Bad Day at Black Rock

The last time the Jets were shutout was on Oct. 31, 2010 by Green Bay and this was worst beating since Buffalo beat them 37 zip back in 1989. I am glad, I waited till after the Jets game to dissect there pros and cons. There are no pros and the cons are there because there are no pros. 

I am not sure Rex Ryan will make it through the season after today's debacle.

It is hard to say where this franchise has gone wrong, so many wrong moves have been made by the current ownership and coaching staff I don't know where to start.

Blame has to be laid at the feet of Ryan and Tannenbaum, the Jets are their creation from top to bottom and the Frankenstein child has deep issues. The Jets defense was supposed to be the saving grace of the team, without Revis, they are not even ordinary, they are bad.

The Jets offense led by Marc Sanchez is at the lowest point of the new season and now with the loss of Santonio Homes, Sanchez does not have too many options. Greg McElroy maybe the starting QB be for to long, that is if Rex Ryan is still head coach.

It's Football Time in Tennessee

The Derick Dooley led Volunteers will travel to Athens, Ga today to play the Bulldogs of Georgia. This will be another ranked team test for Dooley and Volunteers. Georgia comes in undefeated and ranked #5 in the nation are led by QB Aaron Murray and running back Todd Gurley who has rushed for more than 100 yards a game and a Bulldog team who is averaging 242 yards on the ground.

The Volunteers will also have to pass block a lot better today than they did against their first 4 opponents. Georgia OLB Jarvis Jones who is leading the SEC in sacks will have to be kept out of the Vols backfield or it could be a very long day for Tyler Bray.

The Vols will counter with a balanced attack of running and throwing with the Bray to Justin Hunter being the marquee pass catch combination of the SEC. Hunter has 30 catches and most NFL scouts have their eyes on the gazelle like wide receiver.

This will be a big test for the Volunteers and Coach Dooley. The Vols will at some point need to beat a ranked opponent and today will be the day they win between the hedges down in Athens. I look for a high scoring game with the Vols proving they belong in the SEC.


Lets Go Big Orange

NY Mets Fans Hope

NY Mets fans received a rare treat yesterday as RA Dickey became the 6th Mets pitcher to win 20 games in a season. The mark of excellence for a pitcher in any era of the great game, 20 wins represents greatness. This year Dickey becomes only the second pitcher to reach the mark in the National League.

This year has been a bitter sweet for Mets fans, exciting play and a no hitter marked the first half and frustration and ineptness followed with yesterdays performance being the highlight of a dismal second half. RA Dickey has been the soul of a pitching staff, the team stopper. Terry Collins and Mets fans all season relied on RA closing the door on loosing streaks and has become a legitimate candidate for the Cy Young award the MVP of the Mets.

Six games remain for the Mets in 2012 and I and many other life long Mets fans are anxious for February 2013 to arrive. There is hope around the corner and with RA Dickey leading the way Mets fans will see brighter days in 2013.


LGM

In Dickey We Trust

Today at Citi Field in Flushing, NY,  RA Dickey will be pitching for his 20th win of the season for the NY Mets. The last time the Mets had a 20 game winner was in 1990 by Frank Viola. Only 5 different pitchers have won 20 games for the Mets in their 50 years, with Tom Seaver leading the way with 25 victories in the 69 season.

The Mets have been playing better since the 16-1 thrashing by the Phillies winning 5 of their last 6 and Mets fans everywhere will be glued to the TV or computers rooting on the Mets and RA Dickey. Winning 20 games will go a long way for RA to winning the Cy Young award. I for one will not miss a pitch.


Lets Go Mets 

The Vols, Bray and the SEC

Volunteer QB Tyler Bray will get his second shot at SEC football Saturday when he faces the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens. The Vols are coming off a 600 yard plus performance over the Zips of the University of Akron, will have the Bray led Big Orange going against a little bit of a stronger opponent in the Bulldogs of Georgia.

Georgia is coming off a shellacking of the Vanderbilt Commordores and has won three of the last four meetings against the Volunteers. The Big Orange will be trying to revenge a very hard fought loss to Georgia in last years meeting. Georgia the number 5 team in the nation needs to win this game to stay even with South Carolina and Florida. A loss to the Vols will eliminate Georgia from any chance of winning the SEC East and   a shot at the conference championship.

