Another Music City Miracle / Winter Meetings Recap

(Photo By Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Seven weeks. 63 days. The losing streak began in Philadelphia in early October, and trickled into early December after a gut wrenching defeat in Jacksonville. The New York Giants defense suffered losses in the secondary, as well as the defensive line. The injuries resulted in a lackluster pass rush, and accordingly, the Giants were ranked dead last in total defense over the seven week span. But it was not until December 7, when winning ways returned to Big Blue as they traveled to Nashville to take on a floundering Titans squad. New York flew out of the gates, commanding a powerful and early 17-0 lead, as Eli Manning connected with his new favorite target Odell Beckham Jr. for six, along with a Josh Brown field goal and a defensive fumble recovery for a touchdown. The first quarter displayed success in all three phases of the game, as New York entered the locker room with a dominant 23-0 halftime lead. Over the seven week losing streak, the dilemma for New York was the performance in the second half, and how they could manage a lead and also hold on to one in the latter stages. Consistency and effort was a factor in a handful of the losses, which lead many to question how Big Blue would once again hold on to a three score lead, which they had in Jacksonville the week before and unfortunately lost. Luckily, the tides were changing, and the luck finally found the Giants sideline, as New York's opening drive in the 3rd resulted in a breakout 50 yard touchdown run from rookie RB Andre Williams, New York's longest rush of the season. Midway through the 3rd, the game was clearly out of reach for Tennessee, as they trailed New York 30-0 with an absence of offense and defense. The Giants eventually surrendered a touchdown due to a foolish interception by Manning, but as the final whistle blew, New York was back on top, as they crushed the Titans 36-7, snapping their long and cruel seven game losing streak.

Here's this week's breakdown:

The Defensive Power Surge

(AP Photo/James Kenney)

An issue from the early stages of the season was the lack of consistency on a young and vulnerable defense, but New York found a groove in Tennessee, shutting out Zach Mettenberger's Titans, surrendering only 207 yards to Tennesee's offense. A fortunate improvement was the Giants' ability to force turnovers, as they tallied two interceptions and a fumble which lead to points. Another factor was the ability to attack the quarterback and force pressure, as the Giants sacked Mettenberger and back-up Jake Locker for a combined 8 sacks for a total loss of 60 yards. Collectively, New York appeared to be having fun, considering that their competitive edge and spirit disappeared for two consecutive months. "Fun" may be an accurate description of the defense's success last Sunday, which is surely needed this Sunday at home against the depleting Redskins.

A Structured Offense

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On the other side of the ball, the offensive struggles have consisted of maintaining a steady passing and ground game, and since the first few weeks in September, New York had failed in keeping the defense honest in approach, as Rashad Jennings sidelined due to injury lead rookie Andre Williams with most of the dirty work. The ground game showed signs of greatness in Jacksonville the week before, but Ben McAdoo's offensive scheme took advantage of Tennessee's lackluster defense, tallying 142 yards on the ground and 260 yards through the air. The Giants finished with 19 first downs, 8-18 on third down, and averaged 6 yards per pass. Another statistic that should stand out is the total number of plays for New York. Big Blue totaled 73 plays, their second most on the season (78 at Washington 9/25), as well as dominating time of possession at 34:43. Eli Manning held control of the offense from start to finish, which was long awaited for this new offensive gameplan. Another positive was the performance of the offensive line, which gave Manning lengthy time in the pocket, allowing minimal pressure from Tennessee's defensive line. Of course, we cannot forget the production from Odell Beckham, as he tallied 130 yards on 11 receptions (the most recorded by a Giants' rookie WR). New York's rookie sensations made the Giants the first team in NFL history to have 130 rushing and passing yards from rookies. That just may be the silver lining of the season.

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Tennessee marked the Giants second blowout on the year, and with Washington entering MetLife Sunday afternoon with a mentally questionable quarterback in Robert Griffin III and a staggering defense, expect New York to pound the ball up the gut, as well as test the Redskins' secondary through the air. Sunday will show a little bit of everything from the playbook, as there are no doubts in mind that New York will not route Washington. The swagger of the defense must be present to force costly mistakes, and with both sides of the ball excelling, Big Blue will surely be on their way to two consecutive wins, and most likely sole possession of third place in the NFC East.

Prediction: New York 38, Washington 19 (NYG -8.5)
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Now, back to baseball. It has felt like an eternity since the final out of the Yankees season in early October at Fenway Park. So far, the Winter Meetings in sunny San Diego have lived up to its hype, as many teams across the league have shown interest in free agents and trading block all-stars. As of now, the Yankees have succeeded in signing lefty relief specialist Andrew Miller, as well as filling the void at shortstop with the young Didi Gregarious from Arizona. But the losses of David Roberston to Chicago and Brandon McCarthy to the Dodgers have left holes in the Yankee pitching staff, leaving free agent candidate Max Scherzer as a near must to the Yankee rotation. 

(AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Scott Boras, the king of baseball agents, has made it clear that his client Scherzer is worth the big bucks, and has lead many to believe that New York is the only team that can afford the money requested. Reports have discussed nearly $200 million for the right-handed ace, which alone is a daunting decision for the front office. The process will be quite simple: there will not be any negotiation between Boras and Brian Cashman. The Yankees will be given a number, and they will either take the number or walk. If New York does walk away from Scherzer, the status of the rotation remains up in the clouds. James Shields is a name still on the market, but there does not appear to be any mutual interest between the Yankees and Shields. With Scherzer as "Plan A" and Shields as "Plan B", "Plan C" will be investing in less-popular names, such as Josh Johnson, Jake Peavy or Edison Volquez. Those three names will not attract the fan base, but a trade or signing of at least two starting pitchers must occur by Spring Training, as the status of Masahiro Tanaka, Ivan Nova, and CC Sabathia remains uncertain to the managerial staff. If all fails, the Yankees will surely be engaged in next winter's free agent pitchers, which consists of aces David Price, Johnny Cueto and Jordan Zimmerman. It's only early December, but moves will be made soon and rapidly in the Bronx. 

