Views on the Giants, and other stuff

by Ed Valentine on May 24, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in Valentine's Views

Here is this week's installment of 'Valentine's Views,' where I share thoughts on the Giants, Yankees and a host of other sports-related topics.

I think you have to wish Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Johnson well, and say a prayer for him. Yes, he works for the Eagles. But the man has cancer and he's fighting for his life. You can't think about that in football terms. And, yes, 'GMen69' I'm chiding you a bit here for your 'Fanpost' on Big Blue View about Johnson.
I think I love watching how speed can change a baseball game. Look at what we have seen from Brett Gardner of the Yankees recently. A mad dash to home plate from second base that resulted in an out on a great play by Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer, one of the best and most exciting plays you will ever see no matter how long you watch baseball. Gardner also victimized Minnesota for an inside-the-park home run. And, don't forget Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury stealing home off Andy Pettitte. That stuff is baseball at its most beautiful.
I think the most fascinating, and probably the most important, part of the upcoming New York Giants' season will be watching the work of the team's coordinators. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride doesn't have Plaxico Burress, but he does have a host of new receivers and running backs. Whether or not he is able to find ways to maximize their abilities will be critical to the Giants' success. Defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan is a rookie replacing the highly successful Steve Spagnuolo. If the Giants, who loaded up on defense in free agency and the draft, don't play well defensively Sheridan will take a lot of heat.
I think it's going to be a sad day when the Giants part ways with David Tyree. Barring a rash of injuries, though, I just don't see how Tyree makes the 2009 Giants' roster.
I think I agree with this statement from SI.com's Jon Heyman. ""The problem with the new (Yankee) Stadium isn't the wind tunnel to right field or the expense. It's the quiet. It's a pricey library."
Speaking of Yankee Stadium, I think I also agree with this statement from Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "Every time there's a fly ball here, I think it's going out of the stadium.
I think the amazing season being enjoyed by Kansas City's Zach Grienke is all the evidence Yankee fans should need that giving up on Phil Hughes would be stupid. Grienke, 25, has been looked at as a potential star ever since he broke into the league as a 20-year-old in 2004.
I think I am wholeheartedly in Peter King's corner when he bemoans the movement toward expanding the NFL season. This will not help the game at all. I think it will only shorten careers and water down the product on the field. Oh, and put more money in the pockets of NFL owners.
I think you have to wish former NBA player Brian Grant well in his battle with Parkinson's Disease.
I think the coolest thing about the Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA playoff series is Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant are guarding each other. Super stars rarely go mano-a-mano like that, and it is a treat to watch the two of them go at each other.

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NFL Expansion

I think expansion could work if the NFL threw in another bye week and expanded the rosters. This would give players more rest during a longer season. An expanded roster would give coaches a chance to add another player to their rotations, giving stars a few more plays off per game. Add those few extra plays off per game up, and by the end of the year it will be about an entire game.

by Aceholioo on May 24, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions

I have to disagree with that concept.

The pressure on coaches and teams to win will mean leaving your best men on the field AT ALL TIMES!! Unless you’ve got a 30 point lead, which rarely happens in this league anymore, starters won’t be getting more plays off. I think the player’s union will put the kibosh to this happening.

Look at the condition NYG’s players were in after 16 games. The whole league is a bunch of walking wounded. Playing while injured is a recipe for disaster!!!

BESIDES, what’s so wrong with the current system anyways???

by NY17NE14 on May 24, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Gotta agree about Yankee Stadium

I went there for the first time the other night, and while I actually liked it, it just feels like the Yankees killed their home field advantage. I’ve never seen so many fans of an opposing team at Yankee Stadium (and they were Philly fans, which made it that much worse). As a Mets fan this doesn’t really bother me, but I thought I’d point it out.

by cjmulrain on May 24, 2009 11:15 AM EDT reply actions

Hey cj

what were your other impressions of the Stadium?

by Ed Valentine on May 24, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions

honestly

I liked it. I’ve never been a huge fan of Yankee Stadium, mostly b/c I never got much of a “hallowed” feeling – it always felt like a place that was built in the late-70’s to me, not the place that Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, and Mantle played. So I really liked how they made the exterior look like the original exterior of Yankee Stadium, and I like that they have the frieze (or facade, whichever you call it) go around the whole stadium instead of the outfield, like it did back in the day. And the shape of the field and the way the seats are laid out still look enough like Yankee Stadium to almost convince me that I was just in a renovated version of the original, which was pretty cool. I’m sure to die-hard Yankee fans the differences will stick out more, but I liked it. The views from my seat were pretty good – a little obstructed, but no more than you’d expect from being towards the very top of any stadium.

I had a few complaints – first, the ramps weren’t steep enough, so it felt like we were walking in circles forever. Second, I can’t believe in 2009 the Yankees couldn’t figure out a way to fit an entire out of town scoreboard somewhere in the stadium – the Red Sox have had one since 1934. Maybe Yankee fans don’t care, but as a Mets fan it was annoying having to wait a full minute or two for them to change which scores they were showing. Even at Mets games, I enjoy glancing at the out of town scores, so I don’t think it’s something that’s only attractive to non-home team fans.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. I like Citi Field a little better than Yankee Stadium (and I don’t think I’m being a homer – I was a little nervous about Citi Field and it really blew me away, and I was able to admit that Yankee Stadium was better than Shea), but the bottom line is that they’re both beautiful stadiums, and they’re enjoyable places to watch baseball. The only new stadiums I’ve been to that I would rank ahead of Yankee are Citi Field, Citizens Bank Park (as much as I hate to admit it, it’s a great park), and Camden Yards, which remains my favorite new stadium. I refuse to compare the new places to Fenway or Wrigley though.

by cjmulrain on May 24, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

There are a few things about the Stadium that bug me. The out of town scoreboard is one, and that has to be fixable. Monument Park being hidden is another.

by Ed Valentine on May 25, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Extended

Extending the season the is just pretext for expanding the playoffs, mark my words. If they extend the season your going to have a lot more 11 and 12 win teams. That will be all the justification they need to include more teams.

by John W on May 24, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

If they expand it by one game

A typical number needed to make the play-offs becomes… 10 (still)? Maybe 11?

What if they go to 18 games? Pretty much you would need at least an 11 I would bet.

by brisulph on May 25, 2009 7:59 AM EDT reply actions

Expansion Con't

I never claimed that anything was wrong with the 16 game season. I just feel that if the powers that be are inclined to change things, they might as well implement a plan that won’t ruin the end of the season. Player rotation is not unheard of in the NFL, and I would argue that it is becoming more popular. Look at the Pats and all of their different schemes and rotations. Look at how Atlanta kept John Abraham healthy last year. Look at what our beloved GMen are doing on their defensive line. Football is a brutal sport, and if players want to remain at peak capacity for 16 or more games player rotation is best plan…

by Aceholioo on May 25, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions

Didn't mean to put words in your mouth about the existing season

it was a thought that rolled thru my head as I typed, My problem with the concept is with the league, not you. I strongly believe that " If it aint’ broke…
Don’t Screw With It !!! "

I agree with your thoughts that using rotation to keep players fresh is a great idea and should be used. But I don’t think that it should be used as a means of justifying extending the season.

Season ticket holders have used the " I’d love two extra games" as a justification for the extension. They’d really only get one more home game (and one away) and the league is even throwing around having neutral sites for those two games. Games in Europe?? Nuetral Championship Sites??

Personally, I think let’s leave well enough alone

by NY17NE14 on May 25, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions