Jacob deGrom and Pete Alonso Add to Mets Trophy Case

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS SEASON FOR A LONG TIME

National League Cy Young Award

• 1969: Tom Seaver
• 1973: Tom Seaver
• 1975: Tom Seaver
• 1985: Dwight Gooden
• 2012: R.A. Dickey
• 2018: JACOB deGROM
• 2019: JACOB deGROM

PITCHERS TO WIN CONSECUTIVE CY YOUNG AWARDS: Sandy Koufax; Denny McLain; Jim Palmer; Greg Maddux; Roger Clemens; Pedro Martinez; Randy Johnson; Tim Lincecum; Clayton Kershaw; Max Scherzer. 

In only his sixth season in the major leagues Jacob deGrom adds his name to the list becoming just the eleventh pitcher in major league history to win back-to-back Cy Young awards.

Jacob joins Tom Seaver as the only Mets pitchers to win multiple awards.  He was also named 2014 ROY, and is a three-time all-star.  Last season he won his first ERA title, and this season was baseball's strikeout king.  He has now exceeded 200 strikeouts four times in his career and has 524 in the last two seasons alone.  He owns a career 2.62 ERA and 1.053 WHiP with 1,255 strikeouts through 1,101 innings pitched and set a major league record with 30 consecutive starts allowing three runs or less.  Although win/loss records mean less in today's age of analytics, one can't help but feel bad for deGrom.  A full third (32.7%) of his 171 career starts have ended in a no-decision.  Otherwise, deGrom owns a 66-49 (.574) career record while a member of the New York Mets.

Over his last two Cy Young campaigns, he has limited the opposition to just two runs or less in 51 of 64 starts.  Nine times last season he struck out double-digit batters, with a season-high 14 coming in just his second start at Miami.  In five July starts he fanned double-digits three times, and on Aug. 23 struck out 13 Atlanta Braves at Citi Field.  Jacob pitched at least seven innings in 19 of his 32 starts.

At 31-years of age, deGrom is cementing himself as the organization's second greatest ever pitcher behind only Hall of Fame inductee, the Franchise, Tom Seaver.  He has given us every reason to believe there is still yet more greatness to come.  While Jerry Koosman is a hero to me, and he and Dwight Gooden have rings, it is Jacob deGrom's craftsmanship that presently most rivals that of Tom Terrific's.

National League Rookie of the Year

• 1967: Tom Seaver
• 1972: Jon Matlack
• 1983: Darryl Strawberry
• 1984: Dwight Gooden
• 2014: Jacob deGrom
• 2019: Pete Alonso

Exactly 100 years after Babe Ruth first opened the doors to the 50 Home Run club, Pete Alonso becomes the 30th ever player to join its ranks.  The Flushing Polar Bear also becomes only the Mets second position player to ever win Rookie of the Year.  And what a year it was, leading all of baseball with an all-time MLB record 53 home runs by a rookie.

Once upon a time Dave Kingman was my all-time measure of Mets dingers.  They called him Sky King.  No one else ever measured up until a young right fielder named Darryl Strawberry received his call up to the Mets early in the 1983 season.  He went on to hit 26 home runs and win Rookie of the Year honors.  In 1987-88 he posted back-to-back seasons of 39 home runs.  But no Met had ever hit 40 home runs in one season until crowd favorite Todd Hundley set the Mets all-time mark in 1996 with 41 home runs.  In 2006 Carlos Beltran tied the Mets home run record.  This past season Pete Alonso demolished it, becoming the first Mets player ever to achieve 50 home runs in a single season.

Brooklyn Nets Fail to Jazz Up Early Season Highlight Reel

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

DE...FLATED

TUESDAY

Nets   114

Jazz   119

FINAL

Playing minus the services of Caris LeVert, the Nets take a 68-53 lead into halftime.  Up against the NBA's stingiest defense, Brooklyn is on pace to score upwards of 130-points.  Defensively, they're keeping Utah under their customary yield. 

Brooklyn still leads by eight after three quarters.  By all indications everything is going swimmingly.

But at 9:48 of the fourth quarter the Jazz make the last remnants of Brooklyn's 15-point halftime lead disappear.  Now down by three, Jarrett Allen fouls out with near six minutes left in the game.  Joe Harris hits a three tying the score at 107-107 with 5:28 left.  After four lead changes, DeAndre Jordan cleans up Kyrie Irvin's failed layup, tying the score again at 114-114 with 1:15 left to play.  Rudy Gobert's offensive rebound and dunk then put the Jazz up by one.  Kyrie misses two attempts from the field.  Utah closes out with 3/4 from the line en route to a five point margin of victory.

Brooklyn gets outscored by 20-points in the second half.  That's a 35-point swing.  Not for lack of rebounding, as the Jazz out-board the Nets by only three.  Not for lack of ball distribution, as the Nets edge the Jazz with three more assists.  Sixteen turnovers certainly didn't help, five more than the Jazz.  Rather, the defensive effort just fell apart like wet toilet paper, again.

The only thing more unsightly than Joe Harris' 4/10 from the floor and 1/2 from the line was his -22 and five personal fouls in 36 minutes.  Speaking of which, Jarrett Allen has been in foul trouble for eight straight quarters now.  With Allen limited to just 18 minutes, DeAndre Jordan stepped up with a double-double, scoring 15 points and securing a game high 17 rebounds in 30 minutes.

The Nets put up 90 shots against the Jazz; Kyrie Irving accounted for exactly one-third.  He led the Nets with 27 points and a team high 38 minutes, but was only 10/30 from the field, and just 1/2 from beyond the arc.  In the fourth quarter he missed on his last seven shot attempts.

On to Denver ...

2019-2020 Winter League Beisbol Season In Full Swing

WINTER LEAGUE BASEBALL

2019 ~ 2020

LIDOM - Liga de Beisbol Profesional Republica Dominicana (est. 1938)

The Dominican Republic is roughly 25 games into their season.  To the surprise of no one Los Leones de Escogido presently lead the six team circuit with a 16-8 record.  Established in 1921 they rank third in the league with 17 Dominican League championships.  They hold a three game lead over both Los Tigres del Licey and Toros del Este.  Los Estrellas Orientles are defending champions.  The regular season ends 12/17.

• Mets: Starter Harol Gonzalez (2019: Binghamton; Syracuse).
• Mets: Reliever Carlos Hernandez (2019: PSL Mets).
• Mets: Reliever Adonis Uceta (2019: Binghamton; Syracuse).

LMP - Liga Mexicana del Pacifico (est. 1945)

Two of my favorite LMP teams just happen to be tied for first place.  Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo (14-8) are mere percentage points ahead of Los Tomateros de Culiacan (15-8).  Los Yaquis de Obregon round out the top three of Mexico's ten team circuit.  Los Charros de Jalisco are the defending champions.  The regular season ends 12/30.

• Mets: Catcher Juan Uriarte (2019: GCL Mets; Columbia).

LVBP - Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional (est. 1945)

Despite lingering national and sometimes disruptive unrest, Venezuelan baseball plays on.  Less than ten games into their season Los Aguilas de Zulia and Los Cardenales de Lara are presently tied for first place with 5-2 records respectively.  Los Cardenales are also defending champions.  Los Tigres de Aragua round out the top three of Venezuela's eight team league.  The regular season ends 12/29.

LBPRC - Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (est. 1938)

This upcoming Friday marks Puerto Rico's opening day.  Yo soy fanatico de Los Criollos de Caguas.  Hurricane Maria caused extensive damage to their home park Yldefonso Sola Morales Stadium.  It is due to reopen next season.  In the meantime Los Criollos will continue playing their home games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, also known as Capital Stadium, at San Juan.  The island's capital will also host this season's Serie Caribe in February.  LBPRC welcomes back an old member Los Atenienses de Manati.  Los Cangrejeros de Santurce are defending champions.  The regular season ends 12/30.

ESTADIO ROBERTO CLEMENTE
home of the

Gigantes de Carolina

Puerto Rico

N.Y. Jets: Gang Gase Makes Good Against Giants

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

That's One Small Step for Adam Gase;

One Huge Leap at the Giants Expense for Jetskind

With the Giants missing three starting offensive linemen, the Jets dialed up six sacks and another ten QB hits.  They also completely bottled up the Giants running game, limiting Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman to a mere three yards on 14 carries.  Meanwhile angry Jamal Adams was a one man gauntlet of green.  He had two sacks, two other QB hits, a team high nine tackles, and quite literally stripped potential victory out from the hands of Daniel Jones and the Giants with a forced fumble recovery and a touchdown.  Daniel Jones did however carve up the Jets secondary with a pair of touchdown passes each to Darius Slayton and Golden Tate.

For the beleaguered Adam Gase, Sunday's victory is a measure of redemption and at the very least a chance to exhale.  Sunday's victory also gives the Jets a break insofar as getting the local media spotlight placed back on the Giants.  After all, Gase did a better job coaching his team than Pat Shurmur did his.

Gase increased Bilal Powell's touches to seven.  Added to Le'Veon Bell's 18 rushes, that equals 25 rushing attempts.  Their 49 yards gained is a secondary issue.  It's the balance running the ball poses which will further help advance Sam Darnold's development.  Sam the Sophomore was 19/30 (63%) for 230-yards, with one touchdown via the air to Jamison Crowder, and one rushing, and no INT's.

The Giants managed just two sacks, none of which were recorded by former Jet Leonard Williams, although the new Giants defensive lineman was credited with four QB touches.

N.Y. Knicks: Sunday Night's Main Event Featuring David Fizdale Versus Front Office

From the desk of: DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

KNICKS UNDER DAVID FIZDALE

19 WINS in 92 GAMES (.206)

In the corner to your left, James Dolan and his henchmen Steve Mills and Scott Perry.  In the corner to your right, head coach David Fizdale and the players provided to him.  In Sunday night's main event at the Garden, upper management lands an opening hay-maker and down goes Fizdale!  Down goes Fizdale!  Under the bus goes Fizdale!

We can safely surmise at this juncture Mills and Perry under orders from Dolan spent the second half of Sunday's 21-point loss against the Cavs hastily arranging their preemptive post game press conference like only Madison Square Garden can.  Standing side by side, Steve Mills and Scott Perry make known to an assembled media their displeasure with the team's state of affairs.  Only the executive duo does not claim responsibility.  Ironic is their failure to lure top tier free agents this past off-season, which is now manifesting itself on the floor.  The delusional duo instead express (paraphrasing) great dismay with the present situation, claiming this collection of talent should be performing better, and are not where the front office expected them to be.  They repeatedly pinpoint the team's lack of consistency in its collective effort.  Just don't misinterpret them, for they also said they're not focused on the team's record.

Speaking of which the Knicks have now played 92 regular season games under David Fizdale but are yet to win twenty games.  The Knicks finished 17-65 last season, and are off to a 2-8 start this season.  Despite the utterly laughable reactive posturing by Perry and Mills, the process of scapegoating David Fizdale is nevertheless underway.

Before drawing to a close the beleaguered coach counters with perhaps the best upper cut and straight right combo of the night.  Newsday scribe Steve Popper quotes Fizdale saying, "I don't need anyone to speak to me to give me a sense of urgency."  And when asked about his job security, ESPN.com quotes Fizdle saying, "I got a two-and-a-half year contract.  That's my assurance."

The sweet science is back at the Garden.

Brooklyn Nets Face Big Test Against League's Stingiest Defense

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Just Not Hard Enough ...

SUNDAY

Nets    112

Suns   138

FINAL

Entering game ten of this still young season, we may now speak in trends.  Look no further than Brooklyn's defensive effort or lack thereof for the Nets 4-5 record and eighth place conference standing.  They rank third in the NBA with 119.8 points per game, but allow 121.7 points per game which ranks second to last.  While some of the names have changed, none of this is new.

There's plenty of fodder from Sunday's 26-point loss at Phoenix to feed off.  Like the Suns game opening 10-1 run; Jarrett Allen's early foul trouble; having no answer for Devin Booker; Ricky Rubio's double-double and a game high 12 assists; allowing Phoenix 19/42 (45%) from beyond the arc; or even Coach Atkinson's inclination to walk the near length of the floor in order to berate an official.

I will just say Sunday's game marks the Nets second double-digit loss, and their worst defeat to date.  In either instance, the Nets failed to score their season average against a defensively viable opponent.  Of Brooklyn's first nine opponents Phoenix and Indianapolis play the best defense.  The Pacers, presently ranked eighth in the NBA in points against, defeated the Nets by ten points in game four at Barclays.  Then Sunday happened.  The Suns, 13th in the NBA in points allowed, deny Brooklyn a 20-point scorer.  Kyrie Irving is Brooklyn's lone starter in double-digits with 15 points on 7/16 from the field.  Otherwise Spencer Dinwiddie leads the Nets with 18 points off the bench.  DeAndre Jordan and Dzanan Musa score in double-digits, also off the bench.

Defensively speaking, Brooklyn's four victories have come against the 15th ranked Knicks; 26th ranked Rockets; 30th ranked Pelicans; and the 23rd ranked Trailblazers.

Otherwise they've sustained one point losses against the 20th ranked Mavericks, and 27th ranked Grizzlies; a four point loss against the 17th ranked Pistons; and the aforementioned double-digit losses against the Pacers and Suns.

Brooklyn next faces the Utah Jazz whom sport the NBA's stingiest defense.  The Jazz are undefeated at home and have allowed just 97.0 points per game.  While the Nets should rightfully be credited with defeating the Houston Rockets, it is the Jazz whom to date represent their toughest match.  If you wanna know how potent the Nets offense really is, let us wait and see how well they click against Utah ... or not.

N.Y. Giants: Someone Must Answer For Sunday's Big Blue Bust

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

THREE YARDS RUSHING

WEEK TEN

Giants   27

Jets       34

FINAL

No sense in picking on the defense.  Like Sunday's loss, it's a shameful situation.  We knew this heading into the season.  But where Dave Gettleman did pay particular attention this past off-season was in the offensive line.  With three of his starting hog mollies missing from action, the Giants run game gets shrouded in green darkness Sunday afternoon against the Jets.  Center Jon Halapio, and tackles Nate Solder and Mike Remmers, are all out with injuries.  That manifests in six quarterback sacks, ten other QB hits, and just three rushing yards all game.

• I say it all the time ... show me a Super Bowl contender and I'll show you an all-pro caliber center.  After missing most all of last season Jon Halapio (a converted center) is hurt again, making this the third straight season he's been forced off the field due to injury.

Behind a compromised offensive line Saquon Barkley rushes 13 times for one yard.  Wayne Gallman rushes one time for two yards.  The offensive line's physical condition and Sunday's performance by the backups are indeed contributing factors in Sunday's dismal rushing display, but the extent of Barkley's lingering injury (real or otherwise) is another matter.  For if Saquon is running on a hurt ankle that makes Wayne Gallman's lone rushing attempt far more indicative of Coach Shurmur's ongoing malfunction.  For if an offensive line is doing their job correctly, I could push a mailbox up field for positive yardage.  Which is why I say when it comes to implementing and executing a detailed running attack, Shurmur and his staff continually reaffirm the notion there is no plan.  I hearken back to Shurmur's reasoning for transitioning away from Eli Manning and have since watched him utilize Daniel Jones as a primary running threat.  It's no coincidence that for a second straight game Daniel Jones leads the Giants in rushing with 20 yards on three scrambles.  Jones also coughs up his ninth fumble of the season.  Hand the ball off and we don't have that problem.  Otherwise this level of ground game ineptitude is unrivaled in the annals of Giants history.  Where are the proactive measures?  Where are the variations in game planning that better suit your personnel?  Where is this coaching staff's adaptability?  It's certainly not coming from Shurmur, and it's definitely not coming from offensive coordinator Mike Shula, offensive line coach Hal Hunter, or even running backs coach Craig Johnson.  The results all speak for themselves.  Here we are entering week eleven and Saquon has yet to gain 500 yards for the season (same goes for Le'Veon Bell, Adam Gase, and the Jets).  That screams of a ponderous lack of technique.  Gettleman is at fault for not bringing in another body; any warm body; needed to reinforce the back field (or sign a viable fullback, for that matter).  We know Shurmur is unlikely to be fired soon.  Therefore Gettleman must absolutely place Shurmur's offensive staff under full review.

• Know why Rhett Ellison looked so good Sunday?  Because no team expects him to break off in a pass route.  When teams see Ellison, they expect the Giants to run.  When teams see (injured) Evan Engram line up at tight end, they are usually correct in assuming pass.  I find this such an impotent application of tight end.

I watched Joe Pisarcik, so believe me when I say I have no issues with Daniel Jones.  Sure, his 17 turnovers are problematic.  But of the 47 or so roster spots which demand Dave Gettleman's immediate attention, kicker quarterback is not one of them.  With Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard both out, Jones turns to fellow rookie Darius Slayton whom plays his best game to date.  Jones targets him 14 times, connecting ten times for 121 yards and two touchdowns.  Slayton did not play in week one against Dallas.  Since then, Jones has targeted him 45 times, connecting 27 times for 394 yards and five touchdowns.  In their first game together Jones and Slayton connected three times for 82 yards in week two against Tampa.  I'm excited to watch this relationship grow.

In the meantime, Dave Gettleman has created quite a mess for himself.  Although I would argue he needs at least another draft under his belt, losing to the Jets is quite an indictment of his work to date as general manager of the New York Giants.  To that affect, Pat Shurmur offers no help in getting out-coached by Adam Gase.

PIGSKIN 2019: Week Ten

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Ten

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two
Week Three

Week Four
Week Five
Week Six

Week Seven
Week Eight
Week Nine

Week Nine Record: 3-10
Overall Record: 57-62
Schmear of the Week: 4-5
Bagels in the Basket: -6

TOILET BOWL

MetLife Stadium

Giants -3 JETS
Loss; 34-27 Jets

Look!  Up in the sky, it's a bird!  Oh, crap, no!  It's a freakin' plane dragging a sign reading: 

Fire Adam Gase Now!

Good job, Jets fans.  Love the plane thing.  I think it's funny as hell.  Necessity is the mother of all invention.  And so both New York fan bases through the ages have taken to the skies in order to get their respective points across.  In this instance I concur with Green Nation.  This is Christopher Johnson's mess.  The Jets organization is today in a far greater state of folly than it was prior to Woody's departure across the pond.  That's a fact.  The Brothers Johnson just don't get it, and now look at them.  How do you get outperformed by the moribund Miami Sea Mammals, fall to 1-7 for the season, yet let the head coach absolve himself of personal accountability?  Then again, Adam Gase is the same man whom was given authority to hire his own boss (because that makes perfect sense).  Fans chipping in money to rent a plane dragging a sign is genius by comparison.  Think on the next flight perhaps we Big Blue fans can piggyback with a Pat Shurmur banner?  He isn't exactly well liked around these parts either.  In the midst of his second season as head coach of the Giants Pat Shurmur is to date 7-18 through 25 games.  As noted Adam Gase is 1-7 in his first season as head coach of the Jets.  Together the dynamic duo this season has led New York area football to three victories through a combined 17 games played.

