It Cuts Like A Knife (But it DOESN'T Feel All Right)

Johan and Ollie went under the knife today. It's a good thing Mets fans didn't have a chance to cut Ollie the way he has been cutting us. (A lot of runs and walks are coming out of this $36 million dollar arm).

http://www.seattlepi.com/scorecard/mlbnews.asp?articleID=263596

The other note is that Beltran will be making a rehab start...let's hope all goes well.

September 1 is just 2 hours away. It will be interesting to see who the Mets (and other teams) call up to expand the rosters. Maybe a few diamonds. A friend of mine has been touting Ike Davis who is in the lower levels...At this rate, I agree with one of his statements...Let the minor leaguers play. They deserve a look without judgement of winning or losing. Does this mean I am packing in the season? Well, mathematically I think it was decided - though not officially yet.

Well, off to read the latest issue of Baseball Digest- an enjoyable bunch of words...(And the quizzes are pretty tough too!)

Kazmir, Zambrano & Zambrano

Title may lead you to believe this is a law firm with nepotism between the second and third name, but its more of a bit of irony...

The Mets today beat Carlos Zambrano who, at one time, was close to unhittable. Part 2 - the Angels got the old Met, Scott Kazmir who essentially was given by the Mets to the Rays for Victor Zambrano. Where is Victor Zambrano today? (chuckle - did HE show up on the the mound for the Cubbies?).

Omar - you missed the boat again...Prospects for someone who could help....Pitching is decimated, so we are looking long term here.

As my old Italian relatives used to say.... "Oooh-Fah...."

Even the Mets CANT Hit Heilman

Turned on the game today at a crucial spot. Jake Fox was rounding third after his grand slam. Is there anything else to watch?

Want to know the sad part? The Mets only managed ONE HIT against Aaron Heilman. If I recall, he gave away hits the way Rockefeller gave away dimes.

Look at the box score... http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=290829116

Counting to 162 is going to be painful -- considering there won't be a 163.

Baseball's Sad Lexicon - The Named and the Reality

Back in 1910, newspaper columnist Franklin P. Adams wrote what is titled "Baseball's Sad Lexicon." This work was first published in the New York Evening Mail on July 10, 1910, and is now in the public domain.

Many of you know it, the first two or so lines, but probably were not aware of the title.

It goes:

These are the saddest of possible words:
"Tinker to Evers to Chance."
Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds,
Tinker and Evers and Chance.
Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble,
Making a Giant hit into a double –
Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble:
"Tinker to Evers to Chance."


Today, (well, not really today, but at the start of all the DL trouble for the Mets) Baseball's Saddest Lexicon is:

A Pagan
L Castillo
D Murphy
J Francoeur
F Tatis
O Santos
C Sullivan
W Valdez
P Misch

Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?

I heard the expression of the title of this blog a few times growing up. Today it happened with the Mets. Finally, a chance to trounce a good team (nowadays, all the teams they play are good, even the ones that suck) in front of the opposition's home crowd. Though there really wasn't anyone there...just several whole sections of empty seats with a few dots representing people. The box score claims 14,000+ showed up. Nice try.

Anyway, the skeleton crew (let's be real here, Third Shift) of the Mets performed admirably and it was smart to stretch Tim Redding a few innings since he is one of the key starters now.

While I am on that, wouldn't it make sense for the Mets to take a look at Brad Penny, fresh from his release from Boston? Wouldn't cost much and is a semi solid band-aid to minimize (did I say that?) the loss column.

On WFAN, they were speculating that the Mets COULD lose 90 games this year...scary.

Everything's Broken

Santana was probably the pin in the balloon that will make the Mets season just blow away with a raspberry sound fading into the end of '09.

Today, we get news that Oliver Perez is out for the year. Why couldn't we have had this sooner? Say, in April?

Not much to say, but as I was driving today, a thought popped into my mind and it was Bob Dylan's song, "Everything is Broken"

You can just substitute Mets player's last names if you don't know the words.

Check the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMWcgtB-Fkw&feature=related

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Injury Day - Next, JoSAN

And, another Met bites the dust for the season (???). Johan is getting the MRI and apparently there are bone chips.

Check out this article...it really says a lot: http://myespn.go.com/blogs/sweetspot/0-4-213/Did-Mets-mismanage-Santana-.html Keeping a guy like Santana pushing it is like gunning that Rolls Royce and never putting oil in the engine -- or in park.

Well, I would rather see Santana in the park, but apparently, all the Mets I and my fellow Mets fans brethren have a better shot of visiting their fave player in the hospital.

Oh, and by the way Gary Sheffield...Nice "hustle" towards the end of yesterday's game. Another cramp today? Awwwwwwww...You had us believing for awhile, now the Three-Card Monte game is done.

