Robby Anderson Leaves Jets for Panthers

Adios Robby, we hardly knew ye!

Former Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson is leaving the Big Apple for the Carolina Panthers, agreeing to a two-year, $20 million contract that includes $12 million in the first year of the deal.

Anderson reunites with Matt Rhule who was his head coach at Temple. Oddly who knows who will be throwing the ball to it. It could either be PJ Walker, or Teddy Bridgewater, or whomever the Panthers decide to draft next month.

While Anderson was a lateral threat for the Jets and quarterback Sam Darnold, he is replaceable, and it was hard to understand the hype around him. Anderson never amassed 1,000 yards in a season, and was widely inconsistent. At times he would make big plays and there were times he would disappear.

Perhaps the best play of Anderson's Jets career was the 92-yard touchdown catch he had against the Cowboys last season.

With Anderson out of the picture, the Jets can look to the draft to find a top flight receiver. There will be plenty. From CeeDee Lamb to Jerry Jeudy. The Jets are going to have their pick of some good talent. They can replace Anderson. This is not a loss Jets fans should fret.

Noah Syndergaard Out for the Season with UCL Tear

Even with Coronavirus putting the entire sports world on hiatus and the U.S. economy to the brink of Depression-like calamity, bad news seems to follow the Mets.

What else is new?

Today, MLB Insider Jeff Passan reported that Mets starter Noah Syndergaard tore his Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his right elbow and is expected to have Tommy John Surgery.

Of course, if baseball returns this year, Syndergaard is out for the season.

And considering the timing of the injury, he could be on the shelf well into April of 2021, if not “likely into the summer months” according to Passan.

The Mets are expected to make an announcement later today.

Injuries have been a real problem for Syndergaard since he was called up to the Big Leagues in 2015.  In 2017, he left a game against the Washington Nationals after experiencing tightness in his right bisceps muscle. A few days later he was placed on the 60-day injury list and missed almost the entire season. A lot of people attributed Syndergaard’s workout regimen as a source of the injury, since he packed on muscle during the off-season.

In 2018, Syndergaard was placed on the injury list at the end of May with a strained ligament in his right index finger. He would miss a month, activated on July 12. Ironically 10 days later he was back on the injury list after contracting hand, foot and mouth disease.

The latest injury is a huge setback to a pitcher whom the Mets had hopped would be their number 2 starter behind ace Jacob deGrom. Last year Syndergaard had an up and down season going 10-8 with a 4.31 ERA in 31 starts. During the offseason he had agreed on a one-year $9.7 million deal with the Mets in arbitration.

He has one year of arbitration left in 2021, but if Syndergaard misses most of the 2021 season, one has to wonder if this is the last time we ever see him in a Mets uniform.

It’s hard to believe that it has been five years since the Mets had what many considered the best, young rotation in the sport with deGrom, Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Steve Matz and Zach Wheeler. 

Harvey is unemployed and may never pitch in the Majors again. Matz has proven to be beyond mediocre; Wheeler took his talents to Philadelphia. Only deGrom remains as the linchpin of a once formidable rotation.

New York Jets Offseason of Addition by Depth Only Continues

Give Jets General Manager Joe Douglas credit for one thing, he's good at adding names to a depth chart. As far as finding bonafide starters that is a whole other thing entirely.

The Jets continued their search of "decent" talent this weekend, signing a flurry of part-time starters to contracts. Call it whatever you want: adding depth to an already barren cupboard, or call it flat out mediocre. The Jets off-season is however you want to look at it.

Over the weekend New York agreed to one year deals with cornerback Brian Poole and ex-Colts corner Pierre Desir, adding depth to an otherwise depleted position. This isn't to say that the Jets are now set at corner -- far from it.

Poole had a good year for the Jets in 2019 with his biggest play of last season coming on a pick-six of Derek Car of the Raiders, but he has always been a part-time starter.

Desir is no different.  Ranked 73rd among corners in the NFL, the 29-year-old battled a hamstring injury last season with the Colts, in what was his first a three-year $22.3 million deal with Indy. They cut him this off-season.

Desir's best season came in 2018 with Indianapolis where he played in 16 games and had 79 tackles. But, again, he's primarily a part time starter.

