Giants Draft Blunders Turn Them in Draft Day Foil

The Jets were once considered the NFL's version of the Marx Brothers when it came to Draft Day. However after what the Giants did on Thursday night by drafting Duke quarterback Daniel Jones, Big Blue has become the newest foil for NFL Draft Day.

I talk to rick Laughland about the first round selections for the New York Jets and Giants.

The Other Guys Send Yankees to 5th Straight Win

YANKEES 7 - ANGELS 5 

Who said that the Yankees had to stop winning games because they had 13 players on the injured list?

With stars like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, the Yankees just keep winning games. New York won it's fifth straight with a 7-5 win over the LA Angels in Anaheim last night, as Luke Voit and Brett Gardner led the way for the Bronx Bombers.

Voit was 2-for-4 with two homers and a pair of RBIs in the win, while Gardner collected four hits. Even little known Mike Ford contributed with his first ever Major League home run in the top of the fifth as the Yankees built a 7-1 lead through eight innings of play.

On the hill Domingo German was excellent. He held the Angles to just an unearned run on four hits over six and two-thirds innings, as he improves to 4-1 with a 1.75 ERA. And Yankees fans feared life without Luis Severino? While German isn't as good as Sevy, he certainly has been tremendous.

Give Aaron Boone and his coaching staff credit. They have found ways to win without the big guys in the lineup. A team that loses players like Judge, Stanton and Gary Sanchez should struggle -- and for the most part this year it has been a struggle for the Yankees. But the Yankee depth has paved the way to this recent string of success.

Wheeler Deals as Mets Stun and Shutout Phillies

METS 9 - PHILLIES 0 

It was only two games, and in the long scheme of a 162-game season - it won't be THE reason why the New York Mets make the playoffs, IF they even get there.

But for a few hours anyway the Mets sent a direct message to both the Philadelphia Phillies and the National League with their 5-1 and 9-0 victories over the Phillies the past two nights. That message read: the Mets (correction) the first place New York Mets are ready to play. And if you don't like it, deal with it. 

For a better part of the first month of the season, the Mets have been one of the most inconsistent to downright poor pitching staffs in all of Major League Baseball. After a weekend series in St. Louis that saw the New Yorkers lose two of three to the Cardinals, the Mets had the 25th ranked team ERA in baseball at 5.66, surrendering 4.15 walks per nine innings, ranked 24th, and had allowed about two homers per nine innings, ranked 23rd. Overall the Mets were getting outscored by -19 runs through 21 games. 

With the Phillies and Brewers -- (two teams that look like powerhouses in the early season) -- coming to Citi Field this week, the fear was that things could get ugly. Real ugly. Then Steve Matz and Zack Wheeler decided to pitch to their potential.  

On Tuesday, Matz bested former Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta, holding the Phillies to an earned run over six innings, and recording six strikeouts. One of those strikeouts angered Bryce Harper so much that he was ejected from the game. The Mets bullpen, which has been anything but flawless this season, combined for three clean innings of relief as the Mets won 5-1, backing up a pair of RBIs by Pete Alonso and a homer by Jeff McNeil. 

Then came Wednesday night, and Zack Wheeler was on a totally different level. A level we saw in the second half of last season from the right-hander.

Wheeler struck out 11 batters over seven innings of work, and contributed his first major league homer and three RBI in the Mets 9-0 victory. Wheeler was so on point Wednesday night that he struck out seven consecutive batters between the second and fourth innings, and looked virtually un-hittable -- even if he did give up five hits on the evening. He mixed and matched with a fastball that touched 98 mph, a splitter and slider that danced around 91 and a curveball that broke back over the plate at 83 mph. It didn't matter what speed he came at the Phillies, because they were missing and missing badly. 

Wheeler is now 2-2 on the season. His ERA is down to 4.85, and his 33 strikeouts places him third on the team behind Jacob deGrom (36 Ks) and Noah Syndergaard (34 Ks).  But more importantly, Wheeler was effective, and that is something the Mets have not seen a lot of this year from the pitching staff. 

With game scoreless in the bottom of the second, and Luis Guillorme and Wilson Ramos on base, Wheeler stuck his bat out over the plate and pulled the ball down the right field line for a two-run double to give himself a 2-0 advantage. Wheeler later scored on an error by Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez as he had a ground ball off the bat of Brandon Nimmo slip under his glove.

Fast forward to the bottom of the fourth and Wheeler crushed a Zach Eflin pitch over the left field wall to push the Mets lead to 4-0. Finally in the fifth inning with the bases loaded with Mets, Todd Fraizermade his triumphant return to the lineup, blasting a Drew Andreson fastball over the left field wall for a grand slam homer to blow the game open at 8-0. 

For the first time all season, the Mets pitching has matched the prowess of an offense that is ranked fourth in baseball in runs scored (128) and eighth in team batting average (.262). And for one night anyway the Mets find themselves all alone in first place at 13-10. Even if the Mets lose tonight with Jason Vargas on the hill, the efforts of Wheeler and Matz the past two nights should do wonders for the Mets confidence moving forward. 

Consider it message signed, sealed, and delivered. Now the key is to keep the momentum going as this series against the Phillies wraps up, and the Brewers series begins Friday night. 

Aaron Judge Injuries Oblique, MRI Up Next

The Yankees 2019 season may be on the precipice of getting a lot worse. For a team that has endured so many injuries this year to key pieces, the one guy the Yankees could ill afford to lose was Aaron Judge.

