A four team five player trade was announced yesterday. This is the sort of thing I normally am not overly excited about, but since it involved my Nets, it's definitely something I need to talk about.
First off, I think the trade actually benefits all four teams, which is a rare occurrence in the NBA. Let's start with the Hornets who traded Darren Collison and James Posey to Indiana. Collison is worthy of being a starter in the league and was a big reason why the Hornets were shopping Chris Paul in the offseason. By shipping him out of town, I think it is a clear sign that they are planning to keep Paul and try to build a contender around him. In return they acquired Trevor Ariza from the Rockets, who instantly solidifies the defense and gives Paul someone to grow with. The Rockets then acquired Courtney Lee from the Nets. At first it appeared that they drew the short straw in this trade, but I respect GM Darryl Morey and assume that he knows what he is doing. The big reason he was not afraid to trade Ariza, a player who they overpaid for last year, was because they were over the salary cap for the upcoming season. While Lee isn't a world beater, he should fit nicely alongside Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin (assuming Martin can play some Small Forward) in a starting lineup that is suddenly getting smaller while the rest of the league gets bigger. The final piece to the deal was Troy Murphy being shipped from Indiana to New Jersey.
Overall, I think it is a good deal for them. In Murphy, they are acquiring a starting power forward who averaged 14.6 points and 10.2 rebounds a game last year. I've never been a fan of him personally (being a Notre Dame grad and hailing from nearby Sparta, NJ), but the numbers don't lie - only 11 other players in the league can say that they averaged a double-double per game. I think he can be a nice asset to the team in the short-term, so much that they should win 30-35 games this season. In the bottom heavy East, 38 might get you into the playoffs, so if they can just reverse some of their luck from last year, who knows what can happen.
Getting back to the trade - it had been speculated for a few weeks now that the Nets would be using their depth at shooting guard to acquire a PF. Most thought that Terrence Williams would be the one to leave town, not because the Nets don't like him but because he could fetch the most in return. In trading Lee, they give up an inexpensive asset (2010 salary: $2.2 million), but certainly not an irreplaceable asset. Not only do I think Anthony Morrow can make this team better than they were last year, but keeping T-Will is a huge coop by management.
Still, even with the above, I feel a little uneasy about the trade and the fact that Murphy is in the last year of his contract. Now I know most fans will disagree. They will say that his presence allows Derrick Favors to sit the bench and develop. They will say that his contract is an asset that makes him a valuable trade chip during the season. They say that he will help him win games more. I agree with all the above, I really do. But I can't help think that there is a lot of uncertainty with the whole plan. In order for this trade to be successful in the long run, they will need to do one of three things - 1) make the playoffs 2) turn Murphy into a long term commodity at the trading deadline 3) clear cap space AND sign Carmelo in the off-season.
We can discuss the first until we turn blue in the face (I prefer to be optimistic and think they have an outside shot), but think the second two are the key points. If they are out of the playoff hunt and trade Murphy, we need to get a player in return that has several years on his contract and who can help us win in 2-3 years. The problem is that those players are normally coveted by other teams and hard to pry away. If they don't acquire a long term asset, then at the very least clearing his contract will allow them to have ~$15 million next year to spend on Carmelo. The problem with this however is the same as with what happened this year with LeBron. The Nets won't be the only team going hard after Melo. If we don't sign or trade for him, then what? We'll have the same roster and will be another year older. That doesn't bode well for Prokhorov's 5 year championship plan.
So yeah, I like the trade right now. We won't be winning less than 25 games which is a 100% improvement from last year. But in order for it to be a good move, they need a few more things to go there way.
