There are 62 days until the Mets (@ Reds) and Yankees (@ Orioles) open their 2009 campaigns. Intriguing seasons for both teams — new stadiums, new players and crippling expectations. If the Yankees start off 5-10, Hank Steinbrenner’s head will explode.
The Knicks might not be half-bad
There is reason for optimism in the Garden for the first time in many years. And it’s not solely based on the fact the team might sign LeBron James in two years.
The team Mike D’Antoni has put on the floor is actually competitive and exciting to watch. The moniker “Team Titanic III” will at least be on hold for a while.
Where will Manny Ramirez sign?
Mets fans have been clamoring for GM Omar Minaya to step up and make a play for the controversial slugger. Mets manager Jerry Manuel and the face of the franchise, David Wright, have also made pitches for GM Omar Minaya and the Wilpons to make the move or at least pretend to be interested, but they seem steadfastly opposed to the idea.
More on Ramirez later today, and if Joe Torre’s new book would make him hesitant to sign with the Dodgers.
Local Hockey Roundup: The Devils are better without Brodeur, the Rangers can’t score and if the Islanders win out …
they would end with 101 points and host a first-round playoff series. It may sound unrealistic, but who would have thought they were capable of the three-game winning streak they are currently on. They can keep the dream alive with a home win over the Lightning tonight. And they are actually favored.
The two other local teams also have a chance to make it to the postseason.
The Devils have ridden the astounding run of goalie Scott Clemmensen to the top of the Atlantic Division. In Clemmensen’s first five years in the league he had a total of eight wins. This year he is 22-9. It’s official: The Devils will make the playoffs every season.
A quick check of the media guide reveals the previous time the Devils missed the playoffs was 1996 — a year after they won the Stanley Cup. The Rangers and Islanders have each missed the playoffs seven times in the same time span.
The Devils are five points clear of the second-place Rangers, who scored 25 goals in 12 games in January. Doc Emrick pointed out in an interview that until recently, the Devils were successful playing low-scoring hockey. True, but it just doesn’t feel the same the way the Rangers do it.
March Madness
My obsession with the NCAA tournament will become clear over the coming months. I will be writing about it as often as possible. Will be making projections, predictions and hoping to get responses from readers about their thoughts.
