Trading Thoughts(and Players)?

     

    The non-waiver Trade deadline came and went this past Friday. There were a lot of deals and no deals. Many teams had many needs, but were their questions really answered? Houston getting Scott Kazmir and Carlos Gomez, Toronto getting David Price and Tulo, or the the Mets getting Tyler Clippard and Yoenis Cespedes, all these teams got a quality hitter and pitcher. Other teams like Kansas City and Washington made upgrades at possible weaknesses, will it work out for everyone Only time will really tell. There are so many things that the trade deadline tells me. 

   The first big trade of the summer was Scott Kazmir going from the A's to the Astros. A few weeks later, the Astros got Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers from the Milwaukee Brewers. It shows a lot of the Astros when it comes to these 2 moves. First of all, after rebuilding through a terrific farm system, they are ready to win now and are confident with their way of play. Second of all, it shows that the Astros are serious about building a contender. Houston fans should be really excited about their team, even if they fall short of the playoffs(they will make the postseason).

   Both the Blue Jays and the Mets showed that they are all in, even if they have "Rent-A-Players." They Mets are more in contention than the Blue Jays, but the Blue Jays are more built to win now. Honestly, I have no problem with what the Blue Jays did, but the main question is whether David Price decides to stay there. My main concern is with the Mets. They desperately need offense, which is why they got Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson, and Yoenis Cespedes. Uribe and Johnson are both role players, but Cespedes is a power hitter that can help make the lineup better. Lucas Duda hit 3 home runs this weekend with Cespedes in the lineup. The main concern with this trade is if they can sign him after the season ends. It is more of a concern if the Mets can sign Cespedes than if the Blue Jays will sign David Price.

    The real question everyone has is what happened to those high and mighty New York Yankees. They are in first place in their division, but in desperate need of starting pitching. Cole Hamels, Johnny Cueto, and David Price were all on the market, but they didn't want to part with their top 4 prospects. If you want my honest opinion, I completely agree with what the Yankees did. We all know how great Price, Hamels, and Cueto are, but the Yankees have finally built up a respectable farm system. They are trying to win now with the intent of getting younger. It does not mean that they will not sign free agents or make trades, it just means that they will be smarter with the way they build their team. For example, the C.C. Sabathia signing was great for them the first 3 1/2 years. The past 2 plus years of C.C. has been wear and tear on his body. Bringing up youth will help the team now and in the future.

   Baseball is a funny game in so many ways.We had a team like the Pittsburgh Pirates, who for 20 years had losing seasons, finally made the postseason 2 years ago. They built through their farm system and are paying major dividends. The Kansas City Royals made it to Game 7 of the World Series. On the other hand, look at the Boston Red Sox. In 2012, they finished in last place in the A.L., but the next year in 2013 they won the World Series, followed by a last place finish. Never underestimate baseball executives and managers on how they run their teams, its all up to the players on how they play.

In Love With the NBA?

                                                      

   Within 3 weeks, the NBA had a Finals that went 6 games, the NBA Draft, and free agency. I know its not as big as the NFL or MLB right now, but what other sport has 3 of its major events so close to each other? Something like that keeps me intrigued in the sport. As David Stern was leaving his post and Adam Silver was beginning, the NBA was really starting to take off again. LeBron James in the NBA Finals 5 years in a row!! San Antonio building on a dynasty. What about Golden State going from the cellar to World Champs in a matter of about 4 years.

    The real frenzy with the NBA really starts with the Finals this year. What a finals it was this season. LeBron vs. Curry. Will Curry keep up his historic run? Can LeBron help a depleted Cavaliers team overcome an unreal Warriors team? All these story lines produced a great series that went to a shocking Game 6. These finals received the highest ratings since Michael Jordan was last in the NBA Finals. Many people started saying how LeBron James should win the Finals MVP, even if he loses the series, I disagreed with everyone. Andre Iguadala was very deserving of the Finals MVP.