The Nail in the Coughlin

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Here are the facts. Football is, and never will be, a beauty contest. After six straight weeks of defeat, it seemed as if the Giants finally found a necessary resurgence in the running game. New York tallied 21 straight points in Jacksonville to begin the game, as RB Rashad Jennings scored two touchdowns on the ground. 21-3 was the halftime score, and with a dominant first half, the Giants performance was a refreshment to the previous woes. Against Dallas last Sunday, New York went into the locker room with a 21-10 lead, but failed in scoring more than a touchdown in the second half, as Dallas finished the game outscoring Big Blue 21-3. The lucky number of 21 was not lucky last week, and unfortunately for New York, the number was a curse for a consecutive week. Jacksonville marched down the field for 22 unanswered points, and Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee nailed the game winning field goal in the final minute of regulation to seal the victory, beating New York by a final of 25-24.




New York falls to 3-9 on the year, carrying a seven game losing streak, their worst streak since the 2004 season (the first year under Tom Coughlin). Coughlin's status has remained ambiguous, but a loss to the 1-10 Jaguars has surely put the nail in the coffin. The year has been lost, but after 11 seasons, 2 Super Bowl championships, and five years of failing to make the postseason in the last six seasons, Coughlin's tenure as the Giants head coach is finally coming to an end. The turn of events have been disappointing and unfortunate, but reality must sync in, and the slate must be wiped clean. Tom Coughlin's legacy will be discussed among the greatest who have coached the game, but sooner or later, well, time runs out for everyone. 

(Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

With four games remaining, the nightmare season is finally coming to a close, but the state of the Giants season is still a conundrum. Currently, the Giants are looking at the fifth pick in the NFL Draft, and with serious holes at offensive and defensive line positions, a viable solution may be to think about the Spring, and simply ride out this season's wave the best they can, ignoring the win and loss columns and focusing on the fundamentals of good football. 

Here is this week's breakdown. There isn't much that hasn't been covered over the last seven weeks. 

The Story of the 2nd Half

The absence of production in the second half was already mentioned above, but the inconsistency to play all sixty minutes has been a huge problem all year. In last week's heart breaker, 21 points were scored in the first half, The same occurred Sunday, and the commitment of playing all four quarters is inadequate, and the production is surely unacceptable. In the end, three Giants turnovers cost the game, and these careless mistakes have been difficult to fix. 

                                                                                                                       The Giant Plague

(Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

What has left this season in shambles is the endless list of injuries on offense and defense. Aside from the IR players who have been sidelined for quite some time, the depth of the Giants roster has reached its limit, and the practice squad men who once laughed at making the roster, may be given an opportunity to step on the field. Offensive-lineman Geoff Schwartz left the game in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle, which lead to OT James Brewer filling the void. Sadly, the injuries kept piling up, as the substitute Brewer left action with a
concussion in the 3rd, along with strong DE Robert Ayers leaving with a pectoral injury and starting RB Rashad Jennings with ankle problems. "Help Wanted" should be a sign posted outside the facilities, because Big Blue has run out of players. 

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To anyone still watching this team, it is clear that consistency is the major concern of the Giants offense and defense. Jacksonville may have been a "free-bee" for a win, but the Jaguars are paid professionals, and nothing is given in the NFL. Moving on to next week, New York visits a depleting Tennessee Titans squad. Although the Giants are surely capable of coming out victorious, it is very difficult to pick a Giants team that is 1-5 on the road to knock off the Titans. This game is a toss-up.

Prediction: TEN 29, NYG 24 (NYG +3.5)

Giant Chances Wasted

In what appeared to be a war of attrition, the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers fought aggressively on defense in what turned into a bloodbath ballgame, but the overall talent of the Niners held off Big Blue, as New York fell 16-10, moving to 3-7 on the year.

Here's this week's breakdown.

DEFENSE PLAYS 4 QUARTERS

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The Giants' main concern entering Sunday's contest was how a depleting pass rush and secondary could maintain the ground and passing game of Colin Kaepernick. New York was abused by Seattle's ground game the week before, but the overall performance of the Giants defense was adequate. The first Niners drive was halted after a Frank Gore fumble, and San Francisco's ground game was pressured by the New York defensive line. In comparison to last week's yard allowance, the defense made big plays in their territory, and the consistency and confidence Tom Coughlin was looking for was most certainly found by the eleven men protecting their turf. The game was lost, but not in credit to defensive blunders, They most certainly held their own.

                                                                                    ELI RETURNS TO 2013 WAYS

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5 interceptions from Eli Manning were the deciding factor in the Giants' heartbreaking defeat. New York's first offensive drive started successfully with a touchdown (their first TD on their 1st drive in 20 games), but the consistency of the offensive game was absent. A potent San Francisco pass rush forced Manning to move, which lead to poor decisions and regrettable throws. Between the numbers, Eli connected with Rueben Randle for 7 catches worth 112 yards, but the long ball outside the numbers was not cooperative, as Frisco's safeties reacted to the routes and forced ugly interceptions on Manning's behalf. Aside from the interceptions, many fans scratched their heads over the offensive play calling late in the game. With New York trailing by six, a miraculous catch by Odell Beckham Jr. put the offense inside San Francisco's 5-yard line, and from there, Eli chose three consecutive fade routes to Beckham Jr., Rueben Randle and Larry Donnell. Considering how horrendous the running game performed, throwing four straight plays made sense, but running identical plays three consecutive times was not only obvious to the viewers, but also to the Niners' defenders. The drive resulted in a fatal interception, and Eli Manning must take full blame for Sunday's contest. Eli's woes put the knife in the Giant's back, and for a man who takes up roughly seventeen percent of the Giants' total salary cap
next year, the front office may take action in finding an alternative option at quarterback. Eli isn't the reason for the team's failures, but if Tom Coughlin does not return, it will become even harder for Manning to adjust to a new head coach and coordinator. Manning grew as a quarterback with Coughlin on the sideline, and change is not always effective to an athlete who has known one method of play for nearly a decade. 

