New York

The Case for A-Rod

Posted on by DylanHornik

May 7th, 2015. A day that will live, for Alex Rodriguez, as a blessing and a curse.

On that night, at his “home” ballpark in the Bronx, he completed his most historic milestone yet. A-Rod passed Willie Mays on the all-time home run list, with his 661st of his seemingly illustrious career. To date, the statistics for his 21-year career: 661 homers, 1,988 RBI, 2,963 hits, and a .299 batting average. All signs point to a first ballot Hall of Fame trip, right?

Well, not exactly. A-Rod’s stats have been marred by his admittance of steroid use multiple times throughout his career. He has fallen out of good graces with the majority of Yankees fans, and baseball in general. The latest chapter in his saga includes the Yankees’ front office; General Manager Brian Cashman said that the team will not grant Rodriguez the $6 million bonus he is due for passing Mays, saying that it is their “right” to pay him, not an “obligation”, and that A-Rod isn’t marketable anymore. The MLB Players Association has stated that they will fight on Rodriguez’s behalf, as they should. Although A-Rod cheated to get to the milestone, it is still his “right” to cash in on what he has done. 

Brian Cashman has repeatedly stated that the team will not give Rodriguez his bonus.

 Rodriguez’s contract stipulates that the bonus for passing Willie Mays is a “marketing agreement”. To say that A-Rod isn’t marketable isn’t entirely true. Although the Yankees no longer sell a #13 jersey on their website, third party companies like eBay and Fanatics have his jersey going for as high as $180, which would be the highest price for a player’s jersey on the Yankees site. His t-shirt on Macys.com is listed for $28, which would also be the most expensive player t-shirt on Yankees.com. Taking a look at memorabilia, verified vendors like SportsMemorabilia.com have an A-Rod signed ball going for over $1,500. This would demolish every signed ball on the Yankees shop. Right now the most expensive ball is a Mariano Rivera autographed ball from the 1999 World Series- for $500. And do the Yankees really think that if they sold a t-shirt that said “661*” that it wouldn’t sell out at the next home game? There’s still a market for Alex Rodriguez’s merchandise, and the Yankees should realize that they need to capitalize on the fact that he did cheat to make that market more attractive to every fan.

If another problem is the simple fact that he did something wrong and that he will not be elected to the Hall of Fame, then take a look at some players that are considered all time greats that are in the Hall. Tris Speaker is one of the great center fielders in baseball history, a true legend of the game. He has the 5th most hits of all time at 3,514, his career .345 ranks sixth all time, and he holds two MLB records: most career doubles at 792 and most career outfield assists at 449. What is overlooked, however, is that he and fellow legend Ty Cobb fixed “at least” one game between their respective teams while they were managers in 1926. Speaker was also reportedly one of several players during his time that were part of the Ku Klux Klan (yes, the same KKK). However, he had no problem reaching the Hall, gathering over 80% of the vote in 1937. 

Speaker, left, and Cepeda, right, don’t have the best track records.

 Orlando Cepeda is also immortalized in the Hall of Fame. He was elected in 1999 by the Veterans Committee, which votes on players that are ineligible to be voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Cepeda was an 11 time All-Star and a 2 time National League RBI Champion. He was also a noted drug user from 1965 (the middle of his career) until later in his life. He was convicted of drug possession charges in 1978 after trying to smuggle marijuana from Colombia to the United States in 1975. He served 10 months of his 5 year sentence in jail, the rest on probation in a halfway home for fear that the mafia would find and kill him. Oh, by the way, all of this happened after his retirement but before he was celebrated in Cooperstown at the Hall of Fame. Former Players Association Executive Director Marvin Miller once said that “the Hall is full of villains.” A-Rod would fit right in.

Let’s not forget that A-Rod didn’t use steroids for his whole career. He admitted to using it from 2001-2003 while with the Texas Rangers. In that span, he had 569 hits and 156 homers. If you subtract those numbers from his career stats, he still has 505 homers and just under 2,400 hits. That’s still nothing to laugh at, and definitely Hall of Fame power. The Yankees should pay Rodriguez his $6 million bonus just for having the career he did without the steroid numbers. 

Rodriguez was a monster in Arlington, but his numbers were tainted.

 I’m by no means in favor of what A-Rod has done. Cheating is cheating, and it is wrong any way you slice it. However, I feel that the Yankees are just trying to add to the career-long vendetta that they have against Rodriguez by denying him what he really does deserve. On that front, I feel for A-Rod. He’s trying to turn his career and life around, but the Yankees seem bent on stifling him. 

