Well at least they're trying!

The Mets lost to the surprising Nationals 6-4 yesterday afternoon, falling to oh for the season in the rubber games of three game series. On the bright side the team battled back from early 2-0 and 4-2 deficits before K-Rod said, "Fuck this, I know you bastards aren't going to score and I am NOT waiting around for extra innings in this miserable weather!" Roger Bernadina hit his second career home run, which just happened to be his second home run of the day, to account for the winning margin. Of course it wouldn't have been the winning margin if the Mets pitchers could have retired their fucking counterpart, Craig Stammen. The Nationals pitcher went 2-2 with 3 RBI. Bernadina's home run would not have won the game had he not already saved the game with a spectacular diving catch with the bases loaded and two outs to end the bottom of the fifth and keep the score tied at 4. It was #4 on Wednedsay's web gems below. In other words, fuck you Roger Bernadina!

Adding a verb to the hockey lexicon

A mere three weeks ago, Philly upset New Jersey and Boston upset Buffalo, setting the NHL up for its dream scenario of the Pittsburgh Crosbys facing off against the Washington Ovechkins with a spot in the Stanley Cup finals at stake. Unfortunately, commissioner Gary Bettman forgot to forward the memo to Montreal goalie Jaroslav Halak. Ovechkin claims he saw Halak's hand shake after a Washington goal early in their first round series. Apparently Halak overcame his nerves, to the tune of stopping 131 out of 134 shots over the last three games of that series to stun the top-seeded Capitals. The Montreal netminder proved it was no fluke turning back the defending Stanley Cup champions in seven games, including his second straight game seven road victory. Pittsburgh Penguins fans, I welcome you to the club. You have been...HALAKED!

The Marian Hossa Rule

It is a little known fact outside of hockey circles but the Chicago Blackhawks are destined to play in the Stanley Cup finals. Sorry to both San Jose Sharks fans out there, but the facts are indisputable. This is good news for whoever survives the Eastern Conference since the Blackhawks are destined to lose in the finals.

Two years ago the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Marian Hossa at the trade deadline, a move that helped them reach the Stanley Cup finals before losing a thrilling series to the mighty Detroit Red Wings.

Last season Hossa signed with the Red Wings, spurning a more lucrative offer to remain in Pittsburgh because he "wanted the best chance to win the Stanley Cup, and [he feels] like Detroit is the team." The Penguins would go on to defeat the Red Wings in yet another memorable Stanley Cup finals.

This season Hossa signed a 12 year, $62.8 million contract with the Blackhawks. Only San Jose stands between Hossa and another opportunity to watch the opposing team raise the Stanley Cup while pondering what could have been.

A lesson in defeat

With the Mets trailing 6-1 in the 5th inning and Manny Acosta on the mound, I did something I will almost never do; I turned off the game. The team was hitting but they could not put any runs on the board. No offense to Mr. Acosta, but if he is pitching that early in the game it is time to catch up on some DVR. I flipped back to the game and it is the top of the 8th inning, the Mets have Jason Bay on third, David Wright on second, and Ike Davis at the plate with no outs. The Mets have been in the situation time and again this season, and the story is always the same. Except last night. Davis reached on an error that allowed Bay to score (6-3), and the Mets followed with a strikeout (1 out), a LONG two-run double (6-5), a bunt single, a run-scoring single (6-6), a run-scoring, pinch-hit double (7-6), an intentional walk, an unintentional walk with the bases loaded (8-6), a strike out (2 outs), and an inning ending flyout. All in all the Mets sent 12 men to the plate against three Nationals pitchers for their largest come-from-behind victory since last July. Oh yeah, and Ike Davis did what Ike Davis does to end the game: