Sunday, November 30, 2008

NY Sports Rant

Differing from the theme of this blog, I am going to rant about sports.

Just when the Knicks were finally starting to show a little bit of heart….Just when they were actually winning a few games, second in the Atlantic, one of the biggest trades in recent Knicks’ history takes place. Trading Zach Randolph, Jamal Crawford, and Mardy Collins was a great decision by Donnie Walsh! I liked Randolph and Crawford, but both had large contracts, and this move will put the Knicks under the salary cap limit for the first time in my life. It will be tough to watch games at times because the team lost a lot by trading their top two scorers and top rebounder; however they will be in a good position in 2010- with or without Lebron James.

….

The Stephon Marbury situation is just RIDICULOUS! He is so talented, but he wastes every single ounce of talent in his body. Lenny Wilkens, Larry Brown, Isiah Thomas, and Mike D’Antoni are not perfect, especially Isiah Thomas, but they did not get to be hall of famers in the NBA or overseas for by knowing nothing about basketball. Stephon Marbury, you were the common denominator in every one of these battles. You need to realize that you have issues and stop acting like a spoiled child. I wish I could get paid 21 million dollars to do nothing. Think about that.

….

I am itching for some Mets news this off season. They really have not done much yet; except pick up Delgado’s option for 2009. I am hoping that extend an offer to Oliver Perez. He was one of their most consistent starters. He has great “stuff”. He is a big game pitcher; just look at his games against the Yankees or in the 2006 post season. Perez had inconsistencies in the past, but finally seems to have gotten it together in New York. The starting rotation in 2008 was one of the best things the Mets had. Having a rotation of Santana, Maine, Perez, and Pelfrey would be strong. The Mets would just need a serviceable 5th starter to replace Pedro.

I would like to see the Mets trade Luis Castillo for an outfielder or relief pitcher. He is not good anymore, he is constantly hurt, and his contract is huge, so it might be difficult, but Castillo is not going to help the Mets in 2009. Murphy at second base hitting second in the lineup would be good as long as Murphy can play a decent defensive second base. He is a very patient hitter, and he is a cheap option for second that would give the team more money to spend on the bullpen.

The bullpen is awful. Get rid of it. Please. First they need a closer. K-Rod is the best closer on the market, but he is going to be expensive. He would be a good fit for the Mets, but they should be careful about how long of a contract they give him. The velocity on his fastball has dropped, and his motion to the mound gives me nightmares of a career-ending injury to come. He falls so far off the mound that he practically lands on his knees. He has to be putting considerably more stress on his elbow and shoulder than most pitchers in order to generate that type of momentum. Omar should go get K-Rod, but he might want to buy some extra insurance on that elbow because it would be awful to have to pay to closers that are not even able to pitch.

The Mets also need a left fielder that can hit. It does not have to be a long term solution because Fernando Martinez will hopefully be in Citi Field at some point in 2009, but he has to be able to hit. The lineup was not that good after Reyes, Wright, Beltran, and Delgado.

I can not wait to go to Citi Field, or as it was called in the Times Herald Record today, Citi/ Taxpayers’ Field. Citi Group could make up a small portion of their losses if they were not buying naming rights for the new stadium.

LETS GO METS!