More ponderous is that each coach possesses one of the NFL's premiere running backs but haven't the foggiest clue how (nor the want) to implement a system more conducive to their skill sets.  Entering week ten Saquon Barkley so far has 401 yards on just 88 rushes.  Le'Veon Bell has 415 yards on 125 carries.  Those are impotent numbers which I place blame squarely on the head coaches


WEEK TEN
Friday Line ~ NYDN

Chiefs -6 1/2 TITANS
Titans are the poster children of parity.  Mahomes is back in the saddle.
Loss; 35-32 Titans

Bills +3 BROWNS
Defense travels.  Bills have answers for Baker Mayfield and company.
Push Win; 19-16 Browns

BUCS -4 1/2 Cardinals
Odds say it's time the Bucs win their first home game of the season.  Winning by five is another matter ...
Loss; 30-27 Bucs

SAINTS -13 1/2 Falcons
Yes.
Loss; 26-9 Falcons

Ravens -10 BENGALS
Classic Trap Game!!!  Ravens are coming off a huge victory over the Patriots.  Anyone else and I would have said take the points ... but it's the Bengals.  The Bengals caught a huge break with last week's Dolphins victory over the Jets.   There's no way they're gonna relinquish control of next year's #1 pick now.
WIN; 49-13 Ravens

Panthers +5 1/2 PACKERS
Packers defense is falling apart like wet toilet paper.  Christian McCaffrey will help regulate Aaron Rogers time on the field.
Loss; 24-16 Packers

Lions +2 1/2 BEARS
There's only one question: can the Lions score 21-points against the Bears.  The answer is, yes.
Loss; 20-13 Bears

COLTS -11 Dolphins
The Sea Mammals are feeling good about themselves thanks to Ryan FitzMagic.  Either Jacoby Brissett plays hurt or Brian Hoyer takes snaps.  Good day for a swim.
Loss; 15-12 Dolphins

STEELERS +3 1/2 Rams
I'm throwing the Steelers a bone.  They'll remind the Rams what it's like to play against a real defense.
WIN; 17-12 Steelers

COWBOYS -3 Vikings
I'm going with the Cowboys ability to run and get after the quarterback.  Vikings should be ashamed of themselves following last week's loss to the Chiefs.
Loss; 28-24 Vikings

Schmear of the Week: (4-5)
Ravens -10
Win


Good luck, and have a happy Football Sunday, everyone!

Post Game
Week Ten Record: 3-8
Overall Record: 60-70
Schmear of the Week: 5-5
Bagels in the Basket: -7

N.Y. Giants: Gearing Up For Sunday's Futility Bowl Versus Jets

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

WEEK NINE

Cowboys   37

Giants       18

FINAL

Although the Jets are paying Leonard Williams the majority of his remaining 2019 salary, Dave Gettleman says he acquired the 25-year old 2015 first round selection with the intention of extending him.  In other words Williams will have potentially cost the Giants a 2020 #3 draft pick, a 2021 conditional pick, and a big chunk of valuable salary cap.  At that price he better be Keith Hamilton and Michael Strahan rolled into one ... just not on Sunday.  In his first game as a member of the Giants Williams made just one solo tackle, and assisted on two others, with no sacks.

In fact the Giants failed to record any sacks, and hit Dak Prescott just five times all night.  In turn, Prescott connected for touchdowns with three different receivers.  But Leonard Williams is better known as a run stopper.  As such Ezekiel Elliot cut through the Giants front seven like a hot knife through butter, gaining 138 yards on 23 rushes.  Add Tony Pollard's 21 yards on three rushes, and the Cowboys backfield trotted for 160 yards.  The Giants actually won time of possession, which is to say the excuse for the defense wearing down doesn't quite jive.  Rather they just aren't that good.

Neither was Daniel Jones.  He was sacked five times, bringing his grand total to 26 sacks in eight games.  More alarming were his seventh and eighth fumbles of the season.  Together with his eighth interception, Daniel has now accounted for 16 turnovers.

Saquon Barkley gained just 28 yards on the ground.  His 14 rushing attempts accounted for just 14% of Pat Shurmur's offensive play calls.  He was targeted for eight passes which account for 19% of Daniel Jones attempts.  However, Saquon's 22 total plays account for 32% of all Giants plays from scrimmage.  Daniel Jones 41 pass attempts account for 60% of all plays from scrimmage.  Most disconcerting were Jones six running attempts for a team leading 54 yards.  That simply should not be.

The Giants face Leonard Williams' former team this coming Sunday at MetLife Stadium.  The Jets hit rock bottom with last week's ponderous loss at Miami, in a sense dethroning the Dolphins as the worst team in football.  If the Giants should lose, does that make them linear Toilet Bowl champions?

Now halfway through the regular season, the Jets remain the NFL's only team to yet exceed 100 points scored.  Both teams feature premiere running backs, but are respectively run by coaches whom have an aversion to rushing the ball.  It's as if both head coaches view their quarterbacks' ability to evade and escape pressure as their primary ground threat.

Ponderous ...

Bring your nose plugs and try and enjoy the game.

Welcome Back Carlos on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

My turn to host ..

A METSIAN PODCAST

with SAM, RICH, and MIKE

@THE_SamMaxwell    @MetFanRich    @BTB_MikeII

eighty-six minutes

 

Carlos Beltran named 22nd manager in the history of New York Mets.

BVD .. er .. Brodie Van Wagenen: Year Two

Let the Off-Season Begin ~ The Mets of 2020

Review of Managers Throughout Mets History

!!Mets Trivia!!

N.Y. Jets: Sifting Through The Wreckage

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

WEEK NINE

Jets           18

Dolphins  26

FINAL

The Jets did not hit rock bottom.  They crashed into it nose first.

