Double G Sports

Mets Keep Fighting, Take Series From St. Louis

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:24:50 GMT

[This article was written by Double G Sports contributing writer Marc A. Spallino]

After a tough extra innings loss on Wednesday, the Mets bounced back Tuesday afternoon with a 4-0 victory to take the rubber match against the Cardinals.

R.A. Dickey was brilliant on short rest. He pitched 8.1 innings only allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, and no runs scored. After the game Dickey was quoted saying: “We don’t give up, and we’re not going to give up. These guys don’t give up and it’s an honor to be on this team”.

It’s good to hear that from R.A. after seeing how angry he was when Jerry Manuel pulled him out early of his last start as a precaution after tripping and straining his ankle.

Ike Davis helped put the Mets on the board in the 3rd inning with a three run bomb to drive in Jose Reyes and Angel Pagan. The fourth run came in the fifth inning when Carlos Beltran hit an RBI single to left field driving in Pagan.

The Mets had a total of 7 hits which was enough to get the job done.

Dickey was set to pitch the complete game but was pulled in the ninth when he put two men on. Jerry Manuel went to K-Rod to get the final two outs and surprisingly he didn’t make the fans sweat. Rodriguez was able to get Albert Pujols to pop out and then struck out Matt Holliday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks come to town on Friday for a 7:10pm start. The Mets will send Mike Pelfrey to the mound to face Ian Kennedy who has struggled. Kennedy is 5-8 with a 4.10 ERA.

This series is a crucial one for the Mets. After these 3 games with Arizona the Mets head to Atlanta to face the red hot Braves who lead the Mets in the NL East by 6.5 games. After the Atlanta series the Mets have a day off before heading to Philly on Friday to face the Phillies.

The argument can be made that these next three series' can make or break the Mets season. It seems as if the offense is waking up slowly so the thing to look for will be starting pitching.

As Camps Open, NY Giants and NY Jets Taking Different Approach

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:06:35 GMT

Both New York (New Jersey) football teams open training camp this Sunday. One living it up in the spot light and showing their team to the world while trying to build new success. The other taking a quiet approach in an attempt to regain success.

The New York Jets will be the most watched NFL team during camp, mostly due to them being on HBO's Hard Knocks. The HBO series will follow the many happenings throughout Jets camp. If notihng else, it should be entertaining.

The Jets are coming off a season that ended with a deep playoff run, falling one win short of a Super Bowl appearance.

They are the team that has the big names. The loud and entertaining coach Rex Ryan, the GQ quarterback Mark Sanchez, and the shut down defense. Add in newcomers, Jason Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Santonio Holmes and you have a very interesting group.

Many believe this years New York Jets squad is one of the top Super Bowl favorites.

This team is not shy about their expectations, starting with Ryan. They have stolen the headlines away from the Giants who normally ruled the NYC area football scene. The New York Jets have forced their way onto the scene and are not backing away from letting you know they are there.

On the other hand, the New York Giants are entering camp hoping to erase the memories of a disappointing 2009 season.

Tom Coughlin is much more private than his coaching counterpart at the Jets. Eli Manning is not known as the poster boy quarterback and they do not have the big names like Tomlinson and Holmes.

The Giants are getting back to business the Giants way. No talk, all work. Not saying either way is wrong, if talking works for the Jets then good for them.

This season, the Giants are thought about as no better than third in the NFC East, some even believe they are the worst team in that division.

So, the Giants will quietly get to work and regroup in the hopes of having a successful season. The players are there, the talent is there, now it's a matter of making it all come together again like it did a few years ago.

Both teams have high hopes as they enter camp, they just go about their business differently. The Giants seem to like it when things are quiet, while the Jets have no problem standing in the spotlight.

To Deal Or Not To Deal: Joba Chamberlain for Scott Downs?

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:00:17 GMT

It's no secret the New York Yankees and GM Brian Cashman would like to improve the teams pitching. After missing out of top of the line starters Cliff Lee and Dan Haren, the attention is likely moved to acquiring bullpen help.

Can a deal be worked out before the trade deadline this Saturday?

There have been a number of names thrown around of late. There was talk of the Yankees trying to acquire closer Joakim Soria from the Kansas City Royals. That deal would solve the Yankees bullpen problems immediately as well as in the future, but it seems unlikely.

Of the players known to be available, the best bullpen arm is likely Scott Downs of the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos knows he has the best reliever available and is so far taking advantage of that. He is asking for some big names and big prospects in return for Downs.

According to the New York Post, Toronto has asked for Joba Chamberlain or Jesus Montero in return for Downs.

Now, I highly doubt the Yankees would give up Joba or Montero for a two to three month rental on Downs. Would you?

With Joba Chamberlain struggling this season in the eight inning role and lefty Damaso Marte on the disabled list, the Yankees are in the market for relief help including a lefty specialist.

Downs could help in both areas. He could be used as a specialist against left handed batters or as a seventh or eight inning guy. But at what cost? Is he worth giving up Joba or top prospect Jesus Montero? I don't think so.

I'd be happy to acquire Downs at a lower cost. As the trade deadline gets closer, the Blue Jays will have to decide between lowering their asking price or keeping Downs and losing him via free agency.

I am one of the people willing to part ways with Joba Chamberlain, but not for Scott Downs.

Mets Wake Up A Little On Return Home

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:54:08 GMT

[This article was written by Double G Sports contributing writer Marc A. Spallino]

After a brutal west coast trip the Mets headed back to Citi Field to face Albert Pujols and the Cardinals. The Mets went 2-9 on the road and desperately needed to get something started. They sent Jon Niese to the mound to face Adam Wainwright. Niese pitched 6 innings and only allowed one earned run, giving the Mets a much needed strong start.

Things were not looking good at all for the Mets heading into tonight’s game. Jason Bay was scratched from the lineup due to a concussion which occurred when he ran into the fence and made a great catch in LA. Bay is expected to be reevaluated in approximately 2-3 days. As a result of the injury, Jeff Francouer got the start in right field and Angel Pagan moved over to left. Francouer had one hit which was a 3 run homer in the 4^th inning.

The Mets needed their offense to wake up and it sure did. Along with Francouer’s homer, Jose Reyes hit a 2 run shot in the 6^th. Castillo, Beltran, Pagan, and Ike Davis also had hits. The Mets look to keep taking advantage of their home field and send Johan Santana to the mound tomorrow night. Met's GM Omar Minaya may want to start thinking about bring in a starter with the trade deadline approaching.

There was a lot of talk after the road trip about whether or not the Mets coaching staff would stay intact. So far it seems as if it will.

Battle of the Blogs Fantasy Baseball Update

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:56:20 GMT

As many of you probably know, I have been running a Battle of the Blogs Fantasy Baseball League this season. We are in week 16 of the season and the entire league remains competitive.

We do however have a newcomer. Fantasy Girl has taken over a team that was left to rot by Fire Eric Bruntlett. As commissioner, I had to step in and force the change in team ownership. Fantasy Girl takes over the worst team in the league. Let's see if she can use her fantasy baseball expertise and make this team respectable in the last few weeks of the season.

My team, Double G Sports, is showing some signs of improvement the past few weeks. It's been a slow process for me however as my team still sits just below .500 and in third place in my division. I've made some recent transactions that I am hoping jump start my team. I've added the likes of Josh Thole and Jack Cust while dropping Rod Barajas who has landed himself on the DL.

