Would having Manny really be so bad?

July 7, 2009

Remember when news first broke of Manny Ramirez's 50-game suspension, how Mets fans everywhere had this huge sigh of relief? Close call, they thought. That could have been us! But flash forward two months, and do Mets fans still feel that way? Doubtful.

Recent columns

• Former Met McEwing finds satisfaction as minor league manager

  June 24, 2009

  Even if you're just seen "The Rookie" once, surely you remember how Jim Morris was told he was called up to the majors.

• Mets need Murphy to take page from Magadan

  June 23, 2009

  You know who Daniel Murphy reminds us of?

• Bruney needs to work on his delivery

  June 14, 2009

  "I respect a man who comes at me like that." -- Brian Bruney, discussing Francisco Rodriguez getting in his face during batting practice yesterday.

• No-name Nieve stumps Yankees lineup

  June 13, 2009

  Imagine the panic dominating the Yankees world this morning if only Luis Castillo had caught that routine pop fly Friday night. In that scenario, the Yankees would be riding a five-game losing streak into an afternoon date with Johan Santana, the best pitcher this side of the Canadian border.

• Let's not overlook that Mo was less again

  June 13, 2009

  If the official scorer had the power to charge a loss to a position player instead of a pitcher, Luis Castillo would be 0-1 today.

• Yankees' spin is even better than Wang's

  June 4, 2009

  Seemingly every time the Yankees talk about Chien-Ming Wang, they reference how he won 46 games for them in the previous 21/2 seasons, as if that should count toward something here in 2009.

• Stint in bullpen serves Hughes and Yankees well

  June 3, 2009

  Now that Phil Hughes is in the Yankees bullpen for the time being, what are the chances a few weeks from now we're debating whether Hughes' future is in the bullpen or the rotation?

• Lighthouse meeting produces some optimism

  June 2, 2009

  What we ultimately learned yesterday is that you can put Islanders owner Charles Wang and Town of Hempstead supervisor Kate Murray together in a room with 80 spectators, and you'll have the makings of a pretty good reality show. Call it Charles & Kate plus 80.

• Fernando Martinez's lack of hustle irks Mets fans

  May 28, 2009

  When Fernando Martinez is announced before his first at-bat at Citi Field Friday night, we don't expect him to hear any boos.

• The time for Fernando Martinez is now

  May 26, 2009

  As the excitement of a potential call-up swirled around Fernando Martinez, the Mets' top prospect responded in a way that probably will make Mets fans salivate, and understandably so.

• The time for Fernando Martinez is now

  May 26, 2009

  As the excitement of a potential call-up swirled around Fernando Martinez, the Mets' top prospect responded in a way that probably will make Mets fans salivate, and understandably so.

• Yankees remain out of touch with real fans

  May 22, 2009

  The Yankees last night finally solved their empty seat conundrum, if only for a day.

• These red-hot Yankees sure are a resilient bunch

  May 21, 2009

  We've reached the quarter pole of the regular season, and in a way it's somewhat hard to believe the Yankees wake up today on pace for a 95-win season.

• Michael Vick deserves a second chance

  May 20, 2009

  Does Michael Vick deserve a second chance in the NFL?

• Sabathia is feeling quite comfortable

  May 18, 2009

  We're still very much in the getting-to-know-you phase with CC Sabathia, just six weeks into his first season with the Yankees.

• If Damon doesn't return, he'll go out with a bang

  May 14, 2009

  As much as Johnny Damon would like to extend his Yankees career beyond 2009, the impending free agent knows that's probably not likely.

• A-Rod's return a welcome sight for Yankees

  May 7, 2009

  When the doors to the Camden Yards visitors clubhouse swing open this afternoon and Alex Rodriguez walks through, the Yankees coaches and players might as well drop to their knees, fan him with their arms and chant in unison:

• Joba's personal life tossed into spotlight

  May 5, 2009

  Just how much should we know about a player's personal life? That ageless valid question has once again jumped to the forefront of the New York sports scene on the heels of Selena Roberts' new book about Alex Rodriguez, even though the most tawdry of personal stories in the book comes as no surprise to Yankees fans.

• Pressure on A-Rod about to increase dramatically

  April 30, 2009

  If Alex Rodriguez had his own Twitter page, we imagine his updates these days would go something like this: "Worked out on the field again. Swinging well. Hip is good. I'm in a good place right now."

