Bleacher Report - Articles by David Utnick

Shea Stadium Says Goodbye on a Down Note

David Utnick — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:25:00 -0400

They didn’t get the MLB All-Star Game or a daily ESPN tribute to famous moments in their stadium’s history, but, with little national attention, the New York Mets closed the doors to the place they have called home since 1964.

Yankees fans may have had it a bit easier. By struggling to make a playoff push the entire season, many came to grips with the fact that come Sept. 21 the lights would be turned out for the final time with no postseason for the first time since the strike shortened season of 1994.

The Mets had something to play for, even down to the final game of the season. The regular season may be ending, but the team and its fans had hopes of a World Championship in their stadium’s farewell season.

It was also a great opportunity to take the “back page” away from the Yankees and upstage their final farewell to their respected stadium. But the final game at Shea Stadium left the New York Mets and their fans stunned, crushed, and in a state of utter disbelief. The scene was set.

Win on Sunday and play at least one more day. Lose, and have to rely on the Chicago Cubs beating the Milwaukee Brewers to force a one-game playoff come Monday.

With a pregame tribute to the stadium, it seemed completely unlikely that this would be the final day.

Well, those scenarios did not work out as planned. The early afternoon rain pushed back the start time of the game until 2:00 pm, and the pre-game celebration was held off until after the final out of the regular season.

True, the game was a classic battle for the ages even without a positive outcome. With a scoreless game through five innings and Carlos Beltran’s game tying two run home run in the bottom of the sixth, the Mets still seemed destined for victory and to give Shea Stadium another day to live on.

But back-to-back eighth inning home runs by the Florida Marlins off of a Mets bullpen that has been a problem point for the team all season sank the New York Mets playoff hopes for the second straight season, and closed Shea Stadium with a somber final chapter.

On the post-game, former Met Keith Hernandez put it best.

“It feels like I just got punched in the stomach. I am in complete shock at what just happened here today,” said Hernandez.

He echoed the sentiments of many Mets fans, and a time of post-game celebration of the stadium was coupled with the complete disappointment of missing the playoffs again in similar fashion.

After the game, the celebration of the stadium honored Mets legends and the many memorable events at Shea. Fans' memories played throughout the game, and classic footage of former ballplayers played on DiamondVision in a touching tribute.

But not everyone was in a celebratory mood.

Geneseo student and lifelong Mets fan Chris Miner was in no mood to commemorate the end of Shea.

“After the past two years, I hope Citi Field will bring the Mets greater success," said Miner. "I could not stand to watch an on-field celebration after yet another depressing end to the season.”

While the question could be endlessly debated about closing one of the most historic ballparks in the Bronx, one thing is for sure. The Mets truly needed an upgrade from Shea Stadium.

Citi Field promises to be a state-of-the-art facility that belongs in the pinnacle of the global marketplace that is New York City.

There have been two World Championships, once in a lifetime concerts, and memories that will stay with fans for a lifetime. But on this dark day, the time has come to “Shea Goodbye.”

Time Has Come to Use Instant Replay in Home Run Calls

David Utnick — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:26:55 -0400

Instant replay has found its way into many of our major sports, but it was never thought to be an option for baseball. That was until last week, where a series of blown home run calls have led many to believe it is now a necessity.

I may be opening Pandora's Box, but if limited to home-run calls, it would benefit the accuracy of the game. It would help the flow of the game by eliminating a major catalyst of long manager arguments with umpires and giving a time limit on the review. It may even quicken the pace of baseball.

Usually in under a minute, the game announcers can determine that a home-run call was blown, as seen by Alex Rodriguez’s home-run off of the cement staircase in right-center Field in Yankee Stadium. By freeze-framing the replay, it was quickly determined the ball hit the stairs and bounced back onto the field.

New ballparks have tricky corners and yellow home-run lines drawn on walls that are very difficult to accurately determine in a split second from a couple hundred feet away. Balls sometime return so quickly to the field of play, it is nearly impossible to determine their landing points.

Replay is now a necessity for home-run calls, but it must be a limited use of technology. It is a system that can work, and we have seen it been put to limited use in deciding the legitimacy of “buzzer-beaters.” I offer a solution that will allow home-runs to be accurately called and will actually help the pace of the game.

A video umpire stationed either in a box located near the field or in the press box can quickly make an accurate call on home runs, only. In contrast to football replay, we would not be counting on the on-field officials to re-verify their own calls.

This judge would be similar to the hockey goal judge who could call down to the field umpires in case of a wrongly called home run. This would take time away from manager arguments and would ease the minds of some umpires who stated that they had “lost sleep” over their mistakes that could have a major impact on the outcomes of games.

