To the 5 Boroughs

(Sip will not be contained today. Below find pieces about the Braves' odd negotiating strategy with Tom Glavine, and another about the Yankees' winning bid for Kei Igawa.)

NEW KNICKS! OLD GIANTS!!! COOP'S RANGERS!

Not sure if anyone else caught it, but the Knicks topped LeBron and the Cavs last night. A lot of good came out of this game.

Eddy Curry and Q played their best games of the season. The Knicks held LeBron under 30 despite playing zero team defense. Oh, and, Nate Robinson officially cemented himself as a circus act with ihs failed showboat dunk attempt.

But these Knicks are so back!

After being embarassed in a home and home with the Bulls, the early jokers of the Leastern Conference, they go on to beat the East's best.

It doesn't make a lot of sense.

But neither does the NBA.

I'm with the boys in Section 423. Give me Balkman and I will give you my heart back.

That guy is the rarest combination of terrible basketball player and ugly dude. I mean, at least Sam Cassell can shoot the basketball.

NEW GIANTS!

When the New Mets sit so far out of the spotlight (the biggest thing happening to them is a potential movie starring Jose Reyes and Jake the Snake Roberts: "Black Hammer White Lightning II"), my attention shifts to the men in Blue.

I wrote earlier in the week how this team has fallen apart.

Pretty obvious there, Sip.

But last night I saw an amazing stat: Over the last three seasons the Giants are 21-10 in games where Michael Strahan plays and 1-10 in games that he doesn't.

Stated simply, they are an 11-5 with the Gap tooth captain and the worst team in football without him.

The focus of this GIANT meltdown has been Eli, Plax, Coughlin and even Tiki opening his mouth.

But, as much as we New Yorkers hate excuses, there has been little mention of the unjuries.

Osi 5 Games. Strahan 3 games. Amani 3 games, Big Luke 2 and change.

It's not just a coinicidence that without their 2 pro bowl ends, the pass rush has stalled.

And it's no coincidence that without our left tackle and #2 possesion receiver our offense has stalled, especially considering that the backups are Big Bobby Whitfield and Tim Carter.

The Giants' strength on D was always their pass rush, which has been non-exsistent. On offense they had balance.

I really think a Giant turnaround can take place. We need to get lucky this week against Dallas and get some of our boys back.

Most importantly to me, though, I HATE the Eli bashing. It is the epitome of New York fans being fickle.

He's had a rough stretch. The kid is young. We all expected Montana this year and through 8 games we were very happy.

He's had a bad stretch. Take a look at Big Ben and then just calm your horses.

This kid will be back and we will all love him again.

VCD,

Sip

Oh, and the Rangers lost in a shootout the other night. GET THE PUCK TO BEUKEBOOM!

A Brave Mistake

(Note: Second piece of the day from Sip. The first, about the Yankees winning the Kei Igawa sweepstakes, is available immediately below this piece, or by clicking here.)

I don't think the Braves are as bad as they were last year. In fact, going into 2007, like any other year, the Braves still scare me. I have not forgotten that they are the Braves.

They still have John Smoltz. They still have the Jones'. They have their kids, Francouer, Laroche, McCann.

Let's just be thankful that for some reason, it appears that they are not interested in Tom Glavine.

Reports from Espn.com are that the Braves have yet to offer Glavine a contract.

Glavine, who in one of his many handshake agreements with the Mets, agreed to make a decision on next year by the winter meetings (starting this coming Monday), appeared to prefer Atlanta over a return to Shea. At least that is what I have heard and that is my gut.

And yet, Atlanta is yet to pass along an offer.

There has been discussion with regards to John Scheurholz's book, Built To Win, in which he slanders Tommy for a difficult contract negotiation back in the winter of 2003.

But if Glavine wants to return to Atlanta, at a discount price of around $8 mil per, the Braves would be foolish not to want him back.

Put Smoltz and Glavine at the top of the rotation and you have the best starting pitching in the division. The Braves would have a legit shot at taking back the East.

It's a scary thought.

Which makes me wonder.

I've been to Turner Field and the original Momo works there. I know they aren't putting too many fans in the seats. And I definitely know that Major League Baseball is less popular than Georgia football, Falcons football, Macon County High School football, Maretta Pop Warner football and even the newly formed WNFL, but still.

Is this team just broke?

While they have been shedding payroll over the last couple of years, is Glavine really out of their price range?

With the chaotic spending going down in baseball over the last couple of weeks, I cannot imagine that this is the case.

Which means that this appears to be a personnel decision.

Which to me doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense. If the Braves fail to bring back Tommy, I would welcome him back with the most open of arms.

We need to bring back Glavine. He is the core of our pitching staff.

Without him and with the uncertainty of that surrouns acquiring Barry Zito, our opening day starter right now is El Duque. Our #2 is John Maine. I guess that makes Oliver Perez our #3.

These guys were in the MLBDL last year.

We have three days till Tommy makes a decision. Let's hope the Braves make the decision for him.

VCD,

Sip

Say What?!!

Welcome to Hypocrisy City, USA...

This week, those crafty Yankees won the posting rights to Japanese fireballer Kei Igawa after mustering the very cute winning bid of $26,000,194 (194 was his strike out total -- how adorable is that).

It was less than two weeks ago that the Red Sox were being scolded for posting a winning offer of $51.1 million for the rights to negotiate with the surest thing to come out of Japan since the Spicy Tuna Roll, Daisuke Matsuzaka.

New York newspapers killed the Red Sox. I mean $51 million dollars just to talk? Come on right?

I wrote a while back how I loved the move and thought the juice was worth the squeeze. Matsuzaka, a combonation of Elvis Presley and Michael Jordan in Japan, is supposed to be an ace. I am no scout, but everything that we read and everything that we remember from the World Baseball Classic suggests that the Red Sox got their hands on a real gem.

For 5 years and roughly $100 mil, the Sox had their Ace. They got a #1 at best and at worst #2 starter for the next 5 years. But, potentially of greater significance, the Sox got their hands on the biggest thing in Asia. They immediately put themselves on the map in the growing market of the Far East, and might have become the face of MLB in Japan on the heels of this move.

This is the equivalent of Real Madrid's paying over 40 million euros a few years back for the rights to David Beckham.

And now we have our beloved Yankees.

This move, at least on paper, takes the cake as potentially their dumbest move yet. Maybe they were jealous of the Sox. Maybe like my boys Team Facelift, they too wanted to be "Famous in Japan."

(Plug -- check out teamfacelift.com, the official white rap group of Y2k)

Whatever their reasoning, it just seems like it was unbelievably flawed.

Having paid a "smudge" over $26 mil for his rights, and likely to pay him around $4-$5 mil per season over 4-5 years leave the Yankees paying this guy somewhere around 4-5 years at about $11 million dollars per season.

That's $11 million dollars per season for a back of the rotation guy.

Take a minute and realize how much money that is, and then take a look at your cubicle or around your office (if you're lucky). I just looked at the banana peel and empty cup of coffee on my table and shed a tear.

But $11 mil per.

Even in this ever so crazy market, $11 mil is worth something.

The Yankees just paid Mussina about $11 per to stick around the Bronx for two more years. He was a top 10 starter in the AL last year.

Then there is Igawa. My main man Kei Igawa. The newest of Yankees.

Apparently this guy is a #4 starter at best.

Remember a couple of days ago when our jaws dropped after seeing the Phils pay $24 mil over 3 years ($8 mil per) for Adam Eaton, a PROVEN #4 and maybe even #3 starter?

Well the Yankees just paid $11 mil per, for potentially two more years, for an UNPROVEN #4.

I am scratching my head here. I am just really confused.

David Wright seems to be too: "I just don't know. I'd have to see him when he's in midseason form. You send a guy up there after a month layoff and you can't get a handle on a guy."

Wright saw this guy when He, Glass and Coach Julio went over to Japan. He was apparently unimpressed.

The move makes very little sense to me.

It's like asking, would you rather spend $20 mil on Johan Santana or $11 mil on Steve Trachsel?
I'm not saying Igawa is Trachsel.

They could only be so lucky. Trachsel is a 15 game winner in this league. How many #4's can say that?

Who knows what this guy will become, but early indiciations are that the Yankees got flossed here.

Wouldn't you rather spend that $50 mil on Jeff Suppan? A scary thought considering that guy is Jeff Suppan, but seriously?