THE OFFENSIVE LINE

Where to begin. Since Shaun O'Hara and Chris Snee's retirements, the Giants have struggled in finding strong offensive lineman to fill the voids. Last season's woes were credited to an abysmal offensive line, which lead to Eli Manning's worst statistical year. This spring, New York drafted Center Weston Richburg from Colorado State, and in 2013, Offensive Tackle Justin Pugh out of Syracuse. From the start of this season, the offensive line has failed in holding their ground, which has resulted in poor pass protection for Manning and little to no holes available for the running game. With a young inexperienced group, teams look to the veterans for leadership and support. Unfortunately, the Giants' only veteran is LT Will Beatty, who has lacked in production and has been a huge disappointment the last few years. The Giants have lucked out with Beckham, but next year's first draft pick must go to a low-risk, high potential offensive lineman. The Giants can no longer afford this lack of production. 

THE FUTURE

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The Giants now stand at a record of 3-7, tied for last place in the East. The difficult stretch of games has finally come to an end, but five consecutive losses has practically knocked the Giants out of playoff contention for the fifth time in six seasons. With or without Tom Coughlin as the head coach next year, the future of Big Blue must be taken into consideration this Spring. Although New York's six remaining games are in their favor, it seems less likely that they will keep the train moving. With that being said, this will be a positive for the 2015 Draft. A record of 5-11 or 4-12 can potentially land the Giants a Top-5 draft spot, which would allow GM Jerry Reese to focus in on the best offensive lineman in the country. The term "tanking" is not the s
olution, but it is time to let reality kick in; the season is lost, the injuries are deep, and the depth is minuscule. Put the season behind and look toward the future. It is hard to judge a football team that has over eight starters on the Injured Reserve list. With that being said, a healthy Big Blue will be capable of great things next year. Cross your fingers. 

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With the season over, New York still has a few games for fans to be excited about. Dallas visits the Meadowlands this Sunday coming off a bye week, and a good old fashioned rivalry will be renewed. The Giants are now left to play spoiler, and if the heart and dedication to playing football is present, there is no doubt Big Blue can upset a few competitive opponents. 

Prediction: DAL 34, NYG 23 

Winless in Seattle

Another week, another gut-wrenching defeat for the New York Giants. In a shortened week of preparation for last Sunday's opponent, the Seattle Seahawks, it was imperative for the banged up Giants squad to step up their level of play. New York gave their all in the first three quarters, but lost control of Seattle's running game in the fourth, as the defending champs crushed Big Blue 38-17. 

Here's the breakdown of the Giants' fourth straight loss. 


A Change in Heart Doesn't Change the Talent

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New York entered Sunday's game with twelve men on the injured reserve list. On the list, six consisted of starters on both offense and defense. After losing Prince Amukamara, Trumaine McBride, Jon Beason and Walter Thurmond III to season-ending injuries, the weight was placed on the shoulders of defense. Last week's headline discussed Jason Pierre-Paul questioning the absence of heart in the locker room, which lead to captain Safety Antrel Rolle backing up the performance and attitude of his teammates. Whether or not the mind set was in focus, the Giants successfully battled Seattle for forty-five minutes. However, the final fifteen minutes brought shame to the Giants' style of play and performance. Twenty-one unanswered points were scored by the Seahawks in the fourth quarter, and as the final whistle blew, the Giants were aware of their lack of talent and effort. For a team plagued with injuries, it is difficult to find replacements who match the talent of the starters, and the loss of leadership and talent is definitely an arguable reason to explain the Giants' recent failures. 

Record Days on Defense (Not in a good way)

A final score of 38-17 looks impressive on paper, as one may assume the pass and run game dominated the lackluster defense. However, the passing game was almost non-existent Sunday, as Russel Wilson struggled in finding open receivers down field. The conditions of the game were sloppy and raw, but when the pass game isn't working, the running game must step up to the plate. Seattle totaled 510 yards of offense, but 350 of those yards were credited to the run game. 350 yards! Marshawn Lynch contributed with four touchdowns of his own, and Wilson ran one in for six. Sometimes, a team can still sneak a win after the opposing Quarterback tosses 350 yards, but 350 yards on the ground? That's unheard of. It's so rare to the Giants defensive scheme, that the last time New York gave up more than 350 yards in a game was in 1978 against Buffalo (366 total rushing yards). The 70s were the dark ages for Giants football, but this never occurred under the reign of Bill Parcells, and we would have never expected the same out of a Tom Coughlin team. 350 total rushing yards is embarrassing, and the Giants defense does not have an excuse in the world that will begin to explain their secondary and pass-rushing woes. New York is now dead last in the league in total yards per game to their opponents, allowing on average 404.9 yards. With a questionable new offensive scheme, the defense has been relied upon to step up in crucial situations, but how can this abysmal defense keep the offense in games? They simply cannot. The job security that defensive-coordinator Perry Fewel thought that he once had may be in jeopardy this offseason. 

                                                                                                                    You Down With ODB?

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Of course we are! Odell Beckham Jr. has become the next rookie sensation at the Wide Receiver position. There are a handful of rookies across the league that show promise at the position, such as Kelvin Benjamin and Mike Evans, but Beckham stands out as lightning in a bottle. He flourished at LSU, so maybe it's fair to call him the next "Louisiana Lightning" of New York sports. For a kid that missed training camp, preseason games and the first few games of the season due to injuries, it's truly remarkable what Beckham has amounted to in his first four games. He has three touchdowns in twenty-five receptions, averaging nearly fifteen yards a catch. The competitive edge that Beckham holds should put a smile on the faces of fans, and if healthy, Beckam may be the next brand name receiver in the NFL. Win or lose, it's important for the rook to get some reps against the league's best defenders. 

