Starting 9: 4/18/09

1) The Rangers are up 2-0 against Washington having won both games on the road. I have to say I'm shocked. Although both were one goal wins, they Rangers showed an intensity in their commitment to defense that I hadn't seen yet from them all season. According to Ranger Rants, the Rangers have blocked 50 shots in two games including 17 from Alexander Ovechkin. Pierre LeBrun of ESPN correctly pointed out that the Rangers dominated the game both physically and mentally. More on this on the cleanup spot.

2) From Rob Neyer: • During yesterday's game, Michael Kay said that Cary Grant "was kind of the Tom Hanks of his generation." I'm just saying. Oh Michael Kay. Just shut up. All our lives will be better.

3) Should have linked to this sooner, but great look from Dugout Central on what the 2010 Yankees will look like. Nady's injury and pending free agency certainly changes things a bit...or does it?

4) The Rangers shouldn't get cocky, but they have a great chance of winning this series. It's been three years since a team has come back after losing the first two games at home to win the series. And the Rangers are going back to Madison Square Garden which should be rocking on Monday night. The Rangers have thoroughly frustrated Alexander Ovechkin who is arguably the best hockey player in the world. They've had Michael Roszival shadow him and blocked a ton of his shots. So frustrated in fact that after Ovechkin missed a shot from point blank in the third period, he threw up his hands in frustration. So add Roszvial to Sean Avery (pest), Ryan Callahan (energy) and Henrik Lundqvist (stopper) as players who have thoroughly frustrated the Caps in this series. I have to say I'm surprised and I hope they continue this play.

5) NL East: Did you notice that Mets star last weekend wasn't on TV from the start? Want to know why? Baseball Digest tells us why. And on the other side, a look at the Phillies awesome World Series rings.

6) It was good to read two articles on steroids that had nothing to do with the Yankees. One on baseball from the New York Times and one from ESPN on football.

7) Hugging Harold Reynolds has a very funny aritcle on the opening of Citi/Taxpayer field and of course never questions the sexuality of Mike Piazza

8) Denny Neagle sounds sort of creepy, though I really am not that surprised. He looks creepy (H/T Jordan)

9) Check out this article from the NHL Tweetup. Not only did my Twitter handle make the article but my picture is the second one down on the left! Speaking of Twitter, Fangraphs has Twitter feeds for every baseball team. Pretty Awesome!