Bleacher Report - Articles by Mike Kent

Can the New York Giants Beat the Denver Broncos?

Mike Kent — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:21:15 -0500

After the Giants beat the Falcons in week 11, they look to be back in winning form. But can they continue the success?

The win on Sunday did not impressme for three reasons.

1. The Giants battery seamed to be all but empty in the fourth quarter on Sunday. They have given up 38 points in the second half of there past two games against Atlanta and San Diego.

The Giants defense needs to step up if they want to help their team make the playoffs.

2. They beat a team that lost three of it's last four games coming into Sunday—and the one team they beat was the Redskins.

3. They beat a Falcons team in OT without running backs Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. Atlanta started Jason Snelling, who until Sunday had zero toudhdowns in the past two seasons.

I still think they are going to win on Thursday against the Broncos, here are three reasons why:

1. The good news for the Giants has been the play of Eli Manning. Not much was said about his game against San Diego, when he threw for over 200 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

This week he was even better, amassing 384 yards through the air and three touchdowns. He is now third in the NFC in TD passes with 18 and is the best player on the Giants this year.

2. The Denver Broncos are looking bad again, they started the season 6-0 and since then have lost four straight.

They have been looking bad, with their worst loss coming to the Redskins, 27-17.

3. Kyle Orton, who suffered a left ankle injury two week's ago was going to sit against the Chargers if favor of the healthier Chris Simms. But after three poor offensive possessions, the Broncos put in Orton to try and salvage a win.

Orton threw for one interception and only completed 15 out of his 29 passes. What I am saying is that even if he is healthy, (which he is likely not) he is just not that good.

One player who has not been having his best season is RB Brandon Jacobs, who only has 656 rushing yards and three TDs.

On Sunday he went down in the third quarter and didn't come back into the game. It looks as if he will be alright—but you never know.

Still, I think the Giants will be OK if they are forced to start Ahmad Bradshaw. He's demonstrated big play capability in the past and this season has rushed for over 549 yards and four TDs

I think the Giants will win by at least 10 points, but what do you think? Let me know your thoughts!

New York Mets: Is Carlos Beltran For Granderson And Zumaya A Good Idea?

Mike Kent — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:04:43 -0500

We all know the Mets need to make changes after a disappointing 2009 season. All idea—for change need to be considered

That is why I look at the Tigers and see a possible answer for the Mets. I believe trading Carlos Beltran for Curtis Granderson and Joel Zumaya can help this team.

I know what you are thinking. Beltran is one of the best players on our team. Why would you trade him for a player that is not as good as him?

Well, I have four reasons why I think this is a good idea.

First, getting younger is always good. Beltran is 33 years old and getting past his prime. Both Granderson (28) and Zumaya (25) are on the right side of 30.

Second, I do not think getting one new free agent is going to make the team the best in the NL East. To get more free agents you need money. Beltran is currently making $18.6 million per year for the next two years.

Yes, the Mets will need to pay part of his salary, but not all of it. Lets say the Mets need to pay $10 million (and I am over doing it). The other $8 million is a lot of money that would help the Mets get players like John Lackey and Matt Holliday.

Third, the Mets need bullpen help and Zumaya may be a cheap, but good, option.

Finally, Beltran has had injury problems with the Mets and shouldn't risk their future on him.

Don't get me wrong, I love Carlos Beltran. I believe be is the best centerfielder of our generation. But the Mets need an infusion of new blood.

If the Mets do not want to be the same 70-92 team they were last season, they will need to change a lot this offseason.

Granderson is a great player who the Tigers are looking to trade. Trading for him gives the Mets a shot at becoming a better team.

Mike Kent also writes for Mets Obsessed where this article was first published http://metsobsessed.com/

Help Us Rank the Top 10 Worst Mets Moments of the Season

Mike Kent — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:47:17 -0400

It has been a long season with both good times and bad times.

But for some reason, we as Mets fans seem to remember the bad more then we remember the good.

I think there are two reasons for that.

1. We are Mets fans.
2. There is way more bad than good to remember.

There have been lots of bad moments this year.

How many times have you said this is as low as the Mets can get, and then they prove you wrong?

I feel that way every day, and I don't think I am alone.

And now comes the hard part, picking the worst moment of one of the worst seasons in Mets history (at least since 1993).

The Mets have had many bad moments this season. Is it Luis Castillo dropping the game winning ball against the Yankees or is it the ugliest inning ever in Dodger Stadium?

Mets fans may not get baseball in October or good baseball in 2009, but at least we get to pick the worst moment of the season.

Vote now and use your right as a Met fan to help us rank the Top 10 worst Mets moments of the season.

Vote for as many moments you want, but please do not vote for the same moment twice.

Here is a link to the Vote

Brandon Jacobs and Michael Turner: Waiting on Bench May Have Been the Key

Mike Kent — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:52:34 -0400

Brandon Jacobs and Michael Turner are known to us as great running backs. They will both be key parts of their teams this season.

Both the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons need their running games to be good this season if they want to be successful.

Another thing both Jacobs and Turner have in common is that nobody really thought they would be anything special before they proved themselves in the NFL, as both were drafted very late.

Michael Turner was drafted 154th by San Diego and was not expected to do much for them.

Who was the starting running back for the Chargers at the time? None other than the great LaDainian Tomlinson. I think that a big part of Turner's success in the NFL is his backing up of Tomlinson.

How does a player drafted in the fifth round become the next Tiki Barber?

I think the short time getting mentored by Tomlinson helped Turner be who he is today.

If Turner would have been drafted by a different team, he may not have been the great running back he is today.

As I wrote in the start of the article, Jacobs was also drafted very late.

He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft as the 100th overall pick.

He spent his first year warming the bench and watching the great Barber play his last year as an NFL running back.

Maybe that is why Jacobs is so great today.

Watching one of the game's best running backs play every week is what I think helped Jacobs become the great running back he is today.

This brings up the question, is it really true that watching and learning from a good player can make you a great running back?

Well, you can't do it without talent. If you run like a you have a piano on your back and you can't see without your glasses, then you may not be the right man for the job.

But if you are in good enough shape to be a running back and you really put your mind to it, you may be able to live your dream.

Just look at Derrick Ward, who is now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Ward was drafted in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL draft by the New York Jets, but is now the starting running back for the Buccaneers.

Last year, as a backup for Jacobs, he rushed for over 1,000 yards. I think he will be great this year for Tampa Bay.

So what does that mean for NFL teams?

Keep your veterans around for your young players and they may learn a thing or two.

Kudos to Jacobs and Turner for learning from the best. Everyone can see the best, but not everyone can learn from them.

As the Mets Are Done, the Season is Still Fun

Mike Kent — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:33:34 -0400

It's never easy to see your team lose, but when your team is done anyway, it makes it a bit easier to watch.

As a New York Mets fan, this season has not gone just the way I hoped it would. But what has happened has happened, and it's time to acknowledge that the season is over for the Mets.

Is it easy to see your team go down and lose player by player and game by game? No.

But can I enjoy the game even if I know the Mets are going to lose? Yes.

Since the Mets are done, I don't feel like there are any must-win games.

Even if we go on a five-game winning streak, at best we may be back in the Wild Card Race only about seven games out...and behind at least five other teams, that may also go on winning streaks later in the year.

And if we go on a five-game losing streak, its okay...these games don't really matter much.

I am okay with the Mets losing, and I love seeing great players playing great ball even if it is against the Mets.

For example, when Albert Pujols hit the grand slam in the top of the 10th inning to win a game against the Mets. It wasn't fun that we lost the game like that, and you can't exactly root for Albert Pujols to hit home runs against you, but it was fun to see him get four RBI, inching closer to maybe winning the triple crown.

I just see it like this: the season is over and there is nothing I can do about it.

And there are not many people I can blame.

Omar Minaya put together a great team on Opening Day for the Mets, but Jerry Manuel has lost all of his top players to injuries.

I guess we can blame the medical staff, but I don't know any of them, so it's hard to hate them.

All we can do is hope Minaya cleans house.

So as the season comes down to its last month-and-a-half, we Mets fans should relax, and take it easy.

Nothing to worry about, and not much we can do about it.