I can see the headlines now:

"We need to lock this guy up and throw away the KEI!"

Vaya con dios,

Sip

If Not Now, When?

(Note: The latest in our Section 423 series on the Knicks appears immediately below this post by A.F.O.M.G.)

An uneasy quiet has descended upon the Mets' offseason. It's the kind of quiet many Mets fans had probably forgotten about given the offseason bounties of 2004, when Omar Minaya swooped up Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran, and 2005, when he strung together Carlos Delgado, Paul Lo Duca, and Billy Wagner.

So what do you do for an encore? Well, so far the answer has been not a hell of a whole lot. Basically the Mets' offseason acquisitions come down to Moises Alou, Jose Valentin and Orlando Hernandez.

Moises Alou? I think it's a great signing. He's a bit long in the tooth, but the guy can rake, and his specialty was the Mets' weakness in 2006. He punishes lefties. Our deficiency in this area had to be addressed. It was a good move (RIP Cliff Floyd).

$3.8 million for Jose Valentin? Geez... that's a lot of money. It's more money than I would have thought was necessary, but the truth is I wasn't in love with any of the free agent second basemen, and would have been wary of handing over a long-term deal.

Two years for El Duque? Well, one would have been better, but if it took two to get the job done, so be it. I liked what he showed us last year, and if he can stay healthy (a big if, considering he was injured twice in four months as a Met), he's worth the money.

And that's about it. Sure, there have been other moves along the way, but nothing splashy like when the Mets landed Pedro or Delgado.

And for a lot of people that's just as well. Look at the market, they say, it's crazy out there right now.

You know, they're right. It is crazy out there right now. I find myself wondering though whether the Mets wouldn't do well to check into the asylum.

Look, I'm glad the Mets didn't go 8 years for Alfonso Soriano -- 1 year of Alou is a much better deal. And believe me, I think the people who gave that kind of money and those kind of years to Juan Pierre and Gary Matthews Jr. have no business running a professional baseball team.

But that's all in the past now, and all that's left is the reality that the market is out of whack. Unfortunately for the Mets, that reality is at loggerheads with the reality of the club's construction, and ultimately, I think it's the latter reality that needs to loom largest.

This is a team that's built to win now. We made it to Game 7 of the NLCS last year, and I doubt there's anybody reading this who thinks we weren't the best team in the National League in 2006.

But we've also got some pretty glaring holes. We just lost one of our set-up men (Chad Bradford), it appears we have no interest in re-signing our long man (Darren Oliver), and it looks like we may well lose our only healthy ace pitcher (Tom Glavine) to his long lost love.

Where does that leave the Mets? We've still got $50 million invested in four players. We've still got an offense that's built to win now.

We've also still got a shoddy pitching staff. Right now there's El Duque and John Maine, neither of whom is exactly a known quantity. Beyond them, well, there's promising kids like Mike Pelfrey, Phil Humber, and Oliver Perez, but is this really the group we want to go to war with?

When we as fans think about the price tag that will come along with Barry Zito, I think we should bear in mind the constitution of this team.

Think of Delgado, who mashes dongs now but for how much longer? Think of Lo Duca, who picks winners by day and takes pitches by night -- how many more years are left in those knees? Think of Wagner -- how long before he tends to those alpacas full time?

And think of the Mets. Sure, we've got guys like Jose Reyes and David Wright. Yes, Beltran should have many good years left. And OK, there's talented young pitching in the Mets' system.

But this is a team that came close to a championship last year; isn't there an obligation to build on that?

They're saying it's going to take between 5 and 7 years and $75-110 million to get Zito. That's $15 million per for a lot of years, and I get that he's probably not worth it in and of himself.

But this isn't just about him, it's about the Mets, too. It's about the team we are right now and the team we would be with him in the fold. We all know how much more better this team would be with Zito in the fold.

And let's none of us forget that this is a guy who has won a Cy Young Award, who would be going to the National League, and who would be reuniting with the pitching coach whose departure coincided with the onset of his "struggles" three years ago.

It'd be a somewhat different story if there were a major free agent pitcher available in 2008 that I was excited about, but there isn't, or there isn't one who I think will be available to the Mets. Carlos Zambrano is the name that stands out the most to me, but somehow I just don't see it happening.

There are always trades to be made and smaller signings to measure, but crazy market and all, I think the Mets have to be prepared to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Barry Zito.

And I think when they do, we as fans should appreciate how close we came last year, and how 15 million dollars for one pitcher may ultimately make good on the 90 million dollars spent on 24 other guys.

- A.F.O.M.G.

Section 423: Is There a Light at the End of the Tunnel?

(Note: A piece by A.F.O.M.G. will be available later this afternoon, so keep checking in for that.)

Unless David Lee (whose rebounding average just goes up and up and up), and Marty Collins (if the folks at MSG had any soul, there should be a drink named 'The Marty Collins' at the Garden -- Hennessey and Pineapple) clone themselves, then the Knicks are in for another abysmal journey to the depths of the NBA.

After spending close to $450 bucks on 4 decent seats for Saturday night's game vs. Los Torros, and another 50 clams on some watered down jack and cokes and a rubbery hot dog (someone has to pay for Shandon Anderson's buyout, right?), I got to witness one of the least inspired, laziest, and down right depressing Knicks showings in years.

Coming off the Boston win, I assumed the guys would be on some type of high. The wheels may still be on the track? Well the train crashed like an Amtrak Saturday night, and to be honest folks, even for an eternal optimist like me, I don't think this train is making it to the station.

The Knicks are flawed on every level. Coaching. Injuries. Attitude. And worst of all, skill level. They're a lot like the 2003 Mets in that way, except instead of Art Howe, a broken Mr. Glass, and Tony Tarasco, it's Isiah, Jeffries, and Steph (or fill in the names as you so choose).

But back to the Knicks -- when you play home and homes with a team, usually you're able to split. You learn something in the first game, make an adjustment, and win the second, even if it is on the road.

However, the only adjustment made, and this is to Coach Zeek's credit, was that he put Balkman (2 of the top 10 dunks of the year so far?) in the game in the first half Tuesday on the road in the house that Jordan built, instead of letting him twirl his dreads until the 2nd half like he did Saturday night.

Balkman has been a pleasant surprise. Yes, he dribbles like a 6th grader. Yes, he makes you hold your breath on every 18 footer from the corner. However, he is unique, athletic, and ultimately does something that very few NBA players are capable of, even the good ones: he tries.

Night in and night out, the guy brings the pain like Method Man (great song). If Isiah can do a better job of when he puts him in the game, he might actually make an impact in the Knicks' favor. You can't play him zero minutes 1st half, then 24 in the second.

I'm also ashamed to say it, but I think the time has come for Stephon to move on. The prodigal son has fallen. How the basketball gods have deceived us. It's been close to 15 years since Steph was carried off the Garden floor a PSAL champion for Lincoln High School.

Now, he is benched and booed every time he touches the ball. It really breaks my heart. You can see the sadness in his soul as his ten dollar shoes squeek and slide up the hardwood.

What's the answer to the Steph situation? Bench and embarass him more? You can't trade him or buy his 15 mil a year out. What to do?

Here is the solution. Isiah should NEVER have Steph, Crawford, and Francis on the court at the same time. Ever. This isn't a Don Nelson sleep away camp. Start Steph and Francis, and about 6 minutes into the first quarter, pull one of them for Crawford.

Then with about 7 mins to go in the 2nd, right after the TV time out, put one of them back in. This will also help Crawford take fewer crazy shots, which he seems to do every other time down the floor.

Nate has been great, the block on Yao going down in history as an 'NBA moment', but he needs to start taking things seriously. I'm glad he is having fun, but honestly, when your team is an abysmal 1-6 at home, stop talking to Brooke Shields and Boomer Esiason in the front row, and win a ball game.

Saturday night in the Garden, all the big names come out, and the Knicks make Luol Deng, Nocioni, and Malik Allen look like Jordan, Pippen, and Ho Grant. Just atrocious. They held Gordon to under ten points and cut a 20 point lead down to 5 with 2 minutes left. Too little, too late, and too much stuffing and gravy on Turkey Day.

You laugh, but I really think that's what happened. The guys looked sluggish until Balkman gave them a much needed lift, and possibly the dunk of the year as he soared baseline for a thunderous stuff. Wow. Now I'm sounding like Walt Clyde...

