19-Year-Old Michael Del Zotto Makes Rangers Hockey Club

Michael Del Zotto is even younger then Brian Leetch was when Leetch made his debut with the Rangers. Dave Maloney was a bit younger when he started and Ron Greschner just a bit older, both very good players. Del Zotto will wear the same #4 that Greschner wore as a Ranger all those years. I am psyched to see Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy make the big club this year. Both have had excellent training camps and should help the power play in a big way. I'd love to see Del Zotto and Gilroy get lots of ice team this season.

As reported by rangers.nhl.com.

Rutgers 2 for 1 Ticket Offer for Homecoming 2009 vs. Texas Southern on Saturday, October 10th

Rutgers is offering a 2 for 1 ticket offer for their scheduled Homecoming 2009 game on Saturday, October 10th at 3:30 PM vs. Texas Southern. I already have tickets for this game and we're looking forward to a great day.

Rangers to Present the Top Ten List on Late Show with David Letterman Wednesday, September 30th

Ten members of the New York Rangers will present the Top Ten List this evening with David Letterman. During the 2008 playoffs they did a funny bit where Chris Elliott tried out for the team. I wonder if Donald Brashear will get booed tonigiht.

As reported by rangers.nhl.com:

Ten members of the 2009-10 New York Rangers will make a special appearance on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" on Wednesday night.

The Blueshirts contingent of Henrik Lundqvist, Marian Gaborik, Sean Avery, Chris Drury, Chirstopher Higgins, Marc Staal, Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Dan Girardi, and Donald Brashear will present the nightly Top 10 List on the show, which begins on CBS at 11:35 p.m., following the local news.

Met Fans Can Buy One of These Signs to Keep Yankee Fans Away

If you're a Met fan you can put one of these sings up in front of your house. The only thing is that the Yankee fans will be home watching their team play into late October.

Mets Hit 90 Loss Plateau For the First Time Since the Art Howe Era

The Mets have finally hit the 90 loss plateau. They have not done so since Art Howe took over for Bobby Valentine and managed two horrible seasons. In 2003 Howe brought them to a 66-95 record. In the following year they mustered a 71-91 record. The only three players remaining from the Howe Era are David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran. Reyes played through both fun filled years. The Mets have five games remaining and it’d be nice to see them win more then one in a row. After the Mets lost 2-1 to the lowly Nationals last night Nelson Figueroa said he doesn’t like losing or having his name associated with losing. It’s good to hear but he needs to help his own cause. Figueroa’s had 5 good starts among his last 10 but for the season he’s 2-8, 4.70 ERA, 61.1 IP, 32 ER, 24 BB, 2.17 SO/BB.

Giants Totally Dominate Buccaneers in 24-0 Win at Tampa Bay Sunday

The Giants defeated the Buccaneers 24-0 yesterday in Tampa Bay to go 3-0 this season. My Brother, who now lives in Florida, drove to the game with his friends and took the picture. It surely was worth the trip. The game was completely lopsided in the Giants’ favor where they dominated the Bucs. The numbers were unbelievable. They led in total plays (76-36), total yards (397-86), rushing yards (226-28), first downs (27-5) and time of possession (43:38-16:22). The Bucs did not get a first down until the 3rd quarter. The Giants scoring began in the 1st quarter where Brandon Jacobs thundered into the end zone from the Buc 6 yard line. The XP gave the Giants the lead 7-0. In the 2nd quarter Eli Manning threw his first touchdown pass of six yards to Steve Smith. XP, Giants go up 14-0. Lawrence Tynes kicked a 26 yard field goal to increase the Giant lead to 17-0. In the 4th quarter Manning threw his second touchdown pass to Sinorice Moss of 18 yards. With the XP the Giant lead went to 24-0.

Jets Defeat Titans 24-17 Where Jets Wore Titans of NY, Titans Wore Houston Oilers and Officials Wore AFL Uniforms Sunday

