Mouth of the South: John Schiavone Sports Blog

Wow, I guess I’m writing. It’s about time right? I mean you people probably think that I say I run this show mainly cause I have a pulse…..while that’s the case, I know sports as well, in fact well enough to get a spot in the finals of the WFAN Fantasy Phenom Contest.

So why am I gracing my own shows blog when I have others to do this? It’s simple. People need to learn something very important about our city and its sports teams…..Now sit down if you aren’t. If you are reading this while driving, please pull over. If you’re standing on the bus, please sit down. WE ARE NOT GOING TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP IN BASEBALL FOR A LONG LONG TIME!

This is Blasphemy right? How dare I say that! Am I crazy and delusional? No, unfortunately not but let’s take a look at each of our teams Just call this a state of our teams address…..Or the disarray.

Yankees: On the decline, aging superstars, almost no farm system to speak of and now a self imposed team salary cap? This is not the Yankees from the 2000’s or even from the 1990’s that actually built through the farm system. No. This is the end of a dynasty. Jeter is retiring, A-Roid is getting suspended, Cano will be resigned and we will not pick up ANY ONE ELSE! Cashman is serious about this cap. He seems serious about rebuilding but they talk about winning now. SO let’s recap team on decline, aging core, retiring heroes, overpaid busts, no farm system what so ever, half hearted rebuilding AND talk of win now…..A half hearted rebuild is an unsuccessful one. This team is in trouble and in the cellar of the AL East for at least the next 5 years unless a course is definitively picked and followed.

Mets: Do I need to continue? The ownership is so bad we have crazy slasher movie fans wanting to turn the front office into a reboot of a Michael Myers movie! The only headlines the Mets get are when people threaten us or when one of our VERY FEW actually major league ready players gets HURT! This seems to be the only thing this team is good at.

Now a self imposed deadline of “being good in 2014” has arrived but in reality, this team is no where closer to a championship then they were when Alderson took the job. In fact their worse off. We could win the minor league world series but forget a playoff spot. Forget a winning season, hell forget third place! Be realistic. We relied on Harvey and Wheeler to guide us forward, one half is gone. With Harvey down, David Wright pissed nobody on the free agent market and the Mets making systematic errors throughout Alderson’s tender (If you disagree, look at Marcum and ALL 3 OF HIS BULLPENS) I think they are going nowhere. However, we’ve become so accustomed to failure that we would take an 80 win season from our AAA1/2 baseball club that’s worth over $2.05 BILLION DOLLARS!

Recap- No money being spent, no trade talks, no fans coming to the park, and the owners being GOD AWFUL!! (At least Dolan spends money) This team is going nowhere fact. Unless the Mets get bought by the Nets owner, were screwed.

Well there you have it kids. Baseball fans, go watch the cyclones, they have a better on the field product than the Mets….Hey wait, maybe they can let the cyclones play instead of the Mets…..It’s not as if we’d know the difference!!

Mouth

My top 10 Sports Icons/Innovators

Christopher De Lardge                                                                                                   9/17/13

Christopher’s Top Ten Sports Icons/Innovators

            Forty years ago the great tennis icon Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the battle of the sexes in the Houston Astrodome in 1973. This changed the course of sports history in terms of now females can competed with males. Now this got me to thinking; what are my top ten sports icons/innovators of all time. To make this list you have to change your sport both in and outside, use your status to change society, or both. This is not limited to athletes just so you know. Let’s get started and let the debate begin.

1.      Jackie Robinson- The 1^st African American to win Rookie of the Year in 1947. The same year he broke the MLB color barrier. The 1949 NL MVP and a six time all-star. With all the accolades Robinson he lasting impact will be how he changed America in a whole. This man faced the evils of racism in the field and outside. He is the reason why the Civil Rights Movement happened. He was a one man revolution. Make the hall of Fame in 1962. The first African-American to a play-by-play man for MLB on ABC in 1965. Without Jackie Mays, Arron, Banks, Gibson, Rollins, Jeter, Price, and Jones would have never played MLB. His number 42 is retired throughout baseball. “A life is not important except in the impact is has on other lives.”

