SPiZaD

New York Yankees At The Quarter-Pole: Inconsistent, Under-Achieving

http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/5/20/3032123/belmont-stakes-2012-date-post-time-tv-coverage-ill-have-another-horse-racing-triple-crown

Read More: CC Sabathia (P – NYY), Johnny Cueto (P – CIN), New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds

The New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds will conclude a three-game, inter-league series Sunday, as CC Sabathia opposes Johnny Cueto at Yankee Stadium (1:05 p.m. ET on YES Network). The winner of the finale will take the set, as New York (21-19) earned a victory in Game 1, while the Reds (20-19) won Game 2 on Saturday.

Sabathia (5-1, 3.77 ERA) will be looking to put together a bonce-back outing, as he last start against the Baltimore Orioles (six inning allowing four runs) was his first loss in five starts.

Meanwhile, Cueto (4-1, 1.89 ERA) is in the same boat as he was torched for six runs (five earned) in just four innings on Tuesday. Before that, has has been outstanding his his previous three starts allowing just three runs in 23 innings.

Next Game

Cincinnati Reds
@ New York Yankees

Sunday, May 20, 2012, 1:05 PM EDT
Yankee Stadium

Johnny Cueto vs CC Sabathia

Sunny. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 75.

Complete Coverage

Stay tuned to this storystream for previews, updates and more from the Yankees’ interleague series. Pinstripe Alley has you covered for all of your New York Yankees news and analysis. If you’re a Cincinnati Reds fan, check out Reds Reporter.

http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2012/5/20/3032136/new-york-yankees-2012-mlb-schedule-cincinnati-reds-cc-sabathia-johnny-cueto-preview-tv

Read More: Miguel Batista (P – NYM), Chris Schwinden (P – NYM), Toronto Blue Jays

After exiting early in Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the host Toronto Blue Jays, veteran pitcher Miguel Batista was placed on the 15-day disable list Sunday with a strained a muscle in his lower back. Batista (1-1, 3.95 ERA) will be replaced by minor-leaguer Chris Schwinden, who will be given a second opportunity to earn a spot in a rotation.

“I felt a pull there and it felt funny,” Batista said of his 3-2 pitch to Eric Thames in the second. “And after that, I felt it every pitch.”

Before his start Saturday, the 41-year-old had been battling a groin injury, which wasn’t one of the reasons why he left his start. Schwinden, who’s spent most of the season in Triple-A Buffalo, has already made two starts for the parent team, but has complied a 11.25 ERA.

Stay tuned to this storystream for previews, updates and more from the Mets interleague series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Amazin’ Avenue is your source for New York Mets news and analysis, and Blue Bird Banter has you covered if you’re a Blue Jays fan.

http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-mets/2012/5/20/3032242/new-york-mets-roster-miguel-Batista-injury-dl-strained-muscle-lower-back-chris-schwinden-stats

Read More: preakness stakes 2012 payouts

I’ll Have Another has not only won the first two legs of the 2012 Triple Crown, but the horse has also won a lot of people money.

According to NBC, here are the official payouts for the top three horses: I’ll Have Another to win payed $8.40, paid $3.80 to place, and $2.80 to show. Bodemeister paid $3.20 to place and $2.80 to show. Creative Cause paid $3.60 to show.

Additionally, the $2.00 Exacta paid $18.60, the $1.00 Trifecta paid $35.40, and the $1.00 Superfecta – predicting the top four horses correctly – paid $424.30.

Bodemeister began the day as the favorite, with 3/2 odds of winning the Preakness. I’ll Have Another wasn’t far behind, with 3/1 odds.

SB Nation New York will have updates, results and more from the 2012 Preakness. SB Nation’s horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has you covered for all your horse racing needs.

http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/5/19/3031336/2012-preakness-payouts-bodemeister-ill-have-another-triple-crown

Read More: 2012 preakness video, 2012 preakness full video

The 2012 Kentucky Derby and 2012 Preakness were almost mere images of each other. Both races featured the favorite, Bodemeister, shooting out of the gates to an early lead – a lead in which Bodemeister held for most of the race.

