Saturday, November 28, 2009

Amber Theoharis Chats With Pitcher Matt Albers (Courtesy of MASN Sports)


Posted by gok men at 11:04 PM

Back to Reality; Impressions From The Mid-Summer Classic...


Folks, I'm alive. It's just been a busy week, and I didn't do much because I was pretty worn out from my whole All-Star experience and then commuting back home (which was all right), but considering I didn't get back into my hotel until nearly 4am after the game and had to check out by 11am, I didn't get much done.

It's not cool to have a game end at 1:4o in the morning, and then take a train back to Manhattan to pick up your car. Baseball needs to start the All-Star Game earlier, so actually a generation could be able to watch an event in it's entirety.

The pictures are coming - you just have to wait another day or two.

This year's rendition of the midsummer was nothing short of amazing, and was worth every penny I spent on this trip. Though it was a drag watching a game go fifteen innings and having adrenaline keep you up, it was a lot of fun to partake in especially with the conversations I had with various fans around me.

I wil! l say that the event this year at Yankee Stadium was perhaps underwhelming in comparison to what I saw with the last few I saw in person, it exuded a lot of class. The tribute the fans give to Bobby Murcer before the game was extremely touching; as well, seeing the Hall of Famers on the field side by side joined by the starters at each position added a touch of nostalgia and respect.

Notes:
  • Seeing George Steinbrenner on the field during the pre-game stuff was very interesting. I sat in the upper deck, perhaps along the third base line and 6 rows up the railing, but you could clearly tell he was not in good shape. He looked extremely moved by the whole affair, and was just in awe. Person! ally, I have mixed feelings about him -- considering his owner! ship ten ure, and being suspended from baseball twice; however, his philanthropy and assisting those in need (especially the Virginia Tech community after the shootings), doesn't make him a bad guy -- just an overly competitive man who can be uncompromising.
  • The game itself dragged at times, and I was kind of alarmed at the response the Sox players got. Yes, I am not a Yankee fan -- but could the differences between Yankee and Sox fan be put aside for one day? Even at the end of the game, J.D. Drew got booed without mercy. Even funnier, Scott Kazmir and Evan Longoria got booed too -- so perhaps, the Rays are now officially part of the American League East dance. ! However, for one night -- I wish Yankee fans would have put their hatred towards other teams and players aside.
  • Dan Uggla -- what can you say? Great bat, ok glove; however, when it rains it pours, and he just looked awful...
  • The contrast in reaction between A-Rod and Jeter was startling. While both men got cheers their way -- Jeter was cheered respectfully and with passion; A-Rod, um, not so much.
  • It was nice to see a competitive game, rather than a glorified exhibition. Say what you want about Bud Selig, but his addition of home field advantage for the World Series brought the best out of the reserves who got to play in the duration of the game. You saw a bit of everything and McLouth's throw in t! he latte r part of the game to nail Navarro was amazing (of course he extended the game by a few more innings.)
  • Papelbon got serenaded with boos as bad as I have ever heard. While I think he made some stupid remarks out of ego concerning closing out the game, it was blown way, way out of proportion by the New York media. After the eighth inning, let's just say he got it from the New York faithful.
  • New Yorkers love Sheryl Crow -- um, Bud Selig, no; Sarah Jessica Parker who brought a ladies' view of New York onto the small screen, seemingly isn't well liked either.
  • We (the fans) were coming up with strategies what the teams would do if the game even went longer; however, no one of us thought that we could have seen David Wright or J.D. Drew pitch? What in the world.! I am so glad it didn't happen, or else this game would have been turned into a complete joke.
  • There was a lot of good baseball -- and the ugly -- (i.e., Uggla, not scoring with runners in scoring position), but Francona managed the game brilliantly and Hurdle did well too (leaving his guy, Aaron Cook to pitch three innings) and being creative with using his players (Cristian Guzman at third??)
  • Needless to say, George Sherrill was impressive. He 2 1/3 innings on Tuesday, or should I say Wednesday morning -- especially after his horrible week prior -- awesome.

Finally, I wore my Oriole cap along with my Terps T-shirt, I got zero problems whatsoever from Yankee fans (then again, if I sat in the bleachers - I might be in jail or not around to tell my story). In fact, I saw a few Oriole fans there, including a lady who wore a "This is Birdland" T-shirt, as well, I had the extremely good fortune of sitting close to a O's fan, and in back of me w! as a Nationals fan with his son from Chevy Chase, Md. -- the n! ext town over fom where I live.

