Bleacher Report - Articles by Eric Salomon

Johan Santana and Chan Ho Park Battle; Mets Win 1-0

Eric Salomon — Wed, 06 May 2009 23:23:26 -0400

Wednesday night's game between the Mets and Phillies featured either two outstanding pitching performances or two anemic offenses. Most would agree that exceptional pitching is responsible for the 1-0 win for the Mets over division rival Philadelphia.

Johan Santana and Chan Ho Park battled for 6 and 1/2 innings before the Mets finally broke through with a run on a throwing error by Pedro Feliz.

Delgado scored on a Fernando Tatis single when Feliz overthrew first baseman Ryan Howard with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Santana went seven innings, gave up only two hits, three walks, and struck out 10. He improved to 4-1 on the season and has an ERA of less than 1.

The ace's biggest test came in the third inning when he walked the opposing pitcher and then immediately gave up a single to Jimmy Rollins.

The Mets' No. 1 starter was able to work out of trouble whenever trouble presented on his way to a dominating win.

Chan Ho Park was equally impressive in a game that could decide his future in the Phillies' rotation. Charlie Manuel issued a similar challenge that Mets' manager Jerry Manuel issued to Oliver Perez: perform or go home.

Well, Park performed much better than Perez, who was assigned to the bullpen after Saturday's lackluster performance.

Park one-hit the Mets over six scoreless innings, struck out five, and walked two. He has all but cemented his place in the rotation, at least for one more start.

Besides the Tatis single that scored Delgado, the Mets' only other hit was a Daniel Murphy double in the fifth inning.

The Phillies 4-5-6 hitters were a combined 1-for-12 with eight strikeouts.

The Mets continue to give Santana little support in his outings. If the Mets are going to continue to rise in the standings, their offense will need to support the starting pitchers more runs and give the bullpen the lead.

Pedro Feliciano pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Francisco Rodriguez put the Phillies down 1-2-3 in the ninth inning for his eighth save this season.

The Phillies committed a season-high three errors including two in the sixth inning. They have committed only eight all season.

These teams will play one more Thursday before the Pirates visit Citi Field and the Phillies play host to Atlanta this weekend.

Surprise, Surprise: Rangers Blank Capitals for 2-0 Series Lead

Eric Salomon — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:08:48 -0400

Henrikl Lundqvist put on a one-man show Saturday afternoon and his stage was the Verizon Center. The New York Rangers goaltender saved 35 of 35 shots and Ryan Callahan provided the only goal of the game for a Rangers shutout win.

After plummeting out of playoff contention earlier this year, few expected the Rangers to make the playoffs, let alone win two straight games against a team like the Capitals.

The high-powered offense of the Capitals led by Alexander Ovechkin tagged the Rangers for three goals Wednesday night, but that was not enough as they fell 4-3.

Coming into this series, it was thought that Lundqvist would have to be near-perfect in oder for the Rangers to advance. He was not perfect Wednesday, but could not have been better Saturday.

Callahan's goal came at 7:34 in the first period off of feeds from Markus Naslund and Brandon Dubinsky. Lundqvist faced 13 shots in the first period, 16 in the third, and a mere 6 in the secod.

The next game will be Monday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Sheffield Hits Number 500 In Mets Walk-Off Win

Eric Salomon — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:38:31 -0400

Mets outfielder Gary Sheffield became the fourth-oldest player in Major League Baseball history to hit 500 homeruns on a night when the Mets welcomed former manager Willie Randolph back to New York.

The seventh inning blast tied the score at four runs each before Luis Castillo hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.

Sheffield's 500th homerun, which was also his first hit as a Met, was pivotal to the Mets because it not only tied the score, but also because he hit it as a pinch hitter; proving the Mets can rely on their bench in clutch situations.

He is the 25th player to join the 500 club.

The Mets had an early 3-0 lead in the game, thanks in part to Brewer's pitcher Dave Bush who walked in a run in the first inning; Daniel Murphy scored on the play.

The Brewers took a 4-3 lead when Ryan Braun launched a homerun in the sixth inning.

Sheffield broke into the league with the Brewers in 1988, and has played with a total of eight teams during his career.

His career high for homeruns in a season is 43 with the Dodgers in 2000.

He is an eight-time all-star.

Many baseball analysts say that Sheffield is primed for the Hall of Fame because of his longevity, consistency and his newly acquired membership in the 500 homerun club.

Daniel Murphy: A Sleeping Stud for the New York Mets

Eric Salomon — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:15:00 -0400

The New York Mets' offense was noticeably anemic today in their spring training game against the Atlanta Braves. In their defense, most of the offensive stars are either playing in the World Baseball Classic or did not make the trip to Orlando.

One player, however, had a stellar day at the plate, going 3-for-4, missing a perfect day at the plate in his last at-bat. Daniel Murphy, who played 49 games last season for the Mets, has all but secured the starting left fielder's job. Earlier this spring, Jerry Manuel decided not to platoon him with Fernando Tatis, instead deciding to make Murphy the outright starter.