    About a week after the NBA Finals, we had the NBA Draft. There was so much speculation in the months leading up to the Draft. Who's going to go first, Karl Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor? What will the Knicks do? There were a bunch of teams with needs, especially to get younger and more athletic. The Lakers, who had the 2nd pick, shockingly picked D'Angello Russell! That was the first surprise of the draft. Not that Russell was not deserving, but everyone thought Okafor would, at most, be the 2nd overall pick. Knicks fans became excited when the Lakers did not pick Okafor, but than Philly decided to go that way. That made no sense to me because the 76ers had already drafted back to back big men before Okafor. Then we have the number 4 pick with the Knicks. Who do they decide to take? Did they take Mudiay? Justice Winslow? Nope, they drafted Kristaps Porzingas! The whole crowd booed at the pick. It looks like it may be the right pick. He played well in the Las Vegas Summer League, but it’s just the summer league. The way to describe that pick is “cautiously optimistic.”
     
  While the NBA Draft is there for teams to get better in the long term, NBA free agency is more about helping right now. This off season was the most anticipated offseason since the summer of 2010. We knew the likes of Marc Gasol, Khawi Leonard, and Dragic Goran were staying with their current teams. What we did know about the likes of Greg Monroe, Lamarcus Aldridge, and Wesley Matthews was that they were on the move, but to where exactly? Everyone thought Monroe was absolutely going to the Knicks, but he ended up going to the Bucks(any shock there?!?!). Most people knew Aldridge was going to choose the Spurs. Where Wesley Matthews was going was up in the air, all though him signing with Dallas was an interesting choice of destination. Now as some of you realize, I left DeAndre Jordan off this list, but why? Well he is a special case.
    
     As everyone knows, when it comes to NBA free agency there is a moratorium. What is a moratorium? It is the time period where NBA free agents can visit teams that are interested in them and the time they can sign their contracts. This year it was a 9 day difference. Many of the free agents who signed with their teams came to verbal agreements. DeAndre Jordan was a special case. He was being courted by his current team, Los Angeles Clippers, the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Lakers. He had came to a verbal agreement with Mark Cuban to sign a max deal with the Mavericks. The Clippers seemed so desperate not to lose him, they decided to go to his house in Houston and convince him not to go to Dallas.
    
   As we all know, he spurned the Mark Cuban and the Mavericks and went back to the Clippers. The sad thing is that he could not even contact Mark Cuban to let him know of his decision. If you decide to have a change of heart that is one thing, but to not let Cuban know of his decision was just wrong. It is the responsibility of at least the agent, if not the player himself, to let the other team know he is not going to play for them. If you want my opinion, I believe that not only was DeAndre Jordan a coward, but so were those that convinced him otherwise. It is the professional thing to do. That is part of being a professional athlete. When a college football or basketball player wants to switch schools/programs, he has to let his current program know, it is the same concept here.
    
   The NBA and the NBAPA have to come to an agreement about getting rid of the moratorium. In baseball, we see that teams have exclusive negotiating rights with their own FA’s for 5 days after the end of the World Series. After those 5 days, they are free to talk to any team the wish. Something similar should be implemented by the NBA. It does not like good from a business standpoint. The NBA is really starting to take off in almost every positive aspect. If they can fix this one problem, it would certainly help more than hurt them.

Triple Crown Baby!!!

  Before I get started on this very special blog post, I would personally like to thank ESPN NY radio hosts Alan Hahn and Rick DiPietro for giving me the chance to go the Belmont Stakes. With that in mind, can anyone believe that history was made yesterday at the Belmont? We had our first Triple Crown winner in 37 years! Not only that, I got to see live and what an experience! 90,000 people there to witness history.

   Believe it or not, people may not consider horse racing a sport, but a lot people consider it a sporting event. Obtaining a the horse racing Triple Crown is a very difficult challenge. American Pharoah was the 12th horse to win the Triple Crown. When I mentioned to a good friend of mine that I was going to the Belmont Stakes, he asked me a very interesting question. What is harder to obtain: Triple Crown in baseball or horse racing? Personally, the horse racing Triple Crown is a more prestige title. I believe the horse racing Triple Crown is harder to obtain.

   As my father and I pulled in on the LIRR to Belmont Park, I could not believe that I could be seeing history. I've never been to a playoff game, but this was like the Super Bowl of horse racing.  The amount of people at Belmont Park was tremendous. At race time, there were a recorded 90,000 people in attendance. Jockey Victor Espinoza had come close to winning 2 other Triple Crowns, 2002 with War Emblem and 2014 with California Chrome. Third time would end up being a charm for him. He will certainly go down in horse racing history for winning 3 Kentucky Derbys, Preakness', and the Belmont Stakes that counted the most!

  It also depends on the trainer, and most importantly the horse themselves. In this case, the horse is who mattered the most. American Pharoah was not considered a favorite in the Kentucky Derby, but going in the Belmont Stakes he showed much better poise. He would end up winning by 5 1/2 lengths, the 4th largest margin in Belmont history. The view my father and I had was unbelievable. Coming down the stretch, we could tell that he was not going relinquish the lead. When he crossed that finish line, myself included, the whole place went crazy. Now I know what it was like during Game 7 of 2003 ALCS, or Super Bowl 42 against the Patriots.

    Being part of history was such a thrill ride. The build up of excitement to the big race was tremendous. While walking around the park, I kept thinking to myself "I could see history." History was made, history was seen live, and it could not have been better. A lot of great memories happen in New York, or with New York sports team. This was no exception. Experiencing this event is something I will never forget. Thank you American Pharoah, ESPN NY radio, and Hahn and Humpty for giving me such a great experience!
 

What Is Failure in Sports?

 

   While listening to the Michael Kay Show this week, they were talking about a topic that inspired this week's blog post. The past few days leading up to the Rangers Game 7(which they lost), Michael Kay asked " If the Rangers don't win the Stanley Cup, is their season a failure?" Michael Kay said absolutely it would be failure, Don La Greca and Dave Rothenberg both said it would be considered a success. If you want my honest opinion, it all really depends on the sport and team. What do exactly do I mean?

     Let's start this out, I am a huge a Yankees Fan. As a Yankees fan, it's like Michael said, "Championship or Bust" if they don't win the World Series. With that in mind, baseball varies when it comes to this topic. There are really only 2, maybe 3 teams, if they don't win the World Series it's a failure. The Yankees, Dodgers, and Cardinals fall under "Win or fail" concept. The Yankees and Cardinals fall in this category for a different reason than the Dodgers. Both the Yankees and the Cardinals are known for winning. By a wide margain, the Yankees have the most World Series victories in baseball history. When George Steinbrenner bought the team, he really set up a high standard. The Cardinals, however, have the second most World Series victories. St. Louis has such a rich history of winning, even if it is just the pennant.
 
   The Dodgers are in category of "Championship or Bust"(even though you can throw the Yankees with them too). With a record setting payroll of 290 million dollars, the Dodgers have put together a superstar team. Last year, they were expected to at least make it to the World Series, but didn't make it out of the first round.

    Baseball is very weird when it comes to success and failures. For 20 consecutive seasons, the  Pittsburgh Pirates had a losing season. Finally, in 2013, they broke the barrier and had a winning season. Not only did they win 94 games, but they made it to the playoffs. The did not win the World Series that year, but by no means do I consider that season for the Pirates a failure! It was considered a successful season for them. Last year, the Kansas City Royals had a winning season and made it all the way to Game 7 of the World Series. Even though they lost, I feel that for the Royals it was a successful season. They had not made it to the playoffs in 30 years.

  In football, success and failure are measured similarly to baseball. How so? For the past 13 years, teams like the Patriots, Colts, Broncos, and Packers have been expected to win every year. It's a failure of a season if they don't win the Super Bowl.  The Patriots are the most recent dynasty in football. When they lost both Super Bowls to the Giants, it was considered a failure for them.  During the 90's, it was on the Cowboys, the same with the 49ers in the 1980's.
  
