The 5th Quarter in New York Sports-2/24/13

On this edition of The 5th Quarter in New York Sports on AM1240, I took the mic solo with plenty to talk about.  I started the show with the Knicks recent slide and what they need to do to get back to their winning ways.  I recapped their victory over the Sixers.  I then talked Nets and their recent success and chances at winning the Atlantic Division.  I gave the NBA trade deadline moves and who won and lost at the deadline.  I talked Curtis Granderson going down with injury and who will replace him and how the Yankees will do in 2013.  I then talked Zach Wheeler and his chances of being called up in 2013.  Also, I discussed the Mets outfield and their chances of doing well this season.  I finished the show with Jets talk and whether they should trade Darrelle Revis.


02/24/2013-The 5th Quarter in New York Sports

The 5th Quarter in New York Sports-2/10/13

It was a special Grammy edition of the The 5th Quarter in New York Sports on AM1240 as me and Ty gave out our NBA midseason Grammy Award winners.  We talked plenty of Knicks and Nets and the rest of the NBA.  We previewed the NBA trade deadline and our predictions of who may get traded, including Iman Shumpert trade rumors.  We also recapped the Mets and Yankees offseason and what their 2013 roster will look like.
Our guest was Knicks beat writer for the Bergen Record Steve Popper.  We talked about the possible Shumpert trade as well as any other moves the Knicks might make.  We also discussed the loss to the Clippers earlier in the day and what went wrong for the Knicks.

02/10/2013-The 5th Quarter in New York Sports

1/27/13-The 5th Quarter in New York Sports

On Sunday’s show on AM1240, we previewed Super Bowl XLVII aka the “HarBowl.”  We then talked about the Jets new OC and GM and the talk of them possibly trading Darrelle Revis.  We then gave our reactions to the bizarre Manti Te’o story.  In the second half of the show we gave our All Star snubs.  We then discussed the Knicks win over the Hawks and the Nets hot start to 2013.  We talked Rondo going down and the Celtics playoff hopes in jeopardy.  We talked Dwight Howard trade talks and the Lakers possibly turning the season around.  We finished with some Mets offseason discussion and gave our Super Bowl picks.

1/27/13-The 5th Quarter in New York Sports

01/13/2013-The 5th Quarter in New York Sports

Gerry Sandusky
Play-by-play radio broadcaster
for the Baltimore Ravens
Sports Director at WBAL-TV

Adam Zagoria
SNY.tv and NBA.com writer
covering the New York Knicks

Listen to the podcast of my show "The 5th Quarter in New York Sports" on AM1240-WGBB from Sunday January 13th, 2013.  We recapped the wild weekend of NFL playoff games over the weekend.  Ravens play-by-plar radio broadcaster Gerry Sandusky joined us to recap the Ravens big win in Denver over the Broncos and their chances to win a Super Bowl.  Sandusky talked about the importance of Ray Lewis to the Ravens and the city of Baltimore.  We then previewed the AFC and NFC Championship games and made our picks for a possible "HarBowl."  
In the second half of the show, we talked Knicks basketball with SNY.tv and NBA.com writer, Adam Zagoria.  We also discussed the surging Nets and their hot start to 2013 under P.J. Carlesimo.  I also gave my opinion on the MLB Hall of Fame and the choice to not elect anyone this year.  Mike Piazza was clearly snubbed of a spot in the Hall.  

1/13/13-The 5th Quarter in New York Sports

12/23/2012-The 5th Quarter in New York Sports

I hosted "The 5th Quarter in New York Sports" solo on Long Island's AM1240-WGBB.  I started discussing the Giants and their blowout loss to the Ravens and if they can make the playoffs.  I talked about the Jets loss to the Chargers.  Who will be their next QB? What happens with Mark Sanchez?  I talked about the rest of the NFL and the playoff situation.  I talked about the Knicks success and Amare's return coming up as well as the Nets recent struggles.  Callers commented on Eli and the Giants and what they need to do, Michael Vick as next Jets QB, and Andrew Luck's success this season.

12/23/2012 The 5th Quarter in New York Sports

Giants Need a Miracle

The Giants are used to winning when they have to and putting on miracle runs down the stretch.  They are going to need a whole lot of magic this Sunday.

After two blowout losses to the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens on the road, the Giants record stands at 8-7.  They return home Sunday to face the Eagles, who beat the Giants in Philadelphia, 19-17, in week 4 when the Eagles were still relevant.  Now, Philadelphia sits in last place in the NFC East at 4-11 and have only won one game since their victory over Big Blue.  The Giants have lost give straight home games to the Eagles and eight of nine overall in this series.  Sunday will be no easy task with Michael Vick making his return at quarterback as rookie Nick Foles broke his hand.  Vick is 3-1 as a starter with the Eagles against the Giants and Sunday could be his last game in a Philadelphia uniform.  It will also be the last game Andy Reid will coach on the Eagles sideline as this lost season will have him out.

For the Giants to sneak in the playoffs, they will need to not only beat the Eagles, but have the Bears lose to the Lions, have the Vikings lose to the Packers, and hope the Cowboys lose to the Redskins.  There is no question that crazier things have happened.  They will need to beat the 4-11 Eagles.  Could happen.  They need the 9-6 Bears to lose in Detroit to a 4-11 Lions team that has lost eight games by one possession.  Could happen.  They need the 9-6 Vikings to lose at home to the 11-4 Packers, who are still trying to hold on to a first-round bye.  Could happen.  Finally, they need the 9-6 Redskins to lose at home to the 8-7 Cowboys.  Could happen.  

All of these situations COULD HAPPEN, but will they? Probably not.  First off, the Giants need to beat the Eagles and winning has been hard to come by for the G-Men.  They were destroyed the last two games showing no life on both sides of the ball.  They have lost five of their last seven games.  Beating the Eagles with Michael Vick out to prove he can still be a successful starting QB in the NFL will not be a walk in the park.  The Giants need to come out with energy and intensity with the season on the line.  Eli Manning will need to carry this team as he has done in years past.  They also have to avoid scoreboard watching and focus on the task at hand.  

It might take a miracle, but the Giants are holding on for their playoffs lives.  They'll need a lot to happen Sunday for them to slide in as the last seed in the NFC.  If they somehow do get in, you just never know with this team.  Sure, they might not deserve to make it, but if they're in, anything can happen.  Tom Coughlin's team has gone on two improbable Super Bowl runs before.  You just never know on an NFL Sunday what can go down.  Manning and company hopes that the unthinkable happens in week 17.  

Mets Future is Bright After Dickey Trade

The Mets decided to put the pieces together for future success rather than winning now with the trade of R.A. Dickey, and Sandy Alderson did a great job doing it.

The Mets traded the Cy Young winner along with catcher Josh Thole and backup catcher Mike Nickeas to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for top catching prospect Travis D'Arnaud, their top pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard, veteran catcher John Buck, and young outfield prospect Wuilmer Becerra.

D'Arnaud is one of the top prospects in baseball and is expected to be the Mets catcher of the future with a good chance at starting behind the dish this season.  In 67 games last season in AAA Las Vegas, D'Arnaud hit .333 with 16 home runs and 52 RBI.  In 2011 for AA New Hampshire, the 23-year-old catcher hit .311 with 21 home runs and 78 RBI in 114 games.  Clearly, the young backstop has a lot of potential and fills the Mets hole at catcher.  This team has lacked a good power hitting catcher since Mike Piazza left, who happens to be the player D'Arnaud admired in his youth.  While his defense has been deemed average at best, D'Arnaud is a huge acquisition that finally gives the Mets a guy who can hit behind the plate.  Getting rid of Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas actually helps the Mets rather than hurt them.  The fact that those are the only other players the Mets gave up besides Dickey makes this deal a steal.

Syndergaard was the second best Blue Jays prospect right behind D'Arnaud.  So the Mets acquired the Blue Jays top two prospects for Dickey, just as Alderson had hoped.  Syndergaard had a terrific season in Class-A Lansing going 8-5 with a 2.6 ERA, including 122 strikeouts in just 103.2 innings pitched.  He's only just begun.  The 6'5" power arm is just 20 years old and is already shining in the minor leagues.  In two to three years, we may see Syndergaard join a starting rotation along side Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler.