Well, guess what? The Yankees are going to be without Aaron Judge -- at least for the foreseeable future. A future that will be better determined by an MRI.

In the bottom of the sixth, after slicing a single to right, Judge winced in pain as he completed his swing and stood on first base in pain. Trainer Steven Donohue and manager Aaron Boone came out to check on the Yankee slugger, and without much discussion or debate, Judge was removed from the game and taken into the locker room.

As he moved down the dugout, Judge starred at the ground and dropped an audible F-bomb as he made his way toward the tunnel. It suddenly didn't matter that the Yankees were up 6-1 on the Royals at that time. It also didn't matter that the Yankees won 9-2 and pulled to within .500 for the first time in two weeks at 10-10.

None of that matters until the Yankees know the status of Judge who is hitting .288 with five homers and 11 RBI this season.

Asked if he believes Judge can avoid the Injury List, Boone said, "probably, not."

The early diagnosis is that it could be an oblique injury. Oblique's are very tricky. Sometimes they could take days, weeks or even months to heal from. Two years ago, MLB.com did a study and it revealed that about 56 percent of oblique injuries are suffered by hitters, and the reason for it is the size and power of today's hitter. In short Judge was a candidate for such an injury and didn't even know it.

The Yankees are now without all of the big thumpers in their lineup. Giancarlo Stanton (strained left biceps) and Gary Sanchez (strained left calf) are out and will be out for a while more. Staff ace Luis Severino is out until at least July if not longer. Didi Gregarious could be out until July as well. If Judge's oblique injury requires time to heal we may not see him until late May or June. But we'll learn more on Monday.

In the interim, the Yankees have to try to get back over .500 without him and 12 other guys who find themselves on the IL.

Nets Blow Game 4, Season on Brink

76ERS 112 - NETS 108 
PHI Leads 3-1 

It just wasn't meant to be.

There is no explanation for what happened to the Nets Saturday night, except the fact that they just flat out choked. Choked on a lead that was as many as 10 points with 10:35 to go in the third quarter. Choked on a lead that was as seven points, 101-94 with 5:20 to play in the game after Caris LeVert converted on his first of two free throws.

It was supposed to be a night where Nets fans from the borough of Brooklyn, and those fans still left from the Garden State could celebrate; their Nets would tie up this best-of-seven with the Philadelphia 76ers at two a piece.

But like I said, it just wasn't mean to be.

Joel Embiid who missed Game 3 due to knee soreness, showed why he is an MVP candidate, knocking down two layups under a minute to pull the Sixers to within in three at 101-98. About a minute later with 3:28 to go in regulation, Ebmiid took a feed from Ben Simmons and nailed home the slam dunk silencing the crowd as the Sixers pulled to within one point.

The Nets they had no response. Three turnovers and three missed shots doomed them during this two minutes of hell as Embiid single-handeldy dissected them.

Finally with 2:54 to go Embiid glided through the lane for the layup to put Philly in front for the first time in forever at 102-101.

Even though Brooklyn managed to grab the lead back twice, including on a huge 26-foot three pointer by D'Angelo Russell, it wasn't enough, especially with Embiid playing with a purpose. On the other end of the floor, Embiid missed his own shot three times, and had the presence of mind to rebound the ball three times to keep the possession alive. Eventually Simmons got his hands on the ball and kicked it out to JJ Redick who dropped a monster three-pointer to put the Sixers up 107-106 with 0:50 seconds to play.

Mike Scott's three pointer with 0:19 seconds to go was the winner. Tobias Harris iced with a pair of free-throws at the line as the Sixers pulled away 112-108.

The Nets had no answers. They shot a miserable 4-for-18 in the fourth quarter, after dominating on the glass for almost the entire night. Simply put, they didn't have it in the tank to finish it off the way Philadelphia does.

Now instead of heading back down I-95 tied at two, the Nets find themselves in a win-or-go-home scenario for Game 5 on Monday night.

Mets Bullpen Proves Up to the Task in Win Over Cardinals

METS 5 - CARDINALS 4

On a night when they found out they would be without their ace Jacob deGrom for the foreseeable future as he goes for tests on his elbow, the Mets desperately needed their pitching staff to pick things up in St. Louis. And did they ever.

Led by a spirited effort by Jason Vargas, and continuing right through the rest of the bullpen, the Mets found a way to hold of the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 at Busch Stadium on Friday.

It wasn't pretty, but when is it ever for these Mets?

The game opened up with the Mets tattooing their old nemesis Adam Wainwright, who just didn't have it for St. Louis.  Robinson Cano, who entered the game hitting .192, got the party started for the Mets with a 2-out double, and later scored on a Wilson Ramos infield single to make it 1-0.

Later in the inning, the surprising J.D. Davis lined a double to right-center scoring Michael Conforto to put the Mets up by a douce.

In the top of the second inning, Cano kept the good vibes going with a RBI single to right, driving in Juan Lagares to blowup the Mets lead to 3-0. Cano had a huge day for the Mets. He finished the night 3-for-5, but started 3-for-3, and even chased Wainwright out of the game with a double in the top of the fourth that set up another run scoring opportunity for New York.

Finally in the top of the sixth, rookie sensation Pete Alonso delivered a rocket off the end of his bat that wound up over the right-center field wall for a solo homer to give the Mets a commanding 5-1 lead. The homer was Alonso's seventh of the season as he continues to display immense power to all fields.

On the mound, Jason Vargas had his best outing of the season. He held the Cardinals to just a run on three hits over four innings before turning things over to the bullpen. And for once the bullpen was spectacular, even though it once again walked a tight rope.

In the bottom of the fifth, Seth Lugo worked around a double by Matt Carpenter and a single by Paul Goldschmidt to get out of the jam by striking out Marcel Ozuna and Jose Martinez. Unfortunately for Lugo he couldn't go unscathed, serving up a two-run homer to pinch hitter Lane Thomas in the sixth inning that cut the Mets lead down to 5-3.

In the seventh, Mickey Callaway elected to go to Jeurys Familia early, and the former closer had his best inning of the season, needing only seven pitches to get out of the inning. Callaway elected to keep Familia in for the eighth inning, which turned out to be a mistake. After getting Jose Martinez to fly out for the first out, Familia gave up a double to Yadier Molina, forcing Callaway to go back to the pen and bring in Justin Wilson.

Wilson struggled. He gave up an infield single to Dustin Fowler, which scored a run thanks to a throwing error by JD Davis at third, and walked Kolton Wong to put runners at second and third.

Callaway again had to go to his bag of tricks with Robert Gsellman. Gsellman masterfully worked out of trouble, jamming Jed Gyorko on a pop up to Cano at second base, and inducing Matt Carpenter into an inning ending groundout to first base to preserve a 5-4 Mets lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, closer Edwin Diaz made quick work of Paul Goldschmidt, striking him out  swinging on four pitches. Next Diaz got Paul deJong on a hard liner to third that third baseman Jeff McNeil made a tremendous play on to keep the ball from going over his head. Finally, after walking Ozuna and giving up a single to Martinez, Diaz was able to get Molina -- a Met killer his entire career -- to fly out to center to end the ball game.

The Mets now stand at 11-8 on the year and are 4-4 on this road trip. New York will go with Chris Flexen on Saturday afternoon. Flexen is pitching in the place of Jacob deGrom who returned to New York to have an MRI done on his elbow. In other words, this a bullpen day for the Mets ... again.

Yankees Beat Back Young Royals, Have Won 4 of last 6

YANKEES 6 - ROYALS 2 

After failing to cash in Thursday on the momentum they earned in a two-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox during the week, the Yankees responded with a 6-2 victory over the young Kansas City Royals at the Stadium.

The Yankees rode the left arm of CC Sabathia, who for the second straight start looked real good in his return from heart and knee surgery. Sabathia held the Royals to just an unearned run over five innings. While he did walk four batters, Sabathia struck out five, including the first two batters of the game. It was another positive step in the right direction for the 38-year old lefty.

Meanwhile, Brett Gardner -- the same Brett Gardner a lot of Yankees fans want out -- once again came up big with another home run. This time Gardy hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the third inning to put the Bombers on top. They would never look back.

Rookie outfielder Mike Tauchman added his second homer of the week in the fifth to put New York up 3-1. The final three runs of the contest for the Yankees came on a sac fly, an error and a bunt single.

The Yankees bullpen did its job as Luis Cesa, Adam Ottavino, Tommy Khanle and Zach Britton combined to hold the Royals to just a run on two hits over the final four innings of the game.

The Yankees are now just a game under .500 at 9-10, and have now won four of their last six. It is pretty clear that things are starting to turn around fast for the Yanks.

deGrom needs MRI on Elbow, Mets Not Worried

As if things couldn't get any worse for the New York Mets beleaguered pitching staff, staff ace and reigning Cy Young Champion Jacob deGrom is heading back to New York to have an MRI on his right elbow, which was apparently "barking" after a throwing session on Thursday. 

“We’re not sure exactly what it is so we wanted to get it checked out,” Mets Manager Mickey Callaway said in St. Louis. “Just a little tender in the elbow. We don’t know if it’s from general fatigue, so we’re just being overly cautious at this point and making sure we take care of him.”

The Mets are going to be cautiously optimistic. deGrom was already pushed back a day on this road trip due to strep throat, and was to pitch Saturday in St. Louis. Instead he won't pitch at all.  The Mets say they are not seriously concerned at this point, and there was no report of a potential IL stint. 

Still, just the idea of the staff ace heading to New York to check on his elbow is a huge red flag. 

deGrom has been very un-deGrom-like his past two starts where he has a combined ERA of 9.00, and has surrendered five home runs, including three to the Minnesota Twins at the end of the last Mets home-stand. Last Sunday night in Atlanta, deGrom couldn't find the strike zone as he walked four and gave up two homers to the Braves in a 7-3 loss in front of a national audience. 

It is hard to believe that deGrom would even have such struggles, especially coming off a year where he was practically lights out every single night he was on the mound. But he is human after all. Nobody with reasonable expectations expected deGrom to be as on-point every single night. 

Of course, it is an understatement to say the Mets can ill afford to lose deGrom for an extended period of time. 

Outside of deGrom, the Mets have only one reliable starter - Noah Syndergaard -- and even Thor can be erratic at times. While Syndergaard has walked only five this year, he has given up 13 runs in 24 innings, and is susceptible to getting hit. Zach Wheeler and Steven Matz are too up and down for Mets fans to know what to expect from either one of them on a regular basis. Jason Vargas ... I won't even go there. As a whole the Mets have a team ERA of 5.54, ranked 27th in Major League Baseball. They are also 29th in the league in OBP with teams hitting .273 against them. The team's WHIP registers at 1.53, tied with Baltimore for dead last. 

Were it not for a Mets offense that has been hitting extremely well, even with Robinson Cano mired in a slump, and the solid efforts of Edwin Diaz at the back-end of the bullpen, who knows where the Mets would be right now. They need their pitching staff to stand up and deliver. 

If deGrom is to miss any time, the Mets need to get serious about getting help, and I am not talking about recalling Corey Oswalt. If the Mets think they have a shot at the Phillies, they need to give free agent starter Dallas Keuchel serious consideration. 

Sixers Blow Out Nets in Game 3, Series at Crossroads

76ers 131 - Nets 115 
Phi leads series 2-1 

Big nights from DeAngelo Russell and Caris LeVert were not enough as the Nets couldn't overcome an 18-point deficit, falling to the Sixers 131-115 in Game 3 of their first round series in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

With 8:39 to go in the third quarter Brooklyn found themselves right in the thick of things, down only  five points with almost an entire second half in front of them. But it was JJ Redick's 25-foot three-pointer with 8:19 to go to push the Philly lead to 75-67 that seemed to jumpstart the Sixers.

Philadelphia would outscore the Nets 22-14 over the next eight minutes, with Reddick connecting on two more huge three-pointers as the Sixers jumped out to a 97-81 advantage with 1:11 to go in the third quarter.

The Nets were able to close the gap a bit on a 9-0 run with Spencer Dinwiddie's 23-foot step-back jumper and layup helping to pull the Nets to within 97-90.

But it just wasn't enough. A slam dunk and a jump shot by Philly's Ben Simmons, combined with a Nets offense that went completely cold in the fourth quarter doomed Brooklyn. Brooklyn just couldn't hit the big shots that Philadelphia was able to, that was the huge difference.

Five players were in double-figures for the Sixers, with Simmons leading the way with 31 points. Tobias Harris contributed 29, and Reddick 26 points. Not bad for a team that was playing without All Star Joel Embiid in the lineup, who missed the game with knee soreness.

While the Sixers connected on 48 percent of their shots, and 40 precent of their three-pointers, the Nets couldn't hit anything from downtown, converting on only 20 precent of their attempts beyond the arc.

Now down two-games-one, the Nets are in a must win situation in Game 4 on Saturday afternoon. A win and the Nets can turn the series into a best of three. A loss, and Philadelphia will only need to win at home in Game to eliminate the Nets.

Giants Schedule Leaks, Open Up Against Dallas ... Again

The New York Giants 2019 schedule has also leaked six hours before it is to be "officially" revealed to the public on ESPN 2. And once again the Giants open up a season against the Dallas Cowboys ... in Dallas.

Death, Taxes and the Giants open a season in Dallas.

What else is new. As if the tv executives can't get enough of a match-up that has been pretty dull the past several seasons in this part of the schedule.

It will be the sixth time in the last eight seasons that the Giants and Cowboys have hooked up in Week 1, and the fifth time in the last six that the game takes place in Dallas. From 2015 through 2017 the Giants opened three consecutive seasons in Dallas. Last year, Big Blue opened up at home against Jacksonville. But of course, the Cowboys game was the following week.

Early takeaways:
The Giants home opener will be against the Bills this season. This is intriguing because the Bills will play in the Meadowlands two straight weeks to open the season. They play Week 1 against the Jets.

In Week six, the Giants head to Foxboro to meet up with the Patriots on Thursday night football. It will likely be the final time we see Eli Manning go up against Tom Brady. Then again, Brady is likely to play until he is 70 anyway, so who knows.

The Giants have no Sunday Night games this season. They do play Monday night at home against Dallas November 4, and at Philadelphia on December 9.

The Giants face the Jets on November 10 at 1 p.m., so so much for the conspiracy theories about an early regular season Jets-Giants game because their preseason slate was moved to week 1.

Two of the Giants final four games will be against the Eagles.

Jets Schedule Has Leaked, Will Face Bills to Open Season

According to multiple legitimate sources, the New York Post and the New York Daily News, the New York Jets will open their 2019 season against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on Sunday September 8. Not the Cleveland Browns as many assumed based off a series of Tweets from Odell Beckham Jr. 

Oh, Odell, you are such a prankster!

Early takeaways: While some fans may be bummed the Jets won't open the season on Monday Night Football, but opening up against the Bills still carries plenty of intrigue. For starters it is a divisional game, which is always important. The match-up will also pit Sam Darnold against Josh Allen for the second time. Late last season Darnold led a spirited comeback against the Bills in New York's final victory of the season in late December. And if the Jets do indeed draft Kentucky's Josh Allen, we could get to see Josh Allen (of the Bills) get sacked by Josh Allen (of the Jets).

Jets get the Patriots out of the way early. Kinda surprising that we will not see a Jets-Pats game in November and December, but both teams will square off in primetime on Monday Night Football. Expect the Jets to wear black that night. 

The Jets-Cowboys game in Week 6 will likely be the FOX Game of the Week due to its late afternoon start at 4:25 p.m., which means Jets fans might have to endure some Cowboy-homerism from Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.

Adam Gase's return to Miami won't merit a primetime event, as it is squeezed into the middle of the schedule in early November at 1 p.m.

The stretch drive for the Jets is going to be brutal, especially weeks 15 and 16 when Gang Green hooks up against Baltimore on a Thursday night, and Pittsburgh. Both the Ravens and Steelers figure to be fighting for playoff berth, maybe even a division title at that point in the year. That will be a huge test for Gang Green, especially if the Jets find themselves in the wild card race.