There is not much more baseball to enjoy this year, so get all you can out of what's left.

Who knows, it's never too late for the Mets to get their first no-hitter in franchise history. And with the great Johan Santana on our side, you never know when he may pitch the game of his life.

Let's watch the young Bobby Parnell grow and become a good baseball player. Daniel Murphy is always fun to watch. Maybe another Angel Pagan inside the park home run is on the way, and maybe another cycle is in the stars for the Mets.

Either way, enjoy what we have left, enjoy every pitch left in the season.

As they say, there is always next year!

Should the Giants Go After Brandon Marshall?

Mike Kent — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 06:18:29 -0400

As the season is on it way, the Giants may need to find another Wide Receiver to back up Eli Manning.

I have written in the past that Eli Manning and Brandon Jacobs are all the Giants need to win football games, but having a good Wide Receiver to back up your quarterback is always a good thing to have.

I do not take much stock in the Pre-Season games, but watching the Giants get killed by the Bears this week was hard to watch.

It was looking like Eli Manning did not have who to throw to, maybe the receivers were having a hard time getting open against the Bears defense.

It looked like Eli Manning was missing a guy like 6-5 guy like Plaxico Burress. And that is why they should go after another guy who is 6-5 in Brandon Marshall.

The Giants are a team that tries to stay away from hard guys to deal with, like when they traded Jeremy Shockey because he was bossing around Eli Manning.

But Brandon Marshall is not the same story, he may want money (which the Giants have plenty of), but he is not known to boss his quarterback around.

Also, Brandon Marshall should know he does not have the right to boss around Eli Manning who is not the team leader.

Another thing Eli Manning has over Brandon Marshall is a ring, Brandon Marshall can't boss around Eli Manning who has a ring more then Brandon Marshall.

Brandon Marshall is a young man, and it would be nice to watch Eli Manning and Brandon Marshall connect for touchdowns for years to come.

The Denver Broncos say they are not going to trade Brandon Marshall, but they said the same thing about Jay Cutler who we all saw beat up the Giants this week.

So what will it take the Giants to get Brandon Marshall?

First to make him happy you would need to give him money, he is going to get two million this year in his current contract.

Losing Plaxico Burress gives the Giants $7 million off there payroll, they can spend some of that on Brandon Marshall.

On the other part there is the actual trade that the Giants will need to give something up to get Brandon Marshall other then money.

ESPN's columnist Chris Mortensen seams to think it will take a first round pick and a third round pick. Is that a good deal? Well it may be if you consider he is still young and a very good player.

But when you look at the injure past and the off-field issues the man has had in the past it does not look like a great deal for the Giants.

Well, I think there are two reasons the Giants should try to get Brandon Marshall even with all the dirt that comes with him.

Getting Brandon Marshall would make the Giants the clear cut best team in the NFC by far.

Another reason is that first and third round draft picks do not always turn out to be that great, we know Brandon Marshall is a good player.

Also, if the Giants have a good season there first round pick will be a late round one like it was last year and the third round pick will not mean much to them come draft. And Brandon Marshall can help make that happen.

Don't get me wrong, the Giants are a good team even without Brandon Marshall, but this man would make them a over the top team. And that is what a New York team is supposed to be.

The New York Giants have money, and the New York Giants fans deserves to root for a dominant team

Who Will End Up To Be the Best Manning?

Mike Kent — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:43 -0400

Many of you may think I am nuts for even thinking about it, others already know I am nuts.

But I would love to ask the question, who will end up to be the best Manning?

It's easier to look at the ones who are done, so let's take a look.

I think we can all agree that father Archie Manning is not really in the race. He was Ok. But he never won a Super Bowl and his QB rating is in the 60s.

Some may look at it as he has two great NFL QB sons that each won a Super Bowl, so he is the biggest winner.

Older brother Cooper Manning never actually played in the NFL, I think that takes him out of the race.

Now it comes down to the two that are still in the race, Eli and Peyton.

There are two things they have in common.

1. Both drafted in first pick of first round.

2. Both won Super Bowls

That makes them both great QB's, not many NFL players can say they won a Super Bowl.

To look in to the Eli vs Peyton battle, I think it would be smart to look at where older brother Peyton was when he was Eli's age.

Let's go look at Peyton five years ago at age 28 vs Eli today.

Eli has won a Super Bowl, Peyton had not

That is a very big thing in football and winning the Super Bowl MVP award.

Taking your team to the Super Bowl at age 26 is not something we should underrate.

On the other side of the NFL, Peyton won his second MVP award at age 28, the Colts made the playoffs both times but did not go far in to them.

And Peyton would throw for at least 4000 yards for season before the age of 28; Eli has not done it even once.

I would give the edge to Peyton Manning. I think Eli is going to win at least one more Super Bowl, while I do not know about Peyton.

But I do not think Eli is going to win three MVP awards and throw for at least 4000 yards for nine seasons like Peyton—maybe six or seven but not as much as his older brother.

And let's not forget that a career QB rating of 97.7 is hard to beat.

I love Eli, and this article is not to take anything away from him.

It's just the opposite; he is in the race with one of the games best: Peyton Manning.

The one thing we can all agree on is that the Manning family is amazing.

Two star QB's for two great teams.

The race is close, and I would love to know what you think.

Roger Goodell vs. Bud Selig: Who's Better?

Mike Kent — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:22:09 -0400

Before we go deep into this article, I think both baseball and football are great sports. Considering the attendance and television ratings of each, I know I am not alone.

But, as we know, we all have to improve. Sports are no different.

Baseball is a great sport, but there is one very big thing that bothers me about the way the sport is managed: the way the commissioner handles the problems concerning the athletes.

You can never really know what a man would do in a different spot than he is in now, but I think that Roger Goodell would have handled the "Steroid Era" better than Bud Selig did.

Just look at the way he handled the Michael Vick situation. Even after Vick spent two years in prison, Goodell suspended the former Falcons quarterback for four games.

Roger Goodell has shown that the game should be played right and by good people, doling out punishment for those who violate player conduct policies, no matter if it's Adam "Pacman" Jones, Tank Johnson, Donte Stallworth, or Vick.

In stark contrast, Selig has not done much to punish the steroid abusers who tainted an entire era of baseball.

Why did Selig not suspend players like Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa after everyone knew what they did?

I will give him credit for suspending Manny Ramirez for 50 games after he tested positive for the female fertility drug hCG, but that is all he did.

NFL players are afraid to cross Goodell and break his policies; no one in baseball really fears Selig. And it is a shame.

While Selig knows a great deal about his sport and is considered a great baseball man, being a commissioner is not only about loving the game. You must protect it, too.

That is where Goodell excels and Selig comes up short.

Mike Piazza: The Man Who Did It Right

Mike Kent — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:40:44 -0400

Many players have played the game right and many players have played the game well. But not as many players played the game both right and well.

When you think about the players that played almost 10 years ago, the first few guys that come to mind are Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa.

Not many look back at those days and think about the great catcher, Mike Piazza.

Piazza is one of the guys that played the game right when it was not a popular thing to do.

I am not saying he was alone. The name Ken Griffey Jr. comes to mind when you think about playing the game right, it's just sad that Griffey had an injury-plagued career.

But Piazza is the more underrated guy of the group and deserves more respect than he is given.

Think about how bad it would be if we found Piazza mentioned on the infamous list.

How devastated would the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets fans be if he was one of the 104 men that have cheated the game and its fans?

We will never really know if he was on it or not, at least until baseball releases the list to the fans, but a source (LJ Burgess) tells me that Piazza is not on the list. And I think Burgess is a trustworthy source.

Piazza not being on the list gives all that he did during his memorable career so much more meaning.

It means a man and not a half monster hit the post 9-11 game home run to take the lead away from the Braves and give it to the hurt state of New York.

It means a man was the starting catcher for the Mets in the World Series in 2000.

And it means a man was the captain of the Mets and one of the best catchers in the history of the game.

Thank you, Mike Piazza, for letting us be part of your great baseball career and for helping make baseball the great game it is.

B/R Baseball, Facing the Music

Mike Kent — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:51:49 -0400

At the start of the baseball season (link), I wrote a article with the opinions of all the top writers of B/R at the time

I know it a bit early, but we can tell about who got it right and who swung and missed.

