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Day: January 3, 2019

Former New York Giants Linebacker Believes Eli Manning Isn’t In The Plans

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Fans who were hoping that General Manager Dave Gettleman would offer insight on the New York Giants’ quarterback situation would be left disappointed on Wednesday, when Gettleman didn’t commit one way or the other and gave statements that could accurately be called coach speak.

“We will do what’s in the best interest of the New York Giants. What we’re trying to do here is build sustained success. That takes some brutal honesty, and it takes some tough decisions,” Gettleman said. Of course, those words are true. The decisions that the Giants have to face right now aren’t the kind of decisions that any executive would want to face. Mishandling a situation like this can cost executives their jobs, after all.

But saying that it’s a ‘hard decision’ isn’t saying much that the fans and media aren’t already aware of. Entering the offseason after a failed season, Giants fans still have no idea whether or not Eli Manning will return as the starter next year, and whether or not the team will attempt to draft his replacement.

Former Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich, though, has some opinions on what the press conference really means. “He’s saying he doesn’t see a future for Eli,” Herzlich said on CBS Sports Radio. “He wanted to stay as noncommittal as he possibly could, but you could tell he let his emotions kind of get in the way a little bit.”

Herzlich was Manning’s teammate during his career with the Giants, from 2011 to 2017. Herzlich doesn’t appear to have a bias towards his former quarterback, though. “I think what will end up happening is Eli is going to say, ‘Look, if I’m going to be the backup, I don’t want to be here,'” Herzlich continued.

For Manning to be demoted to the bench, the Giants would have to find another quarterback to replace him. As they hold the sixth pick in this year’s draft, it’s debatable whether a worthy one would be available when they make their selection.

With a former player who knows the organization well saying that it’s unlikely Manning has a future with the team, and other sources claiming the Giants plan on sticking with Manning, it’s hard to know who to believe. It is certain, though, that this will be one of the biggest issues in the buildup to the 2019 season.

New York Yankees: David Robertson signs deal down I-95

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David Robertson, RHP, formerly of the New York Yankees, who became a free agent following the 2018 season has inked a 2 year, $21 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

He will be paid $10 million in 2019 and $11 million in 2020. It also includes a club option in 2021 for $12 million with a $2 million buy-out.

The 33-year-old native of Birmingham, Alabama who made his major league debut on June 29, 2008, has spent his entire career with the Yankees and Chicago White Sox.

Robertson has been a set-up man most of his career and sports a 2.88 ERA and 137 saves in 654 relief appearances over that stretch.

What Should The New York Knicks Do With Enes Kanter – Options

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Throughout the past week the New York Knicks have prioritized playing there young guns instead of seasoned veterans. Courtney Lee, Lance Thomas, and Enes Kanter have played less, so the Knicks can figure out who’s in there future. Lee and  Thomas have supported their new role, while  Kanter has publicly commented on his reduced role.

Coming off a meeting with the Knicks brass asking about his role, Kanter wants more minutes, and wants to be actively showcasing his abilities on the floor. Knicks fans are ready for the end of the Kanter era, and how that happens is unknown at the moment.

Here are a few options for the Knicks to deal with Enes Kanter:

TRADE HIM:

The Knicks could be considering a trade that includes Kanter, effectively ridding themslves of the diva. It’s possible they could earn a second-round value. Maybe JR Smith and a future second-rounder would suffice – but Smith doesn’t exactly scream value at this point in his career. They could waive Smith and receive a second-rounder. A $3 million dumpoff in cap-space to secure the second-rounder wouldn’t exactly crush any attempt to secure the signature of superstar Kevin Durant next offseason.

Other options include Sacramento’s Zach Randolph, or Chicago’s Jabari Parker.

WAIVE HIM:

Enes Kanter’s contract ends after this season, so it would not be costly to waive Kanter and make room for a developmental prospect. Releasing Kanter would have no effect on the cap next season, and would give him a chance to sign with a contender and play meaningful minutes.

KEEP KANTER:

The Knicks could also keep the big-man on their roster and continue to use him, since the team is very weak at the center position. The Knicks could make Kanter happy and give him his old role back, or they could sacrifice his happiness and continue with the current rotation to develop there younger players.

What happens between Kanter and the Knicks remains to be seen, but there are multiple options for both parties.

New York Yankees Writing The Script For The Departure Of Miguel Andujar

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New York Yankees, Miguel Andujar

The New York Yankees seem to be trending in a direction of improvement, and if they manage to secure super star free agent Manny Machado, it will put an interesting question into place.

What will the Yankees do with third-baseman Miguel Andujar?