Great game to see, and it's always nice to see history -- again.


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Posted by gok men at 11:00 PM

Throwing A Wrench Into The Plans?


This could mean nothing, but it could mean something. It might look like business is about to pick up for Mark Teixeira...

He was in the region, but didn't meet with the Orioles, or Nationals -- but the Yankees?
From the New York Times: The gridlocked free-agent market is slowly starting to move, and the Yankees are helping push it along. General Manager Brian Cashman traveled to Washington on Thursday to ! meet first baseman Mark Teixeira, and he will meet C. C. Sabathia this weekend before the start of the winter meetings in Las Vegas on Monday.

The Yankees' priority is pitching, and Cashman met with Teixeira and his agent, Scott Boras, who also represents Derek Lowe, Oliver Pérez and Manny Ramírez. Teixeira was visiting family in Maryland and is also being courted by the Washington Nationals.

"Mark is a good fit for a lot of clubs that want to win championships," Boras said in a telephone interview. "He's a great defender, an excellent on-base guy, a power guy, an R.B.I. guy, a durable guy, and he's a leader. You don't have many players in the marketplace who offer that package."
Who knows what may result from this meeting, but I don't think Teixeira will sign at the Winter Meetings; however, the Orioles should perhaps make an offer soon and see what happens.
Posted by gok men at 10:56 PM

Brian Wants To Stay?


I heard the "Scott and Anita" show this afternoon in my car while driving home this evening and I was quite surprised by what heard from Brian Roberts.

It sounds like he will be giving the Orioles an ample chance to keep him -- assuming the price is right -- in their uniform. I'm sure he does not want to be traded, but he understands the business of the game; however, he definitely has an affinity towards Charm City and the only organization he's played for.

In his weekly segment, he touched on these topics:

>>> Read More

Posted by gok men at 10:53 PM

A Look Back at the Tejada Deal: Baltimore Came Out Ahead, Obviously...


As most of us know, last off-season, Miguel Tejada was traded to the Houston Astros for outfielder Luke Scott -- a fan favorite who hit .257 with 23 homers and 65 runs in driven in, Troy Patton -- who sat out 2008, but is full of promise, Matt Albers -- who was 3-3 with a 3.49 ERA before ending the season with shoulder problems, Dennis Sarfate -- a fireballer, who served well out of the bullpen and was just shaky as starter, and Mike Costanzo -- currently in the minors.

Much like the Bedard deal, the Tejada trade might have set the course of the Astros back a couple of years, while helping out the Orioles immensely with their ongoing rebuilding process.

The sad thing is that the deal came on the eve of the release of the Mitchell Report. Well, the Houston organization felt confident about the deal -- Tejada did hit .283 with 13 home runs and 66 RBIs, all vastly below his career numbers -- and I'm sure they now regret signing off on this transaction.

E! ven worse, Tejada was implicated in the Mitchell Report the next day, and to add insult to injury -- he reported to Houston two years older in a matter of weeks than he was in Baltimore.

However, it does not compare to how the former spark plug of a shortstop has fallen, and that reality has been shocking along with saddening for fans, no matter if you liked him or not.

>>> Read More

Posted by gok men at 10:50 PM

The Baltimore Sun Looks at the Spring Training Facilites Down in Florida...


If you get a chance, today's Sun is a must-read about the Orioles Spring Training site resolution, and more importantly the current team complexes down in Florida. Um, it's not good, and if you take into the account what some players have to contribute along with some personnel from other organizations and the team, something needs to be done and soon.

The candid responses from the players about the conditions in Florida are nothing short of galling. It's an incredibly detailed, well-written investigative piece, and if anyone doesn't think that there's a problem with the team's situation in Florida -- there probably is now.

Another interesting view of the situation comes from WNST's Drew Forrester and Nestor Aparicio -- love or hate him -- that points out the deficiencies the Orioles have with their camps in Sarasota, and their spring home in South Florida.

>>> Read More
Posted by gok men at 10:46 PM

Adam Jones Shines in Midsummer Classic; The Roundup...