Many of the people I asked to give me a opinion gave it, and I wrote at the end of that article that in the end of the season we will need to face the music.

Some of the writes picked great teams, and some missed the spot.

I missed the spot as I picked the Mets to win the World Series. As it is looking now, I was very wrong

Other writers like Shane Howard picked good teams like the Yankees; teams that are in the race and looking great.

The teams the are really still in the race and lead the division and Wild Card are the guys the will be happy to face the music.

The others are not going to like this article as much as the one's that got it right.

I think I have the right to write them down for two reasons.

I am one of them
I wrote in the article that in the end of the season they will need to face the music

Looking good:

David Marine-Yankees

Shane Howard-Yankees

J.C. Ayvazi- Dodgers (and this is before Manny was a Dodger)

Bob Warja- Red Sox

Ryan Callahan- Phillies

Daniel Cox- Red Sox

Micheal Robinson- Yankees

Rob Kildoo- Red Sox

Jersey- Yankees

Kevin McGuire- Phillies

Chris DiFrancesco- Phillies

Christian Karcole- Cardinals

Austin Drake- Yankees

Not looking to good:

Mike Kent- Mets

Jim Neveau- Rays

Brett Lissenden -Cubs

Travis Miller- Mets

Dan Wade- Mets

Collin Hager - The Roundtable- Brewers

Lawrence Barreca- Rays

Ben Brown- Indians

Sayre Bedinger- Cubs

Andrew- Indians

I have great respect for all the writers on both lists, and I do not mind showing that I got it totally wrong.

The Mets are not just out of the race, they are under .500!

I hope I did not offend anyone on anyone of the lists. If I offended anyone, please let me know so I can fix it.

Chicago Cubs Fans, Do You Really Think Phillies Fans Will Let This Go?

Mike Kent — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:31:09 -0400

I am not a Phillies fan and not a Cubs fan.

I am a Mets fan looking at one of the best pitchers in all time, Pedro Martinez, make his comeback start.

Not to take anything away from Pedro (he was amazing and made it look easy), but he did not end up the biggest part of the game for me.

In the fifth inning with the bases loaded and one out, Shane Victorino made a key catch while being doused with beer.

That made me angry. I know it is not all Cubs fans and that could have happened in Citi Field or Yankee Stadium. I bet there is even a Cardinal fan out there that could have done that.

So its not about the Cubs fans, but it is about the Cubs.

Why is it about the Cubs?

Because the Cubs are going to need to go to Citizens Bank Park again.

Maybe not this year, but I know Phillies fans are not going to let this go, and I think they shouldn't.

And it may be this season, it looks like it may even be the NLDS. And the first game would be at Philadelphia.

The Cubs do not lead the central, but they are in the race with the Cardinals.

You've got to defend your players, and that may be part of our job as fans.

Phillies fans are the fans that I love to hate the most, and I know that they are not just regular fans.

All these Phillies fans are lovers of there team and will do what ever it takes to make their players safe.

Kind of like Red Sox Nation, just in Philadelphia.

The Phillies fans will not just shower the Cubs fans in beer next time the Cubs go on the road for a NL East trip through Philadelphia, they will shower the Cubs players like it's their wedding night.

And I am not sure if it is only Phillies fans who are angry with this. I know I am very angry at the Cubs right now.

As I said before it is not their fault, but it does happen to be their fan at their home.

I would not do anything because I am a wimp and too young to drink beer at a baseball game. But I do hope other fans, even Mets fans, get back at the Cubs for doing this to the Phillies.

And baseball should not let this go, the commissioner should do something to the Cubs about it.

Maybe they should forfeit today's game to make up for it, anything to make it so this never happens again.

I know that in some soccer games in Europe, if the home fans do crazy things they have the next game with no fans allowed in the stadium.

Ether way, this should not just pass with nothing happening about it. Baseball should do something.

Or the Phillies will.

Many of you will comment that I am being childish and that the Phillies fans will not do anything about it. Well, I say you are half right.

I am being childish, but Phillies fans will do it.

It can even be done in the bottom of the eighth with the Phillies ether winning big time or losing big time. One fan that buys a $20 ticket in the pavilion deck.

So watch out Cubs fans—all it takes is one Phillies fan.

Should The Mets Send Wright, Santana and K-Rod Away?

Mike Kent — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:48:42 -0400

As most of the world knows by now, the Mets stink.

We all know the biggest reason the Mets suck this year is most of their star players are on the disabled list.

As the Mets keep on losing and falling back in the division, you've got to wonder if it is worth it to keep the rest of the team together.

I am not saying trade them or anything like that, just give them time off so they don't join their compatriots on the DL.

The thing is that I do not just think it's bad luck Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Maine, F-Mart, and Putz are on the DL.

You can say we may have seen it coming with Delgado, Maine, F-Mart, and Putz. But everyone going means there's someone to blame.

And that is why I hope Omar cleans house in the medical department so the Mets don't end up killing themselves.

But, as we all know, even if that does happen it will only happen in the offseason.

Until then, it may be a good idea for the Mets to keep Wright, Santana, and K-Rod off the diamond and away from the danger.

I know I am not a season ticket holder, but I think this is the best move the Mets can make.

Maybe the Mets can do something like the Pirates did with their tickets sales

I feel sorry for the fans, but I think it is for the better of the team.

I bet Omar and Jerry told these three guys that they are a big part of the future and to avoid injure any way possible.

Even if that means not diving hard for a ball or not sliding hard in to a base. And maybe we will not see Santana throw over 100 pitches.

That is good, but I think the Mets should take it to the next level and keep their players safe.

I know Omar and the Wilpons will never do this. I don't know if any teams front office would ever do it.

But I just think it for the good of the team.

Who Will Win the AFC East?

Mike Kent — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 10:36:36 -0400

The AFC East has seen much change in its teams' rosters, with big names like Terrell Owens and Mark Sanchez being added this year to the AFC East, and the return of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Here is why I don't think the Dolphins are going to win the AFC East—they won the division on a tiebreaker, and other teams have gotten better while the Dolphins remained the same team they were last year.

I think Chad Pennington was a fluke last year—no offense to him. I just don't think he is that good.

They will give the rest of the NFL a good fight, but I just don't think they are so good.

The Bills have gotten much better this year. With new wide receiver Owens and a good running back in Marshawn Lynch, the Bills have given Trent Edwards more time and room to play his game. With two very good wide receivers as TO joins Lee Evans, there will be a lot of options for the Bills offense.

The thing that will hold back the Bills is the defense. Last year they allowed 342 points to their opponents. This year in the draft, they picked up DE Aaron Maybin to help on that side.

I think this team will be better than the Jets and Dolphins. They have better wide receivers than both teams.

It looks like the only thing the Jets have better than the Bills is a good running back and defense. I don't see the Jets being better than the Bills since the offense doesn't have enough to go all the way.

The only AFC East team that has not been written about in this article are the Pats. They look like the easy pick. With Brady back, this team should be one of the best in the NFL.

But can we know if Brady is really back? And is he still the real Tom Brady?

I know some of you think I am crazy for even thinking that the man is not back to his old self that won 18 games two seasons ago.

But sometimes, players with injures don't come back as good as they left.

Just look at Brady last year. He came back and was good until the first game of the season before he went down due to an injury that came back from the Super Bowl.

So the pick is harder than it looks.

But my pick is still the Pats.

Don't get me wrong—I wouldn't trade any good players for him in my fantasy team. But the risk is small, and he is looking okay.

I think most of the race will be between the Bills and the Pats. I don't see the Jets and Dolphins having very good seasons.

It's hard for me to say, since I root for both teams, but I write it as I see it.

So my AFC prediction is:

AFC East

Pats

With Tom Brady back, the team will be amazing and is one of the best in the NFL.

Bills

With TO on the team, they have two very good receivers and a good running back to give their QB more options on the field.

Jets

Sanchez hasn't proven himself yet, and without any good WR on their team, even if Sanchez is good, he can't do it alone.

Dolphins

Does anyone really think Pennington will be as good this year as he was last year? I think the answer is no. They have a good RB, but they are not so strong on WRs, and the QB is not too good.

