COHEN'S CORNER SPORTS

YANKEES 3 PHILLIES 1 Pedro Martinez proved that he still had something left, and sent a parting shot across town to the Mets, who refused to sign the veteran this year, by holding the Yankees down through six innings of Thursday night's game two; however, the righty wasn't as good as A.J. Burnett. Burnett shut down the mighty Phillies. He pitched seven dominant innings, giving up only four hits and a run, while striking out nine Phils in his first ever World Series start. Burnett was one cool customer as he had his way with the outside corner of the plate all night long, frustrating the Philadelphia hitters. As for Martinez, he was brilliant as well. He blew by the Yankee lineup for most of the evening and held a 1-0 lead heading into the fourth inning. He struck out eight, and looked like the Pedro of old, who used to electrify Boston fans, and Met fans during the prime of his career. Even though Martinez lost the game, he sent a clear message to Mets GM Omar Minaya, that the ...

PHILLIES 6 YANKEES 1 So much for that great Yankee offense. So much for the miracle comebacks. So much for the dominance of C.C. Sabathia, the flaming bat of A lex Rodriguez, and the possibility that the Yankees would take it to the Phillies. Instead it was Cliff Lee who mastered the Yankees, pitching a complete game six hitter, while striking out 10 Yankees. He was absolutely dominant in the effort, mowing right through the Yankees order like a knife through butter. Lee never broke a sweat in the effort, making a lazy catch on the mound to record an out, and back-handing another out, as he spearheaded the defending world champions to a game one victory. Lee's counterpart, C.C. Sabathia labored throughout the evening. In the first inning, Sabathia loaded the bases full of Phillies, before getting Raul Ibanez to ground out to second to end the Phillie threat. That being said, Sabathia just didn't have it tonight. By the third inning he threw over 50 pitches, and by the time his ...

Here are the likely lineups that we will see on display when the Yankees take on the Phillies in Game One of the World Series. PHILLIES: Jimmy Rollins SS Shane Victorino CF Chase Utley 2B Ryan Howard 1B Raul Ibanez DH Jayson Werth RF Pedro Feliz 3B Carlos Ruiz C Ben Francisco LF Pitching: Cliff Lee YANKEES: Derek Jeter SS Johnny Damon LF Mark Tiexeria 1B Alex Rodriguez 3B Hideki Matsui DH Jorge Posada C Robinson Cano 2B Melky Cabrera CF Nick Swisher RF Pitching: C.C. Sabathia

Here is an interesting story from Yahoo Sports about Yankee reliever Phil Coke. Apparently, the lefty is paid 1/80th of what Alex Rodriguez makes per year, and he comes from a very simple upbringing as a chimney sweep during the off season. In an era where most baseball players do not work extra jobs to make cash, like they used to in the 1920's, 30's, 40's 50's and 60's, this story is very humbling and a fantastic read. Take a look, I highly recommend it. PHIL COKE STORY! The Yankees will face the Phillies tonight in game one of the World Series; first pitch is at 7:57 ET on FOX.

On the heels of his torrid and crazy love affair with Brooke Hundely, former Mets GM Steve Phillips has been fired by ESPN. The firing comes after the New York Post revealed the affair last week in a handful of explosive articles. Phillips was fooling around with the small, unattractive 22 year-old woman for months, until Phillips decided to suddenly end it. From that point on, Hundely started harassing Phillips' soon-to-be- ex wife Marni with phone calls and letters about their relationship. Hundely even became a Facebook friend of one of Phillips' sons, stalking him and asking him questions about the family.

YANKEES 5 ANGELS 2 Start spreading the news! The Yankees are heading back to the World Series for the first time since 2003. In a year full of memorable moments and games, the Yankees added to the memories with a 5-2 Game Six victory over the L.A. Angels of Anaheim to capture their 40th American League pennant and send the team to the Fall Classic, where they will meet the world champion Philadelphia Phillies. With the Angels up 1-0 in the fourth, Angels starter Joe Suanders began to cough it up. He had been struggling with his control the whole night. In the second inning he loaded the bases full of Yankees but found a way out of it; this time he wasn't so lucky. After walking Derek Jeter for the second straight time to load them up, Johnny Damon finally cashed in on some post season success, when he laced a single to left to drive in two runners to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Saunders walked Alex Rodriguez to bring home another run to give the Yankees a 3-1 le...