On the offensive line, the Jets added a bunch of pieces, but if anyone thinks the Jets answered all of their problems with a unit that was ranked as one of the worst in the NFL last season, they would be gravely mistaken at this point.

Outside of the signing of former Denver Bronco Connor McGovern, who could play either center or right guard, there isn't a bonafide starter on the line -- that is a huge problem.

The Jets signed former Panthers guard Greg Van Roten to a three-year deal worth $7.28 million, none of which is guaranteed.  Reports are he is coming off a serious shoulder injury, and became a full time starter two seasons ago in Carolina. He's considered a player with "upside" at 30-years old. That's scary.

Before joining the Panthers in 2018, Van Roten spent time on the practice squads for both Jacksonville and Green Bay and was in the CFL. He's a nice story of perseverance, and the Jets are banking that he can become a starter.

In addition to the signing of Van Roten, the Jets agreed to a deal with former Colts back-up guard Josh Andrews who has never started a game in his career.

Add these two signings to the questionable move on a mega three-year deal for former Seahawks part-time tackle George Font and you have a recipe for worry if you are a Jets fan.

Yet, amazingly Jets fans think Douglas is proving to be a "genius" and is winning the off-season by signing just about anyone.

Then again Jets fans once thought Mike Mccagnan was a genius as well.

The Jets are putting themselves and their third year quarterback Sam Darnold in big trouble. The offensive line was a major issue for this franchise the past several seasons, and it STILL needs to be addressed. Plugging holes and hoping it doesn't leak is not a good strategy.

The Jets need a true left tackle and right tackle. They need to figure out if McGovern starts at center or they keep Jonathan Harrison there. They need an edge rusher, and at least two wide receivers (in an ideal world).

At the end of the day it will come down to the draft, and Douglas (if he has been waiting for his pitch) will have to hit his home run there.

Need a Baseball Fix during COVID-19? Video Games!

Ok, I gotta admit I miss sports. It has been over a week since the sports world, and really the United States of America for that matter stopped in its collective tracks to access the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Everything has shut down from businesses to schools to Mom & Pop shops, and of course sports. We don’t know when Major League Baseball will return to the scene, especially after the Centers for Disease Control made its recommendation that no public gatherings of 50 or more people be allowed for at least eight weeks which takes us until mid-May.

And if you listen to many baseball insiders, the reality is we may not see competitive baseball at any level until June.

So what to do? Well, I think this is pretty obvious.  If you need a sports binge you can do a few things: go to YouTube and binge on old games, watch sports movies, or pull out PS4 and play video games … MLB the Show 20 is out ya’ know.

Or you could download one of the many sports games to your phone like MLB 9 Innings 20. 

Got it! Downloaded it! Yeah, it’s a lot of gigs, but I needed a baseball fix, and played an exhibition between the New York Mets and Oakland Athletics at Citi Field. Here’s what happened.

Jacob deGrom dominated, tossing eight innings of three hit ball, striking out 15 batters. At one point deGrom carried a perfect game into the fifth inning before giving up a single to Matt Chapman with one out in the top of the fifth.

Offensively, the Mets got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Pete Alonso crushed a Mike Fiers pitch … (that’s right, the whistleblower Mike Fiers) … to deep center for a two-run homer.

Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Jeff McNeil led off with a single, before Alonso doubled to move McNeil to third. Michael Conforto slapped a Fires pitch down the left field line to plate both runners to make it 4-1 Mets.

After striking out two batters in the eighth, deGrom’s stamina is low, so I have to substitute him for the ninth inning.

Who do I bring in? Yeah, I’m not bringing in Edwin Diaz; I don’t want to lose my first game doing this. In comes Seth Lugo for a 1, 2, 3 ninth inning.

Mets win 4-1.

Record: 1 – 0.

It’s a video game. It isn’t real. But it felt nice to have a little baseball in my hands for 45 minutes or so after diner.

Tom Brady expected to Sign with Tampa Bay

Tom Brady is on his way to Tampa Bay according to numerous sources, who say the contract will be about $30 million a year.

Check out the podcast reaction to the milestone day in sports from the Open Mike Program.

Tom Brady Likely Heading to Buccaneers

Tom Brady is taking his talents to West Florida. At least that is what FOX Sports blowhard Colin Cowherd is saying.

Cowherd, who is FOX's version of Mike Francesa -- he gets it wrong almost all the time -- claims that he heard from a "good source" that Brady plans to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as soon as Wednesday.

"He was willing to sign with New England but he watched Stefon Diggs and DeAndre Hopkins go to other franchise," Cowherd said.

The Bucs do have two explosive wide receivers in Chris Godwin (86 catches 1,333 yards, 9 touchdowns) and Mike Evans (67 catches, 1,157 yards, 8 touchdowns), and head coach Bruce Arians is a quarterback guru -- just look what he did for Ben Roethlisburger and Andrew Luck early in their careers.

While the Bucs are not a Super Bowl caliber team just yet, they have potential, and they did go 7-9 in Arians first season in Tampa.

Will be fascinating to see how much Brady has left in the tank, and whether he will regret leaving New England for Tampa Bay. Keep in mind he is no longer in an easy division like the AFC East. The NFC South has formidable opponents in the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. There is no guarantee of anything for Tampa this year even with the 43-year old Brady under center.

Tom Brady's Days In New England are Over

A new era is about to begin in the NFL and in New England.

Tom Brady, the winner of six Super Bowl championships, three League MVPs, and total domination of the AFC East - and the AFC in general for that matter for the better part of 20 years is leaving New England.

As of 12 noon on March 17, Brady hasn't signed elsewhere yet, but the rumors are flying around that he could be going to Tampa Bay or the LA Chargers. There is even rumors that the Miami Dolphins might be jumping into the mix at the 11th hour.

It is going to be fascinating to see how the Patriots respond. Bill Belichick, who built his success as a head coach around Brady, has a reputation of finding ways to win without his top players. Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Teddy Bruschi, Jamie Collins, we can up and down the list of players who have come and gone in New England and STILL the Patriots have found ways to win.

That will be tested now with the biggest fish in the Patriots pond now elsewhere.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, or Panthers quarterback Cam Newton are on the market and could be part of a trade to take over for Brady. Either would stabilize the situation until the Patriots find the next franchise quarterback either in this year's draft or next. 

Sure Patriots fans will point to the 2008 season when New England won 11 games with Matt Cassell with Brady out for the season with an Achilles tendon tear. Then again, if you look at Belichick's record pre-Brady, it isn't very good. Before Brady took over in Week 3 of the 2001 season for an injured Drew Bledsoe, Belichick was 5-13 as Patriots head coach.

This could very well be the end of the Patriots dynasty. Certainly, they are no longer a guarantee to win 12 to 13 games a year, and the AFC East will be more competitive. The Buffalo Bills are automatically the favorites in the division. The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets are still twisting in the wind of mediocrity, but even their chances to make the playoffs increase with Brady out in Foxboro.

Then again, things change if the Dolphins decide to drop their rebuild plans, kick out Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen and sign Brady. That would be incredible.

Still it seems the likely destination for TB12 is Tampa. The Bucs are prepared to offer Brady $30 million or more on a short term deal. The Bucs need steady quarterback play, and they rather go with a 43-year former Super Bowl MVP than continue with Jamies Winston who has been a turnover machine. It's a great risk for Tampa in a division still heavily dominated by the New Orleans Saints.

Is Tampa a good fit for Brady? It's hard to picture it. Brady has no familiarity with anyone in Tampa, and never played for Bucs coach Bruce Arians.  The Bucs are still in re-building mode.

Meanwhile, the Chargers have interesting pieces, but is Brady at this stage of his career that much of an upgrade from 38-year old Philip Rivers?

The ball is in Brady's court. For some odd reason he feels disrespected and wants to be paid boatloads of money. If only someone could convince Brady of the obvious -- he has nothing left to prove. He's done it.

Jets Already Failing Free Agency

The start of NFL free agent frenzy is giving NFL fans the distraction is surely needs amid the COVID-19 virus. Sadly for Jets fans, their team can't help but make them feel sick.

The Jets watched as all the big target free agents went elsewhere. Right tackle Jack Conklin signed with the Cleveland Browns; Tackle Joe Thuney was franchise tagged by the Patriots and center Graham Glasgow signed with Denver.

Oh, and linebacker Kyle Van Noy signed with Miami after the Jets kicked the tires on him.

