Thanks to Neil Best from Newsday for posting this on his great sports media blog, Watchdog.

Essentially, a caller to Francesa's show on WFAN was making the argument that Joba Chamberlain was a solid starter. As the caller made his case, Francesa started getting steamed. And when the caller compared Chamberlain's numbers to Andy Pettitte's, Francesa blew his top.

Watch it here

—... » more

Lionel Messi, the Argentine forward, leads Barcelona. (Getty Images)

By Andrew Keh

Special to amNewYork

If you’re on the subway, reading amNewYork on your way to work on Wednesday, get off at the next stop, make your way across the platform, and head back in the opposite direction. If you’re already at the office, begin planning your escape.

Because if you... » more

Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes wears a red cap on the mound Monday in honor of Memorial Day (AP Photo)

By Pete Catapano

Here's a weird sight. That's Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes wearing a red Yankees cap while on the mound this afternoon against the Rangers in Texas.

It's not about style, it's about honoring Memorial Day in a league-wide showing of respect to the country's fallen... » more

By Pete Catapano

Former Met manager Bobby, famously fiery and unique, may be close to the end of his successful run in Japan, the Los Angeles Times is reporting.

Valentine, manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines, was apparently told by the team in the off-season that this would be his last year with the team because they can no longer afford his $3.9 million salary.

If he has priced... » more

"Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal and the Greatest Match Ever Played"

L. Jon Wertheim

224 pages, $24

(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

By Max J. Dickstein

The stunning 2008 Wimbledon final — in which Rafael Nadal toppled the five-time champion Roger Federer — never was adequately chronicled by the writers who gushed over it for days last July.

It... » more

Gary Cohen in the SNY booth at Citi Field on a rainy evening before a recent Mets game. (Rj Mickelson/amNY)

By Max J. Dickstein

Here’s a secret: It is possible to stump Gary Cohen, the comprehensively knowledgeable Mets broadcaster.

“Heresy” though it may be, the Queens native and Columbia alum has gaps in his Mets knowledge from the mid-1980s golden age,... » more

World-renowned author Paul Auster observes pitching warm-ups on Wednesday afternoon, May 13, 2009, at Citi Field, before the New York Mets lost 8-7 to the Atlanta Braves in 12 innings. (Rj Mickelson/amNewYork)

By Max J. Dickstein

amNewYork Sports Editor

Publishing 12 novels doesn’t necessarily prepare you for deadline sportswriting, but Paul Auster handled the job with... » more

By Kyle Stack

Special to amNewYork

Baseball isn’t thought of as a contact sport, but its 162-game grind presents a consistent barrage of injury concerns. With help from Will Carroll, a senior writer for Baseball Prospectus who specializes in sports injuries, here is a rundown of three common afflictions:

Oblique strain

Pitchers are typically more susceptible than hitters.... » more

The 50-game suspension of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez will likely set back his red-hot team, which was 21-8 entering Thursday. (Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

We caught up with Baseball Prospectus co-editor Steven Goldman (and Pinstriped Bible blogger) by phone on Thursday to discuss the what-if's and the broader implications of the Manny Ramirez suspension.

How... » more

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez was suspended on Thursday for 50 games by Major League Baseball, the result of a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs. (Getty Images)

By Max J. Dickstein

Over the long winter, free agent Manny Ramirez seemed like an obvious — and hugely expensive — solution to the Mets’ offensive deficiencies in clutch situations. Here... » more