Just some random thoughts on the world of sports.
Now that the NFL season is over I don't think we will see a better end zone celebration than this:
Congrats to Michael Boley of the New York Giants for winning this year's Sportsaholics Anonymous TD celebration award.
A few weeks later the Giants Corey Webster would accidently slug a Patriots security guard after missing an interception. That can be seen here:
Nice to see there were no hard feelings. I could swear I remember seeing a Giants player slug a security guard who was standing behind the goalposts after a TD too but I guess I must be mistaken.
Anyway, Manny Ramirez is back in the news. Well, let me rephrase that, ESPN is putting Manny Ramirez back in the news. In a recent interview with the sports giant, Ramirez stated that he wanted to make a comeback to be a good role model for his children. He said he didn't want to leave them with the impression that when things get tough you quit. Instead, I'm guessing he wants to make sure that they understand when the going gets tough you cheat. Then you quit. Then you change your mind and try to make a comeback. Really, who will give Man-Ram the time of day? MLB pitied him and only levied a 50-game suspension on him instead of the 100-game one he should be serving. Why would anyone take a chance on a washed-up mental case who has been officially caught cheating 2 times and 1 time unofficially? He can't play defense and when he could he didn't want to. I'm sorry Man-Ram, baseball has left you behind and rightfully so. Bye. No, Manny, seriously. Bye.
I have watched enough of Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith to make me sick. OK, so one can get sick if watching for more than a few minutes, I realize that. However, I am a little annoyed at Stephen A. Smith and his hatred of Tim Tebow. I don't understand why Smith hates Tebow so much? Is it because Bayless likes him or is there some other motive? If Tim Tebow were black would Smith like him and Bayless hate him? Although, to Bayless' credit he did think the Eagles were better with Vince Young under center. Nobody said Skip was smart. But, I can't help but wonder if discrimination plays a part in their minds. Of course, neither will admit it if it were the case. It's just a thought.
The New York Rangers are sending Henrik Lundqvist, Dan Girardi, and Marian Gaborik to the NHL All-Star Game. Personally, I would throw in Michael Del Zotto and Brad Richards too. Maybe Ryan Callahan as well. Anyway, nice to see some Rangers get some love.
There were rumors swirling last night that Scott Boras met with Hal Steinbrenner to discuss Edwin Jackson. Before Yankee fans get all crazy allow me to point out that while Jackson is just 28 years-old he is not worth a five-year deal which is what many think he is pursuing. He also isn't worth $14 million a year. The Yankees have stayed quiet all winter long and with good reason. A pitcher that makes, say $13 million will actually cost the Yankees $17 million or so because of luxury taxes. That means the Yankees better think good and hard about anyone they bring in. Is Edwin Jackson a huge upgrade over anyone they already have? If so, by how much? Is Hiroki Kuroda worth $16 million for one year?
If the Yankees truly want to make a pitching splash they can wait until next year when Cole Hamels becomes a free agent. Though, Hamels is reportedly being offered a one-year extension by the Phillies. I honestly don't see the Yankees breaking the bank for anyone. Hell, they could technically go out and get Prince Fielder and plug him at DH and trade Jesus Montero and Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances for an ace. That isn't cost-wise though. Montero will make less than $1 million and in the future when Tex, A-Rod, and Montero are all DH types where are you going to play these guys. Pipe dreams are nice but they usually don't escape to see the light.
A realistic scenario for the Yankees would be to sign Jackson to a one-year deal. Maybe a two-year deal. In two years the Yankee rotation will be in need of an overhaul anyway.
My next post will be about the hilarity that was the 2001 NBA Draft. Man, I bet some teams wish they could have a do over.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The New York Giants: Strength Through the Draft
My last article focused on the New York Jets and how a lot of their problems stem from poor drafts. Now, I'm going to take a look at the New York Giants and how they have fared through the Draft since 2000. I'll be going a bit more in-depth here with the Giants because its my blog and I'm a Giants fan. There, I admit it.
The 2000 Giants were a team on the rise. They would make a Super Bowl in 2000 and get trounced by the Ravens. However, the Giants drafting has been pretty decent in the years following. Let's take a look:
The 2000 Draft was probably one of the worst in recent memory, if only because the 2000 Draft was pretty crappy in general. Still, high expectations came with First Rounder Ron Dayne who was coming off of a Heisman Trophy season at Wisconsin. Dayne was supposed to bring smash-mouth football back to the Meadowlands. Dayne had a decent rookie year, pairing with Tiki Barber to form the Thunder and Lightning combo that helped the Giants to the 2000 Super Bowl. Still, Dayne never lived up to the expectations that came with his trophy and he was gone after a few years. Second Round pick Cornelius Griffin, 4th Round pick Brandon Short, and 6th Round pick Dhani Jones have had decent careers in the NFL but nothing to write home about. Jones is probably most famous for his television show than his football work but he might have had the best career of all of the players the Giants drafted.
The 2001 Draft is noted for the Giants using their first two selections on cornerbacks. Will Allen showed blazing speed and some decent cover skills, but again, he never lived up to the expectations. Allen was a pretty good corner but nothing more. Will Peterson, now known as Will James, showed a lot of promise but injuries derailed his career. Nobody else the Giants drafted that year really made much of an impact in the NFL. Jesse Palmer is the most notable name in the group and he is now doing analysis on College Football after his stint on ABC's The Bachelor. Hardly a Draft worth writing home about. OK, maybe this was worse than the 2000 Draft.
The 2002 Draft brought in Jeremy Shockey, 3 borderline linebackers, and nobody else of note. Shockey emerged as one of the NFL's best tight ends before wearing out his welcome in New York a few years later. Still, they got a few Pro Bowl seasons out of him and the linebacker fodder filled in when injuries hit the Giants pretty hard. The Giants of these years were trying to rebuild on the fly, something that is pretty hard to do in any sport.
The 2003 Draft showcased one of the worst 1st Round picks in recent memory in William Joseph who was taken with the 25th pick in the Draft. Joseph never lived up to expectations. Osi Umenyiora was taken with the 56th overall pick. Umenyiora has recorded 69 sacks since becoming a Giants and helped the Giants win the Super Bowl in 2007. He is part of a long list of 2nd round success stories for the Giants, joining Amani Toomer and Tiki Barber among others. Also taken in the 2003 Draft was David Diehl in Round 5, David Tyree in Round 6, and Kevin Walter in Round 7. Diehl has been a staple on the Giants offensive line for several years now. Tyree was a Special Teams standout and who can forget his catch in the Super Bowl? Walter didn't do much with the Giants but has been a pretty good player for the Texans as a receiver and special teams returner. Walter is evidence that the Giants do their homework on later round players. (Disclaimer: A lot of teams do their home work on late round picks, just using Walter as an example for the Giants.)
The 2004 Draft is probably the most infamous of all the Giants Drafts and was GM Ernie Accorsi's last with the Giants. 2004, as you may remember, is when Eli Manning went #1 overall to the Chargers. The Giants wanted Eli and Eli wanted the Giants. With the #4 pick in the Draft, the Giants selected Philip Rivers and traded him, and a couple of other picks to San Diego for Eli. Eli is on pace to shatter every Giants passing mark, has a Super Bowl MVP under his belt, and almost passed for 5,000 yards this past season. The Giants second pick in this Draft is just as good as their first (see Giants 2nd Round successes) because they took guard Chris Snee with the 34th overall pick. Snee is the leader of the offensive line for the Giants and is a Pro Bowl type player. In the 7th Round, the Giants drafted Derrick Ward> ward was mostly a filler player for the first few years of his career before he exploded for 1,025 yards and a 5.6 yard per carry average in 2007. Ward hasn't been nearly as good since leaving the Giants but they got a quality season out of Ward who was a 7th rounder.
The 2005 Draft was the year the Giants had only 4 total draft picks because of the Eli trade. However, of those 4, the Giants nabbed Corey Webster in the 2nd Round, Justin Tuck in the 3rd, and Brandon Jacobs in the 4th. When you can grab an All-Pro defensive end, a starting corner, and a 1,000 yard running back in the same draft you must be doing something right. This was GM Jerry Reese's first draft and he came away with an A+ rating.
The 2006 Draft saw the Giants take Mathias Kiwanuka with the 32nd overall pick. Many people scratched their heads afterall the Giants already had Tuck and Umenyiora at defensive end. Well, Kiwanuka has developed into a pretty good linebacker who can line up at DE and get to the QB when needed. Injuries have hurt his career track but he figures to be in the Giants plans for years to come. Second Rounder Sinorice Moss didn't pan out and barely saw the field. He was the complete opposite of his brother Santana. Fourth Rounder DT Barry Cofield was a very nice pick. Cofield left as a free agent prior to this season, taking his services to Washington but Cofield did help solidify the middle of the Giants line. Fifth Rounder Charlie Peprah had a breakout year this past season with 5 INT's and 69 tackles. However, those picks and tackles came while he was wearing a Packer uniform. Again, a serviceable player taken in the later rounds.
The 2007 Draft might be one of the best in recent history. Why? Well, First Rounder Aaron Ross has been a solid corner in the NFL though he looks like he might not be re-signed this offseason. Second Rounder WR Steve Smith set the Giants single season receptions record with 107 in 2009 (another second round find!). Jay Alford, taken in the third round, had a couple of good years but injuries robbed much of his playing time. Fourth Rounder Zak DeOssie has been the Giants long-snapper and backup linebacker since being drafted. Fifth Rounder Kevin Boss was a favorite target for Eli until he left as a free agent prior to this past season, getting a pretty big contract with Oakland. In the 7th Round, the Giants took a little known running back with some personal problems named Ahmad Bradshaw. Bradshaw is currently the Giants starting running back. He is also the third running back taken by the Giants that has put up a 1,000 yard season.
The 2008 Draft wasn't too bad either. The Giants tapped Kenny Phillips with their first selection. Phillips has dealt with injury problems to his knees in recent years, robbing him of a lot of the potential he possessed. However, Phillips is still a very good safety and he did have 4 picks this season. Second round pick Terrell Thomas was considered the best corner on the team going into this season. However, he went down for the year with an ACL injury. Thomas figures to be healthy for 2012 and should regain his spot as the Giants best corner (no offense to Corey Webster). Mario Manningham was the Giants third round pick and he has been an excellent receiver who has scored 18 touchdowns and amassed over 2,000 yards receiving. Jonathan Goff was taken in 5th Round and was slated to be the Giants starting middle linebacker before going out for the season with injury in the preseason. Goff should resume his duties at the MLB spot next season.