A win for the Vols will go a long way in the Derek Dooley recruiting wars against Georgia and solidify his stay in Knoxville for another year. The Vols must avoid turnovers and run the football. Bray will be under a lot of pressure to deliver the ball down field to his three main targets, as a very active Bulldog defense will go after him with a vengeance.

The Vols defense will also have to contain the Georgia trio of Murray, Gurley and Brown, and if they do not, it will be a very long day in Athens for the Volunteers.

Vols 24 Georgia 14


Lets Go Vols

Im Back

I am back from a brief visit home and tomorrow I will update what is going on in Mets, Jets, and Vols land .


Peace,


Mike

Dickey Goes for #19

RA Dickey will try to win his 19th game tonight as the Mets host the Philadelphia Phillies. Dickey who is a candidate for the Cy Young award will be trying to stop the bleeding at Citi Field. RA has recorded 18 of the Mets 65 wins. That is 37% of the team victories. Dickey is also in top 5 of all the important pitching statistics, innings pitched, strikeouts, runs scored, walks.

Dickey has shot of striking out 200 batters and if he does he will be only the 4th pitcher in the history of MLB to strikeout over 200 batters after the age 37, Mr. Cy Young is one of the other three. RA may not win Cy Young, but he is diffidently the MVP of the team.

Lets Go Mets

Bad Day at Black Rock

There is a fabulous 1950's movie staring Spencer Tracy with Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine called Bad Day at Black Rock its about discrimination and hatred. In the story things start out bad for Tracy and get worse. I have used the phrase to describe a day or weekend in sports, where all the teams I root for lose.

This weekend was one of those Bad Day at Black Rock weekends. First, the Mets lost 2 of 3 from the Brewers. Next, the Volunteers of Tennessee lost bad to Florida and today the Jets lost in PBurg.

The Mets could have 2 of three with today's shutout the only game they did not hit. They should have won yesterday, but it was a test day for the future in Jenrry Mejia who did not fair well. Today the Mets bats went silent for Chris Young who gave up 3 HRs and the Mets lost 3-0.

The Volunteers second half performance was pitiful and Tyler Bray and the mighty Vols air attack was grounded. Bray was harassed and knocked down in the second half and the running game came to a screeching halt, the two areas the Volunteers needed to dominate, for them to win. Bray was also sandbagged by three consecutive penalties and a drop by Justin Hunter that should have led to a Vols TD and a tie game halfway through the third period. The Vols never scored in the second half and that stemmed from the Florida front seven who hurried, sacked or knocked Bray down, the entire second half, after beating the much heralded Volunteer offensive line, most of the last 30 minutes.

Finally, the NY Jets were beat 27-10 in Pittsburgh as the Steelers only gave up a field goal after the Jets scored on their only drive of the game and a 7-0 lead. From that point on the Steelers dominated outscoring the Jets 27-3 over the last 40 something minutes.

The rest of the SEC season is not easy for the Volunteers, next game is in Athens against the Bulldogs. The Mets season is winding down and from the look on the players faces it could not end any sooner. The Jets today played a playoff contender and it showed, next week is no walk in Prospect Park against the Dolphins in Miami.

Lets Go Mets, Jets and Vols

It's Football Time in Tennessee

Are you ready to rumble? Vols fans are heading to Neyland Stadium as I write this piece for hours of tailgaiting, libation and fun, getting ready for the big game. This is no ordinary Saturday college football game. This is the University of Tennessee v the University of Florida. I am sure someone has strapped an inflatable gator across the hood of their car and is heading down to Knoxville for the game, this rivalry brings out the Vols fan in just about everyone in Big Orange Country. I am also sure there will be over 102 thousand screaming orange clad faithful rooting for their Volunteers.

This rivalry goes back to 1916 with Florida holding a slight edge over the Vols 22 wins to 19, that is with Florida running off 7 straight victories over the Volunteers. This maybe the best Volunteer team to play Florida since Peyton Manning was the Tennessee Quarterback and Vols fans are anxious to chew into raw gator meat. Tyler Bray is a legitimate Heisman candidate and in his first two games he has passed for over 300 yards and six Touchdowns, he will be looking for his big talented receivers in 6'4 Justin Hunter, 6'3 Cordarrelle Patterson and 6'3 Mycal Rivera all day. The Volunteer success will hinge on its seasoned and massive offensive line that averages 320Lbs. If the Vols can protect Bray and run the ball it is going to be a long day for the 18th ranked Gators.



