Jon Prosinski took the loss in the Big East Tournament opener for Seton Hall. (Courtesy of BigEast.org)

The Seton Hall Pirates opened BIG EAST play yesterday afternoon to seventh-seeded Notre Dame. Seton Hall had Jon Prosinski on the mound while Notre Dame started Adam Norton. Both players have been named first team BIG EAST pitchers, so the game had the possibility of going either way.

Seton Hall is familiar with Norton, who entered the game with victories over the Pirates early in the season as well as eliminating them last season in the BIG EAST championship. In this first round, Norton proved to still be on top of his game, throwing a complete-game shutout with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Notre Dame’s offense also went to work right away, scoring a run in the first inning. After that, Prosinski kept Notre Dame’s offensive quiet for a bit until the 5^th inning where they scored another run. The 6^th inning was a big one for Notre Dame, when Blaise Lezynski hit a two-run home run. And that was not enough for the Irish. In the 9^th, they added one more run, winning the game 5-0.

Seton Hall’s offense could not compete with Norton’s pitching. Giuseppe Papaccio was the only Pirate with multiple hits in the game. He finished 2-for-4. As for the rest of the Seton Hall lineup, they left seven men on base and were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Prosinski took the loss, pitching for 5.1 innings and giving up 10 hits and four earned runs. The Pirates bullpen performed relatively well, only giving up one run in 3.2 innings.

Seton Hall will face sixth-seeded St. John’s today at 10 a.m. The loser of this matchup will be eliminated from the 2013 BIG EAST Championship.

Mark Sanchez throws a pass during Jets OTA on Wednesday. (William Perlman/The Star-Ledger)

Its a new look, but is it a freshing look? The New York Jets have opened their OTAs and as usual there is a quarterback controversy and a variety of questions to be answered.

Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith will be battling each other for the starting position with Greg McElroy and Matt Simms competing for the 3rd string spot. Sanchez has a clear advantage being the veteran, but the fact that it is a new offense will help level it out. Neither player made a good impression to start, as Sanchez went 6-11 with three interceptions and Smith went 3-10 with one interception.

Anotonio Cromartie, Jaiquawn Jarrett, and even the big man, Damon Harrison had an interception on a screen pass, something that was an issue for Sanchez last season.  Rex Ryan was not happy with either of his quarterbacks performances.

“This is OTAs and things, but that’s going to be the pressure we’re putting on him that this is unacceptable,” Ryan said. “Did a lot of great things, not that you try to cover up the fact that you had some bad plays, you flat tell him we can’t have these and all that type of stuff. He knows.”

Marty Mornhinweg’s offense will be pass driven, so both QBs will be given plenty of chances to prove their worth by the end of the training camp. Maybe the even bigger question will be who are either of these two going to throw the ball too.

Santonio Holmes is still rehabbing from his foot injury and Stephen Hill had knee swelling, even though a week ago he said he was 100 percent. Clyde Gates was out with a hamstring and Jordan White did not participate for an undisclosed reason. Jeremy Kerley was the only starter from last season to participate.

According to ESPNnewyork.com’s Rich Cimini, “Receiver Jeremy Kerley had a good day. He was featured due to the absences of Hill and Holmes. … Tight end Hayden Smith also made some nice catches.”

The Jets are going to have to find more receivers once players are cut during training camp, or they will be in the same situation as last season. With the wide receiver and quarterback positions in a continual struggle to excel, the Jets offense will have to rely heavily on the run game if they hope to succeed.

The Jets will have two open spots on their offensive line as well, as both the guard positions will need to be filled. The two vets Willie Colon and Stephen Peterman are going to have an edge over the competitions, but the ever-infamous Vladimir Ducasse and the rookie Brian Winters will not give them the positions so easily. Colon who has battled injuries the past few years, could provide the Jets immense help, if he can stay healthy. Winters was a steal in the third round for the Jets, and although he played tackle in college, a transition to guard should not be difficult for him.