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While I'm talking NJ sports, a quick word on the Ilya Kovalchuk saga. As most of you know, an arbitrator rejected Kovalchuk's deal and he is now a free agent again. I'm not overly worried, because I have this sense that they will be able to work out another deal. The reasons are in my mind two-fold. First, he seemed genuinely happy to be with the Devils and how can one not be? I know, I get it - Newark sucks. But when you come from an organization like Atlanta, going to one with the commitment to excellence like the Devils is no doubt refreshing. Second, if he cares at all about his image, then doesn't he HAVE to re-sign? I mean, this guy was turning down big money from both Atlanta and LA to sign with the Devils, saying along the way that it wasn't about the money. So if you have a deal in place with one team for a crapload of money and it falls through for no fault of your own or the team, and you end up signing with another team, then isn't just about the money? It definitely seems that way to me. So if he wants to save face, then I think he encourages his agent to get a new deal with the Devils done.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Just Carry the Damn Shoulder Pads
The start of NFL training camp means a lot of things to a lot of people. I personally don't get caught up in anything that goes on except for the wonderful hazing rituals that rookies go through.
Every year we see the footage of a rookie being duct-taped to a goal post only to have freezing cold Gatorade poured on them. We watch the highlights, have a slight chuckle and move on. This year, however, rookie hazing has taken over entire segments on Sportscenter. It started with Cowboys rookie WR Dez Bryant refusing to carry Roy Williams shoulder pads. Ed Werner was treating the story in the same manner as if Tony Romo had just injured his knee for the year. Two weeks later, Tim Tebow got his head shaved to look like Friar Tuck. The entire sports world felt uneasy about what happened to God's messenger and all of a sudden we are all rethinking the idea of rookie hazing.
I am hear to say that people need to chill out. I am in no way condoning hazing within our high schools or colleges, but we are talking about professional athletes who are getting a shit ton of money to play sports. Hazing at the professional level consists of serving food for veterans, carrying the veterans' pads, dressing up in embarrassing outfits and singing for the veterans, getting terrible haircuts and having cold Gatorade thrown on you. These are all harmless acts and are meant to instill the idea of team into the rookies. I'm not a Tim Tebow fan, but I have to say that if I'm his teammate, I have suddenly gained a lot of respect for him after he went along with the Friar Tuck haircut. We are talking about a guy who is going to be endorsement gold and who will need to continue looking pretty. Yet he allowed his teammates to give him an embarrassing look because he is willing to do whatever it takes to be part of the team. That right there is the key to it all - you do what your teammates say because you are part of a team.
Of course the problem with this all is that high school and college kids read about this and start to believe that hazing is ok. Because they often can't control their emotions, hazing rituals go from wacky haircuts to cleaning up poop to drinking excessive alcohol to demeaning sexual acts to criminal acts. I still remember the stories of what my high school's football team had to do and it still repulses me to this day. Yes, professional athletes played a role in this, but policing of demeaning hazing is the responsibility of coaches, administrators, teachers and of course, parents. Kids need to realize the importance of being part of a team. They need to realize that to be part of a team you often need to sacrifice. But they also need to realize that no other person should be allowed to take their dignity.
Don't get rid of rookie hazing in professional sports. Giving the veterans respect (in an era where #1 draft picks become the highest paid players on the team before ever playing a down) and showing everyone that you are willing to sacrifice for the good of the team should be part of the game. Instead, let's come up with a new term to use when rookies carry shoulder pads, equipment or water coolers. Allow these acts to be praised, but make sure that the hazing rituals often seen with high school football teams or college fraternities are condemned.
Every year we see the footage of a rookie being duct-taped to a goal post only to have freezing cold Gatorade poured on them. We watch the highlights, have a slight chuckle and move on. This year, however, rookie hazing has taken over entire segments on Sportscenter. It started with Cowboys rookie WR Dez Bryant refusing to carry Roy Williams shoulder pads. Ed Werner was treating the story in the same manner as if Tony Romo had just injured his knee for the year. Two weeks later, Tim Tebow got his head shaved to look like Friar Tuck. The entire sports world felt uneasy about what happened to God's messenger and all of a sudden we are all rethinking the idea of rookie hazing.
