Heading to TD Bank Ballpark as Patriots Host Bluefish

My Wife and I are heading to see our Somerset Patriots play the Bridgeport Bluefish. The Patriots need to get back on track and start stringing some wins together. One of their better pitchers, Ryan Houston, was signed by the Los Angeles Angels. Houston has reported to the Angel’s Triple-A affiliate.

2010 Class of Mets Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon Today – Frank Cashen, Dwight Gooden, Davey Johnson and Darryl Strawberry Honored

I loved this team. Every time they walked into an opposing stadium they had the tenacity to win. Within a few years of 1986 Frank Cashen slowly began to breakup the team that he created unfortunately. The 1986 Playoffs were amazing as the California Angels had the Boston Red Sox on the ropes, the Houston Astros had the New York Mets on the ropes and of course the Red Sox had the Mets on the ropes in the World Series. Game 6 of the NLCS with the Mets down 3 runs going into the top of the 9th against the Astros at Houston was amazing. I began listening to the day game on the radio at work and I ended up at Rosie O’Grady’s on W. 52nd Street and 7th Avenue to watch the Mets win the game in the 16th inning. Astro pitcher Mike Scott was scuffing the baseball and if the Mets had to face him in a Game 7 he would have been awfully tough to beat. This was the first year that Major League Baseball Playoffs were best of seven games vs. best of five and I think that helped the Mets and Red Sox. The Red Sox had the Mets down to their last strike in the World Series and the Mets came back in another Game 6. A rainout the next night pushed Game 7 back one day. The Mets were down early and came back strong to win the World Series. I hadn’t slept in weeks glued to the radio or a TV. I stood on the side wall of Trinity Church at Wall Street and Broadway to get a glimpse of the parade going north on the Canyon of Heroes.

From the Mets via email. All proceeds benefit the Mets Foundation.
The 2010 Class of the Mets Hall of Fame Frank Cashen, Dwight Gooden, Davey Johnson and Darryl Strawberry will celebrate their induction to the Mets Hall of Fame at an exclusive pre-game luncheon Saturday, July 31 at Citi Field. Fans will have the opportunity to mingle with the Class of 2010 inductees and participate in a question-and-answer session where they will reminisce about their time with the Mets. Your donation includes food, beverage and a ticket for that night's game against the Diamondbacks.
Ticket(s): $300 per admission for Season Ticket Holders, $325 per admission for non-Season Ticket Holders

Friday, July 30th Continued Thoughts on Jets Offseason Moves Thus Far

Here are a few continued thoughts on the Jets wheeling and dealings thus far:

The Jets signed Laveranues Coles as the third time is a charm. He’s an older Coles but still a good signing as he’ll start the first four games. There is nothing yet to report on when an if an extension will be done with Darrelle Revis. This is a no brainer and needs to happen as training camp begins Monday. Reports indicate that the Jets and first-round pick Kyle Wilson can be done as early as tonight. Let’s hope that’s accurate. Nick Mangold said he will not holdout and expects to report to camp. My Wife and I are looking forward to going to the Jet season home opener of the new stadium Monday Night, September 13th and seeing Kris Jenkins The Human Truck playing nose tackle. J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!

Mets Take 2-of-3 Games from Cardinals to Win First Series in Ages Behind 4-0 Shut Out of Cardinals with R.A. Dickey’s Excellent Start Thursday at Citi Field

The New York Mets and specifically R.A. Dickey have been solid the past few days as they took their first series in ages from the St. Louis Cardinals winning 2-of-3. R.A. Dickey was excellent yesterday in shutting out the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0. Dickey gave up no earned runs, only 4 hits, only 2 walks and 2 strikeouts in 8.1 innings. As Jerry Manuel made the pitching change in the top of the 9th inning Dickey thanked him for giving him the chance to earn the complete game victory as Dickey handed the baseball to the manager. Francisco Rodriguez was the K-Rod of old blowing away two batters faced to earn his 22nd save of the season. Angel Pagan stayed red hot going 2-for-3 with his 7th triple of the year and also starting in left field for the day-to-day Jason Bay. The Mets are being very cautious with Bay’s concussion symptoms and do not want to rush him back into the lineup. Ike Davis was a monster again going 3-for-4 with his 15th home run of the season. Key stats: Mets: 4-for 11 and St. Louis 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Thursday, July 29th Notable Devils, Islanders and Rangers Free Agent Comings and Goings

DEVILS
MARK FRASER – resigned and avoided arbitration
ILYA KOVALCHUK – no word yet from NHL on his 17-year contract – Russian KHL matching offer on table

ISLANDERS
JEREMY YABLONSKI – tough guy, no goon from Ottawa organization
MATT MOULSON – resigned and avoided arbitration – very good player for Isles

RANGERS
ALEXANDER FROLOV – will add needed scoring for Blueshirts from Kings – will play on top two lines and power play

Mets Win First Series in Ages and MLS All-Stars Lost to Manchester United 5-2 Wednesday – Will Post More Tomorrow Morning

The Mets won their first series in ages against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and the Red Devils defeated the MLS All-Stars 5-2 last night. I will post more tomorrow morning.

Alex Rodriguez (aka A-Roid) About to Embark on 600 Home Run Plateau But He Cheated to Get There

The unwritten automatic entre into the National Baseball Hall of Fame was 500 home runs in a Major League career. If you hit 500 or more homers you would be elected into the Hall. To get to 600 home runs was another matter altogether and very few players ever got to that level. Since the beginning of the Major Leagues only the following have hit that many:

1. Barry Bonds – 762 CHEATER!
2. Hank Aaron – 755 (Hall of Fame)
3. Babe Ruth – 714 (Hall of Fame)
4. Willie Mays – 660 (Hall of Fame)
5. Ken Griffey – 630 (Future Hall of Fame)
6. Sammy Sosa – 609 CHEATER!

