BIG BASEBALL WEEK IN REVIEW: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

Major League Baseball in NY and Boston finished up a big week this past week. With The Yankees , Mets, and Red Sox playing against divisional and inter league rivals we witnessed some of the season's most anticipated games to date. Drama, both on and off the field, some great defensive plays, some horrendous defense that may cause a fan to vomit in his mouth, great pitching, terrible pitching, and of a lot of offense.

Here is what we learned:

1.The Red Sox have, hands down, the deepest, most effective bullpen in the AL and, probably, all of baseball. Led by Jonathan Papelbon, the Sox bullpen leads the majors in ERA. With the likes of Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, Takashi Saito, Jusitn Masterson, and Daniel Bard and his 100 mph fastball with movement, the Sox bullpen shortens the game and puts pressure on the opposition to score early and hold a lead going into the latter innings of the game. With a starting rotation that boasts Josh Beckett and Jon Lester at the top, the Sox depth at pitching cannot be matched. This week will more than likely mark the arrival of John Smoltz to the Sox. And, let's not forget Clay Buchholz lying in the weeds at Pawtucket.

2. The Yankees starting pitching and bullpen have alot to do to catch up with the Sox. AJ Burnett has been a huge disappointment especially against the Red Sox. He blew a 6 run lead in April and couldn't get out of the third inning last week. CC Sabathia pitched well, but tired during an epic 10 pitch at bat versus Dustin Pedroia. Joba Chamberlain can't get on the same page as his catcher and took 100 pitches to get through 4 innings. Chin Ming Wang looks lost and Andy Pettitte continues to show his age.

3. Joe Girardi's moves as manager become more and more curious and questionable. Going into Boston, he set up the rotation to start Wang, coming off a foot injury from last year. He did not go to Mo in the 8th inning vs. Boston while the Yanks had a lead, yet brought in the future HOF pitcher in the 8th inning during a tie game during the Subway Series. He brought in Brett Gardner to pinch run yet chooses to bunt him the speedster to second as opposed to calling for a steal. Playing for a tie on the road is a questionable move at best. Terry Francona continues to show MLB he is one of the elite managers in the game today. Girardi, the Manager of the Year while in Florida, continues to come up small on the big stage as the Yanks continue to look for their first win vs. Boston in 2009, after dropping the first eight games of the season .

4. The Mets have an uncanny ability to steal defeat from the jaws of victory yet show remarkable resilience and continue to hang around in the standings. After the gut wrenching loss on Friday night on Luis Castillo's mind numbing error , the Mets found a way to win with a minor league call up on Saturday. With injuries to Delgado, Reyes, Putz, Maine, and Perez, the Mets have almost $50 million in payroll sitting on sidelines. With all their injuries, the Metropolitans are only one game out of the Wild Card and 4 behind the Phillies. Had Castillo caught AROD's pop up on Friday night the Mets would have gone 3-3 last week; a huge accomplishment given the competition faced and the state of their health. This much is for sure: it is hard to see the Mets contending for a playoff spot if they cannot get a big bat and/or starting pitcher to fill the voids left behind. With Johan Santana's velocity falling faster than the stock market, the Mets look like a boxer who has been staggered with a left hook and praying for the bell.

5. The Subway Series continues to provide NY fans with drama and fodder for sports talk shows. On or off the field, the teams continue to perpetuate the rivalry. Even the players are getting into it. Brian Bruney, the oft injured middle reliever, called out Met closer Franky Rodriguez for his post game antics. It all came to a head on Sunday when the two had to be separated by teammates. One wonders if Bruney also took Joba Chamberlain to task for his antics every time he strikes out an opposing batter.

All in all, the Sox came out of the week with the most impressive performance. They went 5-1 vs. NY and Philly. With an improving pitching staff and prospects to deal, if necessary, they are primed to make another run at the WS. Meanwhile the Yankees continue with a $200 million payroll yet still seem to be several pieces away from solving the puzzle. And speaking of puzzles, Omar Minaya still continues to look for solutions to an ever increasing myriad of problems that be-fall the snake bitten Mets.

