2010 MLB Preview: Mets

With Opening Day just a few weeks away, hope springs eternal for the New York Mets and their reccently tortured fans. These last four off-seasons for Mets fans may very well have been the most difficult for any baseball fan to endure. After heartbreak, collapses, and a rash of injuries, Mets fans need something to look forward to in the upcoming 2010 season.

Here's the obvious thing to look forward to- the addition of a perennial All Star left fielder, Jason Bay. Bay brings a power threat to Citi Field, something the Mets sorely lacked in 2009. Their lack of power came at a bad time, when they first moved in to their expansive new home. The size of the stadium can't be an excuse, home runs need to be hit no matter where you're playing. Jason Bay also adds a veteran presence and a fresh outlook to a clubhouse where the past is something that needs to be forgotten.

The Mets problems last year were certainly mainly caused by injuries. However, that is certainly no excuse to play the way they did. The New York Mets can return to their 2007 form (pre- collapse) if they play fundamentally sund baseball, and stay healthy. However, this has already proved a problem with the club this spring. Carlos Beltran will miss at least 3 weeks to start the season, rehabilitating his surgically repaired knee throughout late March and April.

A bigger concern for the Mets, however, is the long-term health of their young All Star shortstop, Jose Reyes. His imbalance in thyroid levels are not only a problem for the Mets' short term success, but Reyes' long term well-being. Hopefully for Reyes and the Mets, he gets back in a short time and is back to normal in a few weeks, as New York will need Jose Reyes' speed at the top of the order if they plan on competing with Philadelphia.

There are a few bright spots in Mets camp this spring that have potential to greatly effect the team as early as this season. First baseman Ike Davis, the team's first round drsaft pick in 2008, has proven to be a dominant offensive force. He has slugged his way onto the radars of many Mets fans and will presumably be a New York Met by the end of 2010. He has shown the ability to hit mammoth home runs, something that could be potentially vital to the Mets in '10.

Another young gun to look out for this season is pitcher Jenrry Mejia. The 20-year-old Dominican has pitched in two minor league seasons and is looking to be a future ace for the Mets. Throughout his career, he has prominantly been a starter, but manager Jerry Manuel is considering using Mejia as the team's set-up man in 2010, an experiment that could potentially stunt his growth as a starting pitcher. There is no doubt that Mejia can successfully pitch out of the 'pen, but his growth as a starter is what is undoubtedly at stake here. Mets fans can only hope that the right decision will untimately be made.

Middle infielder Ruben Tejada may also get a call to the majors this season. He has shown great hitting ability along with remarkable range in the infield. Tejada may expect a call to the Mets if Luis Castillo reverts back to 2008 form.

The New York Mets and their fans no doubt will have an entertaining season to look forward to. The Mets are a talented team full of potential. Their core of returning veterans such as Frankie Rodriguez, Johan Santana and David Wright will provide energy and great play all year. Many question marks remain for the 2010 campaign, however. Will the rotation be able to get it done? Will they have a solid eigth inning reliever to serve as a bridge to K-Rod? And most importantly, can they avoid injuries? Nobody knows the answer to these questions but regardless, Mets fans will undoubtedly have an exciting season to watch.

Predicition 85 wins; 2nd place in the NL East; fight for Wild Card berth.

-Contributions were made by both James Stumper and Jack Dorn.

The Knicks 2010 Plan

It has been widely publicized that the Knicks have enough cap space this upcoming offseason to afford two maximum contracts. Indeed, they will have the space, but this will not be the correct way to approach the long-awaited summer of 2010. 

The salary cap for the 2010-11 season has not yet been determined, but it is projected to be approximately $54 million. The Knicks will presumably have five players on their roster following this season:

1. Eddy Curry at $11.2 million
2. Danilo Gallinari at $3.3 million
3. Wilson Chandler at $2.1 million
4. Toney Douglas at $1 million
5. Bill Walker at approximately $854,000

Sergio Rodriguez has a $2.8 million qualifying offer due for 2010-11, but it can be withdrawn by the Knicks before July 23 without needing the approval of Rodriguez. In my opinion, this is the route Walsh should take.

The five players listed above total $18.5 in team salary. However, there is a salary cap rule that requires the mandatory 12 roster spots to be accounted for, salary cap-wise. The "phantom" player cap hold costs the team $488,000 for each roster spot short of the mandatory 12.

