Your New York Sports Blog

Mets.com:

"Jorge Sosa temporarily became an effective solution for a rotation problem the Mets developed in May. For five weeks, the castaway right-handed pitcher provided consistent performances, not to mention six victories in seven starts. Now, with the Mets less than a week from the beginning of their regular season, a similar problem exists. And the club is looking in the same direction for a solution."



SI:
"Mets decisionmakers appear set to overlook top pitching prospect Mike Pelfrey's poor spring and name him the No. 5 starter in coming days, sources said. Club officials will gather here Wednesday, but the momentum is strong for the righthander Pelfrey to get the nod despite a spring in which he allowed 36 baserunners in 17 1/3 innings."

I will be making a this or that on this situation later today.

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• The Yankees were defeated by the Indians 7 - 5. Ian Kennedy was terrible giving up 5 runs 4 earned, while walking 4, and giving up 1 homerun.
• Jason Giambi continues to rake going 2 -4 with a double and run scored. He appears to be the front runner for the 1st base job.

• The Mets defeated rival Braves 5 - 4. Top pitching prospect Jon Niese went 4.2 innings, giving up only 2 runs, but walked 6 batters.
  
• Carlos Beltran looked great in today's game. His knees look fully healed and he managed to steal a base and score a run.

• The Rangers lost a HUGE game to the Flyers in overtime 2 - 1. Jaromir Jagr scored the only goal and Flyer's Mike Richards scored the game wining goal 2 minutes into overtime.
  
• Scott Gomez did not play, but Petr Prucha did.
  

• The Islanders were not in action tonight.
  
• Their next game is Thursday, March 27th against the Penguins.

• The Knicks were not in action today.
• Their next game is Wednesday, March 26th against the Heat.

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In case you were curious the Islander's were officially eliminated from a playoff birth. The only good thing that comes from that is having a good drafting positions, which is a good thing because this is supposed to be a deep draft class with a lot of defensive help. It also means that you get a longer look a phenom Kyle Okposo. Here are some people you might want to watch for in the draft:
1 Steven Stamkos, C 2/7/90 R 5.11.7 176 Sarnia OHL
2 Nikita Filatov, LW 5/25/90 R 6.00 165 Moscow CSKA-2 RusDi
3 Drew Doughty, RD 12/8/89 R 6.00.5 219 Guelph OHL
4 Cody Hodgson, C 2/18/90 R 5.11.5 185 Brampton OHL
5 Alex Pietrangelo, RD 1/18/90 R 6.03.2 206 Niagara OHL
6 Kyle Beach, C 1/13/90 R 6.03 203 Everett WHL
7 Zach Bogosian, RD 7/15/90 R 6.02 197 Peterborough OHL
8 Luke Schenn, RD 11/2/89 R 6.02.2 216 Kelowna WHL
9 Colin Wilson (Fr.), C 10/20/89 L 6.01 215 Boston Univ H.E.
10 Mikkel Boedker, LW 12/16/89 L 5.11.2 195 Kitchener OHL
11 Zac Boychuk, C 10/4/89 L 5.09.5 175 Lethbridge WHL
12 Tyler Ennis, C 10/6/89 L 5.08.7 146 Medicine Hat WHL
13 Mattias Tedenby, LW 2/21/90 L 5.11 176 HV71 SweE
14 Tyler Myers, RD 2/1/90 R 6.07.2 204 Kelowna WHL
15 Evgeny Grachev, C 2/21/90 R 6.03 202 Yaroslavl RusDi

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Joel Sherman:
"1. Don’t be surprised if the Mets try to sign Claudio Vargas, who was released by the Brewers Canning-Craft-Beer . Omar Minaya has history with Vargas. In one of his first major moves as a GM – with the Montreal Expos in July 2002 – he traded, among others, Carl Pavano to the Marlins for a package that included Cliff Floyd and Vargas. Vargas served as a swingman with the Expos in 2003-04, and the Mets could conceivably use the same entity now with Orlando Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey struggling to grab the No. 5 spot in the rotation and limited organizational rotation depth behind them."