So getting back to Steph, what do you do? He didn't take a shot Saturday night, the first time that had happened in his entire career. He sat the whole second half, even with Q Rich injured.

So what to do? The way this plays out will determine how long Isiah lasts. After all, that his golden boy. He is New York's golden boy. I don't question his desire, and while I know his skills have diminished, I just think he is lost right now. His role is not defined, and for the first time in his life, he is playing scared.

Nonetheless, at 5-11, the team somehow finds itself only 1 game out of first place in the Atlantic. At first I was excited about this, the mediocrity of the division proving false playoff hopes. Now I wish the struggling Nets and Sixers could get it together and pull away so a sense of panic and despair overwhelms the franchise and Isiah is fired and replaced with Kenny Smith, Greg Anthony, or even Mark Jackson.

From the booth to the sidelines. Those guys understand today's NBA player, while Isiah seems to be off in Neverland.

To end on a positive note, shout out to David Lee. Keep the double doubles coming, and keep yelling at the refs. New York hasn't seen this kind of fire since a young Bobby Valentine. They hear you young buck....

- Mase & Chris

RIP The Chad

(A couple pieces by Sip for you today. Following this piece about Chad Bradford's signing with Baltimore, Sip tackles the decline of the Yankees through to 2009, when all will be right with the baseball world.)

Word on the street is that Chad Bradford is joining the rest of baseball's free agent relievers for some crabcakes and football down in Baltimore, having signed a three-year contract to join those pesky O's.

The Chad will be missed.

Was anyone on the Mets more consistent in the postseason than Bradford? I had more confidence when this guy was on the hill than when it was Aaron Heilman or Sandman time.

Bradford's postseason line: 5 games, 5.1 IP, 0 ER

Bradford's success was often disregarded. But, he sure did an awesome job. Along with Pedro Feliciano, Bradford formed one of the better early inning righty/lefty combos in recent time.

So, take care of Cousin Schubert down in B-More, The Chad.

The one positive: this frees up a spot for a right handed specialist at Shea. You might say that one of my spare time activities has been working on my arm angle.

VCD,

Sip

Why the Yankees Will Suck in 2009

For those of you asleep for the last two weeks, well, you have missed a lot of freaky things.

Wake up to the world where the New Orioles are paying over $11 million per year to have Jamie Walker and Danys Baez setup for the showstopper Chris Ray (congrats J Schubes).

Adam Eaton, a potential #4 starter gets an $8 mil per deal and even those asleep know about Juan Pierre and Gary Mattews Jr.

The new collective bargaining agreement, signed about 3 weeks ago, combined with the overall financial success of the game has left baseball owners with such deep pockets that Manny Ramirez's 37 million dollars owed to him over the next two years is being talked about all over ESPN like it is cheaper than my local bodega.

It's nice to see these athletes get paid a lot. Their lives aren't already sweet enough.

But there is one reason why I could not be happier with what is going down in baseball. Simply put, the Yankees will suck in 2009.

This is not 2002 anymore.

The Yankees can no longer simply outbid other teams for the top players' services. Three years ago is there a chance that Matsuzaka doesn't end up in the Bronx? No way! And that is just with regards to the Red Sox.

But what has happened in Baltimore is the perfect indicator of the Yankees' eventual failures.

Last year, the Yankees were willing to pay Kyle Farnsworth "closer" dollars to "setup" in the Bronx. The Yankees and only the Yankees could afford to do this.

This year, the bottom feeding Orioles gave Baez 3 yrs and $19 mil to do the same ($1 mil more than the Yanks paid Farnsworth).

Another example comes with the Indians' David Delluci signing yesterday. This guy would be the perfect fit as the Yankees' utility guy and #4 OF heading into next sesaon. Unfortunately, the Indians gave him $11.5 mil to protect Big Pronk and co. in Wahoo Land.

The perfect example, though, is Barry Zito. The Yankees always need pitching. Last year they had only two dependable starters in Mussina and Wang. Of course they would want to get their hands on an ace like Zito.

Only now, so do 10 other teams with cash to burn.

There is simply too much money spread around baseball for the Yankees to purely outbid other teams. This is Part 1 for the Yankees' soon-to-be demise.

Part 2.

The Yankees are no longer the most attractive team to play for in New York.

Over the last six years America has witnessed a dynasty crumble. In 2000 the Yankees were led by a Hall of Famer in the making, Derek Jeter, 27, who would go on to lead the Yankees to many more titles.

All the big names wanted to join this dynasty, and join them they did.

But every year something new went wrong.

In '01, Mariano faultered.
In '02, there were those damn rally monkeys
In '03, they couldn't overcome those pesky kids in Florida
In '04, need I say anything here

In '05, that is when it truly unravelled. A-Rod's a bum; so is Big Unit (that's $41 mil worth of bum).

Finally there is year. The wheels totally spun off. The '06 Yankees were more of a soap opera than that show with the little midget that everyone loves.

Everyone was looking to pass the blame somewhere else.

One day it was that A-Rod is a bust. Another day it was that the invincible Torre had lost control. Even Jeter caught some blame.

All of a sudden the Yankees are a circus.

And why would a player want to jump in with the clowns when he could show up in Queens?

The Mets '06 look a lot like the formation of a dynasty. Not 1 but 2 marquee kids, Reyes and Wright.

A clubhouse filled with smiles and camaraderie.

And all of a sudden, a team that looks like it could be winning for the next 5-7 years.

So, not only are the Yankees unable to outspend their opposition to land the marquee players, they are not even the most viable option in their own city to land a big name.

Funny too, I was reading something the other day about how Henry Blanco wouldn't come to the Mets in '03, that he took less money to go elsewhere.

Funny how things change.

Part III: The Old Get Older.

Mussina:37
Johnson:43
Rivera: 36
Posada: 35
Giambi: 35
Jeter: 32
A-Rod: 31
Abreu: 32
Damon: 33
Matsui: 32

The entire Yankee team outside of Cano, Cabrera and Wang is passed its prime. Who knows where they will be in two years?

Rivera should be long retired as will Unit and Mussina.

Jeter's little inside-out swing will be a step slower and result in a few more pop ups and strike outs.

Unless Balco makes an even more potent steroid than is already on the market, than Giambi is done.

This is a team on the decline. With the Red Sox and Blue Jays continuing to reload, both young and old, I honestly believe that the Yanks might finish third this coming year in the East.

If not this year, well certainly in '09.

The Yankees have been doing everything that they can to stock up their empty farm system.

The trade for Humberto Sanchez is a nice start. But he has arm troubles. Pretty much the entire future of the Yankees rests in the shoulder of their prized pitching prospect, Phillip Hughes.

While Hughes is supposed to be as legit as they get, he really makes up 100% of their top notch prospects.

When the old get older, when there aren't enough young bodies to bring in, and when your bank account can no longer get you out of trouble, bad things start to happen.

I love baseball.

Vaya con dios.

Sip

A Heck of a Time to be a New Yorker

This weekend was just one giant kick in the balls. It started with a monsoon filled Thanksgiving and then carried right on in to our favorite New York City sports teams.

Friday

On Friday I spoke with my inner circle about the Spy. Will Tommy come back or will he go to Atlanta?

In a sports world filled with dirtbags and egos, Tom Glavine appears to be the classiest of the classy. He has carried himself with a level of professionalism like few of his contemporaries and has been an integral part of the Mets resurgence. While we thank Pedro for starting the chain of big names that would call Shea home, it was really Tommy the Spy that was the first.

So now Tommy has a decision. The Mets or Braves? $28 mil or $20 mil? Contender or Pretender? No trade clause or potentially shipped to Seattle?

Using strictly baseball logic, this should be a no brainer. Tommy should be a Met. He would make more money on a better team with the guarantee that he would not be shipped off.

But Tommy isn't your typical baseball player. He is also a good guy.

And while all the talk is about Tommy's family being in Atlanta I do not believe that this is the real reason Tommy would want to go. Family is the perfect excuse, but I believe that Tommy will go to the team where he wants to win his 300th game.

Glavine is a baseball historian and loyalist. He spent the better part of two decades with the Braves, dominating the National league and staking a claim as one of the game's all time greats.

It may just be that in his heart of hearts, Glavine wants to win his 300th game in a Braves uniform. That the picture of him in Cooperstown has his Braves teammates hoisting him on their shoulders as he wins his number 300.