Baltimore's own Adam Jones held his own with the plethora of All-Stars as he drove in the winning run to lead the American League over the National League, in yet another close Midsummer Classic, 4-3. He carried himself like a true pro on Tuesday, and although he didn't get a hit, he made quite the showing. Watching a little bit of the replay on mlb.tv, although the announcers -- Tim McCarver and Joe Buck -- didn't go too much into detail about Jones, they gave the young man his props.

The American League has won their 12th contest in a row, and Carl Crawford! from Tampa Bay was chosen as the game's MVP after robbing Colorado's Brad Hawpe of a sure home run (which would put the NL in the lead) to center in the seventh inning of the game.

I don't know if Adam Jones or we fans should feel disrespected, but why was he not given an interview of some sort after the game? For some people who root for the Orioles, the All-Star game must have ever that much sweeter as 'Baltimore' was on the road uniform for the first time in nearly four decades. In addition, on the sports talk radio shows, his Facebook page, and on TV, he spoke about loving the city and having the name of it adorned on his chest -- which was nice to hear, whether it was a PR move, or straight from his heart.

>>> Read More

Posted by gok men at 10:43 PM

Islanders (17-33-6) at Rangers (30-22-6)


Rangers 3
Islanders 1

Game Highlights:


The Rangers are 3-1 against the Islanders this season.

It appears that there will be one lineup change tonight, from the team that took on the Blues on Monday. According to Andrew Gross of The Bergen Record, Lauri Korpikoski (3 goals in 4 games) will not be dressed because he is day-to-day with an upper-body injury that he suffered against the Blues.

Dawes (who has 2 GWGs this season against the NYI) who sat out the last game in place of Aaron Voros will be back in the lineup to replace Korpikoski. As a result, it looks likel! y that Brandon Dubinsky will go back to centering the 3rd line.

Likely Lineup:
Naslund-Gomez-Callahan
Dawes- Drury- Prucha
Voros- Dubinsky-Zherdev
Sjostrom-Betts-Orr

Paul Mara's MRI came back negative. There's no interior harm to his right shoulder, no surgery required. Mara's arm is still in a sling and there is no timetable for his return, but it appears that it may not be the season-ending injury that was feared at first. At the Rangers practice this morning Mara was in the trainers' room and unavailable for comment (According to Steve Zipay of NewsDay)
Posted by gok men at 10:38 PM

Rangers Blow 3 Goal Lead In Third Period; Escape With a Point


Rangers 4 - Thrashers 5 (Shootout)

The Rangers had a 4-2 lead going into the third period and midway through the final period the lead was gone. It wasn't Valiquette's fault that is for sure. When all is said and done, the Rangers were lucky to even have gotten out of the game with a point. Ilya Kovalchuk was kept quiet for the first 39 minutes of the game but he scored late in the second to close the gap to only two goals going into the third. Then, in the third period it seemed like Kovalchuk never left the ice and he made a great pass to Todd White to tie the game at four.

Valiquette was also solid in the shootout, not allowing a goal on the first five shots that he faced. Unfortunately not one of the Rangers could score on any of their six shots.

In a game when after 40 minutes it looked like two points were in the bag, the Rangers found a way to blow it. It co! uld be worse, they could've lost in regulation. But, that's little consolation after playing pathetic in the third period to blow the lead --- to a non-playoff team!

Captain Invisible (Drury) can't be blamed for this loss. He had a great second period (1 goal, 2 assists) - when did the Rangers pick up Chris Drury? One thing is for sure, he wasn't invisible tonight, he even had a goal waived off in the first period when he batted the puck in from above the crossbar. He did however have a chance to win the game in the shootout and was stopped by Hedberg on the Rangers third shot.

Marc Staal and Dan Girardi were on the ice for all 4 Thrasher goals! One that the two of them will want to forget.

Congratulations to Nik Antropov who picked up his 300th NHL point when he notched his 26th goal of the season on the power play in the second period. Also, congratulations to Steve Valiquette who got his first NHL point tonight when he made a great outlet! pass to Chris Drury, who skated in and blasted a shot past Jo! han Hedb erg on the power play to make it 3-1.