The standing of Sanchez, entering his fifth season with the franchise, has sunk so far that newly appointed General Manager John Idzik went out and drafted Geno Smith with the teams second round draft selection last month; a move Namath does not believe was one that was warranted.

Jets Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath spoke to Double G Sports at the Gridiron Gala in NYC last night. Photo By: Matt Kardos

“It remains to be seen how things turn out,” said Namath. “But, I don’t think that they needed a quarterback, they need the other positions filled. Possibly offensive line, they’ve got some defensive line, the safeties are still questionable, outside linebackers are still questionable. You have an All-Pro wide receiver and there are still some questions there. I know it’s a team game and I know Sanchez is going to play better. He went through some major distractions last year; no matter how much you say, “oh that doesn’t bother me, that’s not a focus breaker,” bull. I promise you, you’ll see a different guy this year but you have got to have the understanding that this is a team game.”

Idzik has not made any guarantees since drafting Smith on April 26 that Sanchez would be the teams starting quarterback when the team opens their season against Tampa Bay in September; he has not even made a promise that Sanchez will be on the roster for that matter. Namath feels as though Sanchez has endured a lot of wrongful criticism for the lack of support around him, which he has used to better himself to cope with both the presence of Smith and the loss of confidence in his ability within the organization.

“Mark isn’t a puppy anymore,” Namath explained. “He has gone through some things, he’s had a growing process after what he went through last year and I think it has only made him stronger.”

Since the day that Idzik was brought on board  by Owner Woody Johnson to replace former GM Mike Tannenbaum the theme of positional competition has rung loudly throughout Florham Park and it is one that Namath believes could bring out the best in Sanchez.

“A lot is made out of competition but every one of these players out there; if one of them is getting lazy, he doesn’t belong to be there. Whether I was in my twelfth year, tenth year, fifth year or sixth year; I was out there trying to outplay anybody who got under center and I think that is part of the animal. Mark is out there working no matter what the competition around him is. If Geno beats Mark out in training camp then he deserves to start. I don’t know that the deserving guys always get the shots though; the contract speaks for itself sometimes”

As for Smith, the highly decorated and accomplished 22-year old quarterback out of West Virginia University, Namath believes that he is a tremendously talented athlete who brings a lot to the table with considerable room for growth both physically and mentally.

Once the face of the franchise, quarterback Mark Sanchez has become the face of frustration for Jets fans.

“I have seen him play, Ive watched him for the last four years,” Namath said. “He is a sensational athlete; good size, he’s going to fill out a bit, he’s a little bit lean at this point to get out there with the big men but I can see him developing. Most importantly, from what I have heard from his coaches in college, they think a great deal of him. To me, that carries more weight than any of the rumors you might hear.”

Smith is best known for his duel-threat ability;  with a knack for being able scramble from the pocket and move the chains with his speed and elusive quickness while also possessing an arm with the potential to make all of the throws necessary to succeed and win in the NFL. The struggles of Sanchez have stemmed from a lack of precedence placed on ball security which have lead to turnover figures that have cost the Jets countless games over the last three seasons and ultimately may have cost him his job in the Big Apple. Namath feels as though while both guys can be quality NFL quarterbacks, he has not seen enough of Smith to extend a vote of confidence in the rookie.

“I haven’t seen enough of them standing side-by-side to make that comparison on a variety of throws that they need to make,” explained Namath. “But, I do know that Sanchez can throw anything out there and from what I have seen of Geno, he is a pretty darn good passer right now as a young man and it seems like he can throw all of them.”

As OTA’s are set to begin and the quarterback competition is set to unfold before our very eyes, Namath will be standing in the corner of Sanchez, rooting for the guy that he has seen the very best and absolute worst from over the course of a four year roller coaster in hopes that he can right the ship and lead the organization that he once carried to a Super Bowl victory to the very same prominence.

Geno Smith

“I am pulling for him,” said Namath in regards to Sanchez. “I know that he can do better than he has done. We saw him lead a team to two final AFC Championship games, right? I also know what it is like to not necessarily have the weapons that you would like to have, not to necessarily have the time that you would like to get something accomplished as a passer and a quarterback. I keep stressing that this is a team game and if you look at the overall team play last season, I don’t know who got a passing grade.”