So Gang Green settled for offensive tackle George Fant, formally of the Seattle Seahawks, a player who spent most of his career as a part-time starter. Fant has only 24 starts in his career, seven of which came last year.

And to think Gang Green threw $30 million, with $13.7 million guaranteed his way -- evidence that the Jets are that desperate.

This is a bad start for the Joe Douglas regime. The Bills got better by trading for former Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs, while the Dolphins beefed up by adding linebackers Van Noy and Shaq Lawson, and corner back Byron Jones.

At least Tom Brady is not returning to New England. Wait...what? More on that later...

Same ole Jets! As Larry David said on Curb Your Enthusiasm, all they do is disappoint.

MLB Season Opener Delayed to At Least May

There is no telling how long we will be without live sporting events, but with the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus leagues like Major League Baseball are not taking any chances.

On Monday, MLB announced that it will delay the opening of the season til at least May 11 after the Centers for Disease Control recommended that all public gatherings of more than 50 people be halted for at least eight weeks. That takes until May 11.

The decision by the CDC is going to have ripple effects on every sports league. The NBA and NHL suspended their seasons last week, and may - not saying they will -- but may have to consider canceling their seasons if the quarantine lasts longer than eight weeks. Then again, there has been consideration of resuming those respective seasons as late as June or July.

As for baseball is concerned, if the season doesn't open until May 11, MLB's players are going to need at least two to three weeks to prepare in Spring Training again, which would mean practicing in the midst of the CDC's recommended quarantine.

Realistically, the season may not get going until at least June maybe even July, if we have a season at all. Is MLB ready to have a truncated season? Will they find a way to squeeze in 100 plus games? These are all questions that will be answered in the coming months, but the facts are it is looking less and less likely we will see sports at all come the month of May.

Major League Baseball Season Likely Suspended

According to ESPN's Jeff Passon, the start of the Major League Baseball season will be delayed, while all operations in Spring Training have been suspended due to the outbreak of Coronavirus.

This was a decision that was expected after the NBA suspended the rest of its season and the NCAA tournament has been all but canceled due to the outbreak of the disease.

Sports leagues are taking extra precaution with this virus as different states have declared states of emergencies. In the last couple of days Ohio, Washington and California have put halts to public events where more than an 100 people attend.

It is anyone's guess how long the MLB season will be delayed, but if the recent trend is any indication, it could be 30 days or more. That means Opening Day March 26, and a good chunk of April will be scrapped from the schedule. How teams will handle this as far as redeeming tickets that have been purchased is to be announced.

Regardless get used to a world without any sports (except the XFL) for quiet a while.

NBA Season Suspended, College Tournaments Canceled Amid Coronavirus

The COVID-19 virus continues to take its toll on our way of life.

Last night the NBA suspended the rest of the season until further notice after word came down that Utah Jazz guard Rudy Gobert was infected with Coronavirus, forcing the Jazz game against the Oklahoma City Thunder to be postponed.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wasted no time and suspended the rest of the season until the virus is contained. By Thursday morning word came down that another Jazz player, Donovan Mitchell also contracted the virus.

There is great risk moving players, coaches, officials, and team and league personnel around the country if the virus is spreading within the NBA, so Silver had no choice but to put a halt to the season. When and if the NBA season resumes is anyones guess at this point.

On top of that after the NCAA barred fans from attending arenas for March Madness, the Power Five conferences may have put a halt to the entire tournament by canceling their own conference tournaments which were taking place this week. More specifically, the SEC, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, and Pac 12 will not have conference tournaments.

The Power 5 Conferences join the American, A-10, Conference USA, MAC, American East, Big Sky and WAC as conferences who have canceled their men's basketball tournaments.

It is not totally clear if this means the NCAA Tournament is now canceled, but if all the conference tournaments are indeed canned, it's only a matte of time before the entire tournament gets rubbed out.

Meanwhile Major League Soccer has suspended its season and canceled its National Friendlies. The NFL is making plans to hold the NFL draft without fans, and Major League Baseball and the NHL are weighing its options to hold games either without fans or suspend games.

Only the XFL appears to be ok with playing despite this disease - what a shock from the classless and fledging league.

Who knows how long it will be before we can return to normalcy in this country again. Until then the world is slowly stopping and waiting for a solution to this deadly virus.