The Jets defeated the Titans yesterday 24-17 at the rainy Meadowlands to go 3-0 on the season. They marched downfield on their first series. On 3rd and 10 from the Titan 14 yard line the Titans blitzed and Sanchez ran it in, putting his head down at the 1 yard line and breaking the goal line plane with the ball for the touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff the Jets forced a fumble and recovered the ball on the Titan 19 yard line. On 2nd and goal from the 2 yard line Sanchez faked the handoff perfectly to Thomas Jones and TE Ben Hartsock stolled into the end zone unattended and caught his first NFL touchdown to give the Jets the 14-0 lead. The 2nd quarter was brutal for the Jets. Sanchez was stripped of the ball twice, losing one that the Titans converted into a touchdown by RB LenDale White. The Titans added a field goal to make score 14-10. Kerry Collins was throwing strikes for the Titans and capped a 60 yard drive with a touchdown pass to Nate Washington to give them the lead 17-14. The Jets CB Dwight Lowery was turned around and couldn’t recover quick enough. He played for the injured Lito Sheppard. On another Titan turnover the Jets scored again. From the Titan 6 yard line on 2nd and goal Cotchery ran a quick slant over the middle and Sanchez threw a perfect pass at the goal line for the touchdown. After the XP Jets went up 21-17. A 4th quarter field goal by Jay Feeley with 11:36 to play gave them the lead 24-17. Kerry Collins was awful down the stretch including an interception to LB David Harris. Collins was great in the 2nd quarter but couldn’t buy a completion in the 4th. LB Bart Scott was a monster with 9 tackles. Another ex-Raven brought in by Rex Ryan was Jim Leonhard. He was excellent in returning punts. The Jets have a great return combo of Leon Washington on kickoffs and Leonhard on punts. Jerricho Cotchery is the man with 8 receptions for 108 yards with 1 touchdown. Sanchez went 17 of 30 for 171 yards, 2 touchdowns with 1 interception. Kris Jenkins played like a Human Truck again and kept the Titans running game in check.

Giants and Jets Injury Reports for Todays Games

Here's the Giants and Jets injury reports as reported on their websites:

GIANTS
WR Domenik Hixon Knee DNP DNP DNP
DE Justin Tuck Shoulder DNP DNP DNP
CB Aaron Ross Hamstring DNP DNP DNP
WR Hakeem Nicks Foot DNP DNP DNP
S Kenny Phillips Knee DNP DNP DNP
RB Danny Ware Elbow DNP DNP DNP
DT Chris Canty Calf DNP DNP DNP
CB Kevin Dockery Hamstring DNP DNP DNP
LB Clint Sintim Groin LP L DNP
WR Mario Manningham Shoulder LP L FP
OL Adam Koets Ankle LP L LP

JETS
68 Matt Slauson OL Ankle Limited / Questionable Friday, 09/25/09
77 Kris Jenkins DT Back Full / Probable Friday, 09/25/09
91 Sione Pouha DT Ankle Full / Probable Friday, 09/25/09
15 Wallace Wright WR Hamstring Full / Probable Friday, 09/25/09
11 Kellen Clemens QB Right Elbow Full / Probable Friday, 09/25/09
99 Bryan Thomas LB Ankle Full / Probable Friday, 09/25/09
55 Jamaal Westerman LB Quadriceps Full / Probable Friday, 09/25/09
36 Jim Leonhard S Knee Full / Probable Friday, 09/25/09
21 Dwight Lowery CB Ankle Full / Probable Friday, 09/25/09
74 Nick Mangold C Toes Full / Probable Friday, 09/25/09
67 Damien Woody T Shoulder Full / Probable Friday, 09/25/09
6 Mark Sanchez QB Knee Full / Probable Friday, 09/25/09
26 Lito Sheppard CB Quadriceps Did Not Practice / Out Friday, 09/25/09
27 Donald Strickland CB Ankle Did Not Practice / Out Friday, 09/25/09

Somerset Patriots Defeat Newark Bears 5-0 Friday to Take 2-0 Lead in Freedom Division Championship Series of Atlantic League

My Wife and I attended the Somerset Patriots game at TD Bank Ballpark Friday night as they defeated Newark Bears 5-0. They now hold a 2-0 lead in the best of five Freedom Division Championship Series. We have the Saturday plan for all home games and good people sitting to our left and right definitely makes it worth it. Patriots starter Joel Kirsten pitched brilliantly going 7.0 shutout innings allowing only 2 hits. Matt Hagen was voted the team MVP by fan text vote last night and he played the game like one. In the bottom of the 2nd he led off with a single to right, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the Bear catcher. Olivares drove him home with a sac fly deep to right. Hagen hit a double in the 7th, stole third then scored on a wild pitch. In the 8th Bear manager Tim Raines brought in two relievers (Nix and Smith) who combined to walk the bases loaded. Hagen hit a two out double to left field to clear the bases. He went 3 for 4 (2 2B), 3 RBIs, 2 runs with 2 SBs. Prinz came into the game in the top of the 9th in a non-save situation. The Bears had two base runners but could not score. The Patriots can sweep the series tonight in Newark.

Jets Look to Go 3-0 Against Titans at Meadowlands Sunday

The Jets host the Tennessee Titans at the Meadowlands this Sunday at 1:00 PM. This will be a real test for the new and improved Jets. The Titans aren’t thrilled coming in with an 0-2 record. Titans QB Kerry Collins can still throw the ball downfield. RB Chris Johnson is explosive and RB LenDale White continues to be a goal line TD threat. The Jets defense needs to beat them at the line and not get burned by the big play. If the Jets hold the ball, don’t give the Titans good field position and avoid dumb penalties they will win. It should be a great game.