• Mets' copy machine producing troubling portrait

  April 29, 2009

  The act of tearing down Shea Stadium and moving this franchise into a new home provided Mets fans a perfectly timed act of symbolism. In the wake of the Mets' second straight September collapse last year, it was easy to believe there was no better time to start anew.

• Rangers' blame game won't help

  April 27, 2009

  If the Rangers' season ends Tuesday night in Washington, it won't be hard to pinpoint the exact two moments when their once-commanding lead in the series melted away like an ice cube on a 90-degree day.

• Mets' excuses for failures in clutch are off-base

  April 20, 2009

  On the bright side, at least the Mets put themselves in position to fail yesterday.

• New Yankee Stadium means new beginning

  April 16, 2009

  As the Yankees officially move across the street today into their brand-spanking new home for the rich and famous, the best thing fans can do is forget about the Yankee Stadium ghosts. Let them retire peacefully over at the old stadium, never to be bothered again. Trust me, it's for the best.

• Burnett showing he's no Pavano

  April 15, 2009

  We're just two starts into A.J. Burnett's five-year contract, not nearly enough time to come to any conclusions regarding the Yankees new righthander.

• A-Rod a changed man? Fat chance

  April 13, 2009

  Call it Extreme Makeover, A-Rod edition.

• Citi Field tough transition for Shea family

  April 12, 2009

  Mets fans everywhere are thrilled to open their sparkling new home, which they'll do in a regular-season game for the first time tonight, but it's important to note that a small contingent moves into Citi Field with mixed feelings. And understandably so.

• Mets should honor Strawberry, Gooden

  April 8, 2009

  The inspiration for Citi Field was Ebbets Field, with an assist from the Polo Grounds, and the stadium's main entrance features a dedication to Jackie Robinson. These serve as respectful shout-outs to the Dodgers and Giants, New York's teams of yesteryear, as well as a tribute to the most ground-breaking player in baseball history.

• No strikes yet against Yankees' Sabathia?

  April 7, 2009

  One bad game. That's all this was for CC Sabathia, right?

• CC's first start an oddity

  April 7, 2009

  One bad game. That's all this was for CC Sabathia, right?

• Manuel a perfect fit to manage these Mets

  April 6, 2009

  If you were told a year ago today that Charlie Manuel would navigate the Phillies to a world championship, you would have laughed.

• Pedro Martinez still hoping for return to Mets

  March 19, 2009

  Pedro Martinez is still holding out hope for a return to the Mets despite every indication that they have no interest, according to a friend who has spoken to the righthander recently.

• After Marbury leaves, success follows

  February 25, 2009

  The Knicks didn't know it at the time, but the best thing they ever did in terms of their rebuilding happened Jan. 6, 2004. By acquiring Stephon Marbury that day from the Suns, the Knicks basically screamed to the basketball world that, yes, we really do have a legitimate plan to one day become a competitive franchise again.

• Blasts from past on spring training rosters

  February 23, 2009

  Lost amid everyone's roid rage over Alex Rodriguez in recent weeks has been, yes, spring training. You mean the whole team is down in Florida already working out? Why didn't anyone tell us!

• Yankees could use Joe Torre now

  February 9, 2009

  The Yankees are making it clear that the responsibility is on Alex Rodriguez -- and only Alex Rodriguez -- to deal with the bombshell report from over the weekend that he failed a steroid test in 2003.

• Can Michael Phelps clean up act again?

  February 2, 2009

  Seemingly every minute for two weeks last summer all we heard about was Michael Phelps, his great pursuit of a record eight gold medals at the Olympics and his potential for enormously wide-reaching commercial appeal. Rarely, if at all, was it ever mentioned that at 19 years old this guy received a drunken driving charge.

• Islanders' Lighthouse power play long overdue

  January 15, 2009

  Can't you just see the ad?

• Knicks' circus always in town at Garden

  January 15, 2009

  One of these days the Knicks are going to make themselves relevant again for reasons other than sexual harassment lawsuits, sleeping pill overdoses or buyout negotiations. You know, for basketball reasons. Though based on the way the Knicks have played this season combined with the salacious off-court stories they're still producing, it won't be any time soon.