Namath added, “As far as Sanchez goes; even if he’s not with the Jets, he’s going to play as long as he wants to; he’s that good. He will get another job, as long as he stays healthy he is going to be in the NFL.”

Bryce Salvador (Getty Images)

The 2013 NHL season did not go as expected for the defending Eastern Conference Champions.  The New Jersey Devils busted out of the gates with a dominant 8-1-3 record in their first 12 games, which was good enough for top spot in the East.  When the final horn sounded in game 48, the Devils were on the outside looking in for the second time in three years.

Throughout the season, the Devils had come face to face with adversity on more than one occasion.  Injuries began to plague their roster, as their depth continued to diminish game after game.  New Jersey had to face many significant injuries to important players such as Dainius Zubrus, Ilya Kovalchuk, Martin Brodeur, and captain Bryce Salvador.  Each missing player caused a huge hole in the Devils lineup, but two of the four proved to be most costly to the teams season.

“When Marty and Kovy went down with their injuries, we were right in the thick of a playoff race.  We lost two very important players on this team, and were not able to pick up the points we needed,” Salvador said.  Brodeur went down with an upper-back/neck injury, and Kovalchuk had gone down with an upper-body injury, presumably his right shoulder.  In the time New Jersey was without their most important players, they were a combined 4-18-3. With their season coming to an early end, the Devils are now able to recover from their injuries, and look forward to a full 82 game campaign in 2013-14.

Salvador is one of many who believe this Devils team will return to the ice next season healthier, and hungrier.  “Injuries always happen.  There’s not much you can do, you just have to be prepared,” Salvador said.  Management, along with all players, understands how important it is to come to camp 100% healthy and ready to contend for another Stanley Cup.  “We’re excited.  We can’t wait to get back to the ice and play hockey again.  With a shortened season, we had to rush right into action.  It will be nice to settle things down and get our feet moving before the season starts,” Salvador said.

Over the offseason, the Devils front office has a lot of decision making to do.  They have many free agents, both restricted and unrestricted.  David Clarkson, Patrik Elias, Adam Henrique and Zubrus are the big names who could test the market.  General Manager Lou Lamoriello has, what could be, of the biggest and most important summers in his historic career.

Hiroki Kuroda has been essentially a second ace for the Yankees.

Last year I brought up the notion that we all feel like CC Sabathia at work sometimes; when it seems like everyone else is slacking off, your boss piles even more responsibility on you, because he knows you can handle it. Unfortunately the reward for hard work is, well, more hard work.

This year Sabathia’s slightly more slender frame has been given some breathing room by Hiroki Kuroda. While Joe Girardi is busy fielding questions about who will replace an injured Andy Pettitte in the rotation, one spot he hasn’t had to sweat is Kuroda’s.

In each of Kuroda’s last four starts, he has pitched at least seven innings and given up two runs or less, including his eight-inning, two-hit gem against Toronto last Friday. His current record is 6-2, but had he been the beneficiary of some decent run support he could easily be 8-1. His one dismal outing was his first start of the season, lasting only 1 1/3 innings, but his ERA has been consistently lowering ever since and is now a smidge under two.

Kuroda’s reliability has no doubt been a relief for Girardi and the Yankees. Given Pettitte’s age, some missed starts and DL stints seemed inevitable. Phil Hughes, with his penchant for giving up fly balls, is always something of a Jekyll-and-Hyde question mark. And while Sabathia holds a 4-3 record with 3.43 ERA, he hasn’t exactly been lights-out this season; by the time his next start comes around it will be just about a month since his last win. He’s given up a combined 21 hits in his last two starts.

The obvious explanation for why Sabathia has been so hittable is that his velocity is way down. Last year the average speed of his fastball was around 93 mph; this year it’s rarely gone higher than 90. The cause of his declining velocity could be a combination of his age, workload (he’s pitched 200 innings or more in every season except one), and recent surgery. Others believe it could be because he’s lost some weight over the offseason and can’t generate as much power as he used to.

