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In order to clear the way for reliever Matt Wise to return from the disabled list, the Mets designated Jorge Sosa for assignment. Sosa had been awful this year, with a 7.06 ERA and a deceiving 4-1 record. The Mets also cleared the way for Claudio Vargas to begin his Mets career, ending the Nelson Figueroa feel good story in New York. Figueroa went 2-3 with a 5.12ERA. The Mets also placed Angel Pagan on the DL, and called up Fernando Tatis.

While it is tough to see Figgy go, he just didn’t get the job done in his last few outings. And when you have an decent selections of veterans at Triple A waiting for a shot, you need to produce. Hopefully Nelson passes through waivers and figures himself out in Triple A, because I still think he can be very valuable to us in the long haul.

And as for you Jorge Sosa, good riddance. I don’t remember the last time you got through an entire inning without giving up a hit. We all know no one is going to claim you, so hopefully you spend the rest of your season buried in Triple A as well.

I’m interested to see what Vargas has got. He was pretty decent for the Brewers last year. Lets see if he steps up his game.

Saw a couple of interesting things on SI.com’s NBA Truth and Rumors page regarding the New York Knicks.  Obviously most of it has to do with new head coach Mike D’Antoni and changes around the organization that could result from his hiring.  Here they are:

• “Will Knicks Go After Nash?“

in one week, at the NBA Draft Lottery, the new Knicks coach will find out if he has someone whom he privately believes also can run his breakneck attack to perfection - University of Memphis point guard Derrick Rose. Mark D’Antoni has told confidants he believes Rose could be the next Steve Nash. While D’Antoni pines for Rose, he also can try to get Nash to New York if he really wants. Nash can opt out of his contract after next season and force Phoenix into a sign-and-trade with the Knicks.

• “Why Phoenix Let D’Antoni Go“

In the playoffs, Mark D’Antoni became completely unraveled by the Suns‘ failure to beat the Spurs. He’d been sarcastic toward opposing coaches for some time and had been condescending to anybody within the organization who disagreed with his philosophy. But in the San Antonio series, he advised fickle fans who were on the ledge to jump. And he got testy with those in the media who questioned his refusal to order fouling at the end of regulation and OT in Game 1. However, the biggest shock was his aversion to make offseason defensive and practice adjustments strongly required by owner Robert Sarver and team president Steve Kerr.

• “Marbury In Knicks-Suns Swap“

One of the first plays Mike D’Antoni is expected to draw up as the Knicks‘ new coach is for Stephon Marbury to run up the Garden floor … and out the door back to Phoenix to rejoin the Suns. Once D’Antoni is formally named to succeed Isiah Thomas, he is expected to try to make a push for two of his favorite Suns - forward Boris Diaw and guard Leandro Barbosa, who reportedly have fallen out of favor with Suns management. According to a person close to D’Antoni, one of his first moves would be to get the Knicks to offer Marbury and his expiring $22 million contract as a central part of the deal.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that on Monday a Milwaukee area home owned by former NBA player Latrell Sprewell has been foreclosed on.  Sprewell, a former Knicks star and Milwaukee native, failed to make payments on the home, which resulted in the foreclosure.  This is not the first of Spree’s assets to be seized, as he lost his 70-foot yacht, “Milwaukee’s Best,” in Jaunuary.

Remember that Sprewell is the same guy who in 2004 turned down a 3-year $21 million contract offer from the Minnesota Timberwolves, claiming, “I need to feed my family.  That’s not going to cut it.”   Keep in mind that this is a guy who, according to Basketball-Reference.com, had career earnings of over $96 million in 13 NBA seasons, making $14 million in his final season with the Wolves.  Now he’s bankrupt.  Ouch.  This gives some teeth to Tim Sharobem’s post a few months back about NBA players having financial difficulty once they are out of the league.

Happy Birthday to Joe Louis, Stevie Wonder, Bobby Valentine, John Kasich, Dennis Rodman, Stephen Colbert, Tom Nalen, Mike Bibby and Barry Zito

Hall of Famer Goose Gossage spoke to some officials from MLB.com on Monday during a tour of the Hall of Fame, and had a lot to say about Joba Chamberlin’s celebrations on the mound.

Here is a few highlights:

“There’s no place for it in the game,” Gossage told reporters Monday during a tour of the Hall of Fame, according to MLB.com. “I will stand by that and I love Joba Chamberlain. I’m with him down in spring training. He’s a great kid, but no one is passing the torch today. Nobody talks to them. When I broke into the big leagues, I didn’t say two words all year.”

“I’m old school, I’m sorry,” Gossage told reporters, according to MLB.com. “I didn’t see [Dellucci] celebrating when he hit the home run.”

“That’s just not the Yankee way, what Joba did. Let everyone else do that stuff, but not a Yankee,” Gossage told The Record on Saturday. “What I don’t understand is, the kid’s got the greatest mentor in the world in Mariano [Rivera]. He’s one of the leaders of the team, so you’d think it wouldn’t happen on that team.

“But there’s no one to pass the torch anymore, no one to teach the young kids how to act. The Mets did a lot of that [celebrating] last year, and look how it came back to haunt them.”

David Dellucci also had a few things to say about the celebrations:

“It is what it is. If he wants to yell and scream after a strikeout, I guess that’s what gets him going,” he said. “It’s May baseball. The home run was in a much bigger situation. I didn’t dance and scream.

“If a hitter did something like that, it would be bush. It’s kind of interesting how a pitcher gets away with it,” he said

You have to respect what Gossage is telling Joba to do. However, I really don’t see the problem with Joba celebrating getting a big out, especially against a guy who hit a three run home run off of him the other night. Maybe the celebration was a bit extreme, since it is only May, but if anybody has seen him pitch, they know he is consistently playing on high emotion. Heck the guy was almost in tears the other night after giving up that home run to Dellucci. Personally, being a Mets fan, I wish there was some emotions like that on my team. And honestly, did he really need to take a stab at the Mets’ celebrations from last year? Like that had anything to do with their collapse. It definitely wasn’t the bullpen, or Jose Reyes’ slump, or any of that other stuff. Definitely the celebrations.

Tim Sharobem Adds: If Goose Gossage wants to comment on this, fine (although I assume he was provoked by an interviewer). Gossage played at that level and was one of the best at it, obviously. However, if Gossage really wants to make a point about “professionalism,” he should be professional and tell his thoughts to Joba IN PRIVATE. He’s Goose Gossage; I’m sure the Yankees would allow him talk to Joba.

That being said, I still don’t know what the big deal is about showing emotion every once in a while. I didn’t hear anyone criticizing Joba for crying when he gave up the home run to David Delucci the day before. I guess only positive emotion is prohibited…

As a Mets fan, it is very easy to root for Nelson Figueroa, the Coney Island native, who has been solid for the Mets so far this season in replacement of Pedro Martinez. Figueroa, however, was not effective last night at home against the Washington Nationals, allowing six runs (4 earned) in five innings.

But the highlight of this start, will be the comments Figgy had in response to a cheer performed in the Nationals dugout. Apparently (and SNY picked up on it during the telecast), the Nationals were doing some sort of clapping and chanting cheer in the dugout during a third inning rally.

It sounded like they were saying “Let’s go Lenny.” (Referring to coach , and former Met Lenny Harris). Which makes no sense, but that’s what it sounded like.

Whatever it was, it annoyed Figueroa. As he walked off the mound, he did a sarcastic clapping celebration, mocking the Nationals bench.

He then had this to say after game, according to the Associated Press:

“They were cheering in the dugout like a bunch of softball girls,” he said. “I am a professional, I take great offense to that. … They won tonight, but in the long run, look who they are, a last-place team.

Wow. I want to laugh, but I’m afraid those people that wanted Keith Hernandez fired two years ago after his “women don’t belong in the dugout” comment will come after me.

In a new biweekly article for our blog, I have decided to throw my opinion into the circle on who the most important players and least important players are on our local baseball teams. These rankings will change from week to week based on performances, and at the end of the baseball season, I will give my personal vote on who the most valuable player for both the Mets and the Yankees are as well as the least valuable player. Here are the first rankings:

New York Mets MVP

1) Ryan Church

You can easily make a case that either David Wright or Johan Santana should be sitting here, but Church has just been hitting the crap out of the ball. Whether he is batting 5th, 6th, or 2nd, he has just been raking. His defense and arm out in right field have also been a God-send.

2) David Wright

Third in RBI’s in the NL. Timely hitting. Needs some work with the throws though. David will most likely be on this list all year long.

3) Johan Santana

Has thrown a ton of pitches, but even on days when he doesn’t have his best stuff, he still guts through it and gives the Mets six solid innings.

New York Mets LVP

1) Aaron Heilman

Gets booed by Met fans while warming up in the bullpen. Enough said.

2) Jorge Sosa

It seems like he gives up a run in every appearance. With a 5.66 ERA, and nearly as many strikeouts as walks, it boggles me how he isn’t in Triple A.

3) (Tied) Carlos Delgado/Carlos Beltran

Both of them are coming around. We expected this out of Delgado, but where in God’s name did Carlos Beltran’s power swing go?

New York Yankees MVP

1) Chien-Ming Wang

Easily the most underrated pitcher in the major leagues today. Wang’s sinker is absolutely devastating when it’s on. Great ERA and six wins thus far also contributes. Wang has also been striking out a lot more guys this year, which is good to see.

2) Mo Rivera

Does this guy ever lose his touch? Yet to give up a run or blow a save yet this year. Really has silenced the critics who thought he might be on the downside of his career.

3) Bobby Abreu

Bobby has been swinging the bat fantastically thus far, leading the team with 23 RBI’s and a steady .295 average. He just beats out fellow outfielders Melky Cabrera and Hideki Matsui.

New York Yankees LVP

1) Kei Igawa

Even though he pitched one game, he still tops this list. Talk about not coming up big in the clutch, especially when the Yankees needed him.

2) Ian Kennedy

8.37 ERA and averaging only about four innings per start. That gets you sent to the minors real fast. Lets see if his second chance lets him turn the corner.

3) Phil Hughes

At least Yankee fans can breathe a small sigh of relief that he was probably pitching the entire time with a broken rib. I think Hughes will bounce back strong after he comes off the DL.

According to Peter Abraham, Ian Kennedy will return to the Yankees starting rotation on Thursday. Kennedy, who was lights out in his first start after being demoted, got the start for Scranton today. He pitched only one inning tonight, allowing just an infield single. That runner was caught stealing, and Ikky retired the next two batters before being removed so that he will be ready to go on Thursday. He will start in place of the awful Kei Igawa, who, if there is a God, made his last appearance with the Yankees on Friday when he got shelled by the Tigers. Kennedy will get the start on Thursday, the finale of the Yanks series against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

I’m not sure if Ikky’s ready to come back just yet. Ideally, I’d like to see him get at least one more full start in the minors before bringing him back. But unfortunately the reality is that the other alternative is starting Igawa, which cannot happen. I hope Ikky comes back confident and throwing strikes. He should take a few lessons from watching Darrell Rasner, who so far has succeeded not with great stuff, but by pounding the strike zone and making the most of his weapons.

Sometimes guys need to be demoted to clear their heads in order to get back on track. Roy Halladay, one of the best pitchers in the American League, was once demoted all the way down to single A. After a successful first stint in the majors, Halladay bombed to the tune of a 10.64 ERA in 2000. He started the 2001 season at single A, and was able to regain his confidence and rebound. By the end of that season, he had a successful run in the majors and went on to win the 2003 A.L. Cy Young Award. He’s still one of the top pitchers in baseball. The lesson here is that people shouldn’t get too down on Kennedy just yet. He’s still very young and still has a lot of promise. He’ll figure things out and will be a good pitcher for the Yankees.