Just imagine how history would have been rewritten if this system existed before. Sorry, Yankees fans, but Jeffrey Maier would not be a hero in Yankees lore but would have been “Bartmanized” in interfering with Derek Jeter’s home-run ball in the 1996 ALCS. I am still a firm believer that this call sparked the Yankees Dynasty of the late 1990s.

Now this is not a cure-all. There are difficult home run calls, which even with video replay, would be hard to decipher. Especially when dealing with the foul pole, the angles can be very deceiving at times. But this would only lead to more extensive camera angles and a continued evolution of a baseball broadcast. Remember, it was the XFL that introduced the cameras on field which moved on cables. This has since become a staple of the NFL broadcast.

Round One Preview: Rivarly Renewed New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils

David Utnick — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:10:22 -0400

The Rangers may feel good about their one loss in a shootout against the Devils this season in eight meetings.

But again, they are playing the Devils and yes, Martin Brodeur is still in net.

Goalies tend to be the difference in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the New Jersey Net-minder is still the best.

Brodeur went 1-4-3 against the Rangers this season but overlooked his 1.97 goals against in the eight games and finally got the monkey off his back against the Rangers in the season finale.

Goaltending is one of the most mentally challenging positions in sports, and you bet that was on Brodeur.

In the other net, Henrik Lundqvist is on the verge of becoming a young goaltending superstar in the city that never sleeps.

It was only two years past that Lundqvist was lit up against the Devils in an opening round sweep.

Will he be able to continue his 7-0-1 with at 1.07 GAA against the Devils?

He may have to when these two teams met in the last playoffs last, and the Rangers only scored four goals on their way to getting swept in four games.

The NHL playoffs are games where flaws are magnified, and margin for error is the smallest.

We all remember Stephan Matteau’s wraparound against a young Martin Brodeur on the way to the Rangers last Stanley Cup in 1994.

It took Brodeur 12 years to beat his tri-state rival in the playoffs, but was not able to do it against longtime Ranger Goalie Mike Richter.

I believe Lundqvist may face a similar fate, as again he will be outmatched by the three-time Stanley Cup Champ, Brodeur.

Both goalies had fantastic games in head to head matchups, and their resulting goals against average differed by less than a goal.

Another interesting match-up is the Ranger forwards against a young New Jersey back-line. The Devils’ defensemen may be young but they have adapted to a highly successful system.

Look for journeyman Mike Mottau to play a big part in this series. He has finally found his home in Newark and has played consistent and stellar defense all season.

Second year player Johnny Oduya has the speed and elusiveness to carry the puck up the ice and must do more of that for the Devils defensemen to impact on the rush.

The Devils crash line of Danius Zubrus, David Clarkson, and Mike Rupp has size and speed and is quite capable of putting the goal in the net.

They will be matched up against Jaromir Jagr who tallied three points in eight games, had an even +/-, and was held to just a lone assist the last time these two met in the playoffs.

As always New Jersey seems to live and die with Zack Parise, who has shown a tendency to be a feast or famine type player.

If he can get hot in this series, the Rangers will have a very difficult time keeping his off the scoreboard.

Of course, still some players remain from the last Devils Stanley Cup.

John Madden and Jay Pandolfo play smart two-way hockey against the league’s best offensive lines. Captain Jamie Langenbrunner has a nose for the net in clutch situations, and Sergei Brylin holds down the bottom lines with his consistency.

I believe the Devils will take this series, but not as easily as the previous match-up.

It will be a physical series where the winner will have to hope they come out healthy enough to compete in the rest of the playoffs.

Emotion will be on high Wednesday night in Newark when this series starts Devils in six.

Yankees-Blue Jays: Girardi's Script Spells Success for New York on Opening Day

David Utnick — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:51:30 -0400

The stadium was electric on Tuesday night, as the Yankees started their final farewell tour in the Old Ballpark. The play on the field was no more than any true fan could ask for, a close game with solid starting pitching dominating both lineups.

As a manager, you would always like your pitchers to match or better the other team’s Starter in order to give your team the opportunity to win, and that is exactly what Chien-Ming Wang did for the Yankees over 7 innings against one of the league’s best. Allowing just 2 runs on 6 hits, the Yankee starter out-dueled the Blue Jay’s Ace on their way to a 3-2 victory in the first game of the season.

After allowing a single to Derek Jeter in the first inning, and A-Rod’s RBI double, Roy Halladay faced the minimum in the second through fifth innings benefiting from ground ball double plays and a Derek Jeter caught stealing in the 3rd. Even after Melky Cabrera’s 315 foot home-run down the Right Field line, Halladay retired the next three batters in order.