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Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

The Giants now stand at 3-6 on the year, tied with Washington for last place in the NFC East. It is safe to say that the hopes of postseason football in New York are slim to none, but with seven games remaining, there is still time for the Giants to gain ground and improve their situation. New York hosts the San Francisco 49ers Sunday afternoon at 1pm, and with Frisco coming off a much needed victory over New Orleans last week, it will be an exciting test to see if the Giants offense can tear up the Niners depleted secondary. The defense's performance will be the x-factor for Big Blue, but with a West coast team playing early on Sunday, expect an even match up and a potential Giants win. 

Prediction: SF 26-23 (NYG +4)

Bad Luck Equals Andrew Luck for Big Blue

After losing a heart breaker two weeks prior to the Dallas Cowboys, the Giants marched into MetLife Stadium in dire need of a victory Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts. In a rare occurrence, New York won the coin toss and requested to start the game on offense, but the offense never showed, as Andrew Luck and the Colts stomped all over the G-Men in a gut-wrenching 40-24 loss. 

Here's the breakdown of the "Giant" debacle. 

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Secondary Concerns Are Primary Problems

New York entered last night's game allowing forty-eight total points to opponents in the first quarter alone, and with a depleting secondary unit, Indianapolis read and took advantage of the holes in the Giants' defense. Although the defense kept the game competitive until the start of the third, the defensive line showed a lackluster pass rush, despite an above average performance by defensive-end Robert Ayers. Jason Pierre-Paul's power and intensity was absent against a strong Colts offensive line, linebacker Jacquian Williams struggled keeping up with slot receivers, and the loss of Prince Amukamara to a torn bicep leaves the cornerback position vulnerable and inexperienced. Dominic Rodgers-Cromartie made a valiant effort to pick off a pass attempt to Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton, but Cromartie failed in holding on to the ball, as he was manhandled in the endzone by Hilton for another Colts touchdown. Amukamara lead the defense in interceptions, and with Prince gone for the rest of the year, the weight will be on the shoulders of Jayron Hosely and Walter Thurmond. With their backs against the wall, New York cannot rely on their defense to keep them in games. 


 "The New York Sock Exchange"

(Photo Courtesy of ESPN)

With credit to WFAN's Al Dukes, Tom Coughlin's struggle to take the challenge flag out his sock resulted in massive chaos on the Giants sideline, as the defensive formation was not set to face the Colt offense. Andrew Luck and his posse noticed the confusion immediately as they rushed to the line of scrimmage to run a play, and as if it only made sense to the Giants, Indianapolis scored six on the play by tossing a dump off pass to Coby Fleener for 32 yards. Tom Coughlin would have most likely lost the challenge, but a stoppage in play prevents a hurry up offense in that situation. It also may be time to keep the red flag in your pocket, Tom.  



Eli And The Offensive Scheme 

Weeks three through five tallied 105 points for Big Blue's offense, but as Week 6 rolled around, Philadelphia's presence scared off New York's lineman, along with the crucial season ending knee injury to Victor Cruz. Eli Manning has now played 13 total games under the new regime of offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo's play calling, and while the offensive targets have depreciated since the preseason, the consistency and execution of the pass and run games have been below par. Don't let last night's statistics fool you. Manning threw for 359 yards and two touchdowns, but those 14 points came in garbage time with the game already lost, and New York totaled only 120 total yards in the first half. The pressure in the pocket forced dangerous and weak throws from Manning, but even the throws on target were dropped by receivers Rueben Randle and Preston Parker. The only silver lining to take from this game is that rookie Odell Beckham Jr. has shown the league that he is lightning in a bottle, and Eli must connect with Beckham Jr. at least fifteen times per game. On the other hand, the running game has been abysmal, as it is evident that the absence of Rashad Jennings in the backfield has impacted the ground game, and with the majority of the touches being given to rookie Andre Williams, the draw play on first down is not the solution to build up a successful drive. Sure, Williams had a decent second half, but the game was out already out of hand, and Indianapolis brought the heat up the gaps from start to finish. 

We're On To Seattle...Or Are We?

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Giants now sit at 3-5 on the season, holding third place in the division by half a game to Washington. After two weeks of preparation for the Colts, it was imperative for the Giants to come out swinging Monday night, but New York failed in all three phases of the game and now face the daunting task of opposing the defending champion Seahawks in Seattle Sunday afternoon. Three weeks ago when the Giants entered Philly, they stood at 3-2 coming off a three game winning streak. The game against the Eagles began a five game rough patch in Giants' schedule, and since their defeat to the Dirty Birds, New York has dropped three straight, and will most likely fold again this Sunday. From there on out, the Giants host the shaky 49ers and Cowboys, and then travel to Jacksoville and Tennessee the following weeks. By next Monday, the Giants will most likely be 3-6 with their heads looking in to the playoff picture window. With either Dallas or Philadelphia arguably claiming the NFC East, a wild card spot seems like too steep a mountain to climb, as Big Blue would have to finish the year 7-0 or at least 6-1. In all fairness, the Giants' have always been a moody football team, and it is hard to tell where they will stand by Thanksgiving. All we can take from Monday night is that injuries plague a football team, and that perhaps this Giants team is playing to their expectations since September began. There's plenty of football left, but as Yogi once said, "It's getting late early out there." 

The End Of An Era: 2014 Season Reflection

September 29, 2013. The final day of the 2013 Yankees' campaign ended in a sweep of the Houston Astros, which also concluded the illustrious career of Mariano Rivera. As the Yankees missed out on postseason baseball for the second time in nearly twenty seasons, Mariano waved goodbye, and the focus was solely on Derek Jeter and the team he represented on the field. The year before in 2012, Jeter was revived and excelled at the plate and in the field, as his spontaneous renaissance brought hope going into October. From there on out, Jeter broke his ankle against Detroit in the ALCS, and struggled to stay on the field for the majority of the 2013 season. 

February 12, 2014. Derek Jeter annouced that the 2014 season would be his final year in pinstripes. The news ultimately sparked the club's goal of not only making to to the postseason, but winning it all in dedication to Jeter's career. 