Two weeks ago, at Churchhill Downs, I’ll Have Another made its move from the middle of the pack during the final stretch, eventually surpassing the favorite with about 200 yards remaining. This Saturday, at the 137th running of the Preakness, I’ll Have Another did it again, but made his move much later, and passed Bodemeister with only a few yards to spare. A full video of the race can be seen here.

I’ll Have Another’s win sets up a Triple Crown run at the Belmont Stakes. No horse has completed the Triple Crown in 34 years.

SB Nation New York will have updates, results and more from the 2012 Preakness. SB Nation’s horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come has you covered for all your horse racing needs.

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Read More: Dan Girardi (D – NYR), Henrik Lundqvist (G – NYR), Anton Volchenkov (D – NJD), Brandon Prust (RW – NYR), Martin Brodeur (G – NJD), Dainius Zubrus (C – NJD), Travis Zajac (C – NJD), Claude Giroux (RW – PHI), Ilya Kovalchuk (RW – NJD), Chris Kreider (LW – NYR), New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils

New Jersey Devils fans are used to seeing Martin Brodeur steal a game in a series. Today, Henrik Lundqvist turned the tables.

The New York Rangers goalie stopped 36 shots en route to his second shutout of the series, blanking New Jersey 3-0. It was his second shutout in the past three games, and gave New York a 2-1 series edge.

Game 4 will be Monday night at the Prudential Center. New Jersey will once again need to fight back from a series deficit, and find some way to solve Lundqvist. Here is what went right, and wrong, in the Game 3 loss:

What Went Right

Martin Brodeur

The best Devil on the ice tonight was once again the goalie. Martin Brodeur was outstanding, matching Lundqvist save for save through two periods. Then the wheels came off, as the Rangers beat Brodeur twice in a two minute span to take the lead. Brodeur, however, had no chance on either goal. Dan Girardi made him go left before shooting right, beating him stick side. Then he had no shot on the Chris Kreider goal, as the rookie had a perfect screen in front and deflected the puck past Brodeur. When it was all said and done, the Devils goalie finished with 19 saves on 21 shots, and was a tough luck loser.

Ilya Kovalchuk

He didn’t score today, but Ilya Kovalchuk was easily the team’s best forward. He led the team with six shots on net, and was one amazing Lundqvist save away from scoring on a breakaway to start the second period. He had some great opportunities on the powerplay as well. But when there’s a goalie like Lundqvist in net, he’s sometimes going to steal away those opportunities. That’s what he did today. If there was another goalie in net, Kovalchuk could have recorded a multi-goal game.

Anton Volchenkov

Volchenkov is the team’s best shot blocker, and he showed it again today, blocking four shots. But that isn’t why he finds himself under the “what went right” heading. After taking a high elbow from Brandon Prust (more on that later), he didn’t miss a shift and finished out the game. He’s one of the main cogs in the Devils defense, and seeing he was no worse for the wear after the elbow was good news for New Jersey.

The team’s speed and forecheck

For most of the game, this gave the Devils a huge advantage over the New York. They couldn’t keep up with New Jersey, and the Devils played their game. They pinned the Rangers deep, and used the forecheck to maintain possession. New Jersey also found a way to use their speed, forcing some odd-man rushes and the Kovalchuk breakaway. If New Jersey can continue to dominate those areas, Lundqvist will need to steal another game to keep the Devils off the scoresheet.

What Went Wrong

The first five minutes of the third period

Today’s loss was almost a carbon copy of the way Game 1 went. New Jersey dominated through two periods, and Lundqvist stood strong. The Rangers came out of the gates in the third period with more jump, and the Devils failed to match. There are always ebbs and flows in a game, and sometimes the other team will gain momentum. To come out of an intermission flat is inexcusable. New Jersey can’t expect to take off five minutes and win a game. That’s not how playoff hockey work. When they stick to their system, they have the better opportunities. New Jersey, frustrated by Lundqvist, failed to come out with energy to start the period. That left them on the wrong end of a 2-0 deficit.

