This Week on the Blog

The Yanks kicked ass all week, the Giants drafted well, the Rangers backed themselves into a corner, and the Knicks did nothing.  This week is now do or die for the Rangers, and buiness as usual for our other three teams.  Let's take a look.

Yanks: I might have to start writing up all the wins again, because our plan is working. Not only does Aaron Judge have Babe Ruth's old job - HE'S DOING IT!!!! The sky is the limit for humble, team first kid, and it's been a joy to watch.  The crazy part is that Bird can do it, too, and we've already seen Sanchez do it, and he'll be back next weekend.  And let's spend a moment on Severino, who's falling right into the ACE track we saw for him two years ago.  Kudos to the kid for coming back so strong.  I said a few weeks ago, because the team is so young, it could be great at home and have trouble on the road. They are 11-1 at home and hat trouble on the road, till they got to Boston.  Who are these guys?  How fun is this?

Rangers: The Rangers are down 2-0 to an inferior team, and Hank has fallen back into what was his regular season form. Yesterday's loss was unforgivable, and they have literally backed themselves into a series of do or die games.  We'll see if they can bounce back -- and if by doing so they run out of gas for the next series. It's good that they're getting two days off between last night's dumpster fire and Tuesday's game three.

Giants: The Gmen had a typical Giants draft. Typical in the sense, that it looks like they have once again taken a mold breaking, playmaking athlete in the first round. The pick of Engram is just like their picks of Odell, and JPP. They'll be applying a sublime talent to the H-back, move TE role. Frankly, I'd just send him to the receivers room, but they'll probably play around with some blocking at the line. He's contentious and will try hard there, but I'd rather see him blocking downfield for Odell, Sterling and Marshall, when he doesn't have the ball. Likewise, on screeens, where he's not the target. I''ll do a longer draft review in the next few days, but think of this pick as another JPP or Odell.  Because he is.

Knicks: the Knicks still haven't gotten together with KP, though one Asst. Coach Josh Longstaff is heading over to Latvia to help coach Team Latvia while KP is part of it. Apparently, it's good they didn't send Kurt Rambis, as KP is rumored to dislike him.

Alright, Monty's on the bump in about 90 minutes, so let's go, Yanks!  Have a great week everyone!

Giants Land an RB, DE and OL on Day 3

After shocking the world toward the end of Round 3 by taking probable future starter Davis Webb, the Giants went back to doing what they do on Day 3.

In the 4th, they selected Clemson RB Wayne Gallman.  This is interesting because I was looking for them to take Kamara, or someone else, to carry the big load in relation to Paul Perkins.  That didn't work, so instead they took Gallman, who can supplement Perkins, especially in short yardage and at the goal line. Gallman is effective in the short yardage, but is more quick than fast.  So, though he can burst through a hole, he doesn't have breakaway speed to go the distance.  There may be some instances where he can score a long TD by picking his way through the trash with quickness then scooting into open pasture, but he's not a get it and go guy.  Still, he will give us an effective rotation with Paul Pierce and Shane Vereen.  He can also catch the ball, so he won't tip a play by his presence, like some backs we've had.

In the 5th, the Giants got a ringer. DE Avery Moss started at Nebraska where he produced, until he produced a part of himself he had not been invited to.  He went through counseling and emerged as a passrush and run stopping terror from Hell at Youngstown St.  He'd actually been brought along by his old Nebraska coach.  Anyway, if you watch the youtubes, you'll feel like you are watching an Osi meets Tuck mixtape.  He is already the player we have wanted Odi and others to become. If his problems are truly behind him, he'll become part of the passrush rotation right away.  And he plays the run, too.   Rare breed these days, and sort of bizarre set of circumstances brought him to the Giants.

Finally, the Giants combined their 6th and 7th picks to move up for Pitt T/G Adam Bisnowaty.  When he was healthy, Bisnowaty was a  four year OLT at Pittsburgh for 4 years and all ACC for at least three of them. He had a bunch of helium and there was some expectation this major college sleeper, had risen into the 4th or 5th round.  Instead, the Giants were able to move up and grab him.  He had an average combine, but knows how to play.  Also, it looks like the Giants might be taking the top off of the UDFA OL market with USC's Chad Wheeler (ringer who needs gym time), and Jess Dunkman from TSU. So they were able to add substantial talent to a needed area for the price of a 6th and 7th round pick.