I am hear to say that people need to chill out. I am in no way condoning hazing within our high schools or colleges, but we are talking about professional athletes who are getting a shit ton of money to play sports. Hazing at the professional level consists of serving food for veterans, carrying the veterans' pads, dressing up in embarrassing outfits and singing for the veterans, getting terrible haircuts and having cold Gatorade thrown on you. These are all harmless acts and are meant to instill the idea of team into the rookies. I'm not a Tim Tebow fan, but I have to say that if I'm his teammate, I have suddenly gained a lot of respect for him after he went along with the Friar Tuck haircut. We are talking about a guy who is going to be endorsement gold and who will need to continue looking pretty. Yet he allowed his teammates to give him an embarrassing look because he is willing to do whatever it takes to be part of the team. That right there is the key to it all - you do what your teammates say because you are part of a team.
Of course the problem with this all is that high school and college kids read about this and start to believe that hazing is ok. Because they often can't control their emotions, hazing rituals go from wacky haircuts to cleaning up poop to drinking excessive alcohol to demeaning sexual acts to criminal acts. I still remember the stories of what my high school's football team had to do and it still repulses me to this day. Yes, professional athletes played a role in this, but policing of demeaning hazing is the responsibility of coaches, administrators, teachers and of course, parents. Kids need to realize the importance of being part of a team. They need to realize that to be part of a team you often need to sacrifice. But they also need to realize that no other person should be allowed to take their dignity.
Don't get rid of rookie hazing in professional sports. Giving the veterans respect (in an era where #1 draft picks become the highest paid players on the team before ever playing a down) and showing everyone that you are willing to sacrifice for the good of the team should be part of the game. Instead, let's come up with a new term to use when rookies carry shoulder pads, equipment or water coolers. Allow these acts to be praised, but make sure that the hazing rituals often seen with high school football teams or college fraternities are condemned.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Instant (Over)Reaction: Houston
One month ago, the Sounders sat at 4-8-4 and I wrote a column conceding the season and asked the Sounders to put all their attention into the US Open Cup and Champions League. Since that day, the Sounders have not lost in all competitions as they have advanced to the US Open Cup Semifinal's, the knockout round of the Champions League and are now 8-8-4 in MLS. With 28 points, that is good for 5th overall in the league.
There is a lot of season still to play. Anything is possible. But you have to think the rest of the league is kicking themselves right now for not putting a nail in the Sounders coffin. I mean, we were done and now somehow we are right back in the thick of things. I have a feeling we will be the team NO ONE wants to see if we make the playoffs.
A few comments on last nights game:
There is a lot of season still to play. Anything is possible. But you have to think the rest of the league is kicking themselves right now for not putting a nail in the Sounders coffin. I mean, we were done and now somehow we are right back in the thick of things. I have a feeling we will be the team NO ONE wants to see if we make the playoffs.
A few comments on last nights game:
- I don't think there is any question that the Sounders are a better team without Freddie Ljungberg. This is not meant as a knock on Freddie, who I believe is still a high quality player, but he just never seemed to fit in with the team. I thought he looked great in the first half vs New York last night mostly due to the fact that Fire paired him up with Brian McBride which allowed him to run at attackers. This trade is looking good for both teams so far.
- The person most benefiting from the trade is obviously Fredy Montero. I think we are finally seeing what type of role he prefers to play. Last year when he was scoring goals at an alarming rate we just assumed he was a goal scoring forward who had the tendency to steal the ball from Ljungberg. Apparently the whole time he was playing out of place. With Blaise Nkufo now occupying the target forward role, Montero has been free to roam around the middle and now just score goals but make amazing passes. I'm not sure what was prettier last night - posting up the defender, turning and scoring or the deft little ball to Alvaro Fernandez for the second goal.
- While he commands a lot of respect every time he touches the ball, Nkufo still appears to be a little of our sorts with the rest of the team. Once he is able to get some chemistry, watch out.
