The Sports Blog

No Bull! NY Advances to 1st MLS Cup Appearance

critter — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:23:36 +0000

With a 1-0 win over Salt Lake this past weekend, The New York Red Bulls have earned their first ever spot in the MLS Cup championship game! Dave Van den Bergh scored in the 28^th minute of the match and the defense took over from there, shutting out their opponent for the next hour of play. It’s hard to imagine a team that was so cold leading into the playoffs, depending on a rookie goaltender, has been able to upset the conference’s #1 seed in an aggregate goals round and then shutout their second round opponents.

However, the Red Bulls are still huge underdogs as they roll into the championship match against #1 overall ranked Columbus Crew (who beat Chicago 2-1), next Sunday 11/23 @ 3:30pm. The Red Bulls might have a bit of a mental edge however as they took the season series from the Crew 2-1 (outscoring them 6/4). More noteworthy is their last meeting was just a few weeks ago in the 2^nd to last match of the season as the Red Bulls dominated 3-1 to pretty much lock up their wild card spot. Best news of all is that the match will be played in a neutral stadium, so the Red Bulls won’t have to worry too much about the away-field woes that troubled them throughout the season.

They’ve already gone much farther than expected this year with their history of poor playoff luck, the numerous injuries, and the loss of key players throughout the season. But now all eyes are on Juan Pablo Angel and the rest of the squad to complete the Cinderella story.

MLS Cup 2008
Championship Match

East (1st) vs West (4th)

NY Rangers Week #6 Review

critter — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:52:57 +0000

13-5-2: 28 points
Atlantic Division: 1st ~ Eastern Conference: 1st ~ NHL: 2nd

11/10 vs – OT LOSE 2-3: STATS: GOAL(S) – Paul Mara (1), Chris Drury (6); ASSIST(S) – Callahan (2), Naslund (8), Gomez (10), Girardi (10); GOALIE – Lundqvist – 29 Saves (1/2 in shootout)

* The Rangers took way too many penalties, but fought off a couple of 5-on-3 penalty kills and were able to come from behind and get atleast one point. Unfortunately they weren’t able to capitalize in the shootout, missing all 3 shots.

11/12 @ – WIN 2-5: STATS: GOAL(S) – Michal Rozsival (2), Chris Drury (7), Lauri Korpikoski (1), Nikolai Zherdev (6, 7); ASSIST(S) – Mara (6), Dawes (2), Fritsche (1, 2), Girardi (11, 12), Drury (4), Redden (5, 6); GOALIE – Lundqvist – 29 saves

* Devils owned the first period in hitting and passing, but dropped off the face of the earth as the Rangers put on a clinic in the 2^nd notching their first 3 goals within a span of 2 minutes.

11/15 vs – OT WIN 3-2: STATS: GOAL(S) – Nigel Dawes (2), Markus Naslund (6); ASSIST(S) – Korpikoski (1), Fritsche (3), Dubinsky (10), Mara (7); GOALIE – Lundqvist 23 saves (4/4 in shootout)

* The Rangers had trouble with the Bruins defense but with 53 seconds in regulation, they were able to put up the tying goal. The shootout had a bit of controversy as the Rangers had a shot reviewed and called a no-goal, and on the final shot Boston had the shot hit off Lundqvists skate then hit the post and bounce out, yet was still called a goal by the referee. A quick 3 second review from the booth reversed the call and the Rangers skated away with the home-ice win!

Looking ahead:

11/17 vs 11/19 vs 11/22 @

Red Bulls Win as Underdogs

critter — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:50:07 +0000

The Red Bulls ended the Dynamo’s quest for a three-peat as they overpowered Houston, 3-0 in Houston this past Sunday. With goals by Dane Richards, Juan Pablo Angel and John Wolyniec, the Red Bulls took the aggregate goals series 4-1 overall and will now play at Salt Lake next Saturday for the Western Conference Championship. Rookie goaltender Danny Cepero was huge in blanking the defending champs.

Here’s a look at how the MLS playoffs look heading into the second round of action:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1^st) vs. (2^nd)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(3^rd) vs. (4^th)

NY Rangers Week #5 Review

critter — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:24:51 +0000

11-5-1: 23 points

Atlantic Division: 1st ~ Eastern Conference: 1st ~ NHL: 2nd

11/04 vs – LOSE 1-2: STATS: GOAL(S) – Markus Naslund (5); ASSIST(S) – Redden, Girardi; GOALIE – Lundqvist – 17 saves

* Horrible game. The Rangers put up 36 shots but couldn’t get anything through until they pulled the goalie for the man advantage with just over a minute left in the game. The powerplay had several chances but the Rangers kept moving the puck around instead of shooting it on goal, which lead to 2 short-handed goals for the Islanders.

11/06 vs – WIN 5-2: STATS: GOAL(S) – Chris Drury (3, 4, 5), Callahan (5), Marc Staal (1); ASSIST(S) – Zherdev (2), Rozsival (2), Gomez, Redden, Voros, Kalinin; GOALIE – Lundqvist – 36 saves

* Solid comeback for the Rangers after the tough loss to the Islanders. Chris Drury rocks the hat-trick, and the rangers take 3 power-play goals and 1 short-handed goal in the game.

11/08 vs – LOSE 1-3: STATS: GOAL(S) – Aaron Voros (6); ASSIST(S) – Dubinsky, Girardi; GOALIE – Lundqvist – 25 saves

* Tough game against a thriving Capitals team. Alexander Ovechkin was kept off the scoresheet yet again for the Caps, but Alexander Semin kept his dominance going with his 11^th goal and an assist to go with it.

Looking ahead:

11/10 vs 11/12 @ 11/15 vs

2008 AL Gold Glove Winners

Glendo — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:40:56 +0000

New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina has won his seventh Gold Glove, his first since 2003.

