2017 World Baseball Classic: USA Preview; Pool-C

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

Pool A and B

POOL-C: @ Miami, USA

• Columbia
• Dominican Republic
• Canada
• United States

Is This The Year Team USA Finally Wins the World Baseball Classic?

This much is true: they've been their own worst naysayer.

There's no disguising how the World Baseball Classic gets taken far more seriously everywhere else on the globe outside America - ironically the country where the game originated, yet where WBC apathy rules the day.

The number of USA's best players willing to participate speaks for itself.  Some top tier players relish the opportunity of playing for their country.  But just not enough of the game's elite consider the WBC -- a meaningless exhibition -- worthy enough of breaking routines, compromising perceived obligations to their organizations, or risking injury.  I begrudge none of them.  After all, this country taught its children to win World Series championships, not round robin tournaments against other countries.  You can arguably blame USA's ambivalence towards international interaction.  After all, the 2006 WBC was the first time American major league players were able to compete in international competition.

For the moment, national teams still just aren't America's cup of tea ... yet.  The Classic and soccer's World Cup are making small strides towards changing that.  The evolution, though, will remain slow.

USA advanced to the second round of the 2006 WBC, then advanced to the 2009 semi-finals.  In 2013, they were eliminated in the second round after consecutive losses to eventual WBC champion Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Entering 2017, I feel Jim Leyland is the best manager Team USA has ever named (Buck Martinez, Davey Johnson, Joe Torre).

However, I have reservations regarding USA starting pitchers.  Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer will open USA pool play when he climbs the hill on Friday against Columbia.  I have no issues there.
After Archer matters become more uncertain.  How will Marcus Stroman and Danny Duffy fare against the Dominican Republic and Canada?  It's still undetermined how Tanner Roark, Sonny Gray and Drew Smyly will be worked into the mix.  However, USA sports a good bullpen with Andrew Miller, David Robertson, and serviceable Tyler Clippard.

USA is strong behind the plate with Buster Posey and Jonathan Lucroy sharing duties.  The rest of the diamond will be manned by the likes of Daniel Murphy, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Eric Hosmer, Ian Kinsler.  An outfield comprised of Andrew McCutchen, Giancarlo Stanton, Adam Jones and Christian Yelich, looks good on paper and should be able to hold their own against a slugging team like the Dominican Republic, right?

*          *          *

Once again a heavy favorite, the Dominican Republic are the defending World Baseball Classic champions.  And once again, manager Felipe Alou will have many names to chose from when filling out his line-up card.  However, according to this USA Today article, manager Tony Pena told his Dominican contingent they'll need to check their egos at the door if they intend to repeat.  Once listed as questionable, Adrian Beltre may play in round one after all.  Otherwise, Robinson Cano leads a well stacked crew consisting of Jose Batista, Manny Machado, Jose Reyes, Nelson Cruz, Starling Marte, et al.  Jeurys Familia, Hansel Robles, and Dellin Betances, gives D.R. a representative bullpen, while Johnny Cueto and Carlos Martinez headline the starting rotation.


Oh Canada ... they have their work cut out for them.  Perhaps the most notable player not playing for them is Joey Votto.  Instead, Canada will feature Justin Morneau, Freddie Freeman, and Pete Orr in the infield.  On the mound, they hope to get an assist from 39- year old Ryan Dempster who pitched for the 2013 world champion Red Sox, and from 41-year old reliever Eric Gagne who pitched briefly for Ottowa of the Can-Am League last season, and even touched 93-mph on the radar gun.  It's been eight years, however, since he last threw a major league pitch.  Canada still might be better off activating members of their coaching staff: Bert Blylevin, Ernie Whitt, and Larry Walker.


