New York Fan in South Jersey

Superstitious validations?

2012-01-22T11:23:00.000-08:00

Everyone that follows sports knows of certain habits the fans and players adopt during the season to give them a feeling of an advantage. These are called sports superstitions. It is something that helps to bridge the gap of interaction between players and their fans. There are many stories of superstitions around the world of sports.

Fans will wear the same jersey every football game day or sit in the exact same seat at the stadium and eat the same foods in sequence as the last time they attended just because the team won that day. The oddity of the fan superstition knows no boundaries. It defies logic, tact and even fashion. Take the rally cap for example.

It was popularized by New York Mets fans during the 1985 season and was embraced and used by their players the following season during the World Series. Is it fashionable? Not really. Does it make the fan look good? No. In fact, it makes them look stupid. But that's not the point, is it?

Fans don't care how they look when they are deep within the passions of cheering their teams. They think, in some small way, that it helps encourage their team to dig deeper and find something within them that wasn't there before. Even if they are sitting at home watching it on TV, the belief holds true (like the players will respond from seeing or hearing them from hundreds of miles away).

It's not just fans, though. Just because I wake up on Sunday and wear the same New York Giants t-shirt that I wore last week when the team won, doesn't mean I am alone in that thinking. The players are actually worse. For example, I mentioned the Giants. When they travel to face a team a second time, they stay at the same hotels, stay in the same rooms they did four years before and even eat the same foods.

Case in point. The Giants played the Green Bay Packers last week in the playoffs. The faced them four years before in the playoffs too. They won that game years before and so they figured they must have done something right, so they kept a record of every detail and repeated it last week. What happened? The Giants won again. Coincidence? Maybe, but the argument can be made that these rituals make the players feel comfortable.

Such is the case of the average player. However, some players take these to legendary heights. Take former Yankees and Red Sox player Wade Boggs for example. He would eat chicken before every game. Think about that. Chicken 162 times in six months! Most people don't eat it that much in a year, let alone half of a year.

Former Mets reliever Turk Wendell is another great example. Between every inning, he would leap over the baseline when leaving the mound and precede to the dugout to brush his teeth. He pitched a career total 645.2 innings. That's at least 645 brushes in 552 games in his career. That doesn't count his three times a day either. He must have never seen a dentist.

There are so many other example as well. Just google the term "sports superstitions" and you'll see a wealth of knowledge on the topic. What is more intriguing to me is that these players and fans actually think it helps. There is little argument that it helps the players feel more comfortable. Perhaps this is the same reason that fans do it.

Speaking as one who, admittedly, practices these rituals on game days, I can only speak from my experience and logic. As I shared earlier, I have worn the same Giants t-shirt every game day all season (yes, I wash it). In that time, the Giants went 11-7 when playoff games are tallied into the mix.

What would their record have been had I not done that? Probably 11-7. Does that mean I don't have to wear this shirt today when they are facing San Francisco in the NFC Championship? Probably, but I wouldn't want to chance jinxing them.

Urban Sports Apparel: Fashion or Sacrilege?

2012-01-15T10:48:00.000-08:00

There is a trend in the the world of sports apparel that has been well on display for a few years now and has gone relatively unnoticed and unchecked. I don't know who started it. I don't know when it started. I just wish it would stop. I am referring to fashionable sports apparel.

You know the ones. Some call it "urban apparel" while others call it "street gear". It's the hats, jerseys, coats, shoes, etc with the logo of your favorite sports team but not their real colors. It is a gross misrepresentation of the team. These teams have their colors and logos for a reason.

There are people who have contributed countless hours of invested thought and energy into creating something that would be pleasing to the eyes of the fan base they are appealing to. For example, the New York Mets colors are orange and blue. They have those colors for a reason.

No one wrote the names of a bunch of colors on tiny pieces of paper and threw them into a hat for Mets executives to draw from. The blue is to remember the heritage of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the orange was to remember the history of the New York Giants (baseball team). Both teams moved to the West Coast (L.A. and S.F.) and the new club, the Mets, had the unenviable duty of replacing them.

What does it say to the history of the team when a fan sports a brown Mets hat with a white logo? Does it say they are proud to be a Mets fan? Not nearly. It says they have matched their clothes well. The hat becomes an accessory, not a statement. Fans wear their apparel to show support for their team, not to color coordinate.

Imagine if the New York Rangers fans wore jerseys that were orange without any blue but it had the Rangers logo on it. Would that still be a Rangers jersey? It seems to me it would look more like the jersey of their hated rival, the Philadelphia Flyers.

This begs the question: when is it too far? New York Knicks hats in Celtic green? New York Giants sneakers in Cowboys silver? At some point there has to be a distinction between the colors. We subconsciously incorporate the logo and the color as a collective concept.

The mixing and matching of colors and logos disrupts the psyche of the fan. If an Philadelphia Eagles fan wears a Redskins-colored, red hat with the Eagles logo on it, are they showing their support for Philly or Washington?

In the end, I understand the concept behind it. I'm not ripping anyone for wanting to be an individual. However, there is a fine line between standing out and forsaking the history and image of your favorite team. If you're like me, a deeply passionate and knowledgeable sports fan, than compromising that logo with colors other than that of your team is not an option.

This tells us who the real, die-hard fans are and who the fair-weather fans are. If a fan claims to belong to a certain fan base and sports colors that are very different, it can be deemed as sacrilegious and therefore, blasphemy. Most fans would agree that perception is a bit overboard, but I have to disagree.

I have heard the word "passion" thrown around a lot lately. Fans rip other fans because "they are passionate". Fans rip into their own teams because of their "passion".

If this same thinking says they care about their teams so much that they are emotionally invested in them, than they need to publicly display that investment by showing the correct colors and logos that apply to the team that they are so invested in.

Otherwise, it's just talk and they are the type of fan that uses "passion" as an excuse to act unintelligent and rude. That facade may be even more blasphemous.

Happy New Year from the NYFSJ

2011-12-31T21:00:00.000-08:00

I would like to take this moment to wish all of my readers a wonderful, prosperous and happy new year. May 2012 be a better year for our sports teams. and for those fans, like me, that reside in enemy territory. With the nightmares of 2011 behind us, let us look forward to moving into a new era of success as fans.

May it be a new time for rejoicing and engaging in the rapture, drama and intense passion that is the world of sports. May our personal lives be filled with warmth, happiness, peace and love in the coming year. It has been my humble pleasure and deepest honor that you have allowed me to be able to share my personal thoughts and feeling on the landscape of New York sports.

For that, I thank you and am eternally grateful for the opportunity. Furthermore, I humbly look forward to continuing to do so in the coming year with more consistency. Let us raise our glasses in a symbolic toast and resolve to make the most of our new year in NY sports. We will be all the better for it. Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays from the NYFSJ

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

I would like to take this opportunity to wish every one of my readers, followers and friends a very happy, healthy and safe holiday season. May our every wish come true this special time of year. As a New York sports fan, it has been a tough year for us all. For a New York sports fan in enemy territory like me, as many of you are as well, it has been especially hard.

We have seen every possible scenario known to the landscape of sports all rolled into just a few teams across the sports world. With the local teams excelling while our teams aren't has made this an excruciating 2011. With the holidays upon us, now is the time to make a special wish for a change in fortunes, for both our teams and for us.

With that in mind, I will wish you all joy, peace, hope, happiness and love in this special time of year. Thank you for following me and my work. If I have made any of you think differently about a topic or stop to ponder something for just a second, my work has not been written in vain.

Thank you all for allowing me to share that special moment of inspiration with you.

NHL dropped the puck, literally and figuratively

2011-12-17T14:36:00.000-08:00

The NHL has been developing a post-holiday tradition. It's called the NHL Winter Classic. They match two teams in a stadium for an outdoor hockey game. Imagine the movie "Mystery, Alaska" but for real. This year, the NHL decided to exploit a fierce and long standing rivalry to showcase.

The game will match the New York Rangers (insert cheers here) against the Philadelphia Flyers (insert expletive of your choice now)on January 2nd in Philadelphia. Both teams are fighting for the top spot in the Atlantic division with the Broad Street bullies holding on to first right now. The Rangers are five points behind them in the standings. This is sure to be a great game.

As the event draws closer and all preparations are finalized, the hype grows more intense. There's just one problem. The NHL messed up by scheduling this nationally showcased game in Philly. If they want to show the NHL in a respectful and intelligent manner, they failed miserably. I know the game hasn't even been played, but trust me, the NHL has already failed at appearing respectful. The fans will no doubt be rude and even more belligerent than usual.

With the holidays in the past at that point, the NHL, and the wonderful fans of the Rangers that are unfortunate enough to travel to Philly and endure that afternoon of assault, will see a very unfriendly representation of the so-called city of "brotherly love". If the NHL had the foresight they would have scheduled the game in New York City. This would have accomplished three things.

First, they would have had a much bigger audience. Here's why. If the average fan is clicking around on a Monday, their attention will be short. After their pockets are empty from overspending on the holidays and their perpetual holiday buzz is over, they will be looking for something to watch that they can have an invested interest in.

The city of New York has a prestige and a prominence that is unrivaled. It is a city that boasts big game hype. What sports fan would be highly interested in a "holiday" type hockey game to rival the college football slugfest that viewers will endure the weeks before, if that said game is in a mid-level market city like Philadelphia? No one will.

Only true fans of the sport will be tuning in for it. The point of the Winter Classic is to bring in new viewers and fans. Does the NHL really expect a new viewer to watch an unmarketable team like the Flyers in Philadelphia? They have no star power in the current league.

Only the real fans can name any of their roster (except for Jagr). The NHL has to pair that team with a well known organization that has a lot of talent and marketable players. Enter the New York Rangers. If the league NEEDS the Rangers, they should showcase them on their turf.

Secondly, the NHL is not the only ones trying to cash in on the viewers. The networks are too. NBC is looking to make a big profit from marketing the NHL in one big game a year. This is the one they hype all throughout the fall and into early winter, Why, then, would the network want to show the statue of Rocky and the "LOVE" statue a thousand times in three hours?

Wouldn't it be a better atheistic experience for the viewer, and a more memorable and enjoyable one for that matter, to show more recognizable and more cherished scenery? Don't get me wrong. The Rocky statue, the Liberty Bell and even the Philly Art Museum have been wonderful icons for the hard-working people of Philadelphia. However, the average viewer in middle America is not interested in Gino's Cheesesteaks or the Philadelphia Creme Cheese factory.

Let's be honest here. The average fan wants to see Times Square and Rockerfeller Center. They want to see the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. There really is no comparison. New York City has the Statue of Liberty and Philly has Rocky? This makes them a more inviting destination for the NHL viewer?

Finally, New York presents a more pleasant atmosphere: the fans, the ambiance, the "melting pot" that is New York. This all leads to a coming together across cultural divides to cheer for a team and a sport that has a cemented reputation with one culture. Hockey has basically been considered a "white" sport. The NHL needs to show that there are more than just white people flocking to it.

Within the city limits, we know that Rangers games are full of all creeds and colors. They don't know that in Duluth or Nashville, though. Isn't that all-inclusive, all-embracing image what the NHL should be trying to obtain? The city of New York has very respectful and knowledgeable fans. With the exception of a few isolated incidents aside, the fans of New York are intelligent and inviting.

They are the perfect welcome mat for a sport to showcase their biggest game in front of on national television. Yet, the NHL wants the viewer to see drunk and screaming neanderthals without a shred of dignity or class flip off Rangers players and fight in the stands with everyone all while holding their beer securely in their hands until they pour it on a child or throw it at Santa Claus. Great choice NHL.

Before they drop the puck at center ice on January 2nd, the average fan needs to be warned what they will have to be tortured with. They blew this chance at breaking away from the NBA as a top three national sport, taking advantage of the NBA's dip in popularity as a direct result of their lockout.

At this rate, the NHL would rank somewhere below underwater darts if there is any bad incident or misrepresentation of the the image of the league in that national spot. Let's face it, if any city is capable of breaking under the pressure of being on their best behavior, it's Philadelphia.

New York, on the other hand, has hosted big event after big event, time after time after time. They are not only used to the spotlight, they thrive within it. Isn't that the type of city the NHL should want to host their biggest game? While logic, reasoning and the knowledgeable fans are all saying "yes", the NHL is saying "no".

Whatever happened to loyalty?

2011-12-08T16:02:00.000-08:00

The world of sports is in constant evolution. Whether that changing involves technology, rules and regulations or team personnel, sports are always changing with the times. In this age of "at your fingertips technology" and instant gratification, players feel the pull of wanting maximum payout for their skills, regardless of where their previous loyalties were laid once.

The truth is that while this is not a new concept, it is a concept that has grown in popularity across the board. There was a time when you could look at a team and point to a certain player that you know will be there for his entire career. That day is gone.

The age of favoring the team over yourself are long gone. No one can really point to when it all started. However, I like to believe that the thought was originally planted into owners heads that they could acquire any player for the right price when the Yankees obtained Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox who wanted money to finance a Broadway musical.

That first move back in 1914, almost 100 years ago now, showed owners that anyone can be bought and sold. This mentality has led to so many heartaches for the fans of these sports.

In basketball, LeBron James turns his back on Cleveland fans that watched him since he was in high school and runs to Miami for the money. In Hockey, Wayne Gretzky was traded to the L.A. Kings in his prime in a move that shocked the entire nation of Canada. Warren Moon leaves Houston in a daze when he ends up signing with the Minnesota Vikings after 10 years and six Pro-Bowls in the Lone Star state.

No other sport is this evolution more present than in baseball. This week alone has brought multiple examples of this. Today was announced that the 10 year veteran and franchise face that is Albert Pujols will be leaving St. Louis after leading them to two World Series titles in three appearances, three MVP awards and a rookie of the year award along the way.

He was an god in St Louis. His highly respected off the field persona was only bested by his accomplishments on the field. He played for a team that has a long heritage of holding onto their icons. Names like Bob Gibson, Stan Musial and Ozzie Smith are all well-known Cardinals. Before this week, there was little doubt that Pujols would be among that Mt Rushmore in Cardinals history.

He left for the good weather and the $250 million that the L.A. Angels of Anaheim offered. It wasn't so much that the Cardinals wouldn't pay him, but they were reportedly never given the chance to match the offer.

It was obvious that the retirement of manager Tony LaRussa played a much larger part than even he will admit. The comfort level was no longer there. The ironic part of this is that if any one player personified selflessness in the sport of baseball, it was Pujols. Until today.

On a more personal level, my team lost out on a homegrown fan favorite just days before St Louis did. When Jose Reyes decided to sign with the Miami Marlins, it was a gut punch to Mets fans everywhere. While, I had recently been growing detached to his exploits of selfishness this past season, many fans were taken completely aback by this move and immediately blamed ownership and the front office. They did so for good reason.

The Mets never had the money to match the extensive years and large payday the Marlins eventually offered. Fans were hoping for him to take a "hometown discount" without realizing that in this age of sports, there is no longer any such thing. Reyes went on to say that his feelings were hurt because the Mets never offered him a contract, but his agent had specified to Mets management that their best offer would not be good enough. Why then should they make an offer and look stupid when he turns it down?

The truth is that with the possible exception of Larry "Chipper" Jones and Derek Jeter, there may not be a player that spends their entire career with the same team anymore. As a Mets fan, I can only hope that David Wright will join the Derek Jeters and Chipper Jones' of the league, but that is far from a certainty.

This career with one team mentality might have outlived its usefulness and therefore has become out-of-style in the sports world. With agents and commercialism infiltrating sports, it is doubtful this golden age will ever make a comeback. The sad part of that reality is that it raises a terrible question that needs to be asked. Where's the loyalty in athletes?

Teams expect, nay demand loyalty from their fans. St Louis is by far one of the most loyal fan bases in the entire country, yet, their team was shown great disloyalty by the one man they trusted the most. While Pujols moving to L.A. will help baseball sales out west and the sport will thrive in places and to cultures that it needs to reach out to, the purity of the game is all but dead.

The fire that once was burning bright and rapid has been diminished and reduced to a glowing ember. This is the sad state of baseball, and sports on a more global level. With the admission of record-breaking contracts, comes the inevitable broken spirit of the fan that ultimately helps to pay that contract.

What then are we, as fans, supposed to do in the wake of this complete display of disloyalty that is the new fad within the spectrum of sports? I can only offer one answer for this. Embrace the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back. There is far less pain in seeing your team fall short than there is to see the player that has endeared himself to your heart leaving you far behind in his chase for a bigger payday in his limited earning window.

Attaching ourselves to a few of these players is foolish. Should we enjoy the facts we learn about them? Yes. Should we enjoy getting to know their personalities? Yes. However, there is a very fine line between being interested in them for the sake of getting to know a player on your team and getting to know a player for the sake of learning more about them individually.

That attachment will only lead to repeated public outcry when they eventually leave for greener pastures. Fans have to be more objective these days. They need to be less passionate and more level-headed when they examine a team and the condition that team is in. Otherwise, they only end up getting hurt or being angry because they don't understand the business side of sports these days.

As that business end of sports is always forcing changes within the sports themselves, so we as fans must be open to evolving our own mindset. Part of that is to no longer grow attached to the "face of a team" but rather grow attached to the team. It's a difficult step, but a fan that studies their team objectively becomes an educated fan and an informed source of growth for a fanbase.

In the end, as sports evolve, this evolution with the fanbase has to take shape as well. If it doesn't than the sport will cease to evolve. While that may not be the worst thing, it will never go back to the days when players stayed where they were and developed lifetime rivalries.

This age is for the player that develops length of their current contract rivalries. That may be worse than anything our teams can do us.

Happy Thanksgiving from the NYFSJ

2011-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to all who have been a part of this blog. All of you remind me everyday what it means to be a fan. Though my teams are not the popular ones in the area I live, I still remain loyal and faithful to a fault.

My daily interactions with all of you are a source of inspiration to me to continue to remain loyal. You, my readers and friends, are my inspiration and our teams are our bond. For that, I thank you and I am thankful for you.

May you have a happy, healthy and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you all, again, for reading and being a fan of the fan in enemy territory; the New York Fan in South Jersey.

NBA season in jeopardy as they play games off the court

2011-11-19T19:26:00.000-08:00

The NBA has entered a very bad place right now. Their players have turned down a good offer from ownership in order to risk the current season at a chance for more money? What is this, Let's make a deal? There is no curtain number one or two at stake here. Only the popularity of their sport is going to be risked in the end.

It seems to me that the longer this work stoppage goes on, the more fans are embracing other things and adjusting to life without the NBA just fine. That's dangerous for the NBA. I must admit I am one of those basketball fans that occasionally peeks at the box score or checks out the highlights of my New York Knicks.

Then, last year, they traded for Carmello Anthony and got the attention of every New York sports fan in the world. They made the playoffs, and despite being riddled with injuries and being swept out, there was promise for the future of the Knicks.

Now, with the stoppage reaching yet another month, I find my attention closely tied into New York Giants football and New York Mets off season baseball talk. Blame my work on Big Giants Boom and Mack's Mets for that, though (a big reason I haven't written here in a while).

Between those sports and daily life, the NBA ranks somewhere between underwater mini-golfing and the Oreo licking league. Actually, I prefer the Oreo licking league. At least they have stars. But I digress.

In any event, the NBA will suffer an incredible loss in popularity if this costs them the season. The players need to take a lesson from two places. First, the NFL. This summer, in the height of baseball playoff pushes, the NFL was hard at work. The problem was it was in the courtrooms of America not the fields.

Despite all the legal battles, both sides shut themselves in together for days at a time and emerged weeks later with a tentative deal to save their season. They kept the fans and made the players happy. The owners were forgiven and all is right with the world as America moves on with their sports passion.

The second lesson is from the NHL. It took about five years for them to rebuild their reputation after a work stoppage destroyed their season in 2004. Now, thanks to the greedy millionaire idiots in the NBA, they are currently moving ahead of basketball into the top three sports in the country. Great news to the fans in Canada, eh?

While baseball needed a spark from Cal Ripken Jr, Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa to rebuild their tarnished image in 1994, after they cancelled their season halfway through (a move that Montreal Expos fans will never forgive), it is doubtful that the NBA has the type of dramatic story line potential to comeback as quickly as MLB did.

Hockey took a while and the NBA will too. The only way that players and owners can avoid looking like total and complete greedy jerks right now is to play at least a season that would include the Christmas games on to the playoffs.

Anything shorter than that would jeopardize the big money and the lavish lifestyles that would be gained from choosing the wrong deal. Where's Monty Hall when you need him?

Jose Reyes is the next Lebron James

2011-09-24T16:35:00.000-07:00

The New York Mets have a tremendous talent who is playing in what may be his final home stand as a Mets player. His name is Jose Reyes. Every baseball fan is beginning to salivate over the potential of a healthy Reyes being added to their team. And why shouldn't they?

Jose Reyes is the most dynamic single player in the game today. He is the prototype of a leadoff hitter. He has speed. He has power to hit in the gap. He creates runs where there is nothing to create. He changes the game when he is base. The opposing pitcher is distracted by his speed and hurries his pitches. Reyes is a different breed of player in the league.

When he hits the open market, teams will begin fighting over him. He is easily the most coveted free agent coming into the market.There will be several major names available, but few teams will be able to afford them. Reyes is the one player every team is willing to take a chance on. He is the most obvious choice for any team to want to add.

This sounds oddly familiar. The NBA had a similar scenario just a year ago. Lebron James decided to leave the team that drafted him, the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he had great success in turning a franchise around in order to test free agency. Sound familiar now?

The Mets signed Reyes as a teenager. They brought him up when they were struggling. He, along with a few others, led them to the NLCS just a few years ago. He has had success here. Now he is curious about his worth on the free agent market. Lebron James turned his experience into a mockery and a nationally televised event for advertisers and ESPN to benefit from.

While I doubt that will happen with Reyes, still, there are a lot of similarities between the two. Both have had several teams trying to court them. Lebron James had President Obama trying to convince him to consider the Chicago Bulls. The Knicks, the Nets, the Bulls, the Lakers, the Celtics, and the Cavs were all rumored to have interest and players courting James.

Jose Reyes has had former teammate Carlos Beltran speaking up for him to come to San Francisco, Ryan Braun has suggested he'd love to have Reyes in Milwaukee. Red Sox players have spoken up for him. Alex Rodriguez stated that Reyes is the best player in baseball this past summer. They are all lining up to make their pitch for their respective teams.

Both James and Reyes were and are considered the single game-changing free agent at the time of them entering free agency. Both were home grown talents looking for greener grass somewhere else. Just like the Cavs were in the final running for Lebron, the Mets will be in the final running for Reyes.

After all, it's hard to let go of what you already know. Change is hard. Reyes is settled in and happy in New York. The trouble is when all the other teams get involved in offering him a deal, his free agency will explode into a media storm.

Imagine this: the Phillies (who will be thinking of parting with Rollins), the Yankees (who may be thinking of Reyes more to hurt the Red Sox), the Red Sox (who have platooned short stops for years to no avail), the Angels (who need speed since they lost Chone Figgins), the Brewers, the Dodgers, the Nationals, the Rays, etc all get involved in the sweepstakes for Jose Reyes.

Then Reyes has to choose not just location, but money. Let's say the Mets offer him $50 million and two years less than the Phillies or Yankees, don't blame him for taking it. No one in their right mind would turn that difference down. Who would turn down that much money to take a hometown discount? No one.

The Mets will need to make a longer and more expensive offer than they want to if they decide they need him. Otherwise, get used to seeing him somewhere they don't want him to be. That's what the Cleveland fans had to face when Lebron James landed in Miami with two other All Stars (Wade and Bosch). A team that stood in their way when James was with Cleveland, now James is with the enemy.

Mets fans will not be happy with the end result. The buildup of bidding in the market will push Reyes out of the Mets' reach. This is not a scenario fans or the Mets really want, but it may be a reality. The Mets claim they need a closer next year. They will need to sign at least one starting pitcher and two others for the bullpen. They will need an outfielder too.

There are too many holes to fill to spend that much on Reyes. They already have a fortune locked in to Johan Santana, Jason Bay and David Wright. If they add more to it for Reyes, they will be way over their self-imposed cap maximum of $120 million after signing everyone else.

Logically speaking, Reyes will have to accept a much more disappointing offer from them than he expects if he wants to stay. Like Lebron, the temptation may be too great for him not to leave.

NFL Media train needs to slow down

2011-09-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

The NFL is into its' second week today. They have had a very successful week one and the league is looking forward to an even bigger sequel. Not everything is peaches and cream in the league however. The media has spent the entire week building up games that have no reason being hyped so much. There are three cases in point.

First, the Philadelphia Eagles travel to Atlanta to play the Falcons. In and of itself, this is a decent matchup between two playoff hopefuls. This week, though, every media outlet under the sun has deemed it the "game of the week".

Why? Because Michael Vick is going back to Atlanta where he started his career? Because one player is returning to his former team's home? You'd think Vick was the first player to return to his old stomping grounds.

I recall Joe Montana coming back to San Francisco after multiple Super Bowl wins that included MVP performances. He was so successful in the NFL that Vick doesn't deserve to tie Montana's shoes let alone be named in the same sentence.

Reggie White (perhaps the greatest defensive lineman to play the game) returned to Philly after his success there and his move to Green Bay. The fans booed him. Seriously? That's Philadelphia fans. White didn't win the big game as an Eagle, but he did as a Packer. Perhaps that was a case of familiarity breeds contempt.

How about when Keyshawn Johnson returned to Tampa Bay for the first time after winning a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and then leaving them? You don't think that stirred some feathers. The point is, Michael Vick is returning to his former home, I get that. But does that make it the top game of the week? No.

Is that a historical moment in the long standing prominence of the NFL? Not really. Vick has never won a championship. Let me repeat that. Vick HAS NEVER WON a Championship. The media is making it out to be the return of the prodigal son. It is in a way, but it's not as if he had a Emmitt Smith type of career and is returning to his home of former glory.

He was dynamic in Atlanta, but he screwed his own life up. He messed up the good thing he had there. It's not like the team traded him or cut him after he was a league MVP and he got his rings. He is not on the level of half of the greats that returned home to their former residence.

Next, there is a phrase that used to mean something in the past several decades, however, due to over-usage and improper usage, it has become all but irrelevant. That phrase is "must win". How many teams started 0-1 after last week? How many times has a playoff team started their season 0-1 0r 0-2.

I know for a fact that my Giants started their Super Bowl season 0-2 and everyone counted them out from that point on. They squeaked into the playoffs and got hot. Why can't a team go 0-2 today and end up doing that? There is no reason that feat can't be equaled. Therefore, calling the Giants, the Colts, the Falcons, the Steelers, etc as teams that "must win" in their given game scenarios this week is ludicrous.

It makes no sense. It's only week two folks. It's not week 15. I can understand it if the playoffs were on the line in December. Then the talking heads can yap away about must wins all they want. For heaven's sake, it only the second week of the season! Give the hype a break.

The talk is not only extended to 0-1 teams, it goes beyond that to mention 1-0 teams in a must win scenario. Ridiculous, right? ESPN (who lately I have deemed Entertainment and Sports Philly Network due to their extended Phillies and Eagles coverage) had the nerve to call the Jets game today a must win against Jacksonville on ESPN NY.

Jets QB Mark Sanchez stated it was, but the writer of the story on the site takes it even further. He feeds off of the QB's comments and unravels a diatribe of cliches that would make Vince Lombardi turn over in his grave.

A winning team given to a "can't afford to lose this game" scenario. A team that has a track record of recent success against a team that has struggled mightily to be a contender in their own division, let alone the league. The comparison is unbelievable.

That brings me to my final point. I read an article yesterday that made me physically ill. A Giants fan imagines a scenario where the Giants end up going 0-3 if they lose tomorrow to the Rams (which would make them 0-2) then an automatic loss to the Eagles. Then he thinks the season unravels from that point on and Tom Coughlin gets fired as a direct result.

The hype extends to those who don't get paid for being talking heads. This from a proclaimed fan, too. I was floored. I can imagine if it came from an Eagles fan. They do a lot of bragging for fans of a team that never won a Super Bowl or a ring.

But this from a fan of a team with a storied history. A team that had a pivotal hand in building what we know as the NFL these days. That's a fan? Shameful. Thank God we live in a country where someone can claim to be a fan of his team and sell them out just as quickly. The same country that allows me, as a writer, to defend said team.

This country allows for the media storm to brew and spill over into an all-consuming fire, leveling everything in its' wake. As fans, we have a responsibility, nay, an obligation to control that storm beforehand so that it doesn't build into a blaze. We have to remain objective.

If we, as fans, give into our passions for our respective teams and believe everything we're told by the hot-air spewing pundits, than we are not being true to our team. That type of fandom allows for excessive disapproval that leads to stupid actions like flipping over cars in the parking lot at games and getting into fights and being arrested in the stands.

Using our heads more than our hearts allows for a fan to be logical and realize that it's only week two. It's not the end of the season. Even if our teams lose all 16 games, it's not the end of the world. Ask a Lions fan. They'll tell you. Their team was dreadful and literally unwatchable for years, yet, the sun still rose and life went on.

It's football folks. It's a game. It's not our mortgage (unless your dumb enough to bet your house on a game). It's not a sick family member. It's not a job loss. It's a game. Let's keep things in perspective.

Let's force the media to keep things in perspective and not listen to them every Sunday like they are the answer to life's consistent questions. They know as much about predicting the future of the season as a spin of the roulette wheel. So hop onto the train of thought while it's still boarding at the station. You'll thank me for it later.

Reflections of 9/11: 10 Years Later

2011-09-06T15:14:00.000-07:00

In just a few days, we will be remembering a terrible event in our Nation's expansive history. On September 11th, 2011, we will be recalling the tenth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This horrifying event that occurred changed all of our lives forever. One writer could not do proper justice to describe the heroism, sacrifice, tragedy and courage that morning a decade ago.

As I did last year, I decided to ask people from all walks of life to share their experiences of that fateful and dreadful day. The following is the result. It is my hope that in the spirit of the day, you will look past the length of this article, read each response and share in the emotion and the memories of that day with us.

I remembered sleeping and all. When I got up, I turned on the FAN anticipating a show to talk about Denver beating the Giants on 9/11, and then when I heard about the 9/11 bombings, it hit me. That was depressing. I was shocked, and I still am. That not only hurt the city, but it hurt the country. It took me awhile to get over it. -Leslie

I was home sleeping when my sister called to tell me that a plane had flown into the WTC. My brother-in-law who is NYPD got there to see the first tower collapse. He lost his close friend who is FDNY and 2 men from the 6th Precinct. Thank God he was safe. Then I went to work and instead of going home at the end of my shift, they kept us until 3am because they planned to send us to use Shea Stadium as a Triage area. But the few survivors were treated in Manhattan. I was numb with shock and grief. So many of our friends lost loved ones. NEVER FORGET. -Gaile

it was a horrible day.... i was dumbstruck at what had happened.. i was only 13 at the time and didnt understand how anyone could commit such a hateful crime... i also found out that day that a good neighbor of mine who was a fireman was called in to work that day which he had off originally... I found out he had gone missing and unfortunately he was found dead... it was just a horrible day... week... month... year... and its one I will never forget as long as I live -Jessica Ann

horrrific day, one i will never forget,. started out as a normal morning, drinkin the ice coffee & watchin the news. then shower, then i was right about to turn off the tv to go to school, & like it came up. and i was shocked. rest in peace to those who died & those who tried to save ♥ -John Paul

i worked on 34th street in the city at that time. i was supposed to have the day off but i went in because i wanted to have a long weekend with my friends. when i got upstairs to sign in was when i first heard, and my thought was wow, its a beautiful clear day, how could someone hit the towers?? then as patients came in we got the whole story. since i worked for beth israel i had to help cover for staff that couldn't come in, and i had no tv...i didn't see the actual devastation til that night... -Mercedes

myself, i was at work in nj, loading a truck when someone told me that the towers had been hit, after saying that isnt something to joke about was told to go into my office and see the tv my boss had on. was standing there watching when the towers went down and i fell to my knees in shock. my bro was supposed to be in one of the towers repairing a computer for his company. i tg he overslept and was half hour late getting to work. it took him over 9 hrs to get home that day. i still close my eyes and see those towers coming down and feel the shock. i must say our boys did very well and the org in using shea to stage nec. space for whatever they needed. gb the men and women who responded to that call who never got to come home and those that did who will never be able to have a normal nites sleep after that.....FIRST RESPONDERS RANK #1 in my eyes. -Debi

it was a gorgeous day. I was supposed to go on a job interview just a couple of blocks away from there that day but didn't go...glad I didn't.When I saw the first plane hit I was really confuseed..I was like..why is the WTC on fire? then when I saw the second one hit..I was in disbelief and in complete shock..I almost had a nervous breakdown. My brother worked in midtown and managed to find a cab to get him home which was in Queens -Shari

I was at work in upstate NY (90 miles away) when someone told me about it and since I am my own boss I walked to a diner which had a TV and sat there for hours watching it all in disbelief. I couldn't understand how someone could hate us so much that they would kill themselves just so they could kill more of us. -Marc

I was at a friends garage, getting a state inspection done on my truck. We heard over the radio that a plane hit the Trade Center. At first we were not really concerned about it, because we knew it was a PERFECT day and just assumed it was a small private plane with a student pilot or something in it. Just as I was leaving to go home, and still thinking it was just an accident, the second plane hit. Then we knew something was going on. Ironically I was the Assistant Chief in my Volunteer Fire Dept at the time. I got home and turned on the TV and couldn't believe what I was seeing, the reports that were on the radio were still saying that it was two small planes or corporate jets. When I saw the Towers, I knew it wasn't a small plane. After watching the Towers fall on TV, I went to my Firehouse, which is in a small Jersey Shore town. I spent the day there watching the TV with several other guys, and waiting and wondering what was going to happen next. Later that day, actually that night, we were sent to the local train station to assist with decontaminating any passengers who were coming home from the City. We didn't have to decon anybody, it had been done before they got on the train, but the looks on the faces of the people getting off the trains, and their relief at being home and seeing us waiting to assist them is something I will never forget -Rick

I stood there - on my street in Brooklyn - with the plume of smoke going overhead - and watching the charred pieces of office paper - and other things - slowly drifting down - and the tears pouring down my face - From the numbness grew sadness - mixed with fury - - - When they reopened the Subways - a couple of days later - I went to my office and took out one of my American Flags and hung it on the wall in my department - - - The CEO saw it and told my department head that he wanted a large one for the lobby - - - Since I did the purchasing - I looked everywhere - but everyone was totally sold out - and no-one was expecting stock for weeks - - - Then I found a large Flag Company whose offices and warehouse within the Ground-Zero Frozen Zone - - - I got through to them and they pre-sold me what I wanted - available as soon as they could get in there - - - They called me when they did & e-mailed an authorization letter to go to their office - - - I went down - cried with them - and took the flag - 9' x 17' - back and hung it in the lobby - - - It now hangs outside the entrance of our Wilmington offices - - - -Ernie

I remember sitting in my car on my way to work. I was eating a bagel and listening to the Howard Stern show, pre-satellite radio days. Robin Quivers, Stern's co-host was in the middle of relaying the morning news when she said a plane hit the World Trade Center. I worked and still do in fact for Cablevision, and made it in that day thinking some fool in a Cessna, probably drunk, flew into the building. At the time Cablevision owned the Wiz and as I walked into the store I saw that everyone was huddled by the massive wall of what is now considered old fashioned Cathode Ray Tube TV's. There was complete silence other than the TV commentators. This was no Cessna flown by a drunken fool. The store background music was no longer playing and as I literally walked over to see what was happening, the second plane struck. We were all in shock and many of us were openly weeping. One of the most unnerving moments happened a few days later when a group of men dressed in traditional Muslim Thobe robes came into the store and tried to purchase 10 satellite telephones, which the Wiz did not offer. Within aprroximately 30 minutes the ATF in full body armor and weapons at the ready entered the store. It was the most surreal and frightening experience I've ever been a part of. -Joe

The most compelling story I have about 9/11 actually happened on 9/12. I couldn't get into the city the day before, obviously, so I just spent the day watching the coverage and waiting for my wife to get home (she had to walk over the bridge). But the next morning I went into work early because I couldn't sleep that night. I left the house and never forgot the smell in the air which blew into Queens. Honestly, it was a combination of smoke and death. It made me sick. I waited for the train at a crowded stop in Queens ... I mean, wall to wall people. And it was dead silent. You could hear a mouse walk on cotton. It was really eerie. Then to get into Manhattan and not see cars but see army trucks? I'll never forget it. -John C.

I recall the morning of September 11th, 2001 vividly. I worked at an alarm monitoring center. I could not call into NYC to dispatch their authorities on any alarms, the phone lines there were all down. I called one alarm company in Newark to let them know we couldn't dispatch on their customer's alarms and the woman told me to turn on the TV. When I told several co-workers what she had told me, we turned the TV on and were horrified. We all watched in shock and disillusionment. My wife called me to make sure I was safe. When she heard the news, she immediately thought the worst, as we all did. That morning will live on in me for the rest of my life. It is a day when the entire country was brought together in harmony to mourn. I watched the coverage for days. One by one, each building toppling after another. It was an experience I will never forget. I cried for days in the wake of that morning. The images are still fresh in my memory. The destruction, the bravery, the tears, all will remain with me for the rest of my life. -Frank

I thank those courageous men and women who served and did their duty that day and beyond. I hope we never forget the victims or their families. The pain, the suffering that they all have endured and still do.

On this tenth anniversary of that day, I pray for the souls of those lost and for those they left behind. It is my sincere hope and wish that everyone who reads this will do the same. At least for a moment, remember the fallen and the morning that changed our world.

New York Mets: Why Today's Loss May Be the Final Strike In the Season

2011-08-07T20:29:00.000-07:00

The New York Mets have had a history of losses against the Atlanta Braves over the years. I will not even mention the several years of heartache during the Braves dynasty of the '90s. They entered today's game versus those Braves at home needing a victory to inch back into the NL Wild Card race.

They had the chance to move to seven games behind with one win today. Instead, they suffered three dramatic strikes to their season at the hands of those Atlanta Braves.

First, there was the obvious strike in the game—they lost 6-5. This game encompassed the way this season has been going for this team. They fought back continuously until they had nothing left and bowed out quietly. Perhaps, the team will bow out of this playoff race in the same manner. The loss today left them nine games behind in the wild card.

With just under 50 games to play, one can argue that they still have some time left to get into the thick of it, but for all intents and purposes, they are pretty much out of the running. A sweep—or at the very least, two out of three—would have helped, but to lose two of three is almost a detrimental and fatal blow to their chances.

Secondly, they suffered a major strike in the loss of the person of Jose Reyes. This is the second time in a month that Reyes has gone down. He complained of pain in his left hamstring (the same complaint as a month ago that landed him on the DL). He was out of the game by the second inning and on his way for an MRI.

It could lead to anything from missing a few days to missing the rest of the season. At this point, anything further on his injury would be speculation. But he aggravated the injury from a month ago, that may not heal as quickly as it did a month ago. We'll have to see.

This can help in the log run, however. For those who want to see Reyes return to the Mets in the offseason, he may not get the big contract money he is seeking if he is shut down for the majority of the remaining season.

Therefore, he may have to settle for a fair offer from several teams and if the Mets are one of them, he'll most likely take it based on his past comments of the organization and the city. The All-Star was batting .336 before he went down today and was in the conversation for MVP in the league before he went down a month ago.

Finally, in the most disheartening strike, the Mets lost their other top hitter today, Daniel Murphy. It happened in the seventh inning when he was taken out while trying to tag Jose Constanza on a stolen base attempt. He could not put any weight on his left knee and had to be carried off. While X-rays were negative, the Mets announced that the MRI revealed a torn MCL and he will miss four months.

The team put Murphy on the DL and called up Reuben Tejada for his roster spot. Murphy was batting .320 with six home runs and 49 RBI this season. He was by far, the most clutch hitter the Mets had.

These are all major strikes to the Mets' season on the same day. All three were monumental to this team's immediate future. While that immediate future is still uncertain, one thing is for sure: the Mets can't wait until September call-ups for fresh and healthy players.

Will those players be in the midst of a playoff push? That remains to be seen, but based on today's events, I would doubt it. The Mets have had their three strikes. They may finally be out now.

New York Mets Playoff Chances: Is It Time To Raise the White Flag?

2011-08-03T14:20:00.000-07:00

In the old days of cowboys and Indians, a group that knew it was beaten would either continue to fight and wait for the cavalry to arrive with reinforcements to aid them in their fight or they would raise a white flag to signify their unconditional surrender.

While, we never see this scenario actually pan out in today's society, we still use this as a sports metaphor for staying competitive or giving up on a season or a team. The battle in sports is all about not just treading water and surviving, but excelling among your competition. It is not just simply enough to be an average team with a middle ground record.

In war, having the middle ground will only ensure two things: either you will remain stagnant and never move forward while constantly fighting to keep your position or you will ultimately lose ground. You have to be on the offensive and never settle for standing pat.

Recently, though the New York Mets have been fighting just to keep their position in the division and the wild card race. Neither moving ahead too much or falling behind too far. They are once again a .500 team today, standing at 55-55 before their series finale against the Florida Marlins later tonight. If the previous two games of this series and the series against the Washington Nationals before it were any indication, Mets fans would be throwing in the towel on their team right now. It is not an indication, however.

To say the Mets have overachieved from their preseason expectations is a dramatic understatement. To say they are a playoff caliber team, is almost delusional in its thinking. This is a team that by management's own admission is desiring to use the .500 mark as a springboard to a greater goal, but that same mark has become a road block.

They seem to constantly be at odds with this imaginary, yet realistic statistical line drawn in the sand. It is a phenomenon that is very real, yet is a figment of the sports fan's very imagination. The Mets seem to have struggling to get there. They had a handle on it lately when they were as many as four games over it less than a week ago.

Now, however, they have been bitten by the same goal that they hoped to overcome a month ago when the headlines were more optimistic in nature and the team was looking forward to the return of David Wright and Jose Reyes and a lighter side of the schedule coming up. Since then, the schedule has lightened up as has the team's play.

Their bats have gone cold and their gloves even colder. Their pitching has been lost in the latter innings and the record has suffered. This is normally not a big issue in May or June or even in July. In August, however, it becomes a very large distraction that can derail a team's hopes of being successful. I have mentioned it before, sports is all about psyche.

A team must have confidence to be successful. If this Mets team is lacking said confidence, how will it effect them the rest of the way? I know many of those players and just about all of the fans were hopeful the cavalry would appear. They hoped that the team would stay afloat until Wright, Reyes, Ike Davis and to a greater degree Johan Santana were able to return healthy and effective.

Since then Wright has returned. Reyes too. The team traded Carlos Beltran a week after and Ike Davis has had a setback. He is still considering opting for surgery or waiting the pain out for one more chance at a return this year. As for Santana, he has also had a major setback. There are reports that he is going to miss his next scheduled rehab start and possibly the one after that.

When he does start again, the one month spring training schedule will begin all over again from that point. Therefore, it is safe to say that if he doesn't get to start until the middle to the end of this month, he may be shut down for the year since it will not be worth it to him, his health or the team's future to have him start one or two games in the last weeks of September (unless they are in contention).

So, it appears that the cavalry is no where in sight. With that suggested then, is it time to raise the white flag yet? Many fans at this point in reading will scream 'yes' at their computer screen and click on another page, but let's explore the possibility that it's not time quite yet. The argument that it is not time yet, hinges on three debatable facts.

One, the remaining schedule is very favorable as opposed to the schedule their main wild card competitors face. They have only six tough teams remaining: Philadelphia (six games), Atlanta (nine games), Arizona (three games), St Louis (three games), Milwaukee (three games) and Cincinnati (in the final three of the regular season). Of these teams, five of them are teams that are in the thick of the wild card race.

The rest of the remaining schedule has teams like the Cubs, the Marlins, the Padres and the Nationals on the docket. These are supposed to be beatable teams for a Mets squad that is playing well and are motivated. By comparison, the Mets major competitor, the Atlanta Braves, have Philadelphia, St Louis, San Francisco, Arizona and the Mets on their schedule. A tougher draw then the Mets have.

Next, when looking at that schedule, they can do major damage in making up ground on teams ahead of them. As I mentioned, they play five teams in the hunt. They can hurt a lot of other team's chances at being in the the race come late September, by simply playing well against them head to head. By doing so, they can help themselves as well by making up ground in the standings.

Finally, though they have shown it lately, this team has fight still left. They have mounted comebacks late in games, only to blow the lead and the game at the very end in several fluky ways. The point is, they are still fighting. They have been showing an 'us against the world' mentality. If they improve their home record in the remaining months, they can seriously make a run at this. I know that in 52 games, they would have to win 40 of them to get to a 90 win season, but it may not be unattainable.

Since their infamous and widely reported 5-13 start, they have gone eight games over that elusive .500 mark (50-42). If they had played at an even pace to begin the season, they would most likely be on a .600 winning % type of pace. That may be the type of pace they need to make another miracle playoff push. They have proven they can play like that, but it will take a better defensive effort, a hotter offense and a solidified bullpen to get the job done.

Is this out of the question? Not necessarily. It can be done. It has been done as recently as multiple time in the past few seasons: see the Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays and Anaheim Angels in the past ten years for examples. Why can't the Mets be next on that list?

They have a decent starting rotation, even without Santana. When they get on their hot streaks, there are few rotations that pitch better. Their bullpen has shown consistency this season. If they plug the few leaks that have been exposed, this bullpen can be effective.

This offense is dangerous when they are rolling. Even without Jason Bay living up to potential, this team has shown the ability to score runs in bunches. They have had several games with eight or more runs this season. A few of those games were without Carlos Beltran and Bay producing.

It comes down to fundamentals and defense.They must do a better job at addressing these issues. They have to get down bunts, they have to hit cut off men, they must get the lead runner out and work counts at the plate. These are the things that win baseball games and do not show up in the boxscore. It is an old cliche, but a true one. Defense wins championships.

This is an issue, but a correctable one. With all this said, the Mets don't have reinforcements riding in on horseback with swords drawn ready for battle. They don't have the battleships sailing into the harbor with cannons loaded for action. All they have is what they have right now. Most likely, that's all they will have until next spring. Can they make do with it? They already have.

Are they raising a white flag just because most fans are? No. It was the great Yogi Berra that coined their battle cry for this season, "it ain't over til it's over". After all, like the revered Tug McGraw said, even when the battle is raging and the cavalry is nowhere to be found, still "you gotta believe".

New York Mets: Several Questions, Daniel Murphy Is an Answer

2011-07-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

The New York Mets have been in the news all year. They have big names leaving. They have debt higher than Mt Everest. They have more holes in their lineup and in their defense than Swiss cheese. They are trying to trade off talent to fill those holes for the future. The headlines for the entire season have been dominated by injury and impending free agency.

All the rumors this week focusing around Carlos Beltran's impending trade has taken the focus off of the players that have kept the Mets season afloat so far. Those players are the present and the future. When evaluating that future, there are several questions that immediately pop up.

First, is the outfield. When Beltran is gone, who replaces him? The Mets farm system does not have anyone nearly ready to take the everyday reigns of right field by next season. Angel Pagan is not the player they anticipated after last season. Jason Bay is not the bat they hoped they bought almost two years ago.

The next question is pitching. Whether it's starters or relievers, the pitching staff has been decent but not exceptional. They are not among the league leaders in team ERA, strikeouts or wins, but even without Johan Santana who is still rehabbing from last year's surgery, they are keeping the team around .500. Who stays and who goes next season? They have a few pitchers who are waiting in the minors that could make some noise as early as 2012 spring training.

Then we come to the infield. Injuries have dominated this section of the team. Whether it has been Jose Reyes on the DL for a few weeks, David Wright out since mid-May or Ike Davis seemingly not coming back at all this year, the Mets have had a hard time being productive at these positions. They have filled the many voids with a handful of players.

Among those players is Daniel Murphy. Murphy missed all of last season due to injury but the primary concern this year was not his injury or his offense (.308 AVG with six homeruns). It was his defense. He has answered that well, however. He has made nine errors total this season while playing four different positions.

While at second base, the position he came into spring training preparing for, he has made two errors in 93 chances during 23 games. Justin Turner (an increasing fan favorite) has twice the playing time (39 games) at second base and twice as many errors (four) in twice as many chances (179). The man everyone looks to for his glove, Ruben Tejada, has more games (35) at that position with fewer errors (one) and more chances (152), but his bat (.250 AVG) has not shown up as anticipated.

Turner's bat has been sufficient in the everyday lineup with a .277 AVG, but not as good or as consistent as Murphy's. Tejada has played two different positions and has struggled both at the plate and in the field when not at second (five errors in 17 games at short stop).Murphy has a glove that is comparable to that of others that were supposed to better than his.

When one factors in the several positions Murphy has played (with a total of nine errors between all three) and the consistency of his offense, it is easy to see that he is obviously the answer on a long-term basis for the Mets at second base. Turner will serve well as a spot starter and pinch hitter for the next several years. He could even fit into the mold of a Lenny Harris (well received by the fans and team) if he accepts that role.

Tejada is not the answer at either middle infield position. It is obvious the Mets will have to resign Reyes for short stop and hope they don't have to resort to Tejada full time in either spot. His defense will keep him in the league. At this point though, he needs to stay as a backup to Reyes only. Otherwise, he looks less like a Rey Ordonez type and more like an infield version of the Todd Hundley Outfield Project.

When a healthy Ike Davis, a settled David Wright and a newly resigned Jose Reyes (hopefully) return to form to kick off next season, it should be and will be Daniel Murphy that is combining on the 6-4-3. Then, the infield will not have any questions surrounding them. They could combine to be the core of this team for the next several years. It all starts with the under-the-radar Daniel Murphy.

He has been an unsung hero this year for the Mets. He has played multiple positions well. He has bat in the clean-up role mostly all year and he has led by example. He is truly one of the faces that are emerging in this upcoming New York youth movement.

Mets and Beltran May Get the Last Laugh

2011-07-21T19:59:00.000-07:00

There are many unwritten rules in sports. For example, in baseball, a team's pitcher is never supposed to walk the opposing pitcher (though someone should that to the New York Mets pitching staff), or if a batter showboats after hitting a homerun, he should get hit by a pitch in his next at bat.

Another rule that is less known is that teams should not trade players within their own division. The New York Mets are considering breaking this almost unforgivable rule.

Earlier this week the Mets were rumored to be in talks with several teams for the services of outfielder Carlos Beltran. Among those teams were the San Francisco Giants, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves.

The Giants were highly interested after their manager Bruce Bochy saw Beltran up close in San Francisco just before the All Star break last week. Giants closer Brian Wilson then publicly stated that he wanted Beltran with him in the "City by the Bay".