At the moment Alex Rodriguez (aka A-Roid, also a CHEATER!) third baseman for the New York Yankees sits at 599 homers. The Yankees had Rawlings make specially stamped commemorative baseballs for their last home stand to celebrate glorious number 600. Well he didn’t hit it on that home stand and the Yanks are now on the road. There is only one difference between A-Roid, Bonds and Sosa and the rest of the list above: they all cheated and took steroids. Babe Ruth was a phenomenal pitcher with the Boston Red Sox before coming to the New York Yankees and becoming arguably the greatest player of all time. Willie Mays was in my opinion the best all-around baseball player that ever lived. Say Hey Kid could do it all and make it look effortless. Ted Williams once said the All-Star Game was made for players like Willie Mays. Hank Aaron was an incredible ballplayer who hit for power, average, had speed and was a great outfielder (won 3 Gold Gloves). Hammerin’ Hank once said the strongest thing he ever took was aspirin. A-Roid claimed he never took steroids then claimed he only took them for three years while playing for the Texas Rangers. In my opinion he’s quite the liar. My question is how many Yankee, Texas Ranger and Seattle Mariner fans really care about his 600th home run? I’ve read a lot linking A-Roid to steroids, but I found the stories from SI.com, ESPN.com and SI.com interesting.

MLS All-Stars Play Manchester United at Reliant Stadium in Houston Wednesday, July 28th at 8:30 PM EDT on ESPN2

The MLS All-Stars will play Manchester United Wednesday night in the 2010 AT&T MLS All-Star Game to be televised at 8:30 PM EDT on ESPN2. The Red Devils’ roster should consist of Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov, Paul Scholes, Nani, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and many younger players. Juan Pablo Angel is the sole Red Bull to make MLS’ All-Star roster.

Red Bulls Defeated Manchester City 2-1 in Barclay’s New York Challenge Finale Sunday

The New York Red Bulls defeated Manchester City of the English Premier League 2-1 yesterday in the finale of the Barclay’s New York Challenge. My Irish friends are quite happy with the Red Bull victory as well as they are diehard United fans. By the way they’re also Red Bull fans! City manned largely reserves with a few starters mixed in such as Adebayor. Red Bull Dane Richards was man of the match playing a terrific game with a goal and an assist. In the 7th minute Richards ran past City’s Wayne Bridge into the right corner and made a great cross to Mac Kandji who came sliding in and finished to give the Red Bulls the early 1-0 lead. This got the Red Bull fans into the game from the beginning. Thierry Henry played the first half and his presence made the Red Bull players around him better. Henry’s passing was excellent, putting the ball right on the toe of his teammates. In the 21st minute Henry took a nice through ball, split the City defenders then shot from the left corner of the box for the far post. The shot just missed wide. In the 55th minute Jo scored for City to tie the game 1-1 on a blast in front of the Red Bull goal. Richards scored the 2nd Red Bulls goal by receiving a great through ball by Kandji then blasted a shot from 25-yards out that went off the crossbar and landed in the goal. The Red Bulls outshot City 13-6 in the win. Tony Tchani had a good game again and was the only Red Bull to play the entire 90 minutes as there were unlimited subs allowed due to the extreme heat. The MLS All-Stars host Manchester United in the 2010 AT&T MLS All-Star Game to be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX this Thursday, July 28th at 8:30 PM EDT. The game will be televised on ESPN2. Red Bull captain Juan Pablo Angel has been named to the all-star roster as an alternate. Sporting Portugal won the tournament with Tottenham, Red Bulls and City taking second, third and fourth.

Monday, July 26th Installment of What’s Up Jerry?

The Mets are heading back to the East Coast for the friendly confines of Citi Field where they will begin a home stand against the St. Louis Cardinals tomorrow night. The 11 game road trip was a horror show where they only won 2 games. I was really hoping for a 6-and-5 record on that trip the offense was completely offensive and nonexistent. There is a lot of talk concerning “team player malcontent” Jeff Francoeur demanding a trade and Kansas City may be his next home. I don’t know how he will fare against American League pitching, so we shall see. Omar Minaya (aka Nomore Goodbya) made the trip west and gave manager Jerry Manuel a “vote of confidence” but none of the coaches received such a vote. I feel like I’m about to see Michael Corleone give his brother Fredo a kiss on the check. It appears that that hitting instructor Howard Johnson may be the sacrificial lamb and will be let go very soon. The team looks completely disinterested in playing baseball and I find that hard to believe. R.A. Dickey was excellent again yesterday and argued with Manuel to stay in the game in the 6th inning with two outs. He landed in a divot in the mound and appeared to injure himself. Manuel took no chances and took him out under protest by Dickey. I’d like to see that from guys making MANY MANY MILLIONS more than him. So at this point I’d like to see everyone go and bring in Bobby Valentine to take over the ship for the rest of the season. I’ve listened to lots of pundits on sports talk radio in NYC speak about not switching a manager into a season. Well that happened two years ago and the team responded when Manuel replaced Willy Randolph.

Dodgers Defeated Mets 3-2 in 13 Innings as Oliver Perez Continues to Suck Giving Up Walk Off Home Run at Dodger Stadium Saturday

The New York Mets are most likely looking forward to coming back to the friendly confines of Citi Field as their road trip woes continue, blowing the game last Saturday 3-2 in horrific fashion. This time it was Oliver Perez who, as I’ve said many times before, absolutely sucks as a pitcher. Perez doesn’t belong on the Mets roster, or any other Major League roster for that matter. He chose not to play ball (so to speak) with the Mets organization and go to Triple-A Buffalo to relearn how to pitch. He clearly still doesn’t know how to pitch, walking a batter and later giving up a home run to Loney in the 13th inning. Perez can’t be trusted in any situation and will be booed off the pitching mound at Citi Field if he’s seen picking up the baseball at home any time soon. Starter Mike Pelfrey once again was not at his best giving up 2 earned runs, 6 hits, with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts in 5.0 innings. The Mets bullpen combination of Valdes, Acosta, Feliciano, Parnell and Dessens were terrific pitching 6.1 combined innings of scoreless baseball. It was the fantastic choice of Perez that blew it. Jose Reyes and Jason Bay both had 2-hit games and Reyes drove in Bay for one of New York’s runs in the top of the 6th inning.

NHL Rejects Ilya Kovalchuk Contract with New Jersey Devils as Circumvention of the Collective Bargaining Agreement

It looks like Lou and Kovy will have to go back to the drawing board to keep the Russian sniper in New Jersey for the rest of his NHL career. After reading about the 17-year, $102 million deal my first though was that is one way to beat the salary cap, and second thought was how can the league let that deal stand. At the end of the contract Kovy will be in his mid-40s and only a small handful of players are able play NHL hockey that long. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the following first thing Wednesday morning:

"The contract has been rejected by the League as a circumvention of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Under the CBA, the contract rejection triggers a number of possible next steps that may be elected by any or each of the NHLPA, the Player and/or the Club. In the interim, the player is not entitled to play under the contract, nor is he entitled to any of the rights and benefits that are provided for thereunder. The League will have no further comment on this matter pending further developments."

New Jersey Devils President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello then said the following late Wednesday afternoon:

"We are extremely disappointed that the NHL has decided to reject the contract of Ilya Kovalchuk. The contract complies with the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. We will have no further comment until the process outlined in the CBA is complete."

So nobody will have any further comments. This should get interesting as training camp approaches. Obviously Lamoriello wants to keep Zach Parise around for a long time as well so he has his work cut out for him. Kovy said money wasn’t the deciding factor. What a joke that is! If that’s the case sign a realistic deal for six or eight years and then take care of winning later.

Mets Defeated Dodgers 6-1 at Dodger Stadium as Santana Earns Eighth Win Friday

The New York Mets needed a win badly and got it last night behind Johan Santana’s excellent outing, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1. Santana gave up only 1 earned run, 5 hits, with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Bobby Parnell pitched a scoreless 8th with 1 strikeout and Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless 9th with 2 strikeouts in a non-save situation due to the Mets' lead. The Mets took a 2-1 lead into the top of the 8th where they scored 4 more runs that gave them the 6-1 win. David Wright is slowly becoming K-Rite again as he had 3 strikeouts last night, looking awful in the process. On a more positive note Jose Reyes stole home in the top of the 1st inning to open up the scoring for the Mets that gave them the early lead and Ike Davis hit a solo homer. Reyes also scored on a sacrifice fly by Wright in the 8th. Jason Bay hit a bases clearing double in the 8th to secure the win for the Mets, going 2-for-4. Bay also slammed into to the left field gate to make a great catch in the 2nd inning and later nearly fell over the short fence down the left field line chasing a foul ball. Mets manager Jerry Manuel was ejected from the game in the 2nd inning by first base umpire Doug Eddings for arguing a call. It’s good to see Jerry have some life. The Mets continue their series with the Dodgers today in a day game that will be televised on Fox, 4:10 PM EDT.

Red Bulls Come Up Short in 2-1 Loss to Spurs in Opening Match of Barclay’s New York Challenge Thursday

My Wife and I were glad to be at Red Bull Arena Thursday night for the opening match of the Barclay’s New York Challenge between the New York Red Bulls and Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League. The Red Bulls lost in tough fashion 2-1 in front of over 20,000 fans with many Spur fans sprinkled around the arena. This was the opening match of the Barclay’s New York Challenge and the debut of Thierry Henry who didn’t disappoint the home crowd. Every time Henry touched the ball we got very loud to make him feel at home. The Red Bulls controlled the tempo in the first half and Henry had a great chance to score in the 7th minute but was stopped by Spur goalkeeper Cudicini. Henry took a shot a few minutes later on a great chance in front but the ball sailed wide right. Stammler, Kandji and Richards all had chances to score in the first half. The Red Bulls played very well in the first half and Henry scored in the 25th minute. Joel Lindpere made a terrific play on the left side getting around the Spur defender, crossed the ball to a sliding Henry who redirected it with his right foot into the right corner of the net. We were going crazy and made Henry feel right at home. At the start of the second half three Red Bulls were substituted: Tony Tchani for Henry, Greg Sutton for goalkeeper Bouna “Bouna Time” Coundoul and Mike Petke for Carlos Mendes. Two more subs came in later: Jeremy Hall for Albright and Conor Chinn for Stammler. Sutton gave up a goal in the 72nd minute to Robbie Keane and another to Gareth Bale in the 82nd minute to seal the win for the Spurs. Keane scored in front of the left post as Sutton missed the ball crossing in from his left and it fell to Keane. In the 82nd minute Bale stepped up on the ball that Hall headed back to Sutton. The ball was not hit hard enough and Bale came up and scored behind Sutton. That was a tough way to lose the game. We had a great time and glad we were there. Henry even took the PATH train from the World Trade Center stop from Manhattan to Harrison, NJ to the game! Henry said:

“The goals are going to come. The reception was tremendous and every time I touched the ball they cheered. It was important for me to feel at home."

“I was on the PATH train with my friends and with all the fans ... For me, it was the quickest way to come to the game and that’s how I came. It was cool. It was amazing to see the fans and walk with them to the stadium. Just amazing.”

Thursday, July 22nd Installment of What’s Up Jerry?

The “team player” named Jeff Francoeur wants out of New York since he’s been riding the pine. Everything I heard about this guy is that he’s a team player, until it affects him. I can understand the fact that he’s been a starter in the outfield since Little League and this may affect his future in Major League baseball. The reality is that he stinks at the plate and needs to get more discipline to earn playing time. Right now the Mets need to field the best team they can and that means keeping Angel Pagan on the field. In fact let’s put Carlos Beltran in right field or left to give the underachieving Jason Bay a day off and put Angel back in center field. Bay’s 6 home runs are just awful. This team needs to get back to winning 2-of-3 from opposing teams if they want to play serious October baseball.

Heading to Red Bull Arena as Red Bulls Host Tottenham Hotspur in Barclay’s New York Challenge – Thierry Henry Makes His Red Bull Debut

My Wife and I are heading to Red Bull Arena, also knows as the Cathedral of Football for the opening game of the Barclay’s New York Challenge. The Red Bulls open the tournament against Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League. It should be a raucous crowd as Thierry Henry makes his debut with the Red Bulls. A couple of hours ago I saw a gent wearing a Spur jersey around town and I volunteered “Let’s go Red Bulls. We are going to beat you guys tonight!” He was less than thrilled with my enthusiasm and he just muttered something in his British accent as he walked away. LET’S GO RED BULLS!

Mets Brutal on Road Trip with 1-and-5 Record Thus Far and Counting

I learned many years ago that if I didn’t have anything nice to say then not to say anything. However, I’m about to make an exception. The Mets are 1-and-5 in their last six games they’ve played thus far on this road trip. Without the horrific call by the plate ump at San Francisco they’d be 0-and-6. I posted last week that they need to play at least .500 baseball on the road and take 2-of-3 at home and they would have an excellent shot at the National League Wildcard. I was hoping for a 6-and-5 record on this trip. As it stands now that may be a distant dream. They have also dropped 9 of their last 13 games and the offense has completely disappeared. I saw Carlos Beltran sitting on the far end of the bench last night. That is where the rookies or the kids they bring up when they expand the rosters in September sit, not an All-Star. The Mets’ schedule doesn’t get any easier in the coming weeks. There’s still a chance to get back on track but they can’t wait any longer. A new stud pitcher is needed before the trade deadline and the offense has to return. Even poor Mr. Met is saddened by the state of the team.

Tuesday, June 20th Continued Thoughts on Jets Offseason Moves Thus Far

Here are a few continued thoughts on the Jets wheeling and dealings thus far:  

• The latest nonsense with Darrelle Revis’ contract negotiations has to come to a resolution. Revis said the Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum told him in early April that he believed he should be the highest-paid cornerback in the league. Head coach Rex Ryan has stated that Revis is the best defensive player in the league. At the ESPYS recently Revis told reporters he had no idea on the status of his contract negotiations.
• I hope they don’t trade defensive end Shaun Ellis “The Big Cat”. He’s one of my favorite Jets and has been the heart of the defense for a decade.
• Linebacker David Harris and center Nick Mangold need extensions as well. Nobody needs any training camp holdouts.
• Locking up D’Brickashaw Ferguson with the extension until 2017 was a great move. He’s one of the best offensive tackles in football and Mark Sanchez will be glad he’s around for needed blindside protection.

Tuesday, July 20th Notable Devils, Islanders and Rangers Free Agent Comings and Goings

DEVILS
ILYA KOVALCHUK – one of the best snipers in the league – signed 17-year deal to remain in New Jersey, one way to keep under the salary cap

ISLANDERS
DUSTIN KOHN – solid young defenseman signed new contract
ROBBIE SCHREMP – centerman signed new contract

RANGERS
DAN GIRARDI – good defenseman signed new contract to avoid arbitration – second in ice time for Blueshirts
JEREMY WILLIAMS – right wing from Detroit
BRODIE DUPONT – centerman signed new contract
MICHAEL SAUER – solid young defenseman singed new contract
COREY POTTER – defenseman left to sign with Penguins
JAMIE LUNDMARK – centerman left to sign with Predators

Madison Square Garden Undergoing Much Needed $850 Million Transformation

Madison Square Garden, The World’s Most Famous Arena will be undergoing a much needed $850 million facelift in the next couple of years. My hope is that Ranger tickets won’t go up and come to think of it, Knick and St. John’s as well. I saw renderings of the two bridges that will cross the ice (and playing floor for basketball) and thought that’s where Dancin’ Larry can do his bit in the third period during the second or third TV timeout (OMG…) This project was originally estimated at $500 million.

Monday, July 19th Installment of What’s Up Jerry?

Oliver Perez pitched for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons the other day and will most likely head for the Met bullpen. My first thought is ‘God help us all!’ With the lack of steady offense I can see Ollie blowing a 1-run lead in the 7th inning of a crucial game. Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya (aka Nomore Goodbya) should call up Pat Misch from the Bisons, put Takahashi in the bullpen and keep Perez in Buffalo. Ollie would have to agree to a minor league stint unfortunately and probably won’t. Jerry said he doesn’t see a need to bring up Misch yet! Luis Castillo may see second base tonight for the Mets as he’s been rehabbing with the Single-A St. Lucie Mets. Let’s make Angel Pagan the everyday right fielder and Jeff Fancouer the fourth outfielder. I like Frenchy but he’s just not playing well at all. How the hell exactly did Mike Pelfrey hurt his neck on the cross country flight and miss his start this weekend? He’s slated to start tonight against the Diamondbacks. Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) was a knucklehead in losing his mind as he blew the save yesterday and must focus and just get saves. K-Rod’s become an adventure every time he gets the ball lately. Ruben Tejada played shortstop but Jose Reyes’ offense is sorely missed and he should start along with Carlos Beltran in center field. This series in Arizona has become a must win, no, make that a must sweep series.