Gaborik Shines as Rangers Defeat Capitals 3-2 Thursday at Garden

My friend I attended the Ranger game last night and it was a lot more up-tempo then we’ve seen in preseason. What’s great about preseason is you can sit in Section 56 (red seats) off the blue line when your tickets read 300-something (green seats). Marian Gaborik was a monster and was the games first star. Gaborik had three points on 2 goals and 1 assist. To begin the second period in a scoreless game the Rangers were killing off a Michal Rozsival two minute minor that carried over from the first. I saw Gaborik hop over the boards to get on the second PK unit. He picked up the loose puck in front of Washington’s blue line, went in fast and put it right by Washington goalie Theodore. Theodore didn’t even move when the red light was already on. A Ranger short-handed goal! It was the first game for Brandon Dubinsky and he looked great. Vinny Prospal started as the first line center but Dubinsky took over later in the game. With the game tied 2-2 late in the third period Dubinsky came down the right side hard and got the puck in front to Christopher Higgins for the goal. I loved the effort and am so glad Gomez is gone. Higgins got in front of the net the whole night and we can expect that play all season. Unfortunately Marc Staal did not dress so we didn’t see the Staal/Ovie show. Henrik played the entire game and looked sharp especially in the second period. Matt Gilroy made a great play in front of us as Ovie came down the left and picked Ovie’s pocket. He poked the puck away and kept Ovie from shooting. I loved Ovie’s face as he spun around. Giroy is impressive and I hope he and and Artem Anisimov make the team. Donald Brashear was booed for his two dopey minor penalties but made amends by fighting twice, the second being a lot more effective. Redden played a great game as well.

John Tavares Plays to the Home Crowd at Nassau Coliseum Wednesday

John Tavares, the #1 overall pick in this years draft by the New York Islanders made his Nassau Coliseum debut last night in their only preseason game in Uniondale. Tavares had an assist early in the 3rd period on a power play goal scored by Matt Moulson to tie the game 2-2. It was scored on former Islander goalie Yann Danis. The Devils went on to defeat the Islanders 4-2. Tavares is the the real deal the Islander fans have been waiting for.

Mets Keep Going Backwards in September, What's Up Jerry?

September is slip sliding away. The Mets are 6 and 15, a September percentage of .286. For the season they're .428, 21 1/2 games out of first place in the National League East.

“I Need One…” Step Right Up to Purchase Season’s Tickets for the Jets and Rangers

The Jets and Rangers have plenty of options available for season’s tickets these days. The economy has hit them hard and many seasons subscribers have let their seats go due to Personal Seat Licenses (in the case of the Jets) or tickets not being in the budget. The Jets exhausted their waitlist that was well over 10,000 a year ago. The Rangers exhausted their full and partial lists, each over 1,000 a year ago. If you’re interested and have the cash you can easily get seasons tickets. The Rangers are even advertising availability during the preseason games on TV. Many Jet fans are moving upstairs beginning next season to forego the PSLs. The problem is they will bump subscribers like my friend who does not have long-term seniority.

Jets Seasons Tickets

Rangers Seasons Tickets

New York Mets Shortstop Jose Reyes Takes Indoor Batting Practice

As reported by mets.com: Jose Reyes takes indoor batting practice:

"I haven't seen him run or anything, so that's still a question for me," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said Sunday. "What I'd like to know [in Spring Training] is he's healthy. That's the No. 1 thing for me. Spring Training becomes a very important time for him versus what it has been the last few years."

Reyes has been out since May 20th and I’m still confused as to what he’s been doing or needs to do to get back on the field. How can Jerry Manuel not have more definitive information on his All-Star shortstop, unless he knows he won’t be around to worry about it for Spring Training 2010.

Help Keep Islanders on Long Island and Attend Lighthouse Project Hearing Today

From the New York Islanders via email:

The day session will run from 9am – 5pm with a one-hour break from 1pm - 2pm. The night session is scheduled to run from 6pm – 9pm.

If you can't attend you can submit comments to the Town in writing.

Rangers Defeat Red Wings 4-2 at the Garden Monday

The Rangers defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 at home last night. Vinny Prospal, Enver Lisin and Ryan Callahan each scored in the 1st period. It was the first preseason game for Marian Gaborik and I’m glad he’s finally on the ice. He handled the puck with a high level of skill, something not seen on the Blueshirts since Jagr. Garorik made an excellent play, bringing the puck from right to left behind Detroit’s net and executed a perfect cross ice pass to Lisin for the shot and goal. I’d love to see Lisin on the first line with Gaborik. He’d get many scoring chances as teams try to contain Gaborik. Prospal played center and may be the first line center this year. Callahan was the first star of the game and looked to be in midseason form. Henrik Lundqvist (12 saves on 13 shots) and Steve Valiquette (16 saves on 17 shots) split time in goal and had solid outings. Artem Anisimov scored an empty net goal in the last minute of play to ice it for the Rangers. John Totorella has some tough decisions to make on whom will be on the starting roster. A few of the notable Red Wings did not play.

