David Wright had his first full game off of the season Tuesday night in the 11-0 loss to the Mariners. In Wednesday night's game, Wright homered in his first two at bats before the Mariners pitchers wised up and walked him his third trip to the plate. Of course his fourth time up Wright popped out. Back to the bench with you young man!
In other news from the game last night, John Maine took a no hitter into the 5th inning before a hard hit ball eluded Carlos Delgado at first base. The Mets have never had a pitcher throw a no hitter in their 46 year history. In every no hit game a fielder will go a little beyond the norm to make a defensive play to preserve the no hitter. The lesson here is you're probably not going to get a no hitter with the fucking Carlos Delgado statue at first base.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Mets try a different tactic
Honestly, that's a new one. The Mets lost last night 5-2. The big blow of the night was a 2 out grand slam by the opposing pitcher Felix Hernandez who was caught on camera swinging with his fucking eyes closed. It was the first home run by a Mariners pitcher in their history (dating all the way back to like 1969) and the first grand slam by an American League pitcher since 1971. Of course the AL has been using their retarded designated hitter rule since 1972, limiting their opportunities.
Showing that they're not going to take that kind of shit from an AL pitcher, the Mets knocked Hernandez out of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sure they could have strung together hit after hit and piled up runs in a stirring come from behind victory, but instead Carlos Beltran slid into Hernandez's ankle scoring from third on a wild pitch. The Mariners catcher tried to tag Beltran himself, which meant Hernandez was just kind of there in the way, but he's really fat so maybe he thought that would deter Beltran from sliding. Regardless, Hernandez had to leave, the Mets still couldn't score any runs, and Johan Santana took his third loss of the season in which he gave up only one earned run. Also, Hank Steinbrenner blew his top and demanded baseball institute a rule preventing runners from scoring from third on a passed ball or a wild pitch because of the dangerous position it can put the less athletic AL pitchers.
Showing that they're not going to take that kind of shit from an AL pitcher, the Mets knocked Hernandez out of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sure they could have strung together hit after hit and piled up runs in a stirring come from behind victory, but instead Carlos Beltran slid into Hernandez's ankle scoring from third on a wild pitch. The Mariners catcher tried to tag Beltran himself, which meant Hernandez was just kind of there in the way, but he's really fat so maybe he thought that would deter Beltran from sliding. Regardless, Hernandez had to leave, the Mets still couldn't score any runs, and Johan Santana took his third loss of the season in which he gave up only one earned run. Also, Hank Steinbrenner blew his top and demanded baseball institute a rule preventing runners from scoring from third on a passed ball or a wild pitch because of the dangerous position it can put the less athletic AL pitchers.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Fire Willie Watch Day 3,428 (give or take)
Wait, what's that? They fired Willie?? AFTER having him fly across the country to manage one fucking game that they won??? AFTER he faced the reporters and was forced to answer questions about his uncertain job status???? Even though before he got on the bus to the fucking airport in New York he sensed something was amiss so repeatedly asked if he was about to get fired????? You seriously sent out a press release at 3:15 in the fucking morning New York to announce the news??????
ARGGHHHH!!!!!
Whether or not it was the right move to fire the manager (it probably was but it won't solve the deep-rooted problems of the team) there was not a worse way to handle the situation. The word I keep hearing thrown around in regards to the firing is "disgraceful." Fucking fire him before he flies to California or wait until he's at least checked into the damned hotel. Of course the Wilpons, the owners of the team, are incredibly sensitive to the public perception of their investment, which makes it even more mind boggling that they didn't see this coming.
Last night after the Celtics game I was checking out the bottom line on ESPN looking for a Mets score when I saw an item scroll by about the fiasco. The Wilpons released a statement saying the timing and the decision were all GM Omar Minaya. BULL FUCKING SHIT! Whatever mistakes Minaya has made as GM, he was reportedly Willie's last remaining supporter within the organization. So you're telling me that the one guy who supposedly DIDN'T want to fire Willie Randolph pulled this shit??????? Fuck it, my question mark key just broke! I tell you right now, it's embarrassing being a Mets fan.
ARGGHHHH!!!!!
Whether or not it was the right move to fire the manager (it probably was but it won't solve the deep-rooted problems of the team) there was not a worse way to handle the situation. The word I keep hearing thrown around in regards to the firing is "disgraceful." Fucking fire him before he flies to California or wait until he's at least checked into the damned hotel. Of course the Wilpons, the owners of the team, are incredibly sensitive to the public perception of their investment, which makes it even more mind boggling that they didn't see this coming.
Last night after the Celtics game I was checking out the bottom line on ESPN looking for a Mets score when I saw an item scroll by about the fiasco. The Wilpons released a statement saying the timing and the decision were all GM Omar Minaya. BULL FUCKING SHIT! Whatever mistakes Minaya has made as GM, he was reportedly Willie's last remaining supporter within the organization. So you're telling me that the one guy who supposedly DIDN'T want to fire Willie Randolph pulled this shit??????? Fuck it, my question mark key just broke! I tell you right now, it's embarrassing being a Mets fan.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Second verse, same as the first
Billy Wagner blew his third straight save this afternoon. Johan Santana pitched 7 dominating innings, leaving with a 4-0 lead only to watch the bullpen give it up yet again. Wagner traded in his goat horns for the much bigger and heavier moose horns giving up a 2 run lead in the 9th inning. While I stab my Billy Wagner voodoo doll repeatedly in the left elbow (mental note, next time wait until AFTER the game to do this) I try to focus on the positive. Hey, at least Ramon Castro showed up on time. He also went 2-5 with a RBI and 2 runs scored. Ugh.
Billy Wagner makes the baby jebus cry
Has it really been a week since I posted? Oops. Over the weekend, the Mets got swept in a 4 game series by the moribund San Diego Padres. The Mets lost the first three games by identical 2-1 scores before Wagner blew a potential 4 out save Sunday afternoon, turning a 6-4 lead into an 8-6 loss. The losing streak stretched to 5 games when the thunderstorm Tuesday night failed to protect a 5-3 lead, yielding 2 runs during the delay before the Diamondbacks won going away 9-5.
Last night Mike Pelfrey took a shutout into the 9th inning, but left after giving up a leadoff single. Why was Pelf still pitching in the 9th inning of a 3 run game after having thrown 112 pitches? Fucked if I know! But there he was, and in came Wagner, trotting from the bullpen for an easy save. Strikeout, double, strikeout, home run and the game is tied. The Mets would eventually win in the bottom of the 13th inning on a Carlos Beltran walk off home run, but you really wish Pelfrey could have been rewarded for a pitching line that saw him go 8+ innings and give up 1 earned run (that scored on the home run).
Warning, actual technical baseball analysis ahead! So why has Wagner struggled so much recently when he's been lights out all year? Billy made a change to his delivery in the offseason, pitching from a full windup instead of the stretch. However, if runners are on base, he has to go back to the stretch delivery he's used in years past. Coming in for save situations to start innings, there are no runners on base. His last two appearances he has come in with runners on and given up home runs. Unfortunately, it seems that Wagner is almost entirely ineffective at this point in his career pitching from the stretch, which would be key in the event the Mets actually made the postseason. This means Willie can't use his best reliever with runners on base. Gah! Anyway, end technical baseball analysis.
However, I'm positive kind of guy (cough) so let's focus on the positives. First off, major kudos to Pelfrey who turned in his third straight solid start. Considering he's the only pitching prospect the Mets have, they need him to prove he can consistently win games at the major league level. Second, big props to Beltran for coming through in the bottom of the 13th with two outs. This guy has take a lot of heat over the years because of the size of his contract so I love to see him get those big hits. And finally let's talk about the bullpen who kept the Diamonbacks off the board after Wagner choked on a fat dick leading to Beltran's 13th inning heroics.
Last night Mike Pelfrey took a shutout into the 9th inning, but left after giving up a leadoff single. Why was Pelf still pitching in the 9th inning of a 3 run game after having thrown 112 pitches? Fucked if I know! But there he was, and in came Wagner, trotting from the bullpen for an easy save. Strikeout, double, strikeout, home run and the game is tied. The Mets would eventually win in the bottom of the 13th inning on a Carlos Beltran walk off home run, but you really wish Pelfrey could have been rewarded for a pitching line that saw him go 8+ innings and give up 1 earned run (that scored on the home run).