Go Big Orange!

Mets Continue to Sink

The Mets are now 65 and 78 and have been eliminated from any playoff hope. The season that started with uncertainty will end same way, with lots of questions. Mets fans will again "wait till Next Year"  David Wright. RA Dickey and Rubin Tejada if they are all back will be the heart and soul of the team, nothing else is written in stone and with the Mets anything is possible.  Mets need three outfielders, a right handed power hitting catcher, who know how to handle a young pitching staff. One bright spot I see for next year is the Mets pitching staff, led by Dickey, with Neise, Harvey and Gee the Mets have four quality starters, add McHugh, Familiar, Majia, Hefner and maybe Wheeler, the Mets have a very young, very talented pitching staff.

The NY Mets must sign both Wright and Dickey. Wright is 30 years old and coming off his first injury free season (broken finger 2 games out) in the last four years and his play, showed fans the old DWright is back. He is in the running for the Gold Glove as the best fielding 3rd baseman in the NL as of today he has committed ten errors at 3rd and he has play marvelous in the field. Wright, has had a great season at the plate even with his average sliding, he is still in top 5 in batting average and his production was the key to the Mets early success. Dickey has had a Cy Young year winning 18 of the Mets 65 wins, RA has been rock solid all year and there is no reason why he can not continue to be successful for many years for the Mets.

Rubin Tejada has done everything well. Mets fans must remember Tejada is but 22 years old years old ( he will only be 23 October 27) He has had only 10 errors in 397 chances, with a couple of Reyes type spectacular plays under his belt. Rubin needs to increase his stamina and be able to play 140 plus games next year. I am sure the Mets brass is very pleased how Rubin hit the ball. I think a little bulk and Tejada could be a doubles hitting short stop, instead of a singles hitting short stop (24 extra base hits out of 113 hits) Tejada has hit a very respectable .292 and expect the last three weeks, he was hitting over .300 most of the year. In a couple of years Tejada will be an all star and the name of Jose Reyes will be a distant memory.

Is Citi Field cursed?


LGM

Rocky Top

Rocky Top will be rocking Saturday as the Florida Gators invade for their yearly match up against the Volunteers of Tennessee. The Vols coming off a 51 point performance against Georgia State will be trying to stop a 7 game losing strike a the hands of the 18th ranked Gators. Tennessee who broke the top 25 for the first time in the Derrick Dooley era this week will  be hungry for gator.

Led by junior quarterback Tyler Bray, who has thrown six touchdowns in two games with no turnovers and the three outstanding receivers in TE Mychal Rivera, WR Cordarrelle Patterson and all world WR Justin Hunter, the Vols will score and score often against a so so Florida defense.

The key to the Volunteer success will be the offensive line protecting Bray and opening holes for running backs Lane and Neal. New Florida coach Muschamp will get an earful of 102 thousand plus Vols fans cheering for their beloved Orange and White.


Lets Go Vols

Mets Bats Abandon Dickey

RA Dickey was pitching for his league leading 19th victory yesterday but a funny thing happen on the way, he lost a lead and the Mets batters went silent. Dickey pitched well enough to win giving up 3 runs on 8 hits, but the Mets have forgotten how to win with timely hitting. In fact the Mets just have not hit the ball the way they did the first 80 games of the season. Timely hitting the object of fans delight for the first half has virtually gone invisible.

The Mets have now lost 5 in a row and are 12 game under 500, the little surge the Mets experienced the beginning of September was just a tease for what can be with the Mets. The Mets have been teasing their fans for some time now, showing glimmers of hope only to be brought down to earth with the reality the team is not going anywhere fast.

The future of the Mets is still just that, wishful thinking by fans and management. This year fans knew the team was not going to make the playoffs. Like so many teams who start off strong, the MLB season is a marathon and only the strongest survive. As Dodger fans of old said over and over; "Wait till Next Year" Mets fans have been waiting a long time.


