Thrashers Grab Schremp Off Waivers

Former New York Islanders forward Rob Schremp was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Thrashers today. 

Schremp, a former first round pick of the Edmonton Oilers and New York native, had 10 goals and 12 assists in 45 games played with the Islanders this season.

The Islanders placed Schremp on waivers on Friday after being unhappy with the forward's offensive output on the season, but because of the weekend waiver rules that don't enable a player to be claimed over the weekend, Schremp was in the lineup on Saturday night against the Washington Capitals.

Schremp is quick and has fantastic hands. He is smooth around the net and is a crisp passer. Unfortunately, he was unable to translate that to the expected great success scouts thought he would be out of the draft.

On a personal note, I will miss the guy. He is one of the funniest people in the NHL and a great personality in the locker room that loved going to battle for his teammates and his teammates loved him.

I understand hockey is a business and from a business stand point this needed to be done, but I am genuinely upset by this today.

He worked very hard every day and, although he battled a knee and back injury in his two years on Long Island, he battled every night. He is a good friend and I will miss him. Good luck in HotLanta Schrempy!

Martin Will Not Play First Spring Game

If you're one of those Yankees fans that was worried when the Yankees signed Russell Martin to be their starting catcher because of his long, but recent, injury history, you should be just that, concerned.

No, actually you shouldn't be very concerned, but at first glance you have every right to be.

I read the headline that Martin would miss the first spring game because of his ongoing recovery from offseason knee surgery and I immediately said "oh great, here we go." But then I read on and discovered that it is just precautionary and just part of the recovery process that Martin is going through.

"I don't think he's quite ready to go and I'm not going to rush him,'' manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. "He still talks about [his knee] doesn't quite feel the same as it did before. I told him, I want to know when you're 100 percent. Because I don't want any setbacks with him. When I put him in, I want him to be ready to go.''

The 28-year-old Martin passed a physical before signing a one-year, $4 million contract in December to replace Jorge Posada behind the plate. But within a matter of days, it was announced he would undergo surgery to repair "a small meniscus tear'' in his right knee, the same surgery both Posada and CC Sabathia underwent in the offseason.

At the time, general manager Brian Cashman said, "It's not a serious surgery at all,'' that Martin's recovery would take two to three weeks and that the catcher would be "back to normal within a month.''

But now, nine weeks after the surgery, Martin is still feeling discomfort. Worse, on Wednesday, he added three ominous letters to the mix: MCL, as in medial collateral ligament.

"I injured my MCL in the offseason,'' Martin said. "But the surgery wasn't for the MCL, it was for the meniscus. When they looked at my knee they saw that I had a meniscus issue as well, so in the time it would take for the MCL to heal, the surgery would heal, so they might as well do it. It was just a prevention type thing.''

Whatever the real extent of the injury, it has so far prevented Martin from participating in the full range of catching drills -- he has not taken part in blocking drills yet -- and will keep him out of the first spring training game at least.

Coupled with the injuries that marred his 2010 season with the Dodgers -- Martin tore his right hip labrum on a slide last August -- it raises the possibility that Posada -- penciled in as the full-time designated hitter for this year -- may still have use for his catching gear after all.

Girardi refused to say who would catch on Saturday -- Francisco Cervelli, last year's backup, and rookie Jesus Montero are the likely choices -- but Posada put the gear on for the first time Wednesday and is scheduled to catch his first bullpen of the spring on Thursday.

"We're just keeping Jorge's catching skills sharp,'' Girardi said.

Girardi said he was not sure when Martin would be well enough to catch in a game.

"I hope it's just three or four days, but if it takes more, it takes more,'' he said.

"It's still a little bit stiff, it's not 100 percent yet,'' Martin said. "But how it felt the first day compared to now the progression has been really good. This is more a conservative-type thing, to make sure I will be ready. Instead of getting started too early and having a setback and missing the early part of the season, which I do not want to do. I want to be out there from Day 1."

Let's be realistic here and don't over react. Martin will be fine and behind the dish when Opening Day 2011 comes around 35 days from now.

He is coming off knee surgery. Yeah, it was a minor surgery, but people rehab differently than other people and just because Sabathia and Posada are fine now, doesn't mean Martin is 100% yet.

