EL BARRIO, EL FALLS – Happy Monday. Skipping the backstory on this post being a bit tardy, here is today’s slate: Mets First Week, End of Knicks Season, End of Rangers Season.
Mets First Week
The Mets had a mixed first week. They won 3 of 4 against the Marlins then got swept by the Brewers. Next came their home opener where they won 2 of 3 against the Marlins again. They can’t play the Marlins all the time. So far, so good…. They don’t look overwhelming but Pete Alonzo is getting in his home run groove as he has hit 4 in the last 3 games and 5 for the season. Fransisco Lindor hasn’t gotten going yet but Jeff McNiel has picked up from where he left off last season as batting champ. The rest of the guys are still looking for consistentcy… Despite the attention on rookie catcher Alvarez, it’s been “kinda” rookie pitcher Kodai Sanga that has been the best newbie. Both have started the season in good form… David Robertson has done the job as closer, too. We are a ways from the dog days of summer but the key is a strong start – that can led to an assured playoff spot in the toughest division in Baseball.
End of Knicks Season
The New York Knicks will have playoff Basketball for the second time in 3 years. Considering how bad the Knicks were for the better part of 2010-2020, this is good news. What is likely the bigger deal is that they didn’t just happen to make it in. There is no pandemic effected season asterisk. They just had a very good season as a lot of things came together. The Knicks dealt with injuries to Jalen Brunson, Jules Randle and Mitchell Robinson with backups Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Jericho Simms playing well. I would add the play of Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, as the rest the starting lineup was great but the aforementioned bench guys plus Isiah Hartensign (who someone how remained the second unit Center while Sims was promoted and demoted was weird) and the trade for Josh Hart were what really made the season. I can see them beating Cleveland even with no home court advantage. From there, it will likely be a shock if they get past Milwaukee.
End of Rangers Season
The Rangers like the Knicks are stuck without home ice advantage in the East. They are stuck in the 3 spot in the Metro Division (god that name sucks) and they are 5th overall. However, if they win out in their last two games and the Devils lose out in their last 2, they could climb to the 4 seed in the East. As much as I would like home ice, I am more concerned with the Rangers going into the playoffs healthy. So I want them to continue their winning ways from the other night and start using these last to games as prep, figure out the right shift time for everyone (the kid line needs more time early on) and maybe re-jig the power play units and have move Kane to PP2.
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment below. Check out Ben Whitney, who will tell you why I wrong on baseball.