Posted by gok men at 9:52 PM

Rangers Sign Finnish Defenseman


According to Ranger Rants:
The Rangers have agreed to terms with 24-year-old Ilkka Heikkinen, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound Finn who had eight goals and 26 assists with HIFK Helsinski of the SM-liiga.
His stats from last season in Finland [here]

According to Blue Notes:
A free agent, Heikkinen, 24, skated in 54 games with HIFK Helsinki of the SM-liiga this past season, registering eight goals and 26 assists for 34 points, along with 22 penalty minutes. His 34 points ranked third among all SM-liiga defensemen. He led all HIFK defensemen in goals (eight), assists (26) and points, while finishing second on the team! overall in assists, fourth in points and seventh in goals.
Found these videos of him on YouTube (he's #49), he had a few goals and assists in this game [video] and here's another [video]. Obviously the competition is not anything compared to the NHL, but it's just an idea of what skills the kid brings to either the Rangers or Wolf Pack.

Time will tell whether he is expected to play in New York next season or in Hartford. He'll likely be given a shot in camp along with Sauer, Gilroy, Potter and Sanguinetti to make the Rangers in September - as it's almost a guarantee that there will be changes on the blue line before next season (ie. Morris & Mara).
Posted by gok men at 9:37 PM

Thursday, November 26, 2009

NYR 2009-10 Regular Season Schedule Released


The NHL today announced the 2009-10 NHL Regular Season schedule for all 30 NHL teams. The New York Rangers will open the season on the road against the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, not an easy way to start the season. Their home-opener will be the next night against the Senators, a quick start to the season with back-to-back games for the Rangers. The regular season will conclude for the Rangers the same way it did last season, with the final two games against their Atlantic Division rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers.

Other interesting dates to circle on the calendar:
October 12th vs Toronto - Colton Orr returns to the Garden (I'll bet anyone that Brashear and Orr re-acquaint themselves that night)
October 24th at Montreal - First game a! gainst Scott Gomez since the trade this summer
October 26th vs Phoenix - Petr Prucha (Dawes & Korpikoski) return to the Garden
November 27th at Tampa - John Tortorella's first game against his old team




!
NY RANGERS
! NY RANGERS
BUFFALO
3:00 PM ET
NY ISLANDERS
DATE VISITING TEAM HOME TEAM TIME

Fri Oct 2, 2009 NY RANGERS PITTSBURGH
7:30 PM ET


Sat Oct 3, 2009 OTTAWA NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Mon Oct 5, 2009 NY RANGERS NEW JERSEY
7:00 PM ET


Thu Oct 8, 2009 NY RANGERS WASHINGTON
7:00 PM ET

!
Sun Oct 11, 2009 ANAHEIM NY RANGERS
5:00 PM ET


Mon Oct 12, 2009 TORONTO NY RANGERS
7:00 P! M ET


Wed Oct 14, 2009 LOS ANGELES NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sat Oct 17, 2009 NY RANGERS TORONTO
7:00 PM ET


Mon Oct 19, 2009 SAN JOSE NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Thu Oct 22, 2009 NEW JERSEY NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sat Oct 24, 2009 NY RANGERS MONTREAL
7:00 PM ET

Mon Oct 26, 2009 PHOENIX NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Wed Oct 28, 2009 NY RANGERS NY ISLANDERS
! 7:00 PM ET


Fri Oct 30, 2009 NY RANGERS MINNESOTA
8:00 PM ET


Sun Nov 1, 2009 BOSTON NY RANGERS
1:00 PM ET


Tue Nov 3, 2009 NY RANGERS VANCOUVER
10:00 PM ET


Thu Nov 5, 2009 NY RANGERS EDMONTON
9:30 PM ET


Sat Nov 7, 2009 NY RANGERS CALGARY
10:00 PM ET

Thu Nov 12, 2009 ATLANTA NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sat Nov 14, 2009 NY RANGERS OTTAWA
7:0! 0 PM ET


Tue Nov 17, 2009 WASHINGTON NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sat Nov 21, 2009 FLORIDA NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Mon Nov 23, 2009 COLUMBUS NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Wed Nov 25, 2009 NY RANGERS FLORIDA
7:30 PM ET


Fri Nov 27, 2009 NY RANGERS TAMPA BAY
7:30 PM ET
!
< br />
Sat Nov 28, 2009 NY RANGERS PITTSBURGH
7:30 PM ET


Mon Nov 30, 2009 PITTSBURGH NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sat Dec 5, 2009 NY RANGERS BUFFALO
7:00 PM ET


