Giants: What Happens Now?

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On Tuesday, the New York Giants made the shocking decision to bench Eli Manning amidst the teams tumultuous 2-9 season, ending his streak of 210 consecutive games started. The move has signaled that the once proud franchise has fallen into a place of disfunction that was thought to be unprecedented just a few seasons ago. This unfortunate turn of events leaves one question to be asked. What happens now?

New Quarterback?

Geno Smith may be getting the nod in Oakland, everyone knows he's just a fill in as the Giants will want to get a look at 3rd round pick Davis Webb. Ultimately, the team will look for a top tier quarterback in the college ranks to eventually become the franchises signal caler of the future.

The End of Ben McAdoo?

It appears that after just two seasons, the team has lost all faith in McAdoo. Fans and players have criticized his coaching style and questioned his ability to lead. Knowing that he had a hand in sitting Manning won't help his cause as the organization will most likely make him one of the casualties come January.

Jerry Reese Finished in New York?

Jerry Reese has been a part of the Giants organization since 1994, which may make it hard for the team to let him go. However, his recent track record of poor draft picks and free agent signings simply cannot be ignored. He’s played a big part in most of the shortcomings (the offensive line most notably) that made Eli's job far more difficult than it had to be. He likely sealed his fate in an October weekly address when he took the blame for Big Blues poor record, a sentiment many have felt was long overdue.

Manning Retiring?

It is entirely possible that Eli Manning may decide to call it a career at season's end. He's accomplished quite a bit for a quarterback that was once looked at as mediocre by critics and scouts. He currently sits in the top 10 all time in passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. Not to mention he has two Super Bowl MVP awards. Yet, there are going to be murmuring that Manning should look to play at least one more year with perhaps another team. It would be a huge sting for Big Blue to see their franchise player don another uniform, but in the end that decision will be left to

4 Potential Candidates To Replace Girardi

Photo: Brad Penner

After 10 seasons, the Yankees have decided to end the Joe Girardi era in favor of finding a new voice in the changing clubhouse. It will be no easy task finding a good fit for a team that had surprising success in 2017. However, Yankees GM Brian Cashman has assured that he will do all that he can to nab the most qualified candidate. With that said, here are 4 potential contenders for the open slot that Yankees could consider.

Tony Pena

Pena has been with the Yankees since 2006 and is well liked and respected by nearly everyone on the team. Having already established a relationship with the roster, it wouldn't be nearly as hard of a transition for him or the players. If the Yankees want to keep the consistency in the clubhouse Tony Pena is the right guy for the job.

Rob Thomson

Like Pena, Thomson also has an extended tenure with the team, having been with them since 2008. His aggressive, button pushing coaching style might need to be reined in a bit should he be chosen, but the players have come to enjoy it over the years, and that does speak volumes in a baseball setting. The one big thing holding him back is his lack of experience in handling an entire team, which is a big step for a guy who spent six seasons as a third base coach (Although he did manage the team twice in 2008 and was the bench coach for the past two seasons)

Brad Ausmus

Don't be surprised if the Yankees decide to look in the outer market for a manager. With plenty of names to choose from the one name that comes to mind is Brad Ausmus. He's a former Yankees prospect that was lost to the Colorado Rockies in the 92-expansion draft. Ausmus spent three years as the Tigers manager before being let go this past season and like Girardi and Pena, was a former major league catcher from 1993-2010. Should the Yankees decide to look elsewhere for a skipper, Ausmus could be a top contender.

Al Pedrique

Pedrique has spent the past 3 seasons in the Yankees organization managing Class A Tampa and AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre. He not only helped the RailRiders win the 2016 AAA championship, he has also named International League manager of the year the last two seasons. With so many young players coming up to the majors, Pedrique has also had the task of handling nearly all the Yankees top prospects, which means he has an already established relationship with players like Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge and even Clint Frazier, something that certainly shouldn’t be ignored. If Brian Cashman does look in house for a candidate, his name just may be at the top of the list.

Yankees: 4 Keys to Success in the ALCS

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Starting Pitching

The Yankees found some consistency in their starters in the division series from Sabathia, Severino, and Tanaka. With pitchers like Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander, and Lance McCullers opposing them, it will be imperative to get as many quality innings as possible if they want to come out victorious against the favored Astros.

Bullpen

The bullpen has been outstanding thus far and could be the difference maker in this best of seven series. If Girardi can push the right buttons at the right time, the Yankees stand a great chance to pull off another seemingly impossible feat. However, things could get potentially disastrous if certain arms are overused, so mixing it up should serve them well as they have five excellent arms at their disposal.

Didi Gregorious

Gregorious has been one of, if not the most important hitter in the Yankee lineup all season. His heroics helped lift the Yankees through both the Wild Card game and the Division Series and will be needed against Houston. If he can continue to deliver in the clutch, it will go a long way in determining what happens throughout the series. 