This is Colombia's first participation in the World Baseball Classic.  They defeated the field of Panama, Spain, and France in the WBC #2 Qualifier played last March in Panama City.  There's still a chance former Mets prospect Dilson Herrera could participate for Columbia.  Keep an eye on catcher Jorge Alfaro.  Otherwise, Jose Quintana and Julio Teheran should provide representative pitching ... if nothing else.


updated 9:30pm

2017 World Baseball Classic: Team Israel Upending Pool-A

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

WORLD  BASEBALL  CLASSIC

Israeli Highs Overshadow South Korean Woes

Pool A: @ Seoul, South Korea

Look what Team Israel did ... again!

Home runs by catcher Ryan Lavarnway and first baseman Nate Freiman paved the way for Israel's 15-7 rout over Chinese Taipei.  The Mensch Nine tallied 20 hits, five for extra bases, and went 9 for 18 with runners in scoring position.  Starter Corey Baker tossed 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball and fanned three to earn the victory.  Already having defeated favored South Korea in Monday's Classic opener, Team Israel is now 2-0 in pool play.

Team Netherlands whitewashed Korea 5-0 in their first game of pool play.  Starter Rick van den Hurk tossed four scoreless innings, while allowing only three hits for the victory.  After shortstop Andrelton Simmons led off the game with a single to left, and Jurickson Profar followed with a home run to right, the Netherlands never looked back.  Left fielder Randolph Obuder added a home run in the sixth.

Meanwhile, host South Korea is in big trouble.  With an astonishing 0-2 record, they must now defeat Chinese Taipei in their final game of pool play to even qualify for a tie-breaker.  If Netherlands defeats Chinese Taipei on Wednesday, all bets are off.  Looking to avenge an early exit in 2013, South Korea entered this year's Classic a natural Pool A favorite.  However, they have been limited to just one run and 13 hits through two games.

All this means Chinese Taipei is now thrust into the role of spoiler.  Their next game against Netherlands obviously carries huge implications, while their final pool game against Korea to follow.



Pool B: @ Tokyo, Japan

In a much anticipated match, the revamped Japanese squad dismantled Cuba in Tuesday morning's Pool B opener at Tokyo Dome.  Japan got home runs from third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda and left fielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo en route to an 11-6 victory.  Cuban clean up hitter and left fielder Alfredo Despaigne homered in the seventh, but his team's efforts were otherwise too little, and too late.  Cuba committed three throwing errors in the game.

2017 World Baseball Classic: Let the Games Begin!

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

Team Israel picks up where they left off...

The 2017 World Baseball Classic is Underway.  Team Israel Registers First Upset of the Tournament Defeating Host South Korea in Pool Play Opener.


POOL A:  @ South Korea

• Israel
• South Korea
• Netherlands
• Chinese Taipei

South Korea has been a legitimate force since the first World Baseball Classic, and should once again advance deep into the tournament.  They lost to Japan in the 2009 WBC Final.

With regards to Round One, the Netherlands are not be taken lightly.  They became the talk of the 2009 Classic after taking two games from the mighty Dominican Republic.  In 2013, Team Netherlands did the same to Cuba.  What team dares underestimate them this time?  Advancing into Round Two is well within their capabilities considering an infield an boasting Xander Bogaerts, Didi Gregorius, Andrelton Simmons, and Jurickson Profar.

Team Israel, however, enters these games as arguably the biggest underdog of them all.  Just don't tell them that ... not after defeating the field (Great Britain, Pakistan, Brazil) during last September's final WBC Qualifier (#4) played in Brooklyn ... and especially after their stunning 2-1 extra-inning upset over host South Korea in the 2017 World Baseball Classic opening game.
Considering they won three straight at the WBC Qualifier, Israel brings a four game winning streak into Monday night's game against Taiwan. The team features former major league pitcher Jason Marquis, present and former Mets Ty Kelly and Ike Davis.

Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) baseball is about as grassroots as it gets, folks.  All those Little League championships are paying off.  Taiwan has enjoyed Olympic success, and advanced into Round Two of the 2013 WBC.


Pool B: @ Tokyo

• Australia
• Cuba
• China
• Japan

Perennial WBC powers open Pool B round-robin play with a bang, as host Japan takes on Cuba Tuesday morning in a rematch of the 2006 WBC Final.