Party Like It’s 1986

Posted on by DylanHornik

Wow.

A mere 16 games into the season, the New York Mets have already done something, pardon my baseball pun, completely out of left field. But not in the normal “Mets” fashion. The team has drastically exceeded expectations, tying a franchise record with 11 consecutive wins en route to a 13-3 start heading into the annual Subway Series against the Yankees. Even with the losses of Zack Wheeler, then  captain David Wright, then eventually Travis D’Arnaud and Jerry Blevins, the Mets have found a way to scratch out tough wins. To many fans of older generations, this team parallels the 1986 version that won 108 games and eventually the second (and most recent) World Series title in team history. For the fans of my generation, we haven’t really been exposed to the wonders of the mid 80’s in Flushing..until now. So put on your track suits, pop your collars, and put some Rick Astley in your Walkman, because we’re taking it back to 1986.

Obviously, the strength of this year’s team is the starting pitching. Colon, deGrom, Harvey, Niese, Gee…and that’s without Zack Wheeler, who underwent Tommy John surgery. Entering tonight, the Mets are 2nd in the MLB in team era at 2.81. Back in ’86, the team finished the regular season with an astounding 3.11 ERA that led the MLB. That team had the dynamite young rotation of Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling, Bob Ojeda, Sid Fernandez, and Rick Aguilera. Ojeda was the elder statesman of the group at 28 (only 28!). From left: Darling, Gooden, Ojeda, and Fernandez.

While the 2015 team has the Ageless Wonder, Bartolo Colon, leading the way at 41, the rest of the rotation is 28 or younger. Both teams have a young stud who throws hard with devastating off-speed, which can ultimately translate to Cy Young potential in Gooden and Harvey. The two teams also have a guy who didn’t pitch until later in their college careers and had unexpected success early in the pros- Darling and deGrom.

The bullpens are also scarily similar as well. Jesse Orosco was a dominant lefty that came into games and stopped rallies in their tracks. Sounds an awful lot like (the now-injured) Jerry Blevins, doesn’t it? The 9th inning was shut down by a combination of Orosco and Roger McDowell, who had 20 saves each. Right now, Jeurys Familia is lights out in the final inning, but Jenrry Mejia could split that role with him once he returns from an 80 game suspension. Jesse Orosco was so effective, he pitched until his mid-40’s.

Pitching isn’t the only link between these two teams. In ’86, Gary Carter produced well from the catcher position, hitting 24 homers and driving in 105 runs. At the time of his injury, young buck Travis D’Arnaud was on fire, hitting .317 with 10 RBI in 11 games. He did fracture his finger, but his replacement Kevin Plawecki, another young catcher, went 2-for-4 in his MLB debut. Catching is a theme among good teams; the stability that it provides to both offense and defense is vital.

The outfield on the World Championship team was comprised of four main guys: Darryl Strawberry, Lenny Dykstra, and Mookie Wilson. “Straw” could mash; he knocked out 27 homers to lead the team. Dykstra could flat out hit, and he finished the 1986 campaign with a .295 average. Wilson was known for his hustle, his speed, and his determination. This combination led to a dynamic effect on the rest of the team.

The 2015 edition of the Mets uses the outfield of Michael Cuddyer, Juan Lagares, and Curtis Granderson. It’s not an exact match like the other comparisons, but it’s still reminiscent. Cuddyer is a hitter, having won the 2013 NL batting title with the Rockies. Granderson has been known for his pop due to his back-to-back 40 home run seasons with the Yankees, but hasn’t quite shown it in Flushing. He still can get on base and start rallies. Then there’s Lagares, the Gold Glove winning center fielder. He is a sparkplug in the outfield, routinely making tough catches using his speed and athleticism. His drive to be better lights a fire under the rest of the team as well.

Juan Lagares is, often times, a catalyst for this team.

Finally, what would a Mets team be without a veteran to lead at third base? In ’86, Ray Knight was that guy. He hit .298 and, more importantly, knew how to play the game and how to lead a team at the age of 33. At age 32, David Wright is the captain and unquestioned leader of the 2015 team. He isn’t projected to be as productive as he has been in years past, but he doesn’t need to be, like Knight, because of the key players around him that have stepped up. This year, it’s been a multitude of guys, including Cuddyer, Lucas Duda, at times Lagares, and even the shortstop Wilmer Flores. In 1986, it was Strawberry, Keith Hernandez, and Carter.

