COHEN'S CORNER SPORTS

 From my story on Fox Sports New Jersey !  The New York Mets continue their run as baseball’s best team on Opening Day. Don’t believe me? It’s true. With the Mets 5-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday, the Mets improved to 41-13 all time on Opening Day, the best win percentage of any Major League squad on baseball’s special day.    And it was a special day, considering the day started with some sobering news when word came down that veteran pitcher Justin Verlander was diagnosed with a low grade muscle strain in his right shoulder, and was placed on the Injury List, (I know here we go again!) On the field, Brandon Nimmo was the star of the day for the Metropolitans. His sac fly to left in the top of the third inning drove in a svelte Daniel Voglebach to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. Later, with the game tied at three in the seventh inning, Nimmo provided the keynote when he lined a two-run double to straight away center field that scored Eduardo Escobar...

 YANKEES 5 - GIANTS 0  Aaron Judge went deep for the first time this year; Gerrit Cole stymied the Giants over six brilliant innings, and New Jersey's very own Anthony Volpe was there to soak it all in as the newest member of the Bronx Bombers.  Volpe, the Watchung, New Jersey native who grew up a Yankees fan as a kid, went to high school at Delbarton in Morristown, and enjoyed a meteoric rise through the Yankees farm system, made his debut on Thursday.  While he was 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a strikeout, he gave Yankees fans a glimpse of the future with his patience at the plate. In his first plate appearance he worked a seven pitch walk, then stole a bag.  "I thought he was terrific. I thought he was really good," Manager Aaron Boone said of Volpe.  Volpe received a standing ovation from the Yankees faithful when he was introduced for the very first time, and received nothing but cheers anytime the ball came near him, especially when he turne...

 Who would have thought we would see a Yankee Opening Day where the anticipation was geared away from home run champion Aaron Judge?    That is the situation we find as all the attention of fans and media alike is on rookie short stop Anthony Volpe, who was the Yankees top rated prospect. Volpe a Watchung, New Jersey native was a huge hit with the Yankees Double-A affiliate, the Somerset Patriots last season. Now after beating out Oswald Peraza and Isiah Kiner-Falefa in Spring Training, he will be the everyday short stop.  It figures to be an incredible atmosphere on Thursday afternoon when the Yankees face the San Francisco Giants.  Check out my full list of top Yankees storylines  on FOX SPORTS NEW JERSEY !

 The New York Mets begin a new season with great expectations and plenty of questions.    Jacob deGrom is out. Justin Verlander is in. Max Scherzer is back for another go, and the Mets must find a replacement for the injured Edwin Diaz.  Check out my piece on the Mets season with Fox Sports New Jersey!  

When asked about Aaron Rodgers and his chances of coming to the New York Jets as New York and Green Bay continue to duke it out over a trade package, Head Coach Robert Saleh confirmed the Jets are "not hitting the panic button" and are in "no rush" to get the deal done.    At the same time the Jets head coach sounded like a man who knows the future Hall of Famer is on his way to New York, echoing that the Jets are building an offense around him, and that it helps to have the quarterback and offensive coordinator on the same page.  "I'm confident that things will go the way we're hoping. But at the same time, it's not going to eat at me," Saleh said.   Saleh also added that Zach Wilson will be the back-up quarterback regardless, once again echoing that Gang Green still believes that Wilson is in their future plans.  At the same time word came down Monday that Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has demanded a trade from Baltimore. This isn't th...

 It was really no surprise that the Mets designated outfielder Darin Ruff for assignment on Monday. Ever since the Mets acquired him from the San Francisco Giants for J.D. Davis and prospects, Ruff never got comfortable in New York.  He hit only .152 in 29 games with no homers and seven RBI. In spring Training this year, things didn't get better for Ruf, who hit only .167.  Brett Baty, Getty Images The Mets had to cut him. Even General Manager Billy Eppler admitted it was a deal that just didn't work out.  In response the Mets promoted Timothy Locastro to the Big League's. He did well in Spring Training, but make no mistake, this is not a power bat. Locastro has only seven homers in 247 games.  The Mets decision making has made many wonder why the team won't promote Brett Baty or Matt Vientos to the Big League club. The Yankees already promoted their young phenom Anthony Volpe. What about the Mets?  Look at the numbers and both Baty and Vientos deserve to b...

