Rangers Finally Call It a Night on Kakko

To fully appreciate what happened with Kaapo Kakko, we need to go all the way back to that letter then GM Jeff Gorton sent out to the fanbase on February 8, 2018, informing them that the New York Rangers were going to be sellers - not buyers - at the trade deadline. 

It was an extraordinary acknowledgment, one seldom seen in professional sports. Typically franchises don't go public with their plans regarding rebuilding; they just go ahead with it. But this was different. The Rangers, after going to the finals in 2014 and winning the Presidents' Trophy the following season, were clearly on a downward trajectory. To continue investing in this core would've been fruitless. Credit Gorton for being able to read the tealeaves.

There was just one tiny problem. The Rangers didn't actually do a formal rebuild in the traditional sense of the word; that is they didn't tear it down to the studs. Ryan McDonagh, J.T. Miller, Rick Nash, Michael Grabner and (later) Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes were all sent packing. But Gorton elected to keep Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Pavel Buchnevich, Marc Steal and Henrik Lundqvist. In other words, what the Rangers did was more a retool than a rebuild. 

Lady luck then shined on the franchise. The Rangers wound up with the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, which they used to select Kakko, a player generally viewed by many scouts as a future star in the league. Fans already had him pegged as the next Jaromir Jagr. 

Of course on any other rebuilding team, Kakko would've gotten a top six forward spot, including time on the power play. Unfortunately for him, Gorton had other plans. Over the summer, he signed Artemi Panarin and traded for Jacob Trouba. He also acquired a little known defenseman from Jericho, New York by the name of Adam Fox. The formal announcement in May of that year that the Rangers had hired John Davidson to be their President ostensibly meant that the rebuild was, if not officially over, at least unofficially put on hold. Two seasons in the tank was enough for owner James Dolan. It was time to start winning again. 

For most of the 2019-20 season, the Blueshirts were fun to watch. Panarin led the team in overall scoring while Zibanejad led them in goals. They flirted with the playoffs. Then Covid-19 hit and the NHL, like everything else, shut down. When play resumed over the summer, the Rangers somehow managed to qualify for the play-in round, where they were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes. Their reward for failing to advance to the playoffs was to wind up with the number one overall pick in the 2020 draft, which they used to select Alexis Lafreniere. 

Lafreniere, like Kakko before him, should've gotten a top six forward spot. Instead, he was buried, for the most part, in the bottom six. And he rarely, if ever, got time on the power play. Think about it: the Rangers, in consecutive years, landed two elite prospects in the draft only to treat them as if they were checking forwards. 

And it wasn't just Kakko and Lafreniere who were consigned to the back of the bus. 2017 first-round pick Filip Chytil was also having a hard time getting ice time. This reluctance by the organization to give their young players the attention they badly needed meant that their growth was stunted from the beginning. Between the three, though, Kakko was the one most snake bitten. The closest he came to realizing his potential was in 2022-23. He scored 18 goals and added 22 assists that season. 

But before you get the impression that this was all the fault of the Rangers, it should be noted that both Chytil and Lafreniere eventually had breakout years: the former scoring 22 goals as the third-line canter in 2022-23; the latter 28 goals last season playing on the second line with Panarin and Vincent Trocheck.

The bottom line was that even with Peter Laviolette as his coach, Kakko was never able to come into his own. It was not for lack of effort; God knows the kid tried. He was one of the hardest working forwards on the team. He just couldn't finish around the net. And when you're the second overall pick in the draft you're expected to produce.

So yesterday, Chris Drury finally pulled the plug and traded him to the Seattle Kraken for defenseman Will Borgen and two middle-round draft picks in 2025. To say it was a disappointing return would be an understatement. Borgen will likely replace Victor Mancini - who was sent down to Hartford - on the third pairing with Zac Jones.

Already the Monday-morning quarterbacks are at it. The prevailing sentiment is that Drury could've had Jake Guentzel last season in return for Kakko, a first rounder and a couple of prospects. First off, we don't know if that was true; second, even if that was true, it's likely those prospects would've consisted of Will Cuylle and Gabe Perrault. The former has been arguably the team's second best forward this season; the latter is one of the most talented players in college hockey today. Drury would've been a fool to give up that much for what amounted to a rental. Besides, what did Guentzel do for the Hurricanes last season? Oh yeah, they lost to the Rangers in the second round, and Guentzel is now a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Hindsight is always 20 / 20, especially in sports. The Twitterverse is replete with shoulda, coulda, woulda trades that always seem to work out for the prognosticators. In the end, though, I can't blame Drury for wanting to hold onto Kakko as long as possible. It's obvious the skill is still there. Hopefully he will develop into the player everyone thought he'd be when he was drafted five years ago.

As for Drury, he met with the players this afternoon in Dallas to clear the air over the way the Goodrow and Trouba moves were handled. It couldn't have come at a better time, because according to Vince Mercogliano, the core is not exactly thrilled with their GM. But here's the thing: the longer this team continues its slide - 11 losses in the last 14 games - the more likely it is that the trades will continue. It's a vicious cycle that only they can stop. As long as Drury has the backing of Dolan, he isn't going anywhere. And there doesn't appear to be any appetite within the organization to make a change behind the bench. 

So for the time being, both the players and management are stuck with one another. And as is usual with situations like this, the onus is on the former to change the narrative.

Rangers In A Free Fall

I have watched the New York Rangers since 1971. Trust me. I have gone through my fair share of downturns. 1976-78, 1987-89, 1998-04 & 2018-21. The 1998-04 period was particularly rough. No playoffs and some of the worst trades in franchise history. But in all that time I have never seen what happened Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden. The team I have followed since I was 10 years old did the equivalent of a lay down in front of 18,000 loyal paying fans. It was a pathetic performance from a group of players that last season won the Presidents' Trophy. 

I have tried as hard as I can to wrap my head around what is going on here and quite frankly I'm stumped. Not only is this team not playing well, it doesn't appear to be even trying. Against the LA Kings, they looked listless and uninspiring; as if they didn't give a shit. Small wonder they were booed off the ice after the game.

The Rangers have lost 9 of their last 12 games. At 15-13-1, they are currently in 5th place in the Metropolitan Division. Not only would they fail to make the playoffs if the season ended today, with 31 points, they are actually closer to the bottom of the standings in the Eastern Conference than they are to the top. Thank God for the Montreal Canadiens and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

I've heard all kinds of explanations for the dumpster fire currently residing at Penn Plaza. It's Chris Drury's fault for mishandling the Barclay Goodrow waiver and the Jacob Trouba trade; it's Peter Laviolette's fault for not being tough enough with his players. I call bullshit on both. 

True, Drury could've done a better job with both situations, but what was he supposed to do? The Rangers needed cap space badly and, let's face it, Goodrow and Trouba were the logical choices to be moved over the summer. The same people who are now bemoaning the way Goodrow and Trouba were treated couldn't wait to send them packing a few months ago. It was nothing short of a miracle that Drury got every penny of their cap hit off the books without surrendering anything of value in exchange. But by all means let's make him the bad guy.

Did you see what happened down in Tampa Bay? Julien BriseBois did everything except drive Steven Stamkoss to the airport; then turned around and signed Jake Guentzel to replace him. Stamkoss had played his entire NHL career with the Lightning and BriseBois showed him all the love and respect of a worn out lightbulb. Last time I checked the Bolts were in 4th place in the Atlantic Division, currently holding onto the number one wild card spot.

Spoiler alert: players get waived and traded all the time in professional sports. It's part of the business. Yes, Trouba was the captain. Guess what? Captains get traded too. Ask Brian Leetch what being a captain means. He was traded to the Boston Bruins literally on his birthday, two weeks after he asked Glen Sather not to be. General managers aren't paid to be guidance counselors or therapists; they're paid to put a competitive team on the ice. And in a league that has a hard salary cap, sometimes they have to make tough decisions about who stays and who goes.