I currently sit 11th overall in the 20 team league. The top eight teams make the playoffs, so I still have some work to do. Hopefully I can make a end of year playoff push.

Royals Junkie continues to dominate the league and now sits with a comfortable 190-88-22 record. This Royals blogger has basically had his team on cruise control since the beginning. Can he hold onto the top spot come playoff time?

Take a look at the current division standings:

Pete Rose Division

Team	W	L	T	PCT.	GB
Hot Stove Philly	161	115	24	.577	--
Sports Page Network	154	132	14	.537	12
Five Tool Prospects	144	136	20	.513	19
Perpetual Blogging Co.	142	138	20	.507	21
Babes Love Baseball	118	162	20	.427	45

Mickey Mantle Division

Team	W	L	T	PCT.	GB
Yanks Go Yard	129	151	20	.463	--
The Oriole Post	129	152	19	.462	0.5
Lady Loves Pinstripes	123	150	27	.455	2.5
Middle Aged Sports Guys	122	152	26	.450	4
Fantasy Girl	111	179	10	.387	23

Hank Aaron Division

Team	W	L	T	PCT.	GB
Yankee GM	166	116	18	.583	--
Royally Speaking	162	120	18	.570	4
On The Black	140	135	25	.508	22.5
Astros County	140	142	18	.497	26
Yankees Chic Chat	112	160	28	.420	49

Willie Mays Division

Team	W	L	T	PCT.	GB
Royals Junkie	190	88	22	.670	--
KC Sports Central	155	128	17	.545	37.5
Double G Sports	144	145	11	.498	51.5
LongLive SheaStadium	138	147	15	.485	55.5
The Rat Trick	123	155	22	.447	67

As you can see, the Mickey Mantle Division remains the closest race despite not having a single team over .500 for the season.

Royally Speaking leads the league with 75 quality starts from it's pitching staff but KC Sports Central has the leagues most dominant staff. The latter leads the league in ERA (3.29), and saves+holds (112). Opponents are only hitting .230 against that pitching staff. Sports Page Network leads the league in strikeouts with 745.

The major hitting categories are pretty much spread out. Hot Stove Philly leads the league with a .287 batting average while Five Tool Prospect has a slim lead in home runs with 122 so far. LongLive SheaStadium has the speed and leads the league with 101 stolen bases.

This has turned out to be a very friendly and competitive fantasy baseball league for bragging rights. As the commissioner, I am looking forward to an intense few weeks as the playoff race heats up.

I encourage everyone to check out the blog sites for each of these teams.

All stats and standings as updated as of Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 8:45AM EST.

Yankees Shift Focus To Bullpen, Joakim Soria

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:32:54 GMT

With top starting pitchers Cliff Lee and Dan Haren off the market, the New York Yankees seem to have shifted their trade deadline focus to bullpen help. Once the Yankees strong point, the bullpen is a bit of a mess right now outside of closer Mariano Rivera.

Joba Chamberlain has struggled this season in his eight inning role. For the Yankees to go deep into the playoffs, they will likely need someone to step into that role and be a shut down type pitcher. Thoughts of David Robertson taking over the job have come up lately.

There are also some outside options and one inparticular the Yankees seem interested in. According to MLBTradeRumors.com, the Yankees and Royals have been discussing a deal that would send Joakim Soria to the Bronx.

New York made a "big proposal" to the Royals for the 26 year old righty. Some reports even state the Yankees offered big time prospect Jesus Montero but the Royals were not interested.

Soria would fill a major void in the Yankees bullpen. The current Royals closer would likely take the eight inning job away from the struggling Chamberlain and instantly give the Yankees a dominant late inning tandem. Similar to the late 90's.

Soria would also give the Yankees a closer in waiting. Joba Chamberlain was thought to be the guy that would take over for Mariano Rivera whenever Mo decides to hang up his cleats. However, Joba has struggled this season, raising some doubts.

The Royals closer has been excellent so far in his career and would not be eligible for free agency until after the 2012 season.

Soria has 116 saves in 128 chances so far in his career that began in 2007. Soria has a career ERA of 2.12 and opponents have hit just .200 against him. He has struck out 257 batters in 229.1 innings.

The righty would definitely be a major upgrade in the Yankees bullpen both this year and in the future. If a deal can be worked out between the Yankees and Royals, I am all for fitting Joakim Soria in pinstripes.

Diamondbacks want Joba Chamberlain for Dan Haren, Yankees Say No

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:37:01 GMT

Despite General Manager Brian Cashman's continued claim that the Yankees do not need another starting pitcher, the team continues to pursue the top names.

New York is reportedly actively pursuing Arizona Diamondbacks' starter Dan Haren. The two teams have gone as far as naming names and proposing deals. An agreement has not been made as of yet.

Arizona asked for struggling reliever Joba Chamberlain, highly regarded pitching prospect Ivan Nova, and two other prospects in return for Haren. The Yankees countered with a package entirely made of prospects.

The main issue appears to be the Diamondbacks asking the Yankees to pay the full $33 million remaining on Haren's contract. New York may be willing to eat money, but not also include Chamberlain in that type of deal.

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated tweeted the Yankees are willing to part with Nova, fellow pitching prospect Zach McAllister, and two other prospects but would not eat money and include Joba.

The Yankees also balked at a deal including them taking reliever Chad Qualls and catcher Chris Snyder.

If does appear the Yankees and Diamondbacks will continue to discuss a possible trade. Arizona would like to move Haren before his next start on Tuesday.

Would you include Joba Chamberlain in a deal as well as paying the remaining money on Dan Haren's contract?

Westcoast Nightmare For Mets

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:04:19 GMT

[This article was written by Double G Sports contributing writer Marc A. Spallino]

Everything about this west coast road trip for the Mets has been a complete nightmare. The biggest issue is the Mets offense. The team has gone 14 straight innings without scoring a run and also has had 32 strikeouts in their past 3 games. Last night’s 2-0 loss to the Dodgers put the Mets 7 ½ games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and also dropped them into third place behind the Phillies. Mets GM Omar Minaya claims that Jerry Manuel’s job is safe. I wonder how safe Mets hitting coach Howard Johnson’s job is.

Since the all star break the Mets are 1-7. Although their starting pitching has been solid, with the exception of Mike Pelfrey, they have not been able to score runs and get wins. Jason Bay was given the night off last night in Los Angeles. Jerry Manuel said he just needed a day to clear his head. Bay has been a complete bust this season. He is only hitting .257 with 6 home runs. Not exactly what the Mets expected when they signed him for $66 million.

The other major problem that the Mets are having of late is lack of team chemistry. This team before the all star break had great chemistry. Now with the return of all the injured players there seems to be some animosity regarding playing time. Jeff Francouer was sent to the bench after the break in order to keep the red hot Angel Pagan in right field. Jeff was one of the team’s best leaders before the break. Now, Francouer claims he wouldn’t mind being traded if he is not going to be getting a lot of playing time. I understand Jeff’s point since he has never been a second string anything since he started playing sports as a kid. But on the other hand, he should have a little patience and see how this plays out instead of causing problems in the clubhouse.

The Mets have 3 more games in Los Angeles before they had back home to Citi Field.

New York Yankees Needs As Trade Deadline Approaches

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:43:16 GMT

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is just ten days away. Teams will likely start moving along in trade discussions.

Normally you can expect a big trade or two to come through before the deadline passes. There is however some uncertainty this year. Teams seem to be holding on to players or asking for a lot in return.

