Odd title.
Let me explain.
When I was a little boy, my Aunt Angie (now deceased, we won't even get into how much we miss her here) used to take me to the pool at Hudson County Park. One day, she overheard me say to another kid, "So, which one of the ladies here is YOUR Aunt Angie?"
I always was amused by how much that delighted her and never thought much about it until a friend of mine and I were talking about the next Mets manager. There is a lot of speculation of who it will be. But it doesn't matter. The next GM allegedly has the "say."
Personally I want Joe Torre. He cut his teeth as a Mets manager in the 80s when he was in his mid 30s and was "just OK" at best in his first stint. The folks are talking about Backman but he raises too many red flags -- to me.
No matter. Whoever the GM is, he pulls the strings. The guy he finally decides on will both have the same "Aunt Angie."
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Leave it To Ollie -- OR, How the Last Game of the Year is Always a DUD - Right AFTER a Brilliant Game the Day Before
It would be trite to quote Charles Dickens to open up a blog post about the Mets.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Trite? Yeah. Accurate - partly.
This was no ordinary season. Far from it. The Oliver Tolerance/Intolerance capped off what was one of the most see-sawed of emotions for a Mets fan. The big burst of wins in April/June - with the ebb of many heartbreaking losses.
It seems to be that the day before the final season, there is a big hope. '07 - Maine almost pitched a no-no, then Glavine tanked it with that Godforsaken first inning. In '08, Santana pitched a gem and then they lost in their final game at Shea. Yesterday, a nice W. Today....Typical Ollie - Walks in the winning run in the 14th.
Stan Laurel used to say, "I'm Sorry Ollie." Stan, so are we....so are we.
Rumor has it we are going to be replacing Jerry and Omar. I want someone who will be a rainmaker and get the most from their players, much like Buck Showalter has done with the lackluster Orioles. Minaya, well, he was a genius when he came on board and got Pedro Martinez and a few other good veterans to come to town, but he got lackadaisical -- and so did many of the players.
There are a few bright spots for the future. Ike Davis has shown he can play. Lucas Duda looks like he may swing a good bat and propel the cowhide with the maple ash. The heroes on the team, it goes without saying - Angel Pagan, R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi. Unexpected icing. Bring them back. Thole looks like he will develop into a good catcher.
It remains to be seen what the lineup will look like but if the above players can mesh and get it together, they can turn a once bad nucleus into a nuclear bomb that produces Ws and gives other teams Agita.
Who should go? Ollie. Castillo. Beltran (yeah, I said it), Maine and a few more ignobles. Who should come? Well, a lot of players, but we need to jerryrig the management (and send Jerry Manuel to pasture) and get the Wilpons to open their pocketbook. There are a lot of good players that are under the radar that would be perfect. (Think of the Jeff Keppingers - a former Met - of the world.
It's just 107 days before catchers and pitchers report....Oh, Ollie, that doesn't include you.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Trite? Yeah. Accurate - partly.
This was no ordinary season. Far from it. The Oliver Tolerance/Intolerance capped off what was one of the most see-sawed of emotions for a Mets fan. The big burst of wins in April/June - with the ebb of many heartbreaking losses.
It seems to be that the day before the final season, there is a big hope. '07 - Maine almost pitched a no-no, then Glavine tanked it with that Godforsaken first inning. In '08, Santana pitched a gem and then they lost in their final game at Shea. Yesterday, a nice W. Today....Typical Ollie - Walks in the winning run in the 14th.
Stan Laurel used to say, "I'm Sorry Ollie." Stan, so are we....so are we.
Rumor has it we are going to be replacing Jerry and Omar. I want someone who will be a rainmaker and get the most from their players, much like Buck Showalter has done with the lackluster Orioles. Minaya, well, he was a genius when he came on board and got Pedro Martinez and a few other good veterans to come to town, but he got lackadaisical -- and so did many of the players.
There are a few bright spots for the future. Ike Davis has shown he can play. Lucas Duda looks like he may swing a good bat and propel the cowhide with the maple ash. The heroes on the team, it goes without saying - Angel Pagan, R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi. Unexpected icing. Bring them back. Thole looks like he will develop into a good catcher.
It remains to be seen what the lineup will look like but if the above players can mesh and get it together, they can turn a once bad nucleus into a nuclear bomb that produces Ws and gives other teams Agita.