2.      Billie Jean King- Her 39 Grand Slam Titles is very impressive. Her longing impact is the fight for equal play for ladies in tennis. This lady formed the WTA as a counter to the USTA. In 1968 Title IX made it possible all ladies to have equality in college and pro sports. In 1973 King defeated Bobby Riggs in the battle of the sexes in the Houston Astrodome. Ask the Williams Sisters, Martina, Graf and Maria about King they will tell you that she is one of the most important ladies in the 20^th Century. In 2006 the USTA National Tennis Center in New York City was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

3.      Mohammed Ail- One of the greatest boxers of our generation. He was stripped of his heavyweight title in 1967 for his stance against the Vietnam War. He was the symbol of black empowerment. He was show time he made you watched boxing on ABC’s Wide World of Sports in the 60’s and 70’s every Saturday. These no doubt his is the greatest just ask Forman, Liston and Frazier. This can man talk the talk and he did walk the walk.

4.      Michael Jordan- A six time world champion, A six time NBA Finals MVP, a five time NBA MVP, a two time slam dunk champion and a part of the 1992 Dream Team. He is the greatest player of this generation. He is the first NBA player to have a global brand. He is the winner from within. The Jordan brand of his Nike Sportswear and sneakers is the brand of sportswear. He made the NBA popular in the 1990’s and along with the rise of the NBA of NBC in that same decade. It’s been over ten years since he played in the NBA yet the name Jordan is the symbol of greatness.

5.      Johnny Unitas- A 3x NFL MVP, Hall of famer in 1979, Super Bowl V champ. One of the clutch QB in the 50s and 60s. The founding father of the 3 step, 5 step drop, the four minute and the two minute drill. The face of the NFL and a key player of the 1958 NFL title game against the Giants in Yankee Stadium dubbed “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” Where the NFL went to the 1^st sudden death Overtime. Drove to the Giants one yard line and hand the ball to Ameche to win the title. This was the game that made the NFL into the American spotlight. He was the QB that you did not want to face in the last 2 minutes in the game. He is one of the reasons why the NFL rose to become the most watched sport in America.

6.      Howard Cosell- He is the highest sportscaster on this list. He was the voice of Monday Night Football from 1970-1984. A part of ABC’s Wide World of Sports in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He was the voice of boxing. Covered Ali in the 60’s and 70’s. He changed sports casting by a sense of journalistic integrity. He was outspoken on issues of racism in sports. You either loved or hated Cosell but you watched him. He made NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle walk on eggshells because he was the one guy that worked with the NFL that is willing to tick them off. Always tell it like it is. When describing himself Cosell said it best “Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. There's no question that I'm all of those things.”   

7.      Steve Sabol- The crowned prince of NFL Films with his father Ed Sabol in 1962 until his death in 2012. His work at NFL Films brought us to close to the sidelines, paint portraits with icons of the games such as Johnny U, Joe Namath, Tom Landry, Jim Brown, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and John Elway. Every game that we see on TV uses all the cinematic elements from the Sabol’s. 35 Emmy Awards that Sabol won for his work. He is the image of the NFL. The true meaning of an innovator.

8.      Wayne Gretzky- The NHL’s version of Michael Jordan. The all time leader in points, goals and assists. A four team Stanley Cup Champion with Edmonton Oilers in the 1980’s. He turned the Rexall Place into his playground always leaving you saying “Did I see what I just saw.” In 1988 Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He made the Kings into a playoff and a 1993 Stanley Cup Finals appearance he turned LA a non hockey market to one of the best hockey markets in the NHL. His success in LA make it possible for cites like Tampa, San Jose, Anaheim, Phoenix, Dallas, Raleigh, Florida, and Nashville all non-traditional hockey markets to have their franchises.

9.      Bryant Gumbel- One of the first African-American studio host. In 1975 NBC hired him to host the NFL Pregame show Grandstand. From 1975-1982 he hosted various sporting events with NBC Sports such as MLB, College Basketball and the NFL. In 1995 two years before he stepped down from The Today Show. He hosted and created HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.  Real Sports has earned 15 sports Emmys, and a 2006 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for broadcast journalism, the first time in the award's history that it was given to a sports program. For me is one of the heroes that I would like to have the same career like. His insight, knowledge and command of the English language is someone that every inspiring sportscaster should strive to me. I’m not there yet but someday I will be.

