Journal Entry: Day 16

Hey everyone! Sorry about the long layoff this week, I've been very busy (and stressed) with getting out all my college stuff.

With the deposit deadline approaching (May 1st) I had to really buckle down, lay out all my paperwork, weigh my options, and talk to my parents about what school would really be the best for me. Ultimately, I've decided to attend Pennsylvania State University in the fall of 2011. Penn State is a very, very, very well-known school and is held in very high regard. What makes it sweeter is that they accepted me into their Communications College. Cool stuff, no? So at this point, that's what the future holds for me.

Let's talk WISE. I'm freaking out.

Yeah, I know Mr. Murphy said it's good if you're a little stressed, but I'm realllllllly stressed. I can't stress it enough. Pun intended. Okay, crappy joke. Moving on...

My presentation is May 13, also known as WISE day. I think what I'm going to do, as I've stated prior, is make a Top 10 Plays, Sportscenter-esque highlight reel of all my WISE work. It's gonna be a lot of work, making graphics and what not, but you gotta do what you gotta do, no? I'm on spring break right now, so work mode starts as soon as I get back to school.

So who's following the NHL playoffs? No one? Thought so. Well, I'll be in attendance tomorrow night for the Rangers vs. Capitals at MSG, so anyone who happens to be there and wants to stop by and say hello, feel free. Section 209 row D.

Also, new question of the week: Will the Red Sox make the playoffs after their terrible start to the 2011 campaign? Discuss down below.

Big News and The Weekend

Hello all!

Never have I been as happy as I am right now during WISE.

I'm currently in the process of finalizing another internship, this time with the local newspaper, The North County News. As of now, talks are still in the early stages, with some email-trading going back and forth, but it should get done pretty soon! I'm very excited! This is a huge step forward for me for what I'm trying to accomplish. I'm hoping that I can get started soon and get my feet wet with this internship to see if this is truly a career that I'm going to pursue. Cool stuff, eh?

Secondly, don't expect any posts this weekend. This weekend I'll be with my parents visiting Penn State. We'll be going on a tour, learning some info, and ultimately making a decision if this is the school for me. I got into their College of Communications, which is pretty sick if I do say so myself, so I'm definitely looking forward to this tour. I know, I know, I can see the sad faces and tears dripping down your cheeks, but fear not, next Monday I shall return. Until then, all you Yankee fans out there can go enjoy the first Yankees-Red Sox series of the year.

That brings an end to this post and our question of the day: Will the Red Sox beat the Yankees for a win during this series, or will they be swept and have to wait? Post it in the comments section, you know what to do.

New Song of the Week

On the right-hand side, check it out. I've been listening to Rise Against a lot lately. If you haven't heard it, pick up their new album Endgame.

Tuskers take opener 13-5 vs. Iona behind Bath's Grand Slam

Hershfield delivers a pitch.

I'm just getting the word on this now, so sorry for the brevity of this post:

The Somers Tuskers kicked off their 2011 baseball season today with a 13-5 win over the Iona Prep Gales today, powered behind sophomore Joe Scambia's third inning home run and senior third baseman Zach Bath's (2-4) fourth inning grand slam. Senior Nick Hershfield, who started for the Tuskers, pitched 5.2 innings of three run baseball, none of which were earned. As well, junior Dan Ishoo flashed the leather with some eye-opening plays in left field. Senior catcher Rob Tomasulo also had a productive day at the plate, going 2-4 with a single, double and an RBI.

Catcher Rob Tomasulo, who was crucial in the win today.

A smiling Bath rounds the bases.

The slam really turned things around for Bath, who had a bad day in the infield.

"Not my best day in the field. Since up to that point I was 0-2 with those two errors, I tried not to allow the defense to transfer to the offense, and I knew that in the two previous at-bats that I had been pulling out with my shoulder and hadn't let the ball travel. I focused on that in the two next at-bats. It was a 2-1 count of all fastballs, and I knew the pitchers wouldn't throw an off-speed pitch at 2-1, so I geared up for the fastball and was able to get on top of it enough, even though it was around my letter," said a cheerful Bath after the game.

It's all added up to a well-deserved, power-struck win for the Tuskers. Catch them tomorrow as they take on Lakeland-Panas @ 4:00 PM at Lakeland!

(photo credit to Rob DiAntonio / North County News)

Journal Entry: Day 15. Back Home At The Ballpark.

The Boss... No, not George Steinbrenner, me! Just kidding.

Well folks, baseball is back, and what better way then to spend your sunny Sunday afternoon than freezing your buns off in 15 mph winds, hearing tons of profanity, and watching opposing fans get the boot from the game in The House That George Steinbrenner Built? The answer: There is no other way. Baseball is back, and that's the best feeling in the world.