Please tell me if you think I am right. I would love to get comments on this article.

Don't Forget Us, the Good Men in Sports

Mike Kent — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:23:41 -0400

We all know of Michael Vick, Barry Bonds, Plaxico Burress, and all the guys that give sports a bad name. That being said, we seem to forget about the good guys.

People should know that there are many good guys out there who do good things for the world, and athletes are no different.

Just look at guys like Johan Santana, Carlos Delgado, Peyton Manning, Ryan Howard, Roger Federer, Albert Pujols, Ian Kinsler, and Jamie Moyer. The list goes on and on.

We tend to look at the bad guys in sports, and forget that good guys are out there.

That seems unfair to me. Why do the good guys stay in the shadows? These good men in sports may not be looking for thanks but they are looking to leave a good image and teach about giving back for what you got.

How many of us said when we were young that we would donate a million dollars to charity if we were rich?

I know I said it, and I would like to think that I am not alone.

Does anyone know of Johan Santana off the field?

If he took steroids, would you know?

I bet we would all remember if we were told he took steroids.

How many of you knew that the man has a wine named after him? Its profits are donated to his foundation for his poor home town in Venezuela.

And how many of us know that Carlos Delgado and his wife, Betzaida, are running a foundation call "Extra Bases"? What about the fact that Carlos is also a member of the NY action team, a national youth volunteer program? I bet that not many of us knew that.

How many of us know A-Rod, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa took steroids? I think most, if not all of us knew that.

We forget the nice things some people do, but we always remember the bad. Why is that?

Why are we looking for the bad guys we can hate, instead of looking for good guys that are right in front of are eyes?

I am not saying it's are fault, we were raise to suspect all athletes for the worst things. And that it thanks to the athletes who do bad things.

But I think we can fix it, I think we can change and try to be more positive people

Lets all stop for a minute and think what is the right thing to do and then put players like Santana and Delgado in front of players like A-Rod, Plaxico Burress and Michal Vick.

I think it is all about being a more positive person and trying to look at the positive people in sports.

I'm not saying that we should turn the blind eye to the Sammy Sosa's of the world and forget it happened. I'm just saying to remember the good at least as much as we remember the bad, if not more.

If you look at all the athletes in the world you will see that there are many more good guys then bad guys.

I think it's the right thing to do, and I would love to hear what you think.

Brett Favre Came Back Once, Will He Do It Again?

Mike Kent — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:21:46 -0400

Do you know who Brett Favre is?

If you are reading this article you must know.

You may not know him for the great football player he was (and he was great). But you must also know him for what he did last offseason.

He retired and came back, as the Green Bay Packers ended up trading him to the New York Jets and he played one season there and ended up coming short of the playoffs.

Now, after a long, but not clear, offseason for Brett with him looking like he may come back again and him looking into that he has retired again and is now out of the NFL.

As most people do, we look at the past and start thinking, can it happen again?

It is natural to think about it, and the Viking would love for it to happen.

But I think this is the end of Brett in the NFL.

The next time we will see him in the NFL will be when he gets into the Hall Of Fame.

Yes, we all know that he has already done it once, so what makes me think he will not do it again?

He did it once, he saw it did not work and I think he is a smart man.

Smart people do not make the same mistake twice.

He also knows that if he comes back, it will make people forget all about his great accomplishments in the past, and I do not think he wants that.

Yes, he did not want it last year either, but now that he knows he is not at his best, he knows that if he does not have a great season in the NFL, it will make him look like a jerk.

And he knows he is to old to have a great season in the NFL.

Another thing I want to point out in this article is that people seem to forget that this man owns a lot of records, here are some:

Games started by a quarterback: 269 (291 including playoffs)

Career passing touchdowns: 464

Career passing yards: 65,127

Career pass completions: 5,720

Career pass attempts: 9,280

Career games with at least three touchdowns: 65

I hope these things are right, as I have copied them off Wikipedia.

These records are just some of the ones he has, he also shears a few records that I did not write.

These records show that he is one of the best in the NFL, so give him some love and try to forget what he did last offseason.

He is done, and now we can put his great NFL career behind him.

Can Brandon Jacobs and Eli Manning win it for the Giants?

Mike Kent — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:54:27 -0400

The Giants are looking great on defense.

They have one of the best defensive teams in the NFL.

But the offense is not great.

You have a great running back and a good quarterback, but that is it.

All the rest of these guys are not more then Ok players.

So can Eli Manning and Brandon Jacobs make it work?

I think they can.

These guys are very good players, and good players make the players around them better.

Eli Manning can use both the passing and running game successfully, not many teams can say there quarterback can do that.

Jacobs makes that possible. With his great speed and the success he has in beating the defense he gives Eli more tools to work with on the offense.

And lets not forget, they may look like they are alone on the football field but they are not.

Rookie Hakeem Nicks can help this team on offense, he has great potential. And with good coaching he may end up to be the Giants top wide receiver.

And another good receiver is Sinorice Moss who is only 25 years old.

Eli Manning is only 28 years old and getting better and Brandon Jacobs is only 27 years old.

So these guys are still getting better.

And the Giants do not need to score over 21 points to win every game. All they need to do is score more then the defense gives up, and with the Giants defense that will not be to much to ask.

So get ready for are Giants, they will go a long way.

10 Rules For B/R Writers Trying To Get Off the Editorial Bench

Mike Kent — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:40:04 -0400

With seven months writing on Bleacher Report, I think I may be able to help guys around this great Web site.

It took me 82 articles, but I am now a Senior Writer, and I think that it may help me get through to more readers and writers around B/R.

I think this guide may be able to help more than just the the new guys on B/R, but all of the new B/R writers out there.

Lesson No. 1—Don't Forget Who You Are Writing To

If you are on B/R, it means you love to write and you enjoy sports. These are the guys you will find on B/R; from the guys that are here three years to the guy that is joining as we speak.

Don't forget who your audience is. They are fans that love their teams and would love to read your stories about them, if they are good.

And if you do your best, people will read your articles.

Lesson No. 2—Don't Let Anyone Slow You Down or Take You Down

B/R is a good place, with good writers and good people.

But just like the real world, B/R can't be perfect.

There are a few guys on B/R that may call you names and try to take you down if they don't agree with your articles.

And others will join B/R just to call you an idiot, but you can't let them stop you.

We call these types of people, trolls.

Internet trolls don't have much to say about your article, they are just trying to make you feel bad and try to make you hide your opinions.

But as all B/R writers know, opinions are not meant to be hidden.

So don't let them get to you. Remember, you don't have to respond to the comments they leave on your articles.

Lesson No. 3—Read at Least as Much as You Write

This is more about learning the system, and looking at what other writers are doing. You need to look at both the good and the bad on B/R.

If you see someone with an "Article of the Day", read his article. Look at the way he writes and the words he chooses.

And if you really want to go far, ask him about his article. Ask him how he came up with it and why he chose the words he wrote.

Lesson No. 4—Make Friends

If you don't make friends, you will be missing one of the best things about B/R.

With so many writers and so many fans around the Site, it should be easy to make friends fast.

How do you make friends?

Comment on other articles, and don't be shy to say he/she did a great job, if it's a nice article to read.

It should be easy to make friends with guys and girls that root for the same teams as you.

My best friends on this Site are: Richard Marsh, Wendy Adair, and Nick Adamo. They are all big Mets fans and great writers.

Lesson No. 5—Don't be Afraid To Ask Around

If you need help don't be afraid to ask for it.

On B/R there are many people that would love to help you.

You can ask the community leaders, editors, fans, friends, and even myself.

We want to help you, we want you to do well.

Don't forget we are all on the same team, the B/R team.

Lesson No. 6—Forget about the Rankings and POTD's

You are your own writer, it doesn't matter who is the best writer.

Most B/R writers find the rankings to be a bad system anyway.

Don't even sweat the "Picks of the Day", or winning the "Article of the Day".

Try to write the best article you can, without thinking about the awards you could win. It will only slow you down, I am talking from experience.

Lesson No. 7—Do Your Best on Every Article

When you write, try to make it your best work yet.

If you are writing about Tom Brady then try to make it the best Brady article that you can write.

