Rangers Finally Win

The Rangers got two first period power play goals, from MZA and Oscar, then up a goal in the first two minutes of the second period, then got another one from Kreider about a minute later, and one from Brassard a bit later, to make if 4-1.  Then they almost gave it all back.   Rask scored late in the second to make it 4-2,  and Terry scored on a breakaway in the third to make it 4-3.  Nash couldn't convert his breakaway in the third and the Rangers started getting trapped in their own end again.   They won't be able to win like this against good teams, or goodish teams as we've seen.   What's more, Klein got hurt and didn't return.

So, though the win was much needed, they still showed many of the weaknesses they've been showing all year.  Kreider scoring was, as always a good sign, and if he can get going, that will be huge.   Meanwhile, if Klein is going to be out, Skjei should be up and playing.   In fact, McIlrath shoul also be playing.   I bet they won't funble around in their own end as much as the rest of them have.

This Week on the Blog

This past week was pretty brutal for the Knicks and Rangers, and a lot of nothing for the Yanks and Knicks.  That said, I hope you all had and are having a wonderful holiday weekend.  Can this week be better?

Giants: The Giant lines are decimated, but if they can find a way to beat Washington today, their playoff picture brightens.   Hakeem Nicks is active and we'll see if he and Eli have any of their old chemistry.  Ruben Randle has never adequately replaced what Nicks was in his first few years, and Nicks is the model for a WR that could compliment Odell.   I'd feel a lot better if Pugh and Richburg were playing, though.

Rangers:  Everything that the Rangers had been doing wrong while they were winning, finally came back to bite them in their collective ass this week.  Sheesh.  Their inabiility to clear their zone and tendancy to get bottled up in their own end is embarrassing.   And not only is Stepan now missing but Kreider is missing in action and has been all season.  Something's got to change, and I'd love to see if Brady Skjei, who can really skate, could help solve the breakout problem they have.

Knicks:  The Knicks 4 game winning streak morphed into a 3 game losing streak.  That doesn't bother me terribly because they are still being built.  What does bother me is that young players like O'Quinn, Grant and Galloway are losing minutes to guys who won't be around when the Knicks are ready to rumble.  Thus development is not being properly administered by Coach Fisher, and combined with his lack of late game strategy it seems pretty pointless to have him as the Knicks coach.  It would be better to find a current version of Hubie Brown while these kids are learning their way, but I'm not sure who that is.  But the job here and now is to develop the kids, and eventually move Melo.

Yankees:  The Yanks look like they'll stay trade-centric this offseason, and those could start at any minute.  They haven't been linkey too heavily with any of the free agents, and their really isn't anyone I'd want to see them give up their picks to sign.   So, once again this year we are probably hoping harder against the negatives (giving up the picks or trading the prospects) than we are for adding talent.   It's an interesting position in which we find ourselves.

In any event, a Giant win better be on the way, and it would be nice if the Knicks could win later today, too.  Have a great week, everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope all of you have the best the day and season can offer.   Thanks for reading and commenting!

Rangers Win

The Rangers just shutout Nashville 3-0.   Hank had to be sharp, because they are still not playing anywhere near well enough.   That said, the goals came from Nash, Stepan and Hayes, all of whom need to score more, as do Kreider, Miller and others.   Staal and Yandle both collected assists and it seems like the D's are assisting more frequently through the early going this year.  But, another big win and a bit of a balm for the Knick performance or lack thereof.

This Week on the Blog

It was a quiet and somewhat disappointing week, save for the performances of Porzingis and MZA. Let's see if this week can be better.

Yankees: the Yanks only protected three of extra minor leaguers on Friday, so they could get exploited again in the rule 5 which is still a ways away.   There've been some trade rumors around both Brett Gardner and Andrew Miller.  Either should command a strong return, particularly Miller, and it cannot be like the crap we got in the Lowell, RJ or Sheff trades.  They have to be good trades.

Giants:  The Giants are off this week, although they've been off most weeks of the season.  This week they have to hope they can get Prince and maybe one or two others for their stretch drive.  Amazingly, they could still make the playoffs with a strong finish.