In 2009, the Giants drafted Hakeem Nicks to help offset the loss of Plaxico Burress who shot himself in the leg in a nightclub and then went to prison on a firearms charge. Nicks, when healthy, has been a go-to guy for Manning and he continues to emerge as one of the better receivers in the league. In the second round the Giants reached on linebacker Clint Sintim, another linebacker who hasn't lived up to expectations and has battled injuries. They also nabbed Will Beatty, who was the starting left tackle before being lost for the rest of the season after suffering a detached retina against the Eagles. Beatty has shown a lot of promise in his young career and he should be healthy and ready to go for next year. Tight End Travis Beckum, taken in the third round, hasn't lived up to expectations but has shown some flashes. Ramses Barden, another wide receiver who was drafted to help replace Plaxico, also has not lived up to expectations.
The Giants 2010 Draft produced Jason Pierre-Paul in the First Round, who led the Giants in sacks this past season with 16.5. Starting defensive tackle Linval Joseph was taken in the second round. Third Round pick Chad Jones was a player the team had high hopes for but he was injured in a car accident that nearly took his life. He continues to rehab with the hopes of one day getting back on the field. If he does that can only be a plus for the Giants. Phil Dillard and Mitch Petrus were taken in the 4th and 5th rounds respectively. Dillard is nothing more than a backup and Petrus was on the inactive list much of this year. However, Petrus was tabbed to start a few games for the Giants after injuries decimated the o-line and he performed very well.
It is way too early to judge the 2011 Draft but every player the Giants drafted made the team, with the exception of second rounder DT Marvin Austin who was lost to injury. Austin was a bit of a gamble because he didn't play his last season at North Carolina due to eligibility issues. Oh, hell, who am I kidding, the guy broke NCAA rules. Still, he has loads of talent and he will be counted on to help anchor the Giants defensive line in the future. First Rounder Prince Amukamara is a cornerback and going into this season the Giants already had three corners that were taken in either the first or second round. They lost Thomas to injury so taking Amukamara didn't seem like a bad idea. Then Prince went down with a broken foot and he was behind the learning curve already because of the lockout. Still, going into the Draft, Amukamara was considered the best cover corner in the entire Draft and the Giants picked him up with the 19th pick. Linebackers Greg Jones (6th Round) and Jacquin Williams (6th Round) have had to fill in as starters at times after the Giants linebacking corps was hit hard by injuries. Both have made some big plays as well as made some rookie mistakes. However, considering they were 6th round choices, the Giants seem to have found some good players who should at least serve as capable backups, or maybe even improve into very good linebackers. Only time will tell. The Giants other 6th Round selection was Tyler Sash, a safety who has shined on Special Teams. Fourth Round selection, OT James Brewer, is a project but the Giants believe he can become a very good offensive lineman in the near future. Jerrel Jernigan and Da'Rel Scott are both speedsters. Scott showed some flashes during the preseason with his ability to break out a big run but got into Tom Coughlin's doghouse with his fumbling. Jernigan was a bit of a reach for a 3rd rounder but the Giants see a Special Teams player who can help stretch defenses with his speed at WR. He better improve next season or he will not be a Giant much longer.
The point of this post was to point out how many starters the Giants have gotten in the Draft. There really hasn't been a huge free agent splash in recent years, not since Antrel Rolle signed a couple of seasons ago. Most of the Giants players come to the team from the Draft or are rookie free agents. WR Victor Cruz and LB Mark Herzlich both came to the Giants in this manner. Also, RB Ryan Grant was another undrafted free agent who has gone on to a pretty good career in Green Bay as their feature back. The Giants QB was acquired through a Draft-day trade. Both of their feature running backs came in through the Draft. Their top three wide receivers were either drafted or signed as rookie free agents. Their offensive line was built primarily through the draft. Three All-Pro defensive ends were drafted. Four cornerbacks and one starting safety were drafted. All of their linebackers are homegrown. One of their starting defensive tackles was drafted. Their starting tight end, Jake Ballard, was signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 Draft. Fullback Henry Hynoski was an undrafted free agent signed after the Draft this past season.
The list goes on. Giants GM Jerry Reese believes in building through the draft and supplementing his players with a small sampling of free agents like Chris Canty, David Baas, and Antrel Rolle. The majority of this Giants team has grown up under Tom Coughlin's regime and have been integrated into the Giants framework since their first days in the NFL. Most NFL teams are like this. When compared with the Jets, one can see a huge difference in homegrown players. The Jets, for example, feature a team mostly built around free agency or through trades. Building through the draft offers a lot more flexibility than through free agency. For one, the players are younger and cheaper and grow up in the system. Free agents come from a variety of different systems and might not be as productive, or are content just collecting a paycheck as has happened in the past.
Are the Giants the best team in the NFL? No. I'm not saying that. However, the Giants wouldn't have won their Super Bowl in 2007 or made the playoffs this year if it hadn't been for strong drafts in recent years. The Packers are another example of a team that has built itself through the draft and complimented those players with a sprinkling of free agent signings. The Giants, so long as Jerry Reese is GM, will always look to the draft before free agency. This is one major reason the Giants have made the playoffs, and won 10 games last year (even though they missed the playoffs it is hard to be upset at a 10 win season). The Draft is the thing.
The 2000 Giants were a team on the rise. They would make a Super Bowl in 2000 and get trounced by the Ravens. However, the Giants drafting has been pretty decent in the years following. Let's take a look:
The 2000 Draft was probably one of the worst in recent memory, if only because the 2000 Draft was pretty crappy in general. Still, high expectations came with First Rounder Ron Dayne who was coming off of a Heisman Trophy season at Wisconsin. Dayne was supposed to bring smash-mouth football back to the Meadowlands. Dayne had a decent rookie year, pairing with Tiki Barber to form the Thunder and Lightning combo that helped the Giants to the 2000 Super Bowl. Still, Dayne never lived up to the expectations that came with his trophy and he was gone after a few years. Second Round pick Cornelius Griffin, 4th Round pick Brandon Short, and 6th Round pick Dhani Jones have had decent careers in the NFL but nothing to write home about. Jones is probably most famous for his television show than his football work but he might have had the best career of all of the players the Giants drafted.
The 2001 Draft is noted for the Giants using their first two selections on cornerbacks. Will Allen showed blazing speed and some decent cover skills, but again, he never lived up to the expectations. Allen was a pretty good corner but nothing more. Will Peterson, now known as Will James, showed a lot of promise but injuries derailed his career. Nobody else the Giants drafted that year really made much of an impact in the NFL. Jesse Palmer is the most notable name in the group and he is now doing analysis on College Football after his stint on ABC's The Bachelor. Hardly a Draft worth writing home about. OK, maybe this was worse than the 2000 Draft.
The 2002 Draft brought in Jeremy Shockey, 3 borderline linebackers, and nobody else of note. Shockey emerged as one of the NFL's best tight ends before wearing out his welcome in New York a few years later. Still, they got a few Pro Bowl seasons out of him and the linebacker fodder filled in when injuries hit the Giants pretty hard. The Giants of these years were trying to rebuild on the fly, something that is pretty hard to do in any sport.
The 2003 Draft showcased one of the worst 1st Round picks in recent memory in William Joseph who was taken with the 25th pick in the Draft. Joseph never lived up to expectations. Osi Umenyiora was taken with the 56th overall pick. Umenyiora has recorded 69 sacks since becoming a Giants and helped the Giants win the Super Bowl in 2007. He is part of a long list of 2nd round success stories for the Giants, joining Amani Toomer and Tiki Barber among others. Also taken in the 2003 Draft was David Diehl in Round 5, David Tyree in Round 6, and Kevin Walter in Round 7. Diehl has been a staple on the Giants offensive line for several years now. Tyree was a Special Teams standout and who can forget his catch in the Super Bowl? Walter didn't do much with the Giants but has been a pretty good player for the Texans as a receiver and special teams returner. Walter is evidence that the Giants do their homework on later round players. (Disclaimer: A lot of teams do their home work on late round picks, just using Walter as an example for the Giants.)
The 2004 Draft is probably the most infamous of all the Giants Drafts and was GM Ernie Accorsi's last with the Giants. 2004, as you may remember, is when Eli Manning went #1 overall to the Chargers. The Giants wanted Eli and Eli wanted the Giants. With the #4 pick in the Draft, the Giants selected Philip Rivers and traded him, and a couple of other picks to San Diego for Eli. Eli is on pace to shatter every Giants passing mark, has a Super Bowl MVP under his belt, and almost passed for 5,000 yards this past season. The Giants second pick in this Draft is just as good as their first (see Giants 2nd Round successes) because they took guard Chris Snee with the 34th overall pick. Snee is the leader of the offensive line for the Giants and is a Pro Bowl type player. In the 7th Round, the Giants drafted Derrick Ward> ward was mostly a filler player for the first few years of his career before he exploded for 1,025 yards and a 5.6 yard per carry average in 2007. Ward hasn't been nearly as good since leaving the Giants but they got a quality season out of Ward who was a 7th rounder.
The 2005 Draft was the year the Giants had only 4 total draft picks because of the Eli trade. However, of those 4, the Giants nabbed Corey Webster in the 2nd Round, Justin Tuck in the 3rd, and Brandon Jacobs in the 4th. When you can grab an All-Pro defensive end, a starting corner, and a 1,000 yard running back in the same draft you must be doing something right. This was GM Jerry Reese's first draft and he came away with an A+ rating.
