Winter Leagues Playoffs 2021-2022: Santurce Wins in 17th Inning; Mayaguez Takes 2-0 Lead in LBPRC Semifinals

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !

LIGA PROFESIONAL de BEISBOL ROBERTO CLEMENTE

• TWITTER: LBPRC

SEMIFINAL - I

Criollos de Caguas (1-1) @ Cangrejeros de Santurce (1-1)

Game Two at Hiram Bithorn Stadium is a tale of attrition.  Right-hander Nivaldo Rodriguez climbs the hill for Caguas and is opposed by Hector Hernandez for Santurce.  Both starters walk off with no decisions as Rodriguez holds Los Cangrejeros to no runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings pitched, while Hernandez yields no runs on just four hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts through five complete.  Afterwhich, the respective bullpens take over, and the score remains unchanged for the next eleven innings.  Eight Santurce relief pitchers join in limiting Los Criollos to just a pair of hits and three walks through the top of the 17th inning.  Having entered the game back in the 13th inning, Criollos right-hander Alex FaGalde climbs the bump in the home half of the 17th for his fourth inning of relief.  Leading off the frame, first baseman Christian Vasquez and third baseman Ivan DeJesus Jr. wield consecutive singles.  After a successful sacrifice bunt advances the runners one base,  Alex FaGalde walks Alexis Torres, loading the bases.  Still with one out, FaGalde hits Santurce's right fielder Jan Hernandez with a pitch forcing home the winning run.

• GAME TWO FINAL: Caguas 0; Santurce 1  17-inn
• BOXSCORE Jan. 8

Hiram Bithorn Stadium

SEMIFINAL - II

Indios de Mayaguez (2-0) @ Gigantes de Carolina (0-2)

Game Two is played at Estadio Roberto Clemente Walker, where Mayaguez and host Carolina battle to a three-all tie through the fifth.  Los Gigantes post single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, highlighted by catcher Brian Navarreto's two-out home run in the home fourth.  Los Indios group together all three runs in the top half of the fourth - center fielder Chavez Young drives in a run, and shortstop Jeremy Rivera drives home two.  Not yet done, Mayaguez erupts for another four runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by third baseman Emmanuel Rivera's two-run triple en route to a 7-3 lead and the final margin of victory.  Los Indios starter Eric Stout escapes with a no-decision after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in four innings pitched.  Meanwhile, the bullpen limits Carolina to one run on three hits and no walks over the final five frames.  Right-hander Dereck Rodriguez earns the win, and Ruben Ramirez takes the loss after a disastrous sixth inning.

• GAME TWO FINAL: Mayaguez 7; Carolina 3
• BOXSCORE Jan. 8
  

Estadio Roberto Clemente Walker

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2021-2022: Jalisco and Culiacan Take Series Leads in LMP Semifinals

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !

 

   LIGA MEXICANO del PACIFICO

• TWITTER: LMP

SEMIFINAL - I

Charros de Jalisco (2-1) @ Sultanes de Monterrey (1-2)

After three quiet frames, Monterrey opens the scoring with two runs in the fourth.  Jalisco answers with three in the fifth - shortstop Amadeo Zazueta singles home the first run and soon scores on first baseman Cionel Perez's two-run home run to right field.  Los Sultanes promptly retook the lead with three runs in the home sixth highlighted by catcher Gilberto Galaviz's two-out, two-run single to left field.  But again, their advantage does not last.  After a scoreless seventh, Jalisco manufactures two runs in the eighth, tying the game at five.  The teams duel through a scoreless ninth, and into extra innings, they go.  Each side goes down in order in the tenth.  Catcher Fernando Flores connects to right field off Monterrey reliever Nathanael Santiago on a home run with one out in the visitor's eleventh.  With two outs in the home eleventh and runners on the corners, Charros reliever Roberto Osuna strikes out designated hitter Fernando Perez to end the game.  Osuna strikes out three in the frame.  He closes out a stellar performance allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out six over the final 2.2 innings for the win.

