Tuesday’s Thoughts
While wondering why it seems every year I end up with one of my fantasy teams having Aramis Ramirez on its roster, here is what's on my mind this morning:
* Well the Peyton Manning sweepstakes is over as he is reportedly going to sign with the Denver Broncos. This certainly will change the dynamics of the AFC West. The Broncos not only will be a legitimate contender in the division but with Manning they also become a threat in the AFC. Look to see more Bronco games on national TV.
* When you look at the division, pressure will be squarely on the underachieving San Diego Chargers. Phillip Rivers and Company have not produced and with Manning in the division they best be ready to play come September instead of waiting until mid-November.
* Manning is the best quarterback John Fox has ever coached and it will be interesting to see how he handles the future Hall of Famer. The biggest casualties in all of this are Tim Tebow and the Miami Dolphins. The once-proud Miami franchise is having a difficult time attracting free agents. They struck out on Manning and also struck out on Matt Flynn. Missing out on Flynn is stunning since Dolphin Head Caoch Joe Philbin was Flynn's offensive coordinator in Green Bay. Does this mean that Tim Tebow goes to the Dolphins?? No, David Garrard signed with Miami. Rumblings are Tebow could end up in Jacksonville. But one report had the Jaguars not necessarily enamored with the former Gator. Two possibilities: New Orleans and New England.
* While teams like Chicago, Denver, Buffalo, Washington and others improve themselves through free agency, there sit the Cleveland Browns who let go more players than they signed. Boy, I can't wait for another season of Browns Football.
* Andy Pettite's return to the Yankees still has me shocked. The big lefty was surely missed last season and somehow I don't see the Yanks losing Game 5 at home with Pettite on the mound. If he can pitch like he did in 2010, the Yankee rotation will be pretty solid. The best thing about Pettite is that he knows how to win.
* One guy who might take lessons from Pettite is Ivan Nova. Sunday night Nova was less than stellar the first two innings of his four inning outing. His calling out of the young catcher, Gustavo Molina, was classless from a young man who has not earned his stripes in the big leagues as a pitcher. In my mind, he is the odd man out of the rotation to start the season.
* I have taken Brian Cashman to task many times but he deserves credit for what he has done in this off season. Not only has he upgraded the starting rotation, he has also provided a strong bench for Joe "The Binder" Girardi. This may be the best bench that the Yankees have had to start the season in a long, long time.
* As a Maple Leafs fan there is not much to say other than totally embarassed over last night's 8-0 whipping at the hands of the Boston Bruins. The Leafs have been terrible all year against the Bruins, being outscored 36-10. Not only did they get beat all year on the scoreboard but they also got beat physically.
* I am really tired of the constant drumbeat on the part of certain Toronto media types and Leaf fans for Brian Burke's removal as President and General Manager. The article below from Dobber Hockey says it all as far as I'm concerned. All I can say to the critics is: be careful what you wish for.
http://www.dobberhockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4495:state-of-the-toronto-maple-leafs&catid=3:dobber&Itemid=96
* If Sunday's game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins is a prelude to an opening round playoff series between these two teams, we are in for a memorable one. These two teams generally hate each other. Both of these 2 teams are legitimate Cup contenders and the Battle of Pennsylvannia is going to be fun to watch.
* Finally, can anyone remember when the New York Mets were relevant???
My 2012 Fantasy Baseball Black-Balled List
There are certain baseball players who I will not pick for my fantasy baseball team no matter what happens. For the most part, players that make my black-balled list are typically guys who have been on my team and had not lived up to expectations. There are a few who I won't draft because I just don't like them. So here we go with my 2012 Fantasy Baseball Black-Balled List:
* Lance Berkman - Two seasons ago, Berkman was a top ten pick of mine who I was looking to for power. Instead, he was so bad that the Astros moved him to the Yankees who were hoping to catch lightning in a bottle and it didn't happen. Of course last season he had a bounce back year which further irritated me. As a result, Berkman makes the list.
* Carlos Lee - The same year I drafted Berkman, I picked Carlos Lee. El Caballo turned into El Trampo. His batting average plummeted as did his RBI's. Between Berkman and Lee my fantasy season was over. Hence, Lee makes the list.