-- Steve

Sox/Yanks The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The third series of the year between the arch rival Red Sox and Yankees commenced last night. The first game pitted $82 million Free Agent AJ Burnett vs. Sox ace Josh Beckett. The Sox won the game 7-0, making the season series record 6-0 in favor of the Boys from Beantown. It was the first time the Yanks were shut out this year.

Beckett dominated while Burnette imploded. Someone forgot to tell the former Blue Jay to show up. Burnette yielded 10 base runners, including 5 walks, and 5 runs ( 3 earned in 2 2/3 innings). The Sox got 4 runs in the second inning thanks to David Ortiz' third home run of the year. An error by AROD allowed a potential double play ball place runners at first and second. JD Drew hit a wall ball driving in 2 more; the game was, in effect, over. After being pulled, Burnette took his frustrations out on a water cooler- kicking it, in an ugly display of anger. Perhaps such intensity could have been saved for the Sox hitters.

Beckett meanwhile improved to 7-2 and lowered his ERA to 3.77 He is 5-0 with a 1.70 ERA since May 5, and in his last four starts he is 3-0 with a 0.31 ERA. Beckett is, more and more, returning to his 2007 form. Beckett along with baseball's best bullpen held the vaunted Yankee offense to 2 hits.

Chien Ming Wang faces knuckleballer Tim Wakefield tonight. The series finishes up tomorrow with Brad Penny going against $162 million "Free Agent" CC Sabathia. Although there are 2/3 of the season remaining, the Yankees are looking at what amounts to the closest thing to "must wins" the next two games. The two teams will not face each other again for two months. Another series loss to the Sox will certainly have the Yankee brass' bowels in an uproar.

- Steve

Brady on Cover of SI again- OH NO?!

Tom Brady was on the cover of SI last year just prior to the season. He proceeded to blow his knee out on a questionable hit by The Chief's Bernard Pollard. Although the Pats managed a very good record of 11-5 they failed to make the playoffs. The bad news is Brady is back on SI's cover. The good news is Tom Brady appears to be back and if he is WATCH OUT NFL!
Once the future HOF QB went down last season the balance of power was said to have shifted. The Jets, with antique QB Brett Favre, were supposed to win the AFC. Unfortunately the Dolphins dashed both the Pats and Jets dreams.
This year Brady seems determined to prove to the league once again his greatness. The sixth round draft pick is accustomed to having doubters and nay- sayers about his abilities. This season, assuming a healthy receiving corps headed by Randy Moss and Wes Welker, along with other added offensive weapons in Fred Taylor, Joey Galloway, Fred Taylor and a healthy Laurence Maroney, and a versatile Kevin Faulk, the Pats are pissed off and poised to make another run at the Big Prize.
With a younger defense short on linebackers, the Pats may just have to bludgeon teams to death as they did two years ago when the entire NFL whined about them " running up scores".
With a younger more athletic defensive backfield the Pats hope to re-capture a Dominating Defense, confusing opponent's QBs along the way. Jarod Mayo is coming off a stellar season and the Pats will be counting on him to lead the "D" along with the likes of Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork , and Tedy Bruschi.
We still have a long way to go before NFL season heats up but look out world Brady is Back.

Has Papi Lost His "Pop"?

In 2005 David Ortiz was given a plaque from Larry Lucchino, Red Sox President and CEO. The plaque read:"The Greatest Clutch Hitter in the History of the Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz, #34."

Since his arrival in Boston in 2003, Big Papi has hit 231 HRs with 820 RBIs. He has thrilled the Fenway Faithful with numerous game winning hits and has been a formidable foe in the Sox line-up.
A force to be reckoned with.
In 2004 Oriz hit Game winning home runs in game 3 of the ALDS versus Anaheim ( actually a series winning HR). He followed that up with a game winning extra inning blast in game 4 of the ALCS vs. the Yankees to become the first player in MLB history to hit two walk off HRs in the same post season. That victory put in motion the chain of events that led to the precedent setting historic series come back from the brink of elimination. Game 5 of the '04 ALCS presented Papi with another opportunity to chisel out his legacy. His epic 10th inning, 10 pitch at bat ended with a single which plated Johnny Damon with the game winning run.

A legend was born and thrived for the ensuing 4 years.