Giants Defeat the Hated Cowboys 33-31 at Cowboys Stadium Grand Opening Sunday Night

The New York Football Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys 33-31 at the grand opening of their new Cowboys Stadium, aka Jonesville Stadium. An NFL record crowd of 105,121 were present to see their team lose to Big Blue. Eli Manning had an excellent game passing, 25 of 38 for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Mario Manningham and Steve Smith had huge games on the receiving end. Manningham had 10 catches for 154 yards and Smith 10 catches for 134 yards. With all the talk of the Giants needing a big time receiver it looks they may have that covered. Domenik Hixon left the game in the first half with an ankle injury and hopefully will not miss any games. Tony Romo was brutal and picked off twice by S Kenny Phillips which resulted in two Giant touchdowns (13 of 29, TD, 3 INTs). K Lawrence Tynes kicked 4 field goals with the game winner coming as time ticked off the clock. He made it just inside the left upright but the Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips called a 30 second timeout, which I can’t stand. Tynes kicked an even better kick the second time and the Giants went off the field as winners. DE Justin Tuck and LB Antonio Pierce continued the trash talking after the game, spoiling their little party and having a great homecoming. What’s most important is that the Giants are 2-0 in the NFC East. The Cowboys coughed up the ball four times which resulted in 24 Giant points. That was the story of the game. DAL RB Marion Barber, 18 carries, 124 yards, TD. NYG RBs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for 25 carries and 95 yards.

Jets Defeat the Patriots (aka Cheaters) 16-9 at the Meadowlands Sunday - First Time in 9 Years!

What an amazing game to attend yesterday as the Jets defeated their hated rival New England Patriots 16-9 at the Meadowlands. I ran into a Patriot fan in a deli before the game, where his little son was wearing a Brady jersey. The woman behind the counter looked at the boy and said “the enemy!" Dad proudly lets us know he's from Boston. As I'm standing there silently, wearing my Jet hat, she turns to me and I say "I'm going to the game." Dad naturally engages me with "you guys feel pretty good about yourselves …” in Mr. Smirky Fashion and I then tell him “The defense will knock Brady down and Scott will have 4 tackles and a lot more hurries.” Wow, I was exactly right, and it felt great! I hope to see him again real soon.

This is the first Jets win at home over the Patriots since the 2000 season and it’s a big deal. Rex Ryan left a message on all season subscriber’s phones asking to be extra loud Sunday and the fans would be an important part of the win, and we were. This was the loudest I’ve ever heard a Jet home game and in fact we couldn’t hear the P.A. announcer. The blitzing defense kept Randy Moss and company out of the end zone and held the Pats offense to only 3 field goals in the first half on three trips to the red zone. Darrelle Revis shut down Randy Moss and had one interception on Tom Brady, a thing of beauty. The Jets offense had their chances but couldn’t get it going early and the score at the half was Patriots up 9-3. Too many Jet penalties hurt them. We kept wondering why Sanchez wasn’t throwing on first down in the first half and instead stayed with the run. In the second half it was a different game for NY. Sanchez threw a perfect pass to TE Dustin Keller in the back of the end zone in front of us to tie it 9-9 then go ahead 10-9 with the XP. Sanchez threw another great pass to Stuckey in the end zone again in front of us for a touchdown but it was challenged by The Cheater Bill Belichick and overturned. A Feeley field goal put them up 13-9. Another field goal in the 4th quarter gave the Jets the lead 16-9.

The Jet defense was tenacious and unstoppable. They got in Brady’s face the entire day and threw him off his game. The Patriots had 3 delay-of-game penalties and an illegal formation called late in the game. Kerry Rhodes came around the left side on a safety blitz on 3rd and 10 on the Patriots last possession and Brady was clearly flustered. Brady was stopped on 4th and 10 and it was over! The credit goes to everyone screaming making it impossible for Brady to hear. Head coach Rex Ryan gave the game ball to the fans and I was ecstatic being there. Sanchez, 14 of 22, 163 yards, 1 TD.

Heading to Jets Game vs. Hated Patriots (aka Cheaters)

Heading out to the Meadowlands for the Jets/Patriots game, aka The Cheaters. I'd love to see Sanchez and Cothery hook up for a TD. The Jets can compete today but need to play a perfect game, no turnovers, dumb penalties, cannot go backwards on offense. If the Jet defense can pressure Tom Brady and Revis can stay with Randy Moss the Jets can stay even with the Cheaters. J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS. Fireman Ed will be in rare form today!