Who should go? Ollie. Castillo. Beltran (yeah, I said it), Maine and a few more ignobles. Who should come? Well, a lot of players, but we need to jerryrig the management (and send Jerry Manuel to pasture) and get the Wilpons to open their pocketbook. There are a lot of good players that are under the radar that would be perfect. (Think of the Jeff Keppingers - a former Met - of the world.
It's just 107 days before catchers and pitchers report....Oh, Ollie, that doesn't include you.
Monday, August 16, 2010
K-Rod OUT! - Wanted - The Taxi Driver Who Clipped Duaner Sanchez...
According to ESPN - http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=5468863 - K-Rod injured his thumb in the altercation with the grandfather of his children and will be out all year.
In this scribe's eyes, K-Rod will only be a detriment and his value to the team has already spiraled downward.
So, I ask, with tongue-in-cheek - Where is the taxi driver who clipped Duaner Sanchez? We need you to come back and drive up and down the street again. Look for someone wearing a #75 on his back...take him to the airport.
In this scribe's eyes, K-Rod will only be a detriment and his value to the team has already spiraled downward.
So, I ask, with tongue-in-cheek - Where is the taxi driver who clipped Duaner Sanchez? We need you to come back and drive up and down the street again. Look for someone wearing a #75 on his back...take him to the airport.
Monday, August 02, 2010
14-1; Great Odds to Bet on a Horse - But the Mets STILL Nag
I admit it, I didn't see the whole debacle yesterday - you know, that 14-1 trouncing the last place Arizona Diamondbacks gave to our beloved Mets, but when I turned it on and the first swing of the bat I saw was LaRoche hitting his SECOND three-run homer of the day, that was not a good prelude of things to come.
NOTE: For those with iron wills, here is the box score. I warn you, this is something that may traumatize http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=300801121&teams=arizona-diamondbacks-vs-new-york-mets
You could expect a score like that to be in a lopsided high school sports game, but when you add up the payroll - and, let's face it, once you reach the majors, you are paid for "talent" - this is a pure crime. Nine plus men stealing money from management, hearts and emotions from the fans and making advertisers cringe for future broadcasts.
Speaking of $, that $12 million bargain, Oliver Perez had a stellar day - (for him) - the good news he walked only 1. The bad? 4 earned runs in two innings facing 12 batters. OK, if management is going to pay this kind of $ for a flop, I kindly invite the Wilpons and Minaya to my next garage sale.
NOTE: For those with iron wills, here is the box score. I warn you, this is something that may traumatize http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=300801121&teams=arizona-diamondbacks-vs-new-york-mets
You could expect a score like that to be in a lopsided high school sports game, but when you add up the payroll - and, let's face it, once you reach the majors, you are paid for "talent" - this is a pure crime. Nine plus men stealing money from management, hearts and emotions from the fans and making advertisers cringe for future broadcasts.
Speaking of $, that $12 million bargain, Oliver Perez had a stellar day - (for him) - the good news he walked only 1. The bad? 4 earned runs in two innings facing 12 batters. OK, if management is going to pay this kind of $ for a flop, I kindly invite the Wilpons and Minaya to my next garage sale.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Saga of Ollie Perez (and the Trauma the Fans Face)
OOOPS! He did it again (and again, and again, ad infinitum).
Another horrific performance and this time, FINALLY, Mets management is getting wise and taking Ollie out of the rotation.
Steve Howe received fewer chances, yet, sadly, always failed. The Mets dumped Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoenweiss who did less. What gave Ollie immunity?
The insane $12 million (really worth $12 bucks!) salary. The Wilpons can't admit a mistake and eat a contract. Instead, they are exposing Ebola and it is festering. Fans and players get hurt - in the psyche, the standings and in fantasy baseball (the last one being the most impactful!). Opponents relish in the easy opportunity to get on base. Often by NOT swinging the bat. Ollie makes more walk than a miracle healer.
For some reason, he was thought of as a Masterpiece painting. The fabric under the uniform truly reveals nothing more than a paint by number. (The low numbers are Wins, Strikeouts. The higher numbers are Walks, ERA, Losses...)
Another horrific performance and this time, FINALLY, Mets management is getting wise and taking Ollie out of the rotation.
Steve Howe received fewer chances, yet, sadly, always failed. The Mets dumped Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoenweiss who did less. What gave Ollie immunity?
The insane $12 million (really worth $12 bucks!) salary. The Wilpons can't admit a mistake and eat a contract. Instead, they are exposing Ebola and it is festering. Fans and players get hurt - in the psyche, the standings and in fantasy baseball (the last one being the most impactful!). Opponents relish in the easy opportunity to get on base. Often by NOT swinging the bat. Ollie makes more walk than a miracle healer.
For some reason, he was thought of as a Masterpiece painting. The fabric under the uniform truly reveals nothing more than a paint by number. (The low numbers are Wins, Strikeouts. The higher numbers are Walks, ERA, Losses...)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Ike's We Like
This brings us to Ike's...
Ike's we don't like:
...Turner
...[Hurriance] Ike
Ike's we like:
...Taylor
...Ike Broflovski
Ike's we are GOING TO LOVE!
DAVIS! - http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=davis-002isa
First at bat = Hit.
Hopefully he is a Beacon for us. We should have the first base conundrum solved.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
20 Innings - The Mets Showed A Lot of Balls
In one of the strangest Mets games I have witnessed in years, the 20 inning shindig had me at the edge of my seat. I wish I had the time to watch from first to last pitch, but a few things were done while multitasking. Box Score: http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=300417124
In any event, who would have surmised the Mets would have been able to hold off Albert Pujols and friends by throwing 18 donuts on the scoreboard. Usually, something prevails and one team is able to take advantage of it.
For sure, I thought it would get wacky when a relief pitcher came up with bases loaded. As a Mets fan, we are prone to some interesting scenarios. This is one we did not want to bear witness.
Kudos to Jerry Manuel for managing a good game. When your bench gets short, you have to be smart. I think bringing Pelfrey in was an edge over LaRussa's edict that a starter would not relieve. Then again, the Mets should have walloped a few balls that position players (Lopez) was tossing in the strike zone (or near it).
This win gave the team a lot of confidence - and for the fans too. As I write, the Mets are leading 3-0 in the Sunday night game. Let's Go Mets!
In any event, who would have surmised the Mets would have been able to hold off Albert Pujols and friends by throwing 18 donuts on the scoreboard. Usually, something prevails and one team is able to take advantage of it.
For sure, I thought it would get wacky when a relief pitcher came up with bases loaded. As a Mets fan, we are prone to some interesting scenarios. This is one we did not want to bear witness.
Kudos to Jerry Manuel for managing a good game. When your bench gets short, you have to be smart. I think bringing Pelfrey in was an edge over LaRussa's edict that a starter would not relieve. Then again, the Mets should have walloped a few balls that position players (Lopez) was tossing in the strike zone (or near it).
This win gave the team a lot of confidence - and for the fans too. As I write, the Mets are leading 3-0 in the Sunday night game. Let's Go Mets!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Thomas Paine had Foresight....
11-2 Rockies lead in the 7th. Sloppy play allover...
"These are the times that try men's souls..."
This TRULY is the American Crisis
"These are the times that try men's souls..."
This TRULY is the American Crisis
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Santana AND Perez LOSE to the Nationals - A Tale of Two Pitchers
Dickens starts out "A Tale of Two Cities" with the line: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
Funny how over a century later, this can be applied to two Mets pitchers. The Best (Santana) of Pitchers and the Worst (Oliver Perez). The uncommon ground is both lost to the worst team on paper - and theoretically, on the field, to the lowly Nationals.
A few bad breaks, but no excuses. The line drive with the bases loaded on Friday night and the Willingham Granny HR didn't help much.
Yeah, we can get sour after this - as a colleague called - a True Litmus Test. I think many of us are starting to turn purple.
See, Omar, you should have been more active in getting "A" quality players in the winter. Now, the Boys of Spring and Summer in Queens are on the path to playing like the boys of the ice age.
Dickens also wrote Great Expectations...which I have.
Funny how over a century later, this can be applied to two Mets pitchers. The Best (Santana) of Pitchers and the Worst (Oliver Perez). The uncommon ground is both lost to the worst team on paper - and theoretically, on the field, to the lowly Nationals.
A few bad breaks, but no excuses. The line drive with the bases loaded on Friday night and the Willingham Granny HR didn't help much.
Yeah, we can get sour after this - as a colleague called - a True Litmus Test. I think many of us are starting to turn purple.
See, Omar, you should have been more active in getting "A" quality players in the winter. Now, the Boys of Spring and Summer in Queens are on the path to playing like the boys of the ice age.
Dickens also wrote Great Expectations...which I have.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Pass The Salt - This Crow I'm Eating...