Consider for a moment what the World Baseball Classic has meant for Cuba, baseball, Cuban baseball, and the U.S.  In order to facilitate their participation in the first ever (2006) World Baseball Classic, some allowances and easing of restrictions needed to be made with regards to the wide-ranging U.S. trade embargo in place against Cuba.  Since 2006, U.S. relations have continued progressing forward, and as a result, we've been exposed to their players more so in recent years than at any other time since the Cuban Revolution.  The Confederation of Caribbean Baseball has additionally invited Cuba back into the winter league's Serie del Caribe.  Ironically, pre-revolution Cuba was a founding member of the Confederation back in 1949.

Team Japan is a two time champion of the World Baseball Classic.  But what they lack entering this Classic are the former marquee names more familiar to American fans.  Seeing Ichiro Suzuki and Sadaharu Oh on the same field together was transcendent.  They'll be no Yu Darvish, and only memories if Dice-K Matsuzaka.  It's time to learn knew names and faces.  Shohei Otani could have been one of them, but he will miss the Classic with an injury.  Nevertheless, this much is certain: Japanese baseball is one of the highest rated levels of play worldwide.  They will be ready.

Australia and China will be hard pressed getting by either one of those teams.

Both teams have several pitchers with major league experience.  Familiar MLB veteran Bruce Chen will be climbing the hill for China.  But I just don't see either team outscoring the likes of Cuba, or outperforming Japan.

N.Y. Mets: A Bronx to Flushing Tale

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

The night Ed Kranepool won my heart.

ED-DIE!   ED-DIE!   ED-DIE!

NEW YORK METS: Get Well, Ed Kranepool.

As many of you may already know, Mets legend Ed Kranepool is seeking a kidney donor.

Speaking by phone from his Manhasset, Long Island, hospital room to Steve Marcus of Newsday, Ed Kranepool said he recently underwent surgery to have his left big toe amputated due to an infection stemming from diabetes, and that he did not make the Mets aware of his hospitalization.  He said he presently has two failing kidneys which are only operating at twenty percent, and is therefore seeking a transplant.

"I'm close to having to go to dialysis, but we're trying to avoid that.  That's not a way of life.  So I want to go for a kidney."

In the absence of a donor, the reported wait time on the transplant list is about five years.

I read the following rather emotive article over the weekend, about one man's heartening offer to help.

The feature opinion in Saturday's New York Daily News Voice of the People belonged to a gentleman named Dylan from Connecticut.  If deemed suitable, Dylan says he would gladly enter into donation procedures for Kranepool.

Dylan claims personal experience.

"I have a close cousin going through the same thing.  My twin brother is a match, thank God, so I feel compelled to pay that good fortune forward."

"Especially, if it helps a New York Met!"

In order to help cover mounting medical expenses, Ed Kranepool placed his 1969 World Series ring up for auction, to which Dylan adds,

"... it breaks my heart to picture his '69 ring at auction."

I just thought Dylan from Connecticut's gesture should not go under-spoken.

Ed Kranepool is still a local hero to many, myself included.

There was an immediate and lasting connection between Steady Eddie and Mets fans because he was just like the rest of us.  A Bronx native, he grew up in the shadows of Yankee Stadium playing stick ball in the streets just as any other generation of New York City kid would.  And before becoming a Flushing favorite, he would become a James Monroe High School legend first.

Ed Kranepool then appeared in three games for the original 1962 New York Mets as a 17-year old.

I came around years later.  And on June 18, 1976, Ed Kranepool forever earned a place in this 9-year old's heart.

I remember it being a gorgeous Friday evening, and the Mets were hosting the San Francisco Giants at Shea Stadium.  My pop and I were two of the 30,888 fans in attendance this evening.  We sat in the mezzanine level right behind first base ... a marvelous view.

Tom Seaver was on the mound, and was opposed by San Francisco's Rob Dressler.

John Milner opened the scoring in the bottom of the 4th with a solo home run.  However, Giants first baseman Darrell Evans likewise connected off Seaver in the top of the 5th with a lead-off home run.