• GAME THREE FINAL: Jalisco 6; Monterrey 5  11-inn
• BOXSCORE: Jan. 7

SEMIFINAL - II

Algodoneros de Guasave (1-2) @ Tomateros de Culiacan (2-1)

Facing Guasave left-hander David Holmberg in the home first, Culiacan first baseman Joey Meneses 

connects for a two-run home run over the left-field wall.  Catcher Ali Solis' run-scoring double in the fourth gives Los Tomateros a 3-0 lead.  Algondoneros designated hitter Jhoan Urena brings Guasave within one with a two-run home run in the visitor's fifth.  Culiacan scores what proves to be the decisive run in the sixth, as Guasave would tally one last time in the seventh.  David Holmberg allows three runs in the loss, but only one is earned.  Culiacan southpaw Anthony Vasquez allows two earned runs on three hits and one walk through five for the win.  Left-hander Alberto Baldonado throws a scoreless ninth for his second save this series.

• GAME THREE FINAL: Guasave 3; Culiacan 4 
• BOXSCORE Jan. 7

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2021-2022: Caguas and Mayaguez Win LBPRC Semifinal Opening Games

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !

LIGA PROFESIONAL de BEISBOL ROBERTO CLEMENTE

• TWITTER: LBPRC

SEMIFINAL - I

Cangrejeros de Santurce (0-1) @ Criollos de Caguas (1-0)

Caguas opens their semifinal series in commanding fashion at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan.  After jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first, Los Criollos erupt for four more runs in the second.  Santurce starter Adalberto Flores is knocked out of the box upon yielding five earned runs on six hits and two walks in just 1.1 innings pitched.  Caguas mounts another four-run rally in the fifth against Santurce relievers Osvaldo Berrios and Luis Atilano. Criollos' designated hitter Roby Enriquez finishes 3 for 4 with a double, one RBI, and two runs scored, while right fielder Engel Beltre and second baseman Vimael Machin drive in three runs each.  On the mound, Caguas starter Mitch Lively allows just two hits and five walks with two strikeouts over five scoreless innings for the win.  Right-hander Ricardo Velez and Raul Rivera follow with four scoreless innings of no-hit ball to complete the shutout. 

• FINAL: Santurce 0; Caguas 9
• BOXSCORE Jan. 7

SEMIFINAL - II

Gigantes de Carolina (0-1) @ Indios de Mayaguez (1-0)

Carolina takes an early a 1-0 lead in the second.  Afterwhich, Los Indios de Mayaguez unleash a six frame long offensive with pairs of runs in the third and fourth innings, single runs in the fifth and sixth, a big four-run seventh, and conclude with two runs in the eighth en route to a 12-4 final margin of victory.  Designated hitter Blaine Crim leads the charge with three runs batted in; leadoff hitter Brett Rodriguez, former New York Met T.J. Rivera, and center fielder Chavez Young each drive home two runs.  Starter 

Daryl Thompson allows just one run on three hits and one walk over five innings for the win.  Los Gigantes rally for three runs in the ninth against reliever Bryant Salgado, but Mayaguez right-hander 

Danny Dopico ends the threat.  Carolina right-hander Jose Espada takes the loss.

• FINAL: Carolina 4; Mayaguez 12
• BOXSCORE Jan. 7

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2021-2022: Monterrey and Guasave Even Series in LMP Semifinals

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !

 

   LIGA MEXICANO del PACIFICO

• TWITTER: LMP

SEMIFINAL - I

Sultanes de Monterrey (1-1) @ Charros de Jalisco (1-1)

Jalisco manufactures a run in the opening frame.  Afterwhich, the score remains unchanged through the seventh inning.  Starter Javier Solano takes his bid into the eighth inning.  But after walking the leadoff batter and striking out the next, he is removed in favor of southpaw Alemao Hernandez, who promptly yeilds a hit putting runners on the corners.  Hernandez is relieved by Alexandro Tovalin, who fields a comebacker keeping the runners in place but then walks the next batter to load the bases.  Tovalin walks Monterrey's first baseman, Issmael Salas, with two outs, forcing home the tying run.  Alexandro Tovalin is then replaced by Adrian Guzman.  Sultanes' third baseman Ricardo Serrano greets Guzman with a bases-clearing double to center field, then scores on catcher Carlos Soto's groundball base hit through the middle for a 5-1 Sultanes lead.  Los Charros respond with two runs in the home eighth but nothing more.  Monterrey left-hander Jeff Kinley closes out the game with a four-out save.  Starter Nick Struck allows one earned run on just four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts for the win.  Jalisco starter Javier Solano walks off to a no-decision after yielding just one run on five hits over 7.1 innings  Alemao Hernandez takes the loss in relief.