I'll write an overview of what I think they've accomplished once they sign all of the first group od UDFA's.   So far, it looks pretty good.

Giants Draft Day 3

Last year, the Giants landed UCLA's Paul Perkins in a 5th round surprise.  Let's hope they get as lucky today -- but it will be tough. The league, as punishment for the Giants use of walkie-talkie's on the sidelines when their regular coms were down, have moved the Giants pick from 23 to 34. They'll be back to in rounds 5, 6. and 7.  Obviously, the Giants still need help on the OL.  It's been 15 years since the Giants tabbed David Diehl in the 5th round, and 17 years since they found Rich Seubert in UDFA.  They've put themselves in a position where they'll have to find another ringer, on day 3, or in UDFA or another maket.

I'd also like to see them grab another RB, pass rusher and LB, though I'd accept any kind of a pleasant surprise at any of the positions.  I'd even accept another, more traditional TE.  Let's get some players.

Giants Draft Davis Webb

The Giants just took Davis Webb with pick 87.  It's hard to believe he lasted this long as I thought he and Mahomes were the only really interesting QB's in the draft.  He started out at Texas Tech with Mahomes, and then moved to Cal where he put up big numbers with his big arm this past season.  He'll have to learn to play pro-style instead of spread, which he's already doing and he is the third really bright player the Giants have drafted in this draft. I still can't believe he was still there at 87.  I didn't like anything else that was there, so I'm fine with the pick and he doesn't have to play right away.

Surprise, Surpise, Surprise: Giants Lose a 2nd RD DT in FA and Take Another

The Giants just did what I prayed they would not - which was take another fricking DT in the second after failing to lock their's up in a timely fashion.  In three years, we'll be doing this again.  Meanwhile the actual pick, Dalvin Tomlinson from Alabama, was a guy who kept getting better and better. As this last season went on, he spent more and more time in the oppostition's backfield. He had a great week at the Senior Bowl and then blew teams away in interviews.  He's a fine addition to the Griffin, Cofield, Joseph, Hankin conga line of one deal and done DT's.

Giants Draft: Day 2

Coming into Day 2, the Giants own their own second and third round picks. Given their historic success with second rounders, the Giants should never let go of those picks. But, as good as the Giants have always been in the second round, they've almost been equally as bad making third round picks, though last year's third, S Darian Johnson had won a starting safety job before getting IR'd.  This leads us into a discussion of what they should do today.

If they still love someone who has fallen into day 2, they should probably be willing to move their 3.  That said, I'd rather see them keep both picks, and use their crappy 4th, a roster player and a future pick to move up. I don't know if that want to or not, though.

I'm hoping they pick up a bellweather back like Joe Mixon or Dalvin Cook today, and suspect they might take Cal QB Davis Webb. It's weird that ,while Coughlin was at Jacksonville the first time, he was able to continually get QB's and trade them off for high picks.  He was at the Giants longer, and was never able to develop a tradeable asset behind Eli. Of course, the Pats have been able to do it behind Brady, but not the Giants. So if they take Davis, they probably view him as the heir apparent.

There should be some DB's. DL's, LB's and OL's available, too, and we could use bodies in all of those areas.  But I have a feeling this might be another offensive day, and would like to see an RB and an OL or Webb.

Having said that, they let Hankins go recently and might default to taking another second round DT, which they've done at least 4 times over the past 20 years.  We'll see.

Giants Get Another Weapon From the SEC

After failing to trade up for any of the players I loved, the Giants stayed put and took TE tweener Even Engram from Mississippi.  This guy is a tweener, but he also runs a 4.42, and can be deployed from the slot.  He is not a monster like Bavaro, but is willing to chip and get in the way. This is almost an arrogant pick, but there really was no one else there, as all of the OL's look like better second round values.  This guy can flat out fly down the seem.  We'll see if he's a value add.

Giants Draft Day 1

Here we almost go.  As of right now, the Giants have the #23 pick in the first round of the draft.  My plan is to trade up for McCaffrey or trade down for more picks if McCaffrey goes in the top 10.  I really don't like the OL's that should be there at 23, as they all have developmental issues.  And frankly, I think our best bet if we stay at 23 will be a Linebacker or a DB.  The DB's seem like the strenght of this one, and an Adoree Jackson can play corner and safety, as well as wideout, and returns kicks and punts.  So, probably the second best swiss army knife player, after McCaffrey in the draft.  So let's hope if they stay at 23 they do something like that, and not Garret Bolles, who will make me throw up in my mouth a bit.