So to state the obvious, I was in attendance today with my baseball partner-in-crime, my father, for the Yanks' 10-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers in the final game of the opening weekend series, my first 2011 game of the season. The Yankees, who could have swept the series had Phil Hughes and Bartolo Colon not completely blown it today, now stand at 2-1, second place in the AL East. Despite it being freezing cold and the wind whipping, today's game, even though it was a big fat L, was a blast, and by a blast I mean literally. A total of seven homers were hit today, four by the Yankees (Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira - who now has three in as many games - and two jacks by Jorge Posada) and three by the Tigers (Brennan Boesch had one and Miguel Cabrera had two). I felt like I was at a home run derby rather than a regular season game. The Yanks now have nine home runs in their first three games, a new franchise record.

One thing that really caught my eye was the severity of how hard Cabrera clobbered those home runs. Both of them, which happened to be two-run homers, were lasers to left field, and there was no doubt about it when the ball left the bat that they were gone. I don't think I've ever seen a baseball leave the stadium that quickly. But that's why Miguel Cabrera finished second in the AL MVP voting last season and is regarded is one of the best right-handed hitters in the game.

We had great seats: Section 105, row 11, just two rows behind the right field wall. That being the case, we got there early to watch batting practice and try to score some autographs but were unsuccessful. So after striking out on trying to get autographs, we tried to see if we could get into Monument Park. You all know that I love the Yankees and I've been a fan my whole life, but I must confess: never in my life have I ever been to Monument Park. It's been something I've wanted to do since I first stepped foot in the original House That Ruth Built which is now known as the dust-bowl next door. Sadly, the line was ridiculously long (seriously, it went up two stair cases) so we weren't able to get in.



We returned back to our seats by game time, just in time to watch the Yankees take their laps in the outfield. Shortly, the sun came out, it warmed up, and it was game time.

"Swishalicious," to quote John Sterling.

Perhaps the highlight of my day was none other than the man playing right field whom I sat right behind: Nick Swisher. Talk about a ball player who likes to have some fun. Every time a fan called out his name, gave him praise, or said his wife, actress Joanna Garcia, was "hot," Swish would turn around and give a wave and a smile, or a thumbs up. It was great to see that at least one athlete is human. Swish is just a fun loving guy who loves playing in New York, and I really hope that the Yanks pick up his option at the end of this year and that he's here for a very long time. My favorite line of the day was from the fan behind me, who brought up Swish's twitter account (@NickSwisher), asking "Hey Swish, can I get a re-tweet?" to which Swisher replied by turning around, laughing, and slapping his glove. You gotta love a guy who shows that he's having a blast playing the game.

Then there were the unruly fans behind us who heckled poor Tigers' outfielder Don Kelly. Today was not a good day to be that guy. The right field fans, who tend to be rowdy, wouldn't leave Kelly alone. Screams of "You suck Kelly!" "Hey there Pat Kelly!" "Nice strikeout Kelly! Really helping your team!" and many more which I can't list here because this is a school project (sigh), were echoed through the caverns of the outfield. All Kelly could do was do his best to ignore them and try to concentrate on the game. It got me thinking though, seeing as Swisher responded to anyone who talked to him from the stands, that ballplayers really do hear everything that the fans say. I could only imagine what was going through poor Don Kelly's head as Yankee fans ripped him apart.

Yeah, see Phil, we can't have this all year.

Another thing I noticed today was how low Phil Hughes' velocity was. The Yankees' young pitcher, who reportedly had low velocity during spring training as well, was incredibly ineffective. I'm pretty sure his hardest pitch was a 91 mph fastball in the first inning. Other than that, he was 80-89 with every other pitch and only lasted four innings, giving up five runs, two of them home run by Cabrera. I don't think I stand for myself when I say that I hope Hughes figures it out, because with the uncertainty of the Yankees' rotation this year, he can't afford to be ineffective. It's not like his counterpart, Max Scherzer of the Tigers, was any better. He went five innings and gave up six runs, four of them home runs. Bartolo Colon, who made his first major league appearance since 2009 out of the Yankees' bullpen, couldn't stop the bleeding. After having an incredible spring, he gave up four runs in four innings. Today was just not a day for the pitchers.

Even though I witnessed a great game, saw the joyful Nick Swisher, and almost caught a ball, the best part of my day was spending it with my father. We don't usually get to spend a lot of time alone together, seeing as he's usually busy, and we always bond over baseball. We literally watch every game every night together.

Ever since I was a kid, I can remember watching baseball with my Dad. He introduced me to the game I love and taught me everything about it. Soon enough, I surpassed his knowledge of the game and became a sabermetrics freak (don't ask, just google it), and now I have to explain stats and other things to him. So yeah, he's the reason I am the baseball freak that I am today. I give him a lot of kudos for braving it out in the cold today (he wore a winter jacket and three shirts, just for your information) and waking up early to get on the train to go watch batting practice, even when the night before he stated that he really didn't want to get to the stadium that early to "sit in the freezing cold and freeze my ass off." But he knew that I really wanted to get there early to watch BP, so he caved. You gotta love him. We used to go to games together all the time when my Dad was a season ticket holder up until the 2007 season, but then of course tickets spiked in price and we weren't able to keep them, so now it's a once in a while trip to the place we call home for the summer. I love going to game with him and I cherish every minute of it.