I’m not implying that the 2015 Mets are going to win 110 games. I’m simply putting the MLB, and Mets fans, on notice, that there’s something different about this team. They play with passion, with heart, and with what I like to call “Mets Moxie”. Towards the end of a game, the bullpen grinds it out, the offense gets timely hits and, at least for the first month of the year, it culminates in a win.

My Story

Posted on by DylanHornik

Growing up in suburban New York, there was only one divisive subject in an otherwise extraordinarily homogeneous area. That was sports. My community was decidedly more Yankee-friendly than Mets-loving. We were more even split when it came to Jets or Giants. There was no other professional basketball team in New York other than the Knicks, so the large majority cheered for the team that played in Manhattan (although I did lead a rebel tribe that rooted for the Celtics in secret). Even in my own home, there was a bit of a divide. My father, from whom I get much of my fanaticism, and I rooted wholeheartedly for the Mets, while my sister took the easy way out and adored the Yankees after her first grade teacher confessed her love for the pinstripes.

I took sides in the lunch debates for years, but I admit that I never really knew what I was talking about. As a quiet kid growing up, I always let the loud talkers, those gifted early with the ability to speak up for themselves, drive the debates, and backed up their opinions with an timid, half-scared head shake.

Then, 2006 came. I was at the tail-end of my 3rd grade year (with perhaps my favorite teacher ever, but that doesn’t matter). What matters is that I finally convinced my mom that baseball isn’t dangerous and I finally got the opportunity to play. Naturally when I started playing, I watched more baseball to see how the pros do it. I tried to model my swing after the dangerous first baseman Carlos Delgado, then scrapped that idea when my coach gave me strange looks during my first BP session. He, along with my dad, taught me to keep my bat flat to get it through the zone quicker, to not move as much so I’m not off balance, and to keep my eye on the ball. My coach was one of the best minds for young ballplayers I’ve ever met, and since he has a son my age, I have been able to consult him throughout my playing career.

My not-so-meteoric rise to being a decent ballplayer in ’06 coincided with the meteoric rise of the Mets. Led by the offensive prowess of a young David Wright and by the precision pitching of a 40 year old Tom Glavine, the team won the NL East and rolled into the NLCS, where they ultimately lost.

The core of the '06 Mets, david Wright and Jose Reyes.

The core of the ’06 Mets, david Wright and Jose Reyes.

I was disappointed by the finish of the Mets (thanks, Adam Wainwright), but my little league team won the title, and I was encouraged to sign up for football, coached by the same man that ushered me through my rookie year in baseball. Football was a rough season for me in the fall of ’06. The team finished under .500, and I was used sparingly as a short, scrawny tight end. The team I chose to follow, the Jets, fared far better, winning 10 games with rookie coach Eric Mangini, and making the playoffs as an upstart team.

Me in my rookie year of football.

Me in my rookie year of football.

After 2006, I was hooked. Playing the games helped me understand them better when watching, and I was finally making my own opinions on certain subjects. I didn’t like Chad Pennington as a quarterback (overrated), I loved Billy Wagner (it was a lefty connection), and I thought that Beltran could’ve hit that Wainwright curveball in the NLCS (upon further review, maybe not).

I think watching the pros helped me be a better ballplayer. I broke through in my second seasons in both sports, establishing myself as a force at the plate with tremendous speed, a good fielding first baseman, and an above average arm on the mound. On the gridiron, I switched to center and emerged as the most consistent player on a county champion 10 year old team. After finding success, my love for sports only grew.

Circa 2008, during a Little League game.

Circa 2008, during a Little League game.

Middle school was strange for me. By then, I was a Madden playing, Sportscenter watching junkie. I suffered my first injury, a broken thumb during 6th grade football, and felt what it was like to watch from the sidelines. It was difficult, but it was fun for me to watch the game develop from afar. I decided there that baseball was a better path for me, and after a brief comeback in 7th grade, hung up the football cleats forever. Football remains a favorite for me because of the variables involved with needing 11 men to be on the same page and to do their job perfectly each play.

I got cut from the baseball team in 7th grade. I was heartbroken. I gave it my all in tryouts, everyone said  I was a lock to make it, and I came up short. It pained me to listen to my closest friends talk about something funny that happened in practice, or how well the team played in a game. I had little league, but I outgrew it; I felt too mature to play on the little fields. My final year in little league was the year that Josh Hamilton made his MVP comeback in astonishing fashion. Most of my teammates were well versed in the art of baseball, and the chatter was rampant during the games we played.