• Players believe Plax deserves second chance

  January 12, 2009

  When the Giants banished Plaxico Burress from the team after his self-inflicted gunshot to the thigh, they did so with the support of their players. Even though they were clearly a better team with Burress on the field, no one spoke out at the time. Everyone was fed up with his antics.

• Amityville's Fraser optimistic about Villanova -- and his NBA dream

  March 28, 2008

  So you think Villanova making the Sweet 16 as a 12 seed is an upset?

• Giants' win ranks among NY's best

  February 4, 2008

  Now whenever you mention those special teams such as the 1969 Jets, 1969 Mets, 1986 Mets and the 1994 Rangers, you have to include this Giants team. They made history, and will forever be remembered and cherished for it.

• Getting carried away

  February 1, 2008

  In an effort to see the trick plays the Giants and Patriots are working on, I asked the people at Goodyear to take me for a ride in their blimp.

• Where are they now? Matt Bahr

  January 30, 2008

  Doubt and uncertainty have to be foreign emotions for kickers. The most successful ones tend to be completely self-confident, never a doubt entering the mind, regardless of the situation. Maybe that's why former Giants kicker Matt Bahr always has had such strong convictions -- and still does today. Bahr told Newsday this past week that he was one of the Giants who in 1991 spearheaded the campaign to have the players wear yellow armbands to support the troops overseas.

• Catching up with Y.A. Tittle

  January 18, 2008

  Yelberton Abraham Tittle, famously known as Y.A., enjoys a laid-back, simple life. He's 81 years old, resides just off the San Francisco Bay and still reports to work at the insurance agency that bears his name. He said he goes in to the office for a half day three or four days a week, mainly to avoid his honey-do list.

• Catching up with Mackey Sasser

  December 8, 2007

  Like every head coach or manager on every level of baseball, one of Mackey Sasser's responsibilities at Wallace Community College in Dothan, Ala., is to throw daily batting practice.

• Former Yankee Phelps remembered more for 'Seinfeld' episode

  November 30, 2007

  Ken Phelps, for the record, was a fan of "Seinfeld" before his name came up in that hilarious conversation between Frank Costanza and the fictional George Steinbrenner.

• Outside Steinbrenner's house looking in

  October 17, 2007

  George Steinbrenner's home here in South Tampa is so large, it has its own name. We know this because it says so on one of the signs that hangs on the black metal gates blocking his driveway. One sign lists his address. The other says, "The Anchorage."

• Dolan's taped deposition raises behavior questions

  September 19, 2007

  When James Dolan's video deposition appeared in court yesterday afternoon on the oversized television, you couldn't help but take note of how large his head appeared on screen. Based on the arrogant way he conducted himself on tape, that's how he likes it.

• Dan Reeves says NFL can't stand for cheats

  September 12, 2007

  In Dan Reeves' 40-plus years in the NFL, he has seen, heard and witnessed countless stories of players peering in at defensive coaches as they gave their players signals.

• For Astros' Biggio, Long Island and Shea are home

  September 9, 2007

  Having spent his formative years as a sports junkie in Kings Park, Craig Biggio got to know Shea Stadium pretty well. He said he enjoyed watching the meteoric rise of Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry and even managed to sit in the upper deck with a few college buddies for one of the epic Mets-Astros games in the 1986 National League Championship Series.

• Pepitone to A-Rod: "Big deal!"

  September 6, 2007

  It didn't take long for Joe Pepitone to hear about how Alex Rodriguez hit two homers in an inning last night. The former Yankee was nearing the end of a day-long promotional appearance in Scranton, Pa. when one of his dinner mates told him the news.

• Fan predicted he'd catch Bonds' 756 HR

  September 5, 2007

  Matt Murphy doesn't want to come off as arrogant, doesn't want to sound pompous, doesn't want to seem entitled. That's why the 21-year-old from Elmhurst has said since the day he caught Barry Bonds' record-breaking 756th home run that his goal when he bought Giants tickets for August 7th was to witness history.

• When life gets in the way of itself

  September 4, 2007

  Now that Roger Clemens is out for who-knows-how-long with an ailing elbow, the Yankees have to rely even more on rookie Ian Kennedy to pitch them into the playoffs. This creates a cruel twist for Kennedy.