Make every article your best, and it will show when people read it.

Lesson No. 8—Don't Let the Bad Take You Down

If you write a bad article or just one that is not getting any reads or comments, don't let it stop you from writing.

We all have slumps, some more than others, but we all have them. Odds are, you will have some too.

But that is OK, all you need to do is make the next article better.

Lesson No 9—Don't Write about Things That Aren't Sports Related

B/R is meant for sports fans, who love sports.

Sports fans from all over the world. Most of us, don't want to read about Barack Obama when we get on B/R, or about the way Israel is betting up on terrorists.

B/R is a new world, a world away from politics and the bad economy.

You can write about how Obama is helping the White Sox or about how the New York Yankees are not bothered by the poor economy.

But do not take it too far, sports fans will not like it.

So only articles about BR and about sports, no more then that.

Lesson No. 10—Learn from Your Mistakes

We are all human, and as humans, it's only natural for us to make mistakes. It's what we do best.

One thing that many of us need to do is to start learning from our mistakes.

It's what make us better people, we should do this not just on B/R, but in our day-to-day lives.

It will help you in the real world, and it will help you here on Bleacher Report.

Are These the '69 Mets Again?

Mike Kent — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:37:12 -0400

I know guys like Richard Marsh have written articles like this, but I think all Mets fans deserve to give up on their team with a goodbye article.

With the season in its last two months, and players like Beltran, Delgado, Reyes, Maine and Putz coming back soon.

Can we believe that these may be the '69 Mets all over again?

Well, I do not think so.

And these are a few reasons why.

We do not know when players like Beltran, Delgado, Reyes, Maine and Putz are coming back. Day to Day has been known to be month to month for these Mets.
The Phillies are running away with the NL East. The Mets are 10 games out, and the Phillies are looking like they do not need to stop winning now that Raul Ibanez is back from the DL.
Even if the Phillies go down and lose all their star players like the Mets did, both the Braves and the Marlins will jump on the NL East lead like it is water in a desert. And they are both better teams then the Mets right now.
The NL Wild Card has seven teams ahead of the Mets in it. So even if the Giants and Rockies start losing the Brewers and the Braves will still win the Wild Card over the Mets.
The Mets are looking like a AAA team, who would have thought we were going to see Alex Cora and Angel Pagan be starters for the Mets.
If the Mets can't win at least two out of three from the Nats then how do we want them to best teams like the Phillies and Rockies?
Omar and the Wilpons are not helping the Mets win, and it is too late now. They should have made deals that would bring in star players like Halladay back in June. And with not taking Halladay in the trade that was offered to them they have shown that they are sellers (as I think they should be at this stage).
We have a manager from a bad movie. He is a great guy, and he is very funny. But many of the things he does makes you want to jump off the roof.
You can't teach defense. Professional baseball players should know how to catch a ball on a regular bases.
David Wright, he may be the best player on the Mets this year, but the man that finished fourth in MVP voting for the last two seasons has not hit with any power this year. He only has 5 Home Runs this year.

So in the end, the Mets are not showing us any sign of coming back.

And there are not many things to blame.

Yes, Omar the Wilpons and Jerry Manual have done poorly, but we can't blame them for Beltran, Reyes and Delgado going on the DL.

And that is the main reason the Mets are not looking good this year.

The only ones we can blame are the medical staff.

How can a player like Jose Reyes, who is a day to injure, go down for two months?

I do not get it.

Well, better look next year.

This season may be over for the Mets, but it is never to late to build for the future.

Are the San Francisco Giants for Real?

Mike Kent — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:52:41 -0400

I know.

I am such a New Yorker for even thanking about it.

A team goes on a three-game losing streak, and I jump on the moment.

But I feel like I need to; I really want to see them fall to give the Mets a chance at the Wild Card.

So let's really look at this, and let's see if the Giants are for real.

Losing four out of their last five is bad, but two of those losses are to the Pirates.

And with Tim Lincecum getting beat up in the All-Star game, things are not looking great for the Giants right now.

But the pitching is fine, they are good on that.

The offense is bad; the only good hitter on the team is Pablo Sandoval. And who knows if he is the real deal or just another man that was hot for the first half of the season.

I hate to do this to Giants fans, but I do not think your team is that good.

Yes, they are one of the top 15 teams in baseball this first half.

But I don't think they will be the same team in the last two months of the season.

I think Pablo Sandoval will slow down, and there is not much Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain can do if the Giants do not score runs.

And that is what we have seen in the last week.

With loses like 2-1 and 2-0, the Giants' offense has gone back to sleep, and losing 11-3 to the Braves is not great either.

There are plenty of NL contenders that want to win the Wild Card, too. Teams like Colorado, Milwaukee, Houston, Florida, Atlanta, New York, and Cincinnati are going to give the Giants a fight for that spot.

The Mets and Reds are going to get star players back soon.

How many games can Tim Lincecum win 1-0? And how many more no-hitters will the Giants get?

They need offense, and if they don't get Matt Holliday or someone like that before the deadline, I do not think this team will win the Wild Card.

Could Don Mattingly Be the Mets Manager Next Year?

Mike Kent — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:25:31 -0400

As it is looking like the Mets are falling out of it, there is one guy that we always love to blame.

And that man is the manager.

I am not saying the Mets are out of it, I have not given up (just yet). But the Mets’ manager has made lots of bad calls that have some Met fans wanting his head.

In the Mets’ case it’s Jerry Manuel, who most Mets fans agree has done a bad job with the Mets this year.

Most Mets fans agree that the Mets falling on their face is not all his fault. Losing Beltran, Reyes, Delgado, and J.J Putz cannot all be blamed on Jerry.

But some of his PH choices have been really making Mets fans want to kill him.

Like in the 6th inning in Philadelphia on July 5th.

With one out and men on first and third, the Phillies called Chan Ho Park from the bullpen.

So what does Jerry do?

He PH’s Fernando Tatis.

Fernando Tatis has grounded in to 11 double play’s this year, why would you put him in?

And what did Fernando Tatis do in that AB?

He ended the Mets only chance to score by grounding in to a double play as the Mets lost 2-0 and got swept by the Phillies.

So now that we want Jerry Manuel gone, who should take his place?

I think the answer is Don Mattingly.

He has been around Joe Torre for years as a bench coach of the Yankees and now of the Dodgers.

He was in the race to be the Yankees manager in 2008, but the Yankees ended up giving the job to Joe Girardi.

He is the hitting coach of the Dodgers, but he really wants to be a manager.

Joe Torre has let Don Mattingly do more then just help the guys hit.

And I think that moving to the NL with Joe Torre makes the Yankee great ready to manage an NL team.

He is now in his second year with the Dodgers, so he should know a lot about the NL game.

I know a lot of Met fans are thinking, no more Yankees!

Just look a year back and Willie Randolph was the Mets manager, and Mets fans were not to happy with his work in 2008.

But I do not think we can learn anything from that. I think each man is his own man and is not like the rest. So it does not matter if he was a Yankee.

Maybe it can even be good, maybe it will show the Yankees what a bad move it was to let him go to LA.

I would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment and your opinion.

What's in the Water in Chesapeake, Virginia?

Mike Kent — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:33:51 -0400

We all know lots of great towns in the USA, and I bet most of us say we live in one (and most of us are right).

We all grow up in towns, and the town we live in helps us grow and become who we are.

There is one town in the in the USA that has not held back on growing men to be strong and successful.

And that town is Chesapeake, Virginia.

Not to take away from the other great towns in America or in the world. But this town is something else, something special.

Most towns don't produce any professional athletes, at least not any major ones.

Few towns have a hometown hero that is a professional athlete, but not many of them.

Even fewer have more then one, only the very special town may have two.

But this town has a few great professional athletes.

Pro Bowl Cornerback DeAngelo Hall of the Washington Redskins is from Chesapeake, Virginia. So that's one great, young football player.

But, wait there's more—NASCAR racer Richard Rudd is also from Chesapeake, Virginia.

And that's not all—lots of baseball stars are from Chesapeake, Virginia.

For starters, All-Star third baseman David Wright, captain of the New York Mets, one of the best third basemen in the National League.