- I saw the replay five times and each time I cringed at the terrible first touch by El Flaco. Luckily he was able to stay in front of the defenders and tuck the ball in the back of the net. Then after he scored, he sought out Montero and pointed at him for the whole stadium to see. Think about that for a second. This guy just got done starting a quarterfinal World Cup match and he is giving love to a new teammate who has never scored an international goal before? Pure class if you ask me. That's the stuff that will make you a legend in this town.
- I think Nyassi continues to impress with his play, but I have to believe that he is still the odd man out once El Flaco gets his fitness back. I mean, you can;t sit Fernandez and you can't sit Zakuani, which is too bad for Sanna.
- I love how Alonso will shoot from anywhere. Sure he only got one of 4 attempted blasts on frame last night, but boy what a weapon it is - especially since they can never score directly off a corner.
- All games are big, but next weekend's game against Chivas is a must win. Simply put - good teams beat bad teams. Chivas is the latter right now.
- I'm not a Houston fan but have always had a healthy respect for them. With that I can say that their dynasty is officially done. It looks like Kinnear waiting one year too long in rebuilding his team. The names are still there, but they're a year older and I just don't think they can keep up with the teams in the West.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
600 Still Impressive
Alex Rodriguez hit his 600th home run yesterday and no one seemed to care. ESPN tried to make us care by featuring live look-ins to his at bats, but at the end of the day, he just can't avoid the steroid stink.
I don't need to tell you that baseball is in a tough spot. No other sport embraced statistics quite like baseball. Growing up I was one of several of my friends who could name the top 10 leading home run hitters of all time. The numbers 755, 714, 660, 586 and of course 61 all meant something. Then the steroid era hit baseball and players starting crushing records at an extraordinary pace. I was a freshman in college the summer that McGwire and Sosa shattered Roger Maris' mark and like most Americans, I didn't think anything was fishy. Baseball had just gotten over the strike, attendance was down and the home run chase was exciting. If any sports fan says differently, they are lying.
I'm not here to point fingers because I think everyone has some blame - MLB, owners, managers, players, media, fans - but I do want to discuss what to do with the record books.
I was listening to Around the Horn yesterday and JA Adande was saying that 600 is a big accomplishment because players in all different eras had one advantage or another and yet only 7 players have ever done it. You know what? He's totally right. Think about it. Babe Ruth never played against the Negro Leaguers (not to mention that he used a bat that looked like something out of the Flintstones). Roger Maris played more games in a season. Aaron and Bonds played during the days of expansion when pitching was diluted.
Add in the rule changes, the drug scandals (ie - cocaine in the 80's) and no two eras can be considered equal. Being one of seven players to have ever done something is astonishing considering that in 2010 alone, the Mets have given at-bats to 22 different players.
I am of the belief that you cannot take away what has already been done. You can try to clean things up and make them look pretty, but in the end they are what they are. There is no going back and erasing the past. All we can do is change how we think and act in the future.
Rodriguez has hit 600 home runs. That cannot be taken away (in the same way that you cannot erase the Fab Five or the Reggie Bush years - they happened, don't pretend like they didn't by erasing) so his name belongs in the record book. Records and stats are not meant to be subjective. If you are of the mind that some of his 600 should not count because he was on steroids, then that is something that should be tackled by the Hall of Fame, not the record books. Don't put an * in the record book - on his Hall of Fame plaque explain that he played during the Steroid Era and move on. Let the history books tell the story of the numbers, but don't change the numbers to suit the collective needs of purists.
I don't need to tell you that baseball is in a tough spot. No other sport embraced statistics quite like baseball. Growing up I was one of several of my friends who could name the top 10 leading home run hitters of all time. The numbers 755, 714, 660, 586 and of course 61 all meant something. Then the steroid era hit baseball and players starting crushing records at an extraordinary pace. I was a freshman in college the summer that McGwire and Sosa shattered Roger Maris' mark and like most Americans, I didn't think anything was fishy. Baseball had just gotten over the strike, attendance was down and the home run chase was exciting. If any sports fan says differently, they are lying.
