Mets Courting Champion Ryan Theriot

     It was almost a guarantee that when free agency clock struck midnight, Jose Reyes was not going to be a member of the New York Mets.  That became a reality when Reyes chose to take his talents down to South Beach to join the Miami Marlins.  Well with other big name signees flying off the shelves, the Mets are still missing a shortstop.  Sure they have Ruben Tejada, but in my opinion, he is still a little wet behind the ears.  There is still a lot for him to grasp at the major league level, and making him the starter would be feeding him to the wolves, especially in New York where much is expected.

     Rumors have been flying around the past couple of days, and what do you know a New York team is at the center of it.  The New York Mets are reportedly "looking into" free agent shortstop Ryan Theriot.  Majority of his games played have come at the shortstop position, and he was a member of the 2011 Cardinals World Series team.  Theriot made $3 million last year, and although he will surely commend more it is still an inexpensive option.  Will the Mets pull the trigger? 

Nets @ Hawks: 12/30 Final

     What looked to be a sure blow out of the New Jersey Nets by the Atlanta Hawks, came down to the wire in the 4th quarter.  With about 20 seconds remaining in regulation, rookie Marshon Brooks was inbounding the ball down 4 when he called time out.  Only problem was that the Nets were out of time outs but the ref, not knowingly, called the time; this resulted in a 1 shot technical foul free throw and Hawks gained the ball.

     Marshon Brooks shined amongst the stars of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Deron Williams.  He had 21 points, while his guard team mate Deron Williams had 23. Although Brooks is looking good during the first 4 games, he is still a rookie, and the mistakes he has made shows this.  He had 3 turnovers tonight, but most importantly that costly mistake in the form of a time out.  He is still fresh meat in the league, and it will take time before he finds his natural groove.


New Jersey Nets: 98
Atlanta Hawks: 105

Could Matt Garza Land in Pinstripes?

     The New York Yankees need to make a major push for a starting pitcher before the start of Spring Training. Personally, I don't care whether you sign a free agent or make a trade; just get something done so we have a decent number 3 starter ahead of either Freddy Garcia, Phil Hughes, or A.J. Burnett. 
     Rumors have been circulating the last three days surrounding Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza. General Manager Theo Epstein went as far as to even saying that both the Blue Jays and Yankees have what it takes to land the coveted pitcher. The question is just WHAT it is the Yankees have that Chicago wants? 

     Certainly, one of the prized arms of either Dellin Betances or Manny Banuelos will have to be dealt, if not both. Matt Garza is a great pitcher with a ton of potential, but I wouldn't give up both Yankees' pitchers. I wouldn't have a problem giving up one because well look at how our last trio of youthful pitching. Joba Chamberlain was outstanding in the. bullpen but then moved to the rotation and was injured. Phil Hughes had his moments before he too was sidelined, and Ian Kennedy didn't do too well under the bright lights but boy he sure showed Arizona just what he was about. 
     The Yankees would have to throw some other players to make the trade balance. For example, say Yankees GM Brian Cashman agrees to part with Manny Banuelos. A utility infielder of Eduardo Nunez or Brandon Laird would have to be included in along with either catching prospect of Jesus Montero or Austin Romine. That's not all. Some minor leaguers with potential will also have to be dealt. Is it worth it? Well Garza is only 28, and he addresses the Yankees flaw in starting pitching so I would say yes, but let's see what Cashman does as he burns through his roll over minutes.

Knicks @ Lakers: 12/29 Final

     The Knicks played like a JV team last night at the Staples Center. Kobe Bryant had his way with whomever was guarding him, Pau Gasol was toying around in the paint, and Josh McRoberts was trying to earn all star votes.

                                                               (Image from Wally Skalij of the Los Angeles Times)

     The same cannot be said of the Knickerbockers. Amar'e Stoudemire went 4 for 17 from the field and is not looking like the Amar'e that was in the Big Apple last year. He passed up many opportunities to drive and settle for jump shots. Carmelo Anthony had 27 points and 7 rebounds but his defense is still questionable. The biggest problem remains to be a lack at the point guard position, and until the problem is solved I see a lot of heartbreak here in New York. 






New York Knicks: 82 
Los Angeles Lakers: 99

Nets @ Magic: 12/29 Final

     Deron Williams is taking his talents down to Orlando, but so is the rest of the New Jersey Nets as they prepare to take on Dwight Howard and the Magic.  This would be the night that Dwight's rumored desired destination would have to prove that got what it takes to be a contender.  These expectations fell rather short.

