Well it has been a while folks, hope you didn't miss me too much, but its time for another addition of Jeremy's Weekly Worm where I will wriggle in and out of all major NY Sports current headlines.
NBA:
The Knicks and Nets are in complete shambles as far as the season goes. The Nets won their 5th game last night, enough said. The Knicks have completely lost any competitive drive that they had during the early part of the season as evidenced by their horrible loss last night to the Bulls. The Knicks can however, salvage the season if they are able to move Jared Jeffries before tomorrow's trade deadline. Moving Jeffries would allow the Knicks to free up more cap room that way the can target two max players, or 1 max player, re-sign David Lee, and add another decent player.
The team willing to take Jeffries right now is the Houston Rockets, but at a steep price. The deal currently being discussed would have the Knicks send Jared Jeffries, Jordan Hill, and either Larry Hughes or Al Harrington while they would get back Tracy McGrady and expiring contracts. Houston taking Jeffries' contract is contingent upon the Knicks swapping 2011 first-round picks with Houston, and giving them their 2012 first-round pick. The details of how high these picks go protected or unpretected is also an obstacle.
For the Knicks this is a high-risk move that could backfire in a couple of ways. The last two GM's the Knicks had made habits of trading first-round picks and thus the Knicks have missed out on quality players over the past 7-8 years. Another way this could backfire is that the Knicks could make the deal to free up all this cap space and could then strike-out this summer. If that were to happen, this franchise would be in the toilet with another upcoming decade of dissappointment in the works.
However, the upside to this deal is that you convince LeBron James to come because a Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, or Joe Johnson can join him and bring the New York Knicks not only back to relevancy, but to a championship contender.
NFL:
Last week the New York Giants released Antonio Peirce. This was a move that had to happen. I loved Pierce as a player and leader the last 5 years here, but his speed and coverage ability have diminished and the Giants need to make changes to the defense. I think you have to open the check book if Karlos Dansby becomes an unrestricted free-agent. If you get Dansby, then I think you go with Taylor Mays, the Safety out of USC with the 15th pick in the 1st round. I know that may be early to take him, but imagine a secondary with a 6'2, 215 pound Kenny Phillips and a 6'3, 230 pound Mays?
I would love for the Giants to get Rolando McClain out of Alabama but I doubt he will drop to 15. If Dansby is unavailable through free-agency, then I think that Jerry Reese has to trade up to get McClain, its a no-brainer. The Giants should also look into Julius Peppers. Adding him would allow the Giants to move Tuck to DT where I think he is more effective, especially with Osi and Peppers at the DE spots.
I think that Justin Tuck will come back healthy, remember he played with a torn labrum in his shoulder all of last year. I think Osi comes back and will the Osi we all remember from a couple of years ago, he will have a chip on his shoulder this year and that will be good for this defense.
Guys like Danny Clark, Fred Robbins, Rocky Bernard, CC Brown, Kevin Dockery, and Aaron Rouse have to go. The Chargers are seeking a RB and are dangling CB Antonio Cromartie. I think the Giants have to entertain the idea of possibly sending Jacobs or Bradshaw to get that guy.
In other news Mark Sanchez will undergo surgery on his knee today.
MLB:
It is this week that pitchers and catchers report and position players next week. I like tha look of the Yankees roster. I think that there are some simple solutions to the questions that people have.
The Yankees are correct in waiting until after the season to negotiate contracts with Mo, Jeter, and Girardi. In the case of Mo, I think they will take it year to year. Girardi will get an extension, the man just won a World Series and barring a disaster of a season, he will be back for the next couple of years. The most interesting one is Jeter. He just had a career-year at the age of 36 and could have easily been the MVP of the AL. I think that his performance this year will dictate the money and length of the contract he gets. If he puts up the numbers he did last year, then I think it is no question you give him 4 years, $100 million. The only issue that would hinder the length and money is if Jeter were to get hurt. If not, I think that he and the Yankee organization both fully understand how much they need each other and will work something out that is in the best interest for both parties.
The 5th starter debate is an intriguing one. I think that it is a no-brainer that Joba Chamberlain is the 5th starter this year. After all the dancing around of the "Joba Rules" the last 2 years, now with the leash off let's see what the kid can do. So much time has been dedicated to keeping him from blowing out his arm, and turning him into a starter, I think that he deserves at least one year with no reins to show what he can do taking the ball every fifth day. Hughes is still on an innings limit and so should serve in the bullpen this year. At times I would give Hughes 2 innings of work and that way next year he will have the reins off as well. If Joba does well as a starter this year, then the Yankees won't be handcuffed when it comes to Javier Vasquez who will be a free-agent after this season and Andy Pettite who contemplates retirement annualy now.
The last issue I want to talk about is the outfield arrangement and lineup. I think that you go with Granderson in left and Gardner in Center or vice versa. Randy Winn should be strictly a bench player, Swish you keep in right. As for the lineup, I think depending on Granderson's progress against lefties in Spring Training, you bat him second agaisnt righties and bat Nick Johnson second against lefties. I think that this debate is a little out of whack because no matter who hits in the 2-hole, they are hitting behind Jeter and in front of Tex and A-Rod, so they will see a ton of strikes, most of which will be fastballs. I think that Granderson would be best suited in the 2-hole because it keeps a player like Damon in the front four which was very good last year. This would leave a combo of Posada/Cano to go 5 and 6. With a combo of Johnson/Swisher to go 7 and 8. That would really lengthen the lineup because of how much Swish and Johnson get on base via the walk. Gardner takes the 9 spot.
I must say that I am dissapointed in the Mets with their lack of moves in the offseason. I think the money they doled out for Jason Bay should have been put towards an offer to get John Lackey. That would fortify the front-end of the rotation, and allow you to put Maine and Pelfrey in the bullpen where I think both are better suited. The Mets should have then signed Jason Marquis, a player who actually wanted to come here, to be the number 3, and then you would have Jon Niese and Oliver Perez for the 4th and 5th spots. Those two signins would have made the Mets pitching much better. I would then have offered Bengie Molina a 2 year deal, Russell Branyan a 1-year incentive laiden deal, and the same with Xavier Nady. With these moves, the 2010 Mets would look something like this:
Rotation: Santanna, Lackey, Marquis, Perez, Niese
Bullpen: Feliciano, Maine, Pelfrey, Parnell, Sean Green, Kelvim Escobar (set-up), K-Rod
Lineup: Reyes(SS), Castillo(2B), Wright(3B), Beltran(CF) Francis(RF), Branyan(1B), Nady(LF), Molina(C), Pitcher
To me, that looks much better than what the Mets have right now, (its understood that Beltran is hurt) and they would have spent probably another $5-10 million than they did this offseason.
And the 1 year deals to both Branyan and Nady would give you veteran help evryday while allowing for Fernando Martinez and Ike Davis to develop in Triple A. Then again, I don't run the Mets.
That all for today, stay tuned for the next edition of Jeremy's Weekly Worm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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