I saw these highlights on SportsCenter last week, two throws by St. Louis Cardinals centerfielder Rick Ankiel. The two throws were assists to third base, without a doubt the #1 Web Gem of the week on Baseball Tonight. They are probably two of the best throws I have ever seen. I would have posted the video sooner, but I wasn’t able to find it until yesterday.

The assists came on May 6 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The first assist was Ankiel throwing out Rockies outfielder Wily Taveras at third base. Keep in mind that Taveras is one of the fastest players in baseball, a guy who has stolen 30+ bases in each of his 3 season in the majors. The second assist came by throwing out a runner who tried stretching a hit into the gap into a triple. Both of Ankiel’s throws were perfect strikes that reached third base on a fly.  Ankiel, who in the late 1990s was hands down the best pitching prospect in baseball, attributed the throws to the light air in Colorado.  You really have to see it to believe it.

Click here to see the two incredible assists by Rick Ankiel.

The senior Yankee legend and 10-time world champion turns 83 today. Yogi is immensely popular among fans for being a key cog on so many championship teams, as well as his famous quirky quotes, or “Yogi-isms.”

• “This is like deja vu all over again.”

• “You can observe a lot just by watching.”

• “You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.”

• “Baseball is 90% mental — the other half is physical.”

• “A nickel isn’t worth a dime today.”

• “Nobody goes there anymore; it’s too crowded.”

• “It gets late early out there.”

• “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

• “How long have you known me, Jack? And you still don’t know how to spell my name.” — Upon receiving a check from Jack Buck made out to “bearer.”

• “You should always go to other people’s funerals; otherwise, they won’t come to yours.”

• “I didn’t really say everything I said.”

While a lot of my generation knows Yogi for his quotes (also seen in those AFLAC commercials, where the Duck is voiced by the immortal Gilbert Gottfried), my favorite memories of Yogi come from the 1999 season. The first came on April 9, 1999, the Yankees home opener. After a 14 year self-imposed exile from Yankee Stadium, Yogi returned to throw out the first pitch of the season. I was lucky enough to be in attendance at that game, and it was a truly incredible day. The second special day came on July 18 of that season, which was Yogi Berra Day at Yankee Stadium. Yogi did not throw out the first pitch that day, but instead he caught the first pitch thrown by Don Larsen. This was to commemorate Larsen’s 1956 perfect game, caught by Berra himself. Later that day, Yankee pitcher David Cone went out and threw a perfect game against the Montreal Expos. It was a special day and a special season, as the Yankees would eventually go on to win their 25th World Series. Happy Birthday to Yogi and many more.

Also Happy Birthday to Florence Nightingale, Henry Cabot Lodge, Felipe Alou, George Karl, Lou Whitaker, Ving Rhames, Emilio Estevez, Stephen Baldwin, Tony Hawk, Jim Furyk, Jason Biggs, Josh Phelps and Andre Carter

Anytime I see my alma mater, Fordham University, mentioned anywhere, I have to plug it. So that’s why I got excited when I read Jon Heyman’s column on SI.com the other day:

I hope Vin Scully didn’t mean it when he suggested he might retire after this season while on a recent trip to New York to celebrate his time at WFUV-FM, the Fordham University radio station that’s also produced a lot of excellent announcers like Michael Kay, Mike Breen and Bob Papa, fine sportswriters such as Jack Curry of the New York Times and the even more famous Alan Alda, Charles Osgood and Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo). Even now, at age 80 and in his 59th season with the Dodgers, no other baseball announcer is in Scully’s league.

Sorry, but I couldn’t help myself.  Heyman forgot to mention other prominent Fordham alums such as Lakers radio announcer Spero Dedes and Tony Reali, the host of ESPN’s Around the Horn.  Tim Sharobem and I had the pleasure of meeting Reali on campus a few years back, and I must say that he was a great guy.  Very down to earth and really funny.

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Birthday to Al Cabrera, Charlie Gehringer, Milt Pappas, Walt Terrell, Katie Wagner, Nicky Katt, Kerry Lightenberg, Francisco Cordero, Daniel Ortmeier, Andrew Walter, Matt Leinart and Justin King