Murphy seems to be buying into Manuel's new batting drills, which encourage players to aim toward the opposite field. One of Murphy's hits today was to left-center field, and another was straight up the middle.

Murphy leads Met players who have played in at least 10 Spring Training games with a .400 average, 45 at-bats, and 18 hits.

The 24-year-old Murphy was a star in the latter half of last season, earning a .314 batting average, scoring 24 runs, and driving in 17.

He is also an excellent fielder and has added value as a left-handed hitter.

What MLB Teams Can Do in This Struggling Economy

Eric Salomon — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:33:17 -0500

Every industry from banks to hotels to professional sports leagues have been affected by this global economic crisis. So far, only the Arena Football League has been forced to shut down, at least for the 2009 season.

Major League Baseball will be the first league to open a season during what seems to be the worst portion of this recession. The NFL, NBA, and NHL all began their 2008-09 seasons during the very beginning of the crisis.

There are a few things the league and its teams can do to stay afloat and keep fans in the stands.

The first thing would be to rethink which players are worth millions. The teams with the three highest payrolls did not make the playoffs last season (Yankees, Mets, and Tigers. This begs the question, are teams getting the most for their money? The answer is a resounding no.

In the case of the Yankees, I question whether Sergio Mitre deserves a $1.2 million salary. Mitre did not pitch last season, but did go 5-8 with a 4.65 ERA in 2007, when he made $325,000 as a member of the Florida Marlins. Starting pitchers with those kinds of stats do not usually get $1.2 million salaries.

Detroit, a team that finished 14 games under .500 in 2008, has 17 players on its payroll making seven figures.

While a salary cap does not seem likely, as the MLBPA is vehemently against it, teams should work with players whose contracts are expiring to either keep the salary the same or include more performance incentives as opposed to base salaries.

Performance incentives should not be milestones that the player has achieved in the past. Encouraging the player to go above and beyond what they have done in the past will help the player with bonuses and the teams with better production.

There are fans out there who will always buy season tickets. They are willing to sacrifice so much just to have their own seat in the ballpark. For the average fan, however, this kind of investment is just not feasible. Teams must market the baseball experience like other industries market their products.

A successful strategy that has been used in the resort and vacation business is the all-inclusive package. In the care of a luxury resort this includes lodging accommodations, unlimited food and beverages, spa treatments, recreational activities, so on and so forth.

A baseball team could apply this concept and include parking, concession vouchers, and a free gift included with the price of the ticket. While the price would obviously be higher, fans would know how much they are spending before they get to the ballpark.

This psychological phenomenon has been used by a certain theme park company (I won't name names, but it is run by a mouse) for years.

The comfort of knowing how much a certain experience will cost before you experience it is a great incentive to do it.

You are probably wondering why I have not suggested something like cutting the price of concessions. The reason is two-fold.

One, I'm not a communist and teams have a right to charge what they want.

Secondly, most of the food service operations in ballparks are not run by the team. A contractor such as ARAMARK or Sodexho is hired to provide concessions at stadiums.

These contractors in turn have to cover their costs, but most importantly pay a percentage of their sales to the owner of the stadium. In most cases this is the team, the local government, or a combination of both.

A final recommendation I would make to teams is to not build new stadiums, or wait to begin planning to build a new one until we have recovered from this recession. Instead, renovations should be done as needed.

Also, taxpayers will not take kindly to a team that shells out millions of dollars in salaries asking for millions to build a new stadium. Support for capital projects such as stadiums is not high right now as more social programs are becoming necessary.

Baseball survived the Great Depression, two World Wars, a lockout, and has hung in so far during the steroid era. This economic situation is just another challenge America's past time will have to endure.

Rangers Lose Again: Time To Give Up On New York?

Eric Salomon — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:11:34 -0500

Hope seems to be dwindling for a team with so much talent. The New York Rangers lost again Monday night, this time at the hands of the last-place St. Louis Blues. Now 1-4-2 is the month of February, and I am beginning to wonder if it is time for Ranger fans to start thinking about next season.

New York is by no means out of the playoff picture; they currently stand as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. They were, however, leading their division at one point.

The Rangers are 2-6-2 is their last 10 games and have scored only 14 goals over that stretch. The offense is not clicking and the goaltenders have had some embarrassing games recently, including six goals surrendered to the Penguins and 10 to the Dallas Stars.

All cannot be blamed on Henrik Lundqvist and Steve Valiquette, however. They have combined for a 2.79 GAA this season, close to the median for the league.

The Rangers are just two points ahead of Florida and Buffalo, who both sit at 64 points. If New York continues this decline, it could be a matter of days before they fall completely out of the playoff race.

Should the Rangers miss the playoffs, it would be a disappointing end to a season that started off wonderfully for New York. They began the 2008-2009 campaign winning their first five games and achieving a 10-2-1 record for October. They continued with a winning record in November and broke even in the final month of the year.

They did the same in January, and to this point have won only one game in February. Things will not get easier for the Broadway Blueshirts down the stretch. Their last 18 games will be against teams with a combined 334-267-69 record and who average 61 points.