Reports over the past few days have revealed that the two teams have reached a stalemate in their discussions. The main problem is that the Giants don't want to give up high prospects so they are willing to pay the remainder of Beltran's contract for the season (roughly over $6 M). The Mets, on the other hand, want and need the prospects, so they are not only willing to eat the rest of his contract, they are making it a requirement.

That means that whoever wants to trade with them will have to trade major talent. This is making the Giants gun shy, but other teams seem to be more than willing to agree to those terms. One team, for example, is the Mets main division rival, the Phillies that I previously mentioned. This according to Andy Martino of the NY Daily News.

Martino says,

"One of many other Beltran suitors, the Phillies, are in the opposite position. Close to the luxury tax threshold, Philadelphia cannot add significant payroll, and therefore must be open to dealing a prospect to acquire Beltran. Phillies scouts have followed the Mets intermittently for at least a month."

This will create a dilemma for the Mets and their fans should the Phillies be the team that wins the Beltran sweepstakes. First, how painful would it be to see Beltran, a player that has struggled with injury and the spotlight for the past seven years in Queens despite his enormous contract and topsy-turby relationship with the fans and the local media, excel with a hated rival? It would be excruciating.

Secondly, the Mets still have six more games against the Phillies (three at home and three in Philadelphia). How terrible would it be to see a player like Beltran, who despite his injuries and struggles still arguably could be one of the top outfielders in Mets team history, hurt them head to head in the uniform of a rival that has been so hated for so long?

Imagine Beltran hitting an upper deck, moon shot in Philly off of R.A. Dickey or Dillon Gee to break a scoreless tie late in a game and circling the bases wearing Phillies gear with a sea of red t-shirts as a backdrop. It would be enough to give some long-term fans heart attacks. Seriously. It's giving me a numbing sensation just typing it.

The other main option the Mets are pursuing currently is the other contending team in their own division, the Atlanta Braves. This according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York who writes,

"According to a source familiar with the pursuit of Beltran, the Mets may try to pry Randall Delgado or Arodys Vizcaino from the Braves, although obtaining either prospect appears overly ambitious."

How dreadful would it be for Mets fans to see Carlos Beltran driving in Chipper Jones while being subjected to that stupid chop the fans do down there? It makes me physically sick to even consider this as an option. For any Mets fan who lived through the Braves' domination of the 1990's, such a sight would most certainly rattle their cage. There is one other option, however.

A recent rumor has come across the wire that could suggest something entirely different is afoot in Queens. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Mets GM Sandy Alderson and Carlos Beltran have both stated they will be open to negotiating a free agent signing and thus a Beltran return to Queens next year.

This raises a question. Is Beltran simply a two month rental/Mets spy? Is his sole purpose to weaken the divisional opposition and confess their secrets to the Mets in the offseason? Is this just one gigantic practical joke on the NL East or is it clearly an assignment in espionage?

Probably not. Most likely I am the only one who sees this as anything other than a team trying to get what they can for a red hot player before he hits the free agent market and then said team recognizes his talents and their glaring weakness at the position he leaves behind and pursues him in the winter.

I, however, am convinced that there are under-the-table, behind-the-scenes wheeling and dealing in sports, and sometimes, teams try to get one over on a major rival when they can. Take the New England Patriots for example. They were caught a few times taping opponents practices so that they could perform better against that opponent in their next meeting.

It is the nature of sports. Players press each other for information. If a pitcher is tipping his pitches, everyone on the opposing team will know about it and eventually everyone on the league will too. That is a fact. So, why then, is it so hard to believe that there may be some small form of secret agent mischief going on behind the scenes?

Wouldn't it be fantastic if the Mets broke this "no in division" trade rule this year and ended up having Beltran back next year with one or more of their rival's former top prospects? After all, if the rule isn't written, it doesn't always have to be followed. Unwritten rules were made to be broken sometimes.

The New York Toads? Three Reasons Why the Mets will Survive A Beltran Trade

2011-07-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

In the jungle that is Major League Baseball, there are lions, tigers, antelope and toads. Allow me to explain. A lion is the king of the jungle. They rule the land. In baseball, they would be considered the elite teams (like the Phillies, Red Sox and Yankees).

Then, you have the tigers of the jungle. These are the teams in the hunt. The carnivores or hunters, so to speak. Those teams are just on the cusp of the top tier, but need something to push them over the top.

Such teams like this (like the Braves, Giants, Cardinals, etc) are the ones that are most likely to make trades and upgrade for the trade deadline and make a serious second half playoff push.

Next, we have the antelope. These are the victims. The teams that the upper echelon of the league beat up on (Cubs, Marlins, etc). These are definitely the sellers at the trade deadline.

Many would place the New York Mets in this category, but I beg to differ. They are not the helpless antelope feeding off the land waiting to be pounced on by a much stronger enemy on July 31st.

Instead, they are fighters, rather, they are survivors. In the jungle of baseball, they can only be compared to a toad. Here's why. Some species of toads have the uncanny ability to lose a limb and still function.

Then, in a few days, guess what happens. The limb grows back. Seriously. Like a salamander, a toad can regrow a limb. I believe this is closer to the Mets than any other example in that jungle scenario.

Think back to the beginning of the season. They started without Johan Santana and Jason Bay. They struggled out of the gate (5-13). Since the Mets went on that terrible losing spell in the first few weeks, they have lost Chris Young, Ike Davis, David Wright and Jose Reyes.

They just lost Francisco Rodriguez via the trade market and Carlos Beltran, most recently, to the flu. Beltran will most likely be lost on a more permanent basis to another team via the trade market, as well, in the next 13 days.

The Mets keep losing limbs. However, here they still stand right at the .500 mark (47-47) in the middle of July. It is simply just them living up to their nickname of being amazin'.

They lost Santana last year. Since then, the team has stepped up in the rotation. Dillon Gee (3.76 ERA) and Chris Capuano (4.12 ERA) have been pleasant surprises. They lost Ike Davis, but Daniel Murphy stepped into his cleanup role very nicely (.315 AVG).

David Wright went down and the Mets even replaced him with solid fielding and decent offense when they platooned Nick Evans (though his offense has only recently picked up) with Murphy on both corners.

When Reyes went down, we all collectively held our breath. Never fear Mets fans, the Mets placed Ruben Tejada in his place. Though his recent errors have been costly and surprising, his bat has been decent as of late. Beltran has come down with the flu (giving us a look at life without him in a few weeks).

The tandem of Scott Hairston and Willie Harris have filled in quite well. Add Lucas Duda into the mix and the Mets are playing like a complete team. This leads me to believe that the Mets will be fine without Beltran and I have three main reasons for this conclusion.

First, the Mets major stars will be coming back in the next few weeks. All signs point to Reyes returning in a few days with Wright returning in a few weeks, though Ike's season is still in doubt.

Santana may even return by the end of August. If at the very least Wright and Reyes returning healthy happens, the Mets can have their two best hitters. Mathematically speaking, two is better than one in this case.

Next, If the Mets have a good platoon in right field (most likely Duda and Hairston), combined with the healthy return of at least Wright and Reyes, they can see a significant boost in their offense even without Beltran's big bat in the mix.

Finally, manager Terry Collins will rally the troops. He will instill an "us against the world" type of mentality. This is perhaps the mindset they have that helps them play better on the road as opposed to home (27-23 on the road vs 20-24 at Citi Field). It will be extended to home games as well. If the players buy into that and unite, they will still be effective and competitive.

They can afford to lose another key piece like Carlos Beltran, but not many more. If there is an old fashioned fire sale in the next two weeks and the team gets rid of three or four players, then that would signify the end.

Until that happens, they can still field a winning ball club and the fans can still keep their faith. Like the late, great Tug McGraw once said, "you gotta believe".

If the next few weeks pan out the way I see it, the Mets will only trade Beltran, other players will return healthy and Collins will light another fire under them, the results will speak for themselves.

The team can and will still compete, even under those circumstances. They will regroup. They will rejuvenate their parts and continue to win. They will not be going anywhere. They may not be the lions, tigers or antelopes of this jungle we call the MLB, but Mets fans can live with being the toad.

After all, it's the toad (or was it a frog?) that gets the kiss from a princess in the storybook endings. That's exactly what the Mets and their fans are looking for through all of this strife and mess over the past few months and the next few weeks ahead: a storybook ending.

July Begins, Ends with Bang For Mets

2011-07-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

The New York sports landscape collectively turns the calendar to July today. As it does, the very first thing that comes to mind is Independence Day. Of course, I'm not referring to the Will Smith movie when he freed us from the aliens, rather the summer holiday that commemorates our declaration to England that we were going to be free from their tyranny.

Like most people, this holiday always makes me think of fireworks. There are many ways to observe the annual summer spectacle that is known as 4th of July fireworks. I prefer to grab a blanket or a lawn chair and settle in for a great show. As far as fireworks are concerned, they usually do give a great show, but it has a particular pattern.

First, the show starts with a few loud bangs. Next, a sporadic series of pops and sparks. Then, a slight lull in the action, like when the popcorn is almost done popping.

Finally, a tremendous crescendo of sparks, bangs, pops and explosions combine to culminate into a moment of euphoria as the show dazzles through its' finale. This should begin to sound familiar to what New York Mets fans are expecting for this month.

First, the Mets open up with a bang. They host the cross town rival, New York Yankees. There should be plenty of fireworks that still remain in those clubhouses for this series. Both teams give their all on the field and it should make for a great series.

The Yankees took two of three in their last meeting in May in the Bronx. However, many baseball fans can agree that this is a different Mets team. They are playing with confidence after taking consecutive series from division leaders Detroit and Texas.

They are playing cohesive, fundamental baseball. This will be a tough series for both teams, a continued test for the Mets who have nothing really to lose and test of endurance for the Yankees that have the higher expectations for a productive season.

Next, they battle on the west coast against the Los Angeles Dodgers ans San Francisco Giants, respectively. That takes them to the All-Star break where the spotlight will most likely be on Jose Reyes, as far as Mets fans are concerned. Baseball fans will have some more sporadic pops and sparks during the Home Run Derby and the All-Star game.

Then, fans face a lull that begins with the second worst sports day of the year: the day after the All-Star game. Major League Baseball is off for the following day of that game and it is an excruciating day for fans (more so now than before due to the NFL and NBA lockouts) . This year that day is Thursday, July 14th.

In case you were wondering, the worst day is the day after the Super Bowl (especially now that the NFL has scheduled the Pro Bowl for the week before the Super Bowl on a consistent basis).

The Mets will see some sparks immediately after that lull, though, as they face off with the hated Phillies, Marlins ( for one game) and Cardinals at home just after the break. This all builds to a crescendo on July 31st. On that date, MLB imposes their trade deadline.

I don't need to tell the hardcore baseball or Mets fan how huge that date is for the sport or for their team. Many teams have become champions on that day with a savvy trade, while many teams plummeted down into a funnel of desperation for years to come by giving up a marque player for a handful of beans.

This year, the fireworks for that day will center around three names in particular: Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Francisco Rodriguez. All three are having tremendous seasons and should be highly sought after by contending teams. I believe it will depend on what the Mets' record is by the deadline though.

If the Mets are near the .500 mark and they make moves, it tells their fans they are giving up on the season. If they don't make moves, they are telling those same fans that the franchise is trying to see how far this group of hard-nosed, rag-tag no names can take them this year.

There is an equal risk to both. If they give up on the season, fans will most likely protest by not showing up at Citi Field. That will be a tremendous hit to the Wilpons' wallet.

If they remain unchanged, or even worse, become buyers in the trade market, and they fizzle out late in the season, it will be the catalyst to a chain reaction that most likely sees payroll decrease and talent (Reyes) going elsewhere with nothing to really show for the gamble.

It's a tough spot to be in for GM Sandy Alderson. He was not brought in to spend money, but rather save the Mets money while building a contender on the cheap like he did in both Oakland and San Diego.

In any event, one thing is for sure. While the Mets and Alderson may not come out of this month swelling with pride and awe from the fireworks the sports landscape have to offer, it will be quite a show.

Therefore, as a fan, there is only one thing left to do. Enjoy it. Grab your lawn chair or your favorite blanket, metaphorically speaking. Spread it out and settle in for an amazing spectacle. It should be a fantastic show.

Happy Fourth of July!

NYFSJ Valentine's Edition: Love it or Hate It.

2011-02-13T18:15:00.000-08:00

Once a year, the male percentage of the population is overwhelmed with the nearly impossible task of appeasing their significant others. They attempt to do so with the purchasing of flowers, candy, jewelry, clothes and such.

This yearly spectacle that seems to only exist for the sole purpose of elevating the sales of material things is called Valentine's Day. It is not a new concept, though. This holiday dates back as far as 496 A.D. and was founded by Pope Gelasius I.

Last year, to commemorate it, I introduced a segment called "Love it or hate it". In that segment, I answered one question about each of the major New York area teams in all four sports. I answered these questions by stating if I loved or hated a specific thing about them.

To continue the tradition, I decided to post a new edition of this segment. With further explanation not needed, here we go.

1) Love or hate the New York Mets this year? Love. But I am not loving them for their potential for immediate success. I love the fact that they are finally going to get better. They may not do anything this coming season, but they are in prime position to make better moves with smarter administration.

I love the fact that they have a better, more competent GM. Their direction on the field seems much more decisive. Off the field, there will be season long distractions from the Madoff lawsuits. For now though, they have far too many questions that need answering before a proper assessment can be made. But I love the direction they are headed in.

2) Love or hate the New York Giants season? Hate. I do believe too many things led up to their demise, however, they underperformed. The past season was nearly identical with the season before. They started fast, looked dominant but faded in the end. Something must change for them to get back to glory.

First, they must avoid the major injury loss. They were never the same after Domenik Hixon went down in preseason. Their special teams suffered. Then, when Steve Smith went down, the passing attack lost their consistency.

Second, they must establish a leader on both sides of the ball. The defense has not shown a leader since Antonio Pierce was released the year before. The offense does not have an identity. Are they a run first type of team or a big play down the field style of offense? They have shown flashes of both.

Third, they have to be more aggressive and finish games properly. They lacked intensity in key situations this year and as a result lost key games. The Titans loss and both of the Eagles losses come to mind. When they enter a game feeling too confident, they lose. When they have a large lead, they relax and allow the opposition to catch up to them.

3) Love or hate the New York Yankees this coming season? Love. Though I believe their starting pitching is similar to the Mets' last season (one Ace and four question marks), by the time the season is in full swing they will be in contention and able to make a trade to add depth to that rotation.

I believe the retirement of Andy Pettite will hurt them immediately, but they will be able to replace him. If they add Kevin Millwood or a pitcher that is comparable, they should be fine for the first half of the season. The bullpen is exceptional. If they have a lead in the 6th inning, the game is over.

The offense is still full of studs. From A-Rod to Tex to the Captain, they can hit. Given the park they are in, they may be able to win a majority of their early games without the bullpen, but rather with big bats and blowouts.

4) Love or hate the New York Jets season? Love. As a notorious Giants fan, I must say I hated the fact that the majority of the New York area football talk was not about the Giants, but as a fan in the Philly area, they helped give something else to talk about besides the so-called heroic Michael Vick comeback.

I was happy to see them return to prominence. Growing up, I remember Joe Willie Namath on the Brady Bunch and pantyhose commercials. I grew up knowing the Jets as a successful franchise. Personally, I am not the type of fan that likes the brash talking that their coach, Rex Ryan, does.

But it serves a purpose. It takes pressure off of his players. If it helps the team win, I am not opposed to it. I would just rather see them talk less and execute more. They ran into a tough task in the playoffs. Finally, the Steelers got the best of them. In the end, they are a better team for it. They can turn that momentum into a championship next year, if they use it right.

5) Love or hate the Knicks this season? I absolutely love them this year. They have brought competitive play back to New York basketball. When Amare Stoudemire was first acquired, it was only to entice Lebron James. That plan didn't work. However, he has been effective in Mike D'Antoni's offense.

They are one player away from being as close to elite in their conference as possible though. That player is Carmelo Anthony. He is from New York and wants to come back home. If he does, they could be a force against anyone, including the prematurely-crowned champion Miami Heat and the perennial Finals challenger Boston Celtics.

Even without that addition in season, they are still a playoff contender. They are young, talented and exciting to watch. They are led by a fast paced offense with a "devil may care" attitude. It's good to see the birthplace of basketball return to greatness.

6) Love or hate the New York Rangers playoff chances? Hate. I don't think they have the potential scoring to go deep in the playoffs if they get there. They have the goalie play but they still lack the big scorer. They tried to fill the void with the oft-injured Marion Gaborik, but he has not been consistent.

Chris Drury will be out for six weeks and the rest of the offense is slumping. The truth is, they still have not replaced Jaromir Jagr. They need to draft that type of talent or spend money on a high offense-impact player in their prime.

With all of this said, I think the future is much brighter for New York sports than the past few seasons have been overall. All the teams seem to be moving in a better direction and are either getting younger or are obtaining better players. Either way, it sets us up as fans to enjoy a ride of positive emotions for years to come.

On this day, when you are enjoying the company of the one you love, just remember the teams you love too. Celebrate them when you celebrate each other. Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

The Epidemic of Pandemonium

2011-01-11T18:58:00.000-08:00

Sports is a part of the very fabric of our civilization. Every sport has had its' beginnings and its' own rise into the psyche of America. Football is no exception. Fans have been emotionally involved in the sport of football since the game that was dubbed "the greatest game ever".

That game matched the New York Giants against the Baltimore Colts. It made average men into legends. Names that are synonymous with the history of the sport were forged there. Names like Johnny Unitas, Alan Ameche, Frank Gifford, Y.A. Tittle, Sam Huff and so many more are icons of the game because of that game.

It occurred on December 28, 1958 at Yankees Stadium. It was a home game for the Giants. They lost in dramatic fashion. It indelibly left a mark on the sport and both franchises. It was on national television and helped the sport grow in popularity.

Football has become the game it is today partly due to that historic game. That day, the fans were hurt, but they were respectful. There were no reports of riots or destruction of property. That was the way of things in those days. These days, however, that scene is all too common.

If a home team loses in a way that the fans deem as unacceptable, there is immediate trouble. This past week holds an example. As the Green Bay Packers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Philly, angry home fans began to make their disapproval known to the fans of the opposition.

A few of them even began to vandalize cars of known Green Bay fans. This is not the first case of such acts in the city of Philadelphia. Of course, every sports fan remembers Santa Claus being belted with snow balls and the fan that threw up on a child last summer.

However, before fans of New York teams begin to laugh and point, let me remind them that it was just this past December 19th that the Giants fans vandalized Eagles fans' cars in New Jersey. Just before that, a Cleveland Browns fan tackled a child after a Browns loss.

This time last year, we were talking about an off duty police officer "arresting" a Jets fan in San Diego for cheering his team. The immediate point is that these actions are not isolated to just Philadelphia fans.

If you were to search online for "fan attacked" or "car vandalized", you would be stunned at how many pages there are that match the inquiry. Why is it becoming so common? Why are these actions occurring at such an alarming rate? These are questions that must be asked. This issue must be examined.

I asked a simple question to the readers of my work. I asked "how does a Philly fan justify this behavior?" Of course, I later extended the question to "how does a sports fan justify it?" There were three common rationales that continued to emerge when these questions were asked.

One, it's the booze. By the time the game begins, tailgaters are already drunk and have lost their inhibitions long before. They enter the stadium already in the wrong state of mind. As one reader points out,

Ban beers at games, and this will stop. I never understood why beer is sold at professional sporting events. There's no place for that, especially if kids are going to the games. -Leslie

Two, it's the act of cowardice. The more fans in the stands that favor the home team, the more there is a sense of bravery. The stadium crowds usually favor the home team 75% to 25% (and that's being generous to the opposition).

Those types of numbers make a fan feel like they have support from their fellow fans if there should be trouble in the stands. Therefore, they feel confident to make trouble in the stands.

One response that stood out to me to support this argument was from a Philly fan (also a friend and reader of my work). He says,

Whenever something happens in Philly it gets magnified more than anywhere else because of the fans reputation of doing these types of stupid acts. It is cowardly if you ask me. 99% of the fans are the home teams fans, the other 1% is the visiting team. So if an altercation happens, those in the majority, know they will have back up, where as those in the minority are screwed. I wish these idiots would be banned for life! I offer no excuse for the behavior of Philly fans but I also think that the media plays a large role in keeping this horrible (and deserving) reputation alive and well which for some reason gives some idiots a green light to do such heinous acts. COWARDS! -John

Three, it's just simply the act of ignorant people that don't know how to properly behave. It is their depth of rudeness and/or sense of entitlement to "have a good time" that causes them to act out. It's as if they can't have a good time unless they have made someone else miserable.

One such reply to this questions the morals.

Destruction of property is over the top, but as in so many cases, the reason people do it to Eagles fans is that they've been doing it to everyone else for years and they`re proud of it. As for what caused it, it was probably talk radio's fault. Come on guys, it's happening because some dirt bags get carried away. -Adam

After careful examination, I have come to the conclusion that it is all three. However, there is one more dominating factor; the public code of ethics and conduct in our society. Where are the manners? Publicly speaking, the concept of etiquette has gone by the wayside and has been replaced by something much more sinister, a nonchalant mentality.

This mindset has become common place and the contributing factor toward the acceptance of rudeness in our society. When it is no longer frowned upon to be rude to another human being in public when you're having a bad day, that is a sign of a deteriorating society.

When miscommunication becomes the accepted language, things are not right in that said society. Tempers are far too easily fed into and even welcomed to a point. Stadiums have prisons in anticipation of unruly fans.

They provide the elements for an atmosphere of unsettled anger and they expect people to give into that anger. That is not the most inspiring thing to know is it? What does that say about human nature? It says that we are expected to be uncivil and that incivility is welcomed.

Most people see these incidents as so isolated that they are insignificant. I do not. I see them as several lacerations. By themselves, they seem harmless on the surface, but combined a society can bleed to death. We use sports as entertainment. We want that entertainment to be physical.

We hope for it to make a small impact on our lives. However, just because our sources of entertainment are physical, does not mean we have to be the same way. There is such a thing as separating yourself from what you cheer for. In other words, the sport you are a fan of doesn't have to define you.

Too many people get caught up in taking pride in the misery of others when their teams lose. That is being a poor winner. In the same sense that there are people who get wrapped up in the emotion that sweeps them when their own teams lose. That is a poor loser.

The only way to change this mentality is to make a conscience effort to do so. Instead of basking in the misery of another fan's depression, we can choose to be good sportsmen about it. There is nothing wrong or anti-competitive about encouraging another fan when your team just beat their team.

There is nothing wrong with being civil. It doesn't make you less of a fan. It doesn't make you less passionate about your team. The opposite is true. It makes you more of a fan because it shows that you are a fan of the sport and of your fellow sports fans. That helps build character and respect within one's self that permeates outward toward others.

Perhaps with the advent of respect toward one another, we as a society, would begin to show respect in public. If that were to happen once again, then just maybe our society can change its present course.

We could return to the days of proper etiquette, even when our teams under-perform. Back to the days of good sportsmanship and fans of character, like those at the 1958 Championship game. It has to start with all of us. Hopefully, it will start soon.

Happy New Year From NYFSJ

2011-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my friends and readers a wonderful, safe, healthy, prosperous and happy new year. I would like to thank you all for reading my work this year. I resolve to continue to write on this blog in 2011 and maintain the quality of my posts when doing so.

It has not been the best year for the New York sports fan, but with a new year comes the hope of change. Perhaps that change will spark a promise of great things to come. We'll have to see. Until then, enjoy your holiday my friends.

In Remembrance This Season

2010-12-24T21:01:00.000-08:00

This time of year, thoughts turn to the hustle of shopping and preparation for that one perfect moment on Christmas morning. While the malls are filled with parents trying to fulfill the hopes and wishes of their children, there is a bigger picture being missed.

Christmas, and this time of year in general for that matter, are reserved for remembering what we have and that there are many that go without all year round. This time of year, I always think of those in a position in life that none of us would want to be in. We take our lives for granted.

The simplicity of it all never strikes us until we are face to face with it. Those that have no home to go to this holiday. Those who have children without newly wrapped toys. Those who will not have a warm meal in the belly for the season.

Then, I think of those who are faced with life and death every day. For them, today is just another day they may die. My thoughts this year turn to those at war. The brave men and women over seas that only get to celebrate the holiday for a brief moment.

For just a split second, they can forget that they are in a strange land far from their loved ones and the home they love. At a moment's notice, they may be asked to lay their lives down, so we can enjoy the freedoms that we think we have a right to. These soldiers are someone's son or daughter. They are someone's husband or wife.

It is not my intention to be a killjoy, but rather to bring to the forefront the sacrifice of some and the pain of others as we sing about peace on Earth. I have hope in my heart today that those in need will find the help they so desperately desire this season.

I have hope in my heart today that those who are attacking our soldiers will one day recognize that they are human too. I am not suggesting there will be a repeat of the 1914 Christmas cease fire, but somewhere, somehow, someone's heart will be lighter this season.

Someone will give more than they thought they would. Someone will be merry and truly live up to the meaning of this special day. I hold on to the hope that, perhaps, this Christmas will hold a miracle for someone less fortunate or someone in a foreign land with a gun in their hand.

Therefore, as we get ready to gather around our tables and clean up the piles of wrapping paper left scattered all over the living room floor, let us bow our heads this year. Let us have a moment to thank the powers that be for the opportunities we have.