10.  Arthur Ashe- The symbol of quiet strength in Tennis. He is the 1^st and only African-American to win the US Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open. Despite the USTA barred him to play in their events. A fighter of social justice such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Anti-Apartheid Movement. In the 1980’s Ashe contracted HIV after a blood transfusion. Announced is condition in 1992. He became a fighter for HIV/AIDS treatment until his death in 1993. Ashe life can be best summarized with his best quote “From what we get, we can make a living. What we give; however, makes a life”         

Hollywood in the World Series: Here come the Dodgers

Hollywood in the World Series: Here come the Dodgers

Now as baseball season whines down we often look at teams that are poise to make that postseason run. Now my focus will be in the National League. Sorry to the good people in Atlanta it’s not the Braves. Yes I know that the Braves leads the NL with 143 Home Runs, 2^nd In the National League runs scored with 538 runs and they are second in the NL in ERA with 3.21 that is without their ace Tim Hudson who is out for the year. Now here’s is the issue the Atlanta Braves that line up leads the NL in strikeouts with 1,020 with means they are a feast or famine offensive.

Now the team that I pick that will win not only win the National League pennant but will be the NL Rep in the World Series is your Los Angeles Dodgers. Now this is the same team that was in last place in a weak NL West and the same team that people wanted the head of its manager Don Mattingly. That was prior to the all star break but since the break they went from last to first on that division. Now you ask yourself how they did it well it start on the mound with my pick for NL Cy Young and be might win NL MVP in Clayton Kershaw. I know he is 11-1 but he leads the NL in ERA with 1.88 that is dominating. This boy can throw as four seam fastball, a slider that will buckle and his change-up it’s a wrap. Oh in by the way his is 2^nd in the NL K’s with 174. Along him you have Zack Greinke he is a perfect number 2 after Kershaw. Don’t let his 3.21 ERA and is 99 K’s fool you. This pitcher can make the best batters in the NL look bad. His toolbox of pitches are four-seam fastball from 93-96 Mph, two-seam fastball from 92-95 Mph, 91 Mph cutter and a 86 Mph cutter. He is a pitcher. A damn good one at that. The 3^rd pitcher of this trio hails from South Korea Hyun-Jin Ryu. He is not the flamethrowers of Kershaw and Greinke. But he will give it you on the mound.

With pitching you must have the bats to come to the party. Those bats are led by my NL rookie of the year winner Yasiel Puig. When the Dodgers call him up the Dodgers are being called the most disappointed team in the NL and a team that money can’t buy. This rookie is batting .373, 11HR and 27 RBI. He is must see TV. His at bats makes you pause and wonder that would Puig to next. He has a glove of Jr. Griffey and the cannon of Vlad. He put a spark in this team in which they are a show in LA and in MLB. Along with him you are Hanley Ramirez who now has matured and grown up. This is not the lazy and let so talented player in South Beach in years past. I know he has not been healthy. When healthy he is one of the premier players in baseball. He has speed, power and will do a web gem that will air on SportsCenter. You have Adrian Gonzalez one of the best bats in the game and once of the best gloves at 1^st base. Andre Either may not be the bat or the glove of Puig. Andre can play centerfield well. They are winning without their face of the franchise Matt Kemp. Now when Matt Kemp comes back healthy this team will run all over the NL all the way to the World Series and you have Kenley Jansen who is one of the best closers in the game. A LA Motown World Series will be a show and that will make FOX very happy indeed.  

The Next Closer

The Next Closer by Jonathan Pariente

                                                            The Next Closer

            In baseball it’s not how you start but how you finish. The formula is for the

starting pitcher to go as deep into the ballgame as possible and to turn it over in the 9^th

inning to the most important pitcher with the responsibility of getting the final 3 outs, the

closer. Baseball has seen some of the greatest closers such as Goose Gossage, Bruce

Sutter, Rollie Fingers, Lee Smith, Dennis Eckersley and more take the mound and

sometimes go above and beyond when it came to getting the final outs.