It seems odd the Jets-Steelers game doesn't get an early season primetime slot, considering the Le'Veon Bell-Mike Tomlin drama, but keep in mind the game is now in position to potentially be flexed into Sunday Night Football, if both teams are in a situation to make the playoffs. 

The Jets end the season in Buffalo for the first time since 2015. Let's hope that trip has a happier ending for first year head coach Adam Gase, then it did Todd Bowles in his first year in New York. 

White Sox Shower Yankees in the Bronx

WHITE SOX 9 - YANKEES 6

The heavy rain that soaked Yankee Stadium late Friday night proved to be a microcosm of the first two-plus weeks of the 2019 baseball season for the Yankees. No matter how hard they try, the rain just keeps on pouring.

And it is for the Yankees, who earlier Friday put their catcher Gary Sanchez on the disable listed. Eight hours later they watched the Chicago White Sox come into the Bronx and beat up JA Happ en route to a 9-6 thumping before rains canceled the final three innings of the contest.  Since it was the seventh inning when the rains came, the game was official. Even that can't go right for the Yanks right now.

The sad part is things were actually looking up for the Yankees early on. New York built a 4-1 lead on RBIs by DJ LeMahieu, Austin Romine and Aaron Judge.

But by the fourth inning, the clock struck midnight on the aging Happ,who just couldn't get anyone out.

He walked James McCann and Adam Engel, before serving up a meatball to Leury Garcia who slapped it off the end of the bat to right field, driving in both runners to cut the Yankees lead 4-3.

After New York responded in the bottom half of the frame, courtesy of a Brett Gardner home run, things fell apart in the fifth.

Jose Abreu's soft single to center was followed by a frozen rope off the bat of Yonder Alonso into the shallow right stands to tie the game at five. After serving up a single to Yoan Moncada, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone pulled the plug on Happ, but it didn't get any better.

With Jonathan Holder now on the hill, Eloy Jimenez got all of a low changeup and dropped it over the centerfield wall to give the Chi-Sox a 7-5 lead. The blast was one of two for Jimenez, who would hit another homer to dead center in the seventh inning that gave Chicago an 8-6 lead.

Overall the White Sox hit four home runs in the win, as the Yankees their fifth loss at home already. The Yankees are 5-8 on the season, and falling farther and farther behind the surging and surprising Tampa Bay Rays who are 11-3.

Wheeler Has Best Outing as Mets Best Braves

METS 6 - BRAVES 2 

Zach Wheeler gave the Mets his best outing of the season, and the bats were red hot once again as the Mets toppled the Braves 6-2 on Friday, extending their win streak to three games, as the Amazin's maintain a half game lead over the Phillies for first place at 9-4. However, the most impressive and important numbers is this: the Mets are 8-3 in the division - the best among the competition in the NL East.

On Friday manager Mickey Callaway shook up the line-up just a little bit, moving Jeff McNeil into the lead-off spot and dropping Brandon Nimmo down in the order, and the change worked perfectly.

On a night where he went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs score, Nimmo ripped a a two-run homer to straight-away center field in the top of the second inning to open up the scoring for New York.

Two innings later, it was McNeil's turn to shine. The third baseman ripped a double to right, driving in both Keon Broxton and Nimmo to push the Mets lead up to 4-1.

Two batters later, slumping slugger Robinson Cano drove in McNeil with a double of his own to augment the Mets lead to 5-1. Michael Conforto put the finishing touch with his fifth double of the season, driving in Cano to make it 6-1.

All the runs were to the good of starter Zach Wheeler, who delivered his most impressive outing of the season. Wheeler held the Braves to just two runs on six hits over six innings, while recording eight strikeouts.

Things didn't look good for Wheeler in the bottom of the first when he loaded the bases on a single by Josh Donaldson and a pair of walks issued to Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuna. Still he found a way out of it. Wheeler jammed Nick Markakis on a fly ball to left that drove in Atlanta's first run, and  struck out Dansby Swanson swinging.

From there Wheeler worked his way in and out of trouble, never giving in to Atlanta's difficult lineup.  After struggling through his first two starts of the year, Wheeler lowered his ERA to 7.47. For a guy expected to be the linchpin in the Mets rotation, New York can only hope that he can use the start as a jumping board for better things to come.

Speaking of needing a good night, the Mets bullpen finally, FINALLY got through a game without giving up a run. Justin Wilson pitched a scoreless seventh inning, and Seth Lugo had his best outing of the year out of the pen, giving the Mets two scoreless to end it.

The Mets and Braves meet up on Saturday night with Jason Vargas on the hill for the Amazin's.

Gary Sanchez heading to crowded Injury List for Yanks

As if things couldn't get harder for the Yankees in the early season, the Bombers have placed catcher Gary Sanchez on the injury list with a strained calf.

Sanchez is now the 12th Yankee to spend time of the IL already this season. The injury comes after manager Aaron Boone played it cautious with Sanchez the past couple of days, slotting him to the designated hitter spot on Tuesday and benching him on Wednesday.

Injuries are nothing new for Sanchez, who suffered a groin injury last season which cost him a large chunk of the season.

After hitting .186 last season in 89 games with many questioning his commitment, this was an important year for Sanchez, and he got off to a good start. Through 11 games, Sanchez was hitting .268 with six homers and 11 RBI. Without his powerful bat in lineup the Yankees will be down to only Aaron Judge in the middle of the order with Giancarlo Stanton still on the shelf with a left biceps strain.