7th grade, at a tournament in Cooperstown, NY. Homered on this pitch.

7th grade, at a tournament in Cooperstown, NY. Homered on this pitch.

It never really occurred to me that I could talk about sports for a living until high school. By then, I had “burned out” of playing; I was more interested in the storylines that came with the performance of my peers. I would frequently give reports on my high school team to my dad, who either patronized me or was genuinely interested in why so-and-so was overrated or unfairly benched. In 11th grade, my varsity baseball team was a state semi-finalist, but my role was no more than pinch running outfielder. My life revolved around sports jargon; calling people by strange nicknames and turning everything into a home run analogy was commonplace. I decided to step away from the dugout my senior year, and focusing on honing my sports writing skills to get a leg up before I enrolled in college. I still follow my varsity team (my best friend is the catcher) and I do miss it. But the ball finally left the park on my playing career.

The teams I loved were inconsistent (hence “The Underdog), but one simple fact remained: I loved them, and I loved the sports.

The final sports team I played on. The Long Island Champion, state semi-finalist West Islip Varsity Baseball Team.

The final sports team I played on. The Long Island Champions, and state semi-finalists.

Why did I choose sports? At first, it was to fit in. But I found that the competitive nature of the sports world took hold of me, and it came so naturally to me. Once I realized this natural ability to understand complex games, I went with it. There’s something so majestic about sports, something that pleases all senses. The “crack” of a wood bat, the view of a perfect touchdown pass, the feel of a perfectly inflated basketball in your hands, and who could forget the taste of a ballpark hotdog or the smell of freshly cut grass.

More importantly, the games we love have given me memories that I will not forget. I watched Barry Bonds’s record breaking home run on vacation with my dad. I saw an unassisted triple play with my step dad, live. The countless hours talking sports with my best friends during sleepovers. And, of course, I can still hear my first baseball coach, inspiring me to continue to play the best games in the world.

It’s Not Their Fault

Posted on by DylanHornik

Ah,the optimism of Spring Training. Freshly cut infield grass, the crisp, clean air, and the unavoidable feeling that this is finally “the year”. For us Mets fans, this is a familiar scenario. Every year starts like this, but they rarely finish the way that General Manager Sandy Alderson has envisioned. That is, until this March, when Mets faithful finally had reason to think that the young pitching and revitalized offensive core could bring a winning season to Flushing.

Those good vibes did not last long. This week, the team announced that starting pitcher Zack Wheeler would undergo Tommy John surgery after an MRI revealed a full tear – not a slight or partial tear that is most common among pitchers- of his Ulnar Collateral Ligament. Mets reliever Josh Edgin, a key reliever who led the team with a 1.32 ERA last year, also announced that he will undergo the same operation. Both players will miss the 2015 season, and may not be ready for the start of 2016 as well. These two vital losses have the Mets scrambling to patch up their pitching staff, which was thought of as the strong point on an otherwise weak squad.

Lefty specialist Josh Edgin is yet another casualty of elbow problems in the MLB.

But I’m not here to demonstrate how ugly the effects of the loss of Wheeler and Edgin will be with complicated sabermetrics and boring story lines. No, this unfortunate situation is part of something bigger in baseball. Something that has spun out of control of late and something that needs to be reeled in for the greater good of the future of the game.

Many have pointed a finger at Alderson and Head Coach Terry Collins for the overuse of Wheeler, who felt pain in his elbow as early as midway through last year. Wheeler says that he felt good enough to pitch all the way through the year last year, and he doesn’t blame his coach or GM for his injury. We shouldn’t either.

The underlying complication here is the fact that elbow injuries for pitchers have exponentially increased in the last few years. This spring alone, 7 pitchers have already had their season prematurely terminated due to the need of Tommy John surgery, the most notable ones being Wheeler and Rangers ace Yu Darvish. Since 2010, 238 players, mostly pitchers, have gone under the knife to repair their elbows via TJ that have been on a major league roster at some point. The most in a single year came in 2012, where 69 players underwent the surgery. Before the new millennium, less than 100 players total had the surgery. Baseball has become crippled by the increase in elbow  injuries, and everyone wants to know why.

Graph, number of MLB players that undergo Tommy John surgery per year.