The Giants then took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 6th inning on second baseman Darrel Thomas' RBI triple.

John Milner drew a walk leading off the bottom half of the frame, but traded places with Wayne Garrett after the Mets third baseman bounced into a fielder's choice.  Then up stepped Ed Kranepool. Playing first base and batting clean up this evening, Steady Eddie connected on a majestic home run to right off Dressler.

My mezzanine seats allowed me to perfectly track the flight of this high arching baseball hit deep into the Flushing night.  What a great feeling!  As far as I'm concerned, the ball has yet to land.

Kranepool's home run gave the Mets a 3-2 lead Tom Seaver would not relinquish.  The Franchise went on to record a complete game victory, allowing two earned runs on just two hits, with six strikeouts.

The game remains etched in my memory as if played yesterday.

Till this day, no one has played more games in a Mets uniform than "Steady" Eddie Kranepool.  And right up until a fellow named David Wright came along, Eddie was the club's all-time leader in at-bats and hits.

He retired in 1979 after spending 18 years wearing the orange and blue.

By this stage in his life, Ed Kranepool had already been long immersed in the world of finance.   According to SABR, he earned his stockbroker licence at age 21, and by 1967 was managing a clientele base exceeding 100 accounts.

In 1979, Kranepool learned from Charles Shipman Payson - who inherited the club from his wife Joan Whitney Payson upon her passing in 1975 - that the Mets might soon be put up for sale.  By September, Kranepool assembled a partnership group and made a formal presentation to team president Linda De Roulet, daughter of Joan and Charles Payson.

SABR quotes Kranepool saying,

"And then she put together her friends, her social group, and they (Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon) bought the ball club."

What might have been.

For better or worse, Mets history would certainly have played out differently.

Ed Kranepool has nonetheless always remained a beloved member of the greater New York City/Tri-State metropolitan area, and we're hoping all goes well for him and his family during this time of difficulty.

I had the honor of meeting him for the first time several years ago at a Brooklyn Cyclones game in Coney Island.

Rock Steady!

N.Y. Rangers: The Slides of March

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

NEW YORK RANGERS: Cowering Down to the Real Competition.

The Rangers closed out February with a 9-4 record.  But they won't be getting a pat on the back from me.

I refuse to be fooled - not after consecutive losses against the Blue Jackets and Capitals, and another against the Canadiens, all at Madison Soft Garden.

During their 5-2 loss against Columbus, it was the same old story.  In each of their five games against the Blue Jackets, one hit to the body and the Rangers were easily pushed off the puck.

Two nights later, the visiting Caps quite literally left their feet as part of a concerted physical attack upon the Rangers.  Alex Ovechkin clearly took a leap at Jesper Fast.  The refs didn't call the blatant infraction, and of course, Alain Vigneault turned a blind eye.  But the Blueshirts didn't just get pushed around by a bigger, tougher team.  They got down right beat up.  Just ask Adam Clendening, who found himself on the receiving end of a series of upper cuts during a very one-sided fight against Washington's Daniel Winnik.

And don't think I forgot about how Dallas' Cody Eakin barreled through Henrik Lundqvist on Dec. 15, then how Boston's David Backes basically did the same this past Thursday.  Both incidences were ignored by Vigneault.  On Saturday, Montreal's smallish Brendan Gallagher took his turn at Lundqvist, which at least was met with mild exception from Marc Staal.

I've said it a million times: Vigneault's policy of turning the other cheek gets people hurt.

Low and behold, Jesper Fast will miss upwards of two to three weeks with a separated shoulder.

That's all that really matters in my method of accounting.

With the playoffs fast approaching, why do you suppose the Montreal Canadiens focused on getting bigger and tougher at the trade deadline?  They traded several smaller players for beefcake blue liners Brandon Davidson and Jordie Benn (whom average 6'2" 204 lbs.), along with hulking forwards Dwight King (6'4" 232 lbs.) and Andreas Martinsen (6'3" 220 lbs.).