Level the Field....Field Level...Not a Level Playing Field - 6-2 Loss

Today I had what can be tantamount to an out of body experience. No, nothing celestial. Just ballpark bliss.

I bought a few tickets to today's game on eBay and went with a friend. My intention was to sell two to cover the game. Cliff Lee, last year's Cy Young winner - should be a slam dunk. Had a few scalpers offer me $10 for the pair and were mad I didn't sell. About 2 minutes later, I sold the pair, met a friend and we walked in.

As we walked in, a man approached me and tapped me on the back. He asked to see my ticket. At first I thought the eBay transaction may have been a fraud...We had the paper tickets, but thought the eBay seller duped and sold the electronic and the hard copy tix...Nothing of the kind.

Major upgrade at CitiField today...walked in, security tapped me on the back, looked at my ticket (Sec 537) and asked if I wanted to be upgraded...Moved us to field level seats (Sec. 109) on the right field line...about 20 feet away from the ball boy.

One of the cool parts in getting to our seats was we had to walk in the maze of the tunnel under the stadium PAST the player's club house.

Was nice to be so close...wish the score was. But it was an experience of a lifetime.

Thank you Mr. Security Guard

Bizzaro Baseball - Ollie's Folly - Inside The Parker and a Triple Play....Oh, The Mets ALSO Lost.

I saw a chicken with lips, a pig flying and the devil buying a parka coat. Oh, and I also saw the Mets game today too. I was surprised (no I wasn't) that Ollie Perez turned in a poor performance - 6 runs and didn't even make it out of the first inning. (So, they cut Livan Hernandez the other day...Omar...Wake the *&^% up. Cut your losses...cut Ollie.

Box Score

Add to the comical environment, Angel Pagan's long ball stops under the outfield wall and the Phillies call for a ground rule double...Angel made it home.

Then, the catch by Francoeur which was reviewed and overturned...to quote the Mets announcers - I think it was Keith Hernandez - said officiating has been terrible lately.

And, we all know how the game ended as the Mets attempted to rally - BOOM - Unassisted Triple Play to end the game. That's when we all 'walked off.'

What's next? I don't know for sure, but if I see a Republican at Berkley University, something odd will happen with the Mets.

I will be attending tomorrow's matinee - Bobby Parnell vs. Cliff Lee (who I traded in fantasy for Brian Fuentes...after the trade, Lee reeled off like 4 in a row).

Happ Schmapp

J.A. Happ pitched well for the Phils, but the Mets were not embarrased - the team has not gotten blown out as this scribe is writing during the bottom of the 8th.

I still have confidence the team will come back and sweep.

Today, the cool item is the 40th Anniversary celebration of the 1969 season....what a joy it was to see Koosman, Garrett, Kiner and Joe Pignatano, Dr. Ron Taylor (among others) in the broadcast booth and in-the-stands interviews with Kevin Burkhardt. Also now, a segment with Seaver, Ryan....ah, the good ole days.

Next year, we'll have a good year and dynasty built. I promise.

PHILLIES - Balls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's 4-2 in the 7th as I write this. The game we all love is played with balls and I am going to make a prediction...

Mets will SWEEP the Phillies - all 4 games.

Sometimes in life, you have to take the Bizzaro approach.

(a few personal experiences this week not related to baseball influenced this call here).

Livan, On a Jet Plane (Don't Think He'll Be Back Again)

I Shall Return....or so, declared Billy Wagner in his mind...and, he did.

Coming back from Tommy John surgery, the 38-year-old hurler set the stage with a first pitch strike right down the alley. And he looked good retiring the side.

And, the end of an era as Livan Hernandez, another one of the ageless brothers, gets cut by the Amazins. He had some good outings, but is definitely past his prime. OK, so, why didn't they try to trade him and get some value in return? Some of the minor stars got away for nothing (Aubrey Huff, etc.)

Check additional details from mlb.com
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090820&content_id=6525440&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

As I write this, Mets are holding their own against the Braves in the 9th...down 3-2....I am signing off and hoping this turns into a W.

15-2 Braves Trounce....

After seeing the Braves score 8 runs in the second, I pinched myself and was aghast that this wasn't a split-squad spring training game.

Wish it was...there would be more players with marquee names.

Johan, please get a W tomorrow.

Brave's New World

Derrick Lowe, one of the scions the Mets tried to chase this winter looked awful..JUST awful against the Mets tonight.

Good rally ball...a slew of hits and Ollie came away saving face.

Short post, but we got a few more games to play.

And, most importantly, it was nice to see (on TV) the METS starting to pay tribute to THE METS (rare)...Nice "1969" emblazoned on the field.

