Stock Down: Ramiro Pena and Joe Girardi

Oh hey Eduardo Nunez, you were 7 for 8 in the first two games against the Mets? And you were playing very well in the time that Jeet was on the DL? I have an idea, let's REST you (why play a guy who is arguably the hottest hitting guy on the team) and play Ramiro Pena, the WORST player on our team. In Pena's 4 at bats during the last game of the Subway Series, he looked awful. In the one time he got on base, he should have hit into a double play, but good 'ol Justin Turner made an error that will surely be on this Friday's Not-Top-10 on Sportscenter. I get that the kid needs playing time, but why do it when your other BACKUP shortstop is playing so well. It's not like Nunez is the starter, he is playing only because Jeter was on the DL. Why are you playing Pena?! It's not like he has been Ramiro "Super-Sub" Pena; he is hitting .091! CC would have a better batting average if he was hitting full time! Look if you want the kid to get some ABs, put him in AAA. OR keep him on the bench until A-Rod needs breather and you don't trust Nunez at third. I mean the guy almost cost the Yankees the game in the 9th when he let the ball go through his legs, luckily Gardner threw out the slower than molasses Duda at home.

(Side Note: is there really not anyone else in the entire planet that can play the outfield everyday better than Duda? Is he really the Mets' only option? Get on the goddamn phone, Alderson).

Girardi, I know you mean well, but STOP OVERMANAGING! This is the freakin' New York Yankees, not the Florida Marlins. Ever since he started managing the Yankees he has treated it like an NL team. AL ball and NL ball are two different games. And don't think he is a good manager just because he won a World Series, you or I could have managed that team in 09 to a  championship.

In closing, Pena stop playing like a deer in the headlights, and Girardi, stop over thinking the easy lineup you were blessed with. Yankee fans don't care about strategic managing moves that are necessary in the NL, all Yankee fans care about is winning.

Welcome to MSG Brad Richards

Finally the Rangers have a front line center that can be the play maker they so desperately needed. Gaborik now has someone to feed him the puck and create chances for him, which he has a hard time doing by himself. The Rangers didn't over pay him, as other teams offered him more money, and they have him for the prime of his career. He actually picked New York as the place he wanted to play because he fully understands that if you win in New York, you are a sport superstar for the entire country (talk to Mark Messier, Derek Jeter, and even Eli Manning). With the addition of Mike Rupp and if they sign back Dubi, Callahan, and some of the other restricted free agents, this team COULD (not making any predictions here), make a deep cup run.  With King Henry in goal, anything is possible.

Stock Up: The Mets Hitting

So uh, what is going on? The Mets are starting to...hit?! With 30 runs over the past two games and Jason Bay hitting homeruns, the Mets look like a team that could, actually, compete for a Wild Card spot. I know it is only the end of June, but normally the Mets are way out of the playoff picture by this point. If they can continue to overachieve like this, the sky is the limit. Hopefully, they don't trade Reyes, if they trade Reyes I would say that most of the hope would be lost. The Mets are playing incredibly well for a team with injuries to two of their best (Wright and Davis), and is made up of mostly scrubs (see Josh Thole, Danny Murphy, RA Dickey). When Jason Bay is hitting homeruns, you have to start thinking playoffs. By the way, Krod still sucks...big time. Also, Dillon Gee for ROTY.

NHL Salary Cap to go up $5m (now totaling $64m)

Great news for the Rangers. Already one of the highest salary caps in the league, they can now spend more. Hopefully Brad Richards is on the horizon, as a dominant center would be a great pickup for the club. A center isn't the only thing the Blue Shirts need. A goal scorer would be nice, some more defense (can't play Girardi and Staal the whole game), and maybe a beefed up special teams, but hey Rome wasn't built in a day. This news is great for big market teams, sucks for teams like Florida and Winnipeg. Rich getting richer, gotta love it. July 1st marks the start of free agency. 

Recent Quotes

Stock Up: The Mets?!

The Mets are only two games below .500 and just went 6-4 on their road stretch.  They are 4.5 games out of the Wild-Card spot, and I know that doesn’t sound great, but I for one thought they would be much worse off at this point in the year. The question now is, what are they going to do with Reyes? If they continue to hover around the .500 mark, you have to think that they can stay close in the Wild Card race in the NL, however, the Mets brass may have to deal Reyes if they don’t think they are going to sign him in the off-season. I think that they should hang on to Reyes, and even though Wilpon said that they aren’t going to give him “Crawford” money, I do think that given the player he can be, and the player that he is this season, they will give him a contract he will say yes too.  