Warning, actual technical baseball analysis ahead! So why has Wagner struggled so much recently when he's been lights out all year? Billy made a change to his delivery in the offseason, pitching from a full windup instead of the stretch. However, if runners are on base, he has to go back to the stretch delivery he's used in years past. Coming in for save situations to start innings, there are no runners on base. His last two appearances he has come in with runners on and given up home runs. Unfortunately, it seems that Wagner is almost entirely ineffective at this point in his career pitching from the stretch, which would be key in the event the Mets actually made the postseason. This means Willie can't use his best reliever with runners on base. Gah! Anyway, end technical baseball analysis.
However, I'm positive kind of guy (cough) so let's focus on the positives. First off, major kudos to Pelfrey who turned in his third straight solid start. Considering he's the only pitching prospect the Mets have, they need him to prove he can consistently win games at the major league level. Second, big props to Beltran for coming through in the bottom of the 13th with two outs. This guy has take a lot of heat over the years because of the size of his contract so I love to see him get those big hits. And finally let's talk about the bullpen who kept the Diamonbacks off the board after Wagner choked on a fat dick leading to Beltran's 13th inning heroics.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Exclusive draft coverage!
With their two first round selections in this year's First-Year Player Draft the Mets selected firstbaseman Isaac Davis from Arizona State University and shortstop David Havens from the University of South Carolina - Columbia. Honestly, I don't know enough about baseball scouting to know if those are good picks or not. I just know that Davis was not born yet and Havens was a week old the last time the Mets won a World Series in 1986. Do you feel old yet?
Presenting your Stanley Cup Champions!
The Detroit Red Wings won game 6 last night in dramatic fashion, clinching the Stanley Cup for the 4th time in the past 12 years. In case it didn't come through clearly, I was rooting like hell for Pittsburgh because fuck Detroit!
Anyway, Henrik Zetterberg deservedly took home the Conn Smyth trophy as the playoff MVP, scoring the eventual game winning goal in the third period. Pittsburgh goalie Marc Andre Fleury followed his 55 save virtuoso performance with a rather pedestrian effort in game 6. The third goal was a screened wrist shot that Fleury saved but could not hold. The puck trickled behind him and when he realized it he pushed the puck into his own net with his ass trying to flop backwards to cover it. Of course, without Fleury's heroics in game 5, this game never happens, so you really can't fault him. Much.
The game was not without its moments of controversy. Late in the third period with Detroit holding a seemingly insurmountable two goal lead, Pittsburgh was awarded a power play on a questionable hooking call. In a vacuum, it was a no doubt call as the Jiri Hudler had his stick parallel to the ice and used it to impede the progress of Evgeni Malkin. Given how the game and the series had been called to that point, it seemed like a no call. On the ensuing power play, Marian Hossa scored on a deflection of a Sergei Gonchar wrist shot. The reason Hossa was able to get a free stick on the shot was Pittsburgh's Ryan Malone slashed the stick out of Detroit's Andreas Lilja's hands, sending it spinning gracefully through the air. It made for a beautiful, artistic moment, but it was also a no doubt, easy to call slash on Malone that should have ended Pittsburgh's advantage.
Within a goal, Pittsburgh was making a final, desperate push with their goalie pulled for an extra attacker when Pavel Datsyuk gathered the puck for Detroit and skated towards the empty net. Right around the red line a Penguins player ripped Datsyuk's feet out from under him, sending the Russian sprawling and leading to one of the more exciting finishes to a playoff series I've ever seen. The puck worked its way across the ice as the time dwindled down. With only a few seconds left, all world superstar Sidney Crosby found the puck on his stick with a clear shot at the net. Crosby ripped off one of the great backhands you'll ever see. Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood got the tip of his glove on the shot and the puck trickled behind him. In a last desperate effort for a team that never gave up Hossa lunged for the loose puck and pushed it across the goal mouth as the clock wound down to zero.
It was a great end to a great series. The best team won and the NHL got a spectacular show out of its marquis match up.
Anyway, Henrik Zetterberg deservedly took home the Conn Smyth trophy as the playoff MVP, scoring the eventual game winning goal in the third period. Pittsburgh goalie Marc Andre Fleury followed his 55 save virtuoso performance with a rather pedestrian effort in game 6. The third goal was a screened wrist shot that Fleury saved but could not hold. The puck trickled behind him and when he realized it he pushed the puck into his own net with his ass trying to flop backwards to cover it. Of course, without Fleury's heroics in game 5, this game never happens, so you really can't fault him. Much.
The game was not without its moments of controversy. Late in the third period with Detroit holding a seemingly insurmountable two goal lead, Pittsburgh was awarded a power play on a questionable hooking call. In a vacuum, it was a no doubt call as the Jiri Hudler had his stick parallel to the ice and used it to impede the progress of Evgeni Malkin. Given how the game and the series had been called to that point, it seemed like a no call. On the ensuing power play, Marian Hossa scored on a deflection of a Sergei Gonchar wrist shot. The reason Hossa was able to get a free stick on the shot was Pittsburgh's Ryan Malone slashed the stick out of Detroit's Andreas Lilja's hands, sending it spinning gracefully through the air. It made for a beautiful, artistic moment, but it was also a no doubt, easy to call slash on Malone that should have ended Pittsburgh's advantage.
Within a goal, Pittsburgh was making a final, desperate push with their goalie pulled for an extra attacker when Pavel Datsyuk gathered the puck for Detroit and skated towards the empty net. Right around the red line a Penguins player ripped Datsyuk's feet out from under him, sending the Russian sprawling and leading to one of the more exciting finishes to a playoff series I've ever seen. The puck worked its way across the ice as the time dwindled down. With only a few seconds left, all world superstar Sidney Crosby found the puck on his stick with a clear shot at the net. Crosby ripped off one of the great backhands you'll ever see. Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood got the tip of his glove on the shot and the puck trickled behind him. In a last desperate effort for a team that never gave up Hossa lunged for the loose puck and pushed it across the goal mouth as the clock wound down to zero.
It was a great end to a great series. The best team won and the NHL got a spectacular show out of its marquis match up.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The return of Pedro
After weeks of speculation, Pedro finally took the mound for the Mets in San Fransisco last night for the first time since leaving his first and only start of the season with a pulled hamstring. Far from his dominating prime, Pedro pitched 6 effective innings, working his way around 7 hits and 2 walks while giving up 3 runs. The Mets scored 8 times in the 5th inning, mostly off of $126 million mistake Barry Zito (hey, only 5 1/2 more years left on that contract Giants fans!). They then held on for a 9-6 victory. The best news to me was Pedro throwing 109 pitches in those 6 innings. Obviously it remains to be seen how his body recovers from the game, but a healthy and effect Pedro gives the Mets a top 3 of Johan Santana, Pedro, and John Maine, a troika I would put against any team in the league.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
You wouldn't make it in the NHL
Last night Pittsburgh survived game 5 in Detroit 4-3 in triple overtime. Petr Sykora scored about halfway through the 6th period on a power play goal. Ryan Malone planted himself directly in front of goalie Chris Osgood, blocking his vision on the winning tally. Earlier in the game Malone took a heavy slapshot off his already broken nose after planting himself directly in front of Osgood trying to block his vision. Hockey players are tough.
Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar earned an assist on the winning tally nearly two hours after he left the game with concussion-like symptoms that popped up when Gonchar crashed full speed head first into the boards. Gonchar on his game-winning assist said, "The game was so long. I wanted to help our guys. I started feeling better at the end of the second overtime, so I thought there was a chance." Hockey players are tough.
Sykora's goal came on a four minute power play. Defenseman Rob Scuderi took a high-stick to his face that caused a cut. The NHL has an automatic 4 minute penalty for any stick infraction that draws blood. Scuderi talking about his face said, "I was just praying for blood." Hockey players are out of their fucking minds.
Game 6 is back in Pittsburgh Wednesday night. Pretend it's a football game that moves faster than a snail's pace and doesn't stop every 8 seconds for 45 minutes for everyone to catch their breath and FUCKING WATCH IT!
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