* Adam Dunn - Before the start of the season last year, it was suggested that Dunn was going to have a monster year playing for the White Sox. Dunn never hit for average so I was drafting him for home runs and RBIs. Needless to say, Dunn was a total bust and I'm done with him.
* Ian Desmond - Here's another guy who last spring was being touted to have a breakout season that would provide average, runs and stolen bases. Supposedly he was going to also supply a little power. Wrong!!! Desmond had a terrible year and I'm not going through another season with him.
* Kevin Youkilis - I drafted Youk 2 years ago, the same draft that I picked Berkman and Lee. That year, Youkilis had a subpar season which included a stint on the injury list. This guy is turning fragile as he gets older and I'm done with him. Besides, he's a Red Sox.
* BJ Upton - This guy has all kinds of talent and could be a five tool player. But he is one of the biggest underachievers going. I also think he is a head case. Upton has a lifetime membership on the black-balled list.
* Ichiro Suzuki - There is no particular reason why Ichiro makes this list other than he's not one of my favorite players. I have not and will never draft him.
* Jeff Francoeur - This guy seems to have all the ability in the world and I have had him on my team many times. He'll tease you by having a nice productive stretch but then the bottom falls out. He's Mr. Inconsistency and I'm done with him.
* Edinson Volquez - Two years ago, Volquez was another one of those guys who was going to have a breakout season. All he broke was my back as he contributed to a disasterous finish for my fantasy team.
* Brian Wilson - He makes this list because his beard is stupid.
* Matt Kemp - Two seasons ago I drafted Kemp in the first round and he had the worst season of his career. Last year he bounced back big time and I was steaming. All it takes is to screw me once and I'm done with you. So, Matt Kemp makes the list.
My draft is tomorrow and you can bet that none of the above will be on my roster for the 2012 season.
Has Anyone Seen Tom Heckert??
As teams augment their rosters via free agency (ex.-Washington) and trades (ex.-Chicago), the Cleveland Browns have signed DE Frostee Rucker and cut Tony Pashos and Eric Steinbach while also letting Peyton Hillis go to the Kansas City Chiefs. This is a period where teams try to augment their rosters with established players which then sets their needs for the upcoming draft. But the way the Holmgren/Heckert regime is operating, the Browns will need multiple picks through every round to meet this team's needs.
Here are the needs: quarterback - is Colt McCoy the answer or do the Browns need to draft a quarterback?, running back - is Montario Hardesty the answer or do the Browns use a high pick to draft a running back?, wide receiver - the Browns do not have a number one wide receiver. Will they use a top pick to draft one?, offensive line - Steinbach anchored the left guard position and now he is gone, Right tacle is a problem area. So what's the plan??, linebacker - the Browns have limited depth and this will be magnified if Scott Fujita is suspended for his role in the Saints bounty situation.
Tom Heckert has indicated that he would not be opposed to trading down to get additional picks. With Hillis gone, I can see Heckert moving down a few slots from number four and drafting Trent Richardson. I'm not all that sold on Richardson. The Browns created a need by letting Hillis walk. They were competitive against the Steelers and Ravens this past season with him in the lineup. With so many other needs on offense, this made no sense. Hillis signed a one year contract for $3 million. The Browns didn't even make an offer. They couldn't have made a similar offer for one year??? It could have bought them some time and allowed them to address other needs on offense.
The only thing that makes sense with the release of Steinbach is if the Browns had some questions about his health. But with the Browns medical staff's track record it makes you wonder. The Browns had a pretty solid left side of the O-line with Steinbach and Joe Thomas. The situation with Tony Pashos is interesting. There is no question that Pashos has been injured as often as he has been able to play. But according to reports, he played injured for most of last year when most guys would have bailed on the season. It would have been easy to bail since the team was going nowhere. For his dedication Pashos was cut.
With all of these needs and no committment to add any more pieces through free agency, the Holmgren/Heckert regime better be right on all of their draft picks, particularly those two first round picks. One thing that appears to be certain, it's going to be another long year on the Lakefront for long-suffering Browns fans. Almost makes me consider dropping the NFL Sunday Ticket.