The 2006 Draft saw the Giants take Mathias Kiwanuka with the 32nd overall pick. Many people scratched their heads afterall the Giants already had Tuck and Umenyiora at defensive end. Well, Kiwanuka has developed into a pretty good linebacker who can line up at DE and get to the QB when needed. Injuries have hurt his career track but he figures to be in the Giants plans for years to come. Second Rounder Sinorice Moss didn't pan out and barely saw the field. He was the complete opposite of his brother Santana. Fourth Rounder DT Barry Cofield was a very nice pick. Cofield left as a free agent prior to this season, taking his services to Washington but Cofield did help solidify the middle of the Giants line. Fifth Rounder Charlie Peprah had a breakout year this past season with 5 INT's and 69 tackles. However, those picks and tackles came while he was wearing a Packer uniform. Again, a serviceable player taken in the later rounds.
The 2007 Draft might be one of the best in recent history. Why? Well, First Rounder Aaron Ross has been a solid corner in the NFL though he looks like he might not be re-signed this offseason. Second Rounder WR Steve Smith set the Giants single season receptions record with 107 in 2009 (another second round find!). Jay Alford, taken in the third round, had a couple of good years but injuries robbed much of his playing time. Fourth Rounder Zak DeOssie has been the Giants long-snapper and backup linebacker since being drafted. Fifth Rounder Kevin Boss was a favorite target for Eli until he left as a free agent prior to this past season, getting a pretty big contract with Oakland. In the 7th Round, the Giants took a little known running back with some personal problems named Ahmad Bradshaw. Bradshaw is currently the Giants starting running back. He is also the third running back taken by the Giants that has put up a 1,000 yard season.
The 2008 Draft wasn't too bad either. The Giants tapped Kenny Phillips with their first selection. Phillips has dealt with injury problems to his knees in recent years, robbing him of a lot of the potential he possessed. However, Phillips is still a very good safety and he did have 4 picks this season. Second round pick Terrell Thomas was considered the best corner on the team going into this season. However, he went down for the year with an ACL injury. Thomas figures to be healthy for 2012 and should regain his spot as the Giants best corner (no offense to Corey Webster). Mario Manningham was the Giants third round pick and he has been an excellent receiver who has scored 18 touchdowns and amassed over 2,000 yards receiving. Jonathan Goff was taken in 5th Round and was slated to be the Giants starting middle linebacker before going out for the season with injury in the preseason. Goff should resume his duties at the MLB spot next season.
In 2009, the Giants drafted Hakeem Nicks to help offset the loss of Plaxico Burress who shot himself in the leg in a nightclub and then went to prison on a firearms charge. Nicks, when healthy, has been a go-to guy for Manning and he continues to emerge as one of the better receivers in the league. In the second round the Giants reached on linebacker Clint Sintim, another linebacker who hasn't lived up to expectations and has battled injuries. They also nabbed Will Beatty, who was the starting left tackle before being lost for the rest of the season after suffering a detached retina against the Eagles. Beatty has shown a lot of promise in his young career and he should be healthy and ready to go for next year. Tight End Travis Beckum, taken in the third round, hasn't lived up to expectations but has shown some flashes. Ramses Barden, another wide receiver who was drafted to help replace Plaxico, also has not lived up to expectations.
The Giants 2010 Draft produced Jason Pierre-Paul in the First Round, who led the Giants in sacks this past season with 16.5. Starting defensive tackle Linval Joseph was taken in the second round. Third Round pick Chad Jones was a player the team had high hopes for but he was injured in a car accident that nearly took his life. He continues to rehab with the hopes of one day getting back on the field. If he does that can only be a plus for the Giants. Phil Dillard and Mitch Petrus were taken in the 4th and 5th rounds respectively. Dillard is nothing more than a backup and Petrus was on the inactive list much of this year. However, Petrus was tabbed to start a few games for the Giants after injuries decimated the o-line and he performed very well.
It is way too early to judge the 2011 Draft but every player the Giants drafted made the team, with the exception of second rounder DT Marvin Austin who was lost to injury. Austin was a bit of a gamble because he didn't play his last season at North Carolina due to eligibility issues. Oh, hell, who am I kidding, the guy broke NCAA rules. Still, he has loads of talent and he will be counted on to help anchor the Giants defensive line in the future. First Rounder Prince Amukamara is a cornerback and going into this season the Giants already had three corners that were taken in either the first or second round. They lost Thomas to injury so taking Amukamara didn't seem like a bad idea. Then Prince went down with a broken foot and he was behind the learning curve already because of the lockout. Still, going into the Draft, Amukamara was considered the best cover corner in the entire Draft and the Giants picked him up with the 19th pick. Linebackers Greg Jones (6th Round) and Jacquin Williams (6th Round) have had to fill in as starters at times after the Giants linebacking corps was hit hard by injuries. Both have made some big plays as well as made some rookie mistakes. However, considering they were 6th round choices, the Giants seem to have found some good players who should at least serve as capable backups, or maybe even improve into very good linebackers. Only time will tell. The Giants other 6th Round selection was Tyler Sash, a safety who has shined on Special Teams. Fourth Round selection, OT James Brewer, is a project but the Giants believe he can become a very good offensive lineman in the near future. Jerrel Jernigan and Da'Rel Scott are both speedsters. Scott showed some flashes during the preseason with his ability to break out a big run but got into Tom Coughlin's doghouse with his fumbling. Jernigan was a bit of a reach for a 3rd rounder but the Giants see a Special Teams player who can help stretch defenses with his speed at WR. He better improve next season or he will not be a Giant much longer.
The point of this post was to point out how many starters the Giants have gotten in the Draft. There really hasn't been a huge free agent splash in recent years, not since Antrel Rolle signed a couple of seasons ago. Most of the Giants players come to the team from the Draft or are rookie free agents. WR Victor Cruz and LB Mark Herzlich both came to the Giants in this manner. Also, RB Ryan Grant was another undrafted free agent who has gone on to a pretty good career in Green Bay as their feature back. The Giants QB was acquired through a Draft-day trade. Both of their feature running backs came in through the Draft. Their top three wide receivers were either drafted or signed as rookie free agents. Their offensive line was built primarily through the draft. Three All-Pro defensive ends were drafted. Four cornerbacks and one starting safety were drafted. All of their linebackers are homegrown. One of their starting defensive tackles was drafted. Their starting tight end, Jake Ballard, was signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 Draft. Fullback Henry Hynoski was an undrafted free agent signed after the Draft this past season.
The list goes on. Giants GM Jerry Reese believes in building through the draft and supplementing his players with a small sampling of free agents like Chris Canty, David Baas, and Antrel Rolle. The majority of this Giants team has grown up under Tom Coughlin's regime and have been integrated into the Giants framework since their first days in the NFL. Most NFL teams are like this. When compared with the Jets, one can see a huge difference in homegrown players. The Jets, for example, feature a team mostly built around free agency or through trades. Building through the draft offers a lot more flexibility than through free agency. For one, the players are younger and cheaper and grow up in the system. Free agents come from a variety of different systems and might not be as productive, or are content just collecting a paycheck as has happened in the past.
Are the Giants the best team in the NFL? No. I'm not saying that. However, the Giants wouldn't have won their Super Bowl in 2007 or made the playoffs this year if it hadn't been for strong drafts in recent years. The Packers are another example of a team that has built itself through the draft and complimented those players with a sprinkling of free agent signings. The Giants, so long as Jerry Reese is GM, will always look to the draft before free agency. This is one major reason the Giants have made the playoffs, and won 10 games last year (even though they missed the playoffs it is hard to be upset at a 10 win season). The Draft is the thing.
What is Wrong with the Jets?
The New York Jets are a team in turmoil right now. They entered the season with Super Bowl hopes and leave it without even making the playoffs. During their loss to the Dolphins in Week 17, several Jets players called out WR Santonio Holmes for his quitting on the team. Later, during the cleaning out of the Jets practice facility, several Jets got themselves into hot water by cursing at the media or giving the middle finger to photographers as Bart Scott did. Then, last night, Offensive Coordinator was basically told either he goes or he finds a job elsewhere. He's gone and former Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano is in his place. Time will tell if Sparano can get the Jets offense moving in the right direction.
The Jets problems really stem from poor drafts. Yes, poor drafts. Aside from Darrelle Revis, who is on his way to becoming the greatest Jet to ever wear the uniform, the Jet's drafts have left a lot to be desired. What's worse, the best players not named Revis and Mangold whom the Jets have drafted are all playing for other teams right now. Let's take a quick look:
In 2000, the Jets had four first round draft picks and used those to nab John Abraham, Shaun Ellis, Chad Pennington, and Anthony Becht. Pennington's career was derailed by injuries. Becht was not worthy of a first-round pick in retrospect. Ellis and Abraham were supposed to be cornerstones of the Jets defense. Ellis left after last season as a free agent to the Patriots and Abraham was traded to the Falcons for a first-round draft pick, #29 in the 2006 Draft which was used on Nick Mangold. Abraham was the best pass rushed the Jets have had since Mark Gastineau hung them up. Ellis would have a nice career with the Jets but he was never the impact player Abraham was. The Jets have been searching for a pass rusher ever since. Granted, the 2000 Draft is known as a big bust draft and the Jets walked away with one of the best players in the draft in Abraham but they traded him.
In 2001, the Jets drafted Santana Moss with the 16th pick in the draft was another good pick. However, Moss has made more of an impact for the Redskins than the Jets. He was traded to bring former Jet Laveranues Coles back in 2005. Moss went on to have the best season of his career and has recorded 3 1,000 yard seasons since leaving the Jets. Coles is pretty much done with football now while Moss is still 31 years old and able to put up some pretty decent numbers.
In 2002, the Jets wasted a first round pick on DE Bryan Thomas with the 22nd pick. Two picks later the Baltimore Ravens selected Ed Reed. Clinton Portis was selected with the 51st pick. Andre Gurode was taken by the Cowboys with the 37th pick. Thomas is still with the Jets, albeit on injured reserve. He is a backup linebacker but is considered one of the worst first-round picks in recent Jets history.
In 2003, the Jets selected DT Dewayne Robertson, who was supposed to be the answer to the Jets struggles against the run. Robertson has not played football since 2008, never living up to any expectation that came with being the 4th overall pick of the draft. The Jets passed on a lot of good talent, such as Nnamdi Asomugha who was taken with the 31st pick, Troy Polamalu with the 16th, Dallas Clark with the 24th, Larry Johnson with the 27th, or Willis McGahee with the 23rd.