Let us be grateful that we are free to celebrate and gather close to those we love. Let us all remember those in need and far from us this year. Let us be selfless this holiday season. In the season of excess, let us realize what others are doing without for our sake.

Then, maybe, a miracle can occur and there truly will be peace on Earth and good will toward mankind. Merry Christmas and may all of your wishes come true this season. Thank you for reading the New York Fan in South Jersey.

Turning Back the Clocks

2010-11-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

Today is that rarest of occurrences. Twice a year, the majority of the nation changes the time on all of their clocks. It is an almost pointless ritual called "Daylight savings time". A few small corners of the country are wise enough not to partake in this event, but tonight is one of those two occasions.

We turn the clocks back an hour and gain an extra hour of sleep (though most of us will be up bright and early for pregame football rituals). This concept of turning back time had me thinking though. Before you ask, no, I am not going to break out into my rendition of a Cher song. I related the concept, like most things in my life, to sports.

If I could turn the clock back to a better time for my teams, what time would I turn back to and what would be my fondest memory of it? Since my four primary teams (Mets, Giants, Rangers and Knicks) have never really tasted success at the same time, I am forced to visit four different times.

First, let me start with my favorite baseball team: the New York Metropolitans. The year was 1986 and I was 13. I remember laying on the floor of my living room (as all kids do when they watch TV) with my eyes covered. The Mets were down to their last out in the bottom of the 10th inning in Game 6 of the World Series. As pitch after pitch was fouled off, I bit into each finger nail more and more.

Eventually, I became more and more entranced as the situation became more tense. I watched as the television camera panned to a shot of the jumbo screen stating "congratulations world champion Boston Red Sox". But wait! The Mets aren't going down without a fight. Runners on and two out. Now I'm sitting up. There it is! A wild pitch! Tie Game!

My father (a Montreal Expos fan, remember them?) kept telling me they would still lose. "Knight comes around and the Mets win it!" What did my father know, right? That was a sweet October night and a sweeter next few days in school laughing at the kids that were Phillies fans wearing their Red Sox hats. I'll never forget that feeling.

Next, we travel back to 1990. I was at a youth retreat during my winter break. I was 16 and stuck in up state New York on what amounted to be a waste of time in the snow while I missed the best Super Bowl ever (until 2007). The night of that game, I was on a bus going back home. I heard some of it on the radio and watched some of it on TV. The best part, the end, I saw on TV. I watched in amazement as the Giants marched down the field.

A big play from Mark Bavaro here, a big run from Otis Anderson there and they were on top 20-19 in the final minutes of the Super Bowl. The Buffalo Bills QB, Jim Kelly, seemed to cut through the secondary like a knife through warm butter. With the help of Thurman Thomas, they were in position to win it in the end. It all came down to a Buffalo field goal attempt.

I watched as Giants players huddled on one knee in prayer. I joined them in prayer too. It's wide! Giants win! Giants win! They upset the unstoppable Bills; the team that introduced the "no huddle offense".

I walked much taller that following school day. It was a long week at school. I savored every moment of laughing and smiling at the Philly fans that jumped on the Bills bandwagon that year. It was a great start to a great new year.

Next, I would like to hearken back to 1994. As a young man of 20, on the cusp of his 21st birthday, I didn't follow sports as passionately for a time. But I stopped everything I was doing for the Stanley Cup Finals that year.

The New York Rangers had accomplished the impossible. They broke a 54 year championship drought with a dramatic Game 7 victory. As Mark Messier hoisted that over-sized trophy over his head, I remember standing and applauding the efforts of that group of gritty warriors.

That summer, everyone became a Rangers fan around my area. It didn't last long, as they eventually turned back to their Philly teams, but for one brief moment, it was paradise being a New York fan in south Jersey.

Finally, I want to travel back to a time not too long ago, though it seems like decades. It was the year 2000. The New York Knicks were still a prominent team in the league and the city. The last hurrah of Patrick Ewing was coming to a close.

They played an emotional and dramatic series against the rival Miami Heat. Ewing ended the series with a last minute dunk on the road in Miami to lead the Knicks to a one point win. They prevailed and advanced to the conference finals against the Indianapolis Pacers.

Though they lost the series in six games, they played their hearts out and left everything on the floor. The fans gave Ewing a wonderful ovation through every game. He was traded later that year, but it was a forgone conclusion that he was done with the Knicks. Eventually, he was done playing in the NBA.

I will always be fond of that season (though there were other championship runs in my lifetime), because that year, I had met my wife just prior to that NBA season. It was her first experience with sports. I introduced her to a winning basketball team (at the time) and a wonderful scrappy baseball team (the 2000 Mets) later that year. That was the year my wife became a New York fan in south Jersey.

As we turn our clocks back this weekend, let's remember the good times and hope they will come back. We look back now, but in the spring, we will look forward. We will look forward to a new season to come of baseball, and playoffs to come, possibly, for our hockey and basketball teams.

We will also look back then on the football season that was and look forward to the NFL draft. A lot has to happen between now and the next time we change our clocks. Hopefully, we will look back years from now in remembrance of championships earned this year and beyond for one of these teams.

If not, we can always look back with warm memories. I have shared only a few of mine with you. What are some of yours? If you could turn back the sports clock, where would you turn it to? What memories would you relive?

As you turn back your clocks, turn back your memory for one night. You'll bask in the glow of the warmth of your memories. And it will keep you warm throughout the cold winter to come.

Scratching Out a Tune and a Series

2010-10-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

Living a stone's throw away from Philadelphia has been torture for the past several years. When their teams do well, their fans are unbearable. What's more, when my teams do bad, those same fans are insufferable. But I am reminded of a great musical that if it were to take place in this day and age and in my area, it would open up like this....

"A fiddler on the roof. It sounds crazy, no? But in my small corner of southern New Jersey, each New York fan is like a fiddler on the roof. Trying to scratch out a simple tune without breaking his neck."

The tune can be beautiful, it can be dreadful. The tune can be welcoming to an outsider. The tune can draw a person in. It did to me, once. As I try to balance the rooftops of my fandom without falling, I always have trouble maintaining my equilibrium. After all, the local team is so successful, it causes the peasants to riot and try to crumble my house to the ground with me on top.

Once in a while, the impossible happens. The "home"team struggles or has the occasional trouble with an underdog. I have never been one to root for the "home" team. There is an old saying, "home is where you hang your hat". In sports, it's more like, "home is who you have on your hat".

My "home" team is most likely practicing their golf skills right about now. But their main opposition for the past several years, the Phillies, have their hands full. The local team is having a hard time with the San Francisco Giants. The pitching that was supposed to carry the Phillies to another world championship has held up for the most part, but the rest of the team has failed.

For what it's worth, I am taking account of the things I am thankful for in this series. One, the Phillies fans have seemed much quiter as their confidence is being slowly sapped away by a team that resembles the scrappy fire they once had. Two, the Giants are exposing the weaknesses of the Phillies. That could come in handy if the Phillies do make a comeback in the series and somehow advance on to the World Series.

Finally, with the hungriest team in the playoffs, the Texas Rangers, handling the Bombers of the Bronx, one thing is for certain: there will most likely be a new World Series winner. The two participants in the series will most likely NOT be the past two winners (AKA the Mets biggest rivals).

If this happens, after a season that looked like a meeting of destiny between those two ball clubs, I will be running around my house like that tailor in the musical singing about miracles. Though it still would come up short compared to the miracle of '86. "Knight comes around and the Mets win it!", can't you just hear me singing.

Mets May Need a Woman's Touch

2010-10-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

The New York Mets are in the beginning stages of a complete renovation. Don't mind the appearance. This may look like a professional baseball team in shambles right now, but...yeah, actually it is. However, the road flares and the hard hats may not be in use for long. It all depends on who draws up the blueprints for the remodeling effort.

There have been a few names in the rumor mill out there under "serious" consideration for the recently vacated GM position in the Mets organization. Names like Sandy Alderson, Rick Hahn, Allard Baird, Josh Byrnes, and Pat Gillick have all been rumored to be in the mix this past week, though Gillick has recently dropped out of the running.

Out of the names of those in the process, one intriguing name has mysteriously been missing: Kim Ng. This name is intriguing for several reasons, both good and bad. First, the most obvious reason of all is Kim Ng is female. There has never been a female general manager in MLB history. She was actually the first assistant GM in MLB history and the youngest at the time at the age of 29.

Teams have passed on her for the GM position over her career (Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, and the Los Angeles Dodgers) despite her experience (more than 13 years) as an assistant GM and in other administrative positions for the A.L. and teams like the Yankees, White Sox, and Dodgers.

Second, her experience is primarily all in big cities (New York, Chicago, and L.A.), the three biggest markets in baseball, in fact. If there was anyone who knows how to conduct business despite media uproar and eccentric personalities (i.e. the K-Rods and Manny Ramirez of the league) causing distractions, it would be her. She has had experience in salary arbitration cases, waivers, trades, and free agency by working in the offices of the A.L. for several years.

Third, she is from the NY/NJ area (Ridgewood, NJ). That native upbringing speaks of her knowledge of the community at large that she would be representing. She worked in the area already with the Yankees, so she knows and understands the New York area and fans.

Finally, on the plus side, she has an outsider's perspective on the team (as do almost all of the candidates) despite being originally from the area. She can be objective in free-agent signings and trade negotiations as she most likely would not have a personal agenda or any ties to the current roster.

There is, however, one point that could swing to either side of the pendulum. In 2003, she was involved in a controversy with the Mets. Bill Singer, a special assistant to the GM at the time in the organization, made derogatory comments about her ethnicity (Chinese). The reason that could weigh for or against her is simple; it could appear to some that the Mets are trying to make further amends for one of their representatives scorning her......

To read the rest of this article, please click here.

To read up on all things New York Mets, please visit Mets Gazette.

Reflections of 9/11

2010-09-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

On this day in American history, a horrifying event occurred that changed all of our lives forever. One writer could never do justice to the heroism, courage and tragedy of that morning nine years ago. I felt it would be better to honor the sacrifice of the day by asking several people from all walks of life to share their memories. The following is the result. I hope in the spirit of the day, you'll excuse the length of this article and read each response and share in the memories of that day with us.

"I was at work and I overheard my 2 coworkers in the cubicle that was behind me talking about planes being flown into buildings. I thought they were talking about a movie cause nothing like that ever happens in real life...or so I thought. When I finally realized that they were telling the truth, I tried to log onto the internet but was unable to. The base was on complete lock down. That was the day that life changed for us." -Reese

"I just started a new job that day. I remember standing outside on a break and was SHOCKED to hear that nobody outside with me had ever heard the name Osama Bin Laden. I am still angry deep down and feel there has never been closure. NO, I do NOT support a mosque at Ground Zero. NOR, will I ever." -Cindy

"My son was just born a few months before and me and my ex-husband were up feeding him. I turned on the TV. I thought that it was an accident. To my surprise, another plane went into the towers and I just sat there feeding my son at 3 months old in shock and thanked God that the people who got out were safe and heart broken for the people who did not get out. It changed my life forever." -Annamarie

"I was an 8 year old kid. I never really understood what happened that day until years later. I remember the panic, the chaos. I was taken from school and I remember the images on television quite vividly. It scared me. I wanted to be a pilot as a young man because I always looked up to them. That was the day I decided I could never be a pilot. Oddly enough, and not to sound emotionless, I always remember Piazza's HR 10 days later when I think of 9/11. I have video of it saved because I have written papers on the emotional impact of that win.

In any case, someone above wrote they will never support the mosque at Ground Zero. I dislike when people say it is a question of religious freedom. It really isn't. I'm not saying don't build a mosque, I'm just saying, be respectful to the emotions of the people around there and don't build it there. The whole thing really gets on my nerves." -Satish

"I was getting ready to go to work when I first saw it on the news. I worked in the office of a furniture store and we kept a TV on the whole day. I remember the store being empty all day." -Kelley

"I was at work and we heard on the radio that a plane flew into World Trade Center. It wasn't until my husband called me and told me that it was terrorists that i really sunk in. He saw the 2nd tower collapse from the Bronx." -Wendy

"I was a 4 year old kid, just minding his own business, playing outside in the garden with my plastic shovels and rakes. But then my mom comes outside, brings me back inside, and sits me down next to her on the couch. We watched in shock as Flight 93 crashed into the side of the World Trade Center. Then, we watched as a plane crashed into the Pentagon, and again, just a mere two hours away in Shanksville. The whole thing seemed surreal, like it wasn't even happening." -Ben

"I personally knew two NYC Firefighters who died there. One of them was at the FDNY Clinic, when he jumped on the truck and ran to Ground Zero. He never made it home." -Michael
"I was in 5th grade bringing the attendance to the office. All of the teachers were watching the TV in the office crying, I had no idea what happened. The schools got out early and some kid tried explaining terrorism to me! It was a scary day and I've never felt the same security I did before that happened." -Kelli

"I was at work. I was frantic when I heard the news, worrying about my kids in school and my husband working in Newark. So sad for everyone who lost their life and for those who lost loved ones. My heart goes out to them. This day has always been sad since 9/11 but 2 years ago today, my daughter lost her best friend in a car accident. Rhonda was so young and a brand new mom too. This day brings sad thoughts." -Debbie

"I was driving a school bus. I was taking the kids to school when I heard about what happened and some of the kids were crying. All the cars stopped on the side of the road to listen to the radio. It was very scary to hear." -Danny

"I grew up an hour train ride from Penn Station. A lot of the kids in school (I was almost 12 at the time) had parents who commuted to work in the city. Thus, many kids were leaving school that day. The eerie thing about it was that none of the teachers could talk about what was going on and I was left only to speculate why so many kids were going home. Then again, for the most part I thought none of it.

Once I got home that day and my mom met me at the bus stop, she proceeded to explain what had happened. I watched TV almost non-stop that day. The only time, in fact, I wasn't watching TV (and this will reveal what a baseball nerd I was and am) was when I would go downstairs into the basement and pitch into a square box strike zone against the wall with a tennis ball - a game that I had "created" so vividly that I would make stats and teams and make my own MLB season. I wasn't allowed video games just yet, so my imagination wasn't washed up in electronics yet, I suppose.

Anyhow, baseball in a way started the healing process. The same way pretending to be Pedro Martinez of the Red Sox pitching to an imaginary batter in my basement helped temporarily ease my mind, I feel that Mike Piazza's game winning home run in the first game did much the same on a broader level. It in a way began the healing process for New York. Even Chipper himself said it was the only game in his life he was okay to lose, because truthfully everyone was on the same team at that time.

It's proof to me that baseball has healing powers, and is transcending. This is one of the many reasons I hold the sport in such high regard." -Tom

"I was in a meeting at work when I first heard about the attacks on the World Trade Center. Details were sketchy, so my perception was that a pilot in small plane made a grave error and accidentally flew into one of the towers. After the meeting, I went to our fitness center (I manage recreation facilities and programs for Ball State University) to get more information.

As soon as I saw the first monitor, I realized our world had changed forever. The silence in what was normally a noisy and vibrant area was haunting and I'll never forget that feeling. Ten minutes later, I watched as the first tower came down. The combination of disbelief, anger, and sadness was overwhelming.

That night I sat in a daze watching the news until the early hours of the morning. The feelings of disbelief, anger, and sadness were still very strong, but were now mixed with a recurring thought. What kind of a world would my son, who had recently celebrated his 1st birthday, be growing up in?

Nine years later, I reflect back to that time and it is fair to say the world certainly has changed. However, it hasn't been as bleak or scary as I first believed. A large part of this is thanks to our brave military personnel as well as our firefighters and police officers.

Do not think for a second, attempts to copy or out-due this tragic act have not occurred. I use the anniversary of this tragedy as a way to thank the people mentioned above for tirelessly working to keep us out of harm's way." -Jason

"I recall the morning of September 11th, 2001 vividly. I worked at an alarm monitoring center. I could not call into NYC to dispatch their authorities on any alarms, the phone lines there were all down. I called one alarm company in Newark to let them know we couldn't dispatch on their customer's alarms and the woman told me to turn on the TV. When I told several co-workers what she had told me, we turned the TV on and were horrified. We all watched in shock and disillusionment.

My wife called me to make sure I was safe. When she heard the news, she immediately thought the worst, as we all did. That morning will live on in me for the rest of my life. It is a day when the entire country was brought together in harmony to mourn. I watched the coverage for days. One by one, each building toppling after another. It was an experience I will never forget. I cried for days in the wake of that morning. The images are still fresh in my memory. The destruction, the bravery, the tears, all will remain with me for the rest of my life.

I thank those courageous men and women who served and did their duty that day and beyond. I hope we never forget the victims or their families. The pain, the suffering that they all have endured and still do. On this ninth anniversary of that day, I pray for the souls of those lost and for those they left behind.

It is my sincere hope and wish that everyone who reads this will do the same. At least for a moment, remember the fallen and the morning that changed our world." -Frank

Mets Gazette Reminder

2010-09-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

Hello friends. I want to remind you that I publish my New York Mets writing mostly on the Mets Gazette website. They are a wonderful source on all things Mets. It is a collaboration of myself, Tom Greenhalgh of Happy Recap and Daily Stache fame and Jason Adamowicz of the blog, Midwestropolitans.

We combine our styles, opinions and talents for lineups, recaps, breaking news, in-depth coverage, interviews, series previews, polls, opinions, photos, games and so much more. As I stated, everything Mets. If you want to know about the Mets, it's the place to go.

You can go by clicking the link below. Also, don't forget to follow on twitter (@Metsgazette) and facebook (Mets Gazette). Tell a friend and help keep yourself and someone else in the know. Thank you.

http://www.metsgazette.com

Changing seasons will lead to change

2010-09-02T08:38:00.000-07:00

Every spring, it is the same scenario. As the leaves bud into a beautiful, green bloom and thoughts of spring renew hopes of glory, there comes a revitalization of interest from each fan. For the New York Mets, if spring hopes eternal, then autumn is where those hopes die.

Throughout the scorching summer months that follow the resurgence of life in spring, the team keeps their chances alive and their fans' interest piqued. However, as the leaves wither away into a cold, shriveled shell of their former selves, they begin to gracefully fall to the ground. So with the change of the season, the visions of grandeur change into delusions as the team also withers away into irrelevancy.

As players begin to fall one by one, some in not so elegant fashion while others float into another team's back yard, one thing is clear. The chances are growing more dim by the hour. As the seasons begin to change, so the baseball season has already done so. Both changing into an icy, cold and still demise. The eerie quiet of winter will be upon us much sooner than we anticipate. Just as the change in seasons is inevitable, it is equally so for the Mets.

There will be change. This current management cannot withstand the awesome weight of multiple collapses and multimillion dollar busts much longer before it buckles under the enormous pressure. The one carrying the brunt of the weight, is GM Omar Minaya. How much longer can sustain the scrutiny and weight of the future on his shoulders?

He is balancing two enormous anvils, one on each shoulder. The first one is the metric ton that is the manager, Jerry Manuel. His inept media presence and poor managerial skills have created an examination so intense, that it reflects on Minaya for hiring him in the first place. The second shoulder bears the anvil of inconsistency and injured key players with enormous contracts.

These players make up a minority of the roster, however they tie up the majority of the payroll. Player after player have gone down to injury or mediocrity. Each time, it causes Minaya's decision making to be called into question by the masses. Even with all of the weight on him, he could balance it if he were not handcuffed and limited in his transactions by ownership's budget restrictions.

This is the real reason he was unable to make a midseason trade or multiple offseason signings of significance. Now, several months later, we all see with our hindsight sharpened and our wit fully prepared to lash out. Let us remember, however, before we do, that change will come about regardless of our venting.

If it does not occur in management by season's end, it will most definitely cost Minaya his job at some point. Either way, change will come about. Whether it be now, or a year from now, it is inevitable. It is the thing that never changes in baseball or life: everything changes. As the calendar changes to September and the roster expansions make room for the younger kids, let us think back to the collapses of seasons' past.

It is the only way we can learn for future seasons. As the dreadful summer swoon sets up another possible mediocre finish to another wasted season for this team's core, the lesson is clear. Though hope is all but gone for this season, we will endure the cold winter with growing optimism that warms our hearts as we think of that mid-February day when pitchers and catchers report.

The flowers and leaves will bloom again after the harsh winter chill is gone. Then, our team will return to Port St. Lucie healthy, with a bounce in their step and a chip on their shoulders. As the seasons bring renewal of life, so they bring hope. It is eternal after all, just like baseball.

The great no bat debate

2010-08-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

We have all heard the old adage "defense wins championships". This may or may not be true. That depends on who you ask. I could run the numbers of any sport and present an argument that would hold water against anyone to back that up. But the truth is, offense puts people in the seats.

It really doesn't matter what sport you mention. People want to see scoring. They also want to see defense, but not at the risk of neglecting offense. The New York Mets have pondered this very question for several years. I recall in the mid to late 90's and early this decade, the Mets had a player that sparked the debate, Rey Ordonez.

He was a three-time gold glove winner at shortstop for the Mets. During his time in Queens, he never hit for a higher batting average than the .257 in his rookie season. His most explosive home run season was in '01 when he hit three. He never was a base stealer either. His highest total there was 11 in '97.

Yet, everyone wanted him in the lineup for his glove. When his defensive skills started failing him, he was chased out of New York. While here, the debate raged on, anemic offense and solid defense or potentially solid offense and mediocre at very best defense. I bring Ordonez up because, these days the same debate is brewing at second base.

Just about everyone hates Luis Castillo. In fact, Carlos Mencia could make that into a WB show to rival Everybody Hates Chris. It is certainly a hot topic these days. What to do with Luis? Trade him? Cut him? Play him? Bench him? His range and defensive skills have been under question for quite a while now.

The intense scrutiny of which has caused even Jerry Manuel to play rookie Ruben Tejada in his place. Tejada is the quintessential example of poor offensive skills that wields a great glove. He is batting .191 as of the time of this article. By the time it is published, that may plummet even further.

In comparison, Luis Castillo was obtained for offense and experience. Now, his glove has become such a detriment, that he is riding the bench with his massive contract. However, his current .245 batting average does not make it worth keeping him in the lineup when his glove is so suspect. But when looking at his career, he does have greater offensive potential than Tejada.

They released Alex Cora, who was just the same mold as Tejada, in that he can't hit but has a good glove. So it is down to two players as options. It is sad that this is the state of the team. They are forced to decide between an old player that is hitting .245, or a young player that is hitting .191 and it is disheartening as a fan.

The only reason Castillo is still in the discussion is due to his contract. He is currently making $6.25M this season. That's too much money to have on the bench or in the minors. If he was making $1M or $2M, then there would not be a debate. He would have been cut long ago. That would have made financial room for the team to sign or trade for a better option at the position.

So once again, it comes down to the front office. The team is in this bind because they failed to have the foresight to not trade for Castillo in '07. He was getting older then and he is decrepit and ancient now. They traded for him when he was declining. That lack of vision has crippled them this season and for the next few to come.

In other words, the team is in this position to have to choose bad or worse because they put themselves in that position. The immediate future is not so bright with these options. Though Tejada is young, he really does not seem to have figured out how to hit at the major league level.

Finances being what they are, however, these are the options for the next year or more. So the debate will rage on, but with these players struggling more and more at the plate, the lack of offense will have to force the Mets' hand to make some type of move for someone in the off season.

Though the experts all say they will not be able to spend, empty seats will make them at some point. After all, if defense wins championships and offense fills the stands, then the fans will eventually dictate the direction of this team.

Are you ready for some football?

2010-08-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

Can you smell it in the air? Perhaps not. Perhaps, you're too busy with your BBQ's and swimming pools. It is the midst of the summer and we are all wrapped up in summer activities. But all around the country, there is another activity beginning. The NFL is beginning to hold their training camps prior to the preseason.

In other words, football is coming very soon. I can smell the grass. I can feel the chill in the air. It's going to happen very soon now. The players are all getting ready. Soon, the fans will too. The New York Giants and New York Jets are both looking forward to big things this year.

The Jets are coming off of a magical playoff run last season that ended in Indianapolis. The Youth fell flat against experience, but they look forward to this season with the addition of experience of their own. They added several key players to bolster their team on both sides of the ball.

Most notably were the additions of Ladanian Tomlinson at running back, Antonio Cromartie ar corner back and Jason Taylor at defensive end. They hope that the meshing of last year's playoff experience and this year's veterans will lead to greatness in a new stadium.

As for the Giants, they fell flat in the second half last season and are hoping to bounce back. They added a few key names as well to bolster their defense. Most notably for them are the health of Kenny Phillips at safety and the additions of Antrel Rolle at safety and Keith Bullock at line backer among others.

If these two teams stay healthy and perform up to their own expectations, there may be an all New York Super Bowl, before a Super Bowl in New York.

The calm before the storm

2010-07-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

There is a still silence from the New York Mets right now. A calm if you will. This time next week, however, will not be so quiet. The fans, writers and media are all waiting with baited breath in anticipation of the direction this team will decide to go in.

As everyone by now knows, this Saturday at 4pm EST, the MLB trade deadline ends. The Mets are currently at a "wait and see" point in the process according to ESPN's Buster Olney. While the Mets wait, the fans see a lot happening. The many pitchers that have been examined over the past month or more in anticipation of the deadline, are dwindling down to a few unlikely options. Let's take a brief look at them.