The Yankees, while having te best record in the league, do have some holes they would like to fill. The main needs are pitching and bench depth.

The original thought was that the Yankees did not need to worry about starting pitching and just focus on the bullpen. With an injury to Andy Pettitte, a mental breakdown by A.J. Burnett, and an innings limit on Phil Hughes, the Yankees may want to think twice about not pursuing a starting pitcher.

The team continues to maintain the stance that their pursuit of Cliff Lee was a special case. General Manager Brian Cashman says starting pitching is not the teams priority.

Relief pitching is a concern for the team as well as many Yankees fans. After closer Mariano Rivera, the bullpen is very shaky. Eight inning guy Joba Chamberlain has been inconsistent while others like Chan Ho Park and Chad Gaudin have not pitched well at all. Dustin Moseley is not the answer.

David Robertson has pitched a bit better of late but even he has struggled this season. Sergio Mitre had been an option to help out of the bullpen but due to the Pettitte injury, he will now be placed into the starting rotation.

Another area of interest for the Yankees is the bench. The team would surely like to add some depth to the team before the deadline. They have tried calling up players like Juan Miranda, Kevin Russo, and Colin Curtis. These guys have the potential to be nice role players but they have not consistently performed well enough to take on the full time bench role.

Utility infielder Ramiro Pena continues to fill in nicely. He has a very good glove and can play three infield positions. Pena however is not known for his bat. The Yankees would like to add a veteran infielder that can provide some pop with the wood.

A backup in the outfield might help as well. Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner have had very good seasons but centerfielder Curtis Granderson has not found his groove. Marcus Thames is available as a backup in the outfield but he is more of a DH type player.

So, where can the Yankees go to fix these holes?

There are a few options in the farm system that may be able to help. Chad Tracy was picked up by the Yankees not to long ago and has played in nine games for Triple-A Scranton. In those nine games, Tracy has shown some pop. He is batting .324 with four home runs and 12 runs batted in in 34 at bats. The veteran would provide some pop off the bench while being able to play third base.

The team recently called up Boone Logan and Jonathan Albaladejo to help out in the bullpen. Logan has been up and down between the Majors and Triple-A this season. Albaladejo was having a very good season in the minors, 2-1 with a 0.96 ERA and 31 saves. Hopefully the big righty can continue his success while up with the big club.

Also having a good season in Triple-A is Royce Ring. I've been saying for a while now that the team should give Ring a chance. See what he can do. He can't be any worse than Park.

If the Yankees decide to add some pieces via trade, they might have some options. The Yankees have been linked to names like Wes Helms, Ty Wigginton, and Willie Bloomquist. All of those guys are veterans who could provide solids bats and play the corner infield spots.

Scott Downs is a possible target for relief help. Other names I have heard mentioned are Michael Wuertz, Leo Nunez, Kevin Gregg, and Joakim Soria.

If the Yankees chance their mind and do decide to pursue starting pitching, Dan Haren and Roy Oswalt are the top names. Ted Lilly, Brett Myers, and Jake Westbrook are also possibilities.

An interesting trade I'd like to see the Yankees inquire about would happen with the Philadelphia Phillies. What do you think about the Yankees going to Philadelphia and asking about both Jayson Werth and J.A. Happ. The Phillies may be willing to part with these two players and it wouldn't hurt to find out what it would take.

Werth would provide outfield depth as well as be a guy that could fill the DH role. The free agent to be could then sign a long term deal with the Yankees after this season. Happ could help the Yankees in either a starting role or out of the bullpen.

The question is, what would you give up for Werth and Happ? It would likely take one major league ready prospect (Jesus Montero?) and one or two more pieces. Would you do it?

Imagine The Possibilities: Rutgers Must Recruit New Jersey

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:12:41 GMT

[This article was written by Double G Sports contributing writer, NFL Lineman, Darnell Stapleton]

Just take a second and think about what type team Rutgers would be, if they were able to keep the big name talents in-state and not allow them to go off to schools like USC, Miami, Notre Dame, etc.

In 2009 seven of the 32 first rounders were from the state of New Jersey, and only one of those first rounders Kenny Britt chose Rutgers coming out of high school. Now just think if those other six decided to attend Rutgers.

Besides adding great athletes to the team, you're forming a deeper roster with quality players. A lot of teams have depth but the quality of their depth can sometimes be the team's weak point!

Every team faces some form of injuries. The successful teams can plug in quality backups without having a decrease in performance. So the question becomes does Rutgers have good depth? That is a question that can only be answered with time!

Wheels Falling Off New York Mets Wagon

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:43:16 GMT

[This article was written by Double G Sports New York Mets writer Marc A. Spallino]

Let’s face it, the Mets avoided a brutal four game sweep by the San Francisco Giants due to a blown call at home plate on Sunday. K-Rod came in on Sunday with a two run lead in the ninth and blew it. He gave up his very familiar leadoff walk followed by a sacrifice and two hits to allow the Giants to tie the game. If it wasn’t for a blown call at home plate Rodriguez would have caused the Mets the game. One can only imagine how Johan Santana felt after he pitched a brilliant eight innings only allowing one run and one walk.

Ike Davis saved the Mets in the tenth inning with an RBI double that drove in Jason Bay to give the Mets the lead. Jerry Manuel decided to send K-Rod back out to the mound in the bottom of the inning. I really don’t understand this decision and felt he should have gone with Bobby Parnell who has been lights out lately. After Rodriguez’s disgraceful performance, he did not deserve the opportunity to redeem himself and get the win.

With the Mets season on the verge of completely unraveling and spiraling out of control, surely they will head into Arizona looking to make up for the horrible series in San Fran right? Think again! Mike Pelfrey started for the Mets on extra rest and was awful. Pelfrey pitched 1.1 innings and allowed seven hits and six runs while throwing over 50 pitches. Nothing went right for the Mets after that first inning. The Mets would go on to lose 13-2.

It will be interesting to see how Jerry Manuel handles his team’s performance. I would not be surprised to see some sort of closed door meeting similar to what we saw last year when the Mets were struggling. This team needs something to get them into gear. Tomorrow the Mets will have R.A. Dickey facing Barry Enright with another 9:40 EST start.

A Pre-Camp Look at the New York Giants

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:24:05 GMT

[This article was written by Double G Sports New York Giants writer Stephen J. Barron Jr.]

As the hot summer sun makes us wishing for the fall that can only mean football is around the corner. The New York Giants will be kicking off camp this season after finishing the season 3-5 and missing the playoffs with a loss to the Carolina Panthers in the final game at Giant Stadium.

As camp opens up on August 1^st the team made it clear 2010 is all about defense and old fashion Giants football. The defense last season allowed 427 points. This was the 3^rd most in the league behind only Detroit and St. Louis. In a division that many predict will be the toughest in the league for 2010 that will not spell success for big blue if they don’t improve on the defensive end of the football.

Much of those fan fear of another poor defensive season might be put at easy with key players returning to full strength on the defensive side of the ball in 2009 such as: Phillips, Ross, Webster, Alford and Canty. Along with the addition Antrel Rolle who inked a 5 year $37 million contract in the off season the team will make the defense much better if they can stay healthy all pre-season and regular season.

The Giants also drafted 5 of their 7 draft picks with defense in mind including strengthening up the defensive line with Jason Pierre-Paul the 15^th overall pick of the draft out of Southern Florida and Linval Joseph from East Carolina.