Crew Shut Out Red Bulls 2-0 at Columbus Saturday and Remain in Second Place in Eastern Conference

The New York Red Bull’s undefeated streak ended Saturday as they were shut out by the Columbus Crew 2-0. A win would have put New York atop the Eastern Conference ahead of the Crew. With the loss the Red Bulls remain in second place 5 points behind. Columbus scored in the 20th minute to break the scoreless tie and give them the 1-0 lead on a nice play by Emilio Renteria. The Red Bull captain Juan Pablo Angel lost the ball at midfield, Columbus made a pass forward with better dribbling and an excellent through ball to Renteria. He shot towards the left corner of the net as Red Bull goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul got a hand on the ball but it still sailed into the net. The Red Bulls’ first chance came in the 24th minute Dane Richards took a shot from the right side on a tough angle. The ball was saved to keep the score Crew 1-0. Tim Ream also had a nice play off a corner kick in the 42nd minute just before halftime but the Red Bulls still could not score. The Crew scored again in the 48th minute to give them the 2-0 lead and victory on a goal by Brian Carroll. Tim Ream could not clear the ball and Carroll scored into the upper right corner of the net. For the Red Bulls Luke Sassano and Dane Richards got the starts for Chris Albright and Salou Ibrahim, who always seems to be hurt. The Crew took the game to the Red Bulls and earned the win. I was hoping to see Henry come into the game for the last ten minutes, hoping against hope he could make something happen if need be. He won’t see action until this Thursday when the Red Bulls host the English Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur in the Barclay’s New York Challenge. Shep Messing said the most exciting part of the game was watching Henry getting out of the yellow cab before the game.

Mets Lost 8-4 Saturday and Won 4-3 in 10 Innings Sunday against the Giants to Avoid Sweep

The New York Mets were down 6-0 last night at San Francisco due to the horrific start by Met Hisanori Takahashi who gave up 6 earned runs, 7 hits with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts in 2.2 innings! The Mets managed to get 2 runs in the 7th inning but Raul Valdes gave them back 2 runs in the bottom of the inning. New York managed one more run in the 8th and 9th innings but came up short 8-4 and wasted two home runs by first baseman rookie Ike Davis. Today Ike Davis was again the man as he went 3-for-5 (2 doubles) with 2 RBIs including driving in Jason Bay for the go ahead run in the 10th inning after Francisco Rodriguez blew the save in the bottom of the 9th. Johan Santana was great today giving up only 1 earned run, 8 hits, with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts in 8.0 innings for the no decision. K-Rod blew the save, but earned the win in the 10th! That’s a crime and Johan needs some wins sometime soon. With the win the Mets avoided the sweep of the four game series.

Heading to TD Bank Ballpark as Patriots Host Blue Crabs in Atlantic League

My Wife and I are heading to TD Bank Ballpark as the Somerset Patriots host the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The Patriots have had a tough go of it lately with a record of 2-6 in the second half of the season. SOMERSET, PATRIOTS!

Mets Shut Out Again 1-0 as Zito Tosses 2-Hitter at AT&T Park to Give Giants Win Friday

The New York Mets were shut out again last night at AT&T Park, this time 1-0 as Barry Zito baffled the Mets and only gave up 2 hits through 8.0 innings pitched. The Met offense forgot to make the trip out West apparently and need to get back on track to make this road trip a success. I felt they needed to go at least 6-5 in the eleven games but now that looks like an uphill battle after losing the first two to San Francisco. Carlos Beltran went 1-for-4 with a double at the plate. Jon Niese certainly pitched well enough to win and was excellent, giving up only 1 earned run, 6 hits, with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Bobby Parnell was terrific again out of the bullpen for the Mets pitching a scoreless 8th inning giving up only 1 hit. The Met starters were awesome in the past two games and the offense was not present which is more than disappointing. Angel Pagan sat this one out and Jeff Francoeur got the start in right field going 0-for-3 at the plate. The Mets were an abysmal 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position which shows just how dominant Barry Zito was for the Giants. Brian Wilson (not from the Beach Boys!) came in to shut down the Mets in the 9th inning and earn his 24th save of the season with 1 hit and 2 strikeouts. Still no sign of Met All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes returning to the lineup. As Jose goes so go the Mets. His presence along with Angel Pagan as the number one-two hitters is sorely missed. Hisanori Takahashi is the stating pitcher for the Mets tonight in what I feel is a must win game. Giants and ESPN broadcaster Jon Miller threw out the first pitch before the game to celebrate his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Lincecum Shuts Out Mets as Giants Won 2-0 at AT&T Park Thursday

The New York Mets could not get anything going offensively against Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants last night at AT&T Park. It was a shame as R.A. Dickey was excellent for the Mets giving up only 1 earned run, 5 hits with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Dickey’s had a few rough outings before the All-Star break but was terrific last night. Unfortunately the Mets were going up against one of the best pitchers in the National League. Lincecum was just better giving up no earned runs, only 6 hits, with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts in 9.0 innings to earn his 10th win of the year and the complete game. Lincecum has not been successful against the Mets in the past as this was his first victory against New York. Carlos Beltran returned to the Met lineup, starting in center field and batting cleanup. Beltran went 1-for-4, was thrown out trying to steal second base and left runners in base hitting into an inning ending out. Lincecum was dominant hurling 77 strikes in 110 pitches where the Mets were 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. The series continues tonight as Jon Niese takes the mound for the Mets against Barry Zito.

New York Red Bulls Introduce Thierry Henry as Newest Designated Player at Press Conference Today

The New York Red Bulls held a press conference today to introduce Thierry Henry at Red Bull Arena. Henry is the biggest addition to the team and will hopefully bring them closer to a Cup victory. You can view the press conference here.

Carlos Beltran Will Start in Center Field and Hit Cleanup for Mets Tonight!

Carlos Beltran said on Sunday that he’s “Good to go” and he will have the chance to show his wares tonight in San Francisco. The Mets open up an eleven game road trip tonight starting with four games against the Giants. R.A. Dickey will be on the mound for the Mets against Giants’ ace and All-Star Tim Lincecum. I have no idea why Jerry Manuel is not starting Johan Santana tonight. Beltran will be playing with a brace on his right knee and has admitted to not being 100 percent. I wasn’t sure if I’d see this day where Beltran returns to the lineup for the Mets this season. Angel Pagan will start in right field for Jeff Francoeur and Ike Davis will move out of the cleanup spot and down the order. Let’s hope he doesn’t end up back on the disabled list and can contribute to the team in the second half.