            But one closer in particular has epitomized and raised the bar for how to handle

the pressure of pitching in the final inning, securing the last 3 outs your team needs for

victory. The man I refer to is the legendary Mariano Rivera. Rivera currently is the all

time saves leader. But he didn’t become the closer overnight. Rivera went through many

trials and tribulations including having major arm surgery, his main and only pitch being

a fastball, and nearly being dealt from the Yankees.  He in fact began his career as a

starter. He made his Major League debut against the California Angels on May 23, 1995.

He started the game for injured pitcher Jimmy Key, and gave up 5 earned runs in 3 1/3

innings. He would finish the year with an era over 5.

            After an impressive 5 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in the 1995 ALDS, it was

decided that Rivera would move to the bullpen and become a full time reliever. In 1996,

Rivera would serve as the 7^th and 8^th inning bridge to closer John Wetteland on route to

the Yankees first world title since 1978. In 1997, after Wetteland left, Rivera became the

Yankees closer and the rest they say is history. He would go on to win 4 world series

titles, including being named the World Series MVP in 1999. All this Rivera has done

with the help of a signature cut fastball that he learned by accident in 1997 when playing

catch with a fellow teammate, and perfected as his bread and butter for 16 years.

            With the great Rivera announcing his retirement at the end of the 2013 season, the

question that arises becomes who will be the next Mariano Rivera? I firmly believe that

nobody now or in the near future is ever going to put up numbers like Rivera. Nobody is

going to throw the cutter like Rivera, and no closer for a long time will surpass Mo for

the most saves in history. Rivera’s career regular season ERA of 2.22, and a career 0.70

ERA in the postseason are numbers we might never see again.

            But the closer today that I feel really has the same type of strikeout stuff, relies on

a fastball, and has the presence that when he’s in the game as the opponent you almost

immediately feel like the game is over, is Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel. The

numbers Kimbrel has already put up at 25 years old is astounding. On May 9, 2013,

Kimbrel became the 2^nd youngest player in MLB to reach 100 saves. He has a career 1.40

ERA in 4 years in the majors which already is better than what Rivera had in his first 4

years, averages 15.5 strikeouts per 9 innings, has over 350 strikeouts, and by season’s end

could establish a 3^rd straight season of 40 saves.

            Kimbrel is already a 3 time All Star (2011, 2012, 2013), has led the National

League in saves twice (2011, 2012), and established the MLB record for saves by a

rookie with 46. He currently posts a 2.08 postseason ERA. With 4 years on his resumé,

Kimbrel has slowly earned the title of being the next great closer in MLB and will be

once Rivera retires at the end of the year. Barring any setbacks, if Kimbrel were to

average 40 or more saves a year (he currently has 125 saves now) he could reach 600 saves

before turning 40 years old. The argument at the end is Kimbrel was never a starter, and

came up to the majors as a reliever, and hasn’t been to a World Series yet, but given time

the impact Kimbrel will have in MLB as the next great closer begins in 2014.

The Mets Missing Piece in the Rotation

Now the Mets have one of the most promising staffs in the National League. Mets fans have dreams that this staff can be the close to the 1980's with Doc, Bobby O and Darling. Or the Braves staff of the 1990's. Both of them one World Series. The Mets in 1986 and the Braves in 1995 and many fell that they should won more then once. They are missing that piece. My man Carlos Montanez being the well informed Mets fan breaks it down on where's its at.

The Mets have a lot of holes to fill this offseason, but what about a veteran arm? If they have the money to spend like they say they do, who would you rather have? A pitcher who goes out every fifth day and is subpar at best like a Barry Zito? Or an impact player, when healthy is very good like a Chris Carpenter or a Johan Santana. I bring this up because the Mets strength going into next season is pitching. What if they can bring back Johan Santana on a minor league deal similar to what Marlon Byrd makes? This can be a low risk, high reward pick up. If the money is there this off season, I don't see why this cannot be an option.