Once you go under the knife once, you are never the same again, no matter how minor the surgery is. If Martin can get back his hitting ability, which I really think he can with Kevin Long as his hitting coach, he will be a huge asset in the No. 9 hole in the Yanks lineup.

Don't read much into this, folks. Martin will be fine.

Islanders Keep Taking Hits, Poulin Now Out for Season Too

Rick DiPietro has already been knocked out of action -- literally -- and now the New York Islanders have lost their backup goalie.

Kevin Poulin dislocated his left knee cap and will require surgery that will keep him out for the remainder of the season, the team announced on Wednesday.

Poulin hurt himself in warmups before the Isles' 5-3 loss to the Maple Leafs Tuesday night. He left Nassau Coliseum on crutches and underwent an MRI Wednesday.

Mikko Koskinen was the emergency starter in the nets for New York.

The Islanders also announced that forward Jeremy Colliton has a rib injury that will keep him out two weeks.

DiPietro was decked by the Penguins' Brent Johnson in a rare goalie fight last week. He is out four to six weeks with facial fractures and knee swelling.

Is it just me or does this feel like 2008 all over again? But seriously, this is painful. Poulin hurt himself when he got his skate caught in a rut at the net in warm-ups before the game against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.

Now the Isles get to see just what they got when they drafted Koskinen in the beginning of the second round in the 2009 Amateur Draft, let's see what the kid has. If his play in Bridgeport is any indication of what things might be like in the NHL, then Koskinen could be in for a wake up call.

DiPietro Out 4-6 Weeks with Broken Face

It went from embarrassing to serious very quickly for Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro, who announced Friday he will miss 4-6 weeks because of numerous facial fractures resulting from a punch he took from Penguins goalie Brent Johnson during Wednesday’s 3-0 loss in Pittsburgh. DiPietro lost the fight to Johnson after that one punch to his cheek.

To watch the fight, click here.

On top of that, there’s swelling again in DiPietro's surgically repaired left knee, which very much puts in jeopardy the rest of the beleaguered netminder’s season.

“It’s unfortunate and frustrating and every other emotion you can throw in there,” DiPietro said at the Coliseum while in street clothes. “You don’t ever want a broken face to be the reason for extra rest, but you keep telling yourself everything happens for a reason. I’m not sure what that reason is yet, but I’m sure at some point it will come to the surface and make when we win the Stanley Cup that much sweeter.”

The original X-rays taken on DiPietro’s face in Pittsburgh came back negative, but upon returning to New York, the CT scan showed multiple fractures.

“I can’t sit here and tell you how long it’s going to take my bones to heal,” DiPietro added, “but I’ll drink a lot of milk and say a lot of prayers and hopefully this thing heals up quick.”

DiPietro has a 7-10-4 record with a 3.36 goals-against average and .890 save percentage in 21 games this season.

I don't even know what to say. I hope he heals quick because Ricky is the nicest guy and deserves better. He works so hard and is the ultimate teammate. Hopefully he comes back in top shape and can stay healthy for the future.

Sanchez Will Not Need Shoulder Surgery

Mark Sanchez ended several weeks of speculation about his injured throwing shoulder, delivering a final verdict Thursday night -- no surgery.

The New York Jets quarterback, who underwent an MRI exam the day after the AFC Championship Game, said he received the news this week from Jets doctor Ken Montgomery, who consulted with shoulder specialists.

Sanchez said he was "absolutely" relieved to hear the news; the last thing he wanted was another offseason of rehabilitation. A year ago, he spent most of the offseason rehabbing from knee surgery.

"They were just really pleased with the way things have healed," Sanchez told five reporters before a promotional appearance at a resort hotel. "The swelling and bruising type stuff is gone, so they're really happy about that. ... That's good news."

Sanchez is planning to have one more shoulder exam with the team doctor before March 3, the day before a possible lockout would begin. In the meantime, he said the doctors prescribed "active rest," meaning a regimen of rehab exercises and stretching. He threw lightly earlier this week.

"[Montgomery] said it's not going to be a sit-around-and-see-how-you-feel-in-August-type thing," said Sanchez, relaxed and in good spirits. "I said of course not. I'm committed to the team, number one. I'll do everything I can mentally and physically to be ready to play, and I know I will."