No Fans Allowed: Coronavirus Scare Forces NCAA Tournament to Close Arenas

The spread of the life-threatening COVID-19 Coronavirus that has swept the entire country, and the world for that matter into both panic and uncertainty has now affected the sports world. And considering the severity of the situation, it was only a matter of time. 

Mere hours after word came down that the IVY League would cancel its own tournaments, and the Golden State Warriors would ban fans from coming to home games for the rest of the season because of the threat of the virus, the NCAA has taken action and will bar fans from all arenas during March Maddness. 

That means outside of team personnel, and close family relatives there will be no fans in attendance during college basketball's premiere tournament.  A statement was released Wednesday from NCAA President Mark Emmert:


The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel. Based on their advice and my discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance.

"While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States. This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes. We recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime for the students and their families. Today, we will move forward and conduct championships consistent with the current information and will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed."

Emmert even considered cancelling the tournament altogether, and that the NCAA would consider moving the Final Four out of the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

To date the virus has spread to over 1,000 cases in the United States alone -- if not more -- and more than 30 people have already perished form the disease. According to CBS News, the worldwide fatality rate is 4,000 people. While many detractors have claimed that the flu virus is even deadlier, the percentages don't add up. Coronavirus is proving to be deadlier to a smaller sample size, and it appears it has affected seniors over the age of 65 the greatest. This is a scary time for this country and the planet. 

Of course it doesn't help when there is little direction from either side of the political isle in Washington D.C. 

Has the talk around the disease hit a level of mass hysteria? It certainly feels that way, and one has to wonder what other events are going to get cancelled, delayed, or altered in any way. We already know the NCAA and NBA are getting involved. Even the XFL's Seattle Dragons are barring fans from their game this weekend against Los Angeles. 

What's next? Major League Baseball begins its season in two weeks, and there are reports MLB is weighing its options. According to CBS Sports, teams could end up playing in different cities where the virus is less rampant, or stay at their Spring Training facilities and conduct regular season games there. 

MLB is not considering cancelling regular season games at this time. 

Already the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants have announced they will not play in their home ballparks this month after their respective cities put a stop to large public gatherings. Both teams are trying to find a solution and alternative site to play baseball. 

Will this affect the Mets and Yankees at some point? The Yankees open the season at Baltimore in two weeks while the Mets open the season at Citi Field. Considering the grave concern for this disease, nothing would be surprising in the least if either team were to bar its fans from those contests. Anything at this point -- is possible until this disease is contained and stopped. 

Injury to Conforto Opens Up Outfield Possibilities

In what had been a fairly quiet spring training, the Mets were just going about their business to get ready for the regular season, which begins in 16 days. Gone is the noise of a wild off-season that saw the Mets make headlines on a weekly basis.

That tranquility got disturbed a bit when word came down Tuesday that outfielder Michael Conforto was diagnosed with a right oblique strain, and it is unclear if Conforto will be ready for Opening Day on March 26.

Conforto injured the oblique in Spring Training while making a catch.

The question now is how will the Mets move forward? New York already had a rather tenuous situation in the outfield before this injury, and it only gets worse with this news, considering Conforto was slated to be the Mets everyday right fielder.

Brandon Nimmo and Jake Marisnick were on track to be a platoon in center field, but with Conforto's injury it will likely mean Marisnick will see more action in right. This injury also opens the door for third baseman Jeff McNeil to return to the outfield, something he spent much of the 2019 season doing, although the Mets would rather keep McNeil in the infield.

J.D. Davis, another natural infielder is already tapped to be in the outfield in left. And what does this mean for Yoenis Cespedes?

Cespedes has been running at full speed and hitting in simulated games, but has yet to participate in any spring training contests as he makes he way back from multiple ankle fractures. Two weeks ago, Cespedes broke his media silence and told reporters that he plans to be ready for Opening Day. But for that to happen now would require an accelerated timetable for the Mets and Cespedes.

Then there is unknown. If Conforto were to miss an extended period of time, should the Mets go right ahead and bring in Yasiel Puig who remains unsigned? The answer is simple: No. The Mets already have a Yasiel Puig type in Cespedes. Like Cespedes, Puig is a guy who has tremendous talent, and at one point was one of the games most feared hitters, but his boneheaded actions on and off the field has done him in. The Mets don't need another headache and risk. They need answers.