Severino Stifles Sox

Wow.  Luis Severino went into the hell hole and pitched 7 innings of shutout ball.  He K'd 6 and only gave up three hits.  He did walk a couple, but they were meaningless as he was in complete control. He's at least our second ace right now and may become our true ace by season's end. It was cold and he was hitting 99.  And the slider was sick and the change had fade.

Oh, and Judge had a big day, hitting a two run jack, then making a circus catch before later walking and singling.  Bird hit a rocket off the wall, but was held to first as it drove judge in for the third and final run.  He also took a walk.

Betances offered another layer of filth over Severino's, but Chapman was off, giving up a run, and facing the go ahead run before K'ing his way out of a full meltdown.

Tanaka against Sale tomorrow.  So I expect Joe will start Carter over Bird...

Giants Draft Tomorrow

Interestingly, since they changed the NFL Draft structure from the classic weekend structure to this Thursday, Friday, Saturday format, I've become less interested in it, and more interested in the MLB and NHL drafts, and frankly also the NBA draft when the Knicks have picks, like they do this year.

Having explained that, my love for the Giants never dims, but I hate having the #23 pick in this particular draft, where I see the talent level being pretty even from pick 15 to the end of round two or middle of round three.

So it's my hope the Giants move the pick: either combining it with their second rounder to go get Christian McCaffrey, who I think is one of the few blue chip players in this draft.  Or using the #23 pick to trade down and collect more picks.  All the presumptive first round OL's are either old but still need development or adequately aged but needing more development.  I'd be more comfortable spending other than first round picks on this group of OL's, and would rather take a Moton, Dawkins or Davenport with an extra pick from a tradedown, rather than take an old man like Bolles at 23.

So, my first choice is to go get McCaffrey, sign Blount and score at will. And my back up choice is to trade down and hit need areas. But there is no way I am picking 23rd, and I hope the Giants are looking at it the same way.

Giants Pick Up Odell's 5th Year Option

The Giants very predictably picked up pro-bowl WR Odell Beckham Jr.'s 5th year option from his rookie contract. There was no need to work on a longer contract, especially after his abysmal performance in the playoffs. Still, he is uber gifted, and should solidify his status as he continues to mature. If the Giants can get back to having a reliably productive running game, Odell will continue to set records and maybe get a ring before they need to make a new deal.

Rangers Abide!

Zucc scored two HUGE goals, and Step added an empty netter at 1:17 to give the Rangers a 3-1 win and a 4-2 series win.   Not sure who they are playing next, but they have now won 3 straight playoff games and will have an extra day or two before they go again.  Btw, the young guys like Hayes, Vesey and Buch look like they are getting ready to go off.  Huge win.

This Week on the Blog

Yanks just came back from 3-0 and clobbered the Pirates to win 11-5. Judge is at the top of the post instead of Jerry Reese, who will be drafting for the Giants this coming week, because he just murdered another baseball, and it's out of respect for the dead ball.   Rangers will try to advance in half an hour.  The Giants will keep keying up for the draft, and the Knicks will, probably do some scouting and otherwise chill till the lottery.  Let's take a look.

Giants:  The NFL Draft is this week and I don't think I've ever been less excited about a draft.  It's mostly because the ND OL's that I liked stayed in school and that most of the ones who might be there at 23 are either older than I like them, or more raw than I'd be willing to pick. I'm hoping Christian McCaffery somehow makes it, or that a good LB or edge rusher does.  I want a difference maker in the first, even if we are picking 23rd.  We'll talk more about it this week.

Rangers: The Rangers needs to finish off the Canadians tonight.  In this latest era of goodness but not greatness, the Rangers have played in too many game 7's, and I think they've worn on them. Let's see if they can take the easy way this time.

