Today's Fresh Blogs...

• Why Not Us?

  Published: August 1, 2007, 12:34 pm

  Tags: Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves, Nba, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Steve Popper, Trades

  Well, not me -- but the Knicks and Nets. That was my first reaction when I saw the package that the Celtics had put together to land Kevin Garnett. Maybe Al Jefferson will be a perennial all-star. Maybe Gerald Green will be more than a highlight reel player. Maybe Sebastian Telfair will salvage his career. Maybe not. The Timberwolves got some

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• The Target

  Published: August 6, 2007, 9:33 am

  Tags: Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs, Free Agency, Mlb, New York Mets, Steve Popper

  Carlos Zambrano conducts himself with the loyalty of the 40,000-plus Cubs fans that fill Wrigley Field -- as well as the bars outside the stadium -- insisting that he wants to remain a Cub for his career. But... He will be a free agent after this season. Zambrano tried to sign a new deal with the Cubs at various times, insisting that they sign

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• Miller Time?

  Published: August 9, 2007, 9:29 am

  Tags: Basketball, Kevin Garnett, Nba, New York Knicks, Reggie Miller, Steve Popper

  Well, Charles Oakley was talking about a comeback? Maybe it's time for the Knicks to put a bid in on the muscle-man to have a player to counter the Celtics, if they really can talk Reggie Miller out of retirement. The Knicks really have no interest in Oakley -- and the Celtics probably shouldn't have any in the 42-year-old Miller, who has proven

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• Here's The Catch

  Published: August 14, 2007, 2:44 pm

  Tags: Mlb, Mike Piazza, New York Mets, Paul Lo Duca, Ramon Castro, Steve Popper

  It seems simple. The Mets need a catcher. Desperately. Paul Lo Duca is on the DL and hasn't hit all year. Ramon Castro is day-to-day at best with an arthritic back and has managed to throw out just 1-of-21 baserunners this year. Mike Piazza needs a home. Desperately. So a reunion seems natural, right? Not so fast. A Mets' source said that

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• Randolph On Rizzuto

  Published: August 15, 2007, 9:31 am

  Tags: Mlb, New York Yankees, Phil Rizzuto, Steve Popper, Willie Randolph

  Willie Randolph may be a Met now, but he was raised a Yankee. And that means he was raised on Phil Rizzuto. "Phil was as much a Yankee as all of the great Yankees - Joe DiMaggio, Mickey (Mantle), Yogi (Berra) -- all those guys," Randolph said. "And he was a gentleman, a nice, sweet guy." "Obviously, he was a hall of

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• And The Mets 2008 Opening Day Starter Is...

  Published: August 19, 2007, 7:57 am

  Tags: Baseball, Carlos Zambrano, Curt Schilling, John Maine, Mlb, Mike Pelfrey, New York Mets, Oliver Perez, Orlando Hernandez, Pedro Martinez, Steve Popper, Tom Glavine

  ... not Carlos Zambrano. The Cubs signed up their ace to a five-year, $91 million extension, keeping Zambrano off of the free agent market and likely ruining the best-laid plans of the Mets. Like any other team with a wad of cash, the Mets were certain to make a huge pitch for Zambrano and even the terms he signed, making him higher-paid

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• The Tragedy Of Eddie Griffin

  Published: August 22, 2007, 1:44 pm

  Tags: Eddie Griffin, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Nba, New Jersey Nets, Steve Popper

  The first thing you notice is that he was just 25 years old. Could Eddie Griffin have been that young with all he had been through? And could he have been just 25 years old when it was all over? The first time that I saw Griffin in person was at a summer league game down the Jersey Shore. He was just finished with high school and was headed to

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• All OK With Team USA?

  Published: August 25, 2007, 12:10 pm

  Tags: Amare Stoudamire, Basketball, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Nba, Olympics, Steve Popper, Team Usa

  Am I the only one that can watch the USA dismantle a beleaguered opponent in these qualifiers for the Olympics and still get an uneasy feeling that trouble is lurking somewhere around the corner? Probably. Still, even when Team USA was wiping out the Virgin Islands (come on, it's the Virgin Islands) by the second largest margin of victory the

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• Who's On First?

  Published: August 29, 2007, 9:51 am

  Tags: Brian Lawrence, Carlos Delgado, Dave Williams, Mlb, Mike Pelfrey, New York Mets, Omar Minaya, Pedro Martinez, Phil Humber, Steve Popper

  Well, first base is still Carlos Delgado -- but who is on the mound Saturday is the question. Just doesn't sound as good as, "Who's on first?," though. The Mets designated Brian Lawrence for assignment before Tuesday's game, opening up the spot in the rotation, which will be filled by, well, they aren't saying. But it's a big question

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• Pedro Is Pitching In Atlanta

  Published: August 30, 2007, 9:29 am

  Tags: Atlanta Braves, Guy Conti, Mlb, New York Mets, Pedro Martinez, Rick Peterson, Steve Popper

  Really. Okay, he's not pitching any of the three games in the series coming up this weekend -- although the notion surely has to be getting more tempting to the Mets with every failed pitching performance as the once-secure lead in the NL East is being whittled down. But Pedro Martinez will meet the team in Atlanta Friday to throw a bullpen

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• Pedro On The Verge

  Published: August 31, 2007, 8:51 pm

  Tags: Mlb, New York Mets, Omar Minaya, Pedro Martinez, Steve Popper, Willie Randolph

  Pedro Martinez threw the last of his 68 pitches in the bullpen tucked away in the left field corner at Turner Field. Guy Conti, the Mets' bullpen coach and close friend of Martinez, gave him a towel, a fist bump and a hug. Rick Peterson came over after flashing thumbs up and murmurs of "awesome" and hugged him, too. Then, the trio

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• The Forgotten

  Published: September 1, 2007, 2:52 pm

  Tags: Jose Reyes, Mlb, New York Mets, Pedro Martinez, Steve Popper, Willie Randolph

  While the attention was focused on Pedro Martinez at Turner Field, a more certain state of the Mets was unveiled hours after Martinez threw his bullpen session. As Jose Reyes goes, so go the Mets. In Philadelphia, Pedro didn't win or lose a game -- or even enter the picture. But Reyes was 1-for-15 at the top of the order. And he was caught

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• He's Baaack! Pedro Ready To Lift Mets

  Published: September 2, 2007, 8:15 am

  Tags: Baseball, Mlb, New York Mets, Pedro Martinez, Steve Popper

  Even with all of the enthusiasm a day ago, Pedro Martinez didn't want to get too excited yet. Not until he woke up this morning and felt all the pieces intact. He woke up, felt no pain, no soreness, and gave the thumbs up for Monday afternoon -- the final step to his taking the mound in his first major league start of the season. "I don't

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• All Is Right Again With Mets

  Published: September 3, 2007, 4:24 am

  Tags: Atlanta Braves, Baseball, John Maine, Mlb, Mike Pelfrey, New York Mets, Pedro Martinez, Philadelphia Phillies, Steve Popper, Tom Glavine

  OK, you figure it out -- which one of these series showed the real Mets? The ones who imploded at every opportunity with horrendous bullpen work, meager offense and dismal prospects in getting swept in four straight in Philadelphia? Or the crisp, finely-tuned machine that just swept the Braves out of the 2007 playoff picture? I don't know

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