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

 
Week 8

After (1) driving to Brooklyn, (2) dropping off my children and picking up my father, (3) driving to the game, (4) driving from the game back to Brooklyn, (5) picking up my wife from work, and (6) driving home to Queens, I'm quite tired. So this will be brief.

A bad win is always better than a loss. But the Jets just aren't a good team right now. Brett Favre is terrible right now. So is the coaching.

The only thing that has been good is the schedule.
posted on 10/26/2008

 
Welcome Back, Sean


If much of the New York hockey media are to be believed, Sean Avery was an off-the-ice distraction who hurt the team's locker room chemistry, and the Rangers are better off without him.

This is absolute nonsense. The bottom line is that Avery's arrival completely turned around what looked like a lost 2006-07 season. He energized the team and messed with the game of the Rangers' opponents by constantly agitating them.

It's fair to ask whether Avery was worth signing to an expensive long-term deal. I think he was and that letting him go was a mistake, but reasonable people can differ on that one. Certainly the Rangers have done okay without him thus far this season, but it's very early in the year.

Unlike some in the media, Rangers fans recognize and appreciate what Avery brought to the team and will surely give him a standing ovation when he returns to MSG tonight.
posted on 10/20/2008

 
Week 7

1. All Brett Favre did this week and last was dink and dunk.

2. Favre's constant turnovers deep in opponent territory are inexcusable - even if not surprising. He also holds on to the ball too long and never throws the ball away.

3. Alan Faneca has been a huge disappointment considering how much cap space he'll be taking for years to come. Generally, the pass protection was terrible.

4. Even though Favre was awful, Brian Schottenheimer's playcalling in overtime was a joke. It seemed like the Jets were playing for a tie. Why no playaction passes?

5. While the offense, coaching and special teams were primarily responsible for the loss, the defense failed to force a turnover and allowed big gains on key runs and screen passes, as well as the overtime completions on the final drive.
6. Eric Mangini is in over his head. He has a decent football IQ - higher than Herm Edwards, for example - but he's no Bill Belichick when it comes to X's and O's. And he doesn't motivate his players or cause them to fear him.

7. Simply put, the Jets are a mediocre team, even if a soft schedule and a weak AFC keeps them in wildcard contention.
posted on 10/19/2008

 
President Obama, Secure Borders and Peace Now Jews

I've never bought the notion that Barack Obama has any malice or ill will toward Israel. Instead, my concern about Obama all along has been his position that Israel must withdraw to the 1949 armistice lines. Obama has rejected the idea of Israel having any legitimate claim to anything beyond those borders. That position is also consistent with Joe Biden's, who has been a longtime vocal opponent of settlement in Judea and Samaria.

Lots of Jews will have access to the Obama Administration, but not so many Jews whose views on the Mideast differ from the Peace Now line. We will presumably experience a return to the situation during the Clinton years, when the likes of Michael Lerner were frequent White House guests. U.S. Jews for whom settlement is not only not anathema, but something to celebrate and financially support, will not have a chance to present the bases for their views to Obama's administration.

Unlike many observant Jews, I do not believe that God will unilaterally determine Israel's borders. This is not because I do not believe in God, but because I believe that whatever the degree of God's intervention in the matter, ultimately we should and must assume that the actions and decisions of people on earth will make this determination.

I also disagree with those who say things like, "the terms of an agreement are already clear." Would a settlement be based on Israel's proposals at Camp David II, in which Israel would cede 91 percent of Judea/Samaria and outlying Jerusalem neighborhoods? Would it be based on the Clinton proposals and the Taba talks? The Geneva Accords? The Saudi plan?

There is a big difference between ceding 91 percent - or even an egregious amount like 95 percent - and 100 percent. Dividing the Old City will mean the end of the Jewish Quarter and access to the Western Wall. Anybody who thinks it would feasible to enter the State of Palestine at Jaffa Gate, and then safely walk the half-mile or so to the Jewish Quarter, is delusional. Instead, visits to the Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall would be akin to what visits to Rachel's Tomb at the northern border of Bethlehem have entailed since Oslo II.

