L.I. Ducks ~ 2012 Positional Players Preview

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Long Island Ducks

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Many New Faces Will Be Wielding a Bat for the Ducks This Season.  But Can the New Members be as Formidable as Last Year's Line-Up?


L.I. Ducks - Gearing Up for Another Run at Title




CATCHER  - J.R. House  .305 AVG  19 HR  81 RBI  ~  GONE.

 Replacements:

1) - The Ducks will primarily go with JOSH JOHNSON behind the dish.  He's 29 years old with AAA experience.  He played last season for the Road Warriors.  Last season, his nine home runs and forty-six rbi were career bests.

2) - SHAWN WILLIAMS is a twenty-eight year old switch hitter who played with the Brockton Rox last season where he batted .316 in 69 games.  He has A-level experience.

Analysis:  The Ducks will clearly not be getting the same production out of their backstop they received last season.





FIRST BASE/DH - John Rodriguez  .313 AVG  18 HR  81 RBI  ~  GONE.

Replacements:

1) - Freddie Thon returns from last season and will see action at first base.

2) - BRANDON SING has resoundingly been considered the American Association's top slugger over the last four seasons.  The 31 year old's best season came in A-ball when he batted .270, stroked 32 home runs, and drove in 94 runs.

Analysis:  John Rodriguez wielded a very productive bat last season.  But he was injured far too often.  What better we to replace him than with independent ball's top slugger.





SECOND BASE - Ray Navarrete will be back.  He has been a Long Island Duck for the majority of the last six seasons.  Ray will turn thirty-four years old in May.  Last year he tied his career best with twenty-seven home runs.  However, he posted his lowest career batting average as a Duck.  Last season Ray Navarrete continued to etch his name into Long Island's record books.  During the 2011 season, Ray became the Ducks' all-time hits leader as well as becoming the team's all-time runs scored leader.  He also lays claim to being the team's all-time home run leader and all-time rbi leader.  For a single season, he holds their record for doubles and games played.  And he also holds the Ducks' record for hits in a single game, and rbi in a single game.  The long time Ducks favorite will be a pleasant sight for Duck fans when this new look team takes the field.





SHORTSTOP - Javier Colina  .309 AVG  25 HR  90 RBI  ~  GONE.
THIRD BASE - Matt Padgett   .282 AVG  11 HR  67 RBI  ~  GONE.

Infield Replacements:

1) - BRYANT NELSON is 38 years old and will serve as a middle infielder off the bench.  This will be his third season with the Ducks.  He gained MLB experience with the Red Sox.  With eighteen years of minor league experience, he is a career .285 hitter.

2) - WILBERTO ORTIZ has six years as a pro with AAA experience.  He's 27 years old and comes to the Ducks from the L.A. Dodgers organization.  Signed more for his glove than his bat, he possesses no real power to speak of, and is a .265 career minor league hitter.

3) - RYAN GARKO has six years of MLB experience. He is 31 years old. His best seasons came in 2007 and 2008. He's a .275 career hitter, with 55 home runs, and 250 rbi on his pro resume.

Analysis:  Dan Lyons also will be back for another season.  But the new infielders will be hard pressed to replicate the kind of offense last season's Ducks generated.  Matt Garko may have something to say about that however.





CENTER FIELD - Kraig Binick returns for his second season in the Pond.  He was last season's Atlantic League's batting champion.  Kraig split time leading off, and hitting in the sixth and seventh spots in the order.  Prior to suffering a facial injury in a collision at second base, Kraig was off to a blazing start batting as high as .409 as of June 6th.





LEFT FIELD - Kennard Jones   .292 AVG  8 HR  54 RBI  ~  GONE.
RIGHT FIELD - Matt Esquivel   .328 AVG  15 HR  69 RBI  ~  GONE.

Outfield Replacements:

1) - REID GORECKI is a nine year AAA pro.  He is 32 years old with a career .267 average.  Doubles to the gap is his thing.  But he has no real power to speak of.

2) - PAUL KARMAS is a 22 year old who is fresh out of Rookie ball.  Prior to that, he was a .300 hitter for St. John's.

3) - JAMES McOWEN is 27 years old with AA experience.  If he can keep his strikeouts down, he'll be another doubles machine with occasional home run power.  In five seasons, he's a career .289 minor league hitter.

Analysis:  Most of the Ducks' power last season came from the infield.  But Matt Esquivel's numbers will be hard to make-up.  The spotlight seems to be on James McOwen.  Lew Ford will turn thirty-six in August.  This will be his third season in the Pond.

2012

ATLANTIC LEAGUE SEASON

GAME ONE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

vs.

Somerset Patriots

From

TD Bank Ballpark

New Jersey

OPENING DAY

Somerset Patriots

Mike.BTB

New Jersey Nets ~ The Final Days

From the desk of:   THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BROOKLYN NETS:  Bid New Jersey Farewell Boys.  Monday
Will be the Last Game in the Garden State.  Fugheddaboudit!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012 - marked the last time the New York Knicks would ever cross the Hudson River to play the Nets in New Jersey.