Tuesday’s Thoughts
While thinking about fifteen years ago last Friday when Biggie Smalls was gunned down, here's what is on my mind this morning:
* The Maple Leafs are in Florida to take on the Southeast leading Panthers. I would imagine that Jonas Gustavsson will be back in the net once again for the Leafs. It's amazing how improved defensive zone coverage helps a goalie gain his confidence.
* Will the Leafs score a goal tonight and what period will it be in?
* Here's three stats that need to be improved upon next year by the Leafs: 1.) The Leafs are 8-12 on Saturday nights and half of those wins came in October. 4-1 in October, 1-2 November, 0-3 December, 1-2 January, 1-3 February and 1-1 in March. 2.) The Leafs are 16-13-6 at home. Randy Carlyle has said that his team needs to make the ACC a tough place to play. In contrast, Washington is 23-10-3 and Winnipeg is 21-10-4. 3.) The Leafs are 7-12-0 within the division and 0-5 against Boston. This is the worst record in the Northeast Division.
* Three players I hope are not on the Leafs roster next year are: Colby Armstrong, Matthew Lombardi and Tim Connolly. The first two could happen. I don't see anyone willing to take Connolly.
* During the Leaf-Flyers game on Saturday, Damien Cox tweeted that he wouldn't be surprised if Jaroslav Halak was in a Leaf uniform. Hmmmmmm....I wonder what it would take to get him???
* Phil Hughes and CC Sabathia looked good on Sunday afternoon and Hiroki Kuroda pitched well last night (even though he wasn't satisfied with his own performance). While it's still early, the guy I'm worried about is Ivan Nova. I like the kid but he has not looked good so far, particularly his last outing. He starts tonight against Boston.
* What's up with David Robertson??? How much money do you make and your moving boxes?? Really??? Fortunately for the Yanks the injury was not that serious.
* Bernie Williams will be at Yankee camp today and it made me think: when are the Yankees going to honor their center fielder from the late 90's glory years?? While plenty of attention has been given to the Core Four (now the Core Two), Williams has been the forgotten man. He too came up from the Yankee farm system and was a key contributor to the Yankees success.
* It is going to be real interesting where Peyton Manning ultimately lands for the 2012 NFL season. I thought that Miami had the inside track but it appears that Denver may be the team. In that division, the Broncos could win with Manning and the stable of receivers that they have along with Willis MaGahee. Their defense is pretty good too. However, its definitely not a warm weather location. Arizona might be a good fit also. Clearly the NFC West is very winnable and the Cardinals do have Larry Fitzgerald. However the word was that Manning wanted to stay in the AFC. This will be the most watched process in NFL free agency history.
* Yesterday afternoon Schopp & The Bulldog were all pissed off because the Bills came out and said they were not in the Manning sweepstakes. The two WGR windbags felt that the Bills owed their fans to at least invite Manning for an interview. Oh ok I get it so then when Manning says no thank you these two morons can either bad mouth the Bills for not getting him or bad mouth Manning. This is the problem with the Buffalo sports media: they raise expectations and get all of the Chester Cheektowagas & Louie Lackawannas fired up and then when the bottom falls out the GR loudmouths are all pissed off because people are calling in screaming bloody murder.
* By the way, I also had to hear about Schopp's ride back home from his vacation. Pleeeassee!!!!!!!!!!
* The report on the New Orleans Saints bounty system has rocked the NFL. It was pretty funny last week watching Mike Golic trying to defend the Saints. What's even more funny is that the whole issue of bounties being placed on quarterbacks and star players goes back many years. The Buffalo Bills back in the late 60's had a bounty on Joe Namath when the Jets came to the Old Rockpile. The Oakland Raiders were also in on the act when it came to Namath. For media people around the NFL to feign disbelief over the whole situation is hypocritical since they had to know what was going on. Kind of like baseball media not knowing that steroids was going on in the late 90's.
* More importantly than the media knowing what was going on with bounties, I find it hard to believe that the NFL didn't know about it either. Kind of like Major League Baseball with steroids.