Sanchez hurt his shoulder Dec. 19 at Pittsburgh, although he never missed a play. He underwent an MRI exam the following day. For the remainder of the season, the team referred to it as a "sore" shoulder.

Sanchez battled through the injury for the next five games, including three postseason starts. He admitted "it was painful, but nothing I couldn't handle." He was limited in practice, but he actually played well with the injury. He said he didn't take any painkilling injections.

With a possible lockout looming, Sanchez said he will look to organize informal workouts with teammates, perhaps a reprisal of the "Jets West" camp he hosted last offseason near his home in Southern California.

Sanchez arrived in the North Texas area for a whirlwind of pre-Super Bowl activities. He admitted it was weird to be so close to the Super Bowl site after falling one game short. He issued a quasi-guarantee for 2011.

"We expect to be right where we were, and one game further," he said, adding, "It was weird, just seeing the Super Bowl logo everywhere, seeing the Steelers' logo. It's like, 'Man, we were so close.'"

Cano Signs on as the Latest Boras Client

It just got that much harder to re-sign Robinson Cano once he is ready to become an unrestricted free agent. The Yankees All-Star second baseman has hired super agent Scott Boras as his agent, a source told ESPNdeportes.com.

The All-Star second baseman and Boras had a meeting Friday in San Pedro de Macoris, Cano's hometown, and they even played some ball before a crowd of onlookers.

Cano, who finished third in AL MVP voting for 2010, was previously represented by agent Bobby Barad.

In 2011 he will play the last year of his $30 million contract signed in 2008. New York has options for $10 million and $14 million in 2012 and 2013.

Cano, 28, has a .309 career batting average in six seasons with the Yankees. He hit .319 with 29 home runs, 41 doubles and 109 RBIs and scored 103 runs in 2010, receiving the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

Boras is known for being extremely demanding in negotiations and general managers often are scared away from signing top players because of that. Boras gets the very best for all of his clients and even though he may be tough to negotiate with, the Yankees will not let that get in the way of resigning their star second baseman in the future.

Andy Pettitte Hangs 'Em Up

Andy Pettitte, who has toyed with the idea of retirement since the 2006 offseason, has officially decided that his time has come and he will announce his retirement tomorrow during a press conference at Yankee Stadium.

Pettitte, baseball's all-time leader in postseason victories (19), flew to New York yesterday afternoon and is scheduled to make his announcement official Friday morning.

His decision, which the Yankees did not try to talk him out of, is another blow to the team's rotation, the first being when Cliff Lee chose to pitch for the Phillies.

The Core Four is down to three. Jorge Posada, moving from catcher to DH this season, is probably not going to be back in 2012. Mariano Rivera has two more years on his new deal, while Derek Jeter has three and an option for a fourth.

"It is just one more person gone from that special time in New York," said former Yankee warrior Paul O'Neill, who won four championships with Jeter, Pettitte and Rivera.

Pettitte added a fifth ring in 2009, but the Yankees now go into 2011 in an unfamiliar role -- they are not the favorites to win it all. In fact, they have a rotation short on sure things.

Even with Pettitte, the rotation had question marks; now the hole he leaves is gaping. As of now, Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett, Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre follow CC Sabathia.

General manager Brian Cashman, who did not return a call but is expected to attend today's news conference, said all winter he assumed Pettitte wasn't going to pitch in 2011. He brought in Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia in the last week on minor-league contracts to compete for a rotation spot.

Nova, 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in his career, is in position to win the Yankees' fourth starter spot. The fifth slot is up for grabs between Garcia, Colon and Mitre. The Yankees do feel they are stocked with potential starters in the minors, but the best of the best -- Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances -- are more likely to arrive in 2012 than 2011.

Cashman could add another past-his-prime guy like Kevin Millwood, but to really replace Pettitte, especially after failing to sign Cliff Lee, Cashman will likely need to practice patience. Still, the Yankees will be waiting to pounce on any top-of-the-line starter, via trade, that becomes available.

But although Pettitte had said he was leaning toward retirement, there was hope within the organization that he would return for a 17th season. After all, Pettitte had vacillated in previous years and decided to return each time. Hope increased when he recently began throwing at his home in Deer Park, Texas.