Buck gives the Mets a veteran catcher with some pop to start until D'Arnaud is ready.  Once D'Arnaud is ready to shine in the majors, Buck gives the Mets a much better second option at catcher than Thole and Nickeas.  The 32-year-old hit just .192 with the Marlins last season, but has power.  Buck had 12 home runs last season, 16 in 2011, and 20 in 2010.  Also, don't forget about the "non-elite" prospect the Mets get in this deal, Wuilmer Becerra.  Becerra is a 6'4" right-hand hitting outfielder and is just 18 years old. His season in the minor leagues ended after just 11 games when he was hit in the face by a pitch and broke his jaw.  Becerra has a lot of time to spend in the minors to grow, but we could be hearing his name in four to five years.

Parting with the 38-year-old knuckleballer was tough for the Mets, but his age was a big factor.  Dickey was tremendous last season going 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA and 230 strikeouts.  Alderson could not work an extension out with Dickey essentially lowballing him with a 2-year, $20 million offer and Dickey was looking for $26 million.  The Blue Jays pulled the trigger and made the trade and signed him to a 2-year, $25 million extension after he makes a bargain $5 million in 2013.

The Mets are building a young team that should have fans smiling to what looks to be a bright future.  Signing David Wright to a long-term deal was the start.  The Mets are building a team to win in the future with Wright, Ike Davis, Ruben Tejada, Harvey, Wheeler, Dillon Gee, Jenrry Mejia, and now D'Arnaud and Syndergaard.  The pieces are coming together for a team that probably won't contend in 2013, but 2014 and beyond can be the start of the Mets rise to the top of the NL East standings.

Now that Wright is signed and Dickey has been traded, the Mets need to go out and get a couple outfielders.  That is their biggest weakness right now.  First and foremost, they need to sign or acquire a power bat in the outfield like a Justin Upton or Cody Ross.  Rumors say the Mets are interested in Grady Sizemore, but he is coming off knee surgery and won't be ready to start the season.  Alderson needs to use the money that hasn't been spent this offseason to bring in at least two outfielders with one of them being a guy who can hit 20+ home runs.  Terry Collins has the pieces in place, now management needs to look for some offense to put up some runs for this very solid pitching staff.

Sanchez Days in New York are Over

Monday night in Tennessee was the last straw for Mark Sanchez.  Don't expect the fourth-year quarterback to ever see a snap in a Jets uniform again.  The Jets announced today that they will be looking to trade him this offseason.  The Sanchez era is New York is finished. 

It has just been a nightmare season for Sanchez.  Monday night was the icing on the cake.  Sanchez cost the Jets not only the game, but a chance at the playoffs. Rex Ryan gave him all the opportunities in the world week after week and he continued to let down his coach, his team, and the fans.  Monday night's loss all falls on the shoulders of Sanchez.  It was a performance worse than any of his prior disasters.  Sanchez threw for an embarrassing four interceptions and if that wasn't enough, he couldn't handle a snap in the final minute costing the Jets the game.  Five turnovers, all on pitiful decisions made by a quarterback who has lost all confidence that he once had.

The quarterback who led the Jets to two straight AFC Championship games is long gone.  His performance last season was bad.  This season, it has been disgraceful.  While he has had nowhere near the talent on offense that he did the past three seasons, his play has been brutal.  He has made throwing decisions that you would see from a rookie, not a guy who has been in the league for four seasons.  His 17 interceptions and seven fumbles lost this season say it all.  24 turnovers from your quarterback won't get you to .500, let alone a spot in the playoffs.  Sanchez has led the NFL in turnovers the last two seasons with an astounding 50.

Rex Ryan has finally made the decision to go with Greg McElroy at starting quarterback Sunday when the Jets return home to play the Chargers.  The Jets will see what McElroy has and determine if he could be the answer at quarterback for the future.  Clearly, the Jets aren't very fond of Tim Tebow taking over as the starter as he still has not been given the chance.  Tebow is now requesting to be released or traded as he deserves a shot somewhere else.  This team brought in Tebow and didn't use him.  A guy who helped lead the Broncos to the playoffs last season deserves a shot to play and for some reason, the Jets felt Sanchez deserved it more.

Sanchez is due to make just over $8 million next season.  The Jets will be looking to trade him this offseason.  The question remains who will take over.  Reports have said that the Jets are interested in Michael Vick and Vick would be willing to play for Gang Green if Sanchez is gone.  There's a very good chance that Vick will be the New York Jets starting quarterback next season.

So where will Sanchez go? Where will Tebow go? Will Vick be the Jets starter in 2013?  Get ready for another dramatic Jets offseason folks.