Regarding Laviolette, yes, I'd like him to be tougher on his players. But last season this head coach, who, it should be noted, guided three different teams to the Stanley Cup finals and one to a Cup championship, was principally responsible for this team not only winning the Presidents' Trophy but setting a franchise record for most wins and points in a single season. Had they not faced the Florida Panthers, they would've made it to the finals. All of a sudden he's fucking Jean-Guy Talbot? Please spare me. 

David Quinn was too tough; Gerard Gallant wasn't tough enough. What's the excuse with Laviolette? He parts his hair on the wrong side? I agree with Larry Brooks: this core doesn't get to fire another coach. Besides, the way this team is playing, Scotty Bowman wouldn't make a difference. If you're looking for someone to put the blame on, how about the players? Last time I checked, they're the ones wearing the uniforms. Is it Laviolette's fault that Mika Zibanaejad can't hit a wide open net? Or that Ryan Lindgren can't back check worth a damn? Or that Chris Kreider has become a statue on the ice? Or that the only goal Adam Fox has scored all season was an empty netter? How is it that on a team with this much talent, its best player is Will Cuylle?

Enough with the excuses; enough with the rationalizations. It's time this group of players took a long, hard look in the mirror and manned up. It is inconceivable that a team that went to the conference finals twice in the last three years could've fallen off the cliff this quickly. So the answer must lie elsewhere. 

What isn't the answer is firing the coach and/or GM. The truth is there's more than enough talent on this team to still make the postseason. Whether there's enough pride is another matter. 

Cohen Bags Soto

That vibration you felt last night was George Steinbrenner not only turning over in his grave but punching the sides of the casket with both fists. In what can only be described as the greatest coup in the 63 year history of the franchise, the New York Mets not only landed the biggest prize in free agency, they literally stole him from their cross-town rival Yankees.

Juan Soto is a Met. The 26 year-old right fielder signed for an unprecedented $765 million over 15 years. The contract includes a $75 million signing bonus and an opt out after five years should Soto decide to leave Flushing. To put this in perspective, Tom Brady and LeBron James combined earned $761 million over their collective careers which spanned 45 years.

But the most amazing thing - no pun intended - about this was that the Mets offer was only $5 million more than the Yankees. The Yankees offered $760 million over 16 years; the Mets offered $765 million over 15 years. Late Sunday, it was widely believed that if the two teams were close, Soto would remain in the Bronx. Yours truly tweeted that for the Mets to land Soto they would have to be $30-$50 million above the Yankees offer.

So much for the mystique of playing for the Yankees. 

Yankees fans can cry in their beer and accuse Soto of being a mercenary all they want - and let's be honest, if not for Cohen's immense financial resources, this is just a pipe dream for the Mets - the fact is Soto is a clutch player who in seven seasons in the big leagues has hit 201 home runs and boasts a career .953 OPS. In the 2019 postseason, he hit .277 with 5 home runs and 14 runs batted in with an OPS of .927 for the Washington Nationals. Last postseason, he hit .327 with 4 HRs and 9 RBIs with an OPS of .1101 for the Yankees. The man is a winner, and if Brian Cashman had done a better job at the trade deadline last season, the Bronx Bombers might well have won their 28th World Series title instead of losing to the LA Dodgers in five. 

Face it, the Mets have a more balanced team with enough hitters to protect Soto in the lineup, especially if they re-sign Pete Alonso, which now seems likely given the season the Polar Bear had last year and the fact that he's gotten zero interest for his services from other teams. In fact, it would not surprise me at all to learn that Cohen reassured Soto that Alonso or someone comparable would be playing first base for the Mets in 2025.

If you're a Mets fan you have every right to crow today. Moments like this do not come along very often. The last time the Flushing Faithful were this giddy about a new player was 2005 when then GM Omar Minaya signed Carlos Beltran to a 7 year, $119 million contract. Though Beltran struggled his first year as a Met, he had three consecutive 100 plus RBI seasons after that.

But as wonderful as this moment may seem, there is still more work ahead for Cohen and David Stearns. With or without Alonso returning to the fold, the Mets will need to replace Luis Severino, who signed a three-year, $67 million deal with the Oakland A's. The right-hander had his best season since 2018, going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA. Frankie Montas is a good addition, but hardly what you would call an ace. Clay Holmes led the Yankees in saves with 30 and would make a far better set-up man for Edwin Diaz than a starter, which is what the Mets envision him as. Like Severino, Sean Manaea opted out of his contract to become a free agent. Re-signing him should be a priority for Stearns. And let's not forget, Kodai Senga will be coming back from an injury that sidelined him most of last season. There is virtually no pathway to a World Series appearance for the Mets without a quality starting rotation. 

Re-signing Jesse Winker would give Carlos Mendoza another hitter who can platoon with Starling Marte in the DH spot. Jose Iglesias provided a spark last season and can play both 2nd and 3rd base. Hopefully he can be brought back at a reasonable price. And if Stearns can find a suitable suitor for Jeff McNeil, that would free up second base for Luisangel Acuña. The young phenom batted .308 and hit 3 homers in just 12 games last season.

Bottom line: After years of playing second fiddle and living in the shadow of the House That Ruth Built, the Mets, thanks to Steve Cohen, have staked their claim to the city. For the time being, the back pages of the daily newspapers are theirs. They have the mojo. What they do with it next is entirely up to them.

April can't come fast enough.

Drury Has the Last Word with Trouba

What do Patrik Nemeth, Barclay Goodrow and Jacob Trouba have in common? All three were signed to contracts that turned out to be richer than the Rangers could afford, and all three were moved off the roster by Chris Drury without incurring so much as a nickel's worth of salary retention. 

Nemeth was sent packing to the Arizona Coyotes, along with a couple of draft picks, for Ty Emberson in the summer of 2022; Goodrow was waived and later claimed by the San Jose Sharks this past summer; and, yesterday, Trouba was "traded" to the Anaheim Ducks for Urho Vaakanainen and a conditional draft pick. I put the word traded in quotation marks because it was widely reported, and later confirmed by Trouba himself, that had he not accepted the trade, Drury was prepared to waive him just like he did with Goodrow over the summer.

Know this about Drury: whether you think he's been a good general manager or not, when he realizes a mistake has been made, he's not one to stand on ceremony. It takes a certain amount of talent to completely erase a mistake; one his predecessor Jeff Gorton, unfortunately, did not possess. 

Of all the mistakes this organization has made over the last few years, Trouba was, by far, the worst. Since his arrival from the Winnipeg Jets in 2021, he was, at best, an above average defenseman with a penchant for throwing bone-jarring checks that often knocked opponents out of the game; at worst, he was a defensive liability, whose mistakes proved costly to his team. The most egregious of those mistakes came against the Florida Panthers in game six of last year's Eastern Conference Finals. Trouba attempted to throw one of his patented checks on Evan Rodrigues late in the first period, and when he missed, Rodrigues set up Sam Bennett for a goal to give the Panthers a lead they would never relinquish. Game, set and match for the Blueshirts.

Bottom line: at $4 million, Trouba was overpriced; at $8 million, he was an albatross around the neck of the cap-strapped Rangers. And with several players due to hit free agency next year, Drury needed to clear cap space fast.

He tried trading Trouba. The Detroit Red Wings expressed interest in acquiring him last summer, but before Drury could pull the trigger, he needed to know whether Detroit was on Trouba's 15 team no trade list. So he asked Trouba's agent and, well, you know the rest. Captain Elbow threw a hissy fit and that was that.

As it turns out, Steve Yzermann couldn't take on Trouba's contract because he wasn't able to clear enough cap space on his own to make it work, which was just as well because the deal the two men had in place called for the Rangers to retain $2.5 million of Trouba's salary. Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make. Five months later, Drury was able to unload Trouba's entire contract and he actually got something in return besides $8 million of cap space.