Halladay, in my opinion the best pitcher in the American League, was dominant against the powerful Yankees lineup, but ran into some bad luck along the way for a loss in his first start of the season. Melky’s home-run would be an easy fly-out in probably each of the 29 other ballparks, and Aaron Hill botched an inning ending double play which resulted in the Yankees game winning run.

It was the Yankees showing what they are capable of doing night in and night out which proved to be the difference in the game, strong starting pitching using Joba to bridge the game in the 8th to Mariano Rivera in the 9th while getting timely hits, and playing strong defense. This seems to be the ideal script for a Yankees victory.

Melky had two highlight reel catches to end the 3rd inning showing exactly why Brian Cashman did not pull the trigger on the Johan Santana deal this winter. The Yankees defense was tested often by Chien-Ming Wang’s propensity to throw ground ball outs, and played strong behind their “Ace.”

Even Jason Giambi came through with a solid game at first, and snagged a line drive off the bat of Marco Scutaro with the Blue Jays threatening to score, after Aaron Hill’s leadoff double in the 7th inning just after Cabrera tied the game in the bottom of the 6th.

More important questions will be answered Wednesday Night when we will see what Mike Mussina has left in the tank for this season as he faces off against oft-injured pitcher A.J Burnett.

Yankees Renaissance: Responsibility Falls Heavily on Emerging Stars

David Utnick — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:20:29 -0400

Opening day is right around the corner, and the New York Yankees enter this season with the page having been turned on “Joe Torre’s team,” and while many of the same players remain, the team has embraced the infusion of youth in the clubhouse.

The reins of the team are now turned to Joe Girardi who brings a renewed enthusiasm and grit to this team stocked with emerging stars.

If the Yankees are to win the World Championship in the final year of the “house that Ruth built,” the youth infusion could be the x-factor to push this talented team to reach the top.

Most of the Yankee lineup that ranked number one in runs scored and batting average is back again for another shot at a championship. Again, a heavily left-handed lineup will try and open the season with much more production than in 2007, especially Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, and Robinson Cano.

Although each of these players finished the season strong, their struggles before the All-Star Break put the Yankees in such a deep hole that they could not rebound to win the division for the first time since 1997.

Additionally, a healthy Jason Giambi is needed to play first base a majority of the time to allow Hideki Matsui to be the DH.

The young players will have roles to play, and must produce as more responsibility is assumed.

If we see an unhealthy Jason Giambi, Shelly Duncan will be asked to carry a heavier load at first base. He is prone to the strikeout, but he has shown the power be to a legitimate right-handed bat.

After months of trade rumors, Melky Cabrera will be the opening day center fielder, but with a number of promising Outfield prospects making their way through the minors, his position is in no way a guarantee.

Brett Gardner has caught the eye of manager Joe Girardi by showing a work ethic that mirrors the manager’s professional career. Although he is only 21 years old, Austin Jackson has shown tremendous raw talent and a rare combination of speed and power. At 19 years-old, Jose Tabata gives the Yankees very deep organizational talent in the outfield which can only up the ante for competition in an already overcrowded Yankees outfield.

On the surface, the back-end of the rotation may be young and inexperienced, but in actuality, the team is stronger and deeper than in any of the years past.

Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes have demonstrated tremendous talent and potential. Living up to these expectations will be another challenge, but the team is still better suited with these young guys than in previous years where the team heavily relied on Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Kei Igawa, and Shawn Chacon just to name a few unsuccessful hurlers.

The team is still without a true “ace” in the rotation, but it boasts two of the strongest No. 2 pitchers in Andy Pettite and Chin-Ming Wang, and will look for veteran leadership and a bounce back season from Mike Mussina coming off of a career low 2007 campaign.

The bullpen is also more talented and deeper than any since the days of Mariano Rivera setting up for John Wetteland.

Joba Chamberlain has shown he can be a dominant set-up man, and LaTroy Hawkins, brought in via free agency after a strong season for the Rockies, is an upgrade over Luis Vizcaino.

These two pitchers will ensure that Kyle Farnsworth does not enter any games which he can personally destroy, and gives new pitching coach Dave Eiland the ability to mix and match his long and middle relievers to find out who will be most effective. With a plethora of young pitching, those who do not succeed in the bullpen will not be given the ball.

The 2008 Yankees have all of the potential to win their 27th World Series and close out Yankee Stadium in the most fitting of ways.

The abundance of young talent paired with reliable veterans can make Joe Girardi’s legacy just as reputable as Joe Torre’s. But there is still heavy responsibility on many young stars that do not have any margin for error as always in the Bronx.