CARDINALS 24 GIANTS 17 Now Giant fans can panic. To quote Kevin Bacon in Animal House, "All is well!" "All is well!" while he is being stampeded by panic stricken people who know that things are not so good. The Giants just didn't have it against he Cardinals, and laid a stinker at the Meadowlands, 24-17. Eli Manning was putrid, completing 19 of 37 passes for 243 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, including a the game clincher for the Cards in the final minute of play. Overall, the Giants turned the ball over four different times on the night. As for Arizona, they came out punch for punch with the Giants. Down 7-0, Chris "Beanie" Wells took off for a 13 yard touchdown to tie the game at seven a piece. Once Big Blue grabbed a 14-7 lead, the Cardinals answered almost immediately. The Cards put together a five play 51 yard drive in the final minute before halftime to set up a Niel Rackers field goal to cut the deficit to four. Then in the thi...

JETS 38 RAIDERS 0 This was exactly what the doctor ordered for frustrated Jets fans! The Jets beat up and dominated the hapless Oakland Raiders 38-0 to end a horrific three game losing streak to improve to 4-3 on the season. The victory, however, came at a heavy price. The Jets lost running back Leon Washington an fractured fibula. He was tackled awkwardly early in the game and had to be charted off the field with his left left wrapped up in a towel. He will stay in Oakland California, and have the necessary surgery to repair the injury. He will likely miss the rest of the 2009 season. The Jets also lost Shaun Ellis to an ankle, and Bart Scott to an ankle injury, but both were fine afterwords and should not miss any time. The Jets took advantage of three Oakland turnovers in the first quarter to put this thing away. Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was stripped of the football by Calvin Pace on the first play of the game to set up a first and goal for the Jets. A couple of plays l...

ANGELS 7 YANKEES 6 This was supposed to be a night of coronation of a new American League champion. This was supposed the be the night when Yankee fans would run through the streets creating all kinds of celebratory havoc more than a week away from Mischief Night. Instead, this was a night fit for mourning for the Bronx Bombers as the Yankees failed to match the energy of the Angels early in the game, made a tremendous comeback in the seventh, and then frittered it away soon thereafter. This one got away; the Angels beat the Yankees 7-6 to force a game six in the Bronx on Saturday night. A.J. Burnett was not on his game in the first inning. The Angels pounded the inconsistent right hander for four runs on five hard hits. After a lead-off walk to Chone Figgins and a double by Bobby Abreu, Tori Hunter drilled a single to center to drive home Figgins and Abreu, making it 2-0 Halos. Vladimir Guerrero's double to left center brought home Hunter to make it 3-0 Angels. Finally, Kendry Mor...

YANKEES 10 ANGELS 1 You can put this one in the books. The New York Yankees hold a 3-1 series advantage over the suddenly struggling L.A. Angels of Anaheim, blowing away the halos, 10-1. Led by the superb C.C. Sabathia, the Yankees took the lead and never looked back in this critical game four of the 2009 ALCS. Sabathia pitching on three day's rest needed to give the Yankees bullpen some relief after the pen had been overused the past two games which went a combined 24 innings. Sabathia went eight brilliant innings allowing only five hits and a run, while striking out five. He threw only 101 pitches on the evening, quite economical when the Yankees needed him the most. Sabathia is now 3-0 in the postseason with a 1.19 ERA. Overall, he is 22-7 on the season. Offensively, the Yankees got to former Mets prospect and former Devil Ray, Scott Kazmir, in the fourth inning when Robinson Cano reached on a fielders' choice to bring home a sliding Alex Rodriguez with the game's first ...

ANGELS 5 YANKEES 4 11 Innings Here is a rarity; the Yankees actually blow a lead and lose a game. For the first time in this postseason, the New York Yankees lost a ball game; this one a crucial game three that has allowed the Angels to pull back into the 2009 ALCS. The Yankees built a 3-0 lead, thanks to three seperate home runs by Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon, only to watch Andy Pettitte fritter it away. Pettitte surrendered a solo shot to Howie Kendrick to cut the lead to 3-1, and the n in the sixth, served up a fat 2-2 pitch over the plate to Vladimir Gurrerro who parked the ball into the left center field stands to tie the game at three. The Angels grabbed the lead in the seventh with a sacrifice fly by Macier Izturis to drive home Kendrick, making it 4-3, off reliever Joba Chamberlain. Still, the Yankees brought their comeback shoes with them. Jorge Posada drilled a solo home run to center field to tie the game at four in the eighth inning. However, the Bombers d...