* Somehow I'm having a hard time seeing Randy Moss playing for Jim Harbaugh. Good luck to Alex Smith too. So they replace Braylon Edwards with Moss. Hmmmmmmm.
* If the Browns do not make a free agent signing to strengthen their offensive line and linebacking corp I'm going to go absolutely wild!!!
* Glad to hear that long-time Browns beat writer Tony Grossi will be hooking up with ESPN Radio WKNR 850 in Cleveland and will be covering the team once again. The Cleveland Plain Dealer booted Grossi off the Browns beat because of a tweet that Grossi made which called Randy Lerner a jerk. Grossi apologized but it is obvious that the team went to the newspaper and voiced its concern. Grossi is knowledgeable and is critical but fair as it relates to the Browns. It will be interesting to see if Sportstime Ohio brings Grossi back on its Browns related shows during the season.
* March Madness begins and what's up with a 12th seed and 14th seed play-in game???
* How Drexel didn't make the Big Dance is a classic example of the bias against mid-major schools. The Dragons were 27-5 and they have been left out. If they were 31-1 and lost their conference tourney would they still be out???
* There isn't one number one seed in the tournament that is a lock to be in the Final Four.
* The revelation that Syracuse University's basketball team violated its own drug policy further damages Jim Boeheim's reputation. It will be awfully hard for him to claim he knew nothing about it like he did with the whole Bernie Fine mess.
* I was remiss in not acknowledging the passing of Gary Carter. What I found truly amazing was the impact that Carter had in Canada, particularly in Montreal. The fact that the Montreal Canadiens honored Carter at one of its games shows how much he was thought of in La Belle Province.
* And finally, congratulations to St. Bonaventure for winning the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. The Bonnies are the number 14 seed in the East Region and will meet a tough Florida State team. I wonder what wizard Brad Ritter has to say about that. It was Ritter back in 2005 who dismissed Niagara's winning of the MAAC Tournament as not a big deal because they were going to be knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in their first game. Nothing like promoting the local schools.
Burke – Cherry Feud
Last Saturday, Don Cherry lit into Maple Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke on his Coach's Corner segment. That in and of itself is Cherry's perogative as a broadcaster. If Cherry wanted to criticize Burke for his free agent signings, trades, not removing Ron Wilson sooner or the team's recent tailspin, that's fine. I might not agree with some of it but they are legitimate points for discussion. I can also understand if Cherry wanted to go off on Burke for the Leaf GM going to CBC and complaining about Coach's Corner. However, Cherry's rant that not having enough players from Ontario is the reason for the lack of the Leafs' success and Burke should be held responsible for that is ridiculous.
Cherry has turned himself into the hockey version of Rush Limbaugh. His jingoistic flag-waving nonsense has gone way over the top. The truth be told, Brian Burke has drafted more players from Ontario than John Ferguson Jr. Cherry's view represents that held by some in Toronto who have had a hard time with Burke being an American when the truth be told that most of Leaf Nation could care less where a player is from as long as they play hard and give the Leafs a chance to win. Cherry, like Limbaugh, plays to the over-the-top crowd that loves to point fingers at anyone who is different and use that to explain all of the problems that they face. In this case, Cherry is saying that the Leafs are failing because there are too many non-Ontario players on the roster and too many American college and American born players.
I have said this before and I will say it again: Brian Burke has done a tremendous job in building the team's farm system and making the Leafs younger. There is plenty of potential and certainly the expectation is that some of these kids, like Joe Colborne, Nazem Kadri, Korbinian Holzer and Jesse Blacker, will be ready to make significant contributions next season. (By the way, Kadri and Blacker are from Ontario) This is why I agreed with Burke in not wanting to mortgage the future to get Rick Nash. Leaf management has done this in the past: think Owen Nolan and Tom Kurvers.