Since 1994, the Rangers have not come close to winning Lord Stanley's Cup. They have not appeared in the finals, or even won their division, since the 1993-1994 season. The closest they have come was a 1997 appearance in the conference finals, which they lost to the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1.

The Ranger organization hopes fans will not give up on the team, but the players have not given fans much reason to celebrate recently. The team lacks a face, a player who first comes to mind when people think of the Rangers. Pittsburgh has Sidney Crosby, Washington has Alexander Ovechkin. New York needs a difference maker, whether they find one from outside or appoint that role to a current player. Something needs to be done.

Breaking Down the New York Mets Projected Lineup

Eric Salomon — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:55:02 -0500

Pitchers and catchers will report in a matter of hours. This means Spring Training and the 2009 MLB season will have begun by the time I wake up tomorrow. I want to share my opinion of what I think the Mets lineup should be, and do a short breakdown of each player.

No. 1—Jose Reyes, SS

The energetic Reyes, without a doubt, sets the tone for the rest of the team. It seems whenever he gets on base, the runs score themselves. Reyes provides production in hitting for average, stolen bases, fielding, and the occasional home run.

One particular area he has improved on over the last few years is the number of walks he earns. In 2005, Reyes played in 161 games, but drew only 27 walks. Last season he drew 66, and 77 in 2007.

The key to Reyes' success is him staying healthy. The last time he missed any significant time was 2006 when he missed 12 games total.

No. 2—Luis Castillo, 2B

For now, Castillo is still the Mets second baseman. Whether that continues until Opening Day is still in question. The 33-year-old missed much of last season with injury, causing the Mets to explore other options at the position.

Quite frankly, I don't think Castillo will be in New York when April comes around, but there are no alternatives for this spot right now.

No. 3—Carlos Beltran, CF

This is where things get tricky. Beltran, Delgado, and Wright will occupy the 3-4-5 spots. The question is, who will fill which spot? Beltran should be in the third slot, because he is a bigger threat for stolen bases, and Wright provides better protection for Delgado.

Beltran has been an outstanding fielder for the Mets, and no one can take that away from him. His batting, however, has been pretty hit-or-miss (no pun intended). Beltran will need to hit for a higher average and more effectively in clutch situations.

No. 4—Carlos Delgado, 1B

Mets fans were delighted to see a resurgent Delgado in August and September of last season. He practically carried the team through those two months. Even though it was not good enough to earn the Mets a playoff spot, their failure to make the postseason cannot be blamed on Delgado.

He put up the type of numbers the Mets organization expected when he was acquired in 2006. Not only did he produce, but he played in 159 games. That type of stamina is what the Mets will be looking for from all of their players in 2009.

No. 5—David Wright, 3B

The face of the franchise should find himself hitting behind Delgado, and if he doesn't, then something is terribly wrong. Delgado needs to get good pitches in order to produce. He does not do well when pitchers try to paint the corners or pitch around him.

Enter David Wright. No pitcher (or manager) is going to want to walk Delgado or give him nothing to hit when the wonder boy, David Wright, is waiting on deck. You know the phrase "Pick your poison?" It was made just for the Mets' 3-4-5 hitters.

No. 6—Ryan Church, RF

A virtual hitting machine before suffering major concussions, Church is eager to get back to playing full-time. 2008 was a very frustrating season for him, never really recovering from a concussion he suffered in Spring Training, and then another one in May.

Church is entering the prime of his career and could be an X-factor for the Mets. He is known for his patience at the plate, drawing 33 walks in just 90 games last year.

No. 7—Daniel Murphy, LF

Murphy is a promising talent at the plate and in the field. In 49 games last season, he averaged .313 at the plate, drove in 17 runs, and scored 24 runs. With more playing time and more exposure to the league's pitchers, Murphy will prove to be a great addition to the Mets organization.

No. 8—Brian Schneider, C

Known more for his defensive skills than offensive prowess, Schneider's contribution to the team is hard to quantify. He handles the pitching staff very well and is nothing short of outstanding defensively. His offensive numbers are respectable for the catcher, and for a No. 8 hitter.

Like most catchers, injury is Schneider's Achilles heel. If you remember, Schneider came over in the same deal that brought Ryan Church to Flushing and sent Lastings Milledge packing (just thought I'd give Omar Minaya a nice pat on the back for that move).

This concludes my preview of the Mets lineup. Like most Mets fans, I will do anything to avoid another disappointing ending.

Rangers Beat Caps in Shootout, Turning Point for Season?

Eric Salomon — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:25:34 -0500

Last night's defeat of the Washington Capitals may have meant more than just the two points. This victory could be a turning point for the Rangers, who have been flirting with mediocrity recently.

Looking to snap a five-game losing streak against the Capitals, the Rangers came out fighting. Less than three minutes into the game Colton Orr and Doland Brashear dropped the gloves. After each was sent to the penalty box, and the puck was dropped again and Aaron Voros went after Matthew Bradley in another duel.