    On the contrary, there are teams like Detroit Lions, New York Jets, or Cleveland Browns that a successful season will include a winning season, making it to the playoffs, or just improving on wins. I like to compare the Lions to the Pirates. They both had multiple losing seasons, before having a winning season and making it to the playoffs. A lot of the time, team management, ownership, or the media of that market, puts so pressure on their teams to "Win It All."

   Basketball is very different. Basketball success or failures fall on the superstars. If you look at it, many people are talking about how Lebron made it 5 consecutive finals, not the Heat. Like every other sport, basketball has its royalty with the Lakers and Celtics, but basketball is more about the superstar than any other sport. If Lebron does not win the Championship this year, it will be a failure for him. When Michael Jordan made it to the Finals, it was the same concept. People compare Lebron James to Michael Jordan, which is a bit unfair. Lebron's career is not over yet and still has a lot to play. If someone wants a failure in the NBA look at Carmelo Anthony. He has great ability and talents to play the game, but has never made it to an NBA Finals. Tim Duncan, Shaq, and Kobe Bryant are all not failures.

  Everyone has their own opinions about what a failure is with sports. No one will every have a definite answer. The one thing everyone will agree with is that a successful season is when your team wins it all. Many athletes have individual success and failures, but a teams success and failures all vary. Let's hope we have more stories like the Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

What A Cheating Tom!!!

                    

    I am back!!!!! I am sorry a for such a long absence to all my readers and viewers!! Lets get rolling! A lot has happened in the world of sports. Honestly, there's so much to talk about, it was hard for me to thing whats the best way to break myself back in to everyone. Between two men name Alex and Tom, it was hard to decide which one of these fellas I should talk about first. Leading off is my good friend and Super Bowl prey, Tom Brady. Ever since "Spygate" became public knowledge, it made something perfectly clear to me, no one the Patriots staff really likes doing any kind of homework. "Spygate" was the teacher giving some of the students the answers. "Deflategate" was the student asking the teacher to go the bathroom and writing down the answers on his arm.

   I'm here to tell you that "Deflategate" is worse than "Spygate" and that Tom Brady is worse than Alex Rodriguez(who I am not fan of what he did). When "Spygate" happened, it altered the way a team played the game of football. Players and personnel knew what was to come in the game. It really affected more the signal calling the anything else. "Spygate" is really bad because it seemed to have help the Patriots win multiple Super Bowls. By all means, Spygate up there as one the top sports tragedies of all time, but Deflategate is by far worse.

   Before I write any of my posts, I make sure to always do my research. In this case, after carefully reading, listening, and watching to what professionals have to say, Ted Wells only needed 50.1 percent probably cause to write what he wrote in his report. Let me tell you why Ted Wells has way more convincing evidence that Tom Brady is guilty of not only cheating, but altering the game of football.

   In the report, it brings down conclusive evidence that the equipment manager and his assistant are guilty. The text message conversations alone show that they are guilty, as is Brady. Which brings me to my next point. Tom Brady, who supposedly was "very cooperative" with the investigation, did not hand them over any emails, text messages, or phone records. If he was innocent than why not turn any of that over. In the phone records that the equipment personnel handed over, it shows that they have over an hour conversation with Brady.

   Do you want to know why Tom Brady is worse than Alex Rodriguez? We all know that A-Rod is guilty for his double steroid use and as a Yankees fan I will never forgive him, but he only changed the way he played. He never affected the team or players around him. The 3 years he was on the Texas Rangers, they were all losing teams, with him clearly as their best player.

   Tom Brady deflating the ball not only makes it easier for him throw, but easier for his wides receivers to catch the ball and running backs to have a better grip while running with the ball. How many people  think that their nearly perfect season in 2007 could have been helped by deflated balls? By all means, I am not discrediting Tom Brady as a top flight quarterback. When his career is over, I think the writers should decide if he deserves to be in the Hall Fame. If none of this ever surfaced, I would 100 percent say put him in the Hall of Fame. Pete Rose and Tom Brady scenarios are similar. They both did illegal things to "benefit" there team, but why is Pete Rose banished and Tom Brady only getting 4 game suspension? I will tell you why!! That's because Tom Brady will get punished after his career is over, when his hall of fame induction will be delayed!!!

