Pettitte Makes Spring Training Debut

On April 4th, Andy Pettitte made his spring training debut, throwing a 1-2-3 inning against the crosstown New York Mets in Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. He started with a leadoff single to Cory Vaughn, who was caught stealing later in the inning, while he made the next two batters pop out and ground out.

Pettitte, who hasn't pitched since the Yankees 2010 ALCS loss to the Texas Rangers, retired after the 2010 campaign, but announced his comeback earlier last month, signed a 1 year $2 million minor league contract with the Bronx Bombers. If everything goes well, he should be pitching in the Bronx as early as May, and is a major reason the Yankees are favored to win the 2012 World Series.

Jeffries: Woodson Has Earned Starting Job

Mike Woodson would be the permanent head coach of the New York Knicks if Jared Jeffries bought the Knicks.

In an interview with ESPN New York's Ruocco and Lundberg, Jeffries said that Mike Woodson has earned the head coaching job for the Knicks 9-2 Record in the first 11 games of the Woodson era, saying he has done a "wonderful job in a difficult circumstance." The power forward also cited his knowledge of defense and his ability to motivate the club.

As for his own knee injury, Jeffries said that he should be back from his knee injury from a week to two weeks. He also said that the Knicks would make the 2011-2012 playoffs.

How The Knicks Can Win Without Lin and Stat

I miss this guy.

This guy too.

But this guy is going to make it all okay.

Yes, the loss of Amare Stoudamire for potentially the rest of the season and Jeremy Lin for definitely the rest of the season is absolutely terrible for the New York Knicks squad. But that doesn't mean the men of Manhattan, who won today in Cleveland, will lose every single game the rest of the way and miss the playoffs. There are three things that need to occur in order for the Knickerbockers to make the playoffs.

1) Carmelo Anthony must play like a bona fide superstar. 

This is something he has been doing, having a 36 point night in Atlanta and having a +10 plus/minus ratio in today's victory versus Cleveland. My bet is that Carmelo will play like a total stud, for really the rest of the Mike Woodson era, for this reason: He knows his legacy is on the line. Mike Dantoni is no longer the coach of the New York Knicks because Carmelo Anthony did not want him to be the coach of the New York Knicks, and we all know it. If the Knicks do that thing they haven't done since 1973, Carmelo will be called a God. If not, coach killer. 

2) Baron Davis must stay healthy.

Before he was traded to Cleveland last year, Baron Davis was a solid top 5 point guard, and the best Clipper not named Blake Griffin. This goes to show that the 32 year old can still play, if he's still healthy. Guess what the key part of that sentence is. Baron's bad back kept him from playing a majority of this truncated season, and can become a major issue if he can't play with the absence of Mr. Lin. If Baron is healthy, the Knicks will get the fix at point guard they thought they had.

3) Steve Freaking Novak.

48% from behind the arc. How is that even close to legal? He has to become a more focal part of the offense, because the man is deadly behind the arc

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Michael Pineda to Start on DL

The injury bug must have an apartment on the Upper West Side; because much like Jeremy Lin, Yankee starter Michael Pineda is on the disabled list.

Pineda, who the Yankees traded for in January, giving up big league ready prospect Jesus Montero to Seattle, has inflammation in his throwing shoulder, according to the Boston Herald.

The good news for both Pineda and Yankee fans alike is that there is no structural damage to his arm, so (knock on wood) the 21 year old should not be plagued with shoulder problems for the rest of his career.

Lin Out Six Weeks With Torn Meniscus

Linsanity is going to have to take a back seat.

On Saturday, it was reported by ESPN New York that MRI's revealed that Jeremy Lin will be out six weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Lin has missed the last three games with what the Knickerbockers were calling a sore knee, but feared was something more serious before last night's loss in Atlanta.

This means Baron Davis, who has injury missing problems of his own, missing a large portion of this season already with back problems, will be forced to become the starting point guard and play at least 35 minutes a night. Davis is a two time NBA All Star, yet is 32 years old and has struggled with back problems since his days as a UCLA Bruin.

Tebow Cromartie Feud a No Go

Before Tim Tebow became a member of the New York Jets, headlines were made when Antonio Cromartie, (overrated) cornerback for the aforementioned Jets, tweeted "We don't need Tebow. We sell out every home game let him go to Jacksonville Tampa or Miami. Our wildcat offense can b ran by J. Kerley or Joe McKnight we straight." While many people are saying that this might create problems in an already tumultuous Jet locker room, Cromartie says he was just trying to defend his quarterback, Mark Sanchez, and Tebow agrees.