Chad Jones being injured in a car accident does put the Giants 76^th pick over all in the category of uncertainty as to his career in football, but with a draft class of this caliber and the return of key injured players the Giants should be able to improve from their 2009 2^nd half disaster.

On the offensive side of the ball it appears the status quo from 2009 will look to carry the team over into 2010. Manning has all the weapons he did in 2010 with the exception of Hixon who was just released. However, if the running game can improve just a little bit, the offense should be able to easily score over 400 point as they did last season.

Double G Sports will be keeping a close eye on the Giants pre-season camp and games to see how the rookies look and if that defense will be able to compete and bring the Giants back to the top of a division that is shaping up to be the best in the NFL for 2010.

Mets Woes Continue: Slip Into 3rd Place

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 09:09:01 GMT

[Article written by Mets writer Marc A. Spallino]

Last night the Mets sent Hisanori Takahashi to the mound to face Matt Cain and the Giants. Takahashi had a disgraceful outing allowing 6 runs in only 2 2/3 innings.

When the Mets GM Omar Minaya will get the hint and pick up a starting pitcher remains to be seen. It is quite clear that Takahashi needs to be returned to the bullpen. Manager Jerry Manuel has done everything short of holding a sign in the dugout saying he needs a pitcher.

With the brutal loss last night, the Mets have fallen behind the Phillies and into third place in the NL East. The only positive note for the Mets last night was the fact that their offense woke up a little bit.

Rookie first baseman Ike Davis, who has been struggling of late hit 2 homeruns. Beltran, Wright, Carter,and Thole also got some hits. The Mets went 24 straight innings without scoring a run before last night.

The Mets will have their ace Johan Santana pitching Sunday against Jonathan Sanchez. The Mets desperately need a strong outing from Santana today as they try and avoid the 4 game sweep and head into Arizona on some sort of positive note.

New York needs to start winning games in order to keep this season from spiraling out of control. It will be interesting to see who the Mets will go after as far as a starting pitcher.

Has A.J. Burnett Finally Hit Rock Bottom?

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 05:26:20 GMT

Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before a turn around can be put together.

Yankees starting pitcher A.J. Burnett has struggled the past two months and Saturday's start may be the worst yet. Not just because of his performance on the mound though. The worst part is what happened on his way into the clubhouse between innings.

Baseball is as much about keeping your emotions in check as it is pure talent. The best players normally are able to stay calm through the good and bad times.

Burnett did anything but stay calm on Saturday. After struggling through the first two innings, Burnett took his frustration out of the door of the Yankees clubhouse.

As he made his way into the clubhouse, Burnett apparently slammed his hands on the clubhouse door and cut his hands on the plexiglass lineup holder that was hanging.

Bring bad memories of Kevin Brown to mind? Sort of but Brown actually broke his hand after punching a wall and would end up missing time. It appears Burnett will be able to make his next start.

After suffering the cuts, Burnett continued to make poor decisions by lying to team trainings, telling them the cuts occurred after he tripped on the dugout steps. It wasn't until later that he admitted what really happened, after being questioned by manager Joe Girardi.

So, now the question is: Is this rock bottom? Or is there more struggles to come from the Yankees $82.5 million pitcher?

Burnett had a horrific June, going 0-5 with a 11.35 ERA. He showed improvement in his past two starts but everything fell apart once again in Saturday's Old Timer's Day loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Yankees fan and front office have to be frustrated with Burnett. Maybe this is a good time to skip Burnett's turn in the rotation. Giving him some extra time to get focused and forget about his struggles might be good for him. The team did it earlier this season with Javier Vazquez and in return the righty turned his season around.

No matter what happens, the Yankees emotional pitcher needs to find a way to keep those emotions in check. Getting hurt by doing something stupid like hitting a door or wall will not help anything.

Hopefully this is the bottom and Burnett can now turn his season around for the Yankees. We will need him down the stretch.

5 Players The Yankees Need To Step Up In 2nd Half

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:42:35 GMT

The New York Yankees enter the second half of the 2010 MLB season with the best record in the league. Not to much to complain about other than the inconsistent bullpen.

Throughout the first half the Yankees received the usual production from players like CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Jorge Posda. They also got some surprise performances from guys like Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner.

Robinson Cano is having an MVP type season so far and the Yankees will surely hope he can continue his excellent play.

Despite the performances from these players, the Yankees are not quite a complete team yet. We have not seen the lineup or the pitching staff reach it's full potential.

Here are five players I feel need to step up in the second half:

1. Mark Teixeira - The first baseman was getting hot with the bat as the first half ended. Hopefully the four days off for the all-star break won't cool him off. The Yankees need Teixeira to be the Teixeira we all know.

2. Curtis Granderson - The centerfielder the Yankees acquired by giving up their top prospect has not lived up to the hype. He missed some time due to injury and has shown glimpses of what he can do. I was expecting a big season from Granderson in Yankees Stadium. If he can put it together, Grandy would lengthen the Yankees lineup.

3. Joba Chamberlain - The eight inning is no longer a confident time for the Yankees and their fans. Joba has not been anywhere near the dominant pitcher we saw a couple years ago. It looks like the fire in his eyes is gone. We need Chamberlain to step up and shut down opponents late in games and bridge the gap to Mariano Rivera.

4. David Robertson - The bullpen has been a disaster of late and Robertson who had a very bad early part to the season had slowly started to improve. Opponents are hitting him though and that's a bad sign. The bullpen needs Robertson, especially since it appears Alfredo Aceves is not going to return this season.

5. A.J. Burnett - The righty has had an up and down season on the moudn. We have been lucky that Pettitte, Javier Vazquez, and Phil Hughes have been pitching well. I don't know that we can expect the same production from all these pitchers in the second half. A successful Burnett would go a long way to solidifying the Yankees rotation.

Obviously there are other things that need to happen for the Yankees to have a monster second half. It would be nice to see Jeter up his average a bit, A-Rod to find his power stroke, and have Swish and Gardner continue their excellent play.

You never know what will happen. That's why baseball is such an amazing game. The Yankees may make a move or two in the next two weeks before the trade deadline, but the five players I mentioned are guys I think really need to step up. If they do, the Yankees to pull away a bit.

Mets Trying To Set Tone For 2nd Half

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:30:19 GMT

This article was written by Double G Sports Mets writer Marc A. Spallino.

Well the second half of the Mets season begins tonight in San Francisco. The lineup will be as follows: Pagan-RF, Cora-2B, Wright-3B, Beltran-CF, Davis-1B, Bay-LF, Thole-C, Tejada-SS, Dickey-RHP. Jose Reyes was scratched from the lineup around 5:30pm EST. Jerry Manuel says he is not ready to hit from the left side but should be in the lineup tomorrow night.

Mets fans and certainly Mets staff will be keeping a close eye on Carlos Beltran in centerfield. Beltran makes his first MLB start of the season for the Mets tonight after undergoing offseason knee surgery. Even though Beltran claims his knee feels better than ever, Mets manager Jerry Manuel says he will keep a close eye on him and also make sure he is not rushed back into playing every day.

The other interesting thing to watch tonight is the pitching matchup. The Mets send knuckleballer R.A. Dickey to the mound to square off against 2009 Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum. Even though Lincecum’s walks are up this year, his 4 seam fastball still averages at 94 mph and has an E.R.A. of 3.19. Look for the Mets to try and score a few early runs off of Lincecum because once he gets settled in it can be very hard to beat him.