Of course the news could be worse. The Yankees are already looking at the prospect of Miguel Andujar missing the entire season with a labrum tear in his elbow, and starting pitcher Luis Severino now out through July with a lat strain.

The good news, CC Sabathia who has recovered from heart surgery is expected back in the Yankee rotation on Saturday.

Jets and Giants Preseason Schedules Announced

It's that time of the year again when the NFL schedule starts to slowly trickle out, leading up to the big reveal in mid-April.

Yes, baseball is in full bloom, March Madness just ended, but there is always something mystical and interesting when the NFL schedule comes out in April.

While we still have to wait at least another week before the regular season schedule comes out, the preseason slate is finalized. Here is what we got for the two local teams in New York City.

GIANTS Preseason Schedule 
August 8 - 11 NY JETS ........ NBC
August 15 - 18 CHICAGO ... NBC
August 22 - 25 @ Cincinnati ... NBC
August 29 @ New England ... NBC

JETS Preseason Schedule 
August 8-11 @ NY Giants ....... NBC
August 15 - 18 @ Atlanta ........ CBS
August 22 - 25 NEW ORLEANS ... CBS
August 29 PHILADELPHIA .... CBS 

Right off the bat the highlight is the fact the Jets and Giants face one another in Week 1 of the preseason. It is only the third time in the pre-season rivalry that has happened. The last time was 2010 when MetLife Stadium opened. It is interesting that the game is schedule for Week 1, because the two teams do face each other in the regular season. Is there a chance that the Jets-Giants regular season match-up could be early in the season? It's possible. The last two times the Jets and Giants met in the regular season, their annual preseason tilt was still scheduled for Week 3. The regular season match-ups in 2011 and 2015 came in mid-to-late December.

While we won't know officially until next week, it's a pretty solid guess that the Jets-Giants game that will count in the standings, will happen early in the regular season schedule.

The Giants will not see the Cleveland Browns in the preseason, instead they will get the Bengals. Interesting, considering the hubbub over Odell Beckham's trade to the Browns last month.

The Jets, meanwhile, will see the Falcons in preseason for the second straight season.

Jets Finally Reveal New Uniforms ... And It's Bad

24 hours after the uniforms leaked online through a fuzzy photo that sent social media ablaze with fans debating whether they were fake, the Jets confirmed that the uniform was indeed the real deal at a special event in New York City on Thursday. 

And to be honest, it was underwhelming. 

The new uniform is sleek, and a drastically new look that hints at the Jets uniform from the 1980s and 1990s. But it fails to conger up the feeling of history and tradition that its predecessor did. The old uniform was the classic Jets look, reinvented by Bill Parcells because it represented success. 

And success the Jets had in that uniform. Seven playoff appearances, seven playoff victories, two division titles, three trips to the AFC title game. Well before the Buttfumble, Tim Tebow, and Todd Bowles's expressionless face, the Jets were a winning team with a great uniform. 

Even when they lost, the uniform was still the best part of the franchise. 

Yet, the Jets decided a change was in order. They made the announcement last summer that new digs were coming in 2019 to the chagrin of fans, and after months of anticipation, we now have them. 

Compared to the classic Jets uniform, these new uniforms are horrendous. Compared to the other wild and bizarre Nike NFL uniforms we have seen over the last seven or eight years, these new Jets uniforms are pretty good. 

A bright green helmet with the old Jet logo splashed across the sides, the football pushed up into the E and T in Jets is an interesting twist, although it is nowhere near the classic white helmet we have seen the franchise adorn for a better part of its existence. 

The jersey is more bizarre. A bright green with a white streak cutting across the chest giving it a feel of a Canadian Football League team. The road white isn't any better. Believe it or not the black jersey, which looked horrible in the leak, might be the best of the three jersey's the Jets revealed on Thursday. 

That isn't saying much. 

Good bye Jets classic uniform that lasted from 1962 - 1977 and again from 1998 - 2018. We will miss you. At least we can still revisit the past in our closets. 

Gleybor Day! Torres Four Hits Powers Yanks to Victory

YANKEES 8 - ORIOLES 4 

It was only a week, but it felt like a month of bad baseball. At 2-5 the Yankees needed a win in the worst way, and were able to get that 'W' thanks in major part to a huge afternoon by Gleybor Torres.

Torres went 4-for-4 including a mammoth 3-run homer to put the Yankees in front 5-4 in the sixth inning en route to an 8-4 victory.

Manager Aaron Boone even told the press after the game that Torres home run lifted the dugout, and you can certainly understand why. Not only have the Yankees lost games, their offense has been stagnant. Entering Thursday game in Baltimore, the Bombers scored only 13 runs in their last five games combined.

Add the offensive ineptitude to the plethora of injuries that continue to grow, and the slow start to 2019 was becoming an epidemic.

And you couldn't fault Boone for feeling even more frustration today when he watched James Paxton give up three-first inning runs as the Orioles built a 3-0 lead that they would carry through five innings.

It all changed in the sixth when the Yankees started swinging like the Yankees again. A solo homer by Gary Sanchez, followed by the three-run bomb by Torres. Then in the ninth inning, a three-run bomb by Luke Voit. After hitting all of six homers to start the year, the Bombers hit four in one game.

For one day, the Yankees were back. Now, well see if they get rolling.