More incredulous than the Dan Marino fake spike game; more ponderous than watching Richard Todd connect with A.J. Duhe three times in the 1982 AFC championship game; Sunday's Pop Warner performance at South Beach is easily the worst regular season loss I can recall over the last several decades of watching Jets football.

Woody and Christopher Johnson have no one to blame but themselves.  The Jets were a vibrant organization thanks in large part to the work of Bill Parcells.  One of his last acts as Jets executive was to recommend Terry Bradway as general manager.  Through his work and that of Mike Tannenbaum (also a graduate of Parcells U), the Jets remained competitive with head coaches Herm Edwards, Eric Mangini, and Rex Ryan.  The second they fire Tannenbaum, effectively wiping away Bill Parcells' fingerprints, the team spirals headlong into descent.

Prelude to a disaster is a three stage process:

1. Hiring John Idzik
2. The arrival of Christopher Johnson
3. Hiring Adam Gase

Mike Maccagnan and even Joe Douglas have since been tasked with reconciling the damage wrought by Idzik.  But make no mistake, the smoldering trail of debris and wreckage left behind by Sunday's events all point to Christopher Johnson's inexplicable predilection with Adam Gase.  Johnson allowed himself to be talked into sacking his former general manager for no good reason other than to appease his new head coach.

Who does that?

If entering Sunday's contest the Dolphins were considered the worst team in football, what does that say of the Jets whom were outperformed by Miami -  if only barely - in most every aspect of the game?

Jets fans may want to involve the NTSB on this one.

N.Y. Mets: New Manager Carlos Beltran Gets His Wish

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Carlos Beltran Named 22nd Manager of New York Mets

Times are changing.  Traditional resumes need not apply.  The game is not what it used to be.  In this day and age the demands placed upon field managers are very different from those placed upon managers of my youth.  And therefore qualifications for the positions have changed.  In fact the whole business model has changed, and Brodie Van Wagenen appears determined to stay ahead of the curve, if not bend it in a new direction.

Carlos Beltran was not one of my top candidates.  He wasn't even on my list.  In fact, I'll quote myself:

"I have no interest in Carlos Beltran managing the Mets."

If I had my druthers Buck Showalter or Joe Girardi would be managing the Mets.  Their respective qualifications speak for themselves.  I believe the Mets in their present condition would have benefited most with either of these battle tested alpha figures in charge.  Sometimes players both young and veteran go about their respective careers unaware of their full capabilities until strong and tactful managers of their ilk extracts it out of them.  However Brodie Van Wagenen makes it abundantly clear the aforementioned are exactly what he does not want from a manager.

Otherwise this situation is not unique to the Mets, nor the modern era.  The list of novice managers is long and varied.  Fans of a certain age remember 1977 when then manager Joe Frazier was relieved of his duties and Joe Torre went from playing third/first base to managing the Mets for the next 4 1/2 seasons.  Up in the Bronx, Lou Piniella in 1984 played his last game for the New York Yankees.  By 1986 he was their manager.  Hall of Famer Frank Robinson in 1975-1976 served as player/manager of the Cleveland Indians before devoting himself full time in 1977 as manager.  Yogi Berra in 1963 played his last game as a member of the Yankees.  In 1964 he managed them to the American League pennant.  New York Giants Hall of Famer Mel Ott between 1942-1947 also served as player manager. John McGraw served as player/manager of the Baltimore Orioles and New York Giants for eight seasons until retiring in 1906 as a player.

Beltran's path most resembles that taken by Craig Counsel whom retires as a player in 2012 and immediately takes a front office position with Milwaukee.  By May of 2015 Counsel is managing the Brewers.  Beltran too takes a front office position with the Yankees soon after his retirement, and parlays his newly gained experience into one of 30 managerial positions in major league baseball.  He previously said he was interested in managing here, and only here.  He gets his wish.  Now that Carlos Beltran is officially on board I congratulate him, and as a fan will fall in line and support him the best I can.

N.Y. Jets: Gang Green Airing Their Grievances

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

WEEK NINE

New York Jets

vs.

Miami Dolphins

FROM

Humidity Stadium

Jets -3 DOLPHINS

Man, is it going to stink at Miami where the NFL's two most offensively inept teams will go head-to-head in a Toilet Bowl of gastronomical proportions.  The Sea Mammals are averaging a league low 11-points per game.  The Jets come in at 11.1 points per game.  How compelling!  But whereas the Jets are actually trying to wins games and failing miserably, the Sea Mammals are trying to lose and doing a damn good job.  Miami is yielding upwards of 34-points a game.  But make no mistake, the Sea Mammals can't wait to inflict damage against their former coach.  I still give Sam Darnold and Gang Spleen the benefit of the doubt.  Jamal Adams will be playing angry.  That may work for or against him.  And expect a heavy, heavy dose of Le'Veon Bell.  Should Adam Gase and the Jets lose, we all know the local media will descend upon them like flies on a steaming cow patty in July.

An Unhappy Maladjusted Gang Green Airs Their Grievances

If nothing else, of this I'm sure: Christopher Johnson is even worse than his brother.  These highly dysfunctional dynasties just don't get it.  Look at the Wilpons; look at James and Daddy Dolan; then look at the Brothers Johnson.  All fail to implement a firm chain of command.