Knicks:  Despite Coach Fisher's many ponderous moves, the Knicks are now on a winning streak.  This is largely because either Melo or Porzingis has been super dominant over each of the last few games.  Let's see if they can both get hot at the same time.   In KP's case, 2 of his last three games have been sensational, and he still has to find consistency with his threes and his night to night.  The Knicks have to figure out if that will be possible with Melo on the team.  Whether it is or isn't it may be time to start marketing Melo at the deadline or prior to the draft.

Rangers:  The Rangers are 15-3-2 and they still haven't played as well as they can.   Nash may have broken out of his slump, that started during the second half of last season.  It will be interesting to see if the Rangers market him.   They're still not getting what they should from Kreider, Stepan and some of the others, but they are winning, and that will, hopefully, let them make the playoffs without having to play at playoff intensity for two months before the playoffs.

Over, let's hope the Knicks and Ranger keep rolling, and let's hope the Yanks have trade luck.  The Giants don't play till one week from today, so let's hope they can avoid non-football injuries till then. Have a great week everyone!

Kristaps Conquers Houston

After a sort of middling night last night, Kristaps Porzingas went off for the second time in three games tonight.  He just scored 24 points, while grabbing 14 boards and blocking 7 shots.  He also had two assists and was charged with only 1pf.   This was in thirty five minutes in the second of back to backers. Melo only played 24 and scored 14 with 6 boards, and Lance Thomas played too much again.   Let's hope they get that figured out.  Because winning, is like better than losing, man.  Also. the time to build around Kristaps and move Melo is coming, if it's not already here.

Rangers Win in OT

After scoring the Rangers first two goals of the game in regulation, Rick Nash completed the hat trick by getting the game winner in OT.   MZA continued his monster year with a goal and two assists, and Viktor Stalberg scored on assists from Miller and Oscar.   The defense needs to play better as 4 goals in regulation should be all it ever takes, but I am a little concerned that Hank is coming back to earth. Something to watch.   Important win though, after the inexcusable loss the other night.

Knicks Beat Oklahoma

The Knicks just beat Oklahoma 93-90.  Melo had 25 and nobody else really had big numbers.  Zinger was 7 and 6 and was being held like a newborn whenever he was in.  The big thing tonight was that the Knicks were able to hit 12 threes with few misses.  Duran wasn't playing, but Westbrook was and it's always hard to beat them.   In the last few minutes Calderon and Lopez tried to give away the game, but tonight even they couldn't.

More Yanks Stuff

As the offseason crawls along, the Yanks need to get their 40 man roster locked ahead of the Rule V draft by tomorrow afternoon.   They currently have two extra spaces, and probably need some more if they want to save more pitchers, Cave and Gamel.  Thus we should probably expect a trade or trade or DFA's over the next 24 hours or so.   Carry on.

Knicks: Zinger the Ringer Rises!

And in game 12 of his NBA career Kristaps Porzingis went 29 and 11.   They chanted his name after booing it on draft night.  And guess what?  He's only going to get better.  The Knicks held on and beat Charlotte, with another great contribution from Langston Galloway, and some nice work from all the guards.  Carmelo also scored, rebounded (11) and dished.  This team is so easy to root for and they've got a 20 year old they can build around.  Nice stuff.

Giants: Hakeem Returns

Because the Giants didn't realize they wouldn't have Victor Cruz back at all till yesterday, which was after the trade deadline, they had to hit the NFL scrap heap, where they signed former Giant great Hakeem Nicks.  I'm not kidding when I say he was great.  He was, especially in 2010 and 2011, when he was dominant down the stretch and helped lead the Giants to their last SB victory.  Then he hurt his knee and his thousand yard seasons were over.  He left as a UFA after the `13 season, and that was  big reason why the Giants chose Odell Beckham Jr. in round one of the `14 draft.   It's a shame that Hakeem's prime was so brief, and that's he was still available in week 11, but, for awhile there, he was great.

More Yanks, More Deck Chairs

So today we found out why the Yanks let Gary Tuck go.  It was so Giradi could bring back his pal Mike Harkey.  It bothers me that a manager that I already think should be gone can get rid of a renowned coach like Tuck and bring in his buddy, who just got canned in Miami.  The offshoot of this is that Tony Pena is the new catching instructor.  So they went from having 3 coaches with catching backgrounds, down to two, and they let the one who is a great catching instructor go.  This probably won't help Gary Sanchez as much.   Not sure if Pena will be a good catching instructor or not.  He was a very good big league cathcher for a long time, but he had an unusual style that might not work for anyone else, so I wonder what he would be comfortable teaching.  Anyway, that's what they've done now and it seems like a Girardi comfort move instead of a sound baseball decision.