First there was Cliff Lee. The bloggers debated him for weeks. Every website seemed to be running Lee stories. He was being considered, then the talks stalled and he went to Texas. I expect that discussion to be revisited in the off season though, when he becomes a free agent.

Then, there is Dan Haren. Arizona never officially discussed him with anyone associated with the team, except for a phone call or two of inquiries. The bloggers discussed him at great length. He's gone now too. Off to sunny California where he got hurt in his first start with the Angels.

There is the controversial Carlos Zambrano. He demanded out of Chicago this time last month. Now just yesterday, he is trying to make amends and stay in the windy city. Most fans here may be thankful for that, but still another one off the board.

Jake Peavy had been mentioned. I wrote an article on him as an option. He wasn't interested in staying with the White Sox if they were going to be rebuilding. Since then, he became injured and had to shut down for the season or maybe longer.

Speaking of Chicago, Ted Lilly is still out there, but when last rumored, the Mets weren't interested. They felt his loss in velocity was a red flag. So he will go somewhere else and help another team succeed most likely. They also weren't interested in paying Cleveland too much for Fausto Carmona. He had been doing well on a struggling team. The trade rumor winds swirled early on this, but died down as quickly as they were built up.

Then there's Roy Oswalt, who when last rumored, may be landing in Philly without them even giving up Jayson Werth. Wouldn't that be wonderful as a Mets fan, going into Philly and face Halladay and Oswalt with the offense still intact?

As the potential options of the trade deadline, that had fans so hyped over the past few weeks, begin to drop like flies, we have to consider another option. Nothing. Nothing can be an option. In fact, it has been this team's option for the past few years. Despite hot seats and losing streaks, they remain idle year after year.

I hate to say it, but this year may very well be the same old thing. If that happens this season though, I think the real storm will strike. It is already brewing off in the distance. The calm before the trade deadline storm is awaiting the right time to unleash its fury upon the Mets.

How will it be perceived? Will that storm be a result of Omar splashing into the trade waters? Will it be a response to more silence? Either way, it is coming. If the Mets remain silent, the ramifications of that decision may very well cost several coaches their jobs. The only ones then that would be safe will be, of course, the Wilpons, Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel. Perhaps that is the root of the problem though.

The Wilpons refuse to see that Omar is not the right guy for this team in that position. He would be a wonderful scout or head of scouting. Even as assistant GM, he was good. But as the main man with the plan, he withers away faster than an ice cream cone in a heat wave. I will not re-examine this, but suffice it to say, he lacks the aggressiveness needed to be in this market.

If the Wilpons keep him, they will most likely let him keep his managerial choice, Jerry Manuel. That sets us up for a repeat of all of this terrible outlook, miscommunication and indecision for next year too. That would be most unfortunate. While the insightful and knowledgeable fan base recognizes the real problems, the ones who can fix it, do not.

That is like being at a hospital where the doctor wants to put a band aid on an open wound. While the family yells "stitch it up", the doctor scratches his head and shrugs his shoulders unaware of the massive blood that is being lost during his indecision. This is the Mets ownership and the team is bleeding. They need stitches, not a band aid! Stitch them up!

If they don't, the indecision will most certainly be fatal to some one's tenure and the team's season. The storm that the indecision creates will most certainly be brutal enough to leave this team crippled and helpless in its wake. It's coming and very soon. Until then, enjoy the silence. It won't last much longer.

Small Market Minaya Must Make Big Move

2010-07-16T23:56:00.000-07:00

Sports are all about adjustments. In football, the quarterback must adjust the play based on what the opposing team is doing. It is the same in other sports as well. In game adjustments at half times and between periods are a necessity for success. Baseball is no different.

However, instead of adjusting at a half, players must make adjustments with every pitch. Management must also make adjustments, that is what the trade deadline is all about. If a team has a need, it is up to the general manager to make the proper adjustment to put his team in a better position for the second half.

The best GM's in the league are known for this. Brian Cashman of the New York Yankees, Theo Epstein of the Boston Red Sox and Ruben Amaro of the Philadelphia Phillies all come to mind as recent examples. What do they all have in common?

They have all built World Series teams in recent years. They have all done it by using all of their resources, including mid season trades. They are all also GM's for bigger market teams. The city's particular size and market makes a difference. It impacts the team by either hindering them or enabling them based on how much they can spend.

The New York Mets GM Omar Minaya, is in a big market. However, he often makes small market transactions. He will acquire players who are past their prime such as Gary Matthews Jr, Frank Catalanotto and Mike Jacobs (combined 1 home run, 3 RBI's in 42 at bats).

He also will claim players who were waived by bad teams for terrible output. Brian Bruney is a classic example of a Minaya waivers candidate. Bruney posted an 0-2 record with a 9.64 ERA for a Washington Nationals team that is in the basement of their division at 39-50 as I am writing this article. Minaya has made cheap moves in the hopes that they pay dividends.

So far, they have not. Too often, he has not been the type of GM to make the big market mid season move. This may be attributed to his time with the Montreal Expos, before they were relocated to Washington DC. They were a prime example of a small market mentality.

They produced many great players but failed to keep them. Players such as: Larry Walker, Pedro Martinez and Moises Alou. They let those type of players swim in the free agency pool due to a small market, low budget mentality.

To be fair, Minaya does sign the big contract free agent in the off season. He has no problem spending the Mets' money in that regard. He has even done a remarkable job rebuilding the depleted farm system. With this said, he has never been the type of GM to make the mid season trade consistently. He would rather wait until after the deadline for a bargain.

Bargains almost always fail. Every small market GM searches for lightning in a bottle. A very small amount of them find it, and when they do it is fleeting. The best GM's in the league use the trade option as a weapon. It is a way of rearming themselves for a second half playoff run. This aggressive mentality turns the teams they represent into winners.

If Minaya does not share in this aggressive mentality with this current team, they will not win. What's more, this team is ready to win now and may be just one pitcher away from being complete, assuming Jose Reyes will get and stay healthy. If they fail to reach the playoffs due to another season of inactivity from Minaya, he deserves to go.

In fact, if he does not make a move by the July 31st deadline, he should be relieved of his duties on August 1st. This team has had several seasons of inactivity under his watch. Those seasons all led to late season collapses. The last time he made a significant trade deadline move, was in 2006.

That season, they came within an out of the World Series. Is that a coincidence? I am not so sure. It is most likely that this is further evidence for an aggressive mentality in this market. The small market mentality is not a good fit in New York. The fans and media alike expect big things in a big city.

That expectation can make or break a career. Even the career of someone in management. Management is just as responsible for results as the players and coaches are. They build the team and spend the payroll on the roster. If this current payroll does not produce a playoff, it reflects on the one who assembled the roster.

That would be Omar Minaya. If he assembled it and failed to respond to its' needs, he is not capable of making this team a winner. A good GM must recognize weaknesses and correct them. If he cannot be honest toward this current roster and make the proper adjustments, he is no better than a small market GM for a team out of playoff contention.

As it stands, he is the GM of a team in the largest city in the country. He needs to make the big market type of moves to help his team remain consistently contenting. If he makes a move and the player does not work out, that is a different story. Then, at least he tried to improve the team.

However, this transaction silence and inactivity in recent July trade deadlines is divisional suicide. If the Mets fail to benefit from this trade deadline and strengthen their team for the next few months and beyond, than they are a small market team.

If that is the case, then they need a new strategy because a small market team mindset does not win in New York. It rarely wins in major league baseball or sports in general for that matter. That mentality never wins in the NL East.

Home Run Derby Jinx: Myth or Fact?

2010-07-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

The MLB Home Run Derby will be held on Monday night before a capacity crowd in Anaheim. As it is held, the participants will try as hard as they can to hit as many home runs as they can. There is a myth that this attempt to hit as many home runs as possible messes with a hitter's mechanics and destroys their second half.

Where does this myth generate from? Let's look at the few of the most notable examples. In 2003, Garret Anderson hit 22 home runs before the derby. He could only hit another 7 in the remainder of the season. Bobby Abreu is another example. In 2005 he had 18 prior to the derby. After, however, he tapered off to only 6.

Our own David Wright in 2006 hit 20 before his derby appearance but only another 6 all year after it. Alex Rios had 17 before his 2007 derby. He hit only another 7 after it though. Finally in 2008, Josh Hamilton hit 21 home runs at the break. Just 11 more after. These are the most notable and most written about examples.

Upon taking a closer look, we will find other examples on the other side. A case in point, is Ryan Howard. In the same 2006 that saw a David Wright slide, he excelled and hit 30 of his total 58 home runs in the second half. He also hit a total of 47 the next season when he participated in the 2007 derby.

Is that contributed to his ball park, the field with seemingly little league dimensions that is Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia? Perhaps it is. Keep in mind that with the possible exception of Josh Hamilton, all of the prime examples of down slides were players in pitcher parks. It may depend entirely on their surroundings.

In 2007, Matt Holliday hit 36 home runs. Was he jinxed? No, but he did play in a hitters park in Colorado. What about David Ortiz? He is in this year's derby, but he also was in the event in '05 and '06. In 2005, he hit 47 home runs. In 2006, he hit 54. Was he cursed by a jinx in either season? Absolutely not.

The jinx didn't seem to slow down Evan Longoria in his rookie season of 2008. That year he hit 27 home runs in only 122 games. Carlos Pena hit 39 home runs last year while participating in the derby. Prince Fielder also was a contestant in last year's derby and still belted 46 home runs total for the season.

For every example of a player on a down slide after this event, there are just as many examples of players who remain on pace to strong totals. Therefore, it seems that the underlying factor is most likely be more the player's particular home ball park than a change in mechanics.

Although there are players who do change their mechanics so severely that it does destroy their stroke. One player that comes to my mind, is David Wright of our New York Mets. Again, his well documented drop off in power last year, may have had more to do with adjusting to a new ball park last season and injuries. Just in case, I'm thankful he will not be in this year's derby.

So the question still remains. Is this jinx pure fantasy or is there actually something to it. My research has led me to believe that it is just merely a coincidence that most of those who have struggled are players in pitchers park. However, most of those players that have struggled were not the type of players who relied solely on the home run as their main weapon of offense.

Therefore when trying to specifically hit a home run, they most likely did have to tweak their swing and that may be hard to untweak. Perhaps it is a little of both. But it is more than likely that the surroundings of the particular player may be more of a factor than the player's home run derby swing.

Knicks need to go to plan C

2010-07-10T03:20:00.000-07:00

The New York Knicks entered the 2010 free agency period with extremely high hopes. They had spent the past few seasons selling fans on the concept on 2010 being a hugely successful off season. They spent the majority of last season clearing cap room in preparation to sign one or more of the free agents available.

Those free agents are rapidly dwindling. Specifically, the three most coveted free agents in this year's class: Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade. All three of them have announced their collective signing with the Miami Heat in the past few days. The Knicks have not even been able to resign current valuable players such as David Lee.

The team did sign Amare Stoudemire in an attempt to lure one of the free agents, particularly one of the fore mentioned three to New York. Stoudemire was also a security signing of sorts in case those three don't take the bait. Then at least the Knicks would not have appeared to come out of the off season empty handed.

After all of the hype surrounding, to chance that and look like inept buffoons was not an option. Still, they have appeared to come out empty handed anyway. So if Lebron James was the original plan A, and Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade or another big name free agent was plan B, perhaps it is time to develop plan C.

In this case, the "C" would stand for Carmello Anthony. Anthony is a free agent in 2011 and a native New Yorker. A perfect fit for a Knicks team in desperate need of some loyalty and love from a free agent in the NBA. If his friend Amare Stoudemire were to make a phone call and press the issue, perhaps Anthony could be convinced to force a sign and trade to the Knicks for this coming season.

If not he is a viable option for 2011. In the meantime, Knicks fans will have to wait to see big free agents playing at Madison Square Garden until when the Miami Heat visit New York.

Wright and Reyes: The Usual Suspects

2010-07-06T00:27:00.000-07:00

The National League All Star team was named recently. On the list are many notable and recognizable names. The Pujols' and Halladay's of the league are there. Several teams are well represented. St Louis and Atlanta each have five players going to the mid-season classic. But the roster choices raise a few interesting questions for the average fan.

Questions such as: Is Marlon Byrd the best player on the Cubs? Who's Evan Meek? How does Matt Holliday get in? For the Mets fan though there are even more questions. How are Mike Pelfrey or Angel Pagan not even considered? Rod Barajas? Francisco Rodriguez?

I know I wrote an article about K-Rod yesterday, but still he does have more saves than Jonathan Broxton, Evan Meek and Arthur Rhodes combined. Shouldn't there be some consideration for overall stats. The trouble is a Phillies manager picked most of these players. He would never want to give credit to the Mets.

Truthfully, if the fans didn't vote David Wright in, I doubt he would be an All Star right now. Though his numbers certainly show him to be deserving of it. Jose Reyes has deserved it too. They both have worked their tails off to be one of the best in their league at their positions. That shows too, as they have seven All Star appearances between them.

Wright has a solid line this season to prove that he has bounced back from last season. His .315 batting average, 14 home runs and 64 rbi's are all among league leaders. An impressive feat given where he was this time last season. He may be eligible for the comeback player of the year when all is said and done in 2010.

As for Reyes, he would be a candidate for that title as well. He is playing almost up to the standards of the Reyes of old with a solid line too. Despite having a late start due to a thyroid scare, he has posted a .277 avg with 32 rbi's and 19 stolen bases. He has been spectacular in the new ball park and even more, he has been the catalyst of the Mets offense as he was in previous seasons.

These two are deserving stars and athletes. Though we fans don't agree with all of the choices, we should celebrate the two that were so exceptional this season that even a Phillies manager couldn't ignore.

Bullpen Troubles Raise Questions

2010-07-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

The New York Mets thought they had all of their late inning troubles behind them on December 8th, 2008. That's when they signed Francisco Rodriguez to a three year deal. Rodriguez, known throughout the league as K-Rod, joined the team after a record setting season with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

During the '08 season, he amassed 62 saves and became the highly sought after free agent of that off season. The Mets, who had struggled with the late game facet of their bullpen immediately and aggressively pursued him. After joining them, he has had an interesting season and a half as the Mets closer.

He accumulated 35 saves with a 3-6 record and a 3.71 ERA last season. Not the most impressive of lines. He was on a badly injured team, so with this in consideration, the fans decided to give him another chance. This season, he already has four blown saves in 24 chances. The rest of his line is not too bad though. He holds a 2.57 ERA with 20 saves.

He is on pace to beat his marks from last season for sure. But he is also on pace for 10 blown saves. As we reach the half way point of his tenure here in the closer role, what was supposed to be a sure thing is becoming more of an uncertainty. When he comes in to pitch, fans get an uneasy feeling in their gut or a sharp pain in their chest.

A closer is supposed to automatic, but he has been anything but that. If he comes close to the pace of 10 blown saves, the Mets will most likely miss the playoffs. Those 10 games are the difference between contending for the division or losing out for the wild card. The Mets need to address this issue now, before he blows too many games and costs them a chance at a playoff season.

He has seemingly lost some zip on his fastball these days. Some speculate it may be due to injury or to lack of motivation, but regardless the reason, he is not the same pitcher he was. The stats are still on pace for his averages, but something is missing. He walks too many batters in inopportune times and gives up far too many hits in key moments.

It's almost as if the fire isn't there and he tries too hard to compensate for it. When that happens, he misses in the strike zone and gets burned for it. The team has recognized that they need to address the bullpen. They have signed veteran reliever Brian Bruney to a minor league deal with the hope that he will help the club soon.

Not the best of moves considering he has had a feud of words with K-Rod and an ERA of 7.64. This is high, even in today's baseball standards. It is so high in fact that he was released by the Washington Nationals earlier this season. Not a great choice for chemistry or performance thus far for the Mets. The problem though, is if they get a good bullpen option to set up K-Rod in the 8th, can they trust K-Rod in the 9th? Especially in big games.

This seems to be on the mind of the fans in general. If the team is to get to the post season, they must have confidence in their closer and their closer must have confidence in himself in the key moments. So far, that confidence has seemingly been shaky on both sides, but particularly it has been called in question within the fan base.

This same fan base, who had heralded him with adoration only 18 months ago, now cringe when he comes in to pitch. That is a sure sign that there is little confidence in this element of the team from its' fans. I mention fans, because, they are usually a good way to gauge a player's performance overall in a season.

If a certain player excels, they will adore him, if he struggles, they will despise him. If that player is shaky or streaky, so are the fans toward him. Thus far, this season, the fan response has been generally mixed for the most part. That is a prime example of the overall performance from K-Rod this season.

He has been good and bad, just as the loyalties of the fans toward him have been. His streakiness must not go unnoticed however. The fans are giving them signs to go by. They are telling the Mets that he has issues and there is a reason to question him. The team needs to address his issues and be honest about recognizing that he has an issue. Otherwise, it will be an even longer next 18 months.

Mets could get a bargain if they are savvy

2010-06-29T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is just about a month away. Several teams have expressed needs and a desire to fill those needs through trades. When examining the potential for a trade, it comes down to one thing: desperation. Many will say that a team will make a transaction based upon need, but deals are only made when a team is so desperate that they give into the other team's demands.

For example, if a seller is desperate enough to get rid of a particular player, they may be willing to obtain a less talented player and pay most of their player's contract just to unload the problem. If a buyer is desperate enough for a certain position, they may be willing to offer multiple young players and a potential good future for the chance at present success.

One such team that will most likely be a buyer, is the New York Mets. The Mets have yet to truly determine their desperation. The needs are obvious to most fans. They need a starting pitcher and a reliever in the bullpen. The right move could bring them both, however, how desperate are they?

Are they willing to part with several young and promising players as they have in seasons past? That is the essential question. That may depend primarily on who is on the trade block. There have been several names thrown into the trade bonfire recently. The most prominent name is Cliff Lee.

With the possible exceptions of Stephen Strasburg and Armando Galarraga, he may be the most talked about pitcher in the league this season. A quick look at his recent stats may show us why. From May 5, to now, Lee has posted a 2.39 era with a 0.91 whip. Both are far below the league averages. He currently has a 6-3 record for a Seattle Mariners team that struggles to score in his starts.

The major factor on whether or not to make the move for him depends on his impending free agency after this current season. He will command a very high salary somewhere in the neighborhood of double digit millions. He will get it too, but there is no guarantee that whoever trades for him now has the inside track on signing him later.

Therefore, he may just essentially be a two month rental player for a contending team. The Mariners will want multiple young prospects in exchange for him. They plan to use this trade to stock up for the next several years and they want that effect to be as immediate as possible.

So the team that makes the deal will give up several top prospects and at least one current player on the major league roster for a pitcher they may not be able to resign. That is a very steep price. Is he worth it? Perhaps, but the answer really lies in the results of the expectations.

The team that makes that deal will expect him to help them get to and win the World Series. A move that costly to their farm system can not end any other way to be deemed a successful gamble. If he does not and he signs elsewhere, it would be viewed as a total failure. The Mets have been down this road before though.

In 2008, they were trading for Johan Santana who had just one season remaining on his contract. They were able to trade for him only after they worked out a long-term contract with him. Perhaps, this is what the team that trades for Lee will have to do, otherwise it could potentially be a complete waste.

Another player in the headlines is Roy Oswalt of the Houston Astros. He holds a 3.55 era with a 1.13 whip. He may not be as closely monitored as Lee, but the same rules apply to him as well. He is high demand so the Astros will want several prospects for him. He also may be seeking a large contract from the team that makes the move for him. He, like Lee, could be worth it for the right team in the right park for the right price.

A new name that has been emerging is Dan Haren of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is having a below average season by his standards with a bad team. He currently holds a 4.56 era (career era is 3.69) and a 1.32 whip (1.19 career whip), but he is currently second in the National League in strikeouts with 115.

So far potential suitors are only interested in his career averages and feel that a new team can do him some good. If that is the case, Arizona will want a lot in exchange for him, maybe not as much as previously mentioned for Lee or Oswalt, but still a lot.

Then there is Fausto Carmona. He is stuck on a very bad Cleveland Indians team while in the middle of a very good year. His 3.64 era and 1.27 whip is going virtually unnoticed in Cleveland. He is turning in a solid season for a disappointing team. He is their ace however, so they will command a high price to take Carmona off their hands.

The two Chicago teams could be potential sellers with multiple pieces to offer the trade market. However, the current hot streak that the White Sox have been riding in recent weeks may make them reluctant to sell so quickly. If they do, Jake Peavy wants to be shipped elsewhere.

He has admitted that he wants no part in a rebuilding effort and his 1.22 whip would be enticing to most teams in the trade market. If the White Sox do falter, than look for more stories regarding this possibility to surface by this time next month.

The Cubs, on the other hand, are in dire straits. They are desperate to unload their long-time ace Carlos Zambrano. They are so desperate in fact, that they are willing to pay the majority of the $45 M still owed to him just to entice a team to ship him out. In a new park, on a winning team, he may be useful, if he can get over his anger issues.

The Cubs may be desperate, but they are not stupid. After all, he is an ace and they will want major talent back in exchange for him. These pitchers are all wonderful choices for the most part, given the right team and atmosphere.

For the Mets however, they need to be careful in selecting a potential trade partner and targeted player. They may not need to be so desperate as to give up the multiple prospects in their farm system that it would take to acquire one of these pitchers. All of these pitchers are or were at one time considered top tier aces on a staff.

The Mets may not need a top tier pitcher. They may be able to make a move for a second tier pitcher and give up far less while still acquiring a key component to a playoff run. When thinking of second tier pitchers that fit that mold, here are a few that come to mind.

Jeremy Guthrie of the Baltimore Orioles. His 1.19 whip is being overlooked by his record (3-9), but the truth is that he has only been shelled once in the past few months. In a pitcher's park like Citi Field, he could be a good fit for the Mets.

Brian Bannister of the Kansas City Royals may be worth a look. His enormous era (5.29) and whip (1.48) are deceiving. He has really had only two dreadful starts in the past two months. Both of them he gave up more than seven runs in, but he is averaging around three runs in the other games.

He is worth some consideration when you factor in the surroundings of Citi Field may help those stats. Also, he was drafted by the Mets and spent some time in Queens, so he is very familiar with the team, the area and the media. That is more than most of the previously mentioned pitchers can say. He would most likely come much cheaper too.

Finally, is Ted Lilly of the Chicago Cubs. He has largely been overlooked this season. It is fair to say that he is having a very good season (3.28 era, 1.07 whip) despite being on a bad team, as long as the record (2-6) is not factored in. The right team could even that record out for him.

Lilly has experience with playoff caliber teams, something that only a few of these pitchers have. Pitching in Chicago, he has experience with big media markets. Also, with the exception of Lee, he could benefit the Mets in another way that no other pitcher here could. He is a left handed pitcher and the Mets need a left handed reliever.

Pedro Feliciano, at the time this article is being written, is the only lefty in the Mets bullpen. By adding Lilly, he could replace the lefty spot starter Hisanori Takahashi and send him back to the bullpen. Thereby strengthening the rotation and the bullpen at the same time and negating the need to make two separate trades.

Only the additions of Lee or Lilly on this list could replace one lefty in the rotation for another and be so beneficial to the team. As mentioned before though, Lee would come at a much steeper price than Lilly. There are several more players on the potential trading block, but these are all viable options and all have the ability to be a factor for a new team.

If the Mets want to be that team, they must act cautiously or suffer repeating lessons from the past. If they have the right timing for the right roster move, it could pay off for years to come and end this year with a bright present to match that bright potential future.

The question then remains, will the Mets do their homework and be patient enough to wait out a team's desperation or will they be so desperate that they make the wrong move? The next month will tell us.

Santana has more than former team on his mind

2010-06-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

The New York Mets have been a streaky team this season. They are currently on a hot streak due to home games and weak schedules. The team as a whole is playing with fire and passion. They are making key defensive plays and getting timely hits.

As a team, the Mets are on fire. Individually, however, there are players who have have been even more streaky than the team has been collectively. One such player is Johan Santana. Santana was acquired by the team on January 29, 2008. He arrived with so much fan fare that came with far too much expectation for one person to live up to.

During his time in Minnesota, he won two Cy Young awards ('04 and '06), an award given to the best pitcher in their particular league. He also won a gold glove award ('07), given to the best defensive player at their position in the league. He really has not fully lived up to his and the fan's expectations.

His strikeout to walk ratio has been lower with the Mets (less than a two to one ratio) than it was with the Twins and he has averaged less wins per season (less than one per every two starts) with the Mets as well. He still has performed well in comparison to other pitchers, but given his contract, he was expected to lead the team to more than he has so far.

This season, he has only five wins in 15 starts or one in every three, going into today's game. A game in which he starts against his former team for the first time since that trade in 2008. He will face his former catcher, Joe Mauer, and his former first baseman, Justin Morneau. This must be a distraction for him, as it will surely remind him of better days.

However, this is not the only distraction he must be dealing with when he takes the mound today. According to ESPN New York, he has been dealing with rape allegations from a woman in Florida. Police in the area have refused to charge him in the case, citing lack of evidence. However, this still must be a distraction for him.

Facing the media questions and his own emotions involved from the incident. He must be angry or at least slightly annoyed that this has surfaced. Every time a media member asks him about it, it must irritate him. Although he is free from any legal action and only he and the woman know the truth, still it is a distraction nonetheless.

Then there is the inevitable trade rumor mill constantly swirling. It effects him, though no one has suggested he be a trade candidate. It does effect him though, despite he and several members of the team advocating the Mets make a trade.