I'm not here to point fingers because I think everyone has some blame - MLB, owners, managers, players, media, fans - but I do want to discuss what to do with the record books.
I was listening to Around the Horn yesterday and JA Adande was saying that 600 is a big accomplishment because players in all different eras had one advantage or another and yet only 7 players have ever done it. You know what? He's totally right. Think about it. Babe Ruth never played against the Negro Leaguers (not to mention that he used a bat that looked like something out of the Flintstones). Roger Maris played more games in a season. Aaron and Bonds played during the days of expansion when pitching was diluted.
Add in the rule changes, the drug scandals (ie - cocaine in the 80's) and no two eras can be considered equal. Being one of seven players to have ever done something is astonishing considering that in 2010 alone, the Mets have given at-bats to 22 different players.
I am of the belief that you cannot take away what has already been done. You can try to clean things up and make them look pretty, but in the end they are what they are. There is no going back and erasing the past. All we can do is change how we think and act in the future.
Rodriguez has hit 600 home runs. That cannot be taken away (in the same way that you cannot erase the Fab Five or the Reggie Bush years - they happened, don't pretend like they didn't by erasing) so his name belongs in the record book. Records and stats are not meant to be subjective. If you are of the mind that some of his 600 should not count because he was on steroids, then that is something that should be tackled by the Hall of Fame, not the record books. Don't put an * in the record book - on his Hall of Fame plaque explain that he played during the Steroid Era and move on. Let the history books tell the story of the numbers, but don't change the numbers to suit the collective needs of purists.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Battle for the Future of MLS
Throughout the history of the league, Major League Soccer has been loathe to repeat the mistakes of their predecessor, the North American Soccer League. Instead of allowing the big markets to dominate by buying the highest quality players from overseas, MLS has been run under a single entity system with a rigid salary cap that values substance over style.
As the league has grown, the shackles have been lifted gradually. First there was the Designated Player rule in 2007 (known back then as the Beckham Rule) that allowed each team to spend as much money as they wanted on player with only a super small portion ($400k) counting under the cap. Teams used their DP spots on players like Beckham, Juan Pablo Angel, Freddie Ljungberg, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Claudio Reyna and Marcelo Gallardo. With soccer fandom at an all-time high in the US, MLS made a preemptive strike in allowing teams to have a second and third (if willing to pay a dispersal fee to the rest of the league) DP in hopes of catching the wave of World Cup veterans who were looking to leave the world of European soccer. So far it has worked. Just look at the names: Nery Castillo. Rafa Marquez. Blaise Nkufo. Alvaro Fernandez. Mista. And of course, the crown jewel of them all, Thierry Henry.
It's safe to say that the next few months will determine the future of the league as the big name markets continue to bring in expensive (and potentially over the hill) names while the smaller markets sit on their hands and try to build a cheaper alternative through the draft. In the past, big names have never meant success. Just ask MetroStars fans who got to watch names like Donadoni, Mattheaus, Branco, Djorkaeff and Reyna, but who have never seen a trophy lifted by the team. Instead, teams like Columbus, salt Lake and Houston, who have all built through trades and the draft, continue to be the model of success in the league.
The battle lines have been set. Its LA, NY, Chicago, Toronto and Seattle vs Columbus, Salt Lake, Houston and Dallas. Style vs substance. Superstars vs the common man.
If LA and NY are able to walk through the playoffs without breaking a sweat, other MLS teams will HAVE to follow their lead or prepare to insignificant for years to come (looking directly at you, New England).
As a supporter of the Sounders (a team who is willing to throw bucks around, albeit in a responsible way) I am excited by what the future holds. MLS will never be the EPL (and I'm not sure I want it to be), but if the league can grow such that every team has 5-6 world class players shrewdly mixed with the best domestic talent on every team then I think we are all in for a treat.
