You could feel it in the Yankee Stadium air after Hideki Matsui's two-run home run off the hated Pedro Martinez gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead in the second inning of Game 6. The "Who's your daddy" chants got louder and the Yankee Stadium crowd braced themselves for another championship.
The Phillies got a run back in the third, when Jimmy Rollins hit a sacrifice fly off Andy Pettitte to score Carlos Ruiz, who had tripled. But Matsui would answer right back in the bottom half of the inning, hitting the ball hard for the fifth time in two at-bats (three went foul) and scoring two with a based-loaded single to center.
The score remained 4-1 into the fifth inning when a tiring Pettitte walked Ruiz with one out and the bases empty. Up came Rollins, who grounded into a key 5-4-3 double play that proved his mouth runs much faster than his legs, after his radio-show prediction that the Phillies would win the series in five and "close it out at home."
The Yankees would extend their lead to 7-1 in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from Mark Teixeira and a two-run double from Matsui, who ripped one off the base of the right-center field wall against lefty J.A. Happ, who came in to pitch to the slugger. It didn't matter who was on the mound for the Phillies last night, because Matsui was arguably more locked in than Alex Rodriguez was in the first two series.
A Ryan Howard two-run homer cut the lead to four in the top of the sixth and, after allowing a double to Raul Ibanez, Pettitte was pulled to cheers from the Stadium faithful. He threw just 50 of his 94 pitches for strikes and walked five, but made big pitches in key spots to get himself out of trouble and preserve the Yankees lead.
The Phillies threatened in the seventh, putting two on against Joba Chamberlain to bring the scorching Chase Utley to the plate with two out and a chance to cut the lead to one. But Damaso Marte came on to strike out Utley and the Phillies never saw another big opportunity, as Mariano Rivera entered with one out in the eighth to get the final five outs and clinch the title for the Yankees.
When Shane Victorino ended a ten-pitch at-bat against Rivera by grounding out to Robinson Cano, nine years of frustration for Yankees fans were alleviated as the crowd erupted and the players mobbed each other at the mound. My voice was hoarse by that time and, considering I witnessed both the final World Series-clinching game at the old Yankee Stadium and the first at the new Stadium, it's something I felt extremely lucky to be a part of.
I said throughout the second half that this team had a special feel to it, and they proved me right by stepping up when it counted in the playoffs. The Yankees got contributions out of so many different players, from the 18 post-season RBI of Rodriguez and World Series heroics of Matsui and Johnny Damon to the four victories by Pettitte and great bullpen work by Marte, Chamberlain and David Robertson, who combined to throw 15-plus innings of two-run ball in the playoffs.
New York 27 titles are 17 more than any other major-league franchise, and this may be the last witnessed by under-the-weather owner George Steinbrenner. Many have complained that the Yankees bought this championship after the off-season signings of Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, but the youthful exuberance and chemistry shown by this team throughout the season was reminiscent of the championship teams of the mid-1990s.
That camaraderie, over anything else, was the major reason they hoisted the trophy last night. Let's not forget how many titles this team attempted to "buy" in the early part of the decade and how unsuccessful they were.
This year's Yankees had plenty of home-grown stars, from Rivera, Pettitte, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada (who all won their fifth ring last night) to new blood like Chamberlain, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner. It took nine years since their last title, but general manager Brian Cashman and the Yankees finally found the right mix to get back to their winning ways.
Moving on, there are plenty of questions for this team heading to the offseason. Damon and Matsui are free agents, and I think it would be a mistake to bring either back. They played key roles in this year's World Series win, but the Yankees can replace Damon in the lineup with Gardner and Matsui's age, injury issues and streaky nature make him a risky signing.
The other major question is what to do with Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. I have been on the bandwagon to start Chamberlain since the season's inception, but I'm now leaning towards him as next year's eighth-inning guy and New York's future closer.
Chamberlain's fiery makeup (a la Jonathan Papelbon) fits well at the back end of the bullpen, while the calmer demeanor of Hughes as well as a deeper repertoire of pitches seems to point him towards the rotation. They can both have success in either role, but this arrangement seems like the best one to me. Of course, there's a reason I'm not making the decisions in the Bronx.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Tripodi's Top Teams: Week 9
1(1). New Orleans Saints (7-0): The Saints got by the Falcons despite a late rally and now they get Carolina, St. Louis and Tampa Bay, three teams with a combined four wins this season. They are playing way too well right now to lose focus enough to drop any of those three games, but New England on Monday night in Week 12 should be an epic showdown.
2(2). Indianapolis Colts (7-0): The Colts struggled to cover an inflated spread against a good 49ers team, but they pulled out a win nonetheless. Reggie Wayne had 12 catches and was targeted on 20 out of Peyton Manning's 48 throws. Manning-to-Wayne is the most impressive connection in football right now.
3(4). Minnesota Vikings (7-1): Brett Favre has shown no signs of slowing down halfway through this season, and there are plenty of quarterbacks who could work well with the weapons he has at his disposal. And anytime you give that man extra motivation like he had in his first visit to Green Bay as an opponent on Sunday, it's lights out.
4(3). Denver Broncos (6-1): They had to lose eventually, and Baltimore is a good team who needed a win to resurrect their season. Denver is not a come-from-behind team with Kyle Orton at the helm, so falling as far behind as they did spelled doom for their unblemished record.
5(5). New England Patriots (5-2): Tom Brady and company come off a bye to play the Dolphins, who needed to score on two kickoff returns and a fumble recovery to beat the Jets. I don't see this one being very close.
6(6). Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2): The Steelers travel to Denver for a Monday night matchup with the Broncos. If they can jump out to an early lead and force Orton to beat them, Troy Polamalu and that defense might leave Denver after handing the Broncos their second straight loss.
7(7). Cincinnati Bengals (5-2): This week's game against Baltimore is a big one in the AFC North race. The strongest division in football thus far has three teams in my top 10 and the way things are looking, could send all three to the playoffs. But if Cincinnati knocks the Ravens down to 4-4, that scenario looks a little less likely.
8(9). Dallas Cowboys (5-2): The Dallas passing game looks great with Miles Austin at the top of the depth chart and they have a stable of running backs to stay balanced. Throw in a defense that has seven sacks and five takeaways in two games since their bye, and they are looking stronger than both Philly and the Giants.
9(11). Baltimore Ravens (4-3): The Ravens might have saved their season with a big win against Denver on Sunday. They need to build on that momentum to beat the Bengals this week and split the season series.
10(12). Philadelphia Eagles (5-2): Philly made the Giants look silly. The Eagles jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. It seems like DeSean Jackson makes a huge play every week, doesn't it? He's unstoppable right now.
11(10). Atlanta Falcons (4-3): Atlanta stayed with the Saints nicely, but in the end New Orleans was just too much. Games against Washington and Carolina should help the Falcons rebound.