(Side note: these same people were probably the ones complaining when he was heavier, that he was too unhealthy and couldn’t keep up all season. Guess you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t.)

However, just because Sabathia’s velocity is down doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of winning anymore. It just means that he will need to focus on location and mixing up pitches rather than overpowering batters with his fastball.

While Sabathia is sorting things out, it is comforting to know that Kuroda has been able to hold down the fort as the “backup” ace. He’ll go up Wednesday in Baltimore to close out the series.

Photo Credit: Montclair State Athletics

The Montclair State Red Hawks softball season came to an end on Sunday afternoon when they fell to Salisbury University, 3-1. They managed to close out one of their finest seasons with an overall record of 46-5, setting a school record for victories.

Salisbury got on board in the top of the third when first baseman Harley Hill hit a single through left side, scored left fielder Angelia McDowell, and a single through left side by Paige Knussman, scoring  Hill and catcher Michelle Gravdahl.

With Salisbury leading 3-0, the Red Hawks were only able to score one run when pitcher Alex Hill singled, scoring second baseman Katie Muglia.

Alex Hill finished an outstanding season at 38-5, allowing six hits, three runs, and striking out four. Hill was able to collect 431 strikeouts for the entire season, which was the third highest season total in NCAA Division III history.

Even though the Red Hawks were unable to continue in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship, they recorded the longest winning streak in athletic history at Montclair State with 31 straight games in the beginning of the season.

This is their fourth Top 5 finish at the NCAA Division III Championship. The Red Hawks finished second in 1997 and third in both 1992 and 2012.

Mark Blinch / Reuters file

Less than a year ago, Miguel Cabrera became the first player in the past 45 years to win the prestigious Triple Crown (leading the league in home runs, RBI, and batting average).  The Detroit Tigers third baseman is making a bid to accomplish this feat again, in consecutive seasons nonetheless, something that has never been done in the history of Major League Baseball.

While it is still early, Cabrera currently leads the league with a batting average of .387 and a total of 47 RBI. With 11 home runs, he is only two off the league lead, which is shared by Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis and New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, who both have 13.

Cabrera continued his dominance Sunday night against the Texas Rangers, smashing three home runs while driving in four runs and scoring another four. As of Tuesday morning, he is currently on pace to hit 42 HRs and tally 181 RBI. While it may not be realistic to keep up those numbers the rest of the season, Cabrera may possibly have better numbers than some of the all-time greats when he eventually decides to hang up the cleats. Through the first 1,533 games of both Cabrera’s and hall of famer Hank Aaron’s careers, Cabrera has a .320 batting average compared to Aaron’s .318, as well as 1,165 RBI compared to Aaron’s 1,137 RBI. I am not saying he will necessarily be considered a better player than Aaron specifically when it is all said and done, but Cabrera, the best pure hitter in the league today and one of the top hitters in the past decade or so, can surely one day be considered one of the best batters the game has ever witnessed.

The 30 year-old slugger may also pose the biggest threat to Pete Rose’s all-time career hits record of 4,256. Currently, Yankees superstar Derek Jeter leads all active players with 3,304 hits, but Jeter, who is on the disabled list right now with a broken ankle, turns 39 on June 26^th and his durability and age may very well prevent him from reaching Rose’s record. At his present rate, it would take him about five more seasons, when he is 44 years old to become baseball’s hit king, something that is highly unlikely.  Miguel Cabrera, however, who is at 1,869 hits is on pace to reach Rose’s record at the age of 42. Rose picked up his final hit at the age of 45, and while each athlete and each athlete’s body is different, I would say Cabrera does have a chance to accomplish this, at least a higher chance than the Yankees shortstop has.

The Miguel Cabrera discussion is a fun one. He is a ridiculously gifted hitter who is in the prime of his career and can continue to move up in the record books and break some of them in the process. To me, it is only a matter of time before this future hall of famer is in the discussion with some of the all-time greats.

