A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews.

 
Sports Roundup

1. Jets fans have been thrilled this season by the emergence of wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery.

Cotchery is in his third NFL season. Why didn't we hear much about him before?

Two words:

Herm Edwards.

It's not me who's saying that. It's Jerricho Cotchery himself.

As Cotchery tells USA Today:

If we wouldn't have had a coaching change, honestly I don't think I would have had the opportunity to start.

If the offense as a whole didn't have a good year, they would give those guys a chance to make up for that year.

You are constantly beating guys every day, and you wonder if the coaches are seeing that.

In the past, it's been one of those things, the guys pretty much making the bucks were going to play. You pay 'em, you play 'em. In this regime, it doesn't roll that way.

2. Last week, Elster and I disagreed about the Mets refusal to match the Orioles' offer of $3.5 million per season to Chad Bradford, despite Bradford's excellence in 2006, particularly during the postseason.

Last night, however, GM Omar Minaya signed Guillermo Mota to a contract for $2.5 million per season, despite Mota's upcoming 50 game suspension for steroid use, and Mota's postseason mediocrity.

A few days ago, Minaya traded Brian Bannister to the Royals for Ambiorix Burgos. Burgos had a terrible season last year, but he does have a strong arm and is only 22. I don't like the move, but am willing to let it play out.

What does bother me is Minaya's explanation for the Bannister trade: "I can't resist power arms."

Indeed, it seems that only power pitchers are allowed entry into the Mets bullpen, even as the Mets rotation is currently led by Tom Glavine, and Minaya is poised to give a huge contract to Barry Zito, who is certainly not overpowering. How can the Mets justify paying as much as $27 million for two starters who are not power pitchers (not to mention the $16 million Pedro Martinez will be getting, even though he's injured and will never again be a power pitcher), while refusing to pay a relatively modest amount to ensure stability in their bullpen?

3. While Isiah Thomas is getting well deserved criticism, Lawrence Frank continues to avoid responsibility for the Nets' woeful play. Despite their talent, the Nets are 7-11.

Last night, with the Nets up by three with five seconds left in regulation, Frank decided to foul to not allow the Suns to try a three pointer. Didn't make sense to me, since the Suns still had another timeout, and therefore plenty of time to take another three pointer (with four seconds left), which Steve Nash hit to send the game into overtime.

But if the decision to foul was questionable, the decision to let Vince Carter commit the foul was asinine. It was Carter's sixth foul, so he fouled out, and the Nets were without their best scorer and lost in double overtime.

It was a pure Herm Edwards/Rich Kotite move by Frank, and it's time for the Nets to realize that he's neither motivating his players nor a brilliant game strategist.

4. The Rangers got a desperately needed (shootout) victory last night. At this point in the season, they remain rather mediocre, in contention to win the relatively weak Atlantic Division, but also in serious danger of missing the playoffs if they don't pick up their play.

Disappointingly, the Rangers have reverted to refusing to give young players a chance, instead allowing average players with big contracts to get the ice time.

Last night the Rangers finally gave Jarkko Immonen a chance, though defenseman Thomas Pock remains stuck behind the Rangers seven other overpaid defensemen.
posted on 12/08/2006