12(8). New York Giants (5-3): That loss to Arizona looks even worse after this weekend, and the Eagles are not one of the league's top teams either. This team has holes and Steve Smith has just 19 catches for 251 yards and no scores in his last four games, a far cry from the 34 catches, 411 yards and four touchdowns he had in the season's first four games. Maybe they do miss Plaxico Burress after all?
13(16). Houston Texans (5-3): Ryan Moats had a fourth quarter to remember with three touchdowns to help the Texans run away from the Bills, who show absolutely no life on offense. But this team needs Steve Slaton at his best to reach their full potential, and it looks like his off-season weight gain has done more harm than help.
14(13). New York Jets (4-4): Same old Jets. They dominant on defense, move the ball on offense and still find a way to lose. Their normally-reliable special teams let them down big time, but with four of their next five coming against the NFL's worst, this team can still make some noise if Mark Sanchez continues to improve.
15(18). Chicago Bears (4-3): Don't let the 30-6 score fool you, Chicago struggled to punch it in the endzone early against the Browns, who might be worse on defense than they are on offense. That's saying something but this is what it tells me about the Bears: They're not serious contenders.
16(19). San Diego Chargers (4-3): The Chargers wins have come against teams that are a combined 6-16. Their losses against teams a combined 15-6. Beating bad teams and losing to good teams is the definition of average.
17(15). Green Bay Packers (4-3): Aaron Rodgers continues to show that it wasn't the wrong move to give him the starting job when Brett Favre retired for the first time. The Vikings are just a better all-around football team. Once Green Bay can surround Rodgers with an offensive line and a defense, they can compete. Until then, they're just another average football team.
18(14). Arizona Cardinals (4-3): Wow. After a five-interception day, Kurt Warner now has 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions so far this season. That loss proved what I thought about the Cardinals before they beat the overrated Giants. They are more the 9-7 team we saw in the 2008 season than the NFC championship team we saw in the playoffs. I still think the 49ers win the NFC West.
19(17). San Francisco 49ers (3-4): San Francisco played with the Colts from start to finish and Alex Smith took care of the football and showed why Mike Singletary made him the long-term starter. This team's ceiling is much higher with him at the helm and with just a one-game deficit in the league's worst division, they still have a very realistic shot at the playoffs.
20(20). Miami Dolphins (3-4): Miami barely had 100 total yards of offense and allowed the Jets to march down the field with ease on Sunday, but Ted Ginn's record-setting return day and a Shonn Greene fumble gave the Dolphins an undeserved victory. But in this league, you take what you can get.
21(24). Carolina Panthers (3-4): Jake Delhomme attempted just 14 passes on Sunday as the Panthers raced to a 21-point lead midway through the second quarter. That is their blueprint for success, as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for 40 carries for 245 yards and the secondary picked off Kurt Warner a whopping five times.
22(21). Seattle Seahawks (2-5): This is where these rankings start to bore me. That's all I can say about the Seahawks.
23(22). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4): I was wrong to say the Jags would beat the Titans. Vince Young had just three incompletions all game and Chris Johnson had his second ridiculous game of the season. Maurice Jones-Drew's eight-carry, 177-yard performance was wasted, as Jacksonville was playing from behind all day.
24(23). Buffalo Bills (3-5): The Bills stayed in the game as long as they could, but this is not a 60-minute outfit. Terrell Owens had his best game of the season with just five catches for 39 yards and a 29-yard touchdown run. Sad.
25(25). Oakland Raiders (2-6): The Raiders need to give up on JaMarcus Russell because this offense just can't move the football. Too bad they have nobody else (maybe they shouldn't have cut Jeff Garcia).
26(29). Tennessee Titans (1-6): The gameplan was conservative, but Vince Young looked alright in his first start since last season's opener. He will have to make plays down the field eventually, but getting a win under his belt is a good sign.
27(26). Detroit Lions (1-6): Without Calvin Johnson, the Lions let the best player on the field beat them. Steven Jackson had 149 yards and a touchdown and a second-quarter fake field goal was the Rams' only other score. Matthew Stafford was just 14-33 without his top target.
28(27). Kansas City Chiefs (1-6): Their next two are winnable against Jacksonville and Oakland. Needless to say, nobody should be watching either game.
29(28). Washington Redskins (2-5): Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Philadelphia, New Orleans. Those are the Redskins next five games. Good luck winning even one.
30(32). St. Louis Rams (1-7): The Rams beat the team whose losing streak they were chasing down oh-so-desperately. Steven Jackson looked great, but that's about the only positive thing I have to say. If you can't say something nice...
31(30). Cleveland Browns (1-7): George Kokinis is out as general manager after another pathetic showing. Is Eric Mangini next? He has regressed as a coach ever since his first season with the Jets.
32(31). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7): With one of the league's worst quarterback situations, the Bucs turn to Josh Freeman against the Packers, who have the league's highest-rated signal caller. The battle of the Bays probably won't be very competitive.
2(2). Indianapolis Colts (7-0): The Colts struggled to cover an inflated spread against a good 49ers team, but they pulled out a win nonetheless. Reggie Wayne had 12 catches and was targeted on 20 out of Peyton Manning's 48 throws. Manning-to-Wayne is the most impressive connection in football right now.
3(4). Minnesota Vikings (7-1): Brett Favre has shown no signs of slowing down halfway through this season, and there are plenty of quarterbacks who could work well with the weapons he has at his disposal. And anytime you give that man extra motivation like he had in his first visit to Green Bay as an opponent on Sunday, it's lights out.
4(3). Denver Broncos (6-1): They had to lose eventually, and Baltimore is a good team who needed a win to resurrect their season. Denver is not a come-from-behind team with Kyle Orton at the helm, so falling as far behind as they did spelled doom for their unblemished record.
5(5). New England Patriots (5-2): Tom Brady and company come off a bye to play the Dolphins, who needed to score on two kickoff returns and a fumble recovery to beat the Jets. I don't see this one being very close.
6(6). Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2): The Steelers travel to Denver for a Monday night matchup with the Broncos. If they can jump out to an early lead and force Orton to beat them, Troy Polamalu and that defense might leave Denver after handing the Broncos their second straight loss.
7(7). Cincinnati Bengals (5-2): This week's game against Baltimore is a big one in the AFC North race. The strongest division in football thus far has three teams in my top 10 and the way things are looking, could send all three to the playoffs. But if Cincinnati knocks the Ravens down to 4-4, that scenario looks a little less likely.
8(9). Dallas Cowboys (5-2): The Dallas passing game looks great with Miles Austin at the top of the depth chart and they have a stable of running backs to stay balanced. Throw in a defense that has seven sacks and five takeaways in two games since their bye, and they are looking stronger than both Philly and the Giants.
9(11). Baltimore Ravens (4-3): The Ravens might have saved their season with a big win against Denver on Sunday. They need to build on that momentum to beat the Bengals this week and split the season series.
10(12). Philadelphia Eagles (5-2): Philly made the Giants look silly. The Eagles jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. It seems like DeSean Jackson makes a huge play every week, doesn't it? He's unstoppable right now.
11(10). Atlanta Falcons (4-3): Atlanta stayed with the Saints nicely, but in the end New Orleans was just too much. Games against Washington and Carolina should help the Falcons rebound.
12(8). New York Giants (5-3): That loss to Arizona looks even worse after this weekend, and the Eagles are not one of the league's top teams either. This team has holes and Steve Smith has just 19 catches for 251 yards and no scores in his last four games, a far cry from the 34 catches, 411 yards and four touchdowns he had in the season's first four games. Maybe they do miss Plaxico Burress after all?
13(16). Houston Texans (5-3): Ryan Moats had a fourth quarter to remember with three touchdowns to help the Texans run away from the Bills, who show absolutely no life on offense. But this team needs Steve Slaton at his best to reach their full potential, and it looks like his off-season weight gain has done more harm than help.
14(13). New York Jets (4-4): Same old Jets. They dominant on defense, move the ball on offense and still find a way to lose. Their normally-reliable special teams let them down big time, but with four of their next five coming against the NFL's worst, this team can still make some noise if Mark Sanchez continues to improve.
15(18). Chicago Bears (4-3): Don't let the 30-6 score fool you, Chicago struggled to punch it in the endzone early against the Browns, who might be worse on defense than they are on offense. That's saying something but this is what it tells me about the Bears: They're not serious contenders.
16(19). San Diego Chargers (4-3): The Chargers wins have come against teams that are a combined 6-16. Their losses against teams a combined 15-6. Beating bad teams and losing to good teams is the definition of average.
17(15). Green Bay Packers (4-3): Aaron Rodgers continues to show that it wasn't the wrong move to give him the starting job when Brett Favre retired for the first time. The Vikings are just a better all-around football team. Once Green Bay can surround Rodgers with an offensive line and a defense, they can compete. Until then, they're just another average football team.
18(14). Arizona Cardinals (4-3): Wow. After a five-interception day, Kurt Warner now has 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions so far this season. That loss proved what I thought about the Cardinals before they beat the overrated Giants. They are more the 9-7 team we saw in the 2008 season than the NFC championship team we saw in the playoffs. I still think the 49ers win the NFC West.
19(17). San Francisco 49ers (3-4): San Francisco played with the Colts from start to finish and Alex Smith took care of the football and showed why Mike Singletary made him the long-term starter. This team's ceiling is much higher with him at the helm and with just a one-game deficit in the league's worst division, they still have a very realistic shot at the playoffs.
20(20). Miami Dolphins (3-4): Miami barely had 100 total yards of offense and allowed the Jets to march down the field with ease on Sunday, but Ted Ginn's record-setting return day and a Shonn Greene fumble gave the Dolphins an undeserved victory. But in this league, you take what you can get.
21(24). Carolina Panthers (3-4): Jake Delhomme attempted just 14 passes on Sunday as the Panthers raced to a 21-point lead midway through the second quarter. That is their blueprint for success, as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for 40 carries for 245 yards and the secondary picked off Kurt Warner a whopping five times.
22(21). Seattle Seahawks (2-5): This is where these rankings start to bore me. That's all I can say about the Seahawks.
23(22). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4): I was wrong to say the Jags would beat the Titans. Vince Young had just three incompletions all game and Chris Johnson had his second ridiculous game of the season. Maurice Jones-Drew's eight-carry, 177-yard performance was wasted, as Jacksonville was playing from behind all day.
24(23). Buffalo Bills (3-5): The Bills stayed in the game as long as they could, but this is not a 60-minute outfit. Terrell Owens had his best game of the season with just five catches for 39 yards and a 29-yard touchdown run. Sad.
25(25). Oakland Raiders (2-6): The Raiders need to give up on JaMarcus Russell because this offense just can't move the football. Too bad they have nobody else (maybe they shouldn't have cut Jeff Garcia).
26(29). Tennessee Titans (1-6): The gameplan was conservative, but Vince Young looked alright in his first start since last season's opener. He will have to make plays down the field eventually, but getting a win under his belt is a good sign.
27(26). Detroit Lions (1-6): Without Calvin Johnson, the Lions let the best player on the field beat them. Steven Jackson had 149 yards and a touchdown and a second-quarter fake field goal was the Rams' only other score. Matthew Stafford was just 14-33 without his top target.
28(27). Kansas City Chiefs (1-6): Their next two are winnable against Jacksonville and Oakland. Needless to say, nobody should be watching either game.
29(28). Washington Redskins (2-5): Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Philadelphia, New Orleans. Those are the Redskins next five games. Good luck winning even one.
30(32). St. Louis Rams (1-7): The Rams beat the team whose losing streak they were chasing down oh-so-desperately. Steven Jackson looked great, but that's about the only positive thing I have to say. If you can't say something nice...
31(30). Cleveland Browns (1-7): George Kokinis is out as general manager after another pathetic showing. Is Eric Mangini next? He has regressed as a coach ever since his first season with the Jets.
32(31). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7): With one of the league's worst quarterback situations, the Bucs turn to Josh Freeman against the Packers, who have the league's highest-rated signal caller. The battle of the Bays probably won't be very competitive.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Dominant defense not enough as Jets fall to Phins
A quick glance at the numbers would lead you to believe this game was a blowout in favor of the Jets. Here are a few key stats:
Total Yards: New York 378, Miami 104
Passing Yards: New York 251, Miami 52
First Downs: New York 23, Miami 10
But when the final whistle blew, these numbers mattered little compared to the score: Dolphins 30, Jets 25.
Two third-quarter touchdowns on kick returns from the recently-benched Ted Ginn, along with a Jason Taylor fumble return for a touchdown spelled doom for the Jets, who dominated this game otherwise. Ginn became the first player in NFL history with two 100-yard returns in the same game.
The first half was rather mundane, but the second half was full of fireworks. After a Jay Feely field goal put the Jets up 6-3 early in the third quarter, Ginn returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. The Jets were moving the ball towards midfield on the next drive before rookie Shonn Greene fumbled, which Jason Taylor returned 48 yards to put Miami up 17-6.
The Jets answered right back, going 67 yards in just five plays with Mark Sanchez scoring on a play-action bootleg from one yard out. Everybody in the stadium thought Thomas Jones had the football and nobody was within 10 yards of Sanchez as he crossed the goalline.
Just as Jets fans got their hopes up for a comeback, Ginn struck again, this time returning a kickoff 101 yards for a score. He made two Jets miss inside the 20 and was off to the races after that.
A three-play, 74-yard drive followed for the Jets and ended with a spectacular grab from Braylon Edwards, who has earned the trust of Sanchez since day one. He caught the ball around the goalline between two defenders and fought his way into the endzone. The Jets would miss a two-point conversion and trailed 24-19.
