L.I. Ducks ~ Caught in a Maelstrom

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  The First Eleven Days of the Post Mike Loree Era Have Been Worrisome...At Best.

Long Island's pitching dilemma has now taken a very visible toll on the Ducks.  The Ducks no longer enjoy the lofty perch they've held for quite some time up in the .700 winning percentile.   Two other teams (Bridgeport and York) have joined them in

N.Y. Yankees ~ Bombers Win Game; If Nothing Else

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY





 TONIGHT
new york YANKEESSP - Phil Hughesvs.BOSTON RED SOXSP - Josh Beckett

FromYAWKEY WAY



new york YANKEES:  Baseball; Head Games; and Cracker Jacks.

It wouldn't have been a Yankees/Red Sox game without a little drama; now would it?  And some-where in all that drama last night, there were lessons to be learned; messages to be sent; and realizations

N.Y. Yankees - Battle In Beantown

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY







new york YANKEES:  Yet To Prove Their Mettle Against Sox.


The Yankees are one and one-half game behind the Red Sox in the American League East standings.  And if the Bombers intend to make a move on the Sawx, they had better do something other than what they have in their previous meetings with Boston; or, more preciclely, what they haven't done.


In

L.I. Ducks - Sign Pitcher; Lose to Somerset

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Mighty Offense Shut-Down by Somerset Patriots.

Long Island Ducks GM; Michael Phaff; addressed his depleted starting rotation with a savvy signing;  acquiring MLB veteran; Josh Banks; to provide sorely needed reinforcement for his compromised pitching staff.  Joselo Diaz, who struggled mightily this season as a starter, was released

BKN Cyclones ~ The Wild Ones

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS



BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Travis Taijeron Drives 'Em WILD in Game One With Three RBI.

GAME ONE:  Hudson Valley Renegades @ Brooklyn Cyclones:

BROOKLYN - 3
Hudson Valley - 1
7 innings

In the first game of a double-header tonight, the Cyclones won their fourth consecutive game; this time, over the Hudson Valley Renegades at the Surf Avenue Grounds.  Just

L.I. Ducks ~ No Pitching; No Problem?

From the desk of:  THE "IRENE" FLOODED DUCK POND



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Lack of Starting Pitchers Sending Ripples Through The Pond as Hurricane Irene Ruffled Their Feathers.


Webbed feet are supposed to be an advantage in flooded areas such as Hurricane Irene left behind.  But the truth is the Long Island Ducks have been tripping over themselves in the aftermath of losing their ace pitcher; and

BKN Cyclones ~ Back To The Pennant Chase

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE








BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  In the Aftermath of Irene, The Cyclones Must Continue Twistin' the Nights Away.


Hey Florida, one of your hurricanes got loose.  Can you put a leash on them next time?  We have a pennant race going on over here!


.....We pick up this New York Penn League pennant chase with the Cyclones owning a full-one game lead over the

BKN Cyclones ~ Pennant Race Down to a Dozen

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE



BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Making it Hard on Themselves; Not Taking Advantage of Key Loses by Staten Island.


I erroneously sent the Cyclones on the road to Troy a day early in yesterday's post.  Sue me.  Regardless, Monday was another one of those good news; bad news type of nights.


Staten Island and Williamsport won their games.  And in Brooklyn's

L.I. Ducks ~ Ace; Mike Loree Sold To PITT Pirates

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Mission Statement of the Atlantic League May Turn Out to be Long Island's Downfall.

Their Ace Pitcher; The Atlantic League's Triple Crown Leader; Gets Sold to Pirates.

Add MIKE LOREE to the List of Ducks Pitchers Gone-Bye...  The Contracts of the Ducks' Three Best Pitchers - Mike Loree; Mike Parisi; Shane Youman; all sold leaving

L.I. Ducks ~ Sharks Feed on Ducks' One Weakness

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE





LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  The Webbed Nine Had Their Soft White Feathered Under Belly Exposed in Camden.


What's wrong with the Ducks?