Aaron Judge

Things did not go well for Judge against Cleveland as he struck out sixteen times in five games due to poor plate discipline (and a rather unfair strike zone for a guy his height). That must change here as he the Astros will certainly look to expose him in key situations. If he can get back into form and contribute to the offense, he could be the catalyst that helps propel the Bronx Bombers to the World Series.

5 Glaring Weaknesses the Giants Must Address

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Running Game

Gone are the days when the running game was the Giants greatest strength. Now there's just absolute uncertainty and angst every time the ball is handed off. It's a known fact that the league has become far more pass oriented over than in years past, but there still is a place for a strong running attack to thrive. If this team cannot find some way to ramp up the yards on the ground, things won't be looking up anytime soon.

Receiver Balance

After the drudgery that was Week 1 and 2, it's apparent that the offense faces quite a substantial dilemma. The receiving core is struggling to find harmony with Eli Manning as they can barely get a decent play off without problems (The offensive line is the biggest culprit of this, but we'll get to them later). There needs to be an emphasis on spreading the ball around to showcase the abilities of the pass catchers, but that will require some definition of just what the actual strategy is.

Defensive Fatigue

The one good thing that was taken from the first week is the success the defense could have at times. Unfortunately, when the offense can do nothing, the defense is at risk of wilting from being on the field too long game after game. There is far too much talent on that side of the ball and the Giants simply can't allow it to break down, especially when it was such an integral part of their success last season.

Coaching

Ben McAdoo has had a rough start to his coaching tenure. His billing as an offensive guru has looked like a farce thus far, especially given the ineptitude the team has shown on one too many possessions. In Addition, some of the bizarre play calling during games has left many wondering if he's in over his head. Even worse, he doesn’t place any blame on players nor himself for any shortcomings, even when it’s deserved. Should Coach McAdoo keep this up, the Giants may be forced to move on from him a lot earlier than expected

Offensive Line

This is by far the biggest weakness of the Giants due to a severe lack of capable talent. The likes of Bobby Hart, John Jerry, and especially Ereck Flowers have been heavily criticized for their poor technique and lack of football IQ in both pass protection and run blocking. Unfortunately, the team has chosen for whichever reason to ignore the weakness of the line in favor of other endeavors. This has put undue stress on and aging Eli Manning whom is struggling to remotely function in any play call. Drastic changes are needed, and it's up to Jerry Reese and McAdoo to make it happen, otherwise this season's offense look like last years...only much, much worse.

Yankees 2017: Who's Hot, Who's Not 2

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\Who's Hot

Gary Sanchez

August has been very nice to Sanchez thus far as he's hitting .333 through 15 games. If he is rounding into the form he had when he broke in last season, the rest of the American League should look out. 

Dellin Betances

After a few hiccups in July, Betances is once again pitching strong. He has yet to surrender a run this month and has successfully closed out two games. The Yankees are really going to need him to keep it up for the stretch run if they are going to make a push for the playoffs and the division.

Didi Gregorius

No Yankee bat is hotter than Didi's as he is swinging a scorching .359 with 23 hits in August. This season has been a revelation for the 27-year-old shortstop and should his good fortunes continue, he and the club will reap the benefits.

Luis Severino

Despite a rough outing against the Red Sox last week, Severino has proven the be the ace of the staff. He's has very impressive starts over the past two months and probably should have more wins to his record. Once a bit of an enigma, the Yankees look to have found something in the 23-year-old flamethrower.

Who's Not

Aroldis Chapman

It's been a frustrating month for the Yankee closer. His ERA is 10.38 and his command has abandoned him. Many fans are clamoring for Betances and Robertson to split the closer duties until Chapman is right, but Girardi is holding fast with position to keep him in the spot. How that will fare is anyone's guess.

Todd Frazier

Since being acquired in mid-July, Todd Frazier hasn't put together a strong showing at the plate hitting just .207 in 27 games. The Yankees have gotten by unscathed by his struggles, but you would like to see the veteran third baseman pick thigs up and make a healthy contribution through September.

Aaron Judge

Judge in a fall from grace period right now, posting a .189 average in August with league high 27 strikeouts. He also set a less than stellar mark as he has struck out in 34 consecutive games. Many had high hopes that he would be leading the MVP race at this point, but the league has adjusted to him and it will take an adjustment of his own if he wants to return to the form that took the league by storm before the All-Star break.

Giants: Players To Look Out For In 2017

Photo: Bill Streicher USA Today Sports

B.J. Goodson

Goodson is looking more like the guy who will earn the job of starting middle linebacker by the start of the season. Some may chalk this up to the Giants lack of true candidates on the roster, but don't tell that to the second-year man out of Clemson, whom has been lobbying for this chance since OTA's. Should he get the nod, one should believe that he will seek to break the teams overly long streak if mediocrity from the mike position.

Eli Apple

Though he did play in 14 games in his rookie season, Eli Apple will tell you that he feels he didn't put his best foot forward. He was forced to leave a few games due to recurring problems with his hamstring and ankle and at times struggled to play through them. All in all, however, he did manage to contribute to a successful campaign that saw the team make the playoffs for the first time in 5 years. Now healthy, Apple is ready to get to work and prove just how valuable his skill set is for a secondary that improves by vast proportions in 2016.