Yanks: The Yanks are fun again for the first time in some time. That's due in large part to the contributions of Judge, Severino and the kids, but also because vets like Headley, Castro and Ellsbury are playing better than they have as Yankees. Also, subs like Hicks, Toe and Romine are playing really solid or better ball.  And they should get even better, as Didi is already playing in games, and Gary Sanchez will start his rehab this coming week.  Also, Greg Bird must have the loudest .116 average in history. A huge correction is coming.

Knicks: The Knicks didn't lose a coinflip this week.  Instead they lost a ping pong ball concoction that could have easily been fixed with a pin.  Idiotic and the sort of convolution that still makes the NBA hard to trust.  So, right now, the Knicks are picking 7th but could fall as low as #9 or rise into the top 3 in the lottery, where they have had no luck at all since 1985.  That will be later in May.  Before then, Phil Jackson and others should fly to Latvia and get Kristaps back on board. Even picking as low as ninth, it's a deep draft, and with some savvy trades, the Knicks have a chance to really improve this offseason.

So, let's hope the Rangers move on, the Giants crush their draft, and the Yanks keep being fun.  As for the Knicks - let's hope they don't alienate Willy.  Have a great one!  And I'm sure we'll have lots to talk about this week.

Rangers Land Bereglazov

The Rangers, on their off day, got even better.  Maybe not this season, but probably next.  They just signed big Russian D Alexei Bereglazov who turned 23 yesterday.  He's listed as 6'4' and 190, and played with Buch on the Russian junior teams. He was a free agent, and once again, the Rangers who have been pick poor for years, were able to make up some of the difference by picking up an early 20s free agent.  Nice work.

Mika!!!!

Rangers showed guts tonight by battling back from a 2-1 deficit and taking a 3-2 lead in the series in Montreal, by way of overtime.  I hope they don't show playoff hockey in cardiac care units. It was almost 15 excruciating minutes into the overtime when Mika Zibanejad sealed it for the win.  People have been chirping about our missing Brassard goals this postseason.  And I still can't believe were able to make this deal for Mika, who was a beast all night even before he scored. What a game.  Huge win, now, please finish it in 6.

Rangers Tie The Series

Rick Nash was a force and scored the winning goal in the second.  Fortunately, this time the Rangers were able to hold onto a 2-1 lead and tie the series. The refs were horrific and the team will have plenty to send to the league office ahead of game 5. Smith was fouled no less than 3 times in front of linesmen and nothing was called. Fast had the other goal, and he deserved it as he's brought the energy throughout the series. Let's win the next two.  Go Rangers!

Yanks Clobber Cards For Their 7th Straight

Well, Greg Bird's little slump is over.  He homered, doubled, singled and walked in the Yanks 9-3 shellacking of the Cards. What's more, the whole team is finally grinding again.  Okay, maybe not Castro, but dammit, the rest of them are working their counts and walks and it's a big part of why they've won 7 straight.  Pineda was excellent once again and, like Severino the other day, only threw one bad pitch, but bounced right back after it.

Judge may have been jobbed out of a homer when a fan interfered with what looked like a homer.  Judge was awararded a triple, and Bird homered on the next pitch.  That's how exciting these young Yanks can be.  And bravo to Chase Headley, who is grinding like the kids and getting on base at an over .500 clip.  I was expecting a fun season, but tempered that when Sanchez went down, but damn, he could might have to board a speeding train when he gets back in a few weeks.

This Week on the Blog

It was a really mixed week.  Yanks lost Kap, but that was all they lost. Rangers won game one, then lost game two over a coaching error.  The Giants lost Hankins, and gained cap room.  And the Knicks, officially stopped playing, but hadn't played much before that.   Big week coming up for the Rangers, and an interesting one for the other teams.  Let's have a look.

Yanks: Severino and Pineda were spectacular, and Jordan Montgomery was very encouraging.  CC is defying time and injuries, and Matsui is still figuring it out. Not bad. Losing Kap was a blow, and yesterday, Dietrich Enns was shut down with "a back."  Still, I don't think Chance Adams has given up a run yet in AA and he could move to AAA to replace Enns (who was also dominating). Ian Clarkin is putting himself back on the map in Tampa, and Albery Abreu is looking like a super destroyer for Charleston. The two big guys, Domingo Acevedo and Fiercer Perez haven't found their grooves yet.  The hitters have been mixed, but Trey Amburgey is alreay bouncing back from an injury prone `16. The win streak is at 6, and let's see how long they can run it.