New York Knick fans have long packed The Rock, or the old Brendan Byrne Arena to see the Knicks take on the New Jersey Nets.  Last Wednesday was no different in that regard.  That the Rock resoundingly gave the Knicks the feel of a home game was expected.  The fact that the Newark crowd booed their home team vociferously was just a shame.  The reason was largely due to the abundance of Knicks fans in the building.  But then, where were the Nets fans?

I assure you, such comfort levels will not be achieved in Brooklyn; not by invading Knicks fans anyway.  Fans of the Knickerbockers will no doubt flood into Barclays Center.  But playing the Nets will never ever feel like a home game on the road for the Knicks ever again.  Not in Brooklyn!

Times are changing folks.

Monday, April 23, 2012 - Tonight's game against Philadelphia will be the last time the Nets Basketball Club will ever play as a home team representing the State of New Jersey.

THE FINAL TIP-OFF

Philadelphia 76ers

vs.

NEW JERSEY NETS

From

The Rock

I wonder if the League planned this particular game on purpose.  After all, it was to the Philadelphia 76ers the Nets wound up selling Julius Erving; or more commonly referred to as Dr. J; back in 1977.  Many former Nets players will be on hand tonight for a half-time ceremony.  Over the last thirty five years, I guess my favorite edition of the Nets was the team with Otis Birdsong, Buck Williams, and Darryl Dawkins.  My favorite Net player in all the New Jersey years wound up being Kenyon Martin.  I was not at all pleased when new owner Bruce Ratner came on board and decided the Nets would not be resigning him as a free agent after the 2003-2004 season.  I believe letting Kenyon Martin leave for the Denver Nuggets precipitated the Nets premature break-up of the mid-2000's team that went to back-to-back NBA Finals.

Thursday, April 26, 2012 - will be the last game the New Jersey Nets ever play, period.  Their 2011-2012 season, and thirty-five year run of NBA Basketball in the Garden State will come to an end in Toronto.

THE FINAL GAME as THE NEW JERSEY NETS

NEW JERSEY NETS

vs.

Toronto Raptors

Beginning Monday, April 30, 2012 - this organization and the team will officially be recognized as "THE BROOKLYN NETS BASKETBALL CLUB"

BARCLAYS CENTER

~March 2010~

GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY

BARCLAYSCENTER.com

APRIL 2012

Mike.BTB

N.J. Devils ~ Going Up in Flames

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY DEMONS

FLORIDA LEADS SERIES 3-2

NEW JERSEY DEVILS:  Florida Panthers Keep Dancing With the Devils.  Jersey Facing Elimination.


Content with watching their season fizzle out from the penalty box, New Jersey is now in the bedeviling position of having to win the next two games in order to advance in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Their first opportunity against the Panthers will come at The Rock on Tuesday evening.  Then a possible Game Seven will take place in Sunrise, Florida, as the South Division champs own home ice advantage.


After getting shut-out by Martin Brodeur in Game Four, Florida's Jose Theodore returned the favor by stymieing the Devils in Game Five.  He faced thirty shots, and stopped them all.  But for David Clarkson/four shots; Patrick Elias/two shots; and Zach Parise/one shot on goal;  -  It was that kind of night for the Devils.


That's because New Jersey was too busy killing penalties..., again.  As they have done all series, the Devils kept putting themselves on the penalty kill with six infractions in all.  In the second period, Florida's Kris Versteeg made them pay.  And in the end, it's all Florida would need.


Martin Brodeur was running a tight ship in spite of that goal.  He made twenty-three saves through the first two periods, as Florida held a shots on goal advantage.  But there were no goals for the Devils' part.  Another Panther goal in the thirteenth minute of the third period, and a late shorthanded goal inside the last minute of play ended the game in a 3-0 final.


The transformed Florida Panthers are one game away from advancing to the second round for the first time since the 1995-1996 season.  The Devils have not advanced to the second round of the playoffs in the last five seasons.


Losing Game Six on home ice would be a brutal way to end their season.  Minimizing mistakes and not taking penalties is well within their hands.  So is scoring.  So, I'm inclined to believe this series will go seven.  We'll find out Tuesday.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ Whoa Canada; Blueshirts Facing Elimination

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

OTTAWA LEADS SERIES 3-2

I  -  NYR 4;  OTT 2

II  -  OTT 3;  NYR 2

III  -  NYR 1;  OTT 0

IV  -  OTT 3;  NYR 2

V  -  OTT 2;  NYR 0

*II and IV - overtime*

VI  -  MONDAY

NEW YORK RANGERS:  All Roads Lead Through Ottawa.

The Senators are at the Gates.