As the league has grown, the shackles have been lifted gradually. First there was the Designated Player rule in 2007 (known back then as the Beckham Rule) that allowed each team to spend as much money as they wanted on player with only a super small portion ($400k) counting under the cap. Teams used their DP spots on players like Beckham, Juan Pablo Angel, Freddie Ljungberg, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Claudio Reyna and Marcelo Gallardo. With soccer fandom at an all-time high in the US, MLS made a preemptive strike in allowing teams to have a second and third (if willing to pay a dispersal fee to the rest of the league) DP in hopes of catching the wave of World Cup veterans who were looking to leave the world of European soccer. So far it has worked. Just look at the names: Nery Castillo. Rafa Marquez. Blaise Nkufo. Alvaro Fernandez. Mista. And of course, the crown jewel of them all, Thierry Henry.
It's safe to say that the next few months will determine the future of the league as the big name markets continue to bring in expensive (and potentially over the hill) names while the smaller markets sit on their hands and try to build a cheaper alternative through the draft. In the past, big names have never meant success. Just ask MetroStars fans who got to watch names like Donadoni, Mattheaus, Branco, Djorkaeff and Reyna, but who have never seen a trophy lifted by the team. Instead, teams like Columbus, salt Lake and Houston, who have all built through trades and the draft, continue to be the model of success in the league.
The battle lines have been set. Its LA, NY, Chicago, Toronto and Seattle vs Columbus, Salt Lake, Houston and Dallas. Style vs substance. Superstars vs the common man.
If LA and NY are able to walk through the playoffs without breaking a sweat, other MLS teams will HAVE to follow their lead or prepare to insignificant for years to come (looking directly at you, New England).
As a supporter of the Sounders (a team who is willing to throw bucks around, albeit in a responsible way) I am excited by what the future holds. MLS will never be the EPL (and I'm not sure I want it to be), but if the league can grow such that every team has 5-6 world class players shrewdly mixed with the best domestic talent on every team then I think we are all in for a treat.
Trade Santana?
Two days ago I wrote that I was ok with the Mets standing their ground at the trade deadline. I talked about the long-term blocks that they have and how it was wise not to trade Ike, Niese, Mejia or Tejada.
A week ago, I suggested to the Mariners' front office that they beginning the rebuilding process by trading Ichiro. It was blasphemous, I know. But it was objective and had the best intentions in mind.
Fast forward to tonight and another game started by Johan Santana in which the offense scored less than 3 runs. The stats are damning. In 2-plus years with the Mets, Santana has started 82 games and has amassed a 37-21 record with a 2.90 ERA. Of those 82 starts, the Mets have scored 3 or less runs 37 times. Santana is 8-20 in those games with a 2.66 ERA.
I'm not even going to mention all the wins that the Mets bullpen has cost them over the years. The point is - I think Santana is wasting away on the Mets. He was on pace for 250+ wins, but if he stays with the Mets any longer, he'll be lucky to get over 200.
I think its time for me to ask the question - is it best for both Santana and the Mets if we trade him now? I'd love to hear from all my Mets buddies out there. Think about it - Santana is 31 and could fetch a pretty penny in return. I'm not saying that we need to get tons of prospects, but I bet we could get a quality young starter and a prospect or two. There is a precedent out their - look at the ransoms that Clif Lee and Roy Halladay got. You're telling me that someone like St. Louis, Cincy, Anaheim or the Red Sox wouldn't love to take him off our hands. I know he seems to be losing a little, but even on bad days, he can still be dominant.
So what do you think? Should we even entertain the idea of trading Santana? Is that throwing in the towel or a potentially smart idea?
A week ago, I suggested to the Mariners' front office that they beginning the rebuilding process by trading Ichiro. It was blasphemous, I know. But it was objective and had the best intentions in mind.