Jeff Gorton?

The Rangers general manager acquired defenseman Brendan Smith from Detroit (for two draft picks), whom doesn't even tip the scale at 200 lbs.

With Kevin Klein missing time, and Dan Girardi now nursing an ankle injury, the move to bring in Smith was necessary.  He even received a favorable scouting report from Ron Duguay, who said on the MSG pregame Smith will protect Henrik Lundqvist.

I hope so, because Vigneault won't.

Coach continues believing speed and finesse will overcome all.

Speed is nice, but it's not the end-all-be-all method of puck matriculation.  Speed can be slowed down, and even be brought to a grinding halt.  Which is to say speed can be neutralized.  Physicality and toughness, however, are near constants.  They come to the ice every night.  If nothing else, what Columbus, Washington, and Montreal, all did was simply weigh down the (Smurfs) Rangers.

If you watched Saturday's game against the Habs, you also figured out there was little Brendan Smith could do against Andreas Martinsen's forechecking.  And just for kicks ... did anyone catch how Steve Ott (another Montreal trade deadline acquisition) towered over J.T. Miller?

Comical ... (sigh).

Come the playoffs, I have little confidence the Rangers can advance by Columbus, or Washington, or Pittsburgh, or even Montreal.  Beyond speed and Henrik Lundqvist, I base that on their record.

Saturday's victory over the Rangers gives the Habs a 3-0 regular season series sweep.  That lowered the Blueshirts record to 5-9 against the aforementioned four teams.  They also lost their season series 2-3 against Columbus.  They are down 1-2 against Pittsburgh with two games remaining, and have one more game against Washington.

I've said this a million times as well: you can pirouette your way through mean competition during the regular season, but you can't do that in short series/playoffs.

N.Y. Knicks: Where's That Confounded Plan?

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

NEW YORK KNICKS: Carmelo Anthony said he has no clue what the plan is.

Yeah well, welcome to the club.  We've been trying to figure that out for eighteen years.


Missed it by that much ...

I'm a Knickerbocker fan since 1974-1975, which makes me too young to have remembered their last championship.  But that also qualifies me as one of the oldest fans to never to have seen them hoist a trophy.

They've provided several memorable and lasting moments along the way, though.

I'm thankful that at least I got to see a few remaining 1973 champs play together (Bill Bradley, Earl the Pearl Monroe, Phil Jackson, Walt Frazier) along with coach Red Holzman.  Bob McAdoo also fast became a fan favorite.  Meanwhile, a string of incoming rookies (Lonnie Shelton, Michael Ray Richardson, Ray Williams, and Bill Cartwright) all had me feeling positive heading into a new decade in which I would be living out my teens.

The early 1980s gave us Bernard King and an uplifting 1984 playoff run.  During the latter part of the decade, drafting Patrick Ewing and Mark Jackson, acquiring Charles Oakley, and signing head coach Rick Pitino, were key in forming a solid foundation from which the Knicks would continue a prolonged run of success.

Bittersweet as one might find the 1990s, the 'Bockers were nevertheless a perennial playoff contender.  Year in, and year out, we enjoyed fun times (to a point) usually lasting into deep Spring.

But make no mistake, my first 25 years being a Knicks fan were quite obviously filled with hardship as well.

For instance, how the hell could they trade Clyde Frazier?

Michael Ray Richardson was a huge favorite of mine when he burst on the scene, but just as quickly became one of the initial major disappointments of my early sports fandom.

Bernard King blowing out his knee was devastating, and set the organization back several years.  A few short years later chants of "Fire Bianci! Fire Bianci!" (former general manager Al Bianci) would thunder throughout the Garden.

We were later forced to reconcile trading away Mark Jackson, in addition to such colossal failures as the finger roll against the Indiana Pacers, Charles Smith against the Chicago Bulls, and BenchGate versus the Miami Heat, just to name a few.  Quite obviously, though, there were no more depressing times than during their pair of NBA Final losses.

But, who am I telling ... another Knicks fan?