Nothing.  They got swept by the Camden River Sharks; that's all.  When the team is going this well, you can't be taken aback by something like that.  It happens.  They lost a double-header Saturday and lost Sunday after

BKN Cyclones ~ Off To Troy In Search of Victory

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS







McNAMARA DIVISIONStaten Island Yankees     38-23  .623    *BROOKLYN CYCLONES         34-25  .576    3 GB

WILD CARDWilliamsport Crosscutters     *         BROOKLYN CYCLONES      1 GB  




BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  As Mother Nature Continues to Demand a Say in the NY-PL Pennant Races, Brooklyn Heads North With Hopes of Sacking Troy.

****UPDATE/

N.Y. Mets ~ Brain Busters

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET




NEW YORK METS:  In the immortal words of Aretha Franklin -  "...you better, THINK!  ...'bout what you tryin' to do to me!  You better, THINK!"



His curve ball follows the curvature of the Earth.   His sinker rises like a weather balloon.   His fastball suffers more drag than Sky-Lab did falling down to Earth.   And the guys’ mind is in orbit.  This

N.Y. Mets ~ Flame Out

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET





NEW YORK METS:  Dark Smoke Joins The Storm Cloud Hovering Over Citi Field.


Thick black smoke could be seen billowing from the chop-shops across the street from Citi Field.  A fire might have been started by a stray shooting spark that jumped across the street while Prince Fielder and the Brewers were torching up the Mets 7-1, over the first six

BKN Cyclones ~ Brooks Get Needed Help From Lowell

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS




BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Saturday Night Scoreboard Watching.

BROOKLYN Snared In One-Hit Shut-Out Against Tri-City;  Strikeout 16 Times.
STATEN ISLAND Loses To LOWELL Spinners; Cyclones stay 2.5 Games Back of Yankees.
Cyclones Lose Ground in Wild Card; Williamsport Defeats Jamestown.


The Tri-City Valley Cats scored a first inning run on one hit off

BKN Cyclones ~ Rained Out But Gain on S.I. Yankees

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS





BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Brooks are Battling the Yanks; the Crosscutters; and Mother Nature Too.


There was no baseball in Coney Island tonight; only rain.  And it's really starting to make a mess of the schedule that ends in sixteen games.  More downpours postponed the Cyclones game by the seashore, and as a result, they couldn't help their own

N.Y. Mets ~ Club Pays-Up For Nimmo

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET



NEW YORK METS:  Action Speak Louder Than Words.

The Wilpons have either lost their minds and are just silly; numb; or both; with the whole Madoff thing by now, or, Sandy Alderson really has taken charge of operations with; ONE - full autonomy; and TWO - a completely new organizational philosophy.  That mind be stating the obvious, but yes, this has

Newark Bears ~ Winding Down a Precarious Summer

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE



NEWARK BEARS:  Facing an Early; and Maybe Even Permanent; Hibernation.

Without trying to be funny, the Bears are headed towards an early; and maybe even a permanent; hibernation.  Even less humorous, is there are many layers to that opening line.  Said plainly, the Newark Bears are in trouble.


Even three inch Bear claws couldn't have prevented them

BKN Cyclones ~ Celebrate BrooklyNITE

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS




BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Resume Drive Towards Playoffs Tonight Against Jamestown Jammers.


 **BROOKLYN ALL-STARS COME HOME AFTER JOB WELL DONE**
Brooklyn's stars were shining bright in Lowell, MA. last night in the New York Penn League All-Star Game.  Danny Muno (1 for 2) hit a two run double for the N.L. squad.  Richard Lucas entered the game as a

L.I. Ducks ~ Turn Back The Road Warriors

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Winning Streak Hits Seven Games.


A first inning 1-0 deficit meant little to Long Island.  Picking up where they left off before Monday's break in the schedule, the Ducks waisted no time erasing that deficit with two runs in the second inning, and for good measure, two more in the third.


Freddie Thon doubled home both runs for

BKN Cyclones ~ Finally, A Piece of Playoff Pie!

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE




BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  The Surf Avenue Sluggers Enter The All-Star Break Tied For The WILD CARD Lead.

Mother Nature gave everyone a dousing Sunday; even Ohio; as she had the game between the Brooklyn Cyclones and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers postponed.  But that didn't necessarily mean the Cyclones got rained on their parade yesterday.


They didn't

N.Y. Mets ~ The Spotlight Is Dimming

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET





NEW YORK METS:  With Reyes Not Available to Shine the Spotlight, Met Issues Lurk In The Shadows.