Showdown at The Garden; The Rematch

Life of Brian

It's a Series Now; Game Three

Captain Callahan and the Blueshirts Pound the Sens

Game One; Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Senators finally got their man.  They've been targeting Brian Boyle all series.  The Rangers' best player this series, was finally caught up to, and put out of action thanks to Chris Neil's blind-sided thuggery.  In my last post, I said point blank:

"I really didn't think Mike Rupp was going to have much of a role in the playoffs. Not against the Senators anyway. But maybe there's something for him to do after all. How about putting a stop to Chris Neil for starters. He needs to be eradicated. How's that for getting to the point? And Rupp just might be the guy to do it. Come up with a better plan, and get back to me on that."

Mike Rupp never did give Chris Neil something to ponder.  And as a result, Neil was free to stalk, and lay a high hit to Brian Boyle's head at mid-ice.  Boyle played a few more shifts, but was effectively removed from the game with a concussion.  But look at Brian Boyle now.  He'll potentially be missing because we failed to take proactive measures like Ottawa did in Game Two of this series.


In light of the 25 game suspension Raffi Torres received after delivering a similar type hit on Chicago's Marian Hossa, which caused the Blackhawk to get taken off the ice on a stretcher, it will be terribly interesting to see how Brendan Shanahan handles this case.  Chris Neil went un-penalized for his hit on Boyle, as all four on-ice officials failed to observe the major infraction in civility.  Instead, they called Ryan Callahan for roughing when he stood up for Marian Gaborik after he received a questionable hit.  The whistle on Mike Rupp for charging was also questionable to say the least.


The officiating has been flat-out horrific for both teams during this entire series.  At times they suffer complete blindness in both eyes, then overcompensate their ineptness with mindless whistles.  In particular to Brian Boyle's case, a linesman stood and passively watched Brian Boyle get beat-on by Matt Carkner in Game Two.  Hockey Fans understand stepping in to the fray is the responsibilities of the Orange Stripes.  But they lost me when they called Dubinsky for a third-in infraction.  Likewise with Chris Neil's hit on Boyle.  They missed the greater sin.  Just as when Marian Gaborik was the recipient of another questionable hit, the Stripes were quick to whistle Callahan for protecting a team mate when the on-ice officials wouldn't.

Regardless, the Senators continue to legislate play and out-Blueshirt Tex's Rangers at their own game.  Ottawa has done the pounding into the boards, authored said open ice hits, and crashed the net on their way to a 3-2 series lead.  They have kicked up their game a notch from the regular season like a good veteran team should.  The Rangers have not.  There has been no extra gear for the Blueshirts.  They are running at the same levels they have all season.


The superb goal tending of Craig Anderson is giving me flashbacks of the playoff shutdown effort a young Semyon Varlamov, then of the Washington Capitals, authored against us just a few short seasons ago.  In Game Five, Craig Anderson stopped the Rangers cold.  The Blueshirts took a series high forty-one shots on goal, with not even one getting by for a score.  Anderson shut-out the Rangers 2-0 Saturday night, and is the biggest reason the Rangers are now facing a first round elimination going away.


Ottawa managed twenty-nine shots against Henrik Lundqvist.  Unable to see through a screen, Jason Spezza blasted a first period shot passed Henrik from the top of the right circle at the 9:18 mark.  And that was all the real scoring this game would feature.  From then on, it was greatly a matter of Craig Anderson outlasting Henrik Lundqvist.  Which he did in brilliant fashion.


The Rangers never could get that one tying goal against Anderson.  With less than a minute left in regulation, Marian Gaborik turned the puck over at the red line.  Jason Spezza took hold and capped off Ottawa's night with an empty net goal; his second goal on the game; to close out Game Five by a 2-0 final.  The series shifts back to Ottawa where the Rangers must win if they are to bring the series back to 7th Avenue for a deciding Game Seven.


Ryan Callahan tried putting this game into his own hands like a good Captain would.  After jumping to Marian Gaborik's cause, Callahan took to crashing the net, but was called for yet another penalty; this time goalie interference.  A very short time later in the third period, Callahan was stoned by Craig Anderson on a break-away opportunity.


The power play fared no better.  The Rangers were scoreless in four opportunities.


The Rangers will have Carl Hagelin back for Game Six in Ottawa.  While his three game suspension has been served, there is still no determination as to whether Daniel Alfredsson will return from the concussion suffered as a result of Hagelin's hit in Game Two.





Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Gearing Up For Another Run at Title

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Refortifying The Pond - Calling In Reinforcements After Succumbing to Last Season's Revolution.

REMAINING SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE:
April 23, 2012  -  Game Three ~ L.I. Black Sox (semi-pro) vs. Long Island
April 24, 2012  -  Game Four ~ NYPD vs. Long Island

FINALS:
April 21, 2012  -  Game Two ~ Long Island 7; Bridgeport 2
April 20, 2012  -  Game One ~ Long Island 7; Bridgeport 0

The Ducks encountered problems with pitching depth as the 2011 regular season wound down.  Their formidable one-two punch of Mike Parisi and Mike Loree were out of the fold after a near season-long dominance of the league.  Mike Parisi earned an affiliated promotion for his 2011 efforts and did not return.  However, Mike Loree did.  His fine season was rewarded in the form a contract from the Pirates organization.  But he was able to return to the Ducks in time for the post season run.  And with the League's 2011 Pitcher of the Year returning back atop the rotation, the Ducks seemingly still had enough starting pitching to get through two rounds of playoffs.


