Derek Jeter Deserves a Pass

Derek Jeter's year has been a rollercoaster ride so far. Coming into the season, all the talk was how overpaid he was and how he should of taken a lesser deal. Then as the season went on and he got hurt, the talk was how he should retire and go out now because he is through. Then all of a sudden, there was a need for Jeter again. With the young shortstops making errors every other inning, the fans and the Yankees were ready to welcome Jeter off the DL for his pursuit of the 3000th hit.

How did that go? Well he wound up getting his 3000th hit in only Jeter fashion. Hitting a homerun to get the special hit and going 5 for 5 that day. All of a sudden, Jeter was back and the fans were ready to embrace him again. The Yankees brass were happy because the fans were filling up all those expensive empty seats, just to see Jeter again. The fans were happy because their idol shower how clutch he is in big time moments.

But that was last week. This week Derek Jeter is the target again for skipping the All Star Game. Not only from the media and the fans, but even MLB officials are telling Jeter he is wrong. MLB wanted Jeter at the game so they could put Jeter in the spotlight and celebrate the 3000th hit. Staying out of the spotlight is something Jeter has tried to do his entire career. He never wanted or wants to be bigger then the game. So Jeter bowed out, and he has the right to do so.

With the way Jeters season has went, can you blame him for wanting to go to his new home, relax and celebrate his new accomplishment with his girlfriend and his family. Maybe instead of traveling across country just to tip his hat, he decided it was more important to get some rest and be ready for the second half of the year. He knows he will need to step up and produce, especially now that A-Rod will be out for a month. Jeter need to be the leader of this team.

Yes, players with injuries are at the game. Jose Reyes, Ryan Braun and Shane Victorino are all hurt but at the game. But they are all under 30, and in the prime is their careers. Jeter is 37, and been named to 12 all star games. That's two more then Reyes, Braun and Victorino combined.

Jeter has paid his due. He has given his time. If he wants to take the break and go home and just relax then good for him. Jeter has always given this game nothing but 110%. But I guess Major League Baseball, the Media and some fans have forgotten that.

Rangers Get Their Star: Richards Signs

The New York Rangers have always been willing to spend money in free agency to improve their team. Thing is, in the past, the signing they have made haven't really worked out. From Lindros to Holik to Gomez and Drury, the Rangers have been looking for that true number one center, one that makes a legit top line.

Sadly none of those guys ever really worked out. Lindros was always a concussion away from retirement, Holik and Gomez proved to be a product of the Devils system and Chris Drury was never able to live up to the unfair hype he received due to his contract.

But the Rangers finally got it right. They brought in a real number one center, with signing Brad Richards. A guy who fits the Rangers system and understands the coaching philosophy of John Tortorella. Brad Richards is 31, but he shows no sign of decline in his play. He is a proven winner and also a proven leader.

Now whether or not Richards wears the Coveted "C" on his jersey has yet to be revealed. Tortorella has said he will make that decision in camp. Make no mistake, with or without the C, Brad Richards will be the leader of this young team. He will be the one who quarterback the power play, he will be the one the fans praise or blame. With that contract, comes a bullseye.

Brad Richards also has the responsibility to reviving Marion Gaboriks game. Richards was brought here to bring stability to that number one line and give Gaborik a true playmaker. Derek Stephan was not ready for that role and Brandon Dubinksky has become more of a power foward then centerman.

If Richards and Gaborik can co exist and become a true top line, then Callahan, Animisov, Stephan, Fedentenko and Dubinksky will fill out the next two lines. Giving the Rangers a whole new look. Not to mention, a fourth line of Rupp, Boyle and Prust. Add in Staal and the rest is the young defensemen, the Rangers look pretty good. Also can't forget they have one of best goalies in the world in Henrik Lundqvist.

So Richards has his work cut out for him. He got the big contract and the money he coveted. Now its time for him to lead these Rangers past the first two rounds. Making the playoffs is no longer the goal, the goal is to win the Stanley Cup.

Three Things Rangers Need To Do

The New York Rangers made the playoffs last season on basically guts and goaltending. Sure they had their offensive stretches, but to be honest, their offense was offensive at times, and their power play was outright horrible,especially in the playoffs where you need to take advantage of other teams mistakes.

The first thing for the Rangers to do, is somehow get an offensive defensemen. I still believe Del Zotto and Eminger is a fine 3rd pairing, and Gilroy splitting time there as well if he signs for cheap. The best option would be trading Michael Sauer who is coming off a solid rookie campaign.

Marc Staal and Dan Girardi aren't going anywhere, and the same goes for Ryan Mcdonagh. So Sauer is the obvious choice for the Rangers to try and trade with. An offensive minded right handed defensemen would be a great pickup for this team.