Anyway, let's end this post on that note. Today was a great day and I'm looking forward to tons of more games this season.

As always, until next time.

(Pictures on the left are of Joba Chamberlain and Ivan Nova. We were able to snap those photos from our seats. Pretty good seats eh? The other pictures are from Google.)

Offering Some Awards Predictions Before The Start Of A New Season

Tomorrow's Opening Day! All the analysts are posting their awards predictions and what not, so I decided, "hell, I'll give it a shot!" Here are my picks:

American League Most Valuable Player:

- Alex Rodriguez, 3B New York Yankees

Batting Line: .292, 44 HR, 120 RBI

A-Rod is primed for a bounce back. The guy with the best spring of anyone else on the team looked like a new man. Two years removed from serious hip surgery, Alex has said he's feeling "better than ever," and claims he's feeling more comfortable at the plate, saying he has more movement now that he can do his full workouts. Rodriguez certainly proved that this spring, and he's primed for a big year even though it'll be his age 36 season.

Others considered: 2B Robinson Cano - NYY, 1B Miguel Cabrera - DET, C Joe Mauer - MIN, 3B Evan Longoria - TB, OF Josh Hamilton - TEX

American League Cy Young Award:

- Jon Lester, LHP Boston Red Sox

Pitching Line: 20 - 6, 2.87 ERA

Jon Lester was destined for great things. The young lefty, who finished 19-9 last season, is primed for a breakout to include himself in the conversation of baseball's greatest pitchers. A consistently strong big-game pitcher, Lester, 27, will bring his game up to a whole new level this season when he leads the Red Sox deep into October.

Others considered: LHP CC Sabathia - NYY, RHP - Felix Hernandez - SEA, LHP David Price - TB, RHP Justin Verlander - DET, RHP Trevor Cahill - OAK

American League Rookie Of The Year:

- Ivan Nova, RHP New York Yankees

Pitching Line: 16-8, 3.63 ERA

Yeah, not what you expected right? You probably expected to see the likes of Jeremy Hellickson, Mike Moustakas, Desmond Jennings or Mark Trumbo here. Call me crazy, but I'm sticking behind this pick, and I'm not the only one (see Buster Olney's predictions). I've been a huge fan of Nova since he was a blip on the radar screen in the land of Yankee prospects. Nova, 24, dazzled this spring and proved to Yankee management that the fourth starter spot was going to be his. He's a horse. He's going to give the Yankees' innings (we'll see how he gets through a lineup this season), be mildly effective, and prove to be a solid mainstay in the rotation this season. If anything, I think he's the one to watch this season along with Derek Jeter (who's nearing 3,000 hits). Nova is going to be Super-Nova, and will prove to the Yankees that he's the man for the job in the rotation.

Others considered: RHP Jeremy Hellickson - TB, 3B Mike Moustakas - KC, OF Desmond Jennings - TB, 1B Mark Trumbo - LAA, C Jesus Montero - NYY, 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka - MIN

National League Most Valuable Player:

- Albert Pujols, 1B St. Louis Cardinals

Batting Line: .324, 52 HR, 134 RBI

Do I really have to explain this one? Pujols, 31, is already a three-time NL MVP, and in a year where he's playing for a new contract at season's end, he's going to go all out for that $300 million mega-deal. Albert is Albert and that's that.

Others considered: SS Troy Tulowitzki - COL, OF Ryan Braun - MIL, C Buster Posey - SFG, 1B Ryan Howard - PHI, 1B Prince Fielder - MIL

National League Cy Young Award:

- Roy Halladay, RHP Philadelphia Phillies

Pitching Line: 30-0, 0.00 ERA

Real Pitching Line: 23-9, 2.62 ERA

Last year's Cy Young Award winner is going to go back-to-back. When the Toronto Blue Jays traded the best pitcher in the game out of baseball's toughest division (AL East) to the inferior league (NL), it was obvious that Halladay, 33, would prosper greatly. And greatly prosper he did, winning 21 games last season in his first year in Philly, while also throwing a Perfect Game during the regular season and a no-hitter in the playoffs - just the second ever. Already a two-time Cy Young winner, Halladay will add number three to his mantel.

Others considered: LHP Cliff Lee - PHI, LHP Cole Hamels - PHI, RHP Roy Oswalt - PHI, RHP Tim Lincecum - SFG, RHP Josh Johnson - FLA, LHP Clayton Kershaw - LAD, RHP Zack Grienke - MIL, RHP Matt Cain - SFG

National League Rookie Of The Year:

- Aroldis Chapman, LHP Cincinnati Reds

Pitching Line: 4-1, 2.13 ERA (if in bullpen)

Pitching Line: 14-7, 2.91 (if in rotation)

Last season, I went with an explosive young reliever to win the award and got it right (Neftali Feliz, AL), so why not continue on that trend this season? Chapman was downright throwing flames last season, hitting 105 mph on the radar gun in a game last season. Not only was he throwing heat, but the cuban defectee was close to un-hittable. While his role this season is still somewhat undetermined, it appears as though he'll begin the year in the Reds' bullpen as Francisco Cordero's set-up man, but could move to the rotation. For me, it came down to Chapman and San Francisco's young first base phenom Brandon Belt. However, because Belt soared through the minor leagues so quickly, I'm still unsure that he's ready. Just 23, Chapman's ready to open more eyes and wow spectators with that prized left arm.