The Long Island Ducks' regular season was a virtual wire to wire party at The Pond.  They ended the 2011 campaign with the League's most potent line-up.  Many seemed sure the Ducks had more than enough offense to power them towards their first championship since the 2004 season.


Whether hitting lead-off, or lower in the order, Craig Binick had a tremendous season with the bat, winning the League's batting championship with a .343 mark.  Long time Duck favorite Ray Navarette set a few more all-time Ducks records last season as well.  After an early season slump, Ray finished strong and ranked second in the circuit with twenty-seven home runs.  The Long Island line-up featured four of the top six RBI producers last season.


Then, a Revolution ignited in Pennsylvania, picked up momentum, and spread from the streets of York.  The Road Warriors, Somerset, and eventually Lancaster, all fell to the Freedom Division winning Revolution.


After first round victories over Lancaster and Southern Maryland respectively, York and Long Island met in the championship round.  For York, they set out to defend their 2010 A.L. title.  While the Ducks were returning to the playoffs after missing the 2010 post season.


In the final series, the Ducks' bats ran into a buzz saw as the Revolution pitchers all but shut-down the Ducks' mighty offense.  And Long Island never even wound up facing York's ace hurler either.  With Long Island's season long hit parade stopped cold and muted, the Ducks watched York celebrate their second consecutive Atlantic League championship.


Say what you will however, last year's was still a tremendously successful regular season and a very entertaining one to boot.  Their seventy-eight wins topped the League.  Upon winning both halves of the division titles, they were resounding favorites to win their second ever Atlantic League championship.  But as we saw, Revolution was in the air.


Over the off-season, many changes have given the line-up that short-circuited in last year's playoffs a very different look.  Returning will be Ray Navarette and Craig Binick.  Lew Ford and Dan Lyons also return.  But gone from last season's Atlantic League leading line-up is catcher J.R. House.  Matt Padgett will be playing for the Blue Crabs this season.  The oft-injured John Rodriguez is off to the American Association.  Kennard Jones is off to Bridgeport.  And Matt Esquivel has been playing in Mexico.  Absent from this year's line-up will also be sweet hitting Javier Colina.  The Ducks will have to replace 252 RBI in the middle of the order with Colina, House, and Rodriguez, gone.


In the top story of the off-season, the ace of the staff; Mike Loree; will indeed be returning for another season with the Ducks.  He was last season's pitching triple crown winner with fourteen wins; 131 strikeouts; and a superlative 1.98 ERA.   Jason Monti returns looking to earn a starting spot.  Shane Youman, a youngster who showed up last season to give the Ducks big wins down the stretch, will not.


Bob Zimmerman and Jeremy Hill return to man the bullpen again.  Ehren Wasserman retired, and the heart-attack kid; Bubbie Buzachero; also will not be returning.


I'll take a closer look at the new Ducks' members in my next post.  The new look Long Island Ducks 2012 roster is linked:  HERE


The 2012 Long Island Ducks' season opens with a four game series, beginning on Thursday, April 26th, on the road against the Somerset Patriots.  This marks the Ducks' thirteenth season as an Atlantic League member.  The Somerset Patriots, after a rather disappointing 2011 season by their standards, begin their fifteenth season in the League.  Long Island's home Opener will eventually come on May 4th against the Camden River Sharks, after the Ducks follow up their opening series against Somerset, with three games in Bridgeport.




ATLANTIC LEAGUE:


The Road Warriors ball club can finally pull over and rest.  Their work is done.  The expansion Sugar Land Skeeters; from Texas; have arrived to restore the traditional feel of an eight team league again.  They will be managed by Gary Gaetti, the former Minnesota Twin favorite.  Former Chicago White Sox hurler; Britt Burns; will be their pitching coach.


The Atlantic League's expansion into Texas is an interesting move to say the least.  What comes first and foremost to my mind is how this will drive up club expenses.  I asked Corey at LIDucksBlog what he thought Sugar Land's impact on the League's economics might be?  And in the short term he agreed with me in that it will be a tough going, and maybe even a near fail.  But in the long run, he believes there is something to this and that the move west will pan out well for the League.


Keep an eye on Bridgeport.  They're in trouble.  Unless something changes at the gate, the future of the Bluefish is uncertain.  Minus the Newark Bears who took their leave from the circuit last season, over the last two seasons, the Bluefish are the only Atlantic League club not to draw over 200,000 fans, nor average above 3,000 per game.  Last season, more rumors started to circulate regarding the team's demise.


This will be the fifteenth season of Atlantic League Baseball.  Of the original circuit which started play in 1998, only two member clubs remain; the Somerset Patriots, and the Bridgeport Bluefish.  The Camden River Sharks, with beautiful Campbell's Field, and the Ducks, whom routinely lead the circuit in attendance, have given the Atlantic League great stability since joining in 2001 and 2000, respectively.