In 2004, the Jets selected LB Jonathan Vilma with the 12th overall pick. Vilma has been an excellent lineback, sadly, most of that work has come with the Saints. Vilma was traded to the Saints for a 4th round pick in the 2008 Draft and what turned out to be a third round pick in the 2009 Draft. Vilma should be the leader of the Jets defense right now but instead he is leading the Saints defense.
In 2005, the Jets didn't have a first round pick. Why? Because they traded it to Oakland for TE Doug Jolley and a second round pick. The JEts leadership felt there wouldn't be any good prospects available at that pick. Roddy White was taken with pick #27. TE Heath Miller was taken by the Steelers with the 30th overall pick. Logan Mankins was taken with the 32nd pick.
In 2006, the Jets selected two offensive linemen in D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. These were two solid picks and they are two of the best offensive linemen the Jets have had. Too bad the others on the line weren't this good.
In 2007, the Jets made another great pick in Darrelle Revis. Imagine if the Jets had taken Nnamdi in 2003 or Troy Polamalu. Wow.
In 2008, Vernon Gholston and Dustin Keller were taken. Gholston was supposed to be the answer as a pass rusher. He was awful and never even recorded a sack in his career with the Jets. He is no longer with the team. Keller, the third tight end the Jets have gone through since 2000 using a first round pick either by trade or draft, and the 4th since 1995 (Kyle Brady). Keller was the Jets leading receiver this past season and looks like he could be the answer at tight end for years to come. Gholston was the 6th overall pick. Surely they could have found someone better. Jordy Nelson was taken with the 36th pick in the same draft. But, to the Jets defense, not many guys who were drafted in the first round in 2008 have made an impact with the team that drafted them.
In 2009, the Jets picked QB Mark Sanchez. Sanchez looked like he was going to be the answer to the Jets QB woes. Going into this season he looked like he might be ready to make the next step. After all Sanchez did help lead the Jets to two consecutive AFC Championship games. Now, there are reports that Jets players are sick of Sanchez and are lobbying for a trade for Peyton Manning. Many question Sanchez's drive and commitment. This is all very harsh for a QB that has not even been in the league for 4 years.
In 2010, the Jets used their first rounder on Kyle Wilson. The jury is still out on Wilson but he doesn't look to be anything more than a nickel corner. Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham were both available but the Jets had taken Keller two years before.
The 2011 selection of DT Muhammed Wilkerson seems like it might be a solid pick. Wilkerson won't make a Pro Bowl anytime soon but he should be a decent player, able to play both DE and DT depending on the need.
Three picks used to solve a problem at TE. Three Pro Bowlers traded away in Moss, Abraham, and Vilma. The Jets have been forced to look for answers in the free agent market, settling on older veterans and underwhelming draft choices taken in later rounds. A quick look at the Jets roster and one has to wonder why the Jets have swung and missed so many times in the draft. Sanchez's top two receivers were both brought in from other teams. Holmes was brought in through a trade with Pittsburgh and Plaxico Burress was brought in from his prison hiatus. The Jets did sign Derrick Mason at the beginning of the year to give Mason an extra target. That didn't work out and Mason was released after only a handful of games.
Head Coach Rex Ryan can only do so much with the talent on the roster. Without anyone getting to the QB on a consistent basis, the Jets defense is forced to rely on blitzes which can leave the team exposed for a big play. Give any QB time and eventually they will make a play, Revis or not. This is more indicative of GM Mike Tannenbaum, who also almost lost Revis during a contract dispute a couple of years ago. The GM has failed this team because he hasn't done his draft homework. No QB, not even Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning, can win when the supporting pieces are not in place. The Jets best chance at a Super Bowl was last season and there were no significant upgrades to the holes the team had, mainly in the pass rush department or on the offensive line. No really big playmakers were added at WR or RB, giving the Jets a very basic offense. Holmes has ability but Burress was coming off of a long stint in prison. Mason's best years were behind him and the Jets drafted two wide receivers in the 2011 draft, Jeremy Kerley and Scotty McKnight. McKnight never stepped foot on the field this season because of injury and Kerley never made an impact. With no second round pick, the Jets drafted Kenrick Ellis from Hampton in the 3rd round. He collected 7 tackles. Fourth rounder Bilal Powell carried the ball only 13 times all year and averaged just 1.6 yards per carry. QB Greg McElroy was placed on injured reserve. Wilkerson was the only one in this draft that had a real positive impact on the team with 3 sacks and 49 tackles. Kerley, who made the second largest contribution had 29 catches for 314 yards, was really a non-factor until later in the year. He didn't even have a catch until Week 5.
The Jets have failed to surround Mark Sanchez with the necessary pieces for success. Right tackle Wayne Hunter was not the answer. Vladimir Ducasse, the Jets 2nd round pick two years ago, has not developed into a starting offensive lineman as the Jets had hoped. The Jets problems are the result of poor decisions by Tannenbaum and nobody else. For the Jets team to put the burden of this past season on the shoulders of Mark Sanchez is not only unfair, it is wrong. Was Sanchez on the field when Denver marched over 90 yards on the game-winning drive?
What can the Jets do to improve? Well, they need to decide on whether or not Mark Sanchez can lead this team after this offseason. Can the Jets players who spoke out against Sanchez put their opinions away and play with him at QB? Can Sanchez deal with the criticism? Personally, I think giving up on a QB after only three seasons as a starter is foolish. It's not like he was putting up Jamarcus Russell numbers. Then, they need to figure out what to do with Santonio Holmes. Did he quit on the team? If so he has to go. There are some impact receivers like Steve Johnson, Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker, Reggie Wayne, Mario Manningham, Vincent Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, and Marques Colston to name a few that are going to be free agents. The only QB worth a shot would be Matt Flynn but he has one start under his belt. The Jets are pretty much stuck with Sanchez at QB unless they work out a trade. In the pass rush department, Robert Mathis, John Abraham, and Mario Williams are the best available. Abraham is getting old, Williams is likely to be re-signed by Houston so that leaves Mathis. Mathis would give the Jets something they lacked all year, a guy who can get to the QB. Maybe Aaron Maybin improves on his team-leading 6 sacks and emerges as the player many thought he could be when he was drafted by Buffalo.
The point is, Sanchez isn't going anywhere. If the Jets trade their draft picks for Peyton Manning they are foolish. Manning is 36 and coming off a potential career-threatening injury and is slated to make over $26 million. That money could be better spent on filling the holes that have been created by poor drafts. Like right tackle, guard, and defensive end. Maybe a safety since Jim Leonhard can't stay healthy. A running back to replace the aging LaDainian Tomlinson wouldn't be a bad idea. It doesn't look like the Jets are high on Bilal Powell or Joe McKnight, although McKnight showed some explosiveness on kick returns. If I owned the Jets I would replace the GM and get someone who knows how to draft well. That would go a long way to building a team that Jets fans can be proud of.
C'mon Jets fans, let me know how you would fix your team.
The Jets problems really stem from poor drafts. Yes, poor drafts. Aside from Darrelle Revis, who is on his way to becoming the greatest Jet to ever wear the uniform, the Jet's drafts have left a lot to be desired. What's worse, the best players not named Revis and Mangold whom the Jets have drafted are all playing for other teams right now. Let's take a quick look:
In 2000, the Jets had four first round draft picks and used those to nab John Abraham, Shaun Ellis, Chad Pennington, and Anthony Becht. Pennington's career was derailed by injuries. Becht was not worthy of a first-round pick in retrospect. Ellis and Abraham were supposed to be cornerstones of the Jets defense. Ellis left after last season as a free agent to the Patriots and Abraham was traded to the Falcons for a first-round draft pick, #29 in the 2006 Draft which was used on Nick Mangold. Abraham was the best pass rushed the Jets have had since Mark Gastineau hung them up. Ellis would have a nice career with the Jets but he was never the impact player Abraham was. The Jets have been searching for a pass rusher ever since. Granted, the 2000 Draft is known as a big bust draft and the Jets walked away with one of the best players in the draft in Abraham but they traded him.
In 2001, the Jets drafted Santana Moss with the 16th pick in the draft was another good pick. However, Moss has made more of an impact for the Redskins than the Jets. He was traded to bring former Jet Laveranues Coles back in 2005. Moss went on to have the best season of his career and has recorded 3 1,000 yard seasons since leaving the Jets. Coles is pretty much done with football now while Moss is still 31 years old and able to put up some pretty decent numbers.
In 2002, the Jets wasted a first round pick on DE Bryan Thomas with the 22nd pick. Two picks later the Baltimore Ravens selected Ed Reed. Clinton Portis was selected with the 51st pick. Andre Gurode was taken by the Cowboys with the 37th pick. Thomas is still with the Jets, albeit on injured reserve. He is a backup linebacker but is considered one of the worst first-round picks in recent Jets history.
In 2003, the Jets selected DT Dewayne Robertson, who was supposed to be the answer to the Jets struggles against the run. Robertson has not played football since 2008, never living up to any expectation that came with being the 4th overall pick of the draft. The Jets passed on a lot of good talent, such as Nnamdi Asomugha who was taken with the 31st pick, Troy Polamalu with the 16th, Dallas Clark with the 24th, Larry Johnson with the 27th, or Willis McGahee with the 23rd.
In 2004, the Jets selected LB Jonathan Vilma with the 12th overall pick. Vilma has been an excellent lineback, sadly, most of that work has come with the Saints. Vilma was traded to the Saints for a 4th round pick in the 2008 Draft and what turned out to be a third round pick in the 2009 Draft. Vilma should be the leader of the Jets defense right now but instead he is leading the Saints defense.
In 2005, the Jets didn't have a first round pick. Why? Because they traded it to Oakland for TE Doug Jolley and a second round pick. The JEts leadership felt there wouldn't be any good prospects available at that pick. Roddy White was taken with pick #27. TE Heath Miller was taken by the Steelers with the 30th overall pick. Logan Mankins was taken with the 32nd pick.
In 2006, the Jets selected two offensive linemen in D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. These were two solid picks and they are two of the best offensive linemen the Jets have had. Too bad the others on the line weren't this good.
In 2007, the Jets made another great pick in Darrelle Revis. Imagine if the Jets had taken Nnamdi in 2003 or Troy Polamalu. Wow.