(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

   
     Dwight Howard recorded a double double scoring 16 points and putting up 24 rebounds, just 2 shy of his career high 26.  Deron Williams was not impressive as he went 2 for 12 from the field with just 10 points and 7 assists.  The spark for the Nets came in the form of bench play from Marshon Brooks as he poured in 17 points in just 21 minutes.
     It is clear that the Nets are missing certain pieces for a championship caliber team.  Rumors have been circulating that the Atlanta Hawks are getting involved in Howard trade talks, so if the Nets are going to make Dwight their starting center, they need to start boxing out.  It is almost certain that Dwight Howard will not be in Orlando next year, but where he will land is certainly unknown at this point.  With the Nets performance against the Magic, we can say for certain that the team is still the New Jersey Nets, and nothing has changed.


New Jersey Nets: 78
Orlando Magic: 94

Knicks @ Lakers Matchup: 12/29

     With what should be an interesting match tonight between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, the two teams aren't as easily matched up as one would think. Andrew Bynum is still serving a suspension, which forces Pau Gasol to shift over to the center position.  Portions of the Knicks roster should be checked into Beth Israel Medical Center (i.e. Baron Davis, Iman Shumpert, Jared Jeffries; the list could go on). There is one thing for certain though: tonight's match has been long awaited for both Lakers' fans and Knicks' fans alike.
     I want to start off by taking a brief look at both teams point guard positions.  Los Angeles has a proven leader in Derek Fisher.  The 16 year veteran has had his share of glorious moments, in which he has played in 1,113 games. Fisher is a clutch shooter and with the Knicks as his opponents he might need to pull a rabbit out the hat.  Toney Douglas is NOT a true point guard.  He is a scorer and is more comfortable at the shooting position. There is still so much more for Toney to improve on before he can be a leader of the team.  I give the edge to the Lakers here.
     The next position is the shooting guard which places Landry Fields against Kobe Bryant.  This is simply a no brainer. Not to take anything away from Landry; he is a great shooter, solid 3 point range, and plays decent defense; HOWEVER, he is no Kobe Bryant. One might complain that Kobe has an injured wrist, but he is still one of the greatest of modern times.  This one goes to the Lakers as well.

     At the small forward position the Lakers are starting Devin Ebanks. Although he hasn't been doing too bad for the Lakers, starting ahead of a struggling Metta World Peace, he is pitted against Carmelo Anthony.  Melo has one too many weapons in his arsenal for Ebanks to guard him.  With his ability to drive off the dribble, or his infamous stutter step jumper, the edge here goes to New York.
     Similarly at the power forward, fans are given the matchup of Amar'e Stoudemire against Josh McRoberts.  This is where Bynum's suspension hurts because you don't have Gasol here.  McRoberts is no Pau. Stat is very difficult to guard and McRoberts will be tested here. Stat can shoot the 10 footer or he'll drive baseline.  This matchup belongs to the Knicks.
    Finally at the center position it's Pau Gasol against the new acquisition Tyson Chandler. Gasol is not a center; he never was and never will be.  Simply put, he does not possess the toughness to be down low. Pau can score, but that's at the forward position. Chandler does have that toughness.  In fact, he has so much that he's trying to rub off on his team, and thus far he has.  Knicks are starting to play good defense against teams, and its all starts with Chandler voicing himself under the basket.  I think this one belongs to New York as well.

Look back after tonight's game for a final score and recap.

To Climb or Not To Climb?

     On my vacation, I like spending time with my family and just relaxing. New York Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey on the other hand wants to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Doesn't sound like my type type of fun, and the Mets agree with me here. 

(Image from FloppingOut)

 
     Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is over 7,500 miles away from New York City. Climbing this mountain isn't as difficult as say Mount Everest, but it's still jeopardizing your life, and the New York Mets certainly do not want Dickey in any danger.  They even sent the pitcher a letter stating that if any injuries occur on this trip the club has the right to void his contract.     
     Still, Dickey is willing to risk his $4.5 million and for good reason.  He will be climbing to raise money for Bombay Teen Challenge. Not only is is Dickey's goal to climb the mountain, but he also wants to raise awareness of his mission. How could you not want R.A. to complete his task after hearing of his dignified cause. 

Good luck to R.A Dickey on his lifelong and charitable goal! 

Pieces to the Rangers' Puzzle

It seems to me that the team to beat right now is the New York Rangers. Granted they lost last night to the Capitals, but every dog has its day. The Rangers lineup is extremely powerful and crafty, and that shows in their 22-9-4 record. The question I pose to ask though is just how long will it last? Clearly the New York Rangers are not perfect. In my opinion, and the opinion of other fans as well, they could use some help in terms of a scoring left winger. 