This four game series in San Francisco is a very important series for the Mets to win as they look to get momentum is the right direction.

Mid-July MLB Power Rankings

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:34:03 GMT

The Double G Sports Expert Panel and it's baseball writers have once again been polled to come up with our Major League Baseball Power Rankings for July. This is our fourth installment of our power rankings this season.

For last months rankings, click here.

As usual there was some movement up and down the rankings. The Yankees and Rays were fortunate enough to hold onto the top two spots.

The biggest jump this month was the Chicago White Sox. Ozzie Guillen had his club jump ten spots up to the 8^th overall ranking for July.

The Minnesota Twins suffered the biggest fall, dropping ten spots to 15^thoverall.

Here are the Mid-July Power Rankings:

Rank	Team	Points	Change
1	Yankees	210	----
2	Rays	198	----
3	Braves	189	----
	Rangers	189	+6
5	Padres	177	+1
6	Reds	172	+2
7	Red Sox	169	-3
8	White Sox	164	+10
9	Tigers	156	+4
10	Rockies	148	+7
11	Mets	140	-1
12	Dodgers	131	-5
13	Cardinals	125	-1
14	Phillies	124	+2
15	Twins	111	-10
16	Angels	108	-2
17	Giants	103	-6
18	Blue Jays	88	-3
19	Marlins	82	+1
20	A's	75	+2
	Brewers	75	+3
22	Cubs	59	-1
23	Royals	58	+1
24	Nationals	57	-5
25	Mariners	37	+3
26	Astros	36	+1
27	Diamondbacks	25	-3
28	Indians	24	-2
29	Pirates	16	----
30	Orioles	7	----

The New York Yankees received all seven first place votes.

*Double G Sports Expert Panel and Baseball Writers contributing to these rankings: Gregg Snyder, Rob Snyder, John Hack, Jon Gangwer, Mark Andreychik, Pat Marotto, and Marc Spallino*

Thoughts on a Baseball Icon: George Steinbrenner

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:26:36 GMT

The sports world was rocked yesterday morning as the news of the passing of New York Yankees long time owner George Steinbrenner hit the air ways.

Baseball lost an icon when Steinbrenner suffered a massive heart attack at his Tampa, Florida home on Tuesday morning. Yankees fans all across the country talked about their memories of the long time team owner who brought them seven World Championships.

Steinbrenner, known across the sports world as, The Boss, is the greatest owner in sports history. Never before have we seen an owner mean so much to his team and its sport. I'm not sure we ever will see another quite like Mr. Steinbrenner.

ESPN and every other sports talk show I heard yesterday was all about George Steinbrenner. That includes The Nosebleeds with myself and Travis Williams. Travis and I were joined by Lisa Latino, The Yankee Princess, as we talked about our memories of The Boss. Click here to listen to our thoughts.

George Steinbrenner led an incredible life. One full of pursuit of perfection. Filled with hard work, The Boss never settled for less. You can read all about his life in the latest book about him, Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball. You can purchase the book by finding it on the right side of this website.

Double G Sports also reached out to fellow baseball writers, asking for their reactions or thoughts on the passing of a great baseball icon.

Many Yankees fans like Andrew Corselli from Yanks Go Yard were thankful for what George meant to the Yankees.

"RIP Mr. Steinbrenner, thanks for the five World Series titles and seven pennants (in my lifetime). Yankee fans will never forget all you've done for the organization," Andrew said.

Corselli also added a little joke that I have heard a few times today. "Somewhere in heaven Billy Martin just got fired." Of course this is referring to the constant fued between Steinbrenner and Martin which resulted in mutliple firings.

I keep telling everyone that you can love the guy, you can hate the guy, but no matter what, you have to respect what he did for the Yankees and the sport of baseball.

Kate Conroy of Lady Loves Pinstripes says, "Being able to make fun of yourself is what defines a great man, this makes a man authentic and enables people to relate. This was signature of the Boss, Mr. George Steinbrenner."

Another Yankees blogger, Lenny Neslin who runs lenNY's Yankees, remembers Steinbrenner as an intriguing man.

"From his appearances on Seinfeld to his picture in the tabloids, George Steinbrenner was the greatest owner in sports history and a baseball icon. Seen by most as a grumpy, crazy old man, he was just doing his job and wanted to be feared. He was really an extremely generous man."

Most know him for his work with the New York Yankees. What many don't know is how much charitable work Steinbrenner actually did.

Peter Schiller of Baseball Relfections talked a little bit about that. "As a Red Sox fan I was glad to hear how charitable Mr. Steinbrenner was as I found out that he regularly made HUGE donations during the annual WEEI & NESN Jimmy Fund Telethons. That provided me with a renewed respect for George Steinbrenner, the man as compared to what I thought of George Steinbrenner, the owner of the Yankees."

A true sign that George Steinbrenner was so huge for baseball is when you hear some comments from fans of other teams. The respect they show for this man is remarkable.

Here are some comments about George Steinbrenner:

"I didn't give much thought to George Steinbrenner, but I always wished he owned the Astros." ~ James, Astros County.

"George was an incredibly complex, polarizing, and fascinating person to watch, cheer, and jeer through the years. He returned glory to his franchise and will be sorely missed by many, but it is comforting to know he lived to see "The House that George Steinbrenner Built" finally completed," said Mat Germain of Jays Journal.

Bill Ivie of i70baseball summed up The Boss by saying, "George Steinbrenner was a hard nosed, egotistical man that ran all over Major League Baseball for years. He spat in the face of salary cap, luxury taxes, and pleas of smaller clubs to spend less money. He did everything humanly possible to win and did not concern himself with the effect he may have on his competition. And baseball is better for it."

Daniel Shoptaw from C70 At The Bat added, "Being a fan in flyover country and a follower of a National League team, I only saw George Steinbrenner from afar. I never really thought he was bad for baseball, though sometimes I wasn't sure he was good for the Yankees. However, his passion and dedication to winning was never questioned. We'll likely never see his kind again."

Even a few writers of the cross town New York Mets had some respectful things to say about the Yankees late owner.

"I am a Mets fan but I have always had respect for the Yankees organization. George Steinbrenner is the main reason why. There is not a sports fan out there who wouldn't want an owner to invest the money back into the team and have an appreciation for the fans. George Steinbrenner did just that," said Kerel Cooper of On The Black.

Michael Ganci from The Daily Stache says, "Even though I have spent most of my years as a fan hating the Yankees, George brought a commitment to winning that I have never seen before. No matter how much it takes, or how many mistakes happened, George wanted to win, and he's a major reason why the franchise has been so successful."

Possibly one of the most interesting responses I got back from my fellow writers was the one from Fantasy Girl, Andrea LaMont. This Boston Red Sox fan had an interesting take on her rival owner.

Andrea said:

"It is quite sad when your villain dies. The death of George Steinbrenner has shown me how much we actually rely on the villain in our lives.

As a Red Sox fan, we don't spend much time giving thanks to the evil empire. But who would the Red Sox be without them? Who would I be?

Above all, where would the game of baseball be?

Thank you George Steinbrenner for helping me find my passion in life, and thank you for giving baseball fans everywhere the best rivalry in sports history. Rest in Peace"

That truly explains what The Boss did for the Yankees and Red Sox rivalry. Would us fans have this much fun bashing each other when these two teams get together if Steinbrenner was not around? Doubt it.