Others considered: 1B Brandon Belt - SFG, 1B Freddie Freeman - ATL, OF Domonic Brown - PHI, 3B Matt Dominguez - FLA, 2B Brad Emaus - NYM

DIVISION WINNERS:

EAST - New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves

CENTRAL - Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds

WEST - Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies

WILD CARD - Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies

ALCS - Boston over New York

NLCS - Atlanta over Colorado

WORLD SERIES MATCH-UP:
Atlanta Braves vs. Boston Red Sox

Why? The most-improved team (Boston) vs. the team with one of baseball's best overall teams. Who wouldn't want to watch Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkillis & co. go up against Jason Heyward, Chipper Jones and Brian McCann in the Peach State?

Boston is the best team in the American League, by far (even though I think that the Yankees will still win the AL East). They made massive additions by signing Crawford and trading for Gonzalez to build upon an injury-barren, underachieving, playoff missed, 2010 team. Their rotation, led by Lester and Clay Buchholz, is tops in the American League. Together, they are the league's best, so it's hard to count them out of the World Series.

Atlanta will play its first season in a looooong time without long-time manager Bobby Cox. With former Marlins' manager Fredi Gonzalez at the helm, the Braves will look to build upon their 2010 success, as they made the playoffs for the first time in five years last year. With a healthy Chipper Jones, and the rookie butterflies out from under Heyward's belt, the Braves will look to be a heavy-weight favorite in the National League. Is it likely that they'll overtake Philadelphia for the NL East crown? No, but it's certainly possible and isn't as far out of reach as many think. They've got one of the best lineups in the NL and a great pitching staff to boot. It's hard to not like this team.

2011 WORLD CHAMPIONS:
Atlanta Braves

WHOA OH OH OH-OH, WHOA OH OH OH-OH!

Journal Entry: Day 14

Opening day is just two days away!!!!

Oh boy, baseball IS back. I'm so excited, I literally feel like I have something to do with my life on the weeknights again. Nothin' like sitting down and watching some good ol' Yankee baseball!

(turntable scratchback)

Enough with my lame life. WISE has been going great, today I'm planning to meet with Mr. Lombardi in the mac lab. I'm crossing my fingers hoping he's here today. What can I say, the guy's a busy man.

Other than that, we've got a lot of news going on in sports. Like I said, Opening Day is Thursday, but we've also got the NBA and NHL seasons coming to a close in the coming weeks. In baseball news, there's some surprises: Jesus Montero, the Yankees' catching prodigy was sent back down to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre, Adam Wainwright, the ace of the St. Louis Cardinals, is missing the season with Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, and the Arizona Diamondbacks' opening day starter? Mr. Yankee, Ian Kennedy himself. Those are just a few of the stories making headlines.

As for WISE, I'm talking with John Alfonzetti and Anthony Miniaci about helping me make my highlight reel. Talks are just starting and we're drawing up some ideas, but other than that there's nothing to complain about. Now I want to hear from you, the reader. You tell me, what two teams do you think will meet in the World Series this season? Leave your predictions in the comments below and I'll get back to you. Until next time.

Journal Entry: Day 13 and Super-Nova!

So this is my first post in about a week, sorry about that. I've had the creative juices flowing, and I've met with Dr. Hardy a few times in the past week. We discussed my final presentation and I'm thinking about possibly doing a Sportscenter-esque highlight reel type thing, if you know what I mean? No? Didn't think so. I'm thinking of making a highlight reel, complete with graphics, b-roll and everything, of all my work for WISE. That means video from MSG, photos, articles, everything and anything I can add into it. I talked to two friends of mine, John Alfonzetti and Anthony Miniaci, who said they would be more than welcome to help me make this highlight reel. John, who's a computer wiz, is a person I completely trust to help me out with this.

Other than that, things are going great so far.

Today the final two spots in the Yankees' starting rotation were announced: Ivan Nova, last year's breakout rookie, and Freddy Garcia (formerly of the White Sox) will round out the Yankees' rotation behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Phil Hughes.

Nova, who was solid over the spring, was destined to be a lock for the rotation, while Garcia, who had the worst spring of the rotation battlers, was questionable. Bartolo Colon, who competed with Nova and Garcia for the rotation spot, perhaps pitched the best and most effectively of the three. His work did not go unnoticed though, as he will be the long-man reliever out of the bullpen. The news comes a day after Sergio Mitre, who also competed for a rotation spot, was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers and when the Yankees signed veteran right-hander Kevin Millwood to a minor league deal to provide veteran insurance incase Nova, Garcia, or Colon stumbles.