The flaws of the 2013 campaign were heavily influenced on injuries, specifically to the Yankee All-Stars. It began with Jeter's rehab work, which unfortunately sparked a chain reaction to the other stars around the diamond, as Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez suffered with back problems and lower body injuries. The solution? The free agent pool. The Yankees acquired Vernon Wells, Travis Hafner and Lyle Overbay to soften the blow on Opening Day. The difficulty the front office faced was the state of the farm system. The majority of the top prospects were not yet ready for big league competition, which placed a great deal of weight upon then SS Eduardo Nunez and C Austin Romine. 

To wrap up the 2013 season, the Yankees were desperate to find replacements at catcher, the outfield, and most importantly, the pitching staff. 

The 2014 offseason began with a bidding war for Japanese ace Masahiro Tanaka, in which the Yankees ultimately won. Before Tanaka, the Bombers' scored on signing FA's Brian McCann and Jacoby Ellsbury, who were influential assets on the field and in the clubhouse. Before Jeter announced his retirement, Brian Cashman convinced Carlos Beltran to come play in the Bronx. This winter was recognized as the most successful offseason since the blockbuster deals of CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Mark Teixeira in 2009. As we all remember, the '09 campaign ended with New York on top of the mountain, which meant the 2014 team was supposed to hold the same fate. After CC Sabathia threw the first pitch of the season, the Opening Day rotation fell through the cracks, realistically placing the Yanks' in a slim-to-none chance of making the postseason. In April, we watched Ivan Nova fall to Tommy John surgery. In May, CC Sabathia called it quits on the year with a bad knee, and Michael Pineda suffered from frequent shoulder soreness throughout the summer months. By late May, sixty percent of Opening Day rotation was gone with a blink of an eye, which left Brian Cashman in a pickle. Instead of taking the trade route, Cashman chose to call up homegrown talent to fill the voids, as young hurlers Chase Whitely, Shane Greene and Preston Claiborne excelled within the rotation and bullpen. But among all of the call-ups, the one pitcher that stood out was 6'8" rookie All-Star sensation Dellin Betances and his commanding fastball and slider. Betances was a promising prospect for the Yanks for nearly five years, and as his innings count grew larger, Betances brought the goods, keeping a strong confidence on the mound. Betances ended the season with 135 strikeouts, breaking the great Mariano Rivera's record of 130 K's in a single season. Aside from the lineup, Betances holds the most amount of potential in the bullpen, which takes pressure off of closer David Robertson, We were worried that Rivera's retirement would end the one-two punch of him and Robertson, but Dellin Betances has been a pleasant replacement. 

While Alex Rodriguez was banned from baseball, the Yanks' looked for small simple solutions to fill the hole at Third. Luckily, April and May were the months of prospect Yangervis Solarte, who was later traded to San Diego in exchange for Chase Headley. While the rotation maintained stability (somehow, someway), the lineup remained a concern by the July trade deadline. The production of Brian McCann was pitiful, Jacoby Ellsbury lacked consistency at the plate, and Carlos Beltran struggled to stay healthy with a bone spur in his right elbow. To add salt to the wound, Masahiro Tanaka hit the DL on July 12 after feeling discomfort in his elbow after an outing the day before against Cleveland.

1By the All-Star Break, the Yankees offense was ranked 22nd in runs scored (375), 17th in hits (817),  28th in extra base hits (240), 27th in strikeouts (666-an omen), and 15th in batting average (.252). Despite the hitting woes and loss of arms, the Yanks stood at a .500 record of 47-47, five games behind Baltimore for 1st place. After losing eighty percent of the rotation, the Yankee pitching staff kept its ground, ranking 20th in ERA (3.95), 2nd in saves (31), 4th in strikeouts (799), and held their opponents to an average of .256 at the plate. While many went on to point fingers at the pitchers for the team's lack of success, the offense and defense stuck out like a sore thumb. Between the middle-infielders of Brendan Ryan, Brian Roberts and The Captain, the Yanks' tallied up 92 fielding errors by the end of September, which forced Brian Cashman to bring in Chase Headley, Martin Prado and Stephen Drew to replace the weaknesses in the field. In the long run, Prado's few months in pinstripes were exceptional, as well were Chase Headley's. Pitcher Brandon McCarthy started the year 3-10 with a 5.01 ERA while playing in Arizona, but after being traded in early July to the Bronx, McCarthy's true colors impressed the front office, as Brandon went 7-5 with an ERA of 2.89. 

After Derek Jeter was praised for his final All-Star Game performance in Minnesota, the Yankee struggle continued through the dog days of summer. 

The second half of the year dragged. The drag was so depressing and uneventful that the vision of winning the division was already out the window. By August 1, the goal was the Wild Card, a spot where the Yankees had never won in the postseason and had not represented since 2010. The standards were set high in March, but the players and its supporters slowly lost faith as the losses tallied. 

By September 1, the Yankees were well out of the division picture, but maintained a steady pace against Cleveland and Seattle for the second Wild Card spot. As football season was right around the corner, the front office decided to hold Derek Jeter day on September 7, which was a wonderful ceremony to the legacy of The Captain. Unfortunately, the season was clouded by the presence of Jeter, and the front office and team was not focused on the task at hand. Jeter may not have wanted the praise and recognition from other ball clubs, but he never shied away from receiving gifts before first pitch, which appeared as "awkward" for the Jeter persona, as Derek was always focused on the team, and not himself. 

Throughout the month, the Yanks' went through small winning and losing streaks, but playing .500 ball was not going to earn them October baseball. As the Yankees reached their final homestand, it appeared that the postseason was simply a fantasy, which allowed the organization to focus on Jeter. 

