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By Bryan Berg  July 22, 2009, at 7:36 pm  Those who were worried about the Islanders’ goaltending situation can now begin worrying even more about the health of Rick DiPietro. The Islanders signed former Philadelphia Flyer and Buffalo Sabres goaltender Martin Biron to a one-year contract today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed; they also don’t really matter. I’ll assume it’s a one-way contract worth at least the $2.5 million the Islanders are already paying Dwayne Roloson.
So here we are. The Islanders are paying Rick DiPietro $4.5 million this year. They’re paying Roloson $2.5 million this year. They’re now paying Biron upwards of $2 million a year. NHL teams only carry two goaltenders. In other words, there will be a high-priced goaltender in the Islanders’ press box for 82 nights next year. Unless, of course, Rick DiPietro is more injured than the team is letting on.
None of this should be constituted as a knock on Biron. He was considered the heir apparent to Dominik Hasek in Buffalo and played well until Ryan Miller emerged after the lockout. Biron then headed to Philadelphia, where he was the key figure in the Flyers’ 2008 run to the conference finals. Because the Flyers organization is apparently required to have a chaotic goaltending situation, Biron wasn’t offered a new contract, though he was linked with teams such as Detroit and San Jose as a sort of “super back-up”.
When I texted the news to Zach a few moments ago, his response was, “Wow, I guess DP is really done.” This will be the sentiment all across Islanders country. Frankly, there’s no reason to think anything else, just as there’s no reason to sign two #1 goalies if your current starter is healthy and capable. While we all welcome Martin Biron to the New York Islanders organization, we can’t help but distractedly wonder what’s really going on with Rick DiPietro.
EDIT: As per Darren Dreger, the deal is worth $1.4 million. Not a bad price. Still doesn’t make sense. Clearly, the 2009-10 season doesn’t end with all three of these guys on the Island.
By Anthony De Franco July 22, 2009, at 6:34 pm I can’t believe what I just saw over on PFT. Apparently, Titans running back coach Ernest Byner is afraid that Lendale White is too light! Yea, the same Lendale White who never saw a donut that he didn’t like.
That was cautiously asked by Titans running back coach Earnest Byner, who compares White’s weight loss to a similar part of Byner’s career.
“I lost too much weight and people were able to topple me and knock me over a little too easy. I think those are things [White] needs to be aware of and make sure his strength is still good.”
White has famously lost more than 30 pounds this offseason as he heads into a contract year. Byner’s point may seem crazy, but maybe it’s crazy like a fox.
Yea, I just can’t buy that. There are a ton of backs in the league who weigh less than White that get by just fine in short yardage situations. Instead of being big, they simple sqaure their shoudlers and drive their legs. I think that having White in better shape will make him more versatile and therefore more valuable to his team.
By Jason Comack July 22, 2009, at 6:04 pm The Red Sox made a pair of trades today:
According to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals have acquired shortstop Julio Lugo for outfielder Chris Duncan. The Red Sox are still on the hook for the $13 million remaining on his current deal.
Like the trade for both teams. Duncan didn’t have a home in St. Louis with Ludwick, Ankiel and Rasmus manning the outfield. The Red Sox designated Lugo for assignment so they did well to get anything for him. I think Duncan is actually unappreciated. He’s a platoon player and barely can play a capable left fielder but the guy can hit. From 2006-2008 Duncan posted a .285/.377/.525 line against right handers in 716 at bats.
For the Cards Lugo might not be an everyday player but he’ll help back up Ryan and Schumaker.
Also today:
Red Sox acquired first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Pirates for SS Argenis Diaz and RHP Hunter Strickland.
Hard not to like this move from the Sox perspective. The two prospects they gave were unlikely ever to make a major impact. Diaz is a defensive whiz at short but has never shown that he will have a bat capable of being an everyday major league player. Strickland is a pitcher who has a low ceiling and profiles as a 4th or 5th starter. In return the Sox get LaRoche who much like Duncan has a particular skill set. He’s a below average first basemen who can hit right handers very well (.280/.355/.517 in the past three years.) LaRoche provides insurance in case Mike Lowell can’t recover from his injury. Also Lowell can now be given more days off, Youk will move to third, with LaRoche in the fold. Considering what they gave up it’s a nice acquisition.
As for the Pirates this is the beginning, or continuation, of a fire sale. Everyone most go. LaRoche was a free agent who was unlikely to bring draft picks back in return. Although the Pirates didn’t get great prospects for him at least they got something back.
By Alex Goldberg July 22, 2009, at 2:11 pm I just read some very sad news online, Gidget, the Taco Bell dog passed away yesterday at the age of 15. If you don’t remember Gidget was the little dog responsible for the yo quiero taco bell craze. She surely will be missed by us all.
Heres a little clip to remember her by:
RIP Gidget 1994-2009
By Jason Comack July 22, 2009, at 12:00 pm TMZ.com has obtained a copy of the infamous video of a college player dunking on LeBron James. They are debuting it to the world at 6:30 PM on their TV Show and online at 6:45.
 Photo Courtesy of TMZ.com
By Jason Comack July 22, 2009, at 11:24 am According to a report on Sherdog.com and multiple sources MMAWeekly.com spoke with Tuesday night, the Aug. 1 card’s headlining bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett will be scrapped just days before it was scheduled to grace the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The Sherdog.com report cited multiple sources that said the California State Athletic Commission would not license Barnett due to a “positive test result,” presumably on the athlete’s pre-fight medical paperwork.
This is pretty devastating news as Affliction Triology was shaping up to be a pretty decent card. Barnett has been caught for using steroids before. From Wikipedia:
Barnett became the youngest (UFC) Heavyweight Champion and the youngest UFC champion in history after defeating Randy Couture in early 2002. Later that year, the title was stripped from Barnett after having tested positive for an anabolic steroid. His fighting license was temporarily suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission after a hearing on July 26, 2002, where he denied ever having used steroids
Of course that doesn’t make this make sense entirely. Barnett has fought three times in American since that suspension in 2002, all three times in California. Bill Douglas, Assistant Executive Officer of CSAC, wrote in an email to MMAWeekly.com that a “comprehensive statement” regarding the matter would be released later today.
As for Barnetts replacement Affliction is looking at Vitor Belfort and Bobby Lashely. Lashely is a drawing name and has the size of heavyweight but he is very raw and just fought recently. He’d have to be paid a ton to walk into the ring to fight Fedor. Belfort would be moving up two weight classes to fight Fedor. I don’t see how that makes sense either.
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