 Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Knicks Needed a Win in Beantown Tonight
The Knicks had a great win on Monday night beating Shaq and the Heat 99-93 at the Garden. They need to continue their momentum as they are only 2.0 games out of playoffs behind the Nets, Heat, and Magic who are tied for the seventh and eighth spots. Only two of these four teams will make the playoffs as everyone from the Pacers to the Pistons are a pretty sure bet to make the playoffs.
If the Knicks want to make the playoffs, they have to beat the Celtics in Boston tonight. Yes, Jamal Crawford is most likely out for the season. David Lee may not play tonight because of injury. They have to find a way to win against the lowly Celtics. Are the Knicks a playoff team? Games like tonight will help answer this question.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Where Will the Rocket Roger Clemens Pitch in 2007?
As the Tank was returning from Mexico via the Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport yesterday, the car passed by Minute Maid Stadium, home of the Houston Astros. The Tank's thoughts joyfully changed to baseball and the 2007 status of home town hero and free agent pitcher Roger Clemens. As the Tank was talking to friends before our flights took us to our different home towns a few minutes later, the Tank didn't focus too much on Clemens' status.
However, in a weird karamic way, Clemens' name came up again as the Tank returned home and started to catch up on NY sports on 1050 AM ESPN Radio. Michael Kaye had a good interview with ESPN reporter and Baseball Hall of Fame Writer Peter Gammons. Gammons gave some interesting perspective on Clemens agents trying to get top dollar which is to be expected. Gammons also referenced Clemens' respect for Joe Torre and Derek Jeter.
Should Clemens return to New York? Steve and Linda passed on him last year for the Mets but the Tank would sign him in a heart beat for the Yankees. Even part time, Clemens is a future Hall of Famer and has a great work ethic to inspire young pitchers and hopefully even veterans like Mike Mussina (as unlikely as it would be given Moose's stubbornness). More importantly, Clemens would be pitching with his best friend, Andy Pettitte. At the advice of the Tank's therapist, the Tank is trying to forget that Andy ever left the Yankees as the pain was felt all the way to the cellular level. The Tank's source whose sister worked at MLB "guaranteed" that Andy would return in 2004 but the source jinxed the Yankees and the Tank.
Therefore, the Tank will not "guarantee" Rocket's return to pinstripes, only guaranteeing prayers for his return. Speaking of prayers, I echo Steve's thoughts and prayers for the X-Man, Xavier Nady, for a fast and speedy recovery. Thank you very much! Sincerely, The Tank
Posted by a hopeful Tank back from vacation in NY.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Well Wishes for the X-Man
It was very sad to see Xavier Nady go. Now it looks like more bad news for the X-Man, he was hospitalized this week for intestinal inflammation and will be examined tomorrow to determine if he has a chronic condition. The doctors asked him if he had a family history of Crohn's disease, the same disease that eventually sidelined Tho Fleury. Crohn’s disease is a chronic, episodic, inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by transmural inflammation.
Apparently the X-Man’s cousin has Crohn’s and the doctors are just being extra safe. Keep the X-Man in your thoughts.
Posted by Steve in New York.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
ACC v Big East
Steve’s parent’s St. John’s and the Yankees of College Basketball Duke (18) have a contract that started today that has them play each other once each season over the next four years. ACC and Big East. A great thing for SJU and for Duke as well since SJU is a rough and tumble college basketball program. The boys from Queens usually play on cement courts and ride the subway to Madison Square Garden for the game.
As we walk into today’s sell out game at the World’s Most Famous Arena, a few minutes into the game, SJU was down 14-4. As we settled in, SJU was playing great defense, but not shooting and when they did, they shot poorly. Around 24-8 I started to worry. At t half it was 34-10 and I started to get tons of SMS from my friends mocking me.
St. John’s started to show some life in the second half. They come out strong, immediately getting a three pointer and then another field goal to get 50% of their first half points in the first two minutes of the second half. St. John's then began to show some life and had a nice little 10-2 run to pull to 46-29 with 9:35 to go. However, Duke came right back with a three point shot and the game was pretty much history. The Red Storm did make it respectable and had an 8-0 run, to pull to 51-39 with 4:15 left. The defense was still strong and at this point SJU played much better than the score implied, but the score on the scoreboard is what counts. The final buzzer was Duke 67-SJU 50. Duke has now won 4 straight over the former Redmen.
In the end, MSG was sold out, the crowd was buzzing and the decision to have Duke play SJU is a good one. Looking foward to next year's game.
Posted by Steve, Live from the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Cozumel Greetings
As some of you know, the Tank is on vacation in Cozumel, Mexico.
Before dinner starts in a few minutes, I checked my e-mail and wanted to check in and say hello to all our great readers. I'll be back in the City That Never Sleeps Soon with reports on my adventures in a few days.
Posted by the Tank in Cozumel, Mexico.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Willie Wanted to Bunt
Cliff Floyd said the other day that Willie wanted to bunt in the bottom of the 9th in Game 7 then changed his mind. Let's not second guess Willie, he did a great job and got the Mets all the way to Game 7.
I'll miss Cliff, but not that much.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The Rickey Effect
2006 will be remembered for the Mets winning the NL East in a commanding fashion, their first division championship since 1988. Even thought starting pitching broke down completely (every opening day roster starter went down at some point in the season, and several of the replacements went down too) the bats did not break down. Carlos Beltran had an MVP year, the kind of year that Mets fans expected when he came over. People will argue that he “adjusted” to New York, I will argue it was the influence of Carlos Delgado in the clubhouse and behind him in the lineup. (Just look how David Wright’s numbers went down in the second half when Xavier Nady was no longer protecting him.)