Of course, Israel and the Palestinians would have to negotiate the terms of a deal. But the position of the U.S. administration would still be a significant factor.

Furthermore, just because the "two-state [non]solution" has been the flavor of this decade does not mean this will remain the case forever. Let's not forget that throughout the 70's and 80's - and until the mid-90's, a confederation among Jordan and the Palestinians was the consensus preferred solution.

Israel may agree to a Palestinian state on nearly all of Judea, Samaria and Gaza and to a divided Jerusalem. But that would still not provide an actual solution.

As I have been arguing for years, the real solution must involve Jordan, regardless of whether or not King Abdullah likes it. As Giora Eiland - the former head of Israel's National Security Council - has been stating, the "two-state solution" is untenable, and any real solution must involve Jordanian security control over Judea and Samaria and active regional participation in a deal.

Polls indicate that nearly 30 percent of Palestinians would approve an agreement based on Eiland's outlines.

If Israel would make this its policy, more Palestinians would get on board. Would President Obama then join, and pressure Jordan and Egypt to participate? The peace processors in an Obama Administration, and the homogeneous voices of the Jews with access to it, would render that very unlikely.
posted on 10/13/2008

 
Week 6

1. Great rendition of the national anthem by Victoria Cuomo, 11, of Staten Island. Look out for her on American Idol in a few years.

2. The special teams was outstanding today.

3. I did not like the dink and dunk game plan.

4. The offensive line is not terrible like last year, but still seems pretty shaky.

5. Great run defense today, particularly compared to last season's game vs. the Bengals. From late in the 2nd quarter on, the Jets did allow Cincinnati to move the ball in the air. They were fortunate that Carson Palmer was injured.

6. Laveranues Coles doesn't seem to have great hands this season.

7. Good job by Jerricho Cotchery turning short passes into big first downs.

8. The crowd was good today, and traffic and parking were tolerable.
posted on 10/12/2008

 
It's Only Money

Nearly all of my money is in the stock market, and in the aggregate my stocks are down around 40 percent from their high.

As a result of the stock market decline, the credit market crash and other bad stuff that will have a negative financial effect, I expect to be stuck in my two bedroom Queens apartment for a while.

Nevertheless, I am totally baffled as to why so many people are in such lousy moods over their paper money losses.

I could understand being depressed about losing one's job, or facing foreclosure of a house, or certainly an illness in the family.

The deterioration of one's stock portfolio doesn't seem worth getting too down about.
posted on 10/09/2008

 
Mets Analysis - Part 3: The Pitching Staff

1. Pedro Martinez is thankfully probably gone, but I would not be against the Mets keeping the door slightly open. If no market emerges for Pedro, and he is willing to come back for a heavily incentive-based contract with a low base salary, he might still provide some upside. But otherwise, his career as a Met must be over.

2. Oliver Perez has 2009 free agent bust written all over him. Nevertheless, if the Mets can sign him in the 4 year/$50 million range, they should. If he somehow can get 5 year/$75 million, the Mets must pass.

3. C.C. Sabathia would obviously be a great addition, but it ain't gonna happen.

4. For years the Mets have refused to move Aaron Heilman from the bullpen, claiming he's too valuable there.

Now that Heilman's only value is to opposing hitters, the Mets will likely dump him for nothing.

If Braden Lopper can be a competent starter, Heilman - who has better stuff than Looper - certainly should be given a similar opportunity. Rather than spend $10 million on a .500 pitcher with an ERA in the 4.50 range, the Mets should make Heilman their number 5 starter.

5. Supposedly, Johan Santana and John Maine will both be fully recovered from their surgeries in time for spring training. Most likely that will be the case, but I'll remain concerned until seeing them actually pitch.