Ryan Callahan got the scoring started at 7:33 off an assist from Lauri Korpikoski.

Despite the strong start, the Rangers went into the first intermission down 2-1.

Korpikoski and Callahan hooked up again in the second period, but this time it was Korpikoski who put a wrist shot by Jose Theodore. Markus Naslund and Paul Mara would each add a goal in the second, but not without the Capitals also scoring two more.

Despite the blazing start by the Rangers and the scoring frenzy in the second, the third period was quiet, especially the Rangers power play unit.

New York had 10 minutes of advantage time in the third period, including a four-minute double minor on Shane Morrisonn, but were unable to score. This will be a critical area of improvement heading into the final twenty-seven games that remain in the regular season.

Overtime was just as quiet as the third period, with no penalties and no scoring, which forced the teams into a shootout.

If there is one area that the Rangers have done especially well in, it is the shootout. Prior to this game the Rangers were 8-3 in shootouts this season.

Nigel Dawes and Ryan Callahan scored in the shootout, while only Alexander Ovechkin could manage to get a shot by Lundqvist.

In front a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden the Rangers accomplished more than just a win. They avenged a December 23rd overtime loss, which they led 4-0 at one point. The Blueshirts also moved into a points tie with Philadelphia, who are listed ahead because the Rangers have more losses.

This win gives the Rangers a much-needed confidence boost, and a renewal of support from their fans. In addition to losing five consecutive games against Washington, New York has also lost five consecutive games overall.

The Rangers have an important weekend ahead, facing eighth place Florida on Friday and division rival Philadelphia on Sunday. Sunday's game will be televised nationally on NBC beginning at 12:30.

Bobby Valentine Goes Undercover

Eric Salomon — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:46:09 -0500

On June 9, 1999 the Mets played an interleague game against the Toronto Blue Jays, which they won 4-3 in 14 innings. During the game Mets manager Bobby Valentine was ejected for arguing with the umpire.

Instead of hitting the showers and watching the rest of the game from the clubhouse, Valentine decided to play dress-up.

Several minutes after being ejected, a man dressed like Groucho Marx wearing a Mets t-shirt emerged from the tunnel in the dugout. A collective look of shame came over Mets fans watching on television when the cameras turned to the end of the Mets dugout.

Valentine obviously wanted to be noticed, sporting thick glasses and a moustache drawn with eye black.

He later said the move was intended to lighten the mood in the dugout, but also said he regretted doing it. Nevertheless, he was fined $5,000 and suspended.

Fortunately for Valentine, the Mets had a successful season that year, gong 97-66 and reaching the NLCS. Had the Mets struggled that season, Valentine most likely would have been let go because of his antics and his inability to get the most out of the Mets' top-notch talent.

Other managers have pulled similar stunts. Tommy Lasorda once reappeared in the dugout during an exhibition game wearing a trench coat and sunglasses. Leo Durocher, after being ejected, once went up to the press box and began heckling the announcers.

This moment was embarrassing for Mets fans, but entertaining nonetheless. In the end it gave baseball fans yet another reason to laugh at the Mets.

New York Mets' Success Hinges on the Bullpen

Eric Salomon — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:58:15 -0500

The past two seasons have been nothing short of a major disappointment for Mets fans and players alike. Missing the playoffs for two consecutive years after having sizable leads in the division left many heartbroken.

That is why the Mets front office made reforming the bullpen priority No. 1 this offseason.

Twenty-nine blown saves is not only unbelievable, it is unacceptable. Had that number been reduced by just two in both 2007 and 2008, the Mets would have made the playoffs and avoided all of the associated embarrassment.

2009 will be different...we hope.

During the winter, the Mets employed addition by addition, and addition by subtraction to enhance their bullpen. The departure of Aaron Heilman was met with nothing but praise by Mets fans. As was the addition of "K-Rod" Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz.

Putz was acquired in the deal that gave Heilman his ticket out of the Big Apple, while Rodriguez was signed as a free agent in December.

The strength of the new Mets bullpen is depth. They have two proven closers in Putz and Rodriguez who will be able to deliver in the later innings.

Feliciano will make most of his appearances during the seventh or eighth inning setting up Putz who will in turn set up Rodriguez. If each pitcher can give one strong inning each outing, the bullpen will be very successful.

Although he has been with the team for three years now, Duaner Sanchez can be viewed as a quasi-addition. He missed much of the last two seasons with injury, but is fully recovered now and will play a critical role in middle relief.

Should a starter run into trouble, Sanchez will be the guy to fill the gap between the starter and Putz and Rodriguez.

A major weakness of the bullpen could be the starting rotation. Besides Santana, who could have easily been a 20+ game winner last season, the starters are not a very consistent bunch. John Maine, Oliver Perez, and Mike Pelfrey have each shown flashes of brilliance and flashes and wretched pitching.

Should these three, who will occupy the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th spots, be unable to go deep into games consistently, the middle relief will be strained.