They are also getting tremendous starting pitching recently, as Dillon Gee is over-performing his ass off and the rest of the starters are finally carrying their weight. Will the starting pitching break down and return to the level they are supposed to be pitching at? Probably. However, you never know, and this Mets team is starting to have this writer believe in them (typical Mets).

Stock Up: Yankees

After getting embarrassed at home against the Red Sox last week, they're 8-2 in their last 10, and beat up on a pretty good Rangers team. Yes, 3 of those wins came against the Indians and the league is finally starting to see that the Indians actually suck. And yes, two of those wins are against the Cubs, who also suck, but the Yankees are finally starting to hit as a team. Granderson is still CRUSHING it this season, seriously this guy has to be in the AL MVP talks. Even their small pickups are playing their role. I mean Brian Gordon? Really? This Yankees team is going to be dangerous come October; who is going to want to play the team that could hit 17 homers off you in a game. Are they better than the Red Sox or Phillies? No, but come the postseason, anything can happen.

Recent Hiatus

Sorry we have been away. Vacation/School has kept us away but we are back and better than ever.

-New York Sports Stock Exchange Staff

Turner and Mets Stay Hot vs' Yanks in Opening Game of Subway Series

Boy is there egg on my face. If no one recalls one of the recent posts on this blog, it completely bashed R.A. Dickey's performance this season. Again, the motivating skills of this blog are present once again. Dickey pitched six strong innings, with only one earned run off the Tex Message from Mark Teixeira in the third inning, and continued to make the Yankees look ridiculous last night by striking out six Pinstripes. And to add to the pitching, Justin Turner continued to add to his hot streak, going 3-4 with two doubles and the game tying RBI. The Yankees offense, however, still is a major story. Freddy Garcia throws seven innings and only two earned runs, and gets no run protection in return. This following Bartolo Colon's would be three hit shutout, turning into a blown save by Mo, ending in a 2-1 15 inning marathon game. I don't know where the Yankee hitting has gone, but it desperately needs to come back. Because right now, the last thing the Yankees need to do is get swept by their hometown rival Metropolitans. So, stock up right now? Justin Turner and the New York Mets. This guy along with the team have been hot for a awhile and realizing that they could compete in the NL East. And stock down? The Yankee Hitting. It has been too cold for too long and needs to comeback. Sure you could say that Thursday was quite the offensive showcase. But come one, when they put up a 15 spot on say, the Red Sox or the Rays, then we can make our speculations on the Offense. But right now, the Yankees hiding better than Waldo in a children's book.

'Mazin's and Jonathon Niece Lookin Sharp Going Into Subway Series: Stock Up

Jonathon Niece (Yeah that's right, the same Jonathon Niece that pitches for the Mets), pitched seven superb shut out innings for a much needed win to keep the Mets hot, well for Mets standards at least this has been a hot couple weeks. And this game was all topped off by a two inning save from K-Rod to complete a Mets shut out of the Washington Natinals. To me it seems about right that only Jon Niece can pitch well in only the worst of conditions, during heavy rainfall, and pitch mediocre or awful in perfect condition. All in all, this was a good night for the Mets, as they have one more game against the Nats going into three of the biggest six games of the season for the Mets, considering there is never any other games the Mets have to look forward to. And this may be a very opportune time for the Mets to capitalize on their cross town rivals considering the Yankees are playing just as worse as the Mets have. Also, the Mets COULD win this series, and I can't stress the word COULD enough right now, they COULD win, because right now the Yankees are sucking big time to the point where they can barely win games against the Orioles, even when Bartolo Colon throws a 3-hitter.
So, Finishing Quotes for the Mets:
Jonathon Niece: UP
K-Rod: UP
Mets: UP

Must Have Read...

Posada and A-Rod must have read my post earlier. A-Rod homered twice and Posada went 2 for 3 at the dish as the Yanks won 6-2. My motivating skills: Stock Up

Next up for the Bombers, two vs. the O's then the Subway Series

New York Yankees: Stock Plummeting

Where to begin with the Bombers? Do you start with Girardi? Posada? The hitting? The pitching? The management? Added to all this, A-Rod has quietly (that's how bad it is, A-Rod is doing something quietly) been slumping during this whole drama. Let's start with Girardi. 