Tebow went on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN 1050 in New York Friday, and echoed Cromartie's sentiment, and said Antonio should be applauded for going out of his way to defend his quarterback. Jet fans can only hope that the former Heisman Trophy winner will heal all locker rooms riffs like he has done with the one between him and Cromartie.

How Far Can Mike Woodson take the Knicks?

8 out of 9. Carmelo Anthony is happy. Jeremy Lin and Baron Davis can coexist, and very well at us. In the strange, strange roller coaster life that's being a fan of the Knicks, right now is a very amazing high. But even the most optimistic of Knickerbocker supporters need to ask themselves the following question:

How far can Mike Woodson take the New York Knicks?

There's no reason to believe the Knicks can't beat any team in the East that don't play in Chicago or Miami. During this nine game stretch, the NYK have beaten the Philadelphia team that's leading the Atlantic Division, the fifth seeded Indiana Pacers twice, and absolutely demolished the third seeded Orlando Magic. They are playing fabulous defense right now, arguably the best in the league since Woodson took over. Carmelo Anthony is playing like a bona fide superstar right now. If the Knicks make it to the 6th seed, which they will at this rate, they will make it to the second round.

Once they play Chicago or Miami, however, things are going to be very different. They will not have the best player on the court, that will be DRose or LeBron. It's hard to believe the Knicks will play better defense, considering both teams have been together since before the lockout, while this incarnation of the Knicks will have had a third of a truncated season together. Then there's the 6'11 elephant in the room; how can A'mare and Carmelo gel together? The best basketball Carmelo has played since leaving Denver has been when STAT is on the bench or hurt, and STAT has a dreadful plus/minus this season. If they can win games together, they can possibly beat Chicago or Miami, but odds are they won't.

All in all, winning a playoff series is huge for this franchise that hasn't won a playoff series in over a decade. Even though many prognosticators thought the Knicks could make the Eastern Conference Finals, considering how this season has gone, coming one series short of this goal is nothing to be ashamed of. The real question is will Mike Woodson be the head coach of this team for 2012-13 and beyond.

Psychoanalysing Mark Sanchez

Mark Sanchez has the numbers to prove that his first three years can make him be an elite NFL quarterback.

Seriously.

According to turnonthejets.com, Mark Sanchez has a completion percentage of 55.3% in his first three years, which bests stadium mate Eli Manning in his first three years by 1.3%. Eli averaged 1.07 interceptions a game. Sanchez averaged 1.09. The younger Manning brother averaged 196.3 yards in the first three years he played. Marky Mark? 195.9. And it is clear that Mark Sanchez is much more mobile than the aforementioned Ole Miss guy. There is absolutely no reason to believe, from a purely statistical standpoint, that Mark Sanchez can be the elite quarterback the Jets have been searching for.

Mark Sanchez will never be an elite quarterback.

Seriously.

What makes Eli Manning great? Or Peyton, or Tom Brady, or any other legend for that matter. They could not get rattled. Ever. Even if a certain God loving Florida alum became their back up. Even though Mark Sanchez has said all the right things in the wake of Tebowmania running wild on him, there is no denying that Sanchez is a sensitive guy. Watch his interviews after the Jets loss in Miami to end the disappointing 2011 campaign. He doesn't look like a quarterback, he looks like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar. He does not have the mental strength to handle an 8-8 season, what is he going to do when he the Jet crowd calls for him to be put on the bench and Tim Tebow is the darling of Jets nation? He's going to falter under the pressure, under the weight of being hated.

And it's a shame, too, cause numbers never lie.

MLB Predictions

It's back! The hot dogs! The freshly cut grass! The Mets being awful! Baseball is back!!! The first of many (probably inaccurate) predictions that will New Bama City will make will be predictions for the 2012 MLB season!!! Oh, and New Bama City's record on predictions, for both baseball and for all predictions, will be kept track of, so you can see how right (wrong) I am.

AL East winner: The New York Yankees.

Why: The 2011 AL East winners are even better than last year, adding pitchers Michael Pineda and Hideki Kuroda, while getting Yankee legend Andy Pettite back, who unretired after only a year away from the bigs. Ivan Nova will have one more year of experience, and AJ Burnett is no longer a Yankee. Oh, and those CC and Mariano guys are still there. Offensively, the Yankees are way too old. No question. But they are still incredibly talented and, even though the Bronx Buyers are cutting payroll, they will always get another bat if need be come the trade deadline.