After the Dolphins went up 30-19 after a fourth-quarter touchdown pass and missed conversion, the Jets answered quickly again, this time going 81 yards in six plays. But they missed yet another two-point attempt after a Dustin Keller touchdown catch, leaving them down 30-25.
The game ended when the Jets missed a fourth-and-13 from the Miami 15 after marching down the field on their final drive. Many naysayers will point to the fact that the score would've been 30-27 if they had chosen to kick extra points after their previous two touchdowns.
But those same naysayers overlook the fact that Miami would not have gone for two with a 24-20 lead, meaning New York would have been down 31-27 and still needed a touchdown to win.
Sanchez finished 20-35 for 265 yards and three touchdowns (two passing), while Chad Henne was just 12-21 for 112 yards for Miami, getting sacked six times by the aggressive Jets defense.
Dustin Keller had a season-high 8 catches for 76 yards and his second touchdown, while Edwards had 74 yards and a score and Jerricho Cotchery added 70 yards on 3 receptions in his return from injury.
Thomas Jones ran a season-high 27 times for 102 yards and has 75 carries for 433 yards in his last three games, all 100-yard efforts. Shonn Greene ran eight times for 18 yards, but carried just twice after his crucial third-quarter fumble.
The Jets will continue to lean heavily on Jones in the absence of Leon Washington, as Jones is on pace for 1,408 yards and 14 touchdowns, both of which would be career-highs in a season where many thought his numbers would drop significantly.
Jones was labeled a bust after his first four NFL seasons, when he carried just 499 times. His light workload at the start of his career has allowed him to remain productive into his early 30s, when most backs begin to decline (see: LaDainian Tomlinson this season).
The Jets come out of their Week 9 bye with matchups against Jacksonville, New England, Carolina, Buffalo and Tampa Bay. Outside of the Patriots, the Jets' other opponents have combined for just nine wins this season.
If the Jets shore up their kickoff coverage, stay aggressive on defense and Sanchez continues to improve, this team could be 8-5 before games against Atlanta, Indianapolis and Cincinnati to end the season. The playoffs seem unlikely at this point, but they're not completely out of the realm of possibility. At least not yet.
Total Yards: New York 378, Miami 104
Passing Yards: New York 251, Miami 52
First Downs: New York 23, Miami 10
But when the final whistle blew, these numbers mattered little compared to the score: Dolphins 30, Jets 25.
Two third-quarter touchdowns on kick returns from the recently-benched Ted Ginn, along with a Jason Taylor fumble return for a touchdown spelled doom for the Jets, who dominated this game otherwise. Ginn became the first player in NFL history with two 100-yard returns in the same game.
The first half was rather mundane, but the second half was full of fireworks. After a Jay Feely field goal put the Jets up 6-3 early in the third quarter, Ginn returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. The Jets were moving the ball towards midfield on the next drive before rookie Shonn Greene fumbled, which Jason Taylor returned 48 yards to put Miami up 17-6.
The Jets answered right back, going 67 yards in just five plays with Mark Sanchez scoring on a play-action bootleg from one yard out. Everybody in the stadium thought Thomas Jones had the football and nobody was within 10 yards of Sanchez as he crossed the goalline.
Just as Jets fans got their hopes up for a comeback, Ginn struck again, this time returning a kickoff 101 yards for a score. He made two Jets miss inside the 20 and was off to the races after that.
A three-play, 74-yard drive followed for the Jets and ended with a spectacular grab from Braylon Edwards, who has earned the trust of Sanchez since day one. He caught the ball around the goalline between two defenders and fought his way into the endzone. The Jets would miss a two-point conversion and trailed 24-19.
After the Dolphins went up 30-19 after a fourth-quarter touchdown pass and missed conversion, the Jets answered quickly again, this time going 81 yards in six plays. But they missed yet another two-point attempt after a Dustin Keller touchdown catch, leaving them down 30-25.
The game ended when the Jets missed a fourth-and-13 from the Miami 15 after marching down the field on their final drive. Many naysayers will point to the fact that the score would've been 30-27 if they had chosen to kick extra points after their previous two touchdowns.
But those same naysayers overlook the fact that Miami would not have gone for two with a 24-20 lead, meaning New York would have been down 31-27 and still needed a touchdown to win.
Sanchez finished 20-35 for 265 yards and three touchdowns (two passing), while Chad Henne was just 12-21 for 112 yards for Miami, getting sacked six times by the aggressive Jets defense.
Dustin Keller had a season-high 8 catches for 76 yards and his second touchdown, while Edwards had 74 yards and a score and Jerricho Cotchery added 70 yards on 3 receptions in his return from injury.
Thomas Jones ran a season-high 27 times for 102 yards and has 75 carries for 433 yards in his last three games, all 100-yard efforts. Shonn Greene ran eight times for 18 yards, but carried just twice after his crucial third-quarter fumble.
The Jets will continue to lean heavily on Jones in the absence of Leon Washington, as Jones is on pace for 1,408 yards and 14 touchdowns, both of which would be career-highs in a season where many thought his numbers would drop significantly.
Jones was labeled a bust after his first four NFL seasons, when he carried just 499 times. His light workload at the start of his career has allowed him to remain productive into his early 30s, when most backs begin to decline (see: LaDainian Tomlinson this season).
The Jets come out of their Week 9 bye with matchups against Jacksonville, New England, Carolina, Buffalo and Tampa Bay. Outside of the Patriots, the Jets' other opponents have combined for just nine wins this season.
If the Jets shore up their kickoff coverage, stay aggressive on defense and Sanchez continues to improve, this team could be 8-5 before games against Atlanta, Indianapolis and Cincinnati to end the season. The playoffs seem unlikely at this point, but they're not completely out of the realm of possibility. At least not yet.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tripodi's Top Teams: Week 8
(Last week's ranking in parentheses)
1(1). New Orleans Saints (6-0): The Saints found themselves behind for the first time this season, but also found a way to pull out the victory. This team has a lot of ways they can beat you.
2(3). Indianapolis Colts (6-0): The Colts came out and stomped the Rams to remain undefeated. Peyton Manning is locked in a battle with Drew Brees for the MVP through seven weeks, and the return of Bob Sanders will be a huge addition for the Indianapolis run defense.
3(4). Denver Broncos (6-0): There are just three undefeated teams left, but the Broncos get to travel to Baltimore this week in a game that could leave us with just two unbeatens.
4(2). Minnesota Vikings (6-1): The Vikings finally lost a game after flirting with defeat multiple times this season. Brett Favre's mistakes led to points for the Steeler defense, and I doubt this will be the last time this season that Favre's mistakes hurt the Vikings.
5(7). New England Patriots (5-2): I know they beat the Titans and Bucs the last two weeks, but they have looked as good as they should doing it. Now they get an extra week to prepare for the Dolphins and the Wildcat. Something tells me they'll be ready.