Plus we don't know what the timetable will be for Conforto. Oblique injuries are tricky. Sometimes they take a couple of weeks; other times months. It depends on the player. One thing the Mets cannot do right now is hit the panic button.

Jets cutting Trumaine Johnson as they Look for CB Help

The inevitable will soon be a reality, at least as soon as the new CBA is agreed upon. The New York Jets will cut cornerback Trumaine Johnson, a major disappointment in green and white since he signed with the Jets in 2018.

In two seasons, Johnson played in only 17 games as a Jet on a contract that would have paid him $72.5 million over five years, easily one of the worst signings in Jets history, and a microcosm of former General Manager Mike Mccagnan's inept tenure.

Johnson either played poorly when healthy or was injured. He even fell out of favor with Adam Gase's coaches this past season when he was benched in Week 2; it just never worked out.

Should the Jets cut Johnson by March 20, the Jets will face a $12 million cap hit, which is dependent upon the new CBA. If the CBA passes, the Jets can spread the hit over two seasons, say $4 million this year and $8 million next season.

The Jets who were in the market for a corner anyway, will definitely be looking to upgrade the position this spring. The free agent class at corner is nothing spectacular with Eli Apple, Prince Amukamara and Kendall Fuller leading the group. The Jets could, and likely, will use on of their eight draft picks on a corner in next month's NFL draft.

Nets Fire Head Coach Kenny Atkinson

The Nets can join the Knicks in yet another category of futility. The Nets fired long-time head coach Kenny Atkinson just hours after the Nets blew out the San Antonio Spurs 139-120 at Barclays Center.

In a statement from General Manager Sean Marks, the Nets mutually agreed to part ways with Atkinson who has been the head coach of the team since 2016.

In three-and-a-half seasons Atkinson's Nets went 118-190, including a trip to the playoffs last season. This year's squad underachieved in many respects. The Nets stand at 28-34 even though they are still very much alive for a playoff berth this season. The problem is the team has battled injuries and inconsistency all year, namely the loss to Kyrie Irving, who played in only 20 games this season. Irving went under the knife a few weeks ago to repair his shoulder.

It didn't help matters the Nets also signed Kevin Durant last off-season, and the future Hall of Famer has yet to suit up in a Nets uniform as he recovers from an Achillies tendon injury he suffered with Golden State in last season's NBA Finals.

To be fair Atkinson never had a full compliment of healthy players to work with this season. The fact the Nets were even in the mix this late in the season spoke volumes about the coach. In fact, Brooklyn had won two of its last three, including a 129-120 victory over the playoff bound Boston Celtics.

The problem for the Nets this year is the team has suffered three extensive losing streaks including a seven game skid in late December/early January.

Jacque Vaughn will take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The former Spurs assistant was once the head coach of the Orlando Magic, where he compiled a 58-158 record.

The pressure is now on Marks to get the hiring of the next Nets head coach right. With Durant and Irving coming back next season, the expectations are only going to get ratcheted up yet again. It was believed that Atkinson was the right man for the job to handle the attention Brooklyn would receive when those two superstars returned. Now the Nets must find an experienced head coach with a winning pedigree.

Finding a head coach like that in the NBA is hard enough to do.

Judge Out with Broken Rib, Hopes to Avoid Surgery

It's going from bad to worse for Yankees' slugger Aaron Judge.

Results from a test revealed that Judge has a broken rib, and according to multiple reports, it is not clear if he will need surgery. The Yankees are hoping it doesn't go that route.

Judge hurt himself last September while diving for a baseball, but didn't notice the pain during the off-season. When Spring Training kicked off, and workouts intensified, only then did Judge begin to experience discomfort. He has not participated in any spring games as a result.

The plan is for Judge to rest at least two weeks while he recovers from the stress fracture which has created soreness in his pectoral muscle and shoulder. And of course, there is no timetable for his return.

This is bad news for the Yankees and Judge, obviously. The Yankees have been the walking wounded this spring with the loss of Luis Severino (Tommy John Surgery), James Paxton (back) and Giancarlo Stanton (right calf). Severino is out for the season, Paxton will be out until May, at the very least, and Stanton has no timetable for his return.

