Bleacher Report - Articles by Ron Ghilino

Rutgers Basketball Is the Lady Knights

Ron Ghilino — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:47:07 -0400

When I began my freshman year at Rutgers, the men's basketball team was fresh off a Final Four appearance and things were looking up for the Scarlet Knights.

Who knew that was going to be a peak that we wouldn't see again for at least 34 years (and counting)? Fortunately, Rutgers fans have an opportunity to see Rutgers women post great seasons year after year.

Coach Vivian Stringer has the ability to motivate her players to be the best they can be on and off the court. This year started very differently and it looked like a classic rebuilding year for the Knights.

With the toughest of schedules facing them and a preseason ranking of No. 2 in the country, great things were expected from Coach Stringer's women. It didn't happen. People questioned the team, the coach, the ranking, and everything about the program. UConn is flying high again and it seemed like a lost season for Rutgers women.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the NCAA Tournament...everything clicked. The team that couldn't shoot straight, box out, or shoot free throws began to do everything right.

Mainly, they learned how to play together with intensity.

All of sudden wildly talented freshmen players figured out how to maximize their skills and bring out the best in seniors Kia Vaughn and Heather Zurich. Epiphany Prince, the teams scoring machine, took it upon herself to be the main ingredient of this group of ladies.

Coach Stringer kept pushing down on the throttle in hopes of driving the Lady Knights deep into the tournament.

Yesterday, it all came together in an absolute trouncing of Auburn. Auburn the SEC champs with a 30-3 record never knew what hit them. The Knight's jumped out to 9-0 lead, scoring off the tap in the first four seconds and they never had to look back. The lead ballooned to 22-4 and Rutgers cruised to an easy victory. Auburn never trailed in a game this year by more than 18 points, but they lost this one 80-52.

Rutgers finds themselves in a bracket that just might lead them to the Final Four. Purdue is up next and then possibly Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. If yesterday is any indication of what we'll see for the remainder of the NCAA's, you would be foolish to bet against the Lady Knights of Rutgers.

Is Fernando Martinez Ready To Start For The Mets?

Ron Ghilino — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:18:22 -0500

Fernando Martinez had been ranked No. 16 on the list of MLB prospects according to ESPN.com. That is down from No. 10 last year.

Fernando has amazing potential and I think it may be time for him to display it at CitiField this year. The Mets are still concentrating on their pitching needs...why not bring Martinez up and let him play?

The big concern in his short career has been injuries. At a similar age, Jose Reyes was injury prone too. Will Tatis/Murphy be a better solution? I don't see Manny in our future either.

Here is a list of the Mets top 5 prospects:

New York Mets
1. Fernando Martinez, RF
2. Wilmer Flores, SS
3. Brad Holt, RHP
4. Jon Niese, RHP
5. Bobby Parnell, RHP

The Mets need to get Fernando Martinez playing for the big club this season.

Keep Johan Santana Out of the World Baseball Classic

Ron Ghilino — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:01:13 -0500

I am not a fan of the World Baseball Classic (WBC). I understand that the WBC was created to drive international interest in baseball. All I can envision is a star player (or any player for that matter) getting hurt in a glorified exhibition game.

Johan Santana wants to play for Venezuela this year. MLB has become so diverse that many players never get to show their stuff for their home country. I understand the desire but disagree with putting yourself at risk for the WBC.

When a baseball player decides to commit to a major league team, for mega-bucks I might add, then that should be their sporting priority. For the length of your contract, you must allow your team to control your baseball life. Cheer for your home country and support those players, but don't give your MLB team grief for telling you to stay home and worry about the team that pays your salary.

The Mets season and future seasons depend heavily on a healthy Johan Santana. He had knee surgery after last season and has been going through intense rehab to be ready for the 2009 season...the 2009 MLB season. It is unacceptable to put yourself in a position that could cause you and your team problems.

Watch it on TV Johan and have a great 2009 for the Mets.

Braves Offer Lowe $60 Million For Four Years, Mets Turn to Perez, Wolf and Pedro

Ron Ghilino — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:42:50 -0500

The Braves pitching situation is so poor that they are willing to overpay for Derek Lowe. That's quite a gamble to take on a 35-year-old pitcher that was never considered a superstar by any stretch of the imagination.

I've read that the Mets have started talking money with Perez which means they probably aren't going to compete for Lowe. I'm just as happy. I think the upside potential of Perez is greater. He is much younger. Plus he is just a scary lefty slinger.