Reaction to Mets Hot 5-1 Start to 2019

Here is the latest podcast from the Open Mike Program. On this edition I welcome back John Pielli of the Passed Ball Show to discuss the Mets 5-1 start to the season.

In addition we talk about the controversy surrounding Ron Darling's recollection of comments made by Lenny Dykstra in the 1986 World Series.

Jets New Uniforms are Leaked Online

Well, here they are folks. One day before the team officially reveals them to the world, the New York Jets new uniforms have allegedly been leaked. While it isn't 100 percent certain, it appears very likely that these are the new uni's. Check it out.

While nothing will top the classic look the Jets have worn the previous 20-years, an homage to their lone Super Bowl season of 1968, these new uniforms are not bad. Certainly for Nike standards anyway.

The first thing that stands out is the green is indeed a lighter shade compared to its predecessor, and it does harken back slightly to the look of the 1980s and 1990s. The logo seems to be more divisive. A lot of people hate it, but it is a slight update of their current logo.

The NY is no longer behind the word mark Jets, instead New York is spelled out across the top, and the football is pushed up into the E and T in Jets. It's an update, not too dramatic, but still familiar. We like it.

On the helmet just the word Jets and a football appear splashed across a kelly green helmet. New York is spelled out across the top of the jersey, which has become a staple of Nike jersey's of late.

The Jets are indeed getting the black jersey, which will be accompanied by black pants and socks, and will likely be used as a color rush design for prime time games (when the Jets actually are in prime time).

Overall it is not a terrible look. It is clean and sleek. Compared to the radical uniforms we have seen in recent years i.e. Seattle, Tampa Bay, Miami, Cleveland, this new uniform combination is actually playing it safe.

"Curb" Star JB Smoove promos Jets New Uniforms

The anticipation is palpable. The guessing by fans all over social media has reached a crescendo that teeters on the brink of insanity, and with it all we are just two days away from officially finding out what new uniform the Jets will adorn in 2019. 

On Tuesday night, the New York Jets revealed another short clip teasing the upcoming reveal, this time with comedian and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star JB Smoove on center stage. 

Like the previous video that featured only a silhouette of Leonard Williams in the new uniform, the clip opens in a dark, smoke-filled room with Smoove sitting on a stool. We then hear Smoove say "Everybody's got a story to tell," before the lights turn on showing Smoove in a slick grey/silver suit with a kelly green tie, white shirt, and dark grey fedora. 

Is this a hint at the potential uniform color combination? 

Many people on Twitter think so, and the guessing has been pretty insane. 

So let's take the guessing to face value.

We have heard for months that the Jets will go back to a lighter green, one that is comparable to the kelly green look of the 1980s and 1990s. The Jets have subtly used a "lighter green" in their sideline banners, promotions, website and color rush uniforms. So we are clearly in store for a return to the color full time. But how will grey and black play a role?

Many believe the Jets will roll out a black jersey on Thursday night, but is there a chance the new helmet will be a dark color as well? A black or dark grey Jets helmet would certainly be stirring, and maybe even divisive for some die hards. But it would make some sense. If the Jets pattern their uniform after military fighter pilots, a dark helmet would make a lot of sense. And honestly it would go with the times in the NFL. The Jaguars, Ravens have dark helmets that are widely popular. Two decades ago, the Buccaneers switched from a white helmet to a dark copper or pewter colored helmet that has been incredibly poplar as well. Even the Titans switched from a white helmet to a deep navy. 

Then again, the Jets could keep to tradition and roll out a kelley green or white helmet, which will please a lot fans who don't want too drastic a change. 

Who knows? The truth is everyone is guessing at this point. Unless someone sneaks a photo of the uniform before Thursday night, the Jets have done a tremendous job keeping this under wraps. The Jaguars and Titans had leaks flying all over the place last year before their reveal. By the time Tennessee and Jacksonville unveiled the uniforms, we pretty much knew what we were getting. With the Jets, we have no idea. And that makes this announcement all the more intriguing. 

Pete Alonso Leads Mets to Huge Win in South Beach

METS 7 - MARLINS 3

Pete Alonso is an absolute beast.

The New York Mets rookie first baseman continues to amaze in the early season, launching a 3-run bomb in the top of the ninth inning that propelled the Mets to a thrilling 7-3 victory in Miami, Monday night.

The victory continued an early trend where the Mets’ offense has found new ways to bail out a struggling pitching staff.

For his part, Alonso is now hitting .429 on the season with a slugging percentage of .747. While it is only four games, Alonso is turning into a serious weapon in the middle of the Mets batting order, and he has shown no signs of stopping.

Before the ninth inning heroics, twice New York had to storm back just to tie the game as Monday’s starter Steven Matz had an uneven performance in his first effort of the season.

The Marlins took a 2-0 lead on Matz when the lefty served up a two-run shot to Starlin Castro in the bottom of the first. But give Matz credit, he settled down after the gaff, surrendering only a Martin Prado fifth inning single over the next four innings.

As Matz settled in, the Mets chipped away.  A second inning double by left fielder Jeff McNeil brought home Michael Conforto with the Mets first run of the day. New York would later tie the game in the top of the fourth inning on a wild pitch by Marlins starter Caleb Smith.

Matz would run out of gas in the bottom of the sixth. With two runners aboard,  Castro again reached, this time on an infield single to bring home a run, giving Miami a 3-2 lead.