• GAME TWO FINAL: Monterrey 5; Jalisco 3
• BOXSCORE: Jan. 5

SEMIFINAL - II

Tomateros de Culiacan (1-1) @ Algodoneros de Guasave (1-1)

An excellent back and forth affair unfolds at Guasave's Estadio Francisco Carranza Limon.  Culiacan promptly takes the lead on second baseman Ramiro Pena's first-inning home run.  Designated hitter Victor Mendoza connects on a two-run home run in the fourth, and Los Tomateros add two more runs in the visitor's fifth for a 5-0 lead.  Los Algodoneros make it all back in the home fifth, knocking Culiacan starter Manny Barreda out of the box and tying the game at five.  Guasave forges ahead with two runs in the seventh.  But with single runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings, Los Tomateros tie the game at seven.  Undeterred, Guasave rallies in the home ninth for the win.  Right-hander Zach Hartman suffers the loss in relief.  Despite yielding two runs on three hits over two innings pitched, Matt Pobereyko is taken off the hook for the victory.

• GAME TWO FINAL: Culiacan 7; Guasave 8
• BOXSCORE Jan. 5

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2021-2022: Round-Robin Recaps LVBP & LIDOM 1/5/22

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !

   

   LIGA VENEZULANA BEISBOL PROFESIONAL

• TWITTER: LVBP

ROUND-ROBIN: Cardenales de Lara (4-3) @ Tigres de Aragua (3-5)

Matters quickly go awry for Cardenales de Lara starter Raul Rivero who yielded five runs in the third inning highlighted by Los Tigres right fielder Jose Martinez's three-run home run.  Los Cardenales strike back with three runs in the fifth against Aragua starter Alexis Candelario and knock him from the box.  But Los Tigres add insurance runs in the home fifth on a two-run home run by left fielder Denis Phipps and add another in the sixth for an 8-3 lead.  Lara designated hitter, and a Mets familiar Ali Sanchez doubled home Los Tigres fourth run in the eighth.  Los Tigres threaten again in the top of the ninth with one run but no more.  Aragua left-hander Fabian Cota with two scoreless innings pitched, and two strikeouts earned the victory in relief while Lara's Raul Rivero took the loss.

• FINAL: Lara 5; Aragua 8
• BOXSCORE Jan. 5 

ROUND-ROBIN: Leones de Caracas (1-6) @ Caribes de Anzoategui (5-2)

Caracas opens the scoring with two runs on three hits in the top of the second, while their pitching keeps Anzoategui off the board through the third.  That is until the roof collapses upon Los Leones during the upcoming frames.  Los Caribes post three runs in the fourth and fifth innings, two in the sixth, and four more in the seventh for a commanding 12-3 lead.  First baseman Balbino Fuenmayor leads the bat attack with a two-run home run in the fourth, and a solo shot in the sixth, third baseman Niuman Romero hit a three-run blast in the fifth right fielder Victor Reyes drove in three runs.  Facing Caribes reliever Freddy Pacheco in the top of the ninth, Leones' catcher Alfredo Gonzalez greets him with a leadoff home run.  A walk, single, double, a run later, and so much for a clean, tidy finish.  Right-hander Lester Oliveros finally replaces Pacheco.  With one out, Romer Cuadrado doubles home two more runs cutting Los Leones' deficit to five.  At this point, Lester Oliveros exits with an injured hand, and right-hander Andres Sotillet enters the game and hits the first batter he faces with a pitch.  A base hit then loads the bases still with one out.  A lineout to second base keeps everyone in place.  Andres Sotillet strikes out Alfredo Gonzalez, swinging to finally bring this game to a harrowing end.

