 Sunday, January 13, 2008
Memo to Omar: Make the Trade
The rumor mill was running the last few days saying that the Mets will make a trade a good chunk of their farm system to the the Minnesota Twins for Johan Santana. Rumored to be in play are outfielders Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez, and pitchers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra. Omar has said in the past that he wouldn't include both Gomez and Martinez in the same deal. Looks like things have changed. If Omar included both Gomez and Martinez and all three pitchers, it would basically wipe out the farm system. This is on top of having to sign Santana to at least a $100 million deal. Is Omar crazy? In a word: NO! Omar needs to make the fans forget 2007. The Mets need a legitimate shot to win in 2008 and a good team when they move into the new stadium in 2009. The offence is more than enough, what the Mets need is a stopper, an ace. Someone who can win 3 games in a 7 game series. The Mets would be giving up a lot, but it would make them a very serious contender to win in 2008 and 2009. Without a solid 20 game winning starter the Mets are fooling themselves, as they were in 2007 and 2006. Let's explore the deal and what it means. First signing Santana. Omar of course will not make the trade if a deal is not possible with Santana. That is just money. The Mets have a lot of it from SNY, 20% ticket increase, and freeing up the contracts of Glavine in 2008 and Delgado in 2009. Wright and Reyes are comparative bargains, only Beltran stands out as a high salary. Santana will push the Mets closer to the payroll luxury tax, but Omar can get creative. Gomez and Martinez. Both a Reyes in training. Both under 20 years old. Figure statistically one will grow into a rock star in 3-4 years. There will be a hole in the outfield when Alou retires, but Endy Chavez is a good everyday candidate and only 30 years old. Free agents or trades can fill the other hole when Church flames out. Pitching. If Santana is signed, let's look at the staff and their age on Open Day 2008: Johan Santana: 29 years old John Maine: 26 years old Oliver Perez: 26 years old Mike Pelfrey: 24 years old Pedro Martinez: 36 years old That is a very young rotation! Your top end of the rotation (1-2-3) will give you over 50 wins a year until 2011. Giving up some pitching prospects is actually ok as long as you can replace Pedro in 2009 via a trade or free agency and potentially Pelfrey if he does not deliver. Since Pedro and Pelfrey are the back end of the rotation, replacing them are cheap and easy. If Omar makes this trade, he can then look for one more bullpen arm and call it a successful winter. The rest is up to Willie and the players. Posted by Steve in New York
Saturday, January 12, 2008
NFL Divisional Playoff Picks
Last Week's Record: A perfect 4-0, touch wood. I am 31-11 including the regular season.
This Week's Fearless Picks: Sorry for the delay but I've been busy this week.
The Seahawks lose at the Packers. Snow showers are forecasted at Lambeau Field.
The Patriots hold off the strong Jaguars. The Boston Sports Apocalypse unfortunately continues for another week.
The Chargers lose at the Colts. LT is on turf but Marvin Harrison is back. Expect the crowd in the RCA Dome to be loud.
The Giants lose to the Cowboys this season in the Jessica Simpson Bowl. How healthy is Terrell Owens' ankle? How rusty is Terry Glenn? How does the banged up Giants secondary respond? Say what you want about TO, he is a gamer, especially playing on a broken ankle for the Eagles in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago against the Patriots.
If the Giants do win, I will look forward to my buddy and Giants fan extraordinaire Eddie Trunk playing at least part of a Jessica Simpson song as part of his promise on his hard rock and heavy metal show next Friday night on Q104.3. Will Ed's sometime co-host "Metal Mike" Piazza stop by the studios next week to witness the madness? 
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Friday, January 11, 2008
RIP Sir Edmund Hillary (1919-2008)
Fifty-five years ago Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the top of Mt. Everest, the first to do so. Tenzing died in 1986, today we lost Sir Edmund. The sports and adventure world lost a great hero, not only did Sir Edmund blaze the trail for the rest of us up Everest, but he was a great role model, he gave back to the people of Nepal, over and over again. I have visited a school in Kumdum Hillary build and he has made a major impact in the lives of those in Nepal. When his wife was killed in Nepal in a plane crash, Hillary build a new runway. The world was better off with Sir Edmund. We have lost a great man, take the time to read his story here. Both Steve and the Tank will be headed out to Everest this September, so we will be sure to remember the man who made it possible. Posted by Steve in New York
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Jello Wrestling this Sunday @ 8 p.m. @ Arlene's Grocery
Dana Sterling Presents:
Amateur Female Jello Wrestling!