By the way, Mongomery reminds me more of Boomer Wells than of Andy Pettitte.

Rangers: McDonagh and a surprising Girardi are playing well on D, and so are Smith and Skjei.  So who does AV play in the final minute of a game two with a one goal lead?  Staal and Holden, who have not been playing well. I really cannot believe we extended this coach. I guess Dolan is just so impressed by any team that can consistently make the playoffs, he's will to reward all involved. They need to win today.

Giants: The Giants lost Hankins to the Colts, and this could actually get them a comp pick next year, since the biggest salaries they've been giving have to cut players rather than UFA's this year.  Either that or the league will just give the Eagles an extra one for our loss of Hankins.  They might have to look for his replacement in the draft, which is finally less than two weeks away.  Btw, have you noticed how they never second contract DT's?  This is going back, at least until Cornelius Griffin, but includes Cofield, Linval Joseph and now Hankins. The upshot is extra cap space for right now and they might think about extending Pugh.

Knicks: Ugh. Not only did they leave themselves at the mercy of a coinflip by finally playing hard down the stretch, but the other day, Phil Jackson piped up. Frankly, I just view that as noise.  He did it to Kobe and Shaq, so it doesn't surprise me that he did it to Melo.  I was sort of surprised when Melo wasn't traded at the deadline, but it's also possible he turned something down the Phil would have liked.  Who knows?  It'll happen now, because Melo has a trade kicker in his contract, and he NEVER turns down more money. Which begs the question: what does he charge for giving consistent effort on D?  Of greater concern is the fact that Kristaps Porzingis blew off his exit interview.  If Phil Jackson has one job right now, it's to get that kid back in the canoe.  They have a really big chance to improve this summer, but it all starts with Kristaps, who should be made captain.

So that's where we are.  Have a great week!

Severino Eases Our Pain

Man, did Luis Severino come up big on the heals of the bad news about James Kaperielian.   All he did was pitch 7 innings of two run ball and K'd 11 while walking only one.  Unexpectedly, Aaron Hicks hit two jacks two provide the Yankee runs.  But that's a nice sign, too.  Though, seriously, if Severino is ready to stand up and be the guy we've always believe he was, we have an ACE.  And that takes massive pressure off of Kaprielian, who just needs to recover and join the top of the rotation. At 23 years and 52 days, Sevy was the youngest Yankee righty in 100 years to K 11. That's our guy!

James Kaprielian to Have TJS

It happens every Spring, some great pitching prospect goes down for TJS. This Spring, it's Kaprielian, the Yanks best prospect. This is really unfortunate, because for the second year in row, he won't be able to help the big league Yanks, and does make a trade for an established starter more likely.  That said, Montgomery was impressive yesterday, and Chance Adams was EL pitcher of the week in week one.  And there's also Cessa and Green, and last night, down in Charleston, Albert Abreu K'd 11 and hit 100 on the guy several times in a 5.2 inning start  He could move fast.

Here's wishing JK a complete recovery and a dazzling Yankee future.

Rangers Take Game One

The Rangers just beat the Canadiens 2-0, in what was Hank's 10th playoff shutout.  He was his old self, rather than his recent self tonight and it was great to see.  Unbelievably,  Glass scored the first and only necessary goal on a splendid backhand, of all things.  Grabner had an empty netter in the last 90 seconds or so.

Jesper Fast seemed omnipresent and omnipotent tonight. He got an assist, but he really was a force. Zucc was agitating, and the Rangers were giving as good as they got for a change. Girardi even had a rare good game, and of course team D was better, but they did give up a few chances that Hank had to clean up and did.   Big Win!

This Week on The Blog

Alright, it was mostly bad news for the Yanks in week one, but they haven't even played a home game yet.  The Giants are getting ready for the draft.  The Rangers are starting their playoff series against Montreal tomorrow,  and the Knick will be done this week.  Let's take a look.

Yanks: Yanks lost four of their first six, and worse still they lost Bird for days and Sanchez for weeks.  What's more, now that Judge is the only reason to watch most days, Girardi has been overplaying Hicks.  Fortunately, Judge came through with a big game yesterday, and that might have bought him some time.  Higgy was called up for Sanchez, and thoough he is a lot better than Romine, Joe is opting for suckiness. I really don't think he's the right manager for a transitioning team.  Weirdly, CC has started the only two game the Yanks have won. but the other guys have had some innings of clarity.  They start at the stadium today, and I think they are apt to be a good home team this year, especially when Bird and Sanchez get back.  And back on the farm, Miguel Andujar is starting his race against Machado in very impressive fashion.