6. How is El Duque's post-surgery rehab coming along?

7. If the Mets don't sign Perez, presumably they will bring in someone like Derek Lowe, Ryan Dempster or A.J. Burnett, though none will be reasonably priced.

8. Too bad the Mets ignored my pleas last offseason to sign Kyle Lohse, who had a very good season and has now signed a long-term deal with the Cards.

9. I'm not convinced that K-Rod is the answer to the Mets bullpen problems. Of course, the Mets must get involved in the K-Rod sweepstakes, but they should not feel a need to sign him.

Brian Fuentes will likely be Omar Minaya's fallback option if the Mets don't sign Rodriguez. Fuentes is a good reliever, but again, the Mets should not break the bank for him.

10. The Mets' biggest failure in recent years has been their failure to develop young relievers. Except for Joe Smith, none have been given a real chance to perform. That has to change.
posted on 10/07/2008

 
Mets Analysis - Part 2: The Position Players

1. Contrary to the rantings of a few loudmouths, the Mets should not look to trade David Wright or Jose Reyes. No player should be untouchable, and both Wright and Reyes have come up short in key spots. But it is hard to see how the Mets would gain by trading players locked up in reasonable long-term deals and opening a hole in positions at which they would otherwise be set for years to come. Furthermore, on a team filled with aging players who keep getting hurt, why trade two guys who have been among the most durable in baseball over the last four seasons?

2. Ryan Church has been mentioned as a player who will likely be sent away this offseason. I've never been a huge fan of Church, and I was and remain strongly opposed to the trade of Lastings Milledge for Church and Brian Schneider. But I don't see Church as a problem, or as someone likely to bring back more than what he offers. Church was overhyped by Omar Minaya. He's not a great everyday player. He is a solid hitter against righties, and ideally would be part of a platoon who would come off the bench against lefties if a right-handed reliever came in late in the game.

3. Omar will try to trade Luis Castillo, but won't get anything back except for equally terrible contracts. Given Castillo's track record, it's premature to pick up most of Castillo's salary, as the Mets did with Roger Cedeno.

4. While I'm probably in a strong minority here, after picking up his 2009 option, I do think the Mets should shop Carlos Delgado. Delgado's value is relatively high after his fantastic second half, but he's going to turn 37 next season and is not the long-term answer at first base. Of course, Delgado would have to be replaced at first. Aside from Mark Teixeira, whom I don't see the Mets going after, there's not much at first among free agents - something that enhances Delgado's trade value but also makes finding a replacement for him a challenge.

5. I'm also in the minority in my view that the Mets should shop Carlos Beltran. Lots of teams would be interested, and he'd probably bring back both a solid pitcher and position player. Beltran is a good player and sometimes a very good player. But he's not the superstar who played for the Astros in 2004. At times he reminds me of Kevin McReynolds, another very talented and very quiet player who seemed to coast through much of his career.

6. The Mets can use an upgrade at catcher, but would have to trade either Schneider or Ramon Castro. I've liked Castro in the past, but he seems to keep getting hurt, especially late in the season. One player the Mets should not go after is Pudge Rodriguez.

7. I also like Damion Easley, but am not sure the Mets should bring him back. The team needs to get younger and avoid old players who break down. If the Mets think Daniel Murphy can play second base, I'd prefer to let Easley go and allow Murphy and Castillo to battle for the second base job - or share it. Otherwise, Orlando Hudson and David Eckstein might be worthwhile free agents to consider, but only at the right price.

8. If available for a bargain, Nomar Garciaparra should also be considered. Though he does go against my strong preference for durable players, Nomar provides a lot more upside than the likes of Easley, Marlon Anderson (who unfortunately is signed for 2009) and Jose Valentin.

9. Obviously the Mets will sign an outfielder to replace the departed Moises Alou. Endy Chavez is clearly not a favorite of Jerry Manuel, and Nick Evans does not appear ready for the majors. The Mets will presumably acquire at least one solid outfielder via trade or free agency.

Coming up: The pitching staff.
posted on 10/05/2008