National League Defeated American League 3-1 in 2010 All-Star Game at Angels Stadium Tuesday for First Win Since 1996

It’s been a while since the National League won the All-Star game and I’m glad that they did last night. This will give the NL team the home field advantage in the World Series. Met David Wright made the most of his appearance as the NL starting third baseman going 2-for-3 with a stolen base. The game was dominated by excellent pitching by both teams. Yankee starter Phil Hughes was on the mound in the 7th inning when the National League struck. Two things of note that made the game enjoyable were watching Yankee Alex Rodriguez (aka A-Roid) not get into the game and the NL’s right fielder Marlon Byrd’s great play in the bottom of the 9th inning. A-Roid was getting warmed up since the 6th inning, expecting to go into the game shortly. The camera kept showing him stretching in the dugout and anticipating the call from the AL’s manager, also his manager with the New York Yankees, Joe Girardi. The skipper never called his name. I was floored by the snub. With the tying run in Big Papi David Ortiz on first base a bloop single was dropped in front of Marlon Byrd. The right fielder played the ball on a short-hop and gunned it to second base to force out Ortiz to keep him out of scoring position. It was the heads-up play of the night. I believe the National League wanted the game more as it was played that way and managed that way by Charlie Manuel. I remember watching an All-Star game from the mid-70s and they introduced new fins in lieu of donuts for use in the on-deck circle. That concept didn’t come into play when the regular season resumed. This year Rawlings improved the look of the safer batting helmet and many of the players wore them last night. I’m not sure if that will translate into use during the season but it’s a great idea.

It’s Official and the Wait’s Over Red Bulls Sign Thierry Henry

The Red Bulls made it official this morning that Thierry Henry has signed with the club. I hope Henry will help the team from the start. He will make his first appearance with the Red Bulls during the New York Football Challenge being held at Red Bull Arena from July 22nd – 25th. I received a text message from the Red Bulls at 7:04 AM that said:

It’s official, Thierry Henry signs with RBNY. Pick up the NY Times today! Debut 7/22 vs Spurs

The Red Bull players are thrilled to have Henry join the team. I’m still not sure who will be cut but it may be veteran John Wolyniec. I hope I’m wrong as I like Woly but room will need to be made on the roster unfortunately.

Sad Day in New York City Area as George M. Steinbrenner (The Boss) Principal Owner of the New York Yankees Passed Away Today at the Age of 80

It’s a sad day today for New York City, the Yankees and their fans as longtime majority owner George M. Steinbrenner passed away today after suffering a massive heart attack at the age of 80 years old. George was known as The Boss, something he certainly lived up to since 1973. The Boss brought back winning to the New York Yankees where they won 7 World Series Championships under The Boss’ ownership. Losing Bob Sheppard just the other day is very sad as well.

“Owning the Yankees is like owning the Mona Lisa"

“Winning is important to me. Breathing first, winning second”

The Boss was once asked what he wanted to be engraved on his tombstone and he said “He Never Stopped Trying”

The Boss was suspended from Major League Baseball, twice, but brought back after each suspension. He hired and fired Billy Martin five times! I loved the Bronx Zoo years. The Boss forever changed baseball by paying free agents ridiculous money to come to the Yankees, starting with Sparky Lyle from the hated Boston Red Sox and World Series Champions from the Oakland A’s Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson. The Daily News would call him “Steingrabber.” The list went on and on. The Yankees won 103 games during the 1980 season under manager Dick Howser, one of their best seasons in their history. After the Yanks were swept 3-0 to the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series The Boss fired Howser. Nice! The team had an 18-year stretch without winning a World Series with some good years but no Series to show for it. The Boss taunted New York City and New Jersey politicians in an effort to get a new stadium built in the Bronx. He pulled the same act in the 1970s and finally the Yankees built the stadium for a cost of $1.6 billion. The Yankees should owe a lot to Gene Michael. He brought the team back to relevance in the 1990s by rebuilding the farm system, trading for players, signing quality free agents and bringing up homegrown talent. Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Pasada and Derek Jeter are all examples. Buck Showalter was fired as manager after bringing the team to the playoffs in 1995. Joe Torre was installed and the rest is history. The NYC newspapers called Torre “Clueless Joe” and “Joe Who?” as he was not a winning manager at the time. Steinbrenner tried to bring Showalter back as the fans were outraged. Fielding the best team money can buy certainly helps your managing legacy. During the 2000 World Series The Boss changed the furniture in the visiting clubhouse at Shea Stadium with Yankee gear. Who else would think of doing that and then do it? What would have happened if the deal for buying the Cleveland Indians (and of course then not the Yankees) went through? I’m a Met fan but will miss The Boss.

More than 50-50 Chance that Red Bulls Will Sign Rafa Marquez from Barcelona and Mexico’s Villain Captain

Word on the street is that the New York Red Bulls are on the verge of signing a third designated player. That player may be Rafa Marquez, center-back/defensive midfielder from Barcelona and Mexico’s captain. Under current MLS rules teams can sign a third designated player but pay a fee to the league the will be split among other teams. A release will have to be negotiated to sign Marquez from the La Liga giants. Things will get very interesting at Red Bull Arena. How can I root for this guy too? As reported by newyorkredbulls.com and nypost.com:

Soler also discussed that a third designated player could be a part of the summer signing spree for the Red Bulls. The sporting director told reporters that the target before the World Cup had always been to sign two marquee players. He revealed that the player of interest is a midfielder.

“I think it’s more than 50-50,” Soler said of whether a third designated player, the mystery midfielder, would be signed.
The rumor mill says that Mexican international Rafael Marquez is the player of interest. Soler fueled this speculation that it could be Marquez by commenting that the player can man a number of positions all over the field.

Steve Nash of Phoenix Suns Confirms His Friend Thierry Henry Will Become a New York Red Bull

Steve Nash was at the Red Bulls game Saturday and confirmed that his friend Thierry Henry will become a Red Bull as reported by nypost.com:

"It's fantastic,'' Nash said at tonight's Red Bull game vs. D.C. United. "And we're lucky as well. Thierry is still a world-class player. We've seen players come over before who showed how great they were, but not necessarily every night.