September 25, 2014. Derek Jeter's final home game began with emotions flying high in the clubhouse and in the stands, as the Game 7 atmosphere entered Yankee Stadium for the first time in a long time.  In the first inning, Jeter walked up to the plate to a standing ovation with Bob Sheppard's voice flowing through the Bronx. After stepping into the batter's box, Jeter was back at work, and drove a pitch 399 feet off the left-center wall for an RBI-double to cut the Yanks' deficit to one. With the score tied at two in the 7th, Jeter reached base on a throwing error by JJ Hardy that drove in both Jose Pirela and Ichiro. After the inning ended with the Yanks' up two runs, the crowd stood once again and cheered for their captain, as it most likely marked his final at bat in pinstripes (so we thought). As David Robertson looked to close out the 9th, in the blink of an eye, Robertson gave up two homers to Adam Jones and Steve Pearce which tied the game at 5. The Yankees luckily got out of the top half with a chance to win in walk-off fashion, with the batting order of Jose Pirela, Brett Gardner and who else? The Captain. In the bottom half, Pirela lead off the inning with a single, Gardner laid a bunt down to send pinch-runner Antoan Richardson to second, and the baseball world was focused on Derek Jeter with a man on second with only one out. Orioles' manager Buck Showalter chose to take out his reliever Joe Saunders and replace him with Evan Meeks.

On the first pitch, Meeks through a straight fastball down the heart of the plate, and Jeter connected with his trademark "Jeterian Swing" to right field. The crowd was in pandemonium as the ball reached the outfield grass to the glove of Nick Markakis, but Richardson's hustle made the throw home irrelevant, as Richardson slid into home to score the game-winning run for the Yanks. Jeter touched first base and rounded half way down to second and watched the ball reach home late, which lead to Jeter jumping up and down with his hands in the air and a smile on his face. Derek Jeter once again proved to baseball and also the sports world that he was not called Captain Clutch for nothing. Many analysts and journalists chimed in on the "Jeter Treatment", claiming the ceremonies as "embarrassing" and Jeter's career as "overrated". The wonderful thing about Derek Jeter's personality is that the media had no affect on how he operated on and off the field. Jeter kept his world hid, and addressed the media with sincerity in his notorious straightforward responses. For nearly twenty years, the spotlight was on the Yankee shortstop, but Jeter never broke a sweat under the heat, which will always be looked upon as a unique characteristic to a New York athlete. The man was the same for two decades.  

It was during the final press conference at the Stadium when Jeter announced that he had played his final game at shortstop, and that he would voluntarily DH or pinch hit for the final series at Fenway Park. On Sunday afternoon, Jeter stepped up to the plate one last time, in front of nearly 38,000 fans chanting Jeter's name. In the 4th, Jeter hit a high chopper over third base, driving home Ichiro to add to the Yankee lead. The Yanks' went on to win the game, but skipper Joe Girardi decided to pull Jeter after reaching base safely. As Derek walked back to the dugout, he was welcomed with the entire team waiting to shake his hand and congratulate him on such a legendary career. As Jeter waived his hand and tipped his cap, he stepped into the dugout and faded into darkness. On September 28, the Yankee dynasty had seen its final day. 

New York ended the season with a record of 84-78, taking second place in the AL East and missed out on the playoffs for a second consecutive year. The offense finished ranked 20th in runs (633), 23rd in hits (1,349), 22nd in RBI (591), and 20th in batting average (.245). The pitching ranked 18th in ERA (3.75), 4th in strikeouts (1,370), and held their opponents to a batting average of .250. 


In all fairness, a hefty amount of bad luck entered the season in the early stages, but the flaws in the long run were placed upon the offense which was incapable of scoring runs on a consistent basis. Do the Yanks' switch around their lineup next year, I doubt it, but Jeter no longer in the 2-hole may help shape an offense that Joe Girardi hopes can win ball games. The season was full of ups and downs, just like 2013, but in order to reach the postseason in 2015, the roller coaster of events must settle down. 



Here are 3 things to be pleased with this season:

Jacoby Ellsbury's influence-  Although the price for Ellsbury was a hefty amount, the Yankees received spectacular defense and speed from #22, though his bat settled in the late stages of the season. In his first year in pinstripes, he experienced a smooth transition from Boston to New York, and it will be important for Ellsbury to have a consistent bat next season. Both he and Brett Gardner are the faces of the franchise with Jeets now gone. 

Dellin Betances- The man was simply dynamite from his first outing to the last. He held a swagger on the mound, and his presence was intimidating as if he was taught how to pitch by Mariano Rivera. If the Yankees decide to re-sign David Robertson, the 8th and 9th inning combo of him and Betances could be lethal next season. 

The Rotation- Look, putting aside all of the injuries and roadblocks with Tanaka, Nova, and CC, there are many things to be happy about. When healthy, Michael Pineda threw gems against the AL East rivals, posting a 1.89 ERA in 13 outings this year. Pineda tallied 59 strikeouts in 79.1 IP, which is a good sign for the young and upcoming pitching staff (Pineda turns just 26 in January). With Masahiro Tanaka completly healthy, he ranks as a top Cy Young contender and the x-factor on the roster. Ivan Nova will hopefully return to action as late as August next season, which could help the Yanks' down the stretch. CC Sabathia is the only question mark, but it's evident that his dominant days are behind us. Brian Cashman should also strongly consider bringing back Brandon McCarthy for another season. 


Here are 3 things that need to be fixed this winter:

The Shortstop- Troy Tulowitzki, Hanley Ramirez and JJ Hardy are the names floating around Yankee Universe as potential replacements to the thrown, but the prices of all three candidates are going to be steep and costly. Tulo has made it obvious that he wants to be a Yankee in 2015, but New York would be forced to eat a 6-year/$118M contract given to Tulo by Colorado, and most likely the Rockies would want top Yankee prospects in return. Tulowitzki in the Bronx sounds exciting, but the cost is impractical, even to the beefy Yanks' wallet. Hanley Ramirez has been proven as injury prone and no longer displays any production in the field. His bat may come in handy, but the Yanks' need a fielder with range too. JJ Hardy is a viable option, but his hitting statistics are below par, which may lean the Yankees in another direction. To make a long story short, money will have to be spent on a Shortstop this winter. A-Rod at Short? No. No A-Rod talk until March. 