Fast forward to tonight and another game started by Johan Santana in which the offense scored less than 3 runs. The stats are damning. In 2-plus years with the Mets, Santana has started 82 games and has amassed a 37-21 record with a 2.90 ERA. Of those 82 starts, the Mets have scored 3 or less runs 37 times. Santana is 8-20 in those games with a 2.66 ERA.
I'm not even going to mention all the wins that the Mets bullpen has cost them over the years. The point is - I think Santana is wasting away on the Mets. He was on pace for 250+ wins, but if he stays with the Mets any longer, he'll be lucky to get over 200.
I think its time for me to ask the question - is it best for both Santana and the Mets if we trade him now? I'd love to hear from all my Mets buddies out there. Think about it - Santana is 31 and could fetch a pretty penny in return. I'm not saying that we need to get tons of prospects, but I bet we could get a quality young starter and a prospect or two. There is a precedent out their - look at the ransoms that Clif Lee and Roy Halladay got. You're telling me that someone like St. Louis, Cincy, Anaheim or the Red Sox wouldn't love to take him off our hands. I know he seems to be losing a little, but even on bad days, he can still be dominant.
So what do you think? Should we even entertain the idea of trading Santana? Is that throwing in the towel or a potentially smart idea?
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Late Saturday Night
It's Saturday night and I have a few things on my mind. First up - the Mets.
I have yet to read any blogs, but I have to think that most Mets fans are killing management for not making any deals. I am not of the same opinion. Actually, I am perfectly fine with them staying put. Listen, this team is not going anywhere. I think they will end with a winning record, but they are not going to the playoffs. We have all been down this path before and we know how it has worked. Mike Bordick, Matt Lawton, Kris Benson, Victor Zambrano, Roberto Hernandez, Ollie Perez. If you are going to be a buyer at the deadline, you need to make sure your team is an actual contender and not a pretender. This team simply isn't that.
Of course, if there was a trade out there that could have helped the long term stability of the franchise (like dumping Castillo and Ollie for some prospects), then I would be all for it. However, all the guys the Mets were mildly interested in (Scott Downs, Chad Qualls, Ted Lilly, Brett Myers) would have come at the price of one of their top prospects. I am not ok with the idea of losing Ike Davis, Jonathan Niese, Jennry Mejia or Josh Thole for a backend starter or a late game reliever. It's just not worth it. Not with the building blocks we have in place.
If you take a step back and think about it, you see that we are in a good position long term with Wright, Reyes, Davis, Pelfrey, Pagan, Thole, Tejada, Niese, Mejia. Then we have veterans like Beltran, Bay, Santana. We just need a few extra pieces in the offseason. So let's wait and build around what we have.
Now on to the Sounders-
Great road win tonight in which we saw the debut of our newest DP Alvaro Fernandez. While I still want to see more before making a definitive decision, I did see some very positive things. I'm not sure where he will be in the pecking order, but suddenly we have some really great options on the wing.
I thought their passing looked really really good tonight. Alonso and Sturigs really controlled the middle of the pitch and Nkufo and Montero are really combining well with Nyassi and Zakuani. I'm not sure how many games they can win the rest of the way, but I think they are going to be fun to watch.
Next up is their trip to El salvador for the return leg of the CONCACAF Champions League series on Tuesday night. I assume that Sigi will trot out Scott, Graham, Wahl, Marshall, Montano, Seamon, Jaqua, Levesque on Tuesday night, but don't know who the final 2 guys will be when they face Metapan. None of the above played more than 30 minutes tonight so they should be pretty fresh. There depth is pretty impressive right now, but any injuries will be tough to overcome. They need to come home from San Salvador healthy.
Finally,a few words on Freddie Ljungberg. I would be lying if I said that our relationship wasn't rocky. Some weeks I thought were playing some quality soccer. Other weeks I thought you just weren't fitting in (see: stealing ball from Montero and vice versa). There always seemed to be things I wish you could do better: keeping your cool, taking free kicks, shooting on target, not trying to beat every defender 1on1. Whether that was fair is up for debate, but I think that comes with the territory.
