AROUND NYC BASEBALL
The New York Mets influx of rookie phenoms has led to an interesting payroll quirk. Their presumed top five starters cost $19.9m — Clay Holmes ($13m), David Peterson ($4.625m), and Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong ($760k each). Which is less than they are paying their sixth starter Sean Manaea ($20.2m).
Anthony Volpe’s season highlight might be the reaction to showing up at Monday’s (September 8) Willow Gala, an auction setup by the Carlos Rodon Foundation, with his date. But on the field, he still has 18 games left to do something that has only been accomplished once in New York Yankees history. Because he already has over 20 doubles, if he can hit one homer, steal 4 bases, and make just one more error, he can join Alfonso Soriano in the Yankees 20-20-20-20 club. Of course, when Soriano reached the mark in 2002, he had an .880 OPS and finished third in the AL MVP race. Volpe has a .665 OPS and is fighting to keep his job heading into the playoffs.
ICYMI “4 Things Yankees: 137 Down, 25 to Go”
AROUND NYC BASKETBALL
On September 24, the Brooklyn Nets will become the first team in NBA history to open training camp with five rookie first-round draft picks. We relied on the help of Real GM to try and determine the number of future draft picks owned by the Nets. We came up with 14 first round picks, and 17 second round picks over the next seven years. If you come up with a different number, please RantBack below.
NBA reporter Ian Begley says the New York Knicks are currently talking to Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet about their last available roster spot. IF they are both interested, Brogdon is a no-brainer. He was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year just two years ago and is reportedly recovered from his thumb and ankle injuries. Knicks training camp starts on September 24.
The New York Liberty put together their version of a Big 3 prior to the 2023 WNBA season. The result was two consecutive 32-8 regular seasons, followed by a loss to the Las Vegas Aces in the 2023 finals and then the organization’s first championship over the Minnesota Lynx in the 2024 finals. That’s why their current 25-17 record, and the fifth seed in the playoffs are such a disappointment. However, let’s keep in mind that the Big 3 — Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Breanna Stewart — have only played together for 13 games. The Liberty’s record in those games? 11-2. All three are expected to be on the court together when the Liberty open the playoffs this Sunday, September 14.
ICYMI “4 Things Knicks: Summer League Has Next”
AROUND NYC FOOTBALL
Will McDonald is an example of the benefit of taking the “best player available”. When the New York Jets selected him 15th overall in 2023, they were questioned because they already had second year ends in Michael Clemons and Jermaine Johnson, and three veterans in John Franklin-Myers, Bryce Huff, and Carl Lawson. Former GM Joe Douglas is on record as saying they were eyeing Jahmir Gibbs with the pick, but McDonald was next on his board. McDonald had 3 sacks as a rookie, 10.5 last year, and 2 this past Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Russell Wilson did not have a good game this past Sunday for the New York Giants. However, the immediate takes that he is “washed” discount the reports this spring and summer that he legitimately won the QB job and impressed the Giants with his leadership. Plus, while he is no longer an above-average QB, he still had a QBR in 2024 above CJ Stroud, Dak Prescott, Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins. Jaxson Dart is the QB of the Giants’ future, and will be in sooner than later, but that doesn’t mean Wilson can no longer play.
ICYMI “The All-New York Fantasy Football Team”
AROUND NYC HOCKEY
Training camp opens for the New Jersey Devils veterans on September 17. In all likelihood, there will only be two Hughes brothers on the ice for the Devils. Ever since Vancouver Canucks President Jim Rutherford floated the notion that Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes was going to want to one day join his brothers’ Jack and Luke in New Jersey, the rumor mill has been stirring. But with the season approaching, it appears as if Quinn is staying in Western Canada.
When the New York Islanders open training camp, the majority of eyes will be on their 2025 first overall draft pick, defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Our eyes are going to be on two veterans. The team’s highest paid player, Mat Barzal, returning from a left kneecap injury, and the team’s most enigmatic player, Anthony Duclair, returning from groin issues and an undisclosed leave of absence. With a new GM, and an influx of young talent, the organization is looking toward the future, but a return to form from Barzal and Duclair will give the Islanders a chance to battle for a playoff spot.
The New York Rangers open rookie camp tomorrow, September 10, ahead of their annual rookie showdown with the Philadelphia Flyers this weekend. Players to watch for the Rangers include three with legitimate chances to make the team out of training camp— D Scott Morrow, LW Brennan Othmann, and RW Gabe Perreault. Both games (Friday 7p, Saturday 5p) will be available to stream on the Philadelphia Flyers website.
ICYMI “Why the Rangers Should Wait to Extend Artemi Panarin”