Being a captain is is not easy; being a captain in New York is even harder.

He is one of the better hitters in the NL, though his power has gone down this season. But the batting average is in the sky.

Another star third baseman form Chesapeake is Ryan Zimmerman. He grew up just 15 minuets away from David Wright, and they are good friends.

He is also one of the best third baseman in baseball, and a leader of his team. He is also an All-Star.

The Nationals see him as their future, and this year they gave him a contract extension for four years.

So you think that is it? No, we are just getting started.

The Upton brothers also grew up in Chesapeake, Virgina. B.J. and Justin Upton are young stars, B.J. for the Rays and Justin for the D-Backs. B.J. is considered the better one, but Justin is having the better year.

Another star baseball player from Chesapeake, Virgina is Michael Cuddyer, outfielder for the Twins.

So what's in the water?

How are these guys so good?

I think it is a combination of things.

The high schools, friends, community, and all kind of things that they all have in common.

And I guess having the Norfolk Tides (AAA team) close to home does not hurt.

We don't know what exactly it is, but we do know that Chesapeake, Virginia is a good place to grow an athlete.

Let's Sing: Each MLB Team's First-Half Song

Mike Kent — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 10:00:36 -0400

Well, as the first half is coming to an end, I thought we may want to end it with a song. Or, with many songs... it will be fun!

Every team has been doing something. Some have been winning, some are still in the race, and some are free falling.

Each one of these teams can sing, and they can sing what they are doing.

Let’s look at what each team is feeling at the end of the first half.

Arizona Diamondbacks

First Half in A Few Words: The team that came close to winning the NL West last year is trying to stay out of last place. Not looking the best in the world of the D-Backs.

Song: "Is This the World We Created"

By: Queen

Atlanta Braves

First Half in A Few Words: These guys have been playing good baseball in the last month, and with the Mets and Phillies down fall, they are still very much in the race.

Song: "Don't Give Up on Us"

By: David Soul

Baltimore Orioles

First Half in A Few Words: This team looks lost. Other then their beautiful ball park there is no reason to go to O's games.

Song: "Who Wants To Live Forever?"

By: Queen

Boston Red Sox

First Half in A Few Words: Who needs Manny? When you have Jason Bay things are just fine, maybe even better. Looking like the best team in baseball and a lock for the playoffs.

Song: "Wake Me Up When September Ends"

By: Green Day

Cincinnati Reds

First Half in A Few Words: The young Reds are still in it. But they have a team that can go a long way for a long time.

Song: "Forever Young"

By: Rod Stewart

Chicago Cubs

First Half in A Few Words: After being Kings of the NL last season, the Cubs find themselves not even in front of the NL Central. Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley are big let downs.

Song: "Don't Let Me Down"

By: The Beatles

Chicago White Sox

First Half in A Few Words: They are in it; they are in reach of the AL Central leading Tigers. They just need to win a few more than the Tigers and they are in the lead!

Song: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

By: Michael Jackson

Colorado Rockies

First Half in A Few Words: They started badly, but in the last few months they have been making an amazing comeback. They may copy the 2007 Rockies, and they are just one game out of the Wild Card.

Song: "There Can Be Miracles When You Believe"

From: The Prince of Egypt

Cleveland Indians

First Half in A Few Words: Well, things are not going as planed. The team that some people considered to be the best in the AL Central has been the bust of baseball.

Song: "Heartbreak Hotel 56"

By: Elvis Presley

Detroit Tigers

First Half in A Few Words: The Tigers are in first! Last time they made the playoffs they ended up in the World Series. Maybe we will see a repeat.

Song: "Eye of the Tiger"

By: Survivor

Florida Marlins

First Half in A Few Words: The young Marlins are in it. They are only two games out of the East, and the young guys are only going to get better. But do not worry NL East, they will probably trade their best players soon like they always do.

Song: "Forever Young"

By: Alphaville

Houston Astros

First Half in A Few Words: They have had help from their young players, but not enough to be in the race. But they are Stayin Alive.

Song: "Stayin' Alive"

By: Bee Gees

Kansas City Royals

First Half in A Few Words: They started the season red hot, but that was short lived. They have had one feel good story with Zack Greinke. But the rest is a mess.

Song: "Another One Bites the Dust"

By: Queen

Los Angeles Angels

First Half in A Few Words: Last year they were the best team in baseball, this year they are half a game behind. But Vlad is back on! And they miss being kings.

Song: "I Just Can't Wait To Be King"

By: The Lion King

Los Angeles Dodgers

First Half in A Few Words: The best team in the NL by far, leads the way and is making it look easy. And now that Manny is back they may clinch it in early August. And they have the best record in baseball in the first half.

Song: "We Are the Champions"

By: Queen

Minnesota Twins

First Half in A Few Words: Other then the last three games with the Yankees, this team has been ok, thanks to the M&M combo. But in the last two seasons they have been breaking hearts.

Song: "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"

By: Kiki Dee

Milwaukee Brewers

First Half in A Few Words: They are in the heat of the race, one of the better lineups in baseball. They are on their way to winning a lot of games with this great team.

Song: "Be Prepared"

By: The Lion King

New York Mets

First Half In A Few Words: One of the hardest teams to watch in the last few months. No team has been hurt more by injuries to their key players.

Song: "Why Does This Always Happen to Me"

By: Weird Al Yankovic

New York Yankees

First Half in A Few Words: They have been through bad times, but right now they are looking like the hottest team in baseball. If the Yankees are coming to your town, do not bother watching your team lose.

Song: "We Will Rock You"

By: Queen

Oakland Athletics

First Half in A Few Words: Getting Matt Holliday did not change much on this team. They are dead last in the AL West and are not looking like they are going to get better.

Song: "Believe Me"

By: Fort Minor

Pittsburgh Pirates

First Half in A Few Words: They are a bad team. They do not have the best talent in the world, but this team plays with heart, and has been getting better.

Song: "The Show Must Go On"

By: Queen

Philadelphia Phillies

First Half in A Few Words: As a Mets fan it is hard for me to admit, but this team is proving that last years World Series was not a fluke. They are doing great.

Song: "Remember the Name"

By: Fort Minor

San Diego Padres

First Half In A Few Words: One of the worst teams in the NL this year, last in the NL West. We have seen no life from these guys.

Song: "Beat It"

By: Michael Jackson

San Francisco Giants

First Half in A Few Words: The team that was nowhere last year is leading the NL Wild Card, and a lot of the credit should go to the Freak.

Song: "Freaks Come Out at Night"

By: Whodini

Seattle Mariners

First Half in A Few Words: They are doing ok, still in it. And they may not be looking to trade their old players anymore. This may be their season.

Song: "Never Gonna Give You Up"

By: Rick Astley

St. Louis Cardinals

First Half in A Few Words: Just join the ride, Albert is going to take this team to the playoffs. Who knows, he may help them win another World Series.

Song: "Greatest"

By: Will Smith

Tampa Bay Rays

First Half in A Few Words: This team is one of the better in baseball, with lots of young talent. But not much they can do about playing in the AL East. In any other division they would be number one.

Song: "What About Me"

By: Shannon Noll

Texas Rangers

First Half in A Few Words: Leading the AL West! This is the only prediction in the start of the season I got right! And it looks like it is time to believe in the Rangers!

Song: "I’m a Believer"

By Smash Mouth

Toronto Blue Jays

First Half in A Few Words: They have been having a weird season, lots of their average players have been having an All-Star season. But by looking to trade Halladay, they are giving up

Song: "Givin' Up"

By: Linkin Park

Washington Nationals

First Half in A Few Words: No surprise that the Nats are having a bad year. They have been miserable again, and that is no fun for any fan to watch (sorry Nats fans).

Song: "Meet the Mets"

By: The Mets

At the end, I think I did the best with the Nats. I think I was being bad to Mets fans more then to Nats fans.

The first half has been fun, it is sad to see it go. But we need to get ready for the second half, let's wait and see what we get from our teams in the next half.

Loving Queen! That is why you see the most from them. I guess I do not know much about other singers.

Thanks for reading!