     At the center position, the Rangers have a one-two punch of Brad Richards and Derek Stepan. At the right wing, they have a pick your poison in Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik. Before the February 12 trade deadline the Rangers need to add to their arsenal. It is understandable that NY has come this far with what they have, but you're goal is to attain a Stanley Cup, and I just don't see it happening with this roster. 

Trivino Trouble: Islander's Prospect Arrested

     It might've been a rough month for many of us getting into the Christmas holiday with the shopping and eggnog, but Corey Trivino probably had to put that on the back burner following his arrest. 
     The New York Islanders prospect was arrested December 11th. Charges of indecent assault and battery, breaking and entering and attempt to rape, were all presented to Trivino on Monday after he was said to be forcing his way into a female student's dorm room. 
     The New York Islanders drafted Trivino 36th overall in 2008. He was playing under Boston University's head coach Jack Parker, and was in his fourth and final year there.  When word got out of his arrest, to which Trivino has pleaded not guilty, BU immediately kicked him off the team. Mr. Parker released a statement confirming that Corey Trivino was no long associated with the Boston University hockey team. Upon further reports, he is in fact no longer attended BU, and has been kicked out.
     CBS News reported that this wasn't the first incident involving Trivino and alcohol.  Just last year the school put the center on probation because of an alcohol related incident.  It might feel like a big hangover for Corey Trivino, but this is indeed a reality check. 

Knicks @ Warriors Final: 12/28

     Some say that the New York Knicks would feel the effects of the Melo trade for many months to come. Critics still refer to the antics that went on, and we're on the second game of the season after the trigger was pulled. As much as you hate to tell them "I told you so," we have to say that they were warned. The Knicks were headed to the Oracle Arena to take on the Golden State Warriors to prove the NBA wrong. 
     In the first half the Knickerbockers looked great, especially defensively. There was some sloppy play here and there, particularly in the 2nd quarter, but what attributed most to this loss was the early foul trouble. By the middle of the 3rd quarter both Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler had 4 fouls. The 4th quarter was no better as it seemed to be a bad nightmare. 

     Amare Stoudemire finished with a double double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. His forward in crime Carmelo Anthony finished with 13 points on an embarrassing 3 of 13 shooting.




New York Knicks: 78
Golden State Warriors: 92

Jets Need to Take a Schott

     The New York Jets playoff hopes depend on a win in Miami, matched with a Cincinnati Bengals loss to Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens.  Doesn't sound like too much to ask for from the football gods, but that's not what I am going to bank on right now.  I am going to take a look at three subtractions the fans are recommending at the moment.  Just remember the fans are currently filled with angered and hope.  
     I'll start with the Rex Ryan rumors.  No, Rex will not be fired after the season is over; in fact, he will probably remain with the Jets till his contract is up in 2014.  Letting go of Coach Ryan is not the answer.  Under the coach, NY is 28-24 during the regular season.  That gives Gang Green a .538 winning percentage under the coach.  You might want to remember that with Ryan as coach, the Jets have made it to the Conference Championship the last two years.  So why would you want to fire the defensive minded genius that has done more good than harm? 

     Next person under fire is quarterback Mark Sanchez.  Yes, I know Sanchez has had his moments where he has let us down (insert his fumble on the 1 yard line against the Giants here), but he has led us to the AFC since he claimed the starting job in 2009.  The 5th overall pick has come a long way since 09.  He was constantly criticized on his arm strength, so he improved;  Sanchez was told to cut down on the interceptions, so he did.  I don't see NY giving up on the Sanchize just yet.  After all, he has taken us the farther than any other Jets QB since Vinny Testaverde. So at least for the next season or two, in Sanchez we trust.
     The main target of scrutiny here is offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.  There have been countless rumors surrounding Schotty within the past few weeks.  According to ESPN's Sal Paolantonio, Jets will blame the fallout this season on the offensive coordinator.  There have been times where his play calls were pure genius, but more times than none the end result, in the fans eyes, concluded with dismay. This is where I would agree with the fans, it is time to move on from the offensive coordinator.  It is nothing personal, just pure business, and doing what it takes to bring the Lombardy trophy to New York.  

Sayonara Swisher? Not Likely

     Does it pay for the New York Yankees to entertain offers for right fielder Nick Swisher? Of course it makes sense to listen;however, going through with a trade could be a big mistake. 
     In October, the Yankees decided to pick up the $10.25 million option on "Swishalicious." The 30 year old batted a respectable .260 with an on base plus sluggage percentage of .822 this past season. As all Yankee fans know, he did struggle during the post season, and that's where concerns come into play. New York has always been the team competing for the World Series year after year. In fact, that is what the team is built for. So how could the subtraction of Swisher deem NY closer to that goal? It can't. 