I predicted that the two spots would go to Garcia and Nova and I think that it's the best move for the Yanks. Yes, Colon did have a great spring, but he hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2009. He's very injury prone, and, while he had a good spring, eventually all good things come to an end. Garcia, on the other hand, started for the White Sox last year and was effective during his age 35 season. I feel that the Yankees are more confident in Garcia's ability to stay consistant rather than Colon's, just based on the fact that Garcia pitched last year.

As for Nova, I'm very happy he'll be starting for this team. It's time for a youth movement, and Nova will be the second home-grown player in the rotation (Hughes). I like the direction the Yankees are taking, allowing their prospects to play in the majors. It's not the way the Yankees used to operate, as they'd trade away every prospect. It's always better to grow your own players. Ivan Nova is going to open some eyes this year. This kid is gonna be a solid #4 for the Yankees.

With the pitching staff set, all that remains are the bench and back-up catcher roles. All should come in the remaining days of spring training as we await for opening day, just five days away.

Why the Yankees will win the AL East...

You probably read the title, had a sarcastic short laugh, and automatically said to yourself "pssh, homer."

Yes, we all know I'm a big Yankee fan, but listen up, I swear to you that that didn't factor into my prediction.

The New York Yankees will win the American League East.

I know, I know. I've already prepped myself for the "homer" tag. But that's besides the point.

Over the course of the 2010 off-season, we all expected Cliff Lee to sign with the Yankees to be their second ace alongside CC Sabathia in a rotation that would also include Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett and Ivan Nova. It would arguably be one of the best rotations in the game, and the Yankees would once again reign supreme as the game's most hated and toughest team.

But that fizzled out when Lee decided to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Instead, the off-season was filled with heated Derek Jeter negotiations, an unwanted signing of Rafael Soriano and disappointment.

The Yankees were left without any options. Banking on a swan song return by Andy Pettitte, the Yankees really had no other options to turn to. The pitching market was sparing thin this off-season and outside of *ducks* Carl Pavano *comes back up* there wasn't anyone who would be an effective pitcher in the American League East. The Yankees' rotation at that time was Sabathia, Burnett, Hughes and two empty slates.

crap...

Just when it looked like things couldn't get any worse for the Yankees by missing out on Lee, the rival Boston Red Sox went out and completed a blockbuster deal for All-Star power-hitting first baseman Adrian Gonzalez from the San Diego Padres and inked All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford, formerly of the Tampa Bay Rays, to a seven-year, $142 million contract. Knowing that their competition was getting more and more fierce, the Yankees basically begged for Pettitte to come back for one last season, but it wasn't meant to be. Pettitte decided to announce his retirement just a few weeks later, leaving the Yankees scrambling for starting pitching.

In a game where starting pitching is the name of the game, the Yankees were out of luck.

The Red Sox were stacked. A rotation led by Jon Lester which also included Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, and Daisuke Matzusaka, to go along with a rebuffed lineup - which last year was second in runs scored in the league - that now included Gonzalez and Crawford seemed far more of a favorite to win the AL East in 2011 than the 2009 Champions.

How did the Yankees respond? They signed former closing pitcher Rafael Soriano, a good pick-up, but a move that GM Brian Cashman vocally made known he didn't want to make, to rebuff their bullpen in an effort to fix the "Bridge to Mariano Rivera".... for $36 million over 3-years, a contract many winced at. But how did they address their starting pitching? They signed Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon, two former All-Stars who have dealt with ineffectiveness and various injuries over the past few seasons, to minor league deals to fight out rookie Ivan Nova and journeyman Sergio Mitre for the last two spots in the rotation.

That's right. No Cliff Lee, so they signed two question marks.

Ivan Nova, you've got a believer in me.

Even the Yankees' lineup, which led the league in runs scored last year, has been underestimated this off-season, and for good reason. Can Derek Jeter bounce back from a career-worst season? Can Mark Teixeira get off to a hot start for once? Will Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano build on their All-Star 2010 seasons? How will Jorge Posada handle the transfer from catcher to designated hitter?

As of right now, even I'd pick the Red Sox as the favorite to win the AL East. But my gut tells me that the Yankees, who now have a ton of blue-chip prospects, could make a big splash prior to the trading deadline in July for a big-name, top-flight starting pitcher to bolster their rotation and lead them to the title.

Most are considering the Yankees the underdog in the East this year, but there's just one thing when it comes to predicting the AL East:

You can't count out the Yankees. They are the $200 million little train that could.

As it stands right now, Nova and Colon are the two leading candidates for the final two spots. I've been preaching since the beginning of the off-season for Nova to be in the rotation. This is a kid who is going to be a very serviceable major league pitcher. He had a fantastic season at Triple-A last season, and held his own during his cup of coffee in the major leagues. He has a chance to be a very good #3 or 4 pitcher in the majors. The Yankees are very high on him, and would love to see the 24-year old, homegrown prospect, be a part of their rotation for years to come. Nova could definitely be a difference maker this season for this team.