Baseball's Top 10 Busts of the First Half

Mike Kent — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:13:29 -0400

Another rankings from Mike Kent, and this time you do not want to be on the list. Ranking the top ten busts will get me in trouble, I can see lots of fans telling me there favorite player does not belong on the list. But I rank it as I see it! For batters I used these stats: AVG- Shows if they are hitting HR- If they lost power RBI- are they helping there team win G- Just so we know who has been on the DL and missed games. For pitchers I used these stats: W-L: Are they winning games? ERA- How good are they pitching G- Have they been on the DL

Begin Slideshow

Robinson Cano: Should the Mets Bring the Yankee Second Baseman Across Town?

Mike Kent — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:59:41 -0400

Their fans may hate each other, but the teams may be able to help each other. I guess the first question should be, do the Mets want Robinson Cano?

Well, I say yes. And more than that, I think he may be the answer.

Yes, I know that most of you baseball fans are thinking I'm crazy—the man would be the No. 4 hitter on our team with Carlos Beltran gone, and with Carlos Beltran in, he can be the No. 5 hitter.

He's hitting very well, averaging .305 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI. I think the Mets would be better with Cano. He is a very good, young player.

So, why are the Yankees looking to trade him? I don't really know. I tried to look it up; I went to MLB.com's "On the Block" and Cano was the No. 1 second baseman on the block.

It seems the Yankees think he's worth more to other teams than to them. And that may be why he is on the block.

The Yankees may want pitching help, and the Mets need offense, so it seems like the New Yorkers can make each other happy.

I think that if the Mets send Jon Niese, in addition to either Sean Green or Brian Stokes, they may be able to get Robinson Cano. I know Jon Niese is a big price to pay, but I think Cano is worth it—he's only 27 years old.

If the Yankees want, the Mets could send Argenis Reyes to them, and they can throw in a class-AA rookie.

And what would the Mets do with Luis Castillo? He is a great player to have on the bench. He could pinch hit and pinch run, and I don't see the Mets finding a way to trade him.

One reason the Yankees may pass on this would be to possibly send Robinson Cano and Phil Hughes to the Blue Jays for Roy Halladay; I don't think the Blue Jays would take that, since they would not want to send an ace to a division rival.

On MLB.com, it says that the Dodgers may want Robinson Cano, but I don't see why. Their second baseman, Orlando Hudson, is having an all-star season.

I am hoping the Mets and Yankees read this article and start thinking of the possibility to make this trade work.

Please let me know what you think, as a Yankee, Met, or baseball fan.

Mike Kent also writes on a Wiki of the New York Mets called the Met Wiki. All and any help would be very much appreciated. If there are any questions, you can write on my wall.

The Top 10 Starting Pitchers of the First Half

Mike Kent — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:48:33 -0400

The first half is coming to a end, and as promised I have ranked the top ten starting pitchers. They have been making the baseball look like a whifflball and making hitters look two years old I used these stats to rank the pitchers. W's-Yes, I know that many do not like this stat. But I think that it must show something K's- We all love K's ERA- Most important stat for a pitcher WHIP- One of my favorite stats IP's- Shows woh is a work horse

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Better A-Rod: Andy Roddick or Alex Rodriguez?

Mike Kent — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:32:12 -0400

For those of you who watch ESPN, this article will be a bit like the "Who's Now?" feature that ESPN ran about a year ago. I know I am likely the only one who enjoyed that show, but here is a chance for you guys to give this system a shot.

Andy Roddick and Alex Rodriguez both have the same nickname—A-Rod.

But who is the better A-Rod?

We know what they have in common.

They are both from the USA.

They both spent at least a few years in Texas.

And they are both great at their sport.

Now, let's look at what each one has done in his career that makes him so great.

Alex Rodriguez

Why He Is the Best

He is the best player on the best team in baseball; he was considered by many the best hitter in the game.

He has...

Three AL MVPs

10 Silver Slugger Awards

Four Hank Aaron Awards

12 All-Star

Career Home Runs: 567

Why Not

He is considered by many (including me) a cheater. He tested positive for steroid use, and many fans will never look at him the same.

A-Rod was one of the best players in baseball before this season, and this season he is playing well. However, missing the first 10 weeks of the season due to an injury has slowed him down at the start.

But he looks to be back now.

Andy Roddick

Why He Is the Best

Andy Roddick is a lovable guy; it is not hard to root for him. He works hard and gives every match his all, and he faces the world's best representing the USA. Plus he was a big part of the USA winning the Davis Cup in 2007.

Current ATP Rank: 6

Career Titles: 27

ATP Win-Loss Record in 2009: 39-9

2003 US Open winner

Records

Most games won in a Grand Slam final—39

Fastest serve—155 mph

Fastest serve in a Grand Slam—146 mph

Why Not

There are more American baseball fans than tennis fans, and he could not win Wimbledon in 2009.

He was great, but USA fans always jump on the hot card, and the loser is not the hot card.

Winner: Andy Roddick

Kids can look up to Roddick, but they can't look up to Rodriguez. His use of steroids has made him hard to root for and impossible to look up to.

Andy is only 26 years old; he will have many more matches and chances to win championships.

Andy is a guy who makes you proud to be American, and America loves a hero.

Should the Mets Trade for Juan Pierre?

Mike Kent — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:39:37 -0400

The Mets are in need of something new, and Juan Pierre may just be the answer. He is fast, and he has a .321 batting average.

The Mets are in need of some speed now that Jose Reyes is on the DL, so Pierre might be just what the doctor ordered.

His speed and experience in the majors is a good reason to go after him, and fetching him will not likely require too many valuable players because the Dodgers would likely save a lot of money in any deal.

But I do not like the idea that getting Pierre is the best way for the Mets to go.

He may have a great average, but his career on-base percentage is only .348. The Mets need guys that will get on base, not slap the ball and hope to reach base safely.

He reminds me of Luis Castillo before coming to the Mets in 2007.

They both have averages over .300 and OBPs under .400. That means they just slap the ball around the field and hope to get a hit, and that is why their OBPs are comparatively low.

They are very hard to strike out, but that also means they do not get too many two-strike counts because they don't take many pitches.

Castillo had no home runs in 2007 before coming to the Mets; Pierre has no home runs yet this season.

And how did Castillo work out?

Before this season, Mets fans wanted his head, and it is not like he is doing great this season.

His average is .270 and he has a .367 OBP and no home runs this season. The Mets are in need of someone that can hit for power, and Pierre is not the answer.

Let's go after a Matt Holliday or an Adam Dunn.

We need a guy that can hit line drives and not just slap the ball around.

And with players like Reyes and Carlos Beltran close to coming back, the Mets should be in good shape.

Look at Carlos Delgado—Citi Field was made for hitters like him. He hits line drives that can roll to the walls and give him extra-base hits.

We need a guy like Delgado, not a guy like Castillo. And why give the young Dodgers more money to spend in the offseason? They look like they are going to be in the NL race for a long time.

Let's take a guy from a team that will not bite us in the future, like the Nats, Padres, or any AL team.

So, in the end, what I am saying is "Stay away from Juan Pierre!" The Mets need to stay away from slap hitters; they are all flukes that never work out.

I would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment on if you think the Mets should or should not trade for Juan Pierre.

Mike Kent also writes on a Wiki of the New York Mets called the Met Wiki. All and any help would be very much appreciated. If there are any questions, you can write on my wall.

Why the NFL Should Expand to England: Dispelling Each Doubt

Mike Kent — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:26:34 -0400

Every year, the NFL has games in England, and they seem to be very successful. It looks like many fans in England are interested in the NFL; just look at the way they show up to the NFL games there.

All this begs a natural question: Should the NFL expand to England?

There are a few reasons why some people will say "No" to this idea; here are a five of them.

1. You cant ask players to fly back and forth to England every week; it is not fair to the players (or coaching staff).

2. It may never catch on there, so why take the risk?

3. Now is not the time to try new things with the economy's downfall.

4. There will be scheduling problems due to not having an even number of teams, not to mention the difference in time zone.

5. The NFL is perfect; we do not need it to change.

I do not think that these are good reasons to let go of this idea when there are so many positives to doing this.

But before we go to why, let's look for answers to the why nots.

About the poor players flying back and forth between the US and England, I think that it is not asking too much.