Mike Pelfrey took a line drive off the elbow, but probably suffered more from a bruised ego and shattered confidence on the heals of misconstrued comments he made about his team outlook about the "upcoming" 2011 season, mixed in with his overall

BKN Cyclones ~ The Late Season Push Is On

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS



BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  A Pitcher's Duel in Ohio Gets Them Closer to Wild Card Spot.


The Good News; - The Brooklyn Cyclones are now tied with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers after winning Saturday night by a 2-1 final.

The Bad News; - Brooklyn didn't get any help from the Aberdeen Iron Birds, who couldn't keep Williamsport out of the win column.  With

L.I. Ducks ~ A Quack Attack in Lancaster

From the desk of:  WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Big John "STUD" Rodriguez Goes Boom as the Webbed Nine Roar Back in Biggest Comeback of the Season.


Long Island just sent the rest of the League a message of sorts.  They will not be denied.


The Ducks came back...; all the way back, from a 7-0 deficit to take an 8-7 lead in the seventh inning against the Barnstormers and then

N.Y. Mets ~ Proceed With Caution

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET





NEW YORK METS:    A word to the wise for Mets players down the stretch; Don't Test Terry!

What we have here, is a failure to communicate.  It's something Coach Terry has excelled at so far as manager of the New York Mets.


Dillon Gee; Terry Collins; and Dan Warthen (just because) apparently are not pitching off the same mound.  Coach Terry was

BKN Cyclones ~ Saturday Night Fever

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE



BROOKLYN CYCLONES

Tonight, They Play For a Piece of the Wild Card Lead.

The Cyclones are making their move on the Staten Island Yankees via Ohio.  They are now just 4.5 games behind the McNamara Division leaders.  And with last night's victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Brooklyn Cyclones are now just one game away from tying the Scrappers

L.I. Ducks ~ Continue to Roll in Lancaster

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED FEET NINE





LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Win Again, But the Ducks Officially Have Problems Now.  Shane Youman is Headed to the Far East!

Ducks' pitcher Shane Youman's contract was purchased by a pro team from Taiwan back on August 10th...  Forgive me for being coy, but......., Really?


Really?


That makes Ducks' starting pitcher number three to have their contract

L.I. Ducks ~ SIXTY

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



LONG ISLAND DUCKS: The Webbed Nine Are Turning Back All Comers.

As they sit atop the Liberty Division in the second-half of the Atlantic League season, the Long Island Ducks are the first team to reach twenty wins.  They also happen to be the first team to win sixty games this season.  At thirty games over .500, the Ducks now sport a record of 60-30 

N.Y. Mets ~ The Long Lost Mets Codex

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET


NEW YORK METS:  They Have Embarked On Three Official Rebuilding Processes in Their History.  But Since the 1990's, It Seems to Have Become a Dirty Word In Flushing.  And As a Result, They've Lost Their Way.


After the Mets finished toying with other teams' legacies; finishing last every season; and setting records in embarrassing fashion over their first

BKN Cyclones ~ Let's Play Two

From the desk of:  THE CONEY ISLAND NINE


BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Bums Take Bite Out of Muckdogs.

The Cyclones and Batavia Muckdogs will take a second crack at playing a twin bill today out in Western New York.  They tried fitting in two games yesterday, but the weather was uncooperative for a second straight day.  They were also rained out Tuesday.


They did manage to get one game in on Wednesday

N.Y. Giants ~ Defections Continue To Alter Team

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  Steve Smith is just the latest player from the Super Bowl Champs no longer on the roster.

A befuddling pre-season just got more intriguing as defections from Big Blue keep mounting.  Another important piece of the 2007 Super Bowl Champions has left to find greener pastures elsewhere.  Now Steve Smith has signed with the hated Philadelphia Eagles which reunites him

N.Y. Mets ~ What To Make of a Big Win?

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTIN MR. MET







NEW YORK METS:  Terry' Kids Come Through Again.  But Are They Changing Any Minds?

I can't tell you how many times I intended to post something real snarky and riddled with sarcasm because of old gripes and continuing beliefs I have; ...and didn't for love of team.  There are two dueling fan bases that reside inside my cranium as well as the streets

L.I. Ducks ~ Hook Bluefish With First Place on the Line

From the desk of:  WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Taking on the Surging Bridgeport Bluefish After Dropping Two of Three to Lancaster.  Heading Into Tonight, Ducks Led Bluefish By Mere Half-Game in Second-Half Standings.


