New York Sports Break

Kudos to the New York Mets. So far this off-season, they have made a major splash in the hot stove. They have traded Mike Cameron for Xavier Nady, a trade that seemed ill advised at the time but seemed to free up some money for other moves. They then turn around and trade with the Florida Marlins, their division rival, to get Carlos DelGado. He says he will comply with the team rules, and be a good team player, either way his bat and glove is a much welcome addition to 1b. Then they sign closer Billy Wagner away from the Phillies, in the process weakening another division rival. I have to wonder if Manny Ramirez will be patrolling right field in Shea next year as well.

Now as a side bar, the Florida Marlins and its owner Jeffrey Loria is a disgrace to all of baseball. I understand they need a new stadium, but you are not going to gain support of the fans and the community by having another fire sale and fielding a team next year of Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera and 23 stooges. I feel bad for Joe Girardi, who could not have possibly imagined that this is what was going to happen when he took this managerial role.

The Yankees are talking (or not talking) about putting Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez in Centerfield next season. This does not seem a bad idea. Like any business, you use the assets you have in a way that will maximize your returns. Eric Duncan may or may not be ready for the show, but with 3b potentially open it could give him a shot and if not him, then how about Troy Glaus?

It is 11 games into the season and I have no idea what to make of the Giants. They beat the 49ers on the road, and then lost to the Vikings at home. Then they beat an exhausted, TO-less and Donanvan McNabb-less Philadelphia Eagles, then flew cross-country and played relatively well against the NFC leading Seattle Seahawks. Now they face the Cowboys at home for sole possession of the NFC East, where the winner should win the division and the loser will face a large uphill battle to make the playoffs. The Giants are known for late season collapses and this year may still be no exception regardless of this weekend’s outcome. They have road games against the well coached Eagles and then home again for the Chiefs. They go on the road to finish the season in Washington to play the Redskins who would like nothing better than to keep big blue out of the playoffs. Then they end the season in Oakland and Kerry Collins I am sure would love to put the final nail in the Giants coffin.

The Jets have apparently hit rock bottom by losing out the Saints this past weekend to fall to 2-9. This puts them in a tie with the Packers for the second or third draft pick next year, which is about all Gang Green has going for them. With their recent luck, they will wind up winning a few games and miss out of the top 5. I would not suggest tanking, but it is time that they start looking to 2006. Herman Edwards was giving the kiss of death by Jets ownership this week saying he would be back, and putting rumors to bed that he would coach the Chiefs next year. If Dick Vermeil retires, I bet Herm goes to KC.

The Rangers continue to shock and amaze in their winning ways. Everybody has been talking about the shoot-out goal scored on Saturday night by Marek Malik, a Czech defensemen not known for his offensive prowess. However, after 15 rounds of shoot out, he broke the tie and won the game with a behind the back goal, that is simply impossible to describe, you just had to see it to believe it. It shows that the shoot-out is bringing excitement back to the game. When the NHL last played in 2003-2004, that game would have ended in a sister-kissing tie, and no buzz would have been generated. Now, everyone is talking about this game, and it even made the first 10 minutes of 30-minute Sports Center on Sunday morning.