YANKEES 4 ANGELS 3 13 Innings This was as good as it gets. It was a crucial game two in the American League Championship Series, and from the get-go, it was clear that neither team wanted to lose it. Early on it appeared that the Yankees were ready to run away with this ball game. A 2-0 lead, and a dominating performance by A.J. Burnett through the game's first four innings, it appeared that the Angels would have no answer for the Yankees on a freezing night in the Bronx. Then things changed. After a Macier Izturis ground rule double to lead off the fifth inning, Erik Aybar singled to center to drive in Izturis to get Anaheim to within one, 2-1. From there Burnett lost control. He hit Chone Figgins in the foot to put him on, and walked Tori Hunter to load the bases for the always dangerous Vladimir Guerrero. Burnett delivered a wild pitch to Guerrero, allowing Aybar to score the tying run. Still with two running in scoring position, Guerrero failed to come through for Anaheim; he...

YANKEES 4 ANGELS 1 The Yankee Express just keeps rolling along. As they have all season. As they did in the divisional round of the playoffs, the Yankees dominated and won another ball game, this one coming against their playoff rival the Anaheim Angels to take a 1-0 lead in the best of seven ALCS. C.C. Sabathia was brilliant yet again for the Bronx Bombers. Sabathia baffled the Angels offense for eight terrific innings, surrendering only four hits, while striking out seven Angel batters. Keep in mind, unlike Minnesota, the Angels are loaded with .300 hitters, so this effort by Sabathia was even more impressive than his first post season start. Sabathia has given up on ly two earned runs in 14 and two-thirds innings this postseason. As for the Yankee offense, they got to John Lackey early. Derek Jeter led the bottom of the first with a single to right. Johnny Damon, who had a horrible series against the Twins, began anew with a single of his own to put two on with nobody out. Two batt...

If you were listening to WFAN at 1:00 this afternoon, you were expecting the "Mike'd Up" jingle to come on the air, instead one heard a familiar sound. LISTEN HERE! That's right Chris Mad Dog Russo returned to WFAN. For a one hour special, the Mike and the Mad Dog show was back on the air for the first time since June of 2008. Russo is celebrating his 50th birthday, and co-host Mike Francesa thought it would be a good idea to bring Russo back for a reunion episode before Russo went on their air with his own program "the Mad Dog Show" on Sirius Satalitte Radio. The pair joked about what has happened to them in the last 14 plus months since they hosted a show together, including the controversy from February in which Dog went on Howard Stern's show to compare his Super Bowl XLIII guest list to Francesa's. Mike and Chris went on to analyize the ALCS between the Angles and Yankees, which begins tonight at the Stadium. It is not known whether this will be...

DOLPHINS 31 JETS 27 So much for that great start to the 2009 season. For weeks the Jets have prided themselves on the superior play of their defense, but the horrific performance they put on display against the Dolphins showed the world that New York is not as good as many thought a couple of weeks ago. The Dolphins ran all over the Jets with the Wild Cat offense. They put up 409 yards of total offense and seemed to churn out one first down after another after another, as the combination of Ronnie Brown, Chad Henne and Ricky Williams ripped apart the Jets defense. The Dolphins converted 9 of 14 third downs and put up 23 first downs in total on the night. The tone was set early, when Miami took the opening drive 80 yards, eating up half of the quarter, wh ich concluded with a Ronnie Brown touchdown to give Miami a 7-0 lead. The Jets couldn't get any pressure on Henne all night long, as the second year pro, making only his second start, looked like a 10 year veteran. He completed 20...

YANKEES 4 TWINS 1 The Yankee Express keeps rolling along. For the first time in five years, the New York Yankees are going to participate in the American League Championship Series, after sweeping away the Minnestoa Twins 4-1 in game three of the ALDS. The game started out as a pitching duel between Andy Pettitte, and former Yankee and hated enemy of Yankee fans, Carl Pavano. Yes, that's right Carl Pavano actually pitched, and pitched well. The pair traded zeros through the games first five innings, as the Pavano struck out eight Yankees in that span, while Pettitte struck out five Twins. Like they had in the first two games, the Twins were the ones who broke the ice. Joe Mauer's single to left field drove in Denard Span from second base to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead. But, that quickly evaporated as their previous two leads in games one and two. In the top of the seventh, Alex Rodriguez took Pavano deep for a solo homerun to right field to tie the game at one. Two batters later...