Where Burke has faltered is with the acquisition of free agents. The signing of Tim Connolly last summer is the most recent example. Some in the Toronto media have criticized Burke for not bringing in Ontario born free agents, citing the last most significant Ontario-born free agent being Curtis Joseph. I have a problem with this for two reasons. First, there was no salary cap when Joseph was signed. The Leafs have unlimited resources which allowed them to have a payroll as high as they wanted. However, those days are over. Secondly, it takes two to dance and I didn't see Rick Nash, Steven Stamkos or John Tavares allow themselves to hit the open market. They all re-signed with their current clubs before they hit the free agency. Does one honestly think that Burke would not have gone after any one of those three if they had hit the open market? Even Steve Ott, who praised Cherry's rant for sticking up for Ontario-born players, stated that he didn't want to to be traded and loved living in Dallas.
With the team's playoff chances all but over for this season, there is no doubt that next season will be a critical one for Burke and Company. I honestly believe that this team is very close to being a top 8 team in the East on a regular basis. They will need to straighten out the goaltending situation but I feel that the hiring of Randy Carlyle is a positive in making this team better defensively which should help the goaltending. I also believe that James Reimer can be an NHL starting goaltender but the Leafs need to bring in a veteran to help carry the load.
As for Cherry, it's really a shame. I have always enjoyed Coach's Corner but over the last several years I have found myself switching channels during that segment because of the nonsense that was being spewed. Cherry has turned himself into a windbag and it is unfortunate because on some issues (such as no-touch icing and equipment) he is right on the money. He has hurt his own credibility and it appears that no one is big enough to tell him so. Unfortunate indeed.
What a Week For Leafs Nation
My last post was before the trade deadline and I asked the question whether the Toronto Maple Leafs would be different. Well one week later they certainly are different. My very last post called for the firing of Ron Wilson and on Friday evening Brian Burke pulled the trigger and then hired Randy Carlyle. The Leafs responded with a 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday but the hiring of Carlyle could be a better move than mortgaging the future to try to get a player to get the Leafs into the playoffs. You see Carlyle stresses team defense, an overall team system, toughness and the willingness to match lines when necessary. He also acknowledges this team's greatest asset, speed, and he plans to utilize it to instill the overall team defensive philosophy.
In the dreaded 1-8-1 span of games, the Leafs defensive zone coverage was terrible. The goalies were taking plenty of heat but while their play could have been better, the team in front of them bear as much responsibility for the brutal tailspin. It is apparent that Ron Wilson wasn't able to get this team to pay the price defensively. It also was apparent that he wanted a firewagon style of hockey that the Leafs could play but based upon recent information were not prepared physically or mentally to accomplish. Often times I wondered what actually is Ron Wilson's system. I mean with guys like Lindy Ruff and Jacques Martin you know its going to be a suffocating defense with an aggressive forecheck and if they get a lead they were going to put the clamps down. With Wilson I couldn't figure it out.
Randy Carlyle brings a different philosophy, one that rewards hard work and defense first. After the Montreal game he had an interesting comment about goaltending. Carlyle's point is that a goalie shouldn't have to win you a game, he needs to keep us in the game. Tomorrow's game against Boston is going to be real interesting. The Bruins have manhandled the Leafs all season. Will Carlyle's style of tough hard-nosed defensive hockey allow this team to compete with the Bruins? Will the Leafs be able to utilize their speed to force the Bruins into mistakes?? I'm not expecting miracles but I believe we will see a change. A change for the better.
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I am out-of-town and that is why I have not been able to post regularly so as a result I'm not sure whether Tuesday's Thoughts will be up tomorrow. If it is not you can expect it either Thursday or Friday and I will have plenty to talk about including the whole Burke-Cherry feud, NFL Bounty System, Yankees and Browns thoughts and some basketball. I might even throw in a little golf.
Will Leafs Be Different After Deadline??
Monday is the NHL trade deadline and the big question for Leaf Nation is: Will the Leafs roster be different next Tuesday when they face off against the Florida Panthers?? As each day passes I begin to think that if the Maple Leafs make any trades they will not be blockbusters. Yesterday in an interview on TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto, Leafs President & General Manager Brian Burke indicated that he did not have any offer on the table to acquire Rick Nash. Based upon what the Blue Jackets are looking for in return for Nash, that does not surprise me. However, Burkie did say that the Leafs will have to look at the goaltending market.