At the end of the 2006 season, Barry Zito signed a seven-year $126M deal. This was the biggest contract given to a pitcher during that time period. In his seven years with the San Francisco Giants, the former Cy Young award winner has posted 62-77 record and an ERA of 4.53 as of August 8^th, 2013. In 21 starts this season, Zito has pitched every fifth game and compiled a 4-8 record with an ERA of 5.21. Was his production deserving of the $126M?

Meanwhile in flushing, there is a pitcher, when healthy impacted the Mets franchise in ways Tom Seaver or Dwight Gooden have felt short of doing. Johan Santana will always be remembered for his heroic efforts on June 1^st, 2012 when he pitched the first no-hitter in Mets history. What about when he almost single handedly carried this team to the postseason in 2008 with a torn meniscus?

In his four years playing for the Mets, six altogether, he has put up good numbers. He led the National League with a 2.53 ERA in 2008, the best in his 12 year playing career. His ERA as a New York Met is 3.18. Yes, he missed a significant amount of time, but when he was on the mound, he has produced. Now that he is recovering from a second torn shoulder capsule, he should be healthy by spring training of next season. Yes, he has to prove that he is able to pitch at a big league level. If he can, why not bring him back on a minor league contract?

The Mets have the depth in the rotation, but lack the veteran presence. He is beloved by the city of New York and has unfinished business because he was brought here to bring a championship back to Queens.  He will not be the main attraction, but mentoring guys like Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jonathan Niese and Noah Syndergaard can prove vital in there maturity. Santana’s tutelage could make this Mets team one step closer to playing baseball in October.

At age 34, if Santana can get big league hitters out, I don't see why Sandy Alderson can’t sign him to a Marlon Byrd type contract. The worst thing that can happen is if Santana gets re-injured. The Mets have enough pitching for Santana’s health not to be an issue, but the reward is that he can come back and win some ball games in the back end of the rotation. Sandy, worry about the holes in the outfield and infield. The pitching is there.

In 2006, Julio Franco's club house presence shaped up an immature Carlos Beltran. Beltran that year ended up with his best all around season, finishing with 41 homeruns and 116 RBI's. The Mets won 97 games that year and reached the National League Championship Series. Who says the same thing can't happen with Santana? In 2014, Santana's presence could be the key to October for the Mets pitching staff; the question is who will be the Carlos Beltran in their rotation?

The Nets Five Year Plan or Better Yet Two Year Plan

Well the Brooklyn Nets had a five year plan. Now its a two year plan to have a parade in Brooklyn. I let my boy Carlos Montanez break it down for you.

In three years under the ownership of Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, the Brooklyn Nets have vastly improved, but how? During their final year in New Jersey, the Nets welcomed the arrival of all-star point guard, Deron Williams. In Prokhorov’s second year, the team had themselves a star.

New city, new home; as Nets began to relocate to downtown Brooklyn, the big question was, which Nets team was going to show up? A contender or a 22 win team from a year before? The Nets front office and General Manager, Billy King spent big money by resigning Deron Williams and acquiring Joe Johnson via a sign and trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Both stars received very lucrative contracts. From a 22 win team to a 49 win team, the Nets were poised to make a strong run in the playoffs. What happened?

After the first month of the season in Brooklyn, the Nets had already made a coaching change. Prokhorov’s hunger for an NBA championship had grown stronger. The first signs of dysfunction meant major changes in the locker room. Avery Johnson who coached the Nets the previous two seasons was fired and replace by assistant coach PJ Carlesimo.

Carlesimo fared well when taking over the team in mid-December, but came up short in the playoffs after a first round elimination from the Chicago Bulls. Again Prokhorov was not pleased and Carlesimo was let go.