"I think he's still capable of bringing it at the highest level. It's amazing that he's willing to come over at this stage of his career, to be honest. It’s a big coup for Red Bull and MLS as well.'' 

"He's had a phenomenal career played at some of the biggest teams in the world, had a fantastic time at Arsenal and a fantastic time at Barcelona,'' Nash said. "When you've been a professional player at the highest level with those kind of expectations since you're 17, sometimes you welcome a change.

"He's accomplished so much. I don’t know how many players have won as much _ he's won in England, he's won in Spain, he's won a Champions League, he's won a European cup, he's won a World Cup. He loves America, he loves new York city and is ready for a new challenge. So I'm thrilled I'll be able to see him on a daily basis.''

Red Bulls Played 0-0 Draw Against Hated Rivals D.C. United at Red Bull Arena Saturday and Extend Unbeaten Streak to Five Games

My Wife and I were at Red Bull Arena last night to root on the Red Bulls as they hosted their hated rivals D.C. United as the game ended in a 0-0 draw. This takes the Red Bulls’ unbeaten streak to five games. The game started on the chippy side with both teams letting the other know how they felt about them. The Red Bull captain Juan Pablo Angel was kept in check by the D.C. United defense and only had two chances midway through the first half to score. Seth Stammler shot a rocket from 30+ yards out that sailed over the crossbar. Scoring in the 15th minute would have been nice for the home team. The play was slow and deliberate at times through the second half until the final whistle. The Red Bulls had some poor passing, including a lot of bad drop passes to nobody in the midfield throughout the game. The Red Bulls Tim Ream, Bouna Coundoul, Joel Lindpere and Tony Tchani played well. Tchani was substituted for Seth Stamler early in the second half and made the most of his time in the game. Stammler looked like he was running out of gas while Dane Richards and Sinisa Ubiparipovic on the wings were not in sync at all. Carlos Mendes continues to start in place of veteran Mike Petke and is playing well. I turned to my Wife and commented that D.C. United looked like they were playing for a draw and the Red Bulls should try to force the play. In the end the Red Bulls won their first Atlantic Cup since 2003 with their 2-0 win at D.C. earlier in the season and the draw last night. The supporters once again did an outstanding job and it is great sitting in Section 132 right next to them. The D.C. United supporters were loud until the Red Bull supporters marched into the arena and took over. We decided to walk over the Jackson St. Bridge from Harrison back to Newark and ended up saving time compared to walking to the PATH and waiting for a train.

Once-In-A-Lifetime Chance to Enter the World of Major League Baseball and Play Alongside Many of Your Childhood Heroes at Mets Fantasy Camp, Only $4,395.00!

If you’ve recently hit the Lottery or are independently wealthy you can live out your fantasy at the Mets Fantasy Camp. It will only set you back $4,395.00 for six days! My fantasy is that the Mets get to the playoffs and continue solid play, but they must get back on track to winning ways now.

Mets Lost to Braves 4-2 at Citi Field Friday and Lost 9 of Last 15 Games – Need to Get Back to Winning Ways Against East Division Leaders

The New York Mets have not been playing winning baseball in their last 15 games, losing 9 in that stretch. The starting pitching and lack of timely hitting has been the story. The Mets were three games behind the East Division leading Atlanta Braves going into the game last night which makes the 4-2 loss hurt even more. Last night R.A Dickey was pitching well giving up 2 runs, only 1 earned into the 7th inning. With two outs Dickey gave up back-to-back home runs that gave Atlanta the 4-2 lead. The Mets could not come back from the 2-run deficit and watching ex-Met Billy Wagner mow them down in the 9th inning for his 20th save was not fun. Josh Thole got the start behind the plate for the Mets and went 1-for-3. Angel Pagan and R.A. Dickey each had 2-hits in the loss. The Mets were only 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and have to be a lot better than that to beat the Braves. The Mets host the Braves in a 4:10 PM matinee at Citi Field where Mike Pelfrey will go for his 11th win of the season.

Rangers Sign Girardi and Trade Voros - Will Post More Tomorrow

The Rangers signed Dan Girardi to a new contract and avoided arbitration. In addition they traded Aaron Voros to the Ducks. I'll post more on both tomorrow morning.

“King James” Takes the Road Show to South Beach and Says on National TV Buy-Bye to Cleveland

LeBron James hath spoken! The show it on it’s way to South Beach to build a dynasty for the Miami Heat. I absolutely loved the Open Letter to Fans from the Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert where he rips James for all his giving up on the court and shenanigans during this process. The lack of respect James threw at Gilbert was unbelievable. The whole thing was a joke, really.

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier. 

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE"

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

Antonio Pierce Retires From NFL and Joins ESPN as Analyst

Antonio Pierce, who was released by the New York Giants last February, has joined ESPN today as an NFL analyst. Pierce will appear on NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, 1050 ESPN New York radio as well as contributing to a weekly column for ESPN’s New York website.

LeBron James Sweepstakes on Primetime TV Tonight – Will Announce Who Will Have Privilege of Signing Him Live on ESPN at 9:00 PM EDT

The LeBron James Sweepstakes will be televised tonight in primetime at 9:00 PM EDT on ESPN. James will announce who will have the privilege of signing him tonight live. I for one am sick of all the “experts” giving every possible scenario to where James will end up. I thought I saw it all with Alex Rodriguez (aka A-Roid) wanting to leave Seattle for a winner and where does he end up? A-Roid ends up in Texas with a ten-year deal, the worst team in MLB at the time! The LeBron James Sweepstakes is way more over the top then Brett Favre’s retirement, comeback, retirement, comeback, etc., etc. Just check out GetLebron.com for more!

