Yankees - Orioles Near Brawl is Something to See

 The Yankees and Orioles are going through some tough times lately, especially the Yankees who are 0-7-1 in their last eight series. Both teams are in a dogfight a top the AL East.

So it was none too surprising to see both teams get testy on Friday night. Well, that was until it actually got physical. 

In the ninth inning with the Yankees leading 4-1, Clay Holmes hit Orioles left fielder Heston Kjerstad in the head prompting both dugouts to clear. 

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was pointing at the Yankees dugout as Yankees catch Austin Wells tried to hold him back. 

Austin Wells tries to hold back Orioles Skipper Brandon Hyde. Getty Images.

 

The scene was really something else. 

 

 

 

As heated as this was, it doesn't come close to the most brutal fight between these two franchises. Yes, that's right the Armando Benitez - Tino Martinez brawl in 1998. 

Mets Bash Rockies, Jump Up in Wild Card Standings

 METS 7 - ROCKIES 6 

The New York Mets continue to ride a wave of good vibes and solid baseball, following a 7-6 win over the Rockies at Citi Field on Friday night. 

While it wasn't easy, because once again the bullpen almost blew it for the Amazin's late, as Jake Diekman and newly acquired Phil Maton couldn't make a 7-2 lead stand-up. The Mets (48-45) are now three games over .500 and find themselves as the fifth seed in the NL Wild Card Race! 

Harrison Bader - Getty Images.

 

What a turnaround for this franchise. Just a month ago when the Mets were off to London they were 11-games under .500 and needed to rally to even have a shot. They have done more than just rally. They have completely changed the narrative of the season. 

From Grimace Power to Jose Iglesias' hit single "OMG," a hot dog eating dog (don't ask), and now incredible, cinematic light shows at Citi Field, the vibe around this ball club has completely changed. And it's so much fun to watch. 

 

The Mets trailed 2-0 in the early going on Friday, then proceeded to bash three straight homers as Mark Vientos, Iglesias and Harrison Bader all went yard. 

Just like that the Mets were up 3-2. And they weren't done just yet. Bader and Iglesias would both homer again as the Mets built a 7-2 lead, and the party was on all night. 

Keep the good vibes going Mets!! 

Jalen Brunson Agrees to $156 Million Extension

Jalen Brunson is sticking around with the New York Knicks long-term, and he's doing it for all the right reasons that will give the franchise flexibility moving to boot. 

While he doesn't wear the captain's "C" on his upper left shoulder, Brunson unselfishly signed a four-year $156 million extension to stay with New York, opting not to go free agent next summer. Had Brunson played under his current deal, he would have been eligible to make a max deal of $270 million. Essentially, he left $113 million on the table in order to win with the Knicks. 

What a move! 

Jalen Brunson - Getty Images.

 

Moreover the deal allows the Knicks to have flexibility to make other deals in the near future to help the team get over the hump and to the NBA Finals. 

Per ESPN: "Brunson's deal keeps the Knicks out of the second-apron level of the salary cap, a punitive threshold that severely limits a team's ability to make trades, sign players and use draft picks."

 

After a stellar 2023-24 campaign that saw the Knicks rise from the ashes of mediocrity, the Knicks are in it to win it in 2024-25 and beyond. 

And why not? 

 They have a stable core led by Brunson and his Villanova teammates, Josh Hart and Donte DiVencenzo. The team also re-singed OG Anunoby to a five year, $125 million deal, and brought in another piece of those Villanova championship teams when they acquired Mikal Bridges in a blockbuster deal with the Brooklyn Nets. 

 If this works out, and the Knicks do return to the Finals with this group, and with Brunson leading the way, he will put himself into the pantheon of New York athletes that will be forever revered. Think Derek Jeter in this instance. 

Good on the Knicks, and good on Brunson for getting it done. 

Mets Inch Closer to Wild Card After Sweep of Nats

 

The New York Mets are inching closer toward one of the three open wild card slots in the National League, following a dominant 6-2 win over the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on Wednesday night.

As I wrote on Fox Sports New Jersey this week.

The Amazins road the right arm of veteran Luis Severino who delivered another stellar outing, allowing only two runs on four hits over 6.1 innings of work. After stumbling in his last outing at Pittsburgh, Severino delivered the kind of quality outing the Mets had seen from him throughout the month of June when he pitched to a 3.24 ERA for the month.

Meanwhile, Brandon Nimmo (like Francisco Lindor the night before) continued to make a case he was an All-Star snub when he launched a 440-foot home run to deep right that gave the Mets an early 1-0 lead.

At the same time, Jose Iglesias continues to make the case he could play daily (or at least platoon with Jeff McNeil) at second base. Iglesias who took the world by storm with his debut song “OMG,” which he sang at Citi Field a couple of weeks ago, had three hits, two RBI and two runs scored on Wednesday.

 The 34-year veteran infielder is hitting .338 with the Amazins this season. He has brought leadership to the clubhouse, and his professionalism both defensively and with the bat have proven to be a major asset for the boys in Queens.