Randy Wolf is out there and can be useful to the Mets if the money isn't crazy.

I'm also hearing Pedro is still in the mix. Omar Minaya says he is in a pool of possible pitchers The Mets are considering. Knowing Pedro's physical issues, we might want to keep him around knowing he'll provide a half season of fairly solid pitching.

Pitchers and catchers report in one month. What will the rotation look like?

Scott Boras Vs. Mets: Who Will Blink First?

Ron Ghilino — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:43:48 -0500

So you see that photo up there? Yep, that's Scott Boras introducing Derek Lowe to the Dodgers. Well, Scott showed up at Citi Field yesterday (fresh from showing off Mark Teixeira) with his bag of tricks. In this case, the bag contained Lowe, Perez, Manny, and other lesser names.

Boras is the highest paid used car salesman in the world. He has the money, time, and guts to wait as long as it takes to squeeze every penny out of the Mets for Lowe. The Mets have kicked the tires, sat in the driver's seat, and looked at the sticker price. With a sneer, the negotiations have begun.

Boras can't lose, by the way...he has Oliver Perez in his back pocket in case he can't move Lowe to the Mets. The Phillies, Braves, or Red Sox are waiting to see what happens.

Omar Minaya is pretty slick himself and he hasn't blinked...yet. The Wilpons and their cash machines (SNY and Citi Field) have some very deep pockets. Scotty knows this all too well.

Last night on the new MLB Network, Al Leiter recommended that the Mets go for Perez. He's younger with more long-term potential. If I were Mr. Leiter today, I would watch my back for even involving himself in a discussion about Scott's clients.

Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, Lowe, somebody else.

Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, Perez, somebody else.

Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, Lowe, Perez...bingo!

Mr. Boras, if the Mets take my advice and spend a ton of dough on both Lowe and Perez...I accept checks or cash.

Top 10 Reasons the New York Mets Need Manny Ramirez

Ron Ghilino — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:19:01 -0500

Omar wants Manny. Mets management doe not. This is not a question of "want," but a question of "need." Do the Mets need Manny Ramirez? Here are 10 reasons I think they do.

1. Power Hitting - I don't need to recite the numbers. Manny can still put up big home run and RBI numbers.

2. Right-Handed Bat - Mets miss Alou in this role.

3. Steal Back Pages from the Yankees - For both good and bad reasons.

4. 1,000,000 Manny Jerseys Sold In One Day - @$85 per.

5. Left Field By Committee - Gone. I like Murphy and Tatis, but Manny in the lineup makes the Mets better.

6. Butts In The Seats - Pay Manny and people will come.

7. The SNY Promo - I can almost see Manny's smiling face.

8. Manny Wig Day - Better than Giambi Mustache Day.

9. Yankees Fans Will Hate Him - You can't deny that this is a positive.

10. Manny Being Manny - Whatever that means.

NFL Calls and Kenny Britt Answers

Ron Ghilino — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:33:40 -0500

College football fans all suffer from the same fear. Your school's football program matures and succeeds, then a top player bolts for the greener pastures of the National Football League.

Rutgers fans felt the pain when Ray Rice decided to leave last year. Now star receiver Kenny Britt is hoping to be a star playing football on Sundays.

The cyclical nature of college football does not allow a fan to truly become attached to a particular player. You know, deep down, that they won't be here for long.

You need to be a fan of the program, a fan of the school and enjoy the present but look to the future.

When Rutgers started the season at 1-5, it was difficult not to think about what might have been if Ray Rice stayed for his final year. I am confident that Rutgers would have played in a really nice BCS Bowl Game with Rice. Maybe the Orange Bowl?

It would have been nice to have Teel-Rice-Britt on the field. It just doesn't work that way. Very few college programs are immune to a bad season or a mediocre rebuilding year. RU ended up having a pretty good season and the fans know it.

What is in store for the Scarlet Knights in '09? There will be a new and inexperienced QB. The running game and O-Line will be strong. The recruiting class looks solid and they need to develop quickly.

The returning receivers are good but small. Who will step up and be noticed? I don't know. What I do know is that all the other teams in The Big East are worried about about the same things. It is college football.

I always tend to look forward to the next season with optimism. It doesn't matter if the season we just played was good or bad...I always hope for better things in the future.

For college football fans, the future is the only place to look. The Rutgers football program has momentum and the future should be bright.