Rangers Defeat Bruins 5-2 to Win First Preseason Game Saturday

The Rangers won their first preseason game in Boston today 5-2. Stephen Valiquette started in goal and stopped 12 of 14 shots and Chad Johnson finished stopping all 14 shots he faced. Johnson has played very well but was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack after the game along with G Matt Zaba, D Ilkka Heikkinen, D Corey Potter and F Paul Crowder. The roster needs to be trimmed by two more players by the end of training camp. Goals were scored by Artem Anisimov, Pierre Parenteau, Ales Kotalik, Sean Avery and Enver Lisin. I love the play of Anisimov and Lisin and hope to see them playing on the same line. A good win, even if only the preseason.

Rangers Agree to Terms with Brandon Dubinsky

The Rangers agree to terms with Brandon Dubinsky as reported on rangers.nhl.com. This was welcome news and is certaintly better late than never. He will join club and hopefully we'll see him on the ice Monday or Thursday at the Garden.

Tim Redding Defeats His Old Team 3-2 with Jeff Francoeur Leading Way Saturday

Tim Redding pitched another great game today and defeated his old team the Washington Nationals by a score of 3-2 at Citi Field. A larger than expected crowd of almost 38,000 watched Redding mow down the Nats, giving up only 1 earned run, 4 hits, with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts on a perfect day for baseball. Jeff Francoeur led the Mets and continued his hot offensive play going 2 for 4 (2B), 2 runs with 1 RBI. Redding and Francoeur gave the fans something to cheer for.

The Wheels Fall Off Again for Mike Pelfrey and the Mets, Lose 6-5 to Nationals Friday

Mike Pelfrey was cruising along against the Nationals last night who the worst team in baseball. As I watched on TV Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling were talking up Pelfrey in the top of the 5th as a shoo in for the starting rotation. The only question where would he be among the starters, #2, #3? Three seconds later Ian Desmond ripped a one out double just inside the third base bag by David Wright. The next batter Josh Bard launched a two run homer. The Mets made a valiant effort in the bottom of the 9th but came up a little short and lost 6-5. This is a microcosm of the Mets season this year. Just when you see something good happen the wheels fall off. Big Pelf’s been hurt by the long ball and last night was no different. Giving up 4 earned runs through 7.0 innings could have been enough to win, if they had more time to pick up the wheels.

Rangers Lose Third Preseason Game 4-3 to Red Wings in Detroit Saturday

The Rangers lost last night 4-3 to the Red Wings in Detroit. The Russian line of Artem Anisimov-Evgeny Grachev-Enver Lisin looked good again. Now I can see why Nicky Zherdev is no longer a Blueshirt. The line of Donald Brashear-Brian Boyle-Aaron Voros forechecked liked crazy and crashed the net. Michal Rozsival was not exactly in mid-season form and I’m sure Torts isn’t thrilled. Henrik Lundqvist started in goal and stopped all 14 shots faced in a little more then half the game. Matt Zaba took over and stopped 15 of 19 shots. I saw Ilkka Heikkinen and Paul Crowder play Wednesday at the Rock when Hartford defeated Lowell. Last night was their first game for the Rangers and both played well.

Brandon Dubinsky Looking for Less Money

Larry Brooks, New York Post is reporting that Brandon Dubinsky has reduced his asking price:

"While Overhardt would not provide specific information regarding the proposals, it is believed that Dubinsky is now seeking a one-year deal for approximately $1.1 million or a two-year deal for approximately $2.15 million.

Dubinsky's absence has shined a spotlight on the Rangers' glaring lack of depth and talent at center. Dubinsky lacks leverage as a Group II, but the Blueshirts are lacking an important piece of their puzzle for as long as the parties remain estranged. A quartet of Vinny Prospal, Chris Drury, Artem Anisimov and Brian Boyle down the middle won't even come close to cutting it. "

I hope Glen Sather agrees to terms soon and Dubinsky gets into camp. I'm afraid the longer this rolls on the more likely he'll look to trade him, and that would be a shame. Sather made it clear that this is the only time the organization has the leg up on negotiations with the player since he's not a UFA.

Rangers Cut 20 From Training Camp Roster Thursday

The New York Rangers cut their training camp roster by 20 players yesterday. If G Chad Johnson makes the team I hope he doesn't go with #85 and do a straight name change. He looked great against the Devils and G Matt Zaba against the Bruins. I LOVE D Matt Gilroy and D Michael Del Gotto's played well too. Grachev looked quick and has caught Tort's eye. Let's see how the rest of the preseason goes and who will make the next cut.