• This guy Ian Kennedy was born ready

  September 2, 2007

  Ian Kennedy wasn't allowed in the Yankees' dugout or clubhouse Friday because he wasn't officially on their active roster yet, so the 22-year-old rookie had to scout the Devil Rays' hitters elsewhere. His parents' midtown hotel room seemed as good a place as any.

• Revenge for '06 Boston Massacre?

  August 28, 2007

  With a month left in the regular season the American League East race is all but over, and for the first time since 1997 the Yankees won't win it. Boston has it all wrapped up, leading by eight games with 31 to play.

• So much for Vick's 'hard-fought' trial

  August 27, 2007

  There are so many gruesome reasons to be outraged by Michael Vick right now that I understand that lying about his involvement in dogfighting is not at the top. But now that he has officially pleaded guilty in court this morning, are we supposed to just forget that it wasn't long ago when he and his lawyers were telling us he wasn't involved?

• Job security not an issue for SJU's Roberts

  August 24, 2007

  This is a big season coming up for Norm Roberts, no doubt about it. It will be his fourth year at the helm of the St. John's men's basketball program, and everyone associated with the team realizes it's of utmost importance for St. John's to improve on the court.

• Think 30-3 is bad? Try 103-3

  August 23, 2007

  How about those poor, hapless Orioles. Imagine how it felt to be on the field as the Rangers kept scoring all those runs, 30 unanswered to be exact, en route to becoming the first major-league team in more than 100 years (!) to score 30?

• What will Mitchell do with these names?

  August 22, 2007

  You better believe there are several major leaguers waking up Wednesday wondering (a) if Kirk Radomski mentioned his name to George Mitchell and (b) what exactly is Mitchell going to do with this information?

• Don't count on Pedro just yet

  August 21, 2007

  It's never been done. . .

• First he saw Mantle's 500th HR, then A-Rod's

  August 10, 2007

  When Alex Rodriguez recently joined Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle as the only players to hit their 500th career home run in a Yankee uniform, Larry Lapka of Massapequa Park was inducted into an even more exclusive group.

• Father has concerns about Joba's move to pen

  August 1, 2007

  With top Yankee pitching prospect Joba Chamberlain in the process of converting to be a reliever so he can join the major-league bullpen, you would expect nothing but excitement at the Chamberlain house in Lincoln, Neb.

• Ozzie Smith: Fans will honor Aaron over Bonds

  July 25, 2007

  Barry Bonds is only three homers from eclipsing Hank Aaron's career mark of 755 and etching his name in baseball's hallowed record books as the reigning home-run king.

• Quiet country road rocked by Vick's indictment

  July 19, 2007

  The house that Michael Vick is alleged to have used to train pitbulls for dogfights is on a long rural road that is described by locals as the essence of country living.

• How's this for a job? Try representing Sheffield

  July 18, 2007

  As we all know by now, Gary Sheffield said some crazy stuff in his interview with HBO's "Real Sports," which finally aired last night. But overshadowed by his controversial comments about race and steroids was an amusing and telling admission by the former Yankee slugger.

• A Sheffield-Mitchell meeting seems unlikely

  July 17, 2007

  Say what you want about George Mitchell's steroid investigation and his obvious conflicts of interest, but the former Senator and his underlings certainly deserve credit for acting swiftly when they sense a big opportunity. And getting Gary Sheffield to talk to them would be huge.

• Before Shea, Milledge played in Williamsport, Pa.

  July 13, 2007

  Did you see what Lastings Milledge did last night? Did you see the way he scored from first, how he slid into home, how he snuck his hand in at the last second?

• The best of Rickey being Rickey

  July 12, 2007

  Rickey Henderson is back in uniform and on a major-league roster, albeit in the coaches section. But we all know being the Mets hitting coach is not his first choice of an occupation. All year he's been saying he thinks he can still play in the majors, even at age 48. Just give Rickey a chance.

• Unlike New York, New Jersey tests for steroids

  July 6, 2007

  If New York really was serious about testing its high school athletes for performance-enhancing drugs, the state's officials wouldn't have to look all that far for a good working model.

• Sean Hill (still) has some explaining to do

  July 3, 2007

  Finally, Sean Hill can hide no longer.

• Smyth trade was a mistake

  July 2, 2007

  You can give the Islanders credit for acting boldly and aggressively at the trade deadline. They traded for the best player available in the hopes of (a) a long playoff run, and/or (b) convincing Ryan Smyth to sign a long-term contract.