I'm not sure how much better Vargas could be than someone like Tony Armas ,but the extra help could help. He can pitch the 1st game in April as a starter and than move into a long inning role allowing you to trade Jorge Sosa with his role being filled.

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Deadspin:
"Once again, he's naming names, and, according to a man named Joe Lavin, who bought a copy accidentally put on sale early at a Boston bookstore, those names are Roger Clemens, Magglio Ordonez and Alex Rodriguez."

Here are the excerpts Joe Lavin says were in the new book:
(Spoiler Alert: Don't read any further if you don't want to know how the book ends!)

"As for Alex Rodriguez, Canseco says he didn't inject Rodriguez, but that he "introduced Alex to a known supplier of steroids." Canseco didn't mention Rodriguez in the first book because he "hated the bastard." He was worried that people would have "questioned [his] motives" had he included Rodriguez.
Why all the hatred, you ask. Well, Canseco claims that A-Rod was trying to sleep with Canseco's wife. Apparently, even after Canseco had been nice enough to help A-Rod find a friendly steroids supplier, A-Rod kept calling Canseco's wife.
And, in case there's any further confusion about Canseco's true feelings, he ends the chapter by saying:

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Daily News:
Reliever Steven Register has been placed on waivers, two sources unaffiliated with the Mets told the Daily News. That signals that Mets officials intend to turn elsewhere - presumably to Joe Smith or Brian Stokes - if Duaner Sanchez is not ready to break camp with the team. Scouts believe Register, a Rule 5 pick from the Rockies, is likely to be claimed off waivers and end up in some team’s MLB bullpen for the start of the season. If he did clear waivers, the Mets, who paid $50,000 for Register, would have to offer him back to Colorado for $25,000. It’s believed the Mets at that point would try to work out a trade with the Rockies that would make Register permanently part of the Mets’ organization.

I can't see how any other team does not claim him. He had a good spring training and this is a free good bullpen arm. By the end of the year I can see him on some teams 7th inning role. Some possible suitors could be the Rays, Phillies, Astros, Tigers, or just about every other team. Hopefully no one claims him and the Mets can work out a deal with the Rockies for him.

Metsblog says that Ruben Gotay has also on waivers and this is what Matthew Cerrone says on his situation:
"I believe gotay will clear waivers, and be returned to the Mets, who like his bat, but worry about his defense…and now with the ankle injury, plus being out of options, i just can’t see how another team will pick him up. i’m worried, though, because i like gotay a lot…yes, i understand he has struggled on defense…but his bat is hard to deny, and too good to just throw away"

I on the other hand see it differently. The Giants have many of their infielders injured and yesterday learned that Kevin Frandsen ruptured his Achilles' tendon. They are in desperate need of an infielder and Gotay can play every infield position for you.

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Pro Football Talk:
"In response to our blurb regarding a report in the Newark Star-Ledger that the New Orleans Saints offered a second-round pick and safety Roman Harper for Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey, a source with knowledge of the discussions tells us that the Giants wanted a two and Harper, and that the Saints refused.
We don’t know what if anything the Saints offered for Shockey. But the fact that the Giants articulated a trade request for Shockey tells us that they’re willing to move on without him.
And for good reason. He has been a disruptive influence in the organization, and we think it’s no coincidence that quarterback Eli Manning came of age once Shockey was done for the year with a broken leg."

Wow that is a shock to me. I did not think the Giants would be willing to deal Shockey this off-season. Rotoworld brings up a good point that this was most likely asked before Sammy Knight was signed so Harper might not be wanted anymore, but hey you never know. If there are any other rumblings I'll let you know.