Mr. Met is Very Unhappy So Let's Bring Back Bobby Valentine in 2010!

The 4-12 record thus far in September pretty much says it all with regards to the Mets. It's been a long and arduous season. Even Mr. Met can't take it and he's paid to smile! I wonder if the Wilpons will start anew. Nomore Goodbya has to take Jerry Manuel with him. Maybe we can have an "investigation"? I for one would love to see Bobby Valentine return. Let's have a Mustache Giveaway on Opening Day 2010!

Islanders Need Support for Lighthouse Project Hearing on Tuesday, September 22nd

From the New York Islanders via email:

A zoning hearing has been scheduled for the Lighthouse project and all supporters are needed to attend. The hearing has been scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 22nd at the Adams Playhouse, on the campus of Hofstra University. The meeting will run in two sessions. The day session will run from 9am – 5pm with a one-hour break from 1pm - 2pm. The night session is scheduled to run from 6pm – 9pm.

For more information, please visit http://www.lighthouseli.com/ or the official blog of the Lighthouse Development Group, The Light Post at http://lighthouseliblog.blogspot.com.

Ridiculous Number of New York Mets Transactions this Season

Check out the ridiculous number of New York Mets transactions. It's dizzying and I got lost within the last two months alone. Who's kid picked that snappy logo?

Matt Gilroy Reminds Me a Bit of Brian Leetch

Seeing the Boson University 25-year-old rookie Matt Gilroy score that goal last night reminds of Brian Leetch. To even make that comparison is a stretch but it's great to see that kind of play. In his first two games of the preseason he roamed around the offensive zone. Watching him come up ice and beat Danis last night was amazing. I hope he makes todays cut and continues to get Torts' attention. I'd love to see him on the Blueshirts starting roster.

As reported by nydailynews.com:

"I chose to come play for them. I chose to come play for Coach Tortorella," said Gilroy, who signed with the Blueshirts on April 17. "I love the way he coaches and lets his defensemen join the rush and take chances. That was a huge reason for me to come to the Rangers, was Coach Tortorella. So I kind of knew what I was getting into."

Rangers Lose Second Preseason Game to Devils 3-2 in Shootout Wednesday

The Rangers lost in a shootout at the Rock last night 3-2. Seven among the 50 players in camp also played the first game Tuesday. I absolutely loved Matt Gilroy. The Rangers were down 2-0 in the 3rd period when Gilroy went full steam to the net and beat Danis. It was an amazing play. Owens got his first goal of preseason to tie it at 2-2. P.A. Parenteau was slammed into the net behind Danis but got out just before the goal was scored. That would have been the second goalie interference called on the Blueshirts. Avery was called for goaltender interference on a joke of a call late in the 1st period. He was yapping on the way to the penalty box and the refs called unsportsmanlike conduct to make it a 4 minute double minor. It looks like the bulls-eye on Avery's back is shining brightly. Wait until Marty's in goal. The Devils won the shootout in the 6th round. Henrik Lundqvist played the first half of the game up until the second TV timeout in the 2nd period stopping 16 of 17 shots. He looked especially good during the 4 minute penalty kill late in the 1st and early into the 2nd period, giving up only 1 goal to Clarkson. Johnson replaced him and played extremely well. An early goal to Clarkson once again and that was it. Johnson was psyched playing the shootout against the likes of future Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan whom missed. Voros can't keep picking fights, he stinks at it. His face will look like it went through a ricer if he keeps it up.

Hartford Wolf Pack Defeat Lowell Devils Wednesday 4-3 at the Rock in Shootout

A friend and I attended the game yesterday between the Devils and Rangers minor teams at the Rock in Newark. The Devils wore the NJ Devils red home jerseys while the Wolf Pack wore the Rangers white away jerseys. Most of the better prospects are with the big clubs in training camp. In the 1st period the Devils manhandled the Wolf Pack up and down the ice. The second period the Wolf Pack started forechecking and backchecking in an attempt to make a game out of it. The 3rd period saw the Wolf Pack and Devils take more then a few dumb penalties. With 36 seconds left the Wolf Pack scored a shorthanded goal to tie the game at 3-3. Nobody scored in the 5 minute overtime. In the shootout each team had 5 guys shooting vs. 3 in the NHL. I like that format better. The Wolf Pack won the shootout 3-2 on their last shot and won the game 4-3. The two teams play for real at the Rock 01/06/10 and 02/03/10.

Braves Shutout Mets in Atlanta Tuesday 6-0

The Mets were shutout in Atlanta 6-0 last night. Tommy Hanson pitched 7.0 dominating innings, giving up only 3 hits with 3 walks. Good to see the young Met catcher Josh Thole go 1 for 3 and make the most of his playing time. I hope they don't finish 25 games out of first this year. Pat Misch gave us 4 earned runs (HR), 8 hits with 1 walk. Brian Stokes also gave up 1 run in 9th inning relief.