In 2008, Vernon Gholston and Dustin Keller were taken. Gholston was supposed to be the answer as a pass rusher. He was awful and never even recorded a sack in his career with the Jets. He is no longer with the team. Keller, the third tight end the Jets have gone through since 2000 using a first round pick either by trade or draft, and the 4th since 1995 (Kyle Brady). Keller was the Jets leading receiver this past season and looks like he could be the answer at tight end for years to come. Gholston was the 6th overall pick. Surely they could have found someone better. Jordy Nelson was taken with the 36th pick in the same draft. But, to the Jets defense, not many guys who were drafted in the first round in 2008 have made an impact with the team that drafted them.
In 2009, the Jets picked QB Mark Sanchez. Sanchez looked like he was going to be the answer to the Jets QB woes. Going into this season he looked like he might be ready to make the next step. After all Sanchez did help lead the Jets to two consecutive AFC Championship games. Now, there are reports that Jets players are sick of Sanchez and are lobbying for a trade for Peyton Manning. Many question Sanchez's drive and commitment. This is all very harsh for a QB that has not even been in the league for 4 years.
In 2010, the Jets used their first rounder on Kyle Wilson. The jury is still out on Wilson but he doesn't look to be anything more than a nickel corner. Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham were both available but the Jets had taken Keller two years before.
The 2011 selection of DT Muhammed Wilkerson seems like it might be a solid pick. Wilkerson won't make a Pro Bowl anytime soon but he should be a decent player, able to play both DE and DT depending on the need.
Three picks used to solve a problem at TE. Three Pro Bowlers traded away in Moss, Abraham, and Vilma. The Jets have been forced to look for answers in the free agent market, settling on older veterans and underwhelming draft choices taken in later rounds. A quick look at the Jets roster and one has to wonder why the Jets have swung and missed so many times in the draft. Sanchez's top two receivers were both brought in from other teams. Holmes was brought in through a trade with Pittsburgh and Plaxico Burress was brought in from his prison hiatus. The Jets did sign Derrick Mason at the beginning of the year to give Mason an extra target. That didn't work out and Mason was released after only a handful of games.
Head Coach Rex Ryan can only do so much with the talent on the roster. Without anyone getting to the QB on a consistent basis, the Jets defense is forced to rely on blitzes which can leave the team exposed for a big play. Give any QB time and eventually they will make a play, Revis or not. This is more indicative of GM Mike Tannenbaum, who also almost lost Revis during a contract dispute a couple of years ago. The GM has failed this team because he hasn't done his draft homework. No QB, not even Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning, can win when the supporting pieces are not in place. The Jets best chance at a Super Bowl was last season and there were no significant upgrades to the holes the team had, mainly in the pass rush department or on the offensive line. No really big playmakers were added at WR or RB, giving the Jets a very basic offense. Holmes has ability but Burress was coming off of a long stint in prison. Mason's best years were behind him and the Jets drafted two wide receivers in the 2011 draft, Jeremy Kerley and Scotty McKnight. McKnight never stepped foot on the field this season because of injury and Kerley never made an impact. With no second round pick, the Jets drafted Kenrick Ellis from Hampton in the 3rd round. He collected 7 tackles. Fourth rounder Bilal Powell carried the ball only 13 times all year and averaged just 1.6 yards per carry. QB Greg McElroy was placed on injured reserve. Wilkerson was the only one in this draft that had a real positive impact on the team with 3 sacks and 49 tackles. Kerley, who made the second largest contribution had 29 catches for 314 yards, was really a non-factor until later in the year. He didn't even have a catch until Week 5.
The Jets have failed to surround Mark Sanchez with the necessary pieces for success. Right tackle Wayne Hunter was not the answer. Vladimir Ducasse, the Jets 2nd round pick two years ago, has not developed into a starting offensive lineman as the Jets had hoped. The Jets problems are the result of poor decisions by Tannenbaum and nobody else. For the Jets team to put the burden of this past season on the shoulders of Mark Sanchez is not only unfair, it is wrong. Was Sanchez on the field when Denver marched over 90 yards on the game-winning drive?
What can the Jets do to improve? Well, they need to decide on whether or not Mark Sanchez can lead this team after this offseason. Can the Jets players who spoke out against Sanchez put their opinions away and play with him at QB? Can Sanchez deal with the criticism? Personally, I think giving up on a QB after only three seasons as a starter is foolish. It's not like he was putting up Jamarcus Russell numbers. Then, they need to figure out what to do with Santonio Holmes. Did he quit on the team? If so he has to go. There are some impact receivers like Steve Johnson, Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker, Reggie Wayne, Mario Manningham, Vincent Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, and Marques Colston to name a few that are going to be free agents. The only QB worth a shot would be Matt Flynn but he has one start under his belt. The Jets are pretty much stuck with Sanchez at QB unless they work out a trade. In the pass rush department, Robert Mathis, John Abraham, and Mario Williams are the best available. Abraham is getting old, Williams is likely to be re-signed by Houston so that leaves Mathis. Mathis would give the Jets something they lacked all year, a guy who can get to the QB. Maybe Aaron Maybin improves on his team-leading 6 sacks and emerges as the player many thought he could be when he was drafted by Buffalo.
The point is, Sanchez isn't going anywhere. If the Jets trade their draft picks for Peyton Manning they are foolish. Manning is 36 and coming off a potential career-threatening injury and is slated to make over $26 million. That money could be better spent on filling the holes that have been created by poor drafts. Like right tackle, guard, and defensive end. Maybe a safety since Jim Leonhard can't stay healthy. A running back to replace the aging LaDainian Tomlinson wouldn't be a bad idea. It doesn't look like the Jets are high on Bilal Powell or Joe McKnight, although McKnight showed some explosiveness on kick returns. If I owned the Jets I would replace the GM and get someone who knows how to draft well. That would go a long way to building a team that Jets fans can be proud of.
C'mon Jets fans, let me know how you would fix your team.
Monday, January 9, 2012
This, That, and Tebow
- Does anyone else find it interesting that Tim Tebow throws for 316 yards in his first playoff game and the first game he throws for over 300 yards? Think about it. 316 yards, 3:16. This has to be a coincidence, right? Tebow completed 5 passes of 30 yards or more against a defense that had allowed only 7 passes of 30 yards or more all season.
- Speaking of Tim Tebow, 2011 was the 25th Anniversary of the Giants-Broncos Super Bowl. During the course of the 2011 season, the Giants and Broncos both made it into the playoffs. Denver did on the legs, and sometimes the arm, of Tim Tebow who engineered enough 4th Quarter miracles to make John Elway do a double-take.
- Lost in Tebow-Mania has been the play of Denver's defense. Denver's defense deserves a lot of the credit for Denver's resurgence. Also, the ability of Denver's wide receivers to get open. Have you seen how wide open these guys are when Tebow throws? I don't know if it is defenses breaking down because they don't want to be beaten by Denver's rushing attack or if it is the wide receiver's ability to get open. I think it is a combination but whatever it is it is helping Denver win football games.
- I think Denver's run in the playoffs ends against New England. The Patriots beat the snot out of Denver earlier this season and I think they can do it again. But, then again, I thought Denver didn't stand a chance against Pittsburgh either so take it for what it's worth.
- The New York Giants defense played their best game of the year yesterday. They didn't allow a single point to Atlanta's vaunted offense. Atlanta was held to just 247 total yards. Matt Ryan threw for 199 yards but the Falcons accrued only 183 yards through the air when you take sacks into account. Michael Turner was held to just 41 yards rushing and a 2.7 yard average. Roddy White was targeted 12 times but came away with only 5 catches for 52 yards, thanks to stellar play by Corey Webster. Julio Jones was targeted 8 times and had 7 catches but was never able to break free, averaging just over 9 yards a catch for 64 yards. The Giants defense had only 2 sacks but also had 7 QB hits and never allowed Matt Ryan to get comfortable in the pocket.
- Eli Manning is proving to everyone that he really is elite. First, he sets all-time single season team records for yards passing, shattering Kerry Collins' mark of 4,073 with a 4,933 yard season. He throws for the 4th highest TD total in franchise history with 29, falling 2 TD's short of his career high of 31 set last year. He went from throwing 25 interceptions last year to just 16 this year despite throwing a franchise record 589 times. He also beat his own franchise mark for completions in a single season, completing 359 passes. He has had four straight seasons of a 60% or higher completion percentage. Yes, kids, Eli is elite.
- The last three teams to beat the Falcons in the playoffs have gone on to the Super Bowl. The Eagles in 2004, the Cardinals in 2008, and the Packers last season. Could the Giants make it 4 for 4?
- The officiating in the playoffs so far has been dreadful. In yesterday's Giants-Falcons game both Troy Aikman and Joe Buck made light of missed calls or calls that shouldn't have been made, like the David Diehl holding penalty. In the Denver-Pittsburgh game, the officials dropped the ball by ruling a pass by Ben Roethlisberger incomplete when in fact it was a backwards pass and should have been ruled a fumble. Denver fell on the ball but a whistle blew and the refs told John Fox he couldn't challenge the ruling on the field. The Steelers maintained possession and ended up scoring. If that play is called correctly, there is no overtime, there is no chance the Steelers would have had a chance to win the game. In the Lions-Saints game, the officials might have cost the Lions a defensive touchdown. In that play Drew Brees was sacked and the ball came loose. The ball was recovered by Detroit's Justin Durant who might have scored easily had a referee not blown his whistle. They upheld the fumble but because of the whistle they didn't allow any advancement. That is 2 calls this round that official's whistles have blown and might have influenced the momentum of the game. To make matters worse, the officials in the Lions-Saints game and the Steelers-Broncos game had similar plays with different applications of essentially the same rule. Inadvertent whistles are not reviewable but the Lions were allowed possession while the Broncos were not. Hmmm. Seems like the NFL has some cleaning up to do. I see a rule change coming this offseason.
- The Giants' Aaron Ross left yesterday's game with a concussion. There is no telling whether he will be healthy for the Packers game next weekend. If Ross can't go, the Giants will have to depend on rookie Prince Amukamara to fill in. Prince has had a spotty rookie season, mostly due to missing almost all of camp and nine games this season. He has the talent but this could be an area of concern given the ability of the Packers receivers to exploit secondaries around the league. However, if the Giants can get pressure on Aaron Rodgers, that would mean less time for Green Bay receivers to get open and so Amukamara might not get exposed. Then again, it might not matter.