But that isn't why the Yankees are going to win the AL East.

No, the Yankees are going to win the AL East because the Red Sox have just as many question marks surrounding their team.

How will Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury play this year after missing a majority of last season with injuries? How will the whole team, which was decimated with injuries last season, respond? How will Adrian Gonzalez perform in the AL East after coming over from the National League? Will Jonathan Papelbon be consistent? How will Beckett, Lackey and Matzusaka perform this season after having sub-par years last season?

They're just as questionable.

Take care of that shoulder, Josh...

In my opinion, Matzusaka is no better than Nova. Over the past two seasons, he's dealt with various injuries and has lost velocity on his pitches. He hasn't been the pitcher the Red Sox paid over $100 million for out of Japan. Beckett, the former ace, went 6-6 last year with an ERA of 5.78 while dealing with shoulder injuries. Lackey, in his first season with the club, underperformed and finished 14-11. These three pitchers, aside from Lester and Buchholz, are just as questionable as Nova, Colon and Burnett.

That isn't to say the Yankees' bottom three are any better. Burnett will be looking to respond from a dismal 10-15 season, one in which he posted a 5.26 ERA and bombed in the postseason. Not only that, but he was inconsistent as well. Maybe inconsistent isn't a strong enough word. With Burnett you don't know what you're going to get each day. Nova is a rookie who hasn't really been battle tested. The only strike against him is that he can't get through a lineup twice, something that as he matures will work itself out. Colon hasn't pitched since 2009. That's self-explanatory in itself.

In this case though, I'll take the Yankees' "questionable 3" over the Red Sox.

Yes, the Red Sox three are far more experience than those of the Yankees, but they're also something else: injury prone.

A shoulder injury is a serious injury for a pitcher, and I have doubts that Beckett, who was also hit in the head and suffered a mild concussion during spring training, will return to form. If anything, he's just as questionable as Burnett. Matzusaka hasn't been effective in the last two years, and Lackey is Lackey: he doesn't have stuff that will scare you, and doesn't have stuff that will overpower you.

When it comes to the lineups of the two teams, they're pretty even. Russell Martin and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are pretty even at catcher. I'll give Gonzalez the upper hand at first base over Teixeira, seeing as the guy can absolutely crush the ball and that Tex is coming off a sub-par season. Second base is a no-brainer: Cano easily over Pedroia. I'll take Jeter at short over Marco Scutaro any day. The outfield stands at Brett Gardner/Curtis Granderson/Nick Swisher vs. Crawford/Ellsbury/J.D. Drew. It's pretty even, but I think Crawford is really the only threat in the outfield. David Ortiz slightly gets the win at DH over Posada, who has never DHed in a full season before.

But where the Yankees have the upper hand is in the bullpen.

Here's to hoping for Soriano not to flop for 36 million reasons.

While the Soriano signing was ill-advised by Cashman, it made the Yankees' bullpen perhaps the best in baseball. The Yankees also signed left-handed specialist Pedro Feliciano from the New York Mets. By having Joba Chamberlain/David Robertson, Soriano, and Mariano Rivera in the bullpen to finish out the final three innings, the Yankees have no-doubt shortened their game if they are leading. Nine inning games become six inning games for the opponent.

The Red Sox bullpen on the other hand, is inconsistent. Jonathan Papelbon was close to terrible last season, blowing many saves and close games. Hideki Okajima and co. were no better in the bullpen for the BoSox.

It's very close between these two teams. They are both powerhouses, but they are both questionable.

However, in the grand scheme of things, a strong bullpen looms large in a tight-division race where all the opponents (Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles) have improved.

The AL East is going to be the toughest division in baseball this year, but the Yankees will reign supreme.

Journal Entry: Day 12 and No More Football?

So on Thursday I met with my other mentor, Dr. Hardy.

Debz, Dr. H, Dr. Hardy is my guidance counselor. When I asked her if she'd be my mentor she was more than willing to help me out. This was my first meeting with her, seeing as all my other meetings were with Mr. Lombardi. We discussed what I'm doing right now and everything is going steadily as planned. I'm already aware that I'm going to pass WISE for the year, but it's the final presentation that I've got to get goin' on about. Other than that, it's all good in the hood.

Anyone hear this? The NFL is heading to a lockout. Failure, after failure, after failure, after failure to reach a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) the league is heading for a lockout. There will be no trades, free agency is up in the air, and there may not be a season next year. Several players, lead by Tom Brady (New England Patriots) and Eli Manning (New York Giants) are suing the NFL because of the lockout.

"We are locked out," union president and former player Kevin Mawae wrote in a text message to The Associated Press. "We were informed today that players are no longer welcome at team facilities. (ESPN)

"We're discouraged, we're frustrated, we're disappointed, but we are not giving up. We know that this will be resolved in the negotiation process," Pash said. "We will be prepared to come back here any time the union is ready to come back here." (ESPN)

So, will there be football?