Either way you could not fault the guy.

But in MY heart of hearts I believe Glavine will be back. What is happening at Shea is too special for him to leave. And at the end of the day, this guy craves another ring. Next Stop Shea.

Saturday

Saturday was a treat. My favorite E! correspondent and Y2K author of Section 423 scrounged up some purple seats to check out the Bricks at the Garden.

I root for the Warriors now. I admit that. A buddy of mine is slowly being hidden on their bench and if he goes I would soon follow, but for now, I remain on board.

At the same time, the Knicks are family. I often compare them to my mom. The woman drives me absolutely nuts and there are times when I wish she would just spend all of her time in Connecticut, but at the end of the day, I will always love her and she will always be my mom.

I will always love the Knicks. But man are they a joke.

After going down by 20 points in the first half to the White Hot 3-9 Bulls, I found myself sneaking to the bar to watch the ND-USC game.

The second half was a different story.

I got to see 24 minutes straight of Renaldo Balkman -- I AM SO ON BOARD -- and about 21 more of my blackjack nemesis David Lee -- he cool too.

The Knicks have a ton of holes, they are a bad basketball team and have ZERO future for the next three years.

But on Saturday I found myself in a weird place.

It was my first moment since his arrival that I had something nice to say about Isiah.

Assuming Isiah understands that this team is going nowhere, I really believe he is handling the '06 Knicks decently.

That is, he is letting his kids play. We are seeing a ton of Lee, Frye, Balkman and Robinson but not in the way we see saw them under Coach Brown.

Isiah is letting these kids make mistakes and more importantly, he is letting his kids play through their mistakes.

David Lee had about 14 turnovers on Saturday, but Isiah stuck with him.

Renaldo Balkman was chucking 3's when he has less range than a 14 yr old Sip. But Isiah stuck with him.

It may just be that Isiah is too dumb to realize these mistakes. That is a strong possibility. But assuming this is not the case, then tip a bit of your cap to Zeke. He is doing SOME developing.

And with a team with absolutely no shot, that is the best thing he can do.

He is getting the Knicks one step closer to being a decent team in 2011.

More importantly, Isiah is NOT the worst coach in New York.

Sunday

Oh Man!

Let me say it again.

Oh Man!

What happened in Tennessee was the last straw. It is not like me to go with the public. I hate the public and more so, I hate it when the public jumps to immediate and impulsive conclusions.

(Remember guys when the Giants were 6-2 and the whole world had them in the NFC championship game?)

But like the rest of the world, I am on board.

FIRE COUGHLIN.

I got about 92 calls after the Giants loss last night. There were a ton of unhappy people that I have a ton of respect for.

I was pissed.

But this loss belongs to nobody buy Coughlin.

Everyone will highlight two key plays. The Pacman Jones interception where Plax gave up on his route and the "sack" by BC alum Mathias Kiwaunaka.

These were bad plays. Plax's more so.

I was telling my father after the failed sack that Kiwaunaka must have thought he heard a whistle.

If this were the case, and he threw Young into the ground then there is 15 yards and an automatic first down.

But as my cousin Dan put it, this was a team that gave up on its coach. There wasn't a person on the sideline that rallied behind their headman, who was shown prancing arond the sideline like a high school cheer leader.

In hindsight you can doubt the guys playcalling in the second half. That is pretty easy.

But this is more of a bigger picture. Giants players hate the Giants Coach.

While we heard our typical annual sound bytes out of Jeremy Shockey earlier in the year, last week Tiki spoke out.

Has Tiki ever spoken out?

The answer of course is no. Which infers how bad this situation is.

Amazingly, the Giants are a win at home against Dallas away from being atop the NFC east. There is a Giants fan in the area that likes our chances against the Mr. Jessica Simpson led Cowboys, but still, this game is in our hands, in our stadium.

My solution.

Fire Coughlin today!

It is the only way to spark up this team.

With Strahan and Osi coming back soon and the eventual (hopefully?) return of LT Luke Pettigout, the Giants could get healthy at the right time.

But this team needs something more. We need Plax and Shock playing for their coach.

We need Eli to all of a sudden believe. (He really does look like the kid who gets mugged on the 79th street crosstown bus right now)

As my good pal KFC pointed out, Charlie Weis has an out in his contract that lets him become the coach of the Giants. Can you say "bringing sexy back." Could you imagine what he could do for the Giants offense with all of these weapons. And so we pray.

Either way. We need a fresh start.


Monday

Surprise, surprise. Sip is wearing warmup pants and a hooded sweatshirt, sitting in his sleek red chair.

It's a new week. We can finally say, Next week is now.

Apparently Yankee fans are complaining about Saturday's column on ESPN message boards.

As much as we here at Y2K write for you guys, our NYC brethren who love the Mets and hate the Yankees, I really get a kick out of pissing off Yankee fans.

Trapped in the bubble that is the YES Network, Yankee fans just don't get what is going on in the rest of the baseball world.

If just once we get the chance to remind them of that, then this is all worth it.

Happy monday all.

Vaya con dios.

Sip

A Defense of Joe Cowley

Remember back in 2002 when Gary Matthews Jr. was our 6th OF coming out of Spring Training? Well, a lot has changed.

I want to talk a lot more about this topic on Monday so I am going to spare you guys too much detail, but, basically, in short, baseball has up and gone wacko.

$330 mil for Soriano, Lee, Pierre and Gary Matthews.

I honestly don't know if any of these guys would crack the Mets top 4 hitters.

That's just me though, the same crazy guy that said Derek Jeter should be 7th in the AL MVP voting.

Apparently, claiming Jeter 7th was the worst thing to happen to America since the Jon Benet Ramsey saga.


Most things that most journalists write bother me. I find that only a tiny percentage of the media really knows they are talking about while the rest are simply out to attract readers.

But the fact that this dude from Chicago, Joe Cowley, is getting nationally scolded for putting 6th on his ballot is just about the worst thing that I have seen in sports media coverage.

Ladies and Gentleman. This is DEREK JETER.

This guy did not hit 100 home runs this year.

He did not hit .400.

He did not steal 150 bases.

He did not play on a team where he and only he was good enough to get the team a victory.

His team was not a 116-win team, instead, it stumbled for most of the season to make it atop the AL East.

Not a person in baseball views Jeter as the team's most talented player (A-Rod).

Not a person in baseball views Jeter as the Yankees most dangeroud hitter (Giambi, Sheffield, Matsui, A-Rod).

He was not the team's table setter (Damon).

I can continue the list.

I'm not saying Derek Jeter did not have a great season and I am certainly not saying that Derek Jeter is not a great player.

But there are a million reasons to vote this guy 6th on your MVP ballot. I have a million more to vote him 7th.

The players that were ahead of him were all marquee players. They all had tremendous seasons for top of the league teams.

It's not like Cowley just up and squeezed in Jake Taylor because they liked the way he called games.

So the fact that he has been nationally scolded for his voting is a travesty.

Fact is, Joe Cowley, without knowing anything about him, has jumped up towards the top of the list of my favorite journalists.

In a nation where Derek Jeter's cock floats somewhere near the mouths of half of baseball's writers, someone got up and just said "wait a minute, why?"

Baseball doesn't owe anything to Derek Jeter. He has been rewarded for his good service by being surrounded with all star talent for the last 10 years.

And so there is no reason why it is wrong to not think Jeter was an MVP.

That Vinny in the Bronx hates this dude from Chicago means nothing. Vinny is a moron.

If anyone really watched baseball, instead of watching their local team and rooting for their local market, they would know how many amazing players our game has. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are awesome for baseball.

Frank Thomas' resurgence was an incredible story in baseball.

Johan Santana may be the most dominant pitcher of the new millennium.

And Big Papi may be the most likable player, well, ever.

I'm with Cowley. Jeter just doesn't belong in a list with these players. If his name wasn't Derek Jeter, NO ONE would be having this conversation.

But because he is Jeter and because he is a Yankee, we as fans are supposed to give him a little added love.

And that is just dumb.

In Cowley we trust.

VCD,

SIP

PS: We went an unimpressive 7-8-1 using the fade The Sports Guy model last week. I will take my chances again this week.

Unfortunately the two games I like, the Bengals and the Panthers, are ones he likes so I'll have to think harder about playing those.