I always thought Woody Johnson was a terrible front office participant.  But Christopher takes the cake.  Instead of entertaining Jamal Adams' meltdown, Christopher Johnson should have been directing his employee down the hall to see the president of football of operations, or worse, the general manager himself.  Having an open door policy is one thing; undermining you're entire operation is another.  You can not have disgruntled coaches, general managers, and players, all bum rushing the owner's office every time they're unhappy with their life situation.

You would have to rewind back 13 years to Eric Mangini/Rex Ryan under Terry Bradway/Mike Tannenbaum for the Jets last state of complimentary front office competence.  Everything thereafter has been and remains today completely disjointed and dysfunctional.  Clearly hiring Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan out of order (again) taught the Brothers Johnson nothing.  Lest we forget after spending over $100 million dollars on free agents general manager Mike Maccagnan hires Adam Gase, who in turn convinces Christopher Johnson his general manager sucks and needs to be fired.  Johnson then empowers Gase with the authority to hire the next general manager.  Outside of perhaps, Daniel Snyder, who does that?

Trick or Treat!

This week Adam Gase will be disguised as the guy pissing off Le'Veon Bell, who's first seven games as a member of the New York Jets can be summed up with two words: rock bottom.  Bell and Gase apparently talked it out.  Unlike the jilted Jamal Adams who is no longer on speaking terms with his general manager nor his head coach.

PIGSKIN 2019: Week Nine

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Nine

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two
Week Three

Week Four
Week Five
Week Six

Week Seven
Week Eight

SCOREBOARD:
Week Eight Record: 8-5
Overall Record: 54-52
Schmear of the Week: 4-4
Bagels in the Basket:  +2


LEADERS OF THE PACK

• A.F.C.  New England Patriots; Baltimore Ravens; Indianapolis Colts; Kansas City Chiefs; Buffalo Bills; Houston Texans.
• N.F.C.  Dallas Cowboys; Green Bay Packers; New Orleans Saints; San Francisco 49ers; Minnesota Vikings; Seattle Seahawks.

THE NATIONAL FUBAR LEAGUE

• Miami Dolphins; Cincinnati Bengals; New York Jets; Washington Snyders; Atlanta Falcons.

1st and Ten

• Patriots and Niners remain undefeated.
• Bill Belichick wins game #300.
• Bengals and Dolphins lead race for number one draft pick.

2nd and Long

• Jaguars troll Sam Darnold's ghostly experience.
• Jets trade DL Leonard Williams to the Giants in exchange for 2020 #3 pick and another conditional pick.  Williams trolls the Jets on the way out.
• Two wins are better than one: Giants; Buccaneers; Broncos; Browns.

No Gain

• Baker Mayfield fumbles latest post-game presser.
• Jamal Adams ongoing (trade deadline) melt down.
• Seahawks claim WR Josh Gordon.  If Bill Belichick doesn't want you, something is wrong with YOU.
• J.J. Watt is hurt ... again!

PUNT!

• Wishing Trent Williams a full recovery; the D.C. Snyders, not so much.
• Done for season: QB Joe Flacco (neck).
• Done for season: LB Kwon Alexander (torn pec).
• Go Bills ... New York's only real team!

WEEK NINE
Friday Line ~ NYDN

Jets -3 DOLPHINS
Man, is it going to stink at Miami where the NFL's two most offensively inept teams will go head-to-head in a Toilet Bowl of gastronomical proportions.  The Sea Mammals are averaging a league low 11-points per game.  The Jets come in at 11.1 points per game.  How compelling!  But whereas the Jets are actually trying to wins games and failing miserably, the Sea Mammals are trying to lose and doing a damn good job.  Miami is yielding upwards of 34-points a game.  But make no mistake, the Sea Mammals can't wait to inflict damage against their former coach.  I still give Gang Spleen the benefit of the doubt.  Jamal Adams will be playing angry.  That may work for or against him.  And expect a heavy, heavy dose of Le'Veon Bell.  Should Adam Gase and the Jets lose, the local media will descend upon them like flies on a cow patty.
Loss; 26-18 Dolphins

• ICYMI: The Bell Tolling For Le'Veon

Jaguars +1 1/2 Texans *London
Unlike the Texans, the London Jags have become quite accustomed to playing across the pond, with success I might add.  With J.J. Watt out for the season, Gardner freaking Minshew III gets to scan his sectors with a greater measure of safety and comfort.
Loss; 26-3 Texans

BILLS -9 1/2 D.C. Snyders
The Snyders should be thankful they have at least one win.  Ironically it came on the road.  They'll have no such luck this week with rookie QB Dwayne Haskins opposing Buffalo's defense.  If the Bills do not win by ten points it's because they stepped in their own droppings.
WIN; 24-9 Bills

Titans +3 1/2 PANTHERS
No knock against the (Jekyll and Hyde) Panthers, but Tennessee is starting to really grind it out.  Ball control keeps Kyle Allen and the Panthers offense off the field.
Loss; 30-20 Panthers