Until this year Ortiz has more than lived up to his "clutch" hitting reputation. From 2003- 2008 seasons with the Sox, he has 16 walk off hits, including 10 homers. His reputation and place in Red Sox and MLB history have, like the bricks at the front gates to Fenway Park, been cemented into immortality.

But, alas, a wrist injury incurred last season, coupled with the departure of Manny Ramirez, have left Papi with no "pop". Ortiz played in only 109 games last season with 23 Home runs and 89 RBI's. Papi entered the 2009 season, looking leaner and determined to show the world he could still hit without the dread locked doofus Ramirez protecting him in the lineup. Thus far, in 35 games, the big fella has a paltry 27 hits with zero home runs and 15 RBIs. It all came to a head last week in Anaheim when a miserable 0-for-7 performance, leaving 12 men on base, tying a Red Sox record. This led to manager Terry Francona giving the DH the entire weekend series against Seattle off to refresh and reflect.

Last night his offensive struggles continued- going 0-3 with 2 K's, watching his batting average fall to 203.

The question now becomes: Is Big Papi finished? Has he fallen faster than guys like Cecil Fielder, Mo Vaughn, and Jim Rice? Has his swing slowed to a snail's pace making him incapable of getting around on the inside fastball? Has his swing gotten too long? What do Theo Epstein et. al. do with Ortiz? None of the options is pleasant. Placing him lower in the lineup. A stint with Pawtucket and former hitting coach Ron Jackson? Trade for another DH? Victor Martinez of the Indians and The National's Nick Johnson have been involved in trade whispers. It's not like Ortiz has no protection in the lineup. Jason Bay, Boston's cleanup hitter, has been on fire this season with 11 HRs, 40 RBIs batting almost 300 with an OPS of 1.054.

For now Red Sox management seem willing to stick with #34. I'm inclined to do the same. The guy has produced too much for too long. Too often, in the sports community we as fans and media are quick to the trigger to either anoint a rookie as "the next great superstar" or an aging veteran as "finished". Remember Mike Lowell. Everyone said he was washed up to the point where The Marlins forced him on The Sox in the Beckett trade. Since arriving in Boston Lowell has been all All Star and -oh by the way- won the World Series MVP in 2007.

I'll stick with Big Papi. After all he has contributed to the Sox I think we the fans owe him a little loyalty..... but Theo- let's also keep that cell phone charged just in case.
- Steve

ELLSBURY STEALS SHOW IN SOX SWEEP OF YANKS

The first series of the year between baseball's biggest rivals, The Red Sox and the Yankees is now history. The Sox swept the series, winning each game in unique come from behind fashion.
The first two games of the series were of epic proportions. Game one saw Mariano Rivera, baseball's greatest closer, blow a two run lead with two out in the ninth when Jason Bay took him to one of the deepest and highest parts of Fenway. Rivera's body English was not enough to prevent Bay's shot from clearing the 37 foot high green monster in dead center field. Kevin Youkilis' walk off home run in the eleventh secured the victory.

Game two's pitching match up, Beckett versus Burnett, had all the makings of a low scoring pitcher's duel. Apparently no one told neither the pitchers nor the hitters of either team. Both pitchers gave up eight runs. Burnett, the Yanks $88 million dollar off season FA pick up squandered a 6-0 lead. It was the largest deficit the Sox overcame against the Yanks since 1968. The game see- sawed back and forth with the Yank bull-pen fully imploding and the Sox ultimately tagging the Yankee's beleaguered bullpen ( the third worst in baseball ) for an additional 10 runs,leading to a 16-11 final.

With the Yanks desperately needing to salvage a win, Andy Pettitte was sent to the mound against Red Sox youngster Justin Masterston.The Sox versatile slingshot submariner out-dueled Pettitte while Jacoby Ellsbury stole home in a straight out steal. An inexcusable mistake for the Yankees inasmuch as catcher Jorge Posada specifically warned Pettitte to keep an eye on the Sox Speedster. Couple that with the fact that JD Drew, a lefthanded batter, allowed Posada a clear view of the runner, made the theft of home even more unlikely. Ellsbury is by far the fastest Red Sox this writer has ever seen and is yet another product of the Sox fertile farm system which continues to produce quality MLB players.