6(9). Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2): All the Steelers have done lately is win and they finally did it against a good team. The return of Troy Polamalu makes this defense even more imposing and if Rashard Mendenhall can work out his fumble issues, Pittsburgh will be a complete team once again.
7(8). Cincinnati Bengals (5-2): The rejuvenated Cedric Benson got revenge against his former team and Carson Palmer's five touchdowns added up to a rout of the inconsistent Bears. The Bengals will get an extra week to try and take another game from division rival Baltimore, which would put them in the driver's seat for at least a Wild Card berth.
8(5). New York Giants (5-2): Losing to the Saints is one thing, but the Cardinals? This team will continue to miss rising star Kenny Phillips, and Eli Manning is just 33-68 in his past two games with four interceptions.
9(15). Dallas Cowboys (4-2): Dallas just looks better than Philly right now and they beat Atlanta, who falls below them. Romo-to-Austin looks like it might become a dangerous combination.
10(6). Atlanta Falcons (4-2): The Falcons allow over 250 passing yards per game and Romo took advantage with 311 yards and three touchdowns. Atlanta is outside the top 20 in run defense as well, and their explosive offense can't carry them every week.
11(10). Baltimore Ravens (3-3): Hopefully Baltimore used the bye week well to prepare for the undefeated Broncos. Falling under .500 after a 3-0 start would be a tough pill to swallow.
12(11). Philadelphia Eagles (4-2): Outside of a few big plays, the Eagles weren't that impressive against an awful Redskins team. This team has speed to burn on offense, but against teams that can match their speed (like Oakland), they will struggle.
13(13). New York Jets (4-3): The Jets looked much better against the Raiders than the Eagles did, but for now they stay below them in the rankings. It's hard to trust Mark Sanchez more than Donovan McNabb at the moment, and losing Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington in the last two weeks will deal a serious blow to the Jets on both sides of the ball.
14(16). Arizona Cardinals (4-2): The Cardinals secondary had another good week against the Giants and it looks like Ken Whisenhunt wants to involve Beanie Wells in the running game more. Balance on offense could light a fire under a passing game that hasn't been as explosive this season.
15(17). Green Bay Packers (4-2): Like the Giants a few weeks ago, the Packers will go from playing some of the league's worst teams to one of its better ones. The rematch against Favre at Lambeau will provide enough storylines for SportsCenter, but can Aaron Rodgers split the season series with his mentor? If so, the Packers will be just a half game out of first.
16(18). Houston Texans (4-3): Houston jumped out to a big early lead against the 49ers, who benched Shaun Hill in favor of Alex Smith, who may have led them to a comeback given a few more minutes. The Bills may help Houston move to 5-3 and start to legitimize all that pre-season playoff talk.
17(14). San Francisco 49ers (3-3): Alex Smith gave the San Francisco passing game a jolt this week and will have the opportunity to build on that success. With talented options like Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree, this team will be especially dangerous if they can beat teams through the air, as well as on the ground and with their defense.
18(12). Chicago Bears (3-3): Thanks for showing up, guys! Jay Cutler in three wins: 7 touchdowns, 1 interception. Jay Cutler in three losses: 4 touchdowns, 9 interceptions. And his three multi-interception games this season have all been losses. If Cutler doesn't improve his consistency, this team will be looking up at Minnesota and Green Bay all season.
19(19). San Diego Chargers (3-3): The Chargers showed some life this week, beating up on a Kansas City team that was at least trying the two weeks before. It's worrisome that LaDainian Tomlinson couldn't get things going against one of the league's worst run defense.
20(20). Miami Dolphins (2-4): The Dolphins are playing a lot better than their record indicates and they were the first team to lead the Saints this season. Of course, bad teams find a way to lose and good teams find a way to win, which explains the end result.
21(22). Seattle Seahawks (2-4): The Seahawks travel to face the Cowboys this week off their bye, and we will see if the two weeks of preparation does anything for them.
22(23). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3): The Jags will get to face Vince Young in his first start this season. Sounds like a recipe for victory to me.
23(24). Buffalo Bills (3-4): Ryan Fitzpatrick is still awful (11-22, 123 yards and a touchdown). But he took care of the football and the Bills defense kept Carolina out of the endzone until the fourth quarter. If he doesn't turn it over, Fitzpatrick might at least give Buffalo a chance in some games.
24(21). Carolina Panthers (2-4): Jake Delhomme will remain the starter after three interceptions this past week dashed any hope of victory. If this team had a legitimate backup (sorry Matt Moore), Delhomme might already be riding pine.
25(25). Oakland Raiders (2-5): Richard Seymour said the Raiders would make the playoffs during the week. They probably need to finish 8-1 to make that happen. The combination of JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski might struggle to go 1-8, let alone 8-1. Let's not forget their two wins were by scores of 13-10 and 13-9.
26(26). Detroit Lions (1-5): Calvin Johnson is likely still out and Matthew Stafford looks like a game-time decision. Could the Lions help the Rams end their losing streak? This could be in the running with Browns-Bills and Chiefs-Redskins for the worst game of the year.
27(27). Kansas City Chiefs (1-6): Finally we won't have to watch Larry Johnson and his pathetic 2.7 yards-per-carry. I'm excited to see what Jamaal Charles can do after a Week 8 bye.
28(28). Washington Redskins (2-5): Another bye that couldn't come at a better time. That's not to say I think it will help, however.
29(29). Tennessee Titans (0-6): Vince Young will start against Jacksonville this week. We'll see if he's anywhere near ready against the only NFL team that allows over 300 passing yards per game.
30(30). Cleveland Browns (1-6): The good: Derek Anderson completed more passes (12) than he had in his previous two games (11). The bad: Anderson was still just 12-29, and this team can't run the ball or stop anybody defensively. They're lucky they even have a win.
31(31). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7): Ready or not, here Josh Freeman comes! After Josh Johnson handed him the job by saying he wouldn't be surprised if he was benched, Freeman will get an opportunity to try and move this pathetic offense. The talent is there, but we will see for sure how raw Freeman is against the Packers in Week 9.
32(32). St. Louis Rams (0-7): The Rams have lost 17 straight games and play the banged-up Lions this week, who had lost 19 straight until a win against the Redskins earlier this season. If the Rams can't win this week, they may eclipse Detroit's losing streak with games against New Orleans and Arizona following their bye in Week 9.
1(1). New Orleans Saints (6-0): The Saints found themselves behind for the first time this season, but also found a way to pull out the victory. This team has a lot of ways they can beat you.
2(3). Indianapolis Colts (6-0): The Colts came out and stomped the Rams to remain undefeated. Peyton Manning is locked in a battle with Drew Brees for the MVP through seven weeks, and the return of Bob Sanders will be a huge addition for the Indianapolis run defense.