Burke has defended his goaltending tandem of Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer throughout the season. In fact, he reiterated what he has said recently that Gustavsson had saved the Leafs season with his play in January. But the Leafs head honcho was very clear that the goaltending performance on Tuesday was not acceptable, noting that the game winner was a shot that was going wide. Burke indicated that they would be looking at a goalie who could help the team now not in the future.
Burke is taking heat for not having an experienced goaltender on the roster and that is fair criticism. But what I like about Burkie is he is not afraid to correct his mistakes. He did it with Kris Versteeg and Francois Beauchemin. With the season hanging in the balance, it would not surprise me if the Leafs acquire a veteran goalie. The candidates could be Evgeni Nabakov, Nikolai Khabibulin, Josh Harding, Andres Lindback and J.S. Giguere. I can't see the Leafs getting Nabakov or Khabibulin. But the other 3 could be possibilities. Harding would seem to fit the bill even though he has never been a starter backing up Niklas Backstrom. Harding has played well when pressed into service and is an unrestricted free agent next year so the Leafs could use the remaining games as an audition with no committment for next season. The Wild may consider the move since it would appear that Harding will look to go somewhere that gives him a shot to be a starter and as a result the price for Harding should not be that high. Harding is 27 years old.
Lindback is an interesting player. He is only 23 years old and is a restricted free agent. He played well when Pekka Rinne was out for a bit but it would appear that the Leafs might not want to bring in another 23 year old goalie. Giguere certainly has experience with the Maple Leafs. However, the 34 year old is under contract for next season at a salary cap hit of $1.25 million. If Burke wasn't willing to bring Giguere back in the summer would he be willing to bring him back now and be obligated to him next season??
Of the three, Harding would seem to make the most sense and don't forget that the Wild's general manager happens to be Cliff Fletcher's son. Giguere could be the fall back if the Leafs are comfortable bringing Giguere back next season. But while Burke is looking for goalies, the team still has other needs particularly some size up front. The other issue that bears watching involves Mikhail Grabovski. The popular center, who also happens to be the Leafs best center man, is an unrestricted free agent next season. Burke had to cringe when he saw that the Carolina Hurricanes signed Tuumo Ruutu to a four year extension worth $4.75 million per year. If Ruutu is worth $4.75 million a year, what's Grabovski worth?? On top of that, the Leafs are paying Tim Connolly $4.75 million per year and I think most would agree that Grabovski is worth more than Connolly.
It seems that the Leafs are balking against paying Grabovski $5.5 million a year. Unless the Leafs are able to clear cap space elsewhere, like moving a Mike Komisarek or a Colby Armstrong, they may look to move Grabovski. The problem with doing that now is that it would damage their already fragile playoff chances. I would hate to see Grabovski go but its obvious that if the Leafs are not going to re-sign him, they would try to get some assets for him.
Brian Burke has plenty of work to do before Monday and I can't think of a better guy to meet the challenge.
Tuesday’s Thoughts
While wondering what life will be as a Yankee fan without Mariano Rivera, here is what's on my mind this morning:
* Mariano Rivera had the Pinstripe World in an uproar yesterday when he reported to camp and told the media that he has made up his mind as far as when he will be retiring. The Greatest Closer Ever told the media that he will tell them his decision at some point. Most Yankee observers believe that this will be Rivera's last year. Boy oh boy I can't imagine who will attempt to take over the closer's role for the Yankees but as fans we need to really enjoy his performance this year.
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/possible_exit_sandman_makes_it_season_RqEU8SAcPdSVUAe0fT7YGK
* The Yankees have signed Raul Ibanez to be their lefty DH and play occasionally in the outfield. Now it remains to be seen whether they sign Eric Chavez.
* Brian Cashman admitted on The Mike Francesa Show that the six man rotation probably disrupted CC Sabathia more than Sabathia's weight gain in the second half of the season. I felt that this was a problem last year when Joe "The Binder" Girardi went to the six man. Athletes and particularly major league pitchers like repitition. A classic example is Mike Mussina. Let's hope The Binder learns from his mistake. However, Sabathia does need to keep his weight under control.