Tuesday Night Final:
Ducks.......7
Bluefish....5

Second Half - Liberty DivisionLong Island Ducks     18-6      *Bridgeport Bluefish    17-8    1.5  GB

BKN Cyclones ~ Bums Win Battle of the Boroughs III

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS



BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Sunday's Win In Coney Island Moves Them Closer To Yanks in Division, and Closer To Wild Card Teams.

The Brooklyn Cyclones took three of the four games this past weekend from the Rotten Staten Island Yankees to move within 6.5 games of the McNamara Division leaders.  The Cyclones took both games in Staten Island during the

N.Y. Mets ~ Casualties and Concerns Mount

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET


NEW YORK METS: The Flushing Infirmary Is Full.  And the Time for Optimism and Rallying Around a Team Chasing Contention Has Passed.  A Closer and Colder View is in Order.

If you cringed when Daniel Murphy's knee bent back on the TV replay; if you winced in pain right along with him when Murph went down; if you felt bad for the poor kid watching him

N.Y. Yankees ~ Big Papi Sparks Big Comeback, Again

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY




new york YANKEES:  Lose Series and Share of First Place to Rival Boston Red Sox.


Freddie seemingly did his part Sunday night.  He labored through five innings but only gave up one run.  I'll reiterate this series meant absolutely nothing to either team by default of the Wild Card.  But Freddie Garcia and Bartolo Colon were both under scrutiny to pitch

N.Y. Giants ~ Getting Californicated

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  West Coast Riches Leaves Big Blue With Huge Holes Back In East Rutherford.


Good-bye Kevin Boss; and Thank You. 


He wasn't an All-Time Giant.  Nor was he a especially great Giant.  But Kevin Boss was among the most liked and favorite Giants.  However, he's heading to California having signed a four year deal with the Oakland Raiders.  Yes, Al Davis threw yet another

N.Y.Mets ~ The Flushing Power Company

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET




NEW YORK METS:   The Roosevelt Avenue Sluggers Pound Out Four Home Runs Against The Tomahawk Chaps.

Tie Series At One Game Apiece; Rubber Game Sunday.


That was a nifty little comeback wasn't it?  The game turned into a semi-rain soaked blow-out in the end, but what the hey...  The win ties this series with the Braves at one game apiece.

You watch a

BROOKLYN STORIES ~ Baseball Talk

Bensonhurst, Brooklyn;  -  In my travels Friday morning I had the pleasure of meeting two older gentlemen; neighbors and friends to each other; who were inspired to jeer me about a Red Sox jersey I was wearing.  And that's when we got-a-talkin' about Baseball.



Gentleman Number One:  ...A Veteran of the Korean War. 


When he was a young boy, he jumped the local Trolley and made his way with

N.Y. Yankees ~ Red Sox Strike Back in Game Two

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY




THE SHOWDOWN ON LANSDOWNE STREET
New York Yankees (1-1)vs.BOSTON RED SOX (1-1)GAME THREESUNDAY NIGHT

new york YANKEES:  Two Pitchers Are Still Trying to Win Trust As Well As Games.  Bartolo Colon Represented Well Friday.  Now Freddie Needs To Master Sunday Night.
 In my last NYY posting prior to the series start, I said a Hard Luck Loss; ...not a pounding

Newark Bears ~ Trying To Claw Their Way Back Above .500

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE



NEWARK BEARS:  Even Series With Quebec; Game Three Tonight.


The Bears have played the Quebec Capitales well this season.  And they continued Friday night with a win against Quebec in game two of a four game series up in the Great White North.


After getting shut-out 4-0 Thursday night in the series opener, it took eleven innings to gain victory Friday.

L.I. DUCKS ~ This Series Is Possible Glimpse Into Future

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  In A Possible Playoff Preview,
Lancaster Comes Barnstorming Into Bethpage Park.


The League's One and Two teams over all this season;  the two first-half champions of their respective divisions; will play three in Bethpage Park this weekend.  They square-off in a possible playoff preview as the Atlantic League enters it's last

BKN Cyclones ~ Bums Dump Staten Island In Game One

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS



BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Seventh Inning Break-Out Gets the Coney Island Nine a Game Closer to Yanks.