Add Judge into the mix, and things are getting dicy for the Bronx Bombers.

The Yankees deep talent pool on the bench and in the minors will be greatly tested once again. Last season the Yankees had to make 39 moves on the injury list and still managed to win 103 games. This team is capable of winning still, even without Judge in the lineup, but it will be tougher.

Judge is quickly developing the reputation of being injury prone. In 2018 he played in only 112 games because of a broken wrist. Last season Judge played in only 102 games with a strained left oblique. 

The Yankees are at the point where they cannot rely on the 6-foot-7 slugger to be in the lineup on a regular basis - a huge problem, especially when that hitter is capable of slugging 50-plus homers when healthy. If surgery is required, it will almost definitely push Judge's timetable back from weeks to months.

One thing is for sure, the Yankees will be without their top two sluggers for the start of the 2020 season.

Curb Your Enthusiasm Roasts the New York Jets

Leave it to Larry David, long suffering Jets fan, stand-up comedian and overall comedic genius to take his love (errr .... angst) for Gang Green to the ultimate level.

In tonight's Curb Your Enthusiasm episode titled The Ugly Section, David takes direct aim at the New York Jets, the misery that had been their 2019 season, and life as a Jets fan in one fowl swoop, which has to make us wonder, why haven't the Jets been on the Curb more often? They're perfect fodder.

In the episode, David along with Jeff Green (played by Jeff Garlin) and Richard Lewis are having lunch with their golfing buddy Carl (played by Bobby Slayton) when suddenly Jeff checks his phone and finds out that ... you guessed it ... that Sam Darnold has mono!

Carl goes on a rant how the season is over, everyone should be fired, and that being a Jets fans truly sucks. (hmmm sounds familiar ...) 

We later find out of course -- in typically hilarious Curb fashion -- that Carl kills himself because of the Jets (and the Knicks too), leaving only a message, "I can't take anymore disappointment." David in response to the news tells Leon (played by fellow Jets fan JB Smoove) that "The Jets killed Carl" leading to a series of hilarious jabs at Gang Green.

Those jabs include David getting into an argument with Carl's wife, Veronica, over why the Jets didn't draft Texans quarterback DeShaun Watson in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft,  getting held up at gunpoint by a Jets fan outside David's coffee shop, and finishing off with another argument with Carl's wife over the infamous Austin Seferian-Jenkins touchdown-that-was-not against the New England Patriots in 2017.

"I haven't enjoyed a football season since 1969!" exlaimed David during the exchange. 

Yep being a Jets fans sucks, so why not just laugh off the misery.

I am pretty sure if  David gave himself another 30 minutes, he probably could rant about the "Buttfumble," Bill Belichick's resignation, the "Marino Fake Spike," Darnold seeing Ghosts, and Adam Gase's eyes. The material the Jets can provide at comedic fingertips in unending as we all know.

By the way free agency begins in a couple of weeks. How are the Jets going to disappoint Larry David further? We'll have to wait and see. 

deGrom Dominates Nationals in Spring Debut

Jacob deGrom is back and he looks as good as he did last September when he nailed down his second consecutive Cy Young Award.

In his first appearance in Grapefruit League action this season, deGrom “deGrom-inated” the Washington Nationals over three innings of shutout baseball propelling the Mets to a 3-1 victory over their divisional rivals.

New York improved 4-6-1 on Spring Training, despite also losing to the Miami Marlins 7-1 down in Jupiter in split squad action. (More on that in a moment!)

This day was really all about the Mets ace, who threw 10 consecutive strikes while retiring the first four men to face him to open the ball game. It was almost like it required little to no effort for deGrom to dispose of a Nationals team that had only four regulars in the lineup in Port St. Lucie.

The only blemish on deGrom’s day was a one-out single by Andrew Stevenson in the top of the second inning. deGrom would retire the next five batters after the Stevenson hit to complete his day.

Offensively, the Mets got all the runs deGrom needed in the bottom of the first. A single by Jeff McNeil and a walk to Brandon Nimmo was capped off by a two-run double by Robinson Cano.

Michael Conforto’s solo homer to right in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the final run of the afternoon; a nice way for Conforto to celebrate his 27^th birthday we might add.

