The Outsiders' Edge

Man, things have been pretty exciting the past few weeks in the New York sports world.  The Yankees clinched the division. The Giants and Jets are undefeated after three games and there are reports of another baseball team finishing up their season, but reports of those rumors are unfounded as of press time.  The hockey season is also underway, and Rangers fans are pretty optimistic about the upcoming season.  We are also right around the corner of the upcoming NBA season, with the rent-a-Knicks are playing out this season awaiting the summer of 2010.

We start with the Yankees.  That was kinda easy wasn’t it?  They did start off slow and there were grumblings about Joe Girardi’s job security early on.  The series in June against the Atlanta Braves seemed to be the turning point. The Bombers have been kicking ass and taking names since that series, playing at a 700 clip and earning the best record in the league.

Plenty of milestones were reached as well.  Mariano Rivera notched his 500^th career save and MVP candidate Derek Jeter broke the record for most hits as a Yankee.  Alex Rodriguez has turned it around after his sluggish start, most likely due to his hip surgery.  A Rod’s return also put a charge in first baseman Mark Teixiera as well.  He was just as sluggish in the beginning but once A Rod came back  he has been hot, playing at an MVP level as well. I personally think Joe Mauer of the twins will win the MVP. He is hitting 360 and plays catcher, which is almost unheard of.  That and reporters in middle America hate voting for a Yankee, especially when one of their own has a shot at the same title (future hall of famer Angel Berroa robbing Hideki Matsui of Rookie of the Year honors sticks out like a sore thumb.)

The pitching worries me a bit.  I think 19 game winner CC Sabathia will silence his “he cant win in the postseason” critics and Andy Petitte will be fine.  It is AJ Burnett and Joba Chamberlain I am worried about.   AJ stuff wise is top 5, he has just never been able to put it all together.  He walks too many guys and can look downright Irabu-ish at times.  Joba to me should not even be on the roster in first round.  The Yankees can only use three starters in their first round series and the back end of their rotation is solid.  No need for him.  Let him rest up, and see what he can give us for game 4 of the ALCS after they smack one of middle Americas darlings, either the Twins or the Tigers, in the ALDS.

Joba's is allowed to throw less pitchers a game than words in this caption.

This also marks the end of the season for the Mets.  My big brother is a Mets fan, and I am mentioning them out of respect for him. I probably will not mention them again until hot stove time, after they make another ill advised trade or free agent signing.

The football season could not have started any better for us New Yorkers.  Mark Sanchize and his JETS are 3 and 0, including a victory over the Patriots.  The Giants are also 3 and 0, including a victory over the Cowboys in the grand opening of their palace.  You can tell who is a Jets fan around these parts by the orgasmic look on their faces.  They are probably the only group of fans who after 3 straight victories already think championship, no matter whether they are playoff eligible or not.  I personally still do not believe in them, and I do not think they will make the postseason.  Lost in this Super Bowl is a lock euphoria is the fact that their running game is a little suspect, and the Sanchize has looked rattled at times but both he and the running game have been bailed out by their stellar defense.  Time will tell. They play New Orleans this week in the Superdome, where they are averaging over one hundred thousand points per game in the last 2 seasons.  This will be a good test to determine if they are for real or not.

( Elevation Note- Mark Sanchez and the Jets lost to New Orleans 24 to 10 on Sunday. Sanchez’s 4 turnovers may not have helped.)

Despite his poor performance against New Orleans, Sanchez is still the most heralded young Jets QB since Joe Namath. Sorry Chad Pennington.

Whenever the Jets are doing well, it seems like the Giants do not get as much attention, no matter how well they are doing.  The Giants look like the better team, maybe the best team in football, yet the back page love them some Gang Green.  That is just peachy for the Giants.  They love to play that Rodney Dangerfield card and thrive off of that.  A great thing about the Giants is they can win in all ways.  If you want to play a physical brand of ball they can do that, if you want an aerial attack they can do that as well.  It is very early, and they have a little bit of a cupcake schedule but I wouldn’t wanna play them come January.  They also play the Saints later this year in N’awlins.  When was the last time you heard of the Saints being involved in games that are well hyped?

The New York Rangers will attempt to progress under one and a half year coach John Tortorella.  The Rangers began last season 10 and 3, but all Rangers fans knew it was just smoke and mirrors.  Their lack of scoring caught up to them, and it cost then coach Tom Renney his job.  There was a slight improvement under Torts, and with the Sean Avery returning after a terrible stint in Dallas where he was let go for saying another hockey player smashed actress Elisha Cuthbert, the Rangers reached the postseason.  They held a 3-1 lead in the first against the Washington Capitals only to see it slip away.

Dave Letterman to Sean Avery: "I raise your Elisa Cuthbert with my every female staff member in Late Show history."

The Rangers went through a huge overhaul in the offseason to fit Torts style.  Gone are penalty killers Blair Betts and Fredrik Sjostrom, so their strength last year is now a huge question mark.  Scott Gomez was also traded after doing his best Bobby Bonilla impression.  In are the ultra talented Marian Gaborik, Christopher Higgins and Vinny Prospal.  They also have one of the best if not the best goalie in the league in Henrik Lundqvist, that is good for 20 wins alone.  The Rangers should be fun to watch this year, but I do not think they are a cup contender, I say they fall somewhere between the 3^rd and the 6^th seed.  That is as much hockey news as you will get. Now, if you can tell me what the hell a Canuck is, I will buy you a slice.

On to my beloved Knicks.  We Knick fans are one season away from slapping high fives with strangers for no reason or being on suicide watch.  Donnie Walsh has the ball in his court.  He decided against trading slam dunk and not much else Nate Robinson and 4 time bambi look alike winner Jared Jeffries to the Kings for cap space, thinking they can make a push for the postseaon.  This move smacks of the past regime.  I will give him a pass because one, we still have a year to move Jeffries and two, trading Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph in the beginning of the season makes up for the not trading Nate thing.  Plus if he could trade Eddy Curry then he can go against Bloomberg and probably win.  I do expect some improvement with this bunch from last year.  Toney Douglas might be the steal of the draft.  He was the top scorer in the ACC last year and was a shut down defender.  He is a great one on one player who can score anywhere from the court.

The other first pick, 8^th overall Jordan Hill, was the best player available in the draft at that time.  He is a shot blocker and a good rebounder and can run the floor.  Both players fit coach Mike D’antoni’s system.  They also acquired Darko Milicic, the best and most notable player from his draft class.   Ok, who am I kidding?  The Knicks are biding time for 2010 when they will make their run at the biggest prize in the history of free agency in any sport, Lebron James.  I am optimistic only because since there are so many players coming off the books after this year, those same dudes will be playing for a new contract and should step it up.  Don’t expect any more than 40 wins though.  This season will be our last season of being irrelevant.  Even if we do not get the king there are plenty of other free agents who we will sign. The light is almost there Knick fans. One more effin year.

Its OK Knick fans, at least if you don't get Lebron, you'll still have the 48th best player from his draft class, Darko Milicic

That is all for now friends.  I am coming back next time with a top 10 list, and reports on the Yankees playoff push,  how the G Men and Jets are preparing for the stretch, early reports on the Knicks and Rangers plus a preview of St. Johns basketball for those who care.  Later.