GIANTS 44 RAIDERS 7 Eli Manning started this game after all, and they really didn't need him today. In fact, Manning got an early shower thanks to his efforts against the hapless Raiders. The Giants put this game away early, taking the opening kickoff on a long 8:03 drive that culminated in a one yard touchdown run by Ahmad Bradshaw to give New York a 7-0 lead. Manning was 4 of 5 on the drive, completing short routes to his receivers, to lead the drive. However, this game was all about Bradshaw. The third year pro, carried the ball 11 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Bradshaw's second touchdown came later in the first quarter, a 19 yard scamper to give Big Blue a 14-0 lead. Jamarcus Russell and the Raiders were no match for the Giants defense. The Giants sacked Russell six times for a loss of 36 yards, and held the overrated first round 2008 draft choice to just 100 yards passing on the afternoon. The Giants even stuffed the Raiders pointless running attack; holding Mic...

YANKEES 4 TWINS 3 11 Innings This is why they may be champions. Over the years, the Yankee mystique that swirled around the cavernous old Yankee Stadium had disappeared after one horrific playoff loss after another. Tonight, the ghosts of Yankee Stadium past were alive and well, and the Yankees 52nd comeback of the year took center stage. The Minnesota had their chance to put the Yankees into a vice and crush them, but each time the Twins bobbled their chances, allowing the Yankees to storm back to win the day. Minnesota grabbed a 1-0 lead on a Brendon Harris triple in the sixth inning. With the way Nick Blackburn had been pitching through the games first five innings wherein he surrendered only one hit, it appeared that the Yanke e luck might fall short on this night. Think again. Alex Rodriguez, who has been much maligned for his lack of clutch hitting, was nothing but a clutch superstar tonight. With Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon on base, Rodriguez picked up on a change up and dri...

This may explain the Jets motive to trade for Braylon Edwards. Other than the obvious fact that Edwards will allow the Jets to open up their playbook, he may be the only receiver on the field for the Jets when they take the field on Monday night in Miami. Jerricho Cotchery may miss the game on Monday due to a hamstring injury that held him out of practice Friday afternoon. Coach Rex Ryan said that there is a possibility that Cotchery could miss this week's game. Cotchery has 23 receptions for 356 yards and a touchdown; without him, the Jets will not get the opportunity to see how their top two receivers help open up the offense. Without Cotchery, Edwards will attract a lot more double, even triple, coverage played. Cotchery's injury will also hamper the running game, which has been stopped this year, because of the Jets lack of a lethal passing attack. Story.

YANKEES 7 TWINS 2 This is more like it! Unlike Octobers past, the Yankees shook off an early Twins 2-0 lead to come back and clobber Minnesota 7-2 in the Bronx on Wednesday night. C.C. Sabathia, making his first postseason start for the Bombers, was sparkling. C.C. struggled early giving up five hits and two runs in his first three innings of work, but he settled down nicely to shut down Minnesota the rest of the way. His line: six and two-thirds innings, giving up eight hits, one earned run, while striking out eight. Sabathia rocked and rolled all night long, as he earned his 20th victory of the season. Offensively, it was Mr. October himself; no, not Reggie Jackson but Derek Jeter who got the Yankees back into the ball game with a line drive/two run home run down the left field line to tie the game in the third. As has been the case all year, the Yankees once again found a way to come from behind to win. The Yankees took the lead for good in the fourth when Nick Swisher drove in Robi...

Months ago there was speculation that the Jets were interested in bringing in a big time wide receiver to the team; some suspected it might be Plaxico Burress, but that idea died when Burress was sentenced to jail soon thereafter. As it so happens early this morning, the Jets finally got that number one wide receiver. The Jets acquired Braylon Edwards from the Cleveland Browns for third receiver Chansi Stuckey and linebacker Jason Trusnik. Edwards had fallen out of favor with Brown's coach Eric Mangini in Cleveland. He tried to trade him to the Giants during the spring, and after Edwards got into a bar fight earlier this week, that was the last straw for the Mangenius. Now Edwards brings his 6'3" frame to Florham Park to become the Jets new number one receiver. He is, without a doubt, the tallest and best receiver the Jets have had since Keyshawn Johnson in 1999. Edwards has only 10 catches for 139 yards this year, but those figures should jump up quickly.