LGM

Volunteers vs Florida

The Volunteers of Tennessee have not won a big game in a long time, this Saturday the Tyler Bray led Vols will have the chance to show the Vol Nation they are a team to be taken serious by the SEC. Bray has been spectacular in his first two games running the offense and distributing the ball between running backs and receivers, what he does against the Gators is another story. 

Florida will be ready for the Vols come Saturday at Neyland Stadium; they won last week in a nail bitter at the home opener of the SECs new entry the Aggies of Texas AM. Florida has run the ball very well in their first two games, but pass protection has to be is a concern for coach Muschamp. In the A&M game, Florida QB Jeff Driskel was sacked 8 times on 13-16 passing. The Gators will be facing a very active Tennessee defense that has only given up 34 points in two games.

Tennessee is coming off blowout wins against Georgia State and NC State; they will be taking their first test of SEC competition against a Florida team that looked so, so against Bowling Green University and last week they had to come from behind to pull out the win against Texas A&M.

The Tennessee offense has been fabulous in their two wins and Vols defense shut down a very potent NC State offense and last week they dominated a team they should have dominated.

The Volunteers have a lot to prove and the Gators maybe the right team for the Vols to show the college football world they are back. Look for Tyler Bray to get the ball to his two wide out gazelles in Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson while he hands off to a rejuvenated Marlin Lane and Rajion Neal behind a seasoned offensive line.

The Vols defense will have to shut down the running game of the Gators and if they can do that and control the line of scrimmage they will beat Florida for the first time at Neyland since 2004. The Vols will win Saturday in Knoxville and if you are a football fan you will have to tune in to see one of the greatest sports spectacles as 102000 plus fans dressed in a sea of orange. Vols 35 Florida 14.

Lets Go Big Orange

Surprise, Surprise

Wow, did the Jets surprise me and many other naysayers, blowing out the Buffalo Bills 48-28. The Jets were true to form on the defensive side of the ball, forcing 4 turnovers that led to the Jets first 34 points.

The big surprise was from a rejuvenated offensive line with the addition of Austin Howard at RT, who nullified Mario Williams and that allowed Mark Sanchez the time to stay in the pocket, and find open receivers for 3 TDs. Sanchez was very efficient going 19 for 27, for 266 yards, no sacks and 1 Int for a 123.4 QB Rating.

The offensive line was also able to open enough holes in the Bills defensive line that Shonn Greene was able to rush for 94 very important yards and a TD, not bad for an offense that did not score a TD until the 4 preseason game.

Jeremy Kerley broke a 10 year punt return for TD drought with a 61 yard punt return for the opening score of the second period and a 21-0 lead. The Jets never looked back going on to win for the 3 time in 4 tries on opening day for Rex Ryan’s Green and White.

The Jets honored HOF Curtis Martin by retiring his number 28 at half time, a true class act and gentlemen.

J - E - T - S, Jets, Jets, Jets

Opening Day for The J E T S Jets, Jets, Jets

I have no idea how the Jets will do today or through 16 games. The Jets are coming off an 0-4 preseason record and although none of that counts today, fact is Jets are a team with many questions. Today fans will see what Tony Sprano will do with Tim Tebow and how he fits into the Jets offense. Mark Sanchez has lots to prove and having Tebow breathing down his neck will not help the young quarterback. Sanchez has a very fragile ego and having the media magnet Tebow on the team only ads to self imposed pressure. If Mark Sanchez is to be a star in the NFL and lead the Jets to victory he has to over come his immaturity with smart play and not get rattled into mistakes. The Jets have weaknesses at receiver, offensive line and running back, add the questions around Sanchez and you have a team with holes, how quickly Rex Ryan and his staff can patch those holes, made so glaring in the preseason, is the million dollar question.

On paper the Jets defense looks as good as any defense in the NFL, what happens on the field is another story. Although the D looks great, they are not a young bunch and the wear and tear of being on the field for lengthy periods of time will have its toll on many on the defensive side of the ball. The Jets defense has shutout potential and they may have to pitch a shutout to win.