It seems with every game Joe has been mismanaging the pitching even worse than before, last night was the crowning example. The Yankees had a 4 run lead in the 6th against the Rays' ace, Price, and Burnett was set to start the inning. First he gives up a double to John Jaso (Yea, I've never heard of him either), then gives up a homer to Sam Fuld (Again, I haven't heard of him either). Now you would think these would be signs of warning, but I guess when you have such a consistent pitcher like AJ Burnett on the mound, it must be two fluky hits from two no-name players. But oh yea, we're talking about AJ Burnett, not a consistent pitcher in the slightest and as of last year, when things get bad, things get BAD. Going into this inning with such a big lead on a team that's in first, against an ace of a pitcher, you would think at the first sign of trouble, Girardi would already have someone warmed and ready to go, but alas no. You could tell from Burnett's body language that he didn't have it that inning from the first batter. So we move on to Zobrist, who lined out to right, yea he lined out, he absolutely crushed the pitch, another alarming sign. Burnett did manage to strike out 70-year old Johnny Damon, but then a perfectly placed ground ball by Longoria put him on first with Matt Joyce up next, the same Matt Joyce who is hitting .367 (so kinda good). Of course Burnett throws a wild pitch, and Longoria moves to second, putting him in scoring position. Now I know hindsight is 20/20, but this should have been the time to replace Burnett, however, he is left in. Yes there were 2 outs, but Burnett obviously did not have his stuff working, and this is a game the Yankees HAD, a game that meant a lot to a struggling ball club. So what does he do next? Yup you guessed it, allows a single from Joyce, which scored Longoria making it a 5-4 game. Again you would think, "You know Joe, this might be a good time to replace Burnett.," but he is left in. Of course AJ throws ANOTHER wild pitch, which moves Joyce into scoring position. Oh and then BJ Upton hits a home run and the Rays don't look back. After the HR, AJ is relieved, after giving up 5 runs on 5 hits. The cherry on top? Kyle Farnsworth (remember him?) gets the save. Nice


Now onto Posada. Um quick question, what is Posada batting this year? .165 you say? Ok, another question, what city is this? Oh, New York City? And he's playing for the most storied franchise in the history of the world? Hmm, now if I am the manager of this team (the team in which, if I don't win the World Series, I am viewed as a failure. The team in which I won a World Series with 2 YEARS AGO, however still get ripped to shreds on numerous occasions) what should I do? Normally, a batter who is batting with this anemic average would be benched, however, Jorge has been very good for the franchise, and he is a fan favorite, so let's just move him to 9th in the order; seems fair. THEN HE DECIDES TO TAKE HIMSELF OUT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Look I know I just bashed Girardi for his mistakes, but this was a good call. Posada has not been producing, he hasn't gotten 1 hit against a lefty pitcher all season, and he isn't playing the field anymore; if it was anyone else, the player would have been replaced all together!  On second thought, I should probably thank Posada for taking himself out of the lineup, by doing that, he was helping the team because then the Yankees didn't have to play him. Jorge, I know you have been great in the past, you have helped this franchise win 5 championships in your time here, but the fact that you are batting .165 and not even playing the field is terrible; even you should know that. The team is paying you 13 million dollars to hit, that's right 13 million dollars to hit a baseball...and you are batting .165?! They kept you IN the lineup, but because it wasn't high enough for you, you want to sit? This is New York my man, this is a team of champions. No, you don't have to prove anything to anyone, but come on Jorge, man up and start hitting. 


A-rod, please start hitting, please. You are a first ballot HOFer and you stuck out 3x yesterday. Just start hitting please, you and Tex. I wish everyone would play like Granderson is playing right now. That dude is CRUSHING it; he is single handedly keeping the Yankees in games, not only with his bat, but with his glove too. Melky who? 


Hopefully the Yankees win tonight, then mop the floor with the O's to get a nice feeling going into the Subway Series. 

Stock Up: Justin Turner

Kid hit a 3 run dinger and a drove in two more with a double in today's game. The Mets really needed to take this series, the Astros suck. This is the third series they have won in a row, the Marlins and Josh Johnson are next  for the Metropolitans with a 2 game set.

R.A. Dickey and All-NBA Team Voters: Stock Down

If R.A. Dickey's stock couldn't go further down, he gave us reasonable evidence to do so today. After the Amazin's earned a nice win on Friday against the Astros, a series they desperately need to take, who else but R.A. Dickey would pitch an awful outing when he needs a win. Dickey, winless since opening day, gave up eleven hits and six earned runs, in five and third innings pitched. The Astros, arguably the worst team in baseball right now, smacked R.A. silly today in Houston, as the Astros smacked two solo shots to blow the game wide open. Overall, with today's outing, R.A. Dickey doesn't look like his stock is going up anytime soon.
Next, the All-NBA Teams came out today with Amar'e Stoudemire making Second Team All-NBA, but Melo was nowhere to be found! Carmelo may have not his best year this year. However, it was worthy of recognition.  At least third team would be something. How in the world does LaMarcus Aldridge get a spot over Melo? I'll even say that Melo was better than Al Horford who made Third Team All-NBA. Almost every single statistic Anthony has is better than Aldridge, except rebounds and field goal percentage, but Carmelo plays in the three spot opposed to the four. In conclusion, for one to say that LaMarcus Aldridge is better than Carmelo Anthony, is nothing but pure garbage.

Report: Blueshirts and Flyers to play in Winter Classic Next Year

In next year's Winter Classic the Rangers and Flyers will play in Philly, scheduled for January 2nd at Citizens Bank Park. It's nice that the Rangers are playing, but I would have liked it to be in NYC at the Meadowlands or  Yankee Stadium or Citi, but Philly is close enough for blueshirt fans to go. I've been reading rumors that NYC wants to host its own "Winter Classic" type game annually (probably in 2013) with the Devils, Isles, and Rags switching off every year. Would be a cool idea and would generate a lot of money in a hockey-loving town like New York City. Anyway, next year we get see more of Callahan crapping on the Flyers like he did this year. NHL: Stock Up for picking another good game

Yankees Stock Quotes at Final Bell

Red Sox 5 - Yankees 4

Joba Chamberlain: Stock Down

           Joba gave up the key HR in the 7th to Youklis and the Yankees couldn't come back from the 3 run deficit. Colon gave another solid start, but yet again, the Yankees bullpen blew a good start. Joba has pitched pretty well this season, but this was a costly mistake. 

Nick Swisher/Jorge Posada: Stock Down 

          These two couldn't get hits when it counted, seems like this is happening more and more with these guys. Posada is batting an anemic .165 and Swisher not much better with .221. These two have been huge holes in the lineup for the Yanks. You could almost tell that they would end the rally in the 8th. 

Curtis Granderson: Stock UP 

         This guy keeps getting big hit after big hit for the Yankees; he is the rally starter for the pinstripes, easily the MVP for the team so far. A huge triple in the 8th, which led to a run, and a RBI in the 9th to give the Yankees any hope of a comeback against the Sawks. This guy needs some help though, and you would think with a lineup including Derek Jeter, A-Rod, Tex, and Cano, he wouldn't have to generate most of the runs in a big game. 

Final thoughts: Martin is still hitting well for the Yankees, really showing that he was a great offseason pickup. Also, if Bard is the future of the Red Sox bullpen, I am very excited about the future of this rivalry because he  is terrible. Yea he has a good fastball, but if it wasn't for the two worst hitters on the Yankees right now, the pinstripes probably would have put up 4-5 more runs in that inning. Have fun with Bard, Boston, he sucks. 

RIP Derek Boogaard (1982-2011)

A very sad day for not only the Rangers organization, but the hockey community as well as 28 year old Derek Boogaard passed away today in his apartment in Minnesota. From the staff here at NYSSE our condolences go out to the Boogaard family and friends.

Here is a video of Boogaard's first and only goal for the Blueshirts vs. the Caps. We'll Miss you Boogeyman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbDP6QdXL0Q

New York City: The Best Sports City in America

New York City. Hands down, the best city in the world for sports. With nine sport teams in the New York Metropolitan Area, it makes the Big Apple one of the most competitive sports cities in America, if not the world. New York is also home to some of the greatest places to play (Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden). New York is proud to be the home of arguably the best fans in sports as well; who are as rowdy and passionate as any other cities'. So, this post is going out to all the Pittsburghers, Bostonians, or Chicagoans who think their city can out do the sports scene in the Big City.

The first sport I'll go over is hockey. You can say all you want about the Rangers and fifty-four years, or the Devils being a “Mickey Mouse organization,”-Wayne Gretzky, or the Islanders, just being the Islanders, but the history runs as deep as the support the fans have for their team. There is no question for the Rangers' history, being an original six team, winning four Stanley Cups, and celebrating their 85^th Anniversary this year. And must we go further with fan hood? Rangers fans are among the most passionate in the game making almost every game a sell out, and giving good reason to why Madison Square Garden is the best place to play or watch anything. When the Devils first moved to New Jersey it was not pretty, as they lost to Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers 13-4 one game. Gretzky went on to remark, “Well, it's time they got their act together, folks. They're ruining the whole league. They had better stop running a Mickey Mouse Organization and put somebody on ice.” And a few years down the road, the Devils made Gretzky eat his own words, as the Devils went on to win the Stanley Cup in 1995, 2000, and 2003. The Devils ultimately became one of the most powerful teams in the league before the lockout. This year also marked the first time since 1996, that the Devils missed the playoffs, breaking one of the longest streaks in the NHL. And then there are the New York Islanders. What the Islanders don't have in talent, they make up for with their rowdy and clever fans. I went to the Nassau Coliseum for a game once, and could not believe how funny and ridiculous some of these fans were. Now believe it or not, the Islanders do have SOME history, winning four Stanley Cups consecutively, being one of the few teams in sports to come back from 3-0 deficit in the playoffs, and having a player tear up the Rangers so bad, he has his own chant at Ranger games. Some may argue that New York is past its prime in hockey, but if you looked around at the fans and some of the upcoming talent in the New York Hockey scene, you wouldn't think so.

