Free Tickets!

The New Jersey Nets have devised a new strategy to get people at their games: FREE TICKETS!

The following is from the Newark Star-Ledger:

In a nod to current economic conditions, the basketball team will give unemployed fans who submit their resumes to the Nets Job Bank up to four free tickets, plus access to a Nov. 22 career fair at their home arena, team president and chief executive Brett Yormark said yesterday. The team also will distribute applicants' resumes to its sponsors.

"Hopefully they'll come out and experience the Nets, and then when times get better they'll invest in us, because we invested in them," Yormark said. "No other team is doing that, and I think it's the appropriate thing to do, because times are tough."

To those who register for the program, the team will make 300 tickets available for each of five selected games at Izod Center in East Rutherford.

I like this move by the Nets. The team is struggling, the economy is struggling, why not try to help out both by doing a little something for the fans. Lets face it, a lot of people cannot afford to go to professional sporting events these days. Many times those people who cannot afford a ticket are some of the team's biggest fans. If you are not going to sell out anyway, why not give away a few tickets to people who deserve to and want to go see these games. Who knows, maybe a little extra energy at Izod Center is just what the team needs to win a few close games at home. It will be interesting to see if other teams around the sports world try to adopt this idea.

Managers of the Year Announced

When you take a team from dead last in your division one year all the way to the World Series the following year you are going to get noticed. That is just what the Baseball Writers Association did on Wednesday when they named Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon AL Manager of the Year. Maddon received 27 of a possible 28 first place votes, the lone other vote went to Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.

Over in the National League Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella was given the same honor. Piniella edged out Phillies manager Charlie Manuel by 7 first place votes. Pineiella's Cubs were a NL best 97-64 this season before being ousted by the LA Dodgers in the NLDS.

The two great managers do have ties to each other; Maddon replaced Piniella as Rays skipper in 2006. At the time the Tampa coaching job was considered by many to be the worst job in baseball. Things have certainly taken a turn for the better since.

Division Rivals Strike a Deal

The Florida Marlins and Washington Nationals announced a trade on Tuesday that will send outfielder Josh Willingham and lefty starter Scott Olsen to Washington in exchange for three minor leaguers; second baseman Emilio Bonifacio, right-hander P.J. Dean and infielder Jake Smolinski.

The trade marks yet another cost cutting move for the Marlins who recently shipped Mike Jacobs to Kansas City for the very same reason; all are arbitration eligible, making them unfordable. The move very likely will not be the last for Florida. The addition of Bonifacio, a speedy young second basemen, makes all star second basemen Dan Uggla now expendable.

For the Nationals, the addition of Willingham creates a log jam in the outfield where they already have Austin Kearns, Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge. It is likely that Washington will move one of those three before the season starts. The addition of Olsen is a nice fit for a rotation that struggled mightily last season. Olsen was 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA in 33 starts in 2008. The most impressive stat is his 201 1/3 innings pitched last season, the first time in his career that he surpassed the 200 inning plateau. No Nationals pitcher recorded more that 182 inning last season.

Future Star Close to Signing with White Sox

Meet Dayan Viciedo—He is a 19-year-old Cuban born 3B who defected from Cuba this past May, and will soon be coming to a ballpark near you. After playing on the Cuban national team since he was 14-years old, Viciedo was cleared to become an MLB free agent.

According to MLB.com, Dayan’s agent Jamie Torres (who also represents fellow Cuban-born players Jose Contreras and Alexi Ramirez) has already received numerous offers for the young 3B’s services. The 6’2’ 230-pound 3B is rumored to be close to signing a deal to join Contreras and Ramirez in Chicago.

With the recent MLB success of Alexi Ramirez, many teams have become interested in the young Cuban, as many say he could be a better MLB player than Ramirez. If the predictions are true, we may have the opportunity to see a rising star on the fast track to success as early as April.

Lincecum Named NL Cy Young

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum was named the NL CY Young award winner on Tuesday. Lincecum was 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA with a major league-best 265 strikeouts this season. Those numbers are very impressive considering he played for a forth place team. The 24-year-old righty received 24 of a possible 32 first place votes. Others receiving first place votes were Brandon Webb (4), Johan Santana (4), and CC Sabathia (1).

A's Land Holiday

According to several media sources the Oakland A's have acquired all star outfielder Matt Holiday from the Colorado Rockies. While the deal has not yet been made official, it has been said they they have agreed in principle to send Holiday for a package of players that reportedly includes closer Huston Street, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, and starting pitcher Greg Smith.

Holiday, a two time all star, is considered by many to be the prize offensive player available this offseason. The lone downside to any deal for Holiday is that he has just one season remaining on his contract. He is scheduled to make $13 million this season baring an extension.

Soto Takes Home NL ROTY

Chicago Cub's catcher Geovany Soto was named National League Rookie of the year on Monday. Soto hit .285 with 23 homers, 35 doubles and 86 RBIs in 141 games this season. The award makes Soto the first catcher to receive the award since 1993, when Mike Piazza won it . Soto's steller rookie season was also highlighted by a start in this year's all star game. He was the first rookie catcher in National League history ever to start an all star game. He was also behind the plate for Carlos Zambrano's no-hitter back in September.

Longoria Win AL ROTY

Tampa Bay Rays third basemen Evan Longoria was named the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year on Monday. The power-hitting third baseman received all 28 first-place votes, making him the the first American League player to do so since 1997 when Boston's Nomar Garciaparra accomplished the feat. Longoria, who began the year at AAA with the Durham Bulls of the International league, made the transition to the the big leagues about as smoothly as anyone could ask compiling a .272 average with 27 homeruns and 85 RBI in 122 games for the Rays this season. Longoria also played a vital role in Tampa's playoff success hitting six homeruns and racking up 18 RBI leading the Rays to their first ever World Series appearance.

This award caps off a season of firsts for the Tampa Bay Rays. First winning record, first division title, first playoff appearance, first trip to the world series, and now first major individual award. With a strong core of young players, highlighted by Longoria, the Rays are likely to add a few more first in the coming years. Perhaps a first World Series Title? Only time will tell.

2008 Gold Glove Winners Announced

The 2008 Gold Glove winners have been announced. They are as follows:

National League:

P	Greg Maddux, Dodgers
C	Yadier Molina, Cardinals
1B	Adrian Gonzalez, Padres
2B	Brandon Phillips, Reds
3B	David Wright, Mets
SS	Jimmy Rollins, Phillies
OF	Nate McLouth, Pirates; Carlos Beltran, Mets; Shane Victorino, Phillies

American League:

P	Mike Mussina, Yankees
C	Joe Mauer, Twins
1B	Carlos Pena, Rays
2B	Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
3B	Adrian Beltre, Mariners
SS	Michael Young, Rangers
OF	Torii Hunter, Angels Grady Sizemore, Indians Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners

Not too many surprises this year. Rookie of the year winners will be announced Monday.

Devils Lose Brodeur, Season Too?

The New Jersey Devils have taken quite possibly the one blow they cannot afford as star goaltender Martin Brodeur will miss the next three to four months due to an elbow injury. The four-time Vezina Trophy winner will undergo surgery Thursday to repair the distal bicep in his left elbow.

Brodeur, who is considered by many to be the best goalie ever to play the game, was closing in on two records that would have cemented his status as the game's elite; Patrick Roy's career wins record and Terry Sawchuk's career shutout record. It appears that both will now be put on hold until next season.

This is a huge blow to any playoff chances the Devils may have had. New Jersey is a defense first team, but they just lost the backbone of that defense. It could be a short season in New Jersey.