My point is, till that stage of my life it can be said the Knicks had undergone the typical ups and downs of an average NBA franchise.  They've been both outstanding at times and underwhelming during others.  That's neither a rebuke or an endorsement.

By the of 1998-1999 season, the Knicks were obviously a transitioning team, but still in an agreeable condition.

However, the same can not be said of the new millennium Knicks.

Late 1999 is also when Jim Dolan arrived on the scene, ushering in a wholly different approach to Knicks operations.

Like Dave Checketts, Ernie Grunfeld, and Pat Riley before him, Jeff Van Gundy was a member of the old guard.  He saw exactly where this organization was headed under Dolan and his new general manager Scott Layden.  Between the embarrassing trade of Patrick Ewing and the ludicrous contract extended to Allan Houston, etc., Gundy knew Layden had committed the club to inescapable salary cap hell.  Meanwhile, piss-poor drafting was only making matters worse.  And so I never begrudged JVG for abruptly submitting his resignation in Dec. 2001.

Scott Layden on the other hand was only getting started.  More bad drafting and unpopular trades lay ahead.  He ponderously shipped Marcus Camby to Denver for an irreparably broken(!) Antonio McDyess, and in one of his final acts in office, traded Latrell Sprewell whom still had two years remaining on his contract.

But just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, they did.  Layden was finally relieved of his general manager duties in Dec. 2003, thus inaugurating the Isiah Thomas Era.

All I can say is ... Wow!

There's really no need getting into that beyond labeling the era spanning Dec. 2003 through April 2008 an unmitigated disaster.

That being said, Dolan's unyielding support of Thomas might never be fully understood.  Not only did he let Thomas create at the time the worst performing, highest paid team in the NBA, but also supported him unfailingly during a rather infamous lawsuit brought against Dolan and MSG resulting in a $13 million payout settlement.

Then again, money was obviously never an issue ... was it?

There was plenty of cash to make several head coaches very rich.  But even Hall of Fame coaches Lenny Wilkens and Larry Brown proved helpless against the institutionalized dysfunction plaguing the Knicks organization.

It ultimately took the strong insistence of Commissioner Stern in order for Dolan to finally part ways with Isiah Thomas.

Next up, Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni.  And at long last, I was thinking progress.  A genuine rebuilding would actually take place.

Or would it?

Walsh indeed accomplished a near miracle by ridding the team of bad contracts and getting the Knicks under the salary cap with astonishing haste.  Meanwhile on the court, lets just say coach Mike D'Antoni was busy deregulating Isiah Thomas' delusional leftover point guard, Stephon Marbury.

Again I thought, Donnie Walsh and D'Antoni were administering exactly the kind of grassroots deconstruction and eventual reconstruction process this team has long needed.

Great!  Except for one small problem.  Donnie Walsh becoming general manager of the Knicks was likewise due primarily to Commissioner Stern's strong-arming.  In plain English, Walsh was not a Dolan guy which meant his days at MSG were numbered.

Either dismayed with the process, or simply impatient, Dolan reemerged three years after Commissioner Stern's admonishing more petulant than ever.

It's now February 2011 ... and both the Knicks and Brooklyn Nets are in hot pursuit of Carmelo Anthony - with the key word here being Brooklyn.  Because for the first time in Knicks history, (they) Jim Dolan was dealing with direct and legitimate competition from within the city limits in the form of Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov.

Dolan ultimately won the Melo sweepstakes, but not before trampling all over Donnie Walsh and his process, much less his opinion or position.  Dolan took the lead at the ensuing press conference as well.  Meanwhile, the looks on the faces of Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni whom were seated nearby said it all.

Donnie Walsh handed in his resignation four short months later.  D'Antoni, meanwhile, knew the Knicks were acquiring a player who would not buy into his system.  Sure enough, one year with Melo proved one too many, prompting D'Antoni to likewise hand in his resignation in March 2012.

This blog has made no secret of its dislike of Carmelo Anthony (the player).  I've made my position known since day one, and am yet to waiver from that opinion.