Mike Francesa invited Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, GM Omar Minaya, and front office executive Dave Howard to the WFAN studio in Astoria, Queens to talk about the problems that have surrounded the Mets throughout the 2009 season. Earlier in the day, the Mets fired bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr. and first base coach Luis Alicea from their duites, or lack thereof from the team. They also reassigned third base coach Razor Shines and catching instructor Sandy Alomar Jr. to different roles for the 2010 season. When they joined Francesa, Wilpon explained that there was "lack of communication" between the players, the Mets medical staff on the road, and the Hospital of Special Surgery, and that he will do everything in his power to improve the "communication" to avoid another season full of constant injuries. LISTEN TO INTERVIEW . Francesa later asked Minaya about the Mets depleted minor league system. In typical swashbuckler fashion, Minaya claimed that his minor league system is e...

Eli Manning's right foot is suffering from Plantar Fasclitis, or inflammation of tissue in his foot, after he suffered a burised heel in Sunday's 27-16 victory in Kansas City, the Daily Record reports. Manning is listed as day to day, and there is no reason to believe that Manning will not start against the Oakland Raiders next week at the Meadowlands. Manning has started 75 consecutive games since taking over for Kurt Warner in the 10th game of the 2004 season. He once suffered a shoulder injury a couple of years ago and played through it, so expect Eli to be on the field next Sunday.

SAINTS 24 JETS 10 So....How about dem Jets? Huh? Eh? Oh? So much for the "brilliance" of Mark Sanchez, and the "incredible" and "unstoppable" play of the Jets as a football team. The Jets put together a vanilla, uninspired and mistake riddled effort in New Orlean as the Saints stomped on Gang Green to a tune of 24-10. Sanchez was the big problem tonight, and the rookie looked...well...like a rookie. After, the Jets held New Orleans to just a field goal in the first quarter, Sanchez had the Jets in position to take a 7-3 lead; the offense moved the ball to the New Orleans 17 yard line. Sanchez dropped back and threw the ball right into the hands of saftey Darren Sharper who walked 98 yards for a touchdown to give New Orleans a 10-0 lead. Later in the second quarter, the Saints had the football on the Jets goal line, but the Jets defense stepped up hugely, holding the Saints to zero yards inside the one yard line, forcing Drew Brees to throw two incompleti...

GIANTS 27 CHIEFS 16 When a team's quarterback leaves the game with an injury, the outcome of the game usually becomes moot. Sure, the Giants dominated the hapless Kansas City Chiefs 27-16, and certainly the Giants D looked awesome against the Chiefs' miserable offense, but the G-Men have to be concerned after Eli Manning left the game late in the third quarter with what is being called a "bruised heel ." Manning dropped back to throw, and suddenly lept into the air in pain. He heaved the ball down field incomplete and fell forward onto his stomach, reaching back to his foot. Manning was able to get up on his own power and completed a 54 yard touchdown to Hakeem Nicks on a hook and lateral play, with Nicks doing most of the dirty work by sprinting down the sideline. Manning limped off the field and never returned. He was seen on the bench with his foot being heavily bandaged by the medical staff. It is still unknown as to the severity of the injury. If it is severe, i...

Okay, New York Yankees; you now have the best record in baseball; you have 50 come-from-behind victories; you have a clubhouse full of likable players who seem to enjoy playing with and for each other, and, beginning next week, what does it all mean? Absolutely nothing. Not to take anything away from the fabulous season that the Yankees have put together this year, they have been the best team in baseball since the beginning of June and have looked poised and determined to win their 27th World Championship this season, but, as all baseball afficianadoes know, October can be the cruelest month. The Yankees have not won a World Series since 2000 when they beat the Mets in five games, and since that time, they have suffered one playoff disaster after another. There was the bloop single by Luis Gonzalez in the 2001 World Series that gave the Arizona Diamondbacks the trophy in game seven. There was the uncompetitive effort against the Angels in 2002. The shocking six game loss to the Flori...