Brian McCann- As one of the veterans on the team, McCann must take charge in the clubhouse and take the role as leader to the younger players. McCann started off the year slow, but gradually increased his stats at the plate. His defense and pitch calling was above par, but his hitting remains the critical topic. He finished with an abysmal .232 BA, but held his ground with 23 HR and 75 RBI. The man is a work horse, and if McCann adjusts his hitting mechanics, the results next year can be heavily influenced on his performance. 

Management- Although Joe Girardi has one World Series ring with New York, they haven't been on top for six seasons, which makes us wonder whether or not Joe is still the solution at skipper. Brian Cashman has done an exceptional job keeping a competitive team on the field each day, but how many GM's last 14 straight years with only 1 championship? New York is a spoiled city, and it's understandable to any small market team that those credentials are worth keeping, but Cashman hasn't found the solution for another championship-caliber club. Injuries may have shaken the roster the last two seasons, but if next year ends in the same fate, the Steinbrenner family must consider cleaning the house and starting from scratch. Extending Cashman's contract would be a mistake. Girardi and Cashman deserve only one more year, unless they can bring another ticker tape parade to New York. 


All in all, thank you, Derek Jeter. Thank you for your hard work and loyalty to the New York Yankees. 

NY Giants: 2014 Preview

After a long, long winter and spring, the New York Football Giants once again begin a new season Monday Night in Detroit. Now, I’m sure anything I mention in this post will seem monotonous, considering how all NFL experts and analysts have brutally roasted Eli Manning and new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. We’ve heard it all right? The defense will remain at par, and the new west-coast will struggle in the hands of Eli.

Here’s my short and simple take on this team:

8-8.

That’s it. 8-8. What else is there to say? The Giants’ are notorious for folding at the feet of the weaker opponents and exceling against the primetime matchups. The first few games for Big Blue are manageable, but by Week 6 against Philadelphia, the slippery slope begins. Although the most competitive teams visit MetLife Stadium, the odds are in the favor of the opponents. The Giants ended with a .500 record at home last year, which stands out as one of the major concerns for this year.

8-8 will not be enough for the Giants to make the postseason, but it’ll be interesting to watch how Manning and the new offense will react to a new style of play, and how a young offensive line will work to protect its quarterback and halfbacks. As Giants’ fans, we should always expect the unexpected, and always stay on the edge of our seat. The 2013 season is in the rearview mirror, and now we get to turn the page and fight once again.

Here are my predictions:

Week 1- @ Detroit (Win)               Week 10- @ Seattle (Loss)          

Week 2- vs Arizona (Win)             Week 11- vs San Fran. (Loss)           

Week 3- vs Houston (Loss)            Week 12- vs Dallas (Win)             

Week 4- @ Wash.    (Loss)            Week 13- @ Jax. (Win)

Week 5- vs Atlanta (Win)              Week 14- @ Tenn. (Win)

Week 6- @ Phila.   (Loss)              Week 15- vs Wash. (Win)

Week 7- @ Dallas (Loss)               Week 16- @ St. Louis (Win)

Week 9- vs Indy. (Loss)                 Week 17- vs Phila. (Loss)

The Iron Horsehead

First off, I'd like to congratulate any of the kind folk out there who still read my rants. I decided to take a nice hiatus for the past month or so, and since the Yanks' dragged on and on through July and early August, I figured there wasn't much to discuss in Yankeeland. With September already creeping around the corner, I've found it rather challenging to brief everyone on this season's highs and lows. After all, this roller coaster ride of a year has left fans' unhinged minds in constant spin. But I'm here to make the Yankee fan feel a bit better of the situation at hand. In all honesty, I'm even hoping for some reassurance.

Now, I can ramble on about how many times I've given up on this club, and I can also boast about how confident I was about their performance as well through the months. Nearly two weeks ago, the Yanks' were sitting at a record of 61-59, eight games back of the division leading Baltimore Orioles, which only left the second wild card spot as a viable option for a ticket to October baseball. After losing back to back heart breakers to Houston at home, the front office and staff called a club meeting to discuss the performance and efforts of the players and coaches. One of the motivators of the meeting was hitting coach Kevin Long, whom all year has received a great deal of ridicule due to the pitiful hitting stats of the Yankees' all-stars. Despite his role in the clubhouse, Long cannot hit for these brand name players, and it's not justified to place the most blood on Kevin Long's hands. The hitting woes have hurt the team all year, and even after losing eighty percent of the Opening Day pitching rotation, the prospect and trade acquisitions of Shane Greene, Brandon McCarthy and Chris Capuano have exceeded GM Brian Cashman's most wildest dreams. Some seasons consist of one too many injuries, and with the roster Cashman was left with, he did an extraordinary job filling the holes in the lineup, rotation and bullpen. With that being said, Brian Cashman has earned another year in the front office.

The very next day, the Yankees took the field with a new frame of mind. Championship caliber teams must possess three qualities: chemistry, talent, and hard work. As batting practice took place prior to the evening game against the Astros, there were a few Yankee players going through their routine pregame stretch. One of the few stretching was reliever Shawn Kelley, wearing a latex horse head mask.

I'll let that image soak in your brain for a bit.

Kelley, who claimed the mask cost only twenty dollars on Amazon.com, insisted on purchasing the mask in order to loosen up the rest of the guys. Eureka? Is that the Yankees' having fun? Baseball is supposed to be fun, right? Bingo.

Once Kelley's alter ego was born, the Yankees' went on to top the Astros, sweep the Chicago White Sox, and clobber the Kansas City Royals. What does this power surge say about the team, I don't know, but the Yankees found a valuable piece to the sports puzzle: the good luck charm.

The Yankees now stand at 69-62, two and a half games back of the second wild card, and two games back of the potentially potent Detroit Tigers.