The newer teams in Pennsylvania are backed by strong fan bases as well.  The Lancaster Barnstormers and York Revolution are seven and five year members.  Recently, South Maryland has been suffering a dip in attendance since joining the league during the 2008 season.  And as mentioned, the Sugar Land Skeeters, this season's expansion team in Texas, rounds out the 2012 circuit.  There are still plans on the table for future expansion into Virginia for the 2013 season.


Camden's Campbell Field will host this season's Atlantic League All-Star Game.



ATLANTIC LEAGUE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS
Bridgeport Bluefish
Somerset Patriots
York Revolution
Lancaster Barnstormers
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
Sugar Land Skeeters
Camden River Sharks






Mike.BTB

N.J. Devils ~ Relighting the Fire

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY DEMONS

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ~ QUARTER FINALS

GAME FOUR FINAL

Florida Panthers      0

New Jersey Devils  4

From

THE ROCK
Brick City, New Jersey

Series Tied 2-2
I  -  NJD 3; FLA 2
II  -  FLA 4; NJD 2
III  -  FLA 4; NJD 3
IV  -  NJD 4; FLA 0

Saturday Night:

GAME FIVE
Devils @ Panthers

NEW JERSEY DEVILS:  Marty Catches Fire After Getting Doused in Game Three.



Previously on THE BRICK CITY DEMONS:
N.J. Devils - Sticking Themselves With Own Pitchforks
N.J. Devils - Game One; Stanley Cup Playoffs

Did Martin Brodeur regroup and rebound to shut out the Florida Panthers 4-0 as a follow-up to getting pulled during a 3-3 tie in Game Three, like a certain future Hall of Fame goaltender can?  Or, did Coach Peter DeBoer instigate Thursday night's effort out of Marty by showing him the bench early in the second period of Game Three, after surrendering a three goal lead?  Well, Brodeur is the one who actually plays, not Coach DeBoer.  So, I'd lean towards the Hall of Famer on that one.  But there's no doubt Coach got Marty thinking.  And that's his job.  What's more, I like Pete Deboer.  I think he's a good coach.

Coach said he did it to create a spark for the team.  Pulling Marty may not have been successful in that endeavour as the Devils lost Game Three by a 4-3 score.  But the move paid off brilliantly in Game Four.  Martin Brodeur faced twenty-six shots and stopped them all and added yet another record to his resume.


The game remained scoreless for the first twenty-six minutes of play, until Zach Parise scored on a power play at the 6:08 mark.  For Parise, the goal was his second of the series.  And through two periods, Marty stopped seventeen shot to make the 1-0 lead stand.


The Devils opened up the gates and unleashed the hounds in the third period.  They quickly pounced for a goal at 2:02, when Steve Bernier scored his first of the series.  A minute and a half later, Travis Zajac struck for his second goal of the playoffs, putting Florida in a suddenly late 3-0 hole.  The knockout blow then came at 8:32, when Ilya Kovalchuck scored his second of the playoffs on a power play, for a 4-0 New Jersey lead, and eventual final.


Marty Brodeur took care of the rest by stopping nine third period shots by the Panthers.  That now makes 101 playoff wins for the career long Devils' goalie.  And in posting a 4-0 shutout, he surpasses Patrick Roy for the most playoff shutouts in NHL history with shutout number twenty-four.


Tied up at two games apiece, this series now has a pair of legs.  Both teams will head back to Florida for Game Five Saturday evening before returning back to The Rock next Tuesday, where the Devils can wrap things up if they take care of business down in Sunrise first.






Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ Showdown at The Garden; The Rematch

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Quarter Finals

GAME FIVE

Ottawa Senators

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

From

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

33rd Street at 7th Avenue

NYC

 

SERIES TIED 2-2

I  -  NYR 4; OTT 2

II  -  OTT 3; NYR 2*

III  -  NYR 1; OTT 0

IV  -  OTT 3; NYR 2*

*overtime

Matt Carkner being escorted off the ice in Game Two.

 

NEW YORK RANGERS:  "Gonna Get a Belly Full of Beer...,  Cause Saturday Night's Alright for Fightin" ...Hockey.


Previously, on RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS:
N.Y. Rangers - Life of Brian
N.Y. Rangers - It's a Series Now; Game Three
N.Y. Rangers - Captain Callahan and the Blueshirts Pound Sens
N.Y. Rangers - Game One; Stanley Cup Playoffs


I really didn't think Mike Rupp was going to have much of a role in the playoffs.  Not against the Senators anyway.  But maybe there's something for him to do after all.  How about putting a stop to Chris Neil for starters.  He needs to be eradicated.  How's that for getting to the point?  And Rupp just might be the guy to do it.  Come up with a better plan, and get back to me on that.