Rangers Win

One New York team knows how to finish lately, and it's the Rangers.   Raanta played and gave up a first period goal.  Then  McDonagh and Stepan both scored.  Then Raanta gave up another one.  Then Brassard scored in the third, and Raanta gave up a third goal.  Then, with under a minute left, MZA, who already had two assists, scored the gamewinner on a backhander.   That was his 9th goal, and he is playing at an elite level this year.  What a testament to his courage and will.   With the win, the Rangers moved to 14-2-2 on the season, and I believe it was their 9th straight.  And they're still not playing as well as they can, but they do have momentum.

Knicks Win

The Knicks just won in yet another game that should have been a lot easier for them.  Amundsen and Thomas are still playing too often, and generally over O'Quinn and Seraphin.  Seraphin, by the way, is starting to show some talent.   But, Fisher seems to favor mediocrity over upside, and thus we'll remain frustrated.  Also, the Knicks are not really running the triangle and that's why their offense seems to freeze at times.   And still, they need to design more of it around KP.  Sure, he and Grant have both been missing shots they're used to making, but they will both come around, and it's time for Fisher to act as if they will.  Nice to get the win.  Still so much to be done.

This Week on the Blog

Interesting week, as the Rangers kept winning, the Knicks kept competing, the Giants won, and the Yanks remained ponderous.  We may have an even bigger week coming right up.

Rangers:  The Rangers just won via the shootout in Ottawa.  It was tied 1-1 after one, and stayed that way.   It was good that the Rangers were able to get the win, because the refs screwed them early and often.  Kreider scored the first period goal on a power play. In the second period Zach Smith gave Derek Stepan a blindsided hit to the head along the boards.  Kreider immediately dropped his gloves and beat the crap out of Smith.  In fact, had Kreider not shown mercy, Smith would have been serously injured. After tagging Smith with rights that left him shaky, Kreider ragdolled him flat on his back and climbed on top, where he could have literally killed Smith, but he did not.   That said, the refs didn't penalize Smith for the cheap shot to Stepan's head, and left Kreider in the box for 17 minutes.  Fortunately, the Rangers hung in there, and Boyle got the game winner in the shootout.  I think Kreider has served warning.  Rangers have to keep improving.

Yanks:  This week the Yanks made one fairly meaningless trade, where they got Pirella off the 40 for a AA pitcher, and then made a ponderous trade, where they sent 24 year old John Ryan Murphy to the Twins for 26 year old Aaron Hicks.   So, not only did they trade young for less young, but they traded from an area of weakness, catcher, for more in an area of surplus, OF.   And make no mistake, the Yanks are weak at C now with only Sanchez right behind McAnn, and then Louis Torrens, well down on the farm.  Romine is a replacement level guy and is not depth.  Meanwhile, the trade also seems to mean the Yanks will trade Gardner, or if they're lucky and there's still stupidity in MLB, Ellsbury.   They were also said to be listening to offers on Andrew Miller, and after seeing the Red Sox lop off the top of their farm for Craig Kimbrel, the Yanks must be salivating over what they can command for Miller.

Giants:  The Giants got more bad news this week when Will Beatty opted for more surgery over trying to play through a torn rotator cuff.  I have torn both of mine and would have tried to play, all I couldn't do anymore was throw strikes, I could still channel my strength.   So, that's another crucial guy on IR.  And there's still no telling when Prince or Cruz will return, if ever.  Tomorrow, they face the Pats.  After seeing what Brees did to these Giants two weeks ago, you have to shutter at thinking what Brady might do.  This team does not have the D to stop Brady, so this could be ugly.  Though it still won't undo what the Giants did to them in 42 and 46.  

Knicks: The Knicks have been competitive this year.  Unfortunately, their coach seems to push all the wrong buttons, rotationally, so their record does not reflect their vast improvement over last year's squad.  Fisher needs to get better or get gone.  The Knicks will keep improving as long as Zinger, Galloway and Grant keep playing.  It would be nice to see O'Quinn in that group, but he's been losing minutes to Amundsen under Fisher's nutty scheme.  But it is good to see the other kids play and grow, and it would be great for the Knicks to trade for more picks.  Meanwhile, expect for more 4th quarter collapses as Fisher makes all the wrong moves.