The Knicks will have the mentioned five players, plus three second round draft picks on their roster come free agency time, totaling eight roster spots filled. This leaves four unoccupied spaces on the roster, costing the Knicks $488,000 times four spots, which is $1.95 million in holds counting against the cap this offseason. 

Let's assume the Knicks renounce David Lee and Tracy McGrady's Bird Rights, which would cost them $10.5 in cap holds, and also renounce the exceptions (Mid Level Exception, Bi-Annual Agreement) which would be a $5.8 million cap hold.

This would leave only the five players' salaries, and four "phantom" salaries, counting against the cap, which again is projected  to be $54 million. 

The Knicks would have $33.4 in cap space to spend this summer.

For a $54 million cap, a maximum contract would amount to $16.2 million. So, yes, two max players could hypothetically be afforded, but that would leave $1 million to spend to fill out the rest of the roster. 

Signing one maximum contract is pretty much a given. Whether it be LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh Joe Johnson, or another top-tier player, Donnie Walsh will bring one of them to MSG.

If this isn't the case, then the 2010 plan has failed.

With $33.4 million at his disposal, enough to afford two maximum players, not obtaining  a single one would be considered a failure. Considering the amount of time that has been put into the plan (the sacrificing of two seasons), coming away with none of the prime available players would simply be considered a backfiring of the plan.

With that said, the offseason is obviously dependent on the signing of a maximum player. Personally, I believe LeBron will remain a Cavalier. I do believe that Dwyane Wade will explore all available options however, and eventually land in New York. Just a hunch.

So, by now it's mid-July and the Knicks have Dwyane Wade all to themselves, still with $17.2 million to spend.

Options are numerous for Walsh at this juncture. Many free agents, along with trades, are on the table for Walsh to closely examine. But his next move should be a gimme.

Sign David Lee.

Lee will really be the top forward available this summer next to Chris Bosh, who will likely receive a max deal somewhere. Last offseason, Lee was looking for a deal somewhere in the neighborhood of $10-12 million. No team signed him to an offer sheet with these demands, and Lee remained a Knick. 

But now, with an All-Star appearance under his belt, a jump shot that scrapes nylon more often than not, and newly acquired post moves to call his own, Lee will receive big money from someone, and if Chris Bosh isn't a New York Knick in 2010-11, David Lee must be.

Once a paramount player such as Wade is received, expect Lee to lower his demands from New York, and return to the Knicks for approximately $11.5 million in 2010-11. 

But then there's the possibility of bringing back Tracy McGrady.

McGrady has said that he would return to New York on the cheap if it meant being surrounded by a great cast of players. I see it very unlikely that the Knicks will be able to afford both Lee and T-Mac, however.

If Lee accepts a deal of about $7-8 million, this would free up $4-5 million more to spend.  In my opinion, a $4-5 million deal would be hard for McGrady to reject.

He's coming off a partially played season, and being surrounded with Dwyane Wade, an improved and even more experienced David Lee, and more players to be acquired later in the summer, is too enticing. 

McGrady's deal won't be the one the Knicks would have to worry about being accepted, David Lee's is.

Lee's ego is seemingly growing with each double-double, and I really can't think his contract demands would decrease after his wonderful 2009-10 season.

If he bites the bullet and accepts a heavily back-loaded deal that earns him only $7-8 million in '10-11 (but maybe, say, $12-13 million a couple years down the road), this would benefit the Knicks greatly...but it might be a tough pill for Lee to swallow, as he may have better offers elsewhere.

Granted, I'm speaking from a fans' perspective, but if I'm David Lee, I trust Donnie Walsh to lead the team to a championship(s) remotely soon. He has carried out his plan very well to this point, and I have no reason to think he won't lead the Knicks to greatness, just as he did the Pacers in the 90s.

I would take a cheaper deal than I desire to play on this team. I would sign for the not-so-much-now, but back-loaded deal to stay in New York.

So, with Lee and T-Mac on board, the Knicks still need a role-playing guard type, and they won't have to look far. Eddie House is a fine option as a guard off the bench and a quick scoring option.

If House won't settle for about $1 million dollars, Anthony Carter from Denver, as well as Luther Head of Indiana, Anthony Morrow of Golden State, Acie Law of Chicago, or even Earl Boykins of the Wizards are all viable options for Walsh.

The Knicks would now have around $5 million to spend in free agency, and important positions are yet to be filled. The team still has no center. David Lee cannot be the full-time center for another season. He lacks the size and defensive ability to do so. 

