The Tank is running his penultimate marathon today and Queens born Kara Goucher is trying to bring home a first place finish in the NYC Marathon today for the USA. We’ll be cheering them on, live from Mile 18 on First Avenue in Manhattan. Stay tuned…

Dropped to 7th in the batting order in mid-June, Carlos Delgado was left for dead. But after the 9 RBI day at Yankee Stadium in late June, Delgado put up MVP numbers in the second half of 2009 hitting .308 with 27 homers and 80 RBIs in 84 games from June 27 on. Delgado finished with an average of .271 and 38 hr and 115 RBIs.

Yesterday the Mets picked up his 2009 option, costing them about $12 million.

“Carlos is a key part of our plans for 2009, and we wanted to let him know as quickly as allowed that we wanted him back,” Omar Minaya said. “Yesterday—the day following the conclusion of the World Series—was the first day that we could pick up the option per the contract. It was our full intent to promptly close our deal with Carlos, and that’s what we did.”

This leaves First Base taken care of, unless the 36+ year old Delgado drops off production next year. The Mets still need to address the situation at second base (dump and eat Luis Castillo contract is the likely action), the bullpen (most likely trade Heliman and Schoenwis), get a closer (please sign K-Rod!) and get a starter or two to fill in the back of the rotation behind Santana, Pelfrey, and Maine. They need to also sign someone who wants to win, a leader for the team.

Posted by Steve in New York

Last Week's Review: 1-2 and 3-3 on the season.  Darn Dolphins (beating the Bills)!


This Weeks' Fearless Picks:

Jets lose a close game at the Bills.

Cowboys lose a must win game at the Giants.  Let's see which Giants team shows up.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

It was hard to tell what was more historic Wednesday evening.  Senator Obama's purchase of 30 minute of prime time TV ad time just before the game, the uniqueness of continuing a rain delayed game, or the dramatic finish?

First, congratulations to the Phillies for beating the Rays in the fifth game, 4-3.  I was unfortunately wrong in my prediction of the Rays winning in six games.

Bottom Line: The Mets and Yankees have lots of work to do as the World Series teams are teams in their division.  It is a miracle that the Mets contended as Lidge saved 51 consecutive games going back to his time with the Astros at the end of 2007 while the Mets had no bullpen to speak of.  The Mets must get K-Rod or a similar talented closer.  The Phillies clearly have the better bullpen, manager, chemistry, etc.

The Yankees have their work cut out for them too.  Mike Mussina will announce in a few days if he will return or not.  That will affect the degree of desperation that the Yankees go after CC Sabbathia or other premier starting pitching free agents. 

Posted by a concerned Tank in NY.

Last Week Recap: I was 1-3 last week.  I am 6-4 on the season.

This Week's Fearless Picks:

#8 Florida loses at #6 Georgia.  This will be an offensive barn burner.

#1 Texas wins an offensive shootout at #7 Texas Tech.

Local Teams Outlook:

Louisville wins at Syracuse.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Last night's World Series Game 5 game looked more like a mud football game than a baseball game.  The announcers were making more football analogies "making the fair catch signal" than baseball ones.  It was so bad that one of the umpires suspended the Infield Fly Rule either because the rain was so bad (or because he couldn't see too well). 

MLB dodged a big bullet as Carlos Pena singled home Upton to tie the game at 2 with 2 out in the top of the sixth inning.  The rain was so bad that the World Series was suspended at the bottom of the 6th inning with a 2-2. 

Imagine if the Rays didn't tie the game and the rain continued.  If the umpires had the grounds crew to come out and the weather worsened which it did as forecasted.  The Phillies would have won the World Series 2-1 in a rain shortened game.  How would you have liked that?  OK, probably most people don't care about the Rays or Phillies but fair is fair.

People should demand that MLB mandate retractable roofs that I wrote way back in 2006 as climate change continues to take its toll.  Rain delays didn't help the Yankees and Mets in 2006.

Citizens Bank Park in Philly is a brand new stadium.  They have no excuse.  When will MLB learn?  Maybe when TV ratings go down as people don't want to watch rain delays and watch other things like I did on Saturday night (Ohio State versus Penn State) or last night (C-Span).

Posted by a frustrated Tank writing in the pouring rain.

It's that time of year again for my cousin Mirko, his best friend Lubo, and I to put our money where our mouths are with annual NBA teams.  Well, no money but lots of bragging rights on the line.

2007-2008 Recap: I was unfortunately correct last year as I predicted a Celtics victory in the Finals.

2008-2009 Outlook: The Lakers make up for their poor performance in Game 6 of the Finals and take it home this year.


Eastern Conference:
1. Boston Celtics
2. Orlando Magic
3. Detroit Pistons
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Atlanta Hawks
6. Philadelphia 76ers
7. Chicago Bulls
8. Toronto Raptors

Dark Horse: Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, NJ Nets.

Conference Champion: Celtics

Western Conference:
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. New Orleans Hornets
3. Utah Jazz
4. Phoenix Suns
5. Houston Rockets
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. San Antonio Spurs
8. Portland Trailblazers

Dark Horse: Golden State, Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers.

Conference Champion: Lakers

NBA Champion: Lakers


Local Teams: It's a mixed bag for our local teams this year.  You can't get more painful than the Knicks' 23 wins.  I have a call into Heather Locklear for some pain killers and a date. 

Seriously, I like Coach D'Antoni and his up tempo style.  He doesn't have the players he wants/needs yet (Lebron and/or D-Wade) but the team seems energized.  Everyone wants to move on from the post-Isiah Thomas era.

Knicks: 34 wins.

The Nets made lots of changes in the off-season.  Nenad Kristic signed with a Russian team.  I can't believe that Vince Carter is starting his tenth season in the NBA.  The Nets success will depend upon the success of rookie Chris Douglas-Roberts.  If the newcomers can adjust and gell, the Nets can make a run at the playoffs.

Nets: 32 wins.

Posted by an psyched Tank in NY.

After a 90 minute rain delay to start the game, 45 year young Jamie Moyer pitched a great game for his hometown Phillies.  He was in line to get the win but the Rays tied the game at 4 in the 8th.

Taking a page from the classic movie "Major League", Bruntlett took one for the team and was hit by a pitch.

With Victorino trying to bunt, Balfour threw a wild pitch and Bruntlett advanced to third on the wild throw to center field.

Joe Madden brought in right fielder and former infielder Zobrist to play in the unorthodox five man infield.  Zobrist traded his outfielder's glove for an infielder's glove   

After two intentional walks, Ruiz came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs.

Ruiz chopped a ball half way down the third baseline.  Longoria scooped the ball up, dove, and overthrew Navarro.  Bruntlett scores and the Phillies won 5-4.  The Phillies unfortunately lead the World Series two games to one.

Tonight's / this morning's game ended at 1:48 a.m., a few minutes after Steve and I left the best All Star Game ever in July.

Posted by a tired and disappointed Tank in NY.

Last Week Review: I was 2-1 last week and 2-1 on the season..  The Raiders played better than I thought and the Jets disappointed.


This Week's Fearless Picks:

The Giants lose at the Steelers.  Though Santonio Holmes' season (and career) might be up in smoke, the Steelers are 5-1 and have home field advantage.  Let's see who gets the better of the rivalry between 2004 Draft class quarterbacks Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

The Jets beat the Chiefs.

The Bills beat the Dolphins.

Posted by The Tank in NY.