So now that Trouba's is gone, the sixty-four thousand dollar question remaining is whether Drury is done? That depends on what happens over the next few games. Let's not kid ourselves here. While last night's win was sorely needed, it was hardly reassuring. The Rangers barely beat a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has even more question marks than the Blueshirts; two games ago, the Rangers needed a late power play goal by Kaapo Kakko to avoid what could've been an embarrassing OT defeat to the Montreal Canadiens. The fact is of New York's 14 wins, only two have come against teams that were in the playoffs last season: the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks. The rest? Well let's just say if the Rangers could play the Penguins, Islanders, Canadiens and Red Wings the rest of the season, they'd win back-to-back Presidents' trophies.

So if I had to guess, I'd say Drury isn't done tinkering with this roster. I could see at least two more trades on the horizon. One involving the forwards; the other the defensive pairings. Thanks to the largess of Pat Verbeek, the Rangers are flush with cap space. With the salary cap expected to go up to $92.5 million for the 2025-26 season, Drury will have about $22 million to play with next summer. And assuming he doesn't bring anybody else up from Hartford, he'll have $24 million in deadline cap space to go shopping with this March.

One thing off Drury's plate is who the starting goaltender will be next season. About an hour before last night's game it was announced that the Rangers and Igor Shesterkin had agreed on an 8 year, $92 million contract extension. On any other team a goalie with an $11.5m AAV salary could be considered insane; on the Rangers it's an absolute necessity. Let's be honest: without Igor, no way this team would've advanced to the conference finals two of the last three seasons. You know it and I know it. There was never any doubt Drury was going to re-sign him; the only question was for how much. Frankly, given the numbers we were hearing coming from Shesterkin's camp, $11.5 million seems more than reasonable.

So, Drury rid himself of an overrated, overpriced defenseman and locked up arguably his best player for the next eight years. Hate him if you want, but he had himself quite a day. 

The Knicks and Rangers Are Two Teams Going In Opposite Directions

After shitting the bed against the Utah Jazz Saturday, the New York Knicks responded Monday with one of their most inspiring efforts in years against the Denver Nuggets, a team that only two seasons ago won the NBA championship. 

After getting routed by the Edmonton Oilers on that very same day, the New York Rangers returned home to the friendly confines of the Madison Square Garden Monday, only to lose to a St. Louis Blues team that has missed the playoffs the last two seasons and will likely do so again this season.

As of this writing, the Knicks record is 10-7; they are in 4th place in the Eastern Conference, one game behind the Orlando Magic. The Rangers record is 12-7-1; they are in 4th place in the Metropolitan Division, four points behind the Washington Capitals and two points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres for the number one Wild Card spot.

If the season were to end today, both teams would qualify for the playoffs, but that's where the similarities end. The fact is these two teams are headed in opposite directions. 

After getting off to a 5-6 start, Tom Thibodeau's squad have won five of their last six games. The presence of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges on this roster means that the Knicks are no longer reliant on Jalen Brunson to carry them. And with the return of Precious Achiuwa imminent and Mitchell Robinson sometime in January, this will be a very formidable contender come April.

After reaching the Easter Conference finals two of the last three seasons, the Rangers have struggled most of this season. They've lost three games in a row, have given up 40 or more shots on goal in each of those games, and rank near the bottom of the NHL in 5v5 expected goals against. Their number one center Mika Zibanejad has been on the ice for 14 of the team's last 17 goals against. No one except an incurable optimist would think this team is a contender.

While Leon Rose is enjoying the fruits of his labor, Chris Drury has been quite the busy bee. According to Mollie Walker of The New York Post, following Saturday's 6-2 rout in Edmonton, he sent a memo to "all 31 of his NHL counterparts announcing that the Rangers are open for business." Both Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba were among the names mentioned as being available. If true, it is a staggering admission by the Rangers GM that he no longer believes this core, as presently constructed, is capable of making a deep run in the playoffs, much less winning the Stanley Cup.

It is uncertain whether Drury was simply trying to light a fire under his lethargic team's butt or whether he really is looking to do at least a partial rebuild. It is also uncertain how James Dolan would react to a second rebuild, partial or otherwise, in the last seven years. While the Knicks have always commanded the majority of his attention and adoration, it's worth noting that he fired John Davidson and Jeff Gorton when the wheels came off during the 2020-21 season. I find it hard to believe that Drury would take such drastic actions without at least running it by the owner.

Which leads me to believe it's probably more the former than the latter. That doesn't mean Drury won't listen to offers, and if the right one comes along, wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger. Remember, he was this close to shipping Trouba to the Red Wings over the summer along with some salary retention for what I assume was a used puck bag before the Captain put the kibosh on that by putting Detroit on his No-Trade list.

What it does mean is that Drury isn't going to act impulsively. Dismantling a team is easy; reconstructing it is quite another. Just ask the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets. Both teams have been in rebuild mode since the Titanic sank. As bad as the Rangers have played recently, they are still a playoff team, albeit a weak one at the moment. It's not completely out of the realm of possibility that they find their way out of this. 

And it's not like this hasn't happened before. If memory serves, they went through something similar last season. They had a horrific January in which they couldn't get out of their own way. Igor Shresterkin struggled to make key saves, and the defense handled the puck like it was a hot potato. Then came the All-Star Break in February, and just like that, the Rangers flipped the switch. Suddenly, they couldn't lose. They went on to win the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in nine years. 

I'm not saying history will repeat itself. Maybe patience is what is called for right now, or perhaps this core has gone as far as it can and it's time to blow it up. Who knows? What I am saying is that these next few weeks will be the most consequential in Drury's tenure as President and GM. 

His predecessor took a long, hard look at his roster and chose the latter. Will Drury reach a similar conclusion, or will he choose to ride it out one more year? We'll know soon enough. 

As for Leon Rose, he has no such concerns. Life is good, the Knicks are on the ascent, and for the moment at least, his boss is a happy camper. 

It's Not Daniel Jones' Fault

The Daniel Jones era is finally coming to an end. The announcement by Brian Daboll that Tommy DeVito will start this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium is, for all intents and purposes, an acknowledgment by the head coach that Jones's career as a quarterback for the New York Giants is over.

Let's be clear: by no means is DeVito a better QB than Jones; for that matter neither is Drew Lock. This move is being made for one reason and one reason alone: the Giants intend to cut Jones after the season and they don't want to risk him getting inured. I'll explain.

Under the current CBO, the Giants could cut Jones after the season and only have to carry $22.2 million in dead cap space next season. However, if Jones were to get injured before the end of this season, the Giants would be prohibited from cutting him and be on the hook for $41.6 million in 2025. $41.6m minus $22.2m comes out to $19.4m. Think what GM Joe Schoen could do with that much extra money in the kitty.

But while Giants fans are celebrating the news on social media, it's important for them to remember one thing. This is not Daniel Jones' fault. Seriously, it's not. It wasn't Jones' fault that:

1. Dave Gettleman took him with the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft when every GM and most scouts had him rated no better than a mid-second rounder. 

2. He had no offensive line to block for him or decent wide receivers to throw the ball to throughout his tenure with the team.

3. He had three different head coaches and as many offensive coordinators in six seasons. 

4. His current GM saw fit to sign him to a four-year, $160 million contract that he could never live up to.

Imagine being a slightly above average quarterback, drafted that high and then thrown into a scenario like the above in the world's largest sports market. John Mara was right about one thing: the Giants really did do everything possible to screw this kid up.

But all that is water over the dam now. The fact is over his career, Jones has had two moderately successful seasons: his rookie year and 2022, the latter had literally everything going right for him. That's it. To continue throwing good money after bad makes absolutely no sense. The best thing the organization can do is to extricate itself from this nightmare. The NFL is one of the few leagues where teams can ostensibly cut a player under contract and suffer minimal consequences.

The Giants wouldn't be the first team to have to admit they blew it. It was just over 16 months ago that Steve Cohen had to eat $55 million to get rid of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Look at how that turned out. The Mets were two wins away from their first World Series appearance since 2015 this season.