FRIDAY ~ FINAL SCORE:BROOKLYN...9Staten Island....4


...And then the Richmond County Baby Bombers' lead was 7.5 games.


Game one in the third installment of the Battle of the Boroughs goes to Brooklyn.  The division leading Yanks got sloppy with the

N.Y. METS ~ CITI No Help Against Tomahawk Chaps

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET




NEW YORK METS:  Amazin Hopes of Contention Just Got Scalped.


...And then the Braves' lead was nine.


On their return trip home, nothing the Mets brought to Citi Field Friday night was anywhere near capable of reeling-in the Braves a little bit closer in the standings.  The Mets now stand one game away from a double digit deficit in the Wild Card

L.I. DUCKS ~ Dancing to (J.R.) House Music

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Sweep Somerset; Win Seventh in a Row.  Duck Sluggers Lead League in RBI.  Staff Ace Goes Tomorrow Against Lancaster.

Clearly the Somerset Patriots have had their share of struggles this season and it's starting to wear on them a bit.  But that should in no way take away from the fact the Long Island Ducks, with their seventh win in

BKN Cyclones ~ Battle of the Boroughs III; Staten Island

From the desk of:  THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS



Battle of the Boroughs III
BROOKLYN CYCLONESvs.Staten Island Yankees
From The Ballpark at St. George

BROOKLYN CYCLONES:  Aim To Gain Ground On Staten Island and Shorten Yankee Lead.

The third installment of the Battle for the Narrows starts off in Richmond County tonight. 


The Yankees have a firm grip on not just the McNamara Division, they are

N.Y. METS ~ Dog Days Poised at the Gates of CITI

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET



NEW YORK METS:  Must Chop Down the Tomahawk Chaps at Home in Order to Remain a Viable Contender.



The Dog Days of Summer are poised at the gates of Citi Field as the Mets' season may literally boil down to these three games against Hot-Lanta.  Terry's Kids are going to have to dig down a little deeper than they have before; or thought they could; in

N.Y. YANKEES ~ Beantown Showdown

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY



NEW YORK YANKEES  vs.  BOSTON RED SOX
From FENWAY PARK
The Battle for the American League East starts now!  Both teams are tied for first place; go figure.
BOSTON RED SOX.............68-42   *NEW YORK YANKEES......68-42   *




 new york YANKEES:  A matter of trust.
I gotta be honest with you; I don't know how the hell Bartolo Colon and Freddie Garcia have

Newark Bears ~ Big Inning Foils Newark.

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE



NEWARK BEARS: Lose second game to Pittsfield; Drop below .500 again.

Playing first base in place of the recently departed Daryle Ward, Burt Reynolds stepped in with power and helped Newark jump out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning with a three run home run. 


Then, things went horribly wrong for the Bears two innings later.  Starting pitcher,

Newark Bears ~ Line-Up Suffers Major League Blow

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE




NEWARK BEARS:  Daryle Ward's Contract Sold To Arizona Diamondbacks.


The Bears' line-up suffered a major hit yesterday.  The contract of first-baseman Daryle Ward was sold to the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Prior to the transaction, the Bears slugger appeared in 53 games.  In 218 at-bats, he had 68 hits for a .312 batting average.  He had 40 runs scored; 16

Nassau County Drops the Puck, and the Baseball

Nassau County Residents Vote NO!
Strike Down Spending Proposal On New Arena For Islanders and Baseball Field For New Team.
 No arena for you.  The residents of Nassau County said they're not footing the bill on a new home for the Islanders; nor a new park for Baseball.  The County already has a $100 million dollar budget gap and refused to ante-up another $400 million (...and interest payments

N.Y. METS ~ Mets Get Fish-Slapped

From the desk of:  HEAD BUTTING MR. MET



NEW YORK METS:  ...And The Big Shake-Up That Wasn't.


I like Sandy Alderson.  I like the Front Office shake-up.  In that respect, the Wilpons finally did something I can't criticize by going off campus for a change, and reinvigorating the organization with fresh, new minds.


As far as the Trade Deadline though, I myself had different ideas.  But it