George Steinbrenner had been suspended from MLB a few times throughout his career as Yankees owner. Is that enough to keep him out of the Hall of Fame? If you answer yes to that, I think you are crazy.

A man that has meant so much to baseball should not be kept from receiving the greatest honor in his sport. A plaque in Yankee Stadium is sure to go up in honor of the greatest owner in sports history but the ultimate plaque this man should have is one in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Aaron Somers from Backyard Baseball agrees, "George Steinbrenner was a Yankee icon. His memory will live with all Yankee and all baseball fans forever. A true legend, he'll live on with a statue in Monument Park and an eventual plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame."

George Steinbrenner is just as much baseball as Babe Ruth is baseball. George Steinbrenner, 1930 - 2010. He will be missed!

Once a Yankee, Always a Yankee!

Erin Andrews To Stay With ESPN

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:45:08 GMT

The beautiful sideline reporter, Erin Andrews, has signed a new deal with ESPN.

Andrews, a fan favorite, started working for ESPN in 2004 covering the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Since then she has expanded her roles, covering MLB games as well as All-Star Festivities, and being the main attraction on the sidelines of ESPN College Football games.

Fans will now be able to see even more of the leggy reporter. The new deal states that Andrews will contribute to ESPN's new College GameDay lineup in addition to continuing her role as sideline reporter.

She will also become a regular on ABC's Good Morning America.

There had been rumors Andrew's would leave the sports network and pursue other opportunities. The sports reporter had recently appeared on 'Dancing With The Stars.'

However fans, have no fear, Erin Andrews is staying with ESPN and will be seen even more than before!

New York Mets Head Into Much Needed Vacation

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:02:41 GMT

This article was written by Double G Sports Met's writer Marc A. Spallino.

Johan Santana led the Mets to victory on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves avoiding the sweep. Santana pitched seven shutout innings while giving up five hits and three walks. The Mets now go into the All Star break trailing the Braves by four games in the National League East. This break is just what the Mets need right now after losing their last two series.

Looking forward past the break, there are several key issues to look for in order for the Mets to have success in the second half of the season. One thing to keep an eye on will be Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez. K-Rod will have to really step his game up in order for the Mets to have a real shot at a playoff run. Even though he only had four blown saves out of twenty five opportunities, K-Rod seems to always make things interesting by putting men on base and sometimes drives fans crazy with his pitch selections.

Another thing to look for will be the return of centerfielder Carlos Beltran. Beltran is scheduled to join the Mets in San Francisco on Thursday night. Manager Jerry Manuel has already said he will not push Beltran too hard by putting him in the lineup everyday immediately.

The final element to keep an eye on will be the team’s chemistry. Before the game on Sunday Jerry Manuel and Jeff Francouer had a discussion about playing time. Jeff will start the Giants series on the bench in order to keep the red hot Angel Pagan in the lineup. Francouer has admitted that this will be a different role for him but understands that Pagan has to keep getting playing time the way he has been hitting of late. It remains to be seen how the Mets outfield will shape up once Beltran is back to 100%.

The Mets have an eleven game road trip out on the West Coast. They go to San Francisco on Thursday for a four game series and then it’s off to Arizona for three games with the Diamondbacks and then Los Angeles to face Joe Torre’s Dodgers in a four game series. Not exactly a smooth transition after vacation. The Mets will probably be happy splitting the two four game series and just try to get back to Citi Field where they have been dominant this season.

BELTRAN’S RETURN: POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE AFFECT ON TEAM CHEMISTRY?

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 05:19:19 GMT

This article was written by Double G Sports contributing writer Marc A. Spallino.

Say what you will about the New York Mets, but one thing you cannot say this 2010 season is that this team does not have great chemistry. Whether it’s Angel Pagan giving a pie in the face, Jose Reyes patting Josh Thole on the head, or the way this team has not quit, even when down by seven runs or more. One thing is for sure, this team seems to get along great. Whether you want to give manager Jerry Manuel the credit for it or not, that remains a whole other story for another time.

One thing Mets fans are worried about seems to be the return of all star outfielder Carlos Beltran. I know it seems crazy to be worried and not excited but how will his return affect the team chemistry? That remains to be seen. The main issue seems to be about playing time in the outfield. How exactly Jerry Manuel will manage remains to be seen. Many fans including myself think it would be unfair to stick Beltran back into centerfield every day with the way Angel Pagan has played and also contributed to the great chemistry this team has right now. Another good argument for Pagan to keep getting playing time is that it will help ease Beltran back into center field.

Angel Pagan and Jeff Francoeur are both team players with good attitudes and I can’t see either of them getting upset about playing time. The bigger problem for Jerry Manuel will be the task of making sure all the outfielders get enough work in order to stay fresh and on top of their game. Personally I feel Jerry has got to play who is hot at the moment if this team wants to have a shot at a playoff run.

Most likely Angel Pagan’s playing time will come from Jeff Francoeur in right field and also from Beltran in center while he is getting back into the swing of things. Some would also make the argument about taking some time away from Jason Bay. But would the Mets do that to a guy who is making $80 million over 5 years? Most doubtfully.

To say the least, it seems as if Jerry Manuel and the New York Mets will have some high class problems to deal with once Carlos Beltran is finished with his rehab assignments. Beltran is expected to join the Mets in San Francisco after the All Star break. It should definitely be an interesting second half to the 2010 season.

Controversy? Yankees tell Robinson Cano: No Home Run Derby

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 10:03:55 GMT

When Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano received his invitation to participate in this years Home Run Derby, the All-Star was surprised and excited.

He did not think twice about it. Cano accepted the invitation and had every intention of participating. Then the Yankees stepped in. The problem however is that it seems the Yankees stepped in without Cano knowing.

When it became public knowledge that Cano would be a participant in the home run hitting challenge, Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long became concerned. Long made it known to the media that he would prefer Cano not participate. The batting coach stated the derby puts an exhausting strain on your body and could do damage to a players swing.

Yes, there are plenty of examples of players going down hill after participating in the Home Run Derby. Just last year we saw six of the eight participants numbers drop in the second half of the season. Detroit Tigers Brandon Inge who hit 21 home runs in the first half, hit just six in the second half. Adrian Gonzalez of the San Diego Padres hit 16 home runs in the second half after belting 24 before the All-Star break.

In 2008, Houston Astros first baseman Lance Berkman had a monster first half in which he hit .347 with 22 home runs. After participating in the derby, Berkman hit just .259 with seven homers in the second half of the season.

Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau had participated in the home run derby twice in the past four years and both times his second half numbers dropped drastically.

One of the most well known examples in this area is Mets third baseman David Wright in 2006. The star third baseman batted .316 with 20 homers in the first half and participated in the home run derby, finishing second overall. In the second half of the '06 season, Wright batted .305 but hit just six home runs the rest of the year.

Now, I don't have a problem with the Yankees not wanting Cano to participate. Cano has one of baseball's sweetest swings and is a natural hitter. He is not a power hitter.

The problem I have is the way the Yankees handled it. I do not know the inside information so I could be wrong, but from the information I heard, the Yankees sort of did this behind their players back.

Cano initially found out he would not be participating by a member of the media that asked him how he felt about it. Cano was surprised and said that was the first he had heard about it.