Let's throw a poll up today. Leave your comments in the comments section below.

Who will win the Yankees' last two rotation spots?

Ivan Nova & Freddy Garcia

Ivan Nova & Bartolo Colon

Ivan Nova & Sergio Mitre

Freddy Garcia & Bartolo Colon

Freddy Garcia & Sergio Mitre

Sergio Mitre & Bartolo Colon

Journal Entry: Day 11

Yesterday I met with Dr. Hardy, my other mentor besides Mr. Lombardi. We talked, and on Monday we're going to have another meeting about getting this thing started. I'm still not sure what I want to write for the article. I'm thinking something baseball related, seeing as the season is almost upon us. We're what, four games in to spring training? So it's sure to be exciting. Anyway, things have been crazy busy lately and I've been slacking a little on getting a baseball post about preseason predictions and what not up. It'll be up soon enough, but I'll offer a little preview of what I think the standings will end as (no bias included) * indicates wild card:

2011 Standings Predictions

AL East

1. New York Yankees

2. Boston Red Sox*

3. Tampa Bay Rays

4. Baltimore Orioles

5. Toronto Blue Jays

AL Central

1. Chicago White Sox

2. Minnesota Twins

3. Detroit Tigers

4. Kansas City Royals

5. Cleveland Indians

AL West

1. Texas Rangers

2. Oakland Athletics

3. Los Angeles Angels

4. Seattle Mariners

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies

2. Atlanta Braves

3. New York Mets

4. Florida Marlins

5. Washington Nationals

NL Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers

2. Cincinnati Reds

3. Chicago Cubs

4. St. Louis Cardinals

5. Pittsburgh Pirates

6. Houston Astros

NL West

1. Colorado Rockies

2. San Francisco Giants*

3. San Diego Padres

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

Just my two cents.

Also, it's looking more and more - now with Francisco Cervelli's injury - that Jesus Montero will make the Yankees' roster as the back-up catcher. However, with Russell Martin still ailing from off-season knee surgery, I think he has a chance to be the starter. Check that out.

That's all for now.

Journal Entry: Day 10 - Basketball Has Returned To New York

What a week.

Melo was traded to Knicks and debuted last night, scoring 27 points and helping the Knicks to yet another W. Not only did he help the Knicks win, but Carmelo Anthony's arrival in New York was such a commotion that it helped MSG TV ratings of the game reach their highest point, at 6.75, of not only the season (which was previously 3.61 on Dec. 15 against the Boston Celtics) but the highest ratings for the first time in 16 years since Michael Jordan's return to Madison Square Garden in 1995 after his first retirement. Talk about an immediate impact, huh?

Not only was there Melodrama, but Deron Williams was traded to the New Jersey Nets, a move to rejuvenate life back into the Nets' faithful. It'll no doubt lead to higher ratings tomorrow night in Williams' debut.

Not just professional sports, but college sports too. St. John's University continues on its storybook roll, as they're ranked no. 25 in the Top 25 for the first time in 11 years with a record of 18-9, 10-5.

Face it people, no longer are the days where the Yankees, Giants and Jets will be the only ones to take headlines in this town. Get ready, because New York basketball is on the rise.

Anyway, let's get back to WISE for just a minute.

Obviously, things have been hectic. Despite researching every possible thing I could during the basketball trade deadline, I've been writing like crazy. As you can see, in the past week I've pumped out story after story after story. From Melodrama to Melo-heaven, it's all there. These next few weeks should be very interesting for me. With baseball season just around the corner, and now with Melo and DWill aboard the New York basketball express, there should be plenty to write about.

I'm still working on a baseball preview piece, but obviously that's been interrupted with all the basketball news. If one thing's for sure, it's that you'll be seeing a lot more basketball posts around here. I'll be keeping a close eye on these new-look Knicks.

Well, that's all for now. Until next time.

Anthony & Billups shine in debut

The debut of the new Knicks roster.

Making their New York Knicks debut tonight, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups were crucial components in the Knicks' 114-108 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Perhaps what was my favorite part of the game, was the ovation Melo and Billups received when their names were announced during introductions. Chants of "Mel-OH, Mel-OH, Mel-OH" and "Chaun-cey Bill-ups" were the deafening war cries of the Knicks fans, as they embraced their newly acquired stars, expecting big things and a win in a sold-out Madison Square Garden.

They didn't disappoint.

Anthony, who played 39 minutes, was 10-25 (1-2 from the 3PM, 6-7 from the FTM), including 10 rebounds while finishing with 27 points. In his 33 minutes, Billups was 4-12 (1-6 from the 3Pm, 12-12 from the FTM), scoring 21 points.

While the Knicks came away with the win, the Bucks did give the Knicks a run for their money, as it took two clutch Carmelo shots down the stretch during the final minutes to seal the win for New York. Also, one can't forget the efforts of Toney Douglas, the youngster who was completely overshadowed by the arrival of Anthony and Billups, who scored 23 points tonight, as well as hitting a trio of threes.