Jim Dolan States “A New Era of Basketball at Madison Square Garden…” as Amar'e Stoudemire Officially Announced as Member of New York Knicks and Amar’e Proclaims “The Knicks Are Back”

Five time all-star and elite power forward Amar'e Stoudemire is officially the newest member of the New York Knicks. Stoudemire proclaimed at the press conference held today on The Garden floor that “the Knicks are back.” The deal was for an astronomical five-year, $100 million. Head coach Mike D'Antoni and Stoudemire are reunited and hopes are that they can win as many games with the Knicks as they did with the Phoenix Suns, and even a Championship or two. One question I have is who will get Amar’e the ball? Tony Douglas looks like a promising NBA player but he’s no Steve Nash. The Knicks may be out of the LeBron James Sweepstakes but they still have money under the salary cap to sign or trade for other players.

Wednesday, July 7th Notable Devils, Islanders and Rangers Free Agent Comings and Goings

DEVILS
ROB NIEDERMAYER – left to sign with Sabres
There is nothing yet on sniper Ilya Kovalchuk resigning with the Devils or another club

RANGERS
COREY LOCKE – left to sign with Senators – Solid scorer with AHL Hartford Wolf Pack but no room with Blueshirts

Zdeno Chara Stuffed Into Marian Gaborik’s Porsche

Check out the 6’9”, 261 pounds of Zdeno Chara stuffed into the passenger seat of Marian Gaborik’s Porsche. I wonder if the Bruins’ captain will be as chummy when he visits The Garden this season to play the New York Rangers.

Every Met Fan Can Use the Scottish Christmas New York Mets Animated Lawn Figure

Every Met fan can use of these in their backyard. If you already have the Mets Grill Cover over your Weber then the Scottish Christmas New York Mets Animated Lawn Figure will fit right in.

Santana Excellent in 3-0 Complete Game Shut Out Over Reds – Hits First Career Home Run at Citi Field Tuesday

Met starting pitcher Johan Santana was excellent last night as he pitched like the ace he is in a 3-0 complete game win over the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field. Santana gave up no earned runs, only 3 hits, with 5 strikeouts in 9.0 innings. It was great seeing Santana pitch so well after losing three of his last four decisions for the Mets. Santana said he’s throwing his fastball much better which is the key to his success. Johan helped his cause by hitting the first home run of his career in the third inning, a solo shot that hit the right field foul pole. Santana threw 113 pitches with 78 for strikes in the win. Jose Reyes had another 2-hit night. Jason Bay continued to hit well adding 2 RBIs and Angel Pagan stole his 16th base of the season. The Mets host the Reds tonight at Citi Field in the last game of their 3-game series.

Red Bulls Escape Stormy Colorado with 1-1 Draw Against Rapids on the 4th of July

The New York Red Bulls escaped a mile high storm in Colorado with a 1-1 draw against the Colorado Rapids on the 4th of July. The Rapids controlled the play for much of the game and struck first with a goal in the 15th minute by Omar Cummings to give Colorado the early 1-0 lead. The Red Bull captain Juan Pablo Angel scored on a rocket in the 34th minute off a corner kick. The Rapids missed the clearing header inside the box and Angel shot the volley into the top of the net. The Rapids controlled play for much of the 2nd half. The Rapids just missed scoring in the 68th minute when a shot by Mehdi Ballouchy from outside the box hit the crossbar. The Rapids had more scoring chances as the game dwindled down but could not convert. I’m happy to see the Red Bulls take 4 points in their last two road games. The Red Bulls host their hated rivals D.C. United this Saturday night at Red Bull Arena and are in second place in the Eastern Conference two points behind the leading Columbus Crew.

K-Rod Apologizes to Met Fans After Blowing Save and Game 6-5 to Nationals Saturday

After Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) came into the game and imploded last Saturday against the Nationals he said the following:

“I should be ashamed of myself. I'm so embarrassed, and I just want to apologize to the fans who were watching that. I know better than that. I know I'm capable of...”

We need K-Rod to now blow games and being the closer he’s capable of being. Jerry Manuel inserted K-Rod into the game yesterday to secure the win.

Mets Fall Short Tonight in 8-6 Loss to Reds at Citi Field

Tonight Mike Pelfrey was knocked around in the 5th inning after he thought he struck out Scott Rolen on a foul tip with two strikes and bases loaded with nobody out. The strike was overturned and Rolen went to first after the hit by pitcher call. Jerry Manuel was ejected from the game as he argued the call with the home plate umpire and did a good job keeping Rob Barajas from getting ejected. The Reds ended up scoring 6 runs in the inning. The Mets came back with 5 runs in the bottom of the 5th inning but came up short in their comeback bid. Angel Pagan went 2-for-5 (HR), 1 run with 1 RBI. David Wright and Alex Cora also had 2-hit nights. I hope the Mets get back to their winning ways at home. Big Pelf has had tough outings in his last 4 starts.

Joey "Jaws" Chestnut Defends Title at Nathan’s Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest by Eating 54 Hot Dogs in Ten Minutes at Coney Island, Brooklyn Yesterday

Joey Chestnut had no real competition yesterday as his nemesis Kobayashi sat this one out due to contractual issues. Instead Kobayashi decided to charge the stage and get himself arrested after the contest was over. His ploy worked to perfection and he was arrested then released from the 60 Precinct a few hours later. In the noontime 95 degree heat Joey decided to take it easy and was 14 hot dogs off his record of 68 set in 2009. I grew up in Brooklyn and my friends and I would take the N train to the end of the line to Coney Island. We’d walk across the street to Nathan’s for hot dogs and walk over a few blocks to ice skate at the Abe Stark Rink. When I was even younger I’d take the drive with my Dad to Coney Island for Nathan’s. The past number of years my Cousin hosted a shindig for family and friends at a Brooklyn Cyclone game. As a matter of fact the game is this Saturday! There is of course the customary ride on the Cyclone roller coaster and Nathan’s hot dogs before the game. The crowd was estimated to be 75,000 in attendance, all packed within a few blocks.