In his final five starts of 2008, Oliver Perez pitched 3-1/3, 7, 6, 4-1/3, and 5-1/3 innings respectively. Not what you would call consistency. John Maine, whose year was cut short by injury, averaged just 5-2/3 innings in his final 10 starts before being shut down for the year.

K-Rod and Putz are the two go-to guys in the bullpen. In one-run games, especially against division opponents, Jerry Manuel will go to Rodriguez without hesitation. Putz has shined for a mediocre Mariners team. He was 6-1 in 2007 with a 1.38 ERA and 40-for-42 in save opportunities.

Pedro Feliciano will have to show he can contribute on a consistent basis. He has been superb at times at so-so at others. Duaner Sanchez will have to prove his durability, and show he has fully healed from injury.

Since the Mets bullpen has been absolutely putrid in recent years, any change has to be a change for the better. If the offense can produce and the starters are consistent, the bullpen's success will follow, and team success will follow that.

Mets and Citi Deal In Limbo

Eric Salomon — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:43:55 -0500

Conflicting reports came out this morning about the marketing deal that would give naming rights to the Mets' new stadium to Citigroup. ESPN.com reported that Citi is exploring the possibility of backing out of the 20-year, $400 million deal. Monday's Wall Street Journal first reported the possibility of the deal being broken.

A statement released by the Mets organization said that Citigroup has promised to honor its contract with the team. Should the bank decide to back out of the deal, it will likely pay a penalty. A spokesman for the bank reiterated this commitment.

The deal was signed in 2006, but recent concerns about how financial institutions are spending their bailout money have led to the reconsideration of this deal, according to ESPN.com. Citigroup received $45 billion from the federal government. The amount of the deal is less than one one- hundredth of the total bailout amount.

Congressmen Ted Poe (R-TX) and Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) both raised concerns to Citi group about how they would be spending their bailout money.

The Mets have been at the center of this economic mess since it was reported that owner Fred Wilpon had invested in Bernard Madoff's hedge fund. Sterling Equities, the ownership corporation of the Mets, had many investments that were managed by Madoff's firm. Their relationship with Madoff could have cost them $300 million.

Citi Field is set to open in April as the replacement to Shea Stadium.

Cardinals Defense Lets Arizona Down

Eric Salomon — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:41:00 -0500

After Larry Fitzgerald scored a go-ahead touchdown with 2:47 remaining in Super Bowl XLIII, I said to my co-workers watching with me at work, "It ain't over yet." I'm not calling myself psychic or even an expert, but I've been watching football for 20 years, and I know that three minutes is plenty of time for a lot of things to change.

The Cardinals did everything they had to do in the 4th quarter to win the game. The defense pushed the Steelers against their own goal line and forced a safety (albeit on a penalty). The offense then did everything they needed to do to score. Fitzgerald found himself enough real estate to build a second home for himself and Kurt Warner delivered the ball right where it needed to be.

Then, Arizona's defense did everything it needed to in order to lose the game.

The Steeler offensive line is too good, their receivers are too fast, and Ben Roethlisberger is too good a quarterback for defenses to relax or play loose.

What little pressure the Cardinals got on Roethlisberger during the final drive was ultimately contained by the offensive line or evaded by Roethlisberger himself. The secondary did little to help as Roethlisberger led the offense 72 yards in under two minutes, going 6-8 for 83 yards.

That is not to take anything away from Santonio Holmes, who played an outstanding game and won the MVP hands-down. He displayed terrific field presence by knowing where the defenders were at all times and knowing where the sideline was in the most crucial of situations.

In my mind, the Cardinals lost the game just as much as the Steelers won it. The Cardinals defense will need to be much more disciplined if they want to make it to Miami next February. They will also need to convince Kurt Warner to return. It is unclear which will be the bigger task.

Oliver Perez, New York Mets Agree On Three-Year Deal

Eric Salomon — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:17:19 -0500

Several unconfirmed reports have revealed an agreement between the Mets and Oliver Perez on a new three-year contract. Perez won his arbitration case and will make $12 million each year.

Foxsports.com, SI.com, ESPN.com, and ESPN Radio 1050 New York have all reported the signing, but the Mets have yet to confirm.

The 27-year old left hander was 10-7 last season with a 4.22 ERA. At times he has had ace potential, and at other times, he has struggled mightily. Perez rounds out the top four slots in the rotation. Tim Redding, Jonathon Niese, and Freddy Garcia are all potential candidates for the fifth spot.

The deal is pending the results of a physical.

BREAKING NEWS: John Maine, New York Mets Avoid Arbitration

Eric Salomon — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:03:36 -0500

When pitchers and catchers report for duty in two weeks, John Maine will be among those arriving in Port St. Lucie, FL. The 27-year-old right-hander signed a one year contract with the Mets today worth $2.6 million.

Only Pedro Feliciano remains eligible for arbitration.

Maine is slated to be the No. 2 guy in the rotation behind ace Johan Santana. Mike Pelfrey is the only other pitcher with a virtual guarantee to be in the starting rotation.