I digress ...

After three seasons spent in Glen Grunwald/Steve Mills purgatory, we finally arrive at Phil Jackson.

I had no qualms with this front office selection.  In fact, it seemed like a neat fit at the time.  Phil Jackson had won a ring with the Knicks as a player back in 1972-1973, and was a championship coach with the Chicago Bulls and L.A. Lakers.  The legitimate criticism against hiring Phil Jackson was his lack of executive experience.  But that made him no less intriguing.

So much for being curious ...

Here we are two inconsequential years later, and the Knicks are nearly ten games below .500 with just over 20 games left in the season.  After remaining idle through the NBA trade deadline, everyone wants to know where the future direction of the club is heading.  The problem is other than belittling Carmelo Anthony on Twitter, no one really knows what Phil Jackson is doing or thinking.

His greatest and only accomplishment to date is having Kristaps Pozingis fall into his lap.

His mistakes, meanwhile, are becoming numerous.  His biggest to date is perhaps extending Carmelo Anthony's contract and giving him a no-trade clause to boot.  Phil knew full well he faced the same dilemma Mike D'Antoni faced, insofar as Melo not buying into the triangle system.

Now what?

No one really knows.  We fans have been trying to figure this out for 18 years now.  But apparently Melo is just now receiving the memo.

This much I do know: Carmelo Anthony represents Jim Dolan's stamp on the team.

Having now watched the mismanagement of this product for the last 18 years, there's only one conclusion to which I can arrive: for the entirety of this new millennium, the one constant variable plaguing Knicks basketball has been its overseer.

Think about it.

Since taking over, does the organization have even one quantifiable defining moment to speak of?

Do they?

Not under Dolan ... not unless you include countless feats of astonishing executive buffoonery.

I mean, really ... every time you think this team has reached the pinnacle of dysfunction, they go ahead and raise the bar another level.

It is therefore rather sad pondering how the Knicks are an NBA charter member club and represent the league's and nation's largest market, but yet have continually existed in this dysfunctional state throughout Dolan's regime.

Dolan recently stated on local NYC radio that he will, and must honor the full length of Phil Jackson's contract.  Doing so he said will help lure any future potential executives to New York with an expectation of receiving a fair shot at implementing their respective plan.

That circles us back to the beginning of this quandary.

What plan?

For Those Who Played and Never Got Paid

From the desk of: Black History Month

Negro National League Stars

Courtesy: Junior's Restaurant

Wilmer Rod Fields-GRAYS

 Max Dr. Cyclopes Manning-EAGLES  

Bill Ready Cash-PHILA STARS

Jim Fireball Cohen-CLOWNS

Larry Schoolboy Kimbrough-PHILA STARS

Courtesy: My buddy at work

ICYMI

The Brooklyn Bushwicks and Dexter Park

Art by friend Ron Nesbitt

BK History Month: Biggie Smalls

From the desk of: Brooklyn Black History Month

Christopher Wallace

1972 - 1997

N.Y. Mets: Spring Training Podcast

Here's our latest podcast at 

RisingApple.com

Rising Apple Report: 

Mets Spring Training Special

STUFF

David Wright ... Terry Collins

5th Starter Spot ... Las Vegas 51s

Neil Walker ... Curtis Granderson

Problems Behind the Plate,

and other stuff.

Admiral's Row: And then there was one

And then there was one...

Formerly

Admiral's Row

ADMIRAL'S ROW THEN:

Construction dating 1838 through 1881

Historical graphics provided by 

Scott Witter

N.Y. Mets: Adios Wally, Good Luck in Mexico

Here's my latest for 

RisingApple.com

Wally Backman Coaching in Mexico 

After Mets Breakup

N.Y. Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist Wins #400

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

HENRIK LUNDQVIST

CAREER WIN

400

Feb. 11, 2017

Rangers 4; Avalanche 2

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

GOALIE - N.Y. RANGERS

2005 - present

CAREER RECORD

400 - 242 - 73

.920 Sv%

2.30 GAA

• Henrik Lundqvist became only the twelfth goalie in NHL history to achieve 400 regular season victories.  He is the first non-Canadian goalie to achieve 400 victories, and is also the fastest to achieve 400 victories (727 games).