Rangers Lose First Preseason Game to the Bruins 2-1 at the Garden Tuesday

My friend and I were at the Garden as the Rangers dropped their first preseason game to the Boston Bruins 2-1. Steve Valiquette started in goal and looked good. He played for about half the game and came out during the second TV timeout in the 2nd period. He gave up one goal on 19 shots. Hamill of Boston scored a power play goal in the 1st period but the Blueshirts had 3 good penalty kills the rest of the period. Zaba came in for Vali and finished the game and gave up one goal to Former Ranger Marc Savard. New Ranger Christopher Higgins scored midway through the 3rd period. He played a good game and will work out well for the Rangers. The defensemen were Stall, Del Zotto, Girardi, Gilroy, Sauer and Semenov. They will need to step up as the Rangers will most likely go with two young players on the third pairing this season. I liked the Russian line of Anisimov, Lisin and Grachev. Donald Brashear was met with boos from the crowd, until he forechecked then heard some cheers. A late 3rd period penalty on Callahan thwarted any chances to tie the game. Nice to be back at the Garden! I can't wait to see Ovie next week for the last preseason game.

Rangers' and Devils' AHL Minor Teams Play Matinee Preseason Game at the Prudential Center Wednesday at 1:00 PM

The AHL minor teams to the Rangers and Devils play at 1:00 PM tomorrow at the Rock. The Lowell Devils play host to the Hartford Wolf Pack for their first preseason game. The game is free and open to the public. The Wolf Pack's website didn't list this game but I called the Lowell Devils then the NJ Devils and was told by the NJ Devils that the game is good to go for tomorrow afternoon.

Giants Defeat Redskins in Slugfest at Giants Stadium Sunday 23-17

The Giants held on to win yesterday in a slugfest at the Meadowlands. It seems every time the Giants play the Skins it's a slugfest. The Giants outplayed the Redskins for most of the game but failed to score a touchdown on their first three trips inside the red zone. They blew a 17 point lead, gave up a TD on a fake field goal and another late in the game. QB Eli Manning threw one pick and coughed up the ball on a facemask that wasn't called on Washington. Manning was 20 of 29 for 256 yards with 1 TD. WRs Steve Smith and Mario Manningham had big catches with Manningham getting his first NFL TD. DE Osi Umenyiora had a terrific play on a fumble return for a TD and DE Justin Tuck had 1.5 sacks. K Lawrence Tynes is back and looked good kicking 3 FGs. Next week is the Cowboys in Dallas. I hope there are no "do overs" if someone punts the ball into the Cowboys Stadium new video screen. "Do over!", like when playing two hand touch in the street and doing the play over when a car comes down the block.

Jets Defeat Texans Decidedly Sunday 24-7 to Loud Boos by Texan Fans

The New York Jets beat the Texas 24-7 in an excellent first start for Mark Sanchez. He went 18 of 31 (58.1 PCT) for 272 yards with 1 TD, 1 INT and 5 rushes for 6 yards. He was not sacked and fumbled but was recovered by the Jets. He looked absolutely terrific. My good friend is from the Boston area but LOVES Mr. Sanchez! I've turned her into a Jet fan, or at least a Mark Sanchez fan! The real test for him comes in the next three games: Patriots (aka Cheaters), Titans, @ Saints. The Cheaters and Saints can light up the scoreboard easily and the Titans defense will be ready. I hope the Jets show up as they did yesterday, as they will be excellent games. The Jets' defense got pressure on Houston's QB Matt Schaub all game, stopped their running game and shut down their passing game. Houston WR Andre Johnson is among the elite receivers in the NFL and CB Darrelle Revis totally smothered him. Schaub had a very quick release and kept from getting sacked throughout the game. My Wife said NT Kris Jenkins is like a Human Truck as he threw offensive linemen out of the way. I love the play of ILB Bart Scott, one of Rex Ryan's guys from Baltimore. He may very well lead the team in tackles this year/

Mets Keep Going Backwards in September, What's Up Jerry?

The New York Mets keep losing and lowering their winning percentage in the month of September. They are mathematically out of the wildcard race. Yah! They're 4 and 9, a September percentage of .308. For the season they're .438, 20 games out of first place in the National League East. Jerry Manuel was jawboning in June about the Mets needing to stay near .500 and they'd pick it up in the second half. Now that the second half’s come and gone we're spiraling into the abyss. Thank God Washington's in the East or we'd be the cellar dwellers. I'm getting spammed like crazy from the Mets with promotions, deals, discounts, games down the stretch, etc. Maybe it's time to make a rule and move all that stuff to an email folder named THANKS_POR_LOS_MEMORIES.

