New York Sports Day story

Putz Ok With Setting Up

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Friday, December 19, 2008



FLUSHING, NY - Mets general manager Omar Minaya walked into the team’s palatial home clubhouse inside Citi Field for the first time Thursday. One day after introducing free

-agent pickup Francisco Rodriguez as the new closer, the GM presented the second part of his retooled bullpen, appearing with J.J. Putz in what the organization hopes will be the first of man y good moments in the new ballpark.

Putz, acquired in a three-team, 12-player trade, was Seattle’s closer from 2006 until his move to Queens. The right-hander, who turns 32 in February, racked up 91 saves the past three years for the Mariners, said serving as the set-up man was not the ideal situation but insisted he won’t have any problems protecting leads for Rodriguez.

“I’m fine with the role,” Putz said. “The bottom line is that I want to win. I haven’t had the chance to do that in Seattle. To come to a team that’s built to win right now, I’ll pitch in the sixth, seventh; whatever it takes to get us a championship.”

Putz compiled a 3.08 ERA in six seasons in Seattle, going 22-15 with 101 saves. Minaya acquired the 6-5, 220-pound hurler in a deal that jettisoned Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez and Joe Smith.

In playing his entire career in the AL West and facing K-Rod as an opponent in Anaheim , Putz said he is happy to be a teammate of the record-setting closer. Putz admitted the situation is not ideal for someone used to closing, though he said he is looking forward to backing up Rodriguez, who set Major League Baseball’s single-season save records with 62 for the Angles last season.

“I’m just glad I don’t have to watch him on the other side anymore, because he killed us.” Putz said. “He’s a lot of fun to watch. He’s been as dominate as anyone in this game the last few years. He’s not a bad guy to have to set-up for, I guess.”

Ribcage and elbow injuries limited Putz to just 47 games last season, though the Trenton, Michigan native has logged a career 337 strikeouts in 323 innings. He is signed through 2009 and the Mets hold an $8.6 million option for 2010 with a $1 million buyout.

“Everything feels great,” Putz said. “I’ve been throwing for a couple of weeks now. I’ve been working out since November. Everything feels good and I’m ready to go.”

He owns a career 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings and offered brief scouting report to Mets fans unfamiliar with his work following his years pitching on the West Cost.

“I’m a high energy guys when I’m out there,” Putz said. “A power pitcher; and my out pitch is my split finger.

“It wasn’t the ideal situation. I really like closing. But I’m just going to take it an innin g earlier, so it’s not going to be that big of an adjustment.”

Putz said he is healthy following injuries last season. The Mets had a “Welcome, J.J.” sign on the centerfield screen during his photo session with Minaya and COO Jeff Wilpon. Next to Citi Field, the demolition of Shea Stadium continued, and Minaya said the change to a new facility w ill also lead to a change in results at the end of games. The Mets blew 29 saves in 2008, with only Seattle and St. Louis (31) racking up a higher number.

“Last year was a year when we had difficulties at the end of the game,” Minaya said. “This year, by adding Rodriguez, by adding J.J., we feel very good about our team. We’re excited about it.”

WRHU J.J. Putz and News Pictures of Citi Field

Hofstra Chronicle Islanders Article

Section Toolbar: Homepage News Sports B-Section Editorial/Op-ed Features

MacDonald honored as one of NHL monthly stars

By Brian Bohl in Sports

Issue date: 12/4/08

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The goaltender generated headlines by simply skating on the ice. There were no shots fired at the netminder who didn't wear pads. No wingers buzzed the crease trying to create scoring chances. And there were no chants from the crowd.

Joey MacDonald was named of the NHL's Three Stars of the Month for his solid November. But Rick DiPietro made news by simply getting on a rink after his Oct. 27 knee surgery. "It's been a long time," DiPietro told reporters. "I've been looking forward to getting back or at least getting on the ice."

MacDonald has allowed the Islanders to stay within .500 following DiPietro's second knee surgery of the year. In the third year of a 15-year contract, DiPietro will undoubtedly get the chance to earn his starting job back as soon as he is healthy.

In the meantime, MacDonald has done a stellar job trying to shed the career minor leaguer tag. The 28-year-old continues to thrive with the first sustained playing time of his NHL career, making 14 straight starts from Nov. 3-29. During that span, he went 8-5-1, recording a .916 save percentage.

MacDonald entered the season with just 17 games of NHL experience in brief stints for the Isles, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins. But the seven-year pro provided coach Scott Gordon with something DiPietro has not been able to deliver: consistency. MacDonald led all goaltenders in minutes played (842) last month and also faced the most shots (439) while finishing tied for the most wins in November.

Considering MacDonald's career numbers before the season opener and it was questionable if the Halifax, Nova Scotia native would even make the roster. Yet he earned the league's third star, joining perennial All-Stars Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin for the November honors.

Gordon continues to rid the hot hand, keeping MacDonald between the pipes. While the Islanders enter Wednesday with an Atlantic Division-low 22 points, the club is still just four points behind Carolina for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

At least Gordon's job security should be solidified for the time being. The first-year coach appears to have he backing of general manager Garth Snow, especially with the 10-12-2 record despite DiPietro playing in just three games before the operation. That's in contrast to Carolina, which fired Peter Laviolette Wednesday.

Laviolette led the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup championship just two years ago. But like his too-brief reign as the Islanders coach, Laviolette was let go despite a solid record and a history of success.

Gordon is the Islanders fifth coach since 2003, a run of instability that started with Laviolette's dismissal. Whether Gordon can avoid his fate is uncertain, though MacDonald's hot play could keep the heat off him, at least until DiPietro returns.

As for the former No. 1 overall draft pick, DiPietro gave his understudy praise and said the team is improving its propensity for blowing late-game leads.

"I think they played well," DiPietro told reporters after practice Tuesday. "We had a couple of breakdowns late in games that have cost us some wins, but the effort's been there.

"The system's working well and Joey's played really well."

Joey MacDonald WRHU Audio Report

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Photo Project Slide 5

Family Affair:

Muhammad Ali did not attend Hofstra's conference on the boxing great. But Ali's daughter, Maryum "May May" Ali (pictured right) was a featured speaker at the Reflections of a Fighter panel and was in the audience for the discussion with reporters who covered her father's career.

Photo Project Slide 4

The Third Man in the Ring:

Famed boxing referee Arthur Mercante attends Muhammad Ali panel. Mercante was the official in the ring for many of Ali's most famous fights, including his bouts against Joe Frazier and George Forman.

Mercante, a New York resident for 60 years, refereed more than 120 fights in five continents before retiring. He officiated ALi's first fight againist Frazier, which some historains have dubbed the "Fight of the Century."

(Brian Bohl)