Paul Perkins

Perkins has not yet been named the starting running back, but you must think it's only a matter of time before he is. His impressive abilities a runner have gotten him noticed by the entire coaching staff, many of whom claiming him to be the back of the future. Though he'll need to outperform the likes of Shane Vereen and the equally talented rookie Wayne Gallman throughout the preseason. Perkins looks to be confident he can get the job done and be a staple of the offense for the next few years.

Landon Collins

After a 2016 season that saw him finish second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting (Some believe he should have won) Landon Collins has not only helped solidify the safety spot but has become a force to be reckoned with on defense. If he can duplicate what he accomplished last season, He could earn a place as one of the best safeties in the NFL.

Odell Beckham Jr.

If there's a player on the Giants that has consistently delivered, it's OBJ. Having amassed over 4,000 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns, some may wonder what the 4th year man has left to prove. However, with a contract extension on the horizon and a taste of the playoffs on his pallet, Beckham certainly has a lot to play for in 2017. He also will look to establish himself as a vocal leader in the locker room that his teammates can trust and count on for this season and the seasons to come.

Yankees: Mid-Season Grades and Contributions

Offense - B+

Photo: Kathy Willens/AP

The Yankee offense has seen a large improvement from previous seasons, allowing them to opportunity to stay in games they were losing quite often last year. The club currently sits third in runs scored (477) and sixth in batting average (.264) something no one could have though possible when the season began. If they can keep up or perhaps build on their first half performance it will go a long way in helping the Yankees reach their goals.

Top Contributor - Aaron Judge .329 AVG 30 HR 66 RBI

Surprise Contributor - Ronald Torreyes .278 AVG 2 HR 20 RBI

Low Contributor - Chris Carter .201 AVG 8 HR 26 RBI

Starting Pitching - C+

Photo: Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

One of the biggest concerns heading into this season was the starting rotation and where the production would come from. Unfortunately, that remains an issue as the Yankees have not been able to get much consistency out of all five pitchers. It's hard to find success if you cannot pitch and the team needs to get this aspect of the game on the upswing if it wants to compete in the embattled American League playoff picture.

Top Contributor - Luis Severino 5-4 3.54 ERA

Surprise Contributor - Jordan Montgomery 6-4 3.65 ERA

Low Contributor - Masahiro Tanaka 7-8 5.47 ERA

Bullpen - C 

Photo: Frank Franklin II/AP

For the past three seasons, one of the Yankees greatest strengths has been their bullpen. It didn’t matter who was on the mound, they always managed to get the job done. That has been a prudent struggle thus far as Joe Girardi simply cannot find a reliable arm for those key situations. It’s likely that the team will look for help come the trade deadline, which many are hoping will take some of the edge off a less than stellar first half for Mike Harkey and crew.

Top Contributor - Adam Warren 35.2 Innings 2.07 ERA

Surprise Contributor - Chasen Shreve 24.1 Innings 2.96 ERA

Low Contributor - Tyler Clippard 34.1 Innings 5.24 ERA

NBA Draft: Prospects the Knicks should target at Number 8

Malik Monk G Kentucky

The Knicks struggled to find a consistent shooter other than Courtney Lee this past season. with the growing use of the three pointers in the NBA, the team can ill-afford to be without at least two on the roster. Monk was one of the nation’s best pure shooters in the nation shooting 40% from deep in his only season at Kentucky. If he happens to fall to this spot (which some think is unlikely) Jackson is probably going to take him.

Dennis Smith Jr G NC State

Smith is a dynamic player with traits comparable to Russell Westbrook, which is something the Knicks could certainly use. While he isn't the ideal point guard he possesses the ability to make things happen on the court. along with his highflying dunks and scoring, he could inject the same excitement on the court that Porzingis did just two seasons ago.

Luke Kennard G Duke

If there is an odds-on favorite to surprise everyone on draft night, it's Kennard. He's arguably the best shooter in the draft class and has a very high Basketball IQ, which should lower the learning curve for him. He lead the Blue Devils in scoring and three point percentage, making him an attractive target for a Knick team in need of a confident scoring wing

Frank Ntilikina G France

Assuming that the Knicks are looking for a good game managing point guard in this years draft, Frank Ntilikina is their guy. He may not have the pizzazz of the other guards but he gets the job done. He also possesses the perimeter defensive skills that have plagued New York point guards for quite some time. Some may think that drafting him here is too safe, but knowing the current state of the Knicks safe is a word that many should revel in.

De'Aaron Fox G Kentucky

Fox may be a long shot pick, but crazier things could happen on draft night that may could allow the Knicks the chance to pick him up. though he hasn't grown into his body (weighing a slender 170) he's hot the tools to succeed as a guard. His shot is still a work in progress, but he still managed to shoot a steady 47% in 2016 despite this issue. If he comes into range by way of a miracle or some unexpected trade, Fox could be quite a find for NY