Friday was indeed a peak!

I just love how Garth did not show his hand. No one even thought he was going to take JT. Even minutes before the pick, it seemed that every “EXPERT” had Duchene in Snowy’s sights.

Basically, Garth did what every GM would have done — he took the best player available. He took Taveras, to the delight of the 10K+ that was at the Coliseum, and thousands of others watching on TV, and me, working on financial numbers in my office.

These ‘experts’ must think that Garth is just a air head… That is for another day.

The goalie picks in rounds 2 and 3 – are things that make have you shaking your scalp a little; but I think it is more of a filter down into the system. The 21 year old Finn, will have his chance to make the team, or at least Bridgeport at camp, and that hopefully should be a good thing, to get Ricky in motion for camp; to get his competitive juices flowing.

Now – onto tomorrow – July 1. The day, that the free agent frenzy begins.

What does Swamy Snow do now?

He claims that not much is going to be done, but I feel that a few interests may be put into play.

1. A 1B goaltender. With no disrepect given to Joey Mac and Yann, who did a great job filling in, this team needs a ‘seasoned’ NHL man to be the backup, in case ‘the project’ is out again. A Craig Anderson type would fit the bill.

2. An enforcer to put some protection to JT. I think Greg Logan or Arthur Staple in Newsday said a Colton Orr type of player, and honestly, that is not that bad of an idea. I love the “Wrecker”, but he needs more seasoning. In time, he will fill the role; but for JT’s first season, we will need a veteran presence to keep an eye on the prodigy.

3. Did someone say, Sedin’s?

I really not have the opportunity to look through the lists, and see what we could use. We are pretty low on the cap numbers, so we could (and may need to) spend. But – doing that, and not being foolish is what Isles fans will be looking for this summer. Give Garth the chance… He is starting to get naysayers to look at him in a different light.

Well – off to work. Have a good day… When things happen later in the week, I will add some commentary to that.

Fellow Blog Boxers, Doug, Mike, Ken and Tom were at the draft, and I say thanks for the coverage. Nice job all!

Posted under Cool A-C League, Islanders 09-10

Nothing else needs to be said…

GREAT JOB GARTH! GLAD TO KNOW THAT BRIAN BURKE DOES NOT GET WHAT HE WANTS!

Posted under Islanders 08-09

It was what most hockey fans wanted. Game 7 of the finals, and a good game to the end. We got our wish.

For me – I did not see the game. I worked until about 930 last night. I listened to Mike Lange and Phil Bourque on XM. Lange was very subdued, until they were 100% sure it was over.

I watched the post game on NHL Network. I was so happy for Billy Guerin. His emotions were so displayed. He held back the tears, but you can see that he was in such a euphoric state. I am sure that true Islanders fans are just as happy for him.

For the Pens – it is sweet revenge from last year. Having to see Detroit winning the cup on their home ice was tough. This time, Pittsburgh get to do the same thing. For the first time in 38 years, a visitor won game 7.

What I thought was great for this team, was the contribution of the 3rd and 4th line players. We saw the maturation and the immense growth of Max Talbot (best friend of one Bruno Gervais). He scored both goals.

Players like Mark Eaton, Rob Scuderi, Matt Cooke among others were fantastic contributors to the victory. They allowed the stars to just play, and not give any extra pressure to them.

With no disrespect to Detroit. They are a great team, with still a great future, thanks to the excellent drafting that they do. To other NHL fans, winning for Detroit just gets old.

Now that the season is over, it is now time for NHL fans to focus on the draft, after the NHL Awards happen next week in Vegas. That means we are now on a countdown to the first pick in the draft. The Islanders, you have 13 days left.

Tavares, please!

Posted under Playoffs 09

When your team is not playing, as a fan of the game, you WANT the finals to be a 7 game affair.

Well folks, we got our wish.

Pittsburgh got revenge of Detroit winning the cup in their barn, with a hard fought 2-1 win, giving us fans a game 7 Friday night at the Joe.

Kudos to Syosset native Rob Scuderi, who has played remarkable over the playoffs, getting credit for 3 key saves in the crease in the last 20 seconds of the game, with the Wings with 6 skaters. He has turned a lot of experts eyes, and since he is a free agent after this is over, will command some more salary. Hey Rob, the Isles pratice facility is in your own back yard. Wanna come back home?