If you read the previous blog post (hopefully someone reads this besides my mother - she's very sympathetic!) you will note a bit of dour sarcasm and fear that I had for the Mets.
Today, a good portion of that was alleviated. They played with verve. They surprised. They had magic - or as the Seinfeld episode once touted, "kevorka."
Wright's HR was spectacular. It wasn't hit - it was launched. Santana looked like the ace he was. The ball he hurled moved with the right velocity and it baffled batters. Just as his job description calls for.
So, now it comes time for me to don a bib, carefully take the knife and fork (as I learned in Finishing School) and dine on the crow that I must eat for being so --- dour.
Wednesday we come back and take care of the Marlins again. They are always a tricky team and you never know who will show up.
All I know is I am glad to be back!
Sunday, April 04, 2010
2010 - Put the Seatbelt On....Gonna Be a Long Ride
Thrilled to death the season is starting. I am watching the Yankees-Red Sox game as I am writing this - but don't call me a traitor. Not hopping on any bandwagons. I'm a dyed (Blue and Orange) in the wool Mets fan through and through.
The reality is, we are going to have a tough year. Omar sat and fiddled while great deals burned about him. (Instead we are getting burned with D-List - a la Kathy Griffin - caliber players). Jason Bay is going to be a welcome addition, but he won't carry the team. Reyes. Beltran. Murphy - all question marks of what and when.
I see the pundits are putting the Amazins at third or fourth. Pitching would be the linchpin that are going to move us. And, before I start ranting, Omar, please, get rid of Perez. I heard on WFAN that at least 10 teams would be interested in him - save for that Stimlus-like salary package. If he starts to slide, time to move him. Personally, I would watch out for the Nationals. They did a lot of rebuilding with some good lunchpail players.
Going to go out on a limb here -- Eric Byrnes will be Comeback Player of the Year. Omar, you could have had him cheap. But, as Ralph Kramden, of Honeymooners fame said, "What do I know, I'm just a blogger."
And, speaking of, I am glad to be back blogging for my beloved team!
The reality is, we are going to have a tough year. Omar sat and fiddled while great deals burned about him. (Instead we are getting burned with D-List - a la Kathy Griffin - caliber players). Jason Bay is going to be a welcome addition, but he won't carry the team. Reyes. Beltran. Murphy - all question marks of what and when.
I see the pundits are putting the Amazins at third or fourth. Pitching would be the linchpin that are going to move us. And, before I start ranting, Omar, please, get rid of Perez. I heard on WFAN that at least 10 teams would be interested in him - save for that Stimlus-like salary package. If he starts to slide, time to move him. Personally, I would watch out for the Nationals. They did a lot of rebuilding with some good lunchpail players.
Going to go out on a limb here -- Eric Byrnes will be Comeback Player of the Year. Omar, you could have had him cheap. But, as Ralph Kramden, of Honeymooners fame said, "What do I know, I'm just a blogger."
And, speaking of, I am glad to be back blogging for my beloved team!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Spring Training...Where are the Off Season Moves?
Glad Spring Training is upon us. It is a better yard stick than those pesky groundhogs that predict the seasons for us.
However, I am inclined to think that when they peered out from their holes, (Pete and Phil, repping PA and NY - and somewhere there is a Staten Island "Chuck"?) they probably also had a prediction for the Mets: Six more weeks of inactivity.
If you were to grade the Mets pick-ups from the close of the World Series to now, I would give a C. True, Jason Bay is on the squad, but he still is unproven. Now, I know he had a great year with the Sox, but he struggled a bit when he was with the Pirates... Today Kelvim Escobar, it's reported, can't grip a baseball.
Wonderful Omar. What's next?
One thing that lights the ire (pun intended, with all respect to Jim Morrison) of Mets fans is that the Nationals had a pretty agressive year and picked up a few semi-solid free agents. Superstars? NO! But can each of these players in their role - be that limited or expanded - help the lowly Nationals advance? Yes.
Chess isn't won with two moves, but rather all positions working in concert with each other. That's what gives teams those cherised W's.
Irony though, the Nationals, formerly known as the Expos, was where Minaya hung his cap before the Mets. Did Omar leave his playbook in Montreal? Did the moving men box and bring it to the Nation's capital? If you are just jumping on the Mets bandwagon, you may not know that at one time Omar was a wheeler dealer.
I'm not sure, but I bet the clubhouse men in DC have a lot more uniform making and locker assigning than the Mets do.