This series exposed the Yankees biggest weakneess and The Sox biggest strength: their respective bullpens. The Sox pen leads the majors with a 2.57 ERA. In the last 37.1 innings
Red Sox relievers have allowed a measly 5 earned runs leading the team to its current 10 game win streak . The Yanks on the other hand have the third worst bullpen in MLB.

These are not our father's Red Sox my friends. Pitching, Defense, and Speed are now key components in Boston's philosophical approach to the game.

Manny who?

Yes, we still have a long way to go in the season, and Sox fans are realistic about the formidable foes in the division, but things certainly have changed since their 2-6 start.

- Steve

YANKS VS SOX-- ROUND ONE THIS WEEKEND- JOBA "JUICED"

The first of 18 regular season "holy wars" between the Red Sox and Yankees begins this weekend at the Fenway Park, baseball's great green grand cathedral. Compelling pitching match ups are lined up for all three games kicking off with game one's match up between Justin "Joba" Chamberlain and Jon Lester. Both teams enter the early season series with identical 9-6 records; the Red Sox having won their last seven in a row, and the Yanks coming off a 14 inning win against Oakland on Melky Cabrera's two run home run.

The series is already heating up with "Cops" star, admitted drunk driver, and New York Chamber of Commerce member Joba "The Hut" Chamberlain, and Sox slugger, David Ortiz.
Big Papi has taken exception the Joba's headhunting of Kevin Youkilis. "None of that, man -- just play the game the way it's supposed to be, and that's about it," Big Papi was quoted as saying between games of a doubleheader yesterday. People in NY think Ortiz needs to pipe down. WRONG!

In the past two years, Chamberlain has shown he is nothing more than the cowardly lion pictured above when pitching against one of the Sox premier hitters. Youkilis, a 2008 AL MVP candidate , is hitting a torrid 429 with four home runs and 958 OBP, and who's head has been a favorite target of Chamberlain's. Joba, you may recall was suspended back in 2007 for twice throwing at Youk's head on successive pitches.

He continued his gutless antics last year versus the Sox first baseman. Hey, no-one denies Youk has a rather large dome and "pitching inside" is part of the game the Yankees pitching staff has forgotten over the past few years but, please - no head hunting.

One hopes Joba exercises better judgement in his pitch selection this weekend, than he did in October 2008, in Lincoln Nebraska, when he decided to get behind the wheel of his 2006 BMW after a night of heavy drinking. A bottle of Crown Royal, 3/4 empty,was found on the front seat of the car and Joba pleaded guilty to DUI.

Over the past several years Ortiz has been a Yankee killer and many have questioned the lack of intestinal fortitude of the Yank pitchers to pitch inside. The pinstripe philosophy has changed and more batters are being brushed off the plate. All well and good but anyone who throws at a specific batter's head as frequently as Chamberlain has with Youkilis is looking for trouble.

Any headhunting will DEFINITELY not be tolerated by the Sox staff. The Sox have been pitching inside and intimidating opposing hitters for the past several seasons, leading to two World Series Championships.

Is a sober Joba willing to take the heat if he beans a Bo-sox player then sees one of his hitters go down when a Beckett 95 mph fastball winds up in Mark Teixeira's earhole?

Show some guts and good judgement Joba: pitch (and drive) responsibly. Oh yeah-- one more thing-- lay off Yogi Berra's height- he may be small is size but you will never reach the heights he has realized in baseball history. Think about that while you're pouring that next bottle of booze down your throat....

Let the games begin.

-Steve

"STARTING N-Y-N-E" Next Show on April 26 at 9 pm

Hey-- don't forget our next show is on Sunday April 26th. We'll be on for two hours from 9-11 PM EST. We are on WGBB 1240 AM in NY or on the web at: http://www.sportsradiony.com/

Click on the "listen now" graphic at the top of the sportsradiony link and check us out. Call us up at and take us on at (631) 888- 8811 to talk New York and New England Sports.
Our guests will include:
Ralph Vacchiano of The NY Daily News, we'll talk a little NFL draft, Big Blue, and NFL topics. Additionally Brian Monzo from WFAN and contributing blogger to www.snyrangers.com
will join us to discuss the NHL playoffs and the Rangers. Looks like a great show- we'll see you on the radio......
-Steve