• He joined Martin Brodeur and Tony Esposito as the only NHL goalies to ever register 400 wins with one team.

• Henrik Lundqvist has so far won thirty or more games in ten seasons, has gained 225 of his victories at Madison Square Garden, and has won 55 playoff games.

• Mike Richter is second on the New York Rangers all-time list with 301 wins.

N.Y. Mets: The Future Starting Rotation is Now

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

The Truck o' Stuff has Arrived

Pitchers and Catchers are in the building.

The rest of the position players report Feb. 18

THE FOUR FIVE HURLERS of the METROPOLIS

Thor    deGrominator    Dark Knight    Super Matz    and Zack Wheeler?

Entering Spring Training, manager Terry Collins let it be known there will be an open competition for the fifth rotation spot between Zack Wheeler, Seth Lugo, and Robert Gsellman.

Both Gsellman, 23, and Lugo, 27, made their major league debut last season, and in the pressures of a pennant race performed very well.

Gsellman made eight appearances and seven starts, in which he went 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA, and a 1.276 WHiP with 42 strikeouts through 44.2 innings pitched.  Lugo made 18 appearances and eight starts, in which he posted a 5-2 record with a 2.67 ERA and 1.094 WHiP through 64 innings pitched, with 45 strikeouts.

It's been a long road back for Zack Wheeler, who will turn 28-years old in May.  He is arguably the incumbent heading into Spring Training to win the fifth spot.  But he last threw a major league pitch on Sept. 25, 2014 at Washington in a losing effort against the Nationals.  He has missed all of the last two seasons, save for facing four batters last year while rehabbing with Port St. Lucie.  He'll surely be on a pitch count this season, and will likely be shifting into the bullpen at some point anyway (despite preliminary protestations).

That in turn will leave the door wide open for either Gsellman and/or Lugo to step in.  Overall, this is a good problem for Terry Collins to have.

The same can't be said of TC's number four starter.  There is no doubting Steven Matz' physical ability, but questions abound where it concerns his durability.  Matz has yet to prove he can stay healthy.  Otherwise, Steven is a dynamite kid who has proven he belongs in the bigs.  The upcoming 2017 season will serve as a test, then, to see whether he can withstand the rigors of a long major league season.  Until then, Matz likewise provides Gsellman and Lugo yet another reason to stay sharp and prepare for duty on a moment's notice.

Then there's Matt Harvey ... the Darkened Knight.  His 2016 season literally fizzled out like a bottle rocket on the 4th of July.  And of course, he missed all of 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery. It is reasonable to believe this man will be fueled by frustration.  Whatever his motivation, this much is certain: Matt Harvey still has much to prove, and his super agent Scott Boras knows it.  He is indeed a supreme talent, but the Dark Knight is now the measure of himself.  That being said, I hope Terry Collins learned his lesson as far as sticking to his guns when it comes to dealing with Harvey.

Jacob deGrom, who turns 29-years old in June, pitched 43 less innings in 2016 than during the 2015 season.  His ERA, WHiP, and rate of strikeouts were all down, while his rate of hits allowed and walks were up from the previous season.  Sure enough, deGrom succumbed to forearm and elbow discomfort in September and would undergo surgery to re-position the ulnar nerve.  Earlier this month, he said his elbow was pain free.

Noah Syndergaard's off-season weight-gain regimen seems all the rage.  The Mets Nordic ace gained roughly fifteen pounds in an effort to get stronger and increase his late season durability.  Thor claims he accomplished this while applying equal attention to a pitcher's need for flexibility.  Already in possession of a 100 mph fastball, he stated his desire to throw even harder.

From Marc Simon, ESPN

• The Mets have never had five pitchers make thirty starts in the same season.  They've had four pitchers make thirty starts on six occasions: 1976, 1986, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2003.