• FINAL: Caracas 7; Anzoategui 12
• BOXSCORE Jan. 5

IDLE: Navegantes de Magallanes (5-2)

⚾

   

   LIGA de BEISBOL REPUBLICA DOMINICANA

• TWITTER: LIDOM

ROUND ROBIN: Gigantes del Cibao (6-2) @ Tigres de Licey (4-4)

Pitching rules the night, a duel in classic albeit collective form.  Left-hander Enny Romero starts for Los Gigantes and is opposed by Albert Abreu for Los Tigres.  After four scoreless frames, Cibao left fielder Marcell Ozuna opens the scoring with a home run.  Enny Romero yields just one hit and one walk with five strikeouts over five scoreless innings for the victory.  Four Cibao relievers join together for three scoreless innings.  Los Gigantes picks up a much-needed insurance run in the top of the ninth, albeit unearned.  But it would nonetheless prove decisive.  Los Tigres scraped together a run in the home ninth but nothing more.  Cibao right-hander Ryan Kussmaul managed the save.  Albert Abreu takes the hard-luck loss, allowing just one run on three hits with three strikeouts over 5.1 innings pitched.

• FINAL: Cibao 2; Licey 1
• BOXSCORE Jan. 5 

ROUND-ROBIN: Estrellas Orientales (3-5) @ Aguilas Cibaenas (3-5)

Only three of Los Estrellas' 14 total hits go for extra bases.  But after opening the scoring with a run in the third, they nevertheless erupt for seven runs in the sixth inning en route to an 8-3 victory over Los Aguilas.  Shortstop Gustavo Nunez accounted for three runs batted in.  Starter Rony Garcia allowed just two hits and three walks with two strikeouts over five scoreless innings for the win.  Cibaenas starter Marcos Diplan yielded one run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over five innings in a losing effort.  Los Aguilas' bullpen could not maintain, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks with just one strikeout over the final four frames.

• FINAL: Orientales 8; Cibaenas 3
• BOXSCORE Jan. 5

Winter Leagues Playoffs 2021-2022: Mayaguez Rises To Top of LBPRC; Jalisco and Culiacan Open LMP Semifinals With Wins

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !

LIGA PROFESIONAL de BEISBOL ROBERTO CLEMENTE

• TWITTER: LBPRC

On Monday, Jan. 3, Los Indios de Mayaguez defeated Los Criollos de Caguas by a 4-2 margin to once and for all settle this season's regular-season final standings - BOXSCORE.   On Friday, Jan. 7, the semifinal round commences with top-seeded Mayaguez taking on fourth-seeded Los Gigantes de Carolina while Caguas will be pitted against third-place Los Cangrejeros de Santurce.

1. Indios de Mayaguez (21-10)
2. Criollos de Caguas (20-12)
3. Cangrejeros de Santurce (17-15)
4. Gigantes de Carolina (13-18)

 LIGA MEXICANO del PACIFICO

• TWITTER: LMP

SEMIFINAL - I

Sultanes de Monterrey @ Charros de Jalisco 

Los Sultanes seize a 4-0 lead as Charros southpaw Orlando Lara fails to make it out the fourth inning.  With two outs, Lara is relieved by right-hander Jaime Lugo but not before Monterrey's Carlos Figueroa

and third baseman Ricardo Serrano drive home two runs apiece.  However, Los Sultanes' lead does not last.  Los Charros tie the score in the fifth on a pair of runs batted in by Amadeo Zazueta and a two-run home run by designated hitter Christian Villanueva against Sultanes starter Christian Castillo and reliever Linder Castro.  Jalisco strikes again in the sixth, with second baseman Messael Rivera doubling home the go-ahead run.  They add to their lead with two more runs in the seventh.  Christian Villanueva drives home his third run this game, and Dariel Alvarez's base hit gives Jalisco a 7-4 lead.  The score remains unchanged through the ninth.  Right-hander Alexandro Tovalin wins in relief with 1.2 innings of one-hit ball with three strikeouts. 