Sunday, January 13th , 8-11:00pm
(6:30 Wrestle Lesson)
at Arlene's Grocery
95 Stanton Street (between Ludlow & Allen), NYC.
Subway: F to 2nd Ave
Hey Ladies, want to wrestle? RSVP at
danasterling@gmail.com
"Think the days of female empowerment through mortal combat were over? Think again--as this tongue-in-cheek sporting event brings ready-made deserts back to the ring where they belong." - TimeOut New York
"Sterling has successfully created a space that gives women permission to forget the hassle of deflecting criticism for their bodies' inadequacies and regress to a time when they felt comfortable being ridiculous. All it took was a creative impulse and the help from a little gelatin." - New York
Press
"After the match all the girls felt exhausted, but empowered (like the feeling you get when you watch the 'Charlie's Angel's' movie- watching fabulous females fighting evil and kicking some badguy ass.) Really makes ya wanna be a Rockstar Fighter Chick and change the world!" Б─⌠ Uncoolkids.com
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Led Zeppelin Must Replace the Knicks at the Garden
The Knicks continue to play like the Bricks and quitters that they are.
I rarely advocate quitting except in smoking cigarettes and other unhealthy behavior. The Knicks have become an unhealthy psychological influence on the entire NYC area. Children are most vulnerable as they are being taught that quitting pays and pays handily for the Knicks players who have quit on Isiah and the area. I think it is time for the Knicks to either fire Isiah or cancel the season. Since the Dolan's are being blackmailed by Isiah and/or too busy counting their ever growing Cablevision revenue like monopoly money to care, it is time to cancel the remainder of the season in a humanitarian measure. Forfeiting the games will not differentiate much from the final result which is almost always a loss.
What should the Knicks be replaced with?
Led Zeppelin comes to mind. The recently reunited rock legends did a special concert in London. 20 million people inquired for the 20,000 tickets so the demand is definitely there.
I was too young to watch Led Zeppelin in their hey day so I would love to watch them live in concert at the Garden. I am a big fan of reunion concerts and was fortunate enough to see The Police, Genesis, and Van Halen in 2007 at the Garden. I am offering the Dolan's an honorable and profitable way out as they made lots of money off me last year in concerts instead of Bricks games.
All Knicks players will be paid from the massive TV money that the Knicks make from MSG and the national (ESPN/TNT/NBA TV/etc) contracts.
Those networks would make more money from Led Zeppelin - only 1 in a 1000 got to see the London concert. This ratio is much better than currently want to see the Bricks.
Other interested parties affected by the cancellation of the Knicks season:
(1) Concession vendors: I think more merchandise will be sold at a Zeppelin concert instead of Knicks games. Who wants to buy a Knicks jersey and be laughed at in public? You would look cooler in a Zeppelin t-shirt.
(2) Knicks City Dancers: Dancers often want to get into singing and acting. This would be the perfect career opportunity to be backup singers and dancers for Zeppelin. They would make more money as backup singers instead of a measly $50 per Knicks game.
(3) Knicks City Kids: Same as above. They can help Robert Plant hit the high notes on some sounds with their growing and maturing voices. It is better for the children to listen to Zeppelin instead of Fall Out Boy. Today's youth is in dire need of musical education.
(4) Knicks Announcers: I think John Andres is probably more of a do-wop fan of Dion and Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge than Zeppelin. However, I think he would be happier introducing Led Zeppelin and providing song by song commentary than commenting on the dire state of the Knicks.
Marv Albert could stop by for old times sake to introduce "Whole Lotta Love". Yessss!!!!
Is there precedent for replacing sporting games with concerts at the Garden?