And while no sane person would believe the Giants are that close to a Super Bowl appearance, one thing is abundantly clear: Daniel Jones is not the short-term or long-term solution under center. That the braintrust at 1 MetLife Stadium Drive has grudgingly come to that conclusion is a good sign. It means that this franchise will finally be able to begin its long journey from mediocrity to relevance.

2024-25 Knicks Preview

Teacher: "What did you do over the summer, Leon?"

Leon Rose: "I transformed the New York Knicks from playoff contender to championship contender."

Teacher: "Class dismissed."

In what will go down as one of the most active offseasons in Knicks history, Rose didn't just tweak the roster, he remade it. 

To be clear, the consensus last season was that had Julius Randle been healthy, and had OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson not gotten injured in the second round, New York would've beaten the Indiana Pacers and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals to face the Boston Celtics. So, basically, Rose took a long, hard look at that roster and concluded that, even healthy, the Knicks weren't good enough to contend with the Celtics.

Whether you agree with that assessment or not, it's clear Rose wasn't about to take any chances. So he got out his chisel and went to work. The acquisitions of Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Townes over the summer have given Tom Thibodeau the most talented starting five he's ever had as Knicks head coach. And Rose managed to do all this while staying under the second apron.

Just compare this season's starting lineup with the one that could've started had it been healthy:

Brunson
Hart
Bridges
Anunoby
Townes

vs.

Brunson
DiVincenzo
Anunoby
Randle
Robinson

Of course those acquisitions came at a steep price. Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo were integral to the Knicks success last season, especially DiVo, whose last minute three pointer saved the Knicks from what surely would've been a game-two loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Who knows what would've happened in that series without him in the lineup. But once Isaiah Hartenstein signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Rose had no choice but to pull the trigger on Townes, especially with Mitchell Robinson not expected to return until January.

So, now for the sixty-four thousand dollar question. Is this Knicks team better than last year's Knicks team? In a word, yes. Not only are they better, but once this group of players gets fully acclimated to each other, Knicks fans are going to love what they see on the court. The reason I say this is because when you introduce two new players like Bridges and KAT, it'll take some time for them to mesh with Thib's system. I would not be surprised at all if they got off to a 5-5 start. But once they get rolling, this team will be near the top in the Eastern Conference standings.

Indeed, the real issue I see will be the bench where Deuce McBride will handle most of the load as the 6th man. With Precious Achiuwa out for the first 2-4 weeks with a hamstring injury, it'll be up to Thibs to find a suitable replacement. Once Robinson returns, the Knicks will be set at center.

Last year, I picked the Knicks to finish 5th in the East. They wound up finishing 2nd. This year, I'm going to be a bit more bullish. Assuming no major injuries to KAT or OG - always a risk given both players history - 55 wins is not an unreasonable expectation. 

Below are my predictions for each conference, as well as my predictions for which teams will make it to the conference finals and who will win it all.

Eastern Conference:

Celtics

Knicks

Bucks
Sixers
Pacers
Cavaliers
Magic
Heat

Western Conference:

Thunder
Timberwolves
Nuggets
Mavericks
Grizzlies
Suns
Kings
Lakers

Eastern Conference finals:
Knicks over the Celtics 4-3

Western Conference finals:
Thunder over the Timberwolves -4-3

NBA Finals:
Knicks over the Thunder 4-3

For the Mets, the Future Looks Very Bright

They started off 0-5; were eleven games under .500 going into June. And from that point on, the New York Mets had the best record in baseball. For a team that was supposed to be punting on the season, what this group of players did was nothing short of amazing. 

They made the playoffs literally on the last day of the season, then went on to beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card round and the Philadelphia Phillies in the divisional round, before finally losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. 

To come within two wins of going to their first World Series since 2015 sucks, I know, but the pain will go away. As Howie Rose said on the Mets radio broadcast, this team took its fans on an "incredible ride" this season, a ride that was improbable only a year ago. Not only is the glass half filled, the glass is literally under a running faucet. The Flushing faithful may finally be rewarded for their patience.

But before we get to 2025, let's first acknowledge the accomplishments of 2024.

Francisco Lindor: The team MVP delivered. Not only was he the most consistent player on the roster, his two-run homer in the top of the 9th inning in Atlanta was responsible for getting the Mets in the playoffs. His players-only meeting in late May likely saved the season.

Pete Alonso: The Polar Bear had a disappointing regular season, but came through with flying colors in the postseason. He hit two huge three-run homers: the first against the Brewers and the second against the Dodgers. Both times the Mets were facing elimination. No one knows whether Steve Cohen will re-sign him, but even if this was the last hurrah for Pete, at least he can say he went out with a bang.

The starting rotation: Even before Kodak Senga went down, this staff on paper more closely resembled Moe, Larry, Curly and Shemp than a legitimate rotation. And yet it wound up being the club's biggest strength. Sean Manaea and Luis Severino had career years and led the team in wins with 12 and 11 respectively. Jose Quintana and David Peterson - who had his best year as a Met - finished with 10 wins a piece. A healthy Senga could mean an extra 10-15 wins for the team next season. 

Mark Vientos: This burgeoning star, who began the season in Triple A, finished third on the team in home runs with 27, and had a team-leading .327 batting average and 14 RBIs in the playoffs. The Mets finally have their third baseman.

Luisangel Acuna: The center piece in the Max Scherzer trade last year, came up late in the season and took over at short stop when Lindor was out with a back injury. The 22 year-old contributed with 3 HRs and 6 RBIs with an OPS of .966. Just imagine him at 2nd base next year.

Carlos Mendoza: The rookie skipper probably won't win manager of the year, but there's no denying the impact he had in the dugout. His belief in his players when the season was on the brink kept the wheels from falling off. And while his handling of the bullpen at times was puzzling, he has the makings of a great manager. The Mets appear to have found their next Davey Johnson.

And now for 2025:

Center Field: Let's face it, while both Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor are excellent fielders, neither are terribly gifted offensively. David Stearns needs to find someone who can both hit and field for this position.

Juan Soto: File this under "Who do I have to kill?" Two years ago, I wrote the Mets needed to move heaven and earth to acquire the young star. Turns out, they didn't have the prospects to land him. Now that he's a free agent after the season, the only thing standing between him patrolling right field in Flushing or in the Bronx will be money. Fortunately for the Mets, Cohen has a boat load of it. If he elects not to re-sign Alonso, he can put the savings towards signing Sota. There's also the possibility that Cohen may want both players. Can you imagine what a lineup of Lindor, Vientos, Soto, Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez would look like?

The bullpen: Stearns addressed this weak spot for the Mets at the trade deadline, but he will need to do more during the offseason. The Dodgers pretty much had their way with them in the NLCS. Hopefully, Adam Ottavino has played his last game as a Met.

Francisco Alvarez: There's no denying the kid's talent, but he needs to improve his defense as a catcher and become more disciplined at the plate. Perhaps playing Winter ball will help him in both areas. He has the power to hit 25-30 home runs per season. 

JD Martinez and Jesse Winker: They proved to be an effective DH tandem for the Mets, but Martinez struggled over the last couple of months. Both are free agents and could be re-signed for a reasonable price, which will be necessary if Cohen goes after Sota.

To sum up, 2024 was a great year for the Mets. They thrilled their fans and stunned their detractors. 2025 promises to be even better. Gary Cohen drew comparisons to the 1984 team that won 90 games. Personally, I prefer 1985, myself. 

Either way, the future looks very bright for the men in orange and blue.

2024-25 NHL Predictions

If there's one thing every hockey fan can agree on, it's that their favorite team will have a great year. While listening to the NHL Network the other day, an Ottawa Senators fan called in to say that he thought they were going to have a breakout season and wind up with 100 points. I credit the host with not laughing his ass off the air.