With all the being said, I believe that your time in Seattle was a positive one. Your signing signaled to me that the front office was willing to spend money on quality players and that they were serious in their attempt to be a world class team. You also fit the mold of what Seattlites look for in players - gracious and appreciative of the fans and a positive member of the community. I loved how you applauded the fans before you took your first corner at each end. I appreciate how gracious you were on your way out. It may not have worked out on the field, but you helped fuel the idea that we were a big time soccer city. I wish you well in Chicago and hope you and Nery Castillo don't end up fighting each other (and if you do, please kick his unibrow ass)
I have yet to read any blogs, but I have to think that most Mets fans are killing management for not making any deals. I am not of the same opinion. Actually, I am perfectly fine with them staying put. Listen, this team is not going anywhere. I think they will end with a winning record, but they are not going to the playoffs. We have all been down this path before and we know how it has worked. Mike Bordick, Matt Lawton, Kris Benson, Victor Zambrano, Roberto Hernandez, Ollie Perez. If you are going to be a buyer at the deadline, you need to make sure your team is an actual contender and not a pretender. This team simply isn't that.
Of course, if there was a trade out there that could have helped the long term stability of the franchise (like dumping Castillo and Ollie for some prospects), then I would be all for it. However, all the guys the Mets were mildly interested in (Scott Downs, Chad Qualls, Ted Lilly, Brett Myers) would have come at the price of one of their top prospects. I am not ok with the idea of losing Ike Davis, Jonathan Niese, Jennry Mejia or Josh Thole for a backend starter or a late game reliever. It's just not worth it. Not with the building blocks we have in place.
If you take a step back and think about it, you see that we are in a good position long term with Wright, Reyes, Davis, Pelfrey, Pagan, Thole, Tejada, Niese, Mejia. Then we have veterans like Beltran, Bay, Santana. We just need a few extra pieces in the offseason. So let's wait and build around what we have.
Now on to the Sounders-
Great road win tonight in which we saw the debut of our newest DP Alvaro Fernandez. While I still want to see more before making a definitive decision, I did see some very positive things. I'm not sure where he will be in the pecking order, but suddenly we have some really great options on the wing.
I thought their passing looked really really good tonight. Alonso and Sturigs really controlled the middle of the pitch and Nkufo and Montero are really combining well with Nyassi and Zakuani. I'm not sure how many games they can win the rest of the way, but I think they are going to be fun to watch.
Next up is their trip to El salvador for the return leg of the CONCACAF Champions League series on Tuesday night. I assume that Sigi will trot out Scott, Graham, Wahl, Marshall, Montano, Seamon, Jaqua, Levesque on Tuesday night, but don't know who the final 2 guys will be when they face Metapan. None of the above played more than 30 minutes tonight so they should be pretty fresh. There depth is pretty impressive right now, but any injuries will be tough to overcome. They need to come home from San Salvador healthy.
Finally,a few words on Freddie Ljungberg. I would be lying if I said that our relationship wasn't rocky. Some weeks I thought were playing some quality soccer. Other weeks I thought you just weren't fitting in (see: stealing ball from Montero and vice versa). There always seemed to be things I wish you could do better: keeping your cool, taking free kicks, shooting on target, not trying to beat every defender 1on1. Whether that was fair is up for debate, but I think that comes with the territory.
With all the being said, I believe that your time in Seattle was a positive one. Your signing signaled to me that the front office was willing to spend money on quality players and that they were serious in their attempt to be a world class team. You also fit the mold of what Seattlites look for in players - gracious and appreciative of the fans and a positive member of the community. I loved how you applauded the fans before you took your first corner at each end. I appreciate how gracious you were on your way out. It may not have worked out on the field, but you helped fuel the idea that we were a big time soccer city. I wish you well in Chicago and hope you and Nery Castillo don't end up fighting each other (and if you do, please kick his unibrow ass)
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