If the Mets do pull the trigger on another big name pitcher, such as Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt, it would be another ace that they add. If the team adds another ace, the competitive juices would certainly have to be boiling over among the pitching staff. That could be good, but it also could be bad. If they add another ace, that means that Santana's role on the team has changed.

It also means that the team has openly admitted that their confidence in him as the ace has been shaken. Although, they would never publicly admit to it, the shear action would speak volumes to the fans and the players. It may cause him to respond with better performances, which I am sure the team hopes for, but it could also cause him to be disgruntled or even cause low morale.

If either of these occur, the pitching staff could be left right back where they started from. They are currently striving to be consistent and turn that consistency into dominance. The team thinks that by adding another starter, they will put the rotation over the top.

They probably would, though they must be careful not to step on anyone's toes in this matter. A disgruntled pitcher is a weakened pitcher. They need a starter, but it must be someone who will come in and fit into the clubhouse in a smooth transition.

Whether that is Lee, Oswalt or someone else, remains to be unseen, but the Mets must consider this when making a move. As Santana takes the mound today, he must block out all of these distractions. That is his job, but they will still be there when he is done.

Frankie goes to Flushing

2010-06-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, June 22, I had the privilege to journey to Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. The stadium is in its' second year in existence and it was my first time seeing it in person. I had been to the previous home of the team, Shea Stadium, a handful of times.

Like most fans, I cherished Shea Stadium and my opinion of the new stadium was that it paled in comparison to the memory of Shea. Each experience there was enchanting and I expected this trip to be nice, but not as exciting as previous ones. This experienced proved to be no less enchanting. It far exceeded any expectations I had formed prior to my visit.

For me, a fan who lives farther away from the action than most fans, the opportunity to immerse myself in the atmosphere is a rare occasion. It is, for me, comparable to a catholic journeying to the Vatican. It is an infrequent event, therefore it is an event that holds extraordinary expectations.

As I approached the stadium, it resembled, to me, a cathedral more than a baseball stadium. With this inspiration in mind, I recalled a line from the movie Bull Durham, "I believe in the church of baseball". It was at this point that I decided that, regardless of the outcome of the day, I was in my church and I would enjoy the sermon.

I was in my element among fellow Mets brethren. It was truly a religious experience. Upon walking into the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, I was in awe. From the moment I saw the gigantic number 42 in his honor, through viewing all of the pictures, quotes and mementos of a legend, I found myself lost in the humility of greatness.

My next experience was nearly indescribable. I found myself entirely submerged into nearly 50 years of history. I was standing in the Mets museum, surrounded by artifacts and items I had only seen in pictures or television. I repeatedly had to wake myself from the hypnotic euphoria of the experience.

I found myself reliving memory after glorious memory from my childhood. Overwhelmed by the magnitude of the history, it was all I could do to prevent being swept away with emotion. After touring the museum, I lost myself, and more money than I intended, in the Mets gift shop.

I have never and probably may never see so many New York Mets logos in one place in my lifetime again. Living deep in southern New Jersey, as with most of the country, Mets apparel i not readily available. I swam from aisle to aisle of collectible nostalgia and Mets inspired keepsakes.

When I finally arrived in the seat I would be residing in for the duration of the experience, I was moved. The ambiance, vantage point and overall warmth of the stadium left me dumbfounded and silent. I was captured by the atmosphere and the excitement of the live experience.

First the national anthem was belted out beautifully, followed by the ceremonial first pitch by my favorite sitcom actor, Kevin James. This was followed by two and a half solid innings, in which the Mets held an advantage. By the bottom of the third inning however, mother nature responded.

Despite a monsoon which led to a rain delay of nearly an hour, my spirits were not dampened. During the delay, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet fellow Daily Stache writer and blogger, Tom Greenhalgh. After a wonderful conversation, and a rare photo-op with Tom, the game resumed.

Despite the attempt of the opponent of the day, the Detroit Tigers, the Mets never allowed the weather to slow them down. They exploded for eight runs in that third inning that lasted more than an hour. As the game developed, so did the crowd's interest and the player's felt it. At one point, center fielder Angel Pagan waived to our section after fans there repeatedly called out for him.

In the sixth inning, I was graced with the presence of another fellow writer and genius, Ash Marshall of the Bleacher Report. He had been there to interview some players for a series of articles he was working on. The team, meanwhile, continued to roll. They went on to win that night 14-6, behind a 4 hit performance from Angel Pagan, who fell just a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.

Many of the fans had left before the end of the game. The rain delay and abnormal explosion of offense in a ballpark with a pitcher friendly reputation led to a late evening for all. Still, I couldn't help but to feel like the majority of the fans there didn't appreciate the evening to its' fullest.

Perhaps many of us take it for granted that the team is right there and so is their stadium. However, that realization did not escape me. As a fan who has to travel a few hours to see my team play at home, I was just humbled to be a part of the overall experience. As I left, I finally felt, as a Mets fan, that I was home for the first time since Shea was demolished.

I left vowing to return. I vowed that I would once again meet with my brethren. I would reunite with my family and relish the unity and warmth in our cathedral, our sanctuary, our home that is Citi Field. The home of our New York Mets.

For more pics from my day at the ball park, scroll down to the bottom of the page. Thank you.

The 25 Greatest New York Giants Players, Part 7/7, No. 5- No. 1

2010-06-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

In the final part of our series, we will examine the top five. Thus far we have had so many names and so many memories. Before I go on, allow me to take this last opportunity to first thank everyone who has weighed in on this list and helped make this possible.

Especially I wish to thank all of those who have read the entire series. It is appreciated. It is for you I have done this and if you have relived joyous moments of glory with a smile and a warm memory, that is why I started this.

Second, I want to apologize once again, that I am unable to put everyone that truly deserves it on here, but I don't think even a top 50 list could truly do this franchise justice. This is just my own personal attempt at paying respect to the team that I grew up loving.

That does not mean that I chose players based on my experiences though. I researched and broke down all the players in the Hall of Fame, all the players who have retired numbers, all-time statistical leaders and all of those who have made significant contributions to the franchise.

It was a daunting task. One that has results that I am sure will never really be agreed with completely. So again, remember, this is just one fan's view and not to be taken so seriously that it causes the apocalypse. With all of this in mind, and with my thanks, allow me to present the list thus far.

No. 25- Bart Oates (C)
No. 24- Mel Hein (C)
No. 23- Joe Morris (HB)
No. 22- Rodney Hampton (HB)
No. 21- Kyle Rote (HB/WR)
No. 20- Pepper Johnson (LB)
No. 19- Ottis Anderson (RB)
No. 18- Joe Morrison (HB/WR)
No. 17- Leonard Marshall (DE)
No. 16- Y.A. Tittle (QB)
No. 15- Emlen Tunnell (CB)
No. 14- Amani Toomer (WR)
No. 13- Alex Webster (RB)
No. 12- Charlie Conerly (QB)
No. 11- Sam Huff (LB)
No. 10- Eli Manning (QB)
No. 9- Tiki Barber (HB)
No. 8- Mark Bavaro (TE)
No. 7- Carl Banks (LB)
No. 6- George Martin (DE)

Now we finish out the list with the top five. The best of the best. All of these names are immediately recognizable to mostly any Giants fan and most football fans as well. Some of them even transcend the sport and are known in other venues worldwide.

No. 5- Frank Gifford - HB/WR. Gifford was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1952 NFL draft. In 12 seasons, all with the Giants, he accumulated a total of 3609 yards rushing, 5434 yards receiving. He had 77 combined TD's between the rushing (34 TD's) receiving (43 TD's) scores. He also threw 14 TD's for an NFL record of TD's from players other than a quarterback.

Including all of these TD's and an interception return for a TD, he amassed a total of 92 TD's in his playing career. A career that was cut short by 18 months in his prime due to what was regarded as a cheap shot from Philadelphia Eagle's player Chuck Bednarik. A moment that began to solidify the rivalry and intensify the feud between the two teams.

The injury caused him to retire from football, but reemerge just a year and a half later in a new position. He started his career as a runningback but converted to a wide receiver after the injury. This transformation would be the death of most any other player, but not to Gifford. He resurfaced redetermined to make himself and his team better.

He was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times in three different positions: running back, wide receiver and defensive back. He was a vital part of the '56 Championship team and was a key contributor to a team that made the championship game five times. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1977 and had his # 16 retired by the Giants.

He retired in 1964 in a Pro Bowl season. When he retired, his 5434 receiving yards ranked him number one in Giants history and he stayed there for 39 years, until Amani Toomer surpassed him in 2003. He went into broadcasting after retiring, being one of the first former Giants players to do so, thereby being a pioneer for the Giants. He also became a patriarch of sorts to the Giants two championship teams in '86 and '90.

He did so by being a commentator for those Super Bowls and lending his voice to the legacy and memories that warm the hearts of fans all over the world. He has been a published author, an award winning broadcaster and a celebrated player. Through all of this, he has been a New York Giant.

No. 4- Michael Strahan - DE. Strahan was drafted in the second round of the 1993 NFL draft after taking collegiate football by storm. He played in the Division AA of college football at Texas Southern University. Therefore his NFL arrival was met with questions of whether or not he would be able to play up to the NFL level. He certainly did.

In his 15 year Giants career (1993 - 2007), he accumulated 141.5 sacks and 854 total tackles. Both of these rank him number one in team history in these categories. His sacks total ranks him 5th among the NFL's greatest all-time in that stat. Along with his team record for sacks in a Giants career, he holds the single season record for sacks as well at 22.5 sacks.

He broke that record in 2001, but it was not without controversy. At the time, it was questioned because he broke it by sacking long-time friend and rival, Brett Favre, then of the Green Bay Packers. Strahan was voted into seven Pro Bowls. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Year two times ('01 AND '03) and NFL Defensive Player of the Year once ('01).

He led the Giants to two Super Bowls appearances ('00 and '07) and one enormous Super Bowl upset in '07. He retired after the '07 Super Bowl championship and almost immediately joined the media. He works for FOX Networks and can be seen every Sunday in their national pregame show.

In addition to this, he has done countless commercials and guest appearances. He even tried his hand at a short-lived sitcom, also on FOX. Most Giants fans, however, will not remember him for his media experience or his endorsements, but rather for his brash style of play on the field. He was a warrior.

He was a leader. During that '07 playoff run, he was often seen in the middle of the group, leading a chat of "stomp them out". He was looked to as a mentor and a friend by his peers and an intimidating and game-changing force by his opponents. He would often draw double coverage at every level he played.

But at every level he played, he would often beat those double coverages. He performed up to his own expectations and beyond those of the fans'. His catch phrases and big talking nature were all part of how he played the game.

It is almost a certainty that the NFL will soon honor him with a Hall of Fame invitation. It is also as certain that the Giants will retire his number 92 one of these days in the not too distant future. When either or both of these happen, it will be justly deserved for a man who played like every game was a super bowl.

No. 3- Harry Carson - LB. When a New York Giants fan thinks of the teams of the 80's, they think of a few players. Harry Carson is one of those players. Carson was drafted in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL draft. He played in an era that did not count statistics like tackles and sacks. Therefore, his career numbers can not be properly measured.

He has been calculated by the Giants as having a total of 19 sacks. That would place him tied with Pepper Johnson for 19th all-time among Giants players, tied for fifth among just linebackers. It is impossible to total his tackles, though it is recorded that he led the team in that category five consecutive seasons.

But Carson is one of those players whose stats don't really apply because they don't tell the story properly. He was a part of one of the fiercest linebacker corps in the history of the NFL. They were named the "Crunch Bunch". They were comprised of himself, Lawrence Taylor, Brian Kelley and Brad Van Pelt.

He also made the Pro Bowl nine times in his 13 year career, all of which was played with the Giants. He was a team captain for 10 seasons and a main component to the '86 Super Bowl Championship team. His role on that team was more important than most fans will ever know.

In his own words from his 2006 Hall of Fame induction speech, he said

"The Hall of Fame will never validate me. I know my name will be in there, but I take greater pride in the fact that my teammates looked at me as someone they could count on. I still remember, and I will remember this for the rest of my life, the Super Bowl against Denver. We had three captains — me, Phil Simms and George Martin. But when it came time for the coin toss before the game, I started to go out and looked around for those guys. Bill Parcells said to me: 'No. You go. Just you.' And that was about the coolest feeling I've ever had in the world — going out to midfield for the Super Bowl, as the lone captain. There were nine Denver Broncos out there, and me. Just me. An awesome responsibility. The greatest respect."

Harry Carson was considered a good luck charm by his head coach Bill Parcells, as Parcells had to have Carson by his side at each national anthem. He was also regarded by then defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, as the best linebacker he ever coached.

He, along with Jim Burt, in 1985 and 1986 created and perfected the now infamous Gatorade shower celebration that is so common in sports today. Peter King of Sports Illustrated was once asked why it took so long for Carson to be elected into the Hall of Fame.

King replied,

" Carson did the one thing no defensive player ever gets enough credit for, even though it's the first thing every defensive coach talks about with his team every week: he defended the run"

After Carson retired in 1988, he went into broadcasting and business. He founded Harry Carson Inc, which primarily deals in sports promotion and marketing. He also joined former players Joe Morris and Carl Banks as part owners of the Arena Football League franchise, the New Jersey Red Dogs.

He remains closely tied to the Giants even to this day, analyzing the Giants with Bob Papa on Giants Access Blue on the local NY station My 9. He has also been very active in charity events on the team's behalf. He was revered by his teammates and loved by his fans. He has been an author and a successful example of what it means to be a Giant on and off the field.

No. 2- Phil Simms - QB. Simms is a name among names in Giants lore. He was drafted number seven overall in the 1979 NFL draft. He holds numerous Giants passing records, including: most attempts, most completions, most TD's, most yards, and most games started at the QB position.

Like another previously mentioned Giants QB, Eli Manning, Simms had an auspicious start. His first five seasons were marred in mediocrity, injury and underachievement. He was a combined 13-20 in his first 34 starts, spanning the first three seasons. His fourth year in the NFL was spent recovering from a torn knee ligament in the preseason.

He didn't play that entire '82 season. Scott Brunner replaced him that season and actually led them on a playoff run. Taking advantage of Simms' injury, Brunner was named starter for the following season of 1983. The first five seasons were filled with injury for Simms. He filled in for a struggling Scott Brunner in the '83 season.

In only his second drive of that season, he broke his thumb. He threw for a combined 6125 passing yards in the span of five years. He finally emerged as the leader and starting QB in the '84 season. He had a career high 4044 passing yards that season and 22 TD passes, both were career bests for him.

He led the team to the playoffs and even was named to the Pro Bowl and was honored as that game's MVP in '84. He followed up a solid season with another one in '85. That season he threw for 3829 yards and had again reached 22 TD's. He also threw for 513 yards in one game, which is still fifth most by any QB in NFL history for a single game.

It is the '86 season in which he is truly remembered though. That season, he led the team to the Super Bowl after passing for 3487 yards and 21 TD's. In the Super Bowl, he led them to a comeback 39-20 routing of the Denver Broncos. This performance included multiple records for Simms, like consecutive completions (10) and passer rating (150.9) for both the Super Bowl and a playoff game.

Such achievements caused him to be named the Super Bowl MVP. After the game, he exclaimed "I'm going to Disney World", being the first to say a line that has become a tradition among NFL MVP's. Simms followed the next few seasons with solid statistical performances.

He was lost to a broken foot injury late in the '90 season after leading the team to a 11-3 record and being well on his way to another great year and another Super Bowl run. The team did win the Super Bowl behind backup Jeff Hostetler, in what is now one of the most famous games in the history of the super bowl era.

Hostetler was named starter the next season but Simms started the last four games of the '91 campaign and the first four of the '92 season as well. He went down with a shoulder injury that season, but returned for a full and healthy '93, his final season. He retired with several Giants records and large totals.

He passed for 33462 yards, on 4647 attempts with 2576 completions for 199 TD's. All records in Giants history. He was a Pro Bowl selection two times and an Super Bowl MVP. He was also an NEA NFL MVP in 1986. His number 11 was retired by the Giants in 1995.

After he retired, he went into broadcasting. He has worked with ESPN, NBC and CBS. He has announced Olympic events, countless football games and multiple Super Bowls in his career with these networks. He resides in New Jersey with his wife. He has three children, his two sons are both QB's. They are Chris Simms, who is in the NFL and Matthew Simms, who is still in college at Tennessee.

Simms hosts a show called "Inside the NFL" with Cris Collingsworth ans Warren Sapp in addition to his game day broadcasting duties at CBS with Jim Nantz. He may be one of the most underrated QB's in the history of the game outside of the Giants fan base. But he will always be a Giants great.

No. 1- Lawrence Taylor - LB. When a football fan thinks of the game, they think of defense. When they think defense, they most likely think of Lawrence Taylor. He is that iconic of a figure in NFL history. Taylor, or as many know him L.T., was drafted by the Giants in the 1981 NFL draft number two overall. He played all 13 seasons ('81-'93) with the Giants.

All Giants fans are thankful that the New Orleans Saints took running back George Rogers just before him. His draft was one of the deepest and most talented draft classes ever, included six Hall of Fame recipients, including: Taylor, Ronnie Lott, Mike Singletary, Howie Long, Rickey Jackson and Russ Grimm. He was picked above all of them.

His impact was immediate. Hall of Fame member and multiple Super Bowl winning QB Terry Bradshaw once said of him,

"he dang-near killed me, I just kept saying, 'Who is this guy?' He kept coming from my blind side and just ripped my ribs to pieces."

Also, the previously mentioned Giants QB Phil Simms once said of Taylor in his rookie season,

"on the pass rush, he's an animal. He's either going to run around you or over you. With his quickness, he's full speed after two steps."Simms later commented that he was looking forward to the season starting because, "once the season starts at least I won't have to play against him any more."

That rookie season of 1981, teammates referred to him as "superman". Taylor won the Rookie of the Year award and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He is the only player to ever win the NFL Defensive MVP as a rookie. He brought fear and intimidation every game day . He delivered pain and frustration to every opponent.

Teams had to reinvent their offensive and blocking schemes around Taylor. They had to specify a game plan specifically with L.T. in mind. He invented the chop technique to force fumbles and he redefined the art of on field trash talking. He accumulated 50.5 sacks in his fist five seasons. The first season included 9.5 sacks before sacks were an official stat.

In the second season, along with his 7.5 sacks, he set a record for the longest interception return for a TD with a 97 yard return. He had seven consecutive seasons ('84-'90) with at least ten sacks. In the '85 season, he laid a hit on Washington Redskins QB Joe Theismann that was so brutal, it ended Theismann's career.

In the '86 season, he forged his legend. He totaled 20.5 sacks and was so disruptive that he was not only named Defensive Player of the Year by multiple sources, but he was named the NFL MVP. He is one of only two defensive players to ever receive that honor, along with Alan Page in 1971, and the only defensive player to be awarded that distinction unanimously.

This effort led to a Super Bowl victory against the Denver Broncos. During that game, he made a key red zone tackle to prevent John Elway and the Broncos from extending their first half lead. A play that proved to be pivotal as the Giants came back to win in the second half.

In the '88 season, he showed the type of warrior he was. During a late season stretch in a must win game, he played with a torn pectoral muscle against the New Orleans Saints. In the game, despite his terrible pain and the cameras panning in on him writhing in agony on the sidelines, he recorded seven tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles.

Players remembered him for his grit, determination, freakish speed and imposing strength. Fans remember him for all the memories he provided. He retired after the 1993 season, after accumulating 132.5 sacks, not including the 9.5 sacks of his rookie season. His total tackles have never been completely tallied as he played before that was an official statistic.

Much of his career was mired in controversy with drug use and contract disputes. However, despite all of the distractions in his playing career, he still is considered by many as the greatest defensive player in the history of the NFL and one of the top players ever.

He was an important part of two Super Bowl championship teams ('86, '90). A 10 time Pro Bowl selection and member of the NFL's All-Time Team, he was elected into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1999. The New York Giants retired his number 56, in 1994, a season after he retired.

After retiring, he tried his hand at broadcasting on TNT, but it was short-lived, as their coverage was also. He then turned to acting and appeared in many films and television shows. The list includes: Any Given Sunday, The Waterboy, Shaft, Dancing with the Stars and the Sopranos, as well as lending his voice to several video games.

Taylor has had many off the field issues and is still plagued by his poor decisions. He is an enigma. Many consider him to be a reckless person who is addicted to living on the edge. Others regard him as a man who is haunted by the sins of his past.

Regardless of how he is perceived in his personal life, on the field, there is no doubt who he is and what he means to the Giants and their fans. He was a primary example, on the field, of what it means to be a Giant.

Throughout their history, the New York Giants have had far too many players to cover here that are more than worthy of recognition. These warriors of football that have been listed, comprise the history and legacy of this team. A team that has, like none other, been so crucial to not just the existence of the NFL, but also, played a critical role in the growth of it's popularity.

For that, all NFL fans should pay respect and homage to this team and their contributions to the sport. The NFL would not be close to what it is today, without them. To all of you, New York Giants players: past, present and future. I salute you and offer my gratitude and respect. You are all Giants to me.

The Great Chicago Fire Sale Can Benefit Mets

2010-06-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

The city of Chicago has seen its share of hard times. In 1871 they had a massive fire that lasted for days. It destroyed everything in it's wake. The city rebuilt though and once again became a prominent destination in the United States. Both economically and competitively.

They have had sports teams struggle in mediocrity and succeed to the heights of their profession. Among their teams, are the Bears who have such a storied history in the NFL, that it speaks for itself. The Bulls, who have won multiple NBA championships and were the dynasty of the 90's. Most recently, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, the most prized trophy in the NHL, just a week ago.

Both the White Sox and the Cubs have tasted success as well, although the White Sox remain the only one of the two teams to win a World Series in the past century. These days, despite all that success, the city is preparing for another fire of sorts, a fire sale. Both of the baseball teams are mired in over-sized contracts for players and underachievement as a team.

Both the Cubs and the White Sox have openly discussed the possibility of trades for several players on each of the teams. This rebuilding stage for these teams has led to other players wanting to be traded. The uproar has and will create a domino effect within the next month as the trade deadline looms closer to us all.

As these teams unload their highest paid and most attractive talent, the frenzy can benefit a contending team. Providing that there are teams that have a savvy general manager, there are several that can grow stronger from the Chicago fire sale. If a team is close to first or second place in their division and in contention, expect them to become possible buyers for the talent that Chicago has to offer.

One such team is the New York Mets. They have a few weaknesses that despite being a few games over the .500 mark, are still noticeable. They do need another starting pitcher to go along with their two aces, Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey. The rumor swarm is buzzing all around the internet that the Mets are in serious contract talks with the Seattle Mariners for Cliff Lee.

However, the Mariners will be asking for a lot in exchange for the services of Lee to Queens. In particular, they would want the man who just last week joined a small list of Mets pitchers to throw a one hitter, Jon Niese. To many fans, that will be too much to ask. Allow me to propose another alternative.

One player that does not want to stay around for the rebuilding in Chicago, is Jake Peavy. Lee will be a free agent at the end of the season and the Mets are not guaranteed the chance to resign him if they pull the trigger on that trade. So they would give up Niese and others for Lee for a half of a season.

Peavy may command just as much for the White Sox, but he is still under contract for several years. If the Mets have to include Niese in any package for a top tier pitcher, than it should be a pitcher under a contract like a Jake Peavy or a Roy Oswalt. Both have recently been rumored to be open to trades to contenders like the Mets.

Personally, I think the Mets should only pull the trigger if they can keep Niese and include someone else. There will be many mid-level starters open to trade as the deadline nears. Starters that would cost the Mets far less and still be productive for the team now and in the next few seasons.

These major trades are the hardest to pull off. The Mets would be more prudent if they were to think of small splashes instead of major tidal waves. With this in mind, the Cubs have expressed interest in trading several players also. Players like Ryan Theriot and Kosuke Fukodome would cost far less for the Mets to acquire.

The Mets don't have a need in the outfield so Fukodome would not be worth any interest, but Theriot proposes an intriguing proposition. He is currently a .289 hitter with 14 stolen bases. He has been on winning teams, so he knows what that winning experience entails and what it takes to get there.

The Mets do need another starter, but they also need another utility infielder with a solid bat. They have tried Frank Catalanotto, Mike Jacobs and Gary Mathews Jr. among others to fill that void on the bench. Struggling defense or cold bats have led to all of them being demoted or released. The Mets still search for a bat to contribute in that part time role.

Theriot could be just that bat and the Mets could get him with only giving up one player. Perhaps that player would be Nick Evans. I wrote on Evans being wasted in the minors. If the Mets don't want to promote him to the majors or even to AAA to face better pitching, then perhaps they should consider using him as trade bait.

There are several players the Mets have to choose from at the minor league level. Despite the opinion of some, the Mets are deeper than most think in the farm system. Nick Evans makes more sense, though, because he has some experience at the major league level.

The Mets have a short list of untouchables. That list includes Johan Santana, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Mike Pelfrey, Carlos Beltran, Jason Bay, Francisco Rodriguez, Ike Davis and Reuben Tejada. Just about everyone else is up in the air. There are some players that no team would take off their hands. That list includes Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo and John Maine.

The Mets have to be smart when they decide to make a move. They must consider financial restraints, roster depth, minor league depth and impact on the current team. These are all factors. They can't over spend and be stuck with an enormous contract.

They can't trade too many prospects and leave the cupboard bare. They can't tinker with the current team's chemistry and cost them the confidence and unity that they have developed in recent games. However, they need to improve on a few aspects.