That being said, there are basically three types of teams in every professional sports league: those that are at or near the top, those that are on the rise, and those that are on the way down. As always, yours truly will provide his "expert" opinion as to which is which. I apologize for being a bit late here; my wife and I were in Italy for our 30th anniversary.

Normally, I do a separate preview for the Rangers. But this year, I'll combine both into one piece. And like I've done in the past three previews, I'll pick the top three teams in each division, then pick the two wild cards per conference, and then finish with the "close but no cigar" contingent.

Remember, it's all done in fun.

Eastern Conference:

Metropolitan Division: 

New York Rangers: The 2023-24 Presidents' Trophy winner dumped Barclay Goodrow's salary, but other than that this remains ostensibly the same roster as last season, which despite an impatient and frustrated fanbase, is a pretty good thing. Let's face it, the Florida Panthers were the worst opponent they could've gone up against. Any other opponent and we're talking at least a Cup final appearance. But when you look at them objectively - two conference finals in three years - they remain one of the premier teams in the NHL. Alexis Lafreniere is on the verge of stardom, and with Igor Shesterkin in goal, they are always a threat.

New Jersey Devils: GM Tom Fitzgerald finally got himself a goaltender that can stop the puck and he addressed the backline as well, which should help immensely. But the biggest challenge new head coach Sheldon Keefe will have is to get this talented, but still very young, group of players to commit to playing in all three zones. To be honest, Keefe didn't exactly do a bang-up job in Toronto; in five years, the Maple Leafs won just one playoff series. But he is an improvement over Lindy Ruff.

Carolina Hurricanes: The Canes had a rough offseason, losing Jake Guentzel, Brett Pesce and Teuvo Teravainen, and they still don't have an elite goalie. But detractors would be foolish to sleep on any team coached by Rod Brind'Amour. They may not be as good as they were the last three seasons but they will still be a tough team to play against. Dismiss them at your own peril.

Atlantic Division:

Florida Panthers: Losing Brandon Montour to free agency will hurt, but this remains one of the best and deepest cores in the league. They check like no one's business and with Sergei Bobrovsky in net, they should be favorites to repeat as Cup champs. 

Toronto Maple Leafs: Talent was never the problem in Toronto; it was will. Craig Berube should be able to address the latter. He coached a St. Louis Blues team with slightly above average talent to a Stanley Cup in 2019. But can he get this all-star team to buy in? That's the question. 

Boston Bruins: Getting Jeremy Swayman locked up for 8 years means that whatever else happens in Beantown, the Bruins will at least have great goaltending. They're not nearly as deep as the other teams in their division, but when it comes to work ethic, few teams can rival them.

Wild Cards:

Tampa Bay Lightning: The Bolts had an interesting summer. First they traded one of their best defensemen to Utah; then they let Steven Stamkos go to Nashville so that they could sign Jake Guentzel as his replacement. You figure it out. Jon Cooper will have his work cut out for him this season. But so long as they have Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy, they'll never be out of it.

Detroit Red Wings: They barely missed the playoffs last season. This time around, they'll sneak in. In year six of his tenure, GM Steve Yzerman has assembled a good roster that is close to being a contender.

Close, but no cigar:

Washington Capitals: The Caps are counting on Pierre-Luc Dubois to rediscover whatever it was that made him one of the hottest commodities in the NHL. I'm guessing they'll regret trading for him. I wonder how Charlie Lindgren would look in a Rangers uniform.

New York Islanders: Did you hear? Apparently, Anthony Duclair is Mike Bossy incarnate. As a lifetime member of the "I Hate the Islanders" club, I'm really gonna enjoy watching the final stages of the Lou Lamoriello demolition derby.

Pittsburgh Penguins: If ever there was a franchise that hasn't gotten the memo, it's this one. It's going to be a very long season in western Pennsylvania. 

Western Conference:

Central Divison:

Nashville Predators: Barry Trotz won the offseason, big time, signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. As a result, the Preds will be one of the best teams in the NHL. And to think, before Lou Lamoriello fired him, Trotz was the last coach to take the Isles to the conference finals.

Dallas Stars: The Stars will miss Joe Pavelski, but there's plenty of fire power on this talent-laden team to take up the slack. Jake Oettinger is one of the best goaltenders in the league and head coach Peter DeBoer will have his team near the top of the pack again. 

Colorado Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen are three of the best players in the league, but this is a team that believes it can win on talent alone. The last two seasons that formula hasn't been good enough to get them past the second round. One wonders whether they still have the hunger that won them the Cup in 2022.

Pacific Division:

Vegas Golden Knights: Basically, they replaced Jonathan Marchessault with Tomas Hertl. Talent wise, the Knights do not impress on paper. But on the ice, their secret sauce is an aggressive forecheck and a balanced attack. Their defense is big but mobile. They struggled last season which led to them being a wild card team; I doubt they'll make that same mistake again this season.

Edmonton Oilers: Head coach Kris Knoblauch did the impossible last season. He got a very talented group of players unaccustomed to hard work to roll up its sleeves and break a sweat. The result was the first trip by an Oilers team to the Cup finals since 2006, and had it not been for the Panthers, they would've won their first Stanley Cup since 1990. The only question remaining is whether Knoblauch's system has taken root in the locker room or whether last year was a one off.

Vancouver Canucks: For most of last season, Vancouver flirted with the Presidents' Trophy. And if Thatcher Demko hadn't gotten injured in the playoffs they might've gone all the way. Fully healthy, this is as solid a team as there is in the NHL. Led by J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes, they are well coached by Rick Tocchet.

Wild Cards:

Los Angeles Kings: They were fortunate to find someone to take Pierre-Luc Dubois off their hands - call it addition by subtraction. But while they'll make the playoffs, they don't have enough talent to climb into the first tier in their division. 

Winnipeg Jets: In retrospect, it should've come as no surprise how quickly the Jets came apart at the hands of the Avalanche. The fact is, they were paper tigers. They should sneak in this season as a wild card but they don't belong among the elite in the league.

Close but no cigar:

Minnesota Wild: The good news for GM Bill Guerin is that starting in the 2025-26 season, the buyouts for Zach Parise and Ryan Suter will mostly come off the books; the bad news is that won't help him assemble a playoff roster this season.

Utah Hockey Club: This ain't your Arizona Coyotes team anymore. Under new ownership and management they were very active during the offseason. Snatching Mikhail Sergachev from the Lightning was the coup of the decade. Still, while they will be a lot more entertaining, they still a ways to go before they become a playoff team.

Playoffs:

Eastern Conference Finals: Rangers over Maple Leafs 4-3

Western Conference Finals: Golden Knights over Predators: 4-2

Stanley Cup Finals: Rangers over Golden Knights 4-2

Year End Awards:

Presidents' Trophy: Florida Panthers

Art Ross Trophy: Connor McDavid, Oilers

Hart Trophy: Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers

Norris Trophy: Adam Fox, Rangers

Vezina Trophy: Juuso Saros, Predators

Jack Adams Award: Paul Maurice, Panthers 

Conn Smythe Trophy: Igor Shesterkin, Rangers

The Knicks Bold and Risky Move

Let's be honest: the moment Isaiah Hartenstein departed for Oklahoma City, Leon Rose knew he had to fill that vacancy. Even healthy, Mitchell Robinson is, at best, an adequate center. His excellent defense notwithstanding, nothing about his game would put the fear of God into an opponent. And in a conference that boasts the likes of Joel Embiid, Kristaps Porziņģis and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Knicks needed to improve their front court if they were going to go from playoff team to title contender.

With Danny Ainge unwilling to trade Lauri Markkanen without getting a king's ransom in return, Rose turned his gaze elsewhere. It's no secret that Karl-Anthony Towns had been on the Knicks radar for some time. Last summer, there were rumors of a straight up swap involving Julius Randle. But then the rumors died down and Rose elected to address other needs on the roster. The additions of OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa definitely improved the team, but the result was still the same: another disappointing second round exit. The acquisition of Mikal Bridges over the summer addressed the backcourt, but there was still a hole at center. Rose's next move had to be bold, and he didn't disappoint.

