The ESNY Daily Wrap-Up for Mar. 7, 2017, involves a New York Rangers superhero named Tanner Glass, CC Sabathia and rapid NYCFC reaction.
Here’s my take on the day in New York sports:
Baseball
- I know the only two things they have in common are they are both lefties that have pitched for the New York Yankees, but watching CC Sabathia throw two scoreless today made me think of Andy Pettitte.
- Speaking of Pettitte, he looks pretty comfortable in the dugout this spring. If he’s considering a second career as a pitching coach, maybe the Yanks should give him a chance.
- There is this former Yankee ace who’s had a pretty good run as pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants. The guy they used to call Rags around these parts has earned three World Series rings on the West Coast.
- Kevin Long has the New York Mets leading all of baseball with a .302 team average this spring. Travis d’Arnaud is leading the way with a .450 average over his first 20 spring AB’s
- Long spoke to David Lennon of Newsday and had this to say about Travis d’Arnauld, “The game plan is laid out, and his ability to execute it has been flawless, honestly. We’ll try to keep him there. See how long he can go with it. But if he does that, I expect to see a lot more of this.”
- I don’t know why, but I really want Tim Tebow to hit a home run on the first pitch he sees tomorrow. The guy is just easy to root for.
Football
- The Jets do need a QB. Badly. I just don’t see how paying $14 million for Mike Glennon, who happens to be 5-13 as a starting QB in his career, is the answer.
- My brother says the Bills are the only real New York football team and that I need to acknowledge them. So for you Johnny, the Buffalo Bills should do everything they can to keep Tyrod Taylor. I’m not sure exactly why, but pro football hall of fame GM Bill Polian thinks they should and that’s enough for me.
Basketball
- I can predict the outcome of New York Knicks games simply by telling you what I want them to do. They will then, almost always, do the exact opposite. For weeks I’ve been rooting for them to make a run at the eight seed and they did nothing but lose. Then I wanted them to trade for the future, they did nothing. Finally, I buy into thinking about losing for the lottery and, of course, they beat Orlando after going on an incredible 23-4 fourth quarter run in a comeback win.
- Jay-Z is a modern day Nostradamus. Not because his music is prophetic or anything, but because he sold his stake in the Nets in 2013. He definitely saw this coming.
Hockey
- Tanner Glass reminded me last night that I really do enjoy hockey fights. Sure the NHL likes to sell speed and skill, and that 3-on-3 overtime rule is a hoot, but there’s a whole legion of us still out here that love to watch bearded Canadians throw haymakers at each other. Don’t forget about us, NHL.
- For a guy, who according to Corsi ratings has no talent, Glass certainly adds something, doesn’t he? In two games this season, both wins, he has a fight and a goal already.
It's as if those who say "Tanner Glass does nothing" has never been a part of a sports team. They just don't UNDERSTAND the team feel. #NYR pic.twitter.com/IVJjDeK3av
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) March 7, 2017
- After watching another putrid Rangers’ power play, I’m petitioning the NHL to allow Alain Vigneault to decline penalties.
- For very different reasons I enjoy listening to Doc Emrick call hockey games on NBC more than any announcer since Phil Rizzuto called Yankees games.
- If the season ended today, the New York Islanders would play the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs. In case you were wondering the Isles are 3-1 head to head against the NHL’s best team this season.
- I know no one cares, but the New Jersey Devils have a good chance to finish last in the Eastern Conference this season. There’s really no point to writing this except I like to annoy Devils fans.
Soccer
- NYCFC couldn’t get the ball to David Villa in their opener against Orlando on Sunday. They lost. And they say soccer is complicated.
- 55,000 people attended the Red Bulls 2-1 season-opening victory in Atlanta versus the expansion United at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Atlanta Braves new baseball stadium, SunTrust Park, holds 41,500. Just saying.
- While we’re on soccer, just a quick shoutout to the U.S. Men’s National U-20 Team for winning the CONCACAF Championship last week. U.S. Soccer has a very bright future.