Another reason the Mets had such a great year was Jose Reyes, the most exciting player in Major League Baseball. The Mets hired Rickey Henderson, the best leadoff hitter of all time, last year in Spring Training to work with Reyes. They worked on at-bat discipline, reading the pitcher, pitch selection and more. Rickey Henderson’s effect on Jose Reyes has been amazing. Rickey also came back mid-season for a follow-up (which was not really needed.) Jose already has the talent, now he has the experience and patience to foster it all the way to Cooperstown. Reyes had the kind of year that the wins championships. Rickey is back in Florida to work with Reyes this spring. Expect more of the same in 2007.
Posted by Steve in New York.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
SNY B-Day Present to Steve
Sports NY aired Game 6 from the 1986 World Series last night for Steve's birthday. I would like to say to fellow Mets fans is that we should start thinking about how special 2006 was, even though we did not win the World Series. It does not get more dramatic to 2 outs, bottom of the 9th of Game 7 of the NLCS with the bases loaded, 2 strikes and your MVP candidate at the plate. Too bad that pitch was nasty.
As I said to the Tank walking out of Shea that night, well, I guess we have to wait next year. Well it is next year! Go Mets in 2007!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Blood Brother
When A-Rod was traded to the Yankees my girlfriend said: “I don’t think he and Jeter will get along.” Well it turns out she is right. A-Rod today admitted that he and Jeter don’t get along anymore.
I was a defender of A-Rod last year on these very pages last year. I still believe in his ability to play. He wins you games. But the media have turned on him and he is no longer in a position to succeed. Time to trade him back to Texas where he belongs.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Caveat emptor
Barry Zito changed his delivery to use his "lower body more" according to a late Friday night report on ESPN 1050 AM. Former Yankee star and current Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti is reported going off the deep end. The Mets were lucky they didn't sign this guy as his mechanics and durability were great but changing it could increase the likelihood of injury.
Instead of changing his mechanics, Zito should work on his endurance as he sometimes tires too soon. If Zito did sign with the Mets, his former pitching coach Rick Peterson would probably not approve from the change. The Mets would have overpaid for a guy who is changing what got him there.
Once again, I have to say that losing out on the Barry Zito sweepstakes was not the end of the world. The Mets have the solid front part of the rotation and John Maine who was dependable in the must win game 6 and two other playoff starts, including NLDS Game 1. Perez of course is Russian roulette, but he did pitch amazing in must win Game 7 battling the unhittable Supran and when he is on, he is nasty.
If Glavine and El Duque stay healthy and Maine and Perez stay solid, the Mets have so many options for the back slot. Remember last year the entire opening day rotation went down at one point in the season or post season. At one point the Mets had Jose Lima pitching must win games against the Yankees and Randy Johnson. The rookies Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber can compete for the 5th slot with Chan Ho Park as well as a slew of others. If one of them doesn’t work, or someone goes down, someone else can fill the role, just like last year. If everyone stays healthy until July when Pedro comes back, the Mets can consider a six man rotation.
Pitchers do go down and the older pitchers, Glavine and el Duque, will need to miss a start here or there to stay sharp. The good news is that you have automatic slack built into the system when Pedro returns.
Would I have been happy to see Barry Zito in a Mets uniform, even with the change in delivery. Sure. Would I rather Pedro giving us 200 innings instead of 100 this year? Sure. But the Mets rotation is just fine for 2007. It is no worse than last year and with Victor Z gone, you can argue it is better.
Posted by Steve in New York.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Hofstra 65- Holy Cross 64
We file into the court at Hofstra and the game is sold out! My dad almost had to scalp a ticket, but we were able to get him one. Holy Cross has been on a roll, they won 13 out of their last 14 and were the favorites. I was there with my cousins, a whole family of Hofstra alumni, my cousin Bob is the time keeper at Hofstra, so we are rooting hard for the home team.
Antoine Agudio scored 19 points for Hofstra, who had the lead most of the game and lead by 5 at the half. The game was pretty much controlled by Hofstra and Arminas Urbutis hit a 10-foot jumper to give Hofstra a 56-48 advantage with 8:50 to go. At this point it looked locked up. The last part of the game was controlled mostly by Holy Cross, but Holy Cross had poor shot clock management, letting the 35 second shot clock wind down too many times, sacrificeing 35 seconds for no points. Holy Cross then went on an 11-3 run to tie it 59-59 with 3:39 left.
Alex Vander Baan's tip-in with 1:35 remaining had given the Holy Cross a 64-63 lead. The natives were getting restless. My cousin says that Holy Cross never had the lead, and a Holy Cross alum in front of us reminds us that they did in the 1st half. (I think when it was like 5-4.) After Eric Meister missed two foul shots with 18 seconds on the clock, Carlos Rivera was fouled with 1.7 seconds on the clock. My cousin Bob’s son Brian and I were speculating that we may have some help with the clock if needed. Brian also told me that Carlos Rivera has an over 80% free throw percentage. Good news for Hofstra since he made them both, giving Hofstra a 65-64 lead! The crowd went wild as the Holy Cross jump shot at mid-court was short and Hofstra wins! What an exciting game.
Posted LIVE! by Steve from Long Island.
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