BOXSCORE

SEMIFINAL - II

Tomateros de Culiacan @ Algodoneros de Guasave

With southpaw Manny Banuelos starting for Culiacan, Los Algodoneros de Guasave jump out to an early first-inning lead on Ramon Rios' leadoff double and shortstop Esteban Quiroz's home run.  Facing Guasave right-hander Geno Encina, Los Tomateros score single runs in the third and fourth innings driven in by second baseman Ramiro Pena and third baseman Emmanuel Avila respectively.  Both starters pitched scoreless fifth and sixth innings.  Pinch-hitting in the top of the seventh, Jesus Fabela triples home the go-ahead run against Guasave reliever Rafael Cordova.  Ramiro Pena then drives home, Fabela, from third for a 4-2 Tomateros lead.  After Banuelos initially allows two first-inning runs, he keeps Guasave scoreless over his final five innings of work for the win.  Culiacan's bullpen hurls three scoreless innings of one-hit ball.  Southpaw Alberto Baldonado earns the save.  BOXSCORE

Winter Leagues Baseball Playoff Preview 2021-2022

From the desk: FANÁTICO del BÉISBOL de INVIERNO

! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !

LIGA PROFESIONAL de BEISBOL ROBERTO CLEMENTE

• TWITTER: LBPRC

The regular season winds down on Tuesday, Jan. 4, with Los Criollos de Caguas and Los Indios de Mayaguez still locked in a pitched battle for first place.  The third-place Cangrejeros de Santurce and fourth place Gigantes de Carolina round out the semifinals.  The RA12 squad is eliminated.

• Criollos de Caguas
• Indios de Mayaguez
• Cangrejeros de Santurce
• Gigantes de Carolina

   LIGA VENEZULANA BEISBOL PROFESIONAL

• TWITTER: LVBP

The league's top five teams of the field of eight advances to the round-robin semifinals now five games in.  Los Navegantes de Magallanes clinched the regular-season championship by four games over Los Cardinales de Lara.  The round-robin series runs from Dec. 27 through Jan. 16, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals.

• Navegantes de Magallanes
• Cardenales de Lara
• Caribes de Anzoategui
• Tigres de Aragua
• Leones de Caracas

   LIGA de BEISBOL REPUBLICA DOMINICANA

• TWITTER: LIDOM

LIDOM's round-robin series runs from Dec. 27 through Jan. 17 with ten games down and 26 more contests to go.  The top four teams of the six-team field advance.  In a hotly contested race, Los Gigantes del Cibao clinched the regular season flag by one game over Los Estrellas Orientales.  Los Tigres del Licey finished two games back, and Los Aguilas Cibeanas finished three back.

• Gigantes del Cibao
• Estrellas Orientales
• Tigres de Licey
• Aguilas Cibaenas

   LIGA MEXICANO del PACIFICO

• TWITTER: LMP

Round One of the LMP playoffs is complete.  Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo and Los Mayos de Navojoa have been eliminated.  The remaining four teams advance to the semifinals, which commence Tuesday, Jan. 4, with Los Tomateros de Culiacan facing off against Los Algodoneros de Guasave and Los Charros de Jalisco pitted against Los Sultanes de Monterrey. 

• Tomateros de Culiacan
• Algodoneros de Guasave
• Charros de Jalisco
• Sultanes de Monterrey

The Metsian Podcast: Joy to the World, Buck Showalter Has Come to Flushing

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

@THE_SamMaxwell    CTMetsFan    BTB_MikeII

BUCK SHOWALTER
Named Manager of the Mets

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Peace on Earth

Stay Tuned

From the desk: BROOKLYN TROLLEY BLOGGER

I'm on an unscheduled break as family and business come before pleasure and hobby.  But please know I am very grateful for the support of my followers and visitors to this blog.  Thank you all.

In the meantime, I am elated over the election of Gil Hodges into baseball's Hall of Fame.  However, I am also somewhat dismayed that former Brooklyn Royal Giants members Grant "Homerun" Johnson, Dick "Cannonball" Redding, and John Donaldson was not distinguished with the same honor. 

The Brooklyn Nets are tops in the Eastern Conference, but I fret they live a precarious existence.  Across the river, the Knicks have yet to match last season's level of defensive mastery.