The second thing the Rangers must do is release some players. They should release Wojtek Wolski, Seasn Avery and Captain Chris Drury. As Ranger fans, it is hard to say goodbye to Sean Avery, the guy is what New Yorkers love,but the fact is he doesn't fit the coaches system. Avery is a wild guy, who loves to antagonize, and sometimes will take a bad penalty. John Tortorella isn't a fan of players who are undisciplined and isn't a fan of Sean Avery.

Releasing Chris Drury and Wojtek Wolski are moves the Rangers have to make. For cap reasons, and space for younger guys who fit into the system they are trying to play. With releasing Drury, the Rangers should give Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky the Co-Captains for now.

The third thing the Rangers must do, coincides with the second thing. With releasing Drury, the Rangers need to sign a real number one center. Brad Richards is the only one available, and knows Tortorellas system. He would be a great presence for Gaborik, and also be a great point man for the power play.

The Rangers are still in a process, but this is a big offseason for them as in terms of growth. We have no idea on prospects being ready to come in, especially Chris Kreider, so the Rangers have to try and update their team in other ways until the prospects keep developing.

Time To Blow Up The Mets

The New York Mets are four games under 500,they are in last place in the National League East, and sadly, they might be overachieving. It has been hard to watch these Mets, sure they show some fight, but they just seem to be out talented and skilled every night. They have no true ace, and their bullpen is very shaky at most.

That being said, I thought the Mets would be worse. But with Reyes, Beltran and Bay playing well, they are actually keeping afloat. That is why this is the best time to unload some of their players, and just start the inevitable.

I believe Carlos Beltran, Jason Bay, and Frankie Rodriguez are ones the Mets have to try to unload. They are all actually playing well, and could help teams looking to contend. Yes it is a little early, but who knows what will be out there come the trading deadline. So With all three being healthy, this would be the time to do it.

Another player that could be traded, is Johan Santana, who is said to be making great progress in his rehab. Sure he is ways ahead, and trading him in the next off-season or next years deadline would make the most sense, if a team gives you an offer, you can't just turn it down.

It would be hard to trade Santana, our only true ace. But we will never know if he will be a dominant, effective started again. So it wouldn't hurt to get the feel on the guy in the open market, especially if he returns this season.

Next is the elephant in the room, Jose Reyes. The guy has been hurt a lot in the past couple of years, but when he is playing, the Mets are a ten times better team. That being said, the Mets can not afford to pay Jose Reyes. It is a sin, and I don't understand how Bud Selig and baseball can let this happen, but they are friends with the Wilpons, and would rather see the Wilpons destroy the team, then sell it to a owner with money.

Reyes will demand $100 million, about $75 million more than the Mets can actually give out to all free agents combined. A trade is the only one. To get some young, promising MLB ready talent, that aren't close to free agency. Reyes would help any team he goes to with his enthusiasm and his talent. The Mets will never truly replace Reyes, well not in the near future at least.

That leaves the face of the franchise David Wright. Absolutely no fan wants to trade Wright to any team for any prospect. Even I would hate losing the homegrown Met, who grew up loving the Mets himself. But if the Mets do a complete fire-sale, and become the laughing stock in baseball, it wouldn't be fair to keep Wright around.

If the Mets trade most of their stars, it would be time to trade their most prominent one. Would receive the most talent back for Wright, and then could make Ike Davis the face of the franchise.

It hurts to even think this, but with the situation the Mets are in, these are the talks that are going on. So before any big injury or any big run, it's time for the Wilpons to unload who they are going to unload and start the process.

It's going to be a long summer and quite possibly, a long couple of years.

Rangers Season Ends, But Future Is Bright

The New York Rangers season ended Saturday afternoon in Washington, DC in a rough way. The Rangers lost 3-1 but were over matched and over worked all game. Being over matched isn't anything new to these Rangers, but being over worked was kind of disheartening for any Ranger fan. This team prided themselves on hardwork and blue collar hockey, so to be out worked for an elimination game is not what the organization or its fans wanted to see.

But the hard fought series is over, and three of the games could of gone either way. The Capitals are a veteran team and it showed, and the Rangers are a young team, and that showed. Glen Sather and John Tortorella have built something here in New York, that could wind up becoming very special. To rebuild but continue to contend for the playoffs is a very hard thing to do, but the Rangers have done that. Thanks to John Tortorella's style of hockey.

I was glad to see Tortorella was given an extension. He deserves to continue what he has started. He deserves to see this all play out. In a sense, the Rangers could be the same next year, or maybe even worse if they continue to go younger. They have a few young prospects, that are starting to get ready to make the jump to the NHL, just like Derek Stephan and Ryan McDonagh.