Sun Dec 6, 2009 DETROIT NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Wed Dec 9, 2009 NY RANGERS CHICAGO
8:30 PM ET


Sat Dec 12, 2009 BUFFALO NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Mon Dec 14, 2009 ATLANTA NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Wed Dec 16, 2009 NY ISLANDERS NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Thu Dec 17, 2009 NY RANGERS NY ISLANDERS
7:00 PM ET


Sat Dec 19, 2009 NY RANGERS PHILADELPHIA
1:00 PM ET


Mon Dec 21, 2009 NY RANGERS CAROLINA
7:00 PM ET


Wed Dec 23, 2009 FLORIDA NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sat Dec 26, 2009 NY ISLANDERS NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Wed Dec 30, 2009 PHILADELPHIA NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET
7:00 PM ET


Thu Dec 31, 2009 NY RANGERS CAROLINA
8:00 PM ET


Sat Jan 2, 2010 CAROLINA NY RANGERS
1:00 PM ET


Mon Jan 4, 2010 BOSTON NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Wed Jan 6, 2010 DALLAS
7:00 PM ET


Thu Jan 7, 2010 NY RANGERS ATLANTA
7:00 PM ET


Sat Jan 9, 2010 NY RANGERS BOSTON
1:00 PM ET


Tue Jan 12, 2010 NEW JERSEY NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Thu Jan 14, 2010 OTTAWA NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sat Jan 16, 2010 NY RANGERS ST LOUIS
8:00 PM ET


Sun Jan 17, 2010 MONTREAL NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Tue Jan 19, 2010 TAMPA BAY
7:00 PM ET


Thu Jan 21, 2010 NY RANGERS PHILADELPHIA
7:00 PM ET


Sat Jan 23, 2010 NY RANGERS MONTREAL
7:00 PM ET


Mon Jan 25, 2010 PITTSBURGH NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET
7:00 PM ET

Wed Jan 27, 2010 CAROLINA NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sat Jan 30, 2010 NY RANGERS PHOENIX
8:00 PM ET


Sun Jan 31, 2010 NY RANGERS COLORADO
8:00 PM ET


Tue Feb 2, 2010 NY ! RANGERS LOS ANGELES
10:30 PM ET


Thu Feb 4, 2010 WASHINGTON NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sat Feb 6, 2010 NEW JERSEY NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Wed Feb 10, 2010 NASHVILLE NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET
7:00 PM ET
!

Fri Feb 12, 2010 NY RANGERS PITTSBURGH
7:30 PM ET


Sun Feb 14, 2010 TAMPA BAY NY RANGERS
 !
1:00 PM ET


Tue Mar 2, 2010 NY RANGERS OTTAWA
7:30 PM ET


Thu Mar 4, 2010 PITTSBURGH NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sat Mar 6, 2010 NY RANGERS WASHINGTON
7:00 PM ET


Sun Mar 7, 2010 NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Wed Mar 10, 2010 NY RANGERS NEW JERSEY
7:00 PM ET


Fri Mar 12, 2010 NY RANGERS ATLANTA
7:30 PM ET


Sun Mar 14, 2010 PHILADELPHIA NY RANGERS

Tue Mar 16, 2010 MONTREAL NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Thu Mar 18, 2010 ST LOUIS NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sun Mar 21, 2010 NY RANGERS BOSTON
3:00 PM ET


Wed Mar 24, 2010 NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Thu Mar 25, 2010 NY RANGERS NEW JERSEY
7:00 PM ET
!

Sat Mar 27, 2010 NY RANGERS TORONTO
7:00 PM ET


Tue Mar 30, 2010 NY RANGERS NY ISLANDERS
7:00 PM ET


Fri Apr 2, 2010 NY RANGERS TAMPA BAY
7:30 PM ET


Sat Apr 3, 2010 NY RANGERS FLORIDA
7:00 PM ET


Tue Apr 6, 2010 NY RANGERS BUFFALO
7:00 PM ET


Wed Apr 7,! 2010 TORONTO NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Fri Apr 9, 2010 PHILADELPHIA NY RANGERS
7:00 PM ET


Sun Apr 11, 2010 NY RANGERS PHILADELPHIA
3:00 PM ET
Posted by gok men at 6:48 PM
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