But once again, replace the "over" with "will not cover against" and you should be in good shape:

RAVENS (-3) over Steelers
BILLS (+3) over Jags
Bengals (-3) over BROWNS
Cards (+6.5) over VIKES
Niners (+6) over RAMS
Saints (+3) over FALCONS
Panthers (-4.5) over REDSKINS
Raiders (+13) over CHARGERS
PATRIOTS (-3) over Bears
TITANS (+2) over Giants
Eagles (+9) over COLTS
SEAHAWKS (-9) over Packers

Thanksgiving Turkeys

I'm up in Buffalo for Thanksgiving, giving thanks that the streets so recently denuded of their trees are not also covered in snow. That's the usual state of affairs around the holiday -- most backyard football traditions are made possible by the deep, fluffy layer of powder sitting on the lawn next to the gnomes and the patio furniture somebody forget to take in.

None of that this year, which is both fine and unsettling. Of course, there's a couple of other things on my mind that could be producing this uneasy feeling, some of which are baseball related.

But not all. At dinner last night, I actually enjoyed a dish of brussels sprouts. Stranger still, I went back for seconds. These little babies were golden browned with a tugboat full of garlic and copious amounts of lemon and lime juice. Unbelievably good stuff.

What's more, for some reason, our 19-pound bird was curiously meatless. Not dried out or cooked wrong. The turkey just had more "other stuff" inside than actual, delicious white meat. He was big-boned, like Kelly Clarkson. Anyway, my dad salvaged what he could, but it was still a relatively spare haul, which forced us to concentrate on your sweet potatoes and stuffings of the world.

What of the sporting world? Glad you asked. I enjoyed taking in the football games yesterday on the fam's new HD set. It wasn't the first time, but the feeling is different when you're straight chilling in the living room you grew up in, and there's a marvel of technology (it's the mirrors, I've heard) sitting atop the counter in all its majesty.

And so I saw Jo-ey Harring-ton get his revenge on Detroit, Marshall Mathers-style, and Tony Romo increase the odds that he'll upgrade from Jessica Simpson to a Playboy model by like a thousand percent. I didn't see LJ put the first nail into Jake Plummer's career -- that game was on the NFL Network, and like most of the people in the world, I'm not thought highly enough of by my cable operator to have that game available.

Giving me more time, sadly, to think about the nonsense going on in the baseball world, and the havoc playing out in the managerial halls of the baseball class. Everybody said all along that front offices lousy with Advanced Media and broadcasting cash were going to go hog-wild this off-season, and they were right to a point.

But this isn't just hog-wild -- it's pig-foolish.

(No? Ok.)

Take Mark DeRosa, for example. A Penn guy (there you go, Sip) and lifelong utility infielder. A guy who was ran out of Atlanta during the fat years, and couldn't hold down a job with the Rangers until last year. A career 273/.331/.404 hitter.

But hit .296 with 13 HR at age 31, and suddenly you're on board for three years and $13M? Why?

Gary Matthews Jr. to the Angels for five years/$50M is no different. Mr. Matthews, as George Feeny might call him, had a couple of things going for him. The Web Gem of the Year, certainly, and a solid .313/.371/.495 year in center field. Those are good things.

But they're not likely to happen again, much less for five more seasons. Last year was his age-31 campaign. You've signed him for 32-36, when most top-notch centerfielders slow down anyway. Matthews has been, before 2006, a tremendously disappointing fantasy team killer who never had 500 at-bats in a season. And you want him for five years? Why?

Neither of these deals is as egregious as the Juan Pierre deal, touched upon earlier. But the uneasy feeling referenced earlier comes in when I think about what's coming next. Both Sean McAdam and Buster Olney have speculated that in this hyperactive market, trades will become a far more active option.

I think they're right, and thinking of the potential trades out there makes me a bit uneasy.

Here's the Man last week, to ESPN.com:

"I don't think there's enough in the free-agent market to fulfill those needs,"
said Mets GM Omar Minaya, "so the only option is for trades. And I think there's
going to be a lot of activity there."

Well. This has several implications worth hashing out.

1. Heilman is likely to be gone

Yeah, probably. A guy widely viewed as starting material is too valuable in this market to keep around as a second setup guy. Your pen with Wagner-Sanchez-Hernandez-Oliver-Feliciano-Vargas et al can afford to take a hit, if you get back a solid starter.

Given the names out there as bait (Javy Vazquez, Jason Jennings, the D-Train), the Heilman-Blastings package makes more sense than it ever has. And I say that as someone who still thinks the Thrilledge is going to be a star.

2. Barry Zito's price tag grows by the minute

Where will it stop? Five/$75M was thought to be the old ceiling for the lanky lefty, but in this market, what can Boras get him? Is six years so ridiculous for the premier pitcher on the market if some asshole is willing to give Soriano eight? What about $17M per instead of $15M?

I say it is. But I'm not an agent with a major piece of talent, or a panicky GM with a crowd to placate and an overstuffed wallet.

Look for Zito to eventually sign with New York for a pocket-busting deal that has everyone outside the Mets' fanbase shaking their heads in disgust. We'll have to keep our heads low for a while after that one.

3. Pat Gillick is a fucking idiot

We all jumped on it at the time, from Mike and the Mad Dog to Sports Illustrated to the untamed blogosphere to the elite baseball analysts. We were right to do so. It was total and complete asshattery from top to bottom.

Plus, it helped the Yanks, which precisely nobody liked.

But now, given the current market, how bad does the Bobby Abreu trade look? There really aren't words to describe it.

Giving up on one of the best players in the league, a five-tool on-base machine with declining but still present power, because you didn't want to pay him $23M over the next two seasons? That shouldn't play in a big-market town like Philly seven days a week, but now, I doubt the worst teams in either league would cut bait on him at that price.

A guy far superior to Soriano at no cost. No, sir, the playoff-missing Phillies wouldn't want any part of that. But at least Matt Smith threw eight strong innings toward the end of the year...

More coming as I get angrier and angrier.

A Thanksgiving Tribute to 2006

We have a little tradition here at Y2K. In the spirit of the holiday today, we like to take some time out and reflect on the year that was before we up and stuff our faces.

Last year the tribute was devoted exclusively to the Mets. Don't worry, they'll be the predominant theme this time around as well, but they'll have some company. So in no particular order and without further ado...

1. A Year to Remember

How 'bout those new guys, huh? After three years of shittiness, the Mets finally started turning things around in 2005. In 2006, they arrived.

I'd never experienced anything quite like 2006 before. I can't remember 1986 or 1988. The Mets had excellent teams in 1999 and 2000, but we didn't dominate the way this team did. Hell, we didn't even win our division in those years.

But 2006 was one of those years where everything just came together. And you know what, fine, it didn't end the way we wanted it to. It was still a great season, one I'll always remember.

I'll remember it because the Mets were really great this year.

I'll remember it because it was the first year in quite some time that I was able to watch virtually every single game without the hindrance of homework, tests, or what have you.

And I'll remember it because I'm young enough for the Mets to feel like the most important thing in the world to me, and for 6 months they really made me happy.

So no, they didn't go all the way, and hopefully some year soon a Mets team will come along that makes me remember it even more than this bunch in 2006 did. But as for now, cheers to the 2006 New York Mets. We've come a long way, baby.

2. Chris Cotter

I was going to devote one of these tributes to SNY, but you know what, I did them last year. I'm still thankful as all hell for the network. SportsNite is everything I need in a sports broadcast. Mets Weekly owns my DVR list. I sing/hum/emit the SNY theme music several times a week.

So I've got nothing but love for the network, and a big part of the reason are the people associated with it. The Mets broadcast team is a special group, it really is. Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling are a joy to listen to throughout a game, both for their insight and for their humor.

Matt Yallof, Brian Custer, Julie Donaldson -- love 'em all.

But then there's Cotter, the resident frat boy of SportsNet New York. Simply put, the man is a legend. What other sideline reporter can ask the tough questions and go a minute-plus on a keg stand?

I mean, come on, look at that smile.

I grew up on Matt Loughlin, but Cotter's going straight to the Y2K Hall of Fame. Here's to you, pal.

3. My friend, Mr. Glass

Remember last offseason? Remember all the dopes out there calling into talk radio saying we gotta trade Reyes, or we gotta bat him 8th?