In the playoffs, overtime is such a damn crap-shoot.  And we have been on the more odoriferous side of these outcomes more often than not.  Of all King Henrik's exploits between the pipes, winning overtime games isn't exactly his forte.  For the second time this series, we blew another one in the extra session.  So how do we change that?  Answer - avoid overtime.



The Rangers scored two power play goals within the first six minutes of Game Four, then nothing else.  And yes, they scored twice on the power play.  That wasn't a mistake.  On the night, they were two of seven.  In Game Three, they were scoreless in three chances.  Game Two - one for four.  And in Game One, they were held scoreless in four opportunities with a man advantage.  In there somewhere, was a fruitless five-on-three chance.



For the Blueshirts, that's four goals in eighteen power play opportunities which translates to a rate of twenty-two percent effectiveness.  On the other side, Ottawa has two goals in fifteen chances this series, for an even more anemic eleven percent effectiveness on the power play.



The Rangers have been out-shot 134-114 over the four games so far.  Game Three represented the Blueshirts' lowest output when they managed just twenty-three shots.  Game Three also represented Ottawa's highest shot total for a game with thirty-nine taken against Lundqvist; who stopped them all for a 1-0 shut-out last Saturday at the Garden.  Otherwise, shots-on-goal for both teams has been relatively even during games one, three, and four.



The Rangers have actually outscored Ottawa in this series, nine goals to eight.  But frustratingly, two shots - I repeat - Two Shots! - are all that differentiate these teams.  After Henrik's shut-out in Game Two, the Rangers gave totaled ninety-three shots-on-goal.  Ottawa (minus game three), has generated ninety-five shots-on-goal.  The difference is two shots in favor of the Senators.  Two shots = Two Overtime losses.  It's uncanny.  But it is still a matter of simple arithmetic.



So, what gives?  Lest we forget, Daniel Alfredsson hasn't even been on the ice for the last two and a half games.  Find me a better word - but to be tied in this series, is a little bewildering - Isn't it?  Therefore, the question begs to be asked - Are we getting beat in overtime, or are we getting stonewalled by Ottawa's Craig Anderson during regulation?  Because the fact is, we've only really played 3:59 actual overtime minutes in total.



So how do you rectify that?  You score during regulation time of course.  And how do you help that along?  By shooting the puck..., naturally.  It sounds simplistic, but that's why they say, just put the puck on net - and clean up the garbage.  Just do it.



A PRESENCE IN THE SLOT might help too!  hat's actually a year long complaint.  I admire their collective grit along the boards.  Hard work in the corners and fighting for pucks behind the net is all fine and well.  But c'mon, the only real way to make that pay off with consistent playoff scoring is to get someone streaking down the slot to receive a pass.  I'm just using this as an example, but those were things Sean Avery did so well; both passing from behind the net, and streaking down the slot.



And then on the power play, the real question here is - So what's new?  We can't even successfully enter the offensive zone.  The Rangers do not score goals in bunches.  We all get that.  And the last thing we need is to give up short-handed opportunities.  And that's whyduring the playoffs, the Rangers have largely stayed away from the middle of the ice through the neutral zone, and have hugged the boards in their attempts to enter the zone instead.  But it is so uninspiring to watch them roll out their own welcome mat and skate into self-aided blue line trap every time.  If Coach skates his three forwards strong to one side, where is the first pass going to go?  The shuffleboard technique clearly isn't working.



It is what it is.  The series is tied and this is why we play seven games.  Over the regular season, there's one thing the Rangers made very clear to us.  They don't stay down for long.  They've been a very good bounce back bunch.  With every bump this season and each detour they encountered, the Blueshirts managed to regroup and reverted back to their tried and True Blue methods.



We have to take the body and hit Ottawa as often as we can.  We have to disrupt their skating and cut them off in the neutral zone.  We need to slow the Sens by grinding them down to our level.  They move very well without the puck and lately have been forming crowds and loitering around Henrik.  That must stop Saturday!



Ottawa has out-passed our fore check for now.  Their speed and passing were expected.  But the Rangers probably didn't anticipate this much physicality from Ottawa.  So we need to change that at once.  It's imperative we get a consistent fore check working again.



We are still a very young team that is learning what it takes to close the deal.  In our present situation, the Blueshirts are trying to figure it out versus an experienced Senators team.  Quite literally, a crash course is in order.  So hit em hard and often boys.  But just make sure you hit them.  Because sometimes brute force and ignorance are just as good as skill and experience.  ...Sometimes.



It's a best two out of three series now.

DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!

Let's Go Rangers!

* Pictures-BTB

Mike.BTB

Fenway Park ~ 100 Years

2012

YANKEES vs. RED SOX

From

FENWAY PARK

100th

Anninversary Season

April 20th

1912 ~ 2012

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Photos by BTB ~ Sept/Oct 2005

RED SOX NATION:  Links.