"I'm really sad that Andy is going to retire,'' said Posada, who caught Pettitte from 1995-2003 and 2007-10. "He was so much more than a teammate to me - he was one of my closest friends. I admire everything that he has accomplished as a Yankee, but Andy was someone who always put the team first. I'm going to miss him deeply."

Pettitte finishes his career 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA in 16 seasons - 13 with the Yankees - and likely will be remembered for his performances when the pressure was most intense. He went 19-10 in the postseason, winning all three series-clinching games in the Yankees' run to the 2009 World Series title.
His 203 victories as a Yankee trail only Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231).

Pettitte was off to the best start of his career in 2010 - 11-2 with a 2.70 ERA - before suffering a groin injury in his first start after the All-Star break. It cost him nine weeks of the season, and he finished 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA. He then beat the Twins in Game 2 of the ALDS and lost Game 3 of the ALCS to Lee and the Rangers.

Instead - he said then and at other times when asked about it - his decision would come down to family. He and his wife, Laura, have three sons and a daughter.

"Those off-days get hard, trying to fly home to see your family for a day, 24 hours. That's a tough deal," Pettitte said in October. "The kids are getting to an age where I want to be home."

After this morning's news conference, Pettitte will head there, presumably for good.

Pettitte's retirement really comes as a shock to no one because he never has waited this long to decide in years past and when he walked out of the clubhouse after the Yankees series-clinching Game 6 loss to the Texas Rangers in the ALCS he told his teammates "I probably won't be back."

He is arguably the greatest clutch pitcher of all-time, but that is a debate for another time. His value to the team is often understated, just ask O'Neill. "He's going to be missed more as someone for the younger guys to lean on," O'Neill told ESPNNewYork.com. "He's going to be missed every fifth day, but I still think and feel Andy was the leader and lot of people didn't realize it."

"Usually, someone you consider a big-game pitcher has a fiery personality, but Andy was laid back until he took the mound," said O'Neill, now a Yankees broadcaster on YES. "He has been the staple of that pitching staff. Even with bigger names and everything, people looked to him. I think he is going to be missed in that respect as much as pitching the important games."

The Yankees right now have placeholders to fill in for Pettitte. A big-time, big-game starter is tougher to find. Especially one who might never have led the rotation, but was a leader in the clubhouse.

Freddy Garcia Signs with Yanks on Minor League Deal

Like I predicted, the Yankees added competition to their fight for the fifth starter's role as the signed former Mariner and White Sox pitcher Freddy Garcia to a minor league contract.

Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre are among the other candidates in the mix for spots in manager Joe Girardi's rotation. Garcia, Nova and Mitre will have to fight off challenges from recently acquired right-hander Bartolo Colon and several prospects the Yankees believe are nearly big league ready.

Garcia will receive a $1.5 million base salary if he makes the big league club. He can earn $3.6 million in possible incentives, topping out at 30 starts, according to a source. It also lets Garcia opt out by March 29, according to a report.

This move is a better signing and potentially more rewarding than the signing of Bartolo Colon but as the saying goes "the best of people come out when there is competition for their job." Garcia has fought through numerous shoulder injuries over the last few seasons, three to be exact.

He bounced back from three injury-interrupted seasons to pitch well for the White Sox last season. The Yankees got a close-up look at him when he threw seven impressive innings to beat them in Chicago on Aug. 27. Garcia also lost at Yankee Stadium in late April.

Garcia enjoyed successful, durable years early in his career with Seattle. He went 17-8 as a rookie in 1999 and was 18-6 with an American League-leading 3.05 ERA and 238 2/3 innings in 2001. He was an All-Star for Seattle in 2001 and 2002.

Garcia has the ability to be a lights out starter when he's on, but the problem is he isn't always on because of his ongoing shoulder injuries. Garcia's deal is a better deal for the Yankees than the Colon deal because Garcia is younger, weighs less and has a better repertoire than Colon does.

I think Garcia is possibly the best candidate to win the fifth starter's role because of his experience and his big-game ability. He has pitched in the postseason and has experience in a playoff run, as he was a part of the Mariners team that won 116 games in the 2001 season.

My prediction is that Freddy Garcia will be sticking around longer than Bartolo Colon will be this Spring Training.