3(4). Denver Broncos (6-0): There are just three undefeated teams left, but the Broncos get to travel to Baltimore this week in a game that could leave us with just two unbeatens.
4(2). Minnesota Vikings (6-1): The Vikings finally lost a game after flirting with defeat multiple times this season. Brett Favre's mistakes led to points for the Steeler defense, and I doubt this will be the last time this season that Favre's mistakes hurt the Vikings.
5(7). New England Patriots (5-2): I know they beat the Titans and Bucs the last two weeks, but they have looked as good as they should doing it. Now they get an extra week to prepare for the Dolphins and the Wildcat. Something tells me they'll be ready.
6(9). Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2): All the Steelers have done lately is win and they finally did it against a good team. The return of Troy Polamalu makes this defense even more imposing and if Rashard Mendenhall can work out his fumble issues, Pittsburgh will be a complete team once again.
7(8). Cincinnati Bengals (5-2): The rejuvenated Cedric Benson got revenge against his former team and Carson Palmer's five touchdowns added up to a rout of the inconsistent Bears. The Bengals will get an extra week to try and take another game from division rival Baltimore, which would put them in the driver's seat for at least a Wild Card berth.
8(5). New York Giants (5-2): Losing to the Saints is one thing, but the Cardinals? This team will continue to miss rising star Kenny Phillips, and Eli Manning is just 33-68 in his past two games with four interceptions.
9(15). Dallas Cowboys (4-2): Dallas just looks better than Philly right now and they beat Atlanta, who falls below them. Romo-to-Austin looks like it might become a dangerous combination.
10(6). Atlanta Falcons (4-2): The Falcons allow over 250 passing yards per game and Romo took advantage with 311 yards and three touchdowns. Atlanta is outside the top 20 in run defense as well, and their explosive offense can't carry them every week.
11(10). Baltimore Ravens (3-3): Hopefully Baltimore used the bye week well to prepare for the undefeated Broncos. Falling under .500 after a 3-0 start would be a tough pill to swallow.
12(11). Philadelphia Eagles (4-2): Outside of a few big plays, the Eagles weren't that impressive against an awful Redskins team. This team has speed to burn on offense, but against teams that can match their speed (like Oakland), they will struggle.
13(13). New York Jets (4-3): The Jets looked much better against the Raiders than the Eagles did, but for now they stay below them in the rankings. It's hard to trust Mark Sanchez more than Donovan McNabb at the moment, and losing Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington in the last two weeks will deal a serious blow to the Jets on both sides of the ball.
14(16). Arizona Cardinals (4-2): The Cardinals secondary had another good week against the Giants and it looks like Ken Whisenhunt wants to involve Beanie Wells in the running game more. Balance on offense could light a fire under a passing game that hasn't been as explosive this season.
15(17). Green Bay Packers (4-2): Like the Giants a few weeks ago, the Packers will go from playing some of the league's worst teams to one of its better ones. The rematch against Favre at Lambeau will provide enough storylines for SportsCenter, but can Aaron Rodgers split the season series with his mentor? If so, the Packers will be just a half game out of first.
16(18). Houston Texans (4-3): Houston jumped out to a big early lead against the 49ers, who benched Shaun Hill in favor of Alex Smith, who may have led them to a comeback given a few more minutes. The Bills may help Houston move to 5-3 and start to legitimize all that pre-season playoff talk.
17(14). San Francisco 49ers (3-3): Alex Smith gave the San Francisco passing game a jolt this week and will have the opportunity to build on that success. With talented options like Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree, this team will be especially dangerous if they can beat teams through the air, as well as on the ground and with their defense.
18(12). Chicago Bears (3-3): Thanks for showing up, guys! Jay Cutler in three wins: 7 touchdowns, 1 interception. Jay Cutler in three losses: 4 touchdowns, 9 interceptions. And his three multi-interception games this season have all been losses. If Cutler doesn't improve his consistency, this team will be looking up at Minnesota and Green Bay all season.
19(19). San Diego Chargers (3-3): The Chargers showed some life this week, beating up on a Kansas City team that was at least trying the two weeks before. It's worrisome that LaDainian Tomlinson couldn't get things going against one of the league's worst run defense.
20(20). Miami Dolphins (2-4): The Dolphins are playing a lot better than their record indicates and they were the first team to lead the Saints this season. Of course, bad teams find a way to lose and good teams find a way to win, which explains the end result.
21(22). Seattle Seahawks (2-4): The Seahawks travel to face the Cowboys this week off their bye, and we will see if the two weeks of preparation does anything for them.
22(23). Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3): The Jags will get to face Vince Young in his first start this season. Sounds like a recipe for victory to me.
23(24). Buffalo Bills (3-4): Ryan Fitzpatrick is still awful (11-22, 123 yards and a touchdown). But he took care of the football and the Bills defense kept Carolina out of the endzone until the fourth quarter. If he doesn't turn it over, Fitzpatrick might at least give Buffalo a chance in some games.
24(21). Carolina Panthers (2-4): Jake Delhomme will remain the starter after three interceptions this past week dashed any hope of victory. If this team had a legitimate backup (sorry Matt Moore), Delhomme might already be riding pine.
25(25). Oakland Raiders (2-5): Richard Seymour said the Raiders would make the playoffs during the week. They probably need to finish 8-1 to make that happen. The combination of JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski might struggle to go 1-8, let alone 8-1. Let's not forget their two wins were by scores of 13-10 and 13-9.
26(26). Detroit Lions (1-5): Calvin Johnson is likely still out and Matthew Stafford looks like a game-time decision. Could the Lions help the Rams end their losing streak? This could be in the running with Browns-Bills and Chiefs-Redskins for the worst game of the year.
27(27). Kansas City Chiefs (1-6): Finally we won't have to watch Larry Johnson and his pathetic 2.7 yards-per-carry. I'm excited to see what Jamaal Charles can do after a Week 8 bye.
28(28). Washington Redskins (2-5): Another bye that couldn't come at a better time. That's not to say I think it will help, however.
29(29). Tennessee Titans (0-6): Vince Young will start against Jacksonville this week. We'll see if he's anywhere near ready against the only NFL team that allows over 300 passing yards per game.
30(30). Cleveland Browns (1-6): The good: Derek Anderson completed more passes (12) than he had in his previous two games (11). The bad: Anderson was still just 12-29, and this team can't run the ball or stop anybody defensively. They're lucky they even have a win.
31(31). Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7): Ready or not, here Josh Freeman comes! After Josh Johnson handed him the job by saying he wouldn't be surprised if he was benched, Freeman will get an opportunity to try and move this pathetic offense. The talent is there, but we will see for sure how raw Freeman is against the Packers in Week 9.