Mets Come From Behind to Beat the Hated Phillies 10-9 Saturday

It was David Wright's day in Philadelphia yesterday. Great seeing him have such a strong game with two homers. Wright went 3 for 5 (2 HRs), 3 runs and 6 RBIs. Fernando Tatis and Carlos Beltran joined the hit parade. Tatis went 4 for 5 with 3 RBIs. Beltran, who sat the two previous games went 3 for 5 (HR), 3 runs with 2 RBIs. Six of the Mets' runs came in the final three innings. Mike Pelfrey was handed a 4 run lead before he threw a pitch but couldn't come close to holding it. Big Pelf gave up 8 earned runs, 10 hits, with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Green, Feliciano and Rodriguez combined to shutdown the Phillies in the final 2 2/3 innings. Feliciano earned the win and K-Rod earned his 31st save. I enjoyed listening to Howie Rose call the game with Tim McCarver on Fox. Even McCarver was good!

TSN Canada Power Ranks Blueshirts #22 - Tortorella Will Prove them Wrong

TSN Canada power ranked the New York Rangers #22 out of 30 teams. No mention of Henrik or Callahan among others in the article is a joke. They will do much better than that and finish in the top 8 in Eastern Conference. TSN Canada and The Hockey News seem to hate everything the Rangers do and love to bad mouth them in the preseason. I hope Torts uses this as a motivator, like he needs another motivator.

Kim Clijsters Upsets Serena Williams at 2009 US Open in Semifinals and Williams Lost in More Ways than One

Kim Clijsters of Belgium upset Serena Williams of the US in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 at the 2009 US Open last night. Clijsters left the tennis world to become a mom and was unranked coming into the tournament. Williams faulted on her first serve in the second set with the score 5-6, 15-30. On her second serve a line judge called a foot foul to make the score 15-40, double match point for Clijsters. Williams then berated the line judge as reported by cbsnews.com and said the following (... is equivalent to ing f-word):

"If I could, I would take this ... ball and shove it down your ... throat and kill you"

The tournament referee Brian Earley joined in the chat on court. Williams then said to the line judge (umpire):

"I didn't say I would kill you. Are you serious? Are you serious? I didn't say that."

Early said: "She was called for a foot fault, and a point later, she said something to a line umpire, and it was reported to the chair, and that resulted in a point penalty. And it just happened that point penalty was match point. It was a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct."

Williams was assessed a code violation for smashing her racket after losing the first set. With the second violation she lost a point and the match. Clijsters had fewer double faults, unforced errors, more total points, receiving points won and winning percentage on second serve. Williams lost in more ways than one.

Brandon Dubinsky Absent From Rangers Training Camp

Brandon Dubinsky did not attend training camp this morning with the rest of the Blueshirts as he's not yet a Blueshirt. He asked but was told no. Hopefully a deal can be made that both sides can live with. Torts says he won't hold it against him. Let's see about that. The joke is that Voros is making a lot more money then Dubinsky. Voros will lead the team in healthy scratches this season. Maybe the expectation is too high for Dubi but somebody has to get the puck to Gaborik. Or perhaps the Rangers are looking to deal Dubi for a #1 center. If not perhaps they need an idea of how much cap room they'll have before making him a real offer. I hope Sather signs him real soon and get him into camp.

New York Rangers Training Camp Opens Today

John Tortorella's Rangers training camp (aka boot camp) opens today.  He made no bones about the Rangers being out of shape down the stretch last season. Torts made it crystal clear that he expects things to be different this year. His eyes will be on everyone and it should be entertaining. I am looking forward to the up tempo style with Gaborik leading the way.

Jeter is New Yankees Hit King

Derek Jeter became the new Yankee Hit King in the 10-4 Loss to the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Jeter went 2 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout. His 2,722nd hit came in the 3rd inning with a single down the rightfield line. He is an excellent inside-out hitter who's made a career of hitting to the short side and going the other way. He said he was humbled when his teammates came out of the dugout. The crowd gave him a loud well deserved standing ovation. Let the Jeter collectible auctions begin!

Mets Lose to Phillies 4-2 Making it 4 Losses in a Row

The Mets lost 4-2 last night in Philadelpia in the light rain. The Mets wore their red hats in honor of September 11th, the same they wore on Memorial Day at home. Too much Cole Hamels, giving up only 1 earned run, on 7 hits, 1 walk with 6 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings for the win. Nelson Figueroa pitched well enough to win but once again there was no run support, giving up only 2 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. I'd like to see Beltran play again but most likely will sit again due to the rain. Jeff Francoeur had a third of the Met total hits going 3 for 4 with 1 double. David Wright does not come through in the clutch again with runners on base, leaving 3. Dessens and Stokes each gave up a run in the loss.