The final details are still being worked out, but the principal players involved are Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Towns. Minnesota also receives a first round pick via Detroit. Losing DiVencenzo hurts, especially after the way he played against the Philadelphia 76ers in last year's playoffs. But let's face it: once the Knicks got Bridges, DiVo became a bench player. And while Randle has been the heart and soul of this team since his arrival, Towns is the more complete player. With Robinson not expected to return until late December, who would you rather see at the 5: Randle or Towns?

The significance of this move cannot be overstated. Too many times last season, the Knicks were reliant on Brunson to carry the load. He was double and sometimes triple-teamed. Having Bridges at the 2 will distribute some of that load. But having a bonafide scoring center will make this team very hard to defend. Think about it: the Knicks now have three players capable of putting up 25 plus points per game. Over the last two years, Rose has transformed this franchise into a legitimate contender.

Look, are there risks involved in making this trade? Of course there are. As in any team sport, chemistry is essential. Both Randle and DiVincenzo were well respected in the locker room; they will be missed. Towns will have to earn the respect of his teammates, as well as the trust of his coach. The fact that he once played for Tom Thibodeau should help with his transition into the lineup.

Then there's Towns' history of injuries. He missed 20 games last season and only played in 29 the season before. The Knicks are hoping he can return to the form he showed in 2021-22, where he appeared in 74 games, averaged 53 percent from the field, scored 24.6 points per game and was named All NBA 3rd Team.

And, finally, there's the money. With this trade, the Knicks payroll goes up to $188.5 million, just $400k shy of the second apron, which is the absolute max a team can be at under the CBA without incurring penalties. So if anybody gets hurt, Rose will have to get creative to find a replacement.

But all that aside, this a great day for Knicks fans. This is a roster that can go toe to toe with the elite teams in the NBA. They not only can give the reigning champ Boston Celtics a run for their money, as of now, you'd have to consider them the favorites in a best of seven series.

Until Robinson returns, the Knicks starting lineup will probably look like this: Brunson, Bridges, OG, Hart and KAT. If you're wondering why Hart would play the 4, it's because he did so on numerous occasions last season when Randle was out. As is typical with Thibs, it'll be a short bench.

Opening night is October 22 at Boston. Circle it on your calendar.

For the Mets It's Déjà Vu All Over Again

The New York Mets embark on what will be the most crucial part of their season over the next ten games, which coincidentally happens to be their last ten games of the regular season when they begin a four-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at CifiField Thursday night. Whether there's a postseason, however, remains to be seen.

The Mets - 84-68 - are tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second Wild Card in the National League, two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves. They have control of their own destiny. If that sounds familiar, it should. Two years ago, almost to the day in fact, the Mets found themselves in the exact same position. They were two games up on the Braves for first place in the NL East, needing to win just one of three games in Atlanta to wrap up the division. But the Braves swept the Amazins and they were forced to settle for the first Wild Card spot. They then went on to lose to the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round.

The experience left a bitter taste in their mouths. They knew to a man they were the better team, but the Braves were better when it counted: down the stretch; the Mets folded like a bad poker hand.

Well, here we are two years later. Once again the Mets have their fate in their own hands. Four games against the Phillies, three against the Braves, and three against the Milwaukee Brewers. For what it's worth, this is a much better team than the one that collapsed late in the 2022 season. Both their starting pitching and bullpen (yes, THIS bullpen) are deep, and they are among the best scoring teams in the league. Since June 1, the Mets are 60-35, the best record in the majors. The Houston Astros are next at 57-37. If this team were to make it into the postseason, they would be very difficult to beat.

But that's the catch: they have to get in first. It won't be easy. The Phillies are battling the Los Angeles Dodgers for the overall best record in the National League, which would earn them a bye in the first round. As for the Braves, well, let's just say that the Mets don't have a good track record against them. The last time they bested them in a meaningful series was 1969. They will be battling a lot of past demons when they play them next week in Atlanta.

Regardless of how these next ten games go, David Stearns deserves a lot of credit for not panicking at the trade deadline. The moves he did make made sense and helped solidify the team. By not mortgaging the future, like his predecessor did, he held onto his young players. One of them, Luisangel Acuna, was called up to replace the injured Francisco Lindor. To say he's hit the ground running would be an understatement. He's hitting .467 with 2 HRS, 4RBIs and an OPS of 1.400 in just five games. 

Acuna was the gem the Mets got in the Max Scherzer deal. While Scherzer has been injured most of this season, Acuna had an impressive season at Triple A Syracuse. This kid is going to be a star. Can you see him playing alongside Lindor in the Mets infield? How many owners do you suppose would be willing to eat $88 million just to restock their prospect pool? Steve Cohen also deserves a lot of credit for this turnaround.

For now, though, the Mets future is now. Luis Severino goes up against Taijuan Walker of the Phillies. Severino has been the Mets most consistent pitcher all season long, while Walker - an ex-Met - has struggled. It is vital the Amazins get off to a good start against this Phillies team. A week ago, they dropped two of three in Philadelphia. They would like to exact some payback.

They can start tonight. 

2024 Giants and NFL Preview

It was only a year ago that the New York Giants, fresh off an improbable 9-7-1 2022 season, were thought of as genuine playoff contenders. Like so many of the Big-Blue faithful, I not only drank the Kool-Aid, I was dispensing it to as many people as possible. A record of 10-7 was more than reasonable given their schedule, I wrote.

Boy, how wrong was I? A humiliating opening night loss to the Dallas Cowboys set the tone for what became a train wreck of a season. Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones both went down with injuries; the offensive line, which had shown much improvement the previous year, reverted to its Swiss cheese form; Brian Daboll quarreled with his coaching staff and at times looked more like John McVay than the offensive guru who turned Josh Allen into a star. There was some discussion that John Mara was so displeased by what he saw that he considered firing Daboll after the season. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed.

Who could've figured that a season in which every conceivable break went their way was not a very good barometer for predicting future success. Turns out, 2022 was just a mirage; nothing more, nothing less. The painful fact is that this team is far closer to the bottom of the standings than the top.

Ok, lesson learned. Now what?

Well, for starters, I don't expect Big Blue to be any worse this season than last. In fact, if Jones can stay healthy - a big if - they might surprise a few people, especially if first round pick Malik Nabers turns out to be the stud everyone thinks he is. But can Jones get him the ball? That's the question. The bigger question, however, is will this team struggle to score points without Barkley in the backfield?

The offseason addition of OLB Brian Burns should solidify a front seven that, on paper at least, is actually pretty good. The secondary, however, remains a huge question mark, as does the offensive line. With respect to the latter, it seems we've been saying that a lot since 2017.

Then there's the schedule. The Giants host the Minnesota Vikings week one, then travel to Washington to play the Commanders. Both games are winnable. After that, however, the schedule gets considerably tougher for the G-Men. The Browns in Cleveland, the Cowboys at home, the Seahawks in Seattle, then the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife, before going to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers. A record of 3-5 would be quite an accomplishment for this group. Thankfully, in the second half, they play the Carolina Panthers on the road, and the Commanders and Indianapolis Colts at home. They should go 3-0.

Last year, the incurable optimist in me got the better of my judgment. This time around, I'm going into the season with both eyes wide open and understandably skeptical. As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy.

Prediction: 7-10 (Third in the NFC East). Not great, but hardly decrepit. In fact, all things considered, very realistic.

Below are my predictions for the 2024 NFL standings and postseason.