Urlacher would fill a need at middle linebacker for the Giants. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)

For years, the staple of every great New York Giants defense was a great linebacker. Names like Sam Huff from the early days; in the 70’s Brian Kelley, Brad Van Pelt and Hall of Famer Harry Carson came along, then they were joined by the greatest of all time, Lawrence Taylor in 1981 and became known as “The Crunch Bunch.” After Kelley and Van Pelt were gone, along came the athletic Carl Banks and scrappy Gary Reasons in 1984, becoming one of the best linebacking corps in NFL History, winning two Super Bowls (1986, 1990). (No Carson in ’90).

After that, you don’t really have anything to sexy, other than Jessie Armstead who is deservedly in the Giants Ring of Honor. Yes, Antonio Pierce was here for a Super Bowl but five seasons and one Pro Bowl do not put you on Armstead’s level.

While these two recent Super Bowl victories under Tom Coughlin showed great defensive performances, the unit hasn’t been consistent. While they have the great pass rush and talented defensive backs, the linebackers have been dull to say the least.

In this year’s free agency, the Giants signed linebacker Dan Connor who only had more than 50 tackles in a season once in his five-year career. He is the favorite to start middle linebacker.

Last week they signed 2009 NFL Draft bust Aaron Curry. Obviously the move shouldn’t be criticized because it’s costing them nothing and the guy was once talented.

Connor and Curry aren’t your solutions. Average linebacker play is what’s holding this defense back. Even more important is the middle linebacker, who is the quarterback of the defense.

Free agent Brian Urlacher is the answer to the problem. He is the classic middle linebacker the Giants need. The G-Men last season were 25^th in rush defense and 19^th the year before. The Bears with Urlacher ranked 5^th in both those seasons.

It’s hard to believe that the 34-year-old and 5-time All Pro is still a free agent. Only the Vikings have been rumored to show interest but that seems to be going nowhere. At this point, I think he’ll sign for $2 million. Chicago gave him a take it or leave it offer of $1 million (and he left), but Urlacher must be desperate.

The Giants have $3.6 million in cap space and an unhappy Victor Cruz, so this is a dream; but the Giants keep drafting these late round linebackers and signing young average ones in free agency with no elderly statesman to teach them.

If you have to sign Urlacher to a two or three-year deal, do it because it will pay off. His impact will alone make the Giants a tough defense to play against. Not only does he have the physical ability, but also he’s a smart player that can run your defense. He was a great leader in Chicago and the key to those top tier defenses in the Lovie Smith era.

If you sign him and get a Pro Bowl year out of him, you will win the Division and make a run in the playoffs.

Vernon Wells has proved to be a good signing for the Yankees. (Charlie Riedel/AP)

This was supposed to be the year when it all fell apart. When the 18 year Yankee dynasty of five world series rings, 13 division titles, three wild cards and a staggering league high 1,731 wins would all come crashing down with the force of the same 97 MPH cutter that brought them there.

With Mariano Rivera at 43 and coming off major ACL surgery, Derek Jeter at 38 set to miss half the year, Andy Pettitte at 41, having thrown only 75 innings in the last two years combined, and Jorge Posada long gone, the Core Four was in shambles. Even worse, their free agent mercenaries were struggling, with both Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez set to miss the majority of the season, and Curtis Granderson on the disabled list for at least a month. Adding insult to injury, Brian Cashman, having missed out on most every free agent, attempted to fill the void by trading for Vernon Wells, the consensus most overpaid player in baseball.

With the Yankees sinking, the rest of the AL seized a rare oppurtunity to contend, leading news outlets such as ESPN and Sports Illustrated to predict New York to finish in 4th or 5th place for the first time in over two decades. The Toronto Blue Jays revamped their roster, acquiring the Marlins and roughly half of the Mets, the Red Sox coaxed the Dodgers into assuming their billion dollar dead weight, the rays maintained their classic core of young talent, and the orioles were poised to improve on 2012′s surprise title run.