What a difference a year makes. Reyes had the kind of season in which he was pursuing records held by Wille McGee and Honus Wagner. He had the kind of season that had people talking about him being the MVP of the National League. He had the kind of season that made him possibly the most popular player in New York.

He did it through some combination of getting on base, stealing bases, dancing in the dugout, concocting complicated high fives, and flashing the brightest smile in the city.

I won't bore you with the numbers, even though they were damn good. Really though, what makes Reyes such a pleasure is just watching him play the game. It's rare to see a ballplayer take such joy in what he's doing, and it's fun to see.

How many times have we said to ourselves, "don't these guys realize they get to play baseball for a living?" Reyes realizes it, and we as fans get to share that joy every time he breaks into one of his little jigs or emerges from a cloud of dust at third base to clap his hands and show that toothy grin.

4. Citi Field

Really, I'm less thankful for the name that it is than the name that it isn't. I mean, this could have been really bad. Meineke Stadium. The Depend Adult Undergarment Colliseum. You never know with these corporate sponsorships.

Enter CitiGroup. Sure, I wish MetLife had won the bidding, but for all I know they didn't even bid. Besides, as the Hound was quick to point out, with CitiGroup you're talking about a very profitable, very reputable, very stable company.

That's good for us because it basically ensures we won't have the kind of situation like they had out in San Francisco, where the stadium has changed names 3 times in 5 years or however long it's been.

So Citi Field it is. You know, there's a part of me that's certain I'll always find occassion to say I'm heading out to Shea. All things considered though, I can live with Citi Field.

5. Moises Alou

There's been some chatter in the blogosphere about how this wasn't a good pick-up. Let's just say I respectfully disagree. This guy was exactly what we needed. A powerful righthanded bat who can punish lefties -- sound like something we were missing last year, doesn't it?

I think this move helps our team immensely going into next year not only because of the player Alou is himself, but also becuase of the effect I expect him to have on David Wright.

In the first half of 2006, Wright killed lefties, in the second half he struggled mightily against them. I have to think that part of the reason was that with the X-Man (RIP) gone, it was basically Wright's responsibility to win games for the Mets when we faced lefties. That's a lot of pressure. Next year the job won't be his alone, and that should be to his benefit as much as anyone else's.

I also love the move because, my god, have you seen the going rate for outfielders these days? 50 million for Gary Matthews Jr.? Are you kidding me? I'll tell you what, the Mets have doled out some awful contracts in their day but I don't think anything tops that one.

For us to pay $8.5 million for one year to a guy who brings exactly what we need was a good move, even if he does piss on his hands.

6. First Impressions of Earth (The Strokes), It's Never Been Like That (Phoenix), Everything All the Time (Band of Horses)

The three CDs that defined my year. The first one should come as no surprise; the third CD from my favorite band, I swooped this one up the day it hit shelves. I couldn't give it a heartier endorsement.

"Red Light" and "Electricityscape" are in my personal Strokes pantheon, and there are 5 other songs from this disc that make my "Essential Strokes" compilation, plus three B-sides ("I'll Try Anything Once," "Hawaii," and "Mercy, Mercy Me") from the album. Anyway, First Impressions of Earth, buy it.

The other two though I'm really pleased I found. I'd never heard of either band before coming across them on Pandora, so really it was just dumb luck.

The Phoenix CD, It's Never Been Like That, is really superb. Go on iTunes and listen to any of songs 2 through 6 -- if you like rock music, you'll be glad you did, and you'll be glad if you take the next step and just buy the whole CD. So f'ing good.

As for Band of Horses, this one is not the upper that the other two are, with the exception of the excellent "Weed Party," but honestly, it's just a really beautiful CD.

7. Carlos Beltran

We've come a long way with old Beltran, haven't we? I wasn't one of the people booing him last year or in those first 10 at-bats this year, but yeah, it was pretty frustrating watching our 119 million dollar man look like Gary Matthews Jr.

The guy looked lost at the plate, but even worse, he looked miserable in the dugout. Without the cajoling of Old Man Franco, things might have gone on that way. Luckily, Beltran took his curtain call and from there the sky was the limit.

The owner of the awesomest theme music in New York, the guy had an MVP-caliber season, and all of a sudden you started seeing little kids wearing Beltran t-shirts everywhere the way you used to see shirts with "Piazza" on the back.

That's not to say he's the face of the franchise or even its most popular player. But no two ways about it, Beltran was our best all around player in 2006. We're lucky to have him.

Just remember though, Carlos, that it's never too late to have that massive facial wart removed.

8. Readers like you

This little site of ours has really come a long way. On November 1, 2005 we got 36 hits. 36 god damn hits. On November 1, 2006 we got 444, to say nothing of the 4500 people who checked out the site the last three days. For my money that's some pretty good progress.

I know I speak for Sip and Cheddar when I say that we're extraordinarily appreciative of everyone out there who takes the time to read this website. The Mets blogosphere is a crowded place, and for everyone who takes time out of their day to read our content, our thanks go to you.

And that's all I got.

Gobble, gobble.

- A.F.O.M.G.

Jeter For Runner-Up... On His Own Team

(Note: Our weekly Knicks column "Section 423" appears immediately below this piece by Sip. Also, please note that we will be updating as per usual tomorrow, Friday and Saturday.)

When I was a freshman for my high school baseball team I hit .426. I led my team in runs scored and stolen bases and played a pretty decent SS while hitting in the #2 spot. My team was something like 15-2. It only made sense then, right? Sip for MVP.

The only person this really made sense to was Sippy Sr. Why the cheering section of one? Because batting behind me were the greatest 3-4-5 in the history of New York City private schools.

Our #3 hitter went yard once a game and was our best pitcher. Our #4 hitter, the team clown, was our Big Papi and then the big fella hitting 5th was New York City's Adam Dunn: he hit bombs or struck out.

If you took me off this team, we would have still dominated. Sure I brought the intangibles and made the ladies of Central Park go wild, but we won because we could mash. I was just there to be driven in.

Derek Jeter is a great player. He has had a tremendous career. To be so consistent year-in and year-out with the pressures of New York City in the foreground is really a tremendous feat.

Derek Jeter is a great talent. He has always been one of the top players in the game and at his position. He routinely hits .300, scores 100 runs, steals 20 bases and plays solid defense.

But Derek Jeter did not make a name for himself because of his talent. It isn't his .317 BA that has him going to the HOF. Derek Jeter is a star because he is a leader and a winner.

As a young player in New York, Jeter emerged as the clear cut leader of the Yankee dynasty. He was a playoff monster and an on-field inspiration.

As much as all Met fans hated him, you saw something special in this kid. I think it is safe to say that Derek Jeter is the Most Valuable Player of baseball over the last 10 years. I really do. What other player has been so solid for one team over such a long stretch of time?

At the same time, Jeter had ZERO business whatsoever being thought of as an MVP candidate this season. I have him no higher than #7.

For one thing, Jeter is not leading his team to championships anymore. I know, I know -- the writers vote on the MVP before the playoffs. Fine. One way or another, that big part of the Jeter mystique is gone. He is no longer the guy that you assumed would win, just because he was Jeter.

And that was what always made him great. In the late 90's he was a clear #3 in terms of talented SS' in baseball. A-Rod and Nomar were 1 and 2 by far. They were better hitters and back then, better fielders. But Jeter had his rings. He had four of them. But in six years since he's garnered no more.

The Yankees have not won in 6 years, cursed some have argued, and yet Jeter receives none of the blame. He received all of the praise in the world for them winning, but yet he receives none of the criticism when they lose.

So if he is not an MVP for his leadership and winning then we have to look at the MVP as an award for how his talent and numbers affected his team. Take the talent that is Derek Jeter off the Yankees and where do they end up.

The answer: The exact same place.

With a lineup averaging $14 million dollars in salary per year, the Yankees have no one position player that they cannot live without. They lost Sheffield and Matsui for large stretches this year and were still the best offense in baseball. BY FAR!

Jeter hit behind the best leadoff man in the game and hit ahead of the best 3-4-5 in the game. Why is it fair to say Paul Lo Duca's number's were inflated hitting behind Reyes and in front of Beltran-Delgado-Wright, but not say the same for Jeter?

Fact is, hitting #2 is the best place in the lineup to inflate your numbers. You have your speed guy on base distracting pitchers and you have your mashers behind you intimdiating them. No one is scared of Jeter hitting the ball out of the park. So here, take a single, they say.