* Read an interesting article in the Boston Herald about Jon Lester and Josh Beckett. Lester was very gracious and apologetic in speaking about what happened in Spetember last season. He held himself responsible and understood why fans are upset and apologized. On the other hand, Beckett was as defiant as his idol, Roger Clemens. He was not apologizing for anything and was passing blame on unidentified Red Sox personnel. What a great role model for younger players!!!! Must be something about being from Texas that means you can't admit you were wrong and have to maintain that macho image. What B.S.!!!!!!!!!
* The Oakland A's announced yesterday that they signed Manny Ramirez to a contract worth $500,000. Ramirez would miss the first 50 games due to a suspension as a result of his usage of PED's. So this must be Money Ball circa 2012: sign Bartolo "Little Andre" Colon and Ramirez. Billy Beane is a joke and the fans of this once proud franchise should be sick about it.
* There was a rumor emanating from the Cleveland Fox-affiliate that the Cleveland Browns had worked out a contract to retain running back Peyton Hillis. I tried to see if there was any confirmation of this rumor and there was none to be found. If this indeed happens, the Browns will have made a wise decision.
* There are plenty of rumors about where Peyton Manning is going to end up. The latest has Seattle extremely interested. Something to keep an eye on is that the team that gets Manning (if he leaves the Colts) may also be able to get Reggie Wayne. The 32 year old wide receiver is a free agent and would be a great addition for any team that gets Manning.
* Tonight the Maple Leafs begin a critical four game home stand as the New Jersey Devils come to the ACC. The Devils are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games while the Leafs have lost five out of their last six. The Leafs need to do something that they haven't done on home ice in a long time: score the first goal. As we know the Devils love to clamp things down once they get a lead and they also have the resurgent Marty Brodeur. The Leafs received some help last night as Carolina whipped the Washington Capitals 5-0 leaving the Caps tied with Toronto for the 8th and final playoff spot.
* All of Toronto was a flutter yesterday when it was reported that Brian Burke met in NYC with Columbus GM Scott Howsam. Burke has downplayed the meeting and quite frankly I don't see the Leafs getting Rick Nash. The asking price is way too high. As Leaf fans we want them to make the playoffs but they shouldn't mortgage their future to do it. If they can get a big forward such as a Ryan Malone type or a lock down defenseman such as Ryan Suter they may be much better off than getting Nash or Jeff Carter. One thing to keep in mind, the Leafs would be better off trying to acquire Zach Parise on July 1 as opposed to trading away a Jake Gardiner to get Rick Nash. The overall goal should not be just to make the playoffs but to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. For the first time in a number of years the farm system is stocked with talent and to trade it away to make the playoffs this year only to get knocked out in the first round makes no sense.
* And finally, I watched a good chunk of the Knicks-Nets game last night. Deron Williams was on fire for the Nets last night as the Knicks had no answer for him. As I have stated before, it wouldn't take much for me to get back into the Knicks again but I just have to wonder if the Knicks would be better off without Carmelo Anthony.
Yankees Begin Hunt For 28th Championship
The New York Yankees opened up spring training yesterday as pitchers and catchers reported to Tampa to begin the quest for their 28th World Championship. On paper, their starting rotation is much better than it was a year ago when Sergio Mitre, Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon were battling for a starting spot. However as we know, what's on paper means nothing when the games count just ask the 2011 Phillies and Red Sox.
When looking at the Yankee rotation, if CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda can pitch like they have in the past, then the Yanks will have a pretty solid 1-2 punch. Of course, it will be interesting to see how Kuroda makes the transition from the National League to the American League. Last season, Sabathia's knee gave him trouble in the second half and in the playoffs and the Yankees have discussed with him the need to keep his weight under control. Sabathia also indicated that he would have to figure out a way to deal with a six-man rotation if it happens again this year. An interesting comment from CC and one that indicates to me that Joe Girardi's playing around with the rotation late last year didn't help his ace.