Have a great week everyone!

Rangers Beat Blues

The Rangers just beat the Blues 6-3 at the Garden.  It was their 7th straight win.  MZA is having a great year and collected another goal and two assists.  Brassard, Hayes, Miller, McD and Girardi also scored.  Don't really know how Kreider didn't.  He was a beast all night and all he had to show for it was an assist on Girardi's empty netter in the third.   Stepan, too, though he had two assists as did Nash.   It was another weird game, where they played a stunning three goal first.  Then got trapped a bunch and turned it over an bunch on the second alllowing three goals against, while scoring just one, then locked it down in the third.  Still waiting for them to play a complete game, and also waiting for them to catch up with the rest of the league in power play opportunities.  Their low Corsi% will rise when they stop getting trapped and start going on more power plays.

`14: The Offseason That Keeps Punishing the Yanks

Two years ago, I begged the Yanks not to sign McAnn, or exchange any of the 3 first rounders they had coming in the 2014 draft for free agents.  Instead, they signed three free agents and lost all the picks and that's not all they've lost or will lose.

Today was just the latest example of idiocy of the McAnn signing.  Last year it made them trade Cervelli, who went on to a good season with Pittsburgh, today it made them trade John Ryan Murphy, who was already better than McAnn this past season, and will surprise in Minnesota.   Anyone who thinks the Yanks are currently deep at C in the organization is out of his mind, btw.  Behind McAnn, they currently have Austine Romine, a non-prospect who never developed after a good second half in Charleston, plus Gary Sanchez, a possible star, then a bunch of org filler, then Luis Torrens who was injured all year, and then more org filler, until the Dominican, and some of those guys aren't even catchers yet.  So, they were much stronger at MLB and MLB ready OF than they were at C.

Further, signing Ellsbury, who has been brutally underwhelming as a Yank, almost always meant they were going to have to trade Gardy, a better player, and a better deal.  Today they added further to their glut of OF's when they added Hicks.

And Beltran has had a few good months, though, ARod's presence makes us play a DH in RF most days.

The Yanks would have been monstrously better off making 3 first round picks in `14, and platooning Cervelli and Murphy then Murphy and Sanchez than buying a declining McAnn and having to trade Cervelli and Murphy.   Bad stuff.

Also, it looks like they helf onto Pirella too long, as they had previously held onto Nunez, too long.   They ended up getting undersized minor league starters for both.  Suboptimal.

Now we must wait for them to trade Gardy, an exemplary Yank who played as hard as he could every time he could.

Yanks Trade John Ryan Murphy

Okay, I'm starting to hate this offseason.   The Yanks just turned their promising back-up catcher, into an older platoony CF.  Aaron Hicks is supposed to be a good defensive CF, which now gives the Yankees 5 that are major league ready: Gardner, Ellsbury, Heathcott, Williams and now Hicks.   I guess this means Gary Sanchez is the new back-up, C, unless they trade him for more of what they already have 4 of.   Hicks might play D, but he doesn't get on base, and I'd rather play any of the 4 we already had over this guy.   So, a huge no-diggity from me, and they should have traded McCann.

Yanks Swap Pirela for A Ball Arm

In a move to create space on the 40, I guess, the Yanks have traded Jose Pirela for 20 year old A Ball pitcher Ronald Herrera.   Herrera was a 2011 IFA signing for the A's, who ended up in the Padre system.  His numbers have not been terribly impressive, but we still might find some reason they took him, instead of someone else for Pirela.

Rangers Win

Henrik Lunqvist got his first shutout of the season as the Rangers beat Carolina to move to 12-2-2 on the season.  They Fast and Nash each scored goals in an 11 second span about ten minutes into the game, and it was never in question thereafter.  McDonagh scored the 3rd goal, 13 seconds into the third. And they're still not playing as well as they can or should.  Once again tonight, they spent a lot of time trap in their own zone and being swarmed by a team that was working harder.  They have a game against the Blues on Thursday, and they'll probably have to be better.