Home Site:

Boston Red Sox

Reds Sox Affiliates:

Pawtucket Red Sox

Portland Sea Dogs

Salem Red Sox

Greenville Drive

Lowell Spinners

Red Sox Fan Sites:

Over The Monster

The Joy Of Sox

Red Sox Nation

Boston's Pastime

Extra Bases; Red Sox Blog

Boston Media:

WEEI Boston Sports Radio

 

Knicks and Nets Battle in New Jersey for Final Time

From the desks of:

DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP  and  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Next Stop  ~  An Inner-City Rivalry!

THE FINAL TIP-OFF

NEW YORK KNICKS

vs.

NEW JERSEY NETS

FROM

THE ROCK in NEWARK

NEW JERSEY

Thirty-five seasons of the New York/New Jersey interstate rivalry conclude tonight.  For this will be the last time the Knicks will tip-off against the Nets in New Jersey.  The next time the Knicks visit the Nets for a road game, they will be hopping on a bus headed to Brooklyn for a game in Barclays Center.

Barclays Center ~ View from Dean Street at Sixth Avenue

For the Nets, this will be a rather inglorious final clash between these teams in New Jersey.  Deron Williams will miss tonight's game with an injury.  And the Nets have since been eliminated from playoff contention after a regular season; that outside of surprisingly good play from some of their most junior members; is worthy of little words.

For the Knicks, in order to unleash the greatness of Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks needed to be torn apart along the perforated edges first.  In the Melo System, apparently there is only room for one star.  Namely, the Media has reduced Amare Stoudemire, and Jeremy Lin, to mere flickers of light now.  And with Melo being the dominant force of gravity in the Knicks's universe, Landry Fields has also apparently been swallowed up by a black hole.

Then again, a rook name Iman Shumpert has carved out his own way no matter who's on the court.  And thank goodness for him.

Melo is right where he wants to be now; out from under Mike D'Antoni.  And say what you will about how the team has played under Mike Woodson, Melo is The Man right now due to a simple matter of attrition.  The same problems the Knicks had before, will be revisited once Amare comes back, or, tries to come back, and will worsen should the Knicks still be playing by the time Jeremy Lin gets back.  In the mean time, with everyone out of his way, including Mike D'Antoni, Melo is free to rule his world as he sees fit.  Because outside of a guy like Amare, Melo's team mates know exactly where their bread is being buttered right now.

That's not to say Melo hasn't been doing everything he can to help his team win lately; to include playing defense.  He has.  My thing is he just chose not to do it for D'Antoni.  Don't get me wrong, I think Mike Woodson is far better for the Knicks than D'Antoni and his stubborn commitment to his system were.

But I wouldn't be true to myself if I didn't keep dumping on the Knicks in spite of them throwing Boston a resounding beating Tuesday night.  One night for me doesn't suddenly cloak the prior facts that when the team did well, Melo didn't.  And When Melo did well, the team didn't.  Like I said, it took the elimination of a few players from the floor in order for the real Melo to stand up.

He's standing tall all right.  And leading the Knicks - his way.  And that's where I have a problem.

And I will say to you now - the Knicks aren't nearly this successful without Tyson Chandler.  Not even close.  If his knee doesn't hold up, the Knicks are done, post haste.

Mike.BTB

N.J. Devils ~ Sticking Themselves With Own Pitchforks

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY DEMONS

2011-2012

Stanley Cup Playoffs

Quarter Finals Round

Florida Panthers

vs.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Florida Panthers Lead Series 2-1

Game One - New Jersey Devils  3;  Florida Panthers  2

Game Two - Florida Panthers  4;  New Jersey Devils  2

Game Three - Florida Panthers 4;  New Jersey Devils  3

Devils vs Panthers Series Preview

NEW JERSEY DEVILS:  Quick!  How Many Devils Can You Fit in the Penalty Box?


The Devils got off to a great start in the series' opening game against the #3-Florida Panthers.  Three first period goals by Patrick Elias; Dainius Zubrus; and Ryan Carter kind of reinforced what I was feeling heading into the series.  Even as the Panthers clawed back with two second period goals, watching on TV,  I never felt the final outcome was under threat.  The teams played a scoreless third period, as the Devils went on to win by a 3-2 final score.


Martin Brodeur won the 100th NHL playoff game of his career.  And Patrick Elias in particular, scored one of the prettiest, not to mention one of the craftiest goals I've ever seen.  For that one particular play, he almost looked Gretzky-like in how he slowed the play down to a crawl.  For Brodeur's part, he made 24 saves off 26 shots on goal.


Game Two was a much different story.  But not if you talk to a Panther player.  They'd tell you they just picked up where they left off.  A first period goal, followed by two second period goals had the Devils behind 3-0 heading into the second intermission.


Whatever Coach DeBoer may have told his players in the locker room almost worked.  The Devils opened the third period with Tavis Zajac's goal a mere 0:48 into the period.  Roughly a minute and a half later, Ilya Kovalchuck made it a one goal game.  But that's all they'd get.  With but a second left on the clock, Florida scored into an empty net making the final 4-2; tying the series at a game apiece.