J - E - T -S Jets, Jets, Jets 

Volunteers Should Win Big

The 2012 Volunteer Football team makes its home debut today at 4 PM in Knoxville at Neyland Stadium against the  Georgia State Panthers. The Panthers are coached by former NFL great Bill Curry. He will become the first coach to have coached against the Vols for four different teams, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Kentucky and Georgia State. The 69 year old Curry has announced this will be his last year coaching.

Georgia State should be red meat for the home standing Volunteers, they are coming off a 33-6 beating at the hands of South Carolina State in their opening game, giving up 488 yards, 300 of which came through the air. Tyler Bray will have a field day against the toothless Panthers.

There should be plenty of cheap tickets being sold outside Neyland today with many fans choosing to listen to the voice of the Volunteers Bob Kesling on the radio. Look for the Vols to score and score often. Coach Dooley will be able to play many reserves in the second half.


Lets Go Vols 

Its Football Time in America

As the 2012 NFL season begins, this life long NY Jets fan is scratching his head, wondering, what is there to be excited about? I watched a preseason Jets team that looked in disarray without direction and without players who can carry out what ever Ryan's brain trust wants done. New Offensive Coordinator Tony Sprano,  a person I though would help the Jets, is probable wondering why he took the job. Sprano has no offensive weapons or legitimate NFL Quarterback at the helm. The most glaring hole besides QB has to be the offensive line, which looked misdirected and out of sync most of the four preseason games.

The Jets defense may have to pitch a shutout every game for the team to win and they may have to do the scoring as well. The Jets defense has improved greatly this year with the addition of LaRon Landry and look for the hard hitting safety to blitz, blitz and blitz again. 

I am not optimistic about this 2012 NY Jets team, but the defense is capable of pitching shutouts and when the brain trust realizes the best chance to win is with the kid from Alabama at the helm, Greg McElroy given the shot will lead the Jets. Sanchez is not a leader or smart enough, and Tebow does not have the skill set to be a QB in the NFL, he has Joe Kapp skills and a fabulous heart, but he is not the answer. The answer lays with McElroy, smart, strong and he can run a football team, the only Jets QB to lead the Jets to the only touchdown of the four preseason games. 

LGJ

Dickey Wins

RA Dickey took another step towards the ultimate pitching award the Cy Young yesterday when he won for the 18th time against 4 loses. Dickey gave up 8 hits and 2 runs over 6 2/3 innings to the hard hitting Cardinals salvaging the final game of the 3 game set and improving the road trip record to 6-3.

The NY Mets record improved to 65-72 and Mr. Dickey has 18 of those victories to his credit, not too shabby for this soon to be 38 year old knuckelballer. The Mets have two must have off season signing in DWright and RA Dickey. The backbone of the team all year, RA has stepped up on more than one occasion  
to stop the bleeding for the Mets.

The Mets come tomorrow to play the next 6 games against their Eastern Division leading Braves and Nationals, both series are crucial to the Mets chances of playing above 500 for the year and the still outside shot of making the playoffs.


LGM

Not Ready for Prime Time

The NY Mets tantalized fans the last couple of weeks by shedding their midsummer collapse by winning 7 the last 8 games only to run into the defending champs, the St. Louis Cardinals. Last night the Mets and Matt Harvey showed why they are a team not ready for prime time. The Mets had chances and pounded out 9 hits one shy of the Cards 10, but the Cards scored 5 times on their hits and the Mets only once. This has been the demise of the Mets the second half of the year, timely hitting has become nonexistent. The lack of right handed power was evident last night as the Mets left 16 runners on base.

Today RA Dickey goes for his league leading 18th win and as Mets fans have come to say "In Dickey We Trust"


LGM

A Case for Instant Replay in the MLB

Yesterday's Mets Cards game had one of those moments when the umpires could have gone into a room and watched a replay, from every possible angle of NY Mets CF Andres Torres's heal, to see if he did or did not step on first base, but this is the 21 century and MLB is still deep in the 20th century on many ideas and instant replay is way off in the distant future.

The USTA USOpen is going on across the street from Citi Field at Louis Armstrong Stadium and there linesmen and umpires have some of the best technology in sports to determine if balls are in or out and its done in seconds. Major League Baseball is so far behind the time in the use of any form of technology its almost laughable at how some games and championships are won.

