GTFOS! New York!

Week 2 Recap: New York Jets

2011-09-20T00:56:00.001-04:00

To add some spice to the New York area site or just something at all I will be recapping the Jets games and giving outlooks to next week’s matchups.

After a pulling off an emotional, hard fought but somewhat undeserving victory in week 1 the Jets dominated the low life Jaguars in a 32-3 win. Luke McCown looked more like a rookie than Blaine Gabbart who ended up seeing his first NFL action much sooner than anticipated.

Here is a breakdown of how each Jets unit looked in the win:

Jets Offense: Until the Jets win a superbowl the debate is always going to be can Mark Sanchez prove he is the Jets future quarterback. Sanchez has shown through two games this year that he can run effective and efficient drives but is still prone to the rookie mistakes. Before halftime Sanchez was 10-12 with a TD and the ball hadn’t hit the ground. Both his incompletions were interceptions on balls that had no chance of being caught by a Jet receiver. Despite two horrible interceptions Sanchez did have some perfect throws to Dustin Keller and Santonio Holmes in tight coverage. He has also shown off more arm strength this year. Injury to center Nick Mangold is going to make an already horrid rushing attack so far this year even worse with undrafted rookie center Colin Baxter so there is going to be even of a burden on the right arm of GQ model Mark Sanchez. They certainly have the pieces on offense but the question is will it all come together for the Jets’ worst unit.

Jets Defense: Even though the Jets were facing Luke McCown who doesn’t deserve to be in the NFL the Jets defense looked dominant. Gang Green had four interceptions (which should have been six if Eric Smith could catch a football) two sacks and a safety while allowing one 55 yard field goal. The most encouraging thing on defense was not the four interceptions but the Jets ability to generate a solid pass rush without blitzing the usual amount of players and times in a Rex Ryan defensive scheme. The one negative was MJD’s 4.9 YPC. The Jets rush defense will certainly get one of its biggest tests of the year next week at Oakland.

Special Teams: Antonio Cromartie continued to look great on kick returns. Rookie Jeremy Kereley showed a little flash but wasn’t given much of a chance at all. Nick Folk still hasn’t missed a field goal and pinned the Jaguars behind their 15 yard line three times. Finally T.J. Conley did a solid job punting. Mike Westhoff and co should continue to have one of the best all around special teams’ unit in the NFL.

Overall the Jets dominated this game and got solid contributions from all their units. The Jets are one of the rare teams that get the biggest contribution any week from any of their units. Week 1 clearly was a win from the special teams with a blocked punt for a TD and a long GW field goal. Week 2 was a dominant defensive performance and I think the Jets will have some problem in week 3 with DMC and Michael Bush allowing the Jets offensive to take advantage of a weak secondary and prove to be the key to victory in Oakland.

Current State of The New York Yankees

2011-05-19T00:01:00.002-04:00

I was extremely tempted to start drafting up my first official Yankees blog post before the six-game losing streak came to an end. I'm glad I did not, for a tendency towards putting a positive twist on the game of baseball is simply easier. Truthfully speaking, the Yankees presently exhibit many negatives, and New Yorkers, albeit naturally arrogant, are beginning to realize that the "three core" (i.e. Jeter, Rivera, Posada) era may be swiftly coming to an end.

Yes, the infamous, history-setting interval is over - the Yankees have not stooped so low in Girardi's 3+ seasons as manager (more on him to come...) - but the problems are not far and few between. Here's an aggravating list:

1) Step up to the plate, it's Pie Time -- When A.J. Burnett can be called the ace of your pitching staff, you've got problems. Not to say he cannot be the ace, but quite the contrary: Who can be the ace? Who will step up to the pitching mound in all his glory? Who's the pitching glue to the team, the one consistent element? It's too hard to tell. Freddy [Garcia] has a 3.22 ERA and a moderate 1.35 WHIP. But Bartolo Colon, the sleeper pick, stands tall with an ERA of 3.74 and a WHIP of 1.25. And I didn't even hint at Nova or Sabathia! I'm confused, I don't know who to pick.

It seems fitting, then, to move on to the next topic of interest. This self-proclaimed argument brings up an A.J.-related decision from last season: fluke or reality? More like 'who cares' to me. He's had his fair share of ups and downs, exemplifying a roller-coaster ride, if you will. As long as he wins 10+ games, that meets my standards. If he can limit his earned runs and keep his WHIP below a 1.5, a number that no respectable pitcher who pitches a full season's worth should be achieving anyway, that is fine too. Stats should not govern our lives, though.

My suggestion for all pitchers: don't force the situation. Stay true to who you are. And for God's sake, make A.J. want to pie you. More wins, more pies. Yet let's leave CC as the highest commander of the fastball, slider/cutter, and changeup for now.

2) My first name is Joe, but my last name is not Torre -- Who am I, then? Joe Girardi, the manager under a very large magnifying lens. All eyes are on him. He has big shoes to fill, so he should get out there and do it. I'm not saying let's institute a one-and-done rule for the New York manager position, but if you can't perform after four seasons/years, four strikes and you're out. Who knows what the performance levels are, but they are greater than zero, and that has to mean something.

Point blank, Joe, obey your instinct, and rile your team up. Maybe get ejected a few times in the coming weeks...

3) Whatcha talkin bout Administration? -- Poor Jorge, under so much scrutiny for ... (pause + sigh) ... absolutely nothing. After all these years (16) to think that he cannot determine his own fate is plain sad. Here's what he should do: let it slide, demote himself to the lower end of the order as he sees fit, and then pull himself from the lineup when he can't move his feet any more. That's the "Yankees way" to do things, as I like to say: be your own leader, and make your own statements in a time of apparently dire need.

Jeter should determine his destiny as well. The Yankees prodigy child is attractive from a media and fan perspective to do any real harm to society. Let him be, let him make his own decisions; he knows best for himself. Beauty meets brains, and, in this case, it's a tie.

-----

Indeed this first post is excessive, but I felt somewhat obligated to lay my thoughts on the line. When I get in a funk, I really get in a funk. And when I get in a rhythm, there's nothing more pleasing than endlessly typing away at my computer desk.

A Hearty New York Welcome / Introduction

2011-05-17T13:37:00.001-04:00

A good Tuesday afternoon to bloggers and readers alike. I am Scott Trocchia, primary blogger on the New York subset of the much larger GTFOS (Get The Fantasy Outta Sports!) site. I recently graduated from The George Washington University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering, and I am returning to the same institution to pursue my Master's degree in the same field. Yet, before I return to school, I am now fully ready to take on the world of rumors, gossip, and mass sports blogging.

This post is merely for introductory purposes; keeping in tune with the sports nature of this blog, I will post sports posts shortly. So stay tuned for more NY related sports news, including how and why the Yankees have lost six straight, and how they can amend their woes.

Thanks!