It's not every day that they will be flying; just twice in a week when applicable. It's not baseball, so you only have one game each week.

These players make a lot of money. They are already flying twice a week, and it's not that bad to add some travel time if you are making millions of dollars. We are not asking them to slay a dragon.

About the risk of it not catching up in England, I do not agree. I think that this game has the potential to be big in England.

England has great people and great soccer/football fans. Why can't they be great American football fans? I know this sounds like kissing up to England, but we need to give their fans the respect they deserve.

And it is not that far away; it's only about 2,000 miles.

And what about the economy?

Is this a bad idea in this time?

I do not think so; it looks like things are slowly getting better with the economy. So the NFL does not need to expand to England right now. They can wait three or four years before even announcing it.

What about the uneven number of teams? Well, the answer is easy.

You guys will say I am crazy, but why not add two team to England?

One in London, where the population is 7,172,091, and one in Birmingham or Liverpool. As long as it is in the Metropolitan district where the population is 2,284,093. (Correct me if I am wrong; I am reading this in Wikipedia.)

And with the people that say the NFL is perfect and that making change is a waste of time, I do not agree.

Yes, the NFL is great. The NFL is the most successful sport in the USA, but it can always get better.

Having a team in England means more fans, more games, more love of the game, and, at the end of the day, more fun. And that is why the NFL should do this...it has so much upside.

Think about it: You can plan a summer vacation to England and match it up with when your team is going to play there.

It would be amazing. Let's get this message to Roger Goodell.

Football to England!

Baseball's Top 10 Hitters of the First Half

Mike Kent — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:22:12 -0400

The first half is coming to an end, and it is time for the first half rankings.

We have had some amazing hitting this season, and it has been fun all around. The hitters have not held back on the bats and have been knocking home runs like tennis balls.

But, who are the top 10 hitters this season?

I wrote a list ranking who I think are the best hitters this season. I counted HR, RBI, OPB, AVG, and SB.

Please let me know what you think of my rankings.

Enjoy the list!

10. Ian Kinsler

Ian Kinsler was great in the first two months of the season. He was the best player in the AL for some time.

But he has slowed down in the last month, and, as Ian goes, so do the Rangers.

His stats are still great though; Ian has 18 home runs and 16 steals. His AVG is very low, and that is why he is only No. 10.

9. Mark Reynolds

Mark is one of the good stories of the season. He has been the only good player on a very bad Arizona Diamondbacks.

If he were a bit older, you can bet that teams would go after him before the trade deadline.

He has been very good with no help from any other hitters. He has 21 home runs and 54 RBI, but his AVG is very low. That is why, just like Kinsler, he is ranked so low.

8. Torii Hunter

Hunter is the reason the Angels are in first in the AL West. With all the injuries and letdowns the team has had, Hunter is the guy that has picked up the slack.

His 17 home runs, which are second in MLB among center fielders, and his 56 RBI, which lead all center fielders, are part of his great season.

His speed has been big for the team too, with his 12 SBs and 16 doubles.

7. Ryan Braun

Ryan Braun has been one of the two hitters that are the reason the Brewers are in first in the NL Central.

Not only has he golfed 16 home runs and driven in 56 runs, but he also has a .321 AVG and .421 OBP.

The young man has 17 doubles and two triples. He is looking great and definitely deserves top 10 honors.

6. Adrian Gonzalez

Gonzalez is one of the best hitters in baseball, playing for the worst offensive team (the Padres), but is still hitting very well.

You start feeling sorry for the man because he could be in the top five of baseball.

He has 24 home runs, but the rest of his stats go a bit down due to no help around him. He only has 47 RBI and has only scored 46 runs.

5. Justin Morneau

We have not heard about this guy much this year—at least I have not, because I am more of an NL guy.

But this guy is incredible, and he has helped the Twins stay in the race in the AL Central.

Justin has 18 home runs with 63 RBI. His 20 doubles and .309 AVG have really helped his team through the first half.

4. Evan Longoria

Evan has been marvelous for the Rays. Last year's AL Rookie of the Year has not slowed down.

He has 16 home runs and 63 RBI with an AVG of .303, and he has helped the Rays keep pace with the Red Sox and Yankees.

The young man is still growing, and he is going to help the Rays win for seasons to come.

3. Prince Fielder

One of the best players in the league is not going to start in the 2009 All-Star Game, and that is because there is a man named Albert that has been the best in baseball and happens to play the same position.

But that does not stop Prince Fielder from killing pitchers. He has been very good. He is second in the league in RBI with 73 and has 19 home runs.

His OBP is .424—that is amazing. The big man has been the main reason the Brewers are in front in the NL Central.

2. Raul Ibanez

I do not know about you, but if you told me Raul Ibanez would have 22 home runs by Jun. 9, I would tell you that you were an idiot.

Who is the idiot now?

He has been astounding with the Phillies. I think most of the Phillies' success depends on him, and that is why the Phillies started losing once he went on the DL.

Think about it—how many home runs would he have if he did not get injured?

He should be coming back soon, lucky Phillies.

1. Albert Pujols

I think we all knew that Albert Pujols would be No. 1, and he deserves that respect from us.

His numbers: 28 home runs, 74 RBI, and an OBP of .450.

He is one guy with a chance at winning the Triple Crown, and I think he may do it. If anyone is going to do it, it will be Albert.

The guy is not only the best hitter—he is the best player in baseball.

Who Should the Mets Send to the Pen When Oliver Perez and John Maine Return?

Mike Kent — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:58:59 -0400

Mets have seen too much of the disabled list this year, and it has been very hard to watch. Watching Met after Met go to the DL is not easy for any Mets fan to watch.

Watching the Mets pay for it was even harder.

But we have heard good news about some of the injured players, and it may bring a bit of a dilemma to the Mets and Jerry Manuel.

Both Oliver Perez and John Maine are looking to come back to the team.

That's great news for the Mets and very bad news for the Phillies, who did not extend their lead on the Mets when they were missing the two starters.

But what should the Mets do when Perez and Maine return? Who should the Mets put in the starting rotation, and who should they put in the bullpen?

Well, we know who will still be a starter at the end of this. Mets ace Johan Santana will be a starter; we all agree on that.

Mike Pelfrey should be good to go; other than Johan Santana he has been the best Mets starter this season.

It becomes a lot less predictable after Pelfrey.

The Mets have five guys going after three spots: Perez, Maine, Livan Hernandez, Tim Redding, and Fernando Nieve.

With all due respect to Perez's left arm, I think he should go to the bullpen. Many people think that his large salary prevents him from being in the bullpen, but why?

Perez is the worst pitcher with a chance to win the fifth spot. I do not know if he would be good in the bullpen for the Mets, but there is only one way to find out.

Manuel has been known to make guys win their spots on the Mets; I hope he does not stop with Perez.

What about Hernandez, where should he go?

Hernandez has been great for the Mets this season. He is 5-3 and has helped the Mets win games. His ERA is 4.04, one of the best on the Mets. There is one big reason to go with him; he is a work horse.

Hernandez is one of those guys that gives you innings. He has 2,644.2 career inning pitched, and this year he is very close to 100 inning pitches.

Maine should join him in the rotation.

Since coming to the Mets, Maine has been very good. He is 30-22 the last two seasons with a ERA under four.

What should Fernando Nieve be?

I think he should be in the rotation. He is 3-0 on the season and has a ERA of 1.31. Nieve has come to the Mets in the right time.

Nieve has been the best starter on the Mets since his first start of the season against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium.

Do not get me wrong, I do not think he will be the next Johan Santana, but I think one of Manuel's best strategies is going with the hot hand. Nieve is the hot hand for now, and until he goes on a cold streak, the Mets should keep him in the rotation.

And who knows, maybe he will end up being a big star.

That leaves Tim Redding in the bullpen.

Why is Redding in the bullpen? There is just no room in the rotation. Plus, New York needs guys in the bullpen now that J.J. Putz is on the DL.

I am not saying he has been good this season; he is 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA. But he is better this season than Perez.

I think the bullpen can help Redding as well. He can become a better pitcher for the Mets when he does not need to go six innings in a row.

Overall, the Mets' pitching rotation is not the best, but it is better then the Phillies.