Jets, Nets & Mets II
1. When I was 17 just out of a charedi high school, I somehow got a job covering U.S. sports for The Jerusalem Post. I was in very close proximity with other members of the media during games.
Most media members are down to earth, but some have an excessive sense of self-importance, believing that they themselves are the main story.
The media's current obsession about Chad Pennington's refusal to answer questions after Sunday's game is a good illustration. Pennington probably shouldn't have blown the reporters off, but who really cares? Certainly not the average Jets fan. All I care about is that he was fantastic on Sunday, throwing three touchdowns and making no mistakes.
2. The Vince Carter trade is a good one, even if Jason Kidd continues to insist on being traded, as I expect he will. The Nets didn't give up any players who can't eventually be replaced. In the meantime, their frontcourt and defense are awful, but the reality is that they aren't a championship contender this year anyway. A core of Kidd, Jefferson and Carter, with the additions of a solid power forward and some depth in the form of big men for the bench, might put the Nets back among the Eastern Conference elite next season, though I'm skeptical that Bruce (The Rat) Ratner will spend the money to sign a legitimate power forward and backup center.
If Kidd goes, the Nets might be able to acquire a younger point guard and decent power forward in return.
The Carter trade is an acknowledgment that letting Kenyon Martin go was a terrible idea, but by no means makes up for it. The damage from selling off K-Mart is not reversible. Martin is a better fit in the Nets offense than Carter is, and he, Kidd and Jefferson had excellent chemistry. If the Nets had kept Martin, Alonzo Mourning would have stayed and Aaron Williams - who went to Toronto in the Carter trade - would have provided insurance as a backup power forward and center.
3. I'm still skeptical about Pedro Martinez, but admit that it will be fun watching him pitch at Shea.
Some of GM Omar Minaya's moves continue to puzzle me, though. Last night he declined to tender a contract to Orber Moreno, who pitched very effectively last season before injuring his shoulder. As a result Moreno is now a free agent and probably won't be back.
Perhaps Moreno's injury is serious, but if he signs elsewhere and pitches well, Minaya's move will be costly. Moreno is relatively low cost (he earned a little over $300,000 last season) and it's not easy to find young effective relievers for under half a million dollars.
UPDATE: My criticism of Omar Minaya's decision to allow Orber Moreno to become a free agent appears to have been premature, in light of the Mets' signing Moreno to a minor league contract. Hopefully Moreno's rehab will be a success and he will make the major league team and pitch effectively again in 2005 and beyond.
posted on 12/21/2004