- Tonight is the NCAA Championship game. LSU vs. Alabama, again. LSU won the previous meeting, a defensive 9-6 OT battle that also featured 3 missed field goals by Alabama. This time, I think Alabama wins. I don't think it will be such a defensive battle, and even if it is I don't think Alabama will need to kick as many field goals, or attempt to as the case may be. I just see Alabama winning this thing.
- If I had a vote in the NFL MVP race I would give it to Aaron Rodgers. Despite Drew Bress' record setting season, Rodgers threw one fewer TD pass than Brees in 155 fewer attempts. He also ran for 3 TD's while Brees only ran for 1, giving Rodgers more TD's than Brees this season. I do have a hard time overlooking Brees' season, however, especially when you take into account that the top two receivers on the Saints were the tight end and a running back. It's also hard to overlook Brees' 71.2 completion percentage. Okay, if I could I would have them share the award.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Tidbits
- Giants WR had more yard receiving (1,536) than Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress combined (1,266). This goes a long way to help people understand why the Jets weren't as good as they could have been. Most of the Jets problems lie in the trenches. Aside from Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson the Jets offensive line wasn't that great. And aaron Maybin, who played 13 games as a Jet, led the team in sacks with 6. The Jets finished 22nd in the NFL in rushing, and 21st in passing offense this season. That's just not good enough. Dustin Keller continues to emerge, however, as a legitimate star at tight end in this league. He led the Jets in receiving yards with 815 and averaged slightly above 50 yards receiving a game. The Jets also suffered because they were unable to get consistent production from the number three wide receiver slot. Derrick MAson was supposed to be that guy but he found himself out of a job after only five games with the team. Jeremy Kerley stepped up to grab 46 passes but averaged under 11 yards a catch. The Jets will need to address this situation if they really are serious about making the Super Bowl.
- The Rams fired head coach Steve Spagnuolo and Jeff Fisher might be his replacement. Fisher, formerly of the Titans, would be a good fit in St. Louis, adding some toughness to a team otherwise devoid of it.
- The Buccaneers also fired Rahim Morris. Morris' Bucs lost their last 10 games and finished a paltry 4-12. This was a big fall from grace after the Bucs finished a strong 10-6 last season. There is obviously talent on the Bucs roster, beginning with young QB Josh Freeman and running back LaGarrette Blount, but the team might have tuned Morris out at points during this season and anyone who does take the Bucs job will need to be someone who is tough enough to command respect in the locker room every week.
- I don't understand what san Diego's fascination is with Norv Turner. He was deemed safe this week in San Diego. Turner has gone 17-15 in his last two seasons and has missed the playoffs each of the last two years. He has never brought the Chargers deep into the playoffs, and has earned himself a bit of a reputation for not getting the most of his team come playoff time. I just don't get it. Turner is a great coordinator and I think he would be better off focusing only on one side of the ball.
- The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers put on a show for the ages yesterday in the NHL's Winter Classic. Watching hockey played outdoors is special and to see two teams with some pretty good recent history battling each other was definitely entertaining. Kudos to the folks that made Citizens Bank Ballpark into an icy wonder. Even Mother NAture provided some ambiance when a little snow began to fall. The NHL Classic is one of the best ideas the NHL has ever had and has brought a lot of attention to the game, which I think, is rising in popularity, at least in certain parts of the country.
- Speaking of the NHL, who would have thought the Rangers would be tied with the Blackhawks for most points in the NHL? Not me. This Rangers team is gritty, focused, and playing some of the best hockey I have ever seen on Broadway. John Tortorella has this team believing and it showed yesterday when, despite being down 2-0, the Rangers battled back and fought through some questionable non-calls and calls to beat the Flyers 3-2. Torts will surely be fined for his comments following the game when he called the officiating disgusting but the fact that the Rangers were able to persevere is something that has been lacking in recent years.
- The Yankees are now being linked to Edwin Jackson, the best available starter left on the market. It is believed Jackson, who is represented by Scott Boras, is seeking $15-17 million per year. For a pitcher with a career ERA of 4.41 and a .00 record that is just nuts. Sure, Jackson is only 28 and has been a bit of a workhorse but he isn't worth that money. I don't see the Yankees giving in to his price, not for the amount of years it would take to secure him. The Yankees would be better off signing Hiroki Kuroda or Roy Oswalt to one-year deals and hope for the best. Investing that much in Jackson severely crimps the Yankees future budget goal of a $189 million payroll by 2014. Then again, the Yankees are unpredictable but I just don't see them breaking the bank for a marginal talent such as Jackson.
- If I had a vote for the Baseball Hall of Fame here is whom I would cast my votes for:
Jeff Bagwell. 449 homers, 1529 RBI, 488 doubles, 1517 runs scored. The guy was an offensive force. His career was cut short a little early due to injury but he was one of the games best and he deserves to be in the Hall.
Tim Raines. Raines is arguably the second-best leadoff hitter in baseball history. Sadly, he was overshadowed by the best, Rickey Henderson, when he played. He stole 808 bags in his career, collected 2,605 hits, and hit .294. Raines is so often overlooked it is sad.
Fred McGriff. 493 homers is nothing to sneeze at. It used to be that the only player with 400 homers that wasn't in the Hall was Dave Kingman. Now, due to the steroid issue, it looks like there will be more (Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire). McGriff was one of the steadiest power hitters of his generation and if Jim Rice is a Hall of Famer then McGriff is as well.
Alan Trammell. His numbers pale in comparison to the steroid sluggers he played with and against but Trammell was one of the best shortstops in the game on both sides of the game. He was a 6x All-Star and won 4 Gold Gloves. He finished as high as second in the MVP voting in 1987, which was his only year with more than 100 RBI (105). Still, Trammell helped revolutionize the shortstop position with Cal Ripken, Jr. from light-hitting small guys who could field to big guys who could field and win the game with the bat.
Barry Larkin. Larkin won the MVP in 1995, appeared in 12 All-Star games, and was one of the best shortstops in the game when he played. He hit, he stole bases, he fielded, he did everything.
- The Rams fired head coach Steve Spagnuolo and Jeff Fisher might be his replacement. Fisher, formerly of the Titans, would be a good fit in St. Louis, adding some toughness to a team otherwise devoid of it.
- The Buccaneers also fired Rahim Morris. Morris' Bucs lost their last 10 games and finished a paltry 4-12. This was a big fall from grace after the Bucs finished a strong 10-6 last season. There is obviously talent on the Bucs roster, beginning with young QB Josh Freeman and running back LaGarrette Blount, but the team might have tuned Morris out at points during this season and anyone who does take the Bucs job will need to be someone who is tough enough to command respect in the locker room every week.
- I don't understand what san Diego's fascination is with Norv Turner. He was deemed safe this week in San Diego. Turner has gone 17-15 in his last two seasons and has missed the playoffs each of the last two years. He has never brought the Chargers deep into the playoffs, and has earned himself a bit of a reputation for not getting the most of his team come playoff time. I just don't get it. Turner is a great coordinator and I think he would be better off focusing only on one side of the ball.
- The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers put on a show for the ages yesterday in the NHL's Winter Classic. Watching hockey played outdoors is special and to see two teams with some pretty good recent history battling each other was definitely entertaining. Kudos to the folks that made Citizens Bank Ballpark into an icy wonder. Even Mother NAture provided some ambiance when a little snow began to fall. The NHL Classic is one of the best ideas the NHL has ever had and has brought a lot of attention to the game, which I think, is rising in popularity, at least in certain parts of the country.
- Speaking of the NHL, who would have thought the Rangers would be tied with the Blackhawks for most points in the NHL? Not me. This Rangers team is gritty, focused, and playing some of the best hockey I have ever seen on Broadway. John Tortorella has this team believing and it showed yesterday when, despite being down 2-0, the Rangers battled back and fought through some questionable non-calls and calls to beat the Flyers 3-2. Torts will surely be fined for his comments following the game when he called the officiating disgusting but the fact that the Rangers were able to persevere is something that has been lacking in recent years.
- The Yankees are now being linked to Edwin Jackson, the best available starter left on the market. It is believed Jackson, who is represented by Scott Boras, is seeking $15-17 million per year. For a pitcher with a career ERA of 4.41 and a .00 record that is just nuts. Sure, Jackson is only 28 and has been a bit of a workhorse but he isn't worth that money. I don't see the Yankees giving in to his price, not for the amount of years it would take to secure him. The Yankees would be better off signing Hiroki Kuroda or Roy Oswalt to one-year deals and hope for the best. Investing that much in Jackson severely crimps the Yankees future budget goal of a $189 million payroll by 2014. Then again, the Yankees are unpredictable but I just don't see them breaking the bank for a marginal talent such as Jackson.
- If I had a vote for the Baseball Hall of Fame here is whom I would cast my votes for:
Jeff Bagwell. 449 homers, 1529 RBI, 488 doubles, 1517 runs scored. The guy was an offensive force. His career was cut short a little early due to injury but he was one of the games best and he deserves to be in the Hall.
Tim Raines. Raines is arguably the second-best leadoff hitter in baseball history. Sadly, he was overshadowed by the best, Rickey Henderson, when he played. He stole 808 bags in his career, collected 2,605 hits, and hit .294. Raines is so often overlooked it is sad.
Fred McGriff. 493 homers is nothing to sneeze at. It used to be that the only player with 400 homers that wasn't in the Hall was Dave Kingman. Now, due to the steroid issue, it looks like there will be more (Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire). McGriff was one of the steadiest power hitters of his generation and if Jim Rice is a Hall of Famer then McGriff is as well.
Alan Trammell. His numbers pale in comparison to the steroid sluggers he played with and against but Trammell was one of the best shortstops in the game on both sides of the game. He was a 6x All-Star and won 4 Gold Gloves. He finished as high as second in the MVP voting in 1987, which was his only year with more than 100 RBI (105). Still, Trammell helped revolutionize the shortstop position with Cal Ripken, Jr. from light-hitting small guys who could field to big guys who could field and win the game with the bat.
