Baseball

More on the WFAN curse I tweeted last weekend. (The Mets haven’t won the World Series since WFAN has been in Queens. Now that they’re in Manhattan…good sign for 2010?).

WFAN’s first broadcast in Queens was July 1st, 1987. The Mets were the defending World Champions. The Mets went 17-30 from that point for the rest of the season, finishing in second place. The Mets have been back to the World Series just once in that time.

There has been a lot of debate about who should get the first base job for the Mets in 2010.

But most people seem to think it should go to someone other than Daniel Murphy.

They'll tell you he doesn't have the bat to be an every day first baseman.

This couldn't be further from the truth.

Murph had one bad slump early on in the year. After that, he was one of the most productive hitters on our team. The early slump killed his season averages and made him look like an ordinary hitter.

If Jimmy Rollins doesn’t beat you, then Shane Victorino will beat you. If Victorino doesn’t beat you, then Jayson Werth will beat you. If Werth doesn’t beat you, then Chase Utley will beat you.

And if none of those guys beat you, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, and Carlos Ruiz will beat you.

That is how deep and powerful the Philadelphia Phillies lineup is. The Los Angeles Dodgers found out firsthand how deep the Phillies lineup is in their 8-6 loss in Game One of the NLCS last night.

It's safe to say that there is a lot of pressure on Alex Rodriguez going into the ALCS.

The Yankees had little trouble topping the over-matched Twins in the ALDS, but things get serious starting tonight in the Bronx. The Angels have eliminated New York from postseason play twice this decade, and now they're the only thing standing in the way of a Bombers trip to the World Series. River & Sunset takes a closer look at what to watch for in Game One of this pennant-deciding series. 

Can A-Rod continue his playoff resurgence?

Joe Torre is a Hall of Fame manager.

Take that to the bank. Play the Lottery with it. Bet the mortgage. Use your wife and kids as collateral, if you like. It’s as sure a thing as the Earth being a spheroid (a trifle flat at the poles), our Sun being ridiculously hot, divorce rates being on the rise, and our President’s approval ratings being on the decrease.

The Lowell Spinners, Class-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, are happy to announce team Vice President and General Manager Tim Bawmann has been named the 2009 New York-Penn League Robert Stedler Executive of the Year.

Bawmann, a native of Rock Island, Ill., has been with the Spinners since 2003, earning a promotion to Vice President in January 2007. During his time with the organization, the Spinners have sold out every game played at LeLacheur Park and made three appearances at the Futures at Fenway minor league doubleheader.

Although general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy just received contract extensions, it is safe to say that both already had their wish lists set out for the 2009 offseason.

It's no secret that the Texas Rangers are for sale. Owner Tom Hicks is ready to hand the reins of the franchise to someone else. Like many sports fans, I was taken aback by the rumors that Rush Limbaugh was in contention to purchase the St. Louis Rams. I was not surprised that a rich celebrity with no connection to professional sports would want to purchase an NFL team. I was confused about why such expenditures are relatively uncommon for wealthy idiots. The only interesting person currently in the running to buy the Rangers is Nolan Ryan. And let's face it, he's no Limbaugh.

While it's no guarantee that Bobby Jenks pitched his last game with the Sox Sept. 17, if the Sox are looking to shed salary in the offseason Jenks likely will be first on the chopping block. He'll probably be due about $7 million after arbitration, and with Matt Thornton waiting in the wings, the Sox wouldn't be completely out of line to deal away Jenks.