Cora Cora Cora...Wright Away...DeciMETed

Unravelling is the term that comes to mind. Wright is woozy and in a text poll, 52% of all fans agreed he should be shut down for the year...Cora has trouble with his hands and is now gone too.

They always say the only direction is up....and I am an optimist, but the team is deciMETed from opening day. (Yeah, obvious statement).

So, I am driving back from Pennsylvania today (was able to stay connected with WFAN!!!!) and I hear that Aubrey Huff was traded. Granted, his value has gone down a bit on paper since earlier this year, but he can play 1B and 3B...who gets him? The Tigers for a Minor League pitcher.

Too many good or decent players (granted, some would be band aids for only 2009) came by and Omar watched them drift away....(just like the win column, just like the ERA, just like the....

On a positive note, I got tix for the Mets-Phils next Monday afternoon...have an extra if anyone is interested....

MurpFrancoeuRUN

Didn't get a chance to watch the game, but heard a good part of it on WFAN and it was refreshing to see Murphy hit a game winner and score Jeff Francoeur.

Time changes things. A few years ago, this was a routine method of winning. Today, it is a prized novelty. Stat reflected stated this was only the FOURTH walk-off "W" the Mets had. Lord knows how many we saw this happen for the opposition.

As I will reiterate, glad we are skipping Lincecum. (Are WE?)

Wright - We Are Praying for a Quick Recovery

Wright. It's a name that is mandatory in the Mets line up, but Matt Cain may make David not Abel (hell yeah, that pun was intended) to play for a few days.

Didn't have a chance to see the actual pitch, but heard the broadcast.

It is looking like Seinfeld's prophecy is coming through....we are rooting for clothes. (Who the hell is 8/9ths of the Mets line up these days?

Parnell - Is He The Next Starter (Hidden in Plain View?)

Short post tonight as I am in a rush - but, looks like Bobby Parnell, if he can keep this momentum on par -- or close -- to what he did tonight could be a big boon for the Amazin's.

What impressed me the most? Zero walks and only 3 hits - all singles!

Let's keep our peepers peeled.

We May Lose One 'Los

Rumors are flying about (though not at the "frequency" of HRs out of CitiField) that Carlos Delgado is now suffering from another injury...So, my view is there is too much sentimentality with this team - Oliver Perez, Scott Schoenweis, Aaron Heilman and now Delgado...two were finally jetiisoned and now its time to do the same to the other remaining two.

Fresh blood is needed. Can't wait around for a perhaps...Now I am praying Wright comes back from his minor to-do.

Ahhhhh. To be a Mets fan. Well, life isn't easy, but I would rather be alive and a Mets fan than dead and a __________________ fan. (optional fill in the blank).

Stop The Presses! (More like Stop Perez-es)

Today the Mets played a matinee where they...(GASP) - WON. The sarcasm is heavy here because each time I watch them in an afternoon contest they come away with an "L."

The recap of the game from the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/sports/baseball/13mets.html?_r=1&hpw has an interesting line on Oliver Perez. Ollie, had 5 walks or so in the first 5 innings and the score was 1-0. Unreal, and ya got lucky on that. The TV commentators were saying he average 8.point walks per 9 innings....(oh, and 5 was considered BAD)... It baffles me why we keep him. Was he a jailhouse lover of the Wilpons?

Anyway, despite the free passes, he FINALLY pitched well. No decision, but better than the albatross of the Ls he carried around.

Kudos to Cory Sullivan. Getting one triple is HARD, two in a game, well, you can fill in the superlative here.

Off tomorrow and back east against the Giants...I just checked...barring and irregularities in the sked, we MISS Lincecum.

Need to Wright The Ship

David Wright is fatigued. Another hurdle we must overcome for tonight's game (and, man, is it showing. Mets are presently down 4-2 in the 4th. Thrills! Only 5 more innings to go).

Ben Shpigel takes a look at Wright...Worth reading his article

Wright is on pace to achieving (bad word, no?) 140+ strikeouts this year. I don't know what that means, except the Mets finally have someone who leads in a category, albeit an ignominious one.

Heard a stat that is still hard to fathom that the Mets lead the Majors (maybe its the NL) in stolen bases....

AND Broken Hearts!

Enough of the Beards

Oh, the title of the post has NOTHING to do with the Mets growing facial hair until they get to .500 (Editor's note: They may all look like Z Z Top before we know it)....The beards I am talking about are the substitute players. I want Beltran, Reyes, Delgado, Maine, Putz..etc...etc...etc... to return.

Ah.....just another night where the Mets are behind and I am jonesing for solid baseball....

Flatt Friars

OK, so, the series this week against the Padres wasn't what we expected. Two losses, but we come away with a win (Nice Pitching Santana) on the Sunday game.