     According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cleveland Indians have expressed strong interest in acquiring Swisher from the Yankees, especially after striking out in the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes. It's great that the Indians have interest, but there is only one problem: what could they possibly offer to entice the Yankees and get them closer to their 28th title? A trade involving starting pitcher Justin Masterson is highly unlikely. Fausto Carmona could be on the chopping block but do the Yankees really need a starting pitcher that has more bark than bite. That's right NY has A.J. Burnett filling that role already. I just don't see the Yankees swinging on the 3-0 count here. 
     It was very nice of Cleveland to make the call to Yankee GM Brian Cashman, but in this case a text would've been just fine because Swisher will not be joining the Indians.

Yankees Put Moves on Red Sox Reliever

     According to sources, including a tweet from New York Times writer David Waldstein, the New York Yankees will sign former Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima. Over the past few days, it was rumored that the two were in discussions. This morning, the grapevine stated that discussions were in "final stages." 
     The reliever will be signed to a minor league deal, and in all likely hood compete for a spot on the roster in Spring Training '12. Okajima's stats are mediocre. The 36 year old tossed a whopping 246 innings during his 4 year tenure with the Red Sox, and the lefty also had a 3.11 ERA to go with those innings.  Although he spent most of the 2011 season in Triple-A, Hideki Okajima is ready to return to his rare form. Could this be a move to bolster the bullpen for Mariano Rivera's inevitable departure or was it a move to just stick it to the Red Sox? 

Hawks vs Nets Final: 12/27

     It's no secret that New Jersey Nets general manager Billy King wants Dwight Howard to open next season in Brooklyn, but he's going to have to convince Dwight that the Nets will be contenders, and Nets fans did not see that in Tuesday night's loss.     

        It was the last home opener in New Jersey for the Nets before the big move to Brooklyn next season. In the disappointing loss, Deron Williams went 3-11 from the field. He had 10 points and 1 assist in 25 minutes. Kris "Humpty" Humphries added 11 points and 6 boards matching Williams's 25 minutes. The most scoring for the Nets came from Marshon Brooks.  The guard went 5-12 and had 17 points. Granted Dwight Howard would have an immediate impact on the team, but is it worth the risk for him?

Atlanta Hawks: 106
New Jersey Nets: 70

Guarding New York. Who Has the Keys?

     With all the chit chatter of the new look Knickbockers, one constant thing is said about the New York basketball team: who will run the point guard position? I am not even sure if Coach D'Antoni is sure at this moment.  Included those injured, the Knicks have 5 possibilities of those to take control of their offense.
     Toney Douglas is the obvious starter at the moment.  He was seen as the successor of Chauncey Billups last year, but with him being amnestied the time is now.  Personally speaking, Douglas's style is more of shooting guard, and I am sure many of you will agree with me.  He truly irritated the NY fans during the playoffs when he chose to shoot 3s, rather then finding the open man. But Toney is only 24 years old, which means he can still be molded into a pass first point guard.
     Mike Bibby was signed by the Knicks during the off season and was suppose to be the back up point guard, but at this point they need a starting pass first point guard not a back up.  In his prime, Bibby was one of the best.  In fact, he was considered to be one the elite point guards, but after a pit stop in Miami last year, the fans consider him to be "washed up." Well in a recent interview with the Knicks point guard, Bibby said, "I feel like I'll always have a jump shot."  Well what about some premiere passing like the Sacramento days Mike?
     When Iman Shumpert's name was called as the 17th pick of the draft this past year, all the Knicks' fan had a similar response. WHO?! According to many officials, Shumpert was drafted for his versatility in playing the point guard or shooting guard position, but also his defense which there was obviously a lack of in New York last season.  In his MSG debut, Shumpert delivered with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist; however, he was injured with an MCL sprain in his right knee.  Shumpert is expected to be out for the next 2-4 weeks.
     Baron Davis was claimed by the Knickerbockers, knowing that he would miss some time during the season with a bad back.  However, when healthy, Davis is expected to take over the reigns.  This could be a good look for the Knicks, but only if the Davis from Golden State returns.  Here he averaged about 8 assists to go with some 20 PPG. It is clear that this is who the Knicks front office officials are hoping they signed.

     Finally, on December 27, the Knicks claimed their 5th possible candidate for the PG position.  Jeremy Lin was claimed off waivers by the Knicks from the Rockets in hopes of filling the position voided by injury.  Many believe Lin is a true point guard, and could be a possible answer until Davis gets healthy.  The Knicks can also waive him any time before the Feb. 10th trade deadline and not be responsible for paying the rest of his contract.
    So with five candidates to run the point guard for New York, who do the fans want to take control and drive NY to the championship?