Yanks: Cash and the GM Meetings

So Brian Cashman is either at, or heading to the GM Meetings.  Seems he's already there, since rumors have spread that he's listening for offers on Andrew Miller and all of the prospects.  None of that has sounded like a good plan, so I'd assume that most of it is crap.   A few years ago, the GM meetings seemed act as a staging ground for the Winter Meetings.  For example, the big Granderson trade from the first morning of the Winter Meetings, was originally discussed at the GM Meetings.  But as recently as Friday, Cashman was saying that anything in the works has basically already been broached, which is also weird, because I've read nothing about the annual organizational meetings.

In terms of housekeeping, the Yanks still have to open up spaces on the 40 or get pillaged during the Rule V.  What's more they need a new manager and hitting coach for AAA, and probably some other coaches up and down the chain.   They also have to replace Tim Naehring on the scouting staff, and probably continue expanding it.  And they have to hold onto their picks, dump salary and get younger.  

So, still lots to do, but so far,  it feels like it could be a slow rollout.

Giants Win

The Giants just beat the Bucs 32-18.  This was a game that they could have won much more easily, but for missed passes, dropped balls and interceptions.   Eli was just not shart today, but they got the win.  Unfortunately, Hankins injured his pec, and may be gone for the year.  JPP was active, and got some pressure, but the overall D was still pretty lousy.  Brown and Wing were terrific and deserve the game balls.

Knicks Beat Lakers

Knicks finally won a home game.  They did it by beating the Lakers.  Zinger had another double-double and Langston Galloway continues to turn into a better and better player.   The rotations still seem problematic.

Rangers Win

Antii Raanta just lost a shutout with .4 seconds left in the game.  It was a power play goal, but a regretable one as he was great all night, and deserved his second shutout.   The Rangers are probably the quietest 11-2-2 team I've ever seen, and that's because they've been winning but not playing well. They played a little better tonight, and got their goals from Fast, Miller, Kreider and Hayes, all of whom they need regular scoring from to be the team they can be.  Still, they were a little better these past two games, and 11-2-2 is an impressive start no matter how you slice it.

Giants: JPP to Play

The Giants erstwhile franchise player, JPP, will debut tomorrow against the Bucs.  To make room for JPP, the Giants waived Louis Nix, a guy just has not been able to get it going in the pros.  Meanwhile, Jon Beason also made his annual trip to the IR and was replaced by CB Tremain Jacobs on the 53.  The Giants signed Beason instead of Linval Joseph, and that's been one of their worst decisions at this point.  But JPP is back, and that should give the D a lift, though it probably could use a whole set of lifts.

Rangers Win

The Rangers just moved their points streak to 8, as they beat Colorado 2-1 in regulation.  They basically dominated, but were down 1-0 after one, but then scored 2 goals in 21 seconds in the second period, first by Stepan, then by Oscar,  and that was it.   McIlrath played again and was solid and encouraging again.  Nash was out with a back, so Etem filled in and was also good.   Nice, solid road win, and they're still not playing like they should.

Rangers Win

The Rangers just beat the Caps 5-2.  It's a game that will look much better on the scoreboard than it did on the ice.  Washington seemed to have the puck most of the time, and spent long periods, especially in the second period, trapped in their own end.  However, the Hayes, Lindberg, Stalberg line was great all night and both Oscar and Hayes scored and assisted each other.  Klein, Brassard and Stoll had the other goals.  But, the Rangers have to find ways to not get trapped in their own end, and they haven't done it yet this season.  Still it was a huge two points over a division opponent.

Porzingis Gets His First Double-Double in Knicks Loss

Kristaps Porzingis only played 24 minutes tonight because of early foul trouble, and then getting injured by Melo landing on his neck under the hoop.  That said, he contributed 13 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks and 3 steals. We are just seeing the tip of the iceberg with this 20 year old.  He's still not shooting like he has and can from the three and some of his other spots.  But that's crazy production.  Grant played well, too, with 12 points, 3 assists and 5 boards.  Seraphin made his regular season debut, too.  But they were just outclassed by the Spurs.

Btw, I think Phil Jackson is drawing from the Spurs team building and organizational patterns, as much as he is from his Lakers, Bulls and Knicks past.

Yanks: Moving Deck Chairs

The Yanks have apparently promoted Alan Cockrell to Hitting Coach, and promoeted Marcus Thames to be his assistant.  There was a lot of talk about Thames being the junior partner of the hitting coaches last year, but it looks like he finall is.  I believe he homered off of Randy Johnson in his first MLB AB, back when it was a badass thing to do.  I'm sure more coaching and exec moves are on the way.