Over the past two years, Maine has compiled a 25-18 record with a 4.02 ERA. Those numbers, while not what they could be, have been fairly consistent. Consistency is a trait the Mets hope to find in all of their talent this year.

Maine did undergo shoulder surgery after the disappointing conclusion of last season, but it is not expected to affect him. Maine has been throwing in the offseason.

The three expected to compete for the final two spots in the rotation are Tim Redding, Jonathon Niese, and Freddy Garcia. Recent talk about the possibility of seeing Pedro Martinez in a Mets uniform has attracted the attention of the baseball world, and could be a main talking point during the World Baseball Classic. The Classic is scheduled for March 5th to March 23.

SOURCE

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090130&content_id=3785378&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym

All-Star Games: A Thing of the Past?

Eric Salomon — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:56:46 -0500

This past weekend, in addition to being an off week for the NFL, was the NHL All-Star Weekend. The Eastern Conference won the game 12-11 in a shootout. The question here is: who cares?

All-Star games are meant to be showcases of the top players in the league. Over the past decade or so, interest in these games, for all sports, has declined rapidly.

To take hockey as an example, yesterday's game was televised on Versus, a channel that only subscribers to digital cable service can receive. The 2007 game (also televised on Versus) received a lowly 0.7 Nielsen rating.

In football, the NFL recently made the decision to move the Pro Bowl to the Super Bowl host city and hold it the week before the Super Bowl as opposed to the week after. The decision was made after the NFL's executives saw a trend in decreasing viewership.

In my opinion, the coverage of the Super Bowl saturates the sports media to the point where fans are tired of it by the time the game is over. We will see over the next couple of years whether the timing of the Pro Bowl or the extensive coverage of the Super Bowl has more to do with lackluster viewership.

Moving right along, the Midsummer Classic (a.k.a. the MLB All-Star Game) has also seen a negative trend in viewership. This trend, spanning two decades, has seen viewership decrease from 29 million in 1988 to 12.5 million in 2007, a decrease of more than 50 percent.

Baseball is and always will be America's pastime, but the question remains, why are these games becoming less and less popular?

One theory, specifically in baseball, is that the leagues push them too hard and try to make them more than what they are. After the debacle of the 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee, Bud Selig made the decision to have the All-Star Game mean something.

At this point, ratings had already been dropping, and having a baseball game end in a tie almost seemed sacrilegious.

The commissioner announced that the team that winning league of the All-Star Game would have home-field advantage in the World Series. This practice is just wrong at its core. Having the result of and exhibition game impact a meaningful game is irresponsible and wrong.

But I digress.

Here are a list of the policies and rules that make All-Star Games uninteresting:

1) Every team must be represented in the All-Star Game (MLB)

That's all warm and fuzzy, but do the Kansas City Royals or Oakland Raiders really deserve to be represented?

2) Players, coaches, and fans get an equal vote (NFL)

Let's be honest, the game is put on for the entertainment of fans. Whether or not ballot boxes are stuffed is irrelevant. The fans who will take the time out to watch the game are the ones who stuff the ballots anyway.

3) The winning league of the All-Star Game receives home-field advantage in the World Series (MLB)

See above explanation.

4) Not holding the All-Star Game during Olympic years (NHL)

This is one I just don't get. The NHL and the IOC are two separate entities. Why should the activities of one interfere with the activities of the other. The least the league could do is move the date of the game so it doesn't interfere with the Olympics.

5) Playing players for only two innings (MLB)

This isn't a rule as much as it is an annoying custom. Imagine if Pete Rose had only played the first two innings in the 1970 All-Star Game. The world would have been robbed of one of the most self-less plays in baseball history.

Sporting leagues need to reexamine what an All-Star game is. It is an exhibition first and foremost. Secondly, it is a chance for the game to be played for the sake of the game. No rivalries, no personal grudges, just the game.

Finally, the games are supposed to be for fun. Nothing should be determined by their outcome.

Remembering the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers, 15 Years Later

Eric Salomon — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:03:09 -0500

I was five years old when I heard the screams coming from downstairs. After rushing down from our bedroom, my brother and I found my father kneeling on the floor, crying. Nothing was wrong. In fact, everything was right.

It was the evening of June 14th, 1994 and the New York Rangers had just won the Stanley cup for the first time in 54 years. When I turned my eyes to the television, I saw what I think is my first sports memory: Mark Messier jumping up and down. I asked my dad "What happened?" All he could muster was "We won!"

Since that day I have seen the replays of the amazing moments that occurred during the playoffs: Messier delivering on his guarantee, Matteau's goal in double overtime, Richter's save against Pavel Bure, and finally the most beautiful four words ever spoken: THE WAITING IS OVER! Whenever I need a boost, a simple Youtube search for "Stephan Matteau" never leaves me disappointed, neither does "Richter vs. Bure."

This moment in sports is so important to me, because it set in motion my love of sports. Only something as majestic and beautiful as watching a beloved team win a championship could bring a grown man to tears.

