Redding, Niese and Santana (Plus Patch News)

Redding, Niese & Santana.
 
Inspring?   That’s a hypothetical answer to “who’s pitching this weekend?” some summer weekend before a big series.   It’s another slow day in Flushing so that’s what’s on my mind.  
 
Meanwhile, Uni Watch on ESPN Page 2 is encouraging folks to contact the Mets about the patch.  I’m mobile so I can’t properly do the links but to contact the Mets click http://mlb.mlb.com/team/index.jsp and to read the piece it’s here http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/090122.
 
Finally, I feel bad for newspapers.  The Hartford Courant can’t send a beat reporter to spring training.   http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003933341
 
 

Would the NHL Benefit From Futbol Style Scheduling?

I’ve been playing a lot of Fifa 09 lately, and I always enjoy the Premier League.

Futbol (soccer to youse guys) is interesting in how passionate small cities and towns can get.  Imagine packing in 50,000 to see FC Queens play Brooklyn United.   It will never happen here but it happens everywhere else.

The other interesting thing that happens over there is League Play vs. Cup Play and I wonder if that wouldn’t help the NHL.

Sure, go ahead and play out your ridiculously long season chasing your Stanley Cup, but what if you took the season and made it better, while keeping teams interested and adding some international flavor to the game.

I propose Stanley Cup play and Sponsorname Cup play.

In the Stanley Cup play it will be the NHL as you know it.   The only change is that only 8 teams will make the playoffs.  That’s right, I said eight.  You had better win your division or at least the one wild card.

Now the argument comes from the teams that will be hopelessly behind on January 1st.

These teams will have a second (and maybe third) life.   The Sponsorname Cup.   Once a week, teams will play in a separate tournament that does not count in the Stanley Cup standings.   Yeah I just added even more games.    I also propose we open the Sponsorname Cup up to international teams.  Let some teams from the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia.  They too start their season in September.

A little Moscow Dynamo vs New York Rangers on January 1?

Yeah the travel is a bear but you could have a few teams make the trip for Sponsorname Cup.  If teams can play preseason games in Europe, then I’m sure we can figure that out.

A quick World Cup (Soccer) type first round and then eliminations.   Play one cup game every few weeks.   You might not win the Stanley Cup but at least you’d have something to play for.

Have I thought all this out, no.   You chime in and help me work the idea.

www.metspolice.com

The New Apple

I’m torn about this entry – every blog in the blogosphere has already covered it, but I complained enough about the Mets apple that I’d feel weird ignoring it.  Hit Mets Blog where there’s a video of the new gigantic apple (I still prefer the old rickety one).

www.metspolice.com

Jets fans need to embrace 6 and 10.

Jets fans, today I am here to help not hurt.
You are not going to like what I have to say, but it is for your long term interest.
Deep down you want to be one of the elite franchises.   You remember back to the Patriots being a joke, now look at them.   You are tired of being the little brother to Big Blue.   I am here to help.
You need to embrace a six and ten season in 2009.
Last year you went for it all and brought in Brett Favre.  It didn’t work out.   Now it’s time to learn from the Ravens and the Falcons and bite the bullet.
Don’t wait on Brett.  He’s like the hot girl in high school.  Consider yourself lucky that you got to go on a date, but you mean nothing to her.   Move on.
Either draft a QB or ride forward with Clemens, but either way move on.   Brett might give you another 9 and 7, but then what?  You’ll just be reading the same article from me a year from now.
With a new coach and a new QB you won’t be winning the Super Bowl.  It’s OK.  
Don’t think about 2009, think about how great the 2010’s will be at PSL Stadium.  Rip off that band-aid and look to the future.   Look to the Ravens.  The Falcons.  Even the 49ers with Shaun Hill and Mike Singletary are better planned at returning to glory than the Jets are now.  Another year of Brett just drags out mediocrity.   Brett is not the future.  Brett is Same Old Jets.  Coach Ryan and QB-TBD are the All New Jets.
Embrace the 6 & 10.  It may even be a 4 & 12.  It will be OK.  In 2010.