32(32). St. Louis Rams (0-7): The Rams have lost 17 straight games and play the banged-up Lions this week, who had lost 19 straight until a win against the Redskins earlier this season. If the Rams can't win this week, they may eclipse Detroit's losing streak with games against New Orleans and Arizona following their bye in Week 9.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Yanks, Phillies set to showdown at the Stadium
The 2009 World Series, known to bitter Met fans as "the worst World Series ever," will be upon us in less than four hours. And it's difficult to argue that it doesn't pit the American League's best against the National League's best.
The Yankees swept the Twins and jumped out to a 3-1 lead against the Angels, eventually winning the series in six. The Phillies have also gone 7-2 so far in the playoffs, rolling the Rockies in four in the NLDS and dominating the Dodgers in five. Neither team has seen themselves behind in either series or faced a deciding game.
The upcoming series will undoubtedly provide a bigger challenge for both teams than any they've faced so far. The Yankees have not faced a lineup as potent as Philadelphia's, which boasts four 30-home run hitters (Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez and Chase Utley).
However you could say the same thing about the New York lineup, as seven Yankees hit 20-plus home runs during the regular season. Just four teams hit over 200 home runs this season and the Yankees (244) and Phillies (224) were first and second, respectively.
Both lineups are outstanding and will face pitching staffs that have some holes. The Phillies rotation behind ace Cliff Lee is less-than-stellar, as Cole Hamels has been unable to match his performance from last year's playoffs. Pedro Martinez is slated to pitch Game 2 for the Phillies, and he is coming off a seven-inning shutout of the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS. But he is nowhere near the Pedro Martinez of old.
The Philadelphia bullpen has been much-maligned all season and, while Brad Lidge has been lights out in the playoffs so far, he hasn't seen a lineup with as many clutch bats as the Yankees. Ryan Madson hasn't been his dominant self either, and Philadelphia lacks other reliable options outside of Chad Durbin, who has thrown four scoreless post-season innings.
These are just a few reasons why I believe the pitching advantage in this series goes to the Yankees. Both teams have a horse at the top of the rotation in Lee and C.C. Sabathia, but Martinez and Hamels don't match up to A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte, who will start Games 2 and 3 respectively for New York. Burnett was roughed up in his last start, but pitched well in his first two post-season outings, while Pettitte has thrown a quality start each time out and has been a great post-season pitcher throughout his career.
The Yankees also known what they're going to get out of closer Mariano Rivera at the back end of their bullpen. Phil Hughes has had his issues as has Alfredo Aceves, and Joba Chamberlain has allowed seven hits in three-plus innings of work, but the Yankees starters go deep enough into games that Girardi can mix-and-match guys like Phil Coke, David Robertson and Brian Bruney, who was added to the roster for this series.
Overall, the Yankees are deeper both in the rotation and in the bullpen. It's hard to give an advantage to either lineup, so we can call that a push. And the fact is that it's extremely difficult to repeat as champions and the Yankees have been hungry all season, seemingly for the first time in years.
In my book, all this adds up to the 27th world championship for the New York Yankees, although this series will pose more of a challenge to them then either the Twins or Angels could. I was there when the Yankees swept the Braves for their 25th title and I have tickets to Game 6 this time around. Hopefully I will witness yet another title celebration, and I predict that I will.
Prediction: Yankees in six
The Yankees swept the Twins and jumped out to a 3-1 lead against the Angels, eventually winning the series in six. The Phillies have also gone 7-2 so far in the playoffs, rolling the Rockies in four in the NLDS and dominating the Dodgers in five. Neither team has seen themselves behind in either series or faced a deciding game.
The upcoming series will undoubtedly provide a bigger challenge for both teams than any they've faced so far. The Yankees have not faced a lineup as potent as Philadelphia's, which boasts four 30-home run hitters (Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez and Chase Utley).
However you could say the same thing about the New York lineup, as seven Yankees hit 20-plus home runs during the regular season. Just four teams hit over 200 home runs this season and the Yankees (244) and Phillies (224) were first and second, respectively.
Both lineups are outstanding and will face pitching staffs that have some holes. The Phillies rotation behind ace Cliff Lee is less-than-stellar, as Cole Hamels has been unable to match his performance from last year's playoffs. Pedro Martinez is slated to pitch Game 2 for the Phillies, and he is coming off a seven-inning shutout of the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS. But he is nowhere near the Pedro Martinez of old.
The Philadelphia bullpen has been much-maligned all season and, while Brad Lidge has been lights out in the playoffs so far, he hasn't seen a lineup with as many clutch bats as the Yankees. Ryan Madson hasn't been his dominant self either, and Philadelphia lacks other reliable options outside of Chad Durbin, who has thrown four scoreless post-season innings.
These are just a few reasons why I believe the pitching advantage in this series goes to the Yankees. Both teams have a horse at the top of the rotation in Lee and C.C. Sabathia, but Martinez and Hamels don't match up to A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte, who will start Games 2 and 3 respectively for New York. Burnett was roughed up in his last start, but pitched well in his first two post-season outings, while Pettitte has thrown a quality start each time out and has been a great post-season pitcher throughout his career.
The Yankees also known what they're going to get out of closer Mariano Rivera at the back end of their bullpen. Phil Hughes has had his issues as has Alfredo Aceves, and Joba Chamberlain has allowed seven hits in three-plus innings of work, but the Yankees starters go deep enough into games that Girardi can mix-and-match guys like Phil Coke, David Robertson and Brian Bruney, who was added to the roster for this series.
Overall, the Yankees are deeper both in the rotation and in the bullpen. It's hard to give an advantage to either lineup, so we can call that a push. And the fact is that it's extremely difficult to repeat as champions and the Yankees have been hungry all season, seemingly for the first time in years.
In my book, all this adds up to the 27th world championship for the New York Yankees, although this series will pose more of a challenge to them then either the Twins or Angels could. I was there when the Yankees swept the Braves for their 25th title and I have tickets to Game 6 this time around. Hopefully I will witness yet another title celebration, and I predict that I will.
Prediction: Yankees in six
Welcome to the worst World Series ever
As if the 2009 season couldn't get any worse for Mets fans, we now are faced with the worst possible scenario: A Phillies vs. Yankees World Series. Considering how big of a trainwreck the Mets' season was this year, combined with the Phillies and Yankees cruising to division championships, this seemed inevitable since July.
As this disaster of a World Series took shape, Mets fans were faced with a terrible dilemma: Who do you root for? This is like deciding between getting hit by a bus or a train; you wouldn't ever want either of them to happen. It's the Steinbrenners vs. the team with the trashiest fans in baseball. Shoot me now.
As difficult of a decision as this is, Mets fans have to go for Philly. It's not like we'll be able to celebrate either team winning this disaster of a series, but it will be more fun if the Yankees lose. Here's some reasons why:
- The Phillies won the World Series last year. Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and the rest of the Phils that Mets fans love to hate already have their rings, so seeing them get another one can't be that bad.
On the other hand, many Yankee stars including Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, Mark Teixiera and C.C. Sabathia have never won a World Series ring. It's best to keep it that way. Can you think of anything worse than A-Rod winning a World Series? I didn't think so.
