It’s been forever since I’ve blogged here. I’ve mostly done hockey with Battle Of New York/New York Puck. We are still going strong covering the Rangers, Devils and Islanders who relocate to Brooklyn this autumn. That will feel strange. I can be followed on Twitter.
If you don’t know me, I’m a huge Rangers fan whose family has had a season plan for two decades. An original from the Blue Seats in Section 411 prior to the renovation, it is sad that the Islanders will no longer be on Long Island at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale. One of the greatest dynasties ever winning four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-83. They said goodbye this past Spring after posting one more win to extend their first round series against the Caps. Unfortunately, they didn’t win Game 7 which prevented one more classic battle between bitter New York rivals.
Instead, we were left with the Blueshirts summoning up the strength to rally from a 3-1 deficit to stun the Caps with Derek Stepan playing the overtime hero. Ultimately, they fell short in a bid to appear in consecutive Stanley Cup Finals getting blanked by the Lightning in Game 7 at MSG. Thankfully, we didn’t go to that one. Game 5 was bad enough. That was a odd series that I never felt comfortable with. Fittingly, the Rangers didn’t score a goal in the last seven periods on home ice. The summer has felt longer even though it’s really not. Maybe it’s the 90 degree heat and humidity talking. Whatever it is, thank God for baseball.
The summer has treated New York City much better than the past couple of years. Along with the heatwave comes two first place teams that reside in the Bronx and Queens. The Yankees and Mets have given us plenty of excitement. When they are good, this town gets behind its baseball teams. No matter which side you’re on, it’s great to see. As a Yankee fan, I’m happy for Mets fans that they’ve finally got a first place team they can fully support. The Amazin’s are the better story with the best staff in the majors featuring young guns Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard. All throw in the high 90’s and possess great command on all their pitches making them very tough to hit.
DeGrom has pushed his way into the NL Cy Young race. He ranks second in earned run average with a 2.03 ERA trailing Dodgers front runner Zach Greinke (1.58). Greinke improved to 13-2 Sunday allowing one earned run in seven innings while walking one and fanning eight in a Dodgers 2-1 win over the Reds. Statistically, his numbers are outstanding with only 114 hits allowed in 165.1. while walking just 29 and striking out 150 for a 0.86 WHIP. Opponents are hitting .193 against him. DeGrom is nothing to sniff at. With a record of 11-6 and 28 walks and 152 K’s in 146.2, he averages more than a strikeout per inning and possesses a 0.89 WHIP. The 2014 NL Rookie Of The Year has permitted just 103 hits with 33 of the 37 runs earned. His next start is tomorrow at Baltimore where the Mets look to snap a three-game losing skid after getting swept by the Pirates over the weekend.
They can take solace knowing the Nats continue to fade. They lost all four games at San Francisco and have dropped six in a row and are four and a half out. For all the talk, Washington has fallen a game under .500 and are a fundamentally flawed roster that has relied too much on Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer. Both have cooled considerably. They’re also managed by Matt Williams, whose decision making remains sketchy in his second year. He was given a vote of confidence by management. But unless his team starts performing, there’s a good chance he’ll get canned.
The Yankees have also been a pleasant surprise. With question marks surrounding their pitching staff and veteran sluggers, they weren’t expected to compete for the AL East. Granted, it’s a weak division which was always my contention. Until the Blue Jays recently upgraded with Troy Tulowitzki, David Price and Ben Revere, the Yanks looked like the favorites to run away with it. They once led the Jays by eight games but ever since Toronto added Tulowitzki and Price, they’ve been on fire. At one point, they reeled off 11 straight including a dominant three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium in which the Bronx Bombers’ only run in 28 innings was a Mark Teixeira home run that needed instant replay to confirm. The Jays possess a scary lineup featuring AL MVP candidate Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, Tulowitzki, Edwin Encarnacion and Russell Martin. The Yanks went into Toronto and took two of three to move back into first. They’re a half game up and are two better in the loss column. They’re currently leading the Twins at home 3-0 on a three-run blast from Brian McCann. The Jays are idle.
For most of the summer, the big bats of Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez have carried them. Teixeira leads the team with 31 homers and 79 RBI’s. He’s also played a terrific first showing off the leather that’s won him Gold Gloves in the past. He’s an MVP candidate but is clearly behind Donaldson and Mike Trout. No one knew what to expect from Rodriguez who returned after a year off due to a suspension for performance enhancers. Some even wondered if he’d make it to double digits in home runs. Instead, A-Rod proved he still has it slugging 24 dingers and driving in 63 with a .873 OPS (on-base plus slugging). However, he is 40 and age is finally catching up. He hasn’t homered since July 27 and his average has dropped from .282 to .265. The full-time designated hitter has been given some days off by manager Joe Girardi. He’s also given Teixeira a day off in the field by using recently called up first base prospect Greg Bird. Only 23, he recorded his first major league hit in a 4-1 win over the Jays on Saturday. He also narrowly missed his first career home run.
Girardi has done a good job. Despite the gripes of impatient fans who weren’t pleased that Brian Cashman didn’t go out and add anyone at the deadline, the organization did the right thing holding onto top prospects Bird, Aaron Judge and 21-year old starter Luis Severino. Unlike the Mets who already possess a lethal staff and went out and added big bat Yoenis Cespedes to boost their chances, the Yanks are thinking long-term. This year is a bonus. They were never going to part with their best prospects for Price or Cole Hamels, who the Phillies dealt to the Rangers for three good prospects. They also didn’t wind up trading shortstop Jorge Mateo, who was promoted to Tampa. The bullpen remains a team strength thanks to the 1-2 punch of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller. Girardi hasn’t gotten enough credit for carving out roles for Justin Wilson, Chasen Shreve and valuable righty Adam Warren. All have been factors to getting the ball to their bread and butter.
Don’t forget Michael Pineda is on the DL. In three starts, Severino has pitched well allowing six earned in 17 innings while striking out 18 including a career high nine in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to the Jays. A Carlos Beltran misplay led to their three runs with Bautista delivering the deciding two-run bomb. Masahiro Tanaka pitched his best game of the season going all the way Saturday allowing only a run and fanning eight Jays. Ivan Nova has been solid since returning posting five wins and a 3.57 ERA in nine starts. C.C Sabathia has had consecutive good outings and Nathan Eovaldi continues to win due to run support. Until Pineda returns, they’ll try to get by with lefty Bryan Mitchell with Girardi preferring to keep Warren as his seventh inning man.
When Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner reach base, they’re a much better offense. They’re the table setters. Both have slumped even though an Ellsbury homer was their only run yesterday. McCann has hit much better this year with 21 dingers and 72 RBI’s counting tonight. Updating the score, a Miguel Sano two-run shot off Caleb Cotham has tied things up at three. Of more concern is Mitchell who left the game due to an injury. Maybe the Yanks make a move via waivers. We’ll have to wait and see.
For the time being, baseball has more than made up for the Rangers’ failure. And with both metropolitan area football teams nothing special, all eyes will be on the hockey team by November. Along with the Isles’ move to Brooklyn, the Rangers and Islanders should be front and center. It’s all about October baseball in this town. Hopefully, the Yanks and Mets give us plenty of anxiety attacks. The good kind.
