Patriots fans: Doesn't matter who plays, we will crush Giant

BY KERRY BURKE and LARRY McSHANE
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2007/12/27/2007-12-27_patriots_fans_doesnt_matter_who_plays_we.html

Giants fans may be debating whether the team should rest its stars for the playoffs or go all out to beat the undefeated Patriots on Saturday, but New England fans say it doesn't matter.

"It's pretty obvious what's going to happen," said Pats fan Peter Cavanagh, 40, of Manhattan. "I'm hoping the Giants put up a good fight, but they don't have a chance. It's harsh, but that's the truth."

Cavanagh was kind, compared with other local Pats fans excited by their 15-0 run toward a fourth Super Bowl title in seven years.

"The Patriots are going to kill them," said Jim McGuire, a Manhattan bartender. "Eli Manning is terrible. He's like A-Rod - when you need him, he doesn't step up."

Those words evoke painful memories for Yankees' season-ticket holder Peter Morey, who cringed two months ago as the Red Sox won the World Series. Now that it's December, Morey has swapped his pinstripes for the Pats.

"I want the Patriots to win," Morey said. "They're a great team, and this is history."

Or not. Michael Strahan and the Giants are the only team left standing between New England and the second undefeated regular season in NFL history.

Confident Patriots backers consider the game little more than a brief rest stop off the New Jersey Turnpike on the expressway to eclipsing the 1972 Miami Dolphins' 17-0 mark.

"It's going to be a blowout," said Alan Hanson, 47, a Manhattan photo director and Patriots fan. "They're in the Super Bowl. And they're going to win that Super Bowl."

Actually, the Pats need three more wins to reach the NFL title game with a perfect record.

The frenzy over the game has even made the NFL Network, which was scheduled to air the contest exclusively, back down and make the broadcast available to more viewers. The network reaches fewer than 40% of the nation's homes with TVs.

After pressure from Congress, the NFL relented and decided to allow the feed to be simulcast on CBS and NBC.

This will be the first three-network simulcast in NFL history and the first simulcast of any kind of NFL game since the first Super Bowl in 1967.

With News Wire Services

lmcshane@nydailynews.com

http://riveraveblues.com/2007/12/27/prospect-profile-jairo-heredia-1881/#comments



Background
Jairo was born in San Cristobal, DR, but grew up in Santo Domingo, the same Dominican town responsible for David Ortiz, Fausto Carmona, Albert Pujols, Aramis Ramirez, Melky Cabrera and dozens of other major leaguers. The Yanks signed him as a 17-yr old during the 2006 International signing period in early July, and forked over a $285,000 bonus. It was the fourth largest bonus the Yanks handed out last summer, behind Jesus Montero ($1.6M), Carlos Urena ($350,000) and Jose Pirela ($300,000). For some unknown reason he was originally known as “Hairo Heredia” after signing, but it was later corrected to “Jairo,” which is his true birth name.

Pro Career
Jairo began his pro career in 2006 with one of the Yanks’ squads in the Dominican Summer League before participating in Dominican Instructs during the fall. He came to the States in 2007 only a year after signing, which is a move only the very best international talents make that quickly. He made his US debut with the Rookie level GCL Yanks in 2007, working short stints every five days. After a short but rough adjustment period, Jairo went on a tear in July. In 22 IP spread over 5 appearances, he allowed 10 hits and walked only 3 batters (3 ER) against 25 strikeouts. His season high point came on July 10th, went he went 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K against the GCL Indians.

Jairo’s season came to an abrupt end on August 15th, went he left a game with soreness in his throwing shoulder. The Yanks took the ultra-cautious approach they always take and shut Jairo down for the remainder of the season. He finished the year with a 40.2 IP, 31 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 8 BB, 41 K line, and was rated as the 15th best prospect in the GCL by Baseball America. Jairo earned comparisons to Pedro Martinez from GCL Yanks manager Jody Reed (Reed went so far as to refer to him as Pedro Jr.) for his stuff, mound presence and tenacity. Jairo was fully healthy in time to make his second trip to Dominican Instructional League, where he returned to the mound without restraint.

Strengths
When you talk about Jairo Heredia, you have to start with his feel for pitching. He knows how to work off his fastball, pitch to both sides of the plate, and set up hitters. He pitches at 90-92 mph with his fastball, and he should add a tick or two as he fills out his 6′-1″, 190 lb frame. His fastball plays up because he spots it so well. Jairo’s overhand curve is a quality second offering, and when he is able to get it over for strikes consistently it can be unhittable. His changeup is a usable third pitch, but it’s the weakest of his repertoire. He pounds the zone and confidently challenges hitters.

Weaknesses
Jairo pitches like someone 10 years his elder, but his inexperience can still be evident at times. There is such a thing as throwing too many strikes, and Jairo can be guilty of that every so often. He also needs to build up his stamina, as he tended to wear down during his 4-5 inning GCL stints. This is due in part to his max effort delivery, which is a toned down version of the Dontrelle Willis Tornado. He also needs to work on the usual, like fielding his position and holding baserunners.

2008 Outlook
The Yanks are working on cleaning up Jairo’s mechanics and simplifying his delivery, so he’s likely to start 2008 in Extended Spring Training followed by a stint with Short Season Staten Island. There’s an outside chance that he starts the year with Low-A Charleston, but he’ll need to make major strides with his motion over the winter and during Spring Training.

My Take
Well, the Pedro comparisons are both premature and unfair, but you have to like what Jairo brings to the table. I tend to temper my expectations with GCL pitchers because they’ve broken my heart more times than I care to count (Argeni Landaeta and Marvin Moscat anyone?), but I find myself being very optimistic about Heredia. Throwing strikes and learning how to pitch (and not just throw) are two of the biggest obstacles young pitchers face, but Jairo seems to be well on his way to conquering those challenges. The Yanks haven’t developed an impact pitcher from Latin America since Mariano Rivera and Ramiro Mendoza debuted in the mid-1990’s (Cuban vets El Duque and Jose Contreras don’t count), but Jairo looks like he could be the kid to buck that trend. Stay tuned.