Martin Brodeur followed up his 100th NHL playoff win by allowing three goals on just twenty-three shots on net for the loss.


The series shifted to Newark for Game Three.  Playing back at The Rock, the Devils seemingly found their way again.  Thirty-three seconds into the game, Zach Parise finally found net for his first goal of the series.  And visiting Florida fell instantly behind.  Three minutes later, Stephen Gionta made it a two goal Devils' lead.  And for good measure, Patrick Elias scored a power play goal at the 6:16 mark to make it a 3-0 game.


Florida's goalie; Jose Theodore; earned a well deserved hook.  In came Scott Clemmensen for the Panthers.


During the back end of the first period, as they have all series, Florida's power play went to work on the Devils.  Two goals; one in the sixteenth minute, and a second inside the nineteenth minute; made this a one goal game going into intermission.


At 2:18 of the second period, this game was tied.  At that point, Coach DeBoer signaled for his goalie to head towards the bench.  Martin Brodeur's night was through after just twenty-two minutes and eighteen seconds of play.  Johan Hedberg would finish the game.  At 6:34, he allowed Florida's fourth goal of the evening on yet another power play opportunity.


Both goalies have struggled.  And they both earned well deserved hooks Tuesday night.  You may even call the effect on the game, and series, a wash.  Instead, the prevailing factor in this series has been the Panthers' efficiency on the power play.  For the series, Florida has six goals with the man advantage in ten opportunities.  In Game Three, they scored three times in three chances.  The Devils only have two goals in eleven chances all series.  And there's your difference.


Otherwise, the Devils' best chances to score in Game Three came when they had (at the time) a tying goal waived off for goalie interference at 1:28 of the 2nd period.  And then over the final minute, when they pulled Hedberg from net, in a hellish attempt to tie.  But they fell short.  Florida's Scott Clemmensen held on, and with seven seconds left, literally snatched the Devils' last chance out of the air.


The Devils now trail in this series two games to one.  And Coach DeBoer has an interesting decision to make for Game Four.  Does he reinsert Martin Brodeur, or, turn the game over to Johan Hedberg, whom they have plenty of confidence in?  What's more, the Devils just need to stay away from taking so many penalties.  They've been playing winning hockey at even strength.  But now they are behind in the series.





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Mets ~ Johan Santana Still Has Much to Prove

From the desk of:   HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS:   Don't Throw Caution to the Wind Just Yet.  Johan STILL Has to Convince Us He Is Okay.


On the same night the Mets went down to Georgia and won their seventh game of the season out of ten played so far, Dillon Gee became the Mets' first starting pitcher to conquer the seventh inning.  He successfully negotiated a seven inning win unlike any Met pitcher has so far this season.  And no, I'm not trying to overstate that.  But it's nice to discuss all the same.


If we were placing bets one which starter would have been first to finish the 7th inning on the winning side, my well thought out answer would have been R.A. Dickey.  My hunch would have been Jon Niese.  And Jon Niese came close.  But no cigar.  Instead, it was the Mets' number five starter.  Go figure.  But after the season he had last year, none of us are surprised; just really really pleased!  I left Johan Santana out of the running as he is supposedly still trying to build himself back to old form. And Mike Pelfrey? Well, he's still trying to prove himself all over again.


Dillon Gee's start Monday night concluded the rotation's second go around.  And for Met Fans, so far, so great.  Every start has been damn near stellar.  And finally cracking the seventh inning as a rotation will help the bullpen out substantially; as opposed to them having to account for three to four innings per game.


The third time around the Mets' rotation begins tonight with Johan's start in Atlanta.  For Johan, the next two or three starts will give us much insight into exactly how well Johan Santana is progressing.  On the cautious side, there is fatigue to be leery about, considering this is the first time he is asking his shoulder to endure repeated, and scheduled stress.  We must also be watchful for any signs of unusual soreness; any reoccurring discomfort; and hints, or even twinges of pain.  Don't forget our concern in Spring Training when we questioned whether Johan was being rushed to start Opening Day.  That concern was warranted.  And after two starts, I wouldn't throw caution to the wind just yet.


He still hasn't reached Johan-like velocity.  For now, Santana still has short term goals to reach.  And I have a hunch Johan will be challenging himself tonight.  He has only made to the fifth inning in each of his two starts. That has to do with pitch-count also.  But obviously, the aim will be for him to join-up with the rest of the rotation in reaching the sixth inning.  So I'm merely saying we are not out of the woods yet.  There's always the not-so-remote possibility he can over-extend himself.


But things are going well.  And on the brighter side, he has been rather good in his first two starts.  Hasn't he?  In ten innings, he walked five but struck out thirteen.  That's promising.  But he also has surrendered seven hits.  And when combined with his walks, his WHIP remains "un-Johan" like.  So like everyone, I am very much looking forward, to his third start of the season tonight.


Like I said, he kicks off the rotation's third time around.  And we'll see if as a group, they can keep stringing together nifty starts, like they have done in every game so far.


Let's Go Mets!





Mike.BTB