After this, the second baseman went into manager Joe Girardi's office and the two went on a conference call with General Manager Brian Cashman who confirmed to Cano that he would not participate in the cometition. The Yankees are now claiming Cano has had a minor back issue and that's why they do not want Cano participating.

Convenient? Of course. A lie? Very possible.

Nobody had heard of Cano having a back issue until then. It's obviously not a bad problem, or Cano would have taken himself out of the competition. Just seems shaddy to me.

Mets Faithful: Cautiously Excited

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 04:57:46 GMT

This article was written by Double G Sports contributing writer Marc A. Spallino.

With the Mets trailing the Atlanta Braves by only three games in the National League East, the Mets faithful are feeling cautiously excited.

The performance of the starting rotation is one reason contributing to the team’s success. Mets ace Johan Santana is historically a second half pitcher but it seems that he has gotten off to an early start this season. Coming off a complete game shutout Tuesday night against the Reds, Santana will have one more start on Sunday July 11^th before the All Star break. The Mets Ace will square off with their division rivals the Atlanta Braves. The series could not be more important to the Mets as they look to possibly move up into first place going into the break.

One other reason fans are feeling good is due to the Mets consistency. In previous years the Mets were either on fire or down in the dumps. This 2010 season the Mets have proved that they do not need to go on ten game winning streaks in order to be successful. But more importantly, they are winning series.

Another confidence booster has been the performance of Angel Pagan and Rubin Tejada. Pagan, who has been filling in for Carlos Beltran in center field, has been just short of brilliant. He is batting .300 with 6 home runs and 30 RBIs. What more can you ask for? Ruben Tejada, who is a shortstop by trade, has been filling in for the injured Louis Castillo at second base and has also performed better than expected. Tejada is batting .221 with an on base percentage of .299. This has surely shocked Mets fans and most likely shocked the Mets coaching staff.

Mets fans surely have a lot to be excited about. But can anyone blame them for being cautious? After all, the past couple seasons have been heartbreaking.

Rutgers Football: O-Line Pride Starts With Coach Kyle Flood

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:56:30 GMT

[This article was written by Double G Sports contributing writer Darnell Stapleton.]

Some of you may feel I'm a little bias with this topic, but I truly believe that Kyle Flood, Rutgers O-line coach for the last 5 seasons, is one of the most underrated coaches on the Scarlet knights staff!

In the last 5 seasons he has had 3 players drafted into the NFL, 6 more sign free agent contracts, and has had one of his former players win a Super Bowl! In that same period, his offensive line units have been ranked #1 and #2 nationally in sacks allowed in a season!

You ask, what is his secret to success? The Fundamentals. Being a former player of Coach Flood I know that every season I played for him he focused on fundamentals and trained reactions! Training your mind and body to respond to certain looks and actions the defense presents!

Even with the loss of three starters up front I still believe the key this year for the offense to be successful is the O-line. The offense and the team will only go as far as the five men up front will take them! This means running the ball efficiently and being able to keep QB Tom Savage up-right at moments where they need to throw the ball!

I know they have the right guy leading that group, it just comes down to the players buying in to what is being taught!

Amare Stoudemire to Join Knicks, But Will He Help?

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 04:55:09 GMT

The New York Knicks made their first free agent signing of this offseason. While an official contract can not be signed until Thursday, Amare Stoudemire has reportedly agreed to a five year deal worth the maximum $100 million.

So, what does Stoudemire bring to the Knicks? Not much more than David Lee provided last season. He does however bring New York basketball the star power they have not had since Patrick Ewing. Stoudemire already has the star name, the popular face. What did Lee do? Oh, nothing but average 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks last season. He finished second in the league in rebounding. Stoudemire averages 21.4 points and 8.9 rebounds in his career.

So why spend the max money on Stoudemire if Lee can provide the same production? Good question. In my opinion, this is about getting a guy that brings star power so the Knicks offseason is not a complete bust.

Just about every Knicks fan has waiting for the 2010 free agent period, assuming they would sign LeBron James.

So, if King James does not sign with New York, they can now still say they were able to sign a star to build a team around.

Stoudemire has played in this system before, he played under coach Mike D'Antoni's in Phoenix. The two sides reportedly had issues with each other back then. They met each other this past weekend and talked things out, putting all issues behind them. Do you trust these issues will not come back?

The Knicks and Stoudemire will now go out and continue trying to bring another star player to the greatest city in the world. He has already spoken to James' people as well as Dwayne Wade. The Knicks would love to sign one of the group of James, Wade, or Chris Bosh.

Other rumors that have come up are the Knicks possibly working out a trade for guys like Carmelo Anthony or Tony Parker.

I would like nothing more than for the Knicks to become relevant in the NBA once again. The league is better off with a team in New York being competitive. Madison Square Gardner deserves a good team.

Stoudemire can not do it alone. He can score, but has never been known for his defense. For someone his size, he is not always a dominant force in the rebounding department either.

The Knicks need to continue rebuilding this team, but Stoudemire is indeed a very good start. It can't stop here.

Yankees, Mets Rumors of the Week: Cliff Lee, Dan Haren, Jenrry Mejia, Ty Wigginton, Roy Oswalt & More

Sat, 3 Jul 2010 03:56:06 GMT

The All-Star break is approaching and that is usually when trade talks start heating up. Rumors are flying around all over the place, chat room, internet blogs, news reports, etc.

One of my favorite places to find the latest rumors is MLBTradeRumors.com.

Here are the following moves and rumors from the Yankees and Mets that have popped up this past week:

Yankees

- The Yankees have been scouting Mariners starter Cliff Lee but they claim it is just routine coverage of a pitcher on their free agent wish list.

- CC Sabathia has said he would be happy to help recruit his friend Cliff Lee is needed.

- Dustin Moseley has been called up to the Majors with Boone Logan being sent back down. Not sure this makes much sense. Moseley had an ERA over 4.00 in Triple-A so far this year. He did however have an opt-out clause in his contract and could have left the Yankees system if he was not called up. Logan had been pitching better of late. Anyone else think they should have released Chan Ho Park or Chad Gaudin instead of optioning Logan? Count me as one!

- Catcher Chad Moeller cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A. I give the guy credit, he must love playing the game. Outfielder Colin Curtis had been called up to take Moeller's spot on the roster. Curtis has already seen some game action.

- Yankees have had scouts watching Arizona Diamondbacks' starter Dan Haren.

- Team President Randy Levine played the role of Captain Obvious this week when stating it is "highly highly unlikely" both Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are not back with the team next season.

Mets

- The team has begun preliminary talks with teams regarding pitching help. This includes Seattle about Cliff Lee.

- Rumor has it the Met's won't trade Jenrry Mejia for Lee unless they can sign Lee to an extension. Other reports say that's not true. Believe whatever you want.

- Michael Barrett has signed a minor league deal with the Mets. This move adds catching depth. Possible backup to Barajas. Or depth because the team plans on trading Josh Thole?

- The Mets have acquired outfielder Jorge Padilla from the Blue Jays in exchange for pitcher Clint Everts. Padilla was batting .330 with four home runs for Toronto's Triple-A squad.

- The team is not actively pursuing a trade for a second baseman.

- Orioles Ty Wigginton said he would not mind playing for the Mets. The Orioles are reportedly asking for a young shortstop in return however.

- Reports are saying Jenrry Mejia would not get a Lee trade done, but shortstop prospect Wilmer Flores could.