Donnie Walsh has coveted Marcus Camby, and will do so stronger than ever, come summer 2010, according to the New York Daily News.  

Although Camby will be 36-years-old next season, his defensive and shot-blocking abilities are still ever-present, and he simply carries more of a presence than Lee does in the middle.

At Camby's age, and with his fond memories of New York, he could very well sign for the available money the Knicks have, about $4-5 million.

So the Knicks now have their center, but still have a gaping hole at the point guard position, as they withdrew Sergio Rodriguez's qualifying offer prior to the offseason to create more cap space. 

Time to deal.

Walsh has said that his next trades will be ones that bring in salary, rather than ship it out. One would have to think he would inquire Minnesota regarding Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio, but the likelihood of a deal landing Rubio in NY isn't very bright, as he signed a new three year contract to a team in Barcelona in the summer of 2009.

So Walsh will have to expand his horizons to Toronto for Jose Calderon, Charlotte for DJ Augustin, Detroit for Rodney Stuckey, or possibly even Washington for Gilbert Arenas—pending his status with the league.

If Walsh can find a deal of his liking that works out financially, a point guard will be found, and the line up will just about be filled out.

1. Calderon, Augustin, or other potential trade options
2. Wade
3. McGrady
4. Lee
5. Camby

A very respectable lineup. Throw in Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Eddie House (or his replacement), and Bill Walker off the bench and it's a nice little project put together.

If you haven't noticed, this is still a very small team. Without any remaining cap space to sign free agent big men, a trade would be ideal. 

The last piece to round out the 2010-2011 Knicks? Hasheem Thabeet.

Thabeet was recently sent to the D-League to work on his skills, and has dominated in his time there. He has remarkable size, standing at 7'3'', and he will add bulk to his body as he ages.

Given the chance to grow under the D'Antoni system, while adding his already developed ball-swatting abilities as Marcus Camby's back-up, Thabeet will be the next big thing at the center position in the NBA in no time.

Well, there it is: the entire offseason. Yes, there are plenty of moving parts, but with this main framework, the Knicks will instantly becoming a shoo-in for the NBA Playoffs, and a title contender as team chemistry develops.

In Donnie we trust.

NHL Trade Deadline Frenzy

Just 3 days after a phenomenal Olympics games, the NHL trade deadline has past, and several teams have solidified their teams. Here's a rundown of the local teams, the smartest teams and the...not so smart teams as the deadline is now in the rear view mirror. Who made themselves better? Who's going to watch teams start passing them by? And most importantly, which NHL team is now poised for a run at Lord Stanley's Cup?

The Locals
New York Rangers (29-27-7) – After making 3 moves before the Olympic break, the Rangers only swapped minor leaguers with the Detroit Red Wings and Phoenix Coyotes in the final 3 days before the deadline. In their moves before the deadline, the Blueshirts acquired tough guy Jody Shelley (from SJS) and grinding forward Brandon Prust (from CGY) to add some needed grit to the team. In the deal for Prust, in which they dealt away offseason additions Ales Kotalik and Chris Higgins, the Rangers acquired Finnish scorer Olli Jokinen to give Marian Gaborik some scoring help. However, the Rangers did not manage to free up any cap room at the deadline. Defensemen Wade Redden ($6.5 Million cap hit) and Michal Rozsival ($5 Million cap hit) have managed just 2 goals and 26 points between the two players. Trading either would have been difficult, but Glen Sather always has some magic when it comes to trades.
Notes: In 7 games with the Rangers, Jokinen has 2 goals and 3 assists, while Prust has 2 assists to go along with 34 penalty minutes. The Rangers are tied for 8th in the east.

New York Islanders (26-29-8) – In recent memory, the Islanders have traded for more draft picks than you can count. However, they were relatively quiet at the deadline, only swapping AHL players with Columbus and dealing defenseman Andy Sutton for a second round pick. With the recent injury of Rick DiPietro’s knee, the Islanders were caught in a bad position, not being able to trade one of their two solid goaltenders (Dwayne Roloson or Martin Biron) for needed scoring help due to DiPietro’s condition. The Isles are still in reach of a playoff spot, but made a good decision at the deadline not dealing any of their prospects or rising players.
Notes: DiPietro appeared in 8 games this season before re-injuring himself, going 2-5-0, registering a 2.60 GAA. The Islanders are 5 points out of a playoff spot.