The nucleus is their for these Rangers. Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Mark Stall, Dan Girardi, Michael Sauer, Ryan McDonagh, Artem Anisimov and Derek Stephan. Add some future young guns to that lineup, with Henrik Lundqvist, Brian Boyle, Brandon Prust and hopefully a bounceback year for Marion Gaborik, the Rangers could be dangerous.

Ranger fans have to be patient, their will be growing pains. Sure, you can get on Gaborik and the veterans, but the young guys are going to have bad stretches. They are going to look like young, typicl rookie and sophomore players. But be patient. Sather has finally did, what he should of done when he first got here, rebuild.

With Tortorella behind the bench, the Rangers have the right coach to bring them through this process. His style of play, will make-up for the lack of offense they might have, with hard for-check, solid back-check, and great goaltending. Not to mention the way the Rangers are willing to take the body and block shots from the opposing teams.

I am a die-hard fan and I hate losing, but this year was part of the process for these young Rangers. The future is bright, and it finally looks like the Rangers are actually on to something. Till next October, Let's Go Mets!

Rangers Are All Heart

These aren't the 1994 New York Rangers, nor are they anything like the Rangers who made the playoffs two years ago. These also aren't your fathers New York Rangers. These are our New York Rangers. A team that has one mega star in their goalie, and a bunch of fowards and defensemen who grind and are willing to take the body, and sacrifice it.

Against the Capitals, the Rangers have far less size, skill and talent. The Capitals as a team are far superior to the New York Rangers. The only advantages the Rangers have are for one obviously is the goalie, Henrik Lundqvist who has been stellar. The Caps goalie has been solid, but until game three, he was never challenged. So what changed in game three? While the Capitals are all skill, the Rangers are all heart. They never give up, they never stop trying. As their head coach puts it, they aren't good enough to play any other way.

The Rangers playing their game is bad news for the Capitals. Having to deal with the forcheck, the hitting and all the block shots is not what the Capitals wanted. The Capitals wanted to go up 3-0 on the Rangers. They wanted to end this as soon as possible. Losing game three was a big loss, giving the Rangers any kind of hope and momentum is dangerous.

The Capitals were frustrated. Prust and Avery got to them, to their goalie. Dubinksky wouldn't be denied all game. They couldn't take the puck from him. Boyle and Fedentenko were giving their all every shift. The defense was blocking shots with their backs. The Rangers played for 60 minutes and got rewarded.

As a Ranger fan you got to feel good how the younger Rangers are playing. If your a Capital fan, you might be a little worried. History is not on their side. The Capitals have never won a series they lead 2-0 in.

Rangers lose Game One, Lack Edge

What a great start to what can be a very long series for the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. The Rangers finally made the first mistake late in overtime, and the Capitals took advantage. Alex Semin took a great pass from Jason Arnott, and Semin rifled it pass Henrik Lundqvist. Was a bad turnover by Marc Staal, who had a tremendous game, and logged over 30 minutes.

The Rangers played a very passive game. They played like they were looking for a point, and a shootout that would never come. Its Playoff Hockey, which means there are no shootouts, just continuous overtimes. Ovechkin brought everything to the rink tonight. He had a goal, plenty of shots, and plenty of hits. He brought the edge the Capitals needed.

The Rangers lacked that edge, they lacked the feistiness they brought all year. They missed Ryan Callahan truly in this game. But Callahan is not walking through the clubhouse doors Friday, and the Rangers still have a game to play.

With no shootout, and a lack of edge, there is only one thing the Rangers and Coach Tortorella can do. Bring in Sean Avery. Not the Sean Avery who plays scared to make a mistake, I mean the Sean Avery who got to Martin Brodeur every game he played against him. The Sean Avery who hit Tim Thomas with his stick "accidently." The Rangers need that Sean Avery.

It would be like the scene from Major League 2, when Ricky, The Wildthing, Vaughn returns with the black skull glasses and the leather jacket. Though when Sean Avery plays "his" game, he makes the new Charlie Sheen look normal. That's the edge Avery brings. He isn't Callahan, but he could be a factor. Getting under the skin of Ovechkin,rookie goaltender Michal Neuvirth, and the rest of the Capitals.

Sure Tortorella should keep him in check, but let him go out there. Without shootouts, there is no reason to have Zuccarello in the lineup. Avery brings much more to the table.

Even if Rangers lose Friday, this series is far from over, but its time to change the vibe. The Rangers aren't an offensive team, they are a team of hard workers, with spunk. They aren't going to score more then three goals a game in these playoffs, so why even try adding offense. They got to go with the spunk and the dirty goals, and just play their game.

It's time for the Real Sean Avery to come out and play.