Barry Larkin. Larkin won the MVP in 1995, appeared in 12 All-Star games, and was one of the best shortstops in the game when he played. He hit, he stole bases, he fielded, he did everything.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
A Guide to Collecting
I figured I would take a little time out and publish a quick guide to collecting sports memorabilia. Today, major companies in the industry like Steiner Sports has caused the price of autographs to go through the roof. There is also a lot of controversy surrounding some formerly reputable authenticators of autographed memorabilia ongoing. Neither of these is good for the industry, or for collectors. There are ways to grow your collection of autographs without investing a lot of time or money into it. While, my method of autograph collecting is not of authenticated stuff, it is a fun hobby and all the autographs can be authenticated later if so desired. So, how do I build my autograph collection?
Through the Mail, hereafter known as TTM, is one way to quickly build an autograph collection. There are still several Hall of Famers that will sign for free or for a nominal fee. Yogi Berra, for example, will sometimes sign for free, or if you want a surefire Yogi Berra autograph, send him $40 and you'll get your item signed for sure. $40 vs. over $100 at a place like Steiner. You do the math. others like Bobby Doerr, will sign for as little as $5. But, not everyone signs, nor does everyone charge for their signature.
All you need to get started is a pen, paper, looseleaf, envelopes (2 sizes preferably so one can fit inside the other and get the peel and stick to make it easier on the person signing), and stamps. First, write a nice note asking the person you are writing to for an autograph. Be polite. Always add a "please" and a "thank you." You don't have to write a book, usually two short paragraphs are enough. Remember these athletes get hundreds to thousands of requests for their signature and usually don't even bother reading the letter but there are some that do.
Include an item to get signed. NEVER ask for an autograph and expect the signer to include something. You should be the one providing the item, like a baseball or trading card. I always send no more than 1 to 3 cards, depending on the signing habits of the player. You can do some research on the signing habits of players at www.sportscardforum.com in the Autograph Central/Through the Mail section. It's a free membership and the folks on the site are very helpful, I should know, I'm a moderator there.
OK, so now you have your letter written and have found a card of that person to get signed. If the card is glossy, like most modern cards are, take a mechanical eraser and just gently co over the surface of the card. The eraser removes some of the gloss without damaging the card and allows the ink to adhere to the cardboard. Fold the letter up and drop the card into the letter. OK, now you need to get an address for that player. Sportscardforum.com has a pretty nice sized database of addresses for players both current and retired. There are also lists like Harvey Meiselman's list which is what I use. Just Google Harvy Meiselman and you should find his website for purchasing his address lists. If you want more info on the Harvey lists drop me a line and I will be happy to help you.
Address the bigger envelope to the player and include your return address in the top left. This is important because if the player refuses the letter, or the address is out of date (this happens but don't get discouraged) you will want your item to be returned to you, especially if it is a photo or ball. Then, on a small envelope (known as a SASE for self-addressed stamped envelope) write your address. Don't forget to put postage on it. NEVER expect the signer to pay for postage.
Put it in the mail and wait. I have had thousands of successes over the past few years and have had some athletes write me nice notes in return. One year I got a Christmas card from former Eagles running back Heath Sherman. Another time, former Giants running back sent me back my card signed, along with the unused SASE in a large package that included an 11x14 picture that he signed and personalized to me. It was one of the coolest returns I've ever had. I've also gotten Redskins WR Anthony Armstrong (he reads the letters) to sign for me twice, on the second go around he put "second time around" on the card. He is a pretty good guy and reads his mail. The first time he included a note complimenting me on my handwriting. Over the years I have gotten a lot of players who have sent nice notes wishing me luck on my collection, especially from former New York Giants. It's these little added notes and stuff that really make the collection fun. Other times players will include a signed testimonial card which describes how they found Jesus Christ. I like these because it is like and added bonus and kind of represents a certificate of authenticity for me. Frank Tanana, Kurt Warner, and a bunch of others send testimonial cards. Warner will only send signed testimonial cards but will return your card as well, albeit unsigned.
If you are going to try this hobby expect failure. Even with guys who are great signers you are not guaranteed anything. Letters get lost or moved...stuff happens. Don't get discouraged. Right now my success rate is hovering around 60% but I still get a SASE from a few years ago catch up to me, my old address in PA scrawled out in my handwriting. Just this past week former Cardinals pitcher Ricky Horton signed my two cards and sent them back. Considering I have been gone from PA for about two years I was amazed it caught up to me but it did.
I'll name a few atheltes who are good signers and help you get started. I have gotten signed cards back from everyone listed but I can't guarantee the same success. The addresses can be found at sportscardforum.com:
Josh Hamilton (takes a while but he signs), Lawrence Taylor, Leonard Marshall, David Robertson, C.C. Sabathia (only during Spring Training and it takes about a year), Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, Karl Malone, George Martin, Devin McCourty, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Bob Griese, Anthony Armstrong, Frank Gore, Charlie Hough, Ike Hilliard, Mark Herzlich, Henry Hynoski, Jared Allen, Peyton Manning (requires small donation to his charity), Chad Greenway, Jason Giambi, Jeff George. The list goes on and on.
All it takes is the cost of two stamps and a trading card. That's a helluva lot cheaper than spending hundreds of dollars through Steiner Sports or some other outfit. Give it a try, what have you got to lose?
Through the Mail, hereafter known as TTM, is one way to quickly build an autograph collection. There are still several Hall of Famers that will sign for free or for a nominal fee. Yogi Berra, for example, will sometimes sign for free, or if you want a surefire Yogi Berra autograph, send him $40 and you'll get your item signed for sure. $40 vs. over $100 at a place like Steiner. You do the math. others like Bobby Doerr, will sign for as little as $5. But, not everyone signs, nor does everyone charge for their signature.
All you need to get started is a pen, paper, looseleaf, envelopes (2 sizes preferably so one can fit inside the other and get the peel and stick to make it easier on the person signing), and stamps. First, write a nice note asking the person you are writing to for an autograph. Be polite. Always add a "please" and a "thank you." You don't have to write a book, usually two short paragraphs are enough. Remember these athletes get hundreds to thousands of requests for their signature and usually don't even bother reading the letter but there are some that do.
Include an item to get signed. NEVER ask for an autograph and expect the signer to include something. You should be the one providing the item, like a baseball or trading card. I always send no more than 1 to 3 cards, depending on the signing habits of the player. You can do some research on the signing habits of players at www.sportscardforum.com in the Autograph Central/Through the Mail section. It's a free membership and the folks on the site are very helpful, I should know, I'm a moderator there.
OK, so now you have your letter written and have found a card of that person to get signed. If the card is glossy, like most modern cards are, take a mechanical eraser and just gently co over the surface of the card. The eraser removes some of the gloss without damaging the card and allows the ink to adhere to the cardboard. Fold the letter up and drop the card into the letter. OK, now you need to get an address for that player. Sportscardforum.com has a pretty nice sized database of addresses for players both current and retired. There are also lists like Harvey Meiselman's list which is what I use. Just Google Harvy Meiselman and you should find his website for purchasing his address lists. If you want more info on the Harvey lists drop me a line and I will be happy to help you.
Address the bigger envelope to the player and include your return address in the top left. This is important because if the player refuses the letter, or the address is out of date (this happens but don't get discouraged) you will want your item to be returned to you, especially if it is a photo or ball. Then, on a small envelope (known as a SASE for self-addressed stamped envelope) write your address. Don't forget to put postage on it. NEVER expect the signer to pay for postage.
Put it in the mail and wait. I have had thousands of successes over the past few years and have had some athletes write me nice notes in return. One year I got a Christmas card from former Eagles running back Heath Sherman. Another time, former Giants running back sent me back my card signed, along with the unused SASE in a large package that included an 11x14 picture that he signed and personalized to me. It was one of the coolest returns I've ever had. I've also gotten Redskins WR Anthony Armstrong (he reads the letters) to sign for me twice, on the second go around he put "second time around" on the card. He is a pretty good guy and reads his mail. The first time he included a note complimenting me on my handwriting. Over the years I have gotten a lot of players who have sent nice notes wishing me luck on my collection, especially from former New York Giants. It's these little added notes and stuff that really make the collection fun. Other times players will include a signed testimonial card which describes how they found Jesus Christ. I like these because it is like and added bonus and kind of represents a certificate of authenticity for me. Frank Tanana, Kurt Warner, and a bunch of others send testimonial cards. Warner will only send signed testimonial cards but will return your card as well, albeit unsigned.
If you are going to try this hobby expect failure. Even with guys who are great signers you are not guaranteed anything. Letters get lost or moved...stuff happens. Don't get discouraged. Right now my success rate is hovering around 60% but I still get a SASE from a few years ago catch up to me, my old address in PA scrawled out in my handwriting. Just this past week former Cardinals pitcher Ricky Horton signed my two cards and sent them back. Considering I have been gone from PA for about two years I was amazed it caught up to me but it did.
I'll name a few atheltes who are good signers and help you get started. I have gotten signed cards back from everyone listed but I can't guarantee the same success. The addresses can be found at sportscardforum.com:
Josh Hamilton (takes a while but he signs), Lawrence Taylor, Leonard Marshall, David Robertson, C.C. Sabathia (only during Spring Training and it takes about a year), Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, Karl Malone, George Martin, Devin McCourty, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Bob Griese, Anthony Armstrong, Frank Gore, Charlie Hough, Ike Hilliard, Mark Herzlich, Henry Hynoski, Jared Allen, Peyton Manning (requires small donation to his charity), Chad Greenway, Jason Giambi, Jeff George. The list goes on and on.
All it takes is the cost of two stamps and a trading card. That's a helluva lot cheaper than spending hundreds of dollars through Steiner Sports or some other outfit. Give it a try, what have you got to lose?
2014 Yankees
I thought I would have a little fun and project the 2014 Yankees roster. I'm sure it will be completely wrong, but let's see how I do anyway. I would throw in the Mets as well but I don't know where they will be in their rebuilding stage and don't know about the financial situation that could have a tremendous impact on how they acquire players so I won't try as of yet. Anyway, here are the 2014 New York Yankees:
C Austin Romine - The Yankees may or may not end up trading him. Russell Martin is still younger than 30 right now but he has taken a lot of abuse behind the plate. I could see Martin being kept as a backup who plays 60 games.