Chris Kreider continues having a brilliant season (and it's about time).  An increase in team physicality is serving the Rangers well.  With 37-points to date, they are playing on par with the NHL's top contenders.  The Islanders opened the season on a 13-game road trip with a 5-6-2 record.  On November 7, they lost the first of eleven consecutive games until finally defeating the Senators on December 7 at Ottowa - a whole month after their previous victory.  The Isles have played six games in their new home, including one against the Rangers, and have yet to win at the newly opened UBS Arena.

Baseball?  Check out our most recent episode of THE METSIAN PODCAST with guests John Saponaro and Matt Ibanez, hosts of the TIL METS DO US PART PODCAST.  The show initially aired on 4 DEC 2021.

I'll be back ...

Thank you,

Michael

BrooklynTrolleyBlogger

Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: Gil Hodges Hall of Fame Panel w/ Baseball and BBQ Hosts Len Aberman and Jeff Cohen, and Brooklyn/LA Dodgers Pitching Legend Carl Erskine

From the desk: THE QUIET MAN

BEDFORD & SULLIVAN PODCAST

A Sam Maxwell Production

GIL HODGES

Hall of Fame Panel Discussion

Featured:

Jeff Cohen and Len Aberman 

BASEBALL AND BBQ PODCAST

and

Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers Pitching Legend

CARL ERSKINE

a/o: Dec. 1, 2021

HALL of FAME 

GOLDEN ERA VOTE

DEC. 5, 2021

Brooklyn Nets: Flatbush Outlasts Knicks in Season's Opening Battle of the Boroughs

From the desks: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH & KICKIN' CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WIT' JIMMY

EAST RIVER SHOWDOWN

I - BKN 112; NYK 110

A Decisive James Harden Leads Flatbush Against Manhattan Rival

I preface this game recap acknowledging that RJ Barrett left after just nine minutes on the floor, and Coach Thibodeau, for lack of sufficient effort on defense, essentially benched Kemba Walker.  Meanwhile, Flatbush likewise entered this game somewhat rearranged, with Blake Griffin no longer in the starting lineup, Joe Harris out pending ankle surgery, and of course the controversial missing man variable.  

Thus lay the pretext to a tightly contested one-point margin of victory.  In the final second of the game, the team that possessed the ball got off one last desperation shot, missed, and lost.  That's how closely Tuesday's first showdown this season played out between the host Brooklyn Nets and the East River traversing Manhattan Knickerbockers.

After every game, top players around the league are unavoidably confronted by media and their microphones.  They ask questions, even ones they know sometimes are circumstantial or even uncomfortably unanswerable, yet in return, expect some level of inside info.  It's part of the job.  My point is, James Harden can say anything he wants insofar as telling the media he's still learning when to distribute, orchestrate, or personally seize upon a given possession.  But I say all that is just talk for the sake of talk.  For James Harden knows precisely what he's doing.  It's about other players not named Kevin Durant following Harden's lead and finishing.

Thrust into the starting lineup by Coach Thibs, Alec Burks, and Julius Randle for the Knicks, and Harden and Kevin Durant for Flatbush are the measures of this game.  They were the only four with 20+ shot attempts and topped all other players in minutes.

James Harden led all scorers with 34 points and secured a game-high ten rebounds with eight assists in 40 minutes.  He was 11/20 from the field and a more customary 9/10 from the line.  Otherwise, Harden knows turnovers continue marring his overall performance; this time, he committed a game-high five.

Kevin Durant was 0/5 from beyond the arc but made up for it by shooting 9/9 from the charity line en route to 27 points while (importantly) tying for a game-high nine assists in 41 minutes.  Together with Harden, they accounted for 61 (54.4%) of Brooklyn's 112 points.

Alec Burks led the Knicks with 25 points in 39 minutes, and Julius Randle added 24 points and posted team-highs of nine rebounds and eight assists in 40 minutes.  Together, they accounted for 49 (44.5%) of the Knicks' 110 points.