A great game and a great win for the Knicks. This is just the beginning.

Photo Credit: ESPN (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Whoa! Nets acquire All-Star Deron Williams from Jazz in three-way deal

Obviously upset over their failed attempts to acquire Carmelo Anthony, the New Jersey Nets, in unexpected fashion and perhaps to strike back at their New York rivals, acquired All-Star PG Deron Williams from the Utah Jazz in a three-way deal with the Golden State Warriors.

A truly unexpected and unprecedented move, the Nets weren't thought to be major players for big name stars other than Anthony at the trade deadline (Feb. 24). They were expected to acquire parts to build around Brook Lopez. One name they were linked to was Danilo Gallinari, formerly of the New York Knicks (he was traded for Anthony) and now a member of the Denver Nuggets. However, acquiring Williams is a bigger, and better move - hell it's a fantastic move - for the Nets, who were obviously looking to take some of the spotlight from the Knicks after acquiring Anthony.

In return the Nets are sending former All-Star PG Devin Harris (averaging 15.0 PPG), rookie phenom Derrick Favors, a 2011 first-round draft pick, the Warriors' 2012 first-round draft pick, and $3 million to Utah. As well, the Nets will send Troy Murphy (expiring contract) to the Warriors for Dan Gadzuric and Brandon Wright.

Williams, 26, a two-time All-Star who has been called the league's best point guard, is averaging 21.3 PPG. He's a fantastic upgrade for the Nets, who are struggling at 17-40. Obviously, acquiring Williams won't help the Nets this season, but his arrival in New Jersey could now lure the interest of other stars to join him in New Jersey next season en route to a productive season next year.

However, a great deal like this can't go without some questions. Why did the Jazz decide to trade Williams, when he wasn't due to hit free agency until after the 2011-12 season? Why did the Nets trade their best rookie (Favors) for Williams when he could leave after the 2011-12 season? Will "D-Will" sign an extension with the rebuilding Nets, and will he be a part of the team which plans to open its 2012 season in Brooklyn?

Rumors have it that the Jazz's decision to trade Williams was due to the recent resignation of head coach Jerry Sloan. After an altercation with the coach on Feb. 9, Sloan resigned the next day, and many have questioned whether it was Williams' fault. Maybe that was why they decided to trade him now. Other reasons why could be because they wanted to get something major in return for a player who could leave as a free agent after next season. Acquiring Favors is a tremendous move for the Jazz, as he projects to be a very, very, good player in the future. Still just 19, he has a lot of room for growth and could develop into one of the best players in the NBA.

As for why did the Nets trade for Williams, the answer is obvious: they were pissed that they missed out on Melo. The Nuggets, reportedly, preferred the Nets' package for Anthony, which was centerpieced around Favors and Harris. However, Anthony refused to sign an extension with the Nets and would only sign with the Knicks, leaving the Nuggets no choice but to ship Anthony to New York for the lesser package. In an attempt to strike back and steal New York headlines, the Nets went all in for Williams, with hopes of restoring their depleted fan base and hoping that star players will trickle into New Jersey and eventually Brooklyn. Anthony (SF) and Williams (PG) are both, arguably, among the top players at their positions. Players could be more intrigued to play with Williams rather than Melo, seeing as he is one of the best basketball handlers in the game.

Will Williams sign an extension with the Nets? That question remains in the air. Williams has openly stated - prior to the Anthony acquisition - that he wants to play for the Knicks. Now, the opportunity to play alongside Stoudemire and Anthony in New York is a more intriguing option for the 26-year old, rather than to stay with a team who has under-achieved the past two seasons, posting the league's worst record last year and one of the worst this year.

Williams' decision to sign an extension with the Nets hinges on one thing: Nets' management's dedication to win. If the Nets were able, say next year, to acquire another big-name player or sign some good supporting players over the off-season, I think Williams would mull signing an extension with New Jersey. Playing alongside Lopez, as well as another good player by way of trade or signing, could have Williams a mainstay with the Nets when they move into Brooklyn.

This is a great deal, and a surprising one as the trade deadline looms large. With only a day left, we'll have to see if the Nets can get a supporting cast for Lopez and Williams.

Official: He's Here!!!!

Flattering.

After all players passed their physicals with their new clubs, the Carmelo Anthony trade is now official. Anthony and his wife LaLa Vazquez arrived in New York sporting Knicks' hats. Melo will be in the starting lineup tomorrow for "Legends Night" as the Knicks host the Milwaukee Bucks. Also in uniform will be acquisitions Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman and Corey Brewer.

As for Melo's new number, we have this from the New York Knicks' twitter account:

"New Numbers: Azubuike (17), Anthony (7), Billups (4), Shel. Williams (13), Brewer (2), Carter (25) & Balkman (32)."

As well, here are the pictures (one above) of Anthony and his wife after their arrival in New York this evening, also from the Knicks' twitter account.