Some point at the huge workload that pitchers nowadays have. It’s common for pitchers to have full seasons in which they pitch over 200 innings over 30 starts, and then if they’re lucky (sarcasm intended), pitch in he postseason. In the playoffs, they’ll often have to pitch on three days rest and give superhuman performances, like Madison Bumgarner. He started game 5 of the 2014 World Series, then came in on two days rest out of the bullpen in game 7 and threw 5 scoreless innings to clinch the title. However, today’s teams use a 5 man rotation that wasn’t widely accepted until the latter half of the 20th century. They use more pitchers per game than ever before, which decreases the daily workload of each pitcher. In reality, workload for a pitcher hasn’t increased at all; it actually has decreased.

Take a look at Bob Gibson, for example. He’s widely considered one of the best pitchers of all time, and he never sustained an elbow injury. He averaged 262 innings pitched per year over his 17 seasons, which would easily lead the league in today’s game. Gibson maxed out at 314 IP over 35 starts – with 28 complete games. Pitchers now have it relatively easy compared to the hurlers of yesteryear, so workload simply isn’t the reason why Tommy John surgery spreads like the Plague.

The real reason is that the art of pitching is lost. Pitchers today feel that the secret to success is throwing exceptionally hard and having devastating off-speed pitches, while sacrificing pinpoint command. In 2014, the top ten hardest throwing starters by fastball velocity topped out at 96.1 MPH, and rounded off at 94.1 (3 of the top 10 have undergone TJ, with Wheeler also placing on the list). Attempting to sustain a velocity like this for 6 or 7 innings puts immense strain on the elbow and shoulder, no matter how often they pitch. Obviously, they can’t throw just fastballs. Pitchers try to fool hitters with nasty sliders, changeups that fall out of the strike zone, and curveballs that break from head to toe. Pitches like these put even more torque on the elbow to get the rotation needed to make the ball break. Just ask Darvish, who has been consistently praised for his wide array of secondary pitches, but has been oft- injured throughout his MLB career.

The exceptionally talented Yu Darvish has had his share of arm troubles.

If a pitcher wants to stay healthy and effective in the MLB, they need to focus not on throwing hard, not on throwing a Bert Blyleven- like curveball, but on hitting spots with incredible consistency. David Price, who was just named the Opening Day starter for the Tigers, is widely considered to have the best control in the MLB. He has never sustained a major elbow injury in his major league career, and led the league with 248.1 IP last year. The flame-throwing fad has flamed out, and it’s time to hone in on command for starting pitchers in the MLB.

Obviously, if this advice is heeded, it will take some time for pitchers to gradually adjust to the new-old strategy. In this case, protective measures need to be put in place to preserve the young arms that have emerged in the last couple of years like Wheeler. I don’t think a pitch count should be in place, like some others have called for, because it feels too much like a little league game then. Pitchers need to cut down on their activity in the offseason. The ever-shortening winters for professional baseball players means that pitchers have to constantly work on their game to stay above their hitting counterparts. If everyone takes a little more vacation time at the end of each year, pitchers can save and rest their arms to be able to avoid Tommy John surgery and pitch healthy all season long.

Flying High: Why the Jets are Winning the Offseason

Posted on by DylanHornik

If the NFL offseason crowned a single champion, the Jets are definitely one of the top contenders. Coming off of a disappointing 4-12 season last year and a front office purge, the new regime of GM Mike Maccagnan and HC Todd Bowles had some work to do. The defensive backfield was in shambles, the offense was anemic, and no one saw the end of the dark days in the Meadowlands.

Then the front office got to work. After owner Woody Johnson’s comments about CB Darrelle Revis chalked up to tampering charges at the end of the regular season, Jets Nation knew that the team wasn’t playing around. With around $55 million in cap space, and the reiteration by numerous personnel that the team won’t be as frugal as they have been, hopes soared with the possibility of signing high-profile players.

Boy, did they deliver.

Before the free agency period even started at 4 PM on March 10th, Gang Green was already making moves. Last Friday, the Jets agreed to acquire WR Brandon Marshall from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 5th round pick in this year’s draft. While detractors point to his off-field history, declining age, and down year last year as causes of concern, the Marshall trade does more good than harm. Many of his incidents away from football are due to his Borderline Personality Disorder, which he is a staunch advocate for. He is 31, but he is still clearly capable of being one of the top producers at the position in the league, as evident by his 7 straight 1,000 yard seasons until last year derailed him. Due to injuries, he only played in 13 games, but more often than not he was not at 100%, and caught 61 passes for 721 yards and 8 TDs. These numbers are still pretty good, especially considering he had Jay Cutler throwing to him. If it doesn’t pan out the way it should, the Jets have the option to cut him after this year and is only due $7.5 million this year, considerably less than WR Percy Harvin, who presumably would still be on the roster if the trade fell through. Marshall also played for Bowles in Miami, where Bowles was an assistant and eventually interim head coach.