Rangers: The Rangers start their series against Montreal tomorrow. I more or less despised the Canadiens, and have since I was a kid in the `70s.  The Moulson family used to own them, and I know for a fact that they used to fill refs garages with beer every offseason, and the results of that policy worked against the rest of the league.  So I hope the Rangers crush them.  Also, I don't necessarily want Kreider demolshing Price, but he should try to scare him as much as possible. The Rangers will have to get to him, because they never did get their own D or their own starter straighened out this season.  Let's Go, Rangers!

Giants:  The Giants are still waiting on Hankins as they prepare for the Draft.  This morning, JPP implored the Giants and Hankkins to get something done before OTA's start.   I think their workouts start around now, but with the new CBA, all the dates have been off, and they used to start March. Let's hope Hank gets in soon so the Giants aren't tempted to reach in the draft.

Knicks: Speaking of drafts, the Knicks will finish up this week, and they once again did lousy job of tanking.  But it's been 32 years and they are once again way overdue for lottery luck.  Let's hope they get some, because they need a PG, and drafting 5th or 6th or 7th, might make the BPA a Forward, and they might not have traded Melo by that point and taking a Forward would sort of force them to, and put them at the mercy of the market.  Alas, if they could only have tanked their way to a spot where they wouldn't need lottery luck.

Here's hoping everyone has a great week.  I plan to:)

Trenton, Tampa and the Riverdogs Start today

The Kaprielian news was slightly foreboding this morning, but the great news is that Chance Adams is taking the hill for the Trenton Thunder later today.  Scranton has been postponed till Saturday, but Tampa and Charleston are also starting and both are also loaded.  And although the Kap news is what it is, we are so loaded, that someone else might step up if he misses significant time.   I'll try to do some roster reviews if I have time later.

UPDATE: Trenton is rained out, so Jordan Montgomery will start for Tampa.

This Week on the Blog

Thrilled the Zags won, as I was upset when the Knicks won.  Tanking is such a pain.  But enough Knicks for the moment.  The Yanks start tomorrow!  This is the most excited I've been about them in quite some time. On our other fronts, the Giants are in protracted negotiation with Hankins, and the Rangers are doing the bare minimum if building momentum for the playoffs is their idea.  Let's take a look at this week.

Yanks: Life begins on opening day, or so the book title went.  But the life we have ahead this year should be full of excitement. Not are we going to see the birth of a new core, but we'll have compelling players to watch at every level of the organization.  And don't be surprised if the pitching upgrades come from Kaprielian or Adams or Sheffield or another breakout guy.  The minors start again soon, too, and before we know it it will be draft time again. And we're already as loaded as I can remember.  This should just be a great ride for all of us.

Rangers: the Rangers have a very suspect defense, and Hank is not the best goalie on the team right now.  What's more, they are screwing with Buchnevich's development, and half the guys are still nursing injuries.  Their offense, which was overwhelming early, is barely whelming now.  They secured the first wildcard last night and should use the rest of the season to rest guys and figure our which goalie will give them the best chance in what could be a brief playoff run. At least they'll have their own first round pick to make this year.

Giants: Johnathan Hankins has taken JPP's place as the guy who's holding up the Giants. But we're finally in draft month, though it moved from the middle of the month to the end and from 2 thrilling days, to three tiring days. I still think they might pick a QB, especially if they fall in love with one.  My guess would be Mahomes, because he reminds me of Rodgers, and McAdoo spent time with him before his pro-day this past week.  If they're thinking about doing that, I really hope they have Hankins locked up, and a second round fix for the OL in mind.

Knicks: just like two years ago, the Knicks are having trouble tanking.  On the other hand, they played defense last night when Melo,  Rose and Thomas sat, which is interesting.  Thomas was supposed to be a defensive plus, but hasn't really been and Melo and Rose are supposed to be team leaders, but they seem to have lead them to not playing D. Knicks should have a busy offseason.  And they need some lottery luck for a change.

Life begins tomorrow!  Have a great week!