The rest of the rotation will be filled out by Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda, Phil Hughes or Freddy Garcia. In the first 3, the Yankees have young arms that if they progress the way their potential would indicate, the Bombers rotation could be set for years to come. With young pitchers you never know what to expect but all three of these guys have the talent to succeed. For Phil Hughes, this year is a critical one. After making the AL All-Star team in 2010, Hughes faltered in the second half of 2010 and had a terrible 2011. It is believed that he was out of shape in 2011 and could be the reason for the decline in his fast ball. Reportedly he is in camp in great shape and time will tell if his fast ball can consistently crack 93-95 mph. If it can, the Yanks rotation will be solid.
With AJ Burnett traded to Pittsburgh, the Yankees are now setting their sites on a DH preferrably someone to face right-handed pitchers. There has been plenty of reports indicating that they are focused on Raul Ibanez. Not sure I'm all that crazy about Ibanez. Many have talked about bringing Johnny Damon back but I think Damon would be looking at getting more ABs than the Yankees would be looking to give him. Hideki Matsui is another possibility but GM Brian Cashman has said that they want someone who can play some outfield if necessary and Matsui's knees limit his ability to do that. As a result, the Yankees might not have many other options besides Ibanez.
There is also reports that the Yanks are interested in bring Eric Chavez back and Chavez wants to come back. I think that bringing Chavez back would be a good move as the guy can hit and fill in at third when giving ARod a rest. In addition, Chavez can also play a little first base if necessary. Speaking of ARod, I believe that he will play around 110-120 games at third base. The Yankees need his power and ability to drive in runs. If he can't drive off his legs then his power numbers will go down as was evidenced last season. Giving him more DH opportunities should take some stress off his hip and knees.
As we all know, championships are not won on paper but on the field. A lot of things can happen over the course of a 162 game schedule particularly with an aging starting lineup. But the key to the season will be those three young arms. If Pineda, Nova and Hughes can consistently give the Yankees quality starts, any issues with an aging starting lineup will be covered and give the Yankees a good shot of capturing Number 28.
Leafs Head Home With Season On The Line
The Toronto Maple Leafs ended their Western Canadian road trip in miserable fashion by being dominated by the Vancouver Canucks in a 6-2 loss at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver. There is no sense in going over last night's debacle because whether or not the Leafs make the playoffs could be determined in the next four games, all at the Air Canada Centre. The Leafs play New Jersey on Tuesday, San Jose on Thursday and Washington on Saturday. The home stand closes out on Tuesday February 28th against the Florida Panthers. In my opinion, the Leafs must win the three games against the Eastern Conference teams if they are to get into the playoffs.
The HNIC cameramen picked out two great shots of Leafs General Manager Brian Burke last night. The second one showed a visibly steamed Burke who's face was beet red. After the 5-0 defeat of Ottawa there was plenty of talk that the Leafs might not make a trade because the team seemed to be on track. I for one did not feel that way as I felt that the Leafs needed to add muscle up front. Well, after seeing Burke last night I would be shocked if a couple of trades aren't made before the February 27th trade deadline.
I'm not sure what it is about Saturday night HNIC games but the Maple Leafs are 7-10 in Saturday contests. Making matters worse, four of those wins came in October. If the Leafs were 9-8 they would be tied with Ottawa at 68 points and have two games in hand. They would be only two points behind the New Jersey Devils.
Other than Jake Gardiner, Dion Phaneuf and Phil Kessel, every other player should be available in a trade. There has been plenty of talk that the Leafs may need to get a goaltender. I'm not sure who they could get at this point that will be much better than James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson unless you could get someone like Jaroslav Halak. What might be the better course is going with Gustavsson on this home stand. While it is apparent that Leaf management wants Reimer to be the team's number one, Gustavsson saved the season in Janaury and deserves the chance to take the role as number one goaltender.
But goaltending is only part of the issue. The Leafs terrible defensive zone coverage is killing them and I believe that it is also tied to their inability to do the gritty things that you need to score goals. Going to the net, cycling down low have been missing for the most part over the last 6 games and that translates into their own end where forwards should be back to assist the defense in getting the puck out of their own zone.
Something needs to happen soon otherwise this season that started out so hopeful will once again result in no playoffs for Leaf Nation.
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