- The Mets have no interest in pitchers Kevin Millwood and Jake Westbrook, little interest in Roy Oswalt and Fausto Carmona, but could have interest in Ted Lilly. Lilly is likely the teams top alternative to Cliff Lee. I said a while back, I would try to get Lilly if I was the Mets.

Major Loss For NJ Devils, Paul Martin Signs With Penguins

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 09:08:46 GMT

Entering this offseason, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello knew he needed to improve the teams defense. His top priority should have, and may have, been to re-sign Paul Martin.

That can no longer happen. Martin, the top defenseman in this years free agent crop, signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

This is a major hit to New Jersey as Martin is one of the best puck moving defenders in the league.

Pittsburgh also signed Zbynek Michalek to a five-year contract today. His was for $20 million.

You wonder if the Devils were to slow, or if Martin just wanted out of New Jersey all together. The defenseman is taking just a $.5 million raise from what he made last season with the Devils. He made $4.5 million last year.

Where do the Devils turn now? Clearly they need help on the defensive side of the ice, a spot that hurt the team throughout the post season.

I think this one hurts!

Rutgers Selling Athletic Facility Naming Rights

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 03:57:57 GMT

Rutgers University has decided to sell naming rights to their football and basketball facilities in an effort to increase revenue for the athletic department.

When Tim Pernetti was hired as athletic director, he promised to change the way the department did business. He promised to find ways to generate new revenue that would help support the entire athletic department.

Selling naming rights is an excellent way to do this.

This is strictly a decision to provide financial independence to the Rutgers athletic department. According to reports, during the 2008-09 school year, Rutgers' athletic revenue was $159,641 more than its expenses. While that looks and sounds good, nearly $18 million of that was state subsidy.

Pernetti sees the problem as a revenue issue.

"I don't feel like we have an expense problem; we have a revenue problem." the athletic director said.

Now that the football stadium, currently called Rutgers Stadium, has expanded and plans for renovation of the Rutgers Athletic Center have been introduced, money can be made.

While selling naming rights has not yet become the norm in college sports, it has been successful at some schools.

There will be people that do not like the idea. People will say "This is the birth place of college football, it should always be called Rutgers Stadium." Nobody said it can't still be called Rutgers Stadium. That is a possibility.

Capital One paid Maryland University more than $25 million for the naming rights to Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. So who' to say our state university won't end up with something like Verizon Field at Rutgers Stadium?

Maryland also got $20 million from Comcast for naming rights to the schools basketball arean.

This opportunity opens the door for future investments as well. Louisville negotiated a deal in the early 90's with Papa John's for naming rights for their football stadium. Through time, the company has also provided other donations to help with new facilities for every sport Louisville offers.

These types of deals can also be used for athletic scholarships and general athletic department funds.

Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment is teaming up with IMG College as co-sales agents for this project.

Which companies would you like to see get naming rights to Rutgers Stadium and Rutgers Athletic Center?

Becoming the Next Big East Champs! By Darnell Stapleton

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:45:13 GMT

This article was written by Double G Sports contributing writer Darnell Stapleton.

Some may believe that there is a simple plan floating around out there to developing a great football team that is capable of winning 10+ games; winning their conference, and/or contending for a national championship. But it is not simple at all, especially in the Big East Conference which has been very competitive for the last several years.

Eight of it's members have played in bowl games since 2005 and seven of eight teams have been ranked in the top 25 at some point since 2003.

Even though it's not a simple task, there are basic keys to building a good team, such as:

1. Good Coaching - Coaches need to be able to get teenagers and young men to believe in their system.

2. Good QB Play - A quarterback who can manage the game when up, but also lead the comeback when down.

3. Solid Kicking and Return Game - Field position is key in any game.

4. Core Group of Freshman/Sophomores - Need young guys to step up and play well. This pushes the upperclassmen and provides needed depth on the teams roster.

5. Solid Line Play - The trenches is where games are won and lost. If you can win the line of scrimmage, you can control the game.

There are many other factors that go into building a successful team, but those are some of the basics. I believe our Scarlet Knights are clearly on their way to the success they are looking for this season.

The team is led by coach Greg Schiano who is a former Coach of the Year and has the skills to motivate players to perform above their talent level.

Leading the offense is young sophomore stud Tom Savage who showed us as fans last season that he has the tools needed to be a star!

Some may say the O-line and D-line are the big question marks for this season. However, as a former player that has been in that position; the position of being questioned makes you play harder. I believe both sides of the line will gel together and just may become the strong point for this 2010 team.

It is the journey that makes it special, not the destination.

I look forward to sharing my football knowledge and opinions on Rutgers football with all of you. Please respond with comments, questions, and any insight you may have.

Torre's Dodgers Miss The Fat Lady, Blow Lead and Game To Yankees

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 06:33:42 GMT

It's the old saying, 'It ain't over til the fat lady sings.'

Well, the Los Angeles Dodgers were caught waiting for her last night in the series finale against the New York Yankees. With a 6-2 lead heading into the ninth inning, Joe Torre brought in his closer Jonathan Broxton, despite it not being a save situation.

Broxton had pitched the night before but Torre, knowing how tough the Yankees are, went to the big righty to shut the door and go home with a series victory. Like the Yankees, when the Dodgers bring in their closer, the fat lady usually starts to sing.

Not on this night. Not for the Dodgers anyway.

The last time the Yankees came back from a four run deficit this late in a game, Torre was in pinstripes. That day, a few Yankees reserves (Melky Cabrera, Andy Phillips, Miguel Cairo, and Kelly Stinnett) played roles in the comeback victory over the New York Mets.

Last night, a few reserves also had big parts in the comeback. It started with one out when Alex Rodriguez singled followed by a Robinson Cano double cut the Dodgers lead to 6-3. Jorge Posda then grinded out an at bat before getting a hit. Next batter, Curtis Granderson worked a walk to load the bases with one out. This brought up the youngsters.

Recently called up outfielder, Chad Huffman, ripped a two run single to move the Yankees within one run of tying the game. Huffman had entered the game in the fourth inning due to an injury to Brett Gardner.

So, with the lead now down to one, the Dodgers still could not find the fat lady. The Yankees now had runners on the corners with one out. A double play would end the game.

In a gutty at bat, pinch hitter Colin Curtis hit a ground ball to Dodgers first baseman James Loney who appeared to have a couple options. He could have thrown home to cut down Granderson who was on his way to the plate. He could have thrown to second to start a 3-6-3 double play that would have ended the game. Instead, Loney decided to step on first base for the first out, then throw home to try and get Granderson.

No chance! Combine Granderson's speed and Loney's throw that sailed toward the first base side of home plate and the Yankees had scored the tying run.

Broxton would finish the inning without giving up another run, but you got the feeling the Yankees would not loss this game. Torre, Broxton, and the Dodgers must be awfully mad at The Fat Lady.

Said Joe Girardi: "We kind of stole the momentum there."

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera entered the tie game in the bottom half on the ninth and shut down the Dodgers. In the top of the tenth, Robinson Cano provided the dramatics.

The second baseman had been 0-for-11 against Dodgers reliever George Sherrill. until this at bat. Cano drove a pitch over the left centerfield wall for a two run home run that essentially won the game for the Yankees.

Rivera came out for his second inning of work and got out of it without much of a threat. The Yankees finished the west coast trip 4-2 and now return home to face the Toronto Blue Jays.

The first place Yankees went 11-7 in interleague play this season.