EAGLES -5 Bears
Two words: Mitch Trubisky.  He's not necessarily prone to throwing INT's, but has only five TD passes through six starts.  Chicago only managed 16 points last week against the Bolts.  I'm expecting the Eagles defensive front to swarm the pocket.  DeSean Jackson returns to full duty.
WIN; 22-14 Eagles

Vikings +2 CHIEFS
If I'm the Vikings, I'm insulted by this line.
Loss; 26-23 Chiefs

Colts -1 STEELERS
Colts are playing such balanced football.  They field one of the best offensive lines in the league.  Through seven starts Jacoby Brissertt has thrown 14 TDs and just four INTs.  Two weeks ago he threw for 326 yards with four TDs.  Meanwhile the Steelers lone two victories this season have come against the Sea Mammals and Bengals.
Loss; 26-24 Steelers

Lions +2 RAIDERS
The Lions have scored upwards of 30 points in three of the last four games, and put up 21 points against Green Bay.  It's their defense that sucks.  The Raiders are finally back at Oakland after spending four of the last five weeks on the road.  I'm thinking all their frequent flyer miles finally catch up with them.
Loss; 31-24 Raiders

SEAHAWKS -6 1/2 Bucs
Repeat after me: Russell Wilson versus Jameis Winston.  Chalk one up for the 12th man.
Loss; 40-35 Seahawks

Browns -3 BRONCOS
If any team needs a legitimate victory, it's the over hyped Browns.  Without Joe Flacco, the Broncos pose an easy opponent through which Cleveland may pull themselves together.
Loss; 24-19 Broncos

Packers -3 CHARGERS
If the Packers short circuit the Bolts, but no one in Los Angeles shows up to watch it, does it really happen?  Chargers lose by six!
Loss; 26-11 Chargers

Patriots -3 1/2 RAVENS
I'm dying to take the Ravens, and yes it has everything to do with the Patriots soft schedule.  The Ravens lost to the Chiefs and Browns, but are coming off their biggest win of the year against Seattle.  Then I snap out of it and remember what Bill Belichick does to young QBs like Lamar Jackson.
Loss; 37-20 Ravens

Cowboys -7 GIANTS *Monday Night
I'm not so sure about this one.  Dallas routs Eli Manning and the Giants by 18 points in week one.  Last week the Cowboys defeat the Eagles to halt a three game skid.  Daniel Jones for a change will be working with a full compliment of players, i.e., Sterling Shepard; Evan Engram; Darius Slayton; and Saquon Barkley.  Giants can easily keep this game within seven.  But if the Giants defense stays true to form the Cowboys cover.
WIN; 37-18 Cowboys

Schmear of the Week: (4-4)
Colts -1
LOSS

POST GAME
Week Nine Record: 3-10
Overall Record: 57-62
Schmear of the Week: 4-5
Bagels in the Basket: -6


Good luck, and have a Happy Football Sunday, everyone!

Brooklyn Nets: Houston Rockets Sputter at Barclays Center

From the desk of: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

James Harden and Russell Westbrook 

Experience Frightful Night at Barclays Center

FRIDAY

Rockets   116

Nets         123

FINAL

No need looking at the win/loss record.  We knew heading in Kenny Atkinson would be tinkering with various line-ups and combinations.  On Friday, he conjured a jambalaya of minutes for everyone.  Taurean Prince and Garrett Temple prove problematic for the visiting Houston Rockets.  Getting the start Prince leads the Nets with 27 points and a game high 12 rebounds in 34 minutes.  Temple posts a +4 off the bench with 16 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes.  Caris LeVert contributes 25 points in 32 minutes.

• Caris Levert is averaging 19.8 points and 33 minutes through the first five games.

However, Brooklyn's defensive effort refreshingly is Friday night's lead story.  The Nets dominate the battle of the boards, out-rebounding Houston by a 55-40 margin, with 45 boards coming on the defensive end.  They also force Russell Westbrook and James Harden into settling for quantity over quality.  The Houston duo joins for 22/56 (39%) from the field, and a mere 3/22 (13%) from beyond the arc.

The Nets are now 2-3 through five games, with victories against the Knicks and Rockets, one outright loss against the Pacers, and a pair of one-point overtime losses against the T-Wolves and Grizzlies.  Brooklyn leads the Eastern Conference with 120.6 points per game, but rank last with 120.8 points allowed.  Makes one appreciate Friday's effort that much more.


THE IRVING FACTOR

• Through five games the Nets have attempted 458 shots from the field, or 91.6 shots per game.  Kyrie Irving has attempted 117 shots, or 23.4 shots per game, which accounts for 25.5% of Brooklyn's field goal attempts.

MEN IN THE MIDDLE

• Garrett Allen and DeAndre Jordan join for 13 points and 17 rebounds; Allen leads the floor with a +29 in 31 minutes.  Allen to date leads at center with 58 minutes played versus 37 minutes for Jordan.

SATURDAY

Brooklyn Nets @ Detroit Pistons

FROM

MOTOR CITY