If the Mets can use the desperation of teams like the White Sox and Cubs to their advantage, they may be able to improve and not over spend or give up too much. They must act with wisdom and patience if they are to make the right move for this current team. Otherwise, by the wrong deal or inactivity, they could be burned by the Chicago fire sale.

Mets must be road warriors this time

2010-06-11T10:15:00.001-07:00

The New York Mets have had a wonderful record in the friendly and warm confines of Citi Field. They have excelled to a robust 24-10 record at home, 32-28 overall. Their home record is the best in the league. Their glaring weakness so far has been on the road.

They are an abysmal 8-18 in other team's parks, which ranks third worst among all MLB teams. They have an upcoming schedule, however that could change that. It includes three favorable match ups in their next nine games. First they travel to Baltimore to take on the Orioles. The Orioles are 11-18 at home and a putrid 17-43 overall. The worst record in baseball.

The Mets then travel to Cleveland to oppose the Indians. The Indians are also a struggling team this year. They are 23-36 overall, and 10-16 at home in Cleveland. Finally, the Mets travel to the house that George built. Not George Herman "the Babe" Ruth that is, but rather George Steinbrenner.

They visit the new Yankee Stadium in part two of the subway series. That is the only pure test on this road trip as the Yankees are 19-7 at home in New York and 37-23 overall. However, this is the same Yankees team that the Mets took two out of three from just nearly three weeks ago in Queens.

That confidence combined with the momentum of a solid road trip going into that series, should make the Mets well prepared to face the cross town nemesis. Overall, if the Mets can have a successful road trip, it would be the team's first such road trip of the season.

That would be the start of a little more swagger and a much needed boost in the club house for a road weary and opposing crowd shy team like the Mets. This is first series with Baltimore to start things off will be very important.

If they can establish the momentum here, then it can carry them through to Yankees stadium with a chance at a more than just average road trip. That is a necessity for this team to address the questions of whether or not they are a contender. It all starts on the road. It all starts tonight.

Mets fans need to root against Maine and Beltran

2010-06-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

This season has been full of surprises for the New York Mets. They have shown dominance at home and futile efforts on the road. They have had several injuries to key players, but these injuries have been considered a blessing to some.

They have taken advantage of injured players and their vacated roster spots. Most notably, John Maine, Oliver Perez and Carlos Beltran. They have done this, by inserting hungry players to take their place. Players like Angel Pagan, R. A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi.

Take Dickey and Takahashi for example. They have combined for a 7-2 record in 9 combined starts. Their era's are 3.20 and 3.80 respectively. Compared to Oliver Perez and John Maine, who are a combined 1-6. Both are also sporting an era over 6.00. Granted, Dickey and Takahashi have amassed this combined record in half of the combined starts, but still impressive nonetheless.

It is an estimated 8 starts for the Dickey/Takahashi duo and 16 for the Perez/Maine combination. Still, this has been a breathe of fresh air for not only the ball club, but their fan base as well. Another case in point would be Angel Pagan. In his time with the Mets, he has shown flashes of greatness, only to have that fire extinguished by injuries.

Now he seems as healthy as ever and also as productive as ever. In his time so far this season, he has made the most of his opportunity. Going into today's double header, he has a .294 batting average with 4 home runs, 4 triples, 25 rbi's and 11 stolen bases in 56 games. In other words, he is not just taking advantage of his chance, but also of the ball park he is playing in.

While Carlos Beltran has been ridiculed and critiqued for his poor decision to have surgery nearly a month and a half before spring training, Pagan has flourished. With all this good, warm sunshine on the roster, must come news of rain. Not the rain that forced a double header today. But rather an interesting tidbit of news on the rehab front for the club.

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Maine and Beltran are making progress. Maine is preparing to make a few starts in the minors with the AA Binghamton club. He begins his stint with the AA team on June 13th. Also, Beltran has been starting split squad games down in Port St. Lucie under the careful watch of Mets brass and trainers.

This is all good news for them, but not necessarily for the team. If the Mets are to continue their rise in the standings and preserve team unity, they need to keep these hungry players around as long as they can. Keep in mind the players that are being discussed in rehab assignments are part of the old regime.

Beltran has been under the continual microscope over the past few seasons due to his repeated comments about division rivals and rivalries. His stats when healthy, have been wonderful, but he is not the best club house presence. Some may even call him stale air as opposed to the fresh air of the youth that has been pumped into that locker room as of late.

Maine has been scrutinized over heart and passion after comments in spring training and poor outings so far in the season. He is considering a move to the bullpen upon his return, which shows he is thinking of the team's needs. Still, how effective will he be if he continues to show a lack of intensity, especially in that role.

Oliver Perez has been a constant distraction in the locker room and in the media. His open refusal to be demoted to the minors to work out his problems and unproductive outings, have left him ostracized by both the media and the fans. Perhaps even the players may have alienated him for his selfishness as well.

This was followed by a controversial decision by the Mets to place him on the disabled list. That move has been investigated by the MLB and has since been approved. The transaction, though, was done in odd timing. A supposed injury to a disgruntled, struggling and cancerous to the club house type of player, is a curious move indeed.

All of these players may be nice people, as written and reported countless times by the Mets and their media affiliates, but they are not helping the team with their controversy or their selfishness. The replacements, however, are helping the team in several ways. If these players are in fact riding a hot streak in their careers and the Mets are catching lightning in a bottle, than they must be given every opportunity to succeed.

By succeeding individually, the team will succeed collectively. That is the common goal. Team work, dedication and energy. These present players are exhibiting those qualities. The old regime has proven one thing. They can't stay healthy long enough to be successful enough to make a run to the World Series.

The nucleus of this team is not getting younger and their time and prime are dwindling down. Game by wasted game, season by wasted season. The Mets roster has been turned over more times than a hamburger in a frying pan these past few seasons. While the same few players that the franchise has been built around are stuck in mediocrity, the team as a whole has either come up short or come up lame.

If they are to contend, they need passion, heart and confidence. I have previously written about this in an article entitled "Five things the Mets need to seriously contend".

In it I wrote the following:

" The swagger I speak of is that of confidence, not so much arrogance, but a realization that you're good and can match up with anyone. They had that once, and they need to reacquire it, or else they will be doomed to mediocrity."

These players bring that energy and confidence to every start and every at bat. If the Mets and their fans want all of the players to bring that energy and that air of confidence, then the Mets need to hang on to players that invigorate others. These players not only do so, but they make the team stronger, deeper and more exciting. That is something that has been missing for a few years now.

Nick Evans deserves better

2010-06-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, the New York Mets had a sensational and up and coming player in their minor league system. That player is Nick Evans. In January, www.minorleagueball.com published a list of the best prospects in the Mets system. Bleacher Report's Matt Esposito wrote a wonderful breakdown of it. However, Evans was not on that list.

In the 2008 season, he was brought up with much fanfare. In the 50 games he played in that season, he hit two home runs. Not very impressive, but for a rookie and for only having limited at bats (109), that's not too bad. He was used more as a bench player and so 28 hits in 50 games is not terrible for a player used in a limited capacity.

Players like Fernando Tatis are allowed to stay on the major league roster with far less production. Not that I'm picking solely on Tatis, but there are players who have been on the major league roster this season who have been just as unproductive for the Mets as Evans was as a rookie in his 50 games.

The following season, he really did struggle. During the 2009 campaign, he only hit one home run in 30 games, or about half of the production in a little over half the time as before. His numbers in the minors for both of those seasons are quite the opposite. In 2008, he hit 14 home runs, while batting .311, while in 2009 he had 13 homer runs.

He has more than proven that he can hit in the minor leagues. He has not been given the opportunity to settle in and adjust at the major league level. While Ike Davis is tearing it up in Queens, he has been given the chance to play consistently.

That opportunity to play everyday is making him a better player all around. No one questions that he can hit in the minors because he already has proven that. He was given the chance to hit in the everyday lineup for the major league team and he has responded.

Evans was never really given that chance. Suppose Ike Davis was a bench player for Jerry Manuel's team right now. From the bench, having an at bat every other day and a start once a week, do you think he would be able to adjust to the majors as well or as quickly? I do not.

Yet, that is what happened to Evans. Unfortunately, he is in a bad position. He either has to wait for an injury at the big league level or he has to wait for his contract to expire to sign with another team that may give him a chance in the majors.

Either way, he is wasting away in the minors. He is not growing as a hitter as well as he could in the majors. He has proven he can hit minor league pitching. Many may argue that he didn't hit major league pitching when he had the chance. But those limited roles aren't enough to truly gauge a player.

If the Mets had any interest in wanting to properly develop him, they would have kept him in the majors. Some players need to adjust at the major league level. He may be one of them. With that said, I highly doubt that he will get that chance again.

He has played outfield before and not very well. There are too many better outfielders in the system to consider before him. He currently plays first base for the AA ball club, the Binghamton Mets. This season, he is hitting .285 with 12 home runs and 36 RBI in 48 games as an everyday first baseman.

The trouble is, there are no spots open on the major league roster for that position either. He might make the roster next season as a bench player if the Mets part ways with a few aging veterans, but in the mean time, his bat and his youth is wasting away.

As the trade deadline looms in July, the Mets may or may not become active, depending on who you were to ask. If they have no immediate plans for Evans, perhaps they should consider trading him before his contract runs out. If so, he could parts ways with them and they would end up empty handed.

This way they could still get something for his talent. If they have no interest in using that talent in the majors or no need to use it, then the wise thing to do would be to acquire someone that can be used for that talent.

Most fans would not want to admit this, but it is the smart thing to do. Instead of stock piling young players that will just waste away in the minors for season after season and that they have no plans of using, use them as trade bait for someone the team needs right now.

Evans has proven he can hit in AA, the Mets need to fish or cut bait with him. Utilize him with the big club or use him for the big club. Either way, he deserves better than this.

The 25 greatest New York Giants players: Part 6/7, No. 10- No. 6

2010-06-03T17:59:00.000-07:00

So far we have gone through 15 players. The list up to this point is below. There are a few recognizable names and a few that aren't. There are some great players and great New York Giants represented in the list thus far.

No. 25- Bart Oates (C)
No. 24- Mel Hein (C)
No. 23- Joe Morris (HB)
No. 22- Rodney Hampton (HB)
No. 21- Kyle Rote (HB/WR)
No. 20- Pepper Johnson -LB
No. 19- Ottis Anderson -RB
No. 18- Joe Morrison -HB/WR
No. 17- Leonard Marshall -DE
No. 16- Y.A. Tittle -QB
No. 15- Emlen Tunnell - CB
No. 14- Amani Toomer - WR
No. 13- Alex Webster - RB
No. 12- Charlie Conerly - QB
No. 11- Sam Huff - LB

Now we move into the top ten list. The best of the best. All of these names are immediately recognizable to mostly any Giants fan and most football fans as well. Some of them even transcend the sport and are known in other venues worldwide. We begin with number ten.

No. 10- Eli Manning - QB. Manning is considered football royalty. He is a rare second generation NFL player. His father, Archie Manning was a two-time Pro Bowl QB. His brother, Peyton Manning may one day be considered the greatest statistical passer in NFL history when he is done playing.

Eli Manning is the current starting QB of the New York Giants. He was drafted number one overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers and was immediately traded to the New York Giants, at his request, for their first pick, Phillip Rivers.

During his collegiate career, Manning set or tied 45 records with the University of Mississippi. He also won the Conerly Trophy twice. As previously mentioned, this award was named after former Mississippi native and former Giants QB Charlie Conerly.

He was named the Giants starter at the end of his rookie season. He began the 2005 season as the starter and hasn't looked back. Since being the full time starter, he has led the Giants to the playoffs four consecutive seasons.

That streak was broken last season, but the team still finished at the .500 mark. In his time as starter, he has amassed 125 passing TD's, 18644 passing yards and 1593 completions. He has made one Pro Bowl appearance.

He is now best known for the 2007 playoffs. He finished that run as the Super Bowl MVP. He showed poise and determination game after game. With a new found maturity, he rose to the occasion of the big stage. In typical Manning fashion, when the game was in doubt and on the line, he led his team down field with grit and precision.

The defining play is now simply known as "the helmet catch" He eluded a sack multiple times on a single play and after prying himself out of the opposition's grasp, heaved the ball to David Tyree who made a miraculous and hard fought catch, Tyree refused to give up the ball and the result was one of the greatest plays in the history of the sport and it's championship game.

When this coming season is finished, Manning will be second on the team all-time in passing yards and passing attempts. His career is far from over and he already has accomplished so much. The Giants future with Manning at the helm is just as bright as the recent past has already been.

No. 9- Tiki Barber - HB. Barber was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft. He played for them for 10 years ('97-'06). The team's original plan was to utilize him as a third down running back to better compliment their power running back, Rodney Hampton.

When he eventually took over the starting duties the following season, he wasn't an instant success. He was met with skepticism. His first two seasons were filled with nagging injuries and he missed four games of the '98 campaign.

He rebounded the following season into the solid starting running back that we all know. He was a key member of the 2000 Super Bowl team that eventually lost to the Baltimore Ravens. His early career was filled with questions over fumbles. He coughed up the ball 35 times between '00 and '03. After a slight adjustment, he corrected this and went on to amass impressive statistics.

He finished his career with 10449 yards rushing on 2217 attempts, scoring 55 rushing TD's, all of these rank him first overall in Giants history among running backs. He also has totaled 5183 receiving yards and 12 TD's in his career.

These stats have led to a unique distinction. He is only one of three running backs in league history to rush for over 10,000 yards and receive over 5,000 yards. The others are Marshall Faulk and Marcus Allen.

He holds 17 records in Giants lore as well. Among them, he has the most rushing yards in a single game (236 yards in Dec. 30, '06), the longest rushing attempt (95 yards) and most rushing attempts in an season (357). Also, in '05, he made a promise to ailing owner, Wellington Mara, that he would give forth his best effort and they would win.

He ran for over 200 yards in that next game in a shutout win, just two days after Mara was buried. In his final game with the Giants, he ran for 137 yards and was referred to as "a warrior" by Eagles safety Brian Dawkins. He made three Pro Bowl appearances, including the very last game of his career on February 10, 2007.

After his retirement, he turned to broadcasting and journalism. In his very first season as a broadcaster, he created sparks in the Giants locker room. His open criticism of the Giants and especially their young QB, Eli Manning sparked an early response from the team on the field in '07, their championship season. One that Barber was not a part of.

Barber has written several book, both with his twin brother, Ronde Barber (Tampa Bay Buccaneers corner back) and by himself. He has broadcast the Olympics and currently works for NBC as a pregame host. He has stirred his share of controversy through his career, but most fans will always remember his speed and determination.

No. 8- Mark Bavaro - TE. Bavaro was a All-American player at The University of Notre Dame and was drafted by the Giants in the 1985 NFL Draft in the fourth round. Coach Bill Parcells called him "the most impressive rookie he'd seen" in that preseason. He quickly won the job as starter.

Among the other players, he was nicknamed "Rambo" for his toughness and looks. His playing style took the league by storm. His rookie season saw him set a record for most receptions in a game (12, against Cincinnati on Oct. 13, '85). After that game, one that they lost, Bavaro was quoted about the record as saying "I'd rather win".

He had 511 receiving yards that rookie season. In the following season, he amassed 1,001 yards for the Super Bowl Champions. He played six weeks of that season with a broken jaw, in which he had to sip his food through a straw. He never missed a play the entire time. It was in the '86 season, that he cemented his reputation as a hard-nosed player.

On December 1, 1986 against the San Francisco 49ers, Bavaro caught a short pass up the middle that he turned into a 20 yard gain after carrying seven players with him, including Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott.

The play sparked a comeback in which the Giants won. His career was filled with plays like that one. His strength and sheer will to create yards by raw power is the one thing Giants fans will remember from him.

He was a member of two Super Bowl Champion teams ('86 and '90). He also participated in the Pro Bowl two times ('86 and '87). His Giants career was cut short by a degenerative knee injury. He did try to comeback with both the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles. His impact for them was not nearly that of his with the Giants.

However, he continued to forge his legacy as a tough guy by playing almost three full seasons with that injury, after the Giants cut him. For his Giants career, he had 3722 receiving yards, which was first among Giants TE's until Jeremy Shockey surpassed his a few years ago.

His 28 receiving TD's is still first among Giants TE's all time. In his time with the Giants, he continually displayed the heart and the toughness that is Giants football. The fan base was very angry with the team when he was cut. There are not many players that can be said for, he is one of them.

After his career, Bavaro remained as active in the community as he was in his playing days. He is an avid pro-life activist and a public speaker. He wrote a novel in '08 called "Rough and Tumble". A fitting title given his playing style and career highlights.

He will always be an endearing figure to Giants fans for his contributions on two championship teams and more so for his example of what it means to be a Giants player. Both on and off of the field, he remains as humble and as approachable as he was in his prime.

Yet on the field, he was one of the reasons many people grew up Giants fans. Also he was one of the reasons many teams feared playing the Giants. He is a Giant through and through. Ask any Giants fan, and they will tell you, not many players invoked such memories of power, grit and determination as Mark Bavaro.

No. 7- Carl Banks - LB. Banks was drafted number three overall in the 1984 NFL draft by the Giants. He made up a key component of the linebacker corp that many fans refer to as the Big Blue Wrecking Crew. It was comprised of the legendary Lawrence Taylor, the previously mentioned Pepper Johnson and Gary Reasons.

Banks was a key contributor during his Giants career by creating pressure on the opposite side of Taylor. Without his presence, teams would have simply double teamed Taylor and the consistent defensive pressure would not have existed in the capacity that we have come to know from that era. Banks played for the Giants from 1984 to 1992.

In that span of time, he was a major part of two Super Bowl Championship teams ('86 and '90). He was named to one Pro Bowl with the Giants. He is also a member of the NFL 80's All-time team. He accumulated 627 tackles which is third best in team history and 36 sacks with the team.

He was a fierce competitor and a feared combatant on the field. His speed and strength made him a force on the weak side and a welcomed addition to a strong blitzing defense. During Super Bowl 21, he had recorded 14 total tackles.

He briefly left the New York area after his Giants days. But upon retirement, he returned to the region to venture into a part ownership of the Arena League's New Jersey Red Dogs. He partnered with former teammates Joe Morris and Harry Carson. He settled into the now familiar role of Giants game analyst on the team's flagship radio station, WFAN.

His role in the two-time championship teams and one of the greatest defenses in NFL history, is immeasurable. More than that, his ongoing contributions to the game experience have endeared him to older fans that remember his time with the team and a new generation of fans as well.

No. 6- George Martin - DE. Martin was selected by the Giants in the 1975 NFL Draft. He played his entire 14 year career with the Giants. During that time he made a few memories. One was in '85, when he returned an interception 56 yards for a TD. This interception gave him a record fifth career TD by a defensive lineman.

He may be even more memorable for a bigger play in a bigger moment. In Super Bowl 21, as a team captain, he recorded a safety on Denver QB John Elway. It was a critical play in the game as it signaled a shift in momentum. They went into the half down 10-9, but that change in momentum caused a team-wide explosion en route to a Super Bowl blowout.

He had a super play that super '86 season. He returned an interception 78 yards for a TD, a play that head coach Bill Parcells called "the greatest football play I've ever seen". That gave him a record of six TD's by a defensive lineman. It was a record that stood for nearly 20 years until 2004 when it was broken by Jason Taylor. Still an impressive career feat.

Half of his career was played in an age when they did not count tackles or sacks as an official statistic. It is impossible to tally his career tackles but sacks are a different story. The team, counting all of his career, has him tallied at 96 career sacks. In the second half of his career, he amassed 46, which is still good for sixth all-time in Giants history. However, using the Giants own statistics, he is placed third all-time in sacks.

In 1986, he won the Byron 'Whizzer' White NFL Man of the Year Award for his work in the community. After he retired in 1988, he continued to reach out to his community. He has been making a major impact in the lives of those around him.

In September of 2007, he embarked on a monumental journey that captured the attention of the nation to rally behind him. It was a cross country walk to raise money for medical care of those first responders of the 9/11 attacks on New York's twin towers. He walked from New York to San Diego, 3,020 miles and raised over $2 Million.

He has been actively involved in the NFL Players Association since his retirement and was recently named the Executive Director of the NFL Alumni Association. He has represented the Giants on the field with toughness and heart and off the field with heart and love. He is a true example of a Giant, both to the team and the sport.

Now, we have gone through 20 of the greatest all-time players. Next, we will come to the top five. Please join me for the grand finale later this week.

Five things the Mets need to seriously contend

2010-06-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

It is no mystery that the New York Mets are trying to avoid a repeat of seasons past. It also is not a surprise to say that they are an average team at this juncture of the season. The Mets have a difficult June schedule that still includes games with, in no particular order, the Yankees, Twins, Tigers, Marlins, Phillies and more.

This is a crucial stretch they are about to enter. Keeping this in mind, it is important to be honest when assessing where they are right now and where they may be when the trade deadline begins to loom in July. Today June 3rd, 2010, the New York Mets stand at 27-27. They are exactly at .500 and tied for third in their own division.

They are a far cry from being a contender, but also in no means are they so far behind anyone that they can't make a run toward the playoffs. To do that, however, it will take something that Mets GM Omar Minaya has never done before. He must make a substantial midseason transaction. He has not been known for the big splash moves in the middle of the season.

He has made desperation moves, such as trading for a relief pitcher when Duanier Sanchez went down a few years back. However, he usually has kept his splashing to the preseason free agent festivities. If the Mets get through this upcoming schedule in tact and still around the .500 mark, they will be buyers by the trade deadline.

If this team is to contend at that time, they must do five things. First and foremost, they must add a starting pitcher to complete the rotation and complement the two aces, Santana and Pelfrey. There are rumors now flying around about the potential availability of several Chicago Cubs including Ted Lilly. He is a veteran and could be an asset to a tired and often overworked rotation.

Also, with the Orioles struggling, I wouldn't be surprised to here rumors begin to float around involving Kevin Millwood. He would give the team a third ace and great rotation depth. Either one would be a step up from Oliver Perez or John Maine at their best.

Second, the Mets need to sign or trade for a lefty reliever for the bullpen. This would enable them to better use Pedro Feliciano and also give him rest. Feliciano is the only left handed reliever the team has on the roster. That is not depth. Minaya went into the past offseason claiming the need to address depth in all phases of the roster, however, this particular facet of the team has gone unchanged.

He had signed several players that never took the mound for them and maybe never will take a mound again, but that attempt is not helping the team right now. Right now, they struggle to use the bullpen properly. Most of that may be attributed to manager Jerry Manuel, but depth can also be a key contributing factor as well.

Unfortunately, there are not many leads right now, but with some research, Minaya could find a gem as the trade deadline draws closer. A team that is far out of any race by then may be willing to give up players that they don't regard as necessities to their future.

The Baltimore Orioles have such a pitcher in lefty Willie Ohman. They signed him in the hopes that he would bring a veteran presence to put a young upstart team over the top in their division. Despite his 1.02 era, the team has struggled mightily. He may be on the trade block in a month.

Third, they need a veteran second baseman. They have a often injured and always struggling veteran in this position right now in the person of Luis Castillo. He has never and will never be the answer to this need. He is batting .241 right now and is not healthy. In 44 games, he has only scored 13 runs.

He has not been productive. It can be blamed on health, but he really hasn't had a good carer with the Mets. If he does get healthy, he could be packaged in a deal. The problem is he is hardly ever healthy and certainly has not been this year. Last year we caught a glimpse of what he is capable of in a full season, but that is a fleeting glance.

They have a solid backup in Alex Cora, but he is just that, a backup. He is not an everyday player and not an everyday bat for them. This is a time to take advantage of a team's desperation. One team to consider may be the Arizona Diamondbacks. They may be sellers by the deadline.

One name on that roster to consider is Kelly Johnson. He is their second baseman and he is having a productive year on a bad team. That is a recipe for trade bait. I wouldn't be surprised if they put his name out there by this time next month.

Fourth, the Mets need a veteran on the bench. This is another time that Minaya can take advantage of a bad team selling off players. For this one, I would look to the Cleveland Indians. They have several veterans with key experience to help that bench.

Among them are Russell Branyan and Mark Grudzielanek. Sure, these names don't scream out championships, but they are necessary parts to a bigger purpose. The team has problems on the road. The second half of the schedule is majority road games. They need players who have long-time game experience in several environments.

The right veteran could bring a spark to them and help change their mindset for these types of games. As the season goes on, the games will mean more and more. The bigger the pressure, the more you need an experienced player.

Finally, and most importantly, they need confidence on the road. They must have a return of the swagger that made them such a tough team. If it means being the bad guy, than they have to play the role of bad guy.

The Florida Marlins once responded to the Mets' swagger as igniting them to want to win just to spite the Mets. The swagger I speak of is that of confidence, not so much arrogance, but a realization that you're good and can match up with anyone. They had that once, and they need to reacquire it, or else they will be doomed to mediocrity.

Every successful Mets team has had an air of confidence about them. It is a necessity for a winning team. These Mets lack it. Without that, they will never get over the hump against teams like the Phillies, because teams like the Phillies have that swagger.

This team plays with heart and often emotion, but not with confidence. They play like they expect something to go wrong. That is a recipe for failure every time. If the Mets can do at least some of these, they could not only to stay afloat in the National League, but they could contend.