Next we'll do basketball. In New York you have two historic teams that haven't done too well in recent years. However, they both still find their way into the national spotlight. First we have the Knicks. The Knicks have won two NBA Championships, one in 1970 and one in 1973. The Knicks are definitely one of the most historic teams in basketball. With the players they have had like John Starkes, Clyde Frazier, Patrick Ewing, and Bernard King; and also being known for their celebrity fans with none other than Spike Lee topping that list, the Knicks are one of the most popular and historic teams in the NBA. And on top of that they play at the Garden, the “Mecca of basketball,” and arguably the most famous in sports. The Knicks made the playoffs for the first time since 2000, only to get completely shown up by the Celtics. They have one of the most infamous owners in sports, as well as having Isaiah Thomas as a head coach, if it wasn't bad. But the Knicks have drawn themselves back onto the national scene thanks to the arrivals of Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, the only good things the Knicks have to put themselves into national recognition. Then we have the Nets, who were the dominant team for a good portion of the early millennium and even a bit afterward. The Nets have one an ABA Championship, which must cont as something, right? But even if you don't count that, they won back-to-back Eastern Conference Championships. However, recently they made into the headlines for all the wrong reasons with their almost record worst season ever, just edging out the 72-73 Sixers. But they recently obtained Deron Williams, whom one could make a case for best point guard in the league, through a trade with the Jazz. And because of this we could see Nets basketball on the rise. So, no matter how bad New York Basketball could be, it will still be in the national spotlight because people care about New York and want to see them, whether they win or lose.

Third we'll do football. We have so much history between the Jets and Giants. Four Super Bowls between the two (3-Giants, 1-Jets), and some of the league's best fans. The Jets, who usually fill every fan with disappointment at the end of each and every season, have turned it around recently and have gone two back-to-back AFC Championship Title games. Thanks to Coach Rex Ryan, this team has gained a sort of swagger that America, and New York in particular just love. And this has attracted the attention of everyone. The Jets have stepped away from the “Same Old Jets, more disappointment,” into “Same Old Jets, back in the AFC Championship.” And going back to history, the Jets are the first AFC team to win the Super Bowl, and only to do so by guaranteeing they would win (also as 16 and half point under dogs). Jet fans are also among the rowdiest in sports. With the patented “J-E-T-S, JETS JETS JETS,” chant, the fans are also one of the loudest in the New York Area. Then we have the Giants, who carry the arrogance of the new found swagger Jets, and the success the Jets have had of late. The Giants have won three Super Bowls, all in memorable fashion. And even though the Giants have not done well of late, they still have the talent to do so. There is nothing like New York football. The history around it, the fans both teams have, and the success that both teams have is uncomparible.

And finally there is baseball. Do I even have to explain this one? New York is home to the freakin' Yankees. If that isn't enough I don't know what is. And yeah sure there's also the Mets, but both teams are one of the most historic franchises in sports. The Yankees, I don't even know where to begin. Where to start? The Hall of Famers? The rings? The stadium? The fans? Really, it's like asking a child why they love Christmas. There are too many reasons to provide for the Yankees on why they carry a good weight of New York baseball with them. And yet, there are the Mets, the ugly, unintelligent, step-brother to the Yankees. At least they have won two World Series to prove some reason they belong in the New York Sports Market. However, the Mets have had their share of good players. Darryl Strawberry, Tom Seaver, Yogi Berra, and even Willy Mays played for the Mets. I feel sorry for the Mets. If they don't look bad enough as it is, they probably wouldn't look as bad if the Yankees didn't play in the same city.

You hear the cities that are brought up in comparison to New York. Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Dallas, etc. However, New York is different. There is just a feeling you get when you walk into Madison Square Garden and hear the clash of bodies against the boards or the swish of a net. The feeling you get when you see the opening pitch at a Subway Series game. The feeling you get when you see the opening kick-off at a Jets or Giants game. There is a reason every player wants to play in New York. The venues, the media exposure, the fans, whatever it may be. I doubt one could go anywhere in America and find a sports city just as nuts, historic, and great as New York City.

Welcome to the NYSSE

This is your number one source for New York sports news and updates with added opinion and analysis from the writers. Enjoy