Mets Should Cut Bait With Canó and Sign Bryant

What's Canó Going to Bring to the table Without PEDs?

As a twice-suspended, two-time PED loser, Robinson Canó shouldn't even be on the Mets roster. The minute his suspension ended they should've bought him out or released him and been done with it. Addition by subtraction and all that. That said, when it comes to Canó making "too much money" to be cut outright or be a bench player, some people still don't realize that this is no longer the Wilpons' Mets. Steve Cohen can afford this luxury and that's great for the team and Mets fans who've waited seemingly an eternity for a new owner who's not looking to pinch pennies. He's sparing no expense to put the best team he can on the field and if that means Cano is an overpaid role player than so be it.

Besides, who's to say he won't cheat again? Never trust a repeat offender. At age 39, not having played in a year and proving over the last 4 seasons he played that he's virtually nothing without PEDs, can anybody realistically expect anything substantial from Canó at this point? (Only if he cheats, yeah, I know.)

If they must keep him (and even if they don't) it would be worth it if the Mets sign Kris Bryant to take Michael Conforto's place in RF. It's the best move they can make because it allows free agent signee Eduardo Escobar to play full-time at 3rd while Jeff McNeil does the same at his natural position at 2nd with Canó at DH and bench depth. Sometimes if you make one move, everything else falls into place. This is one of those times and it's screaming, Do it!!"

    Mets Should Steer Clear of Seiya Suzuki

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As in many MLB cities, a lot of New York sportswriters are clamoring for the Mets to sign Japanese star outfielder Seiya Suzuki, figuring he's just the get-well tonic they need to vault back into contention. However, after looking over Suzuki's stats, they're eerily similar to Kazuo Matsui's. Remember him, Mets fans? Of course you do.

Seiya Suzuki (left) and Kazuo Matsui

For the benefit of those fans too young to remember, back in December of 2003, the Wilpons' Mets, in all their glorified incompetence, tried to make an international baseball splash by signing Japanese star shortstop Kazuo Matzui just like the Yankees did with Hideki Matsui (no relation) and Seattle with Ichiro Suzuki (no relation, either). In fact, Mets management was so excited to sign the Japanese star shortstop that they decided to shift Jose Reyes, their top shortstop prospect, to second base, where playing out of position effected his offense. Then they had them switch positions midseason and there after and now Matsui, a lifelong shortstop, was playing out of position. To nobody's surprise, the results were no different for him.

He turned out to be a major dissapointment to say the least, if not less. Of course, this isn't to say Suzuki will automatically be a Kaz rerun, but the Mets already have plenty of outfielders, with potentially another one in their crosshairs (Kris Bryant?). So there's no guarantee they won't play Suzuki in more than one position (The "Here We Go Again" dept) for tons of money better spent elsewhere.

Even with the universal DH the Mets don't need to go after Suzuki just because of the resounding success of fellow Japanese star Shohei Ohtani. That was the Wilpons' mistake. But these are now the Steve Cohen Mets and the glaring fact is too many Japanese superstars fail to live up to their billing in the Majors. However, MLB clubs are still shelling out the posting fees and the contracts to acquire what can be accurately described as very costly risks.

There's no creditable reason for the Mets to take that risk again.

P̶O̶T̶V̶I̶N̶ DOLAN SUCKS!!

With apologies to Disney

It's time to alter the "Potvin sucks!" chant, Ranger fans. After not meddling with the New York Rangers like he's done with the Knicks, you are now officially in the ruinous hands of that dreaded disease known as James Dolan.

[Cue "Chiller" Theme]

 

The Madison Square Garden CEO's firing of John Davidson and Jeff Gorton is possibly the worst sports management decision in New York since June 15, 1977 when Mets' board chairman and renowned cheapskate M. Donald Grant traded Tom Seaver and Dave Kingman in exchange for a cache of trinkets and leftovers.

Dolan mumbled something about the Rangers lacking the "overall spirit and culture that goes with being a team." On that basis, he should've fired the coach. Or, better still, he should've just stayed the hell out of the way and let management decide. But no, Dolan had to stick his whatsis in and sack a championship caliber management team and possibly short-circuit something special for the Rangers.

 

Dolan is also said to want to bring in Rangers legend Mark Messier as an executive but that would be nothing more than the old name recognition strategy because Messier, by his own admission, has no experience in this field. It would be identical to when the Knicks signed Phil Jackson as team president (2014) and Dave DeBusschere as executive vice president and director of basketball operations (1982). Neither of them had any prior experience to speak of and their awful results bear that out. They were brought in only as figureheads. Name recognition of popular legends of the past. "The fans'll buy that," the owners foolishly thought, all while they were the ones making the decisions.

While Dolan is arguably the most reviled owner in New York now that the Wilpons are out of the Mets' picture, Jeff Gorton is among the brightest GMs in the league and John Davidson is one of the most respected hockey minds in every level of the sport and has a successful track record and a Stanley Cup to back it up with. But for some other-worldly reasoning, Dolan thinks he's smarter than they are. The fact is, he's too dumb to know that he had a good thing going and booted them after only two years. There's no good reason anywhere that Dolan can give to defend his actions. But who knows? Was he drunk? (Likely) Hung over? (Just as likely) Talking in his sleep? Getting advice from his buddy Jeff Wilpon? Taking polls from his band's club audiences? The awful truth is that it was Dolan being Dolan and by doing this he's indirectly putting pressure on the Knicks because they're building a young team like the Rangers are, and considering what he's done to them over the years, if they fall short of the post-season next year they could be next (again).