Wow Bill – you look like hell. But keep it going. I am really wanting him to taste the Cup again. 14 years between is a long time indeed. You deserve the chance.

Ozzie had a good game last night as well, kept his team in it, and gave them the chance to tie it up. Detroit has some ability to flip a switch and bring their game to another level. They did that right after the TV time out in the third to get their lone goal. Then for the next two minutes, Pitt was on the ropes. But this time, the Pens held their ground and preserved the 2-1 win.

I am looking forward to the last game of the year now!

Posted under Playoffs 09

Here is my latest article…

Central Islip, NY  - For a baseball team getting ready to start a road trip, getting a victory before getting on the bus, can give a team confidence.  For the Long Island Ducks, their six game home stand ended on a very happy note, as two home runs, lifted them to a 8-2 victory over the York Revolution.  Long Island (18-16) is now only 2 ½ games behind first place Southern Maryland.

“We it was a big series for us”, replied Ducks Manager Gary Carter.  “We needed a good outing by Brad (Halsey), and he gave that to us.  We had the toughest part of our schedule over the past two weeks, so hopefully now the schedule will be in our favor.”

The Ducks quickly got runs on the board to start the game.  Long Island’s Preston Wilson was hit in the nose from a fastball from York starting pitcher Dan Foli (0-6), and left the game.  After Alex Prieto replaced Wilson at first, Victor Rodriguez tagged a pitch to deep centerfield, scoring Ray Navarette.  Foli then walked Johnny Hernandez, allowing the Central Islip standout Harris to the plate, who then drilled a fastball out to right centerfield to give the Ducks their first Grand Slam of the season.

Wilson was taken to a local hospital for X-rays, according to Ducks General Manager, Michael Pfaff.

“He has a minor displaced fracture on the nose, and we don’t think it will require surgery”, said Carter.  “I was just scared of a fracture of the cheekbone.  Hopefully, he will be back in a few days.”

York (10-24) got their only run of the ball game in the top of the second on a double by catcher Luis Taveras, scoring Matt Esquivel who had doubled two batters before Taveras.

Harris started the Ducks next offensive output in the fourth, hitting a single up the middle off of Foli, who had retired eight in a row after Harris’ homer in the first.  Catcher Rob Sandora, the pride of West Babylon, drove a Foli pitch over the right centerfield wall for his first home run of the season, to give the Ducks a six run lead.

“I’ve been feeling good, and when you are getting consistent at-bats, you get into a groove”, said Harris about his recent performance. “It helps to be playing every day, and the fact that you will be in there the next day, even if you are not successful that day, it is less pressure on you, and it’s a lot easier to play.”

Brad Halsey (2-3), who struggled mightily in his last outing, allowing seven runs in just over three innings, seemed to have his control in order, allowing only four hits in six innings, striking out one and did not walk a batter.  He retired 10 of his 18 outs on the ground, and was consistently picking the corners and staying ahead of the hitters.

“It helped to have the guys step up in the first”, said Halsey.  “They had an idea that I was not doing too well, and they gave me a chance to relax.  The big difference today, was that I was having fun out there.”

“We did not want to over-extend him”, replied Carter on Halsey’s outing. “He had 95 pitches, so it gave us a chance to get guys some innings, and get other guys a day off.”

Robert Paulk, a former Met farmhand that just signed by the Ducks on Saturday, made his debut with a scoreless seventh inning.

Sandora, drove his third run of the game, as he squibbed one past the glove of Jeff Eure to bring in the eighth run of the conquest.

Mike Hrynio had a scoreless eighth inning, and Ron Flores finished the ninth, allowing one run to score.

Victor Rodriguez had four hits for the Ducks, while Ray Navarette was on base with three hits for Long Island.  Luis Tavares had three hits to lead the York attack.

For Carter and the Ducks, they are now sitting at the half-way point of the first half, and he feels that they are doing quite well.

“We’ve lost a lot of key players”, said Carter, “but guys have been stepping up and doing nicely; and our pitching staff is getting stronger.  We just need to hold our own.  We can’t take Bridgeport lightly, and in York they will be want to try to get the wins back.”

Thirty-six games left in the half, and Long Island seems to be ready to move up the standings.