LGM

How Do You Like Them Apples?

The NY Mets continued their winning ways against the Miami Marlins last night as Chris Young won for the 4th time, but the story of the day was Jason Bay and his first inning grand slam. Bay, who has been in a Mets career slump gave the Mets a 5-0 lead before the Marlins took a swing. The way Bay has hit this year, there was a better chance Justin Ruggiano would make another 3 run error like he did the night before, than for Bay to hit a home run with the bases jammed. The Marlins never recovered as Young and four relievers gave up only 1 run and scattered 6 hits in the fast paced game.

This was the second sweep of the Marlins this year for the Mets and are now 5-1 on the 9 game road trip. The Mets send rookie Collin McHugh to the mound today in a Labor Day matinee against the Cardinals of St. Louis, as they look to keep up their winning ways. The Mets find themselves 6 games below 500 and just 8 games out of the last Wild Card spot. Many diehard fans have been buoyed by the Mets 7-3 record over the last ten games and the feeling there is a miracle brewing in Flushing is contagious. Lets hope the team catches the same feeling and play like miracle workers down the stretch. A win today would go a long way in the making of more believers. Ya Gotta Believe! LGM 

A NY Miracle

Last night in Miami the NY Mets pull a game out of the ashes with a 4 run top of the ninth with hits by their stars and a lot of luck. There was no black cats on this Blue Moon night, but there was a Bill Buckner moment as Marlin CF Justin Ruggiano let Kelly Shoppach 2 out 2 strike single role under his glove clearing the bases giving the Mets a 5-3 lead and a come from behind unexpected victory. The Mets had only won 3 games this year when trailing after the 7th inning this season and last nights heroics where very much miracle like.

Joe Johnson was dominating the Mets and Gary, Keith and Ronnie in the Mets TV Booth were all questioning the Marlin strategy of taking him out for the 9th inning. Johnson pounded the Mets, giving up just 1 run on 3 hits and walking but 2 in 8 innings of work.

Today the Mets will go for a sweep of the Marlins with Chris Young facing Mark Buehrle and his 12 wins. Buehrle has pitched well and is 3-0 in his last 3 starts. The Mets will want to continue their winning ways as they have moved to within 9 games of the last playoff Wild Card spot.

Sweep, LGM

Volunteers Win Big

The 2012 version of the University of Tennessee football team was on display last night in the Chick-Fil-A Kick Off Game at the Georgia Dome last night and they did not disappoint the Vol fans in the house, winning 35-22 against the high powered Wolfpack of North Carolina State University. 

Tyler Bray was throwing rockets all game and his new favorite target was Juco transfer Cordarrell Patterson who electrified the crowd with two first period TDs and a 22-7. Bray was masterful passing for 333 yards and two Touch Downs.

The Vols defense started off slow allowing the Wolfpack to score and take a 7-6 lead at one point in the first period, but they soon found the right combination to hold the powerful NC State offense to 21 hard fought points. The Volunteer defensive scheme harassed, knocked down, sacked or intercepted  Mike Glennon who was 27-for-46 through the air for 288 yards and 4 interceptions.

This was a big win for the Vols and Head Coach Derrick Dooley who has to be considered on the hot seat after his first two seasons at Rocky Top. Next week the Vols face off against Georgia State at home in Knoxville.


Lets Go Vols 

Dickey Goes All The Way

RA Dickey won for the 17th time last night shutting out the Marlins on 5 hits, moving the Mets to 9 games out of the last Wild Card spot and the playoffs. Dickey was dominating as the Marlins could only muster a couple of scoring chances as he struck out 7 in his complete game victory in a little over 2 hours of work.

The Mets offense was Ike Davis as he drove in all 3 runs with a sac fly and his 25th HR, a bomb that landed deep and high in the right field stands. The rest of the team could only muster 3 singles off of Marlins and Nathan Eovaldi. The anemic offense of the Mets continues to struggle and could be the obstacle to future success as the Mets head down the stretch 30 games left in the season.

Tonight's game will feature Jeremy Hefner will go for his 3rd victory against Joe Johnson and the Marlins. Hefner pitched well enough to win against his last foe the Astros giving up one run in 8 innings of work. 

LGM