New Jersey Devils (38-21-3) – Making the biggest splash in the NHL so far this year, the Devils made a deal for prolific scorer Ilya Kovalchuk (from ATL) before the Olympic break to help their 21st ranked offense. Kovalchuk brings speed and skill that the fans of New Jersey have not seen in a long time. The deal also brought in (D) Anssi Salmela in exchange for (D) Johnny Oduya, (F) Niclas Bergfors, (F) Patrice Cormier and a 1st round pick. In addition, the Devils traded for (D) Martin Skoula (from TOR), who was dealt from the Penguins to the Leafs just a day ago. With the trade for Kovalchuk and their already great goaltending and defense, the Devils have put themselves in a spot to challenge for the cup.
Notes: Kovalchuk has 2 goals and 5 assists in 7 games with the Devils. The Devils lead the Atlantic divison by 1 point over the Penguins.

The Winner
Washington Capitals (41-13-8) – Any questions about who the favorite in the eastern conference is have been answered. Today, the Capitals made 4 moves, 2 being with the Carolina Hurricanes. With the additions of standout blueliner Joe Corvo (from CAR), for the price of a 2011 2nd rounder, (D) Brian Pothier, and (F) Oskar Osala and the addition of defenseman Milan Jurcina (from CBJ) , the Capitals 18th ranked defense seems to be secured for a Stanley Cup run. In addition, the Capitals added forwards Scott Walker (from CAR) and Eric Belanger (from MIN), to add scoring depth to their already 1st ranked offense, which has scored 33 more goals than any other team in the NHL.
Notes: Jurcina played with the Capitals from 2006-09. The Caps currently lead the NHL in points with 90.

Why’d You Do That?
Carolina Hurricanes (25-30-7) – After a miserable start to the season, the Canes seemed to turn things around. It comes as somewhat of a surprise that just a few years removed from a Stanley Cup win, the Hurricanes have made 7 trades at this deadline, many of which were shipping out solid players for draft picks. The list of players traded include (D) Joe Corvo (to WAS), (D) Niclas Wallin (to SJS), (F) Matt Cullen (to OTT), (D) Aaron Ward (to ANA), (F) Scott Walker (to WAS), (D) Andrew Alberts (to VAN), (F) Stephan Yelle and (F) Harrison Reed (both to COL). That’s four of their top six defensemen being traded, on a team that is only 8 points out of a playoff spot in a wide open eastern conference. The canes did keep aging defenseman Ray Whitney (Age 37), who was expected to be traded. With the cleaning the Hurricanes did this trade deadline, a season with some hope left is now almost surely over.
Notes: After starting the season losing 16 of 18, the Canes are currently on a 6 game winning streak.

This Could Work…
Phoenix Coyotes (37-22-5) – Perhaps the biggest surprise in the NHL this season, the Phoenix Coyotes were buyers at the deadline, making 7 acquisitions.
The biggets trade was obtaining winger Wojtek Wolski, who has 47 points this season, from the Avalanche in exchange for 3rd year player (F) Peter Mueller and former Hobey Baker winner (F) Kevin Porter. The Coyotes also acquired scoring depth by the likes of (F) Lee Stempniak (from TOR) to add to their 25th ranked offense. They also attempted to boost their already stingy defense, backstopped by Russian goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, by receiving veteran defensemen Mathieu Schneider (from VAN, 739 career points) and Derek Morris (from BOS). However, both defensemen come with some risk. Schneider, who is 40 years old, has only played in 17 games this season. Morris, a former first round pick, is on his 3rd team in 2 years and has only managed 3 goals this year with a -2 rating. If Wolski can produce, Schneider can get healthy and Morris can hold up, the Coyotes could be a tough team to meet in the playoffs under new coach Dave Tippett.
Notes: Morris played with the Coyotes from 2004-08. Schneider has not played since December 16. The Coyotes are 5th in the West and have not made the playoffs since 2002.

Where Were You?
Boston Bruins (27-23-11) – With their offense dead last in the NHL in scoring, what did the Bruins do at the deadline? Trade defenseman Derek Morris for a pick and add defenseman Dennis Seidenberg (from FLA), who has 2 goals this season. With injuries hampering them all season, the Bruins needed to add a solid scorer, and they did not add a forward. A season after finishing first in the east, the Bruins are holding on to the 8th spot in the conference with solid defense and goaltending, but have 3 teams within 2 points of them, and did not do much to keep their playoff spot secured.
Notes: The Bruins have averaged 2.33 goals/game this season. Marc Savard (2nd on the team in points for a forward), has played in just 38 games.