Well, that's baseball right?

That's baseball. Why is that baseball, and why does it work itself out like that?

Why do we know by mid-season whether or not our football or hockey teams have enough to compete? Maybe it's because football has sixteen games and hockey has eighty-two. The magical thing about baseball is that there's nearly double the amount of games than in hockey or basketball. There's room for mistakes in baseball, room for improvement as well. "It ain't over til it's over" couldn't be more correct in the situation of the New York Yankees.

A month ago, I strongly believed the season was over, but as the crucial division games begin in September, the Yanks' ultimately determine their own fate. The postseason is practical. The division is even practical. The road is long, but if optimism stays strong within the clubhouse, I see some hope in this team. Like I always say, keep the faith Yankee fans.

On the contrary, if this year is all for nothing come October, I'd like to thank the Yanks' for a hard fought year that was dealt with a harsh amount of bad luck. In all honesty, you kept us intrigued enough to distract us right before NFL
kickoff.

The Damned Yankees

Just when the week couldn't become any worse for the Yanks, Masahiro Tanaka unexpectedly lands himself on the disabled list with a partially torn UCL in his right arm. Three doctors analyzed Tanaka in Seattle yesterday afternoon, with a unanimous diagnosis of six weeks of no baseball activity, hoping for a painless and speedy recovery for the Yankee ace. If the recovery period fails any progress, Tommy John surgery is a potential solution.

Tanaka, who has carried the Yanks' pitching staff in result to the starting rotation blunders, has shown signs of struggle his last few outings, including an inconsistent performance in Cleveland this week. With a record of 12-4, Tanaka's success kept the Yanks' alive in the playoff race, but now with the 25 year-old in a sling till September, do the Yankees have enough bullets to make a postseason run?

The Yankees enter today a game over .500, heading in to Baltimore to play three games against the first place Orioles. With the countless injuries occurring, it is apparent to the fans and front office that the team is out of bullets? The nine lives of the Yankees are now used up, and the sights of a championship that seemed reachable in March are now fading away, maybe for good.

The Yankees have never recognized themselves as a forfeiting franchise. Now matter the circumstances, GM Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenner family have always tried to place a winning ball club out on the field. The only question that fogs the critic's mind is do the Yankees make an effort to compete, or develop the young talent and look toward the future?

After a heartbreak season in 2013, it is unfathomable to some that the Yankees should throw in the towel in mid-July, but the Yankees are a team that needs to sell, not buy, at the trade deadline. Despite the pitching woes, David Price and Cliff Lee are too expensive. The only logical move for the Yankees at this point would be to trade a player such as David Robertson, who still exemplifies value to any club in need for a reliever. With phenom Dellin Betances as the set-up man, it is imperative to allow Betances to pitch in these late innings on a regular basis, and establish a role as the future Yankee closer. Shipping David Roberston away can conclude in a high potential investment, and the Yanks' need all the help they can get in the prospect department.

As the stress builds on, it is also time to call up the future stars. Here are two names that could potentially be debuting this second-half:

Rob Refsnyder (2B/OF):  .317 BA, 12 HR, 45 RBI, .401 OBP , .549 SLG, .950 OPS  in 91 games

Adonis Garcia (OF):  .304 BA, 72 H, .342 OBP, .794 OPS in 60 games

Soriano & The Missing Arm

The Independence Day weekend was great for the players on the field, but not for the executives behind the desks. After struggling to keep a consistent batting average and performance in the field, Alfonso Soriano was designated for assignment Sunday morning, and Diamondbacks' right-hander Brandon McCarthy was traded to New York in exchange for lefty Vidal Nuno.

Soriano soared throughout the second half of last season, posting seventeen homers in fifty games after being traded by Chicago at the July deadline. This season for Soriano has been difficult to watch. The 38 year-old sat around .220 at the plate, and found difficulty with the amount of playing time Joe Girardi granted him. Soriano was frustrated with his role, but his time out on the diamond did not convince Brian Cashman to see him through another couple of weeks. Many speculated Soriano as trade bait within the month, but considering how ugly his statistics have been this year, it is possible that the front office attempted a trade not to long ago, and could not reach an agreement with any other club.

Now, back to the problem. You can never have enough pitching, and as the All-Star Break approaches, the Yankees find themselves in a pickle to find that one top-tier starting pitcher.

With CC Sabathia shut down indefinitely, the starting rotation will find difficulty in remaining consistent come October. The rumors around baseball have murmured the names of Phillies' Cliff Lee and Rays' ace David Price. Cliff Lee was once among the list of wants for the Yankees in 2010, but the negotiations were not in the Yankees' favor, and ultimately, Lee was sent to Texas for the remainder of that season until he signed with Philadelphia the following year. Lee's name has been among the elites for the last decade, but his struggle with injuries has left many uncertain of Lee's performance.

David Price has dominated the Yankees since his debut with Tampa in '08, and although he poses as a potent threat to the opponent's bats, his spot on the roster will also be as costly as Lee's. Tampa is waiting to shop Price, and the front office has made it clear that they are interested in potentially trading the lefty within the division.

The question that remains is this: Do the Yankees want to trade for these big names while giving away the few top prospects that remain in the minors?

Not only will the Phillies want the Yanks' to pay half of Lee's remaining salary, but they will also request for a talented prospect, such as Gary Sanchez or Mason Williams. Tampa Bay will also want a well rounded prospect in return, but most likely not to the same caliber. The only name that should be up for discussion is David Robertson.

Although Robertson has positively impacted the Yankee bullpen since the World Series run in '09, Robertson remains on constant watch as rising phenom Dellin Betances has controlled the bullpen. Betances is the future closer of the Yankees, and now would be a better time than ever to send away David Robertson in swap for an outfield or infield prospect.

The Yankees still wonder where they will stand by the trading deadline, and as the brand names remain on the trading block, look out for the expensive rentals to be in pinstripes this late July. The Yanks' are looking for a championship, but the costly trades may not be worth the time this season.