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ESPN:
"Indiana Pacers chief executive Donnie Walsh will leave the team after this season and a source told ESPN late Monday that he will land with the New York Knicks.
Walsh is expected to sign a three-year, $15 million contract with New York at the end of this season to oversee their basketball operations division. The source did not know what would become of current Knicks president of basketball operations and head coach Isiah Thomas once Walsh joined the Knicks.
Walsh only said Monday he will finish the season with Indiana and will not comment on his plans. Pacers team president Larry Bird will take over many of Walsh's duties."

THANK YOU GOD!! That is some of the best news that the Knicks could have gotten. There are only a couple things that could be better (1) Isiah Thomas is fired of all positions (2) The Knicks win the lottery and select Michael Beasley (3) The Knicks sign free agent Lebron James. Hopefully this is confirmed soon and that it is announced Isiah is done after the saeson.

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• The Yankees demolished the Phillies 13 -4. Phil Hughes picked up the win and looked sharp striking out 6 over 5 innings.
• The offense was on fire today after 2 lousy games. Giambi, Melky, and Cano all homered. Cano also had a triple and 5 RBI's.
  

• The Mets defeated the O's 1 - 0.
  
• John Maine pitched the best game of the spring going 6 innings striking out 7 and giving up 1 hit. Luis Castillo provided the only offense on an RBI double scoring Brady Clark. Nelson Figueroa looked impressive.
  

• The Rangers were not in action today.
  
• Their next game is Tuesday, March 25th against the Flyers.

• The Islanders defeated the Penguins 4 - 1.
• Wade Dubielewicz looked good in the win and Mike Comrie sat out his 1st game of the year.
  

• The Knicks were defeated by the Nets 106 - 91.
• Jamal Crawford had a good game, but oh well it's one step closer to Rose or Beasley.
  

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Jets Stream:
"Jets WR Laveranues Coles, who ripped the club last month for “lying” to him about a contract extension, ended his one-week protest by reporting today to the voluntary off-season conditioning program, according to a team spokesman.Presumably, Coles’ appearance means his situation has been resolved, although it couldn't’t be immediately confirmed that he has a new contract"

This is good news, but why is he reporting? Rich Cimini says the Jets offered him the $11 mill of the next 2 years he is owed guaranteed and that Coles wanted more years to his contract. When the news comes out why I will let you know.
The article also goes on to say that Dewayne Robertson has yet to report to camp.

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MLB-Rumors:
"The Tigers have approached several teams about acquiring a reliever, but are returning to the Mets to discuss a deal. According to one high ranking official, the Mets have at least three different trade proposals out, all that would bring Marcus Thames back in return. "

Eli talks about the people he thinks will be included in a trade. Jorge Sosa and a prospect, Scott Shoenweis and a prospect, or Aaron Heilman. There is no way in hell they Mets can give up Heilman for Thames that would be plain stupid. I do not think the Tigers would want Shoenweis's deal ,but I could see them wanting Sosa because of his versatility of being a good reliever and can give you the spot start. They could also be asking for Joe Smith in a trade we would help any teams pen for years to come. Eli also says he wants them to go for Burgos, however, Burgos is injured for the year and not trade able and secondly I don't think the Mets will give up on Burgos after trading Brian Bannister for him and knowing what he could eventually bring to the team.

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Star-Ledger:

"Seubert, the Giants' starting left guard last season, signed a contract extension through the 2012 season today, according to someone familiar with the negotiations. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately available.
Seubert, who turns 29 on Sunday, had two seasons remaining on his existing contract. After the Super Bowl win, he presented the Giants with a contract proposal that would allow him to finish his career with the team. Seubert's proposal also made his recent salary increases (from $1.05 million to $2 million this upcoming season) due to incentives reached more palatable for the Giants' salary cap because they'll now be converted into a signing bonus and spread over five years. Seubert told the front office he understood his extension might mean he'll once again become a backup in the future. But the most important part of the deal for him was his being able to remain with an organization that has been loyal to him."

You always root for the underdog and when they excel you enjoy it. It is always nice to see an undrafted player go on to do great things. The Giants have one of the most underrated O-lines and Seubert is a key to it.

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