Let's hope for a solid season and some momentum pick-up.
However, I am inclined to think that when they peered out from their holes, (Pete and Phil, repping PA and NY - and somewhere there is a Staten Island "Chuck"?) they probably also had a prediction for the Mets: Six more weeks of inactivity.
If you were to grade the Mets pick-ups from the close of the World Series to now, I would give a C. True, Jason Bay is on the squad, but he still is unproven. Now, I know he had a great year with the Sox, but he struggled a bit when he was with the Pirates... Today Kelvim Escobar, it's reported, can't grip a baseball.
Wonderful Omar. What's next?
One thing that lights the ire (pun intended, with all respect to Jim Morrison) of Mets fans is that the Nationals had a pretty agressive year and picked up a few semi-solid free agents. Superstars? NO! But can each of these players in their role - be that limited or expanded - help the lowly Nationals advance? Yes.
Chess isn't won with two moves, but rather all positions working in concert with each other. That's what gives teams those cherised W's.
Irony though, the Nationals, formerly known as the Expos, was where Minaya hung his cap before the Mets. Did Omar leave his playbook in Montreal? Did the moving men box and bring it to the Nation's capital? If you are just jumping on the Mets bandwagon, you may not know that at one time Omar was a wheeler dealer.
I'm not sure, but I bet the clubhouse men in DC have a lot more uniform making and locker assigning than the Mets do.
Let's hope for a solid season and some momentum pick-up.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
After the Fire (maybe Omar) the Fire Still Byrnes...
Hello All -
Tis been awhile since I blogged about our beloved team. Fear not, I won't recount the bad season the Mets had in '09.
But, some news has prompted me to dust off the cobwebs during the off season. It's time to look ahead.
I have always been an Eric Byrnes fan (just do a search in this blog and you will see how many times I cited him).
Well, as Ralph Kramden said to Alice about his "ship coming in," the Queen Mary is here. The Diamondbacks made a judgement call and picked up Adam LaRoche (do a quick count and see how many teams he's been on the last few years) and designated Eric Byrnes for assignment. So, that simply means they cut bait and he will be available. Az is on the hook for some $11 million, so, whoever picks up Byrnes, can do it relatively cheap.
Byrnes is a good clubhouse leader, a motivator, a hustler and a pest at the plate when he's healthy. Plus, he steals bases and plays gutsy. It's been awhile since we saw the hustling Jose Reyes, so a Byrnes would be refreshing on the basepaths. There is nothing wrong with a Dykstra-Eckstein-Brett Butler-like player.
Omar, you made a few good and a few more BAD judgement calls. I implore you to sign Byrnesie. Sheffield was a similar signing and that worked out better than expected. Eric is a team player and we need good morale.
It won't bust the budget. Byrnes will be a good ambassador for the team. Hey, the Yanks got Granderson, the Mets need a charismatic player.
Omar, fill out a contract and get Eric to sign it. He's interested in the Giants. How about pulling a player away from another team - it's been done to us too many times.
Tis been awhile since I blogged about our beloved team. Fear not, I won't recount the bad season the Mets had in '09.
But, some news has prompted me to dust off the cobwebs during the off season. It's time to look ahead.
I have always been an Eric Byrnes fan (just do a search in this blog and you will see how many times I cited him).
Well, as Ralph Kramden said to Alice about his "ship coming in," the Queen Mary is here. The Diamondbacks made a judgement call and picked up Adam LaRoche (do a quick count and see how many teams he's been on the last few years) and designated Eric Byrnes for assignment. So, that simply means they cut bait and he will be available. Az is on the hook for some $11 million, so, whoever picks up Byrnes, can do it relatively cheap.
Byrnes is a good clubhouse leader, a motivator, a hustler and a pest at the plate when he's healthy. Plus, he steals bases and plays gutsy. It's been awhile since we saw the hustling Jose Reyes, so a Byrnes would be refreshing on the basepaths. There is nothing wrong with a Dykstra-Eckstein-Brett Butler-like player.
Omar, you made a few good and a few more BAD judgement calls. I implore you to sign Byrnesie. Sheffield was a similar signing and that worked out better than expected. Eric is a team player and we need good morale.
It won't bust the budget. Byrnes will be a good ambassador for the team. Hey, the Yanks got Granderson, the Mets need a charismatic player.
Omar, fill out a contract and get Eric to sign it. He's interested in the Giants. How about pulling a player away from another team - it's been done to us too many times.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