AL Central winner: The Detroit Tigers.

Why: The 2011 AL Central winners are destined to repeat, much like the team they beat in the 2011 ALDS, the Yankees. There's absolutely no reason to believe that ace Justin Verlander will be as good as last year, when he won the Cy Young and the MVP, but he's still arguably the best pitcher in the AL along with King Felix in Seattle. Offensively, the team just added former Milwaukee Brewer star Prince Fielder, who is an offensive beast. Him and Miguel Cabrerra will easily become the new David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

AL West winner: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Why: CJ Wilson. That's why. By adding such a solid pitcher to help Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana in their starting rotation, and taking away one from their biggest division rival, the Texas Rangers, the Angels have greatly improved their chances of being the best in the west. Oh, and that Pujols guy is okay I guess. He's only the best player in baseball throughout the 00's, and at 32, the machine will not break down yet.

Wild Card Winner #1: The Tampa Bay Rays.

Why: Payroll shmayroll. The incredible Rays have been able to navigate the gigantic AL East payrolls by actually having a farm system, and have been in the playoffs 3 of the last four years. Manager Joe Maddon is easily the Tony LaRussa of a new generation, and could probably get any team with a modicum of talent into the playoffs with this new 5 team format. And with David Price, Matt Moore, and MVP candidate Evan Longoria, he has a lot more than a modicum.

Wild Card Winner #2: The Texas Rangers.

Why: If Joe Maddon is the best manager in the game, Ron Washington is close. Not to mention, they're still loaded with talent, such as Ian Kinsler, Mike Napoli, and Adrian Beltre. Even though I'm skeptical about Yu Darvish, they still have Neftali Feliz and I like, not love, the Joe Nathan acquisition.

NL East Winner: The Philadelphia Phillies.

Why: This rotation, with Doc Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels, is still boss. Really really boss. If Ryan Howard can't play everyday after his injury last year, Jim Thome will be a great back up. Picking up Jonathan Papelbon from the Boston Red Sox was great too, solidifying that the top of the ninth will be tough in Philadelphia.

NL Central Winner: The St. Louis Cardinals

Why: Even though the Cardinals have lost the two most important people from the 2006 and 2011 world series championships, manager Tony LaRussa and first basemen Albert Pujols, the NL Central is so weak that the Cards, who are still pretty good in their own right, will still be able to get into the playoffs.

NL West Winner: The San Francisco Giants

Why: While most prognosticators are going with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Newbamacity loves pitching. The Giants had 3 pitchers, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Ryan Vogelsong, with E.R.A.s under 3 last season, and it is very likely Lincecum gets his third Cy Young in 2012. Also, Brian Wilson, eccentric as he may be, is still a top flight closer. With the return of Buster Posey, the Giants will have enough offense to defeat Arizona in the NL West.

NL Wild Card Winner #1: The Miami Marlins

I almost didn't want to put him here, cause the new logo makes me want to vomit. Either way, Miami is loaded this year, adding Jose Reyes to an offense that already included Hanley Ramirez and Mike Stanton, Anibal Sanchez and Mark Buehrle to a rotation that already included Josh Johnson, a stadium that may actually include fans, Heath Bell, and the great Ozzie Guillen as the new skipper. Miami will be a team to look out for.

NL Wild Card Winner #2: The Atlanta Braves

Last year was awful for the team of the south, as they collapsed in September to blow the wild card. When sure fire hall of famer Chipper Jones announced it will be his last year, it gave each and every Atlanta Brave another source of motivation, one that should not be needed. Even though they will finish third in the division, they will still be good enough to make the one game playoff.

Playoff Predictions:

AL one game playoff: The Tampa Bay Rays over The Texas Rangers

ALDS: The Detriot Tigers over the Tampa Bay Rays, The New York Yankees over The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

ALCS: The New York Yankees over The Detroit Tigers

NL one game playoff: The Miami Marlins over the Atlanta Braves

NLDS: The Philadelphia Phillies over The Miami Marlins, The San Francisco Giants over The St. Louis Cardinals

NLCS: The San Francisco Giants over The Philadelphia Phillies

World Series: The New York Yankees over The San Francisco Giants.

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Welcome

Welcome to newbamacity, my new blog. I'll be blogging about sports and other things. Other people will blog about sports and other things too.