I truly believe Jeter is the #7 MVP in the American League. Here is my order for what it should have been:

1. Frank Thomas

If you took Frank Thomas off the A's this year, then you'd be facing a minor league offense. Their lineup was flat out terrible without him. Nick Swisher's numbers appeared solid (.254, 35, 95) but 16 of those homeruns came before June 1st.

The A's had two starters that hit over .275 (Jay Payton and Jason Kendall) and the one player they counted on to hit, Eric Chavez, hit .241 with 72 RBI.

Then there is Frank Thomas (39 HR, 114 RBI, .270 AVG, .381 OBA). For those not living in the Bay Area, you missed yet another amazing Oakland A's second half. This team went 47-26 after the break to dominate the AL west.

Only this was not the Oakland A's of old. Rich Harden was hurt, Barry Zito and Action Danny Haren pitched solidly and Loaiza looked pretty good the last 6 weeks. But it was not pitching that carried this team.

It was Frank Thomas and Frank Thomas only. This guy was a MONSTER in the second half. He was the one sure thing every night. After July 1 he hit for a .291 average with 23 HR and 75 RBI). The guy carried his team.

Take him out of the A's lineup and your best hitter may be Jay Payton. Remember him? Five tools and everything? Without Thomas, the A's go nowhere. He defines value for this year.

That he got such little recognition is baffling. Maybe it's because people were so shocked that he came back like this. Maybe it's because they didn't believe it. Or more likely it is because he played in Oakland, a team that no one cares about, and in which everyone assumes that it is pitching and Billy Beane that win it for them every year.

I really don't think it was close this year. That is, unless we are counting pitchers in the balloting.

2. Johan Santana

The Twins won the Central because of Santana. As great as Morneau and Mauer were, without Santana, this team is a middle of the division club. Every 5th day you knew you would get a dominant start. He was by leaps and bounds the best pitcher in baseball this year. He was the one true ace in the game.

While the MVP traditionally goes to hitters, Santana is not a traditional pitcher.

Consider this: the second best pitcher in the AL was Chien Ming Wang. Wang was good for 7 innings and 3 runs a start.

This guy was 19-6, 2.77 ERA, 1.00 Whip, 245 K's.

No one was even close to him this year. Take him off the Twins and they are an 83-win team.

Value.

3. David Ortiz

The Sox totally faded in the last 6 weeks of the season. But on August 15th he was everyone's clear cut AL MVP. This guy combined insane numbers (54, 137, 287) with his Jeter-esque clutchness.

He powered the Sox in a somewhat off-year for Manny (35, 102) and in a year where the Sox really had little pitching outside of Jonathon Papelbon.

He was the team's leader, the heart of a city and the face of baseball. He was Jeter '99.

The Red Sox' collapse was not Papi's fault. The team simply forgot how to pitch. But take Papi out of that lineup and the Sox really have one threat, Manny Ramirez, a guy that even the people of Boston are starting to lose a ton of confidence in.

4/5: Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau

I'll be the first to admit that Justin Morneau should not have been the MVP of the AL. I think the guy was the 3rd or 4th most valuable player on his team.

But Morneau and Mauer were monsters this year forming maybe the greatest housemate duo of all time (they actually live together).

Both guys had career years.

Mauer (13, 84, .349) as a catcher. As a former high school catcher, my knees tired after game 7. This guy caught over 130 games.

Morneau's numbers are equally impressive (34, 130, .321). He came out of nowhere to lead the Happy Will Recap to a win in my bottom half payroll fantasy league.

Unfortunately, I think it is impossible to distinguish between these two. I really do. Mauer is the golden boy of the Twins. He is their leader, their #3 hitter and their homegrown baby. Yeah, Morneau had better power numbers but Mauer was the heart of that lineup.

I really believe these guys should just cancel each other out. That is why I was shocked that Morneau won.

Now we get to #6. Logically this should be Jeter. Only this is Y2K so it makes sense that we would want to slight Jeter. We would want to put anyone else up there, right?

In my opinion #6 was someone I despise more than Jeter. Not only is he a Yankee but he corrupted baseball. Still, in our generation of Steroids and dollars, this guy was a monster.

6: Jason Giambi

Giambi had Giambi-esque numbers this season (31, 113, .413 OBA). But more importantly, he carried the Yankees' lineup. With Matsui and Sheffield down and A-Rod sunning in Central Park before games, Giambi was the one expected power source in this lineup. The guy hit bombs to the short porch and wiggled his tongue while doing so.

Without him there is only A-Rod to protect Jeter. You pitch to Jeter and pitch around A-Rod and then what?

Without $50 mil worth of Giambi, Shef and Mastui, the Yankees lineup looks almost pedestrian.

So there you have it. I'll give Jeter the #7 spot just because I don't feel like writing more. But it sure would be easy to make a case for a bunch more players (Jermaine Dye, BJ Ryan, Jim Thome, and the list goes on and on).

I think Jeter is a great player. He was the MVP of baseball in '99 and got robbed.

He is quite possibly the most important player of our generation -- a generation filled with steroids and corruption.

But Jeter is no MVP.

Take away his rings and Jeter is nothing more than A-Rod with shittier numbers and a better personality.

And Jeter hasn't gotten a ring since I was in high school.

Yankees 2000: Promote the Curse!

Vaya con dios,

Sip

Section 423: Ain't No Place Like The Road

(Note: Sip will be in with a piece about Derek Jeter's failed bid for the AL MVP later this afternoon.)

Why does the NBA, the master of manipulating schedules for their own marketing purposes (think Jordan coming out of his 2nd retirement at MSG, or 3 years in a row of Kobe vs. Shaq on Christmas), stack the odds against our beloved orange and blue right out of the gate?

Of their first 11 games, only two were against teams that did not make the playoffs a year ago (Celts and Hawks, and of course the squad lost both).

It would seem to me, if I were David stern, that I would do everything possible to get the Knicks winning again. But even the commish can't help a team that for some reason plays its best ball on the road, and looks like a junior varsity team at home.

Why do the Knicks have a better record on the road, (3-3) than they do at 'the world's most famous' (1-4)? Let's discuss.

One reason the Knicks play better on the road is that Jamal Crawford can't go to Marquee, Bungalow 8, or Tenjune when he is in places like Memphis. The Knicks are club rats, and if you hit up the meat packing district the night before you guard Paul Pierce, chances are he's going for 39pts.

The Knicks caught a break in Miami as the Heat still have a championship hangover. The help side defense is still atrocious, but they do have something this year that they lacked all of last...a routine. We know who the bench guys are, who the starters are. There is some semblance of order.

The next two games are critical. On the road in Minnesota, where again, as Starbury knows all too well, not much popping on Thanksgiving eve in the land of 10,000 lakes....and then Saturday night in NYC vs Los Torros.

I will be in attendance for the Knicks and Bulls Saturday night in the Garden. Ten years ago, over a holiday weekend, that would have been the hottest ticket in town. Now, it's Wicked on Broadway. My how things have changed.

The Knicks need to start protecting the honor and history of Madison Square Garden. Isiah said others teams and players who are visiting feel as if they can put on a show in the Garden. That is disgraceful. Let's get a David Lee dunk in the open floor, or a Channing Frye 11-14 from the field night to get things going.

While things are obviosuly not good, considering the strength of schedule, 4-7 isn't the end of the season just yet. The Atlantic division is so awful, the Knicks may just have a chance of sneaking into the playoff hunt.

Lee averaging over 8 boards a game has been a tremendous positive this season, and that block Lil' Nate had monday night on Yao is the highlight of the season so far.

I'm still not comfortable with Q Rich as the leading scorer, and one of the Crawford-Starbury-Franchise 3-headed monster needs to go. It's just too much dribbling. When they move the ball and use the low post, they are effective. When they watch Stevie dribble as hard as he can (how does he bang the ball so hard and go absolutely nowhere?), they are a mess.

Good to see Pat Ewing courtside the other night. Why can't he come back and teach Eddy Curry how to play basketball?

Allan Houston is better on camera than an E! Correspondent, and I love having Kenny Smith call the games over Clyde. Sorry, but it's true, he is so in touch with today's NBA lifestyle, and he can enjoy a good Jadakiss song and a glass of Chianti.

