Yankees Trail Wildcard, Messier Retires

Well, the Yankees took two of three from the Red Sox this weekend, and lost two of three to the mighty mighty Tampa Bay Devil Rays earlier last week. It is amazing, since this year’s incarnation of the Bronx Bombers does not seem to have the ability or maybe desire to win on a consistent basis. Two weeks ago, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo said on WFAN here in NYC after they went 2 games ahead in the wild-card race that the Yankees should be embarrassed if they wind up losing that lead with 30 games left. How true that statement is now. They should be embarrassed, considering that once again the primary damage was done by Tampa Bay. Cleveland is playing great ball, and at absolutely the right time. I don’t think that the Indians have what it takes to beat the Red Sox or the eventual Western Division Champion (A’s or Angels?) in the ALDS, but I think they are good enough to take the Wild-card, based upon their momentum and their remaining schedule. I also don’t think the White Sox will get out of the first round either, which makes a Red Sox against the AL West in the ALCS, but that is another story.

I am so certain that the Yankees won’t make the playoffs; I have bet a fellow Yankee fan $1. However, much to my family’s chagrin, it is possible I am wrong. Let’s see how this could play out.

CC Sabathia has a reason to be smiling. The front running Indians have 2 games left at home against Oakland after losing last night 2-0 with a record of 82-62. They have 3 left against KC, 3 in Chicago, 3 at KC, 3 at home against Tampa and finish with 3 at home against the White Sox. Let’s assume the Indians split the remaining 2 games with the Athletics. Then they have six against KC, which they should win 5, and 6 games against Chicago, which they should split. This leaves them with 3 against the aforementioned Rays. The Indians can go 10-6, with 3 remaining against Tampa. Can you imagine the Rays lying down to Indians in order to keep the Yankees out of the playoffs? Cleveland should take 2 out of 3, regardless, ending with a 12-7 record over their final games giving them a 94-68 record at the end of the season.

The Yankees are currently 80-62, a game back in the wild card with 20 games left to the Indians 18. They finish the season with 3 in Tampa, 3 in Toronto, 4 at home against the Orioles, 3 against Toronto, 4 at Camden Yards in Baltimore, and finish with 3 in Boston. Let’s assume they figure out how to beat Tampa, starting tonight and go 2-1 against the Rays they need and they will lose 2 of 3 the final weekend in Boston. This leaves them at 83-65, with 8 games against Baltimore, and 6 games against Toronto. They need to win 11 out of these 14 games, just to tie the Indians, and I have no idea how the tie breaker system works, but quite frankly it is a moot point since I cannot see this team winning 5 of 6 from the Blue Jays, and 6 of 8 from the Orioles. Even if the Royals are able to beat the Tribe one more time in those 6 games, that only lowers the mark to 93 wins. I just don’t see the Yankees winning that many games based upon the previous 142 played so far this year. Let's see how the Yankees due tonight against their arch-nemesis DRays, I don't hold out hope for a miracle.

So with that in mind, I say the following: Let’s go Jets, Let’s go Giants, Let’s go Rangers.

The Jets looked terrible on Sunday. Now it is possible that the Chiefs D improved so much and they are going to be competing with the Ravens, and the Bills for the leagues best defense, but I just don’t see that happening with them facing the Raiders, and Chargers twice this season. The Jets receivers dropped passes, the o-line provided no running room for Curtis Martin, and the defense could not tackle or defend the pass to save their lives. Many people will blame Chad Pennington for this loss, but this was a team effort, a real stinker. Gang Green has a long way to go to show me what they are made of this year. Herman Edwards, your time is almost up if you don’t do something soon. TE Chris Baker was the only bright spot and deserves to be smiling.

On the flip side, the Giant fan should not be salivating at the possibilities of their team this year. Eli Manning started just his 8th professional game and looked like it in the first half. I blame the Cardinals for this Giants win. They were almost as bad as the Jets, though they scored more points. It was an interesting game to watch, and I thought in the first half that the Cardinals were going to win, since they made adjustments on both sides of the ball to slow the boys in blue down, and start moving the ball. However, they just fell to pieces in the 2nd half, same old Cardinals, same old result. A 42-19 crushing defeat to open the season for the team from the desert. Congratulations to the Giants, but they are going to be facing a touch motivated Saints team, coming back from a hard fought victory over the Carolina team, which many pundits pick to go all the way this year. I don’t think the Saints can win 16 games on the road (LSU and San Antonio aren’t home after all), but they are going to start the season strong and make the New Orleans fans proud. Someone recently wrote, “Sorry Cowboys, the Saints are America’s team now.” I agree, at this for this year. I predict the Saints go 9-7, without looking at their schedule.

The Rangers yesterday announced the retirement of Mark Messier yesterday after 25 years in the NHL and plan on retiring his #11 on January 11, 2006, joining Rod Gilbert (7), Ed Giacomin (1) and Mike Richter (35) in the Madison Square Garden rafters. Oddly, that will be 37 years to the day after Joe Namath led the upstart Jets over the Johnny Unitas led Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Messier, or the Messiah as he was called, NY legend was set in 1994 when he almost single handedly led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup after a 54 year drought. He also emerged from the shadow of his former Edmonton teammate, Wayne Gretzky, proving that he was able to win the cup, without him, which coincidently Gretzky was unable to do.

Messier left the Rangers in 1997, to play with the Vancouver Canucks only to return again for the 2000-2001 season. He was unable to lead either team into the playoffs late in his career. Quite frankly, he would still have been a legend if he retired in 2000 before his return to Broadway. I believe he tarnished his image, and kept younger players out of the lineup or traded as Neil Smith and Glen Sather, believed with him they could take that one last shot at the cup. Needless to say those plans failed. He still finishes 11 short of Geordie Howe’s all-time games played of 1767, and second on the scoring list with 1,887 points, and astonishing 970 fewer than Gretzky. However, it is time for him to go and I tip my hat to him, so we can now rub it in the Islanders face, that they have not won the Stanley Cup since 1983.

Good Bye Mark!! It was fun to watch you play.