But, never say never with these Mets. Like they did in Sunday’s 6-5 loss to Washington, the Mets stormed back thanks to an unlikely source: Juan Lagares. Lagares crushed a 2-0, inside fastball over the right field wall for the game-tying homer in the top of the seventh.

Then in the ninth, the Mets took control. Facing reliever Drew Steckenrider, the Mets rallied for four runs in the frame to take the lead for good. Dominic Smith, who has been incredibly unselfish in his role as Alonso’s backup, singled to open the inning. After Lagares was hit by a pitch to move Smith to second, Amed Rosario poked one through the hole at second, sending Smith to the races around third base and sliding into home with the go-ahead run.

That set the stage for Alonso who destroyed the first pitch he saw, sending 444 feet into the air over the center field wall for a three-run homer. The blast was Alonso’s first of his Major League career, and one that Mets fans sure won’t forget.

Upon returning to the dugout, Alonso was mobbed by his teammates, but none happier than Dominic Smith, who high fived and chest bumped Alonso in jubilant celebration.

Of course, Edwin Diaz had to make everyone sweat in the bottom of the ninth when he loaded the bases with nobody out. Even a wild Diaz was good enough to strike out Jorge Alfaro, Peter O’Brien and JT Riddle in succession to get out of the jam. 

Miguel Andujar's Season Could Be Over

The news on Miguel Andujar could be worse than expected.

The Yankees infielder and 2018 Rookie of The Year candidate, reportedly has a torn labrum in his shoulder and the Yankees are considering season ending surgery.

Prior to MOnday's game against the Detroit Tigers, Andujar was placed on the IL along with Giancarlo Stanton for what was termed as a shoulder strain. A torn Labrum is serious.

The news continues a disturbing trend for the Bronx Bombers who have a laundry list of players who are out nursing injuries. Including Andujar and Stanton, the Yankees are missing: CC Sabathia, Didi Gregorius, Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Aaron Hicks, Jordan Montgomery, and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Yankees Feeling the Pain as Stanton and Andujar Hit IL

Things are not looking good for the Yankees right now. Not only did the team lose a series to the dreadful Baltimore Orioles over the weekend, but Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Andujar have been placed on the 10-day injured list. 

At least it is April 1. 

Stanton is on the shelf with a strained left bicep and will be shut down completely for the next 10 days before beginning rehab. As for Andujar, he is dealing with a right shoulder strain and will miss the next 10 days as well. 

Outfielder Clint Fraizer and infielder Tyler Wade have been called up from Triple-A Scranton to take the place of Stanton and Andujar. 

Losing both Andujar and Stanton is a major blow to an offense that managed only 15 runs in three against the Orioles in the Opening Series. Stanton hit .333 with two RBI in the series, while Andujar batted .231 with a RBI. Still big picture, these are two huge bats out of the lineup. When healthy Stanton is a RBI machine, and MVP candidate. Andujar is coming off a Rookie of the Year campaign in 2018. The Yankees can only hope to get these guys back soon while the schedule is still soft. 

Still the injuries are of concern for the Bronx Bombers, who have been ravaged by the injury bug since Spring Training. Aaron Hicks, Jacoby Ellsbury, CC Sabathia, Dellin Betances, and Luis Serverino are the other prominent Yankees on the IL, and there is no telling when any of them will be back. 

The Yankees hope to have Severino back by May. Ellsbury, of course, has been M.I.A. since last season as he continues to absorb space on the Yankees payroll as the worst contract ever. Yankees' manager Aaron Boone did say that Aaron Hicks is ramping up his workouts, although baseball actives haven't started yet for the $70 million centerfielder. 

It's only April 1, Yankees fans. It's still early.

Former Met Lenny Dykstra Threatens to Sue Ron Darling for Slander

Mickey Callaway’s in-game decision making isn’t the only thing leaving Mets’ fans heads spinning.

Apparently a war of words could land two former Mets in court, as controversial outfielder Lenny Dykstra said he would sue former Mets pitcher and current broadcaster Ron Darling for slander.

In a new book authored by Darling, titled: “108 Stitches: Loose Threads, Ripping Yarns, and the Darndest Characters from My Time in the Game,” Darling claims that in Game 3 of the 1986 World Series Dykstra was cursing out Red Sox starter Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd with a barrage of racial epithets that Darling called, “the ugliest piece of vitriol I ever heard.”

Darling calls Dykstra a “thug” and an “a-hole,” and labeled the barrage as one of the “most shameful moments I ever experienced in the game,” adding he regrets not doing anything about it.

Darling writes: “I don’t want to commemorate this dark, low moment in Mets history in that way, but I will say that it was the worst collection of taunts and insults I’d ever heard — worse, I’m betting, than anything Jackie Robinson might have heard, his first couple times around the league.

“And yet whatever Lenny shouted at Oil Can out there on the mound that night might have had the desired effect, because Dennis looked rattled.”

In response, Dykstra took to ESPN’s Michael Kay Show and promised to sue Darling for creating “lies” to “try to sell a book.”

Ironically, Darling was on the other NY sports talk show, Mike’s On with Mike Francesa and continued his critique of his former teammate.

“In those days, and if you read the whole paragraph, Lenny had a way about him. He was a little crazy … The world has changed. What was said 33 years ago in a fraternity of young men trying to play a sport, as you look back on it when you’re 57 or 58 years old, you’re kind of ashamed of the complicity of yourself to these kind of things … in those days people tried to rile each other in a lot of different ways, you hoped it didn’t happen that way.”

Guess there won’t be a nice reunion when these two see each other again.