Yes, Billy Joel played 12 Garden concerts during the NHL lockout a couple of seasons ago. I was lucky to get the last concert to the last of the "12 Gardens" which is also the title of the DVD that he released afterwards.
Are you with me? If you happen to go to a Bricks game, please start the Zeppelin chant.
See you at the Zeppelin concerts at the Garden.
Posted by an excited Tank in NY.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The Goose Finally Gets the Biggest Save of All - The Baseball Hall of Fame
Former Yankees closer Rich "The Goose" Gossage was finally granted entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame earlier today.
This may have been Goose's last best chance as Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn were enshrined last year and Rickey Henderson looms on the horizon next year. Though deserving, former Red Sox star Jim Rice also just missed entry. Rice was rarely media friendly, perhaps a contributing factor in the voters minds.
But for today and this summer, Goose will stand alone as the only player inducted in Cooperstown. (His former Padres manager Dick Williams joins him by the Veterans Committee vote last month.) When today's relievers only go an inning, Goose went two or more innings to get the save. Along with Lee Smith and others, Goose set the standard that Mariano Rivera and others live by. Congratulations Goose! See you in Cooperstown.
Posted by a grateful Tank in NY.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Bowl Championship Series Pick
Ohio State returns to the BCS Championship game against against another worthy SEC team, LSU, on Monday night.
Ohio State had better players in 2006 including Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith but the 2007 team is just that, a better team. Ohio State must contain LSU's explosive offense by controlling the ball and mixing the run and pass. LSU's Les Miles is a great coach and a Michigan alumnus but Ohio State's Coach Jim Tressel is slightly better. The margin between victory and defeat is usually not much and this promises to be a classic like USC and Texas a couple of years ago.
The religious and sports holidays continue as I am looking forward to a Christmas Night present according to the Julian/Old Calendar. My Holiday Season starts with Thanksgiving and ends at Chinese New Year.
Let the good times, holidays, and football roll. Wooooo!
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Friday, January 04, 2008
NFL Wildcard Picks
Last Week: I was 3-0 last week and 27-11 for the regular season.
This Week's Fearless Picks:
Sorry Buffalo Steve, Jacksonville wins at the Steelers.
The Chargers beat the Titans at home.
The Seahawks beat the Redskins at home.
The Giants win at the Bucs. Avoid picking this game because I don't know which Giants team will show up. The Giants are injured but pumped after playing the Patriots hard last week. Eli Manning has to manage the game and let the running game win the game.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Time for New York to Boycott the Knicks
Isiah Thomas has come to town and ruined a good franchise. Bad trades, sexual harassment suits, lineup changes, and bad coaching, has lead Isiah Thomas to be ineffective. More importantly, the team has stopped playing for Isiah Thomas. The Yankees got rid of Joe Torrie after 13 years of constitutive playoff appearances. The Knicks are in last place yet again. Time for Isiah Thomas to go. If not we will start to watch the Brooklyn Nets next year. The problem is that the Knicks still make money. It is funny since each game is a sellout but only half full. You can't give away tickets. I think that new political refugees that land at JFK get free tickets and turn them down. That is the only way for New York to get rid of Isiah Thomas, start boycotting the games. When the Garden is completely silent, then the ownership will respond. Posted by Steve in New York
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
A Shootout win in Buffalo
Over 70,000 hockey fans were treated to an icy and snowy overtime shootout in Buffalo, where Sidney Crosby's dramatic goal lifted the Penguins past the Sabres 2-1 in an outside game at the home of the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, NY. The NHL decided to hold an outside game in a large venue as a template for future games. I think it worked and should lead to more in the future. Crosby said of the day:  "Growing up, I played a lot outside," said Crosby, a Nova Scotia native. "When you see 70,000 people jammed into a stadium to watch hockey, it's a good sign. The atmosphere and environment, I don't think you can beat that." You can't. This is something the NHL should do two or three times a year. It got everyone engaged and brought out a ton of fans. In essence, it was a media event. There have been rumors of Rangers v Detroit in Yankee Stadium or even Rangers v Islanders. Posted by Steve in New York.
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