The 25 greatest New York Giants players: Part 5/7, # 15- # 11

2010-06-01T09:29:00.001-07:00

So far we have gone two-thirds of the way through the list. Here's a recap of those you may have missed:

No. 25- Bart Oates (C)
No. 24- Mel Hein (C)
No. 23- Joe Morris (HB)
No. 22- Rodney Hampton (HB)
No. 21- Kyle Rote (HB/WR)
No. 20- Pepper Johnson -LB
No. 19- Ottis Anderson -RB
No. 18- Joe Morrison -HB/WR
No. 17- Leonard Marshall -DE
No. 16- Y.A. Tittle -QB

Now we can move on to the next five.

No. 15- Emlen Tunnell - CB. Tunnell's career spanned from 1948 to 1961. He played the first 11 of those seasons with the Giants. He was a nine time Pro Bowl selection. His career stats with the Giants include 74 interceptions, which is first all-time among Giants players. He also had 4 defensive TD's, which ties him for first all-time on the team in that stat with Jason Sehorn and Dick Lynch.

He was named to the NFL's 1950's all-time team. He also won two NFL Championships, one with the Giants in 1956, the other with Green Bay. Tunnell holds a special social distinction in New York Giants history. He was the first African American to play for the Giants. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in the 1967 class.

After football, he became a scout (1963-1965) and eventually an assistant coach (1965-1973) for the Giants. Sadly, he passed away from a heart attack in 1975. He will be remembered as a pioneer and a terrific athlete in New York Giants history.

No. 14- Amani Toomer - WR. Toomer could arguably be the most successful receiver in New York Giants history. He was drafted by the Giants in second round of the 1996 draft. In his rookie season, he had two punt return TD's, including one for 87 yards (a Giants record). He didn't score his first receiving TD until his second season when he was named the starter.

From there, he went on to lead the team all-time in several receiving categories. He is first all-time in receiving yards (9497), TD receptions (54), catches (668) and games played at wide receiver (190). He had 5 consecutive seasons (99'-03') of more than 1,000 receiving yards. He is also a member of two Giants Super Bowl teams (00' and 07'), one of which won. He played a pivotal role in the 07' campaign, making key catch after key catch in the playoff run.

While with the Giants, he often showed so much talent and brilliance that he was hard to ignore. In a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in 06', he helped lead the team to a 17 point comeback with his 12 catches. He was so spent after the game, that trainers had to carry him off of the field. That's the type of player he was. He gave all or nothing. He left everything on the field and at the end of the day, you knew he tried his very best to help his team win.

He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in the '09 offseason, but was released before playing with them. He has tried to catch onto an NFL team, but his options are dwindling, if not already tapped out. He has yet to announce his retirement officially, but speculation says that when he does, he will begin to rack up the career recognition achievements that he deserves.

No. 13- Alex Webster - RB. Webster played all of his NFL career with the New York Giants. He was originally drafted by the Washington Redskins, but chose to play in the Canadian Football League instead for his first two professional seasons. He joined the Giants in 1955. He was part of the 56' NFL championship team. He was a two-time NFL Pro Bowl selection and a CFL All Star.

While playing for the Giants, he had 240 catches for 2679 yards. He is fourth among running backs all-time in games played with 109. As a running back, he racked up 4638 rushing yards in 1196 attempts, both are fourth among Giants players all-time. After all of this in a playing career, he went into coaching.

He started as an assistant coach, but was named head coach in 1969. He was named NFL coach of the year IN 1970. He remains mostly out of the spotlight these days, but will always be remembered as the player who would always get the tough yards.

No. 12- Charlie Conerly - QB. Conerly played his entire 14 year career with the New York Giants. Like, Webster, he was drafted by the Redskins, but never played for them. Also, like Webster, he was a member of the 56' NFL Championship team and played in the 58' NFL Championship between the Giants and the Baltimore Colts. The game that collectively has been determined as the one that put the NFL in the mainstream and made it what it is today.

He was the Rookie of the Year award recipient in 1948. He played in three championship games for the Giants in four seasons. During his playing career, he amassed 2833 attempts, 19488 passing yards and 173 passing TD's in 161 games. All of these career numbers placed him first all-time among Giants QB's for nearly thirty years. They were all finally surpassed by Phil Simms, but all of these stats are still currently second in Giants history.

His number 42 was retired by the Giants. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1961. While playing, he made several commercials for Marlboro cigarettes. He played the character that commonly became known as the Marlboro man. After his career, he was an author and a business man, owning shoe stores in his native Mississippi where he retired to after his playing career. He passed away in 1996.

College Football developed an award in his honor for the most outstanding college football player in the state of Mississippi. It has been awarded to several prominent athletes since its' inception.

They include: Patrick Willis, Jerious Norwood, Deuce McAllister and two-time award winner and current New York Giants QB Eli Manning, who is estimated to surpass several of his career statistics next season. Conerly may have had his career New York Giants numbers and accomplishments matched, but he will always be remembered for his contributions to the game. That may be even more important.

No. 11- Sam Huff - LB. Huff was an influential figure in the history of the NFL. He may be a controversial choice, in particularly this high, but when studying his career, it was a logical choice. Keep in mind the criteria that was first set for this series. Huff was drafted in the 1956 NFL draft by the Giants.

He was originally drafted as a defensive lineman. During training camps, he grew frustrated that the team didn't know where to play him. He decided to quit. While at the airport, ready to leave, he was convinced by the assistant coach to stay. That assistant coach was Vince Lombardi. The same man that is credited for building the NFL and has the Super Bowl trophy named after him.

The defensive coach, Tom Landry designed a new defensive scheme tailored specifically for Huff. It is known to every football fan as the 4-3 defense. Huff was moved from defensive lineman to middle linebacker. During his Giants playing career (56'-63'), he had 18 interceptions, first among the Giants all-time linebackers.

He played before the league began calculating tackles and sacks, though his career may have been one argument for creating those stats. He was selected to the Pro Bowl five times (four of them with the Giants). He was on the NFL Championship team in 56' and played in the championship game in 58', 59', 61', 62' and 63'.

He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1982. Huff had the distinct honor of being a part of possibly the worst transaction in Giants history. In 1964, head coach Allie Sherman traded him to a division rival. The Washington Redskins. He went on to revolutionalize their defense.

After his playing career, he turned to business. He works as a partner with ESPN for the West Virginia Breeder's Classic horse race and he was one-time vice president of sports marketing for the Marriott Corporation.

He has been known widely to football fans as a radio commentator for Redskins games for decades. Many will remember him as a pioneer of the game, and when he did that, he was a Giants player.

The next segment, we will enter the top ten. Please join me.

The return of Fonzie could mean Happy Days for the Mets

2010-05-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

The New York Mets have long been without a presence of leadership and quiet consistent confidence. There are several players that exude those attributes in Mets lore. One of them is Edgardo Alfonzo. While with the Mets, he became a leader and an example. He was what is called, 'clutch'. Not many players can claim that anymore, especially in Queens.

The team has been searching for quality back up players and all the while spending and wasting valuable money on starters that don't belong in the major leagues. According to MLB Rumors.com, Alfonzo had recently expressed interest in playing in the MLB again and more specifically with the Mets. The team has a need on the bench and even more so, a need at second base.

That position is currently being patrolled by Luis Castillo, who is having a poor season. His batting average (.246)and on base percentage (.340) are lower than his career averages. He does have seven stolen bases and two triples this season so far, but he is not getting on base and doing what he was paid to do entirely.

While the emergence of Ike Davis has pushed Daniel Murphy back to the minor leagues to learn second base, there is still a void at that position. The team brought in Frank Catallanotto to be the utility infielder, but his bad bat forced the team's hand into to cutting ties with him. They still search for that key contributor.

The rare player who can play multiple positions and hit well in a pinch. Alex Cora has been the player that can play multiple positions, but his bat has been inconsistent. Alfonzo was a great player, who still may have something left in the tank. He has been battling numerous injuries in the past several years and multiple teams gave up on him.

He has been playing in Japan and has proven himself as capable of playing at the big league level again. If the Mets are willing to pay for and take a chance on broken down players like Kelvim Escobar, why is Alfonso not worth a look?

He is at least worth the opportunity to pass his knowledge onto the younger players from the dugout. This team lacks that experienced leader. They struggle on the road because of a lack of confidence. They need a player that will bring a quiet confidence to their club house.

A positive example of what it means to be a winner and what they should strive to be. Not just a locker room speaker, or a guest appearance, but a mainstay in the club house and the dugout. A constant reminder of what they ought to strive for. He could bring just that.

The 25 greatest New York Giants players: Part 4/7, No. 20- No. 16

2010-05-25T22:34:00.000-07:00

So far, we have named number 25 through number 21 on the list. Now we will go through the next five, number 20 through number 16.

No. 25- Bart Oates (C)
No. 24- Mel Hein (C)
No. 23- Joe Morris (HB)
No. 22- Rodney Hampton (HB)
No. 21- Kyle Rote (HB/WR)

No.20- Pepper Johnson -LB. Johnson was a second round draft pick in 1986. He was nicknamed "Pepper" by his aunt because he loved pepper so much as a child, he would sprinkle it on his cereal. His rookie year, he stepped into the starting lineup to create one of the fiercest and greatest linebacker corps in the history of the NFL. His rookie season campaign ended with hoisting a trophy, along side of Lawrence Taylor.

During his playing career, he was a part of two Super Bowl teams (86' and 90') with the Giants. He was also a Pro Bowl representative (1990) for the Giants one time and total of two times. He accumulated 19 sacks and 579 tackles in 106 games as a Giants player. He also scored 2 TD's and had 9 forced fumbles while wearing the big blue. His 579 tackles is good for fifth all-time in the Giants history in that category. He is one of the rare players to have success as a coach.

He has coached under former Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick since 2000. Johnson has been a part of three Super Bowls there under Belichick. He was the defensive line coach of the Patriots in the 2007 Super Bowl, coaching against the team that drafted him, the New York Giants. Today, he still coaches in New England and is a key reason for their defensive success over the years.

No. 19- Ottis Anderson -RB. Anderson may be one of the most beloved running backs in franchise history. However, he didn't start out that way. the Giants were his second and last stop in the NFL. He started with the St. Louis Cardinals as the premier starting running back and after 8 seasons with them, was traded in mid-season to the Giants. He was a key contributor in his first few seasons, but eventually accepted a diminished role.

He rushed for a career total of 10,273 yards, only 2,274 of which was with the Giants. His 35 rushing TD's is sixth best in Giants history for that stat, but he is remember for far more than these numbers. In 1990, he was the main running back for the Giants offensive attack on the Buffalo Bills.

His contributions in that game, earned him Super Bowl MVP honors. He totaled 102 yards and a TD in a ball control strategy that enabled the Giants to keep the explosive Buffalo Bills offense off of the field, just enough to keep the game in reach and win it on a Bills' missed field goal at the end of regulation.

During his playing career, Anderson was a two-time Pro Bowl player (though neither was with the Giants), a two-time Super Bowl champion (86' and 90'), rookie of the year (also not with the Giants) and comeback player of the year in 1989. He is just one of 22 running backs to rush for over 10,000 yards. After his playing career, he turned to the media and did analysis on the Giants on their flag station WFAN. He also became a motivational speaker, which he still does to this day.

No. 18- Joe Morrison -HB/WR. Morrison was nicknamed "old dependable" for a Giants team that needed his versatility. He played from 1959 to 1972, all with the Giants. He played for some bad teams in that time, including a team that won only one game in 1966. Ironically, he had his best season then, racking up 724 receiving yards.

His career numbers included 395 receptions, 4993 receiving yards, 47 receiving TD'S, 2474 rushing yards, 18 rushing TD's and on defense, he forced 28 fumbles while recovering 16 of them and even gaining two interceptions. He was one of those rare players that played both sides of the ball and was all over the place. The Giants retired his number 40, in appreciation of all of his contributions to the team. He spent his post-playing career as a coach in the college ranks.

He coached Tennessee-Chattanooga, University of New Mexico and University of South Carolina. He won his 100th game as a college coach in 1988. Tragically, he died at the age of 51, in February of 1989, due to congestive heart failure. His memory will live on in the minds of those who cheered for him and those bad 60's New York Giants teams.

No. 17- Leonard Marshall -DE. Marshall was a long-time disruptive pass rushing presence for a very successful Giants defense. His career spanned from 1983 to 1994, and all but the last two seasons were spent with the Giants. He was a second round pick in the 1983 NFL draft. In his 10 seasons with the Giants, he was a starter on two Super Bowl teams (86', 90'), a three-time Pro Bowl player (85', 86', 91'), accumulated 660 tackles and 79.5 sacks. He is second on the team all-time in tackles and third all-time in sacks.

He has one of the most memorable hits in NFL history under his belt. In the 1990 NFC Championship game, he laid a hit on Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana that was so fierce, it took Montana out of the rest of that game and ended his 49ers career. Montana's injuries from that hit included a bruised stomach, bruised sternum, cracked ribs and a broken hand.

All from one hit, and while Montana was trying to mount a comeback, Marshall put an abrupt end to it. The Giants held on to beat the 49ers and eventually beat the Bills in the Super Bowl. It can be argued that without that hit, they wouldn't have been in the Super Bowl to begin with and the 49ers dynasty would have lasted a few more years under Montana's direction.

After his playing career was over, Marshall has kept very busy. He has branched out into the media by hosting radio shows on WFAN and CBS radio. He has been active in charity work. He also has been a professor at Seton Hall University. He recently has been named head coach of Hudson Catholic High School in Jersey City, NJ.

No. 16- Y.A. Tittle -QB. Tittle is an iconic figure in NFL history. He played a total of 17 seasons. All but the final four of them (61' through 64'), were with other teams. In the last four seasons, however, he stamped his mark on the league and he did it in a Giants uniform. He led the team to three straight NFL championship games. They lost all three, but at least they were there.

While with the Giants, he threw for 10439 yards and 96 TD's. His career totals were 33070 yards passing and 242 TD's. He was elected into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1971, and his # 14 was retired by the Giants. That should tell us the impact he had on this franchise in just four seasons. He threw for a record 7 TD's in one game in October 28, 1962 against the Redskins. He was the first and only one of 8 other QB's to pass for consecutive 30 TD passing seasons.

He was a 7 time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time (61' and 63') NFL MVP with the Giants. He is iconic for a photo that was taken of him in his final year playing. The photo changed the way photographers think of photographing sports. After his career, he turned to insurance. He still is an iconic figure in the region and the sport of football.

That will bring us to the next part, where we will crack the top 15 on the list. I hope you will join me.

The 25 greatest New York Giants players, Part 3/7 : # 25 - # 21

2010-05-24T22:46:00.000-07:00

After taking a look at the list of honorable mention players and reviewing the criteria for this list, let's begin the primary list of 25. Going backward, we will begin with the 25th greatest player.

No. 25: Bart Oates -C. Oates was the anchor of the wall of Giants that protected the QB and RB's from 1985 until 1993. He began his career in the USFL, and wasn't signed to play for the Giants until he was 27 years old. He was on the 86' and 90' Super Bowl Championship teams. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times as a member of the Giants.

During his tenure with the team, he started 125 consecutive games. This was rare then and even more so now. After his Giants career had ended, he had a successful few seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he won another Super Bowl and was selected to another Pro Bowl. He never forgot his roots, though. He returned to the New York/New Jersey area after he retired.

He is currently the chairman for the New Jersey Hall of Fame. He holds a doctorate in Law from Seton Hall and has done voice over work for cartoons. He never had the spotlight or the media attention due to his position, but he was a major reason for two Giants titles. Though he never was a highlight provider, he made plenty of big blocks that setup those highlights that we cherish.

No. 24: Mel Hein -C. Hein was a rock on a rock solid front line from 1931-1945. His 15 seasons as a New York Giants player, led to several unique accolades. First, he was and still is the only offensive lineman to win the NFL MVP award. Second, he is one of only 5 Giants players to achieve such an accomplishment.

Third, he was one of only a very few (11 players total) to have his number (7) retired by the Giants. Fourth, he was elected into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1963. Finally, he was named to the NFL's 75th anniversary All-Time team.

In addition to all of this, he was a two-time champion, in both '34 and '38 for the Giants. The only reason, he is not higher on this list is because he is really unknown. He was a force on the early teams. Not many know much about the earliest teams, and that is unfortunate.

No. 23: Joe Morris -RB. Morris is one of the most memorable running backs in Giants history, despite not having the accolades that others have achieved at that position. He stands 5'7" and has been underestimated from day one. Drafted in the second round, he soon beat out the team's first round draft choice (Butch Woolfork) for the stating job.

He played that position on the team from 1982 to 1988. During this span, he accumulated 5296 yards rushing and 48 TD's to go along with 884 receiving yards and 2 TD's, totaling over 6,180 total yards with 50 TD's. He was a two-time Pro Bowl choice and is currently third all-time in rushing yards, attempts and rushing TD's in Giants history.

He was a key contributor to the 86' championship team. During that game, he rushed for 67 yards, had four catches for 20 yards and scored a TD. He still resides in New Jersey with his family, where he was part owner of the New Jersey Red Dogs (Arena Football) with former teammates Carl Banks and Harry Carson.

No. 22: Rodney Hampton -RB. Hampton was a beast in the Giants back field. An intimidating presence with good speed and elusiveness. He was the Giants first round draft pick in 1990. He was a Pro Bowl selection two times. He was also a member of the 90' Super Bowl team in his rookie year. He played from 1990 to 1997, all 8 seasons with the Giants.

In that time he accumulated impressive stats. He had 6897 rushing yards with 49 TD's. He also had 1309 receiving yards with 2 TD's. These totals helped place him first in his era, though since he has been surpassed and is now second in several categories. Such categories are career rushing yards, career rushing attempts and career rushing TD's.

Hampton was an important part of the Giants in the 90's, he was a leader and helped reestablish the Giants as a powerful running team. He still is active in Giants charities, though he remains more private these days.

No. 21: Kyle Rote -HB/WR. Rote was the Giants number one overall draft pick in the 1951 NFL draft. His collegiate career had him selected into the College Football Hall of Fame. As being the overall number one pick, Rote did not let the pressure get to him. He was selected to 4 Pro Bowls and was a vital member of the 1956 championship team.

He played for 11 seasons (1951-1961), all with the Giants. In that span, he amassed 4797 receiving yards with 48 receiving TD's. Though drafted as a running back, he was primarily a receiver and a double threat (rushing and receiving, though he also returned kicks and played some QB too).

He even spent 7 seasons playing both sides of the ball. While on defense, he forced 8 fumbles, two of which he recovered. After his playing career was over, he turned to broadcasting. Where he spent several years with NBC. During this time, he also did several commercial spots. Sadly he died in 2002, but his legacy will live on with many Giants fans from his generation and beyond.

In the next part of this series, we will take a look at the # 20 to # 16 players of the all-time greatest Giants players list. Please join me then.

The 25 greatest New York Giants Part 2/7 - Honorable Mention

2010-05-23T00:05:00.000-07:00

In this next part, I will examine the players that just fell short of being in the top 25 all-time list. Before I do, let me review the criteria to which I am choosing these players. The players on both lists will all have met at least one or more of these.

First they must have been a New York Giants player for at least a full season. Second, they must have gained notoriety to some degree in the league as a Giants player. If they had gained such notoriety before or after their Giants career, then they would still be considered if they have made a substantial social or competitive contribution to either the sport, the team or society as a whole.

Third, they must have made a significant contribution to Giants history. Fourth, they must have been an example of the type of player that has forged the Giants reputation throughout the league as hard-nosed tough and gritty resilience. If a player does not meet any of these, they will not be on the list.

I will use statistics for the modern day players, but I will also factor in their place in history as well when comparing them to players of past generations. By doing this, it makes the process a little more fair to the older players in the annuls of lore.

In no particular order, the players who just missed out:

#1 Ken Strong - HB. Strong is most known for being the first at attempting and scoring on a fair catch kick. He was an All-Pro selection five times and inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1967. His career with the Giants was shortened by military service and contract disputes. He is one of only 11 retired numbers in Giants history.

He wore #50. He is not in the top 25 due to one reason only. He is not that well known. When you think of him, most fans ask, who? This may be a player that could have gone either way, but when looking at everyone else, I chose him here. There are others that could fall into this as well, but meet other criteria that keeps them on the list.

#2 David Tyree - WR/ST. Tyree is a former Pro Bowl player who was never a starter on the Giants, but is one this list for one reason. The Catch. In Super Bowl 42, he made a catch that was so legendary, that it catapulted the Giants to a improbable victory with an improbable play. He provided fans with multiple highlights in his career in New York, but none bigger than that moment.

#3 Jimmy Patton - CB. Patton was a member of the 1956 NFL Championship team. He was also a five time All Pro team member and a Pro Bowl player five times. He is second only to Emlen Tunnell in all-time team interceptions. He played for 11 years. He died tragically at he age of 40 in a car accident in 1973, just seven years after retiring. He is also one of those largely unknown Giants players that deserves recognition.

#4 Jessie Armstead - LB. Armstead was a fixture of the Giants defense in the late 90's. He was on the 2000 NFC Championship team and a five time Pro Bowl selection. He had 752 tackles and 12 interceptions total in his career. His 597 tackles as a player for the Giants is good enough to place him fourth all-time among the team in that stat. Despite playing two seasons at the end of his career with the Redskins, he signed a contract that enabled him to retire as a member of the Giants. He now works with the team in a player development role.

#5 Plaxico Burress - WR. Burress was a dynamic receiver in his time with the Giants. He was a key member in the 2007 Super Bowl run and even correctly predicted the outcome. He accumulated 3,681 yards receiving in his 4 seasons along with 33 TD's. His Giants career was cut short by legal troubles. As it stands, he played longer with Pittsburgh than with New York. He had shown heart and grit on the field as a player, but based on team statistics, I can't place him in the top 25 list.

#6 Dave Meggett - HB. Meggett was a catalyst for the 86' Super Bowl Championship team. He teamed with Otis Anderson to make the original 'thunder and lightning' tandem, a term associated with the running group core of the early 2000's. Meggett changed the game in his time. His statistics are not very comparable with others at his position, but his size (5'7"), versatility and speed made him a legend on multiple teams.

While with the Giants, he won a Super Bowl, made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and had six punt returns for TD'S, one kick return TD. He also had a total of 15 TD's on offense (10 as a receiver, 5 as a rusher). He was the elusive, utility back that was reliable in every phase of the game. His career total of 3,708 punt return yards is good for second all-time in the NFL.

#7 Osi Umenyiora - DE. Umenyiora is a vital part of the Giants current defense. He is a Super Bowl champion with a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection thus far in his career. He is also a New York Giants record holder. He has the record for most sacks for a Giants player in a single game with 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles. The team tied an NFL record for sacks in one game with 12 that day, with half of those belonging to Umenyiora.

He currently has 48.5 sacks, going into the upcoming season. He played a major role in the pass rush that upset the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 42, alongside Michael Strahan. The future of his career is still uncertain, but he will always be remembered as a record setting champion.

#8 Jason Sehorn - CB. Sehorn was a key member of the 2000 NFC Championship team that eventually lost in the Super Bowl. He had tremendous athleticism and speed before a massively major knee injury. He never fully recovered to the level of his previous attributes. He had 360 tackles and 19 interceptions as a Giants player, which is 10th and 12th in team history respectively. He was as equally known off the field as he was on the field. His proposal and marriage to actress Angie Harmon was well publicized. He has acted in numerous commercials and tv shows. He was not the most productive cornerback in Giants history, but could arguably be the one with the most notoriety.

#9 Pat Summerall - K. The legendary voice of the NFL-tv media age has to be that of Pat Summerall. Few, however, remember him as a former player AND a former Giants player. He spent the last four years of his playing career with the team and accumulated 313 total points, 11th all-time on the team.

The last few generations will know him from the Madden series video games and being the play by play commentator on game day for decades. Many of the memories we have, he called. Many of the memories of video gaming we have, he called too. He has commercials and many other voice over appearances to his name. His reputation was forged as a member of the media, but he was a Giants player first.

#10 Jim Thorpe -HB/WR/ST. Thorpe is an example of what this list is about. He is a person who has accomplished a great deal and was never given the credit he deserved in his lifetime. He was a two-time gold medal winning Olympic athlete.

He was voted by the Associated Press as the #1 greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th century and #3 in the entire century. Many people do not know of him. Like Jackie Robinson, he played in an age of discrimination and segregation.

He was a Native American. Being so, he was embraced a little sooner than an African American would have been in athletics, but still, he had his social struggles. Not only was he the first Native American to play professional sports, he was the first president of the AFPA, which eventually became what we know as the NFL.

He was signed by the Giants for not just his abilities, but to be a crowd draw. In other words, he was the original big name free agent acquisition. Not just that, but he was the first star on the very first Giants team in 1925.

He was a true pioneer. An athlete, a player/coach, the original athlete/administrator and original multiple sports star. Bo don't know Thorpe. Neither does Kordell 'Slash' Stewart.

Thorpe was the original slash, playing on every phase of the Giants team that season. He was the Giants in their first season, before they achieved success. His popularity kept a financially struggling Giants team stay afloat until they were able to finally find their stride and become the team that we all know.

Without his contributions, there would be no Giants. The team was poor, unpopular and lost in the shuffle of multiple football teams in the same same city in the early years of the sport. His contributions were a vital part of the building and success of not just Major League baseball, the National Basketball League and the NFL, but of the New York Giants.

In the next part of this series, I will get into the top 25 list, starting backwards form #25 to # 21. Please join me then.