NFC East:

Eagles

Cowboys

Giants

Commanders

NFC North:

Packers *

Lions

Bears

Vikings

NFC South:

Falcons

Buccaneers

Saints

Panthers 

NFC West:

49ers

Rams

Seahawks

Cardinals

AFC East:

Bills

Dolphins

Jets

Patriots

AFC North:

Bengals

Ravens

Browns

Steelers

AFC South:

Texans

Jaguars

Titans

Colts

AFC West:

Chiefs *

Chargers

Broncos

Raiders

* Number one seed

NFC Wild Cards:

Cowboys

Rams

Lions

AFC Wild Cards:

Dolphins

Ravens

Chargers

Conference championships:

NFC: Packers over the 49ers

AFC: Chiefs over the Texans

Super Bowl:

Chiefs over the Packers

It's Time for Alonso to Put Up or Shut Up

After getting off to a 4-3 start on this road trip, that would've been 6-1 had the bullpen not blown two saves, the New York Mets find themselves three games behind the Atlanta Braves for the third and final wild card spot in the National League. They're in Chicago to play three games against the White Sox before returning home to CitiField to play three against the Boston Red Sox and three against the Cincinnati Reds. Having dropped two out of three to the Oakland A's in their last home stand, the Amazins cannot afford to take the Chi-Sox lightly. Anything other than a sweep would be unconscionable. Suffice to say, the season is hanging in the balance.

Also hanging in the balance is Pete Alonso's career with the Mets. The slugging first baseman is a free agent after the season and his agent, Scott Boras, is said to be looking to ink him to a multi-year contract in the neighborhood of $300 million. But whether Steve Cohen believes Alonso is worth that much, especially with Juan Soto expected to hit free agency, remains to be seen.

To be sure, Alonso is the best home run hitter the franchise has produced since David Wright - whose career was cut short by spinal stenosis. Letting him walk would be a tough decision. But overpaying him would be a mistake. The fact is that since his rookie season in 2019, in which he led the majors with 53 homers, he has failed to live up to his enormous potential. While he is still a potent home run threat every time he steps up to the plate, he is still vulnerable to the high fast ball and curve ball low and away. In 2023, he batted a career low .217. Yesterday, he hit just his 29th home run of the season, which would put him on pace for 35 for the year. For a man with that much power, that is a woefully low number. By comparison, Soto already has 37 and is hitting 40 points higher with a 1.012 OPS. Who would you rather have in your lineup, Alonso or Soto?

Granted, Soto will command considerably more money. But he's four years younger than Alonso and is a better all-around player. He's also represented by Boras, so figure the bidding will start at $500 million over 10 years and could go as high as $600 million over 10. Given that Cohen was all in on Shohei Ohtani before he signed with the LA Dodgers, I can't imagine he'd pass up a shot at landing arguably the second best outfielder in baseball. The first just happens to be Aaron Judge, who compared to what Soto will command this offseason, is the steal of the century at $360 million over 9 years.

But all that could change if Alonso were to have a great September. He is certainly capable of going on a hot streak. If he were to hit 11 more home runs, he'd finish with his third consecutive 40 plus HR season. That would increase his markability, but it would also give Cohen an excuse to pass on Soto and re-signing Alonso, especially if Boras overplays his hand, like he did with Jordan Montgomery.

It's all on Alonso. He is in control of his own destiny. I'm sure Cohen, if given a choice, would prefer to re-sign one of his own over a much more expensive import. And for his part, Alonso has expressed a desire to retire as a Met. But Cohen is, first and foremost, a businessman; a very successful businessman. If he feels the better investment over the long haul is Soto, Pete's days in Queens are numbered.

There are 28 games left in the regular season for the Mets. Time for the Polar Bear to put up or shut up.

Stearns Did the Right Thing At the Deadline

There were no blockbuster moves for the New York Mets at this year's trade deadline. No, "Oh that's the final piece we needed to put us over the top" pronouncements from the Twitterverse. The fact is there wasn't one player David Stearns acquired that would be described as a needle mover. 

And yet, when you look at the totality of what Stearns accomplished, it was actually quite impressive. Without surrendering a single top 20 prospect in his system, he acquired a proven bat in Jesse Winker, a serviceable starter in Paul Blackburn, and badly needed bullpen help in the form of Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, Huascar Brazoban and Tyler Zuber. Stanek was a member of the 2022 World Series champion Houston Astros but has struggled of late; Maton and Brazoban had not allowed a run in their last 5 appearances prior to their trade; while Zuber has bounced around and is looking for a home.

Overall, I'd give Stearns a B+. Yes, I realize the Mets are in the middle of a playoff race. Currently, they're tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third and final Wild Card spot. The Flushing Faithful have been very patient with Steve Cohen, but there's a limit to anyone's patience. For a franchise that hasn't won a title since 1986, you can hardly blame the fanbase for being frustrated at the seeming lack of urgency at the deadline.

But here's the thing that most people need to remember. With the exception of Tanner Scott, whom the San Diego Padres sacrificed a lot to get, I didn't see a single reliever on the market that would've magically transformed a bullpen that, sans Edwin Diaz and Jose Butto, has been very inconsistent, to say the least. Face it, every team in contention was looking for pitching. It was a sellers market. Stearns would've been a fool to allow himself to get extorted the way the Padres did.

If 2022 taught us anything, it's that even in baseball, there are no shortcuts. The Mets thought they could buy a World Series. It blew up in their face, and Cohen had to fork over a king's ransom to get Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer off his payroll. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. 

I said it before and I'll say it again, I like where this team is headed. They're exciting to watch. Winker will add depth to a lineup that has, with a few rare exceptions, been smacking the hell out of the ball. The additional arms hopefully will stabilizing a bullpen that could use all the help it can get.

But basically, to quote the Dramatics, whatcha see is whatcha get. The Mets were already a playoff contender before the trade deadline; and now they're a slightly better playoff contender. It comes down to the athletes in that dugout.

In the end, it always does.

OMG!

On June 2, the New York Mets record stood at 24-35. They were mired in fourth place in the National League East, with only the Miami Marlins keeping them from the cellar. The Flushing faithful were bracing themselves for yet another lost year. It was looking more and more like David Stearns was going to be a seller at the trade deadline.

Since then, they've gone 30-13 - including a home and home sweep of the Yankees - to improve their record to 54-48. And with last night's improbable win over the Atlanta Braves, they are only a half game out of second place in the East and are a half game up on the San Diego Padres for the second Wild Card. If you saw this coming six weeks ago, you're a better person than me. Frankly, I was already looking ahead to football season. 

So how did the Amazin's turn their season around? Ironically enough, with the one thing most people didn't think they had enough of going into 2024: their bats. In the months of June and July, the Mets lead the major leagues with 256 runs scored in 45 games for an average of 5.7 runs per game. The Minnesota Twins are second with 235 runs in 44 games for an average of 5.3 runs per game. How significant is that? Over the last twenty years, the closest the Mets have come to leading the league in scoring was 2006 and 2022 when they finished 7th with 834 runs and 5th with 772 runs respectively. And those teams are generally considered to be the best offensive teams since that '86 World Series team that finished 6th with 783 runs.

For a franchise known for its elite pitching, being such a prolific hitting team has been the story of the summer. And to think, they're doing it with Pete Alonso having a sub-par year. In 102 games, the polar bear has hit only 20 home runs. He's on track to hit 32. Not counting the pandemic year of 2020, Alonso has averaged 44 home runs per season. Pete is an unrestricted free agent after this year, so it would behoove him to kick it in gear if he expects Steve Cohen to give him the contract his agent Scott Boras is looking for.

The secret sauce for the Mets success at the plate this year has been their depth. Put succinctly, this is the most imposing lineup they've had in years. In addition to Francisco Linder, who unlike Alonso, is having one of his best seasons with a .259 BA, 22 HRs and 62 RBIs, there's Brandon Nimmo - .236 BA, 16 HRs and 63 RBIs - young studs like Mark Vientos - .284 / 13 / 35 in just 57 games - and Francisco Alvarez - .273 / 4 / 24 in 50 games, and OMG singing sensation Jose Iglesias - .366 / 3 / 17 in 37 games. Off-season additions Harrison Bader - .263 / 8 / 36 - and J.D. Martinez - .258 / 10 / 40 - have contributed to the hit parade, as well.