The list of winners includes: catcher Joe Mauer of the Twins, first baseman Carlos Pena of the Rays, second baseman Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox, shortstop Michael Young of the Rangers, third baseman Adrian Beltre of the Mariners and outfielders Grady Sizemore of the Indians, Ichiro Suzuki of the Marniers, and Tori Hunter of the Angels.

Hunter and Ichiro have now won eight Gold Gloves in a row.

GM meetings

gchacko — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:19:00 +0000

A potential three-way deal being discussed, that would send outfielder Hideki Matsui from the New York Yankees to the Seattle Mariners for a pitching prospect, perhaps Ryan Rowland-Smith. The Yankees would package the prospect with second baseman Robinson Cano and another young player to the Rockies for Matt Holliday. On the pitching front the Yankees will make their record-breaking pitch to C.C. Sabathia. If it fails, they’ll move on to A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, and Oliver Perez. Joel Sherman of the post says the Yankees could get involved on Manny Ramirez, but only if they fail to sign Mark Teixeira and manage to trade Hideki Matsui.
Ken Rosenthal says the Cubs are the frontrunner for Peavy, “perhaps even ahead of the Braves.” He says the Cubs also want to re-sign Ryan Dempster. The Cubs’ dream rotation would be Peavy, Carlos Zambrano, Dempster, Ted Lilly, and Rich Harden.
ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote in his blog this morning that the Mets are probably not willing to go past three years for Francisco Rodriguez or any reliever. Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Mets and Rays have had preliminary discussions about Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine. The Rays have some interest in Aaron Heilman, though the Mets would need to give more According to Peter Gammons, on ESPN.com. There as also a rumor that if the angles loose Texiera to the Yanks, they would turn their attention to the Mets 1b Carlos Delgado.
Some Dodger officials have spread the word that Russell Martin will either be traded or moved to third base. However, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti recently told the Los Angeles Times that reports of him looking to trade Martin are ‘untrue.’

2008 NL Gold Glove Winners

Glendo — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:20:16 +0000

David Wright and Carlos Beltran have won the Gold Glove at their respective positions. It is Wright’s second in a row and Beltran’s third straight.

The rest of the NL winners : Greg Maddux of the Dodgers at pitcher, Yadier Molina of the Cardinals at catcher, Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres at first base, Brandon Phillips of the Reds at second base, Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies at shortstop and Nate McLouth of the Pirates and Shane Victorino of the Phillies in the outfield.

Maddux’s award adds to his record of 18 Gold Gloves.

Around the majors… (NY)

gchacko — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:26:55 +0000

Mets

According to a recent report in the Chicago Sun-Times, the White Sox intend to trade RHP Javier Vazquez this off-season in exchange for a second or third baseman. Chicago Tribune’s Dave van Dyck writes, ‘The Mets have interest in Javier Vazquez,’ according to a well-placed source at the GM meetings.

Last weekend, in the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo wrote, “The Mets are still eyeing Mariners free agent Raul Ibanez. In a report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal writes the same, saying, “The Mets maintain interest in Ibanez, whom they tried to acquire last July.” He has hit at least .280 with 20 HR and a .350 OBP during each of the last four seasons with the Mariners.

The agent for free-agent Brian Fuentes told reporters that he will meet with Mets GM Omar Minaya during this week’s GM Meetings in California.The agent told reporters, regarding Fuentes, ‘New York is on our radar…I think he would be great there, he really thrives under pressure.” The early buzz surrounding Francisco Rodriguez suggests he is capable of landing a five-year, $70 million contract…

In a recent article, Marty Noble of MLB.com writes the following about free-agent 2B Orlando Hudson:
“From what I’m told, Hudson, a free agent, yearns to play for the Mets. I can’t be sure of that. I don’t know him. But what I know of him would suit the Mets’ purposes quite well. Whether or not Hudson wants to play at Citi Field, money will be a factor, and the $18 million owed Castillo can make it an issue.”

Yankees

Yesterday, the Yankees announced two transactions. They declined the 2009 team options for Jason Giambi ($22 million) and Carl Pavano ($13 million). However, Cashman did meet with Pavano’s agent, and has not ruled out the possibility of signing either player.

While the Yankees’ primary objective is to discuss Sabathia, there is also a possibility that the Yankees could go after Orlando Hudson, in the unlikely event that they trade Robinson Cano. Cashman has said that he intends to bring aboard “multiple” starting pitchers, with Sabathia and A.J. Burnett the top two available on the market. Burnett’s agent, Darek Braunecker, announced yesterday that Burnett would opt out of the two years and $24 million remaining on his contract with Toronto.

Bobby Abreu wants to stay in the Bronx, but the Yankees are overloaded with outfielders {Melky, Damon, Gardner, Matsui and Nady}. It seems that Abreu, who hit .296 with 20 homers and 100 RBI, will be looking for a new home this winter. Chicago or either
Florida team would be a god fit for him.

Week 9 Rankings

Glendo — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:49:16 +0000

After Week 9, here are the Power Rankings

1. Tennessee Titans (8-0)

2. New York Giants (7-1)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

4. Carolina Panthers (6-2)

5. Washington Redskins (6-3)

6. Chicago Bears (5-3)

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)

8. Buffalo Bills (5-3)

9. Arizona Cardinals(5-3)

10. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)

CheeseSteak Celebration!

critter — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:41:31 +0000

CAN YOU TELL THIS SITE IS RUN BY MOSTLY METS FANS?!?! It might be a week late, but congrats to Cole Hamles and the Philadelphia Phillies - the 2008 World Series Champions!!!!

They powered their way through the playoffs and proved that it is actually possible for a team in the NL East to get the job done!!! Look for the Muts to really open up the checkbook (to the likes of Yankees recent standards) this offseason….