So two in a row is the goal; if they can manage that, the squad will be a game under .500 and only half a game out of first place. With the team struggling at home, this Thanksgiving, let's be thankful they only play half the season on 32nd and 7th.

- Chris & Mase

The Year of Moises

Fat Ryan Howard takes the MVP trophy over Pujols and the gang? Not a travesty, but certainly not the right thing. Those voters sure love them a good story.

Still, nobody else in the NL rested on their laurels waiting for the judgment to come on in. Omar, especially, had a busy day. Thoughts? Verily.

Mets sign Moises Alou to 1-year, $8.5m contract

On a day that saw big money and big years thrown around by the likes of Ned Colletti and Jim Hendry, this was the savvy move. Only a one-year commitment to a guy with major pop in his bat, a souped up Cliff Floyd who happens to be right-handed and usually kills lefties. Big pluses there.

In the minus column, he's old and pretty bad defensively, and his durability is a major question mark. Games played in the last three seasons – 155, 123, 98. Ages – 38, 39, 40. As trend lines go, this one is relatively direct.

More to the bad – the injuries that plagued him during May and June were back and ankle woes, of the recurring genus. More to the good – they were largely cleared up by July, and a rejuvenated Alou played the second half of the season with a hot bat.

I'm split on the whole “peeing on his hands” thing. Really could go either way on that. Informed commentary from winos, vagrants, fashion designers and long-distance runners would be appreciated.

But in the context of this market, it was a great signing. Another righty leftfielder with a power bat the Mets were linked with – you may have heard of Alfonso Soriano – got an insane eight years out of Chicago in the fifth-biggest contract of all time. It's just crazy, giving a guy whose game is completely dependent upon athleticism a contract through his age-38 season, plus a no-trade clause. Why not just get a Denny Neagle tattoo?

I've always been relatively down on Soriano, .351 OBP in 2006 included, but at these prices, everybody should be off the wagon.

In case you missed this, Juan Pierre may have bilked a 5-year, $45m contract out of the Dodgers despite the fact that he's been more or less useless for the past two seasons and is vastly overrated defensively.

Reliable, sure, but as a guy who relies on extra-base hits for what little power he provides (12 career homers, baby), Dodger Stadium is going to kill him. And for five years! So much for Matt Kemp.

As Buster Olney pointed out, this is going to drive the market for J.D. Drew and Carlos Lee into the stratosphere. Great. Let other teams waste their dough on those two clowns. He also says it increases the chances of the Angels going after Manny, which I'm not sure I disagree with. Fine.

But look at the other madness going on. Nomar and Frank Thomas, brittle as they are, each got two years. So did Henry Blanco (?) and Jim Edmonds, another injury risk.

The Mets got a guy who falls just short of the superstar class with only a one-year hook, and that's to Omar's credit. This right after heisting Ben Johnson (non-steroids edition) from the Padres. Nicely done.

This also sends Spliff packing for sure, not that we were confused about the likelihood of that. You'll be missed, old friend.

Mets decline $14m option on Glavine

More evidence, in my eyes, that they're giving Tommy a chance to go back to Atlanta. It's probably the fair thing to do. If not, and again, I say this in the context of a market that just gave Justin Speier four years and $18m, the Mets would have pulled the trigger on that baby.

Moose goes to the Yanks at a discount, damn it. Who else is excited to see how much Jeff Suppan signs for? I'm practically tingling.

Mets trade RHP Henry Owens and RHP Matt Lindstrom to Florida for LHP Jason Vargas and LHP Adam Bostick

Owens was a product of Barry University, whose head coach, the scrappy Marc Pavao, doesn't trust AFOMG worth a damn. Long story, he's got his reasons. I don't blame the guy for a second.

Anyway, Owens has a long history of being pretty decent and went out and produced a completely dominating year at AA last year, of the 0.73 WHIP, 1.58 ERA variety. Unfortunately, he was 27, making him less of a prospect than a last-chancer.

He certainly could be a late-bloomer, a righy Mike Remlinger situation, and Florida's right to give him a crack at it where the Mets couldn't. Lindstrom is of no concern to anybody not named Ma Lindstrom.

As for the two guys the Mets got back, Bostick will be a 24-year-old lefty with a decent strikeout rate and a low professional WHIP of 1.43. Blah.

Vargas is the real haul, a former second-round draft pick out of Long Beach State. He had great years in '04 and '05, moving through the ranks from Sally League Greensboro all the way to the Florida rotation two years ago. He was good enough there (4.03 ERA in 77 IP) as a 22-year-old that the Marlins kept him there to start the season.

Then he fell off a cliff, sucking out a 7.33 ERA in 43 innings split between the rotation and the pen. He was fine the first time they sent him down to AAA, good enough to be called back up, but after going down for the second time on July 29, it was done. He gave up 38 runs in just over 31 innings, and the Fish didn't even call him up when rosters expanded.

All that said, he's exactly the type of guy you take a risk on for the pen. A three-pitch (fastball, changeup, slider) repertoire, middling size (6-foot, 215) ... sounds like a bullpen lefty to me. Let the spring training battle begin!

DC United F Freddy Adu to Manchester United for two-week trial

It doesn't look like he's going to be training with the first team, which had already left for the Champions League match in Glasgow. Instead, he's going to be with the youth team until, I don't know, Thursday. Salt.

Anything other than reps with the first team is useless. Let's let Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo have a crack at him, and see how he does. Even if you're bearish on Freddy, you want to see how he would fare.

The Y2K Interview: Julian Casablancas

As regular readers are probably aware, I'm a huge fan of The Strokes. They're my musical orange and blue.

About a year ago, I was at their website, thestrokes.com, when I saw a little news item about how the guys in the band had gone to Shea Stadium to celebrate lead singer Julian Casablancas' birthday.

Knowing that he was a Mets fan, I thought it was worth asking if Julian would be so kind as to agree to an interview with Y2K, so I contacted his management team. The following is the result of the conversation I had with him about the Mets, music, and what have you.

I'd like to thank Julian again for participating in this interview. I'd also like to thank everyone at Wiz Kid Management who helped arrange for me speaking with Julian; Juliet Casablancas in particular. Without your help this interview may never well have happened, so many thanks to you.

Yankees 2000: When did you become a Mets fan? Were you a fan as far back as you can remember or did it sort of grow over the years?

Julian Casablancas: I had a long period of kind of not caring about sports at all, but before that, one of my first memories was the Mets winning the World Series in ’86.

I can also remember the first game I ever went to was with Nikolai [Fraiture, bassist for The Strokes] and his dad. I remember it was against the Astros, and that it was in the late 80s.

This would have been one of the years after they won the World Series. By that point Mookie was the last man standing, most of the team that won in ’86 was gone by that point.

So growing up, if I was rooting for anyone it was the Mets, but then I got into music, and sports kind of fell by. I continued watching basketball because of Michael Jordan but I don’t know, it’s just such an investment you make of yourself when you’re watching sports.

Whenever your team loses you get so depressed – speaking of which, I’m still fucking hurting from that Game 7; I almost don’t want to talk about it, but I know it’s gonna get to that point eventually.

Anyway though, growing up I loved basketball mostly, but then in the late 90s I started played these MLB videogames. I got into the pitching aspect in particular and got really into baseball again.

It got to the point where I wanted to play it in the park whenever I could, and I’ve been watching the Mets for the past, I don’t know, the last 7 or 8 years, since the Bobby Valentine era – that’s when I got back into it.

Y2K: Your bandmates took you to Shea for your birthday a year or two ago – whose idea was that and what was it like?

JC: That was my wife’s idea actually. We try to get to games when we can and that was a birthday idea she’d been planning for a long time. It was amazing, it was like in one of those suites they have there, and that was a different experience watching from one of those.

Actually, the game itself was not so great. It was a game started by Kris Benson where he allowed 6 runs in the first inning.

But what was good about that game though was that, and I love Carlos Delgado, but that was the Mike Jacobs’ first game and he hit a homerun, so I took a little extra something out of that experience because he went on to do so well for us and we were able to trade him for Delgado, and I got to be there for when it all started.

Y2K: You guys were on tour for much of the past year. Were you able to follow the Mets in that time or not so much?

JC: It was really cool because I got that MLB.com package and I had a laptop so I could watch games on the road.

Y2K: How about the other guys in the band, are they Mets fans?