What's impressive about this Mets team is that with the exception of Jeff McNeil, who is starting to come around after an early-season slump, every hitter in the starting lineup has an OPS over .700. That means if you're a pitcher, there are no easy outs. No, "I'll walk this guy to get to the next one," mindset. Unlike the Yankees, who with Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, are about as top heavy as the SS Poseidon on New Year's Eve, the Mets spread the wealth around. Each game it seems as if there's a different hero. At the pace they're on, 90 plus wins is not out of the question.

But while their offense may be percolating, their pitching hasn't been anything to write home about. The Mets team ERA is 4.15, 20th overall in the majors. Closer Edwin Diaz, after a rough stretch, is finally starting to round into form. The loss of Drew Smith, who was supposed to be Diaz' set-up man, to season-ending surgery, has made an already thin bullpen that much thinner. The emergence of Jose Butto as a long-reliever has been a pleasant surprise, and the return of Kodai Sengai will bolster a starting rotation that has Luis Severino, Jose Quintana, Sean Manaea and David Peterson. But for this team to contend for the playoffs, Stearns will need to fortify his bullpen at the trade deadline. Adam Ottavino and Jake Diekman aren't the answers.

Do I like where this team is headed? In a word, yes. They're exciting to watch, and with the prospects they have lined up in the minors, the future looks very promising. A tweak here and there by the front office and the Mets may finally give their fans something to root for in October and November. 

Blame Drury for Trouba Nightmare

Here's what we know, so far. After a disappointing and bitter exit from the playoffs at the hands of the Florida Panthers, it was clear Chris Drury meant it when he said everything was on the table. His first move was to waive Barclay Goodrow. I remember saying at the time that I didn't think there was an appetite within the Rangers organization to move Jacob Trouba. Clearly, I was wrong.

The first hint that something might be brewing was when Drury asked Trouba's agent to submit a list of 15 teams Trouba would not want to be traded to. While it is standard operating procedure for a player to submit such a list when a contract switches from a NMC to a NTC, it is unusual for a GM to request it before it is due. And after the way Goodrow was waived, Trouba understandably was concerned he might be the next one out the door.

Then came the story by Larry Brooks in The New York Post, which had Trouba going to the Detroit Red Wings for an undisclosed return, presumably a couple of mid-level draft picks. Detroit would pick up $5.5 million of Trouba's cap hit, while the Rangers would retain $2.5 million. According to Brooks, the deal was done.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly. Drury was on the verge of ridding the organization of a contract that was an albatross around its neck, while Trouba was about to be reunited with his old buddy Andrew Copp. Don't you just love happy endings?

That's when the shit hit the fan. Late Sunday, news broke that Trouba was none too happy about leaving the Rangers. In fact, there was speculation that his agent might submit what is referred to as a strategic no trade list; that's a list of teams Trouba would accept a trade to but which likely don't have enough cap space to take on his contract. And how would his agent know which teams don't have enough cap space? The same way we all do: by going to Capfriendly and Puckpedia, that's how.

Going into Monday, it was pretty clear that the standoff between Drury and Trouba impacted the moves the Rangers were able to make. One prominent free agent after another came off the board. While I thought it was highly unlikely that, even with Trouba's contract off the books, there would be enough cap space to sign Jake Guentzel or Steven Stamkos, players like Jonathan Marchessault, Jake DeBrusk, Teuvo Tarevainen and Tyler Toffoli were all reasonable targets that were in Drury's wheelhouse, and yet every one of them signed elsewhere: Marchessault ($5.5m x 5) with the Nashville Predators; DeBrusk ($5.5m x 7) with the Vancouver Canucks; Tarevainen ($5.4m x 3) with the Chicago Blackhawks; and Toffoli ($6m x 4) with the San Jose Sharks.

So instead of landing someone who could've moved the needle, the Rangers wound up signing Sam Carrick ($1m x 3) and trading for Reilly Smith ($5m x 1). Drury was able to get the Pittsburgh Penguins to retain $1.25m of Smith's cap hit by tossing in a 2027 second-round pick to go along with a 2025 fifth rounder. Carrick, I assume, will replace Goodrow on the fourth line, while Smith will likely play on the same line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, and hopefully be more productive than Jack Roslovic and Blake Wheeler were in their relatively short stints with the team. 

To say this situation was badly handled would be an understatement. Drury seems to have completely misread the room here. After the grief he got over how he handled the Goodrow waiver, he did a 180 by informing Trouba of his intentions to trade him before his contract officially switched over to a NTC. In other words, Drury was hoping he could get Trouba to agree to a trade before free agency began so he would know exactly how much he could spend.

But what he didn't know, and hadn't considered, was that the primary reason for Trouba's reluctance to leave New York had very little to do with him not wanting to play for the Red Wings; it had to do with him not wanting to leave his wife Kelly, who's in the final year of a three-year residency at a local Manhattan hospital. Out of fear of retribution to her, the media has not mentioned the name of the hospital.

Which leads me to my next point: Whatever your feelings about this matter, Trouba's wife should be off limits. She has done absolutely nothing wrong here. Going after her is reprehensible. There's no excuse for it. If you're looking for someone to blame, the lion's share should go to Drury. He is the President and GM of this franchise; a franchise which has won exactly one Stanley Cup since 1940. Thanks to his bungling, it is quite possible that Trouba won't be going anywhere this summer. That means the Rangers will have an $8 million defenseman on the third defensive pairing to start the season.

Holy clusterfuck, Batman!

This whole thing could've been avoided had Drury simply acted more decisively. For starters, he shouldn't have asked for Trouba's no trade list in advance. He should've waited until Monday, and if Detroit wasn't on it, he could've pulled the trigger on the trade.* If Detroit was on it, he could've called up his former assistant Mike Grier in San Jose and asked him if he could take on Trouba's contract. If the answer was yes, he could've just waived him like he did with Goodrow. Problem solved.

Obviously, Drury would've caught flack. But that's why he gets the big bucks: to make these types of calls. You think Julien BriseBois gives a shit about catching flack. The Tampa Bay Lightning GM deliberately lowballed Steven Stamkos with an insulting $3 million AAV offer, knowing it would be rejected, just so he could sign Jake Guentzel to a more lucrative $9 million AAV contract. He then held a press conference in which he lied to the media about how it all went down - with a straight face, no less.

Think about that. One of the greatest players ever to don a Lightning jersey and BriseBois literally drove him out of town without so much as batting an eye. That's about as cutthroat as it gets. If you want to know why the Lightning won back-to-back Stanley Cups, this is why. They have a GM who puts the interests of the team ahead of the players. Maybe you don't agree that Guentzel is a better player than Stamkos - and for the record, I don't. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that the man running the organization thought so, and he didn't let anything or anyone get in his way.

Drury needs to be that kind of man. He can sympathize with what Trouba and his wife are going through, but in the end his primary responsibility has to be to his employer and the fans, many of whom haven't seen a championship in their lifetime. The fact is Trouba signed a contract; a contract that went from a no move clause to a 15-team no trade clause on July 1. It's not up to him to "accept" a trade to a team that's not on that list; it's up to him to abide by the terms of the contract. Period.

It's not like Detroit is on the surface of the moon. It's a couple of hours away by plane. What happens when the Rangers go on a long road trip? Does he catch the red eye to Kennedy between games? He's a professional athlete; his GM needs to treat him like one.

For all the intangibles Jacob Trouba brings to the table - his leadership in the locker room, his physical play on the ice - he simply isn't worth the money he's making, or the cap space he's taking up. Chris Drury knows it; the fans know it; and I suspect even his teammates know it. Whether it happens this summer or next, his days as a New York Ranger are numbered.

* I am going on the assumption that the Brooks story is accurate and that there was a trade already in place between Drury and Steve Yzerman. It's quite possible that all that took place was a discussion of a trade. The fact is we don't really know what happened.