Brandon Prust

The Rangers forward should be talking with the league about his hit in the second period. He was in the Devils zone on the forecheck, pestering Volchenkov, when the Devils defenseman tried to spin away. Prust went to hit Volchenkov, raising his right elbow and hitting the defenseman in the back of the head. No penalty was called, and Volchenkov finished the period, but he didn’t think the hit was accidental.

“It was pretty dirty, actually,” Volchenkov told Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record. “It was an elbow in the head. We’ll see what it’s going to amount to.”

Devils coach Peter DeBoer had stronger words.

“Head hunting plain and simple,” he told Gulitti.

Prust should have been thrown out. Instead, the referees failed to call a penalty. Just because Volchenkov played doesn’t mean Prust will avoid suspension. Remember that Claude Giroux was suspended for hitting Dainius Zubrus in the head, despite the fact the Devils forward came back for the third period.

Specialty Teams

New Jersey went 0-for-5 on the power play, failing to score a man advantage goal for the second time this series. The Rangers are handing the Devils opportunities, but they’re failing to cash in. The special teams needs to improve, and not when the team is down. It looked awful today.

The penalty kill matched the ineffective power play. New Jersey killed off just one of two Rangers power play attempts. Girardi’s power play tally proved to be the game-winner. The Devils have allowed at least one power play goal in each game. After improving against Philadelphia, New Jersey has taken a major step back. Special teams will usually dictate a playoff series, and right now it’s fully in the favor of the Rangers.

The Devils offense

Sometimes, the opposing goalie has one of those nights. Give credit to Lundqvist, who was amazing. New Jersey had plenty of chances, and they need to bury them. Travis Zajac epitomized that in the third period, finding a loose puck in the slot. Lundqvist was moving to his right, and Zajac had the entire top of the net to shoot. His shot sailed over the net, hitting the netting above the glass and eliminating the scoring chance. This Devils scorers need to bury those opportunities. They did in Game 2, and will need that success again in Game 4.

http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2012/5/19/3031320/new-jersey-eastern-conference-finals-game-3-reaction-analysis

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist turned away 36 shots in his team’s 3-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils Saturday afternoon in Game 3 of the 2012 NHL Eastern Conference Finals. The Rangers got only 21 shots, but Lundqvist’s play kept the Rangers in the game until they could finally generate some offense in the third period.

“I think their goalie, you know, was the difference. We generated some opportunities, some zone time, moved the puck around well,” said Devils coach Peter DeBoer. “When you lose a game like this, where we out chance and out play the other team for long stretches, easy to look at it under a microscope and say, oh, boy, they played two great shifts here and that was the difference in the game.

“We strung together six or seven great shifts. We didn’t capitalize on it. That’s the story of the game. So, you know, we had opportunities. If we find a way to score one in the first two periods, it’s a different game. We didn’t.”

http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2012/5/19/3031460/rangers-3-devils-0-eastern-conference-finals-game-3-peter-deboer-henrik-lundqvist

Here is some of the post-race reaction following Saturday’s Preakness Stakes,during which I’ll Have Another ran down Bodemeister in the final 100 yards to win the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. I’ll Have Another will aim to become horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 in the Belmont Stakes next month.

Doug O’Neill (Trainer, I’ll Have Another) – “I’m just numb. I could see him and I felt like he was coming, but you never want to expect that he’s going to be in front. I saw him coming.It seemed like the stretch never ends. Thank God. Usually you want it to end. Incredible.”

Mario Gutierrez (Jockey, I’ll Have Another) – “This is not about me. We talked about it with Mr. Reddam and Mr. O’Neill. We wanted to be a little bit closer to Bodemeister this time because normally that horse runs a huge race. My horse has a tremendous kick in the end. He has been proving that in the last three races. He didn’t disappoint again today.”

Bob Baffert (Trainer, Bodemeister) – “It’s one of those things where it’s good for the sport. It’s good for the Belmont. It’s tough.