Reexamining the roster from the 1994 Stanley Cup Champions leaves me wondering "Why did there have to be so much drama?" Messier, Leetch, Graves, Richter, Kovalev. These are four players that will live forever in Rangers lore. The first four either have been or will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Rangers have not one Lord Stanley's Cup since that June day, but the fans have not been any less loyal. Each game at Madison Square Garden is a sellout: 18,200 fans, not one less. Three of the players from that team have had their numbers retired, and one more will join that club later this month.

For the two months that made up the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs, God was a Rangers fan. How else do you explain Messier's prediction, Matteau's goal, Richter's save, and the fact that Madison Square Garden didn't disintegrate after being completely abused at the conclusion of Game Seven?

Being unable to watch the games on television, I have resorted to checking scores on my cell phone and refreshing the Rangers homepage whenever I can. Being a New York sports fan is a job in and of itself, but it's one I do with pride.

I experienced the same joy my father felt when the Giants won the Super Bowl last February. I too was on my knees in front of the television, crying.

Hockey is definitely not the most popular sport in America. I believe it ranks somewhere behind soccer and curling. In the City of New York, however, hockey is serious business. The City of Columbus would never stop in time if the Blue Jackets one the Cup, neither would Atlanta or Phoenix (no offense to those cities). In New York, for a single moment on a warm June night everything stood still. And everything was perfect.

Should The Giants Keep Plaxico?

Eric Salomon — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:11:23 -0500

Giants fans, like all fans worry about the success of the team, how their players are performing, and what the match ups look like for the next game.

Above all else, they care about the image of the team, and what fans of other teams think of when they think of the Giants.

For the most part, the Giants have not disappointed when it comes to team image. To my knowledge no player has been suspended for steroid use. The team has also been very good at keeping problem players off of their roster, and ridding themselves of distractions (i.e. Jeremy Shockey).

Then came Plaxico Burress.

During his first three seasons with the team, Burress did nothing but impress the coaching staff and fans with his ability to make catches and leap above defenders. He and Eli Manning consistently ranked near the top of the league in many categories including Quarterback to Wide Receiver touchdowns.

Burress's field presence was critical for sideline throws and fade routes, including the one that won Super Bowl XLII for the Giants. He towers above every defender assigned to cover him, making him an easy target for Manning, who can have accuracy problems at times. At the start of the 2008 season, it looked as if he would do the same to lead New York to another Super Bowl appearance.

Then came November 28, 2008

Everyone already knows the details, so specifics will be spared. After shooting himself in the leg Burress was suspended for the rest of the season for "conduct detrimental to the team". If they could have suspended him for stupidity, surely they would have done that too.

So, the question still remains: Should the Giants keep Plaxico Burress? (assuming his next uniform is not an orange jumpsuit). The question here is between results and integrity. Sure fans want the team to succeed, but is success only a win-loss record?

If the Giants care at all about integrity and doing what is right, no matter the consequence, then they should release Burress and let another team deal with him. The Cowboys have a similar issue with Tony Romo and Terrell Owens. Both attract attention from their actions off the field. With all the talent they have, it seems odd that they have not had any recent success in the postseason.

Getting back to Burress, it seems to be that the Giants can win without him. Although they lost four of their last five games this season, their running game and defense are more important to their success than the passing game. And when it becomes necessary to throw more often, they do have the targets to do that with.

Kevin Boss is a significant improvement over Shockey, who could not catch a ball thrown right his numbers.

Amani Toomer is still a gamer even after all these years, and the young guys like Steve Smith and Dominik Hixon are poised to blossom into star receivers.

Burress is expected to be in court on March 31st to enter his plea. It remains to be seen what the Giants will do.

The Presidents and the Games They Played

Eric Salomon — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:48:39 -0500

As Inauguration Weekend comes to a close, I would like to take a moment and reflect on the people who have served as President of the United States. What we sometimes forget is that being President only makes up a small fraction of who a person is.

Athletes and politicians are not always bread from the same kinds of families. There have been a few over the years, however, who have embraced sport and statesmanship.

Barack Obama

The newest of our Presidents also happens to be one of our most athletic. President Obama is an avid fan of basketball and a pretty good player. He played on his high school basketball team in Hawaii and used the game as a way to relax during stressful campaigning.

George W. Bush

A lot of people have a lot of things to say about President Bush's politics. But if you ask me, the worst move he ever made was allowing Sammy Sosa to be traded from the Texas Rangers to the Chicago White Sox (perhaps that was foreshadowing as to who he would hand over power to).

The most recent former president is a dedicated baseball fan who once partly owned the Texas Rangers. He also played on the Yale baseball team. During his presidency, Bush was known to go for long runs and bike rides. It was once reported that he had a resting heart rate of 47, which is very good for a man his age.

Ronald Reagan

The 40th President used his size to his advantage during his athletic years. Reagan played three sports in college (football, track, and swimming). At 6'1", President Reagan was a dominating figure both in the political and athletic arenas.

Gerald Ford

Perhaps the most accomplished presidential athlete, Ford was a standout lineman at the University of Michigan. He won two national championships as a member of the Wolverines and turned down contract offers from the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions after graduation. Ford also excelled in golf, once shooting a hole-in-one at a pro-am.

