Bad Blood

One of, if not the most hated rivalry in sports is between the Yankees and the Red Sox. Both teams have very high payrolls, both have all star caliber players, and both find themselves playing at the end of the season to win the AL East. This year should be no different when the season starts on March 31st.

In recent years, the Yankees and the Phillies have had a rivalry building. Through out the past few years both teams have beaten up on each other. This year however the Yankees will not play the Phillies at all in the regular season. This means that the only chance that the Yankees and Phillies will meet this season would be in the World Series, and with Cliff Lee's 5-0 playoff record, that is the last thing that the Yankees want to happen.

Yankees heating up

Alex Rodriguez

After a slow start to their spring training season the Yankees are at a record of 7-11. Last night the Yankees recorded a 10-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Pitcher Ivan Nova, threw six no hit innings before being pulled in the seventh. The Yankees bats were hot as well, they recorded 12 hits, including a two run home run by all star third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Manager Joe Girardi called Nova's performance "the best pitching performance of spring training." This outing should solidify Nova as the Yankees fourth starter for the 2011 season, which starts on March 31st when the Yankees take on the Detroit Tigers.

Fighting for a Job

Ivan Nova

Bartolo Colon

The Yankees pitching rotation is still unsure, still with the final two spots open. Ivan Nova is a 24 year old who pitched very well last season starting games in place of injured teammates. Nova was thought to have been a sure thing for the fourth spot but he was beat around last outing and has not been progressing as fast as Yankees coaches projected him to. Nova is pitching tonight against the Orioles in his third start of the spring training season and needs a solid performance to ensure his spot wont be filled by Bartolo Colon or Freddy Garcia.  

Freddy Garcia

Barkley Blasts D'Antoni

Retired NBA all star and current TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley has recently been quoted blasting the New York Knicks defense and putting blame on head coach Mike D'Antoni:


"Let's just cut the B.S. I like Coach D'Antoni; he's a terrific coach. But he's just not stressing defense. He's just being too damn stubborn, like he's trying to win his way. Just look at his teams in Phoenix. They were good enough offensively to win, but they never got better defensively. They just never got better. I think about that because, looking at these Knicks, it's like he is trying to prove a point that he can win with his system. And dammit, it ain't working. And it ain't gonna work."

Mike D'Antoni 

Charles Barkley

Barkley later went on and stated that the Knicks, since the blockbuster trade for Carmelo Anthony, have the worst defense in the history of the NBA. Since the trade that brought Carmelo to the Knicks and traded away almost all of their bench players, the Knicks have only gone 6-5. Barkley may have went too far by saying that the Knicks defense is the worst in history but he does bring up a great point about coach D'Antoni. Knicks president Donnie Walsh has done his part by creating a lineup that consists of two super stars and a point guard with championship experience. With the offensive fire power that the Knicks have, there should be no reason for them to be losing. 

Rex's Guarantee

Rex Ryan

When Jets coach Rex Ryan came to New York from Baltimore he brought with him a relentless defensive scheme and a lot of high expectations. In his first two seasons as coach of the Jets, Rex Ryan has transformed the defense and entire image of the Jets and has reached the AFC Championship game both years. Rex has publicly voiced his opinions and expectations and said the past two years that he has expected the Jets to reach the super bowl. By falling one game short the past two seasons, Ryan has guaranteed a super bowl victory for the coming 2011 season... if the season ever happens. The 2011 football season is currently in jeopardy as the lockout between the NFLPA and the NFL continues on.

Spring Training '11 is underway

The Yankees and the Mets have both starting training for the 2011 baseball season. Both teams came into camp with many questions and concerns for their upcoming seasons. The Yankees are still looking for a final two pitchers to add to their five man pitching staff. With the first three spots being taken up by returning starters C.C. Sebathia, Phil Hughes, and A.J. Burnett, the final two spots are a toss up right now. Yankees manager Joe Girardeau said that pitchers Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia are the favorites to land the job. Also in the hunt is veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon, who has been pitching nice in camp and has been turning some heads in the Yankees clubhouse.

Carlos Beltran

The Mets headed into spring training with questions about who will play second base as well as some injuries to key players. Carlos Beltran is an all star caliber outfielder... when healthy. Through out the past two seasons, Beltran has had numerous injuries that have caused him to miss a substantial amount of time both seasons. Beltran is still limited in practice due to tendonitis is his left knee and does mostly non baseball related workouts but he has taken some swings in batting practice from the right side. The Mets also have to deal with keeping 35 year old second baseman Luis Castillo or deciding to bring up some younger players.