 The New York Yankees have promoted short stop Anthony Volpe to the Majors. He will begin his long anticipated Major League career on Thursday when the Yankees open up the 2023 season in the Bronx against the San Francisco Giants.  Anthony Volpe. Getty Images   Volpe earned his way to the Major League squad with an epic spring training and made things incredibly hard on the Yankees to keep him off the 26-man roster. He produced a .314/.417/.647 slash line with three home runs, 10 extra base hits in 17 games in Spring Training. He was clearly the best short stop on the field as well beating out incumbents Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Oswald Peraza.    https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1640093807189323780?s=20 Peraza, who was ranked second behind Volpe on the Yankees top prospects list the past two years has been sent down to Triple-A Scranton.  Volpe becomes the youngest Yankees short stop to make his debut on opening day since Derek Jeter did it in 1995.  ...

 If you are no fan of the World Baseball Classic, then what happened to Edwin Diaz on Wednesday night in Puerto Rico's 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic would serve as evidence of the tournament's malfeasance.  Upon getting the final out, Diaz celebrated with his Puerto Rican teammates near the pitchers mound, before falling to the ground in a heap. Diaz had to be helped off the field in a wheelchair. His teammates both in shock and tears. It was revealed late Thursday that Diaz had torn the Patellar Tendon in his knee and would be lost for the season.  While many have come out to defend the WBC because of its meaning to the players who play it, and there is no doubting there is a lot of national pride in playing in and having the tournament; the fact that it is played at such an intense level in the month of March when players should be with their Major League team preparing for a season is the further proof that things need to change.  There was always the concer...

 Aaron Rodgers made his appearance on the Pat McAfee show in order to "clear the air" on his future in the NFL, and confirmed in no uncertain terms that he "intends" to play for the New York Jets this season.  Rodgers lay blame at the delay in the announcement of a deal at the feet of his current and soon-to-be former employers the Green Bay Packers for the hold-up, citing Green Bay's compensation in return in a trade with the Jets.  Rodgers reiterated that he wants to play in New York, and that the process will have to play itself out.  His appearance on McAfee accomplished three things: 1) It confirmed in the eyes of Jets fans, and in the eyes of the everyone around the league that Rodgers definitely intends to play this season; a theroy that was pretty obvious considering he was lobbying the Jets to sign a number of players such as Allen Lazard to a four-year deal.  Lazard was Rodgers number one target in Green Bay last season. He wants to have guys he knows ...

 After watching Derek Carr sign with the New Orleans Saints on Monday, the Jets turned their attention to the man Woody Johnson has coveted this entire off-season so far: Aaron Rodgers.   According to reports the Jets and Rodgers did speak this week, a permission granted by the Green Bay Packers. And reports Tuesday afternoon indicated that Johnson and the Jets were flying out to California to meet with Rodgers.    All indications are is that this could indeed happen, although nothing is ever certain, especially with Rodgers. Rodgers to date has given no indication one way or the other what he will do. He could still retire. He could also tell the Packers he wants to return, even though Green Bay appears done with him, and would rather move on to Jordan Love. Or he could force a trade elsewhere. His old back-up Kurt Benkert speculated that Rodgers could end up in Miami.  Who knows at this point. Bottom line is this is all on Woody Johnson, who reportedly co...

 The New York Giants and quarterback Daniel Jones have agreed to a long-term deal, four years at $160 million that will keep their signal caller in New York.   Over the last couple weeks, reports indicated that Jones was seeking a deal north of $45 million per year. New York and Jones' representation agreed to a deal that would pay him $82 million guaranteed according to Albert Breer. Tom Pelissaro of NFL Network also Tweeted out that Jones' contract contained $35 million in incentives.   In addition the Giants slapped the franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley at $10 million for this season.  The deals got done just before the 4 p.m. Franchise Tag deadline, an excellent job by General Manager Joe Schoen, the Giants and representation for both Jones and Barkley. Both players were immensely valuable to the Giants success in 2022. Jones had the best year of his career tossing for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also proved to be even de...