• NBA Draft dream so close for this NYC hoops star

  June 28, 2007

  New York City native Quinton Hosley arrived home last night around the same time the power stopped working across the city. Which made perfect sense, really, because he was starting to feel as if time wasn't moving, anyway.

• Don't laugh! Sheffield's predictions were accurate

  June 27, 2007

  We really don't want to defend Gary Sheffield and his propensity to open his mouth and say something controversial, then change his mind 20 minutes later. We witnessed his act up close the last three years, and it was as disturbing as it was entertaining.

• Nathan, Stony Brook benefited from each other

  June 21, 2007

  It's easy to make the argument that Joe Nathan played a very significant role raising the profile of Stony Brook University's baseball team. Only four years after the Giants drafted him in the sixth round, Stony Brook made the leap from D-III to D-I.

• Think things are bad with the Mets? Think again

  June 18, 2007

  While watching the Mets continue their June swoon last night at Yankee Stadium, I found myself thinking about other more difficult times for the Mets. Times when it was a struggle to win games all season long.

• Who knew Plainview produced basketball coaches?

  June 13, 2007

  A little more than a week ago, around the same time Billy Donovan provided everyone with a great impersonation of a high school senior reneging on his new prom date so he could go with his old girlfriend, another Long Islander made some NBA news that slipped under people's radar.

• Never too early to preview baseball's trade deadline

  June 12, 2007

  You know what's the best thing about baseball's amateur draft? Once it's over, baseball's trading season officially gets started. This is the time when GMs really start to focus their attention on what they're going to do at the trade deadline, perhaps our favorite time of year.

• The man who gave up Bonds' first HR

  May 30, 2007

  Nearly 21 years have passed since Barry Bonds hit the first of his 746 career home runs (and counting), and the pitcher who gave up that historic shot understandably doesn't remember it.

• Steroids testing in high schools long overdue

  May 24, 2007

  Eighteen years ago, in the year 1989, Jason Giambi was an 18-year-old high school senior, Barry Bonds was a talented major-leaguer but by no means considered a threat to Hank Aaron's home-run record and the company named BALCO was a decade from entering our vocabulary.

• Was that blood or red paint?

  April 26, 2007

  More than two years after the fact we still don't truly know whether that really was blood on the sock of Boston's pitcher / publicist Curt Schilling during the 2004 postseason. Last night, however, we received an interesting second-hand admission that it was staged with - get this - red paint.

• For Yankees, the end of an awful era

  April 25, 2007

  Once Phil Hughes steps on the mound tomorrow night, Yankee officials will be relieved, and not just because their battered pitching staff is getting what they hope to be a boost. It's also because the mere fact Hughes is pitching in a major-league game will end a forgettable run of horrific drafting.

• Hughes is ahead of schedule

  April 24, 2007

  Is it a desperation move or out of necessity? How about both? No matter how you look at it, the Yankees are turning to Phil Hughes to pitch on Thursday, and that's way ahead of the schedule they had planned for him.

• NHL: Refs made right calls

  April 17, 2007

  After watching the Islanders fans' idiotic trashing-the-ice display and then hearing several players question the referee's calls after their 3-2 Game 3 loss, I got a little tired of the belly-aching.

• Time has passed Imus by

  April 10, 2007

  The only way this whole Don Imus saga is going to go away is by you, the listener, taking action. It's time to hit the mute button on his show, change the station, and look the other way. It's time for him to leave.

• Back home, the Dubielewicz family celebrates

  April 9, 2007

  For all you Islanders fans who could barely bring yourself to watch the shootout against the Devils yesterday in fear of what horror might take place next, just think of what was going through the minds of Wade Dubielewicz's parents.

• From The Boss to The Donald?

  April 2, 2007

  This whole guessing game regarding whom George Steinbrenner is going to pick as his Chosen One is fun, but not complete. Let's not overlook the possibility that The Boss's family could simply cash in on this pinstriped-empire after George is gone.

• Bookmark this Web gem

  April 1, 2007

  So where do you get your news these days? It's OK. You can admit it. We already know what most of you are going to say, anyway. It's the Internet, not the newspaper. Don't be ashamed. The world is changing, and you're on board with it.