“I felt really good about where he was. He looked like he was traveling nicely down the backside and coming to the three-eighths pole, he just sat on him. The fractions were more reasonable today, so turning for home I really thought he was going to do it. He just got a little late there at the end. The winner’s a good horse. It was a good horse race. I really can’t complain. We didn’t win it, but my horse ran his race.

Mike Smith (Jockey, Bodemeister) – “I thought I put him away but he (I’ll Have Another) reached up and got us with three strides. Two great horses and I give them all the credit for what they did.”

http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/5/19/3031643/2012-preakness-stakes-reaction-ill-have-another-doug-oneill-mario-gutierrez-bodemeister

Read More: Thierry Henry (F – France), Kenny Cooper (F – New York Red Bulls), Teemu Tainio (MIDFIELDER – New York Red Bulls), Stephen Keel (DEFENDER – New York Red Bulls), Heath Pearce (DEFENDER – Chivas USA), Ryan Meara (GOALKEEPER – New York Red Bulls), New York Red Bulls

The New York Red Bulls continued what has been an amazing run for them in recent weeks, winning their fifth straight match on Saturday. The Red Bulls defeated the Montreal Impact, 2-1, at Olimpique Stadium in Montreal. This marks the first time in nine years New York has won five consecutive matches.

The Red Bulls (8-3-1, 25 points) have accomplished this glorious stretch despite a depleted roster. They have been without star striker Thierry Henry, defenseman Wilman Conde, midfielder Rafa Marquez, midfielder Teemu Tainio and defender Stephen Keel. Yet, with solid defense and timely offense the Red Bulls have been finding ways to earn victories.

Again Saturday, the Red Bulls overcame adversity. The Impact took a 1-0 lead at the 22-minute mark when Bernardo Corradi netted a penalty kick after a highly questionable call went against Red Bulls defender Markus Holgersson in the Red Bulls’ box.

New York tied the score at 1-1 on a penalty kick of its own at the 37-minute mark. The goal was scored by Kenny Cooper.

The Red Bulls played much of the second half a man down after Victor Pallson was sent off for receiving his second yellow card of the match at the 58-minute mark.

Despite playing a man down the Red Bulls were still able to find the winning score at the 67-minute mark. Roy Miller drove a shot toward the net from the left side. Impact goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts parried the ball out, but Dane Richards drilled home the rebound for New York from the top of the box.

From there, the Red Bulls were able to protect their lead. Goalkeeper Ryan Meara, from Fordham, had five saves in the victory.

The game marked the debut with the Red Bulls of central defender Heath Pearce, acquired this week in a trade with Chivas USA. New York sent forward Juan Agudelo to Chivas.

New York’s next match will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena against Chivas USA.

http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-red-bulls/2012/5/19/3031667/new-york-red-bulls-2012-mls-schedule-montreal-impact-mls-results-score-recap

Read More: 2012 nhl playoffs, rangers vs devils, Henrik Lundqvist (G – NYR), Steve Bernier (RW – NJD), Ilya Kovalchuk (RW – NJD), New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils, May 19, 2012 1:00 PM EDT

The New York Rangers defeated the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, 3-0, taking a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Rangers goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, was the star of the game. The Devils out-shot the Rangers, 36-22, but because Lundqvist saved every shot attempted against him, the Rangers were able to hang close for two periods and end the game in the third with three goals. The Devils also failed to convert on all five power-play opportunities.

The Rangers broke a scoreless tie with two goals in the first 5:16 of the third period. Dan Girardi scored a power play goal at the 3:19 mark off an assist from Brad Richards and Chris Kreider scored on a tip-in at 5:16. New York completed the scoring with an empty-net goal at the 17:47 mark by Ryan Callahan.

Game four is scheduled for Monday at 8 p.m. ET, in New Jersey, televised on NBC Sports Network.

For more on the Rangers please be sure to visit our blog Blueshirt Banter. For the Devils, please check out In Lou We Trust and for all the latest news and updates, stay right here on SB Nation New York.

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