Finally of note, Edwin Diaz tossed an inning of shutout ball in relief. The troubled Mets closer came in for deGrom in the top of the fourth inning and got through it, giving up only a Ryan Zimmerman one-out double. Diaz’s Spring ERA drops to 9.00.

Justin Wilson, Chasen Schreve and Tyler Bashlor also tossed shutout innings in relief for New York.

Meanwhile over in Jupiter it was a mixed bag for the Amazin’s against the Fish. Michael Wacha, who came across as blindsided last week when the Mets revealed they would not have a set number five starter this season, tossed three shutout innings in his start against Miami.

Wacha gave up a pair of hits and worked around a walk on Sunday, and might be making the case that the Mets should reconsider their plans for the fifth starter. This spring, Wacha has tossed five shutout innings in total, scattering three hits and three walks, while striking out three.

Sunday’s 7-1 loss to Miami was not as good a day for the Mets minor leaguers, as Pedro Payano, Kevin Smith and Francisco Rios all got shelled by the Marlins who are now 7-2 this spring.

The Mets are off on Monday and return to action Tuesday against Miami from Port St. Lucie.

Yankees are becoming the Walking Wounded Once Again

Last season the Yankees experienced one of the greatest anomalies in baseball. New York made 39 moves pertaining to the injury list, and still, STILL, managed to win 103 games last season.

The Yankees were the walking wounded last season, but thanks to their incredible depth in the minor leagues, the Yankees were able to persevere and keep winning baseball games to position themselves for October.

It appears that 2020 might be no different.

The Yankees again are hurting.

- Aaron Hicks is likely out for most, if not the entire season as he recovers from Tommy John Surgery that he had in the off-season.

- James Paxton is recovering from back surgery and is expected back in May.

- Domingo German was suspended for domestic violence and will miss the first third of the season.

- Luis Severino went under the knife for Tommy John Surgery this past week after dealing with forearm stiffness in Spring Training. Severino's 2020 season is over, and the recovery time is likely going to impact his 2021 season as well.

- Aaron Judge is nursing a right shoulder injury, and if you believe reports in the New York Post, Sunday morning, the discomfort for Judge is also in his chest area under his pectoral muscle. Judge is expected to get more tests this week. The Yankees are still holding out hope he will be back by Opening Day.

- Then there is Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton suffered a grade 1 calf strain, and is in danger of missing the start of the season. This coming off a year where Stanton missed large chunks of time due to a calf strain, left biceps strain and right knee sprain.

It's bad news for a now-30-year-old outfielder who is under contract through 2027, and is set to make about $30 million a year in each of those years. There is an opt-out clause in his deal, but as many have reported, few expect him to leave that money on the table.

Speaking of money, Hicks is in the midst of a seven-year $70 million deal he signed last winter with the Yankees; Severino is in the midst of a four-year, $40 million he signed last winter as well. That's a lot of money on the injury list.

While most teams couldn't recover from such bad luck, the Yankees can. Why? Because they have the depth.

Replacing Judge and Stanton will be painful, but at last both players have a timetable to return within the first few weeks of the season. Not to mention the Yankees have no problem trotting out Mike Tauchman and Clint Fraizer into the outfield. Both players are good enough to be everyday starters elsewhere; their value to the Yankees even more important now.

Tauchman hit .277 with 13 homers and 47 RBI in 87 games last season for the Yankees. Frazer, who battled his own injuries last year, hit .267 with 12 homers and 38 RBI in 69 games last season. With rosters now expanded from 25 to 26, the Yankees were going to rely on both players anyway.

On the mound, the Yankees know they are getting Paxton back before the weather heats up in New York, and they already have a 1-2 punch that can carry them to the World Series in Gerrit Cole and Mashairo Tanaka. They don't need Severino to win a Championship. And considering they went almost the entire 2019 season without Severino on the hill and did just fine already speaks volumes.

You can feel bad for Severino, whose career is in question, but the Yankees machine keeps moving along.

Sure the nagging injuries are painful right now, annoying even, but the Yankees are built for this. Unless something debilitating happens to Judge, or Stanton, or even Cole or Tanaka, the Yankees will be fine as long as the others contribute at a high level like last year.