Yet, to the dismay of the rest of the baseball galaxy, the Evil Empire has again found itself in first place over a quarter of the way into the season. Gone are the days of Paul O’Neill diving in the outfield, or Mark Teixeira sending bombs into monument park but these Yankees (27-16), brandishing journeyman Jayson Nix for a cloak and geriatric Lyle Overbay for a daggerm are making a name for themselves.

Cashman’s trade for Wells, which once inspired such derisive sarcastic headlines as, “Yankees Acquire Vernon Wells….On Purpose,” has now turned the longtime GM into a genius as Wells has undergone a resurgence and is currently on pace to hit more than forty home runs this year. Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore’s former teammate on the great Indians Disabled List, has also staged a comeback, posting his highest OPS in seven years. Proving once and for all he is more than a money dispenser, the yankee’s keen general manager has also managed to tie up loose ends from around the league, in the forms of Chris Nelson and Reid Brignac, to bring youth and versatility to a team perennially approaching social security.

The primary driving force behind this ball club, however, has been its pitching. Despite finding home in a ballpark that was once referred to as, “Coors Field east,” and playing in a division that features three of the top five offenses in baseball, the Yankees boast the eighth best ERA in baseball. Led by the ageless Mariano Rivera, who, at 43, is setting a personal save records, the bullpen ranks first in saves and seventh in strikeouts.

The rotation, which looked shaky on opening day, has been utterly brilliant, posting the second best ERA and the fifth most innings in the league. Andy Pettitte, when healthy and not attending AARP meetings, has been just as good as his 25 year old self, winning four games in April. CC Sabathia, despite diminishing velocity, has still managed to turn his hulking frame into a fifty four strikeouts, while Hiroki Kurodia has quietly won the third most games in the league.

Old and discarded, these Yankees look little like the championship teams of the 90′s or the division rompers of the 2000′s, and George may even be turning in his grave just thinking of the notion of Chris Stewart occupying Berra’s former backstop, but in some luxury box behind it all, the sunglassed, middle aged mastermind is looking down, admiring his work.

Good job Brian Cashman.

David Dow/NBAE/Getty Images

The New York Liberty closed the pre-season with a victory over the Connecticut Sun 78-67 which could be seen as close to the blueprint for what they want to accomplish this season. It was their best offensive output as well as best defensive effort if you looked at the scoreboard when the clock read :00.

Cappie Pondexter led the way with 14 points and first round pick, Kelsey Bone added twelve. Though the Liberty showed some good things to tally their lone pre-season win, Coach Laimbeer was honest yet hopeful after the game. “We have a long way to go. I think we played very hard and our defense was solid.” Laimbeer explained “A lot of good individual performances have been coming and broke out tonight.”

The one stirling example was the performance of Pondexter, who had been playing overseas and is battle ready to start the season. She is the leader and she spoke as one when asked her opinion of this game. “We are going to come out and play hard, thats the biggest thing. We are a little slow in terms of picking up the offense and defense but that happens when there is a new system involved.”

The Liberty started well with a 21-17 lead after one. The score was close at the half with New York up 39-38. An explosive 26-15 third quarter opened up the game and though New York was without forwards Cheryl Ford and center Kelley Cain due to injury, Bone was able to hold the fort there as the Liberty stayed almost even in quarter number four to win by nine.

In the end, the alliance of elite coach and elite player may be the key to doing great things starting next week when the Liberty begin their season on the road against Connecticut on May 25. “We’ll get it because Bill is very demanding and myself, as a leader, I am demanding as well. Both of us working together will help the team move in the right direction. I’m more than confident that it’s going to happen,” said Pondexter.

Laimbeer closed things by fielding questions comparing his Detroit teams to his current unit. “The resembling fact is that we play hard, we get the ball up and down the floor, play great defense, play to our strengths, and win.” Laimbeer glowed “So it’s not the same team as before but the same trademarks of how you win. And I say absolutely, I’ll take that all day long.”