyond.

With the Ponzi scheme behind them, the team has many options. However, they must do three things now:

1) Extend David Wright
2) Extend R.A. Dickey again
3) Attempt to trade Jason Bay

All are self-explanatory and necessary!

Monday, August 13, 2012

The End of An Era

I sadly report to you today the news that Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky died today at the age of 92.


Pesky hit .307 in his career and after playing became a manager, coach, and then executive for the Sox, totaling 61 years for the team and 73 years in baseball overall.

Johnny Pesky appeared at the Fenway Park centennial ceremonies on April 20, 2012 and appeared to be in great health for his age. He was a goodwill ambassador to the game and one of the greatest Red Sox players that ever lived. He will be sorely missed.

Rest in Peace, Johnny Pesky (1919-2012).

Pesky (left) and Bobby Doerr at the Fenway Park Centennial Ceremony on April 20, 2012.





Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Redemption Day

Redemption Day

Duo of Football Players Ready for Another Shot

Football coaches and players pride themselves on discipline. As a result, players and coaches usually get along well and journeyman players that are not backups are few and far between.

However, every so often there are players that burn their bridges and end up being released or traded despite having great numbers and Hall of Fame credentials. Two such players are now ready to transform their image.

Randy Moss-Now in his fourteenth season in the NFL after taking last year off, Moss has run himself out of the Patriots, Titans, Raiders, and Vikings. Jim Harbaugh is one of my favorite coaches in the league, and I know he can turn Moss around.

Terrell Owens-Now in his sixteenth season, Owens has burned bridges in Dallas, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Buffalo. Owens has the most to prove.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Yankees @ Tigers

Miguel Cabrera homered in the fourth, 2-0 Tigers.

Chavez singled, Granderson singled on an error, and Jeter singled, 2-1. Cano singled, 2-2.

In the fifth, Avila singled and Peralta singled to move Avila to third. Infante singled, 3-2. Jackson doubled, 4-2. Dirks had a sac fly, 5-2.

Avila singled, 7-2.

Verlander went through eight innings and Jose Valverde closed it out to give the Yankees another pathetic loss. This one falls more on Nova then anyone else.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Yankees vs. Mariners

Jesus Montero singled in the first to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead, but Mark Teixeira tapped an infield single which he beat out to score Jeter, 1-1.

Chris Stewart doubled to left field with two outs and Granderson singled when Carp pulled a Bill Buckner. 2-1.


Jeter singled in the fourth, 3-1.


Montero had a bloop single in the fifth, 3-2.


Raul Ibanez launched a towering home run in the fifth, 4-2!


Ibanez had a two run bases loaded single, 6-2.


Ichiro hit a fly ball in the seventh but Michael Saunders pulled a Luis Castillo and Ichiro pulled in to second. Jayson Nix had a sac bunt to move Ichiro to third. Chris Stewart popped out and Granderson flew out to left to end the inning.


Rafael Soriano pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning and the Yankees got a well-needed win against the Mariners!

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Friday, August 3, 2012

Yankees vs. Mariners

Ichiro singled, Martin doubled, and Grandy doubled, 2-0 Yankees in the third!

Casper Wells homered, 2-1.

Eric Chavez homered in the sixth, 4-1.

Carp singled, 5-1.

Ackley homered, 6-3.
CC Sabathia finished the game as the Yankees won 6-3!

Ballgame over, Yankees Win, THEEEEEE YANKEES WIN!

I Bid Ye Farewell

Former Giants LB Keith Bulluck has announced his retirement.

Bulluck spent 10 years with the Tennessee Titans before being signed by the Giants for a disappointing 2010 season.

Bulluck had 1,088 tackles, 298 assists, 18 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and 13 recoveries, 21 interceptions for 199 yards, and one touchdown in his career.

I genuinely though Bulluck would help the Giants in 2010, but he was limited to a part-time role at his age and never really had a defining moment. He was not retained following the G-Men's horrendous collapse in 2010.

I wish him all the best in retirement.

Bulluck sacks Big Ben in a 2010 preseason game

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Meta vs Giants

Bay and Cedeño had singles in the first, and Wright added a single in the second, 5-0.

Hunter Pence has a sac fly in the fourth, 5-1.

Murphy and Cedeño singled in the sixth, 7-1.

Cedeño had a two-run double, 9-1.




Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Yankees vs. O's

Granderson homered, 1-0. Andruw Jones had a sac fly, 2-0.

Endy Chávez had an RBI groundout in the second, 2-1.

Jeter singled, 2-1. Swisher singled, 3-1!

Jayson Nix had a two-run double  in the third, 5-1. Jeter singled, 7-1!  Canò socked a Grand Slam on a hanging slider and the Yankees had an 11-1 lead!

Joba Chamberlain entered in the seventh and surrendered a solo shot to JJ Hardy on the first pitch he threw in over a year. 11-2. 

Chávez had an RBI double, 11-3.

Clay Rapada relieved Joba in the eighth. McGee had a sac fly in the eighth, 12-3.

D-Rob recorded the last two outs of the ninth and the Yanks cruised an 11-3 win.