The Knicks outrebounded the Nets by four and put up six more shots than Brooklyn.  This continues to be a troubling trend for me, but the Nets bailed themselves out, again, outscoring the Knicks by a margin of eleven at the line.  And whereas the Nets were outscored in the paint, they outscored the Knicks off fast-break opportunities.

Manhattan had five players score in double-digits.  Derrick Rose scored 16 points in 36 minutes, and with 0.17 seconds left in the game, Evan Fournier tied the game at 110-110 as part of a 13 point night.  But James Johnson's free throws put the Nets back ahead by two.  Afterwhich, Even Fournier missed on a last-second attempt.

The Nets had four players in double-digits.  Cam Thomas led the bench effort with 12 points in 21 minutes.  However, the Knicks bench outscored Flatbush by a nine-point 36-27 margin.

If a 15-6 record makes me anxious ... it is what it is.  Teams nearing (or even matching) the Nets in shooting percentage are very problematic as Flatbush continually allows the opposition more possessions and overall shot opportunities.  

It's been my pet peeve all season.

Defense is the main issue with the Knicks.  They went from being elite defenders last season to the middle of the pack this season.  It's quite the conundrum when this team last season in the playoffs lacked desperately for points.

The Metsian Podcast: Shopping in the Premium Isle with METSRADAMUS John Coppinger

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

GUEST

TheSportsDaily.com

METSTRAMADUS

John Coppinger

Steve Cohen Flexes His Financial Might

Eduardo Escobar ~ Mark Canha ~ Startling Marte ~ Max Scherzer

Plus: MLB Labor Negotiations

and so much more!

#LGM

Our Thanksgiving Metsian Podcast with Queens Native and Voice Actor Matthew Streppone

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

GUEST
Queen Native ~ Mets Fan

VOICE ACTOR

MATTHEW STREPPONE

Steve Cohen ~ Money ~ Farm ~ Billy Eppler

Noah Syndergaard ~ Steven Matz ~ Aaron Loup ~ Jon Matlack

CBA ~ Japanese Baseball ~ Gil Hodges HOF

and so much more!

#LFGM

Bedford and Sullivan Podcast: Talking Brooklyn 1940s and 1950s with Shelly Sacks

From the desk: BEDFORD & SULLIVAN

A SAM MAXWELL PRODUCTION

TALKING BROOKLYN: 1940s and 1950s 

with Sheldon "Shelly" Sacks

N.Y. Knicks: Bockers Slow Down Indiana's Pace

From the desk: KICKIN' CANS DOWN 33RD STREET WIT' JIMMY

MONDAY

Pacers      84

KNICKS    96

FINAL

Coach Thibodeau Asks And He Receives

Talk about slamming the breaks on the Pacers ...

The Knicks entered Monday's action losers of three of their last four.  Despite a different mix of personnel, Coach Thibodeau still makes defense no less a point of contention. 

Last season the Knicks limited their opponents to a league-fewest of 104.7 points per game.  This season, the opposition has eclipsed 100 points in nine of the Knicks' first 14 games.  At present, they are allowing 109.2 points per game, the tenth most in the league and an increase over last season of 4.5 points per game. 

On Monday, the Knicks took heed and clamped down on the Indiana Pacers.  But not before Indiana took a one-point lead into the half and a 74-69 lead after three.  Afterwhich, the Knicks limited the Pacers to just ten points in the fourth quarter - one-three pointer, two points from midrange, and five points from the line.  Meanwhile, with 23 points in the final session, the Knicks overcame a five-point deficit and came away with an eight-point margin of victory.

Coming off the bench, Derrick Rose is still the backbone and effective MVP of this team.  He scored 14 points and tied for a game-high seven assists in 25 minutes.  Immanuel Quickley tied for a team-high 16 points, including 4/4 from behind the arc in 23 minutes, also off the bench. 

Julius Randle registered a workmanlike double-double with eleven points and a team-high eleven rebounds in 35 minutes.  

But here's the difference between this season and last.  Kemba Walker was 8/11 from the field for 16 points but finished with a minus-15, while Evan Fournier added seven points but posted a minus-10 in 24 minutes.  The Knicks bench averaged a +16, while Julius Randle and RJ Barrett finished -2 and -1, respectively.