On to Cactus land, but something is starting to look a bit scary. The Nationals (yes, not a typo) have strung together some seven wins and just beat Arizona.

Can the Mets turn the tables or will they get pricked?

Pelfrey will be getting the ball and will have more incentive to elongate his career (congrats on the birth of your new son).

I'm hoping for the same miracle of 1969....

Reverse Luck / Isn't Everth Cabrera's Name Spelled Wrong?

Oliver Perez finally yields a game to which the Mets brass predicted he would do on a regular basis. His walks were down and K's up. But what happens? Light hitting Everth C a SS for the Padres quashes with a crusher - a walk off granny.

Amazing how these losses rack up.

Hmmmmmm...had a halcyon moment...wonder if Davey Johnson is doing anything????

MLB Shakes a Player's Tree - Did The Mets Pick Up any Leaves?

Carl Pavano, Vicente Padilla and Jason Giambi were all deemed not relevant for their respective teams and were apparently put on waivers and / or cut from the team...Mets need some pitching - Minaya let Pavano go. He had a good record in his last few starts.

OK Omar, why not get Giambi for a small price. He's a Moneyball player and has a good on base percentage. Platoon him with Murphy as Daniel fully learns the position.

Now we need to focus on beating the Padres. Oliver Perez is pitching. Will I watch the full game? NO! Would rather have other types of nightmares.

Anderson WIN DOHS!

He was a familiar - or semi-familiar face to Mets fans back in 06 and 07 and a tad, if I recall, in 08, and now he's back. Good glove, average hitter (my opinion) Anderson Hernandez. See Article from MLB.com I recall a nice catch he made on an opening day a few years ago, and was slated to me the man at 2B until he got hurt.

Is it me, or is it a bit ironic that the Mets have done a lot of trading with one of the worst teams in baseball - the Nationals...we got Luis Ayala, Anderson Hernandez, Ryan Church, Scott Schneieder and a few others...even sent our old bench coach, the now, terminated Manny Acta there to manage.

With the Mets on the left coast the next few days or so, my posts will be pre-game. As big of a fan as I am of this team, I don't have the time to stay up so late.

Anyway, Anderson, good to have you back....bust some windows with your name and your swing.

Muscles, Bones, Strains and Sprains

I think each Met hitting the DL should get a one-on-one lecture with a winner of the Prestigious Purple Heart. Some of the injuries can be prevented with extensive stretching programs, plyometrics and better conditioning.

Sheffield, Niese and Castillo are all casualities of the past two game series with St. Louis.

Take a look at Stephania Bell's article on ESPN.com .

While I have you here, another good article appeared today...Perhaps if the Mets did a little Moneyball-like roster moves, we'd have a better team - http://nymag.com/news/sports/games/58180/

Green - Eggs a Slam

I do not like (Sean) Green
He Lets a slam
He gives it up
to Pujols, I am.

He can hit a batter
Man, it really matters
Ball hit in the bun
Knocked in a run

(terrible spoof on Green Eggs and Ham - but it was worse being at the game tonight seeing a 7-5 lead shrivel to 12-7 with Albert Pujols deciMETing the Mets.

So Close....Yet Miles Away 6-5

So, what comes out of tongiht's game? We came back from a 6-0 lead to close it at 6-5.

The Mets rattled Dan Haren's league leading ERA by scoring 5 Runs and the D-Backs probably gave Nelson Figueroa a bus ticket to another city (maybe even another club).

It is too embarrassing to punch in his stats from this keyboard, so look em up here: http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=290803121 but, don't say I didn't warn you.

Still trying to ponder why the punching bag teams like Washington, Pitt, Arizona give the Metropolitans a hard time.

A graphic showed the Mets were 8 games out of the Wild Card race...that's a lot, but, to me, a team shouldn't even be "considered" if they are playing below .500.

Well, I will be at tomorrow's game seeing Santana for the 4th time in person this year...Go-han; Johan.

Diamonds are the Hardest Rocks to Break (Especially.....)

When your opposing pitcher gets 5 at-bats during a game, well, that says it all.

Pelfrey was good...didn't melt....

Scary stat...Mets lead the majors in walks...something like 418 in 922 innings.

I took a look at some numbers from ESPN...Ollie Perez has 47 BBs in 48 innings (now that's a surprise)...Livan is next with 43 in 120 innings and Johan has the same, but in 137....The rest of the list is brutal. If we only showed more control, less base runners = less runs.

Facing Dan Haren tomorrow who is stellar. Gotta turn the tables.

I'm heading to the park on Tuesday night...

Angel Bedevils the Snakes

All I have to say tonight is the way the Mets played is reminiscent of the old days...tenacious, putting ducks on the pond and re-gaining the lead.

Nice Smack by Angel Pagan...this is a catalyst moment for the season.