These are just a few of the men who have served our country as President while enjoying the benefits being an athlete brings.

What the Loss of Steve Spagnuolo Means to the Giants

Eric Salomon — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:58:41 -0500

The most important acquisition the New York Giants had prior to the 2007 season was not a player or draft pick. The hiring of Steve Spagnuolo as Defensive Coordinator had a greater impact on the success of the team these past two seasons than any player.

After spending eight years under Jim Johnson in Philadelphia, Spagnuolo joined the Giants in hopes of transforming a defense that lacked strength in the secondary and relied too much on veteran Michael Strahan.

And that he did.

During the 2007 season, Spagnuolo's defense led the league in sacks and contained the high-powered offense of the New England Patriots to a meager 14 points in Super Bowl XLII. It was this performance by the defense that made Spagnuolo an instant front-runner for vacant head coaching jobs.

Instead of leaving the Giants to coach the Washington Redskins, Spagnuolo decided to return in hopes of winning back-to-back championships. For much of the season, it seemed as if the Giants would have little problem doing so, until the Philadelphia Eagles came to town.

No team gives the Giants more grief than the Eagles, especially this season, and especially at home. The inability of the Giants defense to contain Donovan McNabb, Desean Jackson, and the biggest Giant-killer of them all, Brian Westbrook, led to their early exit from the playoffs this season.

Although Steve could not get that second championship ring, he has brought to New York a new defensive philosophy that Bill Sheridan, new Defensive Coordinator for the Giants, will do well to continue.

Spagnuolo has overseen the development of young stars such as Osi Umenyiora, Kenny Phillips, Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, and others. He allowed the Giants to get back to basics: a solid defense and devastating running game that has proved a successful formula for football teams

That defense has taken the pressure off of Eli Manning and allowed him to make the necessary throws, let the running game work its magic, and allowed the defense to take care of the rest. Although his tenure in New York was short, the impact of Steve Spagnuolo's coaching will hopefully continue in the years to come.

New York Mets Sign Two Players to Contracts

Eric Salomon — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:38:23 -0500

The New York Mets yesterday signed Duaner Sanchez and Jeremy Reed, both to one-year contracts.

Sanchez will make just under $1.7 million in 2009, while Reed's deal is worth $925,000.

Four more player remain eligible for arbitration including Ryan Church, Pedro Feliciano, and John Maine.

Sanchez is a crucial part of the Mets bullpen, and is slated to be a set-up man to Francisco Rodriguez in conjunction with J.J. Putz.

The 29-year old Sanchez went 5-1 with a 4.32 ERA in 66 appearances last season. He has not pitched a full season with the Mets because of nagging shoulder injuries.

Last season, the bullpen was the Achilles' heel of the Mets, converting only 42 of 76 save opportunities. The additions of J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez should help not only the bullpen but the starting rotation as well.

Starting pitchers last year were forced to go an extra inning to keep the bullpen healthy. The opposite will be true this year, as the coaching staff will feel more confident in taking out a starter who is struggling earlier in the game.

Earlier this winter, the Mets rid themselves of two problem relievers: Scott Schoenweis and Aaron Heilman. A couple years ago, Heilman seemed to have the potential to be a solid starter, but could never find the consistency in his mechanics needed to succeed in the rotation. The decision to move him to the bullpen was made, but he never blossomed as a big-moment pitcher.

Outfielder Jeremy Reed, acquired in the same deal that brought Putz to the Metropolitans, is expected to fill the void left by the departure of Endy Chavez. Chavez's, whose biggest contribution to the club was a brilliant, acrobatic catch in the 2006 NLCS that turned out to be a moot point, was also dealt to the Mariners in the off season.

Reed is known more for his defensive ability that offensive might, similar to that of Chavez. He comes with a small price tag and big potential.

Super Bowl XLIII: 12 Days and Counting

Eric Salomon — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:53:51 -0500

Sports' biggest day of the year is a mere 12 days away, and although the hype of the big game is being overshadowed by the inauguration of our 44th President, those of us in the sports community have already begun breaking down the match ups for the 43rd Super Bowl.

The Steelers have the upper-hand in this game. They have a solid defense and a quarterback with Super Bowl success (although we can ask the Patriots how much the latter really matters). What really sets them apart from the Cardinals is an intangible: swagger.

The Arizona Cardinals found their way into the playoffs by playing in worst division in football. They stumbled their way through the last part of the season. That is not to take away from their performance in the playoffs, which has been exceptional. The Steelers, however, have the talent, confidence, and the all-important "swagger" necessary to be a championship team.

If I had to pick one player to build my defense around (assuming this is 2009 and not 1986 when Lawrence Taylor was dominating the gridiron) it would be Troy Polamalu. You can take Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher, but the versatility of Polamalu is something that few players have ever approached. The Pro-Bowler has turned the position of strong safety into a defensive cornerstone.

My prediction: Steelers: 23 Cardinals: 13