Rutgers Spring Game: Maybe Gary Nova is the best we have

It's very simple: Gary Nova is the best that Rutgers has at quarterback.

I know this is a statement that drives all us nuts, but based on the Saturday's spring game performances of Mike Bimonte and Chris Laviano. Bimonte is simply not good enough, while Laviano is just not ready. That leaves Gary Nova as the last man standing, leading Rutgers into their first season in the Big 10.

For the last four years, Nova has gone through offensive coordinator left and right. This is not a slight on any of the past OC at Rutgers, but Nova is currently being coached by one of the best offensive minds in the country in Ralph Friedgen.

Nova made some nice throws and look comfortable in the Friedgen new system. Maybe this will be the year that Nova takes the next step.

Prospect Plus: Met's Gavin Cecchini

Name: Gavin Cecchini
Organization: New York Mets
Team: Savannah Sand Gnats
Position: Shortstop
Stats Friday against the BlueClaws: 0-5 with two strikeouts

Positives: The younger brother to Boston's Garin, shortstop Gavin Cecchini is a contact hitter with solid tools. Cecchini will make contact. Will make the solid play, never will be a superstar.

Negative: One thing that will make it hard for Mets fans to get excite for is that they passed on Cards stud pitcher Michael Wacha to take Cecchini. I know that its only one game but Cecchini looked terrible and didn't show me anything that warrants him being a top 10 prospect in the Mets organization.

Prospects Plus: Met's Dominic Smith

Name: Dominic Smith
Organization: New York Mets
Team: Savannah Sand Gnats
Position: First Base
Stats Friday against the BlueClaws: 2-4 with a double and a run scored

Positives: Smith, the fourth ranked player in the Mets system,  relies on a smooth left-handed swing that is expected to generate power potential down the line as he continues to grow and mature. Smith also has a good eye at the plate.  He is considered an excellent fielder at the position, and has a plus arm to go with it. Smith, a first rounder in 2013, showed a nice piece of hitting when he took a pitch the other way for a double on Friday night.

Negatives: His biggest problem is a propensity to step towards the pitch and hit the ball way out in front.Another issue is he just needs a little more refinement in his approach. Some scouts complain that Smith can get overeager, swinging at breaking balls out of the zone that smart hitters learn to ignore.

Professional Tailgating: Lax Gameday

   

After weeks of promising my son I would take him to a lacrosse, I finally did. On Saturday we made our way to Princeton for their game against Rutgers. 

 

See ya #10

The relationship between the Eagles and their explosive playmaker Desean Jackson ended in a dramatic way yesterday. Here is how the Philly papers covered it. 

 

   

The Cover Story: Selection Sunday

Here is a look  at how newspapers around the country covered Selection Sunday. 

Cover Story: Eagles in Free Agency

The Eagles have been active at the start of the new NFL year and I love their moves. Here is how the papers covered it.

   

Professional Tailgating: A minor league ballpark trip

With amazing weather in New Jersey on Saturday, the OTWT Tailgating Crew headed to Lakewood for the Blueclaws Fanfest. During the event, Blueclaws staff took us on a tour of First Energy Stadium.

    

   

    

    

    

A long fall for the Phillies

A couple of years ago Phillies tickets where adorn with players. Today as the product on the field continues to erode, the organization has decided to out something else on their tickets: photos of the stadium. It's never good when you have nothing better to sell then your stadium. 

Perfection

Wichita State did something that very few teams do, go undefeated in the regular season. Here is how the local newspapers covered it.

Prospects Plus: Shooting themselves in the foot

After Mark Appel turned down the Pirates in 2012, they could have run to the NCAA and accused the Stanford pitcher of using an agent. But like any well run Major League Baseball team they took its medicine and moved on.

But last week, the Phillies decided to take the law into their own hands. Ben Wetzler, an Oregon State University senior pitcher and former Phillies draft pick, was suspended 11 games by the NCAA on Friday, three months after the Phillies reported him to college's governing body for violations. Wetzler, the NCAA said, used an agent who attended meetings with the Phillies and negotiated potential contract terms. The Phillies did not sign Wetzler, their fifth-round pick last June, and took the unusual step of reporting him.

So wait the Phillies reported a fifth rounder that didn't sign, while the Pirates kept their mouth shut about a top 10 pick deciding not to sign and return to Stanford.  A couple of years ago, the Phillies where considered a model orgainzation, now it just looks like they are the laughing stock.

Ben Wetzler, an Oregon State University senior pitcher and former Phillies draft pick, was suspended 11 games by the NCAA on Friday, three months after the Phillies reported him to college's governing body for violations.
Wetzler, the NCAA said, used an agent who attended meetings with the Phillies and negotiated potential contract terms. The Phillies did not sign Wetzler, their fifth-round pick last June, and took the unusual step of reporting him.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/phillies/Ben-Wetzler-suspended-11-games-Oregon-State-disappointed-in-Phillies.html#Bjwy5LBl86F5qpkb.99

Rutgers could care less about AAC

So Rutgers can't get to the Big Ten fast enough. Even thought they are still in the AAC there are signs in the RAC that they will be on their way. A showcase is dedicated to the Big Ten. There is nothing dedicated to AAC.

Professional Tailgating: Larry Brown can coach

Last night we headed up to see Rutgers play SMU. Let's just saw I can see the Mustangs winning a couple of games in the tournament. The game was supposed to be played Thursday night but was rescheduled because of weather and let's just say many people didn't get the memo. 

    

   

Baseball season is officially here

Baseball season is here now that I have my Baseball America Prospects Handbook.

A Sunday afternoon at the hockey game

So for my sons first hockey game we headed to Boardwalk Hall to see the Albany Devils vs the Hershey Bears and it was not that bad all. 

    

    

Thank you Andy

In the April before Andy Reid's final season in Philly he may have given us the greatest gift that he could, beside of course a SuperBowl. With the clocking ticking on this tenure, Reid drafted four guys that are soon to be corner stones to the Chip Kelly era.

With the Eagles first pick of that 2012 draft Reid selected Fletcher Cox, with his second pick he Mychal Kendricks, then he selected Vinny Curry, Nick Foles, Brandon Boykin, and Bryce Brown.

Traditional you like to get a couple of starters out of a draft, but Reid did better than that getting four starters, if you include Boykin would plays a ton. Curry came into his own this year and Brown is a solid back up.

Not bad for a guy who was basically a dead man walking.

Cover Story: Is it almost next year

A fun season ended for the Eagles on Saturday night as the Saints beat them in the NFC Wildcard weekend. It's been a fun year. 

Professional Tailgating: Going Bowling

On Saturday the Tailgating Crew headed to Yankee Stadium for Rutgers vs. Notre Dame in the Pinstripe Bow. During the game Rutgers played well but was outclassed by the superior Notre Dame talent. It was a fun game. Glad we went. 

Cover Story: Champs

Division Champs has a nice ring to it. 

Cover Story: Metro Dome Mess

At least the Cowboys didn't win