Huge wideout Brandon Marshall is the top target Jets QB’s have been looking for.

Obviously, trading for a top WR in the league means that the Jets need a decent quarterback. Geno Smith showed flashes of potential in the final game of the 2014 , but isn’t consistent enough to even be a short term option. That’s why the Jets traded for 32 year old passer Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick comes from Houston in exchange for a 2016 conditional 7th round pick. While he isn’t an elite quarterback, Fitzpatrick brings veteran savvy and journeyman knowledge to the team. He’s been consistent throughout this entire career, completing about 60% of his passes and throwing more touchdowns than interceptions. Like Marshall, Fitzpatrick has a connection to the new Jets coaching staff. He played for offensive coordinator Chan Gailey while the two were in Buffalo from 2009-2012. In that span, Fitzpatrick threw for more than 10,000 yards and 71 touchdowns, compared to 54 picks.

Then, free agency started. The Jets agreed to a new contract with LB David Harris just before the floodgates opened. The new contract, a 3 year, $15 million guaranteed deal, ensures that the Jets will have their defensive rock in the middle. Last season, Harris had 123 total tackles and tied a career high with 5.5 sacks. He has surpassed 100 tackles in 5 of his 7 seasons, all with the Jets. Harris will provide much needed support in the middle of Todd Bowles’ defense, which becomes hectic when he calls all out blitzes. Harris also adds to the veteran leadership that the team has deepened this offseason.

LB David Harris has been the steady force in an often changing landscape for the Jets.

The Green and White also shored up a hole in the offense, signing former first round pick James Carpenter to a four year contract. Carpenter, a guard, is a good pass blocker, which could help the revamped passing game. The Jets allowed 47 sacks in 2014, tied for 8th most in the NFL. This move provides depth to an offensive line that has seemed shaky since Alan Faneca was cut and Damien Woody retired in 2010 and 2011. Above all else, Carpenter knows how to win. He won a national championship starting on the offensive line for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2010, won a Super Bowl last year with the Seahawks, and won another NFC title this year. The re-signing of guard Willie Colon this offseason also adds to the depth of the O-line.

Now, let’s get down to the really exciting stuff. It was announced on Tuesday that the Jets outbid the AFC East bullies, the Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots (the Patriots for Pete’s sake!) for shutdown CB Darrelle Revis. Revis was drafted by New York, and played his first five years there before a nasty fight with then-GM John Idzik led to a trade. He played in Tampa Bay for a year, then came to the Patriots last year and won a Super Bowl ring. Gang Green signed him to a 5 year, $39 million guaranteed deal. While he isn’t getting any older, Revis is still arguably the best man coverage corner in the league purely because of his intelligence on the field and his rigorous study of game film. He fits perfectly in Todd Bowles’ system, which relies on corners to cover man to man to allow for heavy, unpredictable blitzing. Revis was excited too, tweeting that he is “coming home” on Tuesday night.

The team resigned another former player, CB Antonio Cromartie, to a four year, $32 million deal. Cromartie played with Revis from 2010-2012, when they were arguably the best 1-2 cornerback duo in the NFL. While Revis relies on his smarts, Cromartie, who turns 31 next month, is dependent on his pure athleticism. If he seems to get beat, he uses his speed to recover and make a play on the ball. He played for Bowles last year in Arizona, where Bowles was the DC, and defended 10 passes and picked off 3. The return of two good cornerbacks is only part of the makeover that the new front office is giving the defense.

Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie have returned to re-create the “Batman and Robin thing” that they have going on, according to Revis.

Today, the Jets announced the official signing of safety Marcus Gilchrist. Gilchrist started for the Chargers for the last 3 years, recording over 70 tackles each of the last two years. He is a durable, strong player and comes up quickly in the running game. This shores up the safety position for the Jets, who have been marred by injuries in the defensive backfield for the last few years.

Overshadowed by the larger signings, the Jets also resigned RB Bilal Powell, who can complement bruiser Chris Ivory in the running game. They also signed another cornerback, former Browns player Buster Skrine. Skrine (pronounced “screen”) has played in every game of his NFL career. He is speedy and a gym rat, and can be a good nickel corner for New York. I’m not making any bold predictions, but if the Jets can win in the regular season like they have so far this offseason, the NFL will be hearing a lot more of the phrase “Jet Up”.