By now it's obvious that the NHL and the NBA will never gather the courage and common sense needed to figure out a way to rid themselves of Dolan for the sake of the leagues' respective credibilities. The NBA did that to former LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Although it was the sexual harassment case that got the league's attention, Sterling was forced to sell the Clippers after 25 years of incompetence and it's no coincidence that the team's been a solid contender ever since. Like every sports team's owner, Sterling may own the team, but he doesn't own the the NBA. The commissioners of both leagues need to see that and take notice once and for all that Dolan's departure will mean competitive sports at the Garden, which would be great for the leagues' coffers.

There is some hope for the Rangers because Chris Drury, who's eminently qualified after being an assistant to Gorton, has been named the new team president and general manager and he'll have Glen Sather to advise him. But whether or not Dolan has now become a permanent meddler is a genuine concern. As for now, Ranger and Knick fans alike are resorted to praying more than ever for league intervention or for somebody not named Wilpon to make an offer for at least a controlling interest in MSG that even Dolan can't resist. Most likely, we'll have to wait until Dolan kicks the bucket.

Do NOT Trade R.J. Barrett!

What the hell is wrong with these New York sportswriters? Why are they trying to goad Knick fans into giving up on the talented R.J. Barrett in exchange for a scorer who could mess up the delicate chemistry the team is developing? Is it for kicks? Do they get their jollies this way? The whole idea is inane. Barrett's only 20 years old, for crying out loud! He's a budding star, like CJ McCollum and Bradley Beal (two names the writers floated in bogus trade rumors) were in their first two seasons. This whole "Win Now" thing is getting ludicrous. The very last thing the Knicks need to do is revert to what they've done for the last 50 years when they either signed the biggest name free agents or traded young talent and draft picks for high scoring superstars. How many times has that worked out over the decades?

Think about it now. From Spencer Haywood and Bob McAdoo to Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire and all in between is proof that the quick fix via star power is not the answer.

The Knicks are finally building a team the right way for once. The system of building a team through the draft and making key acquisitions along the way is how the Boston Celtics of the 1960s and '80s, the championship Knicks, and the San Antonio Spurs built and maintained their great teams. The Derek Rose trade is a very good example of adding a veteran player for the right role at the right price. Legendary Celtics coach and executive Red Auerbach excelled at that practice. 

This isn't to guarantee the Knicks are going to become a dynasty, but right now they have one of the best coaches in the game in Tom Thibodeau and he has his players believing in themselves as a unit and looking as good with very similar fascinating potential as the Knicks did when Hall Of Fame coach Red Holzman, young talents Willis Reed, Bill Bradley, Walt Frazier (draft picks), Dick Barnett and Dave DeBusschere (crucial trade acquisitions) began patrolling the Madison Square Garden court in the late 1960s.

NBA Hall Of Famers Dick Barnett, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, Dave

DeBusschere and Willis Reed celebrating the Knicks' 1969-70 world championship.

Think of it as a newborn baby. Patience is essential to help a baby grow up to be a successful adult. Why should it be any different for a promising young team that's just starting out? The Knicks are going to grow up to be something special. And if they do indeed become a dynasty, the tried and true method they're wisely using now will be the reason.

Or, as Knicks star Charles Oakley once said, "If it ain't broke don't break it!"

The Mets' Forgotten Man

The Sports Media Wants To Include This Emerging Superstar In Any Trade. Why?

When it comes to a topic, a writer should know what he/she's talking about. Simple, right? Basic, Hm? Not when it comes down to many sportswriters. Too many, in fact. Clickbait always wins out until the facts finally arrive to save the day.

With Steve Cohen taking over from the Wilpon family as owner of the New York Mets, the trade and free agent rumors are running amok. Baseball's annual Hot Stove League is always fun for the fans but not when some sportswriters try to light a fire using a damp sponge.

In most trade scenarios involving any number of superstars coming to the Mets, the the one player always in the mix is left fielder/first baseman Dominic Smith with the idea being if the Mets sign George Springer to play center field, Brandon Nimmo moves to his natural position in left and, with no DH in the National League for 2021 and first base occupied by Pete Alonso, Dominic Smith becomes expendable.

Their reasoning is, besides being a better fit in left field, Brandon Nimmo is also a very good leadoff hitter.  But that's there the comparisons stop dead in their tracks so, with your kind indulgence, allow me to enlighten those who have been dis-enlightened.

Yes, Nimmo is better defensively in left than Dominic Smith but let's look closer at the offensive comparison. Nimmo put up quality numbers in 2020. However, Smith was on a whole other level. Over a 162-game schedule Smith's numbers look like this: 32 home runs, 136 RBI, 87 runs scored and 68 doubles which would've broken the Major League record of 67 set by Earl Webb of the Boston Red Sox in 1931.

Smith's been improving each year and he's still only 25. If he hits like that anybody should gladly deal with whatever defensive shortcomings he has in left field. He plays hard, he's willing to learn and is one of the most popular players on and off the field. No matter how you cut it, Smith's not going anywhere and that bat is not coming out of the lineup. If the Mets sign George Springer, what's wrong with Nimmo as the 4th outfielder? A strong bench is just as vital to a contender as the everyday starters and Nimmo could also be a top trade chip at the trade deadline should the need arise. Meanwhile, the leadoff spot is in excellent hands with Jeff McNeil starting things off with those big bats looming behind him.

Bottom line: If the Mets make a deal for Nolan Arenado (or anyone else, for that matter), include Dominic Smith out.