Monday, July 6, 2009

My Two Cents Worth

Trading Scott Gomez to Montreal was a move Glen Sather had to make. Gomer makes too much money for what he brings to the ice. Many Rangers' fans would have you believe Scotty is not a first line center. That is incorrect; Gomez would be in the middle of just about any team's top line. However, Scott's ability was severely diminished when the Rangers expected him to be the top player on the club.

The trade of Gomez freed up cap space to get Marian Gaborik, whose only issue is a big one. His health. In the past five years he has only played more than 65 games once. Of course, when healthy he is a top ten forward. Sather and Gaborik both insist he is healthy. For the amount of money given to Gaborik, Sather better be right.

There is still lingering talk of the Rangers being interested in Dany Heatley. If the reports are accurate and Ottawa is asking for Marc Staal and either Ryan Callahan or Brandon Dubinsky, Sather is better off keeping the youngsters to build with. If Slats feels the itch to make another move, how about a solid D-man to pair with Staal.

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The Yankees have been playing terrific baseball. Solid starting pitching, clutch hitting, even A-Rod has been good when it counts this year, and a bullpen that is flawed but more often than not getting the job done.

Wang going back on the DL is something to worry about. He was expected to be the third starter in the rotation, and if he's out for any length of time it's going to hurt the bullpen. It's important to get Brian Bruney going, long term he is still the best eight inning option.

Alfredo Aceves should be giving pitching classes. Sometimes it is as simple as throwing strikes and trusting your stuff.

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Scoring three runs in three games against the Phillies shaky pitching staff, in hitter friendly Citizens Bank Park no less, will not make anyone happy. But what is even more disturbing is the shaky Mets' defense. Giving away outs to a lineup like the Phills is going to cost you dearly.

Johan Santana and Mike Pelfey each pitched great in their last start. If Oliver Perez can somehow get his act together, the Mets will at least have their rotation in order.

The lineup needs a bat, but does it make sense to give up on a top prospect to get a mediocre bat. Omar ought to find out about Shelley Duncan, who the Yanks have no need for, and is currently in the minors.

In 250 plus at bats Duncan has 21 home runs, that's more than double any Met. And among non-DL Mets, Shelley has four times as many round trippers as anyone in Jerry Manuel's regular squad -- part-timer Gary Sheffield has ten. In case you were wondering, Duncan is batting .290.

True, Duncan was awful when he was with the big club early last season. However, in 2007 he hit seven homers on 74 A.B.s and almost as importantly brought energy and enthusiasm to the field and dugout, something this club is desperately lacking.

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