Quacker Notes:  Today’s attendance of 6,096 at Citibank Park giving the Ducks another sellout crowd. Who’s Hot?  Despite the struggle on the field on Saturday night, Joe Valentine’s scoreless streak is now sitting at 18 innings.  He has not allowed an earned run, since April 28^th at Lancaster.  The Ducks are on the road for the next seven with a three game stint against the Bridgeport Bluefish, following with a four game rematch versus the Revolution.  The Ducks return to Long Island on Monday, June 8^th to face the Newark Bears in a four game series.

Posted under Ducks 09

There were moments that Pittsburgh looked down and out…

I remember a scene in Revenge of the Nerds 2 – Spring Break, when the boys were re-doing their hotel for their big ‘party’, and you heard a chain reaction of people saying:

“HIT THE SWITCH”

And the switch, the Penguins hit…

Three goals in 5:30, starting with the fantastic Stall shorty, then the Crosby stunner on the 2 on 1 with Malkin; lastly, the stinger from Kennedy, but the exclamation on the game, taking Pittsburgh to a deadlock at 2 games a piece.

Did many expect this after game 1? They way the Pens seem to look on the bench last week, I really feel that no one did. But looking like the ‘never say Dieslanders’, they have clawed their way back to even ground, as a BIG game 5 looms on the horizon tomorrow.

By the end of the game last night, Detroit looked like something we have not seem from them. Disgruntled. The were easily taken out of their game, and it just wasn’t expected.

Now – let’s hope for three solid games (maybe 2), but I still hope for 3. I would like to see Pitt do a revenge and win the cup on foreign soil.

– Other Thoughts –

Are the Mets looking pathetic or what? My friend David Weiss, the weather guy on 10/55 and the radio broadcaster for the Ducks had a great rant in the paper yesterday, basically saying that kids are now seeing the sick Mets in the hospital, instead of the other way around. Reyes looks like he is now out for 4-6 weeks. That is a mess. They are now 4 back of the Phils with a showdown next week in Flushing. Hopefully, they will come off of a 3 game sweep of the Nats, and get momentum going. The pitching (which has been decent before this week) needs to be sharp, and would somebody please slam a rubber mallet on JJ’s head, and wake his arse up!!!

Ducks – doing well – five of six, going into York this weekend. They are closing ground on the Blue Crabs. They do not have any more games against them for the remainder of the half, so they need to keep winning, and hope for help. It is only the half way portion of the 1st stanza, but the numbers dwindle quite quickly, and the need to keep the victories coming is important for Carter’s gang.

I am going to Yankee Stadium tomorrow for the first time this season. I know, Gary, you are a Met fan – what the hell are you going there for? Well – simply put 1) I did not pay for these tickets – thanks boss! 2) I am interested in seeing the stadium and compare it to some of the other places that I have been…. It should be fun!

Wang and Murray in the same room together, with no pugel sticks! Wow – hope for progress. We all need this!

Tavares’ comments on Chris Botta’s site: wow – I am hooked. I know Garth is not showing his hand, but Brian Burke was commenting in the Toronto Sun over the last couple days, about the “Plan B” to look at Braydon Schenn (brother of Maple Leaf Luke) as the next first round pick for Toronto. Gee Brian, I guess your plan for world domination, by saying that it is your rule that the LEAFS must have Tavares, are now shot!??? About time you woke up and smelled the Latte!

!
Everton – my boys lost a valiant game 2-1 to Chelsea in the FA Cup Final (British Soccer(Football) ) for those of you that do not know. This is like the Pirates almost beating the Mets. Oh wait – they did that. But my boys played well; as a matter of fact, had a 130 Cup record made, when they scored just 25 seconds in. However, they could not hold on, as Chelsea leveled the match in the 21st minute or so, and got the winner about 50 minutes in. The manager (head coach) David Moyes, was gracious in defeat, consoling his boys, and congratulating every single player from the winning squad. Better luck next year for my boys. By the way, the FA cup has every team from the local pub team in the midlands, all they way to Manchester United, all having the chance to win the trophy. 2 out of hundreds get to the final, and my team from Liverpool did. Well done lads

Posted under Ducks 09, Islanders 08-09, Playoffs 09, Ramblings, UK Football