The youth star was a stud at the plate last season, hitting .297. In the field, he was less than adequate, recording 15 errors which got him benched in the final game of the ALDS against the Boston Red Sox.

Signing Machado would add a two-time Gold Glove winner to the roster, and one that traditionally plays at third-base and shortstop. With the signing of Troy Tulowitzki, it seems as if the Yankees will utilize his talents at short while Didi Gregorius heals from Tommy John surgery.

Do these moves write the script for his departure?

All of these moves write the script for a blockbuster trade including Andujar. Machado would fill the third-base spot and Tulo would fill in at short. The only objection would be that Didi will be a free agent next winter, which questions if the Yankees intend to use Machado as their long-term solution at short and allow Andujar to develop further as a fielder.

The young athlete hasn’t played a position other than third, which questions his adaptability and limits his defensive value. His primary value is hitting, and it’s possible the Yankees seek quality pitching in return for his talents. Being that he had a magnificent rookie season, trading him now would be an advisable move given his stock. Who knows if he can maintain those hitting numbers over the next 5-years — .297/.328/.527. Despite these impressive hitting stats, he costed the Yankees 25 runs at third, which was the highest mark in the MLB.

While Miguel is liked by the clubhouse and fan-base, improving a team comes with some tough decisions. Andujar could very well not be a part of the Yankees’ future.

 

New York Giants: 2019 Quarterback Prospects Light Up Bowl Games

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The College Football Bowl Games began on December 15 and came to an end on January 1. The top three quarterback prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft all played in their own Bowl Games. Each quarterback had a solid performance. New York Giants fans should make themselves familiar with these prospects heading into the offseason.

Duke QB, Daniel Jones:

Daniel Jones, the redshirt junior out of Duke, played an excellent game. Duke faced off against Temple in the Independence Bowl on Thursday, December 27. Duke won the Bowl Game 56-27. Jones had an excellent game to lead his team to victory.

Jones put up 423 passing yards and 5 passing touchdowns with a 73% completion percentage (30/41). However, he did throw two interceptions. Daniel declared for the 2019 NFL draft on New Years Eve. He is an interesting prospect because of his ideal frame (6′ 5″, 220 lbs.) and pro-style traits. He was coached by the legendary David Cutcliffe, the same coach who got Eli Manning ready for the NFL. This makes Jones an intriguing prospect for NFL scouts.

https://twitter.com/MusikFan4Life25/status/1078558853606895617

Missouri QB, Drew Lock

Drew Lock is a senior quarterback for Missouri. Missouri had a disappointing end to their season, suffering a 38-33 loss in the Liberty Bowl on New Years Eve. However, Lock played a good game in which he flashed with NFL level throws. Lock threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions and a 60.5% completion percentage. Drew showed excellent deep-ball accuracy and the ability to make plays outside of the pocket.

Lock has accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl, so expect to see Giants scouts there with a keen eye on him.

Ohio State QB, Dwayne Haskins Jr.

Dwayne Haskins Jr. is the top ranked quarterback prospect in this draft class, and that showed during the Rose Bowl. The quarterback lead Ohio State to a 28-23 victory in the Rose Bowl against Washington on New Years Day. Haskins threw for 251 yards and tossed three touchdown passes in this game, making his season total a remarkable 50.

Haskins is a special prospect because of his advanced mental edge on the field. He knows how to move safeties with his eyes and go through his progressions to find the open receiver. This is something that most collegiate quarterbacks take years to master, but after just one season as a starter, Haskins seems to have this skill near-perfect. Of course, reading defenses in college is much easier than in the NFL. However, this trait shows that Haskins has major potential at the next level.

With Eli Manning coming off his fifteenth season, it is time for the Giants to start looking towards the future. The team needs a plan for life after Eli. Could their plan be found in this year’s draft?

New York Yankees: Looking Back At The 2018 Season And What Lies Ahead

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton

The New York Yankees posted a 100 win season in 2018 for the first time since 2009. But was that good enough especially after over-achieving in 2017?

Looking at the high points for the New York Yankees:

There were some incredible high points. Notable of course were the balls flying out of major league venues all over the country as the Bombers did just that, setting a new MLB team home run record of 267.

Who could forget the home opener in which short stop Didi Gregorius homered twice and mashed for 8 RBI’s on his way to capturing the AL Player of the Month honors for April?

Anticipation was high for reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton’s debut in Pinstripes. Stanton would lead the team in his rookie season in the Bronx with 100 RBIs and a respectable .266 batting average. He “earned” his Pinstripes with his first walk-off home run on June 20 in a 7-5 win over the Seattle Mariners, blasting an absolute moon shot 453′ with an exit velocity of 117.9 mph. Stanton would carry the team offensively after teammate Aaron Judge was sidelined with a fractured wrist in late July.