1B Mark Teixeira - He still has power and still plays an excellent first base. He is one of four Yankees signed through 2014 and he isn't going anywhere.
2B Robinson Cano - He is due for a huge pay raise and deservedly so. He continues to get better every year but soon that won't be the case. By 2014 we will see Robbie peak and then see a slow decline as most middle infielders do when they get over 30.
SS Eduardo Nunez - Derek Jeter will most likely be retired by this point. If he isn't retired then he will not be the starting shortstop. Nunez is thought highly of by Yankee brass and will probably get first crack at replacing the legend of Jeter. I don't think he will perform terribly, giving the Yankees slightly below average defense but above average offense. He can hit, he just needs consistent playing time.
3B Alex Rodriguez - He will be approaching 40 years-old at this point or will be 40. He might be more of a DH at this point but don't expect the Yankees to go out and acquire a big name free agent. They will replace in house. It could be Brandon Laird splitting time with A-Rod or the Yankees using Nunez here and Hideki Nakajima at short. Whatever they do, don't expect a big-name free agent. Another darkhorse candidate would be Corban Joseph or David Adams.
LF Brett Gardner - Gardner has had his ups and downs. However, he will still be relatively cheap and still offer the Yankees the best base-stealing threat along with Nunez. There is no reason why the Yankees should get rid of Brett.
CF Curtis Granderson - Grandy will be starting to face some decline at this point. His days in center will be numbered with Mason Williams knocking on the door at AAA at this point. Granderson still holds some value, and can still hit for power and run. By 2015 he will be the Yankees right or left fielder while Mason Williams takes center.
RF Zoilo Almonte - Almonte is one of the Yankees most overlooked prospects. He has struggled at every level until he has adjusted and by 2014 he should start to be turning things around. I don't see him becoming a superstar but something along the lines of Juan Rivera isn't much of a stretch.
DH Jesus Montero - When the big righty isn't DH'ing he will be catching. He will be the big bat in the Yankees lineup at this point, hitting third or fourth. Right now he is the Yankees #1 Prospect for the 3rd year in a row and by 2014 he should be on his second All-Star team.
SP C.C. Sabathia - Another one who is actually signed to a contract for the 2014 season, Sabathia isn't going anywhere. He might start to decline, and given his physique, it will be interesting to see if it is rapid or gradual. He should still be an ace pitcher at this point, however.
SP Phil Hughes - I am one of the believers in Phil Hughes. There is a chance we have seen the best he had to offer in the first-half of 2010. But, there is also a chance that the pitcher we saw at that point is really the pitcher he will become. I am a believer that the best is yet to come. If Phil can stay healthy, a big if most assuredly, he can be a top of the rotation starter.
SP Manny Banuelos - He will start to come into his own at this point, his second full season. I believe Banuelos will be on his way to becoming the Yankee ace by 2014.
SP Ivan Nova - Nova enjoyed a lot of success last season and became the de facto number two starter. I don't see him as a top of the rotation kind of guy, and I don't know if the Yankees do either. Sure, he pitched well, but was it an aberration? Either way, I think Nova could be a consistent 12-17 game winner at the back end of the rotation like Orlando Hernandez.
SP Hector Noesi - The Yankees are grooming him to be a starting pitcher and I think he beats out Adam Warren and David Phelps. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if any of these three were in the Yankee rotation by 2014.
RP David Robertson - There is no reason he would be going anywhere unless he suddenly loses his ability to get hitters out. He might be in line for the closer's job along with Joba Chamberlain and Dellin Betances.
RP Joba Chamberlain - again, he could be the closer but I think he is better suited for a set-up role if he remains in the bullpen. I wrote a post yesterday that I think he would be better off as a starter, a position I have held since 2007.
CP Dellin Betances - IF he can control his walks he has the stuff to be a dominant closer. That is a big if, however. I don't know if Betances will be able to stick in the rotation but he has the stuff to close out games.
All of this is pure speculation on my part, of course. I don't see the Yankees going nuts for any free agents in the near future with the luxury tax hanging over their heads. They could still be a playoff team with this roster. I won't speculate on the bench positions or other bullpen arms because those are the most volatile positions in the game, changing everyday like a pair of underwear. Going forward, the Yankees will invest more time and effort into scouting players and developing them themselves. Having a few years of team control at affordable prices is the only way for the Yankees to keep away the luxury tax demon. There is plenty of talent in their minor league system, with the exception of the outfield corners, to keep young talent infused on this roster for years to come. Prospects that might begin playing a key role on the 2014 Yankees are as follows: Dante Bichette, Jr., 3B/1B; Gary Sanchez, C; Slade Heathcott, OF; Mason Williams, OF; David Adams, 2B; Corban Joseph, 2B; Ravel Santana, P; J.R. Murphy, C/1B/OF; Mark Montgomery, P; Tommy Kahnle, P; Graham Stoneburner, P; Jermey Bleich, P; Angelo Gumbs, SS; Ben Gamel, OF.
C Austin Romine - The Yankees may or may not end up trading him. Russell Martin is still younger than 30 right now but he has taken a lot of abuse behind the plate. I could see Martin being kept as a backup who plays 60 games.
1B Mark Teixeira - He still has power and still plays an excellent first base. He is one of four Yankees signed through 2014 and he isn't going anywhere.
2B Robinson Cano - He is due for a huge pay raise and deservedly so. He continues to get better every year but soon that won't be the case. By 2014 we will see Robbie peak and then see a slow decline as most middle infielders do when they get over 30.
SS Eduardo Nunez - Derek Jeter will most likely be retired by this point. If he isn't retired then he will not be the starting shortstop. Nunez is thought highly of by Yankee brass and will probably get first crack at replacing the legend of Jeter. I don't think he will perform terribly, giving the Yankees slightly below average defense but above average offense. He can hit, he just needs consistent playing time.
3B Alex Rodriguez - He will be approaching 40 years-old at this point or will be 40. He might be more of a DH at this point but don't expect the Yankees to go out and acquire a big name free agent. They will replace in house. It could be Brandon Laird splitting time with A-Rod or the Yankees using Nunez here and Hideki Nakajima at short. Whatever they do, don't expect a big-name free agent. Another darkhorse candidate would be Corban Joseph or David Adams.
LF Brett Gardner - Gardner has had his ups and downs. However, he will still be relatively cheap and still offer the Yankees the best base-stealing threat along with Nunez. There is no reason why the Yankees should get rid of Brett.
CF Curtis Granderson - Grandy will be starting to face some decline at this point. His days in center will be numbered with Mason Williams knocking on the door at AAA at this point. Granderson still holds some value, and can still hit for power and run. By 2015 he will be the Yankees right or left fielder while Mason Williams takes center.
RF Zoilo Almonte - Almonte is one of the Yankees most overlooked prospects. He has struggled at every level until he has adjusted and by 2014 he should start to be turning things around. I don't see him becoming a superstar but something along the lines of Juan Rivera isn't much of a stretch.
DH Jesus Montero - When the big righty isn't DH'ing he will be catching. He will be the big bat in the Yankees lineup at this point, hitting third or fourth. Right now he is the Yankees #1 Prospect for the 3rd year in a row and by 2014 he should be on his second All-Star team.
SP C.C. Sabathia - Another one who is actually signed to a contract for the 2014 season, Sabathia isn't going anywhere. He might start to decline, and given his physique, it will be interesting to see if it is rapid or gradual. He should still be an ace pitcher at this point, however.
SP Phil Hughes - I am one of the believers in Phil Hughes. There is a chance we have seen the best he had to offer in the first-half of 2010. But, there is also a chance that the pitcher we saw at that point is really the pitcher he will become. I am a believer that the best is yet to come. If Phil can stay healthy, a big if most assuredly, he can be a top of the rotation starter.
SP Manny Banuelos - He will start to come into his own at this point, his second full season. I believe Banuelos will be on his way to becoming the Yankee ace by 2014.
SP Ivan Nova - Nova enjoyed a lot of success last season and became the de facto number two starter. I don't see him as a top of the rotation kind of guy, and I don't know if the Yankees do either. Sure, he pitched well, but was it an aberration? Either way, I think Nova could be a consistent 12-17 game winner at the back end of the rotation like Orlando Hernandez.
SP Hector Noesi - The Yankees are grooming him to be a starting pitcher and I think he beats out Adam Warren and David Phelps. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if any of these three were in the Yankee rotation by 2014.
RP David Robertson - There is no reason he would be going anywhere unless he suddenly loses his ability to get hitters out. He might be in line for the closer's job along with Joba Chamberlain and Dellin Betances.
RP Joba Chamberlain - again, he could be the closer but I think he is better suited for a set-up role if he remains in the bullpen. I wrote a post yesterday that I think he would be better off as a starter, a position I have held since 2007.
CP Dellin Betances - IF he can control his walks he has the stuff to be a dominant closer. That is a big if, however. I don't know if Betances will be able to stick in the rotation but he has the stuff to close out games.
All of this is pure speculation on my part, of course. I don't see the Yankees going nuts for any free agents in the near future with the luxury tax hanging over their heads. They could still be a playoff team with this roster. I won't speculate on the bench positions or other bullpen arms because those are the most volatile positions in the game, changing everyday like a pair of underwear. Going forward, the Yankees will invest more time and effort into scouting players and developing them themselves. Having a few years of team control at affordable prices is the only way for the Yankees to keep away the luxury tax demon. There is plenty of talent in their minor league system, with the exception of the outfield corners, to keep young talent infused on this roster for years to come. Prospects that might begin playing a key role on the 2014 Yankees are as follows: Dante Bichette, Jr., 3B/1B; Gary Sanchez, C; Slade Heathcott, OF; Mason Williams, OF; David Adams, 2B; Corban Joseph, 2B; Ravel Santana, P; J.R. Murphy, C/1B/OF; Mark Montgomery, P; Tommy Kahnle, P; Graham Stoneburner, P; Jermey Bleich, P; Angelo Gumbs, SS; Ben Gamel, OF.
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