The Nets are now entering their fourth year of Prokhorov’s five-year plan which is reminiscent to world history and Joseph Stalin’s five year economic plan in Soviet Russia. With two years left to win an NBA title, Prokhorov will pay a $77 Million dollar luxury tax for going over the salary cap. Do you smell desperation? During this year’s NBA draft, the Nets made a blockbuster deal, trading for the Celtics Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry for first-round picks in the 2014, 2016 and 2018 draft; they also shipped former first round pick MarShon Brooks and others. So the Nets are putting everything on the table, relying on two aging veterans like Pierce and Garnett. They have a new head coach in Jason Kidd, who is months removed from his playing career and has no coaching experience. Garnett has been injury prone late in his career especially during the 2012-13 season. These two are expected to play 40 minutes a game which is not going to happen at their age. The team needs depth. Billy King was aware of this and acquired a reliable bench to back up their starting five. Players such as, Andrei Kirilenko, Jason Terry, Andre Blatche, Shaun Livingston and Reggie Evans make a strong bench, even with the cap space the Nets have. But, what happens if the five year plan does not live up to Prokhorov’s expectations? Will the Nets have a fire sale similar to the Celtics of this year?

The window to win is two years; when Pierce and Garnett are long gone, the Nets will be paying the consequences of those draft picks. The Nets future will be promising, that is because the Boston Celtics will be experiencing their success. Kudos to Danny Ainge for the job he has done with the Celtics. He was aware that father time had taken his toll on an aged Celtics team.

How much does father time have left, since they will dine the Nets black and white this upcoming season?

Miami Dolphins: The Team that will rise in 2013

         Well ladies and gentleman it’s finally here football is one month way. This is where all the hope and dreams that your team will hoist the Vince Lambadi trophy or be that surprise team. Each year we pick one due to the free agents that they acquired, players that are ready to take that next step and see what they did at the end of the year to bring hope to that particular fan base.

            Now the team that I pick will not make New York Jets happy at all. I think the Jets will go 4-12 but that another story for another day. The team I picked play in the same division as the Jets in the AFC East. My pick takes me to south beach. That’s right I rolling with the Miami Dolphins. Now I know the Dolphins went 7-9 3^rd in the AFC East better then everyone expected in 2012. I know you are asking yourself this question how are Dolphins your surprise team in 2013? Well I’m glad you ask and I will answer that question.

            Now last year the Dolphins had the 8^th pick in the draft. They drafted Ryan Tannehill the QB from Texas A&M. Tannehill had a solid rookie year. He threw for 3,294 yards a Dolphin rookie record. He has the built of what GM's look for in quarterback. He is 6’4 and 214 lbs. He threw for 12 Touchdowns and 13 Int’s. Watching Tannehill play I see a QB that is willing to grow and mature as a passer and he taking somewhat a leadership role. Only if Mark Sanchez is willing to do that I’m just saying.

            The Dolphins were active in free agency. Miami signed former Steelers WR Mike Wallace to a 5 year/$60 million deal. Mike Wallace is one those Wideouts that you can’t teach that speed. He can blow by DB’s and he is among the league leaders in yards after the catch. Now is he the precise route runner of a “Megatron” Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions or Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans no he is not. But the Phins were in the bottom 5 in passing yards. In short you have no WR's to stretch the field and make defensive coordinators be on alert on stopping that guy from beating them. Plus they signed former Jets Tight End Dustin Keller to a one year deal. When healthy he can be a solid good pass catching Tight End and which make offensive better along with Ben Hartline as your classic procession receiver. Losing Jake Long and Reggie Bush is major concern that I have.

            On defense you added players to go along with Randy Starks and Cameron Wake who is one of the game’s best pass rushers. Last year he had 15 sacks. Along with him you added Dannell Ellerbe who won a super bowl with the Baltimore Ravens last year. He is a complete linebacker who can tackle and play in pass coverage. He will be the starting middle linebacker in South Beach. Having a teammate and future hall of famer in Ray Lewis in Baltimore as a mentor will pay big dividends in South Beach. Also they signed former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes to a 1 year/$5.5 million deal. I know is a major health risk but when healthy he one of the best corners who can cover and tackle. The Dolphins are hoping that Grimes will revert to his 2010 Pro Bowl season where is had 5 Int’s and 87 tackles.

            With all the moves that say made and coach Joe Philbin entering his second year the Dolphins are posed to have a good season. I predict that the Phins will go 10-6 and make the playoffs as a Wild Card.