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.

Pedro Martinez - and, an EXCITING World Baseball Classic Game - Netherlands Upsets the Dominican Republic

I have seen many great baseball games, baseball moments and events - in person and on TV. Tonight, I witnessed one of the biggest upsets ever in International baseball - The under appreciated Netherlands doggedly beat the rock solid Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Not once - TWICE. But tonight it really counted.

As you know, this is a Mets blog, so the point here is that I saw Pedro Martinez pitch in relief, and to these eyes (YES, my contact lenses were in) he looked good. Got two innings under the belt and seemed to have his control in order.

Prior to watching him pitch tonight, I was resigned to letting him go his own way. But, with the news of the Mets releasing Duaner Sanchez (TAXI!!!!!!), I think the Metropolitans should offer Pedro a contract to come back as a middle reliever to pitch the 6th and 7th innings, hand the ball to Putz and then to K-Rod.

Pedro can be the Phoenix rising from the ashes. I would rather see him get a chance this year and do well, than to do well for another team - regardless of the league.

OK..each day gets closer to opening day. I can't wait.

And for you box score junkies (self included) here is the one from the Netherlands upset victory:
http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_03_10_domint_nedint_1

The Tone Changes

So, I am a positive, upbeat person, but the way the Mets played early on this year, the only way to write about was to criticize, lament and try to prevent that tear from falling in your beer.

Today, the Mets took the Rockies again and extended their winning streak to 8. Hope is eternal. Delgado, whom I was willing to trade for a fungo bat and a few practice baseballs earlier in the year, has come around and is connecting. Fernando Tatis is the latest of Mets sensations which earlier in the year included Ryan Church and Angel Pagan. (side note, where IS Angel Pagan these days? Perhaps paling around with J.D. Salinger and Thomas Pynchon? No one has mentioned him at all of late save for "he's on the DL.:

The asset the Mets have is that the underheralded players, a la Damon Easely and the aforementioned chaps in the preceding paragraph all have the capability to turn the game around. That is what makes baseball exciting.

We have to see what is up with Pedro after today's game. And, tomorrow, it is Pelfrey, under the lights on the night game. (wonder if CowBell Man is going to be at the game tomorrow?)

Pedro - Donde Esta? or Where Have You Gone Pedro Martinez, Our Nation Turns Its Lonely Eyes to You.. BOO HOO HOO

Four to Six Weeks. Six to Eight Weeks. Hell, just say eternity, for that's what it will seem like for #45 to return.

We have witnessed this in the past that he is strong on the mound when at the top of his game, but can be as fragile as balsa wood and snap. And, the reparation period to me seems to be akin to gluing a dropped vase. The parts may all be there, but congruency is ruined. It takes a few weeks for him to regain his form. Ostensibly, what can we do, but pray he gets better quickly and that the doctors are overestimating his condition to be cautious.

Whenever I think of bad breaks in pitching, David Clyde, Todd Van Poppel, Brien Taylor and a slew of others, it just simply makes me shudder. Pedro is a fantastic pitcher, but now is not the time for him to be hurt.

I think managers must make the players more accountable for fitness and flexibility - but that is a whole 'nother topic for the next time.

This blogger, "The Power Zone" and I are in agreement: http://joeyashcraftsblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/pop-goes-pedroand-mets-season.html