On the other hand, many Yankee stars including Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, Mark Teixiera and C.C. Sabathia have never won a World Series ring. It's best to keep it that way. Can you think of anything worse than A-Rod winning a World Series? I didn't think so.
- Philadelphia fans are the scum of the earth. They hate everyone and anything and they let you know it. That being said, they are extremely loyal, and suffered through many rough years. Last year was only their second championship in team history.
Yankee fans, on the other hand, are the biggest bandwagoners in the world. You find Yankee fans all over the country, for no particular reason except "they're always good." People from North Carolina to North Dakota buy Yankee hats in October and celebrate when they win, even though they can't even name five players on the team.
Yankee fans, on the other hand, are the biggest bandwagoners in the world. You find Yankee fans all over the country, for no particular reason except "they're always good." People from North Carolina to North Dakota buy Yankee hats in October and celebrate when they win, even though they can't even name five players on the team.
- The Steinbrenners always outspend everyone else in the league, but they treat their fans who try to go to their games like crap. Prices at the new Yankee Stadium have been astronomical, and it seems that the only ways to get a ticket to a World Series game in the Bronx are to have a ridiculous amount of money or to work for a corporation with a lot of money.
Yankee fans were told that there were World Series tickets available and started camping out outside of the Stadium around 6 a.m. Monday morning. Yankee officials let these fans sit outside the stadium until this morning, hours before Game 1, to tell them that there were no tickets available. Stay classy, Steinbrenners.
Yankee fans were told that there were World Series tickets available and started camping out outside of the Stadium around 6 a.m. Monday morning. Yankee officials let these fans sit outside the stadium until this morning, hours before Game 1, to tell them that there were no tickets available. Stay classy, Steinbrenners.
Plus, as disappointing as it is that he never lived up to his contract with the Mets, it would be fun to see Pedro Martinez beat the Yankees again. Go Phils.
And that's (hopefully) the only time I'll ever have to say that.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Jets roll Raiders, lose another key player for season
This week, the Jets did what most thought they would do last week against Buffalo: bounce back with a big victory against a sad football team. Their 38-0 drubbing of the hapless Raiders proved that the Jets are not quite as bad as they've looked over the past few weeks, but didn't prove much beyond that.
It will still be difficult for the Jets to get back to their early-season success without Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington. Jenkins was lost for the season last week, while Washington broke his fibula against Oakland and was placed on injured reserve.
While the Jets have no legitimate backup for Jenkins, rookie Shonn Greene filled in admirably for Washington, running for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, as the Jets ran for 300 yards for the second straight week.
Greene, however, does not possess the game-breaking ability that Washington does and is nowhere near as proficient catching passes out of the backfield or returning kicks. The loss of Washington will hurt the Jets dearly, especially considering Mark Sanchez will lose a very valuable safety valve. Greene's presence will help soften the blow of losing Washington, but he is a much different player than the diminutive ex-Seminole and a less-effective compliment to the skill set of Thomas Jones.
Back to the game for a quick second, though. Two early turnovers by JaMarcus Russell set the Jets up inside the Raiders' five-yard-line, which New York converted into an early 14-point lead. The Jets proved that they could move the ball as well with their first drive of the second quarter, which went 93 yards and ended in Greene's first career touchdown and a 21-0 lead.
The Jets were able to dominate the Raiders on the ground, running 54 times for 316 yards. Sanchez threw just 15 passes all game, completing nine for 143 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing). Sanchez looked much better in the pocket this week despite being without Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith again and David Clowney made an impact, with four catches for 79 yards and an impressive touchdown grab.
The Jets defense kept the Raiders passing game in check, just like everybody else this season. Russell was pulled in favor of Bruce Gradkowski, whose claim to fame in this game was a 20-yard scramble for a first down, which he emphatically signaled despite a huge deficit (Donnie Avery's ridiculous endzone celebration last week, anybody?). The Raiders ran for 119 yards on just 19 carries, a 6.3-yard average, and the Jets might continue to struggle against the run without Jenkins clogging the middle.
The Jets get a rematch with the Dolphins at home next weekend and come out of their bye with another home tilt against the Jaguars, both of which I will be in attendance for. If I witness two victories (and stopping Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Maurice Jones-Drew will be tough with no run defense), the Jets will go into their Week 11 rematch with the Patriots 6-3 with a chance to beat New England for the second time this season and take the tie-breaker.
But if the Jets struggle to stop two teams that rely heavily on the running the football, they could enter that game 4-5 with their season hanging in the balance. Most Jets fans are hoping it won't come to that.
It will still be difficult for the Jets to get back to their early-season success without Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington. Jenkins was lost for the season last week, while Washington broke his fibula against Oakland and was placed on injured reserve.
While the Jets have no legitimate backup for Jenkins, rookie Shonn Greene filled in admirably for Washington, running for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, as the Jets ran for 300 yards for the second straight week.
Greene, however, does not possess the game-breaking ability that Washington does and is nowhere near as proficient catching passes out of the backfield or returning kicks. The loss of Washington will hurt the Jets dearly, especially considering Mark Sanchez will lose a very valuable safety valve. Greene's presence will help soften the blow of losing Washington, but he is a much different player than the diminutive ex-Seminole and a less-effective compliment to the skill set of Thomas Jones.
Back to the game for a quick second, though. Two early turnovers by JaMarcus Russell set the Jets up inside the Raiders' five-yard-line, which New York converted into an early 14-point lead. The Jets proved that they could move the ball as well with their first drive of the second quarter, which went 93 yards and ended in Greene's first career touchdown and a 21-0 lead.
The Jets were able to dominate the Raiders on the ground, running 54 times for 316 yards. Sanchez threw just 15 passes all game, completing nine for 143 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing). Sanchez looked much better in the pocket this week despite being without Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith again and David Clowney made an impact, with four catches for 79 yards and an impressive touchdown grab.
The Jets defense kept the Raiders passing game in check, just like everybody else this season. Russell was pulled in favor of Bruce Gradkowski, whose claim to fame in this game was a 20-yard scramble for a first down, which he emphatically signaled despite a huge deficit (Donnie Avery's ridiculous endzone celebration last week, anybody?). The Raiders ran for 119 yards on just 19 carries, a 6.3-yard average, and the Jets might continue to struggle against the run without Jenkins clogging the middle.
The Jets get a rematch with the Dolphins at home next weekend and come out of their bye with another home tilt against the Jaguars, both of which I will be in attendance for. If I witness two victories (and stopping Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Maurice Jones-Drew will be tough with no run defense), the Jets will go into their Week 11 rematch with the Patriots 6-3 with a chance to beat New England for the second time this season and take the tie-breaker.
But if the Jets struggle to stop two teams that rely heavily on the running the football, they could enter that game 4-5 with their season hanging in the balance. Most Jets fans are hoping it won't come to that.
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