Black History Month

   As we all know, February is Black History Month. In sports, there has been so much controversy when it came to allowing African Americans integrate in to the major sports, especially baseball. The most famous is case is with Jackie Robinson. What many people do not realize is some of the best athletes of all time are African American. If you want perseverance look at Jackie Robinson or Muhammad Ali, they became big in time were they were given so much trouble. Today, people are not under the same scrutiny they went through over 50 years ago.

    Before 1947, African American baseball players strictly played in the "Negro League." Then Branch Rickey, general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, comes along and signs Jackie Robinson to a contract. On April 15th, 1947, he became the first African American to play in the Major Leagues. He had went through hell that entire season. At least he was not alone, over in the American League Larry Doby became the first African American to play in the league. It showed strength, courage, and intensity to overcome what they went through. I like to think that they helped pave the way for Hank Aaron, who would become the all time Home Run leader.

    Baseball was not the only sport which African American athletes had problems. Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson set standards for the boxing world in the 1930's and 40's. If it were not for them, the likes of Muhhamed Ali, Joe Fraizer, and Sugar Ray Leonard would not have made it. Sugar Ray Robinson never succumbed to the mob, it paid off immensely as he received many title matches. The "Rumble in the Jungle" took in place in Zaire. It was the first All African-American boxing match to be fought in the African continent. Muhammad Ali was a heavy underdog, but came back and won the match.

   The same way musicians fight certain fights through their music, athletes have the same concept. Jackie Robinson always did his work on the field. When he retired, people respected him more than when we first started playing. Muhhamed Ali showed it differently. Not only did he build up a great reputation in the ring, he stood up for what he believed in. When he dodged the draft, people saw that he was making a statement. If it was not for Jackie Robinson, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Muhhamed Ali, then we do not how African American athletes would fair today in their respective sports. Let's just take a few minutes to understand how people paved the way for future generations.

Super Mismatch? 49

   

   When Super Bowl comes to mind, what do you think? Halftime show? The commercials? Especially if my team(the Giants) are in it, I want an excellent and close game. Honestly, when people asked me who I was routing for in Super Bowl 49, I told them I can care less. I disliked the Seahawks and hated the Patriots. By default, I was going for the Seahawks. After watching the game with my son(his first Super Bowl), a few things came to my mind.

   Let's rewind! Many people are saying that Pete Carroll made the worst call in Super Bowl history. To be quite honest with you, it wasn't the greatest call, but the Patriots also had pretty good coverage on the play as well. Everyone should be giving credit to Bill Belichick for having great coverage. Belichick even came to Carroll's defense saying that this criticism of Carroll is undeserved. Yes, I agree that they should have given it to Lynch to run it in, but that does not mean Carroll was wrong to make it a passing play.

   If it was not for a miracle catch by Jermaine Kearse, then the Seahawks never would have been in position to win the game. People are so focused how Carroll blew it, what if they won? Would they have blamed the Patriots for bad coverage on the Kearse play? After watching that play, I was thinking David Tyree all over again. Anyone not paying close attention to Tom Brady's expression, it was priceless. Kearse made a "Willie Mays" type of catch.

   As the Patriots marched down the field twice to take the lead, I thought that this Seattle defense is not the defense of Super Bowl 48. Maybe they actually got lucky against Green Bay. Granted they were suffering from health issues, it was supported to be deep enough not to worry about. As good as Tom Brady has been, the Seattle defense is supposed to be much better. An unreal defense should shut down a great offense, like last years team or the 2000 Ravens.

   In all, this years Super Bowl was exciting and fun to watch. It was the two best teams in the league. In my opinion, it was really a mismatch. As good of a game as SB 49 turned out to be, it wasn't an eye for eye game when it came to its players vs. player matchups. If you wanted that, it should have been Green Bay vs. Baltimore in the Super Bowl. That would have been a unreal game. Let's see what happens with the Golden Super Bowl next year.