Speaking of which, Judge made a child in Toronto a social media star when he hit a go-ahead homer at Rogers Centre in the 13th inning  after the boy had sported an “All Rise” sign the entire game. It was destined to happen. What a memory!

Then there was the curtain call for Didi in Anaheim, 3000 miles away from home after the mad emoji tweeter belted the go-ahead home run in a 4-3, 10 inning win on the west coast. Teammates pushed Didi out of the dug-out to receive his just reward so far from home.

A youth duo:

The “kids” some were concerned about having on the team in Andujar and Torres provided solid play and much excitement. Andujar, who won the Sporting News and Players Choice ROY, was a double producing machine, eclipsing Joe DiMaggio’s record for doubles (47) by a Yankee that stood from 1936 (44). And Torres became the 4th youngest Yankee to hit home runs in 4 consecutive games on May 25.

Gary Sanchez had an off year for him, appearing in only 89 games, with a 186 BA, 697 OPS and record 18 passed balls behind the plate. However, he had bright points such as the home run in Houston which prompted closer Ken Giles to smack himself in the face after Sanchez smacked a 3-run bomb to propel the Yankees to a 4-0 victory.

Look for a healthy, trimmed down version of Sanchez in 2019 who is capable of leading the team offensively. Sanchez underwent off-season shoulder surgery to treat a nagging injury which should have the 25 year old in top form for the 2019 campaign.

On the pitching side, the 2018 Yankees staff had a combined team ERA of 3.78 for 5th in the AL. At the beginning of the season, questions loomed about the staff as a unit. The ace, Luis Severino, had an impressive first half with the second-lowest ERA in baseball at 1.98. But the second half brought woes as it was thought that Sevy was tipping and opposing batters had figured him out. Sevy finished the year with a 19-8 record and 3.39 ERA. Hopefully off-season work can correct his issues.

CC Sabathia had his best season since 2012, finishing with a 9-7 record and 3.65 ERA. The ultimate teammate and leader among the staff, CC almost forfeited a $500,000 bonus for throwing 155 innings when he was ejected following hitting Sycre of the Rays in retaliation for Rays pitcher Kittredge nearly beaning catcher Austin Romine. The big guy then pointed to the Rays dug out and said some words.

All in all the Yankees 2018 season was action-packed and did not disappoint this fan overall. Of course it didn’t culminate in a trip through the Canyin of Heroes but there is much to build on and anticipate for this new year.

Thank you to the 2018 memories. Can’t wait to see you this year and create more. LET’S GO YANKEES!

 

 

New York Yankees: How Does Troy Tulowitzki Signing Affect Manny Machado Deal?

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The New York Yankees signed veteran shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to provide depth in the infield due to the absence of Didi Gregorius. The Yankees’ usual SS suffered serious damage to his throwing arm and was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Signing the former Toronto Blue Jay offers value, especially considering he’s on the veteran minimum deal. After missing the 2018 season with injury, Troy will return with the hopes of bouncing back at the age of 34. In 2017, he earned a batting average of .249 – nothing note-worthy, but good enough to consider bringing on as a stop-gap until Didi returns or the Yankees sign superstar free agent Manny Machado.

How does the Tulowitzki signing affect the Manny Machado deal for the New York Yankees?

With reports indicating the Yankees will win the race for Machado, the signing of Troy certainly questions their motives. Do they want to retain Gregorius for the long-hall, allowing Manny to walk, or do they want to provide reserve depth/rotational piece, in addition to two-time Gold Glove winner?

It seems as if the Yankees are keen on bolstering the team with high-quality defensive players, as both Machado and Tulowitzki have two Gold-Gloves to their name.

I wouldn’t expect this signing to affect the pursuance of Machado in any way, primarily due to the veteran minimum deal the Yankees offered the shortstop.

What kind of potential does Tulowitzki have?

We all know the type of quality Troy offered earlier in his career, and he’s five years removed from an All-Star caliber season – he hit .340 over 315 at-bats with 21 home runs and 50 walks. He only struck out 57 times. Those days seem long behind him, but extracting whatever value is left is surely what the Yankees are focusing on. Good defense and leadership is his contribution to the team.

Signing Machado on the other hand would provide the hitting quality, as he’s in his prime and recorded a batting average of .297 in 2018. By signing a veteran for a low cap-hit and rising star, they can